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1153997 


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CENTENNIAL  HISTORY 


OF 


^TJSOUEHAm  COTINTT. 


TENNSYLVA  NTA. 


BY 

RHAMANTHUS  M.  STOCKER. 


TEID 


jU 

ijli  Id 
3u,  h 


PIIILADELPIirA: 
n.  T.  PECK  & CO. 
1887. 


A4 

374.  83 
5 


Copyright^  1887, 

By  R.  T.  peck  & CO. 


All  Rights  Reserved. 


PRESS  OF 

JAS.  B.  RODGERS  PRINTING  COMPANY, 
PHILADELPHIA. 


1153997 


i 


PUBLISHERS’  PREFACE. 


After  more  than  a year,  the  history  which  we  undertook  to  publish  has  been  prepared 
by  careful  writers.  The  book  is  larger,  by  several  hundred  pages,  than  was  advertised  in 
the  announcement. 

The  engraving  and  mechanical  execution  of  the  work  have  been  in  the  hands  of  capable 
artists. 

Early  in  the  preparation  of  this  volume,  arrangements  were  made  by  the  publishers 
with  Miss  Blackman,  whereby  any  facts  in  her  work  could  be  used  by  the  compilers  of  this 
history,  by  giving  her  due  credit  for  the  same.  Miss  Blackman’s  book  has  been  particularly 
valuable  in  preparing  pioneer  history  in  the  several  localities,  some  of  the  matter  having 
been  obtained  by  her  from  persons  now  dead,  facts  that  could  not  easily  be  duplicated.  We 
cheerfully  make  this  acknowledgment  to  the  general  value  and  accuracy  of  Miss  Blackman’s 
work. 

The  compilers  are  indebted  for  courteous  treatment  and  assistance  to  the  county,  town- 
ship and  borough  officials,  the  clergy,  the  press,  members  of  the  bar,  many  school  teachers, 
Hon.  F.  C.  Bunnell  and  hundreds  of  others  whose  names  are  sometimes  mentioned  in  con- 
nection with  the  information  given  by  them.  Especially  are  we  indebted  to  the  aged  people 
of  Susquehanna  County  (of  whom  there  are  many  on  her  healthful  hills)  for  the  cheerful 
manner  in  which  they  have  contributed  of  their  knowledge  of  events  happening  in  their 
childhood  days ; and  some  of  the  pleasantest  reminiscences  of  the  compilers  will  be  the 
remembrance  of  the  aged  men  and  women  who  have  contributed  to  these  annals. 

Among  those  who  have  thus  assisted  in  this  work,  it  may  not  be  invidious  to  mention 
Rev.  A.  L.  Benton,  Rev.  E.  A.  Warriner,  Captain  H.  F.  Beardsley,  Superintendent  B.  E. 
James,  Professor  S.  S.  Thomas,  Professor  C.  T.  Thorpe,  E.  A.  Weston,  Esq.,  Deacon  E.  T. 
Tiffany,  James  T.  Du  Bois,  Elder  William  C.  Tilden,  James  C.  Bushuell,  Mrs.  S.  B.  Chase 
and  Mrs.  H.  D.  Warner.  Others  who  have  contributed  are  mentioned  in  connection  with 
the  matter  furnished.  John  L.  Rockey,  of  Lebanon,  Pa.,  wrote  many  of  the  townships  and 
boroughs,  and  the  whole  work,  in  a comprehensive  sense,  has  been  under  the  editorial  charge 
of  Rhamanthus  M.  Stocker,  Esq.,  of  Honesdale,  Pa. 

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EDITOR’S  PREFACE. 


Susquehanna  County  belongs  to  that  northern  tier  of  counties  that  was  claimed  by  Connecti- 
cut; consequently  the  pioneer  settlers  were  largely  from  Connecticut  and  other  New  England  States. 
Settlements  were  begun  in  Susquehanna  County  one  hundred  and  sixty-seven  years  after  the  landing 
of  the  Pilgrims  at  Plymouth  Rock,  and  soon  after  the  close  of  the  Revolutionary  War  in  1787.  In 
presenting  this  Centennial  History  of  the  county  to  the  public,  we  have  endeavored  to  trace  the 
history  of  the  aborigines  who  inhabited  or  roamed  over  this  region ; also  the  treaties  between  them 
and  the  whites,  and  the  battles  finally  terminating  with  Sullivan’s  victory  over  the  Six  Nations,  which 
forever  destroyed  the  power  of  those  confederated  tribes  over  the  territory  embraced  in  this  history. 
Although  no  part  of  Susquehanna  County  was  engaged  in  the  Pennamite  War,  yet  it  was  a portion  of 
the  territory  contended  for,  and  the  early  settlement  of  this  county  was  made  largely  by  Revolutionary 
soldiers  under  the  impulse  of  the  Connecticut  claimants,  as  represented  by  the  Delaware  and  Susque- 
hanna Companies ; hence  a brief  history  of  the  contentions  between  Connecticut  and  Pennsylvania 
for  dominion,  and  lastly  by  individuals  of  those  States  for  right  of  soil,  have  been  given.  While  the 
dominion  of  Pennsylvania  was  established  by  the  Trenton  decree  in  1782,  the  rights  of  individual 
owners  to  the  soil  which  they  had  improved,  was  a subject  of  controversy  for  many  years  thereafter; 
and  individuals  claiming  under  Connecticut  title  in  Susquehanna  County  were  prosecuted  under  the 
Pennsylvania  Intrusion  laws,  and  compelled  to  pay  Pennsylvania  owners  for  their  lands. 

Realizing  that  the  pioneer  settlement  of  this  county  constitutes  its  heroic  age,  the  compiler  has 
endeavored  to  obtain  the  names  of  all  the  pioneers  possible,  with  such  incidents  connected  with  their 
settlement  as  are  deemed  worthy  of  preservation  in  a history  of  the  people,  within  the  limits  under- 
taken by  the  publishers  of  this  volume.  In  so  doing  we  do  not  claim  to  give  every  incident  of  interest 
that  has  happened  in  the  many  families  of  Susquehanna  County ; to  do  that  would  require  many 
volumes  the  size  of  this,  and  the  details  would  become  too  burdensome  for  the  general  reader ; but  it 
is  our  intention  to  give  sufficient  details  of  the  privations,  sufferings  and  hardships  of  the  pioneers 
and  subsequent  settlers,  with  biographical  sketches  of  men,  in  many  cases  accompanied  by  portraits, 
and  such  chapters  on  general  history  as  shall  make  a very  full  and  complete  history  of  the  county. 
To  that  end  one  chapter  is  devoted  to  the  Legal,  another  to  the  Medical  Profession.  The  Press  and 
Authors,  Education,  Customs  and  Manners  of  the  Pioneers  and  Military  matters  are  considered  in 
separate  chapters.  These  general  chapters,  together  with  the  borough  and  township  histories,  are 
intended  to  be  sufficiently  comprehensive  to  include  all  that  is  desirable  to  preserve  for  the  general 
reader  of  the  history  of  Susquehanna  County. 

The  New  England  States  are  justly  proud  of  their  history,  and  have  preserved  with  religious  care 
every  incident  obtainable  in  connection  with  the  Pilgrim  Fathers,  but  their  pioneer  history  is  that  of 
foreign  colonists  settling  their  States.  They  were  sturdy  men  and  true,  with  a high  conception  of 


V 


VI 


EDITOK’S  PREFACE. 


liberty  for  their  age,  but  with  some  of  the  spirit  of  intolerance  and  persecution  which  they  had  learned 
from  their  adversaries  characteristic  of  that  time ; but  Susquehanna  County  is  a child  of  liberty,  settled 
after  freedom’s  battle  had  been  fought,  largely  by  heroes  who  helped  gain  our  independence.  In  1787 
Susquehanna  County  was  a vast  wilderness,  unbroken  and  untrodden  by  any  one  save  the  Indians,  and 
perchance  an  occasional  hunter  or  trapper  of  the  white  race.  In  that  year  commencements  were  made 
at  Great  Bend,  Harmony,  Oakland  and  Brooklyn,  and  from  those  rude  pioneer  beginnings  the  settle- 
ment of  Susquehanna  County  has  proceeded  until  it  now  contains  a thriving  population  of  forty 
thousand  or  more  inhabitants.  The  Federal  constitution  was  adopted  in  1787,  so  that  the  county  had 
its  growth  and  development  under  the  American  form  of  government ; and  her  citizens  have  ever  been 
tolerant  in  religion,  progressive  in  education  and  liberty  loving.  During  the  anti-slavery  contest, 
Montrose  was  the  home  of  the  fugitive  slave,  and  in  the  temperance  reform  Susquehanna  County  has 
ever  taken  an  advanced  position.  Her  farming  population  are  among  the  most  intelligent  in  the  State, 
and  she  has  produced  a large  number  of  teachers,  lawyers  and  doctors,  and  her  full  share  of  authors, 
statesmen,  judges  and  clergymen.  In  the  late  war  Susquehanna,  true  to  her  Revolutionary  ancestry, 
contributed  at  least  three  thousand  of  her  sons  to  preserve  the  Union.  Surely  this  county  has  reason 
to  preserve  her  history,  and  teach  it  to  her  children  ; and  it  is  believed  that  the  perusal  of  these  pages 
will  increase  a love  of  home  and  native  land,  and  a veneration  for  the  pioneer  fathers  who  wrested 
homes  from  the  wilderness  and  planted  the  school-house  and  the  church  side  by  side,  and  established  a 
healthful  condition  of  society  which  should  be  perpetuated  and  improved  as  knowledge  and  light 
increase  from  generation  to  generation. 

If  anyone  thinks  that  his  ancestors  or  his  family  have  not  received  the  notice  they  deserve,  let  him 

I 

remember  that 

“One  Csesar  lives,  a thousand  are  forgot;” 

that  there  are  no  ten  men  in  Susquehanna  County  or  out  of  it  that  would  agree  as  to  the  relative  merit 
of  the  different  individuals  in  it ; that  doubtless  many  facts  of  interest  have  escaped  the  closest 
scrutiny  of  the  compiler  and  his  assistants.  It  has  not  been  our  intention,  however,  to  omit  any 
person  or  fact  that  deserves  notice  in  this  work.  Our  thanks  are  due,  and  are  most  heartily  extended, 
to  all  that  large  number  of  persons  who  have  encouraged  and  assisted  us  in  the  preparation  of.  this 
history. 


R.  M.  Stocker. 


CONTENTS 


CHAPTER  I.  PAGES 

Aboriginal  Inhabitants — Lenni  Lenape — Six  Nations — Extin- 
guishment of  Indian  Title—  Historical  Map  of  Northeastern 
Pennsylvania 1-5 

CHAPTER  II. 


Charles  II.  Charters— Connecticut,  Susquehanna  and  Delaware 

Indian  Purchases — Pennamite  War — Westmoreland  County,  6-11 

CHAPTER  III. 

Battle  of  Wyoming — General  Sullivan’s  March — General  Clin- 
ton at  Great  Bend — Defeat  of  the  Six  Nations — An  Indian 
Claim — Adventures  of  Hilborn 11-20 


CHAPTER  XV.  PAGES 

General  Education — Pioneer  Schools— Public  Schools — Acad- 
emies— County  Institutes — Superintendents  and  Teachers  . 189-196 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

Agriculture — Granges — Stock  Breeding 196-210 

CHAPTER  XVII. 

Revolutionary  Soldiers — Militia — Soldiers  of  1 812 210-216 

CHAPTER  XVIII. 


War  of  the  Rebellion — Companies  and  Rosters  of  Soldiers — 

Sanitary  Work 213-264 


CHAPTER  IV. 

Connecticut  Claimants — Trenton  Decree— Second  Pennamite 
War — Erection  of  Luzerne  County — Act  of  1795 — Drinker’s 


Letters — Bartlet  Hinds  Mobbed 20-26 

CHAPTER  V. 

Land  Titles — Warrantee  Map — Names  of  Warrantees 26-37 

CHAPTER  VI. 

Topography — Geology,  Forests,  Zoology 38-43 

CHAPTER  VII. 


Lines  of  Travel — Indian  Trials — Pioneer  Roads — Turnpikes — 

Stage  Routes — Railroads 43-61 

CHAPTER  VIII. 

Erection  of  Susquehanna  County —County  Map— Erection  of 
Townships  and  Chartering  of  Boroughs— Census— Court- 


House— Civil  List 61-70 

CHAPTER  IX. 

Bench  and  Bar — Personal  Sketches 70-101 

CHAPTER  X. 

The  Press — Editors 101-116 

CHAPTER  XI. 

Authors,  Productions  of 116-130 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

Grand  Army  Republic  Posts — Women’s  Relief  Corps — Monu- 
ment Association — Sketches  of  Officers — Sons  of  Veterans — 


Colored  Volunteers 264-264^ 

CHAPTER  XX. 

Borough  of  Montrose 265-321 

CHAPTER  XXI. 

Bridgewater  Township 321-352 

CHAPTER  XXII. 

Jessup  Township 352-366 

CHAPTER  XXIII. 

Dimock  Township 366-388 

CHAPTER  XXIV. 

Springville  Township 388-417 

CHAPTER  XXV. 

Auburn  Township 417-436 

CHAPTER  XXVI. 

Rush  Township 436-453 

CHAPTER  XXVII. 

Middletown  Township 453-463 

CHAPTER  XXVIII. 

Apolacon  Township 463-470 


CHAPTER  XII. 

Medical  History  and  Dentistry— Early  Reminiscences — Medical 


Society — Personal  Sketches 130-179 

CHAPTER  XIII. 

Manners  and  Customs  of  the  Pioneer  Fathers  and  Mothers  . . 179-184 
CHAPTER  XIV. 


Temperance— Early  Societies — Woman’s  Christian  Temperance 

Union 184-189 


CHAPTER  XXIX. 

Choconut  Township 470-479 

CHAPTER  XXX. 

Forest  Lake  Township 479-496 

CHAPTER  XXXI. 

Friendsville  Borough 496-499 

CHAPTER  XXXII. 

Silver  Lake  Township 499-507 


vii 


CONTENTS. 


viii 


Liberty  Township  . . 

CHAPTER  XXXIII. 

PAGES 
. . . 507-514 

Lathrop  Township  . . 

CHAPTER  XLIV. 

PAGES 

Franklin  Township  . . 

CHAPTER  XXXIV. 

. . . . 514-528 

Hopbottom  Borough 

CHAPTER  XLV. 

Great  Bend  Township 

CHAPTER  XXXV. 

. . . . 528-538 

Lenox  Township  . . . 

CHAPTER  XLVI. 

Great  Bend  Borough  . 

CHAPTER  XXXVI. 

Harford  Township  . , 

CHAPTER  XL VII. 

Hallstead  Borough  . , 

CHAPTER  XXXVII. 

. . . 546-554 

Gibson  Township  . . . 

CHAPTER  XLVIII. 

Oakland  Township  . . 

CHAPTER  XXXVIII. 

Jackson  Township  . . 

CHAPTER  XLIX. 

CHAPTER  XXXIX. 

Harmony  Township  and  Lanesboro’ 

Clifford  Township  . 

CHAPTER  L. 

Susquehanna  Borough 

CHAPTER  XL. 

Dundaff  Borough  . . 

CHAPTER  LI. 

. . . . 806-813 

New  Milford  Township 

CHAPTER  XLI. 

CHAPTER  Lir. 

Herrick  Township  and  Uniondale  Borough  ..... 

New  Milford  Borough 

CHAPTER  XLII. 

Ararat  Township  . . . 

CHAPTER  LIII. 

Brooklj'n  Township  . 

CHAPTER  XLIII. 

. . . . 648-676 

CHAPTER  LIV. 

Thomson  Township  and  Borough 

....  837-846 

LIST  OF  ILLUSTRATIONS 


Page 


Adams,  A.  J 735 

Adams,  James  W 669 

Ainey,  Dr.  D.  C 160 

Avery,  S.  C 825 

Bailey,  Amos 653 

Bailey,  Obadiah 654 

Bailey,  Frederick 655 

Bailey,  Henry  L 656 

Baker,  I.  P 387 

Barnes,  Amos 580 

Barnes,  S.  H 582 

Beardsley,  Albert 404 

Beardsley,  Captain  H.  F 264j7 

Beebe,  Bradley 560 

Beebe,  Charles 661 

Bell,  Elisha 689 

Bell,  Truman 690 

Blackman,  Miss  E.  .C 122 

Blakeslee,  Dr.  E.  L 97 

Blakslee,  B.  F 393 

Blakslee,  L 394 

Bloxham,  J.  B 831 

Booth,  William 490 

Boyd,  William  H 289 

Boyle,  Judge  John  634 

Bradshaw,  John 486 

Brandt,  H.  W 584 

Breed,  R.  F 661 

Brewster,  Horace  333 

Brush,  Calvin 564 

Brush,  B.  L 384 

Brush,  Samuel 558 

Bunnell,  Kirby 352 

Bunnell,  William 388 

Burdick,  Philip 791 

Bush,  M.  K 348 

Callender,  J.  M 798 

Cargill,  James 774 

Chase,  Hon.  S.  B 188 

Churches,  Montrose  Presbyterian 309 

Montrose  Baptist 305 

Montrose  Episcopal 316 

Great  Bend  Methodist  Episcopal 544 

Harford  Congregational 

Susquehanna  Catholic 605 

Coach,  Old-Time  Stage 50 

Cook,  Judge  J.  H 592 


Page 


Corse,  Lieutenant  A.  D . 781 

Court-House ' 65 

Curtis,  C.  J 339 

Curtis,  Gaylord 596 

Dayton,  Frederick 366 

Dimock,  Eider  Davis 306 

Dixon,  C.  B 534 

Doctor,  Olden  Time 130 

Du  Bois,  J.  T 115 

Easterbrook,  W.  W 783 

Estabrook,  S.  H 567 

Ellis,  Hon.  C.  H 820 

Falkenbury,  Hon.  Samuel 694 

Fargo,  Frederick 372 

Fitch,  Hon.  L.  F 89 

Fordham,  D.  C 291 

France,  J.  M 428 

French,  Myron 264fc 

Follet,  Elkanah  T 732 

Gardner,  L 342 

Gardner,  J.  F 344 

Gardner,  Dr.  P.  H 143 

Gerritson,  A.  J 108 

Gillet,  J.  L,, 750 

Gray,  A.  W 447 

Griffis,  Byron 356 

Grimes,  J.  K 563 

Grow,  Hon.  G.  A 702 

Guile,  S.  B 724 

Hall,  Major  Martin 771 

Hallstead,  John 794 

Halsey,  Dr.  C.  C 148 

Handrick,  H.  F 484 

Harding,  William 625 

Hartley,  M.  J 697 

Harvey,  W.  S 489 

Head-Dress  (Lady,  1776) 181 

Hinds,  Major  D.  D 324 

Hine,  Dr.  E.  P 158 

Hillis,  J.  S ' 445 

James,  B.  E 195 

Jeffers,  Watson 728 

Jessup,  Hon.  William 77 

Jewett,  Rodney OGO 

Johnson,  John 684 

Jones,  H.  M 723 

Jones,  William  II 208 


IX 


X 


LIST  OF  ILLUSTKATIONS. 


Kent,  H.  J 

Ivent,  A.  W 

Kent,  David 

Kistler,  Stephen 

Lake,  J.  L 

Lamb,  Dr.  F.  D 

Lamb,  C.  W 

Larrabee,  Hon.  M.  J 

Lathrop,  Dr.  I.  B 

Lathrop,  Benjamin 

Lathrop,  Azur 

Leslie,  John 

Little,  Ralph  B 

Loomis,  Samuel 

Loomis,  G.  0 

Lowry,  J.  W 

Lyons,  B.  K 

Lyons,  S.  A 

Lyons,  David 

McCollum,  Hon.  J.  B 

Maps  Northeastern  Pennsylvania 

Warrantee 

County 

Marsh,  Kirby 

Merriman,  J.  L 

Messenger,  E.  K 

Newton,  J.  M.  . . . 

O’Beiily,  Very  Eev.  J.  V 

Oakley,  Millbourn 

Oakley,  D.  K 

Old  Log  School'House 

Peck,  Levi  K 

Penn’s  Tea  Service 

Pickering,  Jotham 

Pickering,  John  D ......  . 

Post,  Isaac 

Post,  David 

Post,  Wiliiam  M 

Pratt,  Ezra  A 

Prichard,  OiTin 

Kichardson,  Rev.  Lyman  . . . . 

Richardson,  Dr.  W.  L 

Riley,  Rev.  Henry  A 

Riley,  Minot 

Rogers,  Dr.  William  

Sarteil,  Rev.  N.  P 

Saunders,  Lyman 

Schlager,  Jacob 

School  Building,  Susquehanna  . . 

Searle,  Daniel 

Searle,  D.  W 

Searle,  E.  S 

Sherer,  Samuel 

Sherman,  H.K 

Sherwood,  W.  H 

Smiley,  John 


Page 
. 346 
. 571 
. 658 
. 642 
. 384 
. 156 
. 565 
. 95 

. 154 
. 329 
. 284 
. 734 
. 85 

. .532 
. 705 
. 795 
. 281 
. 579 
. 577 
. 81 
. 5 

. 33 

. 63 

. 510 
. 520 
. 843 
. 666 
. 606 
. 725 
. 727 
. 784 
. 730 
. 180 
. 778 
. 768 
. 269 
. 270 
. 91 

. 638 
■ 207 
. 741 
. 146 
. 310 
. 407 
, 159 
. 836 
. 685 
. 586 
. ooi 
. 51 

. 93 

. 201 
. 374 
. 395 
. 443 
. 758 


Smith,  Dr.  L.  A . . . . 
Smith,  Dr.  E.  N . . . 
Smith,  R.  W . . . 
Streeter,  Dr.  J.  B . . . 
Strickland,  Ezra  . . . 

Strickland,  P 

Strickland,  Ira  A ...  . 
Stoddard,  Chester  . . . 

Stone,  0.  W 

Stephens,  Benjamin  . 

Stephens,  J.  B 

Squier,  Albert  . . . . 
Sweet,  Captain  A.  T . . 
Sweet,  Lorenzo  . . . . 

Tarbell,  J.  S 

Taylor,  James  P . . . 
Taylor,  Jacob  . . . . 
Taylor,  David  .... 
Tewksbury,  Samuel  . . 
Tewksbury,  John  . . . 
Tewksbury,  Franklin  . 
Thorpe,  C.  T . . . ; . 

Tiffany,  E.  T 

Tiffany,  E.  M 

Tiffany,  M.  L 

Tilden,  Elder  W.  C . . 
Tingley,  Norman  . . . 
Tingley,  Deacon  F . . 
Titus,  Leonard  . . . . 
Turrell,  Hon.  W.  J . . 

Turrell,  Abel 

Turrell,  H.  F 

Vail,  Dr.  J.  D 

Van  Cott,  Janies  . . . 

Very,  Zerah 

Walker,  George  . . . . 
Walker,  Sarah  M . . . 
Warrantee  Map  . . . . 
Washburn,  Oscar  . . . 
Watrous,  Spencer  . . . 

Watrous,  D.  S 

Wells,  E.  C 

Westfall,  Levi  . . . . 

Weston,  E.  A 

Wheaton,  N.  P . . . . 
White,  William  . . . . 
Whitney,  F.  M . . . . 
Whitney,  M.  T . . . . 
Williams,  Hon.  W.  W 
Williams,  Dyer  . . . . 
Williams,  John  . . . . 
Wilson,  Mason  S . . . 
Woodward,  George  . . 
Wright,  Dr.  Samuel  , 
Wright,  Myron  B . . . 


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HISTORY 


OF 

SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


CHAPTER  I. 

ABORIGINAL  INHABITANTS. 

Lenni  Lenapo — Six  Nations — Extinguishment  of  Indian  Title. 

When  the  territory  now  comprised  in  the 
county  of  Susquehanna  was  first  known  to  the 
white  man  it  contained  no  Indian  settlement, 
but  was  a wilderness  waste,  occupied  temporarily 
by  the  hunting  parties  of  the  Six  Nations  or 
Iroquois,  who  held  dominion  to  the  northward, 
and  the  Lenni  Lenape,  who  lived  on  the  south. 
The  Lenni  Lenape,  or  original  people,  as  they 
called  themselves,  were  one  of  the  noblest  tribes 
of  Indians  in  North  America.  When  Henry 
Hudson  rode  at  anchor  on  the  majestic  river 
which  bears  his  name,  just  above  the  Highlands, 
in  the  ship  “Half  Moon,”  September  16,  1609, 
he  was  met  by  the  Lenni  Lenape.  “Full  of 
simple  sublimity  and  lofty  poetry  was  the  con- 
ception these  savages  first  formed  of  the  strange, 
white-faced  men,  in  dress,  bearing  and  speech 
different  from  their  own,  who  came  in  the 
winged  canoe  to  their  shores.”  They  welcomed 
them  as  superior  beings  sent  to  them  as  messen- 
gers of  peace  from  the  abode  of  the  Great  Spirit, 
and  honored  them  with  sacrificial  feasts  and 
with  gifts. 

Hudson  recorded  that  above  the  Highlands 


“they  found  a very  loving  people,  and  very  old 
men  and  were  well  used.”  The  Lenni  Le- 
nape claimed  that  they  had  existed  from  the  be- 
ginning; that  they  were  the  original  people. 
“The  Miamis,  Wyandots,  Shawanese  and  many 
others  admitted  their  antiquity  and  called  them 
grandfathers.”  They  have  a legend  that  centu- 
ries before  the  white  man  came  to  their  shores 
their  ancestors,  who  lived  beyond  the  “Father 
of  Waters” — the  Mamaesi  Sipu  or  Mississippi 
— near  the  wide  sea  where  the  sun  sank  every 
night,  traveled  eastward  in  search  of  a fairer 
land,  of  which  their  prophets  had  told  them. 
That  near  the  Mississippi  they  met  the  Mengioe 
or  Lroqmis.  They  journeyed  eastward  together, 
neither  in  warfare  nor  friendship,  until  it  be- 
came necessary  for  them  to  unite  their  forces 
against  the  Allegwi,  whom  they  finally  defeated 
and  nearly  exterminated,  “sweeping  them  for- 
ward as  the  wind  does  the  dry  leaves  of  the 
forest.”  Both  tribes  wandered  eastward  until 
the  Mengtoe  struck  the  Hudson  and  the  Lenni 
Lenape  the  Delaware  or  Lenape  Wihittuck  (the 
river  or  stream  of  the  Lenape).  Plere,  in  the 
beautiful  Minisink  Valley,  they  established 
their  council-fire,  and  made  it  the  central  seat  of 
their  power,  being  satisfied  that  this  was  the  fiur 
land  of  which  their  prophets  had  told  them.  Con- 
sidering their  faith  in  these  traditions,  which 
made  this  the  loved  home  of  the  Lenni  Jjenape, 


2 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA, 


can  we  wonder  at  the  resentment  which  these 
simple  and  peaceable  Indians  felt,  when  they 
saw  the  pale- faces,  whom  they  had  befriended, 
defraud  them  out  of  this  very  home  by  the  un- 
fair construction  wdiich  they  put  upon  the 
Walking-  Purchase. 

The  Lenape  were  divided  into  three  tribes — 
the  Turtle  or  UiUDiiis,  the  Turkey  or  Unalaeldgo, 
who  inhabited  the  coast  from  the  Hudson  to  the 
Potomac,  settling  in  towns,  on  the  streams  and 
river  flats,  which  their  women  sometimes  culti- 
vated, under  chiefs  wdio  were  subordinate  to  the 
g-reat  council  of  the  nation.  The  3Iinsior  Wolf 
division  of  the  Lenape,  called  by  the  English 
“IMonseys,”  were  the  most  warlike  of  these 
tribes.  “'They  dwelt  in  the  interior,  forming 
a barrier  between  their  nation  and  the  Mengwe. 
They  extended  themselves  from  the  IMinisink 
on  the  Delaware,  where  they  held  their  council- 
seat,  to  the  Hudson  on  the  east,  the  Susquehan- 
na on  the  southwest,  the  headwaters  of  the  Del- 
aware and  Susquehanna  Riv^ers  on  the  north, 
and  to  that  range  of  hills  now  known  in  New 
Jersey  by  the  name  of  the  Muskenecum,  and 
by  those  of  Lehigh  and  Conewago  in  Pennsyl- 
vania.” Many  tribes  proceeded  from  these  and 
obtained  local  names.  Such,  probably,  were  the 
Shaw'anese,  Nanticokes  and  Susquchannas.  The 
Six  Nations  occupied  the  country  extending 
from  the  Upper  Hudson  to  the  St.  Lawrence  and 
the  great  lakes.  They  consisted  of  the  Mohawks, 
Senecas,  Cayugas,  Onondagas  and  Oneidas,  and 
the  Tuscaroras  from  the  Carolinas,  who  came 
north  and  joined  the  Five  Nations  about  1712. 
In  process  of  time,  according  to  the  tradition  of 
the  Lenni  Lenape,  there  were  wars  between 
them  and  the  Mengwe,  in  which  the  former 
wei’e  generally  successful.  As  Susquehanna, 
AVayne  and  Bradford  Counties  were  on  the  bor- 
der line  between  these  powerful  tribes,  it  is  not 
unreasonable  to  suppose  that  there  may  have 
been  many  a savage  conflict  within  the  borders 
of  what  is  now  Susquehanna  County. 

It  is  known  that  they  had  paths  or  Indian 
trails  through  the  county.  At  Great  Bend  there 
was  an  old  ^Tuscarora  town,  and  Indian  trails 


1 Egle’s  “ History  of  Pennsylvania.” 

2 John  Lulten’s  “Report  of  Surveys.” 


led  from  this  town  to  the  Lackaw'anna  and  Wy- 
oming Valleys,  another  led  more  easterly  to 
Easton  and  Philadelphia,  and  one  led  east 
through  Mt.  Pleasant,  Wayne  County,  to  the 
Delaware  River.  At  the  time  when  the  whites 
flrst  knew  of  the  territory  embraced  in  the  pre- 
sent county  of  Susquehanna,  it  was  a hunting- 
ground,  but  was  not  occupied  by  any  tribe.  The 
Delawares  were  under  subjection  to  the  Six  Na- 
tions and  were  not  permitted  to  travel  on  these 
trails  without  their  eonsent,  for  the  Iroquois  had 
finally  triumphed  over  their  old  enemies,  the 
Delawares,  by  shi’ewdly  inducing  them  to  culti- 
vate peace  and  abandon  war,  until  they  became 
like  women,  as  the  Delawares  allege.  Whether 
the  Delawares’  account  of  the  matter  is  correct 
or  not,  it  is  certain  that  the  Iroquois,  who  have 
been  called  the  Romans  of  North  America,  had 
gained  control  over  them,  and  parties  of  the 
Iroquois  occasionally  occupied  the  Lenape  coun- 
try and  w-andered  over  it  at  their  will.  Brant, 
the  Mohawk  chief,  was  occasionally  in  Susque- 
hanna County.  There  have  been  some  eviden- 
ces of  former  Indian  occupancy  discovered. 
Among  these  were  the  Painted  Rocks, — “ ^About 
two  miles  above  the  village  of  Great  Bend  the 
Susquehanna  River  is  quite  narrow,  with  high 
rocks  on  each  side  of  the  stream.  This  roman- 
tic locality  was  known  to  the  early  settlers  as 
the  Painted  Rocks,  from  the  fact,  that,  high 
upon  the  face  of  one  of  these  cliffs,  and  far 
above  the  reach  of  man,  was  the  painted  figure 
of  an  Indian  chief.  The  outlines  of  this  figure 
were  plainly  visible  to  the  earliest  white  visitors 
of  the  place,  but  long  after  the  outlines  had 
faded,  the  red  which  predominated  still  re- 
mained, which  led  the  inhabitants  to  call  the 
place  ‘Red  Rock,’  and  by  that  name  it  is  known 
to  this  day.” 

There  was  once  an  island  a short  distance 
above  Great  Bend,  whieh  has  been  washed  away 
by  the  floods  until  it  has  become  a mere  sand- 
bar. The  Indians  used  to  meet  at  this  island 
and  race  around  it  in  their  canoes,  the  victor  be- 
coming temporary  chieftain,  whom  all  the  hunt- 
ing, or  picnic  party,  as  it  might  be  termed,  had 
to  obey.  There  are  further  traces  of  the  In- 

3.J.  Du  Bois. 


ABORIGINAL  INHABITANTS. 


S 


dians  in  a number  of  the  townships,  especially 
along  the  rivers,  where  they  undoubtedly  fished 
for  the  speckled  front  which  once  abounded  in 
these  mountain  streams,  and  where  they  hunted 
the  deer  and  bear.  “ * In  the  vicinity  of  Apala- 
con  and  Tuscarora  Creeks  numerous  arrow- 
heads have  been  found;  and,  in  otlier  localities, 
other  implements  of  the  Indians.”  Two  of  the 
most  noted  salt  s])rings  in  the  county  were 
worked  by  the  Indians.  A legend  lias  been 
preserved  in  relation  to  the  one  near  Silver 
Creek  by  a writer  in  the  Volwnteer. 

It  is  not  within  the  scope  of  this  work  to 
give  a detailed  account  of  the  conflicts  which 
led  to  the  expulsion  of  the  Indians  from  North- 
eastern Pennsylvania,  but  a brief  account  of  the 
“Walking  Purchase,”  and  the  dissatisfaction  of 
the  Indians  which  followed,  will  be  traced,  un- 
til the  final  overthrow  of  the  Six  Nations.  The 
first  relea.se  of  title  by  the  Indians  in  the  Pro- 
vinee  of  Pennsylvania  was  made  in  1782,  be- 
fore Penn’s  arrival,  by  his  Deputy-Governor, 
William  Markham.  It  embraced  all  the  terri- 
tory between  the  Neshaminy  and  the  Delaware, 
as  far  up  as  Wrightstown  and  Upper  Wakefield 
— about  the  centre  of  the  present  county  of 
Bucks.  In  1683  and  1684  Penn  him.self  made 
other  purchases.  On  the  17th  of  September, 
1718,  the  Lenni  Lenape  made  another  treaty, 
confirming  their  sales  heretofore  made,  and  ex- 
tending them  from  the  Delaware  to  the  Susque- 
hanna. This  last-named  .sale  was  confirmed 
11th  October,  1736,  by  twenty-three  chiefs  of 
the  Six  Natioirs,  who  presumptuously  laid  claim 
to  this  land  also.  They  pretended  to  sell  all 
the  lands  on  both  sides  of  the  Susquehanna, 
eastward  to  the  heads  of  the  branches  or  springs 
flowing  into  the  river,  northward  to  the  Kit- 
tochtinny  Hills,  and  westward  to  the  .setting 
sun.  This  indefinite  we.stern  boundary  really 
extended  to  the  Susquehanna  River,  and  the 
northern  boundary  was  the  Conewago  Hills, 
South  Mountain  and  Ijehigh  River. 

In  1736  the  Iroquois  relea.sed  their  a.ssumed 
claim  to  a belt  of  country  lying  north  of  the 
former  purcha.se  and  south  of  the  Blue  Moun- 
taiiLS,  and  extending  .southwesterly  from  the 


Delaware  to  and  beyond  the  Susquehanna,  in- 
cluding the  northern  parts  of  the  present  North- 
ampton, Lehigh  and  Berks,  and  the  whole  of 
several  counties  farther  we.st. 

The  Lenni  Lenape  grew  restive  under  these 
a.ssumptious  of  the  Iroquois,  and  after  consulta- 
tion with  the  j)ro[)rietaries  they  agreed,  August 
25,  1737,  that  a former  alleged  purcha.se,  which 
had  Ijeeu  made  from  the  Delawares,  should  be 
de<“ided  in  a novel  manner.  The  proprietaries 
were  to  receive  such  portion  of  the  Indian  terri- 
toi'y  as  should  be  included  within  a line  drawn 
northwesterly  from  a point  in  or  near  Wrights- 
town, as  far  as  a man  conld  walk  in  a day  and 
a half,  and  a line  drawn  from  his  .stopping- pi  ace 
straight  to  the  Delaware,  which  was  the  eastern 
boniidary.  It  is  said  that  a preliminary  walk 
was  had,  and  that  the  trees  were  blazed  along 
the  route  in  1735,  in  order  that  no  distance 
should  be  lost  in  wandering  out  of  a straight 
line.  Edward  Mar.shall,  James  Yeates  and 
Solomon  Jennings,  noted  walker.s,  were  chosen 
to  make  the  walk.  They  started  at  a large 
chestnut  tree  near  the  Pennsville  and  Durham 
roads.  Yeates  led,  with  a light  step,  followed 
by  Jennings,  and  Marshall  brought  up  the  rear, 
carele,ssly  swinging  a hatchet.  Jennings  and 
Yeates  both  gave  out  before  the  walk  was  fin- 
ished. Jennings  was  injured  for  life  by  his 
over-exertion,  and  Yeates  died  three  days  after. 
Marshall  went  on  and  completed  the  walk,  at 
noon  the  second  day.  He  threw  himself  on  the 
ground  and  reached  to  a sapling,  which  was 
taken  as  the  point  fi’om  which  the  line  was  run 
to  the  Delaware.  The  Indians  who  accompan- 
ied the  walkers,  to  .see  that  everything  was  done 
fairly,  frequently  called  out  for  them  to  stop, 
not  to  run,  and  finally  left  in  disgust  before  the 
walk  was  completed.  They  had  expected  that 
the  walk  would  be  conducted  in  a leisurely 
manner,  that  they  would  stop,  and  talk,  and 
smoke,  like  Onas  (Penn)  did,  but  the  over-reach- 
ing  policy  of  Penn’s  descendants  began  to  mani- 
fest itself,  and  the  Indians  saw  that  they  were 
losing  their  lands.  Instead  of  running  the  line 
directly  to  the  Delaware  River  at  the  nearest 
point,  Eastburn  ran  the  line  at  right  angles 
with  the  path  taken  by  Marshall,  which  caused 
the  line  to  strike  the  Delaware  near  the  mouth 


1 BliK'knian'H  ‘ History.*’ 


4 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


of  the  Shohola.  This  included  the  Minisink, 
the  chosen  home  and  conncil-seat  of  the  Lenni 
Lcnape.  The  Indians  luurnuired  at  this  unfair 
treatment,  but  the  proj)rietaries  had  sold  ten 
thousand  acres  of  these  very  lands  to  William 
Allen,  and  he  in  turn  was  selling  them  to  settlers 
as  early  as  1733,  or  four  years  before  the  “walk- 
ing purchase.”  Thus  it  appears  that  the  pro- 
prietaries had  determined  to  ignore  the  Lenape 
and  their  claims,  and  in  order  to  make  their 
humiliation  more  complete,  the  Governor  com- 
plained to  the  deputies  of  the  Six  Nations,  and 
Canasatego,  one  of  their  chiefs,  repaired  to 
Philadelphia,  accompanied  by  three  hundred 
warriors,  in  1742,  where  a great  council  was 
held,  at  which  the  injured  Delawares  were  also 
represented. 

The  Penns  had  applied  to  the  Six  Nations  to 
compel  the  Delawares  to  surrender  their  ancient 
home,  and  Canasatego  stood  up  and  made  a very 
insulting  speech,  calling  the  Delawares  women, 
and  upbraiding  them  for  presuming  to  sell  the 
lauds.  Said  he,  “ You  deserve  to  be  taken  by 
the  hair  of  yonr  heads  and  shaken  till  you  re- 
cover your  senses  and  become  sober.  We  have 
seen  a deed  signed  by  yonr  chiefs  above  fifty 
years  ago,  for  this  very  land.  But  how  came 
you  to  take  upon  yourselves  to  sell  land  at  all  ? 
We  conrpiered  you  ; we  made  women  of  you.” 
After  talking  for  some  time  in  this  strain,  he 
commanded  them  to  remove  from  the  land  in- 
stantly, and  gave  them  their  choice  to  go  to 
Shamokin  or  Wyoming.  He  then  gave  them  a 
belt  of  wampum  and  ordered  them  to  leave  the 
council.  These  arbitrary  orders  they  dared  not 
disobey.  They  were  between  two  great  powers, 
— the  rapacious  whites  whom  they  had  welcomed 
to  their  shores  as  messengers  of  peace,  on  the 
one  hand,  and  the  powerful  Six  Nations,  their 
old  enemies,  on  the  other.  They  left  their  wig- 
wams on  the  Delaware  and  sadly  took  their 
march  westward.  A portion  of  them  went  to 
Shamokin,  where  Sunbury  now  is.  A few  of 
them  settled  on  the  Juniata,  near  Lewistown, 
but  the  greater  number  of  them,  under  Tademe, 
\vent  to  Wyoming,  below  Wilkes-Barre,  where 
they  built  a village  in  1742.  The  Monscys  oc- 
cupied the  Lackawanna  Valley  under  their  chief, 
Capoure. 


Thus  was  the  power  of  the  once  proud  and 
warlike  Lenni  Lenape  broken  forever.  True, 
Teedyuscung  rallied  a remnant  of  this  once 
powerful  race  in  1755,  and  tried  to  expel  the 
pale-faced  intruders  from  their  old  home,  but  it 
only  resulted  in  their  committing  a great  many 
ravages  in  Monroe  and  Northampton  Counties, 
particularly  in  the  vicinity  of  Stroudsburg  and 
Smithfield.  Teedyuscung  gained  such  promi- 
nence that  the  chiefs  of  the  Iroquois  were  jeal- 
ous of  him.  He  participated  in  several  great 
councils  in  Philadelphia  and  Easton,  and  ably 
championed  the  cause  of  his  people. 

Just  twelve  years  after  the  unfortunate 
“Walking  Purchase”  was  made,  and  while 
the  contention  in  regard  to  it  was  still  carried 
on,  a portion  of  the  territory  which  it  covered 
and  very  much  more  was  secured  from  the  Del- 
aware, or  Lenape j and  the  Six  Nations  by  pur- 
chase, the  consideration  being  £300  “ lawful 
money  of  Pennsylvania.”  This  purchase  inclu- 
ded a belt  of  country  stretching  from  the  Dela- 
ware to  the  Susquehanna  ; having  as  its  south 
boundary  the  Blue  Mountains.  In  this  scope 
of  country  thus  obtained,  lies  the  whole  of 
the  present  Monroe  County,  the  greater  part  of 
Pike,  a very  small  portion  of  Wayne  (the  ex- 
treme tip  of  its  southern  pan-handle),  the  whole 
of  Carbon  and  Schuylkill  and  parts  of  Lacka- 
wanna, Luzerne,  Columbia,  Northumberland, 
Dauphin  and  Lebanon. 

The  treaty  was  consummated  August  22, 
1749,  at  Philadelphia,  the  parties  being  Edward 
Warner,  Lynford  Lardner,  receiver-general  of 
the  province,  William  Peters,  Richard  Peters, 
secretary  of  the  province,  and  others,  and  the 
sachems  and  chiefs  of  the  Six  Nations,  Dela- 
ware.s,  Shamokin  and  Shawanese  Indians. 
After  the  treaty  of  1749  another  purchase  of 
lauds  was  made  from  the  Indians  in  1768.  The 
treaty  was  made  between  the  representatives  of 
Thomas  and  Richard  Penn  and  the  sachems  of 
the  Six  Nations,  at  Fort  Stanwix  (now  Rome, 
N.  Y.),  and  concluded  Nov.  5,  1768.  By  its 
terms  the  Indian  title  was  released  from  an  im- 
mense belt  of  country,  northwest  of  the  lands 
ceded  by  the  treaties  of  1749,  1754  and  1758, 
and  extending  diagonally  across  the  entire  pro- 
vince from  the  Delaware  River,  in  the  north- 


EARLY  SETTLEMENTS. 


5 


eastern  corner,  to  the  boundaries  of  Virginia  on 
the  west,  and  of  Virginia  and  Maryland  on  the 
south. 

All  of  the  territory  of  the  present  Wayne 
Comity,  except  a very  small  fraction  of  its 
sonthern  extremity,  was  included  in  this  cession, 
which  embraced  the  whole  of  Susquehanna, 
Wyoming,  Sullivan,  Alontour,  Green,  Wash- 
ington, Fayette,  Westmoreland,  Somerset  and 
Cambria,  and  parts  of  Lackawanna,  Luzerne, 
Columbia,  Northumberland,  Union,  Snyder, 
Bradford,  Ijycoming,  Clinton,  Centre,  Clear- 
field, Indiana,  Armstrong,  Allegheny  and  Bea- 
ver. 

In  the  deed  from  the  Six  Nations,  the  terri- 
tory of  the  purchase  was  described  as  follows : 

“ All  that  part  of  the  Province  of  Pennsylvania  not 
heretofore  purchased  of  the  Indians,  within  the  said 
general  boundary  line,  and  beginning  in  the  said 
Boundary  line  on  the  east  side  of  the  east  Branch  of 
the  River  Susquehanna,  at  a place  called  Owegy,  and 
running  with  the  said  boundary  Line  down  the  said 
Branch,  on  the  east  side  thereof,  till  it  comes  opposite 
the  mouth  of  a Creek  called  by  the  Indians  Awandac 
(Tawandee)  and  across  the  River,  and  up  the  said 
Creek  on  the  south  side  thereof  and  along  the  range 
of  hills  called  Burnett’s  Hills  by  the  English  and  by 
the  Indians^ — on  the  north  side  of  them,  to  the  head 
of  a creek  which  runs  into  the  West  Branch  of  the 
Susquehanna;  then  crossing  the  said  River  and  run- 
ning up  the  same  on  the  South  side  thereof,  the  sev- 
eral courses  thereof,  to  the  forks  of  the  same  River 
which  lies  nearest  to  a place  on  the  River  Ohio®  called 
Kittanning,  and  from  the  said  fork,  by  a straight  line 
to  Kittanning  aforesaid,  and  then  down  the  said  Ohio 
by  the  several  courses  thereof,  to  where  the  western 
Bounds  of  the  said  Province  of  Pennsylvania  crosses 
the  same  river,  and  then  with  the  same  western 
Bounds  to  the  South  boundary  thereof,  and  with  the 
South  boundary  aforesaid  to  the  east  side  of  the  Alle- 
gheny hills,  on  the  east  side  of  them  to  the  west  line 
of  a tract  of  Land  purchased  by  the  Said  Proprietors 
from  the  Six  Nations,  and  contirmed  October  23, 
1758,  and  then  with  the  Northern  bounds  of  that 
Tract  to  the  River  Susquehanna  and  crossing  the 
River  Susquehanna  to  the  Northern  Boundary  line 
of  another  tract  of  Land  purchased  of  the  Indians  by 

1 At  a subsequent  treaty  at  Fort  Stauwix  (October,  1784),  the  Pennsyl- 
vania Commissioners  imiuired  of  the  Indians  wlnit  was  their  iiamo  for 
the  ran^e  called  by  the  English  “ Ihirnett’s  Hills,”  to  which  they  re- 
plied that  they  know  them  by  no  other  name  than  the  “ Long  Moun- 
tains.” Ah  to  the  creek  called  by  them  “ Tiudaghton,”  they  explained 
that  it  was  the  same  known  by  the  whites  us  Pine  Creek,  which  flows 
into  tlio  West  Brunch  of  the  Susquehanna  from  (he  northward. 

2 Meaning  the  Allegheny,  to  which  the  Tndiansalways  gave  the  name 
of  Ohio. 


Deed  (August  22,  1749),  and  then  with  that  northern 
Line,  to  the  River  Delaware  at  the  North  side  of  the 
mouth  of  a creek  called  Lechawachsein,  then  of  the 
said  River  Delaware  on  the  west  side  thereof  to  the 
intersection  of  it  by  an  east  line  to  be  drawn  from 
Owegy  aforesaid  to  the  said  River  Delaware  and  then 
with  that  east  Line,  to  the  beginning,  at  Owegy  afore- 
said.” 


CHAPTER  II. 

EARLY  SETTLEMENT, S. 

Charles  IT.  Charters — Connecticut,  Susquehanna  and  Delaware  Indian 
Purchases— Pennamite  War — Westmoreland  County. 

Susquehanna  County  was  included  in 
Westmoreland  County,  and  attaelied  to  Litch- 
field County  under  the  Connecticut  claim,  which 
afterwards  led  to  difficulties,  under  the  opera- 
tion of  the  Intrusion  Laws,  in  respect  to  land 
titles.  Although  the  territory  comprising  the 
county  of  Susquelijinna  was  not  settled  until 
after  the  Trenton  decree  in  1782  had  declared 
that  “Connecticut  had  no  right  to  the  lands  in 
controversey,”  it  was  chiefly  settled  by  men 
from  the  New  England  States,  and  the  descend- 
ants of  the  Wyoming  settlers  under  Connecti- 
cut title  ; hence  it  is  pertinent  to  our  sulqect  to 
briefly  examine  the  conflicting  claims  between 
the  proprietaries  of  Pennsylvania  and  the 
colony  of  Connecticut. 

“To  begin  with,  it  must  he  stated  that  the  contest 
for  the  possession  of  Northern  Pennsylvania  had  its 
origin  in  the  ignorance  or  indifference  of  the  British 
monarchs  concerning  American  geography,  and  con- 
sequent confusion  in  the  granting  of  charters  to  the 
several  colonies,  several  of  them  overlapping,  and 
thus  causing  conflicts  of  authority  over  ownership 
and  possession. 

“ The  charter  of  Connecticut  w.as  granted  by 
Charles  II.  in  1602,  and  was  confirmatory  to  the 
charter  granted  by  .lames  I.  to  ‘the  Grand  Council  of 
Plymouth  for  planting  and  governing  New  England 
in  America’  in  1620,  and  also  to  a deed  given  in  16)31 
by  the  Earl  of  Warwick,  then  president  of  the  Plym- 
outh Council,  to  Lord  Say  and  Seal,  Lord  Brooke 
and  others,  by  which  was  conveyed  to  them  that  j)art 
of  New  England  afterwards  purchased  by  the  colony 
of  Connecticut.  The  charter  granted  to  the  colony 
all  the  lands  west  of  it,  to  the  extent  of  its  breadth, 
from  sea  to  sea,  or  ‘ from  Narragansett  River,  one 
hundred  and  twenty  miles  on  a straight  line,  near  the 


6 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


shore  towards  the  southwest,  as  the  coast  lies  towards 
Virginia,  and  within  that  breadth  from  the  Atlantic 
Ocean  to  the  South  Sea.’ ' This  measurement  would 
bring  the  southern  line  of  Connecticut  Jiearly  or 
quite  to  the  forty-first  degree  of  north  latitude  (upon 
or  near  which  Stroudsburg,  Monroe  County,  is  lo- 
cated), and  thus  had  the  claim  been  maintained,  Penn- 
sylvania would  have  been  diminished  to  the  extent  of 
over  two-fifths  of  its  present  territory.  The  charter 
included  an  exception  of  lands  ‘then  actually  pos- 
sessed or  inhabited  by  any  other  Christian  prince  or 
State,’  and  under  this  exception  the  Dutch  posses- 
sions of  New  York,  or  the  New  Netherlands,  extend- 
ing to  the  Delaware,  were  exempted  from  the  ‘ sea  to 
sea  ’ charter  of  Connecticut.  The  lands  of  the  Dutch 
were  never  vested  in  the  British  crown  until  the  con- 
quest of  1664,  and  in  1650  articles  of  agreement  re- 
specting their  eastern  line  had  been  made  between 
them  and  Connecticut.  On  the  conquest  of  the  Dutch 
by  the  English — their  lands  having  been  given  to  the 
Duke  of  York  (afterwards  James  II.,  brother  of 
Charles  II.) — the  line  established  in  1650  was  agreed 
upon  as  ‘ the  western  bound  of  the  Colony  of  Connec- 
ticut,’ as  it  was  the  eastern  of  the  Duke’s  lands — a 
statement  which  was  afterwards  taken  advantage  of 
by  Pennsylvania  and  construed  into  a relinquishment 
by  Connecticut  of  all  claim  to  lands  west  of  the 
Delaware,  although  they  had  been  distinctly  included 
in  the  charter  of  1662.” 

By  the  charter  granted  to  William  Penn  in 
1681  by  Charles  II.,  he  was  invested  with  the 
ownership  of  a vast  province — greater  than  the 
present  State — having  the  end  of  the  forty- 
second  degree  of  north  latitude,  or  the  beginning 
of  latitude  forty-three  degrees  north  for  a north- 
ern boundary,  and  thus  overlapping  by  one  de- 
gree the  grant  made  to  Connecticut  by  the  same 
sovereign  nineteen  years  before.  The  Pennsyl- 
vania charter  also  included  a portion  of  the 
lands  before  granted  to  Lord  Baltimore,  just  as 
Lord  Baltimore’s  patent  had  covered  lands  long 
vested  in  Y’^irginia,  and  thus  there  was  error 
all  around.  The  King,  however,  undoubtedly 
acted  in  good  faith,  if  in  ignorance.  YVhen  the 
Quaker  j^etitioned  for  his  charter  it  was  referred 
to  the  attorney-general  of  the  crown.  Sir  William 
Jones,  who  reported  that  “ the  tract  of  land  de- 
sired by  Mr.  Penn  seems  to  be  undisposed  of 
by  His  Majesty,  except  the  imaginary  lines  of 
New  England  patents,  which  are  bounded  west- 
wardly  by  the  main  ocean,  should  give  them  a 


real,  though  impracticable  right  to  all  of  those 
vast  territories.” 

The  Connecticut-Susquehanna  Company  was 
formed  in  1753,  and  consisted  at  first  of  eight 
hundred  and  forty  persons,  including  a large 
proportion  of  the  leading  men  of  the  colony. 
Afterwards  the  number  of  proprietors  was  aug- 
mented to  twelve  hundred.  “Their  adion,” 
says  Miner,  the  historian  of  Wyoming,  “ may 
be  regarded  as  an  unofficial  popular  movement 
of  the  colony  itself.”  ^ Their  purpose  was  to 
purchase  the  Indian  title  within  the  charter 
limits  of  the  colony  of  Connecticut  on  the  waters 
of  the  Susquehanna,  and  this  they  did  at  a 
council  held  with  the  Six  Nations  Indians  in 
Albany,  in  July,  1754.  The  treaty  was  con- 
cluded and  a deed  executed  on  the  11th  of  the 
month.  The  consideration  for  and  the  bound- 
aries of  the  purchased  lands  were  given  in  the 
deed.  After  describing  the  grantors  as  “ the 
chiefs,  sachems  and  heads  of  the  Six  Nations 
and  the  native  proprietors  of  the  land,”  and 
setting  forth  that  the  same  lies  within  the  limits 
of  the  royal  charter  to  Connecticut  mentioning 
the  application  of  the  grantees  being  subjects  of 
King  George  the  Second,  and  inhabitants  of 
Connecticut,  and  expressing  the  good  under- 
standing which  had  mutually  subsisted  between 
the  parties,  their  wish  for  its  continuance  and 
the  benefits  which  would  result  from  a settle- 
ment, the  deed  contains  these  words  : “ Now, 
therefore,  for  and  in  consideration  thereof,  and 
for  the  further,  full  and  ample  consideration  of 
the  sum  of  two  thousand  pounds  of  current 
money  of  the  province  of  New  York,  to  us,  to 
our  full  satisfaction,  before  the  ensealing  hereof, 
contended  and  paid,  the  receipt  whereof,  to  our 
full  content,  we  do  hereby  acknowledge,  there- 
upon do  give,  grant,  bargain,  sell,  convey  and 
confirm  to,”  etc.  (here  follow  the  names  of  the 
grantees),  “which  said  given  and  granted  tract 
of  lands  is  butted,  bounded  and  described  as 
followeth,  viz.  : Beginning  from  the  one  and 
fortieth  degree  of  north  latitude  at  ten  miles 
distance  east  of  Susquehanna  River  and  from 
thence  with  a northerly  line,  ten  miles  east  of 
the  river,  to  the  forty-second  or  beginning  of 
the  forty-third  degree  of  north  latitude,  and  to 


1 Tlie  vaguely-known  Pacific  was  then  so  called. 


2 Miner’s  “History  of  Wyoming,”  p.  68. 


EARLY  SETTLEMENTS. 


7 


exteucl  west  two  degrees  of  longitude,  one  hun- 
dred and  twenty  miles,  and  from  thence  south 
to  the  beginning  of  the  forty-second  degree,  and 
from  thence  east  to  the  aforementioned  bounds, 
which  is  ten  miles  east  of  the  Snsquehanna 
River.”  These  boundaries  did  not  include  Sus- 
quehanna County,  but  they  included  the  beauti- 
ful Wyoming  Valley  and  a great  extent  of 
territory  extending  westward  to  the  headwaters 
of  the  Allegheny  River. 

The  Delaware  Company,  subsequent  to  the 
Susquehanna  Company’s  purchase,  bought  with 
less  formality  the  Indian  title  from  certain 
chiefs  of  all  the  land  bounded  east  by  the  Dela- 
ware River,  within  the  forty-second  degree  of 
latitude,  west  to  the  line  of  the  Susquehanna 
purchase,  viz.,  ten  miles  east  of  that  river. 
This  purchase  included  Susquehanna  County  ; 
and  it  was  under  the  auspices  of  this  company 
that  the  first  settlement  of  the  Connecticut 
claimants  was  made  at  Cushutunk,  on  the  Dela- 
ware River,  in  1757.  The  amount  of  land  in- 
cluded in  the  two  purchases,  according  to  Miner, 
embraced  territory  about  seventy  miles  wide  by 
one  hundred  and  twenty  miles  long,  or  some 
five  million  acres. 

Both  purchases  were  immediately  made 
known  to  the  Pennsylvania  authorities,  and, 
in  fact,  commissioners  from  the  province  were 
pre.sent  at  the  Albany  council.  The  Governor 
at  once  wrote  Sir  William  Johnson,  requesting 
him,  if  possible,  to  induce  the  Indians  to  deny 
the  regularity  of  the  purchase,  and  he  took 
various  other  means  to  defeat  the  Connecticut 
.scheme. 

The  Su.squehanna  Company,  having  com- 
pleted its  purchase,  concluded  to  divide  the 
land  into  shares,  which  were  to  be  distributed, 
and  called  a general  meeting,  to  be  held  at 
Hartford,  for  that  purpose.  They  had  very 
shrewdly  endeavored  to  interest  Pennsylva- 
nians, especially  those  of  the  frontier  settle- 
ments, in  their  enterpri.se,  and  had  succeeded  in 
some  measure. 

The  territory  purchased  of  the  Six  Nations 
formerly  belonged  to  the  Ijenni  Lenape,  and  it 
became  politic  for  the  proprietary  Governors 
to  cultivate  friendship  with  this  unfortunate 
l)eople  again,  but  they  were  precluded  by  their 


own  acts  from  claiming  any  title  through  the 
Delawares,  for  it  will  be  remembered  that  they 
called  on  the  Six  Nations  to  enforce  the  unjust 
Walking  Purchase,  thereby  acknowledging  their 
dominion  over  this  very  territory. 

The  first  .settlement  at  Wyoming  was  made 
in  the  spring  of  1762 — if,  indeed,  .settlement  it 
could  be  called  in  which  the  men,  after  plant- 
ing, and,  perhaps,  securing  some  of  their  crops, 
retired  to  their  Connecticut  homes  for  the 
winter.  In  the  following  spring,  however,  they 
came  back  prepared  tp  establish  themselves 
permanently,  bringing  their  stock,  household 
goods  and,  it  is  probable,  all  that  they  pos- 
sessed. But  their  hopes  were  doomed  to  early 
and  sudden  blight. 

The  Delaware  Indians,  who  claimed  the 
lands  on  the  Susquehanna  and  Delaware,  em- 
braced in  the  Connecticut  charter,  averred  that 
they  had  never  sold  any  of  their  possessions  on 
the  former  river,  though  they  admitted  that 
some  of  their  lesser  chiefs  had,  in  an  irregular 
way,  granted  a title  to  those  on  the  Delaware, 
and  they  complained  bitterly  of  the  presence  of 
white  men  upon  these  lands,  which,  they  as- 
serted, had  been  “ bought  from  under  their 
feet  ” of  the  Six  Nations.  The  provincial  au- 
thorities were  constantly  beset  with  applications 
to  have  the  trespa.ssers  removed,  and  there  were 
not  wanting  evidences  that  the  Indians  would 
take  the  matter  in  their  own  hands  if  the  au- 
thorities did  not  intervene.  Such  was  the  con- 
dition of  the  Indian  mind  when  Teedyuscung, 
king  of  the  Delawares,  was  burned  to  death  in 
his  cabin  on  the  night  of  April  19,  1763. 
While  this  deed  was  un(|uestionably  committed 
by  his  Indian  enemies,  either  by  or  thi-ough 
the  influence  of  the  Si.x  Nations,  Indian  cun- 
ninv  ascribed  the  murder  to  the  New  En2:land 
people.  The  people  of  the  dead  chief  now  be- 
came clamorous  for  the  removal  of  the  settlers, 
and  several  times  importuned  the  government 
to  drive  them  from  the  valley. 

The  Governor  having,  in  June,  1763,  re- 
ceived fresh  complaints  from  the  Indians  at 
Wyoming  that  the  Connecticut  trespassers  wen* 
still  obstinately  pro.secutiug  their  settlement  on 
the  lands  there  and  at  Cirshutiink,  thought 
proper,  on  the  2d  of  that  month,  to  issue  a 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


third  prodamatiou  requiring  those  intruders 
forthwith  to  remove  from  the  lands.  He  also 
appointed  James  Burd  and  Thomas  McKee, 
Esqs.,  justices  of  the  peace,  and  gave  them 
written  instructions  to  proceed  to  Wyoming, 
and  having  convened  the  people  settled  there, 
publicly  to  read  his  proclamation  to  them  ; to 
use  the  utmost  endeavors,  by  expostulations 
and  arguments,  to  prevail  on  them  to  relin- 
quish their  scheme  of  settling  the  lands  there, 
and  to  depart  peaceably  without  delay;  other- 
wise to  cause  some  of  its  principals  to  be  appre- 
hended and  carried  to  the  “Goal”  at  Lancaster. 

Hon.  James  Hamilton,  Esquire,  Lieutenant- 
Governor  and  commander-in-chief  of  the  prov- 
ince of  Pennsylvania  and  the  counties  of  New- 
castle, Kent  and  Sussex  upon  the  Delaware, 
issued  three  pi'oclamatious  forbidding  “all  his 
Majesty’s  subjects  to  intrude  upon  any  Land 
within  the  Province  not  yet  purchased  of  the 
Indians.”  “And  hereby  strictly  charging  all 
Shei-ifts,  Magistrates,  Peace  Officers  and  other 
people  within  this  province  to  exert  themselves 
to  bring  to  justice  and  condign  punishment  all 
Offenders  in  the  Premises.” 

Th  is  proclamation  was  issued  ostensibly  in 
the  interest  of  “ the  Delaware  and  other  tribes 
of  Indians,  and  also  the  Six  Nation  Indians  ” 
who,  according  to  the  proclamation,  “ have  re- 
peatedly made  complaints  and  Remonstrances  to 
me  against  the  said  Practices  and  Attempts,  and 
insisted  that  the  Intruders  be  removed  by  the 
Government  to  which  they  belonged,  or  by 
me,  and  declared  that  otherwise  they  would 
remove  them  by  force  and  do  themselves  Jus- 
tice, but  desired  that  the  Intruders  might  be 
pi-eviously  acquainted  therewith.”  This  pro- 
clamation was  either  intended  as  a filendly 
warning  to  the  so-called  intruders  or  it  was  a 
shrewd  bid  for  Indian  support.  Doubtless  the 
Governor  would  have  been  well  satisfied  if  the 
settlei’s  had  left  peaceably,  but  he  did  not  lose 
sight  of  Indian  friendship  and  assistance  in  his 
shrewd  proclamation. 

This  proclamation,  like  those  directed  exclu- 
sively against  Cushutunk,  availed  nothing.  The 
few  Connecticut  people  at  Wyoming  unfortu- 
nately did  not  heed  it.  The  Indians  were  sullen. 
A storm  was  portending,  and  upon  the  15th 


of  October  (1763)  it  suddenly  broke.  The  In- 
dians, without  the  slightest  warning,  raised  the 
war-w'hoop  and  fell  with  fury  upon  the  defence- 
less village.  About  twenty  men  were  killed 
and  scalped,  and  those  who  escaped  a horrible 
death — men,  women  and  children — fled  to  the 
mountains,  and  after  long  wandering  in  the 
wilderness,  destitute  of  food  and  almost  desti- 
tute of  clothing,  found  their  way  to  older  settle- 
ments and  eventually  to  their  Connecticut 
homes.'  This  was  the  first  massacre  of  Wyo- 
ming— not  a part  of  the  Pennamite  War,  but  an 
example  of  Indian  ferocity  in  the  resentment  of 
real  or  imagined  wrong.  The  government  sent 
soldiers  to  the  scene  of  the  massacre,  but  they 
found  the  valley  de.serted  by  the  Indians. 

After  this  terrible  experience  no  attemjjt  was 
made  by  the  Susquehanna  Company  to  settle 
Wyoming  until  1769.  In  the  meantime  the 
proj)rietary  government  had  fortified  itself  with 
a deed  from  the  Six  Nations  and  other  Indians 
of  all  that  portion  of  the  province,  not  before 
bought,  which  lay  in  the  limits  of  the  Connecti- 
cut claim.  This  was  procured  at  the  treaty 
held  in  1768.^  And  now  commenced  in  earnest 
the  strife,  foot  to  foot  and  hand  to  hand,  for  the 
occupation  of  the  lovely  valley  of  Wyoming 
and,  practically,  for  the  possession  of  that  part 
of  Pennsylvania  between  the  forty-first  and 
forty-second  parallels  of  latitude — the  struggle 
known  in  history  as  “the  Pennamite  War.” 
To  give  an  adequate  history  of  this  long,  event- 
ful contest  between  the  Pennsylvania  and  Con- 
necticut immigrants  would  alone  require  a 
volume,  and,  for  that  reason  and  the  fact  that 
the  leading  events  of  the  war  occurred  on  terri- 
tory of  which  it  is  not  our  province  to  treat  in  this 
work,  we  attempt  only  such  a brief  analysis  of 
important  general  movements  as  is  necessary  to 
a proper  understanding  of  local  events  which 
come  within  the  field  which  is  our  subject. 

Each  party,  at  the  opening  of  the  year  1769, 
was  pretty  well  prepared  to  assert  and  defend 
its  claims.  Thei’e  had  been  action  upon  each 
side  something  like  that  of  two  armies  in  the 
field  as  they  prepare  to  meet  for  a stubborn  cam- 
paign. Of  the  Susquehanna  Company’s  party 

> Miner’s  “History  of  Wyoming,”  p.  54. 

2 See  Cliapter  I. 


Cl 


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to 

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for 


iiai 


EARLY  SETTLEMENTS. 


9 


which  determined  to  eflPect  the  planting  of  a 
colony  at  Wyoming,  Captain  Zebulon  Butler, 
a hero  of  the  French  and  Indian  War,  was  by 
common  consent  regarded  the  leader,  if  not 
actually  clothed  with  official  power.  There  were 
a number  of  other  strong  characters  among  the 
Connecticut  adventurers,  and  they  were  not 
wanting  in  friends  and  adherents  within  the 
limits  of  Pennsylvania. 

Among  these  were  Benjamin  Shoemaker,  of 
Smithfield,  and  John  McDowell.  ^ The  propri- 
etary leaders  were  Charles  Stewart,  afterwai’ds 
an  efficient  officer  of  the  Pennsylvania  Line ; 
Captain  Amos  Ogden,  the  military  leader;  and 
John  Jennings,  Esq.,  high  sheriff  of  North- 
ampton County,  civil  magistrate.  “ These  three 
constituted  the  Chief  Executive  Directory,  to 
conduct  the  proprietaries’  affairs  at  Wyoming. 
To  these  a lease  had  been  executed  for  one  hun- 
dred acres  of  land  for  seven  years,  upon  condi- 
tion that  they  should  establish  an  Indian  trading- 
house  thex’eon,  and  defend  the  valley  from  en- 
croachment.” These  three  men  were  first  on 
the  ground,  having  arrived  in  January,  1769. 
They  repaired  the  block- house  and  huts  located 
a mile  above  Wilkes-Barre,  on  the  Susquehanna, 
at  the  mouth  of  Mill  Creek,  that  had  been  aban- 
doned by  the  settlers  of  1763.  On  the  8th  of 
February  the  first  forty  of  the  Yankee  detach- 
ment arrived,  and,  finding  their  expected  shelter 
in  the  hands  of  the  Pennamites,  commenced  to 
besiege  the  block-house  by  cutting  off  communi- 
cations with  the  surrounding  country.  They 
also  erected  a small  block-house  across  the  river 
at  Kingston,  afterwards  called  Forty  Fort. 
Captain  Ogden,  seeing  that  something  must  be 
done,  requested  a conference.  Messrs.  Elder- 
kin,  Tripp  and  Eollett  repaired  to  his  quarters 
in  accordance  therewith,  and  were  arrested  by 
Ogden  in  the  name  of  Pennsylvania  and  taken 
to  Easton  jail,  accompanied  by  their  thirty-.seven 
associates,  where  they  were  released  on  bail 
given  by  William  L.  Ledley.  This  event 
clearly  shows  the  naturally  peaceful  character  of 
the  pioneer  Wyoming  .settlers,  and  their  respect 
for  civil  procc.ss.  After  being  liberated  they 
immediately  returned  to  Wyoming,  whei’e  thir- 


1  Miuer,  p.  lOG. 


ty-one  of  them  were  again  arrested  by  Ogden 
and  Jennings,  who  returned  with  a large  foree 
and  took  them  to  Easton,  and  they  were  again 
released  on  bail,  and  again  returned  to  the  dis- 
puted territory.  In  April  one  hundred  and 
sixty  more  Y^ankees  arrived,  and  erected  a fort 
on  the  river-bank  near  Wilkes-Barre,  which 
they  named  Eort  Durkee,  in  honor  of  their 
leader.  Colonel  Dyer  and  Major  Elderkin 
went  to  Philadelphia  about  this  time,  with  full 
powers  to  adjust  all  matters  in  dispute  peace- 
ably ; but  they  accomplished  nothing.  On  the 
24th  of  June  Colonel  Erancis,  with  an  armed 
force,  demanded  the  surrender  of  Eort  Durkee, 
which  was  refused.  Governor  Penn  in.structed 
Sheriff  Jennings  to  raise  a sufficient  force  to 
oust  the  Y^ankees  without  bloodshed,  if  possible. 
Ogden  seized  a few  prisoners  who  were  in  their 
houses,  among  them  Major  Durkee.  Sheriff 
Jennings,  with  two  hundred  men,  was  joined  by 
Captain  Patterson,  from  Fort  Augusta,  with  an 
iron  four-pounder.  This,  together  with  the  lo.ss 
of  their  commander,  so  appalled  the  garrison 
that  thev  surrendered.  Three  or  four  leadiup; 
men  were  detained  as  prisoners ; seventeen  Con- 
necticut men  were  to  remain  and  gather  the 
ripening  harve.st ; all  others  were  to  leave  the 
valley  immediately,  and  private  property  was  to 
be  respected.^  Taking  up  their  sad  march,  with 
their  wives  and  little  ones,  the.se  exiles  made 
their  way  back  to  Connecticut.  Their  suffer- 
ings were  great  during  this  march,  and  Chap- 
man says  that  one  woman  I’oasted  and  fed  her 
dead  child  to  her  surviving  children  to  keep 
them  alive. 

Captain  Ogden,  to  his  disgrace  as  a man  and 
a soldier,  plundered  the  seventeen  who  had  been 
left  to  gather  the  crops  of  all  means  of  subsist- 
ence, driving  away  the  cattle,  horses,  sheep,  etc., 
to  the  settlements  on  the  Delaware,  where  he 
sold  them.  The  seventeen,  having  been  plun- 
dered in  violation  of  the  terms  of  surrender, 
were  compelled  to  follow  their  exiled  comrades. 
Thus  clo.sed  the  first  campaign  in  the  Penna- 
mite  War.  The  Y’^ankees  were  three  times  ex- 
pelled, and  finally  (lompellod  to  abandon  the 
settlement. 


Miuc‘1-. 


10 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


The  Yankees,  however,  were  not  long  inac- 
tive. In  February,  1770,  in  connection  with  a 
number  of  people  from  Lancaster,  they  again 
appeared  upon  the  ground,  and  they  easily  took 
possession  of  the  fort,  which  had  only  a small 
garrison.  Ogden  remained  at  the  place  with  a 
number  of  his  men,  fortified  in  a block-house, 
which  was  besieged,  and  he  was  obliged  to 
capitulate,  and,  with  his  followers,  depart  from 
Wyoming,  after  which  his  house  was  burnt  in 
retaliation  for  the  deeds  he  had  committed  the 
year  before.  This  was  in  April,  and  in  Septem- 
ber following,  after  Governor  Penn  had  issued 
a proclamation  warning  the  Yankees  to  depart 
from  Wyoming,  Ogden  led  an  armed  party 
against  his  late  victors,  took  several  of  them 
prisoners  as  they  were  engaged,  unprotected,  at 
their  farm-work,  and  finally  captured  the  fort, 
after  killing  a number  of  their  garrison.  Cap- 
tain Butler  himself  would  have  been  bayoneted 
by  the  attacking  party  after  they  had  gained  an 
entrance  had  it  not  been  for  Captain  Craig,  who 
commanded  a detachment  of  Ogden’s  men. 
During  this  siege  the  Wyoming  men  attempted 
to  send  me.ssengers  to  Cushutunk,  but  the  paths 
were  watched  by  Ogden’s  scouts,  who  captured 
them. 

In  the  fall  of  1771  the  Penuamites,  who 
then  had  possession  of  the  garrison,  were  com- 
pelled to  surrender,  having  been  reduced  to  a 
starving  condition  by  the  Yankees,  who  had  cut 
off  all  supplies  from  the  surrounding  country. 
By  the  terms  of  surrender,  the  Pennsylvania 
troops  were  to  withdraw,  twenty-three  of  them 
bearing  arms.  The  men  having  families  were 
given  two  weeks  in  which  to  remove,  with  the 
privilege  of  taking  their  effects.  Thus  ended 
the  first  Pennamite  War,  which  had  been  waged 
with  varying  success  as  a half  civil  and  half 
military  movement.  The  loss  of  life  was  not 
great,  but  the  constant  annoyance  and  distress 
caused  to  these  hardy  pioneers  cannot  now  be 
fully  appreciated.  This  was  one  of  the  first 
contests  waged  against  monopoly  in  this  country. 
On  the  one  hand  was  the  rich  proprietor,  who 
would  only  rent  lands  for  a term  of  years  to 
his  adherents,  for  maintaining  his  cause  in  the 
valley,  while  on  the  other  hand  wa9  the  actual 
settler.  From  this  time  forth  the  Yankees 


began  to  pour  into  the  valley,  causing  it  to 
blossom  as  the  rose. 

“'In  1773  the  government  of  Connecticut,  which, 
up  to  this  time,  had  left  the  Susquehanna  and  Dela- 
ware Companies  to  manage  their  own  affairs,  now  de- 
cided to  make  its  claim  to  all  the  lands  within  the 
charter,  west  of  the  province  of  New  York,  and  in  a 
legal  manner  to  support  the  same.  Commissioners 
appointed  by  the  Assembly  proceeded  to  Philadel- 
phia ‘ to  negotiate  a mode  of  bringing  the  controversy 
to  an  amicable  conclusion.’  But  every  proposition 
offered  by  them  was  declined  by  the  Governor  and 
Council  of  Pennsylvania,  who  saw  no  way  to  prevent 
a repetition  of  the  troubles  in  Wyoming,  except  by 
the  settlers  evacuating  the  lands  until  a legal  decision 
could  be  obtained. 

“In  the  meantime  the  people  had  accepted  articles, 
framed  by  the  Susquehanna  Company,  at  Hartford, 
Conn.,  June  2,  1773,  for  the  government  of  the  settle- 
ment, and  acknowledged  them  to  be  of  force  until  the 
colony  of  Connecticut  should  annex  them  to  one  of 
its  counties,  or  make  them  a distinct  county  ; or  until 
they  should  obtain,  either  from  the  colony,  or  from 
‘His  gracious  Majesty,  King  George  the  Third,’  a 
more  permanent  or  established  mode  of  government. 

‘ But  his  majesty  soon  had  weightier  matters  to  decide 
with  his  American  subjects,  which  were  settled  by 
his  acknowledgment  of  their  Independence.’ 

“ On  the  report  of  the  Commissioners  to  the  Assem- 
bly of  Connecticut,  after  their  return  from  Philadel- 
phia, decisive  measures  were  adopted  by  the  Assem- 
bly to  bring  the  settlement  on  the  Susquehanna  under 
their  immediate  jurisdiction.  An  act  was  passed 
early  in  January,  1774,  erecting  all  the  territory 
within  her  charter  limits,  from  the  river  Delaware  to 
a line  fifteen  miles  west  of  the  Susquehanna,  into  a 
town  with  all  the  corporate  powers  of  other  towns  of 
the  colony,  to  be  called  Westmoreland,  attaching  it  to 
the  county  of  Litchfield.  The  town  was  seventy 
miles  square,  and  was  divided  into  townships  five  j 
miles  square,  though  those  townships  comprised 
within  the  Connecticut  Delaware  purchase  were,  for 
the  most  part,  six  miles  square.” 

Susquehanna  County  was  included  in  tliis 
vast  township  and  was  divided  into  townships. 
Hibernia,  Peru,  Waterford,  Ruby,  Review, 
Cunningham,  Julian,  Abbas,  Huniades,  Dan- 
dolo.  Manor,  Chebai’,  Bidwell,  Dundee,  Kings- 
bury, Newry,  Monmouth,  St.  Patrick  and 
Simo  are  names  of  townships  that  lay  wholly 
or  in  part  within  the  present  Susquehanna 
County. 


1 Blackmail’s  “ History.” 


INDIAN  DEPEEDATIONS, 


11 


The  following  is  a list  of 

' MEMBERS  FROM  WESTMORELAND  TO  CONNECTICUT 
ASSEMBLY. 

April,  1774,  Zebulon  Butler,  Timothy  Smith  ; Sep- 
tember, 1774,  Christopher  Avery,  John  Jenkins ; 
April,  1775,  Captain  Z.  Butler,  Joseph  Sluman ; Sep- 
tember, 1775,  Captain  Z.  Butler,  Major  Ezekiel  Pierce; 
May,  1775,  John  Jenkins,  Solomon  Strong;  October, 
1776,  Colonel  Z.  Butler,  Colonel  Nathan  Denison ; 
May,  1777,  John  Jenkins,  Isaac  Tripp  ; May,  1778, 
Nathan  Denison,  Anderson  Dana;  October,  1778, 
Colonel  N.  Denison,  Lieutenant  Asahel  Buck  ; May, 

1779,  Colonel  N.  Denison,  Dea.  John  Hurlbut;  May, 

1780,  John  Hurlbut,  Jonathan  Fitch;  October,  1780, 
Nathan  Denison,  John  Hurlbut;  May,  1781,  John 
Hurlbut,  Jonathan  Fitch ; October,  1781,  Obadiah 
Gore,  Captain  John  Franklin ; May,  1782,  Obadiah 
Gore,  Jonathan  Fitch;  October,  1783,  Obadiah  Gore, 
Jonathan  Fitch. 

MEMBERS  FROM  LUZERNE  COUNTY  TO  PENNSYL- 
VANIA ASSEMBLY. 

Council. 

1787,  1788  and  1789,  to  the  9th  of  October,  Nathan 
Denison  ; 30th  of  October,  1789,  to  20th  of  December, 
1790,  Lord  Butler. 

On  the  20th  of  December,  1790,  the  Council 
closed  its  session.  The  State  was  organized 
under  the  Constitution  of  1790,  and  a Senate 
took  the  place  of  a Council. 

As  Susquehanna  County  was  associated  with 
Luzerne  in  choosing  legislators,  previous  to 
1829,  the  following  table  of  Senators  and  Rep- 
resentives  to  1811,  the  year  following  the  or- 
ganization of  the  county,  will  be  profitable  for 
reference  : 

Senate. 

1790  (with  Northumberland  and  Huntington), 
William  Montgomery;  1792,  William  Hepburn ; 1794, 
George  Wilson  (with  Northumberland,  MitHin  and 
Lycoming);  1796,  Samuel  Dale  (with  Northumber- 
land, Mifltin  and  Lycoming) ; 1798,  Samuel  McClay  ; 
1800,  James  Plarris ; 1801,  Jonas  Hartzell  (with 

Northampton  and  Wayne);  1803,  Thomas  Mewhorter; 
1805,  William  Lattimore;  1807,  Matthias  Gross ; 1808, 
Nathan  Palmer  (with  Northumberland);  1810,  James 
Laird. 

House. 

• (Year  of  election  given.) 

1787,  John  Paul  Schott ; 1788,  1789  and  1790,  Oba- 
diah Gore;  1791  and  1792,  Simon  Spaulding;  1793, 
Ebenezer  Bowman  ; 1794,  Benjamin  Carpenter ; 1795 
and  1796,  John  Franklin  ; 1797  and  1798,  Roswell 
Welles;  1799  and  1800,  John  Franklin;  1801,  John 


Franklin,  Lord  Butler ; 1802,  John  Franklin,  Ros- 
well Welles;  1803,  John  Franklin,  John  Jenkins; 
1804,  Roswell  Welles,  Jonas  Ingham  ; 1805,  Roswell 
Welles,  Nathan  Beach;  1806,  Roswell  Welles,  Moses 
Coolbaugh ; 1807,  Charles  Miner,  Nathan  Beach; 
1808,  Charles  Miner,  Benjamin  Dorrance;  1809  and 
1810,  B.  Dorrance,  Thomas  Graham;  1811,  Thomas 
Graham,  Jonathan  Stevens. 


CHAPTER  III. 

INDIAN  DEPREDATIONS. 

Battle  of  Wyoming— General  Sullivan’s  March — General  Clinton  at 
Great  Bend — Defeat  of  the  Six  Nations — An  Indian  Claim — Ad- 
ventures of  Hilborn. 

We  have  briefly  given  the  overtlirow  of  the 
Lenni  Lenape  who  lived  south  of  Susquehanna 
County,  and  visited  it  as  a hunting-ground. 
It  is  pertinent  to  our  inquiries  to  notice  the 
overthrow  of  their  powerful  neighbors  on  the 
north,  who  were  at  last  compelled  to  submit  to 
the  same  power  that  they  had  assisted,  only  a 
few  years  before,  in  removing  the  Delawares 
from  their  loved  home.  During  the  Revolu- 
tionary War  the  inhabitants  of  Wyoming  were 
very  patriotic,  and  two  huudrgd  men  were  en- 
listed and  joined  the  army  to  help  fight  the 
battles  of  Liberty  and  Independence.  This 
took  many  of  the  bravest  men  from  Westmore- 
land County,  which  then  contained  about  two 
thousand  five  hundred  inhabitants  ; and  left 
the  .settlement  in  an  unprotected  condition,  an 
opportunity  which  the  Indians,  Tories  and 
British  were  not  slow  to  improve. 

On  the  3d  of  July,  1778,  occurred  the  world- 
famous  massacre  of  Wyoming.  The  confeder- 
ated Six  Nations,  who  had  been  induced  by  the 
British  in  1777  to  take  the  war-path  against 
the  Americans,  committed  great  ravages  in 
New  York  during  that  year,  and  in  the  folloiv- 
ing  they  determined  to  make  a murderous  foray 
into  Pennsylvania,  with  the  especial  object  of 
.striking  the  settlements  on  the  two  branches  of 
the  Susquehanna,  which  were  left  in  an  almost 
defenceless  condition  througli  llie  departure  of 
their  patriotic  men  for  the  army. 

The  Wyoming  settlement  was  very  naturally 


1 Blackman’s  “ History  of  Susquehanna  County.” 


12 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


the  object  of  the  Englishmen’s  esj)ecial  hatred, 
because  of  the  devotion  its  people  had  shown  to 
the  cause  of  liberty  ; and  it  was  easily  accessible 
by  the  North  Branch  of  the  Susquehanna.  Late 
in  June  there  descended  that  stream,  under  the 
command  of  Colonel  John  Butler,  a force  of 
eleven  hundred  men,  four  hundred  of  whom 
were  Tory  rangers  and  regular  soldiers  of  Sir 
John  Johnson’s  Royal  Greens,  with  seven  hun- 
dred Indians,  chiefly  Senecas.  Jenkins’  Fort 
capitulated,  and  Wintermoot’s  (which,  as  was 
afterwards  learned,  was  built  to  aid  the  incur- 
sions of  the  Tories),  at  once  opened  its  gates  to 
the  invading  host.  At  Wyoming  were  several 
so-called  forts,  mere  stockades,  in  no  one  of 
which  was  there  a cannon  or  an  adequate  gar- 
rison, the  arms-bearing  men  nearly  all  being 
absent,  as  has  heretofore  been  stated.  Colonel 
Zebulon  Butler,  who  happened  to  be  at  Wyo- 
ming, took  command  by  invitation  of  the  peo- 
ple, and  the  little  band,  consisting  chiefly  of 
old  men  and  boys,  with  a handful  of  undisci- 
plined militia,  against  whom  eleven  hundred 
warriors  had  marched,  made  as  heroic  a stand 
as  the  world  ever  saw. 

And  so  upon  that  fatal  3d  of  July  they 
marched  out  to  meet  and  fight  the  enemy,  for  a 
safe  retreat  with  their  families  was  impossible, 
and  surrender  seems  never  to  have  been  thought 
of.  It  is  beyond  our  province  in  this  work  to 
describe  the  uneven  battle  and  the  slaughter 
which  ensued.  Suffice  it  to  say  that  the  brave 
defenders,  about  four  hundred  in  number,  were 
defeated  by  the  assailing  force,  outnumbering 
them  by  nearly  three  to  one.  Then  followed 
the  horrible  massacre — a carnival  of  murder 
and  torture  performed  by  fiends.  But  who  is 
there  who  knows  not  Wyoming?  Who  that 
does  not  shudder  at  the  recall  of  that  name  ? 
Of  four  hundred  men  who  went  into  battle,  but 
sixty  e.scaped  the  fury  of  the  Indians.  That 
bloody  day  made  one  hundred  and  fifty  widows 
and  six  hundred  orphans  in  the  valley. 

And  now  the  Wyoming  Valley  is  a scene  of 
pastoral  quiet  and  loveliness,  as  if,  in  recom- 
pense for  the  dark  deeds  done,  the  Creator  had 
breathed  upon  the  bosom  of  nature  there  the 
benison  of  eternal  peace. 

The  mas.sacre  of  Wyoming  thrilled  the  world 


with  horror.  What,  then,  must  have  beeu  the 
feelings  of  those  people  who  had  reason  to  think 
they  might  at  any  hour  meet  with  the  same  fate 
which  had  extinguished  the  lives  of  the  four 
hundred  settlers  of  the  beautifnl  valley  ? The 
whole  border  was  filled  with  the  wildest  alarm, 
and  a fever  of  fear  took  posse-ssion  of  the  people 
even  as  far  down  the  country  as  Bethlehem  and 
Easton. 

Flight  was  the  only  recourse  for  the  few  ter- 
ror-stricken survivors.  Vain  efforts  w'ere  made 
to  concentrate  the  settlement  at  Forty  Fort,  but 
the  tide  of  panic  had  already  set  in,  and  by 
night  of  the  day  of  battle  fugitives  were  flying 
in  every  direction  to  the  wilderness.  It  was  a 
wild,  chaotic,  precipitate  hegira.  All  w'as  con- 
fusion, con.sternation,  horror.  The  poor,  terri- 
fied people,  men,  women  and  children,  scarcely 
thinking  or  caring  whither  their  trembling 
footsteps  led,  if  they  could  only  escape  the  sav- 
age enemy  and  cruel  death,  fled  onward  into 
the  wilderness  aud  night.  The  general  direction 
pursued  was  towards  the  Delaw^are  and  the 
Stroudsburg  .settlement.  Every  passage  into 
the  forest  was  thronged.  On  the  old  Warrior’s 
Path  there  were,  says  Miner,  in  one  company, 
nearly  one  hundred  women  and  children,  with 
but  one  man,  Jonathan  Fitch,  to  advise  or  aid 
them.  The  terrified  fugitives  fled  through  the 
Dismal  Swamp  or  Shades  of  Death,  aud  the 
Great  Swamp  to  the  w^est  and  soutlnvest. 
Children  were  born  and  children  died  in  that 
forced  march  through  the  wllderue.ss.  Some 
wandered  out  of  the  way  and  were  lost,  others 
died  from  wounds  and  starvation,  but  the  great- 
er number  reached  the  settlements  about  Strouds- 
burg and  along  the  Delaware,  wliere  the  Ger- 
man settlers  treated  them  kindly,  and  some 
found  their  w^ay  back  to  Connecticut.  Miner 
says  : “ In  addition  to  those  in  train  band,  the 
judges  of  the  court  and  all  the  civil  officers  who 
were  near,  went  out.  Many  old  men- — some  of 
them  grandfathers — took  their  muskets  and 
marched  to  the  field.  For  instance,  the  aged 
Mr.  Searle,  of  Kingston,  was  one.  Having 
become  bald,  he  wore  a wig ; taking  out  his 
silver  knee-buckles,  he  said  to  his  family  : ‘ If 

I fall  I shall  not  need  them  ; if  I come  back 
they  will  be  .safe  here.’  He  w'as  killed,  and  the 


INDIAN  DEPREDATIONS. 


13 


Indians  kept  the  wig  as  a trophy.  His  son 
Roger  fled  to  Connecticut,  but  afterwards  re- 
turned to  Wyoming.  His  sons  Daniel,  Leon- 
ard and  Raselas  became  residents  of  Montrose. 
Reuben  Wells’  father  was  also  killed  in  that 
battle.  His  widow  fled  to  Connecticut,  where 
they  remained  until  1797,  when  they  returned 
to  Frenchtown,  and  in  1812  Reuben  settled  in 
South  Montro.se.  Elisha  William.s,  grandfather 
of  W.  W.  William,s,  was  one  that  escaped. 
Perry  Gardner,  grandfather  of  Ijatham  Gard- 
ner, and  his  son  Jonathan,  then  only  twelve 
years  old,  were  there.  Probably  many  more  of 
the  residents  of  Su.sqnehanna  County  are  de- 
scendants of  ancestors  who  were  in  that  battle.” 

It  is  not  within  the  .scope  of  this  work  to 
notice  all  the  barbarities  practiced  upon  the 
Wyoming  settlers  by  Tories  and  Indians  who 
had  been  hired  by  the  British  agents  to  do  this 
dastardly  work.  But  the  hour  of  punishment 
came  at  last.  General  Washington  determined 
to  .send  a sufficient  force  into  the  Indian  eountry 
to  break  up  their  savage  haunts.  To  this  end 
General  Clinton,  with  sixteen  hundred  men, 
was  ordered  to  advance  from  the  Hudson  to 
Tioga  Point,  and  General  Sullivan  was  ordered 
to  rendezvous  at  Easton.  From  this  point  he 
.sent  a German  regiment  of  three  hundred  men 
to  reinforce  Colonel  Butler,  and  on  the  19th  of 
April  Major  Powell  arrived  at  Wyoming  with 
an  additional  force  of  two  hundred  and  fifty 
men.  This  force  was  fired  upon  by  ambushed 
Indians,  and  a number  of  them  were  killed. 
On  the  18th  of  June,  1779,  General  Sullivan 
left  Easton  with  two  thousand  five  hundred 
men.  He  went  by  way  of  the  Wind  Gap, 
Pocono  Creek,  White  Oak  Run  and  Birch  Hill. 
Arriving  at  Mud  Run,  they  encamped  on  a 
knoll  which  they  named  Hungry  Hill.  Flere 
they  encamped  for  a few  days  waiting  for  pro- 
visions from  Easton.  From  this  point  they  cut 
a road  through  the  Dismal  Swamp  around  Lo- 
cust Ridge,  thence  westwardly  seven  miles 
across  the  Lehigh  to  the  Old  Shupp  road  to 
Wvominsr. 

On  the  31st  of  July,  at  the  head  of  some 
three  thousand  men,  General  Sullivan  broke 
camp  at  Wyoming  and  began  his  march  up  the 
Siiscpiehanua.  Accompanying  the  troops  were 


three  hundred  boats  laden  Avith  provisions, 
cannon  and  munitions  of  war.  They  marched 
up  the  river  in  good  order.  Following  in  the 
train  Avere  many  hundred  pack-houses  laden 
with  one  month’s  provisions.  On  the  11th  of 
August  Sullivan  arrived  at  Tioga  Point  and 
halted  for  General  Clinton  to  come  up. 

“ ‘ When  General  Clinton  arrived  at  the 
head  of  the  river,  Otsego  Lake,  he  found  the 
water  very  Ioav,  and  the  navigation  of  the  Sus- 
quehanna on  rafts,  as  intended,  impracticable. 
In  order  to  raise  the  Avater,  it  was  decided  to 
build  a dam  at  the  foot  of  the  lake,  which  some 
of  the  soldiers,  under  the  directions  of  the 
officers,  proceeded  to  do,  Avhile  others  were  de- 
tailed to  construct  timber  rafts  below,  upon 
Avhich  the  army  Avas  to  descend  the  river. 
When  the  dam  was  completed,  the  rafts  being 
ready,  and  a sufficient  quantity  of  water  having 
accumulated  in  the  lake,  the  flood-gates  Avere 
opened,  aAvay  sped  the  fleet  of  rafts,  Avith  their 
noble  burden,  amid  the  loud  cheers  of  the 
soldiers. 

“ Very  soon  ncAv  troubles  arose,  for  not  one 
of  these  sixteen  hundred  men  knew  anything 
about  navigating  the  Susquehanna.  The  Indian 
canoes  only  had  heretofore  broken  the  stillne.ss 
of  its  waters;  consequently  some  of  the  many 
rafts  were  at  almost  every  turn  brought  to  a 
stand-still  by  the  bars  and  shalloAVS  of  the 
river.  These  ‘ shipAvrecks,’  as  the  soldiers 
called  them,  produced  shouts  of  mirth  and 
laughter  from  those  Avho  were  more  fortunate 
in  drifting  clear  of  the  shoals  ; but,  as  the  water 
Avas  rapidly  rising  from  the  great  supply  in  the 
lake  above,  the.se  stranded  rafts  were  soon  afloat 
again,  and  very  soon  were  passing  some  of  tho.se 
rafts  which  had  first  passed  them,  and  from 
whose  crews  came  shouts  of  derisive  laughter, 
and  noAV  Avere  stranded  in  like  manner.  Both 
officers  and  men  enjoyed  this  novel  campaign 
on  rafts  down  the  beautiful  Su.sqehanna  (to  use 
the  officer’s  Avord)  ‘ highly.’  He  said  that, 
notwithstanding  they  had  to  keep  a sharp  look- 
out for  the  ‘ Red  !8kins,’  it  did  not  in  the  least 
mar  the  great  enjoyment  of  the  sports  of  this 
rafting  expedition;  fishing,  frolic  and  fun  AVcrc 


1 Blackman'H  “ History.*’ 


14 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


the  order  of  the  day.  Nothing  worthy  of 
mention  happened  to  the  expedition  on  their 
way  to  this  place,  and  here,  on  a bright  summer 
day  in  1779,  they  landed  to  pass  the  night,  and 
to  allow  some  of  the  dilatory  rafts  to  come  up, 
and  here  at  Great  Bend,  on  the  Flats  near  the 
‘Th  ree  Indian  Apple  Trees,’  General  James 
Clinton’s  army  encamped,  and  here,  for  one 
night  at  least,  brightly  burned  the  camp-fires  of 
sixteen  hundred  of  the  soldiers  of  the  Revolu- 
tion. The  officer  in  his  diary  says  of  the  three 
Indian  Apple  Trees  which  they  found  here, 
that  they  then  bore  the  marks  of  great  age. 
There  were  no  Indians  seen  here  by  them, 
although  there  was  every  indication  of  their 
having  only  recently  left.  The  next  day  they 
went  on  board  of  their  rafts  and  proceeded 
down  the  river  ” until  they  arrived  at  Tioga 
Point,  where  they  rested  with  General  Sullivan, 
and  together  moved  up  the  river  and  gave  the 
Indians  battle  at  Newtown,  near  Elmira,  New 
Y^ork.  There  was  not  so  great  loss  of  life  in 
this  battle,  the  whites  losing  thiily  killed,  but 
the  victory  over  the  Six  Nations  Avas  complete. 
Their  wigwams  and  teeming  fields  of  corn  Avere 
laid  waste  Avith  rigid  severity,  and  their  peach 
orchards  Avere  ruthlessly  cut  down.  The  fell 
blow  broke  the  power  of  the  Six  Nations  for- 
ever.’ There  are  remnants  of  this  once  power- 
ful confederacy  on  reservations  in  the  State  of 
New  York.  They  occasionally  visit  the  valley, 
over  which  they  once  held  despotic  sway,  Avith 
curious  bead-work  which  they  have  for  sale. 
An  Indian  woman  Avho  sells  these  articles  Avill 
usually  sit  apart  from  the  rest  and  murmur, 
“ Me  poor  Indian,”  “ Me  lone  Indian,”  until 
some  one  Avill  come  along  and  half  out  of  pity 
buy  her  trinkets.  And  this  is  all  that  remains  of 
the  once  proud  lords  of  the  soil,  Avhose  friend- 
ship was  courted  by  the  French  and  British, 
the  Governors  of  New  Y^ork  and  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  the  United  Colonies  at  the  time  of 
the  Revolution.  The  Indians  occasionally 
visited  Susquehanna  County  after  the  pioneer 
settlers  came  here.  David  Rittenhouse  and 
Andrew  W.  Ellicott,  on  the  part  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  James  Clinton  and  Simeon  De  Witt, 

1  These  ludians  have  adopted  the  ways  of  civilization  and  liave  culti- 
vated farms. 


on  the  part  of  New  York,  ran  the  dividing  line 
between  the  two  States  in  1786.  During  the 
survey  Ellicott  AATote  to  his  wife  from  the 
“'Banks  of  the  Susquehanna,”  under  date  of 
August  6,  1786,  that  he  had  “ just  returned 
from  attending  divine  service  of  the  Indians  in 
their  camp.  This  Avill  appear  no  doubt  strange 
to  you,  but  stranger  yet  Avhen  I assure  you  that 
I haA"e  found  more  true  religion  among  them 
than  Avith  the  Avhite  inhabitants  on  the  frontier. 
They  are  of  the  Church  of  England,  and  have 
the  service  complete  in  their  own  language. 
They  sing  psalms  to  admiration.  . . . Pray  do 
not  fail  to  inform  Dr.  West  of  this  circum- 
stance. The  Indian  town  of  ^ Shanang  is  about 
twelve  miles  from  our  present  position.  The 
head  sachem,  Avith  his  family,  hav^e  been  Avith 
us  many  days — he  has  a daughter  by  the  name 
of  tially  and  a niece  Avho  lives  Avith  us,  and 
share  in  all  our  amusements,  such  as  cards  and 
draughts,  commonly  called  checkards.  Com- 
missioner De  Witt  has  taken  a picture  of  the 
daughter,  Avhich  I intend  to  have  copied  large 
by.  Billy  West.” 

Miss  Blackman  has  recorded  some  incidents 
Avritten  by  J.  Du  Bois,  from  which  the  folloAV- 
ing  is  taken : 

“The  writer,  anxious  to  learn  something  about  the 
Indians  that  once  lived  in  this  valley,  concluded  to 
question  the  doctor.^  I again  visited  the  Log  Tavern. 
I found  the  doctor  reclining  on  the  grassy  slope  of 
the  bank  of  the  Susquehanna,  near  the  Indian  Apple 
Trees.  Armed  with  a pipe  and  tobacco,  I approached 
him  and  presented  them,  retreated  to  a respectable 
distance  and  sat  down,  and  watched  him  as  he  drew 
forth  the  steel,  the  flint,  and  striking  fire,  proceeded 
to  test  the  quality  of  the  Indian  weed.  Boy-like,  I 
at  once  commenced  to  question  him,  and  as  he  re- 
mained silent,  I piled  question  upon  question,  without 
even  waiting  for  an  answer,  not  knowing  at  that  time 
that  an  Indian  never  answered  a question  immedi- 
ately, but  first  smokes,  then  thinks,  and  then  answers. 
After  almost  exhausting  my  list  of  inquiries,  I re- 
mained silent.  The  Indian,  after  puffing  away  at  the 
pipe  for  some  time,  said, ‘Boy  want  to  know  much, 
Indian  tell  him  some.  When  ahoy,  I lived  here,  many 
Indians  lived  along  this  valley  of  the  Susquehanna, 
we  belonged  to  the  Confederate  Five  Nations,  after- 


2 “ Boundaries  of  the  Stale  of  New  York,”  Vol.  I. 

3 Binghamton  stands  where  Shanang  formerly  stood.  Colonel  Gere 
thinks  that  this  letter  was  written  from  Little  Meadows,  Susquehanna 
County. 

I An  Indian  Doctor. 


INDIAN  DEPREDATIONS. 


15 


wards  called  the  Six  Nations.’  He  then  proceeded  to 
state  in  his  own  language  that  this  valley  was  for  a 
long  time  the  frontier  of  the  Confederacy.  At  that 
time  the  Delaware  Indians  claimed  all  the  lands  up  to 
the  Susquehanna  River,  at  the  same  time  the  Confed- 
eracy claimed  to  the  Delaware  River,  and  land  lying 
between  these  two  rivers  was  disputed  ground,  and 
many  were  the  conflicts  between  the  hunters  on  this 
disputed  territory.  After  a while  the  Six  Nations 
conquered  the  Delawares,  and  extended  their  authority 
as  far  south  as  the  Chesapeake  Bay.  During  the  War 
of  the  Revolution  the  Indians  quietly  withdrew'  from 
this  valley,  and  all  of  them,  except  the  Oneidas, 
joined  the  British  and  were  nearly  all  exterminated 
in  the  battles  which  followed.  Before  the  Revolution 
the  Indians  raised  great  crops  of  corn  along  these 
river  flats. 

“ ‘All  over  yonder,’  said  he,  pointing  to  the  hills  on 
the  south  side  of  the  river,  ‘ elk,  elk,  deer,  too,  plenty, 
very  plenty,  fish  in  this  river  very  plenty,  Indian  lived 
well.’  I asked  the  doctor  where  the  Indians  buried 
their  dead;  he  pointed  toward  Dimon’s  flats,  saying, 
‘ there  we  bury  our  dead.’  I then  told  the  doctor, 
that  when  the  workmen  were  excavating  the  ground  for 
the  northern  abutment  of  the  first  Great  Bend  Bridge, 
they  discovered  the  skeleton  of  what  they  supposed 
to  be  a large  Indian  (as  it  was  found  in  the  sitting 
posture).  I asked  him  how  this  Indian  came  to  be 
buried  there.  After  puffing  away  at  the  pipe  as  if  in 
deep  thought,  he  replied,  ‘The  Delaware  Indian,  he 
die  in  his  canoe,  we  bury  him  there.’  I asked  him 
by  what  death  did  he  die,  but  received  no  answer. 
Not  being  willing  to  give  it  up  so,  I told  the  doctor 
that  this  Delaware  Indian,  as  he  called  him,  had  a 
large  hole  in  his  skull,  to  which  he  replied,  ‘ Delaware 
bad  Indian.’  Pursuing  my  inquiry  in  another  direc- 
tion, I asked  him  if  a hostile  Indian  was  detected  as 
a spy,  if  by  their  laws  it  was  death ; he  answered  yes. 
And  upon  inquiring,  he  said  that  they  never  bury 
those  belonging  to  another  tribe  with  their  own  dead. 
He  further  said  that  the  Three  Apple  Trees  was  the 
rallying  point  and  headquarters  for  all  the  Indians  in 
the  neighborhood.  Here  councils  were  held,  marriages 
celebrated,  feasts  observed,  war-dances  performed, 
and  the  fate  of  prisoners  decided. 

“ An  Indian  Claim. — Jonathan  Dimon  was  one 
of  the  early  white  settlers  of  this  valley.  He  settled 
on  the  farm  now  owned  and  occupied  by  Mr.  Carl. 
When  Jonathan  Dimon  left  the  valley  of  the  Hudson 
River,  and  removed  to  this,  then  called  wilderness. 
West,  his  son,  Charles  Dimon,  had  not  completed  his 
education,  and  did  not  come  on  to  his  father  here 
until  some  years  later.  A few  days  after  his  arrival 
his  father  told  him  to  go  upon  the  flats  and  plow  up 
an  old  ‘ Indian  burying-ground.’  (This  burying- 
ground  was  located  about  the  centre  of  the  lately- 
talked-of  fair  ground,  and  proposed  race  track, 
and  on  each  side  of  what  now  remains  of  an  old 
hedge.)  More  than  thirty  years  ago  the  writer  had 


this  narrative  from  our  late  and  much -esteemed 
fellow-townsman,  Charles  Dimon.  He  said  that  he 
felt  many  misgivings  about  thus  disturbing  the  burial- 
place  of  the  dead,  and  asked  his  father  what  he  should 
do  with  those  curious  stones  that  marked  the  last 
resting-place  of  the  Indians.  His  father  told  him 
that  when  he  plowed  up  near  enough  to  these  stones 
to  loosen  them,  to  carefully  take  them  up  and  pile 
them  up  by  the  fence.  He  said  that  with  a heavy 
heart  he  proceeded  to  do  as  his  father  bade  him,  but 
would  much  rather  have  plowed  elsewhere.  After 
working  awhile,  his  oxen  needed  rest;  at  this  time 
he  was  very  near  the  bank  of  the  river,  and  was  sit- 
ting on  his  plowbeam  with  his  back  towards  the  river. 
He  said  that,  in  spite  of  himself,  his  thoughts  would 
run  on  about  the  red  men  who  once  inhabited  this 
valley.  True,  his  father  had  told  him  that  no  Indians 
had  been  here  for  a long  time,  they  had  long  since 
removed  to  other  ‘hunting-grounds,’  or  had  fallen  in 
battle  before  the  superior  arms  of  the  white  man.  He 
thought,  and  could  not  help  thinking,  what  would  be 
his  fate  if  the  Indians  should  happen  to  come  along 
and  find  him  plowing  up  the  graves,  and  removing 
the  stones  that  they  had  set  up  to  mark  the  last 
resting-places  of  their  ‘ fathers?  ’ While  these  thoughts 
were  troubling  him,  he  heard  a low  guttural,  yet 
musical  sound,  or  combination  of  sounds,  which  came 
from  the  river  behind  him.  It  w’as  different  from 
anything  that  he  had  ever  heard.  He  turned  his 
face  toward  the  river ; a screen  of  willows  partly  hid 
from  his  view  objects  on  the  river  nearest  to  him,  and 
as  these  strange  sounds  came  nearer,  he  peered  through 
the  bushes  and — said  he  to  the  writer — ‘ imagine,  if 
you  can,  my  feelings  and  surprise,  when  I tell  you 
that  I saw  close  to  me  a large  canoe  full  of  Indians, 
and  this  had  barely  passed  the  opening  before  another 
canoe  full  of  Indians  came  in  sight.  I immediately 
unhitched  the  oxen  and  hurried  out  of  that  field,  and 
away  to  the  house.  Being  somewhat  excited  at  what 
I had  seen,  I said  to  father,  that  I thought  it  very 
unsafe  to  plow  in  the  Indian  burying-field  while  the 
Indians  were  about.  Father  told  me  to  explain  ; I did, 
by  telling  what  I had  seen.  He  told  me  to  go  down 
to  the  ferry,  and  see  if  the  Indians  landed.  I went  to 
the  ferry,  which  then  occupied  the  present  site  of  the 
Great  Bend  Bridge  across  the  Susquehanna  River.  And 
there,  at  the  Log  Tavern,  which  then  stood  on  the 
site  of  the  two-story  house  opposite  to  and  near  the 
toll-house,  I found  the  Indians,  about  twenty  in  num- 
ber.’ A crowd  of  the  curious  soon  collected,  and  an 
‘inquisitive’  Yankee  soon  learned  from  the  Indian 
interiireter,  that  they  had  come  to  claim  all  that  strip 
of  land  lying  north  of  the  Sus(piehanua  River,  and 
south  of  the  forty-second  parallel  of  latitude,  declar- 
ing that  they  had  never  sold  it,  and  that  they  wanted 
to  meet  the  settlers  and  have  a talk.  This  declaration 
of  the  interpreter  caused  the  crowd  to  disperse  in 
every  direction  to  notify  the  settlers,  and  when  these 
messengers  told  the  settlers  that  a large  party  of 


16 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


Indians  were  at  the  Log  Tavern,  and  claimed  their 
lands,  they,  too,  left  their  plows  and  wended  their  way 
to  the  Log  Tavern,  and  as  they  came  together  on  the 
way  thither,  they  saluted  each  other  after  this  manner, 
‘ What  now,  what  next?  here  we  have  been  trembling 
about  our  titles;  Pennsylvania  claims  us,  Connecticut 
claims  us,  and  now,  after  all,  here  come  the  aborigines 
themselves,  to  claim  our  lands,  and,  if  we  should  refuse, 
perhaps  will  take  our  scalps.’ 

“ By  evening  a number  of  settlers  had  collected,  and, 
as  they  had  no  speaker  among  them,  they  chose  one 
for  the  occasion ; he  was  a kind  of  backwoods  lawyer 
of  those  days  (his  name,  as  well  as  many  other  inter- 
esting incidents  of  this  meeting,  have,  I am  sorry  to 
say,  gone  from  the  memory  of  the  writer).  Among 
those  early  settlers  that  were  named  as  having  attended 
this  meeting,  and  were  interested  therein,  I can  only 
remember  the  following : Captain  Ichabod  Buck, 
Captain  Jonathan  Newman,  Jonathan  Dimon,  Sylva- 
nus  Hatch,  Josiah  Stewart,  David  Buck,  Noble  Trow- 
bridge and  James  Newman.  After  all  were  seated 
in  the  old  Log  Tavern,  the  speaker  for  the  settlers 
arose,  and  told  the  Indian  interpreter  that  all  were 
now  ready  to  hear  the  talk  of  their  chief. 

“Many  eyes  were  now  turned  toward  the  central 
figure  of  a group  of  noble-looking  Indians.  But  at 
this  time  some  of  the  whites  present  were  whispering 
to  each  other,  and  at  the  same  time,  wondering  why 
the  chief  rose  not.  After  a while  the  interpreter 
arose,  and  gave  these  inattentive  whispering  whites 
a just  and  well-merited  rebuke.  ‘Friends,’  said  he, 
‘I  perceive  that  you  do  not  understand  the  character 
of  the  red  men,  when  assembled  in  council.  No 
Indian  will  rise  to  speak  until  there  is  perfect  silence 
and  attention,  and  there  is  nothing  he  more  dislikes 
than  a whispering,  inattentive  audience.’  After  this 
rebuke  from  the  interpreter,  silence  reigned.  The 
chief,  a man  of  great  stature  and  noble  bearing,  soon 
arose,  and  spoke  in  the  Indian  dialect,  which  was  well 
interpreted,  sentence  by  sentence,  in  good  English, 
and  was,  as  near  as  the  writer  can  remember,  as 
follows:  ‘Friends  and  brothers,  once  our  fathers  had 
their  wigwams  on  these  beautiful  banks  of  the  Sus- 
quehanna; once  they  chased  the  elk,  the  deer,  the 
bear,  over  the  beautiful  hills  that  surround  us;  once 
we  had  full  possession  of  this  valley,  and  no  one 
disputed  our  right.  Moon  after  moon  rolled  on,  and 
our  fathers  left  the  valley  for  better  hunting-grounds, 
north  and  west,  but  before  they  left,  “good  Father 
Onas”  (William  Penn)  made  a treaty  with  our  fathers, 
by  which  they  sold  him  a large  piece  of  land,  which 
is  called  after  William  Penn — Pennsylvania — he  gave 
our  fathers  a copy  of  the  treaty^ — large  paper — which, 
I am  sorry  to  say,  is  lost.  Now  our  learned  young 
men  tell  us,  that  in  this  treaty  with  good  father  Onas, 
the  northern  line  of  his  purchase  here  was  the  Sus- 
quehanna River,  and  not  the  forty-second  parallel  of 
north  latitude,  as  laid  down  on  the  “paper  pictures” — 
maps — of  the  whites.  Now,  brothers,  we  come  to 


you  as  the  representatives  of  our  nation  to  claim  this 
land.  We  believe  we  have  never  sold  it.  We  come 
not  to  take  it  from  you,  but  to  sell  it.  Our  good  father 
Onas — William  Penn — always  dealt  fair  with  the  red 
man.  We  would  never  claim  anything  that  was 
wrong  of  the  children  or  friends  of  Onas  if  we  knew 
it.  When  famine  came  upon  the  early  friends  of 
Onas,  did  not  our  fathers  supply  the  wants  of  the 
starving  friends  of  Onas,  by  hunting  and  fishing  for 
them,  and  when  bad  hostile  Indians  troubled  them, 
did  not  our  fathers  place  the  white  feather  of  protec- 
tion over  the  doors  of  their  log  wigwams.  And  while 
we  acknowledge  that  bad  Indians,  many  bad  Indians, 
did  take  the  king’s  money  and  fight  with  the  king’s 
men,  our  brothers  will  witness,  and  your  history  of 
the  war  will  witness,  that  the  nation,  or  that  part  of 
the  nation  that  we  represent — the  Oneidas — never 
raised  the  war-cry  against  our  brothers.  And  now,  if 
we  have  a good  right  to  this  land,  we  have  great  con- 
fidence in  our  friends,  the  children  of  our  great  and 
good  father,  William  Penn,  that  they  will  do  right 
and  just  by  us.  We  vvait  your  answer.’ 

“ The  speaker  for  the  settlers,  after  a few  words  in 
an  undertone  with  them,  made  a low  bow  to  the  chief 
and  to  the  other  members  of  the  delegation  who  sat 
on  each  side  of  their  chief,  in  the  form  of  a semi- 
circle, and  said : ‘ Friends  and  brothers,  we  are  pleased 
with  the  words  of  the  noble  chief  who  has  so  elo- 
quently spoken.  The  settlers,  who  now  surround  me, 
have  chosen  me  to  ansvver  the  chief.  They  desire 
me  to  thank  him,  and  the  other  braves  who  sit  before 
us,  for  the  kind  and  pacific  manner  in  w’hich  their 
great  chief  has  set  forth  their  claim  to  this  part  of  the 
land  we  occupy,  and  upon  which  we  have  built  our 
wigwams.  They  also  desire  me  to  say,  that  they  are 
not  ignorant  that  those  that  you  represent  were  ahvays 
the  friends  of  our  good  father,  William  Penn,  and 
have  always  proved  true  to  his  friends,  and  shall 
always  cherish  in  remembrance  those  kind  offices  of 
our  red  brethren  in  times  past.  And  here,  almost 
under  the  shade  of  the  three  “Old  Indian  Apple 
Trees,”  planted  by  your  fathers,  we  pledge  ourselves 
anew  to  our  red  brothers,  that  nothing  arising  out  of 
your  present  claim  shall  mar  the  peace  or  lessen  the 
friendship  that  has  so  long  existed  between  us.  We 
are  very  sorry,  however,  to  inform  you  that  our  “ head 
man,”  Judge  William  Thomson,  is  away  on  a long 
journey,  and  as  to  your  rights  to  this  land,  w'e  must 
confess  that  we  are  ignorant.  We  settled  here  holding 
the  titles  to  our  lands  under  the  charter  of  William 
Penn,  never  doubting  his  knowledge  as  to  the  extent 
of  his  j:>urchase  of  your  fathers.  IVhen  our  “head 
man”  returns,  and  it  should  prove  that  our  good 
father,  and  your  good  father,  Onas,  was  mistaken,  and 
that  your  fathers  never  parted  witu  this  land,  we 
pledge  ourselves,  as  the  honest  descendants  of  the 
good  William  Penn,  to  buy  of  you  these  lands,  on 
which  we  have  settled  and  built  our  wigwams.  If  our 
brothers  will  tarry  with  us  until  our  “head  man” 


INDIAN  DEPREDATIONS. 


17 


returns,  which  will  be  in  eight  or  ten  days,  the  hospi- 
talities of  this  Log  Tavern  shall  be  yours,  without 
cost  to  you,  and  in  the  mean  time  you  can  amuse 
yourselves,  perhaps,  in  hunting  the  deer  on  these 
beautiful  hills,  where  once  your  fathers  trod.  And  if 
our  brothers  desire  it,  we  will  join  you  in  the  chase. 
But  if  you  cannot  gratify  us  in  this,  but  must  sooner 
return  to  your  own  people,  then  we  pledge  ourselves 
again,  that  you  shall  hear  from  us  when  our  head 
man  returns.’ 

“The  interpreter  of  the  Indians,  after  consulting 
with  the  delegates,  said,  that,  in  behalf  of  his  com- 
panions, he  returned  many  thanks  for  the  very  kind 
answer,  and  for  their  pressing  invitation  to  remain 
and  enjoy  the  hospitalities  of  their  friends;  ‘but,’ 
said  he,  ‘we  are  compelled  to  deny  ourselves  this 
great  enjoyment.  Business  at  the  Council-House  of 
the  Six  Nations  demands  our  return,  where  among 
our  own  people  they  would  await  a letter  from  our 
head  man,  and  there  would  invoke  their  Great  Spirit 
— your  Great  God — to  shower  blessings  upon  the  head 
of  the  friends  of  William  Penn.’ 

“The  next  day  these  Indians  left  for  their  homes 
in  Northern  New  York.  When  Judge  Thomson 
returned,  the  settlers  soon  acquainted  him  with  this 
new  claim  to  their  lands.  Judge  Thomson  sent  to 
the  capital  of  the  State  for  a certified  copy  of  William 
Penn’s^  treaty  with  the  Indians.  In  due  time  the 
Judge  received  a fac-simile  copy  of  said  treaty,  and 
many  of  our  citizens  of  that  day  had  the  pleasure  of 
seeing  and  examining  this  copy  of  Penn’s  treaty  with 
the  Indians,  before  the  Judge  forwai'ded  the  same  to 
the  Council-House  of  the  Six  Nations.  This  copy 
was  described  to  the  writer,  as  a great  curiosity.  The 
names  of  all  the  chiefs  were  plainly  written  out,  and 
at  the  termination  of  each  name  was  the  sign  manual 
or  mark  of  the  chief;  at  the  end  of  one  name  was  a 
bow,  another  an  arrow,  another  a bow  and  arrow 
crossed,  another  deers’  horns,  another  a deer’s  head 
and  horns,  another  the  form  of  a new  moon,  etc.,  etc., 
each  name  having  a different  mark  representing  their 
implements  of  war,  hunting,  game,  trophies,  etc. 

“This  treaty  plainly  fixed  the  northern  boundary 
of  our  State  on  the  forty-second  parallel  of  north 
latitude,  thus  dissipating  the  fears  of  the  settlers. 
This  copy  of  Penn’s  treaty  Judge  Thomson  forwarded 
to  the  address  left  by  the  Indians,  since  which  time 
neither  our  fathers,  nor  we  of  the  second  or  third 
generation,  have  heard  anything  more  about  the 
Indians’  claim  to  these  lands.” 

The  capture  and  escape  of  Jolm  Hilborn 
formed  one  of  the  most  notable  occurrences  of 
the  Indian  War  of  the  Rev^olutionaiy  period. 
Of  this  we  give  quite  a minute  account,  partly 
because  Mr.  Hilborn  afterwai’ds  became  one  of 


the  pioneers^  of  Susquehanna  County  and  partly 
because  of  its  intrinsic  and  illustrative  interest. 

“ ^ Mr.  Hilborn  and  his  few  scattered  neighbors  had, 
in  their  isolated  condition,  become  apprehensive  of 
the  danger  of  a sudden  attack  by  the  Indians,  and 
had  agreed  to  keep  each  other  informed  on  what  was 
taking  jrlace,  by  communicating  as  frequently  as  pos- 
sible. Among  these  neighbors  was  John  Price,  a 
relative  of  Hilborn’s,  who  lived  seven  miles  above, 
on  the  north  branch  of  the  creek. 

“ One  morning  in  the  early  part  of  June,  1779,  an 
old  woman  came  running  down  the  stream  in  great 
distress,  saying  that  her  son’s  family  were  all  killed  or 
taken  prisoners  by  the  Indians,  herself  only  escaping. 
This  family  resided  on  the  west  branch  of  the  creek, 
though  I am  unable  to  give  the  name. 

“ Mr.  Hilborn  set  out  immediately  to  give  the 
warning  to  John  Price.  On  his  way,  after  ascending 
a hill,  he  saw  the  house  in  flames  from  which  the 
family  had  been  captured.  Proceeding  in  the  direc- 
tion of  Mr.  Price’s,  and  when  about  one  mile  from 
the  burning  dwelling,  on  ascending  another  hill,  he 
found  himself  suddenly  surrounded  by  five  Indians, 
all  armed  with  guns,  who  demanded  his  surrender ; 
seeing  no  possibility  of  escape,  he  felt  that  he  must 
submit  to  whatever  conditions  they  might  be  disposed 
to  exact,  and  resolved  to  do  it  with  as  good  grace  as 
possible.  They  then  informed  him  (as  they  all  spoke 
tolerably  good  English)  that  if  he  would  give  a sol- 
emn promise  not  to  attempt  to  escape,  they  would 
spare  his  life ; if  not,  they  would  kill  him  on  the 
spot.  He  made  the  promise,  and,  as  will  appear,  kept 
it  faithfully  during  the  entire  period  of  his  captivity. 
They  then  bound  a heavy  burthen  on  his  back  and 
ordered  him  to  march.  Soon  after  they  passed  in 
sight  of  John  Price’s  house,  where  a halt  was  made. 
The  Indians  questioned  Hilborn  closely  as  to  who 
lived  there,  what  sort  of  a man  he  was,  whether  he 
was  rich,  etc.,  and  also  whether  he  kept  a gun.  He 
answered  truthfully  all  their  questions;  that  Price 
was  a peaceable,  quiet  man,  that  he  was  not  rich,  that 
he  kept  a gun,  as  every  one  did,  to  supply  himself 
with  game,  that  he  took  no  part  in  the  war,  etc.  Af- 
ter an  exciting  talk  of  considerable  length  they  con- 
cluded to  pass  by  the  house  of  Mr.  Price  and  spare 
him  for  the  present,  to  the  great  relief  of  Mr.  Hilborn. 
He  discovered  that  all  the  family  whose  house  they 
had  burned  were  in  company  except  one  little  boy, 
who,  on  account  of  his  loud  cries — as  he  some  time  af- 
ter learned — was  killed  at  the  house.  They  made 
rapid  marches  all  the  way  to  the  North  Branch  of  the 
Susquehanna,  crossing  many  streames  of  considera- 
ble depth,  which  they  were  obliged  to  wade,  and 


2 See  Harmony  township. 

3 The  sketcli  is  contributed  hy  Luke  W.  Brodhead,  wlio  derived  it 
from  Paul  S.  Preston,  wlio,  in  turn,  luid  the  facts  from  tho  journal  of 
his  father,  Samuel  Ih-eston,  of  Stockport,  Wayne  County,  written  in 
17S7. 


J Treaty  at  Fort  Stanwix,  17GH.  See  Chapter  I. 

2 


18 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


proved  a cause  of  much  suffering  to  the  women  and 
children,  who  became  greatly  fatigued  and  at  times 
nearly  exhausted.  They  crossed  the  Susquehanna 
above  the  mouth  of  the  Tioga,  and  found  the  former 
deep  and  difficult  of  passage,  so  much  so  that  two  of 
the  young  girls  were  only  saved  from  drowning  by  the 
extraordinary  efforts  of  Mr.  Hilborn.  He  seems  to 
have  had  great  sympathy  for  this  captive  family,  con- 
sisting of  the  mother  and  four  or  five  children,  af- 
fording them  all  the  relief  possible  in  their  tiresome 
journey,  and  encouraging  them,  whenever  opportu- 
nity afforded,  with  comforting  words  ; and  they  were 
greatly  endeared  to  him,  confirming  our  observations 
of  all  similar  experience  in  life,  that  community  of 
suffering  makes  the  sufferers  kin.  After  crossing  the 
Susquehanna  the  Indians  seemed  to  feel  themselves 
out  of  danger  of  pursuit,  and  their  marches  were 
thereafter  much  easier.  A little  girl  of  the  captive 
family  became  a great  favorite  with  all  the  Indians, 
and  was  treated  with  much  kindness,  they  doing  ev- 
erything possible  for  her  comfort  on  the  journey, 
promising  her  many  things  on  their  arrival  at  their 
home  in  Shenango,  telling  her  many  times  that  she 
should  have  plenty  of  milk,  etc.  But  what  seemed 
very  remarkable,  in  view  of  the  care  and  consideration 
bestowed  on  this  child,  was  the  fact  that  they  fre- 
quently showed  her  the  scalp  of  her  little  brother, 
killed  at  the  house,  the  sight  of  which  caused  her  to 
weep  bitterly. 

“ After  crossing  the  river,  a few  short  marches 
brought  them  to  the  place  where  their  canoes  were 
tied  up ; why  they  were  not  left  on  the  opposite  side 
of  the  river  on  setting  out  with  their  expedition,  Mr. 
Hilborn  could  not  understand.  They  placed  him  in 
one  of  the  canoes  with  the  larger  portion  of  the  party, 
and  under  guard,  ordered  him  to  pole  it  up  the  stream, 
which  he  did  the  whole  distance  to  Shenango.  They 
frequently  went  ashore,  and  on  one  occasion  the  old 
Delaware  Indian,  who  seemed  to  act  the  part  of  a 
chief,  went  out  hunting  and  killed  a large  buck.  On 
his  return  he  ordered  two  Indians,  young  men,  with 
Mr.  Hilborn,  to  go  and  dress  the  deer  and  bring  it  in. 
One  of  these  Indians  was  a Delaware,  a large,  coarse 
man,  the  other  a genteel  young  Mohawk,  who  had  on 
several  occasions  before  shown  kindness  to  Mr.  Hil- 
born. The  Delaware  was  surly  and  overbearing  and 
ordered  the  young  Mohawk  to  dress  the  deer,  which 
he  undertook,  but  not  succeeding  very  well,  they  soon 
engaged  in  a quarrel  in  their  own  language  and  finally 
in  a desperate  fight.  The  Mohawk,  though  the 
younger,  was  the  more  active  and  proved  the  con- 
queror, compelling  the  Delaware  to  finish  dressing  the 
deer. 

“ On  the  arrival  of  the  party  at  the  Indian  settle- 
ments at  Shenango,  Mr.  Hilborn  found  himself  quite 
ill  from  exposure,  and  nearly  exhausted.  He  was 
compelled  to  perform  a great  amount  of  severe  labor 
for  the  Indians,  and  imposed  an  additional  amount 
on  himself  in  his  efforts  to  relieve  his  fellow-captives. 


In  this  condition  he  learned  to  his  horror  that  he  was 
required  to  undergo  the  severe  ordeal  of  running  the 
gauntlet. 

“ The  arrival  of  the  party  seemed  soon  to  be  gener- 
ally known  at  the  different  Indian  towns  near,  as  a 
■ large  and  jubilant  crowd  was  soon  collected,  composed 
mainly  of  women  and  children,  who  were  to  be  Mr. 
Hilborn’s  tormentors,  and  who  seemed  eager  to  en- 
gage in  the  sport  of  lashing  the  poor  captive-  Two 
long  lines  were  formed,  composed  of  women  and 
children  armed  with  whips  and  clubs,  through  which 
Mr.  Hilborn  was  to  pass.  The  young  Mohawk,  of 
whom  mention  has  been  made,  stood  by  silently 
watching  with  evident  displeasure  the  preparations 
for  this  humiliating  method  of  torture,  so  universally 
prevalent  among  his  people,  feeling  that  the  prisoner 
in  his  present  condition  was  unable  to  endure  the 
punishment.  Mr.  Hilborn  was  ordered  to  start  at  a 
given  signal ; he  attempted  to  run  as  well  as  he 
could,  but  he  had  proceeded  but  a few  paces  when  the 
brave  and  generous  young  Mohawk  broke  in  the  ranks 
and  arrested  its  further  progress ; the  confusion  that 
ensued  lasted  but  a moment,  as  he  boldly  announced 
his  determination,  and  right  from  custom,  to  offer 
himself  to  run  in  place  of  the  sick  captive.  He  was 
accepted,  and  ran  the  whole  course  ; notwithstanding 
his  remarkable  agility,  he  was  severely  punished,  but 
he  endured  it  without  a word  of  complaint  and  ap- 
parently with  stoical  indifference.  The  young  Mo- 
hawk continued  the  friend  of  Mr.  Hilborn  through- 
out his  captivity  and  was  always  kind  and  consider- 
ate towards  him. 

“ During  his  stay  at  Shenango  the  Indians  received 
intelligence  of  General  Sulliv'an’s  intention  of  com- 
ing up  the  Susquehanna  to  destroy  their  towns  and 
growing  crops  ; this  information  produced  the  wildest 
excitement,  and  on  the  part  of  some  of  the  warriors, 
exhibitions  of  violent  rage. 

‘‘They  had  a large  body  of  the  best  of  land  under 
cultivation,  with  the  prospect  of  an  abundant  harvest 
of  Indian  corn,  beans,  etc.,  and  the  thought  of  having 
it  destroyed  was  a natural  cause  of  anxiety. 

“ About  the  time  of  receiving  intelligence  of  the 
movements  of  General  Sullivan  they  were  holding  a 
council  in  reference  to  an  expedition  to  the  settle- 
ments on  the  West  Branch  of  the  Susquehanna,  to  be 
commanded  by  the  celebrated  Capt.  Brandt  and  Capt. 
Montour.  Hilborn  was  informed  of  this  contemplated 
expedition  by  his  friend,  the  young  Mohawk,  who 
seemed  to  be  privy  to  all  that  was  taking  place.  He 
expressed  his  fears  for  the  fate  of  Hilborn  should  this 
expedition  be  attended  with  unfavorable  results,  and 
also  in  case  General  Sullivan’s  army  should  make  its 
appearance.  The  prisoners  in  either  case  would  be 
treated  badly.  Hilborn  now  for  the  first  time  made 
efforts  to  obtain  for  himself  and  his  companions  re- 
lease from  captivity,  and  for  this  purpose  had  an  in- 
terview with  the  old  Delaware  chief  who  took  him 
2)risoner.  He  made  no  attempts  at  misstatement,  for 


INDIAN  DEPKBDATIONS. 


19 


he  found  the  old  man  exceedingly  shrewd  and  any 
efforts  to  deceive  him  would  be  fruitless.  He  told  him 
that  he  was  a Quaker,  that  he  had  taken  no  part  in 
the  war,  that  it  was  against  his  religious  principles  to 
fight,  etc.,  and  that  the  women  and  children  could  do 
them  no  harm  ; but  all  his  arguments  were  in  vain ; 
(:  the  only  reply  was  that,  ‘all  the  Yankees  have  the 

l|  same  story.’  Yet  they  treated  him  with  more  con- 
I sideration  after  this  interview.  His  employment  was 
now,  and  had  been  for  some  time,  to  attend  to  the 
cultivation  of  the  growing  corn.  (As  is  well  known. 
General  Sullivan  in  a few  weeks  from  this  time  ren- 
dered desolate  this  whole  region  of  country,  destroy- 
ing forty  villages,  some  of  them  containing  as  many 
as  a hundred  houses,  together  with  160,000  bushels  of 
corn,  leaving  scarce  a trace  of  vegetation  on  the  sur- 
face.) 

“Mr.  Hilborn,  now  finding  that  he  could  not  pur- 
chase his  freedom  by  entreaties,  laid  a plan  for  his 
escape.  He  concluded  to  take  a canoe  at  night  and 
quietly  push  down  the  Susquehanna  until  morning, 
and  then  hide  the  craft  in  the  mouth  of  some  creek, 
while  he  watched  from  an  elevated  position  to  ascer- 
tain if  he  was  pursued  ; if  so,  to  take  his  chances  by 
land,  and  if  not,  to  again  take  the  canoe  and  at  night 
make  his  way  down  the  stream.  In  planning  his  es- 
cape his  mind  became  greatly  exercised,  for  notwith- 
standing the  promise  made  on  the  day  of  his  capture 
was  not  voluntary,  having  been  extorted  from  him  at 
the  peril  of  his  life,  and  therefore  not  strictly  binding, 
yet  when  he  came  to  make  the  trial,  he  could  not 
with  a clear  conscience  disregard  the  pledges  he  had 
given  and  falsify  his  word ; yet  the  plan  of  escape 
was  deemed  practical,  and  he  had  many  opportunities 
for  putting  it  in  execution.  On  one  occasion  he  was 
sent  some  distance  for  water  ; a strong  impulse  to  re- 
gain his  freedom  suddenly  took  possession  of  him, 
and  he  dropped  his  camp-kettle  and  began  to  run. 
After  going  about  half  a mile  he  again  thought  of  the 
promise  on  which  his  life  had  been  spared,  and  as 
speedily  returned  to  the  camp  with  the  water. 

“ Capt.  Brandt  was  arranging  now  for  his  intended 
expedition  against  the  settlements  on  the  West  Branch 
of  the  Susquehanna. 

“ Hilborn  heard  from  his  Indian  friend  his  opinion 
of  the  high  character  of  the  Mohawk  chief,  whom  he 
described  as  the  greatest  man  among  the  Indiaji  na- 
tions ; that  he  had  been  educated  in  New  England, 
had  since  been  in  London  in  company  with  Guy 
Johnston, and  now  held  a commission  under  the  crown, 
and  that  he  was  noted  as  much  for  his  humanity  as 
for  his  bravery.  Mr.  Hilborn  now  resolved  to  call  on 
Brandt  and  state  his  case  as  well  as  he  could.  He 
found  him  in  his  tent,  seated  at  a table,  writing,  and 
dressed  in  a calico  wrapper.  He  was  received  with 
great  politeness,  and  Capt.  Brandt  acted  towards  him 
more  like  an  English  gentleman  than  an  Indian  chief. 
He  listened  attentively  to  what  Mr.  Hilborn  had  to 
say,  and  seemed  to  have  much  sympathy  for  him,  but 


finally  told  him  that  as  he  was  a prisoner  of  the  Del- 
awares, he  could  not  interfere  for  him,  as  he  was  a 
Mohawk.  Yet  Hilborn  believed  that  the  interview 
was  of  service  to  him,  for  it  was  ordered  soon  after 
that  he  should  be  sent  to  Niagara  and  delivered  to 
the  English  there. 

“ After  bidding  farewell  to  his  generous  Indian 
friend,  he  was  conducted  through  the  Genesee  coun- 
try, where  he  saw  large  bodies  of  beautiful  land  un- 
der cultivation  by  the  Indians. 

“From  Niagara  he  was  ordered  on  board  a vessel 
to  be  sent  to  Quebec.  In  passing  down  the  St.  Law- 
rence the  water  was  exceedingly  rapid  and  the  navi- 
gation appeared  dangerous.  - The  vessel  was  con- 
ducted by  a Frenchman  with  much  skill,  and  he 
arrived  safely  in  Quebec  in  just  two  months  from  the 
time  he  was  taken  prisoner.  Here  he  was  under  no 
restraint  and  seemed  to  be  left  to  take  care  of  himself. 
He  was  now  hungry,  moneyless  and  almost  naked.  In 
this  extremity  he  applied  to  an  Irish  colonel  in  the 
British  service  for  relief.  The  colonel  listened  to  the 
relation  he  gave  of  himself,  and,  to  Hilborn’s  sur- 
prise, loaned  him  money  enough  to  purchase  a toler- 
ably decent  suit  of  clothes  and  something  to  eat. 

“ He  now  made  effort  to  obtain  employment,  by 
which  he  might  support  himself  for  the  present  and 
discharge  his  obligation  to  the  generous  colonel. 
Happening  to  mention  to  him  that  he  w’asa  miller  by 
trade,  he  at  once  sent  him  to  a mill  of  his  own  on  the 
opposite  side  of  the  river,  to  work  fora  time  on  trial. 
In  this  new  situation  he  did  everything  in  his  power 
to  show  his  gratitude  by  furthering  the  interests  of  his 
employer.  He  made  several  alterations,  re-dressed 
the  stones,  etc.,  and  after  a little  time  had  the  mill 
doing  better  than  it  had  ever  done  before.  The  col- 
onel was  greatly  pleased  and  soon  after  made  him 
superintendent  of  the  whole  business  of  purchasing 
grain,  selling  the  flour,  as  well  as  attending  to  its 
manufacture,  the  sale  of  flour  amounting  to  about 
£100  per  w’eek.  He  remained  in  this  situation  over 
a year,  but  with  constant  longing  to  return  home ; 
yet  no  opportunity  was  afforded.  He  at  length  made 
known  his  desire  to  the  colonel,  who  seemed  very  re- 
luctant to  part  with  him,  and  offered  to  give  him 
whatever  wages  he  might  in  reason  ask,  if  he  would 
remain. 

“ But  seeing  he  had  his  heart  set  on  getting  to  his 
home,  the  colonel  generously  procured  a passage  for 
him  in  a transport  about  to  sail  for  New  York.  They 
sailed  by  the  Newfoundland  fisheries,  when,  the  cap- 
tain receiving  information  of  a French  fleet  lying  off 
the  coast,  they  j)ut  into  Halifax.  He  remained  in 
Nova  Scotia  a considerable  time,  when  he  again  took 
passage  and  was  finally  landed  in  New  Jersey,  some- 
where near  Amboy,  from  which  place  he  walked  to 
his  father’s  house,  in  Makeficld,  and  from  thence  to 
his  home  on  Brodliead’s  Creek,  having  been  away 
just  two  years  fi-om  the  time  of  his  capture.” 


20 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


The  family  captured  with  Mr.  Hilborn  were 
all  released  and  returned  safely  home,  excepting 
one  of  the  children,  who  died  at  Niagara. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

CONNECTICUT  CLAIMANTS. 

Trenton  Decree — Second  Pennamite  War — Erection  of  Luzerne  County — 
Act  of  1795 — Drinker’s  Letters — Bartlett  Hinds  Mobbed. 

Fifteen  days  after  the  surrender  of  Lord 
Cornwallis  a petition  was  presented  to  Con- 
gress “ from  the  Supreme  Executive  Council  of 
Pennsylvania,  stating  a matter  in  dispute  be- 
tw'een  the  said  State  and  the  State  of  Connecti- 
cut, re.specting  sundry  lands  lying  on  the  east 
branch  of  the  river  Susquehanna,  and  praying 
a hearing  in  the  premises,  agreeable  to  the 
ninth  article  of  the  Confederation.”  Arrange- 
ments to  this  effect  were  made,  and  one  year 
later,  November  12,  1782,  a court  composed  of 
five  commissioners — Messrs.  Whipple,  Arnold, 
Houston,  Griffin  and  Brearly — convened  at 
Trenton,  N.  J.  Messrs.  Bradford,  Reed,  Wil- 
son and  Sergeant  appeared  as  counsel  for  Penn- 
sylvania, and  Messrs.  Dyer,  Johnson  and  Root 
were  the  agents  from  Connecticut.  The  court 
declined  to  order  notice  to  be  given  to  the 
settlers  at  Wyoming  claiming  the  land,  as  that 
question  did  not  come  before  them,  the  ques- 
tion they  were  empowered  to  decide  being  solely 
that  of  jurisdiction.  After  sitting  forty-one 
judicial  days,  in  which  the  parties,  represented 
by  their  counsel,  had  proceeded  with  their  pleas, 
they  gave  their  decision  in  these  few  words : 

“We  are  unanimously  of  the  opinion  that  Con- 
necticut has  no  right  to  the  lands  in  controversy. 

“We  are  also  unanimously  of  opinion  that  the  juris- 
diction and  pre-emption  of  all  the  territory  lying 
within  the  charter  of  Pennsylvania,  and  now  claimed 
by  the  State  of  Connecticut,  do  of  right  belong  to  the 
State  of  Pennsylvania.” 

It  is  generally  conceded  by  those  who  have 
investigated  the  subject,  that  this  decision  was 
political  and  had  reference  to  the  future  welfare 
of  the  States.  The  War  of  the  Revolution  being 
over,  the  States  found  it  necessary  to  unite  in 


one  general  government,  without  loosing  their 
autonomy  as  States  however.  Had  the  decision 
been  in  favor  of  the  Connecticut  claimants,  it 
would  have  made  a State  composed  of  two  parts, 
separated  by  New  York.  In  placing  the  dis- 
puted territory  under  the  jurisdiction  of  Penn- 
sylvania, it  made  one  compact  State  of  contiguous 
territory.  Geographically  considered,  then,  the 
decision  was  correct;  but  legally  considered, 
the  Connecticut  claim  was  far  the  stronger.  The 
Connecticut  charter  was  first,  her  Indian  pur- 
chase was  first  and  she  was  first  by  occupancy. 
This  certainly  made  a strong  case.  The  com- 
missioners only  decided  the  question  of  jurisdic- 
tion. It  would  have  been  wise  and  just  had 
the  Pennsylvania  government  shown  proper 
respect  for  the  rights  of  the  hard-working 
pioneers  who  had  braved  every  danger  and 
suffered  untold  hardships  to  make  improve- 
ments in  an  inhospitable,  waste,  howling  wilder- 
ness. Had  Pennsylvania  presented  every  one 
of  these  hardy  pioneers  with  a deed  for  the 
land  he  occupied,  it  would  have  been  both 
politic  and  just.  The  unoccupied  lands  were 
increased  in  value  by  the  improvements  made 
by  these  settlers,  so  that  the  land  speculator  need 
not  have  lost  anything.  The  Pennsylvania 
Legislature  vacillated  from  one  course  to  another, 
but  eventually  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  land 
speculator  altogether  and  proceeded  to  eject  the 
Connecticut  claimants  by  force. 

With  the  close  of  1782,  and  the  Trenton  decree, 
the  jurisdiction  of  Connecticut  ceased.  Before  that 
decree  the  court  had  expressly  stated  that  the  right 
of  soil  did  not  come  before  them,  and  thus  the  settlers 
were  content  to  be  transferred  from  one  State  to  the 
jurisdiction  of  another  ; but  events  soon  made  it  ap- 
parent that  expulsion,  or  the  entire  abandonment  of 
their  possessions,  was  to  be  preliminary  to  any  adjust- 
ment of  existing  difficulties.  The  land  had  been 
purchased  by  Pennsylvania  speculators,'*  while  it  was 
occupied  by  those  who  held  it  under  title  from  the 
Susquehanna  Company ; and  the  Legislature  of  Penn- 
sylvania, by  its  commissioners  appointed  in  1783,  to 
inquire  into  the  circumstances  of  the  Wyoming  in- 
habitants, expressly  declared : ‘ It  cannot  be  supposed 


1 Blackman’s  “History.” 

2 The  landholders  who  stimulated  the  Assembly  to  unjust  measures 
agaiust  the  Wyoming  peojde  were  generally  claimants  under  leases  from 
tlie  proprietaries,  or  warrants  of  1784.  The  landholders  under  wan-auts 
of  1793  and  1794 — the  Tilghmans,  Drinkers,  Francises,  etc. — are  in  no  re- 
spect imiilicated  in  the  censure.— ilfmer. 


CONNECTICUT  CLAIMANTS. 


21 


that  Pennsylvania  will,  nor  can  she,  consistent  with 
her  constitution,  by  any  ex  post  facto  law,  deprive  her 
citizens  of  any  portion  of  their  property  legally  ob- 
j tained.’  This,  of  course,  implied  the  loss  to  the  Con- 
f necticut  settlers  of  all  they  had  paid  to  the  Susqiie- 

i hanna  Company,  in  favor  of  prior  ‘ citizens  ’ of  Penn- 

ii  sylvania  who  had  ‘ legally  obtained  ’ possession  of  the 
I land.  This  was  the  origin  of  the  second  Pennamite 

War,  which  fortunately  extended  over  only  one  year 
— 1784 — and  resulted  in  the  restoration  to  the  ‘Yan- 
kees ’ of  the  lands  from  which  they  had  been  cruelly 
driven  during  the  spring  of  that  year.” 

The  decision  at  Trento-n  left  the  Wyoming 
settlers  but  two  alternatives  : either  to  submit  to 
the  jurisdiction  of  the  State  of  Pennsylvania  or 
openly  rebel  and  organize  a State  of  their  own. 
Connecticut  had  evidently  abandoned  her  chil- 
dren, acquiescing  in  the  the  decree  at  Trenton. 
She  was  afterward  amply  compensated  by  re- 
taining over  three  million  three  hundred  and 
sixty-six  thousand  acres  of  land  in  the  “ West- 
ern Reserve  ” in  Ohio,  for  which  the  State  of 
Connecticut  realized  one  million  nine  hundred 
thousand  dollars.  But  the  Wyoming  settlers 
were  not  so  easily  appeased. 

The  years  1785  and  1786  did  not  exhibit 
any  abatement  of  the  controversy  between  the 
rivals.  Col.  John  Franklin  became  the  leading 
spirit  among  the  Connecticut  claimants,  and 
Col.  Timothy  Pickering  appeared  as  the  chief 
champion  of  the  Pennsylvania  cause.  A plan 
was  formed  for  carving  a new  State  from  Penn- 
sylvania, to  include  the  old  county  of  West- 
moreland and  all  of  the  territory  claimed  by 
Connecticut,  and  thus  wrest  Wyoming  from  the 
jurisdiction  of  Pennsylvania.  Col.  Ethan  Allen, 
of  Vermont,  appeared  upon  the  scene  as  one 
pledged  to  furnish  means  and  men  for  the  dis- 
memberment of  Pennsylvania. 

Col.  Franklin  would  not  take  the  oath  of 
fidelity  to  Pennsylvania  nor  accept  (at  that  time) 
a post  of  official  importance  to  which  he  had 
been  chosen  with  a view  to  conciliatins:  him. 

The  erection  of  Luzerne  County  from  North- 
umberland, Sept.  25,  1786,  was  intended  to 
conciliate  the  Yankee  settlers  by  giving  them 
an  opportunity  to  liave  a direct  representation 
in  the  A.ssembly  and  to  state  their  grievances, 
and,  in  a large  measure,  shape  their  own  affairs. 
This  county  included  all  of  the  Connecticut  set- 


tlers, except  those  at  Lackawack  or  Wallen- 
paupack  and  the  few  on  the  Delaware,  princi- 
pally at  Cushutunk. 

■ It  extended  one  hundred  and  twenty  miles 
north  and  south,  or  from  the  mouth  of  the 
Nescopec  to  ■ the  north  line  of  the  State,  on 
which  its  extent  was  from  the  sixth  mile-stone 
to  a point  fifteen  miles  west  of  the  Susquehanna 
River  where  it  enters  the  State  a second  time. 

In  March,  1787,  the  inhabitants  proposed  a 
compromise,  in  effect  that  if  the  commonwealth 
would  grant  them  the  .seventeen  townships 
which  had  been  laid  out,  and  in  which  settle- 
ments had  been  made  prior  to  the  “ Trenton 
decree,”  they  would  relinquish  their  claim  to 
all  other  lands  within  the  limits  of  the  Susque- 
hanna purchase ; what  were  known  as  the 
“ certified  townships  ” were  thus  secured  to  the 
settlers ; but  while  most  of  the  inhabitants 
were  within  these  townships,  there  were  others 
scattered  here  and  there  who  had  bought  rights 
of  the  Susquehanna  and  Delaware  Companies 
and  made  improvements  upon  their  locations. 
There  were  quite  a number  of  this  class  within 
the  present  limits  of  Susquehanna  County. 

Another  class  dissatisfied  with  the  compro- 
mise were  the  Pennsylvanians,  to  whom  the 
State  had  previously  sold  a portion  of  the  lands, 
and  who  did  not  wish,  very  naturally,  to  be  dis- 
possessed of  them.  Such  was  the  effect  of  the 
opposition  that  the  next  year  the  compromise 
act  was  suspended  and  afterwards  repealed.  The 
conflict  was  continued. 

In  1795  ‘Ahe  Intrusion  Law”  was  passed, 
warning  off  all  settlers  not  applying  for  land 
under  a Pennsylvania  title.  On  April  4,  1799, 
an  act  for  offering  compensation  to  the  Penn- 
sylvania claimants  of  certain  lands  within  the 
“certified  townships”  was  passed  and  was  known 
as  the  compromising  law.  On  February  16, 
1801,  an  act  supplementary  to  the  “Intrusion 
Law”  of  1795  was  passed,  authorizing  the 
Governor  to  issue  a proclamation,  forbidding  all 
future  intrusions  and  requiring  all  who  had 
intruded  to  ])eaceably  withdraw. 

The  State  had,  in  1799,  appointed  commis- 
sioners to  adjust  the  conflicting  claims  of  the 
Pennamites  and  “ Yankees,”  to  examine  all  of 
the  claims,  fi.x  the  amount  ('ach  Connecticut 


22 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


settler  should  justly  pay  the  State  to  perfect  his 
title,  and,  ou  the  other  hand,  the  sum  that  the 
State  should  pay  to  those  who  were  compelled 
to  reliiKpiish  the  lands  they  had  bought  from 
the  State.  The  commission  performed  its  duties 
fairly,  but  many  persons  were  dissatisfied.  Ou 
April  6,  1802,  an  act  of  Assembly  provided 
“ that  no  conveyance  of  land  within  the  counties 
of  Luzerne,  Lycoming  and  Wayne  shall  pass 
any  estate,  where  the  title  is  not  derived  from 
this  State  or  the  proprietaries,  before  the  4th  of 
July,  1776.”  The  law  was  promulgated  by 
proclamation  of  the  Governor  May  1,  1802, 
and  from  that  time  whatever  ‘Light”  Connec- 
ticut claimants  may  have  had,  it  was  the  veriest 
folly  to  defend  it.  But  many  persons  still 
scorned  all  overtures  from  the  State  and  firmly 
believed  in  the  validity  of  the  Connecticut  title. 
They  proposed  to  hold  their  claims  in  spite  of 
all.  Public  feeling  ran  high.  The  newspaper 
controversy  was  heated  and  it  seemed  as  if 
armed  conflict  must  again  occur.  In  fact,  the 
Governor  again  contemplated  calling  out  the 
militia  of  the  State  to  enforce  obedience ; but 
milder  methods  finally  prevailed,  and  the  long- 
vexed  question  was  eventually  settled  by  amica- 
ble means. 

Much  of  the  credit  for  the  peaceable  solution 
of  the  problem  and  the  adjustment  of  difterences 
by  bloodless  means  was  due  to  the  Quakers,  or 
Friends,  who  were  among  the  largest  land- 
owners  under  the  Pennsylvania  title  in  the  dis- 
puted territory. 

The  enforcement  of  the  Intrusion  Law  pro- 
duced some  difficulty  in  Susquehanna  County. 
The  act  of  Assembly  was  passed  April  1 1,  1795, 
and  was  designed  “ to  prevent  intrusions  on 
lands  within  the  counties  of  Northampton? 
Northumberland  and  Luzerne.”  The  first  sec- 
tion reads, — 

“If  any  person  shall,  after  the  passing  of  this  act, 
take  possession  of,  enter,  intrude,  or  settle  on  any 
lands”  within  the  limits  of  the  counties  aforesaid, 
“ by  virtue  or  under  color  of  any  conveyance  of  half- 
share right,  or  any  other  pretended  title,  not  derived 
from  the  authority  of  this  commonwealth,  or  of  the 
late  proprietaries  of  Pennsylvania,  before  the  Revo- 
lution, such  persons  upon  being  duly  convicted 
thereof,  upon  indictment  in  any  Court  of  Oyer  and 
Terminer,  or  Court  of  General  Quarter  Sessions,  to  he 


held  in  the  proper  county,  shall  forfeit  and  pay  the 
sum  of  two  hundred  dollars,  one-half  to  the  use  of  the 
county,  and  the  other  half  to  the  use  of  the  informer ; 
and  shall  also  be  subject  to  such  imprisonment,  not 
exceeding  twelve  months,  as  the  court,  before  whom 
such  conviction  is  had,  may,  in  their  discretion, 
direct.” 

The  second  section  provides  that  every  person 
who  shall  combine  or  conspire  for  the  purpose 
of  conveying,  possessing  or  settling  on  any  lands 
within  the  limits  aforesaid,  under  any  half-share 
right  or  pretended  title,  as  aforesaid,  or  for  the 
purpose  of  laying  out  townships  by  persons  not 
appointed  or  acknowledged  by  the  laws  of  this 
commonwealth,  and  every  person  that  shall  be 
accessary  thereto,  before  or  after  the  fact,  shall, 
for  every  such  offense,  forfeit  and  pay  a sum  not 
less  than  five  hundred  nor  more  than  one  thon- 
sand  dollars,  one-half  to  the  use  of  the  county, 
and  the  other  half  to  the  use  of  the  informer ; 
and  shall  also  be  subject  to  such  imprisonment 
at  hard  labor,  not  exceeding  eighteen  months, 
as  the  court  in  their  discretion  may  direct.  The 
third  section  provided  that  in  case  of  conviction 
the  sheriff  “should  expel  and  eject  all  and 
every  the  person  or  persons  thereon  intruded  as 
aforesaid,”  and  the  Governor  is  to  call  out  the 
militia  if  necessary. 

This  act  went  no  further  verbally  than  to 
make  intrusions  punishable — prohibition  being 
only  implied.  An  act  supplementary  to  this, 
passed  February  16,  1801,  authorized  the  Gov- 
ernor (section  xi.)  to  issue  his  proclamation, 

“Forbidding  all  future  intrusions,  and  enjoining 
and  requiring  all  persons  who  have  intruded  contrary 
to  the  provisions  of  the  act  to  which  this  act  is  sup- 
plementary, to  withdraw  peaceably  from  the  lands 
whereon  such  intrusions  have  been  made  ; and  en- 
joining or  requiring  all  officers  of  government,  and 
all  good  citizens  of  the  Commonwealth,  to  prevent,  or 
prosecute  by  all  legal  means,  such  intrusions  and  in- 
truders,” etc. 

April  6,  1802,  an  act  of  Assembly  provided 
that  “ no  conveyance  of  land  within  the  coun- 
ties of  Luzerne,  Lycoming  and  Wayne  shall 
pass  any  estate  where  the  title  is  not  derived 
from  this  State  or  the  proprietaries  before  the 
4th  of  July,  1776.”  It  imposed  a penalty 
upon  any  judge  or  justice  for  receiving  proof  of, 
or  recorder  for  recording,  a deed  of  different 


CONNECTICUT  CLAIMANTS. 


23 


description.  “No  person  interested  in  the 
Connecticut  title  to  act  as  judge  or  juror,  in 
any  cause  where  said  title  may  come  in  ques- 
tion,” etc.  An  exception  was  made  in  favor  of 
the  inhabitants  of  the  seventeen  townships,  only 
as  far  as  related  to  judges,  sheriffs  or  jurors. 
This  law  was  required  to  be  made  known  by 
proclamation  from  the  Governor,  and  took  effect 
May  1,  1802,  as  before  noticed.  But  the  Yan- 
kee settlers  were  persistent ; they  had  left  home 
and  kindred  in  many  instances,  and  put  all  their 
fortune  and  labor  into  their  Pennsylvania 
homes.  They  had  come  into  an  unbroken 
wilderness,  and  commenced  to  make  homes  for 
themselves  and  their  children,  under  a title 
which  they  supposed  to  be  good.  They  were 
willing  to  yield  to  the  jurisdiction  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, but  it  did  seem  like  a hardship  to  be 
expelled  from  their  lands  by  civil  process  sim- 
ply to  enrich  a few  land  speculators  who  lived 
in  Philadelphia.  Viewing  it  from  their  stand- 
point, it  is  not  singular  that  they  resisted  the 
enforcement  of  this  act.  The  Luzerne  Federalist 
of  January,  1803,  stated  that 

“ In  the  district  of  Rindaw  (Rush)  one  hundred 
and  fifty  persons  not  only  avowedly,  but  firmly  and 
positively,  believe  in  the  Connecticut  title  and  no 
other.  In  Willingboro,  (Great  Bend)  perhaps  thirty. 
But  in  all  the  districts  nearer  two  thousand  than  one 
thousand  could  be  found  who  would  risk  their  all  in 
defence  of  the  Connecticut  title,  if  Pennsylvania  ever 
attempts  to  drive  them  oif  by  force  of  arms.” 

The  following  letter  from  Ezekiel  Hyde  to 
Colonel  Jenkins  shows  the  persistence  of  the 
Yankees  as  late  as  1800  : 

“ Norwich,  Feb.  14,  1800. 

“ Dear  Sir, — 

“We  have  heard  nothing  from  you  since  I left 
Rindaw,  which  was  about  the  20th  of  last  month. 
My  uncle  Jabez  and  family  all  started  for  Rindaw 
the  day  before  yesterday.  The  gang  consisted  of  ten 
horse  sleighs  and  two  ox-teams — three  other  families 
besides  my  uncle’s.  I went  with  them  seventeen 
miles  and  left  them  in  high  animated  spirits,  deter- 
mined to  reach  Rindaw  within  seven  days.  Jabez, 
his  mother  and  sister  in  one  sleigh,  my  uncle  and 
Stephen  in  another ; Seril  Peck,  the  young  man  that 
you  saw  at  the  store,  drove  another  sleigh,  and  seve- 
ral others  that  you  never  saw — all  determined  to  settle. 
What  they  will  do  with  the  horses  and  oxen  after 
they  get  there,  God  knows.  When  I came  from  there 
I directed  Robinson  to  purchase  all  the  hay  that  he 


could  obtain,  but  I have  now  sent  on  four  more  horses 
of  my  own  that  are  good  ones,  and  ought  to  be  well 
kept.  I have  given  Jabez  particular  directions  about 
them,  and  am  not  in  any  fear  of  their  suffering  if 
there  is  any  forage  to  be  found  on  the  waters  of  the 
Wyalusing.  There  has  a number  of  good  families 
gone  from  Litchfield  County  into  Usher  and  the  Ma- 
nor Delaware  purchase.  They  have  taken  along 
some  of  the  rhino  to  purchase  cows,  etc.,  and  they 
have  taken  with  them  some  of  the  best  working  oxen 
that  ever  I saw.  In  short,  there  have  more  than  fifty 
families  gone  into  the  Delaware  purchase  within  the 
last  two  months;  ten  families  from  Long  Island. 
Colonel,  you  will  recollect  what  I mentioned  to  you 
respecting  Seril  Peck,  and  the  vacant  laud  adjoining 
Victory  and  New'  Milford  in  the  Susquehanna  pur- 
chase. I must  depend  upon  all  that  there  is  vacant, 
for  Peck  has  gone  on  determined  to  settle  on  them, 
and  I am  of  opinion  that  his  father  and  a family  of 
eleven  children  will  all  be  there  within  two  years, 
and  he  is  one  of  the  most  respectable  men  in  the 
town  of  Franklin.  I wish  you  to  keep  this  request 
among  your  daily  memoranda. 

****** 

“ Please  to  inform  citizen  Palmer  and  family  that 
their  friends  are  generally  well.  Mr.  Charles  Miner 
will  call  on  you  and  give  the  particulars. 

“ I am,  sir,  your  friend  and  fellow'-citizen, 

“ Ezekiel  Hyde. 

“Colonel  Jno.  Jenkins.” 


Settlers  on  the  Wyalusing. — Charles 


Miner’s  list  of  settlers  upon  the  upper  waters 
of  the  Wyalusing,  with  several  corrections  made 
by  Miss  Blackman  : 

Memorandum  (dated  April  29,  1800)  of  the 
inhabitants  upon  the  Wyalusing  waters,  above 
the  Forks,  the  time  of  their  settling  in  the 
country,  the  number  of  their  families,  etc. : 


Rindaw. 

Isaac  Brownson  & family  . 8 1704 
Jabez  Hyde  and  family  . 5 1799 
Daniel  Ross  and  sister  . . 2 1796 

Total 15 

Usher. 

Daniel  Metcalf  and  family.  1798 
Joab  Picket  and  family  . 3 1799 
Miner  Picket,  born. 

Wm.  Lathrop  and  family  . 3 1799 
Ingram  Lathrop,  born 
March  21,  1800. 

Nathan  Tupper  and  family  6 1799 
James  Carroll  and  family  . 5 1800 
Abher  Griffis  and  family  . 9 1790 
Eb.  Whipple  and  family  . 7 1799 
Ezra  Lathrop  and  family  . 4 1799 
Holden  Sweet  and  family  . 7 1800 
Eben  Ingram  and  family  . 2 1799 
Samuel  Lewis  and  family  .5  1800 
Samuel  Main  and  family  . 7 1798 
Fanny  Main,  born  in  1800. 


Meacham  Main  & family  . 3 1800 

Charles  Miner 1 1799 

Total G4 

Manor. 

Jno.  Reynolds  and  family 
and  sister 6 1800 


Daniel  Foster  and  family  . 5 1800 
Jer.  Meacham  and  family.  9 1799 
Nehem.  Main  and  family  . 3 1799 
Ezek.  Main  and  family  . 7 17i)9 
Ozem  Cook  and  family  . 9 1800 
Samuel  Coggswell  ....  1 1800 
Robert  Day 1 1800 

Total 41 

Dandolo. 

Steph.  Wilson  and  family  ..5  1799 
Capt.  Bartlett  Hines  and 


family 6 1800 

Cap.  J.  Sabins  and  family  10  1790 
Jo.  Chapman  and  family  . 2 1800 
A.  Tracy?  Es(|.,  and  fam- 
ily   10  1799 


24 


HISTOliY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


B.  Melbourne,  motlier 
and  sisters 6 1797 

Total 39 

Locke. 

Andrew  Canfield. 

Ira  Brister. 

Albert  Camp. 

Joseph  Ross. 

Silas  Beardsley. 

Benjamin  Abbott. 

Bidwell. 

Capt.  Peleg  Tracy  and 

family 5 1799 

Wm.  Harkins  and  family.  6 1794 

Sami  Howard 1 1799 

Thos.  and  Henry  Park 
and  family 3 1796 

^ Newspaper  controversy  upon  the  subject 
was  particularly  rife  that  year,  but  extended 
over  a much  longer  period. 

The  following  letters  of  Henry  Drinker,  of 
Philadelphia,  a large  holder  of  lands  in  this 
section,  under  title  derived  from  the  State  of 
Pennsylvania,  reveal  the  intrusion  on  his 


Capt.  Charles  Geer  and 


family 3 1800 

Capt.  Jos.  Chapman  and 

family 6 1798 

Edward  Goodwin  and 

family 3 1801 

Jeremiah  Spencer  and 

family  10  1800 

Tlios.  Giles  and  family  . 3 1799 

Total 39 

Auburn. 

Myron  Kaseon  and  family  3 1799 

Cyril  Peck 1800 

Lloyd  Goodsell 1799 


[Wm.  Harkins  is  put  too  early 
by  one  or  two  years  at  least. 
— E.  C.  B.] 


tp3.cts  * 

“ Philadelphia,  5 mo.  22d,  1801. 

“ Eespected  Friend, 

“ Abram  Horhe,  Esq. 

“ There  are  in  the  hands  of  Timothy  Pickering, 
Esq.,  two  maps,  one  of  them  of  a considerable  body 
of  lands  situate  on  the  waters  of  Tunkhannock  Creek 


and  extending  to  the  head-waters  of  Salt  Lick  Creek; 
the  other  represents  lands  bounding  on  the  State  line 
between  this  State  and  New  York,  and  to  the  east- 
ward of  the  Susquehanna — -these  maps  Col.  Pickering 
has  promised  to  deliver  thee  when  called  for. 

“ I now  deliver  herewith  a map  of  a large 
body  of  lands,  principally  on  and  near  the  waters  of 
Meshoppen  Creek,  and  including  branches  of  Wyalu- 
sing,  Tuscarora  and  Tunkhannock. 

“ The  townships  laid  out  by  the  companies  (Con- 
necticut) are  distinguished  by  dotted  lines,  which 
may  be  of  some  use  to  thee  in  traversing  that  country. 
I have  also  obtained  the  names  of  about  50  settlers 
I'rom  Connecticut,  etc.,  and  the  parts  they  are  settled 
on  : tho’  there  may  be  some  variation  as  to  the  par- 
ticular tracts  they  occupy,  yet  I presume  the  follow- 
ing statement  may  be  nearly  right,  viz  : — 


Town  of  XJsher. 


Ebenezer  Whipple 
Abner  Grilfith  . . 


No. 

157 

156 


Solomon  Griffith  ....  15G,  107 

Holden  Sweet 156 

James  Carl  (Carroll  ?)  . 158 

Samuel  Maine 107,  108 

Mecom  Maine 107,  108 

Ezekiel  Maine 107,  108 

Nathan  Tupper  ....  204 

William  Lathrop  . . . 208 

Erastus  Bingham  . . . .204,  205 
Eli  Billings 205,  206 


No. 

Ezekiel  Hyde  (an  improve- 
ment)   207 

Dan.  Metcalf 242 

Auburn. 

Lloyd  Goodsell. 

Myron  Kasson. 

Charles  Morey. 

Ezekiel  Morey. 

John  Passmore. 

John  Robinson. 

Dnndoloe. 

Eldad  Brewster  ....  53 


Elias  West 52,  54 

Crocker 50,  51 

Joseph  Chapman  ....  40 

Manor. 

Jeremiah  Mecom  ....  63,  105 

Otis  Robinson ditto 

David  Harris 66 

Ozem  Cook 67,  68 

Henry  Cook 67,  68 

Amos  Perry 67,  68 

George  Morey lOO,  101 

Ichabod  Halsey 104 

Nehemiah  Maine  ....  104 

Otis  Robinson 104 

Ezekiel  Maine,  Jr.  ...  106,  107 

107,  108 

Foster. 


David  Dowd,  southerly 
part  of  Manor. 

Andrew  Lisk,  southerly 
part  of  Manor. 


Ckebur. 

Thomas  Parke,  1 perhaps  in  Bid- 
Harry  Parks,  j well. 

Martin  Myers. 

Capt.  Joseph  Chapman. 

Ezekiel  Morey. 

New  Milford.^ 


John  Hussey 214,  264 

Daniel  Kinney,  Jr.  . . . 215 

Lyman  Kinney 234 

Victory. 


Spencer,  agent  for 

the  claimant. 

Avery. 

Gore. 

Cyril  Peck. 

Josiah  Bass,  between  tho 
Gore  and  Auburn. 

Rindaw. 

Capt.  Joab  Pickett  . . . 240,  242 
Daniel  Roswell,  deaf  and 
dumb 240,  242 


“ There  is  one  Isaac  Brunson  settled  in  the  forks  of 
Wyalusing  Creek,  just  to  the  westward  and  adjoining 
my  bounds  of  lot  No.  239.  He  is  on  a tract  survey’d 
to  Thomas  Dundas.  This  man  has  always  conducted 
well  and  deserves  to  be  kindly  treated  ; being  Town 
Clerk,  he  can  give  all  the  names  of  settlers  in  New 
Milford. 

“Thy  Friend, 

“ Henry  Drinker.” 


March  24,  1802,  Henry  Drinker  writes  to 
Ebenezer  Bowman,  of  Wilkes-Barre, — 


“ I am  concerned  in  an  extensive  tract,  and  in  the 
general  of  an  excellent  quality,  situate  principally  on 
the  waters  of  Meshoppen  Creek,  and  including  parts 
of  Wyalusing,  Tuscarora  and  Tunkhannock  Creeks, 
in  the  whole  near  100,000  acres,  which,  on  receiving 
part  payment  and  undoubted  good  security  for  the  re- 
mainder, I would  sell  together  at  two  dollars  pr.  acre, 
though  I believe  it  cheap  at  double  that  price.  There 
are  parts,  however,  picked  pieces,  which  have  been 
intruded  on,  that  are  of  very  superior  value,  and  if 
separately  sold,  must  be  at  a very  different  price.  I 
care  nought  about  relinquishments ; all  that  I require 
is  pay  and  undoubted  security,  when  a clear  title  will 
be  made  under  grants  from  this  State.” 


In  one  of  his  letters  Drinker  speaks  of  Jere- 
miah Spencer,  and  discusses  the  propriety  of 
commencing  prosecutions  against  him  and  oth- 
ers. A number  of  the  settlers  were  indicted  for 
intrusion,  and  finally  all  had  to  make  settlement 
with  the  Pennsylvania  land-holders  and  obtain 
title  from  them. 

There  was  some  mob  violence  used  in  this 


2 The  reader  will  be  careful  to  distinguish  this  from  the  Pennsylvania 
township  of  the  same  name.  The  Kinneys  were  just  below  the  south 
line  of  Rush. 


1 Blackman’s  “ History.” 


CONNECTICUT  CLAIMANTS. 


25 


county,  the  most  notable  case  being  the  assault 
on  Bartlett  Hinds  in  1802.  Captain  Hinds 
came  to  Pennsylvania  under  Connecticut  title  in 
1800  as  the  agent  of  ex-Governor  Huntingdon. 
In  1801  he  and  Ezekiel  Hyde,  John  Robinson, 
Charles  Geer,  Josiah  Grant,  Elisha  Lewis, 
Amolo  Balch,  Ichabod  HalseV*,  John  Reynolds, 
Jeremiah  Meachem,  Otis  Robinson,  Elias  West 
and  others  were  indicted  at  Wilkes-Barre  for 
intrusion. 

The  Rev.  A.  L.  Post,  grandson  of  Captain 
Hinds’  wife,  relates  the  following  : 

“In  1801,  while  on  a road- view  between  his  log 
dwelling  and  Lawsville,  near  the  place  of  Joseph 
Williams’  subsequent  settlement,  he  met,  much  to  the 
surprise  of  both  parties,  his  old  friend  and  fellow- 
officer  of  the  Revolution,  Colonel  Timothy  Pickering, 
afterwards  one  of  the  most  prominent  men  in  the 
Union,  who  was  surveying  lands  which  he  had  pur- 
chased under  the  Pennsylvania  title.  It  was  about 
noon,  and  so,  after  the  ‘ How  do  you  do?’  Colonel  P. 
said,  ‘Captain  Hinds,  will  you  take  dinner  with  me?’ 

“ The  latter  replied,  ‘I  don’t  care  if  I do,  colonel,  if 
you  can  treat  me  to  a fresh  steak.’ 

“‘That  will  I do,’  the  colonel  replied,  ‘if  you  will 
go  with  me  to  my  cabin,  half  a mile  away  ; ’ and  he 
conducted  him  thither,  and  entertained  him  in  true 
soldier  style. 

“ After  recounting  some  of  the  scenes  of  the  war  in 
which  they  had  taken  part,  the  colonel  explained  to 
Captain  H.  the  whole  matter  of  jurisdiction  and  land 
title  after  the  decree  at  Trenton  ; told  him  of  his  own 
purchase,  which  he  was  then  surveying,  and  satisfied 
him  of  the  probability  that  the  Pennsylvania  title 
must  hold  good.  He  (Hinds)  thereupon  went  to 
Philadelphia;  subsequently  fully  satisfied  himself 
that  Colonel  Pickering  was  correct ; found  the  owners 
of  the  land  upon  which  he  had  settled ; made  his 
purchase,  and  returned.  He  was  the  first  person  in 
this  section  who  became  convinced  of  the  validity  of 
the  Pennsylvania  title,  and  yielded  to  its  claims.  He 
was  to  ‘ Manor,’  as  to  its  civil  polity,  what  Colonel 
Hyde  was  to  ‘ Usher  ’ — the  prominent  man ; and  this 
fact  accounts  for  the  indignation  that  was  visited  upon 
the  former  after  the  step  just  mentioned.  This  was 
natural,  and  is  not  here  referred  to  by  way  of  repro.ach 
to  any  of  the  parties. 

“ It  was  probably  late  in  1802  that,  under  pretence 
of  some  kind,  he  was  summoned  before  a justice  in 
Rush.  His  brother,  Abinoam  Hinds,  and  Isaac  Peck- 
ins  (who  settled  here  that  year)  went  with  him, 
expecting  foul  play.  Whilst  there  a mob  gathered 
and  surrounded  the  house  ; but  the  three  barricaded 
the  door  as  best  they  could,  and  prepared  for  defence. 
The  defences  were  forced  away,  and  the  mob  entered, 
a number  of  them  to  be  piled  in  an  uncomfortable 
21 


and  bruised  heap  upon  the  floor.  Isaac  Peckins  was 
a large,  bony  and  powerful  man.  Failing  to  break 
out  one  of  the  posts  of  an  old-fashioned  chair,  he 
wielded  the  whole  of  it  with  great  success  against  the 
intruders. 

“ But,  overpowered  by  numbers,  the  trio  had  to 
yield.  A sort  of  sham  trial  resulted  in  the  decision 
that  Hinds  should  leave  the  country  ; but  he  refused 
to  submit  to  the  decision.” 

Mason  Wilson  says  he  was  burned  in  effigy, 
and,  he  thinks,  compelled  to  leave  for  a short 
time ; but  he  was  too  good  a man  for  the  settle- 
ment to  lose,  and  he  returned  and  was  a prom- 
inent man  afterwards  - in  the  affairs  of  the 
county.  The  Connecticut  claimants  were  angry 
at  being  deserted  by  their  leader,  and  accused 
him  of  receiving  compensation  from  Pennsylva- 
nia for  yielding  to  her  claims. 

“ ^ His  enemies  believed  him  leagued  with  the 
Pennsylvania  land-holders,  and  said  (though 
without  reason)  that  he  received  five  acres  from 
them  for  every  settler  he  induced  to  come  in 
under  their  title,  and  he  had  succeeded  in 
bringing  in  about  one  hundred.  But  the  fact 
that  he  had  acknowledged  the  Pennsylvania 
right  by  repaying  for  his  own  land  was  exert- 
ing an  influence  that  embittered  against  him  all 
who  denied  that  claim.” 

Eighteen  persons  engaged  in  this  disgraceful 
affair  pleaded  guilty  to  an  indictment  for  riot 
and  assault. 

“ Five  were  imprisoned  for  the  space  of  three 
months  without  bail,  one  of  whom  had  to  pay 
ten  dollars,  and  four  of  them  twenty  dollars 
each  ; and  also  to  pay  the  costs  of  prosecution, 
and  stand  committed  until  the  whole  was  paid. 
Nine  were  to  pay  a fine  of  thirty  dollars  each, 
and  the  court  further  ordered  ‘ that  they  enter 
into  recognizances  each  in  the  sum  of  five  hun- 
dred dollars,  with  one  good  freeholder  in  like 
sum,  conditioned  for  their  good  behavior  for 
the  space  of  one  year ; and  that  they  severally 
pay  the  costs  of  prosecution,  and  stand  commit- 
ted till  the  whole  sentence  be  complied  with.’  ” 

“ One  would  suppose  this  had  been  enough  to 
deter  others  from  further  assaults  upon  the  per- 
son of  B.  Hinds,  on  account  of  his  loyalty  to 
Penn.sylvania;  but  as  late  as  1808  another  case 
occurred,  in  which  he  again  came  ofi‘ conqueror. 

1 Blackinnn's  “History.” 


26 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


“ Anecdotes  are  told  to  this  day  of  the  perils 
and  adventures  within  our  own  vicinity  which 
those  encountered  who  came  still  later  to  take 
possession  in  the  name  or  under  the  sanction  of 
the  commonwealth  of  Pennsylvania. 

“‘A  surveyor  in  the  employment  of  Dr.  R. 
LI.  Rose,  while  tracing  a boundary  line  through 
tiie  woods,  placed  his  hand  high  on  a tree  to 
mark  where  the  ax-man,  who  followed,  should 
strike  out  a chip  as  an  evidence  of  the  line  that 
had  been  run.  The  surveyor  had  scarcely  taken 
his  hand  from  the  tree,  when  the  sharp  crack 
of  a rifle  rang  through  the  forest,  and  the  spot 
where  the  hand  had  been  laid  was  “ chipped  ” 
by  a leaden  bullet — a hint  that  sufficed  to  stay 
all  proceedings  for  the  rest  of  that  day.  On 
one  occasion,  to  such  extremities  had  matters 
proceeded,  the  “Yankees’’  had  resolved  to 
take  the  life  of  Dr.  R.,  and  information  was 
brought  to  him  that  a meeting  would  be  held  at 
a particular  place  on  a certain  day  named,  to 
organize  their  measures.  He  determined  at  once 
to  face  the  danger ; and,  riding  boldly  to  a 
small  clearing,  which  had  been  described  to 
him  as  the  scene  of  the  intended  meeting,  he 
found  the  plotters  in  actual  consultation  on  the 
subject.  The  very  boldness  of  the  step  pro- 
cured him  a hearing.  He  rehearsed  to  them 
the  history  of  the  claims  of  the  two  States,  and 
of  the  grounds  of  the  final  settlement;  re- 
minded them  it  was  governmental,  not  individ- 
ual action ; that  he  had  bought  of  the  legal 
claimant ; that  he  felt  sorry  for  them,  and 
wished  to  lighten  their  load  in  every  possible 
way,  and  repeated  his  offers,  which  he  said  were 
final.  He  told  them  he  was  aware  of  their  de- 
signs, but  added  : “ Why  shoot  my  surveyors  ? 
It  is  bright  moonlight,  and  I shall  ride  slowly 
to  my  camp  by  such  a track — but  let  whoever 
follows  take  a sure  aim  ; he  will  not  fire 
twice  ! ” Soon  one  of  the  leaders  advanced  to- 
wards him,  and  renewed  the  conversation  re- 
specting the  disputes  that  existed  ; the  matter 
was  freely  discussed  ; a better  temper  sprang 
up,  and  from  that  moment  may  be  dated  the 
negotiations  that  produced  the  happy  termina- 
tion to  which  all  the  troubles  arising  from  the 
conflicting  claims  of  the  two  States  were  subse- 
quently brought.’  ’’ 


CHAPTER  V. 

LAND  TITLES  AND  WARRANTEES. 

Land  Titles — Warrantee  Map — Names  of  Warrantees. 

The  royal  charter  from  Charles  the  Second 
to  William  Penn  bears  date  at  Westminster, 
March  4,  1681,  in  the  thirty-third  year  of  the 
reign  of  that  King.  The  extent  and  limits  of 
the  territory  granted  are  therein  defined.  It 
were  needless  at  this  late  day  to  question  the 
validity  of  royal  charters.  A principle  had 
obtained  among  the  European  nations  that  a 
new  discovered  country  belonged  to  the  nation 
whose  people  first  discovered  it ; and  all  Chris- 
tian princes  were  deterred  from  intruding  into 
the  countries  discovered  by  other  nations,  or 
from  interrupting  the  progress  of  their  naviga- 
tion and  conquests.  But  William  Penn,  although 
clothed  with  powers  as  full  and  comprehensive 
as  those  possessed  by  the  adventurers  from  Spain 
and  Portugal,  was  influenced  by  a purer  morality 
and  sounder  policy.  His  religious  pilnciples 
did  not  permit  him  to  wrest  the  soil  of  Penn- 
sylvania by  force  from  the  people  to  whom  God 
and  nature  gave  it,  nor  to  establish  his  title  in 
blood ; but,  under  the  shade  of  the  lofty  trees 
of  the  forest,  his  right  was  established  by  treaties 
with  the  natives,  and  made  sacred  to  the  Indians 
by  incense  smoking  from  the  calumet  of  peace. 

By  force  of  the  royal  charter,  William  Penn 
and  his  successors,  as  proprietaries,  were  un- 
doubted lords  of  the  soil.  They  stipulated, 
however,  with  the  purchasers  under  them,  to 
extinguish  the  aboriginal  right  of  the  natives. 
They  alone  had  that  power.  No  individual 
without  their  authority  was  permitted  to  pur- 
chase of  the  Indians ; and  the  Legislature  aided 
them  in  enforcing  this  principle.  The  tenure 
by  which  the  charter  was  held  was  that  species 
of  feudal  tenure  called  socage,  by  fealty  only, 
in  lieu  of  all  other  services.  By  the  abolition 
of  quit-rents  all  estates  derived  immediately 
from  the  commonwealth  are  unconditional  fees- 
simple,  with  a reservation  only  of  a fifth  part  of 
gold  and  silver  ores  at  the  pits’  mouth.  Every 
grant  of  land  under  the  proprietary  government 
was  nominally  declared  in  the  patent  to  be  held 
as  of  some  certain  manor. 


LAND  TITLES  AND  WAKRANTEES. 


27 


“ The  General  Assembly  of  Pennsylvania,  on 
the  27th  clay  of  November,  1779,  passed  ‘an 
act  for  vesting  the  Estate  of  the  late  Proprie- 
taries of  Pennsylvania,  in  this  Commonwealth;’ 
in  the  preamble  whereto  it  is  set  forth,  ‘ that 
the  claims  heretofore  made  by  the  late  Proprie- 
taries to  the  whole  of  the  soil  contained  within  the 
charter  from  Charles  II.  to  William  Penn  cannot 
longer  consist  with  the  safety,  liberty  and  happi- 
ness of  the  good  people  of  this  Commonwealth, 
who,  at  the  expense  of  much  blood  and  treasure, 
have  bravely  rescued  themselves  and  their  pos- 
sessions from  the  tyranny  of  Great  Britain  and 
are  now  defending  themselves  from  the  inroads 
of  the  savages.’  The  act  did  not  confiscate  the 
lands  of  the  Proprietaries  within  the  lines  of 
manors,  nor  embrace  the  purchase-money  due 
for  lands  sold  lying  within  surveyed  manors. 
The  manors,  in  legal  acceptation,  were  lands 
surveyed  and  set  apart  as  the  private  property 
of  the  Proprietaries. 

“ The  titles  to  all  lands  sold  and  conveyed  by 
William  Penn  or  his  descendants  were  confirmed 
and  made  valid.  But  the  title  to  all  lands  in 
the  Commonwealth,  which  had  not  been  sur- 
veyed and  returned  into  the  Land-Office,  on  or 
before  the  4th  of  July,  1776,  was  by  said  act 
vested  in  the  State.  This  act  provided  that  the 
sum  of  one  hundred  and  thirty  thousand  pounds, 
sterling  money,  should  be  paid  out  of  the 
treasury  of  this  State  to  the  devisees  and  lega- 
tees of  Thomas  Penn  and  Richard  Penn,  late 
Proprietaries,  and  to  the  widow  and  relict  of 
Thomas  Penn,  in  such  proportions  as  should 
thereafter,  by  the  Legislature,  be  deemed  equi- 
table and  just,  upon  a full  investigation  of  their 
respective  claims.  No  part  of  the  sum  was  to 
be  paid  within  less  than  one  year  after  the  ter- 
mination of  the  war  with  Great  Britain ; and 
no  more  than  twenty  thousand  pounds,  nor  less 
than  fifteen  thousand  pounds,  should  be  payable 
in  any  one  year.  The  Land-Office  was  begun  by 
William  Penn,  and  many  features  of  the  office, 
as  it  was  in  his  day,  remain  to  the  present  time.” 
A Land-Office,  by  and  under  the  act  of  9th  of 
April,  1781,  was  created  under  the  common- 
wealth, its  officers  consisting  of  a secretary  of 
the  Land-Office,  receiver-general  and  surveyor- 
general.  By  the  act  of  the  29th  of  March, 


1809,  the  office  of  receiver-general  was  abol- 
ished, and  his  duties  were  discharged  by  the 
secretary  of  the  Land-Office ; and  by  the  act 
of  the  17th  of  April,  1843,  this  latter-named 
office  was  discontinued,  and  the  duties  pertaining 
thereto  were  performed  by  the  surveyor-general. 
By  the  Constitution  of  1874,  this  office  is  now 
under  charge  of  the  Secretary  of  Internal 
Affairs. 

An  act  for  opening  the  Land-Office  and  for 
granting  and  disposing  of  the  unappropriated 
lauds  within  this  State  passed  April  1,  1784, 
providing  “ that  the  Land-Office  shall  be  opened 
for  the  lands  already  purchased  of  the  Indians 
on  the  1st  day  of  July  next,  at  the  rate  of  ten 
pounds  for  every  hundred  acres,  with  the  usual 
fees  of  granting,  surveying  and  patenting,  ex- 
cepting such  tracts  as  shall  be  surveyed  west- 
ward of  the  Allegheny  mountains,  &c.  Every 
applicant  shall  produce  to  the  Secretary  of  the 
Land-Office  a particular  description  of  the  lands 
applied  for,  with  a certificate  from  two  Justices 
of  the  Peace  of  the  proper  county,  sj)ecifying 
whether  the  said  lands  be  improved  or  not,  and 
if  improved,  how  long  since  the  improvement 
was  made,  that  interest  may  be  charged  accord- 
ingly. The  quantity  of  land  granted  to  any 
one  penson  shall  not  exceed  four  hundred  acres.” 
The  prices  of  unimproved  land  were  different 
under  various  periods  under  the  several  pur- 
chases made  of  the  Indians.  From  the  1st  of 
July,  1784,  to  April  3,  1792,  the  price  of  un- 
improved wild  lands  was  $26.66f  per  hundred 
acres  in  Wayne,  Pike,  Susquehanna  and  other 
counties.  By  act  of  April  3,  1792,  the  price  of 
unimproved  land  was  fixed  at  $6.66§  per  hun- 
dred acres.  The  latter-named  act  was  repealed 
by  act  of  29th  of  March,  1809,  since  which 
time  the  price  of  lands  in  the  above-named 
counties  has  been  $26.66f  per  hundred  acres. 
The  laws  passed  relative  to  State  lands  were 
numerous.  Under  said  laws  the  surveyor- 
general,  or  the  officer  acting  in  that  capacity, 
was  authorized  to  appoint  a deputy-surveyor  in 
each  and  every  county.  The  following  are  the 
‘ deputy-surveyors  who  probably  located  the 
warrants  in  Susquehanna  County  : 


* From  lion,  J.  SimpHuii  Afrioii,  Secretary  of  Iiiteruul  AflUira. 


28 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


Charles  Stewart  was  commissioned  March  31,  1769. 
His  district  was  in  the  purchase  of  1768.  William 
Gray  appears  as  a deputy-surveyor  as  early  as  March 
26,  1782,  and  located  a number  of  surveys  along  the 
New  York  line  in  1784.  He  was  re-commissioned 
April  22,  1785,  for  all  that  part  of  the  county  of 
Northumberland  lying  on  the  east  side  of  the  Susque- 
hanna River.  Anthony  Crothers  was  commissioned 
April  14, 1792,  for  a part  of  Luzerne  County.  Thomas 
Sambourne  was  commissioned  April  25,  1800,  for  the 
county  of  Luzerne.  George  Haines  w'as  commissioned 
December  6,  1805,  for  the  county  of  Luzerne.  Jona- 
than Stevens  was  commissioned  July  8,  1809,  for  the 
county  of  Luzerne,  and  re-commissioned  May  11, 
1812,  for  the  counties  of  Luzerne,  Susquehanna  and 
Bradford. 

“ The  person  who  obtained  a warrant  was  called 
the  warrantee.  Upon  paying  the  Stale  treasurer  the 
legal  price  of  the  land,  and  the  office  fees,  $4.50,  the 
warrant  was  sent  to  the  county  surveyor,  whose  busi- 
ness it  was  to  survey  the  land  within  six  months, 
make  a draft  and  description,  and,  upon  being  paid 
for  his  services,  make  a return  to  the  land  department. 
Then  the  warrantee,  upon  paying  $10  to  the  land  de- 
partment, w'ould  receive  a patent  for  his  land.  Then, 
if  he  had  the  first  warrant,  the  first  survey  and  the 
first  patent,  the  title  was  secure.  The  land  depart- 
ment, for  many  years  past,  has  required  the  applicant 
for  a warrant  to  make  oath  before  a justice  of  the 
peace,  of  the  proper  county,  touching  the  condition 
of  the  lands,  as  to  its  improved  or  unimproved  state, 
and  proving  the  same  by  a disinterested  witness,  on 
his  oath  made  before  two  justices  of  the  peace.  The 
act  of  April,  1850,  provided  for  the  election  in  that 
year,  and  every  third  year  thereafter,  of  one  compe- 
tent person,  being  a practical  surveyor,  to  act  as 
county  surveyor.” 

Among  the  large  land-holders  in  Susquehanna 
County  were  Henry  Drinker,  Tench  Francis, 
Thomas  B.  Cope,  Dr,  Robert  H.  Rose,  Caleb 
Carmalt,  Timothy  Pickering,  William  Poyntell, 
William  Wallace  and  a few  others.  Henry 
Drinker  was  a large  land-holder  in  several  coun- 
ties. In  a letter  he  spoke  of  owning  one  hun- 
dred thousand  acres  in  the  section  that  was 
occupied  by  Yankee  intruders.  He  had  a large 
quantity  of  land  in  this  county.  Thomas  B. 
Cope  purchased  about  twenty  thousand  acres  of 
him  in  Auburn,  Rush  and  Jessup.  Tench 
Francis  liad  about  one  hundred  thousand  acres 
of  land  in  the  county.  He  owned  all  of  Silver 
Lake  township,  consisting  of  two  hundred  and 
forty-eight  tracts  of  four  hundred  acres  each. 
Dr.  Rose  purchased  this  land  February  18, 
1809,  of  Anne,  widow  of  Tench  Francis,  who 


bought  it  of  Elizabeth  Jervis  and  John  Peters, 
whose  patent  was  obtained  from  the  State  in 
1784.  In  1829,  Caleb  Carmalt  purchased  one- 
half  of  the  Rose  lands  for  one  dollar  per  acre. 
Timothy  Pickering  owned  lands  in  the  vicinity 
of  Snake  Creek,  and  William  Poyntell  owned 
a large  quantity  of  land  along  the  Tunkhan- 
nock.  James  C.  Biddle  married  Sally  Drinker, 
and,  together  with  Henry  Drinker,  his  brother- 
in-law,  and  grandson  of  ^ Henry  Drinker,  the 
elder,  who  became  a resident  of  Susquehanna 
County,  acted  as 'agents  of  the  Drinker  estate. 
In  1841  Mr.  Biddle  died  in  Philadelphia, 
leaving  Henry  Drinker  sole  agent  of  the  estate 
until  he  died,  in  1862,  when  he  was  succeeded 
by  William  H.  Cooper,  who  acted  as  agent  un- 
til he  was  shot,  June  14,  1884.  Hon.  William 
H.  Jessup  has  been  agent  of  the  estate  since 
that  time. 

Hon.  William  Jessup  was  agent  for  Hon. 
Charles  S.  Cox,  and  in  1849  he  became  trustee 
of  the  Dr.  Robert  H.  Rose  estate.  In  1853 
Hon.  William  H.  Jessup  was  associated  with 
him,  and  is  now  surviving  trustee.  In  1824 


1 HENRY  DRINKER,  THE  ELDER. 

Henry  Drinker,  at  the  time  of  his  decease  one  of  the  largest  land- 
holders in  Pennsylvania,  was  the  second  son  of  Henry  Drinker,  of  Phil- 
adelphia, and  Mary  Gottier,  of  Burlington,  N.  J.  He  was  born  21st  of 
February,  1734  (old  style).  When  twenty-five  years  of  age,  he  em- 
barked for  England,  returning  in  the  following  year.  Letters  written 
by  him  during  this  tour  are  still  extant  among  his  descendants,  and  they 
bear  evidence  to  the  fact  that  he  was  a man  of  observation  and  graphic 
powers  of  description.  Soon  after  his  return,  on  the  13th  of  January, 
1761,  he  was  married  to  Elizabeth  Sandwith. 

The  lands  of  Henry  Drinker  were  located  in  Wayne,  Luzerne,  Wyo- 
ming, Centre,  Clearfield,  Indiana,  Cambria,  Bradford,  Tioga  and  Sus- 
quehanna Counties,  in  Pennsylvania,  and  in  Montgomery  and  Delaware 
Counties,  New  York. 

He  was  a stanch  member  of  the  Society  of  Friends,  and,  for  this  rea- 
son, was  not  brought  so  much  before  the  public  as  he,  in  all  probability, 
otherwise  would  have  been  ; the  members  of  this  denomination  not  be- 
ing in  the  habit  of  taking  an  active  part  in  public  affairs.  He  was  for 
many  years  a member  of  the  firm  of  James  & Drinker,  shipping  and 
impoi’ting  merchants,  of  Philadelphia ; they  w'ere  very  successful  in 
their  business  previous  to  the  Revolution. 

One  of  the  cardinal  doctrines  of  the  Society  of  Friends  is  opposition 
to  war  in  every  form,  and  a firm  aud  decided  refusal  to  bear  arms  in 
support  of  any  cause,  however  just.  In  consequence,  he,  with  nineteen 
other  persons,  seventeen  of  the  number  being  Friends,  w'ere  arrested 
and  taken,  first  to  Staunton,  Va.,  and  afterwards  to  Winchester,  Va., 
where  they  were  kept  in  partial  confinement  nearly  eight  months,  with- 
out provision  being  made  for  their  support. 

His  first  speculations  in  lands  were  in  the  purchase  of  farms  in  the 
settled  counties,  principally  adjoining  Philadelphia  County,  in  which 
transactions  he  was  very  successful,  and  this  led  him  into  his  large  pur- 
chases of  wild  lands.  He  >vas  a man  of  great  business  ability.  He 
resided  in  Philadelphia,  and  died  in  1808. 

The  late  Esquire  Raynsford,  of  Montrose,  and  Hosea  Tiffany,  were  the 
first  purchasers  of  any  of  his  land  in  Susquehanna  County,  under  the 
Pennsylvania  title.  They  walked  to  Philadelphia  to  obtain  their  deeds. 
— Blackman. 


LAND  TITLES  AND  WAKRANTEES. 


29 


Isaac  Post,  David  Post  and  William  Jessup 
bought  all  of  the  Timothy  Pickering  unsold 
lands,  bonds  and  mortgages;  also  S.  S.  Mul- 
ford  and  William  Jessup  bought  the  Wallace 
lands  in  Brooklyn  and  Bridgewater.  In  1884 
Hon.  William  H.  Jessup  bought  the  balance  of 
the  Thomas  B.  Cope  lands  of  William  D.  Cope, 
and  is  now  agent  or  trustee  for  all  the  lands 
remaining  unsold  of  the  old  estates. 

The  Nicholson  Lands. — Next  in  import- 
ance to  the  long  disquiet  occasioned  by  the 
Connecticut  settlers  resisting  the  enforcement 
of  the  intrusion  laws  “ ^ was  that  to  which  set- 
tlers on  the  Nicholson  lands  were  subjected  for 
a period  of  nearly  twenty  years  ; firstly,  by  an 
alleged  lien  of  a Philadelphia  corporation,  and 
afterwards  by  one  of  the  State  on  the  Hopbot- 
tom  tract,  as  well  as  on  that  called  ‘ Drinker’s 
Meshoppen  tract.’  John  Nicholson  was 
comptroller  of  Pennsylv’auia  from  1782  to 
1794,  and  during  that  period  was  owner  of 
about  three  million  seven  hundred  thousand 
acres  of  land  in  the  State.  In  1785  he,  with 
Dr.  Barnabas  Binney,  purchased  from  the  State 
sixty  tracts,  including  a considerable  portion  of 
the  township  of  Brooklyn,  and  paid  to  the 
State  the  full  amount  of  the  purchase-money. 
In  1789  he  commenced  a settlement  upon  the 
lands  which,  by  the  partition  between  him  and 
Dr.  Binney,  had  been  allotted  to  him.  In  1795 
he  borrowed  from  the  Widow’s  Fund  Corpora- 
tion of  Philadelphia,  thirty-seven  thousand  one 
hundred  and  sixty-six  dollars,  and  secured  the 
payment  by  a mortgage  upon  thirty-five  tracts 
in  Brooklyn.  The  mortgage  fell  due  in  1799. 
No  part  of  the  money  was  paid  to  the  corpora- 
tion, and  Nicholson  died  insolvent. 

“ In  1805  th(i  mortgagees  foreclosed  the 
mortgage  and  bought  the  lands  and  contracted 
the  same  to  John  B.  Wallace.  The  purchase- 
money  was  to  be  paid  in  fifteen  years  from 
March,  1806,  with  interest  payable  annually. 
Mr.  Wallace  paid  the  interest  for  several  years, 
and  continued  to  sell  the  lands  until  1823  or 
1824,  when  he  had  sold  about  two  thousand 
two  hundred  and  fifty  acres — the  best  part  of 
the  land — and  for  which  he  had  received  pay- 
ment. 

1 lilackmul). 


“In  1823  the  state  of  the  title  and  the  inter- 
est which  the  corporation  held  in  the  land,  be- 
coming known  to  the  settlers,  excited  much 
anxiety  among  those  who  had  paid  Wallace, 
but  who,  as  was  then  ascertained,  had  received 
no  title. 

“Some  went  to  Philadelphia  and  requested 
that  the  business  might  be  closed.  A cori’e- 
spondence  was  continued  between  them  until 
1826  or  1827,  when  a committee  for  the  corpo- 
ration came  and  met  the  settlers  at  Mr.  Breed’s, 
in  Brooklyn ; but  nothing  was  or  could  be 
efPected  with  those  who  had  not  paid,  until  the 
question  of  the  corporation’s  title  was  settled. 

“ William  Jessup,  Esq.,  had  seen  the  officers 
of  the  corporation  in  Philadelphia,  and  ob- 
tained the  assurance  that  no  settler  who  had 
•paid  Mr.  Wallace  should  be  again  called  upon 
to  pay  for  his  land.  He  wrote  to  some  of  the 
settlers,  and  had  a meeting  at  his  office,  when 
it  was  agreed  that  he  should  bring  a suit  upon 
the  lot  on  which  Jeduthan  Nickerson  lived  in 
order  to  settle  the  question  in  Brooklyn.  Those 
present  assured  him  that  counsel  should  be  em- 
ployed, the  cause  fairly  tried,  and  thus  the  title 
might  be  settled.  But  counsel  was  not  em- 
ployed. Afterwards,  another  suit  was  brought 
against  some  settlers  in  Bridgewater,  who 
doubted  the  corporation’s  title.  Messrs.  Case 
and  Read  examined  the  papers,  and  pronounced 
the  title  good.  Obadiah  Green  employed  Mr. 
Wurts,  who  pronounced  the  title  bad.  Those 
settlers  who  were  satisfied  with  the  decision  of 
Messrs.  Case  and  Read  agreed  to  contract  for 
their  lands,  having  ten  years  in  which  to  pay 
for  them ; but  Mr.  Wurts  entered  a plea  for 
Green.  The  issue  was  duly  tried,  and  a verdict 
was  rendered  for  the  corporation. 

“Another  cause  was  also  tried,  and  the  right 
by  law  of  the  corporation  to  call  upon  those 
who  had  paid  to  Wallace,  to  pay  again,  was 
fully  established.  But  Mr.  Jessup  urged  that 
the  title  of  the  settlers,  as  made  by  Wallace, 
should  be  confirmed,  and  that  thus  the  fears  and 
anxieties  of  those  who  had  honestly  paid  their 
money  should  be  quieted.  In  the  fall  of  1832 
he  succeeded  in  getting  instructions  which  au- 
thorized him  to  make  releases  in  all  cases  in 
which  tlie  settlers  had  paid  Mr.  Wallace. 


30 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


“ The  foregoing  refers  to  that  part  of  the  cor- 
poration’s lands  not  interfered  with  by  what 
are  called  the  Allen  surveys. 

“ In  1775,  Benjamin  Chew,  Andrew  Allen 
and  others  took  up  a large  quantity  of  land,  a 
portion  of  which  lay  upon  the  Hopbottom 
Creek.  By  the  attainder  of  Andrew  Allen,  in 
1778,  his  part  of  those  lands  was  confiscated  to 
the  State,  and  by  a decision  made  subsequently 
by  the  Supreme  Executive  Council,  the  share 
belonging  to  the  State  was  located  in  Brooklyn, 
on  what  was  called  the  Chew  and  Allen  war- 
rants. When  the  surveyor  located  the  Nichol- 
son warrants,  he  laid  them  upon  part  of  the 
lands  confiscated  to  the  State. 

“ The  State  having  received  pay  from  Nichol- 
son, it  was  supposed  that  the  titles  of  those  who 
held  under  him  were  good  as  against  the  State, 
and  that  the  State  never  would  claim  the  land 
from  those  who  had  paid  their  full  price ; until 
the  decision  was  rendered  in  the  case  of  Wallace 
vs.  Tiffany  (Amos  ?),  by  which  it  was  decided 
by  the  Supreme  Court  that  the  title  passed  by 
the  officers  of  the  Land-Office  to  Nicholson  was 
irregular,  saying,  also,  that  legislative  action 
would  he  necessary  to  regulate  the  title. 

“Mr.  Joseph  Chapman  was  partly  on  the 
Allen  lands,  and  through  the  procurement  of 
Mr.  Jessup,  and  with  the  assistance  of  Messrs. 
Read  and  Jones,  an  act  from  the  Legislature  was 
passed  confirming  the  title  of  any  settler  who 
held  under  the  Nicholson  title — on  application 
to  the  Legislature.  But  with  the  great  body  of 
the  Allen  lands  Mr.  J.  had  nothing  to  do,  as 
they  were  covered  by  the  Mary  M.  Wallace 
warrants.” 

Nicholson  Couet. — “ Thus  far  all  that  has 
been  said  refers  to  events  prior  to  November, 
1834.  We  pass  on  now  to  the  panic  of  1841. 
By  an  act  of  Legislature  a year  previous  com- 
missioners had  been  appointed  to  hunt  up  and 
settle  the  claims  of  the  estate  of  John  Nicholson 
to  lands  formerly  purchased  by  him  in  various 
parts  of  the  State.  These  commissioners  had 
given  notice  through  the  papers  that  they  would 
be  in  Montrose  on  a given  day  to  adjust  the 
respective  interests  of  the  State,  the  heirs  and 
creditors,  and  also  of  the  settlers  of  any  such 
lands  in  this  county.  , 


“ The  streets  of  Montrose  on  the  day  speci- 
fied (in  August)  were  thronged,  but  the  com- 
missioners failed  to  appear;  and  they  did  not 
make  their  appearance  until  about  the  middle 
of  November  following,  when,  for  two  or  three 
weeks,  they  exhibited  at  McCollum’s  Hotel 
their  papers  and  maps,  and  drew  the  attention 
of  crowds.  Even  those  who  had  no  personal 
interests  in  the  Nicholson  lands  began  to  feel 
insecure  against  unexpected  claimants  to  their 
lands,  which  they  had  long  owned  and  occupied 
with  a confidence  not  less  than  their  more  un- 
fortunate neighbors.  Several  townships  were 
in  a panic. 

“ In  order  to  allay  the  excitement,  Benjamin 
T.  Case,  Esq.,  contributed  to  the  same  journal 
three  pertinent  articles,  giving  the  result  of  his 
own  investigations  for  many  years  as  counsel  for 
persons  interested  in  those  lands.  He  was  in- 
duced to  this  step  by  the  fact  that  the  uncer- 
tainty in  respect  to  titles  was  having  a tendency 
adverse  not  only  to  his  own  interests,  but  to 
those  of  the  county,  as  new-comers  declined  to 
purchase  and  settle  where  there  was  so  little 
appearance  that  they  could  remain  in  quiet  pos- 
session. Mr.  Case  stated  that  the  Nicholson 
claims  presented  themselves  in  three  points  of 
view, — 

“ 1.  The  claims  of  the  heirs,  which  were 
barred  by  the  statute  of  limitations. 

“ 2.  The  claims  of  the  creditors ; but  there 
was  no  mortgage  upon  the  records  of  the 
county,  and,  if  there  were,  it  is  presumed  to  be 
paid,  in  law,  after  twenty  years,  and  a judg- 
ment is  lost  after  five  years. 

“ 3.  Commonwealth  liens,  and  of  these  there 
were  three — those  of  December,  1795  and 
1796,  and  of  June,  1800.  The  statute  of  lim- 
itations does  not  extend  to  a debt  due  the 
State ; but  Mr.  C.  was  not  aware  of  any  lands 
in  this  county  so  situated  as  to  raise  the  ques- 
tion about  their  being  barred  by  the  lapse  of 
time.  ‘ To  us  citizens  of  Susquehanna  County 
it  is  a mere  matter  of  speculation.  To  Binney’s 
share  of  the  sixty  warratits  issued  to  him  and 
Nicholson,  neither  Nicholson’s  heirs,  creditors 
nor  the  State  can  have  claim.  As  to  the 
residue  (thirty-five  tracts,  called  the  Hopbottom 
lauds),  John  Nicholson  mortgaged  them,  Jan- 


LAND  TITLES  AND  WARRANTEES. 


31 


uary,  22,  1795 — eleven  months  before  the  State- 
obtained  her  first  lien — to  the  Widow’s  Fund 
Corporation,  to  secure  the  payment  of  thirty- 
seven  thousand  one  hundred  and  sixty- six  dol- 
lars,’^ which  settles  the  question;  for  in  the 
event  of  the  State  lien  being  prior  to  the  mort- 
gage, only  the  money  arising  from  the  sale 
could  be  claimed,  not  the  land  ; even  if  a judg- 
ment be  reversed  for  error  after  a sale  on  it, 
the  purchaser’s  title  on  it  is  not  disturbed.’ 

“ In  March,  1842,  the  ‘ Nicholson  Court  ’ de- 
cided that  ‘ the  Nicholson  claim  to  the  corpora- 
tion lands  in  Brooklyn  and  Bridgewater  is  good 
— FOR  NOTHING  ! ’ 

“ It  was  estimated  that  two  hundred  persons 
in  Susquehanna  County  paid  five  dollars  each 
to  the  commissioners  ; but  in  Wayne,  Pike  and 
Monroe  Counties  they  failed  to  raise  such  an 
excitement  as  they  did  here.” 

Drinker’s  Meshoppen  Lands. — “ A part 
of  this  was  in  Auburn  and  Springville.  John 
Nicholson  took  out  one  hundred  and  sixty- 
eight  warrants  of  four  hundred  acres  each  of 
land  included  in  what  was  then  Luzerne  County, 
seventy-eight  of  which  interfered  with  prior 
surveys  of  Samuel  Wallis,  from  whom  Henry 
Drinker  purchased,  and  were  on  the  south  end 
of  the  Meshoppen  tract.  Both  Wallis  and 
Nicholson  paid  the  State  for  the  land,  but  as 
Wallis’  surveys  were  of  an  earlier  date,  the 
Board  of  Property  decided  in  his  favor. 
Nicholson  appealed  to  the  Supreme  Court,  and 
the  decision  was  again  in  favor  of  Wallis.  In 
view  of  these  facts,  B.  T.  Case,  Esq.,  stated, 
‘ Patents  regularly  issued  to  Drinker,  who 
bought  of  Wallis,  and  the  purchasers  under 
him  on  those  lands,  hold  under  this  title,  and 
what  is  to  disturb  them  ? ’ 

“ Henry  Drinker,  George  Clymer  and  Samuel 
Meredith  held  one  hundred  and  sixty-eight 
warrants,  of  dates  1790,  ’91,  ’92  and  ’93,  paid 
for  and  patented.  It  was  to  these  John  Nichol- 
son laid  claim  by  virtue  of  other  warrants, 
dated  August  17,  1793,  a date  subsequent  to  all 
the  warrants  issued  to  the  above,  and  for  more 

1 On  tlio  1st  of  January,  1790,  with  interpatabniially.  The  money  not 
being  paid,  the  njortgugo  wus  duly  forocloHed  in  Lnzpriie  (^niity,  the 
land  sold  at  slierirt’s  sale,  and  the  lueaejit  owners  now  hold  that  title. 
(H.  T.  Case.) 


than  forty  years  the  matter  had  been  supposed  to 
be  settled  by  tlie  Supreme  Court ; and  in  a report 
made  by  Mr.  Kidder,  of  the  Senate  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, March,  1842,  after  a second  investigation 
of  the  subject,  it  was  stated  that  the  ‘Judiciary 
Committee  cannot  discern  even  the  shadow  of  a 
claim,  either  in  law  or  equity,  that  the  Nichol- 
son estate  has  upon  the  Drinker  lands  in  Su.s- 
quehanna  and  Luzerne  Counties.’  ” 

Samuel  Ewing’s  Lands. — “ Ten  of  these 
tracts  lay  on  the  Lackawanna  Creek,  in  the 
eastern  part  of  the  county,  and  were  purchased 
from  Ewing  by  Nicholson;  but  Ewing  con- 
tinued to  hold  the  title  in  his  own  name,  as  a 
trustee  for  Nicholson.  Those  who  purchased  of 
Ewing  without  notice  of  a trust  took  the  land 
discharged  of  the  trust.  A mortgage,  August, 
1795,  by  Nicholson  to  Ewing,  was  duly  fore- 
closed, and  sold  at  sheriff’s  .sale,  by  Ewing. 
Thus,  in  the  opinion  of  one  of  Susquehanna’s 
ablest  lawyers,  ‘ There  is  no  land  in  the  county 
covered  by  the  State’s  liens,  or  to  which  the 
heirs  and  creditors  of  John  Nicholson  have  had 
any  valid  claim,  and  if  those  who  compromised 
with  the  commissioners  persist  in  claiming  to 
hold  exclusively  under  those  contracts,  law- 
suits are  sure  to  follow.’  Happily,  the  Nichol- 
son claim  to  the  widow  and  orphans’  fund  and 
the  Drinker  tracts  was,  as  stated  previously, 
decided  against  them  by  higher  authority,  and 
from  that  time  Susquehanna  County  land-own- 
ers have  had  ‘ peace.’ 

“ Henry  Drinker  was  the  owner  of  what  are 
called  the  Westtown  school  lands  in  Lenox, 
and  Fields  and  Collins  were  also  holders  of 
lands  in  the  same  township.  Wm.  Hartley 
bought  the  Fields  title;  C.  L.  Ward,  the  Col- 
lins lands ; and  these  were  all  settled  and  sold 
to  the  settlers  at  fifty  cents  per  acre,  which 
quieted  the  titles  in  this  portion  of  the  county. 
The  titles  of  one-half  the  lands  in  the  township 
were  in  dispute  for  twenty-five  years.” 

The  Nine  Partners’  lands  were  surveyed  with 
lines  running  northeast  and  southwest.  The 
Meredith  lands  were  surveyed  in  the  same 
way.  Perhaps  one-third  of  the  lauds  in  the 
county  are  surveyed  north  forty-five  degrees 
west.  These  lands  lie  mostly  in  the  ea.stern  part 
of  the  county.  The  Wallis  lands,  which  in- 


32 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


eludes  the  Nicholson  tract,  were  run  north 
three  degrees  west.  The  variation  since  1785 
has  been  four  degrees  toward  tlie  west,  so  that 
these  lines  are  north  one  degree  west.  The 
Drinker  lands  were  run  subsequently  and  re- 
quire greater  variation.  Previous  to  1800,  for 
some  years  the  magnetic  needle  was  moving 
east;  then  it  began  to  move  west  again,  and  has 
been  moving  west  ever  since.  Most  of  the  lines 
now  run  north  one  degree  east. 

^ Warrantee  Land  Map. — This  is  a copy 
(reduced  in  size)  of  the  old  map  in  the  county 
commissioner’s  office,  which  was  drawn,  about 
1837-8,  by  John  and  Issachar  Mann,  assisted  by 
George  Walker,  a surveyor  of  much  experience 
(now  nearly  ninety  years  old),  who  had  re  sur- 
veyed many  of  these  lands. 

Inaccuracies  are  known  to  exist  in  the  origi- 
nal, owing  to  the  difficulty  of  adjusting  conflict- 
ing surveys  and  vacant  strips,  and  of  correctly 
connecting  streams  ; and  the  proportions  are  not 
always  in  keeping  with  the  amount  of  land 
given.  But  the  map  is  the  most  authentic  gen- 
eral one  now  obtainable  without  the  very  great 
expense  of  connecting  the  separate  surveys  on  file 
in  the  State  Department.  Many  of  the  war- 
rantee names  have  become  illegible  on  the  old 
map  ; but  most  of  these,  except  the  lots  then  va- 
cant, have  been  supplied  from  other  sources. 
The  township  boundaries  are  not  the  modern 
ones  as  now  established. 

In  Brooklyn,  parts  of  Lathrop,  Dimock  and 
Bridgewater  (“  Wallace  lands”)  the  lines  were 
run  (about  1785)  north,  three  degrees  west,  and 
so  on  to  make  rectangles.  The  Drinker  Me- 
shoppen  tract  was  laid  out  (about  1792)  mostly 
north  and  south,  etc.,  and  most  of  the  lands  in 
the  west  half  of  the  county  were  first  sur- 
veyed upon  nearly  the  same  plan,  while  in  the 
east  half  the  prevailing  direction  was  north- 
east, etc.  I’liese  lines  were  run  according  to 
the  magnetic  meridian,  which  then  deviated 
about  three  degrees  to  west  of  north,  and  now 
about  .seven  and  a quarter  degrees,  the  variation 
beino;  a little  srreater  in  the  east  than  in  the  west 
part  of  the  county,  and  very  slightly  greater  in 
the  north  than  in  the  south  part. 

Among  the  prominent  land-holders  of  the 

1 Bi'  E.  A.  Weston. 


county  were  Thomas  and  John  Clifford  and 
their  successors,  Thomas  W.  Morris,  in  Clifford, 
Herrick,  etc. ; Samuel  Meredith,  in  Clifford, 
Lenox,  Harford,  etc.,  and  also  in  Bridgewater 
and  Middletown ; Edward  Shippen,  in  Lenox, 
Gibson  and  Jackson  ; Henry  Drinker  and  his 
succes.sors,  Samuel  A.  Law,  Ephraim  Kirby, 
David  Welch,  Rufus  Lines,  Jacob  Tallman  and 
Robert  Bound,  in  Liberty  (Lawsville),  Great 
Bend  and  New  Milford ; Henry  Drinker, 
“school  lands”  in  Lenox  and  Clifford,  and 
other  lands  in  Harmony,  Oakland,  and  in  almost 
every  township  in  the  county ; Henry  Drinker 
and  his  succe.ssor,  Thomas  P.  Cope,  twenty- 
five  thousand  acres  in  Auburn,  and  part  of 
Springville,  Dimock,  Jessup  and  Rush  ; Jo.seph 
and  William  Lee,  William  Poyntell  and 
Benjamin  Chew  (George  Walker,  agent,)  in 
Clifford,  Herrick,  etc. ; Andrew  Allen,  in 
Harford  and  New  Milford ; John  Field  and 
Wm.  Hartley,  his  successor,  in  Lenox  ; Timothy 
Pickering,  in  Bridgewater,  Franklin  and  Lib- 
erty, and  in  Harmony ; John  Nicholson  and 
Dr.  Barnabas  Binney,  and  their  successors,  “ The 
Widow  and  Orphan’s  Fund”  corporation,  and 
John  B.  and  Mary  M.  Wallace  (Putnam  Catlin, 
agent),  in  Brooklyn,  Bridgewater,  Dimock,  etc. ; 
John  W.  Robinson  and  Thos.  B.  Overton  were 
also  owners  of  remnants  of  these  last-named 
lands ; Tench  Coxe  and  Nicholas  Biddle,  in 
Liberty,  Bridgewater,  etc.;  Abraham  Dubois,  in 
Oakland ; Elizabeth  Jervis  and  John  Peters 
and  their  successors,  Ann,  widow  of  Tench 
Francis,  and  afterward  Robt.  H.  Rose,  one 
hundred  thousand  acres  in  Silver  Lake,  Cho- 
conut.  Rush,  Middletown,  Great  Bend,  Bridge- 
water,  etc. ; and  Caleb  Carmalt  and  Samuel 
Milligan,  successors  of  R.  H.  Rose;  Tench 
Francis  also  had  lands  in  Liberty  and  Frank- 
lin ; C.  L.  Ward,  Collins  lands  in  Lenox  ; 
George  Clymer,  in  Bridgewater;  Samuel  Ew- 
ing, in  Herrick,  etc. ; Thomas  Cadwallader, 
in  Ararat  and  Herrick,  and  Bridgewater ; 
Thomas  Mitchell,  Brown  & Ives,  and  Samuel 
Wilcox,  in  Middletown,  etc.  Janies  C.  Biddle, 
Wm.  D.  Cope,  Seku  Meylert,  Wm.  Thomson, 
Joshua  W.  Raynsford  and  Wm.  C.  Ward  were 
also  agents  for  various  lands. 

The  following  are  the  warrantee  names,  the 


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LAND  TITLES  AND  WARRANTEES. 


33 


numbers  being  arbitrary  and  merely  referring  to 
the  place  of  the  lots  on  the  map : 


Acres 

Acres 

80 

2?  William 

2.  John  Ashmear 

...  4391^ 

23.  Daniel  Humphreys... 

....  415 

3.  Joseph  Ashmore 

...  42414 

24.  Sami.  Jervis 

....  415 

4.  Geo.  Ashmore 

70 

25.  Thos.  Willing 

....  411 

5.  Benedict  Ashmore... 

...  200 

26.  Win.  Gray 

...  415 

6.  Benjamin  Town 

...  200 

27.  Chas.  Jervis 

...  395% 

7.  Benjamin  Thorn 

...  261 

28.  Mordecai  Lewis 

....  414 

8.  Edward  Westcot 

...  230 

29.  John  Brown,  Jr 

....  424% 

9.  David  Hawes 

...  400 

b John  Wilson 

....  429% 

400 

355 

10.  Samuel  Langdale 

...  401^ 

30.  David  Cooper 

....  424% 

11.  Joseph  Langdale 

....  308M 

31.  Joseph  Backertraw... 

....  424% 

12.  Herman  Langdale 

...  414 

32.  John  Swanwick 

...  414 

13.  Solomon  Ashmore 

...  42414 

33.  Andrew  Caldwell 

....  435 

14.  Thos.  Ashmore 

...  359 

34.  Joseph  Gray 

....  427% 

15.  Jonathan  Gan  ley 

...  466 

35.  Robt.  Towers 

415 

16,  Roger  Gartley 

...  472% 

36.  Josiah  Haws 

...  415 

17.  John  Brown 

...  418% 

37.  June  Humphreys 

....  415 

....  424% 

....  415 

19.  Michael  Hillegas 

...  414 

39.  Hannah  Willingsworth.  415 

20.  Matthew  Clarkson.... 

....  433% 

40.  Andrew  Caldwell 

....  415 

21.  Janies  Langdale 

....  360% 

ARARAT  AND  HERRICK. 

Acres 

Acres 

1.  Henry  Foster 

..  482% 

39.  Joseph  Rink 

..  501% 

2.  Roger  Foster 

432 

40.  Joseph  Wharton 

342 

3.  Peter  Foster 

..  473% 

41.  Judah  Foulke 

342 

4.  Peter  Dobbs 

..491-120 

42.  Sami.  Richards 

344 

6.  Henry  Dobbs 

..  451-51 

43,  Peter  Rink 

..  555% 

6.  Samuel  Foster 

..  551% 

44.  James  Rink 

..  480% 

7.  Joseph  Betz 

..  462-32 

45.  Sami.  Rink 

..  480% 

« 

9.  John  Betz 

..  483% 

47.  Wm.  Wiley 

478 

10.  Frederick  Betz 

..  462-32 

48.  Solomon  Rink 

..  480% 

11.  Lambert  Cadwalader. 

290 

49.  Andrew  Pyle 

477 

12.  Andrew  McCoimel.... 

. 309-38 

50-  Sami.  Meredith 

13.  John  Sargeant 

..301-120 

51.  Sami.  Meredith 

...  326% 

14.  Chas.  Harrison 

.301-120 

62.  Sami.  Meredith 

301 

15.  Conrad  McHousland.. 

53.  Chas.  Wharton 

334 

16.  Alexander  Newland.. 

. .301-1 20 

54.  Wm.  Jones 

342 

17.  Wm.  Forbes 

..3'  1I-I2O 

55.  Jas.  Wharton 

342 

18.  John  Cadwalader 

56.  Chas.  Stewart 

342 

19.  Henry  Hill 

..  323% 

57.  John  Cox 

34  i 

20.  Paul  Betz 

..  452-59 

58.  Isaac  Cox 

342 

21.  Sami.  Wiley 

478 

59.  John  Nesbit 

200 

22.  Roger  Wiley 

478 

a Grace  Newport 

80 

23.  Roger  Betz 

..  433% 

60.  Jesse  Newport 

100 

24.  Christopher  Betz 

61.  Wm.  Fishbourne 

200 

25.  Dr.  T.  Cadwalader... 

320 

62.  Bartler  Shec 

..  271% 

26.  Sami.  Meredith 

..  301% 

63.  John  Shec 

..  271% 

27.  Alex.  Nesbit 

. 301-1  0 

64.  John  Whit© 

309 

28.  Geo.  Campbell 

65.  John  Shaw 

302 

29.  Joseph  Rees 

..334-120 

66  Isaac  Wharton 

..  280% 

30.  Jas.  Rees 

1(10 

67.  Sami.  Meredith 

301 

31.  Jasper  Newport 

68.  Sami.  Mereditli 

...  352% 

32.  Jonathan  Nesbit 

347 

b Sami.  Meredith 

...  326% 

33.  Chas.  Wharton 

322 

69.  Thos.  Wharton 

...  320% 

34,  John  Van  Reed 

342 

70.  Sami.  Meredith 

35.  Isaac  Wharton 

..  320  (?) 

71.  Ann  Bober 

2il0 

36.  Joseph  Van  Reed 

72.  Jane  Bober 

200 

37.  Peter  Moore 

..  326% 

73.  Phebe  Boher 

200 

38.  Win. Wharton 

342 

AUBURN. 

Acres 

Acres 

1.  Aaron  Gwinipp 

6.  Martin  Hughs 

...42?-143 

256  92 

3.  Moses  French 

..433-153 

8.  Geo.  French 

4411 

396-3() 

5.  Chas.  Fields 

10.  Paul  Craft 

11.  Solomon  Craft 432-50 

12.  Peter  Craft 432-50 

13.  Peter  Holland 493 

14.  Solomon  Rogers 439-lUO 

15.  Jas.  Rogers 439-100 

16.  Peter  Rogers 439-lUO 

17.  Roger  Boggs 439-lUO 

18.  Henry  Boggs 439-100 

19.  Hugh  Boggs 438-lUO 

20.  Ann  Paschal 

21.  Silas  Smith 150 

22  Sami.  Buck 309-40 

23.  Henry  Buck 438-lu5 

24.  Peter  Buck 438-105 

25.  Robert  Buck 438-105 

26.  Sanil.  Horner 438-105 

27.  Joseph  Crocket 438-105 

28.  Hugh  Rogers 438-105 

29.  Jas.  Whitecar 440-40 

30.  Andrew  French 432-50 

31.  Joseph  French 432-50 

32.  Peter  Grice 433-153 

33.  Sami.  French 432-50 

34.  John  Whitecar 432-50 

35.  Peter  Rogers 418-37 

36.  John  Crocket 418-37 

37.  Jas.  Horner 418-37 

38.  Geo.  Warful 418-37 

39.  Thos.  Warful 418-37 

40.  Joseph  Warful 418-37 

41.  Sami.  Warful 418-37 

42.  Jas.  Warful 140-173 

43.  Geo.  Holmes 220 


44.  Hugh  Prichard 440-112 

45.  Andrew  Prichard 440-112 

46.  Peter  Prichara 440-112 

47.  John  Weaver 440-112 

48.  Pawl  Weaver 440-112 

49.  Jas.  Johnston 440-112 

50.  Arthur  Johnston .440-112 

51.  Peter  Whitecar 439-120 

62.  Roger  Whitecar 432-50 

63.  Chas.  'Whitecar 439 

54.  Sami.  Whitecar 439 

55.  Jesse  Clark 

56.  Andrew  Thompson 420-40 

57.  Patrick  Thompson 420-40 

58.  Sami.  Thompson 420-40 

59.  Henry  Thompson 420-40 

6u.  Geo.  Thompson 420-40 

61.  Joseph  Thompson..  . 420-40 

62.  Henry  McWilliams 420-44 

^3.  Peter  Holmes 280 

64.  Sami.  Holmes 426-40 

65.  Jas.  Holmes 426-40 

66.  Robt.  Holmes 426-40 

67.  Philip  Holt 426-40 

68.  Sami.  Holt 426-40 

69.  James  Holt 426-40 

70.  Geo.  Holt 426-40 

71.  Jas.  McWilliams 426-40 

72.  Peter  Clark 295-122 

73.  Roger  Boggs 412-16 

74.  Henry  Boggs 412-16 

75.  Patrick  Boggs 412-18 


BRIDGEWATER. 


Acres 

1.  Abraham  Marcoe 425 

2.  Peter  Baynton 

3.  Rohet  Morris 4"3-158 

4.  John  Montgomery 439-135 

5.  Thos.  Wliarton 375 

6.  Chas.  Wharton 301-120 

7.  Daniel  Reed 301-120 

8.  Geo.  Towson 415 

9.  Conrad  Ditmar 415-27 

10.  JohnVicai'y 301-120 

11.  Isaac  Wharton 3ul-120 

12.  Wm.  McMoultrie 440-80 

13.  Peter  Brown 425 

14.  Goveriieur  Morris 4'5 

15.  Win.  Montgomery 425 

16.  John  Morril 425 

17.  Geo.  Roberts 425 

18.  Israel  Wheeler 425 

19.  Henry  Whysic 425 

20.  Godfrey  Twelle 425 

21.  Isaac  Franks 425 

22.  Jos.  Bullock 285-120 

23.  Jas.  Cummings 370 

24.  Lydia  Goodwin 301-120 

25.  John  Allen 301-120 

26.  Jas.  Coburn 301-120 

27.  Geo.  Goddard 417 

28.  Joshua  Ilewes 301-120 

29.  Wm.  Gough 301-120 

30.  Stephen  Wilson  

31.  Dr.  Thos.  Cudwallader301-120 

32.  Job  Brady 163 

33.  Jesse  Waterman 410% 

34.  Isaac  Harris 435 

35.  Geo,  Dunimcre 439-80 

36.  Luinbert  Cadwallader..301-120 

37.  John  Cadwalhuler 301-li.0 


Acres 

38.  Wm.  Allen 301-120 

39.  Geo.  Latimer 408-103 

40.  Benedict  Dorsey 425 

41.  Jas.  Read 425 

42.  Chas.  French 425 

43.  Jas.  Fisher 425 

44.  John  Frouiharger 425 

45.  Leonard  Dorsey 425 

46.  John  Baker 424 

47.  Peter  Lohra 398-40 

48.  Jas.  Allen 301-120 

49.  Jas.  Wilson 80 

50.  Andrew  Allen 301-120 

51.  John  Wilson 300 

52.  John  Scott 327}^ 

53.  Susanna  Razor 4o7J4 

54.  Benj.  Jordan 4o734 

55.  Jacob  Anguish 4o7J4 

56.  Jas.  Logan 407% 

57.  Joseph  Abor 407% 

58.  Catharine  Coleman 407% 

59.  Susannah  Colliday 60 

60.  Joseph  Anthony 425 

61.  David  Lenox 425 

62.  Henry  Holland 426 

63.  John  Donaldson 425 

64.  Henry  Pratt 425 

65.  Geo.  Eddy 380 


67.  John  Pringle 

68.  Edward  Shippen, 

69.  Sami.  Nicholson 


70.  l^Iary  Martin 50 

71.  John  l\U'Kinney 4(<7% 

72.  Jos.  Thompson 

73.  Abram  McKiniwy 407% 

74.  Jus.  Valliunt 


34 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


BROOKLYN. 


Acres 

Acres 

1. 

Surah  Morrison 

19.  John  Sutton 

. 407-80 

2. 

Robt.  Wilson 

20.  Ann  Manning 

. 407-80 

3. 

John  Wharton 

21.  Richard  Manning 

407-80 

i. 

Win.  Morrison 

22.  John  Nicholson 

. 407-80 

5. 

Jas.  Torbit 

23.  Dr.  Barnabas Binney. 

. 407-80 

6. 

Jos.  Torbit 

24.  John  Dunlap 

. 407-80 

7. 

Jas.  Craig 

25.  Susanna  Woodrow' 

407-80 

8. 

David  Torbit 

26.  Susanna  Lear 

. 407-80 

9. 

Elizabeth  Jackson.... 

..  407-80 

27.  Neal  BlcCoy 

. 407-80 

10. 

Leonard  Woodrow... 

..  407-80 

28.  Robert  King 

. 407-80 

11. 

Henry  Jackson 

...  407-80 

29.  Robt.  Lyon 

. 407-30 

12. 

Jas.  Dunlap 

..  407-80 

30.  Jos.  Sahler 

407-80 

13. 

Chas.  Lear 

31.  Sarah  Stover...' 

. 4o7-80 

14. 

Sami.  Jackson 

..  407-80 

32.  Capt.  Jas.  Stover 

. 407-80 

15. 

Wm.  Shaw,  Esq 

..  407-80 

33.  Wm.  Colliday,  Jr 

. 407-80 

16. 

Jas.  Logan 

...  407-80 

34.  Wm.  Colliday 

. 407-80 

17. 

Jos.  Abor 

35.  Jas.  Valliant 

. 407-80 

18. 

Abm.  McKinney 

..  407-80 

CHOCONUT. 

Acres 

Acres 

1. 

Geo.  Simpson 

..  437>4 

18.  Jos.  Anthony 

418 

2. 

Henry  Hill 

..  424^ 

19.  Christopliei'Irig 

414 

a 

Thos.  Shoemaker 

317 

20.  Wm.  Jones 

.335-120 

3. 

Jas.  Mase 

..  424!4 

21.  Mary  Jarvis 

415 

4. 

John  Swanwick 

414 

22.  Jacob  Barges 

415 

6. 

Alex.  Nesbit 

23.  Chas.  Cooper 

415 

6. 

Andrew  Caldwell 

435 

24.  Chas.  Smith 

415 

7. 

Jos.  Gray 

...  427^ 

25.  Geo.  Nelson 

415 

8. 

Robt.  Towers 

415. 

26.  Jas.  Collins 

9. 

415 

27.  Wm.  Sheaf 

415 

10. 

Andrew  Caldwell 

415 

28.  Sami.  Nicholas 

415 

11. 

Sami.  Coates 

415 

29.  Benj.  Skull 

. 377-40 

12. 

John  Peters 

3,55 

30.  Israel  Morris 

414 

13. 

Elizabeth  Jervis 

414 

31.  Chas.  Willings 

.389-120 

14. 

Robt.  Irwin 

..  439^ 

32.  Anthony  Kern 

477 

15. 

Peter  Crim 

..  42414 

33.  Jacob  Lowensyker 

16. 

Edward  Price 

..  451'4 

34.  Henry  McSwine 

17. 

Peter  Miller 

..  424X 

CLIFFORD. 


Acres 

Acres 

1. 

Paul  Harris 

400 

31.  Wnlter  Stewart 

...  3il% 

2. 

Henry  Harvey 

32.  Alex.  Nesbit 

...  311% 

3. 

Sami.  North 

....  371-^ 

33.  Christr.  Irwin 

347 

aa 

Peter  North 

....  345'4 

34.  Nicholas  Young 

347 

4. 

Jas.  North 

....  474% 

35.  Jas.  Trimble 

317 

5. 

Sami.  Harvey 

....  471% 

36.  Andrew  Chapman... 

...400-100 

6. 

....  474% 

‘^7  - 

7. 

Peter  Hart 

«4% 

38.  Sami.  Meredith 

....  329% 

8, 

Joshua  Harvey 

474% 

39.  Sami.  Meredith 

9. 

Joseph  Noble .. 

474% 

40.  John  M.  Nesbit 

....  376-90 

10. 

Jas.  Noble 

....  433% 

41.  John  M.  Nesbit 

....  311% 

11. 

Henrv  Noble 

....  469% 

42.  John  M.  Nesbit 

150 

12. 

John  Boyd 

346 

43.  .John  M.  Nesbit 

150 

13. 

Wm.  Gray 

326 

44.  John  M.  Nesbit 

....  389% 

14. 

260 

..  3'H 

15. 

John  Higher 

120% 

46.  Sami.  Meredith 

....  329% 

16. 

....311  120 

a 

J.  Dowd 

48.  Sami.  Meredith 

....  329-13 

17. 

Andrew  Syphart.... 

....311-120 

49.  Sami.  Meredith 

....  326% 

18. 

Peter  Noble 

467 

50.  Sami.  Meredith 

..  352% 

19. 

Peter  Harvey 

474% 

51.  Sami.  Meredith 

20. 

Roger  Hart 

....  474% 

52.  Sami.  Meredith 

....332-130 

21. 

Andrew  Pyle 

477 

63.  Sami.  Meredith 

...  329% 

22. 

. 

30l 

23. 

Henry  Chapman.... 

400 

55.  Jas.  M.  Nesbit 

...  289% 

24. 

Geo.  Noble 

56.  Nathan  Severing  .... 

200 

25. 

Wm.  Donald 

....  311% 

57.  Sami.  Meredith 

....  347% 

26. 

Geo.  Fullerton 

....  311% 

58.  Sami.  Meredith 

....  329% 

27. 

Eliza  Harris 

59.  Sami,  Meredith 

....332-130 

28. 

Wm.  Harris 

150 

60.  Sami.  Meredith 

....  301% 

29. 

Sami.  Harris 

150 

61.  Sami.  Meredith 

30. 

John  Reed 

62.  Chas.  Jervis 

...  301% 

63. 

Thos.  Wharton 

320% 

71.  Sami.  Beach 

64. 

Sami.  Meredith 

398 

72.  Sami.  Beach 

65. 

Sami.  Meredith 

73.  Jas.  Beach 

430 

66. 

Sami.  Bleredith  .... 

339-ino 

74.  John  Beach 

. 481-22 

67. 

Sami.  Meredith 

75.  Philip  Beach 

300 

68. 

Chas,  Hunt 

342-40 

76.  Jos.  Beach 

342 

69. 

Sami.  Bleredith 

332-120 

77.  Peter  Beach 

200 

70. 

Chas.  West 

100 

78.  Geo.  Porter 

200 

DIMOCK. 

Acres 

Acres 

1. 

Peter  Philips 

4.0-44 

25.  Jas.  Bacon 

2. 

Joseph  Philips.  ... 

420-44 

26.  Philip  Snyder 

. 417-33 

3. 

Geo.  Morris 

420-44 

27.  Abel  Holmes 

..  417-33 

4. 

Andrew  Morris.  ... 

420-44 

28.  John  McPhail 

..  417-33 

5. 

Peter  Morris 

29.  Jas.  Engle 

..  417-33 

6. 

Hugh  Morris 

..  ..  420^4 

30,  John  Lockhart 

..  417-33 

7. 

Joseph  Morris 

420-44 

31.  Thos.  Miller 

. 417-33 

8. 

Peter  White 

420-44 

32.  John  Scott 

. 417-33 

9. 

Andrew  Mason 

411-13 

33.  Christopher  Hoot 

..  404-80 

10. 

Jas.  Mason 

411-13 

34.  Jas.  Warner 

.399-120 

11. 

Robt.  Mason 

411-13 

35.  John  Ditmar 

12. 

Hugh  Mason 

..  ..  411-13 

36.  Jeremiah  Sullivan.... 

13. 

Peter  Mason 

411-13 

37.  Wm.  Rinder 

..  425-10 

14. 

Joseph  Kunkle 

411-13 

38.  Joseph  Haines 

..  439-80 

15. 

Peter  Kunkle 

411-13 

39.  Sami.  Haines 

..438-150 

16. 

John  Kunkle 

411-13 

40.  Sami.  Lock 

.261-120 

17. 

John  Thompson.... 

415-27 

41.  Wm.  Sharp 

18. 

Geo.  Reed 

42.  Sami.  Miller 

..  363-80 

19. 

Wm.  Knox 

415-27 

43.  Jas.  Craig 

20. 

N.  Sley  (or  Loyd).. 

415-27 

44.  John  Wharton 

21. 

Nicholas  Schultz.., 

415-27 

45.  Wm.  Morrison 

22. 

Philip  Roth 

415-27 

46.  Sarah  Morrison 

23. 

Francis  Trimner... 

415-27 

47.  Jacob  Anguish 

..  407-80 

24. 

Geo.  Christhilf 

48.  Benj.  Jordan 

..  407-80 

FOREST  LAKE. 

Acres 

Acres 

1. 

Peter  Marble 

20.  Elizabeth  Matlock.... 

358-115 

2. 

Jas.  Crawford 

21.  Paul  Cooper 

4. 

Geo.  Sickler 

23.  Deborah  Dawes 

5. 

Jas.  Peale 

24.  Sami.  Wetherill 

G. 

Jos.  Anthony 

25.  John  M.  Nesbitt....... 

309 

7. 

Stephen  Pascliall... 

388% 

26.  Cornelius  Barnes 

431 

8. 

Wm.  Gray 

27.  John  Montgomery.... 

9. 

Sami,  Wetherill 

28.  J.  Nexh(it)  or  Nesbit. 

306 

10. 

Donald  McDonald.. 

388-80 

29.  Robt.  Morris 

..403-159 

11. 

Battis  Clymer 

388-80 

30.  Jno.  Dunlap 

12. 

Chas.  W.  Peale 

388-80 

31.  Peter  Baynton 

425 

13. 

Reynold  Keene 

388-8U 

32.  Abraham  Marcoe 

426 

14. 

Sami.  Morris 

33.  Wm.  Dawes 

. 380-40 

15. 

Solomon  Blavechie. 

34.  Jas.  Starr 

410 

16. 

Geo.  Meade 

35.  Susannah  Fisher 

425 

17. 

Joseph  Casson 

36.  Jas.  Bryson 

18. 

Patrick  Moore 

411-120 

37.  Garret  Cottringer 

425 

19. 

Wm,  Murray 

....371-120 

38.  Thos.  Afflick 

LIBERTY  AND  FRANKLIN. 

1. 

Sami.  Powell 

416 

19.  Joseph  Howell,  Jr 

. 386-40 

RR1 

3. 

Solomon  De  Melt... 

41 1 

a Richard  Butler 

4. 

Peter  Denton 

413-120 

21.  Tlios.  Palmer 

5. 

Paul  Denton 

22.  Hermon  Denton 

. 300-40 

6. 

John  Gravel 

....  269-120 

23.  Joseph  Denton 

..  388-80 

7. 

Geo.  Hunter 

24.  Sami.  De  Melt, 

414 

8. 

Peter  Jones 

382-80 

25.  J.  Whipple 

9. 

Christopher  Rhoan. 

425 

26.  Robt.  H.  Rose 

10. 

Elizabeth  Jones 

436-120 

27.  Jos.  De  Melt 

342 

11. 

John  Randolph 

425 

28.  Paul  De  Melt 

414 

12. 

Geo.  Roberts 

425 

29.  Conrad  Smith 

384 

13. 

Israel  Wheeler 

30.  Thos.  Afflick 

..412-120 

14. 

Edward  Pale 

31.  John  Pusey 

.412-120 

15. 

Sami.  Garrigues 

424 

32.  Henry  App 

16. 

James  Gallagher.... 

425 

33.  Richard  Hunt 

.412-120 

17. 

Joseph  Harrison..,. 

34.  Israel  Jones 

.412-120 

18. 

John  Henry 

436 

35.  Sami.  Jackson 

.412-120 

LAND  TITLES  AND  WARRANTEES. 


35 


Acres 

Acres 

36. 

Adam  Casey 

..412-120 

57.  Wm.  Gregory 

412-120 

37. 

Jesse  Greenfield  

425 

58.  Jacob  S.  Howell... 

412-120 

38. 

Jonas  Philips 

425 

59.  Wm.  Knox 

412-120 

39. 

Wm.  Guncle 

425 

GO.  John  Rink 

412-120 

40. 

Henry  Pratt 

425 

Gl.  Adam  Carsay 

412-120 

41. 

Wm.  French 

425 

62.  Isaac  Wharton 

426 

42. 

John  Ross 

425 

63.  John  Taws 

406-80 

43. 

David  Wagoner 

425 

64.  John  Tallman 

4(.l6-80 

b 

Geo.  Quinep 

..439-120 

65.  John  Garret 

380 

44.  James  Hartley 

. 412-120 

60.  Geo.  Eddy 

380 

45. 

Jas.  Hood 

67.  John  Wall 

46. 

Win.  Haysham 

..412-120 

68.  Peter  Holland 

47. 

Wm.  Hall 

69.  Tobias  Rudolph..  .. 

412-120 

c 

Jas.  Wood 

..412-120 

70.  Isaac  Hazlehurst... 

412-12(1 

48. 

Wm.  Pucey 

...412-120 

71.  Jas.  Hutchinson... 

412-120 

49. 

Anthony  Kern 

..412-120 

72.  Robt  Haysham 

412-120 

50. 

Wm.  Compton 

..  397-80 

73.  Peter  Allen 

412-120 

51. 

Geo.  De  Melt 

414 

74.  Edw.  Garrigues.... 

4 >2-120 

52. 

Wm.  Drinker,  Jr 

75.  John  Francis 

426 

53. 

Edw.  Price 

414 

76.  Jas.  White 

400-36 

54. 

Geo.  Simpson 

77.  John  Wilson 

434-80 

55. 

Tench  Francis 

423 

78.  Roger  McGahe  or 

Me- 

56. 

Thos.  Grant 

..412-120 

Gahey  

GIBSON. 

Acres 

Acres 

1. 

Sami.  Cooley 

. 479-39 

24.  Jo.  Pogue 

474% 

2. 

Paul  White 

25.  Geo.  Pogue 

474% 

3. 

Edward  Shippen 

26.  Peter  Pogue 

«4% 

4. 

Edw.  Shippen 

27.  Henry  Pos:ue 

474% 

5. 

Edw.  Shippen 

28.  Philip  Ross 



6. 

Edw.  Shippen 

29.  Job  Wiley 

7. 

Edw.  Shippen 

30.  Jos.  Shippen 

611 

8. 

Sami.  Rinearson 

31.  Jos.  Shippen 

9. 

Jas.  Rinearson 

...  45114 

32.  Peter  Anderson.... 

488% 

10. 

Edw.  Shipper! 

33.  Geo.  Anderson 

460 

11. 

Jos.  Pyle 

...492-114 

34.  Henry  Anderson... 

462% 

12. 

Jos.  North 

36.  Job  (Robt.)  Anderson.  47oJ4 

13. 

Edw.  Shippen 

36.  Peter  Cooley 

479-39 

14. 

Edw.  Shippen 

37.  Peter  Pringle 

463% 

15. 

James  White 

...  430K 

38.  Jos.  Shippen 

690-36 

16. 

Edw.  Shippen 

39.  Jos.  Foster 

4G7K 

17. 

Thus.  Morris 

40.  Paul  Moor 

247% 

18. 

Henry  North 

...  54814 

41.  Roger  Betz 

19. 

Henry  Hart 

..  474^ 

42.  Roger  Foster 

462-32 

20. 

Henry  Harvey 

43.  Patrick  Wiley 

478 

21. 

Amos  Hart 

...  474% 

44.  Jolm  Wiley 

478 

22. 

Job  Hart 

...  474% 

45.  Sami.  Wiley 

478 

23. 

Peter  Hart,... 

..  474% 

46.  Henry  Foster 

482% 

GREAT 

BEND. 

Acres 

Acres 

1. 

Sami.  Chalker 

25.  Peter Yarrington., 

400-140 

2. 

Samson  Harper 

26.  Jos.  Wright 

3. 

“H Hale” 

27.  Jonathan  Hancock 

438 

4. 

5. 

Paul  Harper 

..  401% 

29.  Jas.  Been 

6. 

John  Traveree 

95 

30.  Chas.  Butler 

7. 

M 

4nn 

8. 

Roger  Harper 

399 

32.  Jonathan  Butler... 

4011-140 

9. 

Adam  Scluack 

439 

33.  Putnam  Gatlin 

400-14(1 

10. 

Abraham  Schrack  ... 

..  440-31 

34.  Peter  Gruhh 

4(10-140 

11. 

Cathari  ne'’  Crawford . . 

438 

35.  Abraham  Dubois.  , 

....  207-1.50 

12. 

Robt.  Lawson 

448 

36.  Michael  Dubois.... 

226-130 

13. 

Sami.  Holland 

..  379-40 

37.  Thos.  Duane 

14. 

Wm.  White 

38.  Joseph  Duncan 

400-140 

15. 

John  Temple  

39.  Wm.  Smith 

4 111-140 

16. 

Jas.  Temple 

40.  Reuben  Downing. 

461-120 

17. 

Seth  Putman 

41.  Jonathan  Stevens.. 

448 

18. 

Peter  Temple 

4“^ 

10. 

— — 

...  176% 

43.  Asa  Stevens 

2{). 

. 

A i T..  - .1. 

21. 

James  Brush 

4i.  Samuel  Ruper 

22. 



23. 

Sami.  Dowinan 

378 

47.  Thos.  Prior 

424 

24. 

Jas.  Morgan 

..400  140 

48.  Ruper 

419>^ 

49. 

Fredk.  Rambo 

421 

55.  Sharp  Denny  (Dew 

ny)  414 

50. 

Levi  Hollingsworth.. 

424 

56.  John  R 

4u3 

51. 

John  Morton 

424 

57.  Geo.  Rambo 

362% 

52. 

Paul  Rambo 

..  414% 

58.  Peter  Rambo 

387% 

53. 

Solomon  Rambo 

..  401% 

59.  Sami.  Rambo 

2(U% 

54. 

Henry  Rambo 

. 419% 

60.  Jo.  Rambo 

301% 

HARFORD. 

Acres 

Acres 

1. 

Henry  Sutton 

28.  Roger  Sutton 

479-39 

2. 

Jas.  Benson 

29.  John  Pringle 

3. 

Polly  Duncan 

30.  Sami.  Meredith.... 

4. 

Seth  Duncan 

31.  Sami.  Meredith 

5. 

Jas.  Dniican 

32.  Peter  Wliiterider.. 

6 

479  89 

7. 

Jas.  Barnes 

34.  Jas.  Hampton 

...  . 479-39 

8. 

Andrew  Allen 

35.  Sami.  Cooley 

9. 

Sami.  Roach 

..  479-39 

30.  Paul  White 

10. 

Peter  Whitney 

..  479-39 

37.  Peter  White 

11. 

Henry  Benson 

..  479-39 

38.  Andrew  Pringle.... 

12. 

Samuel  Benson 

..  479-39 

39.  Edw.  Shippen 

13. 

Robt.  Sutton 

..  479-39 

■10.  Sami.  Meredith 

14. 

Peter  Benton 

..  479-39 

41.  Anthony  Whitney 

15. 

Geo.  Benton  

..  479-39 

42.  Sami.  Meredith 

16. 

Henrv  Roach 

..  479-39 

43.  Sami.  Meredith 

17. 

John  Pyle 

..  479-39 

44.  Roger  Pringle 

18. 

Andrew  Cooley 

..  479-39 

45.  Nathan  Sutton 

479-39 

19. 

Geo.  Hampton 

. 479-39 

46.  Robt.  Harman 

20. 

Geo.  Whitney 

..  479-39 

47.  Samuel  Meredith... 

21. 

Joseph  Benton 

..  479-39 

48.  Samuel  Meredith... 

22. 

Geo.  Sutton 

..  479-39 

49,  Jas.  Rinearson 

23. 

Peter  Sutton 

..  479-39 

a Geo.  Rinearson 

24. 

..  479-39 

25. 

Henry  Baldwin 

..  479-39 

61.  Edw.  Shippen 

26. 

John  Jiisteu 

..  479-39 

52.  Edw.  Shippen 

27. 

Peter  Harmer 

53.  Edw.  Shippen  

HARMONY  AND  OAKLAND. 

1. 

Wm.  Moulder 

40.  Hugh  Norton 

309-144 

2. 

Paul  Ruper 

41.  AdamShrak. 

431 

3. 

Geo.  Ruper 

42.  John  Kugler 

4. 

Peter  Ruper 

..  405% 

43.  Wm.  Smith 

5. 

Jos.  Smith 

..  434% 

44.  Wm.  Ward 

G. 

Thos,  Lowry 

45.  Jacob  Swiuk 



7. 

Geo.  McWilliams  .... 

46.  Peter  Norcross 

379-13 

8. 

Philip  Ruper 

293 

47.  I’aul  Norcross 

432 

9. 

Henry  Ruper 

48.  Jos.  Bradley 

10. 

Francis  Williams 

49.  Jas.  Bradley 

11. 

Peter  Williams 

50.  Hugh  Johnson 

199-120 

12. 

Peter  McGahey 

51.  Sami.  Bradley 

13. 

Geo.  McGahey 

52.  Geo.  Bradley 

434-53 

14. 

Sami.  McGahey 

53.  Moses  Hobson 

44-1-14 

15. 

Hugh  McGahey 

54.  Jas,  Davis 

408% 

16. 

Philip  Wilcox 

17. 

Henry  Drinker 

399l^r 

18. 

Jacob  Peterman 

..444-120 

57.  Sanil.  Wallace 

185 

19. 

Wm.  Armstrong 

58.  John  Perot 

40(1 

20. 

Wm.  Smith 

59.  Danl.  Trubridge.... 

21. 

Mathias  Coplin 

6<h  Nicholas  Rash 

22. 

John  Sahler 

61.  Clias.  Shultz 

369-0t» 

23. 

Hugh  Wiley 

62.  Henry  Drinker  .... 

386 

24. 

Wm.  Henderson 

63.  .Joim  Comfort 

1M% 

25. 

Wm.  Potts 

64.  Tim.  Paxon 

2t»9-12u 

26. 

John  Boyer 

65.  Sami  Emleii 

1(10-23 

27. 

David  Taylor 

OG.  John  Comfort 

28. 

Henry  Drinker 

67.  Peter  Cress 

430% 

29. 

Henry  Boyer 

68.  Jacob  Downing 

4U() 

30. 

Ileiiiy  Wiley 

..  434-53 

69.  Henry  S.  Drinker.. 

400 

31. 

Jas.  Norton 

..  434-53 

70.  Wm.  Drinker 

4011 

32. 

Henry  Norton 

..  434-.13 

71.  Sil  s Bliss 

33. 

Amos  Findley 

..  434-53 

72.  Haul.  Rees 

34. 

Paul  Kugler  

35. 

Henry  Drinker 

74.  Patrick  Johnson... 

36. 

John  Shannon 

75.  Harmon  Norcross,. 

431-53 

.37. 

76.  Peter  Bradley 

431-53 

38. 

Jonathun  Pylo 

..  419-19 

77.  Jesse  Evans 

419-137 

39. 

Peter  Norton 

..  434-53 

78. “ffleld”.. 

1153997 


36 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


Acres 

Acres 

79. 

Peter  Snyder 

100 

102.  John  Drinker 

80. 

Wm.  Lane 

103.  Jolin  Morrel 

...  407% 

81. 

Roger  Muntz 

434-63 

104.  David  Beckley 

.. .403-140 

82. 

Jos.  Muntz 

434-53 

105.  Fredk.  Barthold.... 

...400-140 

83. 

. 41R-76 

106. 

84. 

Jos.  Drinker 

431-64 

Iu7.  Adam  Driesbic 

85. 

Wm.  Buckley 

108.  Henry  Drinker 

...  411-33 

86. 

John  Thomas 

1C  0-40 

109.  John  McCoben 

...  411-71 

87. 

Jacob  Downing 

400 

Ho.  Henry  Tolland 

88. 

Rowland  Evans 

400 

111.  Geo.  Baker 

...  428-89 

89. 

Wm.  Drinker 

400 

112,  Wm.  Craig  

91). 

Sami.  Preston 

400 

113.  Benj.  Wilson 

...431-138 

loo.  Cadwalladder  Evans. 

. 91-99 

114.  C.  L.  Ward 

400 

115.  Robt.  Trail 

HERRICK — (See  ARARAT). 

THOMSON  AND  JACKSON. 

Acres 

Acres 

1. 

.301-120 

...  479-39 

2. 

Jos.  Paul 

.301-120 

43.  Sami.  Osterman 

. .470-121 

.3. 

Andrew  Porter 

318 

44.  Jos.  Sliippen 

...  464-59 

4. 

Jonathan  Sargent 

290 

45.  Jos.  Shippen  

5. 

Henry  Dobbs :.... 

. 451-51 

46.  Geo.  White 

6.  Henry  Diinker 

.401-136 

47.  Andrew  White 

514 

7. 

Wm.  Drinker 

.393-110 

48.  Peter  Cooley 

...  479-39 

8. 

Jacob  Downers 

.394-146 

49.  Henry  Oliver 

...  479-39 

9. 

Kenneth  Kulloth 

100 

50.  Andrew  Oliver 

...  479-39 

10. 

Hannah  Warner 

.301-141 

51.  Joseph  Oliver 

...  450-80 

11. 

Abraham  Shoemaker.. 

.301-141 

52.  Jas.  Pyatt 

...  479-39 

12. 

Matthew  ^rhaw 

53.  Peter  Pyatt 

...  479-39 

13. 

300 

...  479-39 

14. 

...  479-39 

15. 

Sami.  Hodgdon 

. 443-10 

56.  Geo.  Norton 

...  479-39 

16. 

John  Still e 

. 443-10 

57.  Paul  Bradley 

...  434-53 

17. 

Geo.  McCall 

. 438-52 

58,  Sami.  Bradley 

...  434-53 

18. 

Geo.  Plumstead 

„ 438-52 

59.  Hugh  Johnston 

...199-120 

19. 

Geo.  Dobbs 

.453-120 

60.  Jas.  Bradley 

...  434-53 

20. 

Jos.  Darnley 

468-80 

61.  Sami.  Norton 

...  479-39 

21. 

Sami.  Darnley 

470-40 

62.  Jas.  Norton 

...  479-39 

22. 

Sainl.  Dobbs 

. 482-40 

63.  Henry  Norton 

...  479-39 

23. 

Geo.  Foster 

. 434)4 

61.  Peter  Norton 

...  479-39 

24. 

Andrew  Osterman 

. 484% 

65.  Andrew  Norton 

...  479-.19 

25. 

Henry  Osterman 

. 479-39 

CG.  Peter  Oliver 

...  479-39 

26.  Roger  Osterman 

479-39 

67.  Geo.  Oliver 

...  479-39 

27. 

Jas.  Darnley  (or  Dome- 

68.  Sami.  Oliver 

...  479-39 

ly) 

375-120 

09.  Jos.  Wells 

...  479-39 

28. 

Sami.  Wilson 

.445-120 

70.  Henry  Boss 

...  479-39 

29. 



445-120 

71.  Joshua  Rink,  Jr 

...  434-53 

30. 

J.  D.  le  Ray  de  Chau 

72.  Peter  Ross 

...  434-53 

mont 

73.  Sami.  Norcross 

...  431-53 

31. 

Israel  Pleasants 

481-28 

74.  Jos.  Norcross 

...  434-53 

32. 

Robt.  Benson 

170 

75.  Peter  Norcross 

...  434-53 

33.  Peter  Taylor 

76,  Jonathan  Pyle 

...  449-49 

34. 

Geo.  Stow 

. 474-19 

77.  Henry  Norcross 

...  434-53 

35. 

Isaac  Miller 

429 

78.  Peter  Pyle 

...  434-63 

36.  John  Campbell 

300 

79.  Peter  Johnston 

...  434-53 

37. 

John  Pleasant 

. 440-10 

80.  Joshua  Rink,  Jr 

...  158-76 

38. 

Thos.  Harrison 

.445-120 

81.  Jas.  Kink,  .Ir 

4i.O 

39. 

John  Wilson 

. 458-82 

82.  Sami.  Findlev 

40. 

Sami.  Pyatt 

476 

83.  Peter  Findley 

...  434-53 

41.  Henry  Pyatt 

476  34 

JESSUP. 

1. 

Timothy  Matlock 

14.  Henry  Towson 

...  360-84 

2. 

Clement  Biddle 

15.  Geo.  White 

..  412-16 

3. 

Mary  Jenkins 

16.  Andrew  Philips 

...  420-14 

4. 

Wm.  Jackson  

. 311-40 

17.  Paul  Towson 

...  422-94 

5. 

Joseph  Towson 

. 438-40 

18.  Kobt.  Taylor 

...301-120 

6. 

Wm.  Plumet 

. 309-60 

19.  Philip  Johnston 

...  .302^0 

7. 

Matthew  McConnell.. 

20.  Archibald  Stewart.. 

...301-120 

8. 

Cassandra  Jacobs 

21.  Chas.  Grandowin  .... 

9. 

Richard  Humphreys.. 

22.  John  Barclay 

10. 

S.  Wetheril 

23.  Joshua  Ash 

11. 

Thos.  Fitzerman 

24.  Robt.  Morton 

...428-130 

12. 

Elijah  Brown 

25.  Chas.  Wharton 

...301-120 

13. 

Jai.  Wilson 

. 298% 

26.  Chas.  Stewart. 

Acres 

Acres 

27. 

Peter  Towson 

...439-143 

29. 

Conrad  Ditmar 

28. 

Chas.  Kunkle 

...  411-13 

30. 

Daniel  Reed 

.301-120 

LATHROP. 

Acres 

Acres 

1. 

Wm.  Layton 

...  407% 

17. 

Geo.  Coxe 

439-99 

2. 

Joseph  Knox 

...  335-16 

18. 

Peter  Coxe 

. 439-99 

3. 

Peter  Roan 

....  439-99 

19. 

Joseph  Coxe 

. 439-99 

4. 

Samuel  Roan 

....  439-99 

20. 

Luke  Coxe 

. 439-99 

5. 

Jas.  Roan 

21. 

Caleb  Knox 

.439-109 

6. 

Henry  Roan 

22. 

Jas.  Harvey 

440 

7. 

Chas.  Roan 

23. 

Chas.  Conner 

. 407% 

8. 

Fredk.  Trott 

...  439-99 

24. 

Catharine  Frick 

. 407% 

9. 

Joseph  Diver 

....  433% 

25. 

Philip  Frick 

. 407% 

10. 

Geo.  Harvey 

....433-153 

26. 

Roger  Harvey 

. 474% 

11. 

Hugh  Harvey 

27. 

Isaac  Baldan 

300 

12. 

Peter  Harvey 

28. 

Samuel  Baldin 

13. 

Jas.  Ross 

29. 

John  Graff. 

417 

14. 

Jas.  Quin 

434 

30. 

Ariel  Tybout 

417 

15. 

Henry  Ross 

31. 

Geo.  Ripler 

4 6 

16. 

Francis  Jones 

32. 

Matt  Brook 

100 

LENOX. 

Acres 

Acres 

1 

9.7 

2. 

Peter  Baldan 

28. 

Geo.  Eddy 

200 

3. 

Jas.  Baldan 

29. 

Thos.  Jordan 

. 450% 

4. 

479  39 

30 

6 

479-39 

31 

6. 

Henry  Jasten 

....  479-39 

32. 

Henry  Grumley 

479 

7. 

Peter  Jordan 

...  479-39 

33. 

Woodbury  S.  Wilson. 

8. 

Henry  Jordan 

...  479-39 

34. 

Peter  Harris 

9 

James  Grumley 

....  655% 

35. 

Henry  Harris 

. 419-79 

10. 

John  Dorsey 

250 

36. 

Roger  Harris 

400 

11. 

Robt.  Paysley 

37. 

Paul  Harris 

400 

12. 

Jas.  Jordan 

....  471% 

38. 

Peter  North 

. 345% 

13. 

Samuel  Grumley 

....  479-39 

39. 

Harmon  North 

. 345% 

14. 

Harman  Grumley... 

..  479-39 

40. 

Normal!  Noble 

473 

15. 

Paul  Jasten 

...  479-39 

41. 

Samuel  Griffen 

441 

16. 

Samuel  Jasten 

...  479-39 

42. 

David  Griffen 

17. 

Samuel  Harmon 

....  479-39 

43. 

Samuel  Palmer 

. 378-35 

18, 

Samuel  Meredith... 

....  307-60 

44. 

Andrew  Palmer 

. 366-25 

19. 

Samuel  Meredith.... 

....  307-60 

45. 

Adam  Campher 

,329-100 

20. 

Geo.  Rinearson 

46. 

Lawrence  Sickler 

21. 

....  294-38 

47. 

22. 

James  Coxe 

406 

48. 

John  Boyd 

23. 

Andrew  Jasten 

....  479-39 

49. 

Joseph  Thomas 

.122-100 

24. 

Jas.  Jasten 

....  479-39 

50. 

John  Hoops 

25. 

Joshua  Grumley 

....  479-39 

51. 

Daniel  Tallman 

200 

26. 

Peter  Grumley 

...  479-39 

LIBERTY — (see  FRANKLIN.) 


MIDDLETOWN. 


Edward  Westcot 

Stephen  Madoris 

David  Daws  (or  Hawes). 

Geo.  Pickering 

Benj.  Skyhawk 

Wm,  Sheaff. 

Jonathan  Penrose 

Thos.  Rowan 

Thos.  Forest 

John  Rowan 

Wm.  Lewis 

Wm.  Jackson 

Peter  Baynton 

Laonard  Beaty 

Robt.  Carson 

Wm.  West,  Jr 

Justus  Franks 

Philip  Dunlap 

John  Brown 

Israel  Israels 

Benj.  Jones 

Sharp  Delaney 


230 

40-30 

400 

422}^ 

300 

300 

289 

289 

289 

289 

289 


300 

40 1 
447 
447 
447 
449-120 


22.  Obadiah  Wiley 387 

23.  John  Kuukle 415 

24.  Eliza  Robareson 388J^ 

25.  Eleazer  Oswols 3883^ 

26.  Francis  Lesher 388}^ 

27.  Josiah  Matlock 3883^ 

28.  Amos  Cooper 388J4 

29.  Jas.  Parker 388 

30.  Win.  Kenley 388^ 

31.  Guy  Bryan 3883^ 

32.  Joseph  Wright 3883^ 

33.  Francis  Fisher 3883^ 

34.  Josiah  Hewes 388)4 

35.  Cad walladder  Evans....  388)4 

36.  Robert  Smith 38834 

37.  Lawrence  Sickle 388)4 

38.  Jas.  Carson 388)4 

39.  Michael  O’Brien 388)4 

40.  Adam  Yoke 414 

41.  Robt.  Corvie 415 

42.  Wm.  Moulder 388)^ 

43.  Jas.  Whitehead 388)4 


LAND  TITLES  AND  WARRANTEES 


37 


Acres 

Acres 

44. 

David  Sickle 

....  388^ 

52.  Elizabeth  Chandler 

45. 

Jas.  Gardner 

....  388^ 

53.  James  Chalkley 

388;.^ 

46.  Joseph  James 

....  388)^ 

54.  Thos.  Smith 

3883^ 

47. 

Jos.  Gray  

. .. 

55.  Peter  Kuhn 

388>^ 

48. 

Jonathan  Price 

....  388>^ 

56.  Cadwalladder  Morris... 

49.  Joseph  Stretch 

....  388H 

57.  Richard  Mason 

388A 

50. 

James  Trimble 

....  3883^ 

58.  James  Craig 

415 

51. 

Mary  Ashton 

....  388>^ 

NEW  MILFORD. 


Acres 

Acres 

1. 

Patrick  Holland 

...  406-80 

36.  James  Cooley 

2. 

John  Wall 

...  406-80 

37.  Henry  Wells 

479-39 

3. 

Samuel  Powell 

380 

38.  Joseph  Fulton 

479-39 

4. 

John  Eldridge 

380 

39.  Peter  Flatt 

479-39 

5 

380 

479-39 

6. 

Edward  Shippen 

...401-142 

41.  Peter  Eldredge 

479-39 

7. 

Edward  Shippen 

42.  Joseph  Flatt 

479-39 

8. 

Peter  Ellis 

...  302>^ 

43.  Andrew  Fulton 

479-39 

9. 

Edward  Shippen 

...301-142 

44.  Robert  Wells,  Jr 

479-39 

10. 

Edward  Shippen 

...301-142 

45,  Geo.  Cooley 

479-39 

11. 

Andrew  Allen 

...301-142 

46.  Jas.  Wells 

479-39 

12. 

Geo.  Roach 

...  502*4 

47.  Peter  Fulton 

479-39 

13 

..  301-142 

48.  Henry  Eldredge 

479-39 

14. 

Andrew  Allen 

...301-142 

49.  Joseph  Eldredge 

479-39 

15 

...301-142 

479-39 

16. 

Samuel  Roach 

...  479-39 

51.  Samuel  Hood 

479-39 

17. 

Peter  Roach 

...  415H 

52.  Joseph  Temple 

479-39 

18. 

Geo.  Wells 

...  479-39 

53.  John  Temple 

479-39 

19. 

John  Flatt 

...  479-39 

54.  Samuel  Temple 

479-39 

20. 

Geo.  Ellis 

55.  Solomon  Rink,  Jr 

401-60 

21. 

Wm.  Forbes 

...  231-80 

56.  Joseph  Rink 

195  120 

22. 

Casper  Singer 

...  291-80 

57.  Samuel  Eldredge 

479-39 

23. 

James  Holland 

424 

58.  James  Eldredge 

479-39 

24. 

Henry  Holland 

421 

59.  Joseph  Ross  (or  Race). 

479-39 

91^ 

400 

26.  Joseph  Hood 

499 

61.  Samuel  Rink,  Jr 

400 

27. 

Andrew  Epple 

...400-140 

62.  Joshua  Rink,  Jr 

28. 

John  Philips 

...400-120 

63.  Henry  Rink 

479-39 

29. 

Peter  Hood 

...  485-80 

64.  Andrew  Pyle,  Jr 

401-60 

30. 

Gustaviis  Risbergh.. 

.. .400-120 

65.  Jonathan  Hancock 

438 

31. 

Richard  Poteman.  .. 

...400-120 

66.  James  Chapman 

400-140 

32. 

Andrew  Ellis 

...  2.38-84 

67.  John  Barrow 

.400-140 

33. 

Samuel  Flatt 

68.  Samuel  Findley 

434-53 

34. 

Robert  Wells 

69.  Geo.  Heplar 

400-140 

35. 

Robert  Pyle 

OAKLAND — (see  HARMONY.) 
RUSH. 


1. 

Samuel  Nichols 

489 

27.  Henry  Hefferman 

...  426-66 

2. 

Samuel  Reeder 

..433-153 

28.  Paul  Hefferman 

...433-153 

3. 

Peter  Reeder 

a Ichabod  Terry 

4. 

Chas.  Reeder 

29.  Andrew  Ingle 

5. 

Thos.  Duiulas 

323 

30.  Samuel  Ingle 

6. 

Thos.  Barclay 

. 320-40 

31.  Richard  Bitters 

...433-153 

7. 

Harman  Lohra 

32.  Geo.  Grice 

...  358-80 

8. 

Harman  Lohra 

33.  Peter  Grice 

9. 

Fredk.  Lohra 

399 

34.  Andrew  Grice 

...433-1.53 

10. 

Peter  Bitters 

..405-106 

35.  Paul  Bitters 

...  358-80 

11. 

Andrew  Lohra 

.433-153 

36.  Henry  Ingle 

12. 

Andrew  Bitters 

..  396-36 

37.  Joshua  Ingle 

13. 

Paul  Craft 

38.  Peter  Lock 

...  176% 

14. 

. 358-80 

39.  Samuel  Hefferman... 

. 310-10 

15 

..433  153 

16. 

Christopher  Lohra.... 

433-153 

41.  John  Heyl 

17. 

Andrew  Lohra 

..  396-36 

42.  Rebecca  Jervis 

18.  Joseph  Lohra 

. 375-10 

43.  Jas.  Abercrombie.... 

19. 

John  Lohra 

44.  Jas.  Lang 

20. 

Vacant 

45.  Andrew  Hefterrnan... 

0} 

22. 

Isaac  Coxe 

330 

47.  Jonathan  Nesbit 

310 

23. 

Leonard  Beaty 

48.  Alexander  Nesbit..  . 

...  328-40 

21 

330 

25. 

Hannah  H nmphreys. 

50.  Peter  Ingle 

...433-153 

26. 

J.  C.  Biddle 

51.  Paul  Wliitecar 

Acres 

Acres 

52.  Andrew  Whitecar. 

....43.3-153 

61.  Samuel  Nichols 

53.  Peter  Charles 

439 

62.  Wm.  Jackson 

...  311-40 

54.  Henry  Charles 

....  4.53-40 

63.  Geo.  White 

...  412-16 

55.  Job  Charles 

....  426-67 

64.  Samuel  White 

...  412-16 

56.  Samuel  Towson 

426-67 

65.  Joseph  Boggs 

57.  Jos.  Towson 

....  438-40 

66.  Samuel  Boggs 

...  412-16 

58.  Fredk.  Towson 

....402-140 

67.  Jas.  Boggs 

...  412-16 

59.  Jas.  Read 

....225-120 

68.  Hugh  Boggs 

...  412-16 

60.  Robert  Bridges 

69.  Patrick  Boges 

...  412-16 

SILVER 

LAKE. 

Acres 

Acres 

1.  Jacob  Lawensyker. 

24.  Jas.  Bryson 

425 

2.  Henry  McSwine.... 

25.  Susannah  Fisher 

425 

3.  Edward  Lasker 

414 

Wm.  Craig 

425 

4.  Benj.  Chew 

27.  Wm.  Brown 

425 

6.  John  Parrott 

29.  Stephens  Collins 

...  427-80 

7.  John  Showel 

'30.  Jeremiah  Ward 

...  427-80 

8.  Joseph  Coates 

....439-120 

31.  Jacob  Downing 

9.  Thos.  Aftlick 

32.  Jeremiah  Parker 

10.  Wm.  Nicholas 

33.  Jae.  Dibley 

...392-120 

11.  Magnus  Miller 

34.  Jas.  Denton 

...  396-80 

l2.  Roger  Dibley 

414 

35.  Henry  De  Melt 

13.  Josepli  McSwine.. .. 

36.  Jas.  McSwine 

14.  Tench  Francis 

37.  Wm.  Compton 

a W'm.  Kinney 

38.  Samuel  Powell 

418 

b Peter  McSwine 

39.  John  McSwine 

15.  Samuel  McSwine... 

40.  Solomon  De  Melt 

414 

16.  Joseph  Dibley 

344 

41.  Peter  Denton 

17.  Samuel  Dibley 

346-120 

42.  Paul  Denton 

18.  Peter  Dibley 

43.  John  Gravel 

...369-116 

19.  John  Wueherer 

44.  Geo.  Hunter...,  

20.  Ricard  Parker 

45.  Wm.  Haysham 

21.  Edward  Duffield... 

427-80 

46.  Christopher  Roan... 

425 

22.  Casper  Singer 

427-80 

47.  Elizabeth  Jones 

...436-120 

23.  Garrett  Cottinger... 

48.  John  Rudolph 

425 

SPRINGVILLE. 

Acres 

Acres 

1.  Peter  White 

420-44 

28.  John  Emery 

2.  Peter  Clark 

29.5-120 

29.  Henry  Hutman 

40 

3.  Jas.  McWilliams... 

426-40 

30.  Francis  Hutman 

4.  Geo.  Holt 

426-40 

31.  Joseph  Hutman 

87 

5.  Jas.  Holt 

426-40 

32.  Geo.  Harris 

....  438-55 

6.  Samuel  Holt 

33.  Peter  Harris 

....  438-55 

7.  Philip  Holt 

426-40 

34.  Hugh  Harris 

8.  Robert  Holmes 

420-40 

35.  Jonathan  Harris.... 

....  438-55 

9.  Jas.  Holmes 

426^0 

36.  Geo.  Emory 

10.  Samuel  Holmes 

426-40 

37.  Jas.  Teel 

11.  Jas.  Reaver 

424-40 

38.  Samuel  Teel 

356 

12.  Samuel  Reaver 

424-40 

30.  Jeremiah  Teel 

382 

13.  Geo.  Reaver 

424^0 

40.  Samuel  Lock 

....261-120 

14.  Peter  Trester 

424-40 

41.  Wm.  Sharp 

15.  Joseph  Trester 

424-40 

42.  John  Wilcox 

16.  John  Trester 

. ...  424^40 

43.  Samuel  Miller 

424-40 

18.  Geo  Trester 

424-49 

45.  Jonas  Ramsey 

419 

2D,  Jas.  Peiitlaiid 

47.  John  Loder 

....  439-99 

21.  John  Clarke 

48.  Jacob  Burkalaw.... 

22.  Wm.  McPhail 

4;i9-65 

49.  John  Norkey 

...  439-99 

23.  Josepli  Nurkey 

4,39-65 

50.  Geo.  Degenhard 

....  439-99 

24.  Henry  Norkey 

439-65 

51.  Fredk.  Trott 

25.  Samuel  Norkey 

439-65 

52.  Geo.  Hutma 

26.  Jas.  Norkey 

53.  Peter  Hutman 

95 

27.  Peter  Emery 

THOMSON— (see  JACKSON). 

38 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

TOPOGRAPHY,  GEOLOGY  AND  ZOOLOGY. 

SusQPEHANNA  CouNTY  is  broken  by  hills 
and  valleys  which  follow  each  other  in  constant 
succession,  presenting  an  irregular  surface  diver- 
sified by  inland  lakes  and  mountain  streams. 
The  landscape  view  from  the  hilltops  is  one  of 
mountain  repose  and  quiet  pastoral  beauty. 

“ ^ The  county  is  much  diversified  and  made 
irregular  by  erosion.  This  would  be  strikingly 
illustrated  to  any  one  who  should  make  a day’s 
journey  over  any  of  the  roads  of  the  county 
which  do  not  follow  the  water-courses ; our 
traveler  would  find  his  journey  a constant  suc- 
cession of  ascents  and  descents.”  This  is  strik- 
ingly apparent  as  you  journey  on  the  old  Mil- 
ford and  Owego  turnpike. 

“ The  Ulk  Mountains,  a northern  extension  of 
the  Mahoopany,  form  a very  striking  feature  in 
southeastern  Susquehanna;  the  North  Knob  and 
South  Knob  being  visible  from  the  hilltops  in 
most  portions  of  the  county,  and  attaining  an 
altitude  of  two  thousand  seven  hundred  feet.  The 
dif  sandstones,  of  the  Catskill  series,  frequently 
form  a succession  of  steep  blufPs,  with  sloping 
benches,  shale  occupying  the  intervals.  They 
stand  out  uncovered  with  soil  and  surface  debris 
in  bold,  successive  cliffs  along  the  hillsides ; or 
cap  the  higher  summits  with  broad  sheets  of 
massive  sand-rock.  Thus,  the  North  Knob  has 
been  preserved  from  destruction  by  its  coping 
layer  of  hard,  massive  sand-rock ; the  solitary 
peak  stands  two  thousand  seven  hundred  feet 
above  tide,  in  the  midst  of  a much  lower  sur- 
rounding country,  while  the  valleys  around  it 
have  been  excavated  one  thousand  five  hundred 
feet  below  its  summit.  The  highest  land  is  in 
the  eastern  part  of  the  county,  on  the  Moosic 
divide,  between  Susquehanna  and  Wayne.  It 
forms  a belt  about  five  or  six  miles  wide,  and  is 
the  northern  prolongation  of  the  Carbondale 
coal  basin.  As  nearly  all  the  water-ways  cut 
down  through  the  CatsJdll  diff  sandstones,  their 
slopes  are  usually  quite  steep,  and  the  valley 
beds  themselves  very  narrow.  The  Tunkhan- 

1 Prof.  I.  C.  White's  report  of  the  geology  of  Wayne  and  Susquehanna. 


nock,  with  its  narrow  valley  and  high,  steep  side- 
walls,  is  a good  example.  In  striking  contrast 
with  this  is  the  broad  and  gently-sloping  valley 
of  the  Susquehanna  River,  flowing  between  low, 
rolling  hills  of  the  soft  Chemung  rock.  The 
Susquehanna  River  enters  the  county  from  New 
York  at  its  northeastern  corner,  but  after  going 
south  five  miles  it  turns  abruptly  west,  and  after 
continuing  about  ten  miles  makes  its  Great 
Bend  and  passes  northward  back  into  New 
York.  There  it  again  veers  west,  and  flows 
roughly  parallel  to  the  State  line,  and  from  three 
to  ten  miles  north  of  it,  to  the  mouth  of  the 
Chemung  River  at  Waverly.  Here  it  bends 
south  into  Bradford  County,  which  it  crosses  to 
its  southeast  corner,  and  so  keeps  on  southeast- 
ward across  Wyoming  County  into  Luzerne. 
Where  it  enters  Wyoming  County  it  is  only 
four  miles  from  the  southwest  corner  of  Susque- 
hanna County — thus  making  a great  circle 
from  the  Great  Bend  round  through  Bradford 
County. 

“ Its  rate  of  fall  is  shown  by  the  following 
table : 


RATE  OF  FALL  PER  MILE. 


Fall. 

Miles. 

Rate. 

Susquehanna  Depot  to  Waverly, 

120' 

64 

1' 

11" 

Waverly  to  Towanda, 

40' 

19 

2' 

1" 

Towanda  to  Meshoppeu,  . . 

91' 

35 

2' 

7" 

Meshoppen  to  Lackawanna  Junction,  . , . . 

74' 

37 

2' 

0" 

Susquehanna  Depot  to  Lackawanna  Junction, 

340' 

155 

2' 

2" 

The  east  and  west  divide,  which  extends  entirely 
across  Susquehanna  County,  is  highest  at  the 
east,  and  from  its  northern  slope  many  .streams 
pass  northward  into  the  Susquehanna  River. 

“ Starrucca  Creek,  which  drains  the  north- 
eastern corner  of  Susquehanna,  rises  on  the 
highest  portion  of  this  east  and  west  divide, 
flows  northward,  and  empties  into  the  Susque- 
hanna River  at  Lanesborough.  The  descent  of 
its  bed  from  the  high  divide,”  Ai'arat  Summit, 
2023',  to  the  mouth  of  Starrucca  Creek  (Sus- 
quehanna River),  880',  shows  the  fall  to  be  about 
one  thousand  two  hundred  feet.  The  Susque- 
hanna River,  in  its  tortuous  course,  receives  the 
waters  of  all  the  creeks  that  drain  the  county, 
in  whatever  direction  they  flow.  There  is  an 
irregular  water-shed  extending  from  a point 
between  Wrighter  and  Long  Ponds  westward, 
through  Ararat,  Jackson,  New  Milford  and 
Bridgewater,  to  Montro.se,  forming  two  water- 


TOPOGRAPHY,  GEOLOGY  AND  ZOOLOGY. 


39 


basins,  one  debouching  northward,  the  other 
southward.  “ The  Starrucca,  Canaioacta, 
Drinker’s,  Mitchell’s,  Salt  Sick  and  Wiley 
Creeks  empty  northwards  into  the  Susquehanna 
within  the  State ; Snake,  Chooouut  and  Apo- 
lacon  Creeks  not  until  they  have  entered  New 
York  State.  The  streams  which  drain  tlie 
southern  slope  of  this  east  and  west  divide  are 
the  followdng,  beginning  at  the  east : 

“ Lackawanna  River,  w’liich  flows  south  alon^  the 
eastern  line  of  Susquehanna  County  (draining  the 
western  slope  of  the  Moosic  Mountains),  cuts  straight 
through  the  Lackawannock  range  at  the  southeastern 
corner  of  Susquehanna  County  and,  entering  the 
Lackawanna  coal  basin,  flows  down  its  trough  south- 
west to  the  Susquehanna  River  at  Pittston. 

“ Tunkhannock  Creek,  vtiih.  its  numerous  tributaries, 
comes  next  west  from  the  Lackawanna  River,  and 
drains  a large  area  from  the  southern  slope  of  the 
east  and  west  divide,  southwestward,  into  the  Susque- 
hanna River  at  Tunkhannock,  in  Wyoming  County. 
The  main  tributaries  of  this  stream  are  the  East 
Branch,  empting  into  it  near  the  southern  line  of  the 
county,  and  Martin’s  Creek,  which  flows  southward 
from  the  great  gap  in  the  east  and  west  divide  near 
New  Milford,  emptying  into  Tunkhannock  two  miles 
south  from  the  county  line  at  Nicholson. 

“The  descent  of  this  stream  is.  shown  by  the  fol- 
lowing barometric  elevations: 

Jliles.  A.  T. 


Divide  at  head  of  Tunkhannock  Creek . 0 1000' 

Level  of  creek  near  D.  A.  Lamb’s 4 12.30' 

“ “ “ Gelatt  P.  0 G 11.30' 

“ “ “ Smiley  P.O 8^  1075' 

“ “ at  South  Gibson 12]^  1000' 

“ “ “ mouth  of  Partner’s  Creek 15  925' 

“ “ “ Glenwood  P.  0 20  815' 

“ “ “ Nicholson  (Wyoming  County)  ...  28  700' 

“ “ “ Tunkhannock  (Susquehanna  River)  . 38  580' 


“ Meshoppen  Creek  and  its  tributaries.  Little  Me- 
shoppen.  White  and  Riley  Creeks,  drain  the  remaining 
portion  of  the  southern  slope  of  this  divide. 

" Tuscarora  Creek,  which  empties  into  the  Susque- 
hanna near  Laceyville,  drains  the  extreme  southwest 
corner  of  the  county. 

“ Wyalusing  Creek  rises  on  the  elevated  plateau  near 
Montrose,  and  flowing  westward  with  a rapid  fall 
drains,  with  its  tributaries  (the  North  and  Middle 
Branches),  a large  area  out  of  the  central  western  por- 
tion of  Susquehanna  County.” 

There  are  many  beautiful  lakes  in  dilfereut 
parts  of  the  country  that  will  be  described  in 
their  several  localities.  The  most  celebrated 
lake  as  a summer  resort  is  Crystal  Lake,  that 
lies  partly  in  Clifford  township  and  partly  in 
Lackawanna  County.  A number  of  neat  sum- 


mer cottages  have  been  erected  at  Heart  Lake 
by  Montrose  people. 

There  are  several  mineral  springs  in  the 
county.  The  history  of  the  salt  springs  is  en- 
veloped in  Indian  tradition  and  romance.  The 
pioneers  at  Great  Bend  observed  that  the 
squaws  returned  their  kettles  with  salt  in  the 
bottom,  and  from  such  information  as  could  be 
obtained,  it  was  believed  that  there  was  a salt 
spring  not  many  miles  from  the  “ Three  Apple 
Trees.”  A salt  spring  was  discovered  on  the 
south  side  of  Silver  Creek,  near  its  junction 
with  Fall  Brook,  and  'about  a mile  we.st  of 
Franklin  Forks.  It  is  said  to  have  been  found 
by  Abinoam  Hinds  and  Lsaac  Peckins  in  1802. 
The  Indians  kept  these  salt  springs  carefully 
concealed ; in  this  case  they  had  turned  the 
stream  from  its  course  and  made  it  run  over 
the  spring,  the  basin  of  which  had  been  hol- 
lowed out  of  the  rock  with  a tomahawk.  They 
found  it  covered  with  a large  spoon  and  a stone 
laid  over  it.  Balthaser  De  Haert  and  others 
sunk  money  in  sinking  wells  for  salt,  which 
was  never  found  in  paying  quantities.  In 
186.5  the  Susquehanna  Salt  Works  Company 
purchased  the  property  and  sunk  a well  to  the 
depth  of  six  hundred  and  fifty  feet,  at  an  ex- 
pense of  twenty-eight  thousand  dollars,  erecting 
buildings,  tanks  and  salt-block.  At  the  depth 
of  six  hundred  and  fifty  feet  they  found  an  ex- 
cellent vein  of  brine,  and  manufactured  about 
twenty  tons  of  good  dairy  salt.  Alanson 
Chalker,  John  S.  Tarbell  and  others  purchased 
the  property  and  sunk  the  well  deeper,  or  about 
eight  hundred  and  twenty  feet  deep,  and  found 
good  brine,  but  not  in  sufficient  quantity  to 
make  it  a paying  investment,  and  the  works 
were  abandoned.  There  is  a sulphur  spring  in 
Rush,  not  far  from  Snyder’s  Hotel,  on  part  of 
the  Drinker  estate,  which  was  leased  to  J.  D. 
Pepper  for  many  years.  Mr.  Pepper  gave 
away  the  water  freely  to  all  who  came  for  it. 
Many  people  have  visited  the  spring  and  car- 
ried away  water  in  jugs,  bottles  and  barrels. 
E.  S.  and  A.  D.  Butterfield  purchased  the 
property  in  1869,  and  erected  a summer  hotel. 
The  waters  arc  said  to  be  beneficial  in  many 
cases.  Dr.  A.  B.  Prescott’s  qualitative  analysis 
shows  that  the  constituent  properties  of  the 


40 


HISTOllY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


water  are  chloride  of  magnesium,  potassium 
and  lime ; carbonate  of  magnesia,  soda  and 
lithia ; phosphoric,  silicic  and  carbonic  acid; 
chlorine,  protoxide  of  iron. 

“ The  rocks  of  the  county  belong  principally 
to  one  system,  viz. : what  the  geologists  have 
termed  the  Catskill,  since  these  same  strata  make 
up  the  great  bulk  of  the  Catskill  Mountains  iu 
New  York  State.  The  main  characteristic  of 
the  system  is  the  abundance  of  red  material,  in 
the  shape  of  red  shale  and  red  sandstone,  the  red 
color  being  always  due  to  per-oxide  of  iron  dis- 
seminated through  the  rocks,  or  shale,  as  the 
case  may  be.  Inter-stratified  with  the  red  shales 
are  found  frequent  layers  of  gray  or  greenish 
current  bedded  sandstones,  often  finely  laminated 
and  forming  excellent  flagging  material.  The 
base  of  this  system  is  seen  only  iu  Susquehanna 
County,  and  in  that  only  along  the  Susquehanna 
River  and  the  lower  portions  of  the  streams 
which  flow  into  it,  where  one  hundi’ed  to  two 
hundred  feet  of  Chemung  rocks  may  be  seen. 

“ The  soils  of  the  county  have  been  largely 
derived  from  the  decomposition  of  rocks  in  situ, 
since  the  hill-slopes  are  generally  so  steep  that 
the  Drift  is  seldom  found  remaining  on  them 
except  in  scattered  patehes.  The  Catskill  system 
furnishes  almost  all  of  the  surface  rocks  in  this 
district,  and  the  soils  have  been  largely  derived 
either  from  their  gradual  decay  or  trituration  by 
glacial  action. 

“ The  red  shales  of  the  Catskill  have  proba- 
bly contributed  more  to  the  formation  of  the 
soil  than  any  other  part  of  it,  and  it  is  the  uni- 
versal testimony  of  the  farmers  that  the  ‘red 
shale  soils’  are  generally  stronger  and  richer  than 
any  others.  The  amount  of  alkalies  in  the  shale 
doubtless  accounts  for  the  fertility  of  its  soil, 
since  the  quantity  of  lime  and  phosphoric  acid 
is  not  sufficient  to  have  any  marked  influence  for 
good.  But  while  the  red  shale  soils  are  usually 
the  best  in  the  district,  it  is  equally  true  that 
only  in  isolated  patches  and  in  favorable  locali- 
ties are  there  any  really  first-class  soils  within 
the  county.  The  great  body  of  the  surface  is  cov- 
ered by  a thin  sandy  soil  of  very  little  natural 
fertility,  and  except  in  the  vicinity  of  swamps, 
where  a great  thickness  of  decayed  vegetable  ma- 
terial has  accumulated,  and  along  some  of  the 


larger  streams,  where  the  drift  deposits  are  ex- 
tensive, there  is  not  much  land  within  the  dis- 
trict that  will  produce  abundant  crops  until  it 
has  been  fertilized  artificially.  The  hill-slopes  are 
steep  and  the  surface  generally  rugged.  Excel- 
lent crops  of  grass  grow  on  almost  any  of  the 
soils. 

“ The  great  need  of  the  soils  is  lime,  and  the 
more  sandy  soils  are  furnishing  it.  There  are  no 
pure  limestone  strata  in  the  Catskill  series,  but 
there  are  a great  many  layers  of  impure  calca- 
reous conglomerate,  or  breccia,  interstratified  with 
the  shales  and  sandstone  of  this  series.  Huge 
fragments  of  this  kind  of  rock  lie  scattered 
about  over  a large  portion  of  the  district,  black- 
ened by  exposure  to  the  air. 

“These  ‘Nigger-heads’  contain  from  ten  to 
sixty-five  per  cent,  of  lime,  and  might  often  be 
burned  to  great  advantage  for  lime  manure. 
Many  of  the  farmers  have  noticed  the  fact  that 
the  grass  grows  greener  and  richer  near  them, 
their  lime  being  dissolved  out  by  every  shower 
to  enrich  the  surrounding  soil.  But  very  few 
farmers  have  the  least  idea  that  these  rocks  con- 
tain enough  lime  to  be  of  any  service  for  burn- 
ing. They  have  been  burned  in  some  localities 
and  a good  lime  for  fertilizing  has  been  made 
therefrom.” 

Forests. — Susquehanna  County  was  origi- 
nally covered  with  a dense  growth  of  forest  trees. 
The  principal  timbers  were  beech,  birch,  maple, 
cherry,  ash,  chestnut,  basswood,  hemlock  and 
pine.  There  was  also  some  hickory  and  oak. 
Pine  was  considered  the  most  valuable  for  lum- 
ber and  shingles,  because  it  is  durable  and  is 
soft,  and  easy  to  smooth  with  the  plane.  The 
pioneer  settlers  were  reckless  in  their  use  of  the 
pine  and  lawless  as  to  where  they  got  it.  Here, 
in  this  dense  wildernes.s,  they  looked  upon  a good 
pine  tree  as  free  plunder.  It  is  not  uncommon 
to  find  in  the  old  ceiled  houses  wide  pine  boards 
entirely  free  from  knots ; in  fact,  they  would  have 
nothing  else  but  panel  pine  in  their  house.s. 
The  hemlocks  have  been  destroyed,  largely  for 
their  bark  and  lumber.  The  last  of  the  large 
hemlock  tracts  that  belonged  to  the  Drinker 
estate,  in  Harmony  township,  is  being  peeled 
and  manufactured  into  lumber  at  a rapid  rate, 
and  in  a very  few  years  the  tanneries  and  saw- 


TOPOGRAPHY,  GEOLOGY  AND  ZOOLOGY. 


41 


mills  will  be  idle  for  want  of  bark  and  timber. 
The  primeval  forests  that  looked  so  formidable 
to  the  pioneers  have  nearly  all  fallen  before  the 
woodman’s  axe,  or  been  destroyed  by  forest  fires. 

“’Some  hills  in  different  parts  of  the  county 
were  once  covered  with  chestnut,  but  its  value 
as  lumber  was  then  unknown,  and  the  land  was 
not  particularly  sought  after  any  more  than  any 
other  timber-bearing  section.  Thousands  of 
rails  were  split,  not  only  to  fence  the  little  clear- 
ings of  the  settlers  who  had  located  there,  but 
to  sell  to  others  who  had  settled  in  places  where 
it  was  not  so  abundant.  Only  the  best  trees 
were  used.  Others  that  might  have  made  ex- 
cellent lumber,  but  would  not  readily  split,  were 
cut  into  fallow  lengths,  rolled  up  in  log  heaps 
and  burned.  To-day  we  might  call  such  work 
wasteful.  In  those  times  it  was  not  looked  upon 
in  that  light.  The  main  object  was  to  get  rid 
of  the  timber  in  order  to  cultivate  the  ground. 
Since  the  railroads  have  been  bnilt,  most  of  the 
young  and  thrifty  chestnuts  have  been  cut  for  ties. 
As  a timber  it  is  now  comparatively  scarce.  The 
valleys  of  the  Wyalusing,  Lackawanna  and  the 
Tunkhannock,  and  its  branches  were  once 
covered,  more  or  less,  with  valuable  pine  timber, 
of  a very  superior  quality.  This  was  mostly  cut 
and  manufactured  in  the  early  days  of  the 
county;  and  although  the  prices  of  good  pine 
lumber  were  exceedingly  low,  in  comparison 
with  present  prices,  it  furnished  a remunerative 
employment  for  many  of  the  settlers,  and  kept 
the  saw-mills  busy.  Scarcely  anything  was 
marketable  in  those  days,  unless  it  was  panel — 
that  is,  perfectly  clear  lumber,  free  from  all  de- 
fects, and  with  no  knots  larger  than  a shilling. 
Pine  lumber  that  would  be  called  tolerably  good 
now  was  thrown  among  the  culls  then,  and  sold 
at  about  the  price  of  sawing.  It  was  used  in 
making  fences,  for  roof-boards,  etc.,  and  to  cut 
up  as  waste  lumber.  Only  the  best  part  of  the 
tree  was  generally  taken,  and  the  tops,  that  would 
be  likely  to  make  only  a second-grade  lumber, 
as  well  as  many  other  slightly  imperfect  logs, 
were  left  behind.  Their  remains  may  still  be 
seen  in  some  localities,  and  occasionally  fine  pine 
shingles  are  made  from  some  of  the  old  tree-tops 

' Jasper  Jennings. 


that  were  felled  forty  or  fifty  years  ago ; though 
in  most  cases  the  logs  are  too  rotten  for  use. 
Vast  quantities  of  good  pine  timber  were  thus 
wasted,  which  in  after-years  would  have  com- 
manded a fair  price.  But  very  few  pine  trees 
can  now^  be  found  in  the  county.  If  the  pine 
that  once  grew  in  this  section  could  be  replaced 
as  it  was  before  a blow  had  been  struck,  the  land 
would,  without  doubt,  be  more  valuable  than  it 
is  now,with  all  its  buildings  and  cultivated  fields. 
The  soil  is  usually  colder  in  pine  sections,  and 
more  or  less  mountain  laurel  is  found. 

“The  low  lands  along  the  streams  were  mostly 
covered  with  a dense  growth  of  heavy  hemlock, 
and  it  was  no  uncommon  thing  to  find  specimens 
over  twelve  feet  in  circumference.  In  the  early 
history  of  the  country,  before  any  tanneries  had 
been  erected,  and  when  lumber  was  of  but  little 
account,  the  settlers  rolled  up  the  huge  logs  and 
burned  them  without  being  peeled.  The  green 
timber  was  often  hard  to  reduce  to  ashes,  and 
the  sturdy  pioneers  sometimes  used  to  wonder 
why  such  great  trees  were  made.  After  bark 
and  lumber  began  to  be  demanded,  the  prices  of 
land  began  to  advance,  and  bark-peeling  and 
log-cutting  became  a considerable  branch  of  in- 
dustry. Water  and  steam  mills,  with  new  and 
improved  machinery,  were  built  in  various  places, 
and  vast  quantities  of  boards,  timber  and  plank 
w'ere  manufactured  and  shipped.  For  many 
years  after  the  New  York  and  Erie  and  Delaware, 
Lackawanna  and  Western  Railroads  were  built,  a 
large  amount  of  wood  was  required  for  the  loco- 
motives, and  the  cutting  and  hauling  of  railroad 
wood  made  a winter  business  of  no  small  mag- 
nitude. Thousands  of  cords,  neatly  piled  in 
immense  ranks,  at  the  various  wood-yards, 
formed  a prominent  feature  all  along  the  line  ot 
the  railway.  Many  enterprising  farmers  finished 
paying  for  their  land  by  cutting  and  delivering 
wood  and  ties.  But  the  various  branches  of 
timber  industry,  which  had  been  carried  on  with 
varying  success  for  many  years,  were  ultimately 
destined  to  be  brought  to  a close  for  want  of 
material.  Many  of  the  saw-mills  have  long 
since  gone  to  decay,  and  there  is  now  but  very 
little  valuable  timber  land  left  in  the  county. 

“ Among  the  many  medicinl  ])lants  and 
herbs  found  in  different  localities  of  the  county 


42 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


are  catnip,  motherwort,  tansy,  caraway, 
burdock,  yellow  dock,  wild  or  Indian  turnip, 
lobelia,  archangel,  mouse  ear,  notch  grass,  win- 
tergreen,  nervine  or  swamp  wintergreen,  avens 
root,  dwarf  elder,  valerian,  smart  weed,  pep- 
permint, spearmint,  wild  sage,  boneset,  sarsa- 
parilla, wild  cucumber,  blood  root,  colt’s  foot, 
snake  root,  bitter  sweet,  cohosh,  celandine,  com- 
frey,  dandelion,  gold  thread,  white  and  yellow 
pond  lily,  pennyroyal,  poke,  prince’s  pine, 
Solomon’s  seal,  spikenard,  liverwort,  elecampane, 
mandrake,  polypody,  beth  root,  male  fern, 
maiden’s  hair  fern,  partridge  berry,  yarrow, 
adder’s  tongue,  sweet  fern,  nettle,  wild  parsley, 
sweet  flag,  scabious,  blue  violet,  blue  flag,  water 
rush,  cat-tail  flag,  buttercup  and  ginseng.  Sage, 
summer  savory,  wormwood,  hoarhound, 
horse  radish,  poppy,  saffron  and  mustard  are 
commonly  cultivated  in  gardens. 

“The  following  weeds  injurious  to  agriculture 
are  also  found  here  : White  daisy,  golden  rod, 
common  and  Canada  thistle,  barn  grass,  mullein, 
pigweed,  rag  weed  (a  large  yellow  daisy  which 
has  lately  made  its  appearance),  St.  John’s  wort, 
bulrush,  wild  carrot  and  buttercup.  Ivy  and 
wild  hops  are  found  in  some  localities,  and  helle- 
bore grows  in  marshy  places  along  the  streams. 
Many  pests  of  the  farm  have  been  brought  in 
with  grass  seed  purchased  from  di.stant  sec- 
tions of  the  country.” 

Animals,  Birds  and  Reptiles. — “The 
zoology  of  thecounty  has  undergone  considerable 
changes,  incident  to  the  changes  of  the  country 
from  wilderness  to  cultivation.  In  earlier  years, 
when  the  far-reaching  forest  was  only  broken  here 
and  there  by  little  clearings,  panthers,  bears, 
wolves  and  wild-cats  were  numerous,  and  often 
proved  formidable  foes  to  the  settlers.  These 
animals  have  long  since  been  exterminated, 
with,  perhaps,  the  single  exception  of  an  occa- 
sional wild-cat.  Deer,  once  so  numerous,  were 
early  destroyed.  Foxes  still  have  their  dens  in 
the  many  different  ledges  in  back  places,  and 
skunks,  minks  and  weasels  often  make  their 
night  raids  upon  the  farmer’s  poultry.  Musk- 
rats are  found  along  the  streams  ; rabbits  and 
hares  abound,  and  red,  gray  and  black  squirrels 
and  chipmunks  are  numerous.  Woodchucks 
and  raccoons  sometimes  injure  corn  and  pump- 


kins, and  rats,  mice  and  moles  are  found  in 
considerable  numbers.  Otters  were  once  found 
along  the  creeks,  but  they  have  all  passed  away. 
What  are  called  beaver  meadows  exist  in  several 
places,  but  there  is  no  record  of  any  of  these 
animals  being  seen  in  this  locality,  and  if  they 
were  ever  here,  they  had  disappeared  before  the 
advent  of  the  white  man.  Elk  were  found 
here  by  the  pioneers,  especially  in  the  vicinity 
of  the  Elk  and  Moosic  Mountains. 

“ Among  the  more  prominent  birds  are  hen, 
night,  flsh  and  sparrow  hawks,  partridges, 
crows,  blackbirds,  cuckoos,  blue  jays,  whip- 
poor-wills,  horned  and  screech  owls,  catbirds, 
snowbirds,  chickadees,  kingfishers,  cranes,  king- 
birds, meadow  larks,  bobolinks,  pigeons,  quails, 
wild  ducks,  robins,  chipping  birds,  several  va- 
rieties of  woodpeckers,  wrens,  thrushes,  swal- 
lows, yellow  birds,  scarlet  red  birds  with  black 
wings,  bluebirds  and  humming  birds.  One  or 
two  eagles  have  been  killed  here,  but  they  are 
very  rarely  seen.  Dr.  L.  A.  Smith,  of  New 
Milford,  has  in  his  office  a very  extensive  col- 
lection of  neatly-stuffed  specimens,  representing 
nearly  every  species  common  to  this  latitude. 
The  wild  turkey  was  also  a native  of  the  prime- 
val forest. 

“Toads,  frogs  and  lizards  inhabit  all  the 
swamps  and  pools  in  great  numbers,  and  occa- 
sionally a mud  or  land  turtle  is  met  with. 
Striped  snakes,  as  well  as  the  little  brown  and 
green  snakes,  are  numerous.  Water  snakes 
abound  along  the  sunny  borders  of  ponds  and 
water-courses,  and  a species  of  spotted  adder, 
known  as  the  milk  snake,  is  common.  It  is 
sometimes  nearly  as  large  as  the  rattlesnake,  and 
presents  a formidable  appearance.  The  rattle- 
snake, once  Very  numerous  in  certain  localities, 
is  occasionally  met  with  in  the  county.” 

Eish. — The  clear  mountain  streams  of  Sus- 
quehanna County  once  abounded  in  trout,  the 
native  fish  of  this  region  of  country.  The  In- 
dians took  the  speckled  beauties  from  the 
bubbling  waters  of  the  Wyalusing,  Meshoppen, 
Tunkhannock  and  other  streamlets  of  Susque- 
hanna County  long  before  the  white  man 
visited  this  region.  The  tanneries,  mills  and 
factories  have  rendered  the  waters  too  impure 
for  this  dainty  fish  in  many  cases,  and  the 


LINES  OF  TRAVEL. 


43 


sportsmen,  by  persistent  fishing  in  others,  have 
nearly  depleted  the  streams  and  lakes  of  this 
fish.  Catfish,  perch,  shiners,  sunfish  and  eels 
were  also  native  fish.  Pickerel  were  put  into 
the  lakes  about  1836,  and  bass  about  1870  ; 
George  R.  Lathrop,  Dr.  Smith  and  other  sports- 
men put  the  bass  into  the  lakes.  J.  P.  Taylor 
was  instrumental  in  putting  five  thousand  Cali- 
fornia trout  into  the  Meshoppen  Creek  and 
Carmalt’s  Lake,  in  Choconut  township,  in  1886; 
also  five  thousand  salmon  trout  and  ten 
thousand  white  fish,  for  food,  into  Silver  Lake, 
in  1887.  He  also  proposes  to  stock  the  Wya- 
lusing  with  California  trout.  As  the  mills  and 
tanneries  disappear,  the  rapid-running  mountain 
streams  of  Susquehanna  County  can  be  success- 
fully stocked  with  trout  again. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

LINES  OF  TRAVEL. 

Indian  Trails — Pioneer  Eoade — Turnpikes — Stage  Routes— Railroads. 

Indian  Trails. — One  of  the  many  subjects 
that  afford  interest  in  connection  with  the 
habitation  of  this  region  of  country  by  the  de- 
parted race,  is  the  study  of  their  lines  of  travel- 
routes  chosen  by  them  to  facilitate  intercourse 
with  each  other  and  with  distant  tribes,  and 
also  to  places  affording  means  for  the  supply  of 
their  simple  wants  ; indeed,  for  just  such 
poses  as  civilization  requires  in  modern  lines  of 
travel,  but,  of  coutse,  to  a very  limited  extent. 

It  is  erroneous  to  suppose  that  the  Indians 
roamed  about  and  through  the  wild  woods  with 
undefined  purpose  or  destination  ; the  directions 
of  these  trails  were  well  chosen  for  ease  of 
travel,  and  they  probably  rarely  departed  from 
them  except  in  pursuit  of  game.  More  of  our 
highways  than  we  imagine  are  laid  upon  lines 
surveyed  to  us,  and  well  defined  long  before 
the  country  was  invaded  by  us,  and  before  the 
original  possessors  were  despoiled  and  driven 
away. 

It  must  become  apparent  to  those  who  give 
attention  to  the  subject,  that  the  Indians  lived 


almost  exclusively  in  the  valleys  and  on  the 
borders  of  lakes  and  streams,  because  here  w'ere 
obtained  that  upon  which  they  subsisted, — 
game,  fish,  berries,  fruits  and  Indian  corn. 
They  could  do  verj’  little,  indeed,  with  their 
stone  implements  in  felling  trees  and  clearing 
forests,  and  the  land  cultivated  for  maize  was 
such  as  the  generous  hand  of  nature  furnished 
them,  in  the  drift  and  alluvial  deposits,  made 
by  successive,  but  irregular,  periods  of  inunda- 
tion. Along  the  course  of  the  river,  where  there 
is  a margin  of  level  land  of  any  extent,  we  find 
almost  invariably  evidence  of  the  existence  of 
camp-fires  in  the  charred  wood  and  heat-dis- 
colored stones  and  clay  disclosed  by  the  crumb- 
ling earth  along  the  river-bank,  and  in  the 
plowed  fields  adjacent ; in  such  localities  are 
found  almost  exclusively  the  Indians’  imple- 
ments of  warfare,  and  those  for  domestic  utility, 
— the  stone  age,  in  fact,  in  all  its  variety,  in- 
cluding numberless  fragmentary  specimens  of 
the  fictile  art ; while  to  find  even  an  arrow- 
point  or  spear-head  on  the  mountain  is  notice- 
ably a rare  occurrence. 

Numerous  arrow-heads  have  been  found 
along  the  Wyalusing  and  Susquehanna  Rivers 
in  this  county. 

The  most  extensive  and  well-knowm  of  In- 
dian trails  in  this  part  of  the  country  is  that 
commencing  at  the  Hudson  River,  passing  in  a 
westerly  direction  to  and  through  the  Mini- 
sink country,  thence  along  the  base  of  the  Blue 
Mountain  to  Mahanoy  Valley,  and  to  the  Sus- 
quehanna River  at  Sunbury.  At  the  Hudson 
the  trail  extended  eastward  to  the  New  England 
States.  Along  this  national  highway,  as  in 
modern  times  we  would  speak  of  it,  radiated 
trails  north  and  south  of  the  great  artery  for  its 
whole  length,  notably  those  through  the  Dela- 
ware Water  Gap,  Tatemy’s  Gap,  Wind  Gap 
and  Lehigh  Gap  ; those  to  the  northward,  up 
the  numerous  valleys  and  streams  that  intersect 
the  main  thoroughfare  at  varying  angles.  The 
well-known  Indian  trail  to  Wyoming  Valley 
was  one  of  these  diverging  lines  of  travel,  and 
furnished  the  bearings  for  the  road  cut  for  the 
passage  of  General  Sullivan’s  army  on  its 
march  to  the  rescue  of  the  Wyoming  sufiercrs 
in  1779. 


44 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


There  were  two  Indian  trails  at  Great  Bend  : 
one  leading  to  the  Lackawanna  and  Wyoming 
Valleys,  and  the  other  extending  more  easterly, 
through  Cobb’s  Gap,  to  Easton  and  Philadel- 
phia. It  was  one  of  the  war-paths  of  the  Six 
Nations,  and  was  not  used  by  any  other  ti’ibe 
without  their  consent  after  the  subjection  of  the 
Delawares.  Another  extended  northward  from 
Great  Bend  to  the  Indian  settlements  in  New 
York.  Another  well-worn  trail  extended  from 
the  Susquehanna  eastward  through  Mt.  Pleas- 
ant, Wayne  County,  to  the  Delaware  Biver. 

Surely  the  poor  Indians  have  been  better  to  us 
than  we  to  them,  for  they  have  shown  us  “ the 
way  we  should  go,”  and  it  is  literally  true  that 
we  follow  in  their  footsteps. 

“ The  lines  along  which,  with  roar  and  rumble,  the 
engine  now  rushes  with  its  mighty  load,  making  an 
old-time  day’s  journey  in  sixty  minutes,  are  almost 
exactly  coincident  with  the  first  rude  wagon-roads  of 
the  pioneers  of  a century  and  more  ago,  and  also  with 
the  paths  or  trails  along  the  water-courses  and  through 
the  easiest  mountain  passes  trodden  from  time  imme- 
morial by  the  moccasined  foot  of  the  red  man.  The 
skilled  surveyor  and  engineer  has  followed  with 
scientific  instruments  where  the  Indians  first  went, 
guided  only  by  the  instincts  of  woodcraft.  The  differ- 
ence between  the  new  and  the  old  is  far  less  in  the 
lines  of  communication  than  in  the  method  of  travel, 
and  the  moderns,  with  all  of  their  wisdom  and  knowl- 
edge, have  done  little  besides  making  grand  improve- 
ments on  old  routes — building  with  stone  and  iron 
and  steel,  it  is  true,  but,  nevertheless,  along  the 
course  of  the  old,  narrow,  leaf-strewn  path  that  the 
Indian  first  found  out  was  the  most  direct  and  prac- 
ticable line  of  communication  between  two  given 
points.” 

Pioneer  Roads. — The  desire  to  facilitate 
intercourse  with  each  other,  evinced  by  the 
early  settlers  of  a neighborhood,  in  the  immedi- 
ate construction  of  foot-paths,  bridle-paths  and 
roadways  from  dwelling  to  dwelling,  as  each 
new  settler  appeared,  probably  gave  rise  to  the 
old  Roman  maxim  that  “ the  first  step  in  civili- 
zation is  to  make  roads.”  In  most  cases  the 
first  roads  were  constructed  upon  foot-paths 
by  the  new  dwellers,  and  so  continued  as 
other  families  appeared,  for  the  convenience  of 
friendly  intercourse  and  mutual  protection, 
without  thought  that  these  foot-paths  were 
destined  in  time  to  become  the  established  high- 
ways of  the  country.  Hence  the  adverse  criti- 


cism on  country  roads  in  general  is  more  fre- 
quent than  just.  It  is  very  easy  now  to  dis- 
cover where  hills  might  have  been  avoided  and 
distances  shortened  and  to  reproach  these  pio- 
neers for  the  lack  of  engineering  skill  displayed 
in  road-making. 

Roads  laid  out  by  order  of  court  in  these 
early  times  were  frequently  located  upon  Indian 
trails,  and  not  unfrequently  upon  the  trails  of 
wild  animals.  Senator  Benton  advised  Colonel 
Fremont,  in  his  first  expedition,  to  notice  the 
trail  of  animals  across  the  country  westward, 
observing  that  “the  buffalo  is  the  best  of 
engineers.’  ’ 

The  correctness  of  this  observation  is  con- 
firmed in  the  experience  of  old  hunters,  who 
ascertain  that  deer  and  other  wild  animals,  when 
unpursued,  follow  the  best  chosen  route  of  travel 
from  their  hiding-places  in  the  swamps  to  the 
plains  and  across  the  mountains ; and  that  class 
of  hunters  who  avail  themselves  of  this  knowl- 
edge dispense  with  the  use  of  the  dog  and  the 
excitement  of  the  chase  for  the  more  successful, 
though  solitary,  “still  hunt,”  lying  in  wait  upon 
the  trail  until  such  time  as  the  well-known 
habits  of  the  animal  lead  him  to  quit  his  hiding- 
place  in  quest  of  food  and  water,  when  he  falls 
an  easy  prey  to  the  deliberate  aim  of  the 
hunter. 

Roads  through  the  several  “ Gaps  ” or  depres- 
sions in  the  Blue  Ridge,  between  the  Delaware 
and  Lehigh  Rivers,  were  laid  out  on  Indian 
trails.  These  trails  were  severally  used  as  found 
most  convenient,  from  time  immemorial,  by  the 
different  tribes  of  Indians  living  between  the 
Delaware  and  Susquehanna,  in  their  intercourse 
with  other  tribes  and  nations  south  of  the  moun- 
tain, and  subsequently  in  their  attendance  upon 
the  numerous  conferences  held  at  Easton  and 
Philadelphia  ; as  also  in  conveying  their  furs  and 
pelts  to  a place  of  barter.  But  it  was  in  the 
way  of  these  people  to  Bethlehem,  to  seek  a city 
of  safety  during  the  troublesome  times  that  fol- 
lowed the  advent  of  the  white  man,  that  these 
mountain  paths  became  most  frequented  after 
the  settlement  of  the  Moravians,  in  1742. 

For  many  years  after  settlements  were  made  in 
the  Minisink  there  was  little  or  no  intercourse 
with  the  inhabitants  south  of  the  Blue  Ridge, 


LINES  OF  TEAVBL. 


45 


and  no  wagon-roads  in  that  direction  or  any 
other,  except  “ the  Old  Mine  road,”  extending 
from  the  copper-mines  at  Pahaquarri  to  Esopus, 
on  the  Hudson,  a distance  of  one  hundred  miles. 
This  was  the  first  road  north  of  the  mountain, 
and  is  claimed  to  be  the  fii’st  of  that  extent  in 
the  province  of  Pennsylvania. 

The  Old  Mine  road  greatly  facilitated  immi- 
gration to  the  Minisink,  and  brought  to  that 
section  a well-to-do  class  of  men.  In  the 
succeeding  fifty  years  there  was  little  immigra- 
tion from  any  other  direction. 

The  country  south  of  the  Blue  Ridge  was 
inaccessible  except  by  Indian  paths  through  the 
several  “ gaps  ” in  the  mountains. 

The  Mine  road  was  also  one  of  the  main 
avenues  of  communication  between  New  Eng- 
land and  Wyoming.  Over  it  passed  the  enter- 
prising people  of  Connecticut  on  their  way  to 
settle  in  this  valley,  which  was  claimed  by  their 
State,  to  the  great  disturbance  of  the  Pennsyl- 
vania portion  of  the  Minisink,  and  which  was 
the  occasion  of  frequent  communications  with  the 
authorities  at  Philadelphia.  Over  this  road  also 
passed  the  suffering  fugitives  after  the  massacre 
at  Wyoming  in  1778,  after  fifty  miles  of  weary 
wandering  through  a desolate  wilderness  between 
the  Susquehanna  and  Delaware  Rivers. 

The  old  Mine  road  is  the  principal  highway 
for  modern  travel  for  the  country  through  which 
it  passes. 

As  to  the  time  the  road  was  built,  we  know, 
to  a certainty,  very  little.  That  it  was  in  exist- 
ence when  Nicholas  Depui  settled  in  the  Lower 
Minisink,  in  1725,  is  unquestioned.  It  is  fair  to 
conclude,  therefore,  that  the  road  was  built  and 
the  mining  commenced  before  the  English 
obtained  possession  of  New  York,  in  1664,  and 
if  so,  it  was  the  oldest  road  of  the  same  extent 
in  the  county.  Whether  constructed  by  govern- 
ment or  by  individual  enterprise,  it  was  a work 
of  great  magnitude  at  that  early  day.  The 
country  through  which  it  passed  being,  of  course, 
an  entire  wildernes.s,  the  difficulties  to  be  over- 
come we  can  well  imagine  to  be  such  as  would 
be  considered  formidable  at  this  day,  with  the 
benefit  of  modern  skill  and  modern  appliances. 
To  remove  the  gigantic  trees  of  the  primitive 
forest  was  impossible  in  the  narrow  compass  of 


a wagon-road,  and  the  only  method  was  the  slow 
process  of  burning,  after  they  had  been  felled  to 
the  ground  by  the  axemen. 

They  could  have  had  little  knowledge  either 
of  the  geography  or  topography  of  the  section 
through  which  they  were  passing,  and  must 
have  encountered  difficulties  in  determining  even 
the  general  direction,  without  scarcely  attempt- 
ing to  make  choice  of  favorable  grade  or  suita- 
ble location,  and  yet  we  are  told  that  the  road  is 
very  judiciously  laid  out;  and  this  all  seems  to 
be  explained  when  we  learn  that  it  was  laid  on 
the  old  Indian  trail  leading  from  the  Hudson  to 
the  Delaware  Water  Gap. 

The  first  road  opened  by  the  Connecticut  set- 
tlers who  came  tothe  Wyoming  Valley  followed 
an  old  Indian  trail  a large  part  of  the  way.  It 
was  cut  through  in  1762  by  the  first  colony  of 
settlers  at  Wyoming.  It  formed  connection  with 
the  Minisink  road  that  came  down  from  Car- 
penter’s Point,  near  Port  Jervis,  to  Milford; 
thence  through  the  wilderness  barrens  of  Pike 
County,  by  way  of  Blooming  Grove,  to  Major 
Ainsley;  thence  across  the  Wallenpaupack,  near 
the  old  Marshall  Purdy  place,  westward  through 
Salem  township,  Wayne  County;  thence  west- 
ward through  Cobb’s  Gap  to  the  Lackawanna 
Valley;  thence  to  Wyoming.  The  North  and 
South  State  road  was  opened  from  near  Pocono 
Point,  (now  Tannersville),  in  Monroe  County, 
extending  northwest  through  the  western  part 
of  Wayne  County  to  the  State  line  by  John, 
Joseph  and  William  Hilborn  in  1788.  The 
Legislature  appi’opriated  one  thousand  pounds 
to  open  this  road,  and  also  a branch  road  from 
it  to  extend  westward  to  Tioga  Point.  The  road 
was  not  cut  through  to  Tioga  Point,  but  about 
that  time  Andrew  Ellicott,  who  was  commis- 
sioner on  the  part  of  Pennsylvania  to  run  and 
fix  the  boundary  line  between  this  State  and 
New  AVrk,  did  cut  a road  which  terminated  in 
1789  at  the  mouth  of  Cascade  Creek,  and  was 
generally  known  as  Ellicott’s  road. 

In  1789,  Samuel  Preston,  of  Stockport,  be- 
gan opening  a road  from  Stockport  to  Har- 
mony, on  the  Susquehanna,  as  a portage  road. 
In  1791  the  State  appropriated  four  hundred 
pounds  towards  the  expense  of  opening  such 
portage  road.  A road  was  opened  at  private 


46 


HISTOKY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


expense,  in  1791,  from  the  Delaware  to  Great 
Bend.  Tlie  Newburg  turnpike  afterwards  fol- 
lowed the  general  course  of  this  road.  ^ In  1798 
a road  was  opened  from  Great  Bend  to  Tunk- 
hannock,  and  another  (1799-1801)  from  the 
forks  of  the  Wyalusing  to  join  the  latter. 

About  1800  Oliver  Trowbridge  and  others 
petitioned  for  “ a road  from  the  plantation  of 
Ichabod  Buck  (at  Red  Rock),  extending  up  the 
river  to  the  north  line  of  the  State,”  and  also 
one  “ from  the  north  line,  on  the  east  side  of  the 
Susquehanna,  down  the  same  to  Abner  Com- 
stock’s to  a fording,  thence  across  the  river,  to 
intersect  the  first-mentioned  road,  near  the  plan- 
tation of  William  Smith.”  Simeon  Wylie  and 
David  Brownson  were  the  viewers. 

In  1801  still  another  road,  or  marked  path 
at  least,  was  gained,  “ from  the  north  line  of 
the  State,  near  the  seventeenth  mile-stone,  down 
to  the  road  that  leads  from  Great  Bend  to  Har- 
mony.” 

In  1802  a road  was  viewed  from  the  settle- 
ment near  the  mouth  of  the  Snake  Creek  to 
Great  Bend,  four  miles.  Timothy  Pickering, 
Jr.,  was  one  of  the  viewers  of  another  road  in 
Willingborough  about  the  same  time. 

In  November,  1808,  Dr.  Rose  petitioned  for 
a road  from  Silver  Lake  to  Great  Bend,  which 
was  granted  in  1809.  In  1799  a road  was 
granted  from  Robert  Corbett’s  house  (New  Mil- 
ford) to  Solomon  Millard’s,  in  Nicholson  (now 
Lenox).  Many  of  the  early  settlers  followed 
the  streams  or  found  their  way  by  marked 
trees.  The  first  court  after  the  county  was 
erected  was  almost  entirely  spent  in  considering 
petitions  for  roads  and  in  appointing  road-view- 
ers, and  that  has  continued  until  the  county  now 
has  thousands  of  miles  of  public  roads  over  the 
hills  and  through  the  valleys  in  all  directions. 

^The  State  Road — “In  1808  an  act  was 
passed  authorizing  commissioners  to  explore  and 
mark  out  a road  from  where  the  Cochecton  turn- 
pike pa.sses  through  Moosic  Mountain  to  the 
west  line  of  the  State.  This  road  is  probably 
the  one  that  left  the  turnpike  at  Robert  Chand- 
ler’s, in  Gibson,  and  running  westward  reached 
the  Wyalusing  at  Grangerville.” 


1 Blackman,  page  510.  2 Blackman,  page  511. 


Newburg  Turnpike  Road — The  New- 
burg AND  .Cochecton  Turnpike,  — March 
20,  1801,  the  Legislature  of  New  York  granted 
a charter  to  Robert  Browne,  John  De  Witt, 
William  Seymour,  George  Clinton,  Jr.,  and 
others,  under  name  of  “ The  President,  Direc- 
tors and  Company  of  the  Newburg  and  Co- 
checton Turnpike  Road,  with  a capital  limited 
to  $80,000,  and  authority  to  construct  a turn- 
pike road  in  the  nearest  and  most  convenient 
and  direct  route  from  the  village  of  Newburg, 
on  Hudson’s  River,  to  Cochecton,  on  the  Dela- 
ware River.”  The  stock  was  soon  taken,  and 
the  road  constructed,  running  a line  of  sixty 
miles,  with  substantial  bridges  and  all  the  ap- 
pointments of  a good  road.  Though  De  Witt 
lost  his  life  and  Miller  became  financially  crip- 
pled, the  road  opened  up  the  country  and,  to- 
gether with  its  connections  with  other  roads, 
became  a great  thoroughfare  of  travel.  This 
road  is  here  mentioned  because  in  connection 
with  the  Coehecton  and  Great  Bend  Turnpike 
Road. 

The  Cochecton  and  Great  Bend  Turn- 
pike Company  was  incorporated  by  an  act  of 
Assembly  dated  March  29,  1804,  the  commis- 
sioners being  Henry  Drinker,  Edward  Tilgh- 
man,  Thomas  Harrison  and  William  Poyntell, 
of  the  city  of  Philadelphia;  John  Conklin, 
Jason  Torrey  and  Samuel  Stanton,  of  Wayne 
County;  and  Asahel  Gregory,  John  Tyler  and 
Minna  Dubois,  of  Luzerne  County.  The  shares 
were  ten  dollars  each,  and  the  act  provided  that 
four  hundred  shares  should  be  subscribed  in 
Philadelphia,  three  hundred  in  Cochecton  and 
three  hundred  at  Great  Bend.  The  act  stipu- 
lated that  the  company  “shall  cause  a road  to  be 
laid  out  from  Damascus  Mills  to  the  top  of 
Moosic  Mountain  aforesaid,  to  or  near  the  twenty 
mile-stone  in  the  north  line  of  the  State,  unless 
such  places  where  nature  ground  render  greater 
width  expedient,”  the  width  was  to  be  twenty 
feet.  The  turnpike  was  finished  in  1811.  The 
travel  upon  it  was  very  great,  as,  with  its  con- 
nections, it  was  the  principal  route  from  New- 
burg to  Western  New  Y^ork.  Daily  mail-coaches, 
drawn  by  four  horses,  were  run  upon  the  road 
for  years.  Numerous  taverns  were  built  along 
the  line.  The  construction  of  the  Erie  Canal 


LINES  OF  TRAVEL. 


47 


lessened  the  travel  upon  this  turnpike,  but  it 
was  a much-used  thoroughfare  until  the  Erie 
Railroad  was  built.  Then  through  travel  was 
almost  wholly  suspended. 

The  length  of  the  road  from  Cochecton  to 
Great  Bend  is  fifty  miles.  Beginning  at  Co- 
chectou  on  the  Delaware,  it  crosses  the  river  and 
passes  through  the  townships  of  Damascus,  Le- 
banon and  Mt.  Pleasant,  in  Wayne  County; 
and  Gibson,  New  Milford  and  Great  Bend,  in 
Susquehanna  County. 

“It  was  built  by  individual  enterprise;  most  of  the 
stock  was  taken  on  the  line  of  the  road.  It  was  con- 
structed twenty  feet  wide,  at  a cost  of  $1,620  per  mile. 
The  materials  are  earth,  stone,  lime  and  timber.  Its 
form  was  convex,  being  about  four  inches  higher  in 
the  centre  than  at  the  sides.  During  the  first  three 
years  it  paid  a debt  of  $11,000,  besides  keeping  itself 
in  repair.  Some  portions  of  this  part  of  the  State 
owe  their  early  existence  and  growth  to  this  road.  It 
gave  a decided  impulse  to  the  increase  of  population 
and  improvements  in  the  surrounding  country.” 

These  two  turnpikes  constituted  what  was 
known  as  the  Newburg  road.  In  the  fall  of 
1872  a meeting  of  the  directors  of  the  Newburg 
and  Cochecton  road  was  held  at  Newburg,  and 
the  road  was  given  up  as  a turnpike.  Like  other 
abandoned  turnpikes,  it  has  now  become  a pub- 
lic highway,  and  is  kept  in  repair  by  the  town- 
ships and  boroughs  through  which  it  passes. 

Milfoed  and  Owego  Turnpike. — Janu- 
ary 26,  1807,  an  act  was  pa.ssed  authorizing 
commissioners  to  open  books  and  receive  sub- 
scriptions to  the  Milford  and  Owego  turnpike 
road.  The  commissioners  were  authorized  to 
adjourn  from  time  to  time  until  two  thousand 
shares  were  subscribed,  and  subscribers  were  to 
pay  five  dollars  for  each  share  subscribed.  When 
a certain  number  of  shares  were  subscribed  they 
were  incorporated  under  the  name  of  the  Presi- 
dent, Manager  and  Company  of  tlie  Milford  and 
Owego  Turnpike  Road.  The  Improvement 
Bill,  passed  26th  March,  1821,  authorized  and 
required  the  Governor  to  subscribe,  on  behalf  of 
the  Commonwealth,  $16,000  to  the  capital  stock 
of  the  Milford  and  Owego  Turnpike  Road  Com- 
pany, and  as  soon  as  any  five  miles  were  com- 
pleted and  approved  of,  it  became  the  duty  of 
the  Governor  to  draw  his  warrant  on  the  State 
Treasurer  for  a sum  in  proportion  to  the  whole 


distance,  and  a like  sum  for  every  five  miles  un- 
til the  whole  sum  be  drawn,  provided,  that  the 
money  hereby  appropriated  shall  first  be  applied 
to  making  the  unfinished  part  of  said  road.” 
Shortly  after  the  act  of  1809,  subscriptions  to 
the  stock  were  received  by  the  company.  Isaac 
Post  appears  to  have  been  the  first  treasurer. 
The  shares  were  twenty-five  dollars  each,  and 
were  generally  paid  for  in  work  on  the  road. 
The  work  was  commenced  as  early  as  1812. 
Isaac  Post,  treasurer,  made  a contract  with 
Henry  Newton,  January  7,  1812,  to  construct 
one  mile  of  the  road  for  $1200,  to  be  completed 
November  19.  1813.  He  was  to  receive  $250 
in  cash  and  the  rest  in  stock,  or  lands  lying 
along  the  road  belonging  to  the  company.  The 
road  was  to  be  twenty  feet  wide,  clear  of  the 
ditches,  bedded  with  wood,  earth,  stone,  gravel 
or  other  proper  material,  so  as  to  secure  a solid 
foundation.  The  bridges  were  to  be  strong, 
having  four-inch  plank  and  side  railings.  The 
contract  price  varied  from  $800  to  $1200  per 
mile. 

Among  those  who  took  stock  were, — 


No.  of  shares. 

Work  on  road. 

Isaac  Post 

.10— $250.00 

$600.00 

G.  Clymer 

48—1200.00 

Joshua  Miles 

10—  250.00 

493.50 

David  Aldrich land — 348.76 

245.00 

Bucklin  & Newton.. 

4—  100.00 

400.00 

Henry  Newton 

7—  175.00 

440.00 

Norton  & Millard... 

4—  100.00 

210.00 

Jonathan  West 

22—  550.00 

297.00 

Zenas  Bryant 

4—  100.00 

430.00 

Benjamin  Walker... 

...—  278.00 

720.00 

Ebenezer  Coburn.... 

62—1550.00 

1606.68 

Chas.  Nichols 

2—  50.00 

142.04 

Obadiah  Merrill 

...—1825.00 

4600.00 

Michael  Dow 

60—1500.00 

2250.00 

Chas.  S.  Camj)bell... 

...—1031.00 

2256.00 

R.  W.  Green 

...—  400.00 

1200.00 

D.  Robbie,  W.  Gragg,  Leman  Turrell,  A.  Thatcher, 

& S.  West,  S.  Bentley, 

E.  Griffis,  J. 

Street,  S.  Tag- 

gart,  S.  Wilson,  R.  Whitney,  D.  & J.  McMillan,  J. 
Garnsey,  E.  Summers,  J.  Tewksbury,  A.  Sweet,  Bailey 
& Co.,  Orlen  Capron  and  others  did  work  on  the  road 
and  took  one-third  cash  and  the  balance  in  land  and 
stock. 

This  work  was  done  between  1812  and  1818. 
The  $16,000  State  aid  gave  a new  impetus  to 
the  work  and  it  was  completed  in  1821.  Robert 
H.  Rose  appears  to  have  been  president,  Isaac 


48 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


Post,  treasurer,  and  B.  T.  Case,  secretary  and 
surveyor.  Putnam  Gatlin  was  treasurer  for 
about  seven  years  prior  to  1824,  when  Freder- 
ick Bailey  was  elected  and  continued  in  that 
office  until  the  gates  were  thrown  down. 

February  15,  1816,  New  Jersey  granted 
$20,000  to  the  Milford  and  Owego  Turnpike 
Company,  on  condition  that  they  would  pledge 
themselves  to  complete  the  road.  October  12, 
1818,  the  president  and  managers  pledged  “the 
road  and  all  the  funds  to  such  person  as  shall 
give  security  as  aforesaid.” 

July  21,  1821,  Robert  H.  Rose,  president, 
and  Putnam  Catlin,  treasurer,  certified  that 
they  had  settled  with  all  persons  who  had  con- 
tracted to  do  work  prior  to  the  preceding  March. 

January  4,  1819,  Putnam  Catlin,  treasurer, 
reported  receipts  for  the  la.st  two  years,  $12,596.- 
86  ; orders  paid,  $5798.69  ; balance  in  treasury, 
$6798.17 ; amount  of  stock  issued,  2013  shares 
—$50,326. 

The  early  gate-keepers  w'ere  Samuel  Dotterer, 
Edward  Otto,  Michael  West,  Elias  West,  Moses 
Coborn,  Chas.  B.  Seaman  and  Noah  Rogers. 

November  8,  1822,  R.  H.  Rose  wrote  to  the 
Postmaster-General,  urging  him  to  carry  the 
mail  from  New  York  to  Owego  by  way  of  the 
Milford  and  Owego  turnpike,  and  not  by  the 
Newburg  turnpike.  He  gives  the  following 
distances  : — By  the  Newburg  and  Owego  road, 
from  New  York  to  Newburg,  69  miles;  thence 
to  Great  Bend,  108  miles;  thence  to  Owego,  37 
miles  ; total,  214.  By  the  Milford  and  Owego 
I’oad,  from  New  York  to  Milford,  60  miles ; 
thence  to  Montrose,  70  miles;  thence  to  Owego, 
30  miles;  total,  160  miles,  or  54  miles  nearer  by 
the  Milford  and  Owego  than  by  the  Newburg 
road. 

The  Milford  and  Owego  road  runs  diagonally 
across  Susquehanna  County  in  a northwesterjy 
direction  from  the  point  where  it  enters  the 
county  in  Clifford,  through  Duudaff,  Ryuear- 
son’s  Corners  in  Lenox,  Brooklyn,  Montrose, 
Friendsville  to  Owego,  passing  out  of  the 
county  through  Apolacon  township,  near  the 
forty-third  mile-stone. 

The  road  was  not  run  to  avoid  hills.  It  seemed 
to  have  been  the  design  of  B.  T.  Case  to  pass  it 
over  every  high  hill  anywhere  along  the  route. 


for  it  is  located  on  a continuous  succession  of 
hills  and  valleys;  but  it  has  the  merit  of  keep- 
ing its  general  course  more  nearly  direct  than 
most  of  the  roads  in  Northern  Pennsylvania. 

In  1831  the  following  statement  of  affairs 
was  made  : 


Cost  of  making  the  road $108,723.00 

Stock  paid  by  the  State 31,000.00 

Stock  paid  by  individual  subscribers 64,700.00 

Debts  due  by  the  company 7,150.00 

No  dividend  declared  the  preceding  year. 

Tolls  received  for  year  1830 $3,823.56 

Expenditures 3,654.06 


Balance  in  hands  of  treasurer $169.50 

The  following  statement  was  made  in  1839 : 

Total  receipts  from  gates $4,976.78 

Balance  from  1838 1,849.44 


Total $6,826.22 

Expenditures  ; 

Paid  on  Brunson  claim $209.31 

Road  and  bridge  repairs 2,165.25 

Dividends 683.50 

Toll-gatherers,  managers,  secretary,  treasurer 

and  agents 1,012.46 

Viewing  committee 77.69 

Incidental 29.11 


Total $4,177.32 

In  Susquehanna  Bank  and  treasurer’s  hands,  648.90 

Unpaid  dividends 1,218.00 

Balance 1,430.90 

Receipts  for  1839 4,976.78 

Receipts  for  1838  4,690.97 


Increase $285.81 


The  following  persons  were  managers  from 
1808  : 

1808,  John  Brodhead,  John  Brink,  James  Barton, 
Matthew  Ridgeway,  Dan  Dimmick,  Bartlett  Hinds, 
Benjamin  Carpenter,  Asa  Stanton,  George  Bowhan- 
nan,  Francis  A.  Smith,  John  H.  Schenk,  Caleb  Forbes, 
James  Pumpelly  ; 1809,  George  Biddis,  James  Rose, 
Robert  H.  Rose,  Hosea  Tiffany,  Amos  Harding ; 1810, 
Lewis  Collins,  George  Rix,  Joshua  Miles,  Jonathan 
West,  Isaac  Rynearson,  Simeon  Ainsley ; 1811,  Abram 
J.  Stryker,  Ebenezer  Coburn,  Charles  Gere,  Putnam 
Catlin;  1812,  John  Fobes ; 1815,  Isaac  P.  Foster; 
1816,  Benjamin  Case,  Charles  Fraser;  1817,  Frederick 
Bailey,  Isaac  Post,  Stephen  Wilson.  From  1826  to 
1833,  R.  H.  Rose,  I.  Rynearson,  Leman  Turrell,  F. 
Bailey,  I.  P.  Foster,  C.  Fraser,  I.  Post,  D.  Post,  C. 
Gere,  B.  T.  Case,  George  Rix,  P.  Catlin  and  Jeremiah 


LINES  OF  TRAVEL. 


49 


Gere  were  managers,  and  Isaac  Post  was  secretary,  at 
the  pay  of  six  dollars  per  year.  The  managers  re- 
ceived two  dollars  per  day. 

March  20,  1830,  an  act  supplementary  to 
the  act  incorporating  a company  for  making  an 
artificial  road  by  the  nearest  and  best  route 
through  the  counties  of  Wayne  and  Luzerne 
(now  Susquehanna),  beginning  at  Milford, 
thence  through  said  town  and  counties  to  the  forty- 
third  mile-stone  on  the  north  line  of  the  State,  was 
passed,  authorizing  the  Milford  and  Owego  Turn- 
jiike  Co.  to  build  a road,  commencing  at  or  near 
Dundaff,  thence  to  Carbondale,  thence  to  in- 
tersect the  Milford  and  Owego  turnpike  at  the 
most  convenient  point.  This  act  was  necessary 
to  connect  the  road  with  the  new  and  growing 
town  of  Carbondale.  Anthracite  coal,  the  de- 
velopment of  which  was  destined  to  revolution- 
ize modes  of  travel  in  Northeastern  Pennsylva- 
nia, was  constantly  growing  in  favor  with  the 
people  as  a fuel,  and  Carbondale  was  one  of 
the  first  cities  developed  by  the  new  industry. 
Consequently  it  became  necessary  to  connect 
this  town  with  this  great  eastern  and  western 
thoroughfare.  The  Milford  and  Owego  and 
Newburg  and  Owego  were  the  two  highways 
that  connected  New  York  City  with  the  Gene- 
see and  Lake  country,  as  it  was  then  called, 
and  still  farther  west,  but  the  building  of  the 
Erie,  and  Delaware,  Lackawanna  and  Western 
Railroads  destroyed  these  roads.  In  1861  they 
began  to  throw  open  their  gates  to  tlie  public, 
and  in  1861  the  charter  of  the  Milford  and 
Owego  road  was  repealed. 

Bridgewater  and  Wilkes-Barre  Turn- 
pike.— An  act  was  passed  March  30,  1811,  to 
incorporate  a company  for  making  a road  from 
the  northern  boundary  line  of  this  State,  at  the 
most  suitable  place,  near  the  twenty-eighth  mile- 
stone, to  the  place  where  the  seat  of  justice  is 
established  for  the  county  of  Susciuehanna, 
thence  by  best  and  nearest  route  to  borough  of 
Wilkes-Barre.  The  road  was  begun  in  1813. 
May  9,  1819.  Ebenezer  Bowman  was  president 
and  Benjamin  Perry  was  secretary.  The  board 
of  managers  present  were  Me.ssrs.  Dorrance,  I. 
Post,  B.  Jenkins,  E.  Tuttle,  Scott,  Shoemaker, 
G.  Miller,  I.  Slocum,  E.  Harding,  Raynsford. 
They  resolved  to  divide  the  whole  road  into  two 
4 


sections, — the  northern  section  to  commence  at 
the  State  line,  and  to  extend  to  the  east  bank  of 
the  Susquehanna  River,  at  or  near  the  house  of 
Isaac  Slocum,  in  Tunkhannock  Township,  Lu- 
zerne County ; the  southern  section  to  com- 
mence on  the  west  bank  of  the  Susquehanna 
River,  nearly  opposite  the  house  of  Isaac  Slo- 
cum, extending  through  the  townships  of  Tunk- 
hannock, Exeter  and  Kingston  to  the  borough 
of  Wilkes-Barre.  The  commonwealth  sub- 
scribed $15,000,  of  which  $10,000  was  appro- 
priated to  the  northern  section  and  $5000  to 
the  southern  section.  The  Bridgewater  and 
Wilkes-Barre  turnpike  entered  the  southern 
part  of  Susquehanna  County,  in  Springville 
township,  passing  through  Springville  village, 
Dimock  and  Bridgewater,  crossing  the  Milford 
and  Owego  turnpike  at  Montrose,  thence 
through  Silver  Lake  township  to  Chenango 
Point  or  Binghamton.  Lord  Butler  was  presi- 
dent in  1821.  In  1819  Jabez  Hyde,  Jr.,  Samuel 
Warner  and  Bela  Jones  reported  that  fifteen 
miles  of  the  road  were  completed.  In  1824 
William  Jessup,  Silvan  us  S.  Mulford  and 
Walker  G.  Woodhou.se,  commissioners  on  the 
part  of  the  State,  reported  that  the  last  section 
was  completed.  Benjamin  Lathrop  was  ap- 
pointed manager  on  the  part  of  the  State  for  a 
number  of  years.  About  1841  the  gates  were 
thrown  open. 

In  1813  the  CliflFord  and  Wilkes-Barre 
turnpike  was  also  begun,  and  cost  $1200  per 
mile. 

‘‘In  1818  books  were  opened  for  subscription 
to  stock  in  the  New  Milford  and  Montrose 
turnpike ; but  it  appears  there  never  has  been 
a turnpike  between  these  two  points,  though 
more  than  twenty  years  later  the  subject  M^as 
again  engaging  the  attention  of  some  of  our  most 
enterprising  men.” 

Philadelphia  and  Great  Bend  Turn- 
pike.— “Mn  1818  the  Legislature  pas.sed  ‘an  act 
to  authorize  the  Governor  to  incorporate  the 
President,  Managers  and  Company  of  the  Phila- 
delphia and  Great  Bend  Turnpike  Road,’  which 
should  ‘commence  at  or  near  the  thirtieth  mile- 
.stone  on  the  Easton  and  Wilkes-Barre  turnpike 


1 Blackman’s,  page  512. 


50 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


road,  pass  over  the  nearest  and  best  ground 
through  Leggett’s  Gap,  in  Lackawannock  Moun- 
tain, and  terminate  on  the  Cochecton  and  Great 
Bend  turnpike  road,  at  or  near  the  tavern  of 
Ithamer  Mott,  in  the  county  of  Susquehanna.’ 
M^ork  upon  the  road  was  begun  in  1821.  It 
followed  the  Nine  Partners’  Creek  through 
Harford  to  Lenox  post-office  and  Lenoxville, 
thence,  to  the  southern  boundary  of  our  county 
and  below,  as  ordered  by  the  act  of  Legislature. 
Messrs.  Thomas  Meredith,  William  Ward  and 
Henry  W.  Drinker  appear  to  have  had  charge 
of  the  contracts  on  this  road — much  of  the 
business,  at  least,  was  in  their  hands.  This 
great  thoroughfare  has  ceased  to  be  a toll-road, 
and  the  travel  over  it  is  limited  almost  entirely 
to  local  business ; but,  in  its  day,  it  served  to 
open  a most  desirable  communication  with  Phila- 
delphia, and  contributed  greatly  to  the  advan- 
tage of  the  county.” 

The  Belmont  and  Oghqnagah  Turnpike  Com- 
pany was  chartered  February  26,  1817.  The 
commissioners  were  Thomas  Meredith,  Ira 
Mumford,  Jr.,  Sanford  Clark,  Joseph  Tanner, 
Benj.  King,  Asa  Stanton,  Thomas  Spangenberg 
and  Walter  Lyon.  The  road  was  built  chiefly 
through  the  exertions  of  T.  Meredith,  Esq. 

It  was  begun  in  1821  and  finished  in  1825. 
The  following  turnpikes  were  incorporated  as 
follows : 

Abington  and  Waterford,  January,  1823; 
Duudaff  and  Tunkhannock,  April,  1828  ; Dun- 
daff  and  Honesdale,  March,  1831  ; Lenox  and 
Harmony,  April,  1835  ; Lenox  and  Carbondale 
(past  Clifford  Corners),  March,  1842,  extended  to 
South  Gibson  by  act  of  March,  1847 ; Brooklyn 
and  Lenox,  March,  1848  ; Tunkhannock  Creek 
Company,  Mai’ch,  1849. 

Mail  and  Stage  Routes. — “ Mn  1798  a 
mail  was  run  once  in  two  weeks  between 
Wilkes-Barre  and  Great  Bend,  and  the  following- 
year  a weekly  route  was  opened  between 
Wilkes-Barre  and  Owego.  These  routes  were 
sustained  chiefly,  if  not  altogether,  by  private 
subscription,  the  subscribers  paying  as  high  as 
fifty  cents  per  quarter  to  the  mail  carrier. 

“In  1810  Conard  Peter  contracted  with  the 


1 “ Annals  of  Luzerne,”  page  452. 


government  to  carry  the  mail  once  a week  in 
stages,  from  Sunbury  to  Painted  Post,  by  way  of 
Wilkes-Barre  and  Athens.  He  sold  his  interest 
in  the  route  from  Sunbury  to  Wilkes-Barre 
to  Miller  Horton.”  It  is  probable  that  the 
letters  to  the  first  settlers  in  Susquehanna 
were  addressed  to  Wilkes-Barre,  and  remained 
there  until  called  for.  The  first  mail  carried 
through  the  wilds  of  Susquehanna  County  was 


AN  OLD-TIME  STAGE  COACH. 

carried  on  horseback.  The  Searle  brothers 
worked  with  the  Horton  brothers — Miller,  Jesse 
and  Lewis  Horton — at  an  early  period.  Deodat 
Smith  was  one  of  the  pioneer  mail-carriers. 
Isaac  Post  and,  later,  John  Buckingham  and 
other  hotel-keepers,  assisted  in  forwarding  the 
mails,  but  John  Searle  had  one  of  the  longest 
rounds  of  those  ]iioneer  po.st-riders.  When  he 
was  a mere  boy,  as  early  as  1816,  and  perhaps 
as  earlv  as  1812,  he  carried  the  mail  once  a 
fortnight  from  Wilkes-Barre  to  Pittston,  Tioga 
Point  or  Atliens  ; thence  across  to  Silver  Lake, 
Great  Bend  (then  Willingborough),  Harmony, 
Deposit,  Stockport,  on  the  Delaware,  in  the 
northeastern  part  of  the  State,  southward  to 
Mount  Plea.sant,  Bethany,  on  the  road  down  the 
Lackawaxen  through  the  swamp  where  Hones- 
dale now  is  to  Lackawaxen;  thence  to  Milford. 
Here  he  turned  his  course  westward,  and  fol- 
lowed the  road  taken  by  the  Wyoming  settlers 
from  the  Delaware  River  westward  through  the 
barrens  of  Pike  County  to  Shohola,  Salem, 
Cobb’s  Gap  and  Providence,  thence  back  again 
to  Wilkes-Barre.  This  lone  youth  rode  through 
these  wilderness  paths  or  roads  a distance  of 
about  three  hundred  and  twenty  miles  in  two 
weeks.  He  blew  a horn  as  he  passed  a settler’s 
house.  When  papers  came,  the  men  would 

2P.  G.  Goodrich,  in  “ History  of  Wayne  County.” 


V 


k 


LINES  OF  TRAVEL. 


61 


<rather  and  discuss  the  news.  It  took  four 
months  for  the  news  about  the  battle  of  Water- 
loo to  reach  the  Beech  Woods.”  The  early 
post-offices  of  this  county  were  Montrose  or 
Bridgewater,  established  in  1808,  Isaac  Post, 
postmaster  ; Willingborough,  1808,  Dr.  Eleazer 
Parker,  postmaster  ; Silver  Lake,  1810,  R.  H. 
Rose,  postmaster;  New  Milford,  1811  ; Laws- 
ville,  1814;  Springville,  1815.  John  Buck- 
ingham, of  Montrose,  W.  R.  McLaury,  of 
Cherry  Ridge,  and  Lewis  Cornelius,  of  Milford, 
and  other  hotel-keepers  run  a two-horse  stage 
for  a few  years  prior  to  1824.  That  year  the 
stage  business  of  Northeastern  Pennsylvania  was 
revolutionized.  Stogden  & Stokes  were  large 
contractors,  and  the  Horton  brothers  appear  to 
have  been  sub-contractors.  They  contracted  to 
carry  the  mails  in  four-horse  coaches  from 
Baltimore  to  Owego,  by  way  of  Harrisburg, 
Sunbury,  Wilkes-Barre  and  Montrose  ; and  from 
Philadelphia  to  Wilkes-Barre,  via  Ea.stou  ; also 
from  New  York  City  to  Moutrose,  by  way  of 
Newark  and  Morristown,  in  New  Jersey,  and 
Milford,  in  Pennsylvania.  In  1826  Daniel 
Searle  came  as  agent  of  these  contractors,  and 
the  following  year  moved  his  family  here.  In 
1830,  through  the  assistance  of  his  friend. 
Judge  Mallery,  he  obtained  the  contract  to 
carry  the  mails  from  Jersey  City  to  Owego. 
Samuel  Dimmick,  of  Milford,  had  some  con- 
nection with  it  part  of  the  time.  It  was  one 
hundred  and  forty-nine  miles  from  Jersey  City 
to  Montrose,  and  thirty  miles  from  Montro.se  to 
Owego.  The  route  was  divided  into  sections 
of  about  fifteen  miles  each,  and  one  four-hor.se 
coach  would  drive  back  and  forth  in  one  section 
each  day.  It  required  at  least  one  hundred 
horses  and  twenty  coaches,  besides  extra  wagons, 
to  run  the  stages.  These  coaches  held  ten 
passengers  each  comfortably,  but  were  often 
crowded  with  fifteen  persons.  This  route  was 
one  of  three  great  thoroughfares  to  the  West, 
the  Newburg  route  and  a route  by  a road 
farther  north  in  New  York  being;  the  other  two 
routes  of  travel.  Mr.  Searle  received  twenty- 
two  thousand  dollars  per  year  for  carrying  the 
mails,  but  it  was  not  very  profitable,  as  the 
Western  mail  would  be  so  large  that  at  times 
there  would  be  nearly  a two-horse  load  of  mail 


matter  alone.  Mr.  Searle  had  more  or  less  to 
do  with  carrying  the  mails  for  a great  many 
years.  Rasselas  Searle  was  agent  at  Milford  a 
number  of  years. 

About  1840  Mr.  Randall  got  the  route,  and 
Leonard  run  it  till  1846.  He  afterwards  run 
a stage  from  Montrose  to  Great  Bend  until  it 
was  discontinued,  when  the  Delaware,  Lacka- 
wanna and  Western  Railroad  came  through  New 
Milford,  and  a line  of  stages  was  established 
from  Montrose  to  that  point.  When  the  Erie 
road  got  as  far  as  Middletown  the  route  ceased 
to  pass  through  New  Jersey,  but  passed  up  to 
Port  Jervis,  thence  to  Middletown.  After  the 
turn])ike  to  Carbondale  was  completed,  the 
stage-route  lay  through  that  city,  thence  to 
Honesdale  and  Narrowsburg,  all  of  which  has 
been  discontinued.  Leonard  Searle  run  the 
stage-line  from  Montro.se  to  New  Milford  until 
he  died  ; then  AzurLathrop  had  charge  of  it  for 
a number  of  years.  He  was  succeeded  by  W. 
W.  Willianrs,  Williams  & Sou,  W.  E.  Wil- 
liams (now  Williams  & Pope).  Montro.se  is 
not  a railroad  centre,  but  is  a stage  route  centre 
for  the  surrounding  countrv.  There  are  two 
stages  to  Alford  and  return,  two  to  New  Mil- 
ford and  return,  two  to  the  Narrow  Gauge 
Railroad  dei)ot  and  return  ; one  daily  to 
Friendsville,  via  Forest  Lake  and  St.  Joseph, 
returning  through  Birchardsville ; one  to 
Rush vi lie,  via  Fairdale  and  Rush  ; one  to 
Corbettsville,  New  York,  via,  Franklin  Forks, 
Lawsville  and  Brookdale  ; one  to  Auburn 
Centre,  via  Elk  Lake  and  Auburn  Four 
Corners  ; and  another  overland  to  Bingham- 
ton, via  Riclimond  Hill,  Sheldon,  Silver  Lake 
and  Brackney. 

We  conclude  our  account  of  the  early  roads 
and  mail-routes  with  a biographical  sketch  of 
Daniel  Searle,  the  most  prominent  mail  contrac- 
tor that  ever  lived  in  Susquehanna  County.  He 
also  kept  the  Milford  and  Owego  turnpike  in 
repair  a number  of  years.  From  1832  to  1836 
he  received  two  thousand  dollars  for  the  first 
year,  and  twenty  dollars  per  mile  thereafter,  to 
keep  the  road  in  as  good  repair  as  the  Cochecton 
road  was  kept. 

Daniel  Searle. — The  Searle  family  came 
to  the  Wyoming  Valley  from  New  England, 


52 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


Constant  Seavle  (1728-78)  was  a native  of  Little 
Compton,  Rhode  Island,  who  fell  at  the  battle 
of  Wyoming,  July  3,  1778.  His  wife,  Hannah, 
(1731-1813),  a daughter  of  Simon  and  Hannah 
IMiner,  was  a native  of  Stoniugton,  Conn.,  and 
died  at  Pittstou,  Pa.  Their  children  were 
Constant  (1759-1806),  born  in  Little  Compton  ; 
William  (1751-1817),  born  in  Stoniugton,  and 
died  at  Pittston,  Pa.;  Roger  (1762-1813),  a 
native  of  Preston,  Conn.,  died  at  Pittston; 
Elizabeth  (1757-1820),  born  in  Stonington, 
died  in  Pittston  (her  husband  was  Capt.  D. 
Hewitt,  who  fell  at  Wyoming,  refusing  to  sur- 
render); Sarah,  born  in  Stonington  in  1768, 
married  Jedediah  Collins,  and  died  in  Ohio, 
where  she  removed  from  Pittston,  in  1817  ; and 
Hannah,  born  in  1754.  At  the  time  of  the 
memorable  Wyoming  massacre  Constant  Searle 
was  quite  an  old  man.  Followed  by  his  grandson. 
Miner  Searle,  he  sent  the  boy  back  with  his  sil- 
ver sleeve  buckles,  brooch,  etc.  He  was  deeply 
impressed  that  he  would  never  return,  which 
proved  true.  He  was  bald  and  wore  a wig, 
which  was  among  the  trophies  the  Indians 
sported  Avith  after  their  victory.  His  son  Roger, 
then  a lad  of  sixteen,  was  also  in  the  battle.  He 
fled  to  the  river,  and  there,  with  the  afterward 
celebrated  Anning  Owen  and  his  ’brother-in- 
law,  Benj.  Carpenter,  they  concealed  themselves 
under  some  grape-vines  until  after  dark.  It 
was  here,  while  thus  concealed,  that  both  Owen 
and  young  Searle  became  deeply  convicted,  and 
both  afterwards  became  active,  useful  members 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  The  sleeve 
buckles  and  brooch  are  still  preserved  by  the 
decendants  of  Constant  Searle.  The  children  re- 
turned to  Wyoming  about  1780.  Their  farm, 
Avhich  they  had  before  the  war  at  Kingston,  being 
occupied,  all  except  Constant  settled  at  Pittston^ 
and  lie  located  at  Providence,  where  he  died.  The 
Widow  Hewitt  subsequently  married  Ishmael 
Bennett,  who  owned  a large  tract  of  land  below 
and  adjoining  the  Lackawanna  River, at  its  junc- 
tion with  the  Susquehanna,  where  the  Blooms- 
burg  and  Lehigh  Valley  Railroads  intersect  and 
have  their  depots.  She  reared  a family  of  nine 
children,  was  one  of  the  early  Methodists  of 
Pittston,  a member  of  the  first  cla.ss  formed 
in  the  place,  of  Avhich  her  brother  Roger  was 


leader,  and  at  their  house,  the  early  Methodist 
preachers  found  a resting-place.  Here  Rev. 
Benj.  Bidlack  u.sed  to  hold  forth,  and  on  one  of 
these  occasions,  when  he  was  through,  Mr. 
Bennett  stepped  up  to  him  and  said,  “Here, 
Bidlack,  is  a dollar  I give  you,  not  so  much  that 
you  are  a preacher,  but  because  you  are  a good 
old  soger.”  Dollars  in  those  days  were  very 
acceptable  to  the  weary  itinerants,  as  well  as  a 
good  meal  of  Aunt  Lizzie’s  well-cooked  chickens. 

Roger  Searle  married  Catherine  (1767-1849), 
a daughter  of  John  Scott,  of  Pittston.  He 
owned  and  occupied  the  farm  in  Pittston  where 
the  Ravine  Coal-Works  now  are,  and  there  reared 
his  family.  Dying  in  middle  life,  the  charge  of 
the  family  devolved  on  his  widow,  whose  saga- 
city, industry  and  prudence  were  equal  to  the 
task.  She  survived  her  husband  thirty-six  years, 
and  continued  to  reside  on  the  old  homestead, 
where  she  hospitably  entertained  her  numerous 
friends.  She  was  a member  of  the  Baptist 
Church  from  girlhood,  to  which  she  adhered 
until  her  death.  Their  children  were  John, 
married  Mary,  daughter  of  Henry  Stark,  of  the 
Plains,  where  he  resided.  He  was  carrying  the 
mail  from  Wilkes-Barre  to  Milford  as  early  as 
1815.  Daniel  (1797-1879),  married,  in  1825, 
Johannah  (1804-77),  also  a daughter  of  Henry 
Stark  ; they  lived  together  fifty -two  years,  and 
celebrated  their  golden  wedding  with  their 
children  and  friends.  Leonard  married  Lydia, 
a daughter  of  Elder  Davis  Dimock,  of  Montrose. 
Rasselas  married  Anna  Cross,  of  Milford,  who 
died,  when  he  married  Nettie  Tompkins,  of 
Binghamton,  and  is  living  at  Montrose  in 
1887.  Milton  never  married  and  remained  on 
the  homestead  with  his  mother.  Clarissa  became 
the  wife  of  Joseph  Dayton,  of  Binghamton ; 
Betsey,  wife  of  Solomon  Brown,  of  Pittston ; 
and  Mehetable,  wife  of  Thomas  Fell,  of  Pittston. 
Of  them,  three  sons — Daniel,  Leonard  and 
Rassela.s — made  Montrose  th^ir  home,  and  were 
early  and  successfully  employed  as  mail  contrac- 
tors and  in  the  early  staging  business  for  a 
quarter  of  a century. 

Daniel  Searle,  son  of  Roger  and  Catherine 
(Scott)  Searle,  was  born  on  the  old  homestead  at 
Pittston,  and  as  early  as  the  age  of  twenty-two 
he  went  to  Tennessee,  where,  with  Miller  Hor- 


LINES  OF  TEAVEL. 


53 


ton,  he  engaged  in  driving  stage  on  the  National 
Pike.  He  remained  there  for  some  six  years, 
and  used  to  relate  in  after-years  many  incidents 
connected  with  his  experiences,  among  which 
those  relating  to  some  of  his  distinguished  pas- 
sengers, like  Henry  Clay,  Daniel  Webster  and 
the  political  magnates  of  their  time,  who  were 
accustomed  to  journey  by  this  route  through  the 
South  on  their  errands  of  politics  or  business. 
Returning  to  Pittston,  he  purchased  a farm 
(Wilson),  on  which  he  settled,  at  the  head  of 
the  canal  near  the  old  forge,  and  about  1826, 
with  his  brother  John,  who  lived  on  the  Plains, 
began  running  a line  of  stages  between  Wilkes- 
Barre  and  DundafF.  In  1827,  leaving  the  stage 
business  with  his  brother  John,  he  removed  to 
Montrose  and  assumed  the  duties  of  general 
agent  for  Stogden  & Stokes,  of  Baltimore,  and 
Reasides  & Co.,  who  ran  a line  of  stages  from 
Jersey  City  to  Owego.  Upon  the  expiration  of 
their  contract,  about  1830,  Mr.  Searle  took  the 
contract  (being  backed  by  Judge  Mallory,  of 
Philadelphia),  and  continued  the  management 
of  this  stage  route  until  1850,  when  he  disposed 
of  his  interest  to  McCormick  & Co.,  of  Ithaca, 
N.  Y.  F or  many  years,  in  connection  with  Jacob 
Peters,  Philadelphia,  Miller  Horton,  Wilkes- 
Barre,  and  Augustus  Morgan,  of  Binghamton, 
he  also  ran  a line  of  stages  from  Philadelphia 
to  Utica,  crossing  the  Jersey  City  and  Owego 
line  at  Montrose.  He  had  the  contract  for 
keeping  in  repair  forty  miles  of  the  former,  from 
Tunkhannock  to  Binghamton,  and  one  hundred 
miles  of  the  latter,  from  Milford  to  Owego. 
Associated  with  Hiram  Mix,  of  Towanda,  Ells- 
worth, of  New  York,  and  Thompson  Peckius, 
of  Bridgwater,  he  completed  large  contracts  on 
the  Croton  Water- Works  during  their  construc- 
tion, and  in  building  the  aqueduct  across  Har- 
lem River.  He  took  contracts  for  many  sec- 
tions of  the  North  Branch  Canal,  and  built  the 
outlet  lock  at  Nanticoke,  below  Wilkes-Barre. 
In  partnership  with  Asa  Packer  and  Thomp.son 
Peckins,  he  built  a large  part  of  the  Lehigh 
navigation  from  Easton,  on  the  Delaware, 
to  White  Haven,  Luzerne  County.  During 
the  same  time  he  also  carried  on  general  mer- 
cantile business  at  Montrose  for  many  years,  and 
latterly  atCarbondale  in  partnership  with  Martin 


Curtis  and  his  brothers  Leonard  and  Rasselas, 
under  the  firm-name  of  Curtis  & Searle;  and  a 
large  lumber  business  in  Lathrop  township,  this 
county,  where  he  owned  one  thousand  acres 
of  timber-land,  until  he  was  succeeded  in  this 
latter  intere.st  by  his  son,  Roger  S.  Searle,  in 
1847.  He  retained  his  interest  in  his  father’s 
estate  at  Pittston  and  added  thereto  other  real 
estate,  which  has  proved  to  be  valuable  coal 
lauds.  A part  of  the  property  is  leased  in  per- 
petuity to  Grove  Bros.,  of  Danville,  Pa.,  and  a 
part  to  the  Lehigh  Valley  Coal  Company.  He 
was  one  of  the  directors  of  the  old  Susquehanna 
County  Bank  upon  its  organization,  in  1838, 
was  early  interested  in  agriculture  and,  with 
David  Post,  Isaac  Post,  Wm.  Jessup,  Henry 
Drinker,  Judge  Baker,  George  Walker  and 
others,  organized  the  Susquehanna  Agricultural 
Society.  Politically,  he  was  an  Old  Line  Whig, 
an  admirer  of  Henry  Clay,  and  a warm  friend 
of  Philander  Stephens— Congressman  at  one 
time  from  this  county — and  upon  the  birth  of 
the  Republican  party,  in  1855-56,  he  was  among 
the  strong  men  to  support  its  principles  and  lead 
its  cohorts  to  victory.  He  was  twice  the  nominee 
of  the  Whig  party  for  legislative  honors,  but 
failed  of  election,  once  only  by  sixty  and  again 
by  two  hundred,  although  the  opposition  had 
a majority  of  fifteen  hundred.  Mr.  Searle 
was  a generous  man,  and  a liberal  contributor 
to  all  interests  of  a worthy  nature  demanding 
support.  Formerly  an  Episcopalian,  in  his 
later  years  he  became  a Univensalist.  For 
fifteen  years  before  his  death  he  resided  at 
West  Pittston,  where  he  owned  a residence  on 
River  Street,  and  there  he  spent  the  last  years 
of  his  life,  dying  at  the  age  of  eighty-two  years. 
His  life-work  left  its  impress  upon  all  with 
whom  he  labored  and  associated,  and  the  fond 
recollections  of  his  many  virtues  will  embalm 
his  memory  in  the  hearts  of  those  who  knew 
him  best.  In  social  life  his  genial  nature  ani- 
mated any  circle  in  which  he  moved,  and  the 
infirmities  of  age  never  took  the  merry  twinkle 
from  his  eye  or  changed  his  cheerful  disposition. 
His  children  are  Roger  S , born  in  1826,  resides 
at  the  foot  of  Jones’  Lake,  in  Bridgewater  town- 
ship ; Henry  S.,  born  in  1829,  a merchant 
at  Battle  Creek,  Mich.;  Ellen  (1831-67)  was  a 


54 


HISTOKY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


teacher  aucl  prominent  in  sanitary  and  charitable 
work  at  Montrose  for  many  years,  and  died  at 
Pittston  ; Johaunah,  born  in  1834,  widow  of 
Charles  D.  Lathrop  ; Daniel  W.,  born  in  1836, 
a lawyer  at  Montrose ; Dotha  (1838-44) ; Mary 
Jane,  born  in  1841,  wife  of  Judge  J.  B. 
McCollum,  of  Montrose;  Hetty  D.  (1845-47); 
and  Clara  Alaria,  born  in  1852,  a resident  of 
Brooklyn,  N.  Y. 

Leonard  Searle  was  born  in  Pittston, 
Luzerne  County,  Pa.,  November  7,  1807. 
His  father,  Boger  Searle,  died  while  he 
was  young,  and  his  mother,  while  visiting  her 
sister  at  Chenango  Point  (now  Binghamton) 
often  carried  him  in  her  arms  as  she  went  on 
horseback  by  a forest  road  that  run  through 
Montrose.  On  one  of  these  occasions  she  stopped 
at  the  old  Post  Hotel,  which  he  owned  years 
afterwards.  The  Searles  were  early  engaged  in 
carrying  the  mails  on  horseback,  as  post-boys 
and  afterwards  as  proprietors.  Leonard  was  post- 
boy on  the  route  that  ran  from  Montrose  to 
Silver  Lake,  thence  by  forest  paths  through  old 
Lawsville  to  Great  Bend.  At  fifteen  years  of 
age  he  became  the  regular  post-boy,  making 
weekly  trips,  and  sometimes  in  the  forests 
between  Dr.  Rose’s  and  Great  Bend  he  found 
himself  in  close  proximity  to  howling  wmlves. 
This  work  had  a tendency  to  develop  his 
character  and  fit  him  for  staging  on  a larger 
plan  in  after-years. 

As  a matter  of  convenience,  in  connection 
with  the  mail  and  stage  business  in  which  the 
Searle  family  were  engaged,  Daniel  and  Leon- 
ard came  to  Montrose  in  1827.  The  former  be- 
came proprietor  of  the  old  Post  Hotel  and  the 
latter  clerked  for  him.  This  arrangement  con- 
tinued some  two  years,  when  the  hotel  passed 
into  other  hands.  Leonard  engaged  in  the 
mercantile  business  first  as  partner  with  Martin 
Curtis  and  afterwards  as  sole  owner.  He  con- 
tinued the  mercantile  business  about  ten  years, 
when  he  purchased  the  Post  corner  and  erected 
a first-class  hotel  thereon,  which  he  occupied  for 
twenty-four  years,  keeping  the  best  public-house 
in  the  place.  In  1866  he  leased  the  hotel  and 
purchased  the  B.  S.  Bentley  place,  which  became 
his  home  during  the  rest  of  his  life. 

About  1840  Leonard  became  interested  in  the 


.staging  busine.ss  again  and  continued  to  run  the 
stages  for  a great  many  years,  meeting  the  Erie 
Railway  at  different  points  as  it  progressed 
westward.  The  route  finally  extended  to  Great 
Bend  and  at  last  from  Montrose  to  New  Milford. 
He  died  in  December,  1880,  aged  seventy- three. 
He  was  a man  of  generous  impulses  and  public- 
spirited.  He  made  a home  for  his  father-in-law. 
Elder  Davis  Dimock,  in  his  last  days,  and  lives 
in  the  kind  remembrance  of  his  children.  He 
was  married,  October  23,  1832,  to  Lydia  C. 
Dimock.  Their  children  were  David  D.,  a 
broker  in  New  York  ; Katharine  E , wife  of 
Gen.  Wm.  H.  McCai'tney,  a distinguished  crim- 
inal lawyer  at  Wilkes-Barre ; Josephine,  wife  of 
Benj.  Stewart  Bentley.  Esq.,  of  Williamsport ; 
Hetty,  wife  of  Wm.  M.  Miller,  grocer  in 
Wilkes-Barre. 

Erie  Railway. — In  the  summer  of  1832 
a reconnoisance  or  preliminary  examination  of 
the  country  through  which  it  was  proposed  to 
build  the  road  was  conducted  under  the  author- 
ity of  the  government  of  the  United  States,  by 
Colonel  De  Witt  Clinton,  Jr.,  and  it  resulted  in 
presenting  strong  inducements  for  obtaining  a 
complete  and  accurate  instrumental  survey. 
In  1833  one  million  dollars  was  suLscribed  to  the 
capital  stock,  and  the  company  organized  in 
Augu.st  of  that  year  by  the  election  of  officers 
and  directors.  A year  passed,  during  which  the 
company  did  not  receive  enough  from  its  stock- 
holders and  others  to  make  a survey,  and  in 
1834  the  aid  of  the  State  was  invoked,  and  the 
Legislature  passed  a bill  appropriating  fifteen 
thousand  dollars  for  that  purpose.  Governor 
Marcy  appointed  Benjamin  Wright,  Esq.,  to 
conduct  the  survey.  During  the  year  he  and 
his  assistants  made  a survey  of  the  whole  line, 
four  hundred  and  eighty-three  miles,  and  as  the 
work  was  done  under  the  authority  of  the  State 
government,  the  reports,  estimates  and  maps  of 
Judge  Wright  were  deposited  by  him  with  the 
secretary  of  the  commonwealth.  iMuch  had 
been  said  in  the  Legislature  and  many  of  the 
public  prints  to  discourage  the  undertaking; 
but  the  results  of  the  State  survey  were  so 
favorable  as  to  dispel  all  rea.sonable  doubts  as 
to  the  feasibility  of  the  improvement,  and 
measures  were  taken  to  advance  the  project. 


LINES  OF  TRAVEL. 


55 


Subscriptions  were  stimulated  to  so  great  an  ex- 
tent that  the  capital  stock  of  the  company  was 
increased  to  the  handsome  amount  of  over  two 
million  three  hundred  and  sixty-two  thousand 
dollars. 

After  several  ineffective  efforts  had  been 
made,  the  New  York  and  Lake  Erie  Railroad 
Company  was  incorporated  by  the  Legislature 
on  the  24th  of  April,  1832,  with  power  “ to 
construct  a railroad  from  the  city  of  New  York, 
or  some  point  near,  to  Lake  Erie,  to  transport 
persons  and  property  thereon,  and  to  regulate 
their  own  charges  for  transportation.”  Up  to 
the  time  of  the  incorporation,  the  question  as  to 
whether  animal  or  locomotive  power  should  be 
used  on  the  contemplated  railroad  was  an  open 
one,  vigorously  argued  pro  and  con.  A road 
for  locomotives,  it  was  commonly  conceded,  must 
cost  from  twelve  to  fourteen  thousand  dollars 
per  mile,  while  one  for  horses  could  be  built  for 
five  or  six  thousand  dollars  per  mile,  and  as  it 
was  a portion  of  the  latter  plan  to  allow  indi- 
viduals to  use  their  private  conveyances  upon 
the  road,  it  was  argued  that  the  company  would 
be  at  no  expense  for  engines,  carriages,  etc., 
should  that  project  be  adopted.  Let  the  reader 
imagine  for  himself  what  the  Erie  Railroad 
would  be  as  a toll  tramway  ! By  the  time  that 
the  company  was  incorporated,  however,  some- 
thing approximating  to  the  modern  locomotive 
railroad  had  been  decided  upon. 

In  1836  the  entire  route  was  re-surveyed,  a 
portion  of  the  road  located  and  work  upon  it 
commenced,  but  the  financial  stringency  which 
began  to  be  felt  in  that  year,  and  intensified  in  the 
panic  of  1837,  compelled  a suspension  of  opera- 
tions until  1838.  In  that  year  the  Legislature 
granted  to  the  company,  in  aid  of  its  con- 
struction of  the  road,  a loan  of  the  credit  of  the 
State  for  three  million  dollars.  At  the  se.ssion 
of  the  Legislature  in  1840  the  loan  bill  was 
further  amplified,  and  this,  together  with  the 
collections  on  the  stock  subscriptions,  enabled  the 
company  to  vigorously  prosecute  the  work. 
The  first  portion,  a section  of  forty-six  miles, 
from  Piermont  to  Goshen,  was  put  in  operation 
on  the  23d  of  September,  1841. 

But  the  following  year  complicated  embar- 
rassments, arising  from  the  nature  and  amount  of 


its  indebtedness,  made  it  necessary  that  the  busi- 
ness of  the  company  should  be  placed  in  the  hands 
of  a.ssignees,  and  it  was  not  until  May  14,  1845, 
when  the  Legislature  passed  an  act  releasing  the 
State  claim,  that  the  outlook  again  became  pro- 
pitious. Then  the  directors  entered  with  a new 
feeling  of  confidence  upon  the  work  of  resusci- 
tating the  project,  and  presented  a plan  to  the 
public  which  placed  the  work  in  a position  to  be 
successfully  completed.  In  response  to  their 
appeal  for  assistance,  the  merchants  and  busi- 
ness men  of  New  York  soon  subscribed  the  sum 
of  three  million  dollars  to  the  capital  stock. 
Work  was  recommenced  and  successive  portions 
of  the  road  were  put  in  operation  from  time  to 
time.  The  opening  of  the  main  line  as  far  as 
Binghamton,  N.  Y.,  occurred  December  27, 
1848,  and  in  the  spring  of  1851  (May  14th), 
“ amid  the  firing  of  cannon  that  reverberated 
through  all  of  the  southern  tier  of  counties,  and 
the  shouts  of  hundreds  of  thousands  of  the  in- 
habitants, who  lined  the  road  at  all  stations,” 
the  entire  route  was  formally  opened  to  travel 
and  traffic.  Two  trains  of  cars  passed  over  the 
line  on  that  memorable  occasion,  “ bearing  the 
President  of  the  United  States,  Daniel  Webster 
and  a large  and  noble  company  of  the  most  dis- 
tinguished citizens  of  America  as  guests  of  the 
gratified  and  justly  proud  directors  of  the  road, 
from  the  Hudson  to  Lake  Erie.”  ^ 

The  company  was  required  to  run  its  original 
line  within  the  limits  of  the  State,  and  hence  its 
first  outlet  on  the  Hudson  at  Piermont,  the 
connection  between  Piermont  and  New  York 
being  by  steamers  and  freight  barges.  This 
part  of  the  line  is  now  operated  as  a branch, 
while  by  lease  of  the  Union  Railroad,  connect- 
ing the  main  line  with  the  Paterson  and 
Ramapo  and  the  Paterson  and  Hudson  Rail- 
roads (September  10,  1852),  Jersey  City  was 
made  the  main  terminus.  In  addition  to  the 
assignment  of  1853,  the  property  passed  into 
the  hands  of  a receiver  in  1859,  and  again  in 
1875.  By  the  last  it  was  sold  under  fore- 
closure, and  its  name  changed  from  New  York 
and  Erie  to  New  York,  Lake  Elrie  and  Western 
Railroad. 


1 Lossiug. 


56 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


The  Erie  Railway  follows  the  Susquehanna 
River  through  the  northern  part  of  Susque- 
hanna County  a distance  of  about  fifteen  miles 
and  has  two  stations — Susquehanna  and  Great 
Bend — within  the  county.  It  M^as  not  the  orig- 
inal intention  of  the  Erie  Company  to  enter  the 
State  of  Pennsylvania,  but  it  was  found  that  a 
better  route  could  be  obtained  by  entering  the 
State  at  Port  Jervis  and  passing  up  the  west 
side  of  the  Delaware  by  Lackawaxen,  and 
again  by  entering  the  State  by  way  of  Lanes- 
boro’  and  Great  Bend.  There  was  a route  by 
way  of  Nineveh  which  would  have  been  nine 
miles  farther.  To  determine  the  matter,  three 
commissioners  were  appointed  by  the  Governor 
of  New  York,  who  decided  that  the  road  should 
enter  the  State  of  Pennsylvania  as  it  now  runs, 
for  which  privilege  the  Erie  Railway  Company 
annually  pay  into  the  treasury  of  the  State  of 
Pennsylvania  the  sum  of  ten  thousand  dollars. 
The  Starrucca  viaduct,  eighty  feet  high  and 
twelve  hundred  feet  long,  is  within  Susque- 
hanna County,  built  of  stone,  and  is  one  of  the 
most  costly  works  on  the  road.  James  B. 
Kirkwood  was  the  engineer  who  had  charge  of 
its  construction.  T.  D.  Estabrook  was  superin- 
tendent for  Braton  & Gonder,  who  l)uilt  five 
miles  of  the  road,  including  one  and  one-half 
miles  of  rock  cut.  The  Ca,scade  bridge,  one 
hundred  and  twenty-five  feet  high  and  two 
hundred  feet  long,  which  has  since  been  filled 
in,  is  also  within  the  county.  It  was  originally 
a broad-gauge  road,  six  feet  wide,  but  it  has 
since  adopted  the  regulation  gauge — four  feet 
eight  and  one-half  inches  in  width. 

The  embankment  made  by  filling  in  the 
gorge  at  the  Cascade,  on  the  Erie,  after  doing 
service  for  eighteen  years,  was  washed  away  by 
a severe  storm. 

“It  took  three  years  to  fill  in  this  gorge  when  the 
trestle  was  first  built.  The  work  was  not  then  made 
permanent.  It  lasted,  however,  until  washed  away 
in  August.  Engineer  E.  W.  Ware,  road-master  of 
the  Delaware  Division,  made  a calculation,  after  the 
disaster,  that  the  gorge  could  be  so  filled  in  as  to  make 
the  embankment  perfectly  secure  and  permanent. 
Operations  were  begun  under  his  directions. 

“A  steam-shovel,  two  trains  and  about  a dozen  men 
were  the  force  employed.  Conductor  F.  Long  had 
charge  of  the  trains,  but  the  entire  work  was  under 
the  supervision  of  Superintendent  Thomas,  of  the 


Delaware  Division,  with  Engineer  Ware  in  imme- 
diate charge.  The  work  progressed  rapidly,  the 
great  steam-shovel  rendering  invaluable  aid.  During 
the  month  of  September  2094  cars  of  earth  were 
hauled  from  the  bank  to  the  Cascade,  and  in  October, 
4188  cars.  In  each  car  were  nearly  seven  yards  of 
earth,  making  a total  of  nearly  43,978  yards  of  earth 
dumped  into  the  gorge.  This  amount  filled  the  great 
cavity,  and  was  a little  less  than  that  which  Mr.  Ware 
had  figured  it  would  take. 

“This  great  work  has  permanently  changed  the 
course  of  the  stream  that  flowed  through  this  ravine, 
and  has  made  the  embankment  a fixture.  No  storm 
can  again  wash  away  the  track  at  that  spot.  Great 
walls  have  been  built  on  the  one  side  so  that  the 
stream  is  forced  against  solid  rocks  on  the  opposite 
side.” 

The  Delaware,  Lackawanna  and  Wes- 
tern Railroad  was  the  earliest,  and  is  yet 
the  principal,  thoroughfare  of  steam  travel  in 
Susquehanna  County.  It  had  a very  early  incep- 
tion, and  Henry  Drinker,  a strong  and  prominent 
character  in  the  herculean  pioneer  projects  of 
Northeastern  Pennsylvania,  was  the  originator 
of  this  great  line  of  traffic  which  built  up  the 
city  of  Scranton,  and  in  the  territory  which  is 
the  especial  province  of  this  volume  gave  rise 
to  many  minor  improvements,  brought  into  ex- 
istence thriving  New  Milford  and  other  towns, 
and  gave  an  outlet  to  New  York. 

The  original  Drinker  family  were  old  Qua- 
kers prominent  in  Philadelphia.  Soon  after 
the  Revolutionary  War  Henry  Drinker,  the 
great-grandfather  of  Joe,  was  interested,  with 
Benjamin  Rush,  George  Clymer,  Samuel  Mere- 
dith, Robert  Morris  and  others,  in  the  purchase 
of  Pennsylvania  wild  lands.  This  portion  of 
the  State  was  then  an  entire  wilderness,  and  in 
1789-91  Henry  Drinker  purchased  from  the 
State  twenty-five  thousand  acres  of  land  in 
what  are  now  the  counties  of  Lackawanna, 
Wayne,  Pike  and  Susquehanna.  A great  por- 
tion of  this  land  was  on  the  head-waters  of  the 
Lehigh  River,  in  the  first-named  county,  then 
a part  of  Luzerne. 

To  open  this  isolated  settlement  to  the  outside 
world  and  make  the  region  acce.ssible,  Henry 
built,  in  1819,  the  first  turnpike  road  into  the 
Lackawanna  Valley.  This  he  had  chartered  as 
the  Philadelphia  and  Great  Bend  turnpike.  It 
was  sixty  miles  long  and  extended  from  Stan- 
hope, N.  J.,  to  Drinker’s  Beach.  It  is.  known 


LINES  OF  TRAVEL. 


57 


as  the  “ Old  Drinker  road”  to  this  day,  and  is 
a landmark  in  fixing  boundary  lines. 

In  1819,  also,  Drinker  became  aware  of  the 
presence  of  anthracite  coal  in  the  valley,  and, 
although  it  was  then  comparatively  valueless, 
efforts  to  introduce  it  having,  up  to  that  time, 
met  with  little  success,  he  believed  in  its  actual 
importance,  and  foresaw  the  advantages  of  a 
better  communication  between  the  Delaware  and 
Susquehanna  Valleys.  His  idea  was  a railroad, 
although  there  was  not  one  in  existence  in  the 
wmrld  at  that  time,  except  the  crude  English 
mine  tramways.  Drinker  blazed  with  an  axe  a 
route  from  the  mouth  of  the  Lackawanna,  now 
Pittston,  through  the  unbroken  forest,  across  the 
lofty  Pocono  Mountains  to  the  Water  Gap,  a 
distance  of  sixty  miles,  and  satisfied  himself  that 
such  a scheme  as  he  proposed  was  feasible.  In 
1826  he  obtained  a charter  from  the  Pennsyl- 
vania Legislature  for  the  Susquehanna  Canal 
and  Railroad  Company,  The  commissioners 
appointed  by  the  act  were  Henry  W.  Drinker, 
William  Henry,  Jacob  D.  Stroud,  Daniel 
Stroud,  A.  E.  Brown,  S.  Stokes,  James  N. 
Porter  and  John  Coolbaugh. 

Drinker’s  idea  was  a railroad  with  incline 
planes  or  a canal,  horse-power  to  be  used  if  a 
railroad,  between  the  planes,  and  water-power 
to  raise  the  cars  upon  the  planes.  He  inter- 
ested a number  of  ])rominent  men  in  his  project, 
and  in  1831  a survey  of  the  i-oute  was  made. 
The  engineer  employed.  Major  Ephraim  Beach, 
reported  that  the  road  could  be  built  for  six 
hundred  and  twenty-five  thou.sand  dollars. 

After  considerable  work,  Henry  Drinker 
induced  George  and  Seldon  Scranton,  of  Ox- 
ford, N.  J.,  to  become  partners  in  the  scheme,  as- 
sociating them  with  the  project.  After  inducing 
the  Morris  Canal  Company  to  take  one  hundred 
and  fifty  thousand  dollars’  worth  of  stock,  a road 
known  as  the  Lackawanna  and  Western  Rail- 
I'oad  was  built  from  Scranton  to  Great  Bend, 
by  the  Scrantons,  Drinker  dropping  ont  on  ac- 
count of  severe  losses  which  he  had  sustained  in 
opening  up  the  country  with  roads,  and  endeav- 
oring to  develop  the  coal  and  iron  resources  so 
abundant  in  tliat  region.  This  was  completed 
in  1851. 

This  was  an  outlet  for  coal,  formed  by  grop- 


ing blindly  among  the  hills  in  the  wrong  direc- 
tion, and  apparently  diverging  towards  Great 
Bend,  sixty  miles  away,  before  starting  for  New 
AMrk. 

A practical  movement  was  made  in  the  right 
direction  in  1849,  when,  chiefly  throngh  the  in- 
fluence of  the  Scrantons,  a company  was  char- 
tered to  rnn  a road  from  the  Delaware  Water 
Gap  to  some  point  on  the  Lackawanna,  near 
Cobb’s  Gap,  called  “ The  Delaware  and  Cobb’s 
Gap  Railroad  Company.”  The  commissioners 
named  in  the  act  and  invested  with  authority  to 
effect  an  organization  wG’e  Moses  W.  Cool- 
baugh, S.  W.  Shoemaker,  Thomas  Grattan,  H. 
M.  La  Bar,  A.  Overfield,  I.  Place,  Benjamin  V^. 
Rush,  Alpheus  Hollister,  Samuel  Taylor,  F. 
Starbird,  James  H.  Stroud,  R.  Bingham  and  W. 
Nyce,  who  met  at  Stroudsburg,  December  26, 
1850,  and  chose  Colonel  George  W.  Scranton,  a 
man  in  whom  the  people  had  entire  confidence, 
president  of  the  company.  He  had  been  the 
owner  of  the  original  charter  of  the  old  Drinker 
Railroad,  and  this  the  company  purchased  of 
him  for  one  thousand  dollars,  in  1853.  A joint 
application  was  then  immediately  made  by  the 
Delaware  and  Cobb’s  Gap  Railroad  Company, 
and  the  Lackawanna  and  Western  Railroad 
Company,  for  an  act  of  the  Legislature  con- 
solidating them,  and  such  an  act  was  passed 
March  11,  1853.  Thus  was  consummated  a 
union  under  the  present  name  of  the  Delaware, 
Lackawanna  and  Western  Railroad,  and  a solu- 
tion of  the  problem  of  connecting  Scranton  and 
its  coal-mines  with  the  New  York  market  was 
assured.  Colonel  Scranton  was  elected  as  presi- 
dent of  the  consolidated  company,  and  long 
continued  by  repeated  re-elections  to  hold  that 
responsible  office. 

Measures  were  immediately  ado])ted  to  con- 
struct the  I’oad  from  Scranton  to  the  Delaware 
River,  at  a point  five  miles  below  the  Water 
Gap.  The  necessary  surveys  had  been  previ- 
ously made  by  E.  McNeill,  chief  engineer  of  the 
comjiany,  who,  by  indefatigable  labor,  had  pro- 
cured Crestline  and  other  j)rcliminary  surveys, 
which  enabled  him  to  establish  a favorable  line 
with  ea.sy  grades,  jiracticable  for  a heavy  traffic, 
over  the  barren  heights  and  perplexing  undula- 
tions of  the  Pocono. 


58 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


Books  were  opened  for  subscriptions  to  in- 
crease the  capital  stock,  which  had  at  the  time 
of  the  consolidation  amounted  to  $1,441,000, 
and  such  was  the  confidence  felt  in  the  success 
of  the  enterprise,  not  only  by  the  original  stock- 
holders, but  by  other  capitalists,  that  the  whole 
sum  required,  $1,500,000,  was  obtained  in  a few 
days. 

The  contract  for  the  construction  of  the 
Southern  Division — the  original  Delaware  and 
Cobb’s  Gap  Railroad — was  put  under  way  in 
June,  1853.  As  heretofore  explained,  this  sec- 
tion, sixty-one  miles  in  length,  extended  from 
Scranton,  through  Cobb’s  Gap,  and  so  on  in  a 
general  southeasterly  direction,  through  the 
western  part  of  Luzerne  (now  Lackawanna) 
County  and  across  the  county  of  Monroe, 
through  the  Delaware  Water  Gap,  to  a point 
on  the  river  five  miles  below,  where  it  connected 
with  the  Warren  Railroad  of  ISTevv  Jersey. 
Going  by  this  railroad  nineteen  miles  to  New 
Hampton  Summit,  and  there  making  connec- 
tion by  the  Central  Railroad  of  New  Jersey 
with  Jersey  City,  the  Delaware,  Lackawanna 
and  Western  Railroad  Company  found  a market 
for  the  product  of  the  extensive  coal-fields  of 
which  it  had  become  possessed,  and  a few  years 
later  the  relations  between  the  Lackawanna 
Valley  and  the  sea-board  were  rendered  still 
more  intimate  by  the  leasing  of  the  Morris  and 
Essex  Railroad. 

“ ^ Shortly  after  leaving  Nicholson,  the  road 
reaches  Martin’s  Creek,  finds  the  summit  at 
New  Milford,  and  goes  down  Salt  Lick  to 
Great  Bend,  where  it  joins  the  New  York  and 
Erie. 

The  Valley  Railroad  is  of  great  importance 
to  the  Delaware,  Lackawanna  and  Western 
Company.  It  completes  their  line  of  three 
hundred  and  twenty-five  miles  from  New  York 
to  Oswego,  leading  to  the  greatest  coal  markets 
in  the  State.  The  divisions  are  as  follows  : 
Morris  and  Essex,  from  New  York  to  Scran- 
ton, 149  miles ; Delaware,  Lackawanna  and 
Western,  from  Scranton  to  Great  Bend,  47 
miles;  Valley,  from  Great  Bend  to  Bingham- 
ton, 14  miles;  Syracuse  and  Binghamton,  80 
miles ; Oswego  and  Syracuse,  35  miles. 

1 Miss  Blackman’s  “ History.” 


“ The  Delaware,  Lackawanna  and  Western 
Company  formerly  paid  about  four  hundred 
thousand  dollars  a year  for  the  privilege  of 
running  their  coal  and  freight  trains  over  four- 
teen miles  of  Erie  track. 

“The  Lackawanna  and  Susquehanna  Rail- 
road is  a branch  of  the  Albany  and  Susque- 
hanna, connecting  with  the  latter  at  Nineveh, 
N.  Y.,  and  with  the  Jefferson  Railroad  near 
Starrucca  Viaduct,  at  Lanesboro’,  Susquehanna 
County.  It  is  twenty-two  miles  in  length. 

“A  charter  was  obtained  at  an  early  day,  we 
believe  as  early  as  the  year  1828,  for  a railroad 
from  the  Lackawanna  Valley  to  Lanesboro’. 
Other  charters  were  also  obtained  at  later  dates, 
but  nothing  was  effected  toward  building  a rail- 
road until  Col.  C.  Freeman,  member  of  Assem- 
bly from  Wayne  County,  at  the  session  of  1851, 
secured  a charter  for  the  Jefferson  Railroad 
Company,  with  Earl  Wheeler,  Charles  S. 
Minor,  Francis  B.  Penniman  and  Benjamin  B. 
Smith  as  corporators.” 

This  chartered  organization  was  to  have  the 
right  to  build  a railroad  from  any  point  on  the 
Delaware  River  iu  Pike  County,  by  the  best 
route  through  that  county  and  the  county  of 
Wayne,  and  terminating  in  the  county  of  Sus- 
quehanna at  the  New  York  State  line.  An 
effort  to  get  the  Erie  Railroad  Company  to 
build  the  whole  or  a portion  of  the  line  failed  ; 
the  Jefferson  Railroad  Company  remained  prac- 
tically inert,  and  nothing  was  accomplished  for 
more  than  ten  years.  The  commissioners  and 
the  Erie  Company,  however,  both  had  the  pro- 
posed line  surveyed. 

In  1862-63  the  Pennsylvania  Coal  Company 
built  along  the  Lacka waxen  from  Hawley  to 
the  Delaware,  connecting  with  the  Erie  at  Lack- 
awaxen  Station,  and  leased  the  line  to  the  Erie 
Company. 

On  March  18,  1863,  a supplement  to  its 
charter  was  passed,  giving  the  Jefferson  Com- 
pany the  right  to  build  a “ branch  ” — so-called 
— from  the  Moosic  summit  (in  Susquehanna 
County)  to  Carbondale.  Work  upon  the  line 
was  not  begun,  however,  until  1869,  though 
Charles  S.  Miner,  Esq.,  had  in  the  mean  time 
secured  the  right  of  way.  The  pseudo-branch 
was  finished  in  1870  by  the  Jefferson  Company 


LINES  OF  TRAVEL. 


59 


tera 

Ired) 

Af 

)iir- 

ail- 

[ue- 

■eli, 

ear 

iDa 

ive 

lad 

■o', 


H- 

d, 

1(1 

S, 


le 

le 

■t 


—the  Delaware  and  Hndsoii  Canal  Company 
furnishing  the  money — and  shortly  alter  its 
completion  the  line  was  leased  to  the  Erie, 
under  a lease  which  is  still  in  effect. 

About  1864  the  Jetferson  Company  raised 
capital  and  issued  bonds  for  building  along  the 
line  which  they  had  originally  contemplated, 
from  Honesdale  to  Hawley,  thus  making,  with 
the  road  built  by  the  Pennsylvania  Coal  Com- 
pany, a continuous  line  from  Honesdale  to 
Lackawaxen,  and  placing  the  former  town  in 
direct  connection  with  the  Erie.  Members  of 
the  Delaware  and  Hudson  Canal  Company,  in 
individual  capacity,  took  much  of  the  stock. 
Among  the  people  of  Honesdale  most  promi- 
nently identified  with  the  project  at  this  period 
and  later,  were  Judge  C.  P.  Waller,  Samuel  E. 
Dimmick  and  Zenas  H.  Russell. 

No  attempt  has  ever  been  made  to  connect, 
by  an  independent  line  over  the  Moosic  range, 
the  two  railroads  built  under  the  charter  of  the 
Jefferson  Company,  and  it  is  probable  that  none 
ever  will  be  made,  for  the  Delaware  and  Hud- 
son Canal  Company’s  Gravity  Railroad,  from 
Honesdale  to  Carbondale,  is  a sufficient  con- 
necting link. 

Proposed  Railroad  Route.s  out  of 
Montro.se. — As  early  as  1868  the  subject  of 
an  outlet  from  Montrose  began  to  be  agitated 
by  leading  citizens  of  the  borough  and  county 
and  men  influential  in  railroad  circles  outside 
of  the  county.  Judge  Asa  Packer,  then  presi- 
dent of  the  Lehigh  Valley  Railroad,  proposed 
to  the  projectors  of  a railroad  running  from 
Montrose  to  some  point  on  the  Lehigh  Valley 
Railroad,  to  furnish  the  equipments  for  the 
same,  and  everything  except  to  pay  for  the 
right  of  way  and  grading.  The  matter  was 
informally  discus.sed  by  Joseph  D.  Drinker,  B. 
F.  Blakslee,  Abner  Griffis,  Azur  Lathrop, 
Samuel  H.  Sayre,  E.  B.  Chandler,  C.  M.  Gere, 
George  Walker  and  others,  and  the  routes  from 
Montrose  to  Meshoppen  and  also  from  Mont- 
rose to  New  Milford  or  Great  Bend  were  dis- 
cussed. The  people  of  Meshoppen  objected  to 
the  former  and  opposed  the  plan  ; tlie  latter 
was  partially  surveyed,  but  what  seemed  to  be 
impassable  barriers  for  a railroad  route  were 
met  and  the  survey  was  abandoned.  After 


feeling  the  pulse  of  the  peojile  and  ascer- 
taining the  amount  that  could  be  depended 
upon  by  subscription  from  people  at  Montrose, 
along  the  line  of  the  propo.sed  railroad  in  the 
county  and  others  outside  of  the  county,  it  was 
decided  to  survey  a route  from  Montrose  to 
Tunkhannock,  build  a narrow-gauge  road  of 
three  feet  in  width  and  accept  the  proposition 
of  the  Lehigh  Valley  Railroad  Company.  In 
accordance  with  this,  the  State  Legislature  was 
petitioned  for  a charter  of  privilege,  which  was 
granted  at  the  session  of  1869,  and  Abner 
Griffis,  of  Forest  Lake,  paid  the  necessary 
amount,  one  hundred  dollars,  at  Harrisburg, 
and,  with  other  delegates,  formally  received  the 
charter.  The  capital  stock  is  one  million  dol- 
lars— shares  of  fifty  dollars  each. 

Montrose  Raii.way  Company. — In  pursu- 
ance of  the  charter  granted  by  tbe  Legislature 
of  Pennsylvania,  incorporating  the  Montrose 
Railway  Company,  a meeting  was  held  at  the 
public  school-house  in  Springville  on  the  27th 
day  of  April,  1871,  when  the  following  gentle- 
men were  duly  elected  : 

President:  James  I.  Blakslee,  1871-86. 

Directors : W.  H.  Cooper,  1871 ; Samuel  H.  Sayre, 
1871-86  ; H.  K.  Sherman,  1871-86 ; Samuel  Stark, 
1871-77;  C.  L.  Brown,  1871;  C.  M.  Gere,  1871- 
86;  S.  D.  Thomas,  1871-86;  G.  E.  Palen,  1871- 
79;  W.  H.  Jessup,  1871 ; S.  Tyler,  1871-86  ; B.  F. 
Blakslee,  1871-86;  Felix  Ansart,  1871. 

The  following  otlier  gentlemen  have  also 
served  as  directors  : 

Robert  Klotz,  1872-86  ; W.  J.  Mulford,  1872-86  ; 
C.  D.  Gearhart,  1880-86;  Azur  Lathroi^,  1872-79 ; 
Charles  0.  Skeer,  1872-86;  Paul  Billings,  1878-86  ; 
J.  S.  Tarbell,  1880-86. 

Secretaries : C.  L.  Brown,  1871-86 ; .1.  R.  Rayns- 
ford,  1878-86. 

Treasurers:  W.  H.  Cooper,  1871-84;  Asa  P. 

Blakslee,  1884-86. 

At  the  first  meeting  of  the  board,  held  at 
Springville  on  May  27,  1871,  it  was  directed 
that  a corps  of  engineers  be  at  once  employed 
under  the  supervision  of  Mr.  F.  Ansart,  Jr.,  to 
survey  and  locate  a cheap  route  for  a narrow- 
gauge  railroad  extending  from  Tuidvhannock  to 
Montrose.  President  Blakslee  reported  at  this 
meeting  that  the  Lehigh  Valley  Railroad  Com- 
pany had  agreed  to  furnish  the  rails,  ties,  spikes 


60 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


and  splices  necessary  for  the  superstructure  as 
soon  as  the  grading  had  been  completed  and 
paid  for  by  receipts  from  stock  subscriptions, 
they  agreeing  also  to  receive  the  payment  due 
them  in  stock  at  par.  On  December  14,  1871, 
the  engineer,  Felix  Ansart,  Jr.,  reported  to  the 
president  that  he  had  located,  marked  and  de- 
termined a route  for  a railroad  from  Tnnkhan- 
nock,  in  the  county  of  Wyoming,  to  Montrose, 
in  the  county  of  Suscpiehanna,  the  line  running 
from  the  depot  of  the  Pennsylvania  and  New 
York  Canal  and  Railroad  Company,  at  Tunk- 
hannock,  to  Marcy’s  Pond,  thence  along  the 
west  bank  of  the  pond  to  a summit  between  the 
waters  of  Marcy’s  Pond  and  the  Meshoppen 
Creek.  Crossing  the  same,  it  runs  in  a nearly 
direct  line  to  the  village  of  Springville,  thence 
by  the  village  of  Dimock  into  the  borough  of 
Montrose.  The  length  of  the  road  is  27^^^ 
miles.  The  terminus  at  Montrose  is  1045  feet 
higher  than  the  Tuukhannock  terminus.  There 
are  six  principal  summits : The  Marcy’s  Pond 
Summit,  Lemon,  Springville,  Woodbourne, 
Decker  and  Montrose. 

The  average  ascending  grade  per  mile  to  the 
first  summit  is  ninety-three  feet,  the  heaviest 
ninety-five  feet  and  the  lightest  eighty-six  feet. 
The  average  descending  grade  from  Lemon 
Summit  to  Meshoppen  Creek  is  forty  feet  per 
mile,  the  heaviest  seventy-three  feet,  and  the 
lightest  sixteen  feet.  The  average  ascending 
grade  from  Meshoppen  Creek  to  the  Springville 
Summit  is  eighty-five  feet,  the  heaviest  ninety- 
five  feet  and  the  lightest  seventy-six  feet.  From 
Springville  Summit  the  grade  for  one  mile  is 
level ; from  this  level  grade  to  AVoodbourne 
Summit,  nineteen  and  one-half  miles  fromTunk- 
hannock,  the  average  a.scending  grade  is  seven- 
ty-one feet  per  mile,  the  heaviest  eighty-eight 
feet  and  the  lightest  sixty-nine  feet.  From 
AA'oodbourne  Summit  to  Decker  Summit  there 
is  no  ascending  grade  exceeding  eighty-five  feet 
per  mile,  and  no  descending  grade  exceeding 
sixty-three  feet  per  mile.  From  Decker  Sum- 
mit to  Montrose  there  is  no  ascending  grade  ex- 
ceeding eighty  feet  per  mile  and  no  descending 
grade  exceeding  sixty-three  feet  per  mile.  There 
are  two  eighteen-degree  curves  having  a radius 
of  three  hundred  and  twenty  feet ; with  this 


exce^kion,  the  maximum  curve  is  sixteen  de- 
grees. 

The  contract  for  grading  the  Montrose  Rail- 
way road-bed  was  taken  by  Colonel  Perry 
Marcy,  of  Tunkhaunock,  to  be  built  ready  for 
the  track  for  $101,000,  and  to  be  completed 
August  1,  1872 ; but  during  that  year  the  road 
was  only  completed  from  Tunkhannock  to 
Springville  and  cars  run  on  it,  a distance  of 
fourteen  miles. 

By  the  middle  of  May,  1873,  passenger  and 
baggage  cars  commenced  running  regularly  be- 
tween Tunkhannock  and  Hunter’s,  and  the  road 
was  graded  as  far  as  Jessup’s  or  the  Brooklyn 
road.  This  near  approach  of  the  railroad  to 
Montrose  reduced  the  price  of  coal  two  dollars 
per  ton,  notwithstanding  the  price  of  coal  at  the 
mines  was  one  dollar  per  ton  higher  than  when 
the  building  of  the  road  was  begun.  At  the 
meeting  of  the  board  of  directors,  January  11, 
1875,  President  Blakslee  reported  the  road-bed 
completed,  the  track  laid  through  to  the  borough 
limits  of  Montrose,  and  that  regular  trains  had 
been  running  over  the  entire  road  since  June  1, 
1874.  He  also  reported  that  the  subscriptions 
for  stock  were  6277  shares,  amounting  to  $313,- 
850,  of  which  5689  shares  had  been  paid  in 
full,  and  $6584  had  been  paid  on  the  balance, 
leaving  still  unpaid  $22,816  ; and  that  if  this 
balance  due  on  stock  was  paid  in,  it  would  place 
the  road  out  of  debt.  Many  of  the  stockholders 
having  failed  to  pay  their  subscriptions,  a com- 
mittee was  appointed  at  the  meeting  of  the 
board  in  January,  1874,  to  solicit  $20,000  ad- 
ditional subscriptions  to  the  stock  of  the  com- 
pany. A t the  close  of  the  year  1873  the  equip- 
ment of  the  road  consisted  of  two  fifteen-ton  lo- 
comotives, built  by  the  Baldwin  Locomotive 
Works;  two  passenger,  one  baggage,  three  box, 
two  flat,  and  eight  gondola  cars.  T.  G.  Wal- 
ters, who  had  the  contract  for  laying  the  track 
of  the  road,  up  to  this  time  had  acted  as  con- 
ductor, freight  agent,  road-master  and  superin- 
tendent, while  the  engineer,  AVm.  Luckenbill, 
had  also  acted  as  master  mechanic,  both  of  which 
gentlemen  have  continued  as  employes  of  the  road 
ujj  to  this  time,  1886. 

The  receipts  for  cai'rying  passengers  on  this 
road  in  1874  were  $9560.16  ; for  freight,  $13,- 


ERECTION  OF  COUNTY. 


61 


301.60;  total  receipts,  $24,838.56.  Total  ex- 
penses for  the  same  year,  $14,657.34. 

For  the  twelve  mouths  ending  November  30, 
1885,  the  receipts  for  passenger  transportation 

were  $6999.23 ; for  freight 

, $18,398.88  ; total 

receipts,  $27,778.53.  Total  expenses  for  the 
same  year,  $20,832.50.  The  general  balance- 

sheet  at  the  last-mentioned 
lows : 

date  shows  as  fol- 

Construction  account 

$332,741.18 

Equipment 

41,308.13 

Lehigh  Valley  R.  R.  Co.,  due  on 

special  account 

1,249.43 

W.  H.  Cooper  estate 

1,276.10 

C.  D.  Gearhart 

29.03 

Cash 

7,193.25 

$383,797.12 

Capital  stock 

$304,900.00 

Funded  debts 

15,000.00 

Capital  stock  (part  paid).... 

2,527.21 

Profit  and  loss 

61,369.91 

$383,797.12 

CHAPTER 

VIII. 

ERECTION  OF  COUNTY. 

Erection  of  Susquehanna  County— Erection  of  Townships  and  Charter- 
ing of  Boroughs — Census— Civil  List. 

County  Organization. — The  provincial 
government  erected  the  county  of  Northumber- 
land March  21,  1772,  from  Lancaster,  Cumber- 
land, Berks,  Northampton  and  Bedford,  taking 
in  an  immense  stretch  of  territory.  ^ The 
southern  line  ran  from  the  Mohontongo,  on  the 
western  side  of  the  Susquehanna,  through  Sny- 
der, Mifflin,  Centre,  Huntingdon,  Blair,  Clear- 
field, Elk,  Cameron  and  McKean  Counties,  to 
the  New  York  line;  thence  eastward  to  near  the 
eastern  line  of  Susqnehanna  County ; thence 
southward  to  Lehigh,  and  thence  along  or  near 
the  p]-esent  lines  of  Luzerne,  Columbia,  Monroe, 
Carbon,  Schuylkill  and  Dauphin  to  the  begin- 
ning. The  act  of  September  30,  1779,  cur- 
tailed the  limits  of  Northumberland  on  the 
Juniata,  and  added  a much  larger  area  on  the 

1 Hon.  J.  Simpson  Africa’s  Address,  page  7. 


northwest.  September  25,  1786,  Luzerne 
County  was  erected  from  Northumberland,  and 
so  named  in  honor  of  Chevalier  De  la  Luzerne, 
Minister  of  France  to  the  United  States  during 
the  Revolutionary  struggle.  By  act  of  the 
Legislature,  February  21,  1810,  Susquehanna 
County  was  set  off  from  Luzerne ; Ontario 
(now  Bradford)  was  erected  under  the  same  act 
from  Luzerne  and  Lycoming.  The  act  pro- 
vided that  the  line  should  run  “ from  the  forti- 
eth mile-stone  standing  on  the  north  line  of  the 
State  to  a point  due  east  of  the  head  of  ^Yya- 
lusing  Falls,  in  the  Susquehanna  ; thence  due 
east  to  the  western  line  of  Wayne  County  ; 
thence  northerly  along  the  said  western  line  of 
Wayne  County  to  the  aforesaid  north  line  of 
the  State  (at  the  sixth  mile-stone,  counting  from 
the  Delaware  River  westward),  and  thence 
along  the  said  State  line  to  the  fortieth  mile- 
stone, the  place  of  beginning.”  The  dividing 
line  between  Wayne  and  Susquehanna  was  sur- 
veyed by  H.  L.  Stephens,  on  the  part  of 
Wayne,  and  J.  W.  Chapman  and  C.  M.  Gere, 
on  the  part  of  Sirsquehanna,  in  1870.  They 
found  that  the  line  between  the  counties  struck 
the  State  line  one  hundred  and  twenty  perches 
west  of  the  sixth  mile-stone;  hence  Susquehanna 
County  extends  from  one  hundred  and  twenty 
perches  west  of  the  sixth  on  the  New  York 
State  line  to  the  fortieth  mile-stone,  and  is 
thirty-three  and  five-eighths  miles  in  length  by 
about  twenty-four  and  one-half  miles  average 
width ; the  east  line  being  twenty-four  and 
three-quarters  miles  precisely,  and  the  west  about 
twenty-four  and  one-quarter;  the  true  polar 
course  of  the  east  line  north  two  and  one- 
quarter  degrees  west,  and  the  north  line  due 
west,  embracing  an  area  of  about  eight  hundred 
and  twenty-four  square  miles. 

“The  county  derives  its  name  from  the  fact  that 
the  Susquehanna  River  first  enters  the  State  of  Penn- 
sylvania within  its  limits.  The  county  is  fortunate 
in  having  the  sweet-sounding  Indian  name  retained 
for  constant  local  use.  ‘Hanna’  signifies  a stream 
of  water,  and  ‘Susque’  is  generally  believed  to  mean 
crooked,  though  one  writer  gives  its  signification  as 
muddy,  for  which  there  is  no  justification  in  j)oint  of 
fact;  and  the  Indians  gave  no  arbitrary  names.  A 
more  winding,  crooked  stream  than  the  Susquehanna, 
as  to  general  course,  is  not  to  be  found  in  the  North- 


62 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


ern  States;  iu  this  county  it  varies  directly  three 
times.  In  the  grand  sweep  of  the  river,  from  Lanes- 
boi’o’  to  Pittston,  it  completely  drains  the  county, 
every  stream  within  its  borders  eventually  falling 
into  it.  When  the  north  line  of  the  State  was  deter- 
mined, in  1786,  it  was  found  to  cross  twelve  streams 
running  south,  and  nine  running  north  between  the 
sixth  and  fortieth  mile-stones  from  the  Delaware 
River — the  limits  of  the  north  line  of  Susquehanna 
County.  Prominent  among  these  were  the  ‘Appela- 
cunck,’  ‘Chucknut,’  and  ‘Snake  Creeks.’  (See  ‘Penn- 
sylvania Archives,’  No.  29.) 

“Running  north  into  the  Susquehanna,  but  not 
crossing  the  State  line,  there  are,  besides  minor 
streams,  Wylie  Creek,  the  Salt  Lick,  Mitchell’s, 
Drinker’s,  the  Canawacta,  and  Starrucca;  though  the 
latter  and  Cascade  Creek  may  rather  be  said  to  enter 
the  river  from  the  east.” 

Tioga  township,  in  old  Northumberland,  ex- 
tended from  the  western  line  of  Bucks  (now 
AVayne)  County  to  Big  Aleadows,  in  Tioga 
County,  and  was  eighteen  miles  in  depth  from 
the  State  line.  In  1790  that  portion  of  Lu-  | 
zerne  County  now  constituting  the  county  of  | 
Susquehanna,  was  in  two  townships,  Tioga  and 
AVyalusing.  By  order  of  the  justices  of  Lu- 
zerne, Tioga  was  bounded  on  the  north  by  the 
State  line,  and  east  and  west  by  the  lines  of 
that  county,  and  on  the  south  by  an  east  and 
west  linewdaich  should  strike  the  standing  .stone. 
AANal  using  was  bounded  on  the  north  by  Tioga 
township,  on  the  east  and  west  by  lines  of  the 
county,  and  on  the  south  by  the  east  and  west 
line  passing  through  the  mouth  of  the  Meshop- 
pen  Creek. 

In  Alarch,  1791,  the  court  of  Luzerne  or- 
dered the  erection  of  the  township  of  AVilling- 
borough  from  the  northeast  corner  of  Tioga, 
but  its  boundaries  were  not  defined  until  April, 
1793,  when  the  bounds  were  defined  as  follows: 
^‘From  the  twenty-first  mile  stone  on  the  north 
line  of  the  State,  south  six  miles ; thence  east 
until  it  shall  intersect  the  line  to  be  run  between 
Luzerne  and  Northampton  Counties ; thence 
north  to  the  State  line  ; thence  west  to  the  place 
of  beginning.”  This  made  a township  six  miles 
north  and  south  by  fifteen  miles  east  and  west, 
but  the  early  pioneers  had  very  little  knowledge 
of  township  boundaries,  and  AVillingborough 
included  the  settlers  in  the  northeastern  quarter 
of  the  county. 

August,  1795,  Nicholson,  so  named  from 


John  Nicholson,  comptroller  of  the  State,  was  ' 
erected  from  parts  of  Tioga  and  AVyalusing,  . 
with  the  following  boundaries  : 

“Beginning  at  the  place  where  the  north  line  of  ^ 
the  township  of  Tunkhannock  cro-sses  a small  creek  1 ^ 
west  of  Martin’s  Creek;  running  thence  due  north  . 
thirteen  miles;  thence  east  to  the  east  line  of  the 
county;  thence  south  on  the  county  line  to  the  place  ■ 
where  it  shall  intersect  the  north  line  of  Tunkhan- 
nock township;  thence  west  on  said  line  to  place  of 
beginning.” 

“In  January,  1797,  the  court  approved,  but 
not ‘finally’  until  January,  1798,  the  petition 
of  Ephraim  Kirby,  and  others,  for  the  erection 
of  the  township  of  Lawsville.  (See  Franklin.) 

“In  1799  Braintrim  was  .set  off  from  AA^yalus- 
ing  and  Tunkhannock  ; the  portion  taken  from 
the  former  by  Su.squehanna  County  retains 
nearly  its  original  dimensions  in  the  present 
town  of  Auburn. 

“January,  1801,  Ezekiel  Hyde,  Justus  Gay- 
lord and  M.  Miner  York  were  appointed  com- 
missioners to  set  off  the  township  of  Rush,  and 
in  November  of  the  same  year  their  report  was 
accepted.  The  township  was  eighteen  miles 
north  and  south  by  thirteen  miles  east  and  west, 
except  that  on  the  south  line  it  extended  five 
miles  farther,  this  extension  being  five  miles 
square.  The  whole  comprised  172,660  acres. 

“Though  the  township  mentioned  did  not  ab- 
sorb the  two  townships  of  1790,  the  latter  are 
not  ag^ain  mentioned  in  this  section  on  the  Lu- 
zerne records.  Practically,  the  line  of  AVilling- 
borough extended  to  Nicholson  on  the  south, 
and  both,  to  Rindaw  (district)  on  the  west. 

“In  1805  the  court  was  petitioned  to  erect  the 
townships  of  Clifford,  Bridgewater  and  New 
Alilford.  The  first-named  was  approved  ‘finally’ 
in  April,  1806,  the  second  in  November  fol- 
lowing, and  the  last  in  August,  1807.  The 
northeast  corner  of  Clifford  was  then  tw^elve 
miles  below'  the  State  line,  being  also  wdiat  was 
the  northeast  corner  of  old  Nicholson,  and  its 
area  was  one  hundred  and  eight  .sqnare  miles. 
The  eastern  limit  of  New  Milford,  like  that  of 
Clifford,  was  the  line  of  AVayne  County.  Bridge- 
water  extended  north  and  .south  about  twenty- 
five  miles. 

“At  August  sessions,  1807,  a petition  from  the 
‘ Nine  Partners’  was  promptly  considered,  and 


outlint:  :niap  of  si'sc^fehaa^xa  go  . pa  . 


ERECTION  OF  COUNTY. 


G3 


Harford  was  granted  January,  1808.  For 
eleven  years  the  inhabitants  had  desired  town- 
ship organization,  but  two  or  three  previous 
petitions  had  failed  to  secure  the  result.” 

In  1809  Harmony  was  organized,  the  last 
township  ordered  by  the  court  of  Luzerne  in 
the  section  constituting  Susquehanna  County. 
It  formed  the  northeast  corner  of  the  latter,  as  it 
had  of  the  former,  extending  from  the  State  line 
twelve  miles  south,  and  from  Wayne  County 
nine  miles  west.  The  original  ten  townships 
when  the  county  was  organized  wei’e  Willing- 
borough,  now  Great  Bend ; Nicholson,  since 
August,  1813,  Lenox;  Lawsville,  embracing 
Liberty  and  a greater  part  of  Franklin;  Brain- 
trim,  now  Auburn;  Rush,  embracing,  besides 
its  present  limits,  Middletown,  Choconut,  Apo- 
lacon  and  the  western  parts  of  Jessup  and 
Forest  Lake;  Clifford,  embracing,  besides  its 
present  limits,  Gibson,  Herrick  and  the  south- 
ern part  of  Ararat;  Bridgewater,  embracing, 
besides  its  present  territory,  all  of  Brooklyn, 
Lathrop,  Springville,  Dimock,  Silver  Lake,  the 
eastern  parts  of  Jessup,  Forest  Lake  and  the 
south  part  of  Franklin;  New  Milford;  Harford, 
long  known  as  Nine  Partners ; and  Harmony, 
embracing  Oakland,  Jackson,  Thomson  and 
the  northern  part  of  Ararat.  After  the  county 
was  organized,  Silver  Lake  and  Gibson  were 
erected  in  1813,  and  Nicholson  was  named 
Lenox  that  year.  In  1814  Rush  was  reduced 
to  its  present  limits,  and  Choconut  and  Middle- 
town  were  erected  therefrom.  Springville  was 
also  erected  that  year,  likewise  Waterford,  called 
Hopbottom,  in  1823,  and  Brooklyn  in  1825. 
Jackson  was  erected  in  1815;  Herrick,  1825; 
Dimock,  1832;  Thomson,  1833;  Franklin, 
1835;  Forest  Lake,  1836;  Lathrop,  Jessup 
and  Apolacon,  1846  ; Ararat,  1852  ; Oakland, 
1853;  Lawsville  became  Liberty  in  1836. 

B()R(jughs. — Montrose,  incorporated  1824  ; 
Dundatf,  1828 ; Frieudsville,  1848  ; Susquehanna 
Depot,  1853;  New  Milford,  1859;  Great  Bend, 
1861;  Little  Meadows,  1862;  Thomson,  1876; 
Hallstead  (formerly  Great  Bend  Village  Bor- 
ough), 1874;  Hopbottom,  1881  : Oakland,  1883; 
Uniondale,  1885. 

Early  in  1808  a division  of  Luzerne  County 
was  contemplated,  and  a public  meeting  to  favor 


the  object  was  held  July  13th,  at  the  house  of 
Edward  Fuller,  in  Bridgewater,  about  four 
miles  below  Montrose — Asa  Lathrop  presiding, 
and  J.  W.  Raynsford  acting  as  secretary.  Owing 
to  a disagreement  as  to  county  lines,  it  was  pro- 
posed that  all  the  townships  should  send  dele- 
gates to  a meeting  to  be  held  at  the  hou.se  of 
Salmon  Bosworth,  in  Rush,  September  1st  fol- 
lowing, and  then  endeavor  to  decide  the  matter  ; 
but  it  was  not  until  a year  and  a half  later  that 
the  act  of  Legislature  was  passed  which  erected 
Susquehanna  County,  and  it  was  two  years  more 
before  the  county  was  fully  organized  with 
officers  and  courts  of  her  own. 

In  1811  all  moneys  in  the  county  district  of 
Susquehanna  were,  by  act  of  Legislature,  to  be 
kept  separate  from  those  of  Luzerne,  and  within 
the  bounds  of  that  district.  February  25, 1812, 
a meeting  was  held  at  the  house  of  Isaac  Post, 
in  Bridgewater,  to  recommend  proper  persons  to 
the  Governor  to  fill  the  several  offices  necessary 
to  the  organization  of  Susquehanna  County — 
Davis  Dimock,  chairman,  and  J.  W.  Raynsford, 
secretary.  The  citizens  of  each  township  were 
recommended  to  nominate  officers  at  their  annual 
town-meeting  in  March,  1812,  and  make  re- 
turns the  Monday  following  at  the  house  of 

I.  Post. 

Previous  to  the  erection  of  Su.squehanna 
County,  Luzerne  was  divided  into  twelve  elec- 
tion districts,  of  which  Willingboro’,  Lawsville 
and  Nicholson  constituted  the  tenth,  and  Rush, 
or  Rindaw,  the  ninth.  In  1810  Bridgewater 
contained  1418  inhabitants,  Clifford,  675 ; Har- 
ford, 477  ; AYillingboro’  and  Harmony,  413  : 
New  Milford,  174;  and  Lawsville,  169.  In 
1812  proclamation  for  elections  were  issued 
from  Luzerne  to  Susquehanna  County  District; 
but  the  Legislature  had  decreed  that  “after  the 
second  Tuesday  of  October,  1812,  Susquehanna 
shall  enjoy  and  exercise  in  judicial  matters,  all 
powers  and  ju’ivileges,  etc.”  The  new  county 
was  included  with  Wayne,  Tioga  and  Bradford, 
in  tlie  Eleventh  Judicial  District.  Isaac  Post 
was  appointed  treasurer,  Edward  Fuller,  sheriff: 
Dr.  Charles  Fraser,  prothonotary  and  clerk  of 
the  .several  courts,  register  and  recorder;  Hon. 

J.  B.  Gibson,  j)resident  judge ; Davis  Dimoek 
and  William  Thom.son,  associate  judges.  At 


64 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEBANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


the  time  oforganization  Thos.  Parke,  of  Bridge- 
water,  was  commissioner  of  Luzerne,  but  he 
resigned  ; Bartlett  Hinds,  Laban  Capron  and 
Isaac  Brownson  were  appointed  commissioners 
for  the  new  county.  Governor  Simon  Snyder 
also  commissioned  Asahel  Avery  justice  of  the 
peace  for  Willingboro’  in  1812,  Isaac  Brown- 
son  for  Rush,  Joshua  W.  Raynsford,  for 
Bridgewater,  Laban  Capron  for  Harford — all 
appointed  March  28,  1812,  for  life,  or  during 
good  behavior.  In  1813  Asa  Dimock  was  ap- 
pointed for  Clifford  ; Charles  Dimon,  Willing- 
boro’; Zenas  Bliss,  Bridgewater  ; Jabez  Tyler, 
Willingboro’;  Rufus  Lines,  Lawsville  ; Hosea 
Tiffany,  Harford.  In  1815,  David  Post, 
Bridgewater  and  Springville  ; 1817,  Edward 
Paine,  Harford ; Samuel  A.  Brown,  Bridge- 
water  and  Springville. 

“ The  county -seat  was  located  at  Montrose  as  early 
as  July,  1811,  by  three  commissioners  appointed  by 
the  Governor.  They  were  permitted  to  locate  it  at  a 
distance  not  exceeding  seven  miles  from  the  centre  of 
the  county.  Stakes  were  set  at  several  places  pro- 
posed— one  in  Brooklyn,  one  in  Harford,  and  one  in 
New  Milford.  But,  in  addition  to  a greater  political 
influence  existing,  a stronger  pecuniary  interest  was 
brought  to  bear  for  its  location  in  Montrose.  Dr.  R. 
H.  Rose,  whose  extensive  tracts  of  land  reached  this 
vicinity,  made  more  liberal  offers  to  secure  this  loca- 
tion than  any  that  could  be  made  elsewhere.  Besides^ 
a gift  of  a public  square  at  this  point  for  the  erection 
of  the  county  buildings,  as  also  of  other  lots,  was 
made  by  Bartlett  Hinds  and  Isaac  Post.” 

The  land  given  by  Bartlett  Hinds  had  been 
granted  by  the  commonwealth  to  Thos.  Cad- 
wallader,  who  by  deed  conveyed  it  to  Samuel 
Meredith,  who  b}^  deed  conveyed  it  to  George 
Clyraer,  who  by  deed,  October  19,  1804,  con- 
veyed it  to  Bartlett  Hinds.  Another  portion 
was  granted  by  the  commonwealth  to  Jos.  Bul- 
lock and  Isaac  Franks,  who  by  deed  conveyed 
it  to  Tench  Francis,  whose  widow,  by  her  attor- 
ney, conveyed  the  same  to  Bartlett  Hinds,  July 
9,  1804.  The  laud  given  by  Isaac  Post  (con- 
sideration $1.00)  was  first  granted  to  the  same 
pai’ties  as  the  portion  last-mentioned,  who  by 
their  deeds  conveyed  it  to  Tench  Francis,  who 
by  his  last  will  and  testament,  April  4,  1800, 
devised  his  estate  to  his  widow,  Anne  Francis, 
who  by  deed,  February  18,  1809,  granted  the 
land  to  Robert  H.  [Rose,  which  sale  was  con- 


firmed to  the  said  Robert  H.  Rose,  by  deed, 
February  25,  1809,  from  Richard  Penn  (her  at- 
torney), and  on  the  5th  of  October  of  the  same 
year  was  conveyed  by  him  to  Isaac  Post.  July 
24,  1812,  the  aforesaid  lands  were  deeded  to 
Susquehanna  County  by  Isaac  and  Susannah 
Post  and  Bartlett  and  Agnes  Hinds;  and,  on  the 
31st  of  the  same  month,  the  conveyance  was 
acknowledged  as  a free  act  and  deed,  before  J. 
W.  Raynsford,  justice  of  the  peace. 

Soon  after  the  organization  of  the  Board  of 
Commissioners,  Isaac  Post,  the  treasurer,  was 
charged  with  the  subscription  papers  of  dona- 
tions made  towards  building  the  court-house, 
etc.  It  will  be  seen  by  the  following  list  of 
subscribers,  with  the  sums  given  by  each,  that 
the  amounts  were  graduated  somewhat  by  the 
nearness  of  their  property  to  the  new  county- 
seat,  as  well  as  by  the  length  of  their  purses: 

Robert  H.  Rose,  whose  lands  reached  near  the  vil- 
lage, gave  $200 ; Stephen  Wilson,  whose  farm  was  a 
little  south  of  it,  gave  $100;  Abinoam  Hinds,  Conrad 
Hinds  and  Isaac  Peckins  gave  each  $50  ; David  Har- 
ris, Jonathan  Wheaton  and  James  Trane  gave  each 
$25 ; Simeon  Tyler,  Cyrus  Messenger,  Samuel  Quick, 
Joseph  Hubbard  and  Samuel  Coggswell  gave  each  $20 ; 
Joseph  Chapman,  Edward  Fuller,  Jos.  Butterfield, 
Henry  Post,  Levi  Leonard,  John  Bard,  Zebulon 
Deans,  Edmond  Stone  gave  each  $10 ; Freeman  Fish, 
back,  Thos.  Scott  and  Samuel  Scott  gave  each  $5; 
Bartlett  Hinds,  Isaac  and  David  Post,  on  whose  lands 
the  county-seat  was  located,  gave  a number  of  village 
lots. 

The  fir.st  court  was  held  in  Isaac  Post’s  tav- 
ern, and  the  basement  of  Keeler’s  hotel  was  the 
first  jail.  Commissioners  Butler,  Sutton  and 
Dorrance,  of  Wyoming  Valley,  fixed  the  loca- 
tion for  the  court-house.  The  corner-stone  of 
the  first  court-house  was  laid  in  1812,  but  the 
building  was  not  erected  until  June,  1813.  It 
was  built  by  Oliver  C.  Smith,  at  a cost  of  $4500. 
Besides  the  court-room,  in  the  second  story,  the 
jail  and  jailor’s  residence  were  in  the  first  story, 
and  the  corner  rooms  in  front,  above  and  below, 
were  made  to  accommodate  all  the  county  offices. 
A small  stone  fire-proof  building  was  erected  in 
1818  by  Daniel  Lyon,  at  a cost  of  $2562.60  in 
the  rear  of  the  court-house,  to  keep  the  county 
records  in.  The  first  telegraph  office  at  Mon- 
trose was  in  the  attic  of  this  building.  In 


SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY  COURT-HOUSE,  ERECTED  1854-5. 


i 


ERECTION  OF  COUNTY. 


65 


1853  a jail  was  erected  by  Boyd  & Smith,  at  a 
cost  of  $5768.34.  It  is  now  used  for  an  engine- 
house. 

The  present  court-house  was  built  in  1854-55. 
The  contract  cost  of  the  building  was  $18,500; 
architect,  $320 ; furniture,  including  bell,  $1425,- 
70;  total,  $20,245.70.  The  ground  dimensions, 
including  stylobate,  are  fifty-four  by  eighty-two 
feet.  The  county  offices  are  on  the  first  floor, 
the  court-room  on  the  second  floor  and  jury- 
rooms  on  the  third  floor.  The  contract  was 
made  between  John  Hancock,  Amos  Williams 
and  Amherst  Carpenter,  commi.ssioners,  and 
Levi  B.  Guernsey,  Wm.  L.  Post,  I.  L.  Post, 
W.  H.  Boyd  and  Avery  Frink,  contractors.  In 
1870  repairs  were  made  on  the  new  court-house 
amounting  to  $3025.09.  In  1883  an  addition 
was  built  on  the  rear  end  of  the  court-house, 
twenty-six  by  fifty-five  feet,  containing  rooms 
for  the  janitor,  chambers  for  the  judge,  waiting- 
rooms  and  a law  library  room.  There  is  a cellar 
under  the  entire  building,  which  is  heated  by 
steam.  Boyd,  Corwin  & Cooley  built  the  an- 
nex for  $6500.  The  town  clock  was  purchased 
by  the  citizens  of  Montrose  and  placed  in  the 
cupola  of  the  court-house. 

Where  to  the  North  and  the  South,  to  the  East  and 
West, 

It  points  with  its  hands  to  the  minutes  as  they  fly  ; 
While,  with  slow-measured  stroke,  it  wakes  a sad 
unrest. 

To  hear  its  midnight  toll  on  the  winds  as  they  sigh. 

The  new  jail  was  erected  in  1867-68  by 
Avery  Frink  at  a cost  of  $34,707.07.  The 
stones  of  which  it  is  built  were  mostly  quarried 
from  the  immediate  vicinity. 

The  following  is  the  list  of  collectors,  with 
the  amount  of  their  duplicates,  in  the  year  1813 : 


Bridgewater, 

Jonah  Brewster, 

81265  04 

Clifford, 

Walter  Lyon, 

442  22 

Kush, 

Philo  Bostwick, 

418  ,37 

Harford, 

David  Aldrich, 

27.3  71 

"Willingboro’  (Gt.  Bend),  Silas  Buck, 

220  01 

New  Milford, 

Benjamin  Hayden, 

194  99 

Laweville, 

Titus  Smith, 

151  80 

Harmony, 

Isaac  Hale, 

71  22 

Braintrim  (Auburn), 

William  Cooley, 

68  77 

Nicholson  (Lenox), 

Solomon  Millard, 

57  27 

Total, 

®;U54  00 

The-  following 

statement  from 

the  county 

commissioners’  clerk  for  the  year  1886  will  show 
the  increase  in  the  aggregate  wealth  of  the 
5 


county, — the  aggregate  amount  of  real  and  per- 
sonal property  taxable  for  county  purpo.ses  as 
returned  by  the  asse.ssors  in  the  year  1886  (real 
estate  valued  at  about  one-fourth  its  real  value), 
taxable  for  both  county  and  State  purposes,  real 
and  personal  and  money  at  interest.  The  light 
additional  assessment  in  June,  when  voters  are 
registered,  is  not  included. 

Monbv  at  Interest 

Real  and  Personal.  for  1886. 

Taxable  for  County  Taxable  for  St  te 

purposes  for  1886.  purposes. 


Apolacon,  

869,885 

00 

86,331 

00 

Ararat, 

49,600 

00 

14  878 

00 

Auburn,  

22.3,.521 

00 

27,586 

00 

Bridgewater, 

233,976 

00 

43,583 

no 

Brooklyn,  

136,551 

00 

124,306 

00 

Choconut,  

66,307 

uo 

9,292 

00 

Clifford,  

163,272 

00 

54,986 

00 

Dimock,  

129,412 

no 

116,178 

00 

Dundaff  Borough, 

17,320 

00 

2,790 

00 

Forest  Lake,  

112,018 

00 

30,704 

00 

Franklin,  

107,481 

00 

20,784 

00 

Friendsville  Borough, 

17,361 

00 

13,415 

00 

Gibson 

173,134 

00 

100,504 

00 

Great  Bend  Township, 

118,159 

00 

30,845 

00 

Great  Bend  Borough, 

59,805 

00 

84,311 

00 

Hallstead  Borough, 

43,265 

00 

14,994 

00 

Harford, 

142,721 

00 

77,217 

00 

Harmony, 

124,094 

00 

92,718 

00 

Herrick, 

83,311 

00 

15,036 

00 

Hophottom  Borough, 

20,856 

00 

26,768 

00 

Jackson, 

128,650 

00 

28,  .588 

00 

Jessup, 

81,908 

00 

27,023 

00 

Lathrop,  

70,528 

00 

28,128 

00 

Lenox, 

143,106 

00 

39,108 

00 

Liberty, 

96,100 

00 

28,547 

00 

Little  Meadows  Borough, .... 

18,970 

00 

6,118 

00 

Middletown,  

81,062 

00 

22,792 

00 

Montix*se  Borough 

212,963 

00 

335,186 

00 

New  Milford  Township, 

192,000 

00 

31,033 

00 

New  Milford  Borough, 

89,945 

00 

80,903 

00 

Oakland  Township,  

50,224 

00 

8,533 

00 

Oakland  Borough,  

27,117 

00 

0,947 

00 

Rush, 

118,386 

00 

31,494 

00 

Silver  Lake, 

103,529 

00 

21,211 

00 

Springville,  

138,328 

00 

36,721 

00 

Susquehanna  Depot  Borough 

, 180,530 

00 

61,649 

00 

Thomson  Township, 

51,183 

00 

15,187 

00 

Thomson  Borough, 

13,935 

00 

32,690 

00 

Uniondale  Borough, 

26,915 

00 

1.5,641 

50 

83,908,418 

00 

$1,704,725 

00 

E.  G.  Ball,  County  CyOmmissumers'  Clerk. 


The  Census. — In  1810  Susquehanna  County, 
although  erected  by  act  of  Legislature,  was  still 
officially  connected  with  Luzerne ; and  the 
population  of  several  of  the  townships  included 
tho.se  of  both  counties,  as  Nicholson,  Cliflbrd, 
Braintrim,  llu.sh  and  Bridgewater.  The  last- 
named,  however,  was  almost  entirely  above  the 
line  of  divi.sion,  and  its  population  1418  ; that 
of  Willingborough,  351  ; Harmony,  80  ; Law.s- 
ville,  169;  New  Milford,  178.  The  census 
was  taken  by  Isaac  A.  Chapman. 


66 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


POPULATION  IN  1820.  (Taken  by  Bei.a  Jones.) 


Males. 

Females. 

Total. 

Auburn. 

113 

93 

206 

Bridgewiiter, 

1027 

956 

1983 

Choconut,  

257 

249 

506 

Clifford, 

349 

332 

681 

Gibson, 

455 

455 

910 

Great  Bend, 

289 

236 

525 

Harford, 

321 

319 

640 

Haimony 

80 

93 

173 

Jackson, 

128 

137 

266 

Lawsville, 

229 

237 

466 

Lenox, 

110 

104 

214 

Middletown, 

276 

253 

631 

New  Milford, 

324 

286 

610 

Bush 

134 

108 

242 

Silver  Lake,  

258 

198 

456 

Springville, 

385 

326 

711 

Waterford, 

401 

378 

779 

Total  whites, 

5145 

4760 

9908 

Total  blacks, 

Total  number  inhabitants, . 

. 9958 

Of  the  above  there  were  the  following  clasRifications  : Farmers,  1864  ; 
mechanics,  261  ; merchants,  23  ; foreigners  not  naturalized,  309. 

There  were  in  the  county  : Sheep,  12,259  ; horses,  857  ; oxen,  1358 ; 
cows,  2586;  grist-mills,  29;  saw-mills,  62;  fulling-mills,  7;  carding 
machines,  8 ; tanneries,  5 ; grain  distilleries,  12. 

There  was  manufactured  in  the  county  during  the  year  ending  August 
1, 1820:  Of  woolen  cloth,  37,797  yards  ; of  linen  cloth,  52,762  yards. 

There  was  in  the  county  (1820) : Ot  improved  lands,  33,780  acres ; of 
unimproved  lands,  171,831  acres ; of  unseated  lands,  224,935  acres. 
Total  acres  in  county,  430,546  acres. 

The  valuation  of  taxable  property,  as  collected  from  assessment  rolls 
of  1821,  amounted  to  $1,007,698.  Number  of  taxables,  1821,  2061. 


1830.  1840.  1850. 

Auburn, 516  1113  1837 

Apolacon, 748 

Bridgewater, 2440  2082  1548 

Brooklyn, 1350  1474  1082 

Choconut, 782  952  894 

Clifford, 866  1068  1647 

Bimock, 998  1056 

Dundaff, 298  304  296 

Forest  Lake, 606  780 

Friendsville, 185 

Franklin, 515  703 

Gibson, 1081  1219  1459 

Great  Bend, 797  859  1150 

Harford, 999  1179  1258 

Harmony, 341  523  1578 

Herrick, 468  629  824 

Jackson, 641  754  978 

Jessup, 840 

Lathrop,  510 

Lawsville, 878  

Lenox, 546  800  1443 

Liberty, 554  833 

Middletown, 683  589  1140 

Montrose,  415  632  917 

New  Milford, 1000  1148  1433 

Bush, 643  1039  1159 

Silver  Lake 516  907  1213 

Spriiigvillo, 1514  926  1148 

Thomson, 509 


Totals, 16, 782  21, 195  29, 168 

1860.  1870.  1880. 

Apolacon, 910  528  539 

Ararat, 500  771  639 

Auburn, 2164  2006  2089 

Bridgewater, 1785  1459  1517 

Brooklyn, 1213  1128  1100 

Choconut,  1068  939  537 

Clifford, 1624  1532  1454 


Bimock, 

1181 

1124 

1071 

BundafT, 

245 

187 

171 

Forest  Lake, 

1125 

995 

990 

Franklin,  

805 

849 

815 

Friendsville, 

202 

223 

176 

Gibson, 

1439 

1368 

1350 

Great  Bend  Borough, 

855 

1136 

Great  Bend  Township, 

1976 

1431 

1301 

Hallstead,  

546 

Harford, 

1441 

1595 

1505 

Harmony, 

1072 

1212 

1924 

Herrick, 

904 

950 

1104 

Jackson, 

1121 

1175 

1095 

Jessup, 

867 

804 

762 

Lathrop, 

876 

983 

1054 

Lenox, 

1791 

1751 

1730 

Liberty, 

11130 

1108 

Little  Meadows, 

159 

Middletown, 

923 

871 

833 

Montrose, 

1268 

1463 

1722 

N^w  Milford  Borough,  

414 

600 

803 

New  Milford  Township 

1515 

1647 

1465 

Oakland  Township, 

522 

1106 

1415 

Rush, 

1471 

1418 

1357 

Silver  Lake, 

1313 

1079 

1105 

Springville 

1346 

1424 

1410 

Susquehanna, 

208J 

2729 

3467 

Thomson  Borough, 

249 

Thomson  Township, 

558 

701 

656 

Totals, 

36,714 

37,933 

40,354 

The  Civil  List. — The  following  are  the 
chief  officers  of  Susquehanna  County,  including 
members  of  Congress  and  members  of  the  Legis- 
lature, who  represented  Susquehanna  County, 
although  not  always  residents  therein.  The 
judges  and  district  attorneys  will  appear  in  the 
Bench  and  Bar  chapter. 

Members  of  Congress.*— 1812,  Isaac  Smith,  Jared 
Irwin,  for  Northumberland, Union, Columbia,  Luzerne 
and  Susquehanna;  1814,  David  Scott,  Wm.  Wilson, 
for  Northumberland,  Union,  Columbia,  Luzerne  and 
Susquehanna;  1816,  David  Scott,  Wm.  Wilson,  for 
Northumberland,  Union,  Columbia,  Luzerne  and 
Susquehanna;  1817,  J.  Murray  (in  place  of  Scott, 
resigned),  for  Northumberland,  Union,  Columbia, 
Luzerne  and  Susquehanna;  1818,  J.  Murray,  Geo. 
Denison,  for  Northumberland,  Union,  Columbia,  Lu- 
zerne and  Susquehanna;  1820,  W.  C.  Ellis,  Geo. 
Denison,  for  Northumberland,  Union,  Columbia,  Lu- 
zerne and  Susquehanna ; 1822-24-26,  Samuel  McKean, 
George  Kremer,  Espy  Van  Horn,  for  Luzerne,  Sus- 
quehanna, Bradford,  Tioga,  Northumberland,  Colum- 
bia, Union,  Lycoming,  Potter,  McKean;  1828,  Phil- 
ander Stephens,  Alem  Marr,  James  Ford;  1830,  Phil- 
ander Stephens,  Lewis  Dewatt,  James  Ford;  1832-34, 
John  Laporte,  for  Susquehanna,  Bradford,  Tioga, 
Potter,  McKean ; 1836-38,  Sam’l  W.  Morris,  for  Sus- 
quehanna, Bradford,  Tioga,  Potter,  McKean ; 1840, 
Davis  Dimock,  Jr.,  died  January,  1842;  1842,  Almon 
H.  Read,  elected  in  March,  for  Susquehanna,  Bradford, 
Tioga,  Potter,  McKean ; 1842,  Almon  H.  Read  (died), 

1 Those  in  italics  are  from  Susquehanna  County. 


ERECTION  OF  COUNTY. 


67 


I 

t 

i 


i 


for  Susquehanna,  Bradford,  Tioga ; 1844,  G.  Fuller, 
elected  to  fill  vacancy,  for  Susquehanna,  Bradford, 
Tioga ; 1844,  D.  Wilmot,  for  Twenty-ninth  Congress,  for 
Susquehanna,  Bradford,  Tioga;  1846-48,  D.  Wilmot, 
re-elected,  for  Susquehanna,  Bradford  and  Tioga; 
1850-52-54-56-58-60,  Galusha  A.  Grow,  for  Susque- 
hanna, Bradford,  Tioga;  1862-64—66,  Charles  Deni- 
son, for  Susquehanna  and  Luzerne;  1868,  Geo.  W. 
Woodward,  for  Susquehanna  and  Luzerne;  1870,  L. 
D.  Shoemaker,  for  Susquehanna  and  Luzerne;  1872, 
L.  D.  Shoemaker,  for  Susquehanna  and  Luzerne.  In 
1874  Joseph  Powell  represented  the  Fifteenth  Con- 
gressional District,  composed  of  Bradford,  Susque- 
hanna, Wayne  and  Wyoming ; 1876-78,  Edward 
Overton,  Jr.;  1880,  C.  C.  Jadwin;  1882,  George  A. 
Post;  1884-86,  F.  C.  Bunnell. 

State  Senators. — The  following  is  a list  of 
State  Senators  representing  the  district  of  which 
Susquehanna  County  has  been  a part.  New 
apportionments  are  supposed  to  be  made  every 
ten  years,  after  taking  the  census.  These  appor- 
tionments should  be  made  from  territory  as 
nearly  contiguous  as  possible,  but  the  political 
necessities  of  the  party  which  happens  to  be  in 
the  majority  at  the  time  the  apportionment  is 
made  is  usually  the  controlling  principle  which 
governs  in  arranging  the  districts.  From  1812 
until  1822  Northumberland,  Union,  Columbia, 
Luzerne  and  Susquehanna  formed  a senatorial 
district.  The  following  are  the  persons  wFo 
represented  the  district  during  that  time : 

1812,  William  Ross;  1814,  Thomas  Murray,  Jr.; 
1816,  Charles  Fraser ; 1818,  Simon  Snyder ; 1819, 
Robert  Willet;  1820,  Redmond  Conyngham ; 1822, 
Jonah  Brewster  represented  the  district,  which  was 
composed  of  the  counties  of  Susquehanna,  Bradford 
and  Wyoming;  1825,  John  Ryon ; 1829,  Samuel 
McKean;  1830,  Reuben  Wilber;  1833,  Almon  H. 
Read;  1837,  Elihu  Case  represented  Susquehanna 
and  Bradford,  and  in  1841  Asa  Dimock  represented 
the  same;  in  1844,  William  H.  Dimmick  represented 
Susquehanna,  Wayne  and  Wyoming;  in  1847,  F.  B. 
Streeter  represented  the  same;  in  1850,  George  San- 
derson represented  Susquehanna,  Bradford  and  Wyom- 
ing; in  1853,  Wm.  M.  Piatt;  in  1856,  E.  Reed  Myer; 
1859,  George  Landon ; 1862,  William  J.  Turrell ; 
1865,  George  Landon;  1868,  P.  M.  Osterhout;  1871, 
L.  F.  Fitch  ; 1874,  W.  W.  Watson. 

After  the  new  Constitution  went  into  effect 
Susquehanna  and  Wayne  were  placed  together, 
and  constitute  the  Twenty-sixth  Senatorial  Dis- 
trict. The  term  was  lengthened  from  three  years 
to  four  years.  Under  the  arrangement  the  even- 


numbered  districts  were  to  elect  their  first  Sena- 
tor for  two  years,  and  for  four  years  thereafter. 

In  1876  Eugene  B.  Hawley  was  elected  fur  two 
years;  1878,  William  M.  Nelson  was  elected  for  four 
years;  1882,  William  M.  Nelson;  1886,  Orrin  A.  Lines. 

Of  these  Senators,  Charles  Frazer,  Jonah 
Brewster,  Almon  H,  Read,  Asa  Dimock,  F.  B. 
Streeter,  William  J.  Turrell,  L.  F.  Fitch,  W,  W. 
Watson,  Eugene  B.  Hawley  and  Orrin  A.  Lines 
were  from  Susquehanna  County. 

State  Representatives. — Representatives 
to  the  State  Legislature  were  elected  for  one  year, 
and  the  Legislature  met  annually,  until  the  new 
constitution  w’ent  into  effect,  in  1874,  since 
which  time  Representatives  have  been  elected  for 
two  years,  and  the  sessions  are  biennial. 

Luzerne  and  Susquehanna  were  together  from 
1812  until  1829,  then  Susquehanna  was  alone 
until  1843,  after  which  Wyoming  was  added 
until  1850,  after  which  Sullivan  was  added  until 
1857,  when  Susquehanna  w'as  alone  again  until 
1864,  then  Susquehanna  and  Wyoming  were 
together  until  1874,  when  Susquehanna  alone 
was  entitled  to  two  representatives. 

1812,  Chas.  Miner,  Benj.  Dorrance,  for  Luzerne  and 
Susquehanna;  1813,  Jabez  Hyde,  Jr.^  Joseph  Pruner; 
1814,  Putnam  Gatlin,  Benj.  Dorrance;  1815,  Redmond 
Conyngham,  Benj.  Dorrance;  1816,  Jonah  Brewster, 
Geo.  Denison;  1817,  Jonah  Brewster,  James  Reeder; 
1818,  Jonah  Brewster,  James  Reeder ; 1819,  Jonah 
Brewster,  Benj.  Dorrance;  1820,  Cornelius  Cartright, 
Benj.  Dorrance;  1821,  Jabez  Hyde,  Jr.,  Andrew  Beau- 
mont; 1822,  Jabez  Hyde,  Jr.,  Andrew  Beaumont, 
Jacob  Drumheller ; 1823,  Jabez  Hyde,  Jr.,  Elijah  Shoe- 
maker, Jacob  Drumheller;  1824,  Philander  Stephens, 

G.  M.  Hollenback,  Jacob  Drumheller;  1825,  Philander 
Stephens,  G.  M.  Hollenbeck,  Samuel  H.  Thomas  ; 
1826,  Philander  Stephens,  Garrick  Mallery,  Samuel 

H.  Thomas ; 1827,  Almon  H.  Read,  Garrick  Mallery, 
George  Denison ; 1828,  Isaac  Post,  Garrick  Mallery, 
George  Denison  ; 1829,  Atmon  H.  Read,  Susquehanna 
alone;  1833,  Bela  Jones;  1834,  Joseph  Williams; 
1835,  Bela  Jones;  1836-37,  Asa  Dimock;  1838-39, 
Charles  Chandler,  Jr.;  1840,  Franklin  Lusk;  1841, 
Dr.  Calvin  Leet;  1842,  Franklin  N.  Avery ; 1843-44, 
Lewis  Brush,  Thomas  Morley,  for  Susquehanna  and 
Wyoming;  1845-46,  David  Thomas,  Schuyler  Fasset; 
1847-48,  Samuel  Taggart,  R.  R.  Little ; 1849,  Sidney 
B.  Wells,  E.  Mowry,  Jr.;  1850,  Isaac  Reckhow,  E. 
Mowry,  Jr.,  for  Susquehanna,  Wyoming  and  Sullivan  ; 
1851,  Isaac  Reckhow,  Michael  Meylert,  for  Susque- 
hanna, Wyoming  and  Sullivan  ; 1852,  Ezra  B.  Chase, 


1 Those  in  iialkn  were  rositionts  of  Susqiielianna. 


68 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


John  W.  Denison,  for  Susquehanna,  Wyoming  and 
Sullivan;  1853,  Ezra  B.  Chase,  James  Deegan,  for 
Susquehanna,  Wyoming  and  Sullivan  ; 1854,  Charles 
J.  Lathrop,  John  Sturdevant,  for  Susquehanna,  Wyom- 
ing and  Sullivan ; 1855,  Thomas  Ingham,  John  V. 
Smith,  for  Susquehanna,  Wyoming  and  Sullivan ; 
1856,  Simeon  B.  Chase,  Alfred  Hine,  for  Susquehanna, 
Wyoming  and  Sullivan;  1857-58,  Simeon  B.  Chase, 
for  Susquehanna  alone ; 1859-60,  George  1.  Frazier, 
for  Susquehanna  alone ; 1861-62,  D.  D.  Warner,  for 
Susquehanna  alone;  1863,  George  H.  Wells,  for  Sus- 
quehanna alone;  1864,  George  H.  M^ells  and  P.  M. 
Osterhout,  for  Susquehanna  and  Wyoming;  1865, 
J.  T.  Cameron,  P.  M.  Osterhout,  for  Susquehanna  and 
Wyoming;  1866,/.  T.  Cameron,  Jacob  Kennedy,  for 
Susquehanna  and  Wyoming;  1867,  Loren  Burrilt, 
Ziba  Lott,  for  Susquehanna  and  Wyoming;  1868, 
Loren  Burritt,  A.  P.  Stephens,  for  Susquehanna  and 
Wyoming;  1869,  A.  P.  Stephens,  Harvey  Tyler,  for 
Susquehanna  and  Wyoming;  1870,  E.  B.  Beardslee, 
A.  B.  Walker,  for  Susquehanna  and  Wyoming;  1871, 
E.  B.  Beardslee,  M.  Brunges,  for  Susquehanna  and 
Wyoming;  1872,  H.  M.  Jones,  M.  Brunges,  for  Sus- 
quehanna and  Wyoming;  1873,  H.  M.  Jones,  Robert 
R.  Little,  for  Susquehanna  and  Wyoming. 


In  1874  Susquehanna  County  alone  became 
entitled  to  two  representatives.  The  following 
is  the  list  to  the  present,  1886  : 

1874,  Samuel  Falkenburg,  W.  W.  Williams;  1876, 
Monroe  J.  Larrabee,  Eben  P.  Hines;  1878,  John  W. 
Cargill,  John  C.  Morris;  1880,  Chas.  H.  Ellis,  Chas. 
A.  Hungerford ; 1882,  Stanley  N.  Mitchell,  Watson 
T.  Barns ; 1884,  Eugene  H.  True,  George  R.  Resseguie ; 
1886,  Eugene  H.  True,  William  Maxey. 


Sheriffs  and  Coroners. — Prior  to  1839 
two  persons  were  elected  sheriff,  of  whom  the 
Governor  appointed  one.  Sheriffs  and  coroners 
are  elected  for  three  years.  A sheriff  cannot  be 
his  own  immediate  succes.sor.  The  following- 

o 


named  persons  have  been 
since  its  organization  ; 

Sheriffs. 

1812.  Edward  Fuller. 

1815.  Austin  Howell. 

1818.  Samuel  Gregory. 
1821.  Philander  Stephen.s. 
1824.  Samuel  Gregory. 

1827.  Charles  Chandler,  Jr. 
1830.  Joseph  Williams. 
1833.  Charles  Avery. 

1836.  William  Hartley. 
1839.  Walter  Follett. 

1842.  Thomas  Johnson. 
1845.  Nelson  C.  Warner. 
1848.  Christopher  M.  Gere. 


elected  in  Susquehanna 

Coroners. 

Stephen  Wilson. 
Philander  Stephens. 
Chapman  Carr. 

Daniel  Trowbridge. 
Charles  Chandler,  Jr. 
Benjamin  J.  Dimock. 
Davis  D.  Warner. 
Hiram  Finch. 

Walter  Follett. 

Thomas  Johnson. 

Jonas  Carter. 

Wm.  B.  Handrick. 

John  Baker. 


Sheriffs. 

1851.  Gabriel  B.  Eldred. 
1854.  Fred.  P.  Hollister. 
1857.  John  Young. 

18t!0.  Elias  V.  Green. 

1863.  David  Summers. 

1866.  S.  F.  Lane. 

1869.  Wm.  T.  Moxley. 

1872.  M.  B.  Helme. 

1875.  William  White. 

1878.  Benjamin  F.  McKune. 
1881.  E.  P.  Pope. 

1884.  Zachariah  D.  Jenkins. 
1886. 


Coroners.  11 

William  H.  Boyd.  ? 

Benjamin  Dix.  j| 

Dr.  J.  Blackman.  |r 
Dr.  C.  C.  Halsey.  | 

Dr.  Braton  Richardson,  j 
Dr.  L.  A.  Smith.  I 

Dr.  C.  C.  Halsey.  [j 

Dr.  C.  C.  Halsey.  'I 
Dr.  Calvin  C.  Halsey,  u 
Dr.  Calvin  C.  Halsey.  | 
H.  D.  Baldwin  (1  year),  j 
Samuel  Birdsall.  J 

W.  W.  Strange.  ) 


Prothonotaries. — Under  the  Constitution 
of  1790  the  Governor  appointed  all  the  county  | 
officers,  and  in  new  counties  one  person  fre-  i 
quently  held  the  offices  of  prothonotary,  clerk 
of  the  courts,  and  register  and  recorder ; such 
was  the  case  in  Susquehanna  County  until  1821.  ' 


1812-16,  Dr.  Charles  Fraser,  by  appointment  of 
Governor  Snyder;  1816-20,  Jabez  Hyde,  by  appoint-  j 
ment  of  Governors  Snyder  and  Findley;  1816-20,  * 

Judge  De  Haert,  as  deputy,  did  all  the  writing  during  j 
Mr.  Hyde's  term ; from  January,  1821-36,  Asa  Dimock,  i 
Jr.,  by  appointment  of  Governors  Heister,  Shulze  and  ! 
Wolf;  1836-39,  George  Walker,  by  appointment  of  i 
Governor  Ritner ; 1839,  George  Fuller,  by  appoint-  | 
ment  of  Governor  Porter.  i 


In  1839  the  office  became  elective,  and  George  ■ 
Fuller  was  elected.  ' 


1842-45-48,  John  Blanding;  1848,  Frederick  M.  i 
Williams;  1851,  Frederick  A.  Ward  ; 1854,  Sidney  B.  ' 
Wells;  1857,  George  B.  R.  Wade;  1860,  Edwin  M.  ! 
Turner;  1863-66,  Gabriel  B.  Eldred;  1869.  W.  F.  j 
Simrell,  who  died  in  1870;  1870,  J.  F.  Shoemaker,  j 
appointed;  1870, G.  B.  Eldred;  1873,  David  Summers; 
1876,  William  W.  Simrell;  1879-82,  Myron  Kasson;  | 
1885,  Dewitt  A.  Titsworth. 


Registers  and  Recorders.  — In  Susque- 
hanna County  the  register  and  recorder  is  also 
clerk  of  the  Orphans’  Court.  This  office  became 
separated  from  the  prothonotary’s  office  in  1821. 


In  1821,  David  Post  was  appointed  by  Governor 
Heister;  in  1824,  William  Jessup,  and  held  it  nine 
years  under  Governors  Shulze  and  Wolf;  1833,  Chris- 
topher L.  Ward  held  three  years  under  Governor 
Wolf;  1836,  Simon  Stevens  held  one  year  under 
Governor  Ritner ; 1837,  Charles  Avery  held  two  years 
under  Governor  Ritner ; 1839,  Hiram  Finch  was  ap- 
pointed by  Governor  Porter,  and  he  was  elected  the 
fall  following  for  three  years. 

The  following  persons  have  been  elected  since. 
Hiram  Finch  held  by  re-elections  until  1848  : 


ERECTION  OF  COUNTY. 


69 


. 1848,  Charles  L.  Brown  ; 1851,  J.  T.  Langdon  ; 1854, 
Jas.  W.  Chapman  ; 1857,  Charles  Neale;  1860,  Harmon 
K.  Newell ; 1863,  Joseph  McCain  ; 1866,  J.  F.  Shoe- 
maker; 1869,  Jerome  R.  Lyons;  1872,  H.  N.  Tiffany  ; 
1875-78,  Henry  F.  Beardsley;  1881,  L.  H.  Lincoln; 
1884,  Charles  S.  Page. 

Teeasurers. — 1812,  Isaac  Post;  1815,  David  Post; 
1818,  Justin  Clark  ; 1821,  Charles  Avery;  1824,  Mason 
S.  Wilson ; 1825,  J.  W.  Raynsford ; 1826,  Hiram  Finch ; 
1828,  Davis  Dimock,  Jr. ; 1831,  C.  L.  Ward ; 1832, 
William  Foster;  1834,  Davis  Dimock,  Jr.;  1835,  George 
Fuller;  1837,  Henry  J.  Webb  ; 1839,  Moses  C.  Tyler; 
1841,  Moses  C.  Tyler  (elected) ; 1843,  Davis  D.  Warner; 
1845,  Walter  Follett ; 1847,  Harvey  Tyler;  1849,  0. 
G.  Hempstead;  1851,  William  K.  Hatch;  1853,  D.  R. 
Lathrop ; 1855,  S.  A.  Woodruff;  1857,  C.  W.  Mott; 
1859,  D.  W. Titus;  1861,  Amos  Nichols;  1863,  Nicholas 
Shoemaker;  1865,  Charles  B.  Dodge;  1867,  Richard 
V.  Kennedy;  1869,  Benjamin  Glidden ; 1871,  Tracy 
Hayden;  1873,  Edwin  G.  Taylor;  1875,  Henry  C. 
Tyler;  1878,  A.  B.  Burns;  1881,  H.  L.  French  ; 1884, 
William  A.  Southwell. 

County  Commissioners. — County  commis- 
siouers  are  elected  for  three  years,  and  it  was 
arranged  so  that  one  commissioner  should  be 
elected  each  year.  To  inaugurate  this  plan,  it 
became  necessary  to  elect  the  first  Board  of 
Commissioners  for  terms  of  one,  two  and  three 
years.  This  arrangement  continued  from  1812 
until  1875,  when  the  new  Constitution  went  into 
efiect.  This  Constitution  provides  for  the  election 
of  all  three  of  the  commissioners  at  one  time 
for  the  term  of  three  years,  and  each  qualified 
elector  is  only  permitted  to  vote  for  two  persons 
for  that  office,  thereby  securing  one  commissioner 
to  the  party  which  is  in  the  minority.  The 
county  auditors  are  also  elected  in  the  same 
manner  since  1875. 

Commissioners. — 1812,  Bartlett  Hinds,  1 year;  1812, 
Laban  Capron,  2years;  1812,  Isaac  Brownson,  3 years; 
1813,  Jonah  Brewster,  3 years  ; 1814,  Hosea  Tiffany  ; 
1815,  Stephen  Wilson ; 1816,  Sylvanus  Hatch  ; 1817, 
Daniel  Ross ; 1818,  Philander  Stephens  ; 1819,  Samuel 
Warner;  1820,  Joseph  Washburn;  1821,  Philo  Bost- 
wick;  1822,  Hosea  Tiffany,  Jr. ; 1823,  Simon  Stevens; 
1824,  Edward  Packer;  1825,  Charles  Avery;  1826, 
Walter  Lyon;  1827,  Ansel  Hill;  1828,  Joseph  Wil- 
liams; 1829,  William  Hartley;  1830,  Joseph  Wash- 
burn; 1831,  Calvin  Summers;  1832,  Arad  Wakelee; 
1833,  Jonathan  C.  Sherman  ; 1834,  Cyrus  H.  Avery; 
1835,  Charles  Tingley;  1836,  Robert  Griffis;  1837, 
John  Comfort;  1838,  Edward  Heald;  1839,  Thomas 
Burdick;  1840,  Nathaniel  Norris;  1841,  William  G. 
Handrick;  1842,  Abel  Hewitt;  1843,  Alonzo  Wil- 
liams; 1844,  Isaac  Rcckhow ; 1845,  Jonas  Carter; 


1846,  Nathaniel  West;  1847,  Elisha  P.  Farnam; 
1848,  David  0.  Turrell ; 1849,  John  Murphy;  1850, 
Shubael  Dimock;  1851,  John  Hancock;  1852,  Amos 
Williams;  1853,  Amherst  Carpenter;  1854,  Joseph 
Smith;  1855,  William  T.  Case;  1856,  Perrin  Wells; 
1857,  Orange  Mott,  Jr.;  1858,  Levi  S.  Page;  1859, 
C.  M.  Stewart;  1860,  J.  B.  Cogswell;  1861,  James 
Leighton  ; 1862,  Nelson  French  ; 1863,  John  B.  Wil- 
son ; 1864,  David  Wakelee;  1865,  J.  T.  Ellis;  1866, 
B.  M.  Gage;  1867,  Samuel  Sherer;  1868,  J.  T.  Ellis; 
1869,  Preserved  Hinds ; 1870,  Edward  L.  Beebe ; 
1871,  Oscar  Washburn;  1872,  Lyman  Blakeslee; 
1873,  Edwin  G.  Ball;  1874,  Eli  Barns. 

In  1875  David  0.  Minklin,  Edward  G.  Ball  and 
Matthew  E.  Ryan,  were  elected  for  three  years  each, 
being  the  first  Board  of  Commissioners  under  the  new 
Constitution;  1878,  William  H.  Sherwood,  Merrick 
T.  Whitney  and  Chas.  Delhanty ; 1881,  M.  T.  Whitney, 
Esick  P.  Bailey,  L.  Griffis;  1884,  Frederick  M.  Wood- 
house,  James  E.  Curtis,  Dennis  Casey. 

Commissioners’  Clerks. — Jonah  Brewster 
was  the  first  commissioners’  clerk,  and  served 
for  one  year,  1813.  Dr.  Asa  Park  was  the 
second  clerk,  and  Almon  H.  Read  served  for 
five  years,  from  January  1815,  to  January  1820. 
He  was  succeeded  by  William  Jessup,  who  served 
from  January  1820,  to  January  1826,  a period  of 
six  years.  George  F uller  was  then  appointed,  and 
served  three  years  and  two  months,  and  was 
succeeded  in  March,  1829,  by  E.  Kingsbury,  Jr., 
who  served  one  year  and  ten  months.  B.  Streeter 
served  eight  months,  and  Jas.  W.  Chapman  four 
months  of  the  year  1831.  Davis  Dimock,  Jr., 
served  for  the  year  1832,  and  Charles  Avery 
for  the  year  1833;  then  Seeker  Meylert  was 
appointed  and  served  for  seven  years,  from 
January  1834,  to  January,  1841.  Asa  Diraock 
served  for  the  year  1841,  when  Robert  J.  Niven 
was  appointed,  and  served  eleven  years  and  four 
months,  from  January  1842,  until  May,  1853, 
when  William  A.  Crossmon  was  appointed,  and 
served  twenty-three  years  and  eight  months,  and 
was  succeeded,  January  1, 1876,  byG.  B.  Jlldred, 
who  served  one  year  and  three  months,  when  he 
resigned  to  take  a position  in  the  Montrose  Bank, 
and  was  succeeded  by  D.  W.  Gidden,  who  .served 
one  year  and  nine  months,  “when  he  was  suc- 
ceeded by  E.  G.  Ball,  the  present  incumbent. 

Jury  Commissioners. — 1870,  Charles  Sprout, 
James  0.  Bullard  ; 1873,  William  A.  Crossmon,  Daniel 
Brewster;  1876,  Henry  P.  Robbins,  Stephen  E.  Car- 
penter; 1879,  David  Marsh,  James  Lonagan  ; 1882, 


70 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


Leander  Lott,  George  Harvey ; 1885,  Alonzo  W.  Miles, 
Charles  E.  Lowe. 

Auditoes. — The  following  persons  have  been 
elected  auditors  since  1840: 

1840,  John  Young ; 1841,  Daniel  B.  Sneden  ; 1842, 
Joel  Turrell ; 1843,  Benj.  Thomas;  1844,  Loren  T. 
Farrar;  1845,  Ira  N.  Hawley;  1846,  Francis  Quin; 
1847,  John  Smiley;  1848,  George  Baldwin;  1849, 
Almon  Spoor,  C.  D.  Cobb,  2 years  ; 1850,  M.  J.  Mum- 
ford  ; 1851,  James  E.  Howe;  1852,  Norman  Foot; 
1853,  J.  M.  Cargill;  1854,  O.  S.  Beebe;  1855,  D.  D. 
Brown  ; 1856,  D.  P.  Tiffany ; 1857,  G.  T.  Frazier;  1858, 
John  F.  Dean  ; 1859,  Chauncey  Wright ; 1860,  Stephen 
W.  Budd;  1861,  R.  S.  Ashby;  1862,  W.  M.  Singly; 
1863,  Mahlon  C.  Stewart ; 1864,  John  F.  Deans ; 1865, 
L.  M.  Turrell ; 1866,  Eli  Barnes ; 1867,  F.  B.  Chandler ; 
1868,  Tracy  Hayden  ; 1869,  Henry  M.  Jones ; 1870, 
Amos  Nichols;  1871,  M.  S.  Catlin  ; 1872,  J.  T.  Ellis; 
1873,  John  B.  Johnson;  1874,  M.  Prichard;  1875, 
William  Wheelock,  Martin  L.  Catlin,  Lewis  B. 
O’Doud  ; 1878,  Joseph  Jameson,  J.  H.  Munger,  Abner 
Griffis;  1881,  A.  W.  Kent,  E.  C.  Inderlied,  Abner 
Griffis;  1884,  Jeremiah  H.  Munger,  Harry  H.  Graver, 
Ernest  D.  Sutton. 

County  Sueveyors. — Prior  to  1827  Sus- 
quehanna and  Bradford  Counties  constituted  a 
deputy-surveyors’  district.  From  this  time  until 
1850,  when  the  office  became  elective,  the  fol- 
lowing persons  were  appointed  deputy-surveyors 
for  Susquehanna  County : 

1827,  Adolphus  D.  Olmstead  ; 1830,  Jas.  W.  Chap- 
man ; 1833,  John  Boyle;  1836,  Issacbar  Mann; 
1839-47,  John  Boyle;  1847-50,  0.  S.  Beebe;  1850, 
O.S.  Beebe;  1853,  Timothy  Boyle;  1856,  Joel  Turrell ; 
1859,  Wilson  J.  Turrell;  1862-65-68,  Jas.  W.  Chap- 
man ; 1871,  O.  S.  Beebe;  1874-77,  Jas.  W.  Chapman; 
1886,  Lorenzo  D.  Benson. 


CHAPTER  IX. 

THE  BENCH  AND  BAR. 

In  1682  William  Penn  divided  the  province 
of  Pennsylvania  into  the  three  counties,  Phila- 
delphia, Chester  and  Bucks.  Bucks  embraced 
the  northeastern  portion  of  the  province.  In 
1752  Northampton  County  was  organized.  In 
order  to  govern  the  Yankees  more  effectually, 
Northumberland  County  was  formed  March 
21,  1772.  It  was  found  that  the  Connecticut 
claimants  did  not  recognize  the  authority  of  the 


proprietaries  any  better  from  Sun  bury,  the  ||| 
county-seat  of  Northumberland,  than  they  did  ji 
from  Easton,  the  county-seat  of  Northampton  ; ' ; 

consequently  the  northern  part  of  Northumber- 
land was  elected  into  the  county  of  Luzerne,  by 
act  25th  of  September,  1786 ; and  by  act  Febru- 
ary 21,  1810,  Susquehanna  County  was  set  oft 
from  Luzerne.  The  pioneer  settlers  attended  : ' 
court  at  Wilkes-Barre  until  1812.  This  court 
was  organized  under  the  first  Constitution  of 
this  State,  May  27,  1787,  at  the  house  of 
Colonel  Zebulon  Butler,  in  Wilkes-Barre,  by 
Timothy  Pickering,  James  Nesbitt,  Obadiah 
Gore,  Nathan  Kingsley,  Benjamin  Carpenter, 
Mathias  Hollenback  and  Wm.  H.  Smith,  who 
had  been  commissioned  justices  of  the  Court 
of  Common  Pleas. 

After  proclamation  made  by  Lord  Butler, 
high  sheriff,  for  all  persons  to  keep  silence,  the  1 ; 
commissions  of  the  county  officers  were  read  ! 

and  the  oaths  administered  by  Timothy  Pick-  1 

ering  and  Colonel  Dennison.  Timothy  Picker-  i 
ing,  who  was  a lawyer  of  fine  abilities  and  who  t 
had  great  tact  in  managing  the  Connecticut  claim- 
ants, was  chosen  prothonotary,  register  and  re- 
corder and  clerk  of  the  court.  The  second 
court  was  held  September,  1787,  Obadiah  Gore, 
president.  ) 

In  1790  the  county  was  divided  into  town-  i 

ships  under  Pennsylvania  authority.  These  « 

townships  were  organized  into  ten  districts,  for  f 

the  election  of  justices  of  the  peace.  Among  j 

these  districts  were  the  Sixth  District,  which 
was  formed  from  Braintrim  and  Wyalusing, 
having  two  hundred  and  twenty-five  taxables, 
who  elected  H.  D.  Champion,  Jonathan  Stevens  j' 

and  Guy  Wells  justices.  The  Ninth  District  ji 

was  Rush,  with  one  hundred  and  three  taxables,  j 

who  elected  Isaac  Hancock  justice.  The  { 

Tenth  District,  which  was  composed  of  Willing- 
borough,  Lauesville  and  Nicholson  townships, 
with  two  hundred  and  eighty-six  taxables,  j 

elected  John  Marcy,  Thomas  Tiffany  and  Asa  ! 

Eddy  justices.  The  county  of  Susquehanna  was 
comprised  in  these  ten  election  districts.  Those 
first  townships  were  somewhat  indefinite  as  to 
boundaries,  and  have  since  been  divided  and 
changed  by  the  erection  of  new  townships  and 
new  counties.  Some  of  these  township  names  also 


THE  BENCH  AND  BAR. 


71 


i have  disappeared.  The  first  court-house  in 
I Wilkes-Barre  was  located  on  the  site  of  the  old 
' fort,  in  the  public  square.  It  was  built  of 
hewn  logs,  twenty-five  by  fifty  feet,  and  two 
stories  high,  with  outside  steps  leading  to  the 
court-room  on  the  second  floor. 

The  first  story  was  used  as  a jail  and  jailor’s 
residence,  and  the  second  story  contained  the 
court-room.  “ ^ This  primitive  temple  of  justice 
was  completed  in  1791,  and  Stephen  Tuttle, 
whose  good  wife  placed  her  cake  and  beer  sign 
over  the  door  of  the  first  story,  was  appointed 
first  jailor.”  In  1804  a new  court-house  was 
erected  on  the  site  of  the  old  one.  The  judges 
' of  the  Supreme  Court,  who  sat  in  these  court- 
houses, were  McKean,  Tilghman,  Breckenridge, 
Smith  and  Yeates.  Judge  Conyngham,  in  his 
address  in  1856,  on  the  occasion  of  the  laying  of 
the  corner-stone  of  the  third  court-house  at 
Wilkes-Barre  said : “There  were  some  ceremonies 
connected  with  the  courts  now  entirely  abro- 
gated. At  the  opening  of  every  term  the 
i'  sheriff,  with  his  staff  of  office,  attended  by  the 

f crier  of  the  court,  and  frequently  by  several 

I constables,  waited  upon  the  judges  at  their 

i lodgings,  and  then  conducted  them  in  formal 

procession  to  the  court-house.  Judges  Mc- 
I Kean,  Smith  and  others,  of  the  Supreme  Court, 
always  wore  swords  when  they  attended  court, 
some  bearing  rapiers  and  other  heavier  weap- 
ons.” These  Supreme  Court  judges  started  from 
Philadelphia  on  horseback,  with  their  library  in 
a pair  of  saddle-bags,  bolding  about  half  a 
bushel,  and  their  law  in  their  heads.  They  were 
usually  accompanied  by  lawyers,  and  after  they 
arrived  at  Easton,  usually  more  lawyers  would 
join  this  itinerant  court.  They  had  to  take  sueh 
fare  as  they  could  get,  and  that  was  not  always 
the  best.'  There  was  a log  tavern  in  the  back- 
woods  of  Pike  County,  on  one  of  the  old  State 
roads,  where  the  “court”  sometimes  stopped 
over-night.  One  time  they  came  there  late  at 
night,  after  the  occupants  had  all  retired.  After 
making  considerable  noise  they  succeeded  in 
rallying  the  host,  who  stuck  his  head  out  of  the 
window  and  asked,  “ What  do  you  want  ? ” 
The  judges,  who  were  sitting  on  their  horses. 


* ‘‘Annals  of  Luzerne,"  page  243. 


replied,  “ We  want  to  stay  here  all  night.” 
“ Stay  there  then,”  said  the  host,  and  down  went 
the  window  ; but  he  finally  relented  and  gave 
them  shelter  for  the  night.  Judge  Jessup,  in 
his  address  at  the  inauguration  of  the  Wilkes- 
Barre  court-house,  in  1859,  says  that  he  well 
remembered  “ when  the  court  set  out  from 
Wilkes-Barre,  followed  by  the  bar  on  horse- 
back, through  Cobb’s  Gap,  Wayne,  Pike  and 
Susquehanna  Counties,  bringing  up  at  Bradford 
County.”  These  old-time  judges  put  on  a great 
deal  of  dignity  in  court,  but  when  they  and  the 
lawyers  were  traveling  together  they  were  as 
jovial  a set  of  fellows  as  could  be  found  in  the 
State.  “Court  week”  had  a significance  then 
which  is  not  attached  to  it  now.  The  travel- 
ing court,  with  the  attending  attorneys,  ereated 
quite  a stir  at  the  county-seats  in  the  pioneer 
days.  The  common  people  looked  upon  judges 
and  lawyers  with  more  awe  and  reverence  then 
than  now,  and  there  was  more  litigation  in 
proportion  to  the  number  of  inhabitants.  There 
were  land  titles  to  adjust,  and  suits  growing 
out  of  the  bark  and  lumber  interests  came  a 
few  years  later.  This  class  of  civil  suits  has 
disappeared  with  the  forests,  and  land  titles  are 
becoming  settled.  Jacob  Rush,  Thomas  Cooper 
and  Seth  Chapman  presided  over  the  courts  of 
Luzerne  from  1790  to  1812. 

In  1813  John  Bannister  Gibson,  one  of  the 
ablest  judges  that  Penn.sylvania  ever  produced, 
held  the  first  court  in  Susquehanna  County,  in 
the  house  of  Isaac  Post. 

The  first  organization  of  the  courts  of  Sus- 
quehanna County  was  made  under  the  Constitu- 
tion of  1790. 

The  act  of  February  21,  1810,  erecting  Sus- 
quehanna County,  provided  in  the  third  section 
thereof,  “ That  for  the  present  convenience  of 
the  inhabitants  of  the  said  counties  of  Ontario 
(now  Bradford)  and  Susquehanna,  and  until  an 
enumeration  of  the  taxable  inhabitants  of  the 
said  counties  shall  be  made ; and  it  shall  be 
otherwise  directed  by  law,  the  said  counties  of  On- 
tario and  Susquehanna  shall  be  and  the  same  are 
hereby  annexed  to  the  counties  of  Luzerne  and 
Lycoming,  in  like  manner  as  before  the  passage 
of  this  act,  and  the  jurisdiction  of  the  several 
courts  of  the  counties  of  Luzerne  and  Lycom- 


72 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


ing,  and  the  authority  of  the  judges  thereof  shall 
extend  over  and  shall  operate  and  be  effectual 
w ithin  the  said  counties  of  Ontario  and  Susque- 
hanna, and  that  the  electors  within  the  said 
counties  shall  continue  to  elect  at  the  same 
places,  and  with  the  counties  of  Luzerne  and 
Lycoming,  as  heretofore.”  As  the  counties  of 
Northumberland,  Lycoming  and  Luzerne  con- 
stituted the  Eighth  Judicial  District,  the  above 
act  continued  Susquehanna  County  in  that  dis- 
trict until  the  act  of  March  24, 1812.  Section  I. 
changed  the  name  of  Ontario  to  Bradford  ; Sec- 
tion II.  enacted  “ that  from  and  after  the  sec- 
ond Tuesday  of  October  next,  the  inhabitants 
of  the  counties  of  Bradford,  Tioga,  Wayne  and 
Susquehanna  shall  each  enjoy  and  exercise  in 
judicial  concerns,  all  and  singular,  the  jurisdic- 
tions, powers  and  privileges  whatsoever,  within 
the  same,  which  the  inhabitants  of  other  coun- 
ties do,  may  or  ought  to  enjoy,  by  the  consti- 
tution and  laws  of  this  commonwealth.” 

Section  III.  provides  “ that  the  counties  of 
Bradford,  Tioga,  Wayne  and  Susquehanna  be, 
and  the  same  are  hereby  erected  into  a separate 
judicial  district  or  circuit,  to  be  called  the  Elev- 
enth District,  and  a person  of  legal  knowledge 
and  integrity  to  be  appointed  and  commissioned 
by  the  Governor  to  be  president  and  judge  of 
the  Courts  of  Common  Pleas  within  the  said 
district,”  and  two  other  proper  persons  were  to 
be  appointed  in  each  county  as  associate  judges, 
to  have  jurisdiction  after  the  second  Tuesday  of 
October,  as  judges  of  the  Courts  of  Common 
Pleas,  Oyer  and  Terminer  and  General  Gaol 
Delivery,  Orphans’  Court  and  Court  of  Quarter 
Sessions  of  the  Peace.  These  judges  were  to  be 
sworn  by  the  prothonotary  of  Luzerne  County 
and  their  oaths  filed  in  the  respective  counties. 
Section  VII.  provided  for  the  election  of 
commissioners  in  each  county  to  erect  a court- 
house, prison  and  county  offices  ; and  the  first 
court  of  Susquehanna  is  ordered  to  be  held  at 
Montrose,  in  the  house  of  Isaac  Post. 

The  first  record  of  any  court  in  Susquehanna 
County  reads  as  follows  : 

“ Susquehanna  County  SS. 

“ At  a Court  of  General  Quarter  Sessions  of  the 
Peace,  held  at  Montrose,  in  and  for  the  County  of 
Susquehanna,  on  the  fourth  Monday  of  January,  1813, 


Before  the  Honorable  John  B.  Gibson,  President  of 
the  Court  of  Common  Pleas,  and  William  Thomson 
and  Davis  Dimock,  Judges  of  the  same  Court,  came 
the  Sheriff  of  the  said  county  and  returned  the  sev- 
eral writs  and  processes  to  him  directed  and  returna- 
ble here  the  same  day,  among  which  he  produced  a 
certain  ‘ venire  facias  juratores,’  with  a panel  thereto 
annexed,  which,  being  called  over,  the  following  per- 
sons appeared:  Walter  Lyon,  Phineas  Aims,  Jacob 
Roberts,  Isaac  Brownson,  Jonathan  West,  James 
Thayer,  Jedediah  Salmon,  Luther  Dean,  Wright 
Chamberlain,  Joseph  Chapman,  William  C.  Turrel, 
James  Cook,  Edward  Dimock,  John  Belcher,  Amos 
Harding,  Noah  Alden,  Jirah  Stephens,  Noah  Tiffany, 
Asahel  Swelt,  Joseph  Raynsford,  Thomas  Scott.” 

This  first  grand  jury  was  dismissed  by  the 
court.  The  commissious  of  the  judges,  sheriff 
and  prothonotary  were  read.  “ 25th  January, 
1813,  on  motion  by  Mr.  Wilson,  Ebenezer 
Bowman  was  admitted  and  sworn  as  an  attor- 
ney of  this  court.”  Then,  on  motion  of  Mr. 
Bowman,  David  Scott,  Garrick  Mallery,  Na- 
than Palmer,  Putnam  Gatlin  and  Henry  Wil- 
son were  admitted  and  sworn  as  attorneys  of 
this  court.  Benjamin  Lathrop  was  appointed 
constable  of  Bridgewater  township,  and  it  was 
ordered  that  all  applications  to  be  recommended 
to  the  Governor  for  tavern  licenses  be  made  at 
the  April  sessions.  There  were  petitions  pre- 
sented to  this  court  for  the  appointment  of 
viewers  for  eighteen  different  roads  and  the  re- 
view of  two  others.  These  viewers  were  all 
appointed,  and  most  of  the  roads  asked  for  were 
subsequently  granted.  Another  petition  asked 
for  viewers  for  a bridge  across  the  Wyalusing, 
nearJoab  Picket’s.  Joshua  Raynsford,  Isaac 
Post,  Luther  Dean,  Isaac  Peckins,  Stephen  Wil- 
son and  Jonah  Brewster  were  appointed.  There 
were  also  petitions  praying  for  new  townships 
to  be  called  Choconut,  Gibson  and  Lenox.  Joab 
Picket  was  appointed  constable  of  Rush.  The 
first  suit  in  Quarter  Sessions  was  brought  by 
the  overseers  of  the  poor  of  Clifford  against 
David  Taylor,  for  the  maintenance  of  a pauper 
— Scott  for  the  plaintiff,  and  Mallery  for  the 
defendant.  Both  of  these  men  who  were  en- 
gaged in  this  petty  suit  afterwards  became  dis- 
tinguished judges.  The  first  commonwealth 
case  was  against  Obadiah  Green,  David  Green 
I and  Charles  Mattison,  who  were  ordered  ‘‘  to 
1 give  security  to  keep  the  peace  and  be  of  good 


THE  BENCH  AND  BAR. 


Ti 


behaviour  towards  all  the  good  citizens  of  this 
j commonwealth,  and  more  particularly  towards 
j Isaac  Post  and  John  Bennet.”  Hon.  John  B. 
i Gibson  presided  over  the  Eleventh  District  for 
about  three  years,  until  1816,  when  he  was  ele- 
vated to  the  Supreme  Bench  of  the  State,  where 
he  maintained  his  position  until  his  death.  May 
3,  1853.  He  was  a Pennsylvanian,  born  1780. 
His  clear  and  forcible  opinions  given  in  the  Su- 
preme Court  reports  are  regarded  as  among  the 
i very  best  by  the  legal  profession.  Hon.  Thomas 
Burnside,  who  also  became  a Supreme  Court 
judge  (a  quarter  of  a century  later,  January  2, 
j 1845,  commis.sioned  by  Governor  Shunk),  suc- 
i ceeded  him  in  September,  1816.  He  presided 
I until  1818,  when,  by  act  of  February  25,  1818, 

' the  Thirteenth  Judicial  District  was  erected,  em- 
bracing the  counties  of  Susquehanna,  Bradford 
J and  Tioga.  Hon.  Edward  Herrick  was  ap- 
I pointed  presiding  judge  of  this  new  district,  aud 
held  his  position  from  August,  1818,  until  his 
term  expired  by  constitutional  limitation  under 
the  Constitution  of  1839.  He  had  presided  for 
nearly  twenty-one  years.  Hon.  John  N.  Con- 
yngham  succeeded  him  in  May,  1839. 

By  the  act  of  April  12,  1840,  taking  effect 
from  and  after  the  1st  of  the  following  January, 
Luzerne  was  transferred  from  the  Eleventh  Dis- 
trict to  the  Thirteenth,  and  Susquehanna  from 
I the  Thirteenth  to  the  Eleventh.  Hon.  William 
I Jessup  then  presided  in  the  Eleventh  District, 
y and  by  this  transposition  the  residences  of 
Judges  Conyngham  and  Jessup  were  placed 
within  their  respective  districts.  Jessup  first 
presided  in  Susquehanna  County  at  April  term, 
1841. 

By  act  of  April  1,  1836,  Monroe  County  was 
erected  out  of  portions  of  Northampton  and 
Pike  and  placed  in  the  Eleventh  Judicial  Dis- 
trict. This  continued  until  the  act  of  April  10, 
1844,  detached  Monroe  from  the  Eleventh  Dis- 
trict aud  united  it  with  Carbon  and  Schuylkill, 
t|  to  form  the  Twenty-first  District,  leaving  the 

(Eleventh  composed  of  Su.squehanna,  Wayne  and 
Pike.  No  further  change  was  made  until  act  of 
1 April  5,  1849,  when  Wayne,  Pike,  Monroe  and 
! Carbon  were  erected  into  the  Twenty-second 
^ District,  and  the  Eleventh  District  was  composed 
I of  Luzerne,  Susquehanna  and  Wyoming. 

51 


In  1850  a constitutional  amendment  was 
adopted  making  the  judiciary  elective,  fixing  the 
term  of  the  president  judge  at  ten  years  from 
the  first  Monday  of  December  following  the 
election,  and  that  of  associate  judges  at  five 
years ; and  vacating  the  commissions  of  all 
judges  holding  by  appointment  on  the  first 
Monday  of  December. 

By  act  of  15th  April,  1851,  Bradford  and 
Susquehanna  Counties  constitute  the  Thirteenth 
District. 

Hon.  David  Wilmot  was  the  fi rst  j udge  elected 
under  the  new  Constitution,  in  October,  1851. 
He  held  the  office  until  the  summer  of  1857, 
when  he  resigned  to  accept  the  Republican 
nomination  for  Governor.  Hon.  Darius  Bullock 
was  appointed  to  fill  the  vacancy,  with  the 
understanding  that  he  should  resign  in  case 
Wilmot  was  defeated.  It  so  happened  that 
Wilmot  was  defeated  in  his  gubernatorial  aspi- 
rations by  William  F.  Packer,  and  Judge 
Bullock  resigned  after  having  presided  a few 
months,  and  Mr.  Wilmot  was  reappointed  to 
preside  in  January,  1858,  and  re-elected  the 
following  fall  for  ten  years.  He  resigned  the 
judgeship  to  accept  the  United  States  Senator- 
ship  in  March,  1861,  and  Hon.  Ulysses  Mercur 
was  appointed  to  succeed  him,  and  the  following 
October  he  was  elected  for  a full  term  of  ten 
years.  He  resigned  the  judgeship  March  4, 
1865,  to  accept  a seat  in  the  Thirty-ninth  Con- 
gress, which  he  held  by  re-election  through  the 
Fortieth,  Forty-first  and  Forty-second  Con- 
gresses, when  he  was  elevated  to  the  Supreme 
Court,  and  eventually  became  chief  justice,  a 
position  which  he  held  at  the  time  of  his  death, 
in  1887. 

Hon.  Farris  B.  Streeter  was  appointed  to  fill 
the  vacancy  in  1865,  and  the  following  October 
elected  to  the  same  office  for  a full  term. 

By  act  of  March  1, 1870,  it  was  enacted  that 
an  additional  law  judge  should  be  elected  in  the 
Thirteenth  District. 

Hon.  Paul  D.  Morrow  was  appointed  to  this 
office  March  1,  1870,  and  elected  the  following 
October  for  ten  years  from  December,  1870. 

By  act  of  April  9,  1874,  under  the  new  Con- 
stitution, Susquehanna  County  constitutes  the 
Thirty-fourth  Judicial  District.  As  Judge 


74 


HISTOEY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


Streeter  resided  in  Susquehanna,  and  Judge 
Morrow  resided  in  Bradford,  it  accommodated 
them  both  to  have  each  preside  in  his  home  dis- 
trict. Judge  Streeter  accordingly  presided  in 
Susquehanna.  He  was  re-elected  over  Ralph 
B.  Little,  in  1875,  for  a full  term,  and  died  in 
August,  1877. 

Hon.  William  H.  Jessup  was  appointed  to 
fill  the  vacancy  by  Gov.  Hartranft,  and  presided 
for  about  sixteen  months,  until  the  first  Monday 
of  January,  1879.  Hon.  J.  B.  McCollum,  the 
present  judge,  having  been  elected  the  fall  pre- 
vious, was  commissioned  for  a full  term  from 
the  first  Monday  of  January,  1879. 

ASSOCIATE  JUDGES.^ 

Davis  Diraock  and  William  Thompson  were 
appointed  associate  judges  for  this  county  at  its 
organization,  in  1812.  The  terms  of  all  the 
judges  were  then  “during  good  behavior;”  but 
the  resignation  of  Judge  Thompson,  after  .serv- 
ing twenty-five  years,  created  a vacancy  which 
was  filled  by  the  appointment  of  Isaac  Post  in 
October,  1837,  who  served  a little  over  five 
years.  The  limitation  imposed  by  the  Constitu- 
tion terminated  Judge  Dimock’s  services  after 
nearly  twenty-eight  years,  and  Jabez  Hyde  was 
appointed  in  his  place,  March,  1840.  His  death, 
about  eighteen  months  afterward,  created  a va- 
cancy, and  Benjamin  Lathrop  was  appointed  in 
his  place,  November,  1841.  He  served  five 
years. 

Dr.  Calvin  Leet  succeeded  Judge  Post,  Feb- 
ruary, 1843,  for  five  years. 

Moses  C.  Tyler  succeeded  Judge  Lathrop, 
March,  1847,  for  five  years,  nearly, 

Charles  Tingley  succeeded  Judge  Leet  in 
March,  1848.  His  term  lasted  only  three  and 
one-half  years,  as  the  amendment  to  the  Consti- 
tution for  the  election  of  judges  cut  him  off, 
and  John  Boyle  and  Davis  D.  Warner  were 
elected  associate  judges  for  five  years,  in  the 
Fall  of  1851. 

Urbane  Burrows  and  Charles  F.  Read  were 
elected  in  the  fall  of  1856. 


1 Under  the  Constitution  of  1874,  a single  county  having  forty  thousand 
inhabitants  is  entitled  to  have  a presiding  judge,  and  constitutes  a 
separate  judicial  district,  in  which  case  the  office  of  associate  judge  is 
abolished.  This  provision  of  the  Constitution  abolished  the  office  of 
associate  judge  in  Susquehanna  County. 


Charles  F.  Read  (.second  term)  and  I.  P. 
Baker  were  elected  in  1861. 

Alfred  Baldwin  and  R.  T.  Ashley  were  elec- 
ted in  1866. 

James  W.  Chapman  and  Judson  H.  Cook 
were  elected  in  1871. 


Attorneys  from  other  Counties  Admitted  to  the  Bar  of  Susque- 
hanna County,  from  the  Year  1813  to  1840. 


When  Admitted. 

Names. 

Counties. 

1813,  Jan.  Term  ... 

Luzerne. 

(( 

C( 

u 

(k 

t( 

(. 

u 

(( 

1813,  Apr.  Term  ... 
1813,  Aug.  Term  ... 

Luzerne. 

(( 

(( 

(( 

Bradford. 

1813,  Nov.  Term  .. 

1814,  Aug.  Term  ... 
1817,  Sept.  Term  ... 

Luzerne,  Bradford. 
Wayne. 

1818,  May  Term  ... 

Wayne. 

Bradford, 

1819,'  Aug.  31  ... 

1819,  Sept.  2 ... 

Luzerne. 

182i;  Jan.  29  ... 

C( 

1821,  Feb.  2 ... 

1821,  Sept.  Term  ... 

(( 

Pike. 

Luzerne. 

(( 

1824,  Feb.  Term  ... 

Oswego. 

182o"  Aug.  Term  ... 

Luzerne. 

1826,  Sept.  Term  ... 
1826,  Dec.  Term  ... 

Wayne. 

Owego. 

1830,  May  Term  ... 

Wayne. 

183l'  Aug.  Term  ... 

Luzerne. 

1834,  Dec.  Term  .. 

1835,  May  Term  ... 

1836,  May  Term  ... 
184u,  Nov.  Term  ... 

(( 

Luzerne. 

And  many  later  admissions 

Resident  Attorneys. 

When  Adm’d 


1814,  Apr. 

1810,  Sept. 

1817,  May  5 

1818,  Dec. 

1820,  Feb.  2 

1821,  Apr. 

1823,  Feb.  3 
1820,  May  1 
1828,  Sept.  1 
1828,  Sept.  2 
1830,  Aug.  30 
1830,  Nov.  29 


Names. 


With  whom  Studied. 


Charles  Catlin  

Alnion  H.  Read 

Benjamin  T.  Case 

George  Catlin 

William  Jessup 

Balthazer  De  Haert 

James  A.  Gordon 

Earl  Wheeler 

Benjamin  Parke 

Ebenezer  Kingsbury,  Jr... 

Barzillai  Streeter 

John  J.  Wurts 


Attorney  from  Luzerne. 
Attorney  in  Vt.  Ex’d. 
Attorney  in  Bradford  Co. 
At  Wilkes-Barre  (?) 

A.  H.  Reed. 


Attorney  from  Harrisburg. 
Wm.  Jessup. 


1 1787,  first  court,  May  29.  In  1794,  when  he  and  E.  Bowman,  the 
only  lawyers  in  Luzerne,  declined  to  serve,  two  lawyers  from  Connecticut 
were  imported. 

2 Now  president  judge. 

3 Horace  Williston  was  a native  of  Sheffield,  Conn.,  and  the  youngest 
brother  of  the  late  Seth  Williston,  D.D.  He  studied  law  in  Elmira ; 
practiced  in  Binghamton,  and  also  in  Susquehanna  County  courts,  many 
years,  even  after  his  removal  to  Athens,  Bradford  County.  He  was 
eminent  in  his  profession,  and  distinguished  for  strict  integrity  and  love 
of  justice.  He  was  president  judge  of  the  Thirteenth  Judicial  District^ 
He  died  August  14,  1855. 


! 

If  I 

|i 

f 

I 

I 

i 


! 


u. 

3 

31 

3U 

1 

30 

17 

5 

22 

8 

4 

5 

8 

27 

20 

18 

21 

19 

19 

19 

10 

15 

17 

21 

20 

21 

19 

22 

17 

16 

16 

20 

19 

20 

7 

17 

16 

16 

15 

21 

20 

20 

11 

22 

25 

6 

25 

3 

13 

12 

17 

10 

24 

9 


THE  BENCH  AND  BAK. 


75 


Names. 

With  wh03i  Studi^. 

Attorney  from  Northampton. 

J.  J Wurts. 

Attorney  from  Luzerne. 
B.  T.  Case 
Wm  Jess^uji. 

B T Case 

Davis  Diinock,  Jr 

Wm.  Jessup. 

Dimock. 
Wm.  Jessup. 

(( 

Attorney  from  Bradford. 
A.  L.  Post. 

Wm.  Jessup. 

Benjamin  S.  Bentley 

rc 

Attorney  from  Warren. 
F.  Lusk. 

Sabin  Hatch 

Davis  Dimockj  Jr. 

S.  S.  N.  Fuller 

Wm.  Jessup. 

F.  Lusk. 

Bentlej’’  & Richards. 

Wm.  J.  Turrell  & A.  Carr. 
D.  Dimock,  Jr. 

Wm.  Jessup. 

A.  L.  Post. 

Attorney  from  N.  Y. 
Bentley  & Richards. 

B.  S.  Bentley. 

Attorney  from  Wayne. 
R.  B.  Little. 

B.  S.  Bentley. 

La  Fayette  Fitch 

John  C.  Truesdell 

R.  B.  Little. 

Ezra  H.  Chase 

F.  B.  Streeter. 
Wm  Jessup. 
B.  S.  Bentley. 
F.  B.  Sireeter. 
Wm.  Jessup. 

Martin  L.  Truesdell 

Simeon  B Chase 

Lucius  Robinson,  Jr 

G.  Clark  Lyman 

Andrew  J.  Davis 

F.  B.  Streeter. 
B.  S.  Bentley. 
E.  B.  Chase. 
B.  T.  Case 

J.  Brewster  McCollum 

C.  Judson  Richardson 

R.  B.  Little. 
Jessups. 

B.  S.  Bentley. 

Jessups 
S.  B.  Chase. 

Attorney  from  Wayne. 
Jessups. 

u 

(( 

Jessups. 

Bentley  & Fitch. 

Milo  J.  Wilson 

F.  B.  Streeter. 

Attorney  from  N.  Y. 
Jessu))s. 

E.  W.  Smith 

A.  0.  Warren 

F.  B.  Streeter. 
Bentley  & Fitch. 
R.  B.  Little. 

(( 

Edwin  M.  Turner 

Attorney  from  Wyoming. 

Law  School,  Cambridge,  F.  B. 

Streeter  and  Jessups. 
Bentley  & Fitch. 

James  Edward  Carmalt.... 
Jonathan  J.  Wright 

Aaron  Watson  Bertliolf. ... 
Thomas  H.  B.  Lyons .. 

Bentley,  Fitch  & Bentley. 
J.  B.  McCollum. 

Attorney  from  D.  C. 

William  A.  Crossman 

F.  B,  Streeter, 

J.  B.  McCollum. 

Willoughby  W.  Watson.... 
Huntting  0.  Jessup 

L.  F.  Fitch. 
Wm.  11.  Jessup. 

When  Adm’d. 

Names. 

With  whom  Studied. 

18G9,  Apr. 

12 

Michigan  Union  Law  School 
and  Little. 

J.  B.  McCollum 

1869,  Aug. 
1«69,  Nov. 

9 

16 

Attorney  from  Luzerne. 

1870^  Apr. 
187P,  Aug. 
1871,  Aug. 
1871,  Oct. 

27 

17 

15 

Benjamin  L.  Baldwin 

Jessups,  Crossmon. 
Attorney  N.  Y.  Sup.  Court 

17 

18;2,  Jan. 

8 

Carmalt,  Crossmon. 
Jessups,  Crossmon. 

1872,  Nov. 

11 

1875,  Apr. 
1875,  Aug. 

Little  & Blakeslee. 

1875.'  Nov. 

187(5,  Jan. 

a (( 

D.  W.  Searle. 

1876,  Sept. 
1879,  Apr. 

Geo.  G.  WatrouB 

Wm.  J.  Turrell. 
Little  & Blakeslee. 

(( 

1880j  Aug. 

Daniel  W.  Searle. 

Edson  W.  Saftui'd 

J.  B.  & A.  H.  McCollum. 

1882|  Aug. 

U 

Little,  Blakeslee  & Allen. 

1883,  Apr. 

1884,  Apr. 

1884,  Jan. 

1885,  Aug. 

William  E.  Williams 

1886,  Apr. 

1887,  Jan. 

W.  H.  & H.  C.  Jessup. 

Wm.  D.  B.  Ainey 

E.  L.  Blakeslee. 

District  Attorneys. — Prior  to  the  year 
1850  the  attorney-general  appointed  deputies, 
who  ]trosecnted  commonwealth  cases.  Since 
that  time  the  following  persons  have  been 
elected  district  attorneys  : 


1850.  John  H.  Dimock. 
1852.  John  C.  Fish. 
1853-56.  Frank  Fraser. 
1856-62.  A.  Chamberlain. 
1865-68.  Dan’l  W-  Searle. 


1871.  James  E.  Carmalt. 
1874-77.  B.  L.  Baldwin. 
1880.  Freeman  I.  Lott. 
1883.  E.  W.  Safford. 
1886.  F.  I.  Lott. 


The  first  lawyers  who  practiced  at  Montrose 
were  from  outside  of  the  county,  mostly  from 
Wilkes-Barre.  These  itinerant  lawyers  fol- 
lowed the  judges  around  on  horseback,  and 
naturally  the  Wilkes-Barre  lawyers,  who  had 
probably  many  clients  among  the  people  of  the 
new  county,  that  they  had  gained  while  Susque- 
hanna was  under  the  jurisdiction  of  Luzerne, 
were  the  first  to  come  here.  Ebenezer  Bowman, 
David  Scott,  Garrick  Mallery,  Nathan  Palmer, 
Putnam  Gatlin  and  Plenry  Wilson  were  ad- 
mitted the  first  term,  in  January,  1813.  The 
adjoining  counties  of  Bradford  and  Wayne  also 
furnished  some  of  these  itinerants — many  of 
them  became  men  of  renown,  high  in  the 
councils  of  the  nation  as  legislators  or  as  Supreme 
Court  and  presiding  judges.  Horace  Williston, 
of  Athens,  Bradford  County,  practiced  here  for 
many  years.  The  members  of  Susquehanna 


78 


HISTOllY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


directors  of  the  county,  asking  them,  upon  his 
own  responsibility,  to  attend  a convention  of 
school  directors  at  the  court-house  for  the  pur- 
pose of  consulting  together  upon  the  best  method 
of  advancing  the  school  interests.  He  often 
made  addresses  at  agricultural  fairs  at  home  and 
elsewhere.  In  1856  he  delivered  an  address 
before  the  New  York  State  Agricultural  Society, 
at  its  sixteenth  annual  fair.  He  took  his  stand 
in  favor  of  the  true  dignity  of  labor,  and  said : 
“ I can  never  consent  that  the  non-producing 
class  shall  claim  in  any  respect  a superiority 
over  those  who  rise  in  the  morning  of  every  day 
to  daily  toil,  ‘ who  work  laboring  with  their  own 
hands.’  ” In  his  earlier  days  he  was  colonel  of 
a regiment  of  militia,  and  he  had  the  best-drilled 
regiment  in  the  division.  In  politics  he  pur- 
sued the  course  which  suited  his  convictions.  In 
early  life  he  was  a Democrat,  and  was  defeated 
as  a candidate  of  that  party  for  Congress  in 
1836.  In  the  conflict  between  Jackson  and 
Adams  he  took  sides  with  Mr.  Clay  and  remained 
a Whig  until  the  formation  of  the  Republican 
party.  He  was  a friend  of  General  Scott,  and 
went  to  Washington  to  see  him  when  the  War  of 
the  Rebellion  began.  January  5,  1861,  he  wrote 
to  Hon.  Jeremiah  Black,  Secretary  of  State,  as- 
suring him  that  the  people  demanded  bold, 
strong  and  decided  measures  in  sustaining  the 
Constitution,  the  laws  and  the  Union  against  all 
aggression.”  He  was  appointed,  in  connection 
with  Colonel  Swaim  and  Judge  Swan,  of  Ohio, 
to  visit  Washington  in  May,  1861,  and  present 
the  views  of  the  “Nine  War  Governors,”  wlio 
held  a meeting  at  Cleveland,  Ohio,  and  sent  as- 
surances to  Lincoln  of  their  support  and  co-opera- 
tion. Judge  Jessup  was  zealous  in  his  support 
of  the  government  during  the  war.  He  was  also 
an  advocate  of  temperance.  In  fact,  every  good 
cause  seemed  to  find  in  him  an  earne.st  and  able 
advocate.  His  scholarship  was  recognized  by 
Hamilton  College,  in  1848,  by  conferring  upon 
him  the  degi’ee  of  LL.D.  He  was  a ruling 
elder  and  Sunday-school  superintendent  in  Mon- 
trose Presbyterian  Church  for  a great  many 
years,  where  his  “glowing  arguments  and  pa- 
thetic appeals  fitly  supplemenfed  the  pastor’s 
sermons.”  His  life  and  character  influenced 
the  community  where  he  lived  in  a marked  de- 


gree. He  was  widely  known  and  highly  hon- 
ored in  his  church  ; was  vice-president  of  the 
A.  B.  C.  F.  M.,  and  cheerfully  gave  ujj  two  of 
his  sous  as  foreign  missionaries.  In  July,  1820, 
he  married  Amauda  Harris,  of  Long  Island,  and 
they  had  a family  of  eleven  children, — among 
them  Jane  R.,  wife  of  Col.  J.  B.  Salisbury,  of 
New  York;  Mary  G.,  wife  of  F.  B.  Chandler, 
of  Montrose;  Harriet  A.,  wife  of  Isaac  L.  Post, 
of  Scranton;  Hon.  William  H.  Jessup;  Rev. 
Henry  H.  Jessup,  D.  D.,  professor  in  the  theo- 
logical seminary  at  Beirut ; and  Rev.  Samuel 
Jessup,  who  has  charge  of  the  printing  depart- 
ment at  Beirut;  Fannie  M. ; George  A.,  vice- 
president  of  the  Scranton  City  Bank;  Phoebe 
Ann,  deceased,  first  wife  of  Judge  Alfred  Hand, 
and  Huntting  C.  Jessup,  Esq.  Judge  William 
Je.ssup  died  at  Montrose,  September  11,  1868, 
aged  seventy-one.  His  wife  died  June  13, 1883, 
in  the  eighty-fifth  year  of  her  age. 

Hon.  David  Wilmot,  author  of  the  “ Wil- 
mot  Proviso,”  was  a native  of  Bethany,  Wayne 
County,  where  he  was  born  in  1814.  His 
father,  Randall  Wilmot,  settled  in  Dimock 
township  from  Bethany  about  1832,  where  he 
kept  a store  for  some  time,  but  subsequently 
removed  to  the  shore  of  Elk  Lake,  and  after- 
wards left  the  county.  David  Wilmot  in  early 
life  evinced  a great  love  for  books,  and,  with  the 
aids  obtained  from  the  library  at  Woodburne, 
became  well-read  in  many  of  its  most  valuable 
volumes,  and  especially  versed  in  those  advoca- 
ting anti-slaveiy  principles.  He  read  law  at 
Wilke.s-Barre,  was  admitted  to  practice,  and 
subsequently  settled  at  Towanda,  Pa.  In  1844 
he  received  the  unanimous  nomination  of  the 
Democracy  of  the  Twelfth  Congressional  Dis- 
trict, comprised  of  Bradford,  Tioga  and  Sus- 
quehanna Counties,  afterwards  known  as  the 
“ Wilmot  District,”  and  was  chosen  by  a large 
majority.  In  the  Twenty-ninth  Congress, 
which  met  in  December,  1845,  was  consum- 
mated the  annexation  of  Texas,  and  the  “ Wil- 
mot Proviso  ” provided  that  in  any  territory 
acquired  from  Mexico  “ neither  slavery  nor 
involuntary  servitude  shall  ever  exist  in  any 
part  of  the  territory,  except  for  crime,  etc.’’ 
Mr.  Wilmot  was  returned  to  Congress  by  a 
unanimous  nomination  and  re-election  in  1846, 


THE  BENCH  AND  BAR. 


19 


i 


t 


i 

I 

I 


I 


the  slavery  question  not  entering  into  the  can- 
vass. In  1850,  having  received  the  nomina- 
tion from  his  party,  the  pro-slavery  branch  of 
the  Democracy  set  about  defeating  his  return 
to  Congress,  whereupon  Mr.  Wilmot  at  once 
offered  to  give  way  to  any  man  who  should  be 
chosen  that  would  represent  the  principles  for 
which  he  had  so  long  and  earnestly  labored, 
and,  accordingly,  Hon.  Galusha  A.  Grow,  of 
Susquehanna  County,  was  named,  accepted  and 
elected.  Under  the  provisions  of  the  amend- 
ment to  the  Constitution  making  the  judiciary 
elective,  Mr.  Wilmot  was  chosen  president 
judge  of  the  judicial  district  comprised  of 
Bradford  and  Susquehanna  Counties  in  1851, 
and  presided  on  the  bench  until  1857,  w'hen  he 
resigned,  and  became  the  candidate  of  the  Re- 
publican party  for  Governor.  He  was  defeated 
by  William  F.  Packer,  through  the  treacheiy 
of  the  Conservative  and  Know-Nothing  leaders, 
and  was  restored  to  his  place  on  the  bench,  by 
appointment,  in  place  of  Judge  Bullock,  who 
had  been  appointed  to  fill  the  vacancy  caused 
by  his  resignation.  Judge  Wilmot  was  re- 
elected to  fill  the  place,  and  served  until  he  was 
elected  to  the  United  States  Senate,  where  he 
took  his  seat  on  March  18,  1861,  thereby  filling 
the  vacancy  caused  by  the  selection  of  Gen. 
Simon  Cameron,  by  President  Lincoln,  to  be 
Secretary  of  War.  At  the  conclusion  of  his 
Senatorial  term  he  was  appointed  by  President 
Lincoln  a judge  of  the  Court  of  Claims,  which 
office  he  held  up  to  the  time  of  his  death, 
March  16,  1868.  David  W^ilmot  obtained  a 
world-wide  reputation  by  his  historic  “ Wilmot 
Proviso,’’  and  honored  the  district  that  he  rep- 
resented. He  believed  in  tariff  for  revenue, 
and  made  powerful  speeches  in  advocacy  of 
that  doctrine  in  Congress.  He  was  fearless  and 
outspoken  in  his  opposition  to  the  extension  of 
slavery  in  the  Territories,  and  by  his  powerful 
and  persuasive  eloquence  on  the  stump  carried 
the  district  with  him,  changing  it  from  a strong 
Democratic  to  a Republican  district,  which  Hon. 
G.  A.  Grow  represented  with  credit  to  himself 
and  the  district  for  a number  of  terms,  carrying 
out  the  views  of  Mr.  Wilmot. 

Hon.  Farris  B.  Streeter  w'as  born  in 
Harford  township  September  24,  1819.  His 


father.  Dr.  Joseph  B.  Streeter,  a native  of  Con- 
necticut, .settled  in  the  township  in  1812,  where 
he  practiced  medicine  nearly  half  a century  and 
died  at  an  advanced  age.  Farris  B.  was  next 
to  the  eldest  of  six  children  and  was  educated 
at  the  district  school,  Harford  Academy  (an 
institution  then  just  opened  by  Preston  Rich- 
ardson) and  at  Clinton  Liberal  Institute,  Clin- 
ton, N.  Y.  After  teaching  at  Harford  Academy 
for  about  one  year  he  commenced  reading  law 
with  Hon.  George  W’^.  Woodward,  of  Wilkes- 
Barre,  and  finished  his  course  with  Davis 
Dimock,  at  Montrose,  and-was  admitted  to  the 
Susquehanna  County  bar  at  April  term,  1841, 
where  he  continued  the  practice  of  law  until 
his  appointment  as  judge.  He  won  his  way  to 
honorable  distinction  as  a lawyer  in  competition 
with  some  of  the  most  eminent  men  who  have 
graced  the  profession  in  the  county. 

He  was  appointed  district  attorney  by  the 
Governor  in  1843  and  held  the  office  until  1847. 
In  the  fall  of  1848  he  was  elected  State  Senator 
from  the  distriet  composed  of  Bradford,  Susque- 
hanna and  Wayne,  and  served  one  term  of  three 
years.  In  the  summer  of  1853  he  was  appointed 
solicitor  of  the  treasury,  at  Washington,  by 
President  Pierce,  which  position  he  resigned  at 
the  beginning  of  Buchanan’s  administration. 
Disapproving  of  the  repeal  of  the  Missouri 
Compromise  and  the  whole  policy  of  the  adminis- 
tration in  its  dealings  with  Kansas,  he  severed 
his  connection  with  the  Democratic  party  and 
became  a Republican.  In  March,  1865,  on 
the  resignation  of  Judge  Mercur,  Governor 
Curtin  appointed  him  president  judge  of  the 
Thirteenth  District,  composed  of  Bradford  and 
Susquehanna,  and  he  was  elected  the  following 
fall  for  a full  term.  After  Su.squehanna  County 
became  a separate  judicial  district  (the  Thirty- 
fourth)  he  was  elected  president  judge  thereof  in 
the  fall  of  1875  for  the  term  of  ten  years.  .He 
resigned  August  14,  1877,  to  take  effect  the 
20th  iust.,  but  before  the  expiration  of  that  time, 
Sunday,  August  19th,  death  clo.sed  his  earthly 
career. 

In  all  the  relations  of  life  he  was  an  amiable 
and  accomplished  man,  of  tender  sensibilities 
and  a kind  heart.  Modest  and  unassuming  in 
deportment,  he  was  firm  and  unyielding  in  the 


80 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


discharge  of  duty  and  in  the  maintenance  of 
his  natural  convictions.  Cautious  and  safe  as 
an  adviser,  fluent  and  entertaining  as  a speaker, 
cairn,  candid  and  forcible  as  an  advocate,  he 
commanded  the  confidence  of  the  jury  and 
enlisted  the  attention  of  the  court.  In  a reso- 
lution drafted  by  a committee  composed  of  W. 
H.  Jessup,  Franklin  Frazer,  J.  B.  McCollum, 
W.  W.  Watson  and  E.  L.  Blakeslee  his  charac- 
ter as  a judge  is  summarized  in  the  following 
resolution  : 

“That  in  the  discharge  of  his  official  duties  his 
well-considered  decisions  were  the  result  of  an  im- 
partial and  thorough  investigation  ; always  cautious, 
he  was  slow  to  act  when  he  feared  injustice  might  be 
done,  and  in  acts  of  discretion  ever  ready  to  follow 
the  leadings  of  the  moral  sense  of  the  community; 
affable  and  courteous,  he  still  always  maintained  a 
true  dignity,  and  while  justice  was  ever  administered 
with  firmness,  it  was  so  kindly  done  as  to  impress  all 
that  it  was  for  the  highest  good.” 

His  only  child,  Harry  Streeter,  is  a practicing 
lawyer  at  Towanda,  Bradford  County,  Pa. 

Paul  Dudley  Morrow,  son  of  John 
Morrow,  a farmer  who  settled  at  Wilmot, 
Bradford  County,  in  1823,  was  born  February 
17,  1828.  He  attended  the  common  schools, 
and  was  a teacher  for  two  winters.  In  1846  he 
entered  Harford  Academy,  where  he  prepared 
for  college.  He  entered  Hamilton  College  in 
1848,  from  which  he  graduated  in  1852.  Hav- 
ing read  law  in  the  senior  year  under  Professor 
Dwight,  he  entered  the  law-office  of  Ulysses 
Mercur,  at  Towanda,  and  was  admitted  to  the 
bar  September  term,  1853.  He  was  elected 
district  attorney  of  Bradford  County  in  1856, 
and  appointed  additional  law  judge  of  the 
Thirteenth  District,  which  was  composed  of 
Bradford  and  Susquehanna  Counties,  March  1, 
1870.  He  was  elected  to  the  same  office  the 
following  fall  for  ten  years.  After  the  new 
Constitution  went  into  effect,  in  1874,  Bradford 
and  Susquehanna  becoming  separate  judicial 
districts,  Judge  Morrow  remained  in  Bradford 
and  Judge  F.  B.  Streeter  resided  here.  In 
1879  Hamilton  College  conferred  the  degree  of 
LL.D.  on  Judge  Morrow.  In  1880  he  was 
re-elected  president  judge  of  Bradford.  He 
occasionally  comes  to  Montrose  to  try  causes  in 
which  Judge  McCollum  is  interested. 


Hon.  William  H.  Jes.sup,  son  of  Hon.  1 
William  Jessup,  was  born  at  Montrose  Feb-  I 
ruary,  1830,  and  was  graduated  at  Yale  Col- 
lege in  the  class  of  1849.  He  came  home  and 
entered  as  a law  student  in  his  father’s  office,  i 
The  year  following  his  graduation  he  taught  | 
the  Montrose  Academy,  and  was  admitted  to  [ 
the  bar  November  17,  1851.  His  father  took  j 
him  into  partnership,  under  the  firm-name  of  I 
William  & William  H.  Jessup.  Judge  Jes-  i 
sup  had  a wide  reputation  and  an  extensive  i 
practice  in  Susquehanna,  Bradford,  Wayne, 

Pike  and  Wyoming  Counties.  William  H.  j | 
first  had  charge  of  the  Pike  County  practice.  I 
From  this  time  he  gradually  took  charge  of  his  j I 
father’s  practice,  and  has  been  retained  in  im-  i i 
portant  cases  in  a number  of  the  adjoining  i 
counties.  His  father  was  counsel  for  several  1 
railroad  companies,  and  he  is  counsel  for  the  | 
Erie  Railway,  Delaware,  Lackawanna  and  I ' 
Western  Railroad,  Delaware  and  Hudson  Canal  | 
Company  and  Montro.se  Railway,  besides  hold-  | ; 
ing  several  important  trusts,  the  most  exten-  [' 
sive  of  which  is  the  trusteeship  of  the  Joseph  j : 
Fellows  estate.  August  7,  1863,  he  was  ap-  | 
pointed  assessor  of  the  Twelfth  Internal  Reve-  | 
nue  Di.strict,  comprising  Luzerne  and  Susque-  | 
hanna  Counties,  to  succeed  his  father,  who  had  t 
resigned,  having  been  appointed  by  Lincoln  the  ; 
year  previous.  He  held  this  office  until  1865,  ' 

when  Andrew  Johnson  appointed  A.  J.  Gerrit-  ! 
son  to  succeed  him.  May  11,  1871,  Governor 
Geary  commissioned  him  major-general  of  the 
Tenth  Division  of  the  National  Guard  of 
Pennsylvania,  comprising  the  counties  of  Sus-  j 
quehanna  and  Wayne.  Upon  the  death  of 
Judge  Streeter,  which  occurred  in  August, 
1877,  General  Jessup  was  appointed  presiding 
judge  of  the  Thirty-fourth  District,  a position  j 
which  he  held  for  about  sixteen  months,  until  f 
January,  1879.  After  his  successor  was  chosen  j 
he  immediately  resumed  law  practice  in  connec-  t 
tion  with  his  brother,  Huntting  C.  Jessup,  Esq.  ! 

January  1,  1885,  he  established  a law-office  in  j 

Scranton  in  partnership  with  Isaac  J.  Post, 
which  continued  until  Mr.  Post  died,  July  10, 
1885.  He  then  associated  his  son,  William  H. 
Jessup,  Jr.,  and  Horace  C.  Hand  in  partnership 
with  him.  He  has  an  extensive  corporation 


THE  BENCH  AND  BAR. 


81 


and  general  practice  in  Lackawanna  County  ; 
also  at  Montrose,  where  his  family  still  reside. 
Judge  Jessup  is  an  able  lawyer,  studious,  and  a 
_good  speaker.  He  is  a man  of  restless  energy 
and  force ; one  of  those  nervous  organizations 
whose  mind  can  never  remain  idle.  In  manner 
brusque  and  business-like,  he  impresses  you  as 
one  who  has  no  time  to  waste  on  the  common 
foibles  of  life.  He  is  a good  corporation  law- 
yer and  special  pleader.  He  prepares  his  cases 
with  care,  using  great  diligence  in  legal  re- 
search. During  the  trial  of  a cause  he  is  aleid 
and  ready  with  objections  to  his  opponents’ 
questionings;  still,  he  is  straightforward  in  pre- 
senting a case,  trying  it  upon  its  merits,  without 
recourse  to  politic  allusions  to  matters  outside 
■of  the  main  issue  for  the  purpose  of  prejudicing 
the  jury.  He  does  not  become  all  things  to  all 
men  in  order  to  win  the  jury,  but  relies  wholly 
upon  the  soundness  of  his  legal  positions,  which 
he  fortifies  by  an  extensive  array  of  precedents 
and  the  justness  of  his  cause,  which  he  presents 
with  frankness  and  candor.  These  qualities  of 
Judge  Jessup  impel  his  contemporaries  to  admit 
that  he  is  one  of  the  fairest  men  at  the  bar  to 
try  a ca.se  against,  as  there  is  no  danger  of  any 
side-issue  that  does  not  pertain  to  the  case,  or 
jury-fixing  at  his  hands.  Mr.  Jessup  is  an 
active  member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  and 
Sunday-school  at  Montrose,  and  is  esteemed  as 
a conscientious  Christian  man.  He  married 
Sarah  W.  Jay,  of  Belvidere,  New  Jensey. 
Their  children  are  Lillie,  wife  of  Albert  Lei- 
senring,  William  H.  Jessup,  Jr.,  Mary,  George, 
Loui.sa  and  Ann. 

Hon.  J.  Brewster  McCollum  was  born 
in  Bridgewater  township  September  28,  1832. 
He  worked  on  the  farm  and  attended  district 
school  until  he  was  seventeen.  He  attended 
Harford  Academy  more  or  less  from  1849  to 
1853,  and  subsequently  the  State  National  Law 
.School  at  Poughkeepsie,  where  he  graduated 
with  the  degree  of  LL.B.  He  returned  to 
Montrose  and  read  law  with  R.  B.  Little,  Ksq., 
and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  at  August  term, 
1853.  He  immediately  went  to  Geneva,  the 
county  seat  of  Kane  County,  Ilk,  and  entered 
the  law-office  of  Wm.  B.  Plato,  an  old  [tracti- 
tioner,  under  a salary,  where  he  remained  about 
6 


one  year.  He  returned  to  Montrose  in  1856, 
and  in  August  of  that  year,  in  company  with 
A.  J.  Gerritson,  purchased  the  Montrose  Dem- 
ocrat. They  conducted  the  paper  until  January 
1,  1858,  when  McCollum  sold  his  interest  to 
Gerritson.  He  then  formed  a partnership  with 
Nahum  Newton  in  law  practice,  which  lasted 
about  two  years.  He  next  formed  a partner- 
ship with  Daniel  W.  Searle,  which  continued 
until  Mr.  Searle  entered  the  army,  in  August, 
1862.  Mr.  McCollum  had  an  office  over 
Des.sauer’s  store  at  that  time,  and  continued 
alone  until  November,  1867,  wdien  he  formed  a 
partnership  with  Albert  Chamberlain,  which 
continued  until  January  1,  1871,  when  Cham- 
berlain removed  to  Scranton  to  act  as  internal 
revenue  collector.  J.  B.  McCollum  then  as- 
sociated his  brother,  A.  H.  McCollum,  with 
himself,  which  partnership  was  dissolved  when 
the  former  was  elected  presiding  judge  of  the 
Thirty-fourth  District,  composed  of  Susque- 
hanna County.  Mr.  McCollum  took  an  active 
interest  in  politics  when  a young  man,  and 
acted  as  chairman  of  the  County  Committee  and 
occasionally  made  speeches  in  the  interest  of  the 
Democratic  party.  In  1859  he  was  the  Demo- 
cratic candidate  for  district  attorney.  In  1861 
he  was  nominated  for  State  Representative,  and 
in  1870  he  was  also  nominated  for  Congress 
from  Luzerne  and  Susquehanna,  but,  there  be- 
ing a large  Republican  majority  to  overcome,  he 
was  defeated  in  each  case.  In  1877  he  was 
nominated  for  jwesiding  judge,  and,  notwith- 
standing the  county  is  largely  Republican,  he 
was  elected  by  one  thousand  two  hundred  and 
forty  majority.  Judge  McCollum’s  practice  as 
a lawyer  had  a steady  growth  until  he  was 
elevated  to  the  bench.  Aldiile  in  active  practice 
he  gave  careful  and  conscientious  attention  to  all 
matters  that  were  placed  in  his  hands.  He  pre- 
pared his  cases  carefully  and  tried  them  well.  His 
arguments  were  concise  and  pointed  ; sometimes, 
when  pressed  in  a forensic  contest,  he  was  some- 
what sarcastic,  but  never  without  provocation. 
He  impi-esscd  the  jury  with  his  candor  by  ad- 
mitting many  facts  in  his  opponent’s  favor,  but 
he  reasoned  logically  and  contended  earnestly  for 
the  main  issue.  Judge  McCollum  has  a pro- 
found knowledo-e  of  the  law,  a discriminating; 

O’  O 


82 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


judgment  and  an  equitable  disposition — qualities 
which  make  him  an  exceeedingly  fair  and  im- 
partial judge.  In  his  charges  to  the  jury  he 
.states  the  law  clearly,  comments  upon  the  evi- 
dence fairly,  and  leaves  the  que.stion  of  fact  to 
the  jury  without  indicating  his  opinion.  These 
equitable  qualities  of  mind  command  the  respect 
and  confidence  of  the  Montrose  bar  and  the  gen- 
eral public,  not  only  at  home,  but  in  other 
counties  where  he  has  been  called  upon  to  pre- 
side. When  Judge  McCollum  first  took  his 
.seat  on  the  bench  the  trial-list  docket  was 
loaded  down  with  cases  and  the  court  business 
was  about  two  years  behind.  The  cases  have 
been  disposed  of  and  causes  can  now  be  heard 
in  a rea.sonable  time.  Judge  McCollum  is 
affable  and  courteous  to  all  without  affectation  ; 
young  and  old  alike  find  him  a pleasant  and 
companionable  man.  The  confidence  of  the 
bar  in  his  decisions  is  well  shown  by  the  fact 
that  only  twelve  writs  of  error  to  the  Supreme 
Court  have  been  taken  from  Susquehanna 
County  during  the  eight  years  that  he  has  pre- 
sided, and  the  Supreme  Court  have  reversed  his 
decisions  only  twice  in  this  district  during  that 
time.  He  married  Mary  Jane,  daughter  of 
Daniel  Searle,  and  has  two  sons — Searle  and 
Charles. 

Charles  Catlin,  son  of  Putnam  Catlin, 
Esq.,  was  admitted  to  practice  in  Susquehanna 
County  in  April,  1814,  from  Luzerne  County, 
and  became  a resident  a few  years  later.  He 
built  the  house  on  the  corner,  across  from  the 
court-house,  where  Mr.  Webb  lives.  He  adver- 
tised lands  for  sale  and  did  some  business  for 
several  years,  and  finally  went  up  to  Buffalo  or 
Rochester,  and  here  we  lose  track  of  him. 
Charles  Catlin,  Almon  H.  Read,  Benjamin  T. 
Case  and  the  artist,  George  Catlin,  were  the  first 
resident  lawyers.  Probably  George  resided  with 
his  father  a short  time  here,  but  his  inclinations 
soon  led  him  into  the  wilds  of  America  in  seai’ch 
of  savages  as  subjects  for  his  pencil  and  brush. 
James  Catlin,  the  other  brother,  was  a printer 
at  Montrose  a .short  time.  Putnam  Catlin,  the 
father,  was  a lawyer,  and  in  1787-88,  when 
Luzerne  County  Courts  were  organized,  he  was 
the  attorney-general’s  deputy  for  Luzerne.  He 
was  also  admitted  here  in  1813,  but  it  does  not 


appear  that  he  ever  practi.sed  law  in  Susque-  I 
hanna  County.  He  was  cashier  of  the  Silver  r 
Lake  Bank  when  it  was  first  organized,  treas-  | 
urer  of  the  Milfoi’d  and  Owego  Turnpike  for  | 
seven  or  eight  years,  agent  for  the  Wallace  . 
lands,  and,  generally  speaking,  a prominent 
man  in  the  early  affairs  of  the  county.  His  , 
wife  was  Polly  Sutton,  a daughter  of  one  of  the  , 
early  Wyoming  Valley  settlers. 

Bexjamin  T.  Case,  son  of  Captain  Benja- 
min Case,  was  born  in  Newburg,  N.  Y.,  about 
1786.  He  was  educated  at  Newburg  Academy, 
and  read  law  in  the  same  office  with  William 
H.  Seward  and  Martin  Van  Buren,  and  was 
admitted  to  the  bar  when  he  was  only  about 
twenty  years  of  age.  He  came  to  Great  Bend 
with  his  father  in  1808.  After  a few  years  his 
father  removed  to  Warren,  Pa.,  where  Benja- 
min T.  married  Anna  Coburn,  and  returned  to 
Susquehanna  County  and  located  at  Montrose 
in  1816.  May  5,  1817,  he  was  admitted  to  the 
Montrose  bar,  and  was  one  of  the  first  resident 
attorneys  in  the  place.  Mr.  Case  was  a surveyor 
also,  and  was  employed  by  Henry  Drinker,  Dr. 
Rose,  Mr.  Cope  and  other  large  land-holders 
to  look  after  their  real  estate  interests  in  Sus- 
quehanna County.  He  soon  became  one  of  the 
best  land  lawyers  in  this  part  of  the  State,  and 
had  a better  knowledge  of  land  titles  than  any 
other  man  in  the  county.  He  was  secretary  of 
the  Owego  Turnpike  Company  for  some  time, 
and  tried  to  correct  the  route  and  not  run  the 
road  over  all  the  high  hills,  but  the  road  was 
too  well  established  to  admit  of  much  change. 
Mr.  Case  had  an  extraordinary  memory,  and 
could  quote  a page  of  law  after  reading  it 
once.  He  was  a man  of  rough  exterior,  and 
did  not  attempt  to  make  an  impression  by  any 
rhetorical  flouri.sh  or  high-.sounding  eloquence; 
yet  he  was  a man  of  more  feeling  than  appeared 
on  the  surface.  He  was  very  accurate  as  a con- 
veyancer, taking  great  care  to  leave  no  defect  in 
the  title.  He  was  a man  of  ability,  and  some- 
what eccentric.  He  died  in  1862,  aged  seventy- 
six.  He  had  four  sons  and  two  daughters.  The 
sons  were  William,  Charles,  Frederick  and  Ben- 
jamin, all  of  whom  are  now  dead. 

Hon.  Franklin  Lusk  was  born  in  the 
State  of  New  York  in  1803,  and  was  graduated 


THE  BENCH  AND  BAR. 


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at  Union  College.  Daniel  S.  Dickinson  and 
he  read  law  together  in  the  same  office.  About 
1828  he  came  to  Montrose,  and  finding  it  neces- 
sary to  do  something  to  supply  his  pressing 
needs,  he  taught  in  the  Montrose  Academy  two 
winters.  January  81,  1831,  he  was  admitted 
to  the  Susquehanna  County  bar,  and  that  same 
year  he  married  Jane  A.  Niven.  Their  only 
son  is  William  D.  Lusk,  E.sq.  In  1840  Col. 
Lusk  represented  his  district  in  the  Legislature. 
He  was  colonel  of  militia  for  a number  of 
years.  He  took  Ralph  B.  Little  into  partner- 
ship at  Montrose,  under  firm-name  of  Lusk  & 
Little.  He  also  had  an  extensive  practice  at 
Honesdale,  in  Wayne  County,  which  he  con- 
ducted in  connection  with  F.  M.  Crane,  Esq., 
then  a young  man,  under  firm-name  of  Lusk  & 
Little.  He  was  one  of  the  best  scholars  at  the 
bar,  and  a fine  orator  on  the  stump  or  befoie  a 
jury.  He  was  a man  of  fine  presence  and  ex- 
ceedingly brilliant  and  effective  before  a jury. 
He  was  forceful  and  aggressive,  storming  the 
argumentative  barriers  of  his  opponents,  carry- 
ing the  war  into  their  own  camp  regardless  of 
consequences.  These  qualities  rendered  him 
successful  as  an  advocate.  During  the  last  few 
years  of  his  life  he  lived  on  a farm  at  Great 
Bend.  He  died  in  February,  1853,  and  was 
buried  in  the  family  burying-ground  on  his 
farm. 

Hon.  Davis  Dimook,  Jr.,  son  of  Elder 
Dimock,  was  born  September  17,  1801,  and 
educated  at  the  Susquehanna  County  Academy. 
He  read  law  with  Benjamin  T.  Case,  Esq., 
while  he  was  editor  of  the  tinHquehanna  Ref/is- 
ter,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1833.  He 
was  appointed  county  treasurer  in  1834,  and 
was  elected  to  Congress  in  1840,  and  died  be- 
fore his  term  expired,  in  January,  1842,  when 
he  was  just  in  the  prime  of  manhood,  being 
but  thirty-eight  years  of  age.  Mr.  Bidlack,  in 
the  House,  and  Mr.  Buchanan,  in  the  Senate, 
paid  tributes  to  his  worth.  Mr.  Buchanan  said 
“that  he  acted  well  his  part  in  all  the  relations 
of  life.  His  judgment  was  excellent,  and  un- 
der its  dictates  his  course  through  life  was 
steady,  honest  and  consistent.”  He  married 
Lydia  M.  Ward,  and  left  four  daughters, — 
Sarah,  wife  of  D.  R.  Lathrop  ; Anna,  wife  of 


8J 

William  L.  Cox;  Frances,  wife  of  Charles 
Gee,  of  Chicago  ; and  Victoria  A.  Dimock,  of 
Washington. 

John  H.  Dimock,  .son  of  Elder  Dimock, 
was  born  October  30,  1815,  and  was  educated 
at  Susquehanna  Academy.  While  at  Harris- 
burg, as  principal  of  the  academy,  he  com- 
menced reading  law.  He  also  read  with  his 
brother,  Davis,  at  Montrose,  where  he  was 
admitted  to  the  bar  August  19,  1844.  He  was 
the  first  elected  district  attorney  in  1850.  He 
became  a land  speculator  in  the  West,  and  died 
at  Chicago. 

Almon  Heath  Read’^  was  born  at  Shel- 
burne, Vermont,  June  12,  1790.  He  remained 
at  home  with  his  father,  working  on  the  farm, 
until  seventeen  years  of  age.  He  then  entered 
AVilliams  College,  Massachusetts,  and  graduated 
in  1811.  During  his  collegiate  course,  on  one 
of  his  visits  home,  he  gave  his  views  on  politi- 
cal affairs,  favoring  a Democratic  policy  ; and 
his  father,  a stern  old  Whig,  threatened  that 
unless  he  gave  up  his  Democratic  notions,  he 
would  take  him  from  college  and  set  him  to 
work  on  the  farm.  It  appears,  however,  that 
after  his  graduation  he  studied  law  for  two  years 
in  Albany,  where  his  political  notions  were  not 
disturbed. 

In  1814  he  was  drafted  into  the  military 
service,  just  before  the  battle  of  Plattsburg,  and 
arrived  there  the  day  after  the  battle ; his 
company  was  disbanded,  and  thus  suddenly 
ended  his  military  career. 

Soon  after,  he  left  his  home  in  Vermont,  on 
horseback,  with  a pair  of  saddle-bags  and  a few 
dollars  in  his  pocket,  for  the  State  of  Ohio — 
then  the  far  II  csf — where  he  expected  to  settle. 
But,  on  reaching  Mott’s  tavern,  on  the  old  New'- 
burg  turnpike,  in  New  Milford  township,  the 
roads  were  nearly  impassable,  the  mud  being 
knee  deep  to  the  horse.  He  learned  that  one  of 
his  young  associates.  Col.  Win.  C.  Turrell,  had 
settled  a few  miles  south  of  Montrose,  and  he 
concluded  to  turn  aside  from  his  route  and  spend  a 
few  days  with  him,  hoping  the  roads  would  im- 


1 He  wns  often  called  the  “honest  lawyer,’’  from  the  fact  that  he  was 
never  known  to  enj?age  in  a case  for  a client  unless  he  honestly  thought 
\\\\n  in  the  right ; and  always  discouraged  the  ptdty  litigation  so  preva- 
lent at  the  present  day. 


84 


HISTOEY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


prove,  and  that  he  miglit  then  proceed  on  his 
journey. 

On  reaching  Montrose,  which  was  then  a new 
county-seat — the  first  court  having  been  held 
the  year  previous — he  was  prevailed  upon  to  I’e- 
main,  and  was  offered  the  position  of  clerk  to 
the  county  commissioners.  He  applied  for  ad- 
mission to  the  bar  of  Susquehanna  County ; but 
the  only  settled  (?)  lawyer  then  in  practice  here 
objected,  as  he  had  not  pursued  the  requisite 
course  of  study  in  accordance  with  the  rules  of 
Pennsylvania  courts.  He  was  therefore  com- 
pelled to  enter  his  name  as  a student  in  the 
office  of  Judge  Scott,  of  Wilkes-Barre.  Very 
soon  after,  the  objection  was  withdrawn,  and  he 
became  a regular  practitioner. 

In  1816  Mr.  Read  married  Miss  Eliza 
Cooper,  of  Southampton,  Long  Island,  and 
then  settled  permanently  in  Montrose,  where  he 
pro.secuted  his  profession^  (at  the  same  time 
holding  the  office  of  county  clerk  from  January 
1,  1815,  to  January  1,  1820),  and  became  much 
interested  in  the  progress  and  growth  of  the 
town.  He  took  a lively  intere.st  in  the  estab- 
lishment of  the  academy,  and  later,  when  the 
temperance  movement  was  first  agitated,  he  be- 
came one  of  its  warmest  supporters. 

It  does  not  appear  that  he  took  any  promi- 
nent part  in  politics  until  about  1827,  when  he 
was  elected  as  Representative. 

In  1828  he  was  not  a candidate,  but  was 
elected  in  1829,  ’30,  ’31  and  ’32. 

In  1833  he  was  elected  State  Senator  and 
served  for  four  years.  He  was  soon  after  elect- 
ed State  treasurer,  which  office  he  held  one  year, 
and  was  then  elected  a member  of  the  conven- 
tion to  revise  the  Constitution  of  Penn.sylvania. 
He  took  a prominent  part  in  this  convention. 
After  its  close  the  chairs  occupied  by  the  mem 
bers  were  sold  at  public  auction.  The  one  used 
by  Mr.  Read  was  sold  for  fourteen  dollars  (be- 
ing the  first  choice),  and  the  remaining  one 
hundred  and  thirty-one  seats  for  prices  varying 
from  three  to  ten  dollars. 

Soon  after  he  accepted  an  invitation  of  the 
citizens  of  Erie  County  to  a banquet  at  Erie,  and 
they  there  presented  him  with  a beautiful  oak 


1 Blackmail’s  “ History.” 


cane,  having  upon  it  six  silver  plates  bearing 
the  following  inscription ; 

“Presented  by  the  Democratic  citizens  of  Erie 
County,  to  Almon  H.  Read,  for  his  distinguish- 
ed services  in  the  Convention  to  reform  the  Con- 
stitution of  Pennsylvania. 

“Commodore  O.  H.  Perry’s  Victory,  Lake 
Erie,  September  11,  A.D.  1813. 

“ ‘ We  have  met  the  enemy  and  they  are 


ours.’ 

“Taken  from  the  Flag-ship  Lawrence,  August 


4,  A.D.  1883.” 


His  name  was  sent  by  Gov.  Porter  to  the 
Senate  as  president  judge  of  one  of  the  west- 
ern judicial  districts  of  the  State  ; but  the 
Senate  being  equally  divided  between  the  Demo- 
crats and  Whigs,  the  vote  was  a tie,  and  his 
nomination  was  not  confirmed. 

In  March,  1842,  he  was  elected  to  Congress 
to  fill  the  unexpired  term  of  Hon.  Davis  Dimock, 

Jr.;  and  in  the  fall  of  1842  he  was  re-elected 
for  the  years  1843  and  1844.  In  October,  1843, 
his  wife  died,  after  a short  illness ; and  soon 
afterwards,  whilst  on  his  way  to  Washington, 
he  took  a severe  cold,  which  terminated  in  con- 
sumption, and  which,  during  that  session,  pre- 
vented him  to  a great  extent  from  participating  ■ 
in  its  deliberations.  Even  his  political  enemies  | 
esteemed  him  a pure  legislator.  i 

During  his  sickness  at  Washington,  in  order  ; 
to  show  his  regret  at  having  been  a politician,  | 
he  said  to  his  son  : “ Never  accept  an  office  from 
the  people.  I have  always  been  successful  4 
whenever  my  name  came  before  the  electors,  for  j 
fifteen  years,  never  having  been  defeated,  and 
all  I have  ever  received  as  compensation  is  this  j 
(holding  up  his  Erie  cane),  and  a few  newspaper  j 
puffs;  leaving  my  family  in  a far  different  ii 
position  from  that  which  they  probably  would  il 
have  held  had  I pursued  my  profession.”  He  |1 
died  June  3,  1844  in  the  fifty-fourth  year  of 
his  age.  Mr.  Read  was  a Democrat  of  the  old  j 
school,  as  opposed  to  the  Whig  party. 

Ralph  B.  Little,  E.sq.,  was  born  January 
21,  1816,  in  Delaware  County,  N.  Y.  When 
he  was  about  eight  years  old  his  parents  moved  | 
to  Bethany,  then  the  county-seat  of  Wayne.  | 
He  made  the  most  of  the  limited  opportunities 
which  that  small  town  then  afforded  for  obtain- 


THE  BENCH  AND  BAB. 


85 


fin  ing  an  education.  He  studied  Latin  and 
Greek  under  the  instructions  of  Rev.  Alexander 
Campbell,  the  Presbyterian  clergyman  of  the 
place,  and  the  natural  sciences  under  Dr.  Strong. 

■ When  about  eighteen  he  commenced  to  read 
law  with  Earl  Wheeler,  at  Bethany,  and  subse- 
quently removed  to  Montrose  with  his  parents 
and  entered  the  law-office  of  B.  T.  Case,  Esq., 
where  he  continued  his  law  studies  and  was 


and  untiring  and  persevering  industry  as  a 
student  he  became  an  able  advocate  at  the  bar 
and  a formidable  opponent.  What  he  deemed 
right  in  law,  politics,  or  anything  else,  he  had 
the  undaunted  courage  to  stand  up  and  advocate 
or  defend,  regardless  of  denunciation  or  opposi- 
tion from  any  source  ; and  men  of  prudence 
took  issue  with  him  with  caution,  and  those  who 
lacked  care  in  their  contests  with  him  were 


admitted  to  the  bar  of  Susquehanna  County 
November  23,  1836.  Mr.  Little  was  studious 
in  early  life,  a habit  which  continued  throughout 
his  career.  His  great  ambition  was  to  achieve 
success  as  a lawyer,  and  he  bent  all  his  energies 
to  the  accomplishment  of  that  object.  During 
his  entire  brilliant  legal  career  he  made  and 
kept  at  hand  a short  memorandum  of  all  the 
decisions  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  this  State, 
commencing  with  1st  Binney  and  ending  with 
28th  Smith.  Mr.  Little  was  endowed  by 
nature  with  a superior  intellect,  and  by  the 
practice  of  strictly  moral  and  temperate  habits 


doomed  to  disaster  and  defeat.  As  a speaker 
his  style,  in  the  use  of  language,  was  rich, 
without  ornament,  natural,  bold  and  concise, 
with  a wonderful  facility  in  the  selection  of 
the  fittest  words  to  express  every  shade  of 
thought.  His  memory  was  a perfect  store- 
house of  legal  authorities,  Avhich,  with  his  easy 
and  vigorous  style  of  elocution,  made  him  an 
advocate  of  uncommon  power,  whether  before 
courts  or  juries.  He  was  the  leader  of  the  bar 
in  his  time,  at  Montrose,  and  commanded  the 
attention  of  the  Supreme  Court  whenever  he 
advocated  a case  before  them.  With  all  his 


86 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


peculiar  gifts,  there  was  one  of  which  he  himself 
seemed  scarcely  conscious,  which  was  not  always 
a source  of  gratification  even  to  his  friends. 
This  was  an  aptitude  for  indulgence,  upon 
occasions  of  sharp  and  heated  controversy,  in  a 
vein  of  sarcasm  so  keen  as  to  iuspii’e  resentment, 
yet  so  adroit  as  to  render  resentment  powerless 
for  reprisals.  Naturally  enough,  some  sores  so 
■created  were  slow  to  heal ; but  this  sarcastic 
method  was  only  used  under  the  spur  of  excite- 
ment in  his  professional  zeal.  Socially,  his 
manner  was  eminently  kindly  and  agreeable — 
sometimes  thoughtful  and  pre-occupied,  but 
never  offensive. 

During  the  first  few  years  of  his  manhood 
he  acted  with  the  so-called  Liberty  party — when 
that  party  failed  to  put  a ticket  in  the  field  he 
generally  voted  with  the  Democratic  party  ; and 
during  the  last  fifteen  years  of  his  life  he  was 
an  active  and  leading  member  of  the  Demo- 
cratic party,  not  as  an  office-seeker,  but  from 
principle.  He  was  the  choice  of  the  Democ- 
racy of  Susquehanna  County  for  Congress  in 
1868,  and  was  the  candidate  of  that  party  for 
presiding  judge  against  F.  B.  Streeter.  Mr. 
Little  was  at  first  a member  of  the  Baptist 
Church,  and  during  the  last  years  of  his  life  he 
was  a MethodLst.  His  ]>astor  said  of  him  : 
“ Both  in  the  Baptist  and  Methodist  Church,  he 
was  granted  license  to  preach  as  occasion  might 
afford  or  demand,  which  permit  he  improved 
quite  frequently  to  the  edification  and  profit 
of  the  people.  His  religion  was  not  in  name 
or  mere  profession.  Tn  this,  as  in  everything 
else,  he  manifested  a distaste  for  mere  assump- 
tion or  announcement.  He  sought  the  reliable, 
the  assurance  in  his  own  experience,  and  he 
prized  it  in  others.  The  ostentatious  and  ex- 
ternal to  him  were  secondary.  The  real  spirit 
was  all  in  all.  Modest,  retiring,  humble  him- 
self, he  was  attracted  by  the  same  in  others.” 
In  his  family  Mr.  Little  was  the  same  pure  and 
sincere  man  as  in  all  the  other  relations  of  life. 
In  1840  he  married  Phi  la  Ann,  one  of  the 
daughters  of  David  Po.st,  of  Montrose,  who  sur- 
vived him  about  one  year.  Their  children  are 
Oeorge  P.,  David  and  one  daughter — Mary — 
wife  of  Dr.  E.  L.  Blakeslee,  all  residents  of 
Montrose. 


George  Little,  father  of  Ralph  B,  Little,’ 
married  Mary  Estabrook  and  was  the  ancestor  ' 
of  the  several  families  of  that  name  now  re- 1 
siding  in  the  counties  of  Susquehanna,  Brad- 1 
ford,  Wyoming  and  Columbia,  and  also  of  one  ! 
located  in  Illinois  ; George  H.,  the  eldest  son,  ■ 
having  located  at  Leraysville,  Ralph  B.  at  Mon-  ! 
trose,  William  E.  at  Joliet,  Ilk,  Robert  R.  at  i 
Tunkhannock,  Ephraim  H.  at  Bloomsburg,  and 
Mary  E.,  widow  of  S.  S.  Grover,  deceased,  now 
resides  in  Florida.  Ralph  B.  Little  died  t 
January  26,  1877,  aged  sixty-one  years.  ! 

Hon.  Philip  Fraser,  son  of  Dr.  Charles  i 
Fraser,  was  born,  January  27,  1814,  at  Mont-  ■ 
rose.  He  was  graduated  from  Union  College  in  f 
1836.  He  read  law  with  William  Jessup,  and  i 
was  admitted  to  the  bar  of  Susquehanna  County  | 
in  1837.  He  removed  to  Florida  in  1841,  and  | 
married  a Spanish  lady  there.  During  the 
War  of  the  Rebellion  the  Federal  fleet  came  | 
there,  and  the  Unionists  in  the  vicinity  held  a 
meeting,  expressing  their  sentiments  in  favor  of 
the  Union.  The  fleet  sailed  away,  and  Mr.  j! 
Fraser  and  some  others  found  it  prudent  to  ! 
leave  the  South  for  a time.  He  purchased  a * 
place  at  Elizabeth,  N.  J.,  which  his  family  still  j 
own.  President  Lincoln  appointed  him  judge  * 
of  the  United  States  Court  for  the  Eastern  ‘ 
District  of  Florida  in  1862,  a position  which 
he  held  until  he  died,  July  26, 1876.  He  came  ' 
to  Montrose  on  a visit,  and  died  at  his  old  ; 
home.  He  was  a member  of  the  Presbyterian  '■ 
Church  of  Elizabeth,  N.  J.,  where  he  was  bur-  ^ 
ied.  He  wrote  some  poetry.  One  poem,  en- 
titled “ Evermore,”  though  written  two  years  i 
before  his  death,  was,  by  a singular  coincidence,  : 
published  at  the  time  of  his  death,  and  was 
considered  as  being  almost  prophetic  of  his  ■ 
death.  j 

Hon.  E'ranklin  Fraser  was  born  at 
Montrose  April  23,  1819.  He  was  graduated 
at  Union  College,  and  read  law  with  William 
Jessup,  and  was  admitted  to  Susquehanna 
County  bar  in  April,  1842.  He  was  a man  of 
varied  information.  There  was  hardly  any 
subject,  no  matter  how  obscure,  that  he  did 
not  know  something  about  it.  He  was  a better 
office  lawyer  than  before  the  court  and  juries. 

He  was  slow  in  forming  an  opinion,  but  when 


I 


THE  BENCH  AND  BAR. 


87 


once  formed  he  held  to  it  with  tenacity  to  the 
end.  He  went  to  Florida  to  assist  his  brother, 
and  became  register  in  bankruptcy,  and  finally 
became  one  of  the  three  Supreme  Court  judges 
of  the  State.  He  resigned  and  returned  to 
Montrose,  and  died  suddenly  November  10, 
1879,  just  as  he  was  preparing  a case  for  court. 
He  married  Jane  B.  Clark,  of  Elmira,  and  had 
one  daughter,  Fannie,  a school-teacher, 

Joseph  T.  Richards,  son  of  Daniel  and 
Lydia  Richards,  read  law  with  AAilliam  Jessup, 
and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  May  8,  1838.  He 
practiced  law  at  Montrose  for  about  twelve 
years,  iu  partnership  with  B.  S.  Bentley  a por- 
tion of  the  time.  He  was  a well-read  lawyer, 
and  accurate  in  office- work.  He  went  to  Cali- 
fornia for  his  health,  by  way  of  the  Isthmus  of 
Panama.  Here  he  contracted  a fever.  He 
partly  regained  his  health,  and  formed  a part- 
nership with  Judge  John  H.  McKune,  a former 
student  of  Bentley’s.  The  partnership  had 
been  in  existence  only  two  weeks  when  they 
were  burned  out  in  the  great  fire  that  occurred 
at  Sacramento,  escajiing  only  with  his  life,  in  his 
night-clothes.  The  exposure  and  excitement  inci- 
dent to  this  calamity  soon  terminated  his  life.  He 
died  in  1852.  His  wife  was  Anna  M.,  daugh- 
ter of  Benjamin  Sayre.  His  son,  J.  T.  Rich- 
ards, read  law  with  W.  A.  Crossmon,  and  was 
admitted  to  the  bar  Nov.  11,  1872.  He  prac- 
ticed law  at  Philadelphia,  and  was  connected 
with  the  fast  mail  service  for  a number  of 
years.  He  died  recently.  Lieut.  Benjamin  S. 
Richards  is  a naval  officer,  and  was  present  at 
the  great  earthquake  at  St.  Thomas  Island, 
when  the  ship  was  set  on  beam’s  end. 

Hon.  Wii.lam  J.  Turrell  was  born  March 
13,  1814,  in  Litchfield  County,  Conn.  He 
came  to  Montrose  with  his  parents  in  the  spring 
of  1816,  and  learned  the  trade  of  saddle  and 
harness-maker  with  his  father,  William  Turrell, 
working  at  that  business  until  he  reached  his 
majority.  He  is  remembered  as  a young  man 
of  correct  habits,  and  possessing  excellent  men- 
tal endowments.  After  attaining  the  age  of 
twenty-one  he  entered  the  office  of  Rev.  A.  L. 
Post  as  a law  student,  and  while  thus  engaged 
he  became  a Christian  and  united  with  the 
Baptist  Church,  of  which  he  remained  an  earn- 


est and  faithful  member  until  his  decease,  Au- 
gust 31,  1881.  After  being  admitted  to  the 
bar  he  became  the  law  partner  of  Mr.  Post, 
and  continued  a member  of  this  law-firm  until 
Mr.  Post  gave  up  the  law  for  the  Gospel  minis- 
try, when  he  assumed  control  of  the  whole 
business.  His  business  was  done  in  a quiet, 
unostentatious  way,  but  it  led  generally  to  suc- 
cess and  finally  to  a competence.  In  1862  he 
was  elected  Republican  State  Senator  without 
opposition,  to  represent  the  Fourteenth  District, 
then  comprising  Bradford,  Wyoming  and  Sus- 
quehanna Counties.  He  -took  an  active  part  in 
the  councils  of  the  commonwealth,  and  through 
those  trying  years  of  her  history  acquitted  him- 
self nobly  and  well.  His  kindness  to  soldiers 
and  their  families  is  still  gratefully  remembered 
by  many.  In  1865,  the  last  year  of  his  term 
as  Senator,  he  was  chosen  Speaker  of  that  body, 
— an  honorable  position  and  at  that  time  a very 
important  one,  as  the  Speaker  of  the  Senate 
would  then  have  been  called  to  be  Governor 
had  that  office  become  vacant.  He  was  a mem- 
ber of  the  convention  to  amend  the  State  Con- 
stitution, which  met  December  27,  1873,  and 
served  through  the  long  session  of  one  hundred 
and  eight  days,  taking  a very  active  part  and 
addressing  the  convention  on  important  ques- 
tions about  one  hundred  and  fifty  times.  When 
called  upon  to  preside  as  master  in  Chancery  his 
work  ranked  with  the  best  and  gave  general 
acceptance.  He  was  president  of  the  Legal 
Association  of  Susquehanna  County  and  also  of 
the  First  National  Bank  from  their  organiza- 
tion. 

He  married,  March  20,  1854,  Miss  Huldah 
A^an  Valkenburgh,  of  New  York  City.  Rec- 
ollections of  their  happy  home  life  will  long 
remain  with  those  who  have  shared  it.  On 
Monday,  September  5th,  following  his  death, 
while  court  was  in  session,  appropriate  resolu- 
tions were  introduced  by  Hon.  William  H. 
Jessup  and  passed  relative  to  this  honored 
member  of  the  Susquehanna  bar,  and  the  fol- 
lowing are  extracts  from  remarks  made  on  that 
occasion  : 

By  Hon.  William  H.  Jessup : 

“ Mr.  Turrell  was  tlie  oldest  member  of  the  bar — a 
man  of  unsullied  character,  a man  of  fine  legal  at- 


88 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


tainments,  a man  wise  as  a counselor  and  faithful  as 
a friend.  There  are  many  of  the  young  members  of 
the  bar  who  will  look  back  to  him  almost  as  a father. 
His  wise  counsels,  his  constant  encouragement  and 
his  earnest  wishes  for  their  advancement  and  pros- 
perity will  be  gratefully  remembered  by  them.  He 
was  a lawyer,  while  not  in  full  practice  before  the 
courts,  who  possessed  a practice  well  known  to  many 
of  us  in  the  capacity  of  advisory  counsel  in  many 
important  cases  and  upon  many  important  questions, 
and  for  many  years  he  enjoyed  that  confidence  of  the 
court  which  made  him  almost  invariably  an  auditor 
where  legal  questions  complicated  and  difficult  were 
likely  to  arise.  And  I may  say  that  his  decisions  as 
an  auditor  have  been,  perhaps,  as  seldom  reversed  as 
those  of  any  other  member  of  the  bar  who  has  occu- 
pied such  a responsible  position  before  the  court. 
)) 

By  Hon.  J.  Brewster  McCollum  : 

“In  boyhood,  manhood  and  in  ripe  age  he  so  con- 
ducted himself  that  he  secured  and  retained  the  es- 
teem and  confidence  of  the  people.  In  the  positions 
of  public  trust  to  which  he  was  called  he  acquitted 
himself  creditably,  and  was  recognized  as  a faithful 
and  efficient  representative  and  defender  of  the  inter- 
ests committed  to  his  care.  The  record  of  his  official 
life  is  without  stain.  For  nearly  forty-three  years  he 
was  a resident  and  practicing  member  of  the  Susque- 
hanna County  bar,  and  in  his  intercourse  with  his 
professional  brethren  he  was  ever  courteous,  obliging 
and  honorable.  He  was  in  many  respects  a model 
lawyer, — true  to  his  client,  to  the  court  and  to  his 
own  sense  of  duty  and  honor.  He  was  a conscien- 
tious and  safe  counselor.  I think  he  did  not  enjoy 
the  strife  and  excitement  of  jury  trials,  that  he  rather 
shunned  than  sought  a litigating  practice;  but  he 
seemed  to  take  pleasure  in  the  discussion  of  legal 
questions,  and  his  law  arguments  were  clear,  exhaus- 
tive and  convincing.  In  all  that  concerned  the  wel- 
fare of  the  legal  profession,  its  dignity  and  honor,  he 
manifested  a lively  interest,  and  his  efforts  and  his 
influence  were  always  favorable  to  its  elevation  and 
its  advancement.  . . .” 

By  William  M.  Post,  Esq. : 

“ It  is  with  no  unmeaning  words  and  formal  phrase, 
and  I but  express  the  sentiment  of  all  my  brethren 
of  the  bar,  when  I say  that  William  J.  Turrell  was 
no  ordinary  man.  The  architect  of  his  own  fortunes 
and  success  in  life,  he  carried  out  and  achieved  for 
himself  a career  of  which  any  of  us  might  be  proud. 
Few  men  of  our  county  have  been  so  widely  known 
— none  more  honored  and  respected — none  would  be 
more  missed  and  mourned  by  all  the  people  of  our 
county.  His  magnificent  physique — his  stately,  al- 
most majestic  form — and  noble  manhood  attracted 
attention  and  commanded  admiration  wherever  he 
appeared.  His  manners  were  characterized  by  dig- 


nity without  arrogance — were  elegant  and  courtly 
without  being  insincere.  His  friends  and  acquaint- 
ances ever  found  him  an  affable,  genial,  good-hearted 
companion.  He  appreciated  wit  and  humor,  but 
while  he  had  a hearty  laugh  for  the  mirthful,  his  soul 
w'as  full  of  tenderness,  and  he  had  ever  a tear  of  pity 
for  misfortune  and  misery.  His  culture,  knowledge 
of  the  world,  his  acquaintance  with  men  and  things 
from  study,  travel  and  observation,  were  extensive 
and  varied — while  his  tastes  were  more  than  ordinar- 
ily exact  and  refined.  . . . From  early  youth  he 

turned  away  from  the  temptations  and  vices  over 
which  so  many  promising  young  men  have  stumbled 
and  fallen,  and  his  moral  character  and  conduct  have 
ever  been  free  from  reproach  and  stain.  ...  In 
the  early  part  of  his  career  he  was  somewhat  ardent 
in  politics,  and  more  than  once  was  a successful  can- 
didate for  political  honors ; but  although  true  to  his 
own  convictions,  he  was  liberal  towards  those  with 
whom  he  differed,  and  was  never  a place-hunter,  a 
‘trimmer’  or  a demagogue.  His  religious  opinions 
and  principles,  like  every  other  element  in  his  nature,, 
were  decided  and  firm,  but  he  was  charitable  and  tol- 
erant towards  all.  . . .” 

Hon.  Benjamin  Speese  Bentley  wa& 
borne  in  Cairo,  Greene  County,  N.  Y.  His 
early  boyhood  was  spent  under  the  shadow  of 
the  beautiful  Catskill  Mountains,  where  his  an- 
cestors had  lived  for  many  years.  A rise  in 
the  Catskill  Creek  produced  the  greatest  flood 
ever  known  before  or  since,  and  carried  away 
the  iron-works  of  his  father.  Being  discour- 
aged by  his  great  loss,  he  decided  to  move  to 
Pennsylvania  with  his  little  lamily.  Benjamin 
received  his  education  at  the  seminary  in  Ham- 
ilton, N.  Y.  He  returned  to  Montrose  and 
taught  the  academy  from  1833  to  1836,  and 
subsequently  read  law  with  Hon.  William 
Jessup,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  February 
5,  1839.  He  worked  his  way  to  the  front  and 
practiced  law  at  Montrose  until  October,  1866, 
when  he  located  in  Williamsport,  Pa.  He  was 
appointed  president  judge  of  Lycoming  County 
after  it  had  been  constituted  the  Twenty-ninth 
Judicial  District,  which  position  he  held  nearly 
a year,  and  came  within  a few  hundred  votes  of 
defeating  Judge  Gamble  in  the  face  of  a strong 
Democratic  majority  and  the  admitted  personal 
strength  of  his  competitor.  In  August,  1878, 
he  was  appointed  president  judge  of  the  new 
district  of  Lackawanna  County,  serving  until 
January,  1880.  He  was  twice  married  and  left 


THE  BENCH  AND  BAR. 


89 


a widow.  His  first  wife  was  a sister  of  Hon. 
L.  F.  Fitch.  Of  his  four  children,  three  sur- 
vived him — Mrs.  Geo.  G.  Waller,  of  Hones- 
dale.  Pa. ; B.  Stuart  Bentley,  Esq.,  of  Williams- 
port; and  P.  W.  Bentley,  a druggist  of  the  same 
place.  His  second  son.  Geo.  F.  Bentley,  Esq., 
died  in  Honesdale,  Pa.,  October  4,  1881,  of 
whom  it  was  said  “ that  death  does  not  destroy, 
but  catches,  crystallizes  and  makes  permanent 
the  character  of  a good  man,  leaving  it  a 
priceless  bequest  to  society.” 

Judge  Bentley  was  a gentleman  of  culture, 
one  of  the  brightest  and  best  men  that  ever 
practiced  law  in  Susquehanna  County  ; a lawyer 
of  fine  attainments,  he  always  took  great  in- 
terest in  public  affairs,  and  was  a frequent  con- 
tributor to  the  press  upon  political,  religious, 
educational  and  other  subjects.  As  a husband 
and  father,  citizen  and  lawyer,  there  are  living 
witnesses  to  his  worth  in  all  these  relations. 
For  many  years  he  was  a member  of  the  Pres- 
byterian Church  and  gave  much  attention  to 
church  and  Sunday-school  work.  Kindne.ss 
was  one  of  his  great  characteristics.  He  was 
affable  and  courteous  in  manner,  sincere  and 
truth-loving.  One,  in  speaking  of  him,  .said 
“ that  he  was  pre-eminent  in  his  grasp  of  the 
equities  of  the  cases  he  tried,  and  presented  them 
with  a master  hand  to  the  court  and  jnry.” 
Another  said,  “ Judge  Bentley,  in  his  long  pro- 
fessional life,  exemplified  that  great  fact  that  a 
man  may  be  a true  Christian  and  a great  lawyer.” 
He  rose  in  the  respect  of  the  people  as  a true 
Christian,  letting  his  light  shine  wherever  he  went. 
Another  says,  “ From  the  bench  he  administered 
the  law  with  authority,  and  we  all  remember 
with  what  firmness  and  impartiality  he  per- 
formed his  judicial  duties,  and  with  what  gen- 
tleness he  ruled  against  us  when  he  knew  we 
were  wrong.  He  was  a sound  lawyer,  a 
righteous  judge,  a kind  and  indulgent  husband 
and  father,  a warm  friend,  a useful  citizen  and 
a good  man.”  Another  said  to  the  members  of 
the  bar,  “ The  daily  beauty  of  his  life  was 
almost  like  a continual  benediction.”  He  died 
March  6,  1882,  at  \¥illiamsport,  aged  seventy- 
three.  The  daily  ])apers  announced  the  death 
of  “ the  eminent  jurist.”  “ Let  me  die  the  death 
of  the  righteous  and  let  my  last  end  be  like  his.” 
6i 


Samuel  Buel  Mulford,  son  of  S.  S. 
Mulford,  was  born  at  Montrose,  Dec.  9,  1821. 
He  read  law  with  Hon.  William  Jessup  and 
was  admitted  to  the  Susquehanna  County  bar 
Aug.  19,  1844.  After  this  he  entered  Yale 
College  in  the  class  with  his  cousin,  Wm.  H. 
Je.ssup,  and  was  graduated  in  1849.  The  Cal- 
ifornia excitement  was  then  at  its  height,  and  he 
went  to  the  Isthmus  of  Panama,  which  he 
crossed,  having  to  wait  thi’ee  months  for  trans- 
portation to  California.  He  located  at  Marys- 
ville and  practiced  his  profession  with  succe.ss 
until  he  died,  September  6,  1863.  He  was  a 
popular  stump-speaker  and  a brilliant  lawyer. 
He  was  announced  for  a political  speech  just 
before  he  was  taken  with  the  fever  which  re- 
sulted in  his  death. 

Hon.  Lafayette  Fitch  (1825-77)  was 
a native  of  Eaton,  Madison  County,  N.  Y.,  and 
the  son  of  Stephen  and  Alta  Sheldon  Fitch, 
farmers  at  that  place.  Upon  the  death  of  his 
mother,  when  he  was  only  thirteen  years  of  age, 
he  came  to  live  with  his  sister  at  Montrose,  who 
had  married  Benjamin  S.  Bentley,  E.sq.,  a 
lawyer.  Here  he  attended  the  academy,  studi- 
ously applied  himself,  and  early  became  a 
teacher  in  the  free  school  of  the  place,  and  in 
the  district  schools  in  the  vicinity,  where  he 
taught  for  several  terms,  and  he  was  always 
afterwards  interested  in  school-work  as  director 
most  of  the  time.  He  read  law  with  his  bi’other- 
in-law,  Mr.  Bentley,  was  admitted  to  practice 
August  21,  1848,  and  became  the  law  partner 
of  his  tutor,  which  business  relation  continued 
until  Mr.  Bentley  went  to  Williamsport,  in  1866. 
With  the  exception  of  a short  time  during  the 
exi.stence  of  the  business  relations  with  IMr. 
Watson,  under  the  firm-name  of  Fitch  AWatsoiq 
Mr.  Fitch  continued  his  law  business  alone  the 
remainder  of  his  active  life.  He  was  elected 
State  Senator  in  1871,  from  the  district  com- 
prised of  Susquehanna,  Bradford  and  Wyoming 
Counties  and  served  one  term.  He  was  profiered 
a re-nomination,  but  declined,  and  his  law  part- 
ner, Mr.  Watson,  was  elected  to  take  his  place. 
Mr.  Fitch  in  early  life  was  religiou.sly  inclined, 
was  active  in  Sunday-school  work  as  a teacher, 
and  at  the  time  of  his  death  a ruling  cider  in 
the  Presbyterian  Church  at  IMontrose.  He  was 


90 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


one  of  the  first  to  interest  himself  in  assisting 
widows  and  orphans,  to  secure  their  pensions 
from  the  gov^ernment  after  the  close  of  the  late 
war;  and  when  Pennsylvania  was  invaded  by 
the  rebels  in  1863,  he  responded  to  the  call  for 
troops,  and  served  as  first  lieutenant  of  an 
emergency  company,  which,  however,  saw  no 
active  service,  but  was  returned  home.  Upon 
the  occasion  of  his  death,  the  trustees  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church,  recognizing  the  great  loss 
sustained  by  his  death  to  the  church,  met  and 
passed  appropriate  resolutions  and  ordered  them 
entered  upon  the  records  of  the  society.  The 
Rough  and  Ready  Fire  Company,  of  which  Mr. 
Fitch  had  once  been  foreman,  draped  their  hall 
in  mourning,  and  by  resolutions  adopted  at  their 
meeting  May  18, 1877,  publicly  recognized  their 
high  sense  of  his  worth  and  honor.  At  a meet- 
ing of  the  Legal  Association,  held  in  the  court- 
room at  Montrose,  on  the  same  day,  of  which 
Hon.  Wm.  H.  Jessup  was  elected  president  and 
Hon.  W.  W.  Watson  secretary,  resolutions  fit- 
ting the  occasion  of  the  death  of  their  honored 
associate  were  adopted,  and  appropriate  remarks 
on  his  life  and  character  w^ere  made  by  Hon. 
Wm.  J.  Turrell,  Hon.  Wm.  H.  Jessup,  Hon. 
J.  B.  McCollum,  Hon.  W.  W.  Watson,  Hon. 
Franklin  Frazier,  E.  L.  Blakeslee  and  A.  O. 
Warren,  Esqs.,  and  it  was  resolved  that  the 
officers  of  the  court  and  the  members  of  the  bar 
proceed  in  a body  to  the  funeral  of  the  deceased, 
who  had  passed  away  the  day  before. 

At  the  time  of  Mr.  Fitch’s  decease  the 
Independent  Republican,  of  Montrose,  said  of 
him, — 

“Mr.  Fitch  was  a man  of  sterling  integrity, 
whether  as  a citizen,  a lawyer,  a statesman  or  a 
Christian.  In  the  dignified  retirement  of  his 
late  years  he  ever  manifested  an  eminent  ex- 
ample of  modest  talent,  substantial  learning  and 
unpretending  wisdom,  with  exceedingly  affable 
manners,  strong  social  affection,  ab.solute  fidelity 
in  every  relation  of  life,  and  probity  beyond  the 
slightest  suspicion  of  reproach,  as  rarely  adorns 
even  the  highest  walks  of  professional  excellence. 

“ His  public  services  in  political  life  were  both 
useful  and  incorruptible.  His  Senatorial  career 
at  Harrisburg  was  earnest,  beneficial,  and  patri- 
otic. The  members  of  the  bar  of  this  county 


have  lost  a companion  who  was  an  honor  to  his  '1 
profession,  a model  to  themselves  and  an  exam-  j 
pie  of  virtue  and  excellence  to  all.  ■ 

“Mr.  Fitch  was  a man  of  ardent  feelings  and 
of  ingenuous  temperament.  He  was  strong  in 
his  attachments  to  true  men  and  to  opinions,  and 
was  not  easily  turned  from  any  course  of  specu- 
lation or  action  which  he  had  once  satisfied  him- 
self was  right.  He  put  on  no  airs  and  assumed 
no  superiority  on  the  ground  of  his  intellectual 
attainments,  but  placed  himself  on  a level  with 
every  one  with  whom  he  had  any  concern.  He 
was  ever  a conscientious  man.  He  was  always 
true  to  his  moral  as  well  as  intellectual  convic- 
tions, and  followed  them  whithersoever  they  led 
His  straightforwardness  and  frankness  were 
among  the  secret  causes  of  the  remarkable  influ- 
ence which  he  confessedly  exercised  over  the  [ 

minds  and  judgments  of  others.  By  his  ' 

honesty,  as  well  as  by  his  resoluteness  and  de- 
cision, he  was  the  mainspring  of  everything  | 

with  which  he  was  connected.  By  this  moral  [ 

influence  he  controlled  and  swayed  all  men  with  I 

whom  he  was  associated.  As  Ben  Jonson  I 

says  of  Lord  Bacon,  ‘he  commanded  where  he  I 

spoke.’  He  has  left  an  example  full  of  instruc-  j 

tion  and  encouragement  to  the  young  men  of  ' 

our  county,  and  especially  those  of  the  legal  ‘ 

profession.  He  has  shown  them  to  what  heights  ; 

of  greatness  and  usefulness  they  may  ascend  by  ' 

truth,  temperance  and  toil.  He  has  left  to  all  ' 

a most  glorious  and  precious  legacy  in  his  ex-  I 

ample  of  integrity,  moral  courage  and  indepen-  | 

dence.  He  has  taught  the  young  men  that  there  * 

is  nothing  so  grand  and  beautiful  as  moral  [ 

principle,  nothing  so  sublime  as  adherence  to  ; 

truth,  and  nothing  so  adventitious  as  integrity,  | 

pursued  through  all  circumstances,  adver.se  or  j 

propitious.”  j 

His  wife,  whom  he  married  in  1855,  was 
Mary  Sayre,  a daughter  of  Mason  S.  and  Mary 
Sayre  Wilson,  of  Montrose,  whose  ancestors  were 
the  first  settlers  of  Bridgewater  township.  She 
survives  him  and  cares  for  her  aged  father  in  his 
declining  years. 

Albert  Chamberlain  was  born  in  Choco- 
nut  township,  and  obtained  his  education  at 
the  common  schools,  teaching  winters  and 
studying  summers.  He  was  ambitious,  and 


THE  BENCH  AND  BAR. 


91 


read  law  with  Bentley  & Richards,  and  was 
admitted  to  the  Susquehanna  County  bar  in 
; August,  1843.  He  was  elected  district  attor- 
ney twice,  from  1856-62,  and  was  justice  of 
the  peace  a number  of  years,  also  revenue  col- 
lector. He  removed  to  Scranton,  where  he  died. 

Leonard  P.  Hinds,  son  of  Stephen  Hinds, 
was  born  at  Montrose  in  March,  1828,  and  died 
at  Susquehanna  December  23,  1882.  He  at- 
tended the  academy  at  Harford,  and  was  a 
student  at  Alexandria,  Va.,  where  he  devoted 
considerable  time  as  a writer  for  the  local  press. 
He  read  law  with  Ralph  B.  Little,  of  Mon- 
trose, and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  November 
17,  1851.  He  was  a member  of  the  Baptist 
Church.  He  settled  in  Susquehanna  in  1849, 
and  practiced  law  there  until  his  death,  a period  of 
thirty-three  years.  His  ability  was  marked  as  a 
lawyer,  especially  in  the  prime  of  life,  and 
was  equally  divided  in  the  two  departments  of 
law,  as  a pleading  and  counseling  advocate. 

Frederick  A.  Case  read  law  with  his 
father,  Benjamin  T.  Case,  and  was  admitted 
to  the  bar  of  Susquehanna  County  January  16, 
1854.  He  was  remarkable  for  his  great  mem- 
ory of  cases  and  legal  forms.  It  is  said  that 
he  could  write  deeds  without  printed  forms, 
entirely  from  memory.  He  was  a modest,  re- 
tiring man  of  many  eccentricities.  He  died, 
while  yet  in  his  prime,  February  3,  1880. 

Albert  Bushnell,  sou  of  Hezekiah  Bush- 
nell,  was  born  in  Ararat  December  30,  1815- 
With  no  school  privileges  but  the  common 
schools  of  his  time,  he  early  developed  great 
fondness  for  books  and  study.  At  the  age  of 
seventeen  he  taught  a district  school  near  where 
Susquehanna  now  stands.  He  taught  each 
year  thereafter  until  the  second  year  after  his 
marriage,  in  1842.  He  then  located  on  a farm 
in  Ararat.  Few  men,  with  no  resources  but 
their  own  labor,  would  have  undertaken  to 
prepare  for  admission  to  the  bar  of  Susquehanna 
County ; but  with  a large  family  to  support,  he 
commenced  reading  law  under  the  direction  of 
Bentley  & Fitch,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar 
November  20,  1853,  and  the  following  spring 
removed  to  Susquehanna,  where  he  devoted  the 
remainder  of  his  life  to  the  practice  of  his  pro- 
fession. 


Isaac  J.  Post,  only  child  of  Rev.  Albert 
L.  and  Eleanor  C.  Post,  was  born  at  Montrose 
June  21,  1837,  and  was  graduated  at  Yale  Col- 
lege in  the  class  of  1860.  He  read  law  in  his 
native  village  with  William  & William  H. 
Jessup,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  January 
20,  1862  ; but  in  September  following  he  en- 
tered the  army  of  the  Union  and  served  one 
year.  He  next  held  a position  under  the  solici- 
tor of  the  Treasury  Department,  at  Washington, 
two  years ; he  then  resigned  and  removed  to 
Scranton,  and  formed  a law  partnership  with 
Alfred  Hand,  which  was-  dissolved  in  1879, 
when  Mr.  Hand  was  appointed  judge.  He 
continued  to  practice  alone  until  January,  1885. 
He  formed  a partnership  with  his  preceptor, 
William  H.  Jessup.  Isaac  J.  Post  was  no  or- 
dinary man.  A.  close  student,  with  a clear,  logi- 
cal mind,  he  had  mastered  the  intricacies  of  the 
law,  and  was,  by  almost  universal  consent, 
acknowledged  to  be  the  best  real  estate  lawyer 
at  the  Lackawanna  bar.  He  was  particularly 
strong  as  a consulting  lawyer.  His  integrity 
and  candor  gained  for  him  a large  clientage  of 
business  men  in  Lackawanna  County.  His 
clients  became  warmly  attached  to  him  both  for 
his  merits  professionally  and  his  genial  character- 
istics socially.  A thorough  knowledge  of  legal 
principles  and  a practical  knowledge  of  busi- 
ness demands  made  him  of  great  value  to  clients 
when  intricate  problems  in  business  needed  to 
be  harmonized  with  the  principles  of  law.  He 
had  a keen  perception  of  right  and  a disposi- 
tion to  follow  it.  He  loved  his  profe.ssion  for 
the  principles  it  presented,  and  despised  cun- 
ning and  trickery,  and  was  always  equal  to  its 
designs  and  would  almost  invariably  circum- 
vent it.  He  was  a man  of  few  words,  simple 
and  courteous  to  men  in  every  condition  of  life. 
He  was  a multifarious  readei’,  a close  observer 
of  scientific  progress,  a successful  student  of 
geology.  He  kept  pace  with  all  the  attacks  of 
scientists  upon  the  Christian  faith,  but  never 
wavered  from  the  choice  of  his  youth  in  his 
belief  in  the  power  of  a sincere,  humble  Chris- 
tian faith  on  the  soul.  His  faith  was  grounded 
in  the  truths  of  revelation — in  life  a solace  and 
comfort  to  him,  in  death  it  did  not  fail  him. 
He  was  married,  June  2.3,  1868,  to  Eliza  Blake 


92 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


Todd.  He  died  July  10,  1885,  at  Montrose,  aud 
was  buried  with  his  fathers  in  the  peaceful  ceme- 
tery of  his  ancestral  home. 

Hon.  Alfred  Hand  was  born  in  Hones- 
dale,  Pa.,  March  26,  1835,  and  was  graduated 
from  Yale  in  1857.  He  commenced  to  read 
law  with  William  & William  H.  Jessup  in 
1857,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  November 
21,  1859.  He  married  one  of  Hon.  'William 
Jessup’s  daughters  for  his  first  wife,  and  located 
in  Scranton,  where  he  practiced  law  successfully 
until  he  Avas  elevated  to  the  bench,  first  by 
appointment  as  judge  of  the  Eleventh  Judicial 
District  (Luzerne),  March  4,  1879,  and  the  fol- 
lowing fall  he  was  elected  law  judge  of  the 
Forty-fifth  Judicial  District  (LackaAvauna  Coun- 
ty), and  is  doav  president  judge,  commissioned 
in  January,  1880,  for  ten  years.  Judge  Hand 
enjoys  the  confidence  of  the  bar,  and  is  esteemed 
for  his  many  excellent  qualities,  not  only  as  a 
judge,  but  as  a leading  citizen  and  Christian 
gentleman. 

Wm.  M.  Post  was  born  February  10,  1825, 
at  Montrose.  In  his  boyhood  he  assisted  in  the 
Avork  upon  his  father’s  farm ; but,  at  the  age  of 
twenty,  having  received  a fair  academical  edu- 
cation at  the  Montrose  Academy,  he  read  laAV 
Avith  his  brother-in-laAv,  the  late  Ralph  B.  Lit- 
tle, at  that  time  one  of  the  ablest  laAA^yers  in  this 
part  of  the  State.  Hon.  J.  B.  McCollum  Avas 
his  felloAV-studeut  in  the  same  office.  After  his 
admission  to  the  bar,  in  1856,  Mr.  Post  became 
a partner  in  the  Avell-knoAvn  laAv-firm  of  Little 
& Post. 

In  1864  he  moved  to  Susquehanna  Depot, 
Avhither  he  was  attracted  by  interests  in  real 
estate  of  considerable  value,  consisting  princi- 
pally of  a tract  of  land  lying  across  the  river 
from  Susquehanna,  upon  Avhich  the  largest  por- 
tion of  the  present  village  of  Oakland  has  since 
been  built  up.  He  opened  an  office  in  Susque- 
hanna, and,  besides  giving  attention  to  his  own 
business  affairs,  continued  the  practice  of  laAV 
there  until  about  1880,  Avdien  he  returned  to  his 
former  home  in  Montrose,  and  noAV  lives  on  the 
old  homestead  Avhere  he  was  born — still  one  of 
the  most  comfortable  and  attractive  homes  in 
the  village.  Connected  Avith  his  residence  he 
still  owns  a small  farm — about  sixty  acres  of 


the  old  farm  his  father  cleared  up — to  the  culti- 
vation of  AAdiich,  since  his  return,  he  has  given  i 
much  of  his  time. 

Mr.  Post  has  a comprehensive  knowledge  of 
the  laAV,  and  in  the  trial  of  a cause  he  is  col- 
lected and  self-possessed.  No  member  of  the 
Susquehanna  bar,  of  the  past  or  present,  has 
excelled  him  as  an  orator,  and  but  feAV  have  i 
equaled  him  in  his  influence  with  juries.  His  | 
mind  is  logical,  and  his  reasoning  poAvers  re- 
markably clear  and  strong.  He  has  been  the  ( 
trusted,  confidential  legal  adviser  of  many  of 
the  most  prominent  and  successful  business  men 
in  the  county,  because  of  his  rare  business  sa- 
gacity. In  dealing  Avith  his  clients  he  is  always  } 
candid  and  invariably  favors  settlements  AA'here 
they  are  possible,  and,  so  far  as  his  influence 
can  be  consistently  exerted,  discourages  litiga- 
tion. 

Being  a large  OAvner  of  real  estate,  he  has 
made  sales  of  building  lots  to  a greater  number 
of  persons  than  any  one  else  in  the  county  dur- 
ing the  same  period  of  time.  He  has  assisted 
a large  number  of  men  to  build  homes  on  lots  t 
sold  to  them  by  him,  and  many  poor  men  owe 
it  to  his  liberality  and  leniency  that  they  now 
have  homes  of  their  OAvn.  f 

Mr.  Post’s  family  Avere  Whigs,  and  his  first  ‘ 
vote  was  for  that  party.  But  when,  on  the 
defeat  of  Henry  Clay,  of  Avhom  he  was  an  ar-  ^ 
dent  admirer,  the  Whig  party  disbanded,  he  J 
became  a Democrat,  and  has  steadfastly  re-  ! 

mained  such,  although  he  has  never  taken  an  | 

active  part  in  mere  partisan  politics.  His  per- 
sonal and  social  relations  have  ever  been  as  cor- 
dial and  friendly  Avith  those  Avith  Avhom  he  dif- 
fered as  with  those  with  Avhom  he  Avas  affiliated 
by  party  relations. 

The  poor  and  distressed  have  ahvays  found 
in  him  a sympathizing  friend ; and  to  the 
young,  struggling  for  advancement,  he  has  al- 
ways extended  Avords  of  encouragement  and,  in 
many  cases,  actual  assistance.  He  has  never 
been  an  office-seeker,  but  has  preferred  the  re- 
tirement and  comforts  of  private  life. 

Pie  Avas  recently  president  of  the  Borough 
Council,  although  tA\m-thirds  of  the  Council  Avas 
composed  of  Republicans.  He  is  a vestryman 
in  the  Episcopal  Church.  He  has  long  been  an 


I 


THE  BENCH  AND  BAR.  93 


honored  and  respected  member  of  the  Masonic 
order — having  presided  over  a lodge  and  chap- 
ter in  Montrose,  also  a lodge  in  Susquehanna, 
and  is  now  one  of  the  oldest  members  of  Malta 
Commandery,  of  Binghamton. 

The  only  political  office  ever  held  by  Mr. 
Post  was  that  of  United  States  assessor  for  the 
Twelfth  District,  composed  of  Susquehanna  and 
Luzerne  Counties.  This,  at  the  time,  was  an 
office  of  great  labor  and  responsibility,  requir- 
ing the  aid  of  ten  or  twelve  assistants,  mostly 
in  Luzerne  County,  and  a competent  clerk. 
Nearly  four  hundred  thousand  dollars  was  at 
, that  time  annually  assessed  in  the  district.  The 
office  had  been  previously  filled  by  the  late  Judge 
' Jessup,  and,  after  him,  by  the  present  Judge 
» Jessup.  A vacancy  had  been  made  in  the  office 
i.  of  assessor  and  the  business  was  being  conducted 
by  one  of  the  assistants.  President  Johnson,  at 
the  suggestion  of  Judge  Woodward,  then  Con- 
gressman of  the  district,  had  nominated  some 
half-dozen  good  men  for  the  position,  all  of 
whom  had  been  rejected  by  a Republican  Senate 
I upon  political  grounds.  Mr.  Post  was  then 
I nominated,  and,  upon  the  recommendation  of 
leading  Republicans  of  Susquehanna  County, 

! General  Cameron,  then  in  the  Senate,  favored 
this  nomination,  and  it  was  confirmed  without 
dissent.  Mr.  Post  assumed  the  arduous  duties 
f of  the  office  and  discharged  them  to  the  entire 
^ satisfaction  of  both  the  Revenue  Department 
, and  the  people.  He  went  out  with  the  admin- 
istration which  appointed  him,  and  the  office 
itself  gradually  declined  in  importance  until  it 
was  finally  consolidated  with  that  of  collector. 

In  1886  Mr.  Post  received  the  Democratic 
nomination  of  the  district  composed  of  Susque- 
hanna and  Wayne  Counties  for  State  Senator. 
The  district  is  largely  Republican,  and  Mr. 
Post  was  defeated,  although  he  ran  six  hundred 
votes  ahead  of  his  ticket. 

Mr.  Post  has  been  twice  married.  His  first 
wife  was  Lucy  J.,  a daughter  of  Sabin  Hatch, 
Esq.,  of  the  Montrose  bar.  They  had  -three 
daughters, — Fannie  M.,  wife  of  Stanley  M. 
Mitchell,  Esq.,  also  a member  of  the  bar,  resid- 
ing at  Binghamton  ; Nancy  J.,  wife  of  D.  W. 
Mabee,  died  at  Binghamton,  aged  twenty ; and 
Agnes  also  died  there  while  on  a visit  to  her 


sister,  aged  eighteen.  Mrs.  Lucy  J.  Post  died 
in  1877,  and  Mrs.  Harriet  Blos.som,  his  second 
wife,  died  in  1883. 

Daniel  W.  Searle  is  the  son  of  Daniel 
Searle  and  Johanna  Stark,  who  came  from 
Wyoming  Valley  and  located  at  Montrose  in 
1827,  where  Daniel  W.  was  born,  January  7, 
1836.  He  received  his  education  at  Montrose 
Academy,  where  he  prepared  for  college  under 
the  tuition  of  Professor  Crampton.  He  entered 
Yale  in  the  class  of  1858,  but  sickness  com- 
pelled him  to  relinquish  his  design,  and  he  re- 
turned to  Montrose.  He  entered  the  law-office 
of  Honorable  William  Jes.sup  and  William  H. 
Jessup,  and,  after  a thorough  preparation  under 
the  direction  of  his  able  preceptor,  was  admit- 
ted to  the  bar  in  November  1859.  He  com- 
menced the  practice  of  law  with  his  brother-in- 
law,  Honorable  J.  B.  McCollum,  under  the 
firm-name  of  McCollum  & Searle,  and  continued 
this  business  relation  until  the  second  year  of  the 
late  war.  In  1862  he  enlisted  in  Company  H, 
One  Hundred  and  Forty-first  Regiment  Penn- 
sylvania Volunteers.  This  company  was  re- 
cruited in  Susquehanna  County  by  Captain 
Tyler  and  Mr.  Searle,  who  was  first  lieutenant 
when  the  company  started  out ; but  when  the 
regiment  was  formed  at  Harrisburg,  he  was  ap- 
pointed adjutant,  a position  which  he  held  until 
he  was  discharged,  June,  1864.  He  served 
with  the  heroic  One  Hundred  and  Forty-first 
until  only  thirty-five  men  reported  for  duty, 
after  the  battle  of  Gettysburg,  where  he  was 
wounded.  (For  a fuller  account  of  the  gal- 
lantry of  the  men  who  served  in  Company  H, 
the  reader  is  referred  to  the  military  chapter  of 
this  history.)  After  the  war  Mr.  Searle  was 
commissioned  lieutenant-colonel  of  militia,  on 
the  staff  of  General  Jessup.  After  his  return 
from  the  army  he  resumed  the  practice 
of  law,  and  was  elected  district  attorney  in  1865, 
and  again  in  1868.  He  has  been  an  active 
parti.san  in  the  Republican  party,  acting  as 
chairman  of  the  County  Committee  a number 
of  times,  and  was  the  choice  of  the  Republi- 
cans of  Sus(}uehanna  County  for  Congre.ss  in 
1874,’  80,’82;  but,  through  combinations  among 
the  conferees  of  the  other  counties,  the  claims  of 
Susquehanna  were  not  recognized,  and  he  failed 


94 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


to  receive  the  district  nomination.  Mr.  Searle’s 
life-M’ork,  however,  has  been  that  of  a lawyer, 
in  which  profession  he  holds  an  honorable 
place  at  the  Montrose  bar.  He  is  an  able  and  safe 
counselor,  prudent  and  careful  in  the  prepara- 
tion and  management  of  a case,  and  during  a 
trial  he  is  fair  with  his  opponent.  His  argu- 
ments are  candid  and  logical.  He  has  a keen 
perception  of  the  principles  of  law  which 
govern  in  a case,  and  uses  good  judgment  in 
their  application.  He  is  kindly  disposed  to- 
wards the  younger  members  of  the  bar,  who 
always  find  in  him  a cheerful  and  ready  ad- 
viser. In  1883  he  entered  into  partnership 
with  A.  H.  McCollum  and  A.  B.  Smith,  under 
the  firm-name  of  McCollum,  Searle  & Smith, 
In  February,  1883,  he  married  Irene,  daughter 
of  Colonel  G.  F.  Mason,  of  Towanda. 

William  D.  Lusk,  son  of  Franklin  Lusk, 
was  born  at  Great  Bend  in  1833.  He  received 
an  academic  education  at  Homer,  New  York, 
preparatory  for  college,  which  course  he  was  pre- 
vented from  taking  because  of  his  father’s 
death,  which  occurred  about  that  time.  He 
read  law  with  Little  & Post,  and  was  admitted 
to  the  bar  in  November,  1859.  He  was  in  the 
army  after  that,  and  also  in  the  West  for  two 
years.  From  1866  to  1871  he  had  an  office  at 
Montrose,  and  from  1871  to  1874  he  had  an 
office  with  Mr.  Loomis,  in  Scranton.  In  1879 
he  was  in  partnership  with  Eugene  O’Neill. 
He  was  elected  vice-president  of  the  First 
National  Bank  of  Montrose  in  January,  1886, 
and  has  spent  most  of  his  time  there  since  that 
time.  At  the  last  election,  in  January,  1887, 
he  was  made  president  of  the  bank. 

Andrew  O.  Warren  was  born  June  5, 
1817,  in  Jeffrey,  N.  H.  He  was  educated  at 
Melville  Academy,  and  studied  theology  at 
Westmoreland,  N.  H.,  and  entered  the  ministry 
of  the  Universalist  Church;  and  preached  for 
them  about  thirty  years.  He  read  law  Avith 
E.  B.  Chase  and  F.  B.  Streeter,  and  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  bar  August  term,  1862,  and  has 
practiced  law  at  Montrose,  preaching  occasion- 
ally since  that  time, 

Charles  A.  Warren,  son  of  A.  O.  War- 
ren, was  born  September  2,  1846,  and  educated 
at  Montrose.  He  read  law  with  his  father,  and 


was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1868.  He  became  1)1 

^1 

associated  with  his  father  in  law  practice  at  ( 
Montro.se  until  recently,  1886,  he  has  taken  : 
the  place  of  M.  M.  Riley,  at  Susquehanna.  i 

George  P.  Little,  son  of  Ralph  B.  Little,  i 
Esq.,  was  born  April  25,  1842.  He  received  : 
his  education  at  Montrose  Academy,  and  read  j 
laAV  with  Little  & Post  and  was  admitted  to  the  , 
bar  at  April  term,  1863.  He  went  out  with  1 
the  emergency  men  when  General  Lee  invaded  ! 
Pennsylvania.  His  father  took  him  into  part-  \ 
nership  under  firm-name  of  R.  B.  <fe  G.  P.  | 
Little.  Subsequently,  E.  L.  Blakeslee  became  \ 
a member  of  the  firm,  and,  since  the  death  of  R.  [ 
B.  Little,  there  have  been  several  changes. 
George  P.  Little  occupies  the  same  office  that 
his  father  did,  and  has  associated  with  him 
David  W.  Brown,  under  the  firm-name  of  Little 
& Brown.  Mr.  Little  has  been  retained  in  a 
number  of  important  cases.  He  is  a conscientious 
painstaking  lawyer,  and  attends  carefully  to 
whatever  matters  are  placed  in  his  hands.  He 
is  a Democrat  in  politics,  but  has  recently  taken 
a decided  interest  in  the  Prohibition  movement.  ! 

Jonathan  J,  Wright,  a colored  man,  was  | 
born  in  Springville  township,  where  his  brother,  j 
an  intelligent  blacksmith,  now  resides.  He  f 
obtained  his  education  in  the  common  schools  ‘ 
and  Montrose  Academy.  While  in  Montrose  ; 
he  was  porter  at  the  Tarbell  House  a part  of  1 
the  time,  and  blacked  boots  and  did  all  kinds  of  ' 
porter  work  at  thirteen  dollars  per  month.  Mean-  | 
while  he  read  law  with  Bentley  & Richards,  and  | 
was  admitted  to  the  bar  of  Susquehanna  County  } 
August  13,  1866,  after  sustaining  a good  exam-  | 
illation,  and  is  said  to  have  been  the  first  colored 
man  admitted  to  practice  law  in  Pennsylvania. 

He  made  some  political  speeches  about  home 
that  were  received  with  favor  by  his  party. 
Shortly  after  the  war  carpet-bag  rule  began  in 
the  South,  and  his  opportunity  was  in  that  sec- 
tion. He  formed  a law  partnership  with  a 
Yankee  in  Beaufort,  S.  C.  Here  he  acquired  a 
good  practice  and  immediately  rose  to  positions 
of  distinction.  He  was  delegate  to  the  Consti- 
tutional Convention,  a member  of  the  South 
Carolina  Legislature,  and  finally  he  was  ap- 
pointed one  of  the  judges  of  the  Supreme  Court 
of  South  Carolina.  Mr.  Wright  now  donned 


THE  BENCH  AND  BAB. 


95 


the  robes  of  office  and  lived  in  Columbia,  S.  C., 
in  great  style.  W.  J.  Tnrrell,  who  happened 
down  there  about  that  time,  Avas  driven  about 
the  town  in  his  carriage,  and  in  all  respects  was 
well  entertained  by  him.  He  trained  up  three 
other  colored  men  to  the  law,  one  of  whom  was 
a sober,  industrious  man.  But  his  prosperity 
was  too  great  for  him  ; he  soon  became  dissi- 
pated, and  was  compelled  to  resign  his  office. 
He  had  now  lost  caste  among  his  felloAvs,  and  at 
a public  meeting,  shortly  after,  he  was  hissed. 
Instead  of  being  stimulated  to  reform  by  this 
mark  of  disapproval,  he  only  sank  lower,  and 
soon  after  died,  aged  about  foi’ty.  A good  anec- 
dote is  told  of  him  and  Judge  Mercur : It  seems 
that  Judge  Mercur  hesitated  about  admitting 
him  to  the  bar,  and  he  was  admitted  when  some 
other  judge  was  presiding.  After  Wright  was 
elevated  to  the  Supreme  bench  he  met  Mercur 
one  day,  who  congratulated  him  upon  his  good  for- 
tune, when  Wright  replied  that  he  hoped  that  he 
should  be  able  to  congratulate  him  (Mercur)  on 
attaining  as  high  a position  in  Pennsylvania  as 
he  had  attained  in  South  Carolina.  This  assump- 
tion of  superior  dignity  is  said  to  have  not  been 
very  highly  appreciated  by  Judge  Mercur;  but 
true  enough.  Judge  Mercur  was  elevated  to  the 
Supreme  bench  in  Pennsylvania,  and  died  in 
1887,  while  chief  justice  of  the  State;  but 
whether  Wright  ever  congratulated  him,  the 
writer  cannot  say. 

James  E.  Caemalt,  son  of  Caleb  Carmaltj 
of  Friendsville,  was  born  May  11,  1840.  He 
obtained  his  education  at  Haverford  and  Alex- 
andria. He  read  law  with  Judge  Streeter  and 
at  Harvard  Law  School,  and  was  admitted  to 
the  bar  April  3,  1865.  He  was  elected  district 
attorney  in  1871.  He  practiced  law  at  Mon- 
trose about  ten  years,  until  his  mother’s  death, 
when  he  returned  to  Friendsville  to  superintend 
a large  farm.  He  has  been  active  in  promoting 
the  Susquehanna  County  Agricultural  Society, 
and  has  given  considerable  attention  to  stock- 
raising.  In  1880  he  removed  to  Scianton  and 
engaged  in  law  practice  four  years.  During 
this  titne  he  helj)ed  organize  the  Lackawanna 
County  Agricultural  Society,  and  acted  as  direc- 
tor and  treasurer  one  year.  In  1884  he  returned 
to  Friendsville,  where  he  now  resides. 


Hon.  Moneoe  J.  Lareabee. — His  great- 
grandparents  were  Stephen  and  Polly  (Nims) 
Larrabee.  The  former  was  born  in  Montague, 
Franklin  Co.,  Mass.  He  Avas  a farmer,  and 
subsequent  to  his  marriage  he  moved  to  Diim- 
merstown,  AT.,  Avhere  he  died.  His  son  Vera- 
nous  (1788-1869),  known  as  “Colonel”  Larra- 
bee, Avas  born  in  Mas.sachusetts.  He  married 
Lucy  Bennett,  and  in  1831  immigrated  from 
Vermont,  and  settled  in  Jackson,  Avhere  he 
purchased  a farm. 

They  had  children — Veranous  (1809-63) 
Avent  to  the  State  of  Texas  Avhen  a young  man, 
married  and  resided  there  until  his  death  ; 
Lorenzo  D.,  1810;  Emory  B.,  1811  ; Aden  B., 
1817  ; Benjamin  F.,  1823 ; Charlotte,  1813, 
married  for  her  first  husband  Calvin  Dix — is 
now  the  Avife  of  Major  Asa  Hammond,  of  New 
Milford;  Roxanna,  1819  (noAV  deceased),  was 
the  wife  of  Sabin  Barrett,  of  Jackson  ; Permela, 
1825  (now  deceased),  was  the  wife  of  Jasper 
Savory,  of  “ Savory  Corners  ” (now  Lake 
View).  All  the  children  were  born  in  Dum- 
merstown,  Vt.,  and  all  came  to  Jackson  Avith 
their  parents.  The  farm  that  Colonel  Larrabee 
purchased  upon  coming  to  Jackson  was  near 
what  is  knoAvn  as  the  “ Bartlett  Farm.”  This 
he  afterwards  sold,  and  bought  a place  near 
Jackson  Corners,  noAV  owned  by  Dr.  Wheaton. 
The  latter  part  of  his  life  he  and  his  wife 
lived  with  their  daughter.  Airs.  Calvin  Dix, 
where  he  died.  After  his  death  his  widow  re- 
sided, until  her  decease,  with  another  daughter, 
Mrs.  Sabin  Barrett.  Emory  B.  and  Aden  B. 
settled  on  farms  in  Jackson,  Avhere  they  still 
reside.  Benjamin  F.  also  settled  in  Jackson, 
but  about  tAvelve  years  ago  removed  to  Broome 
Co.,  N.  Y.,  where  he  is  engaged  in  farming. 
Lorenzo  D.  Larrabee  was  born  in  Dummers- 
town,  A^t.,  February  13,  1810.  In  1831  he 
married  Naney  P.  Tenny  (1 810-64),  a natiA’e 
of  Vermont.  About  this  time  he  came  from 
Vermont  to  Jaekson,  and  purchased  an  unim- 
proved tract  of  land,  and  commenced  to  clear 
and  improve  it.  He  made  occasional  visits  to 
Vermont,  but  did  not  move  his  family  to  Jack- 
son  until  about  1835,  when,  having  erected  a 
log  house,  he  brought  them  to  his  then  Avilder- 
ness  home.  He  is  a fanner,  still  residing  in 


96 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


Jackson,  which  town  has  been  his  lionie  most 
of  the  time  since  he  came  there,  in  1831. 
Their  children  are  Willard  E.  (1832-64) 
was  a farmer  in  Jackson;  Melvin  V.,  1834,  a 
farmer  of  Jackson;  Afarshall  (1837-66)  re- 
sided in  Ohio,  and  was  a soldier  of  the  late  war 
in  an  Ohio  regiment ; Monroe  J.,  1838;  Tru- 
man 0.(1841-64)  was  a member  of  Company 
D,  Fiftieth  Pennsylvania  Volunteers,  was  dis- 
charged, afterwards  re-enlisted,  was  captured 
and  confined  in  Andersonville,  afterwards  sent 
to  the  prison  at  Florence,  where  he  died  ; Aden 
B.  (1842-43)  ; Lucy  L.,  1843,  now  residing 
in  Massachusetts;  Maria  L.  (1847-65). 

Monroe  J.  Larrabee  was  born  August  4, 
1838,  in  Jackson.  His  boyhood  was  the  une- 
ventful life  of  a farmer’s  boy.  The  district 
school  claimed  his  attention,  but  when  old 
enough  to  assist  on  the  farm  he  only  had  its 
advantages  during  the  winter.  He  afterwards 
attended  the  graded  school  at  Montrose,  and 
also  the  Wyoming  Seminary  at  Kingston,  Pa. 
He  taught  a term  of  school  at  Thomson,  Pa., 
and  afterwards  was  engaged  for  one  year  selling 
fruit-trees,  traveling  most  of  the  time  in  New 
York  State  and  Canada.  He  was  in  a whole- 
sale grocery  store  in  Boston  for  one  year.  But 
these  pursuits  were  not  congenial,  and  his  in- 
clinations tending  to  a professional  life,  he 
commenced,  in  1861,  the  study  of  law  with  Hon. 
Wm.  J.  Turrell,  of  Montrose.  But  the  Rebel- 
lion burst  upon  the  country,  and  Blackstone 
was  laid  aside  in  response  to  the  call  for  volun- 
teers. He  enlisted  as  a private  in  Company 
A,  One  Hundred  and  Fifty-first  Pennsylvania 
Volunteers,  in  October,  1862,  and  .served  until 
the  company  was  mustei’ed  out,  in  July,  1863. 
Shortly  after  muster  he  was  detailed  as  hospital 
steward  of  the  regiment,  and  served  most  of  the 
time  in  that  capacity.  (See  history  of  Compa- 
ny A,  One  Hundi’ed  and  Fifty-first  Pennsylva- 
nia Volunteers,  for  company’s  service.)  He 
afterwards  re-enlisted  in  Company  B,  One 
Hundred  and  Ninety-fourth  New  York  Vol- 
unteers, and  served  to  the  close  of  the  war. 
After  the  close  of  the  war  lie  resumed  his  stu- 
dies with  Mr.  Turrell,  and  was  admitted  to  the 
bar  in  August,  1868.  He  immediately  com- 
menced the  practice  of  his  profession  at  Susque- 


hanna, where  he  has  succe.ssfully  continued  it  to 
the  present  time,  and  has  gained  the  reputation 
of  an  able  lawyer  and  reliable  counselor. 
He  held  the  office  of  notary  public  for  two 
terms,  and  has  been  attorney  of  the  borough  of 
Susquehanna.  In  politics  he  has  always  been 
a Republican,  and  active  and  zealous  in  aid  of 
the  success  of  his  party  by  voice  and  vote.  He 
was  elected  to  the  Legislature  of  Pennsylvania 
in  1876,  and  served  in  the  sessions  of  that  body 
in  1877-78.  In  1882  he  was  the  nominee  of 
the  Republicans  of  the  Twenty-sixth  Senatorial 
District  for  Senator,  and  in  1884  received  the 
Republican  nomination  in  the  county  for  Con- 
gress. In  1883  he  married  Kate  L.  Dennison, 
of  Montrose,  who  had  been  a teacher  for  several 
years,  and  was  teaching  in  the  graded  school  at 
Montrose  at  the  time  of  her  marriage.  Their 
children  are  Louise,  born  March  2,  1884,  and 
Bessie,  born  July  3,  1886. 

B.  O.  Camp  was  born  at  Camptown,  Brad- 
ford County.  He  obtained  a very  satisfactory 
education  at  Le  Raysville  Academy,  in  that 
county,  and  subsequently  taught  school  winters 
and  worked  at  the  carpenter’s  trade  summers 
five  years,  and  then  became  a student  at  Wyo- 
ming Seminary  two  years.  He  taught  school 
after  that  at  Montrose  and  New  Milford.  He 
served  in  the  army  during  the  War  of  the  Re- 
bellion, and  became  captain.  He  read  law  with 
Hon.  J.  B.  McCollum  and  was  admitted  to  the 
bar  November  9,  1868.  He  devoted  his  time 
to  law  practice  and  attention  to  his  real  estate 
interests. 

Hon.  Willoughby  W.  Watson,  son  of 
Walter  Watson,  was  born  in  New  Milford, 
Susquehanna  County,  Pa.,  October  6,  1842, 
and  was  educated  at  the  public  schools,  Mont- 
rose Academy  and  State  Normal  School  at 
Millersville,  besides  private  study  at  home.  He 
was  jifincipal  of  the  New  Milford  school  and 
was  elected  county  superintendent  of  pub- 
lic schools  in  June,  1866.  After  serving  two 
years  and  three  months  he  resigned  to  devote 
himself  to  the  profession  of  law.  He  read  law 
with  Hon.  L.  F.  Fitch,  and  was  admitted  to  the 
bar  in  November,  1868,  and  commenced  prac- 
tice at  Montrose.  In  November,  1874,  he  was 
elected  to  the  State  Senate  for  Susquehanna  and 


THE  BENCH  AND  BAR. 


97 


Wayne  Counties,  and  served  during  the  sessions 
of  1875  and  1876.  In  1878  he  received  the 
county  Hepublican  nomination  for  Congress. 
He  removed  to  Scranton  in  1883,  where  he 
established  a law  practice.  He  is  secretary  and 
treasurer  of  the  Moosic  Mountain  Coal  Com- 
pany, also  of  the  Moosic  Mountain  and  Carbon- 
dale  Railroad  Company.  Mr.  Watson  is  an 
active  and  aggressive  lawyer  and  business  man. 
He  married  Miss  Annie  M.  Kemerer  Novem- 
ber 26,  1868. 

Huntting  C.  Jessup,  son  of  Judge  Wil- 
liam Jessup,  was  born  at  Montrose  February 
18,  1843.  He  prepared  for  college  at  Mont- 
rose Academy  and  Cortland  Academy,  Homer, 
N.  Y.,  and  was  graduated  from  Yale  College  in 
July,  1864.  After  he  came  home  he  entered 
the  law-ofSce  of  his  father,  but  soon  after  en- 
listed in  the  army,  where  he  served  for  about 
nine  months,  when  he  was  discharged  with  the 
rank  of  first  lieutenant.  While  in  the  army  he 
mai’ried  the  daughter  of  Dr.  Cobb,  of  Clarks- 
ville, Tenn.  He  was  admitted  to  the  bar  No- 
vember term,  1868,  and  is  associated  with  his 
brother  in  the  practice  of  the  law.  He  was 
judge  advocijte  of  the  State  militia  at  one  time, 
and  has  been  associated  with  other  counsel  in 
some  important  suits, — such  as  the  Erie  fore- 
closure cases,  in  connection  with  George  G.  Meal- 
ier, Esq.;  also  Thorn,  Watson  & Co.  against  the 
First  National  Bank  of  Montrose.  Mr.  Jessup 
is  not  only  a well-read  lawyer,  but  also  a man 
of  fine  social  characteristics,  which  has  secured 
him  a great  many  friends. 

Elbert  L.  Blakeslee  is  the  son  of  Hiram 
Blakeslee,  and  grandson  of  Benjamin  Blakeslee, 
one  of  the  pioneers  of  Dimock.  His  mother 
was  a daughter  of  Cyrus  Whipple,  of  Bridge- 
water.  He  was  born  at  Dimock  May  25,  1843, 
and  received  his  early  education  at  the  district 
school  and  at  the  Harford  and  Montrose  Acad- 
emies. At  this  time  the  War  for  the  Union  was 
arousing  the  patriotism  of  the  masses  in  the 
North,  and  young  Blakeslee  enlisted  as  a pri- 
vate and  became  corporal  in  Company  H, 
Fourth  Regiment  Pennsylvania  Reserve.s. 

He  served  faithfully  with  his  corps  and  was 
honorably  discharged.  He  entered  the  Medical 
Department  of  Michigan  University,  at  Ann 
7 


Arbor,  and  was  graduated  with  the  degree  of 
M.D.  in  1865.  He  successfully  practiced 
medicine  for  three  years  at  Brooklyn,  and  find- 
ing it  uusuited  to  his  taste,  or  inclination,  he 
returned  to  Ann  Arbor  and  entered  the  Law  De- 
partment of  Michigan  University,  where  he 
remained  one  term,  when  he  came  to  Montrose 
and  completed  his  law  studies  with  Hon.  L.  F. 
Fitch  and  R.  B.  Little.  He  was  admitted  to 
the  bar  in  1869,  and  became  the  junior  member 
of  the  firm  of  Little  & Blakeslee,  and  after 
the  death  of  R.  B.  Little,  his  preceptor,  the  firm 
became  Little  & Blakeslee, 'subsequently  Little, 
Blakeslee  & Allen,  now  Blakeslee  & Williams. 
Dr.  Blakeslee  is  a man  of  culture  and  poetic 
inspiration,  which  manifests  itself  in  the  trial  of 
a cause,  when  he  warms  up  to  the  occasion  in 
electrical  flashes  of  eloquent  and  soid-stirring 
utterances.  His  generous  nature  is  soon  in 
sympathy  with  his  client,  although  he  be  a 
criminal,  and  he  advocates  his  cause  with  the 
same  enthusiasm  and  energy  as  though  he  were 
convinced  of  his  innocence.  He  is  particularly 
strong  as  a trial  lawyer.  Alert  and  active  in  ex- 
amining witnesses,  eloquent  and  impressive  in  ar- 
gument, Dr.  Blakeslee  stands  second  to  none  as 
a criminal  lawyer  at  the  Montrose  bar.  He  was 
on  the  side  of  the  prosecution  in  the  O’Mara 
case  and  convicted  him.  He  defended  McCor- 
mick, who  was  convicted  in  the  second  degree. 
He  also  defended  Frederick  Warren  for  shoot- 
ing M.  B.  Wilson  in  Montrose,  who  was 
convicted  in  the  second  degree.  He  took  a 
conspicuous  part  in  the  defen.se  of  N.  L.  Len- 
heim,  the  defaulting  cashier  of  the  First 
National  Bank  of  Montrose.  In  fact,  he  has 
been  retained  on  one  side  or  the  other  in  most 
of  the  important  cases  that  have  been  tried  re- 
cently at  the  Susquehanna  bar.  He  is. now  en- 
gaged in  the  defense  of  Tiffany,  who  is  indicted 
for  murder.  He  has  found  that  his  knowledgre 
of  medicine  has  been  of  material  assistance  to 
him  in  the  j)ractice  of  law. 

In  1876  he  was  selected  by  the  citizens  of 
Susquehanna  County  and  delivered  the  cen- 
tenial  poem  on  the  fair-grounds  at  IMontrose. 
He  is  also  an  admirer  of  the  beautiful  scenery 
by  which  he  is  surrounded,  and  is  having  some 
of  the  romantic  .spots  in  Su.squehanna  County 


98 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


painted  for  his  parlors.  His  house  is  on  tlie 
west  side  of  the  public  avenue  and  his  law-office 
is  attached.  He  has  a summer  cottage,  called 
Three  Oaks,  at  Heart  Lake,  not  far  from 
Montrose,  where  he  spends  his  summers  with 
his  family,  which  consists  of  a wife,  the  daugh- 
ter of  R.  B.  Little,  and  one  son,  Elbert  L. 
Blakeslee. 

Alexander  H.  McCollum  was  born  in 
Bridgewater  township  in  1836,  and  was  educa- 
ted under  Lyman  Richardson  at  Harford 
Academy.  He  read  law  with  his  brother,  Hon. 
J.  B.  McCollum,  and  was  admitted  to  the  Sus- 
quehanna County  bar  August  9,  1869.  He 
became  a partner  with  his  brother  until  he  M'as 
elected  judge.  From  January  1,  1879,  to  May 
1,  1883,  McCollum  and  Watson  were  in  part- 
nership. The  same  day  that  Watson  & Mc- 
Collum dissolved,  the  firm  of  McCollum,  Searle 
& Smith  was  formed.  Mr.  McCollum  is  a 
good  accountant  and  a good  business  lawyer. 
He  is  energetic  and  aggressive  in  the  trial  of  a 
cause,  working  earnestly  for  his  client’s  interest. 
The  firm  of  which  he  is  an  active  working 
member  are  doing  a good  business.  In  1856 
he  married  Philena  Underwood.  He  has  one 
son,  Hugh  McCollum. 

Captain  Charles  E.  Lyman  was  born  at 
Berkshii'e,  Tioga  County,  N.  Y.,  in  1824,  and 
removed  with  his  parents  to  Great  Bend  in 
1836.  His  father.  Dr.  Eleazer  Lyman,  was 
killed  by  his  horse  in  1845,  and  in  1846  young 
Lyman  went  into  the  western  part  of  the  State, 
having  previously  attended  Franklin  Academy, 
at  Harford.  He  commenced  reading  med- 
icine with  Dr.  Stranahan,  and  subsequently  read 
six  months  in  Geneva.  Returning  to  Potter 
County,  he  practiced  medicine  about  one  year 
with  Dr.-  Rice ; thence  he  went  to  Pike  Mills, 
where  he  was  married,  and  registered  in  the 
law-office  of  Chapman  & Boyle,  of  Ridgway_ 
In  1861  he  enlisted  in  the  army  and  was  pro- 
moted to  the  second  lieutenancy.  A splinter 
from  a rail  which  had  been  struck. by  a cannon- 
ball broke  his  leg,  and  he  was  discharged.  In 
September,  1864,  he  went  out  again  as  captain 
of  Company  H,  Two  Hundred  and  Third  Reg- 
iment of  Sharpshooters,  and  was  present  at  the 
taking  of  Fort  Fisher,  where  his  son,  Frank  E., 


and  his  brother,  Lieutenant-Colonel  J.  W.  ! 1 
Lyman,  were  both  killed.  After  his  discharge  | f 
he  went  to  Lock  Haven,  Clinton  County,  Pa.,  j , 
and  read  law  with  his  brother,  C.  A.  Lyman,  i|  I 
and  T.  T.  Abrams,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  i 
there  in  1871,  where  he  remained  until  1880,  , 
M'hen  he  returned  to  Great  Bend  after  an  ab-  ^ 
sence  of  thirty-six  years,  and  was  admitted  to  ' 
the  bar  of  Susquehanna  County. 

Eugene  O’Neill  was  born  in  New  York 
City  May  29,  1851.  His  father  was  a practical  1 
printer  and  worked  for  D.  Appleton  & Co.  In 
1857  he  purchased  a farm  in  Auburn  township, 
and  his  wife  and  family  were  there  summers 
until  1861,  ndien  he  moved  there  with  his  ' 
family.  Eugene  was  educated  in  New  York 
and  at  Montrose.  He  read  law  with  Hon.  J. 

B.  McCollum,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  | 
April  term,  1875,  being  the  first  Catholic^  who  , 
read  law  and  was  admitted  in  the  county.  He  j 
was  secretary  of  the  Democratic  County  Com- 
mittee from  1872  to  1876,  Democratic  candi- 
date for  district  attorney  in  1877,  chairman  of 
the  County  Committee  in  1880-81,  four  times 
delegate  to  the  State  Convention,  Susquehanna’s 
choice  for  State  Senator  in  1 882,. and  was  ap- 
pointed deputy  collector  of  internal  revenue  for 
Bradford,  Susquehanna,  Sullivan  and  Wyoming 
in  1885.  In  1879  he  married  Miss  Lizzie 
Conway,  of  Chicago.  He  removed  in  1877  to 
Susquehanna. 

Freeman  I.  Lott  was  born  in  Lenox  town- 
ship September  25,  1847,  and  educated  in  the 
common  schools  and  at  Mansfield  Normal 
School.  He  taught  school  about  four  years  and 
read  law  with  Little  & Blakeslee.  He  was 
admitted  to  the  bar  August  term,  1875,  and  j 
elected  district  attorney  in  1880,  and  again  in 
1886  he  was  elected  to  the  same  office.  For  six 
years,  in  connection  with  Wm.  M.  Post,  he  has 
been  counsel  for  the  county  commissioners,  and 
drew  the  contract  for  the  addition  to  the  court- 
house. 

Charles  N.  Warner  was  born  April  19, 
1839,  and  educated  at  Montrose  a))d  West 
Point,  where  he  was  graduated  in  1862.  He 
was  a captain  in  the  regular  army  from  1862  to 


1 Peter  Byrne  was  the  first  Catholic  admitted  to  the  Susquehanna 
County  bar  in  1841 ; he  afterwards  moved  to  Scranton. 


THE  BENCH  AND  BAR. 


99 


1872.  During  the  Rebellion  he  was  in  the 
second  Bull  Run  battle,  also  at  South  Mountain, 
Antietani,  Fredericksburg,  Mine  Run,  Gettys- 
bura:,  Bristow  Station  and  with  General  Wilson’s 
cavalry  force  that  raided  the  South.  He  read 
law  with  Little  & Blakeslee,  and  was  adnaitted 
to  the  bar  in  November,  1875.  He  married 
Eliza  Houston  and  has  a family  of  five  children. 

Matthew  M.  Riley,  son  of  Martin  Riley, 
of  Susquehanna  Depot,  was  born  February  22, 
1852.  He  attended  the  convent  and  public 
schools  of  his  native  town  until  he  was  ten  years 
of  age,  when  he  was  taken  from  school  and  put 
into  the  Erie  Railway’s  shops  by  his  parents, 
where  he  worked  at  the  moulder’s  trade ; mean- 
while he  persevered  in  his  studies  nights,  thus 
acquiring  a fair  education,  including  some 
knowledge  of  the  classics.  He  read  law  with 
M.  J.  Larrabee,  of  Susquehanna  Depot,  and 
also  with  the  firm  of  Little  & Blakeslee,  of 
Montrose,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  Jan- 
uary term,  1876.  Being  without  means,  he  re- 
sumed work  in  the  shop  at  his  trade,  but  finally 
he  turned  his  attention  wholly  to  the  practice  of 
the  law,  during  which  time  he  had  several 
partners:  first,  John  S.  Maginnis,  who  is 
now  dead ; second,  John  S.  Courtright,  who  is 
now  practicing  at  Montrose,  and  C.  A.  A^an 
AV’’ormer,  who  is  now  in  Dakota.  Mr.  Riley 
built  up  a good  practice,  and  was  one  of  the 
rising  young  men  of  the  Susquehanna  County 
bar,  when  he  sold  out  in  1886  to  C.  A.  Warren, 
and  removed  to  Ashland  County,  Wis. 

John  S.  Courtright  was  born  near  Wilkes- 
Barre  July  21,  1855,  and  was  educated  at  the 
schools  of  Wilkes-Barre  and  Kingston.  He 
read  law  with  Hon.  Henry  M.  Hoyt,  of  Wilkes- 
Barre,  and  D.  W.  Searle,  of  Montrose,  and  \vas 
admitted  to  the  bar  January  term,  1876,  and 
has  an  office  in  Searle’s  building.  In  1877  he 
married  Ella  V.,  daughter  of  Azur  Lathrop. 
He  is  one  of  the  justices  of  the  peace  for  Mont- 
rose borough. 

D.  T.  Brewster,  son  of  Horace  Brewster 
and  grandson  of  Eldad  Brewster,  one  of  the  pi- 
oneers of  Bridgewater  township,  was  born  at 
the  homestead  farm  February  8,  1853.  He  at- 
tended school  at  Montrose,  and  was  graduated 
at  Mansfield  Normal  School  in  1873.  He  con- 


tinued his  studies  one  year  more  in  the  post- 
graduate course  of  that  school.  He  returned  to 
Montrose  and  read  law  with  Hon.  L.  F.  Fitch, 
and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  September,  1876. 
He  has  an  office  in  “ Phoenix  Block,” 

Samuel  F.  Lane,  sou  of  George  W.  Lane, 
one  of  the  pioneers  of  Dimock  township,  was 
born  August  31,  1834.  He  worked  on  the 
farm  until  he  was  twenty-four  years  of  age,  at- 
tending district  school  and  the  Montrose  Acad- 
emy winters.  He  thus  fitted  himself  for  teach- 
ing, an  avocation  which  he  followed  from  1858 
until  the  breaking  out  of  the  Rebellion,  in  1861. 
He  enlisted  as  a private  in  Company  A,  First 
Pennsylvania  Cavalry,  and  by  subsequent  pro- 
motions became  a .sergeant.  He  served  three 
years  and  was  honorably  discharged.  In  the 
fall  of  1866  he  was  elected  sheriff’  of  Susque- 
hanna County,  and  served  for  three  years.  He 
read  law  with  Wm.  D,  Lusk,  and  was  admitted 
to  the  bar  in  January,  1879.  His  office  is  in 
the  Susquehanna  County  Legal  Association’s 
rooms,  in  the  court-house. 

Hon.  Watson  T.  Barnes  was  born  in  War- 
ren County,  N.  J.,  July  19,  1850.  He  obtained 
his  education  at  Factoryville,  Lackawanna 
County,  Pa.,  and  read  law  with  Geo.  P.  Little, 
and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  April,  1879. 
He  has  withdrawn  from  the  active  practice  of 
law,  and  is  now  residing  on  a farm  in  Ru.sh 
township.  He  was  a member  of  the  Legi.slature 
in  1883. 

B.  L.  Baldwin,  son  of  Edmund  Baldwin, 
was  born  at  Alontrose  July  2,  1850.  He  was 
educated  at  Montrose,  and  read  law  with  W.  H. 
Jessup.  He  was  admitted  to  the  bar  August 
term,  1870,  and  was  elected  district  attorney  in 
1874,  and  re-elected  in  1877.  His  office  is  over 
the  First  National  Bank. 

Miller  S.  Allen  was  born  in  Alorris 
County,  N.  J.,  December  15,  1854.  He  at- 
tended the  common  schools  in  New  Jersey,  and 
had  a few  weeks’  special  instruction  at  Spring- 
ville.  He  also  attended  the  public  .school  at 
Alontrose  a short  time.  He  road  law  with 
Ifittle  tfe  Blakeslee,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar 
in  April,  1879.  He  v’as  in  partnership  with 
Little  & Blakeslee  for  two  years,  and  with  l\[r. 
Little  for  two  years.  He  now  has  an  office  in 


100 


HISTOKY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


Nichols’  Block.  Mr.  Allen  is  one  of  the  rising 
young  lawyers  of  the  Montrose  bar. 

JoH':  M.  Kelly,  son  of  N.  T.  Kelly,  was 
born  at  Owego,  Tioga  County,  N.  Y.,  in  1861. 
H is  father  moved  into  Rush  township  August  6, 
1866.  John,  being  the  eldest  of  six  children, 
helped  his  father  and  did  not  attend  school  un- 
til B.  E.  James  taught  select  school,  which  he 
attended  twelve  months  and  went  to  teaching 
school,  after  having  attended  school  but  twenty- 
three  months  altogether.  His  father  had  been 
a newspaper  man,  and  assisted  him  somewhat  in 
obtaining  an  education.  He  read  law  with  Mc- 
Collum & Watson,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar. 

George  G.  Watrous  was  born  in  Bridge- 
water  June  24,  1847.  He  obtained  his  pre- 
paratory education  at  the  Montrose  Academy, 
and  at  the  age  of  tw-enty-five  entered  the  law- 
office  of  Fitch  & Watson.  He  completed  his 
law  studies  with  Wm.  J.  Turrell,  and  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  bar  at  the  April  term  in  187  9,  and 
has  practiced  his  profession  here  since.  He  w'as 
elected  justice  of  the  peace  of  the  borough  of 
Montrose  in  1881,  and  by  re-election  is  serving 
his  second  term. 

W.  Nelson  Barnes  was  born  in  Warren 
County,  N.  J.,  April  30,  1855.  His  parents 
shortly  afterwards  removed  to  Rush  township, 
where  he  obtained  his  education  at  the  district 
schools  and  at  home.  He  also  attended  school 
at  Montrose  and  taught  school  wunters, — in  all 
seventeen  terms.  He  read  law  with  Little, 
Blakeslee  & Allen,  and  was  admitted  to  the 
bar  at  Augu.st  term,  1882.  Mr.  Barnes  is  only 
about  three  feet  seven  inches  tall,  and  weighs 
one  hundred  pounds.  He  is  undoubtedly  the 
shortest  lawyer  in  the  State.  He  deserves  great 
credit  for  his  perseverance  under  difficulties  in 
obtaining  his  education.  He  has  an  office  in 
the  brick  block  with  D.  T.  Brewster,  and  de- 
votes himself  principally  to  Orphans’  Court 
practice. 

Edw'ARD  R.  AV.  Searle,  son  of  Henry  S. 
Searle,  was  born  in  Bridgewater  township 
June  18, 1858.  He  attended  school  at  Factory- 
ville  and  St.  Mary’s  College,  Montreal.  He 
read  law  with  Daniel  AV.  Searle,  and  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  bar  of  Susquehanna  County 
August  term,  1879. 


Edson  AV.  Safford,  son  of  Felix  T.  Saf- 
ford,  W'as  born  in  Brooklyn  township  April  11, 
1857.  He  attended  the  common  schools  and 
Alontrose  Academy,  and  read  law  with  J.  B. 
and  A.  H.  McCollum.  He  was  admitted  to 
the  bar  in  August,  1880.  He  was  district  at- 
torney from  1884  to  1887. 

Andrew  B.  Smith,  Jr.,  w'as  born  in  New 
Milfoi’d  township  Nov.  30, 1857.  He  obtained 
his  education  at  the  schools  of  New  Alilford 
and  at  Hackettstown,  N.  J.  He  then  attended 
law  school  at  the  University  of  Pennsylvania 
for  two  years,  after  which  he  entered  the  law'- 
office  of  McCollum  & AVatsou,  and  was  admit- 
ted to  the  bar  November  term,  1880. 

David  AA".  Brow'n  was  born  in  Lathrop 
towmship  April  17,  1856.  He  obtained  his 
education  at  Keystone  Academy,  at  Factory- 
ville,  and  Aladisou  University,  at  Hamilton, 
N.  Y.,  where  he  was  graduated  in  the  class  of 
1882.  He  read  law  with  Little  & Allen,  and 
was  admitted  to  the  bar  at  August  term,  1885. 
Mr.  Little  having  dissolved  partnership  rela- 
tions with  Mr.  Allen,  prior  to  Mr.  Brown’s  ad- 
mission to  the  bar,  he  entered  into  partnership 
with  him,  under  firm-name  of  Little  & Brown. 

Thoma.s  j.  Davis,  son  of  T.  R.  Davis,  was 
born  in  Clifford  June  4,  1853.  He  was  edu- 
cated in  the  common  schools  and  at  Kingston. 
He  followed  the  avocation  of  teaching  for 
six  or  eight  years.  He  read  law  with  Little 
& Blakeslee,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  at 
August  term,  1882.  He  was  in  partnership 
with  Mr.  Blakeslee  for  three  years,  and  now 
has  an  office  in  Nichols’  Block. 

AVilliam  H.  Jessup,  Jr.,  was  graduated  at 
Yale  College  in  the  class  of  1884.  He  read 
law  with  his  father  and  uncle  Huntting,  and 
was  admitted  to  Susquehanna  County  bar  in 
April,  1886.  He  is  associated  with  his  father- 
in-law  in  practice  at  Scranton. 

AVilliam  E.  AVilliams  was  born  January 
1,  1861.  He  was  graduated  at  Keystone  Acad- 
emy, and  was  a student  in  the  University  of 
A-’^irginia  one  year,  after  which  he  read  law  with 
McCollum  & AVatsou,  and  was  admitted  to  the 
bar  in  January,  1884,  and  in  Februaiy,  1886, 
he  formed  a law  partnership  with  Dr.  E.  L. 
Blakeslee.  On  November  7,  1886,  he  married 


THE  PKESS. 


101 


Carrie  Parklmrst,  of  Elklaud,  Tioga  County, 
Pa. 

Eichard  J.  Manning  was  born  in  Lenox 
township  in  1860.  He  graduated  at  Keystone 
Academy,  and  attended  iMadison  University,  at 
Hamilton,  N.  Y.,  for  two  years,  and  St.  Laurent 
College,  near  Montreal.  He  read  law  with 
Miller  S.  Allen,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar 
January  term,  1887,  and  removed  to  Susque- 
hanna. 

'William  D.  B.  Ainey,  son  of  Dr.  Ainey, 
of  New  Milford,  was  born  April  8,  1864,  was 
educated  at  Mansfield  Xormal  School,  and  was 
two  years  at  Lehigh  University.  He  read  law 
with  E.  L.  Blakeslee,  and  was  admitted  to  the 
bar,  August  term,  1887. 


CHAPTER  X. 

THE  PRESS. 

The  Centinel,  a four-column  folio,  eighteen 
by  twenty-two  inches,  was  the  first  newspaper 
published  at  Montrose.  It  was  published  by 
Justin  Clark,  and  the  first  number  was  issued 
February  20,  1816.  Its  motto  was: 

“ Here  shall  the  press  the  people’s  rights  maintain, 

Unawed  by  influence,  undisturbed  by  gain.” 

The  editor  certainly  had  ample  room  up  here 
in  the  wilderness  to  cry  out  against  wrongs  of 
every  description  unawed  by  influence,  and  the 
gains  w’ere  not  so  large  that  any  one  would  be 
likely  to  otter  to  bribe  him.  There  was  no 
great  cry  against  the  wrongs  of  humanity  in 
the  papei’,  however;  it  was  edited  according  to 
the  old-fashioned  plan  of  giving  the  larger  part 
of  the  paper  to  the  latest  news  from  Europe, 
which  was  as  fresh  as  the  time  it  took  a sailing- 
vessel  to  cross  the  Atlantic,  a Xew  York,  Phila- 
delphia or  New  England  newspaper  to  publish 
it,  and  slow  coaches  to  carry  these  newspapers 
to  Montrose,  where  it  was  reproduced  as  the 
latest  news  from  Europe.  Besides  European 
news,  it  was  not  beneath  tlie  dignity  of  these 
pioneer  newspapers  to  publisli  the  messages  of 
the  Presidents  and  Governors,  stilted  e.ssays  on 
grave  subjects;  and  a superabundance  of  poetry. 


together  with  the  advertisements,  corapri.sed  the 
larger  part  of  the  matter  found  in  the  early 
newspapers  here  and  elsewhere ; consequently, 
the  historian  finds  more  of  local  history  in  the 
advertisements  than  elsewhere  in  them.  All 
those  local  happenings  which  are  written  up 
with  such  minutiae  of  detail  nowadays  were 
almost  entirely  wanting  in  the  early  newspaper ; 
and  personal  mention  was  reserved  for  celebrated 
persons  This  newspaper,  small  as  it  was,  each 
page  being  eleven  by  eighteen  inches,  was  filled 
with  news  under  great  difficulties.  In  1817  he 
begged  his  readers  “ to  excuse  the  barrenness  of 
the  Centinel,  for  he  had  received  no  papers  by 
the  mail.”  Alas ! no  mail,  no  telegraph,  no 
telephone  and  no  idea  of  how  to  make  local 
events  interesting.  No  hunting  stories,  no  early 
pioneer  struggles  for  existence,  no  new  arrival 
of  settlers,  all  of  which  would  have  been  a 
thousand-fold  more  interesting  to  us  now, — all 
are  deferred  to  far-fetched  news ; but  if  he 
found  it  a difficult  matter  to  fill  his  paper  with 
news,  it  was  still  more  difficult  to  get  pay  for  it. 
In  the  spring  of  1818  the  Centinel  contained 
the  following  appeal  from  the  editor  : “ Help 

me  or  I die  ! For  three  months  I have  not 
received  as  much  money  from  the  whole  of  my 
patrons  as  the  paper  itself  costs  for  one  bare 
week.”  May  9,  1818,  he  changed  the  name  of 
his  paper,  making  the  following  announcement 
to  his  patrons  : “ This  number  terminates  the 

Centinel  forever.  The  2Iontrose  Gazette  will  be 
published  at  this  office  hereafter,  the  same  day 
of  the  week  as  the  Centinel  has  been.”  The 
terms  were  82.00  for  one  year  and  $2.50  if  not 
paid  within  the  year.  December  15,  1821, 
Justin  Clark  announced  that  “his  health  had 
become  so  slender  that  longer  to  continue  in  the 
business  would  be  injurious  to  himself  and  the 
public;  that  he  had  .sold  to  two  worthy  young 
men,  James'Catlin  and  George  Fuller,  in  whom 
he  had  the  firme.st  confidence.”  The  politics 
continued  the  same  as  before — that  is,  Demo- 
cratic-Republican. 

Justin  Clark  was  a lame  man  and  went  on 
crutches.  He  came  from  Cooperstown,  N.  Y., 
and  probably  returned  to  that  jtlace  after  he 
sold  to  Catlin  A Fuller.  He  died  shortly 
alter  leaving  here,  in  1822.  Garner  Isbell  took 


102 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


the  first  paper  that  was  printed  at  Montrose 
from  the  press,  and  he  preserved  the  files  for  a 
number  of  years.  His  son,  L.  F.  Isbell,  a jew- 
eler at  New  Milford,  has  them  now.  Mr. 
Isbell  was  a cabinet-maker,  and  was  an  ingeni- 
ous man  at  almost  every  kind  of  mechanical 
work.  He  kept  the  presses  in  rejjair  for  years, 
and  sometimes  rendered  other  assistance  in  con- 
nection with  the  papers.  He  built  a house  just 
beyond  where  the  rink  now  is,  and  subsequently 
moved  into  Bridgewater  township,  on  the  South 
road,  where  he  died,  aged  about  sixty. 

The  first  number  of  the  Messenger  was  issued 
by  Adam  Waldie,  who  came  here  from  Phila- 
^ delphia,  June  24,  1820.  This  was  a four-col- 
umn folio,  of  the  same  size  as  the  Centinel.  In 
his  prospectus  the  editor  says  : “ In  politics  the 
editor  of  the  Messenger  will  strive  to  steer  clear 
of  all  party  distinctions.  He  professes  no  par- 
tiality for  such  artificial  and  invidious  classifica- 
tions ; but  since  they  do  exist,  he  shall  be  so  far 
impartial  as  to  publish,  with  equal  readiness, 
communications  from  either,  only  let  the  lan- 
guage be  temperate  and  respectful,  without 
which,  be  the  writer  whom  he  may,  no  commu- 
nication can  be  inserted.”  About  the  same  time 
that  Adam  Waldie  started  his  independent 
paper,  some  parties,  supposed  to  have  been  Isaac 
Post  and  possibly  Garner  Isbell,  published 
the  Repibblican  Reformer;  about  the  same 
time  The  Pennsylvanian,  another  campaign 
paper,  dated  at  Dundaff,  but  really  published 
at  Montrose,  was  issued.  Neither  the  Reformer 
nor  the  Pennsylvanian  were  issued  beyond  a few 
numbers.  The  second  volume  of  i\\Q  Messenger 
was  named  the  Susepiehanna  County  Herald. 
Aug.  3,  1822,  Adam  Waldie  sold  the  Herald  to 
^ Samuel  C.  Wilson  & Co.  The  new  editor  an- 
nounced that  the  HercUd  would  partake  more  of 
a political  character.  It  would  support  Demo- 
cratic-Republican principles. 

In  182.3  the  Montrose  Gazette  and  Susquehanna 
County  Herald  were  united,  and  the  publication  was 
continued  three  years  by  James  Gatlin. 

“In  1824  he  edited  and  printed,  also,  The  Repository, 
0,  literary  and  religious  semi-monthly  magazine  ; and 


1 Samuel  C.  Wilson  is  still  living  at  Belfast,  New  York,  aged  eighty- 
two.  He  is  a brother  of  Mason  Wilson. 

2 Blackman’s  “History.” 


in  the  fall  of  the  same  year  he  began  to  issue  Elder 
Dimock’s  Christian  Magazine. 

“ Vol.  I.  The  Christian  Magazine,  a monthly  publi- 
cation, devoted  to  the  public  for  general  information. 
Published  by  Davis  Dimock,  pastor  of  the  Baptist 
church,  at  Bridgewater.  Montrose:  printed  by 
James  Gatlin,  at  the  Gazette  office.  Gommenced 
November  1, 1824,  comprising  thirty-two  pages,  about 
the  size  of  this  book,  at  $1  cash,  or  $1.25  in  grain, 
flax  or  wool. 

“ Vol.  II.  The  same  title,  but  issued  semi-monthly, 
on  eight  pages,  at  87^  cents  cash,  in  advance ; $1  in 
grain,  etc. 

“ Vol.  III.  Baptist  Mirror  and  Christian  Magazine, 
etc.  Printed  by  Dimock  & Fuller,  office  of  the 
Register,  enlarged  to  three  columns  to  a page,  eight 
columns  semi-monthly ; closed  September  17,  1827.” 

James  Gatlin,  son  of  Putnam  Gatlin,  and 
brother  of  George  Gatlin,  the  artist,  married  a 
sister  of  Benjamin  Sayre  and  moved  to  the 
South.  He  died  at  Milton,  Florida,  in  Novem- 
ber, 1847. 

“ In  1824  George  Fuller  established  and  edited  the 
Susquehanna  County  Republican ; the  second  year  he 
was  joined  by  S.  G.  Wilson. 

“ December,  1825,  both  the  Gazette  and  the  Repub- 
lican were  merged  into  the  Register. 

“ The  Register  was  established  by  Davis  Dimock, 
.Ir.,  and  George  Fuller.  After  one  year  the  name  was 
changed  to  The  Susquehanna  Register,  and  was  pub- 
lished three  years  longer  by  the  same  parties,  who 
favored  the  election  of  Jackson;  George  Fuller  then 
withdrew,  and  D.  Dimock,  Jr.,  continued  its  publica- 
tion alone  until  January,  1831,  when  G.  L.  Ward 
became  his  partner. 

“ The  accession  of  Mr.  Ward  to  the  editorship  was 
at  a period  of  moment  to  popular  education  and  the 
prosecution  of  the  public  works ; and  his  best  efforts 
were  given  to  their  promotion. 

“From  the  above  time  until  March,  1836,  he  con- 
ducted the  paper,  being  for  the  first  two  or  three 
months  the  associate  of  Davis  Dimock,  Jr.,  and  for  the 
last  fifteen  having  James  W.  Ghapman  in  partnership. 

“ In  1832-34  the  paper  had  an  additional  title,  the 
Northern  Pennsylvanian.  In  1835  only  the  original 
name  was  used,  but  tbe  following  year  the  Northern 
Farmer  was  attached  to  it. 

“Mr.  Ward  sold  out  to  D.  Dimock,  Jr.,  the  firm- 
name  becoming  J.  W.  Ghapman  & Go.  until  Septem- 
ber, 1836,  when  J.  W.  Ghapman  bought  out  D. 
Dimock,  Jr.,  and  it  became  a Whig  journal.” 

The  Su.squehanna  Register  and  Koriliern 
Farmer,  iu  1837,  was  a six  column  folio,  each 
page  being  about  fifteen  by  twenty-two  inches. 
Its  motto  was : “ The  will  of  the  people  is  the 


THE  PRESS. 


103 


legitiuiate  source,  aud  the  happiness  of  the  people 
the  true  end  of  government.”  This  paper  was 
conducted  by  James  W.  Chapman  alone  through 
four  volumes. 

“In  1841  he  was  joined  by  B.  H.  Mills,  but  after 
April,  1843,  was  again  alone  until  1856,  when,  for  one 
year,  Theodore  Smith  was  his  publisher  and  co- 
editor. 

“June,  1851,  TTie  Susquehanna  Register  establish- 
ment passed  into  the  hands  of  John  C.  Miller,  and 
April,  1852,  it  was  published  by  Homer  H.  Frazier. 

“ In  1854  H.  H.  Frazier  and  Theodore  Smith  were 
editors  and  publishers  of  the  last  volume  of  the  paper. 

“ January,  1855,  its  name  was  changed  to  the 
Independent  Rtpublican,  C.  F.  Read,  associate  editor, 
with  H.  H.  Frazier  the  publisher.” 

Homer  H.  Frazier  built  up  the  Independent 
Republican  until  it  had  a large  circulation.  He 
gave  particular  attention  to  the  local  depart- 
ment, and  made  it  one  of  the  best  paying  news- 
papers in  Northern  Pennsylvania.  In  August, 
1876,  James  P.  Taylor  bought  the  Independent 
Republican  office.  He  enlarged  the  paper  from 
a nine  to  a ten-column  folio,  the  entire  sheet 
being  thirty  by  forty-nine  inches.  Mr.  Taylor 
has  also  made  a specialty  of  the  local  department. 
Its  circulation  is  five  thousand.  We  follow  the 
history  of  the  Independent  Republican  with 
short  sketches  of  Christopher  L.  Ward  and 
James  W.  Chapman,  editors  of  the  Register, 
and  Homer  H.  Frazier  and  James  P.  Taylor, 
editors  of  the  Independent  Republican. 

Christopher  L.  Ward  was  born  in  New 
Milfoi’d  in  1807.  He  was  studious  in  his  youth 
and  acquired,  by  study  and  reading,  a fair  edu- 
cation. The  habits  of  industry  early  acquired 
never  left  him  : “His  diversions  indicated  the 
bent  of  his  mind.”  From  the  school-boy  to  the 
printer-apprentice,  and  through  the  initiatory 
studies  of  his  profession,  he  gathered  many 
curious  things,  and  delighted  in  arranging  them 
appropriately ; and  in  later  years  this  propensity 
led  to  his  acquisition  of  a valuable  library. 
With  freedom  from  other  demands  upon  his 
time,  he  might  have  made  a success  in  the  world 
of  letters.  In  1831  he  became  the  partner  of 
Davis  Dimock  in  conducting  the  Susquehanna 
Register.  He  became  editor  at  the  time  when 
the  public-school  law  was  being  agitated,  and 
he  gave  his  best  efforts  to  the  promotion  of  that 


cause.  He  was  a good  writer;  but  having  a dis- 
inclination to  enter  political  life,  he  severed  his 
connection  with  the  Register  \n  1836.  He  read 
law  with  William  Jessup  and  was  admitted  to 
the  bar  in  1837.  He  removed  to  Towanda,  Brad- 
ford County,  shortly  afterwards,  and  became 
president  of  the  Atlantic  and  Great  Western 
Railway,  during  its  construction  through  Penn- 
sylvania, and  through  his  instrumentality  the 
means  for  its  early  completion  were  obtained 
in  Europe.  He  was  a well-read  and  clear- 
minded  lawyer,  but  his  multiplied  business 
affairs  took  him  from  his  profession,  though 
he  had  been  successful  in  it.  He  died  at  To- 
wanda, May  14,  1870,  aged  sixty-three  years. 

Hon.  James  W.  Chapman  was  born  in 
what  is  now  Brooklyn  township  (then  Bridge- 
water,  Luzerne  County)  May  7,  1804.  His 
father  was  known  as  Joseph  Chapman,  Jr.,  and 
was  a native  of  New  London  County,  Conn. 
His  grandfather.  Captain  Joseph  Chapman, 
Sr.,  of  the  Revolution,  came  to  Pennsylvania 
in  1798  and  moved  his  family  here  in  1799. 
Joseph  Chapman,  Jr.,  married  Betsey  Leffing- 
well,  of  Norwich,  Conn.,  in  1800.  James  W. 
Chapman’s  parents  and  grandparents  were 
amot)g  the  pioneers  of  Su.squehanua  County, 
and  he  had  only  the  advantages  of  the  very 
common  schools  of  the  backwoods,  attending 
summers  from  five  until  nine  years  of  age,  aud 
winter  schools  until  in  his  sixteenth  year,  when 
he  was  employed  to  teach  a small  school ; he 
continued  to  teach  from  that  time  for  ten  years. 
He  studied  grammar  and  surveying  without  an 
instructor,  at  spare  intervals  while  teaching  and 
working  on  his  father’s  farm.  In  1833-34  he 
conducted  the  Mauch  Chunk  Courier.  He 
returned  to  Moutro.se  and  joined  C.  L.  Ward 
in  the  publication  of  the  Susquehanna  County 
Register,  and  from  1835  to  1851,  either  with 
others  or  alone,  he  conducted  that  paper.  Mr. 
Chapman  is  a smooth  writer,  with  a vein  of 
humor  that  holds  the  attention.  He  wrote  with 
care  not  to  offend.  Since  his  withdrawal  from 
journalism  he  has  devoted  most  of  his  time  to 
surveying,  which  he  commenced  in  1824.  He 
was  appointed  deputy,  by  the  surveyor-general, 
in  1830,  and  served  until  he  went  to  Mauch 
Chunk.  He  has  served  as  county  surveyor,  by 


104 


HISTOllY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNS  YLVANIA. 


election,  since  1862,  excepting  a short  time  when 
he  was  associate  judge.  He  served  as  transcrib- 
ing clerk  of  the  State  Senate  in  1847.  In  1850 
he  took  the  census  of  the  eastern  half  of  the 
county,  and  in  1880  took  the  census  of  the 
borough.  In  1871  he  was  elected  associate 
judge  along  with  Judsou  H.  Cook;  they  were 
the  last  to  act  in  that  capacity  in  Susquehanna 
County,  the  office  having  been  abolished  by  the 
Constitution  of  1873.  Mr.  Chapman  married, 
in  1844,  Betsey  Bisbee,  who  was  born  in  1825, 
being  a daughter  of  Major  Seth  and  Leah 
(Aldridge)  Bisbee,  of  Lathrop.  Their  children, 
are  Charles  Miner,  the  late  editor  of  the  Tunk- 
hannock  RejnMican,  and  Ella  W.,  wife  of  S.  L. 
Brown,  a large  oil  jobber,  of  Wilkes-Barre. 

Homer  H.  Frazier  was  bo)’n  at  Canton, 
Conn.,  December  21,  1822.  Thomas  Frazier, 
the  founder  of  the  family  in  America,  came  from 
Scotland  to  New  York  City  at  a date  unknown 
to  the  family.  His  son  Daniel  married  Abigail 
Holliday,  and  removed  to  Connecticut  and  set- 
tled on  a farm.  Their  son  Thomas  married 
Deborah  Selden  Nott,  a sister  of  the  celebrated 
Samuel  Nott,  D.D.,  and  Eliphalet  Nott,  D.D., 
for  many  years  president  of  Union  College,  New 
York.  Stephen  N.  (1793-1880),  son  of  Thomas, 
married  Abigail  M.  Case  (1795-1885).  Their 
children  were  George  F.,  Stephen  N.,  Homer 
H.,  Eliphalet  W.,  John  J.,  Charles  H.,  Eliza 
M.  and  Cestus  C.  Homer  H.  married  Caroline 
B.  Birchard,  of  Montrose.  The  parents  of  Mrs. 
Frazier  were  Jesse  Tracy  (1 802-53)  and  Da- 
mira (Smith)  Birchard  (1803-72),  married  Jan- 
uary 22,  1828.  Their  children  were  Asher 
L.  (1829-82),  Harriet  H.  (1832-40),  Caroline 
Brewster,  born  April  28,  1835,  wife  of  H. 
H.  F razier,  and  Charles  H.,  now  in  Philadel- 
phia. The  Birchards  were  an  old  family  from 
New  London  County,  Conn. 

Jesse  Birchard  (1770-1840)  and  Harriet 
(Smith)  first  came  to  Susquehanna  County  in 
1799,  and  located  at  Birchardsville,  Forest  Lake 
township.  Their  children  were  Asahel  (1800- 
35),  Jesf^e  T.  and  John  S.  A sister  of  Jesse 
Birchard  married  a Tracy,  the  father  of  Thomas 
H.  R.  Tracy,  for  many  years  superintendent  of 
the  Delaware  and  Hudson  Canal  Company. 
When  about  ten  years  of  age  H.  H.  Frazier’s 


parents  removed  with  their  family  to  the  State 
of  New  York,  and  after  residing  successively 
at  Catskill,  Cairo,  Coventry  and  Colesville,  at 
length  located  on  a farm  in  Harmony  township, 
Susquehanna  County.  Mr.  Frazier  was  fond  of 
agricultural  pursuits,  and  at  the  same  time  a 
lover  of  books.  His  father  spoke  of  him  as  a 
‘‘wonderful  boy,  and  very  industrious.”  Owing 
to  the  moderate  circumstances  of  his  parents,  his 
educational  advantages  were  confined  entirely 
to  the  district  school  and  a select  school  of  his 
older  brother,  George,  at  Windsor,  N.  Y.  He 
sometimes  assisted  his  brother  in  teaching,  and 
afterwards  taught  a number  of  terms.  He 
entered  the  law-office  of  Hon.  B.  S.  Bentley  at 
Montrose,  April  1,  1847,  and  was  admitted  to 
the  bar  August  21,  1848.  For  a time  he  w^as 
employed  in  J.  T.  Richards’  office,  and  subse- 
quently formed  a partnership  with  F.  A.  Case. 
In  the  Susquehanna  Register  of  April  29,  1852, 
John  Miller,  in  his  valedictory,  speaks  of  his 
successor,  Homer  H.  Frazier,  as  a ripe  scholar 
and  a writer  of  no  ordinary  merit.  In  his 
salutatory,  Mr.  Frazier  speaks  of  himself  as  a 
Whig  by  education  and  by  “ conviction,”  and 
announced  that  if  any  one  made  personal  as- 
saults upon  him  (with  goose  quill),  that  he 
should  “ let  him  alone  severely.”  His  first  edi- 
torial was  brief  and  modest,  and  his  promises 
then  made  were  M'ell  sustained.  On  the  4th 
of  January,  1855,  in  connection  with  Hon. 
Charles  F.  Read,  Mr.  Frazier  issued  the  first 
number  of  the  Independent  Republican,  under 
the  motto  of  “ Freedom  and  right  against  slavery 
and  wrong.”  For  a short  time  (or  until  liis 
removal  to  Scranton  to  establish  the  Scranton 
Republican)  Theodore  Smith  assisted  in  the 
publication  of  the  paper.  During  the  campaign 
of  1856  Mr.  Frazier  was  corresponding  editor 
of  the  Scranton  Republican.  The  circulation 
of  the  Register  rose  from  seven  or  eight  hun- 
dred under  Mr.  Frazier’s  twenty-four  years’ 
management  to  over  five  thousand.  Starting 
with  the  organization  of  the  Republican  party, 
it  was  from  the  first,  one  of  its  able,  earnest  and 
efficient  organs.  Passing  through  the  trouble- 
some times  of  anti-slavery  agitation,  followed  by 
the  War  of  the  Rebellion,  perhaps  few  political 
editors  were  more  candid  and  fair  than  Mr. 


THE  PRESS. 


105 


Frazier.  He  gave  particular  attention  to  the 
local  department,  and  made  his  paper  of  practi- 
cal value  in  its  moral,  literary  and  scientific 
character.  Seldom  absent  from  his  post,  the 
editor  was  faithful  in  the  discharge  of  his 
duties,  and  the  physical  and  mental  strain  upon 
his  system  eventually  caused  his  death.  In  his 
intercourse  with  correspondents,  patrons,  em- 
ployes and  others  he  was  genial  and  pleasant. 
As  a citizen  he  was  beloved  and  respected  by 
all  classes  for  the  rectitude  and  purity  of  his 
character.  The  paper  which  he  edited  is  a 
monument  of  the  best  years  of  his  life.  In  his 
domestic  relations  he  was  remarkably  happy  as 
husband  and  father.  His  children  were  Wini- 
fi’ed,  George  H.,  Herbert  R.,  Marion  L.  and 
Jesse  B.  Mr.  Frazier  died  May  16, 1876,  aged 
fifty-three  years.  Mrs.  Frazier  married  again 
and  resides  at  Montrose,  the  wife  of  Orlando 
^yatrous. 

Theodore  Smith  commenced  to  learn  the 
printer’s  trade  in  the  Argus  office,  at  Towanda. 
He  came  to  Montrose  and  finished  his  trade 
with  James  ^y.  Chapman,  in  the  Register  office. 
When  H.  H.  Frazier  took  charge  of  the  paper 
and  changed  the  name  to  Independent  Repjubli- 
cau,  he  assisted  its  publication  until  he  took  a 
press  from  Montrose  to  Scranton  and  founded 
the  Scranton  Republican,  with  the  understand- 
ing that  the  press  should  be  returned  to  Mont- 
rose if  the  venture  proved  to  be  unsuccessful. 
The  paper  was  started,  as  a campaign  sheet,  in 
1856,  during  the  Fremont  canvass.  It  was  a 
six-column  folio,  issued  weekly.  He  sold  it  to 
F.  A.  McCartney,  who  had  it  about  two  years, 
when  it  came  back  into  the  hands  of  Mr.  Smith 
andT.  P.  Alliger,  who  conducted  it  until  1864; 
then,  after  passing  through  a number  of  hands, 
Joseph  Scranton  purchased  it,  and  established 
the  daily  Morning  Republican  in  1867.  In 
1864  Mr.  Smith  returned  to  Montrose,  and 
again  took  the  place  of  foreman  (which  had 
been  filled  by  AVallace  Lyons  during  his  ab- 
sence) on  the  Independent  Republican,  where 
he  is  still  actively  employed.  Mr.  Smith  has 
been  forty-seven  years  in  the  business,  and  is 
one  of  the  oldest  printers  actively  engaged  in 
the  employment  in  the  State. 

James  P.  Tayeor  was  born  at  \Ve.st  Ches- 


tei‘,  the  county-seat  of  Chester  County,  Pa., 
July  8,  1843.  Here  he  enjoyed  the  advantages 
of  excellent  public  schools  during  his  early  boy- 
hood, and  later  finished  his  education  at  the 
West  Chester  Academy  and  at  the  State  Nor- 
mal School,  at  Millersville,  Pa. 

On  the  anniversary  of  his  seventeenth  birth- 
day he  entered  the  printing-office  of  the  West 
Chester  Village  Record,  as  an  indentured  ap- 
prentice, to  learn  the  mystery  of  the  “ art  pre- 
.servative.”  Here  he  served  a full  term  appren- 
ticeship of  four  years,  leaving  the  office  about  a 
year  after  its  expiration  with  a thorough  and 
practical  knowledge  of  the  craft. 

The  invasion  of  Pennsylvania  by  Lee,  in 
1863,  occurred  during  his  apprenticeship,  and 
in  response  to  calls  for  volunteers,  he,  with 
nearly  the  whole  available  force  of  the  office, 
asked  leave  to  go  ; but  the  publisher  positively 
refused  permission,  declaring  that  the  office 
had  already  been  so  dejileted  of  help  by  the 
enlistment  of  all  the  men,  that  the  boys  under 
his  control  must  stay  and  keep  the  paper  going. 
Bnt  the  next  morning  found  nearly  all  of  them 
on  the  road  to  the  front,  they  having  resolved 
to  test  the  quality  of  a different  kind  of 
“ shooting-stick”  than  that  found  in  a printing- 
office. 

Mr.  Taylor  joined  an  independent  battery  of 
light  artillery,  commanded  by  Captain  George 
R.  Guss.  Many  of  the  officers  and  men  were 
from  Col.  Hyatt’s  Military  School,  then  located 
at  West  Chester.  Upon  reaching  Chambers- 
burg  the  battery  was  fully  supplied  with  guns, 
horses  and  equipments.  It  remained  in  the 
field  until  the  pressing  exigency  that  called  it 
to  the  defense  of  the  State  had  ceased,  when  it 
pi’oceeded  to  Harrisburg,  and  was  mustered 
out,  Mr.  Taylor  getting  back  to  his  case  in  the 
Village  Record  office  early  in  September. 

In  1866,  soon  after  leaving  the  Record  office, 
he  went  West,  as  associate  editor  and  one  of  the 
proprietors  of  the  Daily  Pantograph,  at  Bloom- 
inMon,  111.,  the  oldest  and  at  that  time  the  onlv 
daily  paper  in  the  city.  Here  he  remained  un- 
til November,  1870,  when  he  severed  his  con- 
nection with  the  Pantograph  and  returned  to 
Penu.sylvania. 

A few  weeks  after  his  return  East,  at  the 


106 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


solicitation  of  Hon.  William  P.  Miner,  editor 
of  the  Record  of  the  Times,  he  went  to  Wilkes- 
Barre,  Pa.,  and  connected  himself  with  that 
paper.  Shortly  afterwards  he,  with  Robert 
Morton,  leased  the  paper  from  Mr.  Miner  for 
the  period  of  two  years.  The  new  firm  eon- 
ducted  the  paper  most  successfully  until  the 
expiration  of  their  lease,  when  Mr.  Miner  again 
assumed  control,  Mr.  Taylor  remaining  as  gen- 
eral manager  and  assistant  editor.  In  1873 
the  Daily  Record  of  the  Times,  the  first  daily 
paper  in  the  city,  was  established,  and  the  first 
number  bore  his  name  as  managing  editor. 

In  June,  1876,  Homer  H.  Frazier,  editor 
and  proprietor  of  the  Independent  Republican, 
printed  at  Montrose,  Pa.,  died.  Mr.  Frazier 
had  been  its  editor  and  publisher  for  nearly 
twenty-five  years,  and  the  paper  was  recognized, 
wherever  known,  as  one  of  the  best  weeklies  in 
the  State,  having  a circulation  not  exceeded  by 
any  paper  in  Pennsylvania  outside  the  large 
cities. 

On  the  1st  day  of  August,  1876,  Mr.  Taylor, 
having  purchased  the  Independent  Republican 
establishment,  relinquished  his  editorial  duties 
at  Wilkes-Barre  to  assume  control  of  that  paper 
as  its  editor  and  proprietor.  Since  assuming 
its  editorial  management,  in  1876,  the  paper 
has  received  his  personal  and  undivided  atten- 
tion. 

Not  only  has  it  maintained  its  previous  high 
standing  and  influence,  but  marked  improve- 
ments have  been  inaugurated,  materially  in- 
creasing its  circulation  and  usefulness.  The 
paper  has  been  enlarged  from  a nine-column  to 
a large  ten-column  folio;  steam-power  has 
been  introduced,  new  machinery  and  presses 
have  been  added,  with  an  entire  renewal  of 
material,  and  the  office  supplied  with  steam 
heating  apparatus. 

A large  percentage  of  the  patrons  of  the 
Independent  Republican  being  engaged  in  agri- 
culture, Mr.  Taylor  has  always,  without  stint, 
endeavored  to  contribute  to  their  welfare  in 
every  manner.  His  columns  are  largely  de- 
voted to  farm  topics  and  general  information 
to  the  agriculturist.  For  several  years,  among 
his  endeavors  to  encourage  and  stimulate  this 
important  industry  has  been  the  annual  gratui- 


tous distribution  among  his  subscribers  of  new 
and  superior  varieties  of  seeds,  and  during  the 
last  five  years  he  has  been  the  means  of  intro- 
ducing, in  this  way,  over  twenty-five  new  varie- 
ties of  potatoes,  some  of  them  proving  of  much 
value  to  the  farmers.  In  1885,  as  an  encour- 
agement to  farmers’  boys  to  till  the  soil,  he 
offered  several  money  premiums  to  boys  under 
a certain  age  who  should  raise  the  most  corn 
from  a given  number  of  square  feet  of  ground. 
Many  boys  entered  the  contest,  and  the  result 
showed  that  the  soil  of  Susquehanna  County  is 
not  only  fertile,  but  astonishingly  productive; 
but  the  practical  lesson  in  agriculture  which 
the  boys  received  was  the  main  object  of  Mr. 
Taylor’s  premiums. 

Since  a boy  of  seventeen  a printing-office 
has  been  his  business-home,  and  his  life  since 
then  has  been  spent  in  the  printing,  publishing 
and  editing  of  newspapers. 

Mr.  Taylor  was  married,  April  16,  1873,  to 
Miss  Maggie  D.  Ayres,  a daughter  of  Addis 
M.  and  Debbie  R.  Ayres,  of  Wilkes-Barre,  Pa. 
Mrs.  Taylor  was  born  in  Chester  County,  Pa., 
of  which  county  her  parents  were  natives. 

Mr.  Taylor  has  two  children,  both  daughters 
— Mamie  S.,  born  at  Wilkes-Barre,  Pa.,  April 
5,  1875;  Jeanette  A.,  born  at  Montrose,  Pa., 
November  27,  1877. 

He  is  a member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church 
of  Montrose,  and  a member  of  the  following- 
named  societies:  Masons  (Knights  Templar), 
Odd  Fellows,  Knights  of  Pythias,  Improved 
Order  of  Red  Men  and  Grand  Army  of  the 
Republic. 

In  politics  Mr.  Taylor  has  always  been  a 
Republican,  and  the  Independent  Republican 
is  the  recognized  Republican  organ  of  the 
county. 

Mr.  Taylor  conies  from  good  old  Quaker 
stock,  his  ancestors  all  being  natives  of  Che.ster 
County,  Pa.,  and  of  the  Quaker  faith.  His 
father,  William  W.  Taylor,  was  born  Septem- 
ber 22,  1818,  the  son  of  William  H.  Taylor 
(1779-1811)  and  Elizabeth  Taylor  (1781-1825). 
He  was  married,  January  23,  1844,  to  Hannah 
P.  Pyle,  daughter  of  James  Pyle  (1782-1825) 
and  Elizabeth  Pyle  (1793-1833).  She  was 
born  at  Kennett  Square,  Chester  County,  Pa.,^ 


THE  PRESS. 


107 


September  24,  1820,  aud  is  a second  cousin  of 
the  late  Bayard  Taylor,  the  author,  traveler 
and  poet;  her  mother,  Elizabeth  Pyle  [n(ie 
Elizabeth  Taylor),  being  a daughter  of  Jacob 
Taylor,  brother  of  Bayard  Taylor’s  father,  John 
Taylor. 

In  1867  Mr.  Taylor’s  father  removed  with 
his  familv  to  the  State  of  Illinois.  During  his 
residence  in  his  native  county  of  Chester  he 
was  a prominent  and  successful  carpenter,  con- 
tractor and  builder,  and  many  of  the  prominent 
public  and  private  buildings  at  the  county-seat 
and  throughout  the  county  were  erected  under 
his  supervision,  as  was  also  the  Chester  Creek 
water-works,  that  supplies  West  Chester  with 
water. 

He  has  now  retired  from  active  business,  and 
resides  at  Macomb,  McDonough  County,  Illi- 
nois. 

The  parents  of  James  P.  Taylor  had  eight 
children — five  sons  and  three  daughters— and 
the  names  of  those  now  living,  in  the  order  of 
their  birth,  are  James  P.,  Charles  W.,  Phoebe 
E.,  Bentley  W.  and  Fred.  E.,  all  of  whom, 
with  the  exception  of  James  P.  Taylor,  are 
residents  of  McDonough  County,  State  of 
Illinois. 

The  Independent  Volunteer  was  established  at 
Montrose  by  Isaac  Fuller,  November  4,  1831, 
and  continued  ten  months,  when  Asa  G.  Dimock 
bought  the  press  aud  started  the  IJemncratic 
Volunteer,  issuing  only  one  or  two  numbers, 
when  it  was  re-purcha.sed  by  George  A I. 
Fuller  and  “restored  to  Republican  principles” 
and  to  the  old  name.  The  third  volume  was 
published  first  by  George  F idler  alone,  and  then 
by  E.  H.  Easterbrooks ; the  fourth  and  fifth 
volumes  by  G.  Fuller,  and  the  sixth  and  seventh 
volumes  by  Fuller  & Read.  The  eighth  vol- 
ume began  November,  1838,  under  the  name  of 
the  Montrose  Volunteer,  C.  F.  Read,  sole  editor. 
The  ninth  volume  was  edited  by  Read  & Tur- 
rell.  May  21, 1840,  Abel  Turrell  bought  Read’s 
interest  and  edited  the  paper  alone  until.  May  27, 
1841,  the  Montrose  Volunteer  and  North  Star 
appeared,  with  A.  Turrell  and  J.  H.  Dimock  as 
editors.  September  8, 1842,  Dimock  sold  to  S. 
T.  Scott.  May  25,  1843,  the  thirteenth  volume 
resumed  the  name  of  Montrose  Volwdeer,  under 


the  sole  editorship  of  Mr.  Turrell.  January  25, 
1844,  Abel  Turrell  and  George  Fuller  estab- 
lished the  Northern  Democrat  in  place  of  the 
3Iontrose  Volunteer.  The  Denwerat  was  of  the 
same  size  aud  general  appearance  as  the  Volun- 
teer. It  was  a five-column  folio,  each  page  be- 
ing about  fifteen  by  twenty-one  inches.  January 
2, 1845,  George  Fuller  sold  his  interest  to  I.  N. 
Bullard.  January  1,  1846,  Mr.  Turrell,  who 
had  been  principal  editor  for  about  .seven  years, 
finally  retired  from  the  management  and  sold 
his  interest  to  O.  G.  Hempstead.  The  paper 
was  enlarged  January  8,  1846,  by  Bullard  & 
Hempstead  to  a six-column  folio.  Mr.  Hemp- 
stead said  that  he  had  been  a clergyman,  but  he 
pledged  himself  to  know  no  man’s  religion. 
January  15,  1846,  I.  N.  Bullard  published  his 
valedictory,  and  George  Fuller  announced  that 
he  had  again  purchased  an  interest  in  the  paper. 
“ Reader ! nothing  in  the  annals  of  time  has 
been  more  clearly  demonstrated  than  the  great 
truth  that  change  is  stamped  on  all  things  here 
below;  but  in  nothing  have  changes  become 
more  frecpient  recently  than  in  regard  to  the 
proprietorship  of  this  paper.”  He  further  said  : 
“ It  is  my  design  to  make  my  present  position  a 
permanent  one.”  But  Mr.  Fuller  did  not  make 
the  position  permanent,  as  he  had  intended.  He 
and  Hempstead  edited  the  third  aud  fourth  vol- 
umes, when  Mr.  Fuller  sold  to  Hempstead,  who 
conducted  the  paper  alone  for  several  years.  In 
January,  1 849,  he  changed  the  name  to  Montrose 
Democrat,  which  it  still  retains.  About  1851 
Ezra  B.  and  Simeon  B.  Chase  purchased  the  pa- 
per and  conducted  it  for  about  five  years.  Janu- 
ary 3,  1856,  Ezra  B.  Cha.se  announced  that  he 
had  assumed  editorial  control  of  the  paper. 
George  A.  Chase  was  publisher  at  that  time. 
July  31,  1856,  E.  B.  Cha.se  published  his  vale- 
dictory, and  in  the  same  issue  J.  B.  McCollum 
and  A.  J.  Gerrit.son  announced  them.^^elves  as  his 
succe.ssors.  They  say  that  “they  shall  put  the 
public  in  jiossession  of  /'icfs,  and  inferences  fiow- 
iuH:  from  them  shall  be  their  aim.”  December 
31, 1857,  J.  B.  McCollum  iransferred  his  intere.st 
to  A.  J.  Gerritson,  who  assumed  entire  control. 
The  paper  Avas  a .seven-column  folio  at  this 
time,  having  as  its  motto:  “ We  join  our.^elves 
to  no  party  that  does  not  carry  the  flag  and  keep 


108 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


step  to  the  music  of  the  whole  Union.”  January 
6, 1863,  the  first  number  of  the  twentieth  volume 
was  reduced  in  size  to  a six-column  folio.  The 
editor  explained  that  the  price  of  paper  had  ad- 
vanced to  twenty-five  cents  per  pound,  and  that 
he  had  determined  to  reduce  the  size  of  the  paper 
rather  than  increase  the  price,  ^he  paper  con- 
tinued in  its  reduced  form  until  July  14,  1868, 
when  it  was  again  enlarged  to  a seven-column 
folio.  July  28,  1869,  Mr.  Gerritson,  after  hav- 
ing been  connected  with  the  paper  thirteen 
years,  sold  to  Eugene  B.  Hawley.  April  1,  1873, 
William  C.  Cru.ser  bought  one-half  interest  of 
Mr.  Hawley.  This  partnership  continued  until 
May  1,  1879,  when  Cruser  sold  to  Hawley. 
March  1, 1881,  W.  C.  Cruser  and  Daniel  Brew- 
ster bought  the  office  of  Hawley.  In  July,  1883, 
M.  A.  Lyons  bought  Brewster’s  interest,  and 
the  following  November  Hon.  George  A.  Post 
purchased  Lyons’  interest,  and  the  paper  has 
been  published  since  then  under  the  firm-name 
of  Cruser  & Post.  The  paper  has  been  changed 
in  form  and  size  a number  of  times  during  the 
last  fifteen  or  twenty  years.  It  is  now  a nine- 
column  folio,  twenty-nine  by  forty-three  inches, 
with  a circulation  of  two  thousand  five  hun- 
dred and  sixteen  copies  weekly.  Of  the  writers 
who  conducted  the  Volunteer  and  Democrat, 
George  Fuller  is  now  a resident  of  So-anton. 
George  Fuller’s  father,  Edward  Fuller,  came  to 
Bridgewater  township  in  1806,  and  lived  there 
until  he  died,  aged  eighty-five  years.  George 
left  his  father’s  house  when  he  was  only  twelve 
years  old,  and  clerked  in  a store  for  a while ; 
then  he  went  into  the  fir.st  printing-office  at 
Montrose,  where  he  learned  his  trade  under 
Justin  Clark.  He  .says  the  first  newspaper  was 
a four-column  folio,  printed  mostly  with  ])ica 
type,  on  the  first  printing-press  that  was  used  in 
Albany,  N.  Y.  Mr.  Fuller  afterwards  started 
a Democratic  paper  in  the  interest  of  General 
Jackson.  The  first  paper  had  a circulation 
of  three  or  four  hundred  copies.  His  paper 
had  a circulation  of  five  or  six  hundred 
copies.  The  county  was  Democratic  then,  and 
Mr.  Fuller  was  leader  of  the  party  for  a number 
of  years.  He  was  prothouotary  in  1839  and 
Congressman  in  1844  to  fill  the  vacancy  caused 
by  the  death  of  A.  H.  Bead.  He  never  wrote 


an  editorial  that  he  could  not  face  afterwards, 
and  when  he  left  the  editorial  chair  he  had 
many  friends  in  the  opposition  party.  Being 
candid,  his  paper  wielded  a great  influence.  The 
sharpest  fights  were  usually  on  the  office  of 
sheriff.  The  Wolf  and  Muhlenberg  contest  for 
the  Governorship  was  also  a severe  one.  Mr. 
Fuller  is  past  four-score  years,  and  still  hale  and 
hearty.  He  was  successful  as  a merchant,  and 
his  sons  are  all  active  men.  William  H.  is  the 
well-known  expert  ticket  agent  at  Scranton, 
Isaac  F.  and  George  A.  are  engaged  in  business, 
and  Frederick  is  an  alderman  in  Scranton. 
Davis  Dimock,  Jr.,  who  was  associated  with 
Fuller  at  one  time,  was  elected  to  Congress  in 
1842,  but  died  before  his  term  expired,  and  A. 
H.  Bead  served  for  the  remainder  of  the  term. 
Charles  F.  Bead,  I.  N.  Bullaid  and  Abel  Tur- 
rell  all  became  merchants  at  Montrose  after 
they  left  the  editorial  chair.  Mr.  Turrell  was 
a very  conservative  and  judicious  writer.  O. 
G.  Hempstead  was  a Universalist  preacher  and 
a writer  of  considerable  ability.  Simeon  B. 
Chase  is  still  living.  He  was  a member  of  the 
State  Legislature  in  1856-57-58.  He  read  law 
with  F.  B.  Streeter,  and  was  admitted  to  the 
bar  January  22,  1851.  His  great  work,  how- 
ever, has  been  in  connection  with  the  temper- 
ance movement.  His  digest  of  the  decisions  of 
the  G.  W.  C.  T.  of  the  Order  of  Good  Templars 
became  the  standard  work  of  that  order  in 
Pennsylvania  ; and  his  connection  with  the  B. 
W.  G.  L.  made  him  a man  of  influence  through- 
out the  Union.  Ezra  B.  Chase  was  one  of  the 
strongest  writers  that  ever  occupied  an  editorial 
chair  at  Montrose.  His  articles  were  repub- 
lished in  other  papers  and  exerted  a great  influ- 
ence. He  was  a member  of  the  Legislature  in 
1852-53.  He  read  law  with  F.  B.  Streeter,  and 
was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1850. 

Andrew  Jackson  Gerritson,  for  thirteen 
years  the  editor  and  proprietor  of  the  Montrose 
Democrat,  was  a native  of  Dimock  township, 
where  his  parents — Biehard  and  Lydia  (Hoar) 
Gerritson — were  farmers,  and  had  settled  from 
Chester,  Delaware  County.  They  were  mem- 
bers of  the  Society  of  Friends,  and  reared  their 
family  of  three  sons  and  four  daughters  in  that 
faith.  In  early  boyhood  Andrew  resolved  to 


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THE  PEESS. 


109 


obtain  an  education,  and  to  accomplish  this,  he 
had  to  depend  largely  upon  his  own  self-re- 
liance, which  throughout  his  entire  life  was  one 
of  his  leading  characteristics.  After  attending 
the  home  district  school  in  boyhood,  he  entered 
Harford  University,  from  which  he  was  grad- 
uated about  the  time  of  reaching  his  majority, 
and  before  and  after  that  time  was  for  several 
terms  a teacher.  At  the  age  of  twenty-two  he 
came  to  Montrose,  and  began  reading  law  with 
Ralph  B.  Little,  which,  however,  he  continued 
only  one  year,  when,  in  1856,  Avith  J.  B.  Mc- 
Collum, he  purchased  the  Montrose  Democrat, 
and  conducted  the  paper  Avith  that  gentleman 
for  tAvo  years,  and  subsequently  alone,  until  his 
retirement  from  the  paper  in  1869,  and  from 
active  business  life  on  account  of  failing  health. 
The  dismemberment  of  the  old  Whig  party 
after  the  Presidential  election  of  1852,  and  the 
birth  of  the  Republican  party  the  same  year  of 
his  taking  the  editorial  chair,  left  him,  Avith 
other  Democratic  journalists,  the  alternative  of 
holding  ujA  the  principles  of  their  party,  Avhich 
he  did,  Avith  a ready  pen  and  a strong  arm. 
To  this  Avork  Mr.  Gerritson  bent  all  his  ener- 
gies, formulated  opinion  through  his  paper  by 
his  OAvn  independent  thought  and  action,  in  the 
interest  of  principle  and  party,  and  so  Avielded 
the  influence  and  tone  of  the  press  here,  that 
upon  the  breaking  out  of  the  Rebellion,  in  1861, 
the  readers  of  the  Democrat  were  in  full  sym- 
pathy Avith  the  Union  cause  from  the  outstart, 
and  gave  their  money,  their  influence  and  their 
sons  to  put  down  the  AA'ar,  punish  treason  and 
restore  the  Union.  When  the  State  called  for 
emergency  men  upon  the  invasion  of  its  borders 
by  the  Confederate  army,  he  volunteered  in 
the  service,  and  although  unused  to  such  hard- 
ships, did  his  duty  from  a conscientious  regard 
for  principle,  and  served  Avith  his  regiment  for 
some  two  months,  Avhen  his  services  in  the  field 
were  no  longer  required.  Upon  his  return  he 
resumed  his  place  at  the  head  of  his  paper,  aud 
so  promulgated  his  own  idea  in  the  support  of 
the  Union  cause  through  its  columns  as  to 
cause  many  who  differed  Avith  him  politically  to 
become  his  warm  friends. 

The  underlying  principles  of  his  life  Avere 
based  upon  honor  and  justice,  while  his  charac- 


I 

ter  and  abilities  commanded  respect.  A man  of 
eminent  virtues  in  private  life,  great  executive 
and  business  capacity,  Avith  firm  aud  positive 
opinions,  and  Avhile  respecting  the  vievAS  of 
others,  he  gave  his  oavu  clearly,  and  never 
sought  security  from  censure  by  silence  or 
time-serving  notoriety.  Mr.  Gerritson  Avas 
chosen  postmaster  of  the  House  at  Harrisburg 
during  the  winter  session  of  1863,  and  at  the 
close  he  was  honored  Avith  a vote  of  thanks  by 
I the  members  of  that  body  for  his  courtesy  and 
competent  discharge  of  the  duties  of  that  office. 
In  1868  he  was  appointed  and  served  as  revenue 
assessor  of  the  district  here.  He  Avas  identified 
Avith  the  First  National  Bank,  at  Montrose, 
from  its  organization,  aud  was  from  the  first  a 
member  of  its  finance  committee.  In  early  life 
the  gentle  influences  of  a Christian  mother  of  the 
Society  of  Friends  so  impressed  his  mind,  aud 
moulded  his  character,  that  he  was  quiet,  un- 
demonstrative and  unassuming,  aud  Avithal, 
genial,  social  and  affable  in  his  intercourse  with 
the  Avorld. 

Although  the  facilities  for  gaining  an  educa- 
tion in  his  early  life  Avere  meagre,  he  neverthe- 
less made  such  proficiency  as  to  be  Avell  quali- 
fied for  the  discharge  of  all  the  duties  pertaining 
to  an  actiAm  business  life,  and  Avhile  frail  in 
body  and  ofttimes  feeble  in  health,  none  sur- 
passed him  in  quickness  aud  clearness  of  per- 
ception or  in  strength  and  vigor  of  mind.  The 
last  years  of  his  life,  after  disposing  of  his 
paper,  Avere  mostly  spent  in  the  office  of  his 
preceptor  in  the  law,  Avhere  he  engaged  in  con- 
veyancing, settling  estates  aud  in  conducting 
his  own  priA'ate  business.  Twenty-five  years  of 
his  life  Avere  passed  at  Montrose,  Avhere,  for 
kindness  as  a neighbor,  uprightness  and  integ- 
rity as  a citizen,  and  faithfulness  as  a friend,  he 
stood  pre-eminent.  He  died  at  his  home  at 
Montrose  December  25,  1881,  aged  forty-eight 
years. 

His  Avife,  Avith  Avhom  he  became  acquainted 
Avhile  both  Avere  students  at  Harford  UuiAmr- 
sity,  and  Avhom  he  married  December  31,  1856, 
was  Mary  E.,  a daughter  of  Captain  David 
Morgan  (1785-1866)  and  Esther  (Brink)  Mor- 
gan (1794-1872),  the  former  a natiAm  of  Litch- 
field County,  Conn.,  Avho  settled  in  Brooklyn 


no 


HISTOKY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


township  in  1810,  and  the  latter  a native  of 
Bradford  County,  Pa. 

Mrs.  Gerritson  survives  in  1887,  and  resides 
at  jMontrose. 

Hon.  Eugene  B.  Haweey  was  a brilliant 
writer  on  topics  with  which  he  was  familiar. 
He  was  of  a sensitive  organization  and  attacked 
what  he  believed  to  be  wrong,  fearlessly.  Some- 
times his  zeal  in  advocating  what  he  thought  to 
be  right  may  have  led  him  beyond  what  the 
facts  warranted.  He  attacked  the  manner  in 
which  the  county  offices  were  conducted  with 
such  vigor  that  it  brought  the  Republican  ma- 
joritv  down,  resulting  finally  in  the  election  of 
several  Democrats  to  county  offices.  His  efforts 
were  not  without  beneficial  results.  In  1876 
he  was  elected  to  represent  Suscpiehanna  and 
AVayne  in  the  State  Senate  for  two  years.  He 
did  not  revolutionize  things  there  as  he  had  ex- 
pected to,  and  his  highly-wrought  organization 
gave  out  under  the  strain  he  put  upon  it.  He 
fell  into  a state  of  hopeless  melancholia  and  con- 
tinued thus  for  a number  of  years  in  the  a.sylum. 
Finally  his  reason  came  to  him  again,  and  he 
returned  home  and  died  shortly  after,  in  March, 
1886.  His  wife  was  Frances  M.  Hayden,  who 
now  lives  at  New  Milford. 

AVilliam  C.  Cruser,  son  of  Henry  Cruser 
and  grandson  of  Bela  Jones,  an  old  settler  in 
Bridgewater,  was  born  in  Bridgewater  township 
January  9,  1855.  He  obtained  his  education 
at  Montrose  Academy  and  learned  the  printing 
business  at  Montrose.  In  1873  E.  B.  Hawley, 
editor  of  the  Montrose  Democrat,  employed 
him  as  foreman,  and  April  1st  of  that  year  he 
purchased  a one-half  interest  in  the  paper. 
This  partnership  continued  until  May  1,  1879, 
when  Air.  Cruser  sold  his  interest  to  Air.  Haw- 
ley and  made  a trip  West,  and  purchased  a 
tract  of  land  near  Fort  Kearney,  Neb.  He  re- 
turned and,  about  the  1st  of  February,  1881,  in 
connection  with  Daniel  Brewster,  purchased 
the  Democrat  of  Hawley,  and  has  owned  a one- 
half  interest  in  the  paper  since  that  time. 
AVhen  Air.  Cruser  first  connected  himself  with 
the  Democrat  it  had  only  one  thousand  one 
hundred  circulation.  He  canvassed  the  county 
for  subscribers  and  improved  the  paper,  until  it 
now  has  over  two  thousand  five  hundred  sub- 


scribers. He  usually  acts  as  the  managing  and 
business  editor,  and  has  built  up  the  local  de- 
partment and  made  up  the  paper  in  better  form 
than  when  it  was  under  the  former  management. 
Mr.  Cruser  has  been  AVest  a number  of  times 
since  he  took  his  first  trip,  and  made  additional 
purchases  of  laud  in  Nebraska  and  Dakota.  In 
October,  1876,  he  married  Augusta  Pettis,  of 
Alontrose. 

Hon.  George  A.  Post  was  born  at  Cuba, 
Allegany  County,  N.  Y.  His  parents  moved 
to  Dunkirk  when  he  was  six  mouths  old,  and 
thence  to  Owego  in  1861,  where  young  Post 
received  his  education  at  the  Owego  Academy, 
together  with  about  one  year’s  attendance  at  the 
Owego  Normal  School.  He  was  then  fifteen, 
and  began  to  read  law  with  Charles  E.  Parker, 
the  pre.sent  judge  of  Tioga  County,  N.  Y. 
After  remaining  there  something  over  two 
years  he  was  put  under  a private  tutor  to  pre- 
pare for  college.  In  April,  1873,  his  father 
was  appointed  station  agent  at  Susquehanna 
Depot,  and  George  accepted  what  was  intended 
to  be  a temporary  position;  but  the  employment 
proving  congenial,  and  being  anxious  to  be- 
come self-supporting,  he  continued  in  the  ser- 
vice of  the  Erie  Company  until  he  was  made 
secretary  of  the  motive  power  department,  a po- 
sition which  he  held  until  November  16,  1883, 
when  he  resigned  to  take  his  seat  in  Congress. 
In  April,  1875,  he  was  chosen  Grand  Vice- 
Dictator  of  the  Grand  Dodge  of  the  Knights  of 
Honor  of  Pennsylvania,  and  in  April,  1876,  he 
was  chosen  Grand  Dictator  of  the  same  order,  a 
position  to  which  he  was  twice  re-elected.  For 
five  years  he  represented  the  Grand  Lodge 
in  the  Supreme  Lodge  of  the  United  States. 
In  early  life  Air.  Po.st  took  an  active  interest  in 
politics,  and  commenced  making  political 
speeches  before  he  reached  his  majority.  In 
1877  he  was  elected  chief  burgess  of  Susque- 
hanna, and  in  1880  he  was  Presidential  elector 
on  the  Hancock  ticket.  In  1881  he  resumed 
his  law  studies,  evenings,  with  Hon.  AI.  J. 
Larrabee,  of  Susquehanna  Depot,  and  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  bar  at  August  term,  1882.  In  the 
fall  of  1882  he  was  nominated  for  Congress  by 
the  Democratic  conference,  and,  through  divi- 
sions in  the  Republican  ranks,  he  was  elected  to 


THE  PRESS. 


Ill 


represent  the  Fifteenth  District,  composed  of 
Wayne,  Susquehanna,  Bradford  and  Wyoming 
Counties,  in  the  Forty-eighth  Congress.  He 
was  only  twenty-eight  years  old,  and  was  the 
youngest  member  of  that  body.  He  served  on 
the  committees  on  “Pacific  Railroads”  and 
“ Improvements  of  the  Levees  of  the  Mississippi 
River.”  He  was  often  called  upon  by  Speaker 
Carlisle  to  preside  temporarily.  He  was  a del- 
egate to  the  Democratic  National  Convention 
which  nominated  Cleveland,  and  also  secretary 
of  the  Democratic  Congressional  Caucus  and  of 
the  Democratic  Congressional  Committee,  which, 
in  conjunction  with  the  Democratic  National 
Committee,  conducted  the  Presidential  cam- 
paign. Some  of  his  productions  while  in  the 
latter  position  were  used  as  campaign  docu- 
ments. In  1884  he  was  unanimously  renomi- 
nated for  Congress,  but  the  Republicans  were 
united,  and,  as  the  district  is  largely  Republi- 
can, he  was  defeated.  In  recognition  of  his 
services  during  the  campaign,  he  was  impor- 
tuned to  become  a candidate  for  clerk  of  the 
House.  Meanwhile,  in  1883,  he  had  purchased 
a one-half  interest  in  the  Montrose  Democrat, 
and,  upon  his  return  from  Washington,  he  re- 
moved to  Montrose  and  has  since  been  active  in 
the  management  of  that  paper.  He  does  mo.st 
of  the  editorial  writing,  besides  practicing  his 
profession.  Mr.  Post  is  a fluent  speaker  and  a 
ready  writer,  and  his  overflowing  humor  crops 
out  constantly.  June  22,  1881,  he  married 
Miss  Minnie  C.,  daughter  of  Thomas  T.  Mun- 
son. He  has  one  son  — George  Post. 

The  following  is  a good  specimen  of  Mr. 
Post’s  style  as  a writer.  It  also  gives  a fair  ex- 
position of  his  views  as  to  the  manner  of  con- 
ducting a public  journal  ; 

“ The  good-natured  reply  of  the  Sentinel  to  tlie 
Democrat  regarding  our  suggestion  that  we  would  fol- 
low our  own  inclinations  as  to  the  subjects  we  would 
discuss  and  when  we  should  treat  of  them,  was  neat, 
pleasant  and  well  written.  We  are  glad  we  have 
caused  Brother  Northrop  to  laugh,  for  it  will  do  him 
a jjower  of  good. 

“We  believe  in  looking  upon  the  bright  side  of 
life.  It  does  no  good  to  mope  and  be  gloomy.  We 
are  not  of  those  who  think  that  everything  is  going 
awry.  This  is  a very  pleasant  world  to  live  in,  and 
we  are  glad  we  are  alive.  We  would  rather  make  a 
sober-sided  man  like  Northrop  laugh  than  to  harrow 


the  souls  of  our  readers  by  indulging  in  gloomy, 
heart-rending  disquisitions  upon  the  sinfulness  of 
mankind. 

“ When  the  Democrat  makes  its  weekly  visits  to  its 
many  hundreds  of  readers,  we  want  it  to  be  a welcome 
visitor.  A newspaper  is  like  any  other  visitor  in  the 
household.  If  it  is  cold,  sad  in  tone,  ever  h ir23ing 
upon  one  idea,  it  is  unwelcome  and  remains  unread; 
but  if  it  is  lively  and  gossiping,  stored  with  the  treas- 
ures of  the  tattling  world,  and  with  a spice  of  mirth 
too,  it  will  always  be  received  with  pleasure. 

“ We  do  not  consider  the  readers  of  the  Democrat 
as  our  pupils,  whom  we  are  to  instruct,  but  as  our 
neighbors  and  friends,  to  whom  we  weekly  give  as  fat 
a budget  of  local  and  general  news  and  miscellaneous 
reading  matter  as  by  industry  we  can  gather  and 
which  we  think  will  interest  them.  We  do  not  flatter 
ourselves  that  our  readers  are  groping  in  ignorance 
until  we  can  enlighten  them.  If  we  did,  we  should 
feel  badly  about  it,  for  we  do  not  assume  to  ourselves 
superior  knowledge  above  our  fellows.  It  is  evident 
that  our  neighbor  of  the  Sentinel  takes  another  view 
of  his  jjosition,  and  considers  himself  as  a teacher  of 
the  public,  who  must  be  wise  and  deep,  ‘ a man  severe 
and  stern  to  view.’  We  don’t  propose  to  get  round- 
shouldered  carrying  the  whole  weight  of  this  earth's 
sorrows  on  our  back.  We  shall  try  and  do  our  duty 
and  shirk  no  responsibility  which  rests  upon  us,  and 
we  shall  be  perfectly  willing  to  compare  results  with 
our  sedate  neighbor.” 

“ The  Spectator  and  Freeman’s  Journcd  was 
e.stabli.shed  by  Albert  L.  Post  June,  1836. 
It  was  a Whig  paper  devoted  to  free  speech, 
but  became  the  organ  of  anti-slavery  men.  At 
that  time  there  was  but  one  other  jtaper  in  the 
State  distinctively  anti-slavery.  After  eighteen 
months  O.  N.  Worden  was  associated  with  Mr. 
Post  until  the,  enterprise  was  given  up,  June, 
1840.  The  press  was  purchased  by  Messrs. 
Ariel  Carr  and  Amos  N.  Meylert,  who  pub- 
lished for  six  months  the  North  Star,  which 
was  continued  a few  months  longer  by  Ariel 
Carr  and  S.  T.  Scott,  when  it  was  merged  with 
the  Montrose  Volunteer.  The  North  Star  had 
been  the  outgrowth  of  divisions  among  the 
Democrats.  This  may  be  said  also  of  the 
People’s  Advocate,  established  by  Franklin 
Lusk  in  1847,  which  pas.sed  away  with  the 
temporary  disquiet  then  existing  among  politi- 
cians. 

“ Paul  Pri/,  in  1835,  and  The  Moon,  a few 
years  later,  were  paj)ers  issued  anonymously  in 
Montrose,  to  ' touch  up  ’ the  characters  and, 
particularly,  the  foibles  of  its  citizens. 


112 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


“ The  Candid  Examiner,  an  organ  of  the 
Universalist  denomination,  edited  by  Messrs. 
Peck  and  Marsh,  was  issued  at  Montrose  in 
1827 ; followed,  in  1832,  by  the  Herald  of 
Gospel  Truth  and  WateJunan  of  Liberty,  Messrs. 
Alfred  Peck  and  George  Rogers,  editors.  This 
was  published  but  a year  or  two. 

“ The  Gospel  Missionary,  a weekly  religious 
journal  of  the  Universalists,  was  edited,  in 
1847,  by  Rev.  J.  S.  Palmer.” 

The  People's  Advocate,  a weekly  paper,  was 
established  at  Montrose,  by  Dow  & Boyd, 
about  June,  1846,  as  a Democratic  journal.  It 
continued  under  the  control  of  this  firm  until  early 
the  following  year,  when  Mr.  Dow  withdrew, 
and  Josephus  Boyd  continued  the  publication 
of  the  paper  for  some  three  years  thereafter, 
when  it  was  discontinued.  It  was  a four-page, 
six-column  folio. 

^Oliver  N.  Wordex  was  born  in  Cazenovia, 
Madison  County,  N.  Y.,  in  1817,  the  second  of 
two  sous  of  Eld.  Jesse  B.  Worden,  second  pas- 
tor of  the  Baptist  Church  at  Montrose.  Much, 
at  least,  of  his  early  life  was  passed  in  a rural 
district  in  Onondaga  County,  N.  Y.,  and  he 
knew  something  of  plain,  health-giving  farm 
life.  At  a suitable  age  he  was  indentured  to 
the  printing  business  in  the  Baptist  Register 
office,  in  Utica,  N.  Y.  Having  had  such  ad- 
vantages for  education  only  as  a district  school 
of  the  day  gave,  he  was  not  merely  “ bound  ” 
by  a written  instrument  to  serve  a given  period 
to  acquire  a trade,  but  was  bound  by  a laudable 
ambition,  not  merely  to  become  a good  printer, 
but  to  make  up  by  diligence,  industry  and  ap- 
plication what  scholastic  advantages  had  denied 
him. 

“June  14,  1838,  when  twenty  years  of  age,  he 
made  his  debut  as  co-editor  and  publisher,  with 
A.  L.  Post,  of  the  Spectator,  in  Montrose,  with 
the  following  avowal : 

“ TO  MY  READERS,  ETC. 

“ Believing  in  the  binding  nature  and  beneficial 
effects  of  the  golden  and  divine  command  to  do  to 
others  as  I should  be  done  unto,  I shall  necessarily 
favor  the  cause  of  Republican  government  of  anti- 
slavery effort ; of  temperance  in  the  use  of  good 
things  and  entire  abstinence  from  all  that  is  evil  ; of 

I Independent  Republican. 


giving  the  means  of  practical  education  to  all ; of  po- 
litical and  religious  toleration,  and  of  that  morality 
without  which  other  blessings  change  to  curses.” 

Though  decidedly  anti-slavery  and  uncom- 
promisingly opposed  to  slavery  domination,  yet 
he  was  rather  conservative  and  still  had  faith 
in  what  he  regarded  as  “ Old-time  Republican- 
ism.” In  1840  the  AS^^ectoior  was  discontinued. 
It,  however,  as  an  adjunct  of  anti-slavery  effort, 
the  end  of  which  was  neither  foreseen  nor  com- 
prehended, “ cast  bread  upon  the  waters  that  re- 
turned after  many  days.” 

Mr.  Worden  had  the  satisfaction  of  seeing 
his  avowal  and  advocacy  in  1838  vindicated  in 
1857,  and  essentially  embodied  in  the  few 
words,  “ Freedom  and  right  against  slavery  and 
wrong,”  the  motto  of  The  Independent  Republi- 
can, which  became,  and  continues  to  be,  its  un- 
wavering exponent ; of  seeing  the  immortal 

declaration  : “All  men  have  the  inalienable 

• 

right  to  life,  liberty  and  the  pursuit  of  happi- 
ness” become,  at  least,  something  more  than  a 
“ Rhetori(;al  Flourish  ; ” of  seeing  the  stone, 
“ Anti-Slavery  effort,”  which  a Susquehanna 
County  grand  jury  presented  as  a nuisance,  be- 
come the  head  of  the  corner. 

After  leaving  the  Spectator  Mr.  Worden  pub- 
lished the  Athens  Scribe,  in  Athens,  Bradford 
County,  afterwards  the  Wyoming  Record,  in 
Tunkhannock,  Wyoming  County,  Pa.  But  that 
which  gave  him  monumental  reputation  was  in 
editing  and  publishing  the  Leicisburg  Chronicle 
some  twenty  years,  and  the  prominent,  if  not 
leading,  part  in  the  establisliraent  of  the 
school  at  that  place,  from  which  many  young 
men  are  prepared  for  the  ministry,  graduating 
yearly  to  fill  vacant  places  and  to  enter  upon 
destitute  fields,  becoming  workmen  “ that  need- 
eth  not  to  be  ashamed.” 

In  1867  his  woi’thy  wife,  whom  he  married 
in  1844,  in  Athens,  died,  leaving  him  a lonely, 
childless  widower.  In  due  time  he  went  to 
home  with  his  only  sister,  Mrs.  Martha  Gilles- 
pie, in  New  Milford. 

In  December,  1838,  he  united,  on  profession 
of  faith,  with  the  Baptist  Church  at  Montrose, 
and  those  who  knew  him  can  testify  to  his  godly 
life,  and  that  the  sentiments,  as  above  avowed, 
were  with  him  a law  in  all  after-life.  It  was 


THE  PRESS. 


113 


liis  meat  and  drink  to  do  good,  to  show  by  ex- 
ample and  practice  an  accord  with  his  profes- 
sion, to  be  an  example  of  using  the  good  things 
of  life  as  not  abusing  them,  and  of  entire  absti- 
nence from  evil  and  hurtful  things. 

In  every  respect  Mr.  Worden  was  a remark- 
able man.  Seeming  to  know  but  little,  yet  he 
knew  much.  Seeming  to  have  but  few  acquaint- 
ances, yet,  so  to  speak,  knew  everybody.  So 
far  from  being  a man  of  “ one  idea,”  he  was 
rather  a living,  walking  encyclopsedia.  It  was 
said  of  him  in  an  assembly,  when  he  was  re- 
ferred to  for  authority,  “ what  Mr.  Worden 
don’t  know  is  hardly  worth  an  inquiry.” 

He  took  a deep  interest  in  the  preparation  of 
Miss  E.  C.  Blackman’s  excellent  “ History  of 
Susquehanna  County,”  and  in  its  final  success, 
reproduced  by  research  many  interesting  rem- 
iniscences, published  histories  of  Baptist 
Churches  existing  and  extinct,  wrote  much  be- 
side for  the  public  eye,  historical,  biographical, 
religious  and  political. 

The  National  Record  was  started  as  a Green- 
back paper,  by  Northrop,  Williams  & Bunnell,  in 
November,  1881.  It  was  a nine-column  folio. 
When  Bunnell  and  Winthrop  retired  from  the 
management  Dr.  Potter  took  their  place,  and 
the  name  was  changed  to  Weekly  Messenger. 
The  office  was  burned  January  17,  1883,  and 
the  paper  was  never  re-established. 

Stephen  J.  Northrop  started  the  Sentinel  in 
May,  1883,  as  a Prohibition  paper.  It  was 
issued  monthly  as  a four-column  folio.  It  was 
issued  weekly  in  January,  1884,  and  had  a cir- 
culation of  about  five  hundred  copies.  In  May, 
1884,  it  was  enlarged  to  a four-column  quarto. 

The  Chronicle  was  established  at  Montrose  in 
August,  1884,  as  a Republican  paper,  by  H.  W. 
B.  Hewen  and  others.  In  August,  1885,  the  man- 
agement was  turned  over  to  E.  T,  Sweet.  Oc- 
tober 1,  1886,  Mr.  Northrop  bought  the  Chron- 
icle and  merged  it  in  the  Sentinel,  increasing 
its  size  to  a six-column  quarto. 

S.  J.  Northrop  was  born  in  Bridgewater 
May  22,  1832.  He  prepared  for  college  at 
Harford  Academy,  and  was  graduated  from  the 
Classical  Department  of  Michigan  University,  at 
Ann  Arbor,  in  1861,  After  he  came  home  he 
engaged  in  the  nursery  business  in  Jackson 
7i 


township  for  ten  years.  In  1881  he  came  to 
Montrose,  and  has  been  connected  with  the 
National  Record  and  Sentinel  while  here. 

The  “New  Milford  Advertiser.” — This 
newspaper  was  started  as  a weekly  local  by 
Messrs.  C.  S.  Vail  and  L.  S.  Brown  on  January 
1,  1880.  The  idea  of  such  a pul)lication  in  this 
place  was  first  entertained  by  Mr.  Vail  as  early 
as  1875,  when  he  was  a young  man  only  nine- 
teen years  of  age.  He  knew  nothing  of  the 
trade  at  that  time,  having  been  inside  of  a print- 
ing-office only  a few  times  in  his  life ; but  he 
foresaw  an  opening  there  for  a good  periodical, 
and  resolved  to  sometime  start  such  an  enter- 
prise. But  such  an  undertaking  would  require 
a large  amount  of  money,  and  he  had  no  capital. 
He  laid  his  plans,  however,  and,  beginning  at 
the  bottom  round  of  the  ladder,  resolutely  com- 
menced to  work  his  way  up. 

Securing  a job  of  shoveling  in  Smith’s  sand 
bank,  he  earned  fifteen  dollars,  which  he  sent  to 
Boston  and  purcha.sed  his  fir.st  press  and  outfit. 
It  was  a small  beginning,  but  he  learned  his  first 
lessons  in  the  art  with  it,  and  while  he  learned 
the  rudimentary  features  he  labored  faithfully  for 
his  next  .step.  Adding  to  his  capital  from  time  to 
time,  he  was  at  length  able  to  purcha.se  a one  hun- 
dred and  thirty-five  dollar  pre.ss,  and  on  April 
1,  1879,  he  issued  the  first  number  of  the  New 
3Iilford  Advertiser.  It  was  a neat  pamphlet,  con- 
taining original  reminiscences  and  local  history, 
and  a number  of  local  advertisements.  He  was 
assisted  in  the  work  by  O.  N.  Worden,  a ready 
newspaper  writer  and  printer  of  much  experi- 
ence. One  thousand  copies  were  issued  and 
distributed  free. 

It  was  intended  at  the  time  to  issue  the  paper 
quarterly,  but  a better  plan  prevailed.  He  now 
had  three  hundred  dollars,  and  L.  S.  Brown, 
who  had  learned  the  printer’s  trade  in  the 
Northern  Pennsylvanian  office  a short  time  pre- 
vious, had  the  same  amount.  Vail  and  Brown 
now  entered  into  partnership.  Vail  afterwards 
added  two  hundred  dollars  more,  and  with  a 
capital  of  about  eight  hundred  dollars  the  busi- 
ness commenced.  The  first  regular  issue  of  the 
weekly  Advertiser  was  issued  in  January,  1880. 
It  was  a six-column  folio  of  fair  size,  wholly 
printed  and  published  by  themselves  in  a snug 


114 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


little  office  which  had  been  hurriedly  constructed 
just  back  of  the  graded  school  building. 

In  April  following,  G.  C.  Howell,  a young 
man  of  much  promise,  came  in  with  them  to  learn 
the  trade.  Success  attended  their  efforts,  and  in 
July,  1880,  the  paper  was  enlarged  to  seven 
columns.  On  January  1,  1882,  Vail  & Brown 
dissolved  partnership,  and  C.  S.  Y^ail  became 
sole  proprietor.  The  paper  was  now  enlarged 
to  eight  pages  of  six  columns  each.  Mr.  Vail 
continued  the  business  for  one  year,  and  then 
sold  the  office  to  James  S.  Hayden  and  G.  C. 
Howell.  Mr.  Vail  went  to  Colorado,  and  Hay- 
den & Howell  continued  the  business  until 
August  11,  1885.  At  that  time  Mr.  Vail,  who 
had  returned  from  the  West,  re-purchased  Mr. 
Hayden’s  interest,  and  since  then  the  business 
has  been  conducted  by  Vail  & Howell. 

On  January  1,  1886,  over  two  thousand  dol- 
lars’ worth  of  new  material  was  added,  including 
a new  twelve  hundred  dollar  Campbell  press, 
and  on  February  15th  following,  the  office  was 
moved  to  more  commodious  quarters  in  the 
Advertiser  block,  corner  of  Main  and  Depot 
Streets.  In  May,  1886,  a new  steam-engine  was 
purchased,  and  it  became  a steam  printing  es- 
tablish ment. 

Messrs.  Vail  & Howell  are  men  of  sterling 
qualities  and  untiring  energy,  and  they  are  giv- 
ing the  best  efforts  of  their  lives  to  produce  a 
model  home  newspapei’.  On  September  13, 
1886,  they  issued  an  edition  of  seven  thousand 
copies,  containing  twenty-four  pages  each.  The 
production  of  this  number  required  an  immense 
amount  of  labor  and  expense  for  a local  publi- 
cation to  undertake,  including  a large  force  of 
printers  and  laborers  in  the  office,  an  agent  for 
securing  advertising  matter,  and  a traveling 
reporter  Avho  traveled  over  one  hundred  and 
fifty  miles  to  obtain  local  history,  biography  and 
original  matter. 

As  a newspaper  the  Neio  Milford  Advertiser 
has  been  eminently  successful.  From  a very 
minute  commencement  it  has  been  built  up  by 
pluck  and  energy  until  it  has  become  a first- 
class  printing-office.  Created  and  carried  on 
with  enterprise  and  ability,  its  merits  have  been 
recognized  by  the  reading  public,  and  it  has 
never  lacked  appreciation  and  support. 


Susquehanna’s  Newspapers.  — Susque- 
nanna’s  first  newspaper,  the  Northern  Pennsyl- 
vanian, was  founded  by  M.  H.  C.  Vail  in 
1858.  It  was  a seven-column  folio,  neutral  as 
regarded  politics,  and  was  edited  and  published 
by  Mr.  Vail  for  about  two  and  a half  years. 
In  the  eight  and  one-half  years  next  ensuing 
it  was  owned  and  edited  in  succession  by  L.  P. 
Hinds,  Esq.,  W.  J.  Hunter,  P.  H.  Rafter,  E. 
A.  Benedict  and  N.  B.  Chase.  The  last-named 
gentleman,  the  only  one  of  the  number  now 
living,  removed  the  office,  in  the  spring  of  1868, 
to  Great  Bend.  There  the  paper  was  pub- 
lished under  the  same  name,  although  with 
several  different  proprietors,  for  a few  years, 
when  it  was  removed  to  New  Milford,  and  in 
1871  the  publication  was  then  finally  discon- 
tinued. 

In  May,  1869,  W.  H.  Gardner,  of  Homer, 
N.  Y.,  started  the  Susquehanna  Journal,  a seven- 
column  folio,  and  conducted  the  same  until 
September,  1871,  when  B.  F.  Pride,  of  Union, 
N.  Y.,  the  present  editor  and  proprietor,  pur- 
chased the  establishment.  The  Journal  had, 
up  to  that  date,  received  a very  limited  support, 
and  it  had  come  to  be  generally  understood 
that  a newspaper  could  not  live  in  Susque- 
hanna, seven  different  gentlemen  having  tried 
the  experiment,  and  each  with  very  indifferent 
results,  within  the  preceding  twelve  years.  Mr. 
Pride,  although  a young  man,  took  the  paper 
under  very  discouraging  circumstances,  and  by 
hard  work  and  close  application  succeeded  in 
building  up  a good  paying  business.  The 
paper  was,  as  it  always  has  been  during  his 
management,  independent  in  all  things.  It  was 
from  time  to  time  enlarged  and  improved,  until 
it  has  grown  from  a poorly-patronized  seven- 
column  paper  to  a ten-page,  sixty-column 
paper,  the  largest  in  Susquehanna  County,  and 
one  of  the  most  extensively  circulated.  Mr. 
Pride,  at  the  age  of  thirty-four  years,  enjoys 
the  distinction  of  being  the  oldest  newspaper 
publisher  in  the  county,  having  continuously 
occupied  the  editorial  chair  of  the  Journal  for 
nearly  sixteen  years.  During  this  time  (in 
June,  1874)  the  office  was  destroyed  by  fire, 
and  was  almost  a total  loss  to  the  owner,  but 
in  two  weeks  thereafter  it  was  again  issued,  and 


THE  PRESS. 


115 


has  appeared  regularly  every  Saturday  moruing 
up  to  the  present  time. 

The  Gazette. — In  February,  1874,  Messrs. 
C.  E.  Whitney  and  B.  C.  Kidder,  with  the  mate- 
rial of  the  defunct  Northern  Pennsylvanian, 
which  was  removed  from  New  Milford  to  this 
place,  started  the  Susquehanna  Gazette,  an  eiglit- 
column  folio,  neutral  in  politics.  This  paper 
passed  in  turn  into  the  hands  of  C.  E.  Whitney, 
E.  W.  Rogers  & Son,  Dunlea  & Brosnan,  and 
was  finally  destroyed  by  fire  with  the  Cook 
block,  in  which  it  was  located,  in  February, 
1883,  and  the  publication  discontinued. 

The  Transcript. — In  May,  1883,  F.  A.  Miller 
started  the  Susquehanna  Transcript,  a six- 
column  quarto.  Democratic  in  politics,  and  pub- 
lished the  same  until  February,  1886,  when 
he  sold  the  paper  to  Jas.  Clark,  Jr.,  of  Den- 
ver, Col.,  the  present  publisher.  The  publica- 
tion of  the  Daily  Transcript,  a twenty-four- 
column  folio  paper,  was  begun  in  August,  1886, 
and  is  issued  at  the  present  time  from  the  same 
office. 

Great  Bend  Plaindealer. — In  1867  L.  Hib- 
bert  Whittlesy  who  had  been  publishing  the 
Northern  Pennsylvanian  at  Susquehanna,  re- 
moved the  press  and  type  to  Great  Bend  and 
started  the  Northern  Pennsylvanian  here.  S.  B. 
Chase  was  a part  owner  at  first.  After  Whit- 
lesy  died  John  R.  Gaylord  succeeded  him  as 
publisher.  A.  E.  Benedict  next  had  the  paper 
(now  called  The  Plaindealer).  In  the  fall  of 
1880  C.  L.  Noble  and  S.  P,  Moore  bought  the 
establishment  and  conducted  a five-column  folio 
paper,  independent  in  politics,  until  1884,  when 
Mr.  Moore  bought  Noble’s  interest,  and  May 
1,  1886,  he  doubled  the  size  of  the  paper  by 
making  it  a five-column  quarto,  making  the 
entire  size  twenty-six  by  forty  inches.  James  T. 
Du  Bois  is  part  owner  of  the  paper  at  present. 

James  T.  Du  Bois  was  born  in  Great  Bend 
Village,  Susquehanna  County,  on  the  1 7th  day 
of  April,  1851.  At  the  age  of  thirteen  he 
entered  the  printing-office  of  the  Northern, 
Pennsylvanian,  published  in  Great  Bend  Bor- 
ough by  L.  H.  Whittlesey,  and  learned  the 
trade.  At  the  completion  of  the  apiirenticeship 
he  studied  at  the  Ithaca  Academy,  from  which 
institution  he  graduated  with  honors  in  1870. 


In  1871  he  went  to  Washington,  D.  C.,  for  the 
purpose  of  studying  law  at  the  Columbia  Uni- 
versity. During  the  second  year  of  his  course 
he  w'as  offered  the  position  of  assistant  editor  of 
the  National  Republican,  a journal  then  known 
as  the  organ  of  the  Grant  administration.  He 
filled  this  position  for  two  years,  and  was  pro- 
moted to  the  editorship  of  that  paper,  which 
place  he  held  until  the  summer  of  1877,  when 
he  resigned,  and  was  sent  by  President  Hayes 
as  United  States  commercial  agent  to  Aix-la- 
Chapelle,  Germany.  In  1881  he  was  promoted 
to  be  consul  at  the  same  place.  President 
Arthur,  in  the  fall  of  1883,  appointed  him  to 
the  responsible  and  lucrative  consulate  at  Cal- 
lao, Peru,  but  for  personal  reasons  he  did  not 
care  to  accept  this  position,  and  was  subse- 
quently transferred  to  the  important  consulate 
at  Leipsic,  Saxony,  which  post  he  occupied  until 
January,  1886,  when  he  voluntarily  resigned. 
The  following  is  the  letter  of  the  Assi.stant  Sec- 
retary of  State,  accepting  his  resignation  : 

“Department  of  State,  ) 
Washington,  January  14,  1886.  j 
“James  T.  Du  Bois,  Esq.,  Consul  of  the  United 
States  at  Leipsic. 

“Sir: — I have  to  acknowledge  the  receipt  of  your 
despatch  of  the  2d  instant,  tendering  your  resignation 
of  the  office  of  consul  of  the  United  States  at 
Leipsic,  and  in  reply  to  inform  you  that  the  same  is 
accepted,  to  take  effect  on  this  date. 

“ I take  this  occasion  to  express  the  Department’s 
appreciation  of  the  zeal  and  fidelity  you  have  dis- 
played in  the  performance  of  the  duties  connected 
with  the  offices  you  have  held  under  it,  and  to  assure 
you  that  your  retirement  from  the  consular  service  is 
recognized  as  the  loss  of  a faithful  and  efficient  officer. 

“ I am,  sir,  your  obedient  servant, 

“Jas.  D.  Porter, 
“Assistant  Secretary.'’ 

While  abroad  Mr.  Du  Bois  studied  thoroughly 
the  German  and  French  languages,  and  spent 
what  leisure  time  he  had  in  literary  pursuits. 
While  stationed  at  Aix-la-Chapelle  he  wrote 
two  volumes  entitled  “ An  Hour  with  Charle- 
magne” and  “In  and  About  Aix-la-Chapelle.” 
The  following  is  an  extract  from  a letter  written 
by  Postmaster-General  Vilas  concerning  the 
former : 

“I  sat  down  with  the  great  Charles  last  evening 
and  was  so  interested  by  your  presentation  tliat  I 
ceased  only  with  its  close.  Yopr  sketch  is  delightiiil. 


116 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


It  lifts  the  splendid  story  out  of  the  darkness  and 
shows  what  a wonderful  creation  and  creator  a great 
man  is.  Had  Bacon’s  philosophy  then  been  known, 
modern  civilization  would  have  dated  with  Charle- 
magne. 

“ May  I also  be  allowed  to  commend  the  rich  and 
flowing  style  in  which  you  bear  your  readers  bliss- 
fully? I shall  hope  to  enjoy  other  products  of  so 
deft  a pen.” 

Mr.  Du  Bois  is  at  present  connected  with  the 
editorial  staff  of  the  National  Republican,  pub- 
lished at  Washington,  D.  C.,  and  he  has  charge 
of  the  Consular  Edition  of  that  journal.  He 
spends  his  winters  in  Washington  and  his  sum- 
mers at  Hallstead,  in  this  county,  where  he  is 
interested  in  the  publication  of  the  Plaindealer 
and  also  in  farming.  He  is  the  proprietor  of 
“ Spring  Farm,”  a tract  of  land  beautifully  sit- 
uated on  the  banks  of  the  picturesque  Susque- 
hanna Biver,  which  has  been  in  the  possession 
of  the  family  for  about  one  century.  On  this 
farm  is  situated  the  mountain  “ Manotonome,” 
from  the  summit  of  which  may  be  obtained 
some  of  the  most  interesting  and  commanding 
views  to  be  found  in  the  State.  Mr.  Du  Bois 
has  constructed  several  miles  of  foot  and  road- 
ways about  this  mountain,  and  it  has  become  a 
favorite  resort  for  the  people. 

In  December,  1883,  wdiile  consul  at  Leipsic, 
Mr.  Du  Bois  married  Emma,  the  only  child  of 
Henry  Pastor,  Esq.,  of  Aix-la-Chapelle.  They 
have  two  sons. 


CHAPTER  XI. 

AUTHORS. 

“ ' On  the  authority  of  the  late  Hon.  Charles 
Miner,  a ‘ New  Yankee  Song,’  dated  Auburn 
Village,  July  23,  1803,  was  the  earliest  product 
of  the  Susquehanna  County  muse,  and  his  ‘old 
and  worthy  friend,  Charles  Mowry,  was  the 
writer.’  He  lived  not  far  from  Elk  Lake,  and 
possibly  from  the  name  he  gave  to  his  location 
the  township  of  Auburn  received  its  name.  The 
soug  had  reference  to  the  Intrusion  Law,  and 
began  thus : 


1 Miss  Blackman. 


“ A cruel  law  is  made,  boys, 

Which  much  our  peace  and  wealth  destroys — 

A cruel  law  is  made,  boys, 

To  frighten  and  distress  us ; 

But  if  we  firm  together  join. 

Supported  by  a power  Divine, 

Our  Yankee  cause  shall  not  decline. 

Nor  shall  it  long  oppress  us. 

“ In  the  seven  remaining  stanzas  reference  is 
made  to  Colonels  John  Franklin  and  John 
Jenkins  as  those  foremost  in  ‘ the  cause.’  It 
will  be  remembered  that,  though  these  sturdy 
champions  of  Yankee  rights  resided  in  the 
vicinity  of  Athens,  this  section  as  well  as  that 
were  alike  in  the  disputed  territory  claimed  at 
the  same  time  by  Connecticut  and  Pennsylvania. 

“ Dr.  Israel  Skinner,  of  Oakland  (then  Har- 
mony), published  at  an  early  day  a history  of 
the  American  Revolution  in  verse,  a part  of 
which  is  quoted  by  Mr.  Miner  in  his  ‘ History 
of  Wyoming.’ 

“ Dr.  R.  H.  Rose  published  a volume  of  fifty- 
six  poems,  or,  as  he  termed  them,  ‘ Sketches  in 
Verse,’  about  1820.  It  was  a handsomely- 
bound  octavo,  designed  for  private  circulation 
only,  and  but  one  or  two  copies  can  now  be 
found  in  the  county.  In  this  volume  his  many 
quotations  from  the  Latin,  French  and  Italian 
show  his  familiarity  with  various  languages  and 
authors.  Many  of  the  sketches  were  love-dit- 
ties, and  professed  imitations  of  a race  of  bards 
no  longer  greatly  admired.  There  were  also 
prose  versions  from  the  Arabic  poets,  turned 
into  rhyme.  An  exception  to  the  foregoing  is 
found  in  his  ‘ Instructions  to  Manufacturers,’  in 
which  is  seen  the  gleam  of  the  wit  and  raillery 
of  which  he  is  said  to  have  been  fond.  He 
could,  at  least,  follow  his  own  ‘Instructions’ : 

“ What ! you  would  write  a sonnet ! — sit  you  down, 
And  take  your  pen,  no  matter  for  the  theme, 

So  it  be  dull  and  sad — a waking  dream  ; 

And,  careless  of  the  peevish  muse’s  frown, 

Run  stanza  into  stanza.  Break  your  lines 
And  form  them  that  the  first  and  fourth  may  chime 
And  to  the  third  the  second  be  the  rhyfne. 

“ Oft  introduce  a colon  : but  when  shines 
A gleam  of  passion,  never  then  neglect 
A note  of  admiration,  and  an  Oh  ! 

For  thus  you  w'ill  display  a deal  of  wo. 

And  to  your  sonnet  give  a fine  effect. 

Then  lug  two  limping  lines  in  at  the  close, 


AUTHORS. 


117 


And  swear  ’tis  thus  the  great  Petrarcha’s  metre 
flows. 

“ A work  designed  apparently  for  circulation 
in  England,  and  which  did  circulate  there  and 
influence  immigration  to  this  county,  was  writ- 
ten here,  and  bore  the  following  on  its  title- 
page  : 

“ ‘ Letters  from  the  British  Settlement  in  Pennsyl- 
vania : to  which  are  added  the  Constitution  of  the 
United  States  and  of  Pennsylvania,  and  extracts  from 
the  laws  respecting  aliens  and  naturalized  citizens. 
By  C.  B.  Johnson,  M.  D.’ 

“ This  was  entered  according  to  Act  of  Con- 
gress, by  H.  Hall,  Philadelphia,  1819.  Another 
edition  was  published  the  same  year  by  John 
Miller,  Piccadilly,  London  (England). 

“ More  than  one  English  immigrant  bemoaned 
the  day  he  read  ‘ Johnson’s  Letters,’  and  heaped 
upon  the  author  accusations  born  of  disappoint- 
ment. ‘ Too  rose-colored  ’ his  descriptions  may 
have  been ; but  so,  also,  were  the  notions  of 
town-bred  people  respecting  their  own  capacity 
to  endure  the  inevitable  ills  attendant  upon 
pioneer  life. 

“ Samuel  Barnard  was  among  those  who  left 
the  Old  World  in  1819,  with  hopes  founded  upon 
statements  contained  in  the  ‘ Letters.’  While 
in  this  county  he  devoted  himself  to  the  prepa- 
ration of  a 

“ ‘ Polyglot  Grammar  of  the  Hebrew,  Chaldee 
Syriac,  Greek,  Latin,  English,  French,  Italian,  Span- 
ish and  German  languages,  reduced  to  one  common 
rule  of  syntax,  and  an  uniform  mode  of  declension 
and  conjugation  as  far  as  practicable.’ 

“ This  was  published,  in  1825,  in  Philadel- 
phia, New  York,  Baltimore  and  Boston.  Presi- 
dent John  Q.  Adams  was  a subscriber  for  the 
work.  Mr.  Barnard  presented  an  elegant  copy, 
prepared  expressly  for  the  occasion,  to  General 
Lafayette.  Several  colleges  subscribed  for  copies, 
as  also  the  Department  of  State  at  Washington. 

“He  removed  to  New  York,  and  afterwards 
to  Kentucky,  where  he  died  in  1850.  One  of 
his  daughters,  Mrs.  George  Fuller,  is  still  a 
resident  of  Montrose. 

“We  are  indebted  to  the  same  alluring  ‘ Let- 
ters ’ for  the  arrival  from  England,  in  1819,  of 
Mrs.  Juliana  Frances  Turner.  During  the 
next  three  years  she  wrote  the  ‘ Harp  of  the 


Beechwoods,’  a volume  of  sixty-five  poems. 
This  was  published  at  Montrose,  by  Adam 
Waldie,  in  1822. 

“Some  of  her  ballads,  in  old  English  style, 
are  quite  pleasing.  Other  pieces  possess  real 
merit ; but  fairies  and  goblins  seem  most  fre- 
quently to  have  entertained  her  fancy  and  en- 
gaged her  pen.  A sample  of  the  smoothness  of 
her  style  may  be  seen  in  the  following  extract : 

“THE  COT  OF  CONTENT. 

“ On  the  banks  of  the  Schuylkill  still  evening  was 
glinting. 

And  the  tide’s  silvery  surge  a soft  murmuring  kept. 
While  the  bright  hues  of  autumn  the  slope  woods 
were  tinting. 

And  the  brown  sunny  mountains  in  mellowness 
slept. 

There  I marked  a sweet  villa,  the  day  star  declining. 

Where  the  jessamine  lingered,  with  late  roses  blent; 
Where  the  scarlet-leaved  creepers  neat  trellised  were 
twining. 

And  they  called  the  sweet  bower — the  Cot  of  Con- 
tent. 

“Mrs.  Turner  was  born  in  London,  married 
in  1802,  and  died  in  England  early  in  1837. 

“Reference  has  been  made  to  Adam  Waldie 
as  her  publisher ; on  another  page  his  connec- 
tion with  the  newspaper  press  is  given.  His 
position  as  editor  of  a literary  rather  than  a 
political  journal,  and  his  influence  in  calling 
out  the  talent  that  lay  dormant  here,  entitle 
him  to  grateful  mention. 

“In  1823  a painting  was  made  by 

Thompson,  of  Susquehanna  County,  from  a 
scene  in  ‘ The  Pioneers.’ 

“ In  1829  a new  hymn-book,  by  Sebastian 
and  Barzillai  Streeter. 

“ In  1832  materials  for  a history  of  this  sec- 
tion, by  C.  L.  Ward,  destroyed  by  fire. 

“A  number  of  pamphlets  have  been  issued 
from  the  county  press,  some  of  which  are  re- 
membered : The  ‘ Atonement,  in  Seven  Links,’ 
by  Jireh  Bryan  ; a ‘ Historical  Discourse,’  by 
Rev.  Adam  Miller,  1844,  published  by  A.  Tur- 
rell ; a discourse  on  ‘Baptism,’  by  Rev.  A.  L. 
Post. 

“In  1837  The  Spectator  office  printed  a 
book  of  seventy-six  pages,  entitled  ‘ Intellectual 
Chronology,’  for  schools  and  learners,  by 
‘ Technica  Memoria  ’ [R.  Pike].  It  endeavored 


118 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


to  simplify  the  acquisition  of  dates,  by  the  use 
of  letters  for  figures,  weaving  them  with  words, 
and  often  into  poetry.” 

Miss  Anne  L.  Fraser  was  born  at  Mont- 
rose Oct.  3,  1810.  She  obtained  her  education 
at  Montrose  Academy  and  at  Miss  Emma  H. 
Willard’s  Female  Academy  at  Troy,  ISl.  Y. 
She  taught  school  a number  of  years,  and  has 
done  some  painting  of  considerable  merit  and 
written  some  good  poetry.  Her  sister  Caroline 
was  a music  teacher.  The  two  sisters  lived  to- 
gether on  the  homestead  with  their  mother  until 
she  died,  in  1870;  then  the  sisters  lived  together 
until  Carrie  died,  in  1882;  meanwhile  her 
brothers  Philip  and  Franklin  had  both  died  at 
the  hotnestead,  leaving  her  alone,  the  last  of 
Dr.  Chas.  Fraser’s  family  at  Montrose.  Miss 
Fraser  is  a lady  of  culture  and  character.  Here- 
with we  submit  a few  selections  from  her 
poetry : 

O wild  the  wintry  blast  hath  blown 
Among  these  rugged  hills  of  ours, 

And  spring  on  softest  wing  hath  flown 

And  kissed  the  fragrance-breathing  flowers; 

And  summer’s  sunshine  oft  hath  chased 
The  shadows  o’er  the  waving  plain, 

And  autumn’s  pencil  sadly  traced 
Her  gorgeous  hues  of  death  again. 

And  this  has  passed  since  at  my  feet 
Thy  blue  waves,  Susquehanna,  rolled, 

Where  green-robed  mountains  rise  to  meet 
And  crown  themselves  with  clouds  of  gold ; 

But  thou,  the  friend  of  other  days. 

Who  nature’s  charms  have  viewed  with  me. 

When  to  her  haunts  my  footstep  strays 
Remembrance  kindly  dwells  on  thee. 

And  dost  thou  trace  the  lovely  shore. 

Where  we  have  watched  the  smooth  waves  glide. 

Or  wake  the  music  of  the  oar. 

Forgetting  one  who  by  thy  side 
Hath  wandered  through  each  woodland  dell 
And  crossed  the  sparkling  wave  with  thee? 

Hath  friendship’s  wand  no  silent  spell 

To  stir  the  fount  of  memory  ? , 

Mrs.  Lydia  C.  Searle. — Miss  Lydia  C. 
Dimock,  daughter  of  Elder  D.  Dimock,  was 
born  at  Montrose  July  6,  1811,  and  married  to 
Leonard  Searle  Oct.  23,  1832.  She  was  edu- 
cated in  Hamilton  Baptist  Academy,  N.  Y.,  and 
early  gave  indications  of  a taste  for  literary 


pursuits.  She  kept  a diary  from  the  age  of  1 

seventeen  until  the  time  of  her  death.  Her  j 

reading  in  every  department  was  extensive,  and  ■ 
while  reading,  she  comprehended  and  formed  her  |j 
judgment.  While  every  one  might  not  have  | 
acquiesced  in  that  judgment,  to  her  it  was  sin-  ; 
cere,  honest  conviction.  She  was  an  indefati- 
gable collector  of  articles  from  newspapers  and 
other  sources,  which  were  carefully  preserved 
in  scrap-books.  She  also  kept  files  of  newspa- 
pers for  many  years.  Her  mind  was  quick  in 
perception  and  ready  in  application,  and  during 
her  long  life  it  became  widely  stored  with  his- 
toric, scientific,  religious  and  political  facts.  She 
was  bright  and  intellectual  at  home  in  poetry 
and  literature.  She  wrote  both  in  prose  and 
poetry.  Her  work  “ Washington  our  Exam- 
ple” was  published  during  the  war.  Being  a 
great  admirer  of  Gen.  McClellan,  the  work 
was  dedicated  to  him,  a fact  which  he  apprecia- 
tively acknowledged  in  a courteous  letter  to  the 
authoress.  At  the  time  of  her  death,  A.  K. 
McClure,  of  the  Philadelphia  Times,  wrote  of 
her  : “ She  has  been  for  more  than  half  a cen- 
tury one  of  the  leading  literary  as  well  as  social 
characters  of  Northern  Pennsylvania.  With 
all  the  tenderness  of  woman  and  a most  devoted 
wife  and  mother,  she  had  a strong  love  for  liter- 
ature  and  singular  fitness  for  literary  labor. 

Her  scrap-books,  both  of  politics  and  of  the 
choice  productions  of  the  most  gifted  poets  and 
authors,  are  among  the  most  complete  to  be 
found  in  any  library,  and  her  original  articles 
were  marked  by  unusual  force  and  excellence. 

No  woman  of  the  northern  portion  of  the  State 
will  be  more  widely  or  more  gratefully  remem- 
bered than  Mrs.  Searle,  of  Montrose,  and  her 
life  and  character  will  long  be  pointed  to  as 
among  the  noblest  of  examples.”  She  was  a 
Christian  lady,  with  a deep  charity  for  all. 

She  died  in  August,  1880,  and  was  buried  at 
Montrose. 

The  following  is  taken  from  a tribute  paid  to 
her  brother,  Hon.  Davis  Dimock,  Jr.,  who  died 
while  a member  of  Congress : 

Thou  art  gone,  ’midst  honors,  to  the  tomb,  and  all  the 
people  mourn, 

Who  twined  a wreath  around  thy  brow,  which  now  is 
from  thee  torn — 


AUTHORS. 


119 


To  crown  anew  the  victor  Death,  who  seeks  from 
earth  to  win 

The  bright,  the  beautiful  and  great,  as  the  trophies 
meet  for  him. 

Thou  art  gone,  but  oh ! thou  art  gone  not  where  thy 
country  calls  for  thee, 

And  a vacant  seat  is  in  the  halls  of  our  nation  great 
and  free. 

Which  was  thine  to  fill  for  years  to  come,  with  bright- 
ness round  thy  name, 

And  with  deepest  love  for  the  nation’s  weal,  thou 
wouldst  have  filled  the  same. 

******* 
Thou  art  gone,  and  now  the  grief  and  woe  that  fancy 
cannot  paint. 

Which  sheds  such  blight  on  human  hearts,  that  makes 
them  fail  and  faint. 

Which  withers  all  their  dearest  joys,  and  changes  life 
to  gloom. 

Are  theirs  who  loved,  but  could  not  save  thee  from 
the  voiceless  tomb. 

******* 
Thou  art  gone,  and  o’er  thy  noble  form  death  triumphs 
in  his  power — 

But  there  is  coming,  on  swift  wing,  in  time  the  des- 
tined hour 

When  he  in  whom  was  all  thy  hope  will  take  from 
death  the  prize. 

And,  robed  in  beauty  and  in  light,  thou  wilt  from 
dust  arise. 

Anna  Deinker  wrote  poetry  under  the  nom 
de  plume  of  Edith  May.  The  pages  of  the 
Home  Journal,  edited  by  N.  P.  Willis  and 
George  Morris,  bore  ample  evidence  of  her 
genius.  Her  poems  were  published  in  book- 
form,  by  a Philadelphia  house,  in  1851,  prefaced 
by  a tribute  from  N.  P.  Willis.  She  also  pub- 
lished, in  1855,“  Tales  and  Poems  for  Children.” 
Miss  Blackman  writes : ” It  has  been  remarked 
‘she  might  have  sat  for  her  own  Theodora.’’ 

“ In  her  eyes  are  tranquil  shadows 
Lofty  thoughts  alone  can  make. 

Like  the  darkness  thrown  by  mountains 
O’er  a lake.” 

In  a sketch  of  the  fair  authoress,  written  by 
Miss  Susan  E.  Dickinson  in  1879,  she  said: 
“When  Miss  Drinker  began  to  write,  Susque- 
hanna County  still  held  countless  lovely  soli- 
tudes, where  only  the  wild  deer  ranged,  or 
hunters’  and  poets’  footsteps  delighted  to  roam. 
Many  of  her  poems  pictured  this  fair  and  gra- 
cious region  with  its  peculiar  charms.  Not  a 
few,  and  these  the  longest,  were  narrative  poems. 


full  of  dramatic  fire  and  fervor,  showing  how 
her  imaginative  powers  were  seizing  upon  and 
bringing  out  the  strength,  the  beauty,  the 
romance  lying  in  the  life  around  her.” 

The  following  are  extracts  from  her  poems: 

STORM  AT  TWILIGHT. 

The  roar  of  a chafed  lion  in  his  lair 
Begirt  by  leveled  spears : A sudden  flash, 

Intense,  yet  wavering,  like  a beast’s  fierce  eye 
Searching  the  darkness.  The  wild  lay  of  winds 
Sweeps  the  burnt  plains  of  heaven,  and  from  afar. 
Linked  clouds  are  riding  up  like  eager  horsemen. 
Javelin  in  hand.  From  the  moth  wings  of  twilight 
There  falls  unwonted  shadow,  and  strange  gloom 
Cloisters  the  unwilling  stars.  The  sky  is  roofed 
With  tempest,  and  the  moon’s  scant  rays  fall  through 
Like  light  let  dimly  through  fissured  rock 
Vaulting  a cavern.  To  the  horizon, 

The  green  sea  of  the  forest  has  rolled  back 

Its  leveled  billows,  and  where  mast-like  trees 

Sway  to  its  bosom,  here  and  there,  a vine 

Braided  to  some  pine’s  bare  shaft,  clings,  rocked  aloft 

Like  a bold  mariner ! There  is  no  hough 

But  lifteth  an  appealing  arm  to  heaven. 

The  scudding  grass  is  shivered  as  it  flies 

And  herbs  and  flowers  crouch  to  their  mother  earth 

Like  frightened  children.  ’Tis  more  terrible. 

When  the  near  thunder  speaks,  and  the  fleet  wind 
Stops  like  a steed  that  knows  his  rider’s  voice; 

For,  oh,  the  hush  that  follows  is  the  calm 
Of  a despairing  heart,  and,  as  a maniac 
Loses  his  grief  in  raving,  the  mad  storm. 

Weeping  fast  tears,  awakens  with  a sob 
From  its  blank  desolation,  and  shrieks  on! 

UNREST. 

Rest  for  awhile  I I’m  tempest-tossed  to-day  ; 

Bar  out  the  sunshine.  Let  importunate  life. 

Beating  forever  with  impatient  hand 
My  soul’s  closed  portals,  only  rouse  within 
Dull,  dreamy  echoes.  In  a forest  calm 
Builds  sleep,  the  white  dove.  As  a bird  she  rides 
The  lulled  waves  of  the  soul.  To-day  my  thoughts 
Hunt  me  like  hounds ; my  senses,  wide  awake. 

Watch  for  the  touch  that  thrills  them;  every  sound 
Falls  through  the  listening  air  unscabbarded  ; 

And  if  sleep  comes,  ’tis  but  a transient  dream 
That  flits  betwixt  me  and  the  light  of  life. 

Alighting  never.  * * * 

TWO  CHANTS. 

“TeDeum  Laudamus!”  through  green  river  mead- 
ows. 

Where  noon,  pacing  slow,  holds  in  leash  the  fleet 
shadows. 

Blown  like  a cloud  from  St.  Agatha’s  altar, 

Drifts  down  the  south  wind  and  loud-chanted 
psalter ; 


120 


HISTOEY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


Under  the  light  of  the  tapers  lies  sleeping 
One  whose  fair  soul  was  not  whitened  by  weeping. 

Sorrow  stood  far  from  her — love,  in  mute  reverence, 
Knelt  to  the  shrine  of  her  starry  intelligence, 
Charmed  by  her  music  of  being,  dull  cavil 
Lay  coiled  in  her  presence  ; and  lion-like  evil, 

Lying  in  wait  for  her  soul  frail  and  tender, 
Crouching  at  the  blaze  of  its  virginal  splendor. 

Over  her  calm  face  a radiance  immortal 

Flows  from  the  smile  at  the  mouth’s  silent  portal — 

They  who  kneel  round  her  from  matins  till  even, 

As  they  kneel  at  the  tombs  of  the  blessed  in  heaven. 
Think  not  to  question  that  presence  resplendent 
Where  fled  the  soul  that  is  shining  ascendent. 

********* 

Sorrow,  that  writes  with  the  pen  of  an  angel, 

God’s  burning  thoughts  through  her  mystic  evangel ; 
Passion,  that,  laden  with  memories  tender. 

Crowns  himself  king  with  their  tropical  splendor; 
Weeping  repentance,  with  hand  lifted  palely — 

These  were  the  spirits  that  walked  with  her  daily. 

********* 

FOEEST  SCENE. 

I know  a forest  vast  and  old — 

A shade  so  deep,  so  darkly  green. 

That  morning  sends  her  shaft  of  gold 
In  vain  to  pierce  its  leafy  screen. 

I know  a brake  where  sleeps  the  fawn— 

The  soft-eyed  fawn  through  noon’s  repose. 

For  noon,  with  all  the  calm  of  dawn. 

Lies  hushed  beneath  those  dewy  boughs. 

********* 

From  slippery  ledge,  from  moss-grown  rock. 
Dash  the  swift  waters  at  a bound, 

And  from  the  foam  that  veils  the  shock. 

Floats  every  wavelet,  sparkle-crowned. 

By  brake  and  dell  and  lawny  glade, 

O’er  gnarled  root,  o’er  mossy  stone. 

Beneath  the  forest’s  emerald  shade 

The  brook  winds  murmuring,  chiding  on. 

George  Gatlin,  son  of  Putnam  and  Polly 
(Sutton)  Gatlin,  was  born  in  Wyoming  Valley 
in  1796.  He  came  to  Brooklyn,  Susquehanna 
Gounty,  with  his  father,  where  he  taught  school. 
His  father  designed  him  for  the  law  and  to  that 
end  sent  him  to  Reeves’  school,  at  Litchfield, 
Gonn.,  where  he  remained  two  years.  He  was 
admitted  to  the  Susquehanna  Gounty  bar  Feb- 


ruary 20,  1820.  At  that  time  his  brother 
Gharles  resided  where  Mrs.  Webb  now  lives. 
But  law  was  not  suited  to  young  Gatlin’s  tastes 
or  inclinations.  He  says  : 

“After  having  covered  nearly  every  inch  of  the 
lawyer’s  table  (and  even  encroached  upon  the  judges’ 
bench)  with  pen-knife,  pen  and  ink,  and  pencil 
sketches  of  judges,  juries  and  culprits,  I very  delib- 
erately resolved  to  convert  my  law  library  into  paint- 
pots  and  brushes,  and  to  pursue  painting  as  my  future 
and  apparently  more  agreeable  profession.’’ 

^ Art  was  his  idolized  profession.  So  strong 
did  his  pas.sion  become  that  he  abandoned  the 
law  and  went  to  New  York,  where  he  was  soon 
engaged  in  the  painting  of  portraits  and  minia- 
tures. In  1829,  being  then  thirty -three  years 
old,  Mr.  Gatlin  had  his  attention  called  to  the 
fact  that  the  pure  American  race  was  disap- 
pearing before  the  march  of  civilization.  He 
therefore  resolved  to  rescue  from  oblivion  the 
types  and  customs  of  the  unfortunate  Indians. 
From  that  moment  dated  the  commencement  of 
his  life-study ; then  he  became  a public  bene- 
factor, and  his  subsequent  career,  was  devoted  to 
the  cause  of  art  and  history,  to  which  he  has 
added  a chapter  that  cannot  be  undervalued. 
In  1831  Mr.  Gatlin,  though  discouraged  by  his 
friends  and  the  government,  accompanied  Gov- 
ernor Glark,  of  St.  Louis,  then  superintendent 
of  Indian  affairs,  in  a western  tour  among  the 
Winnebagos  and  Menomonies,  the  Shawanos, 
Sacs  and  Foxes,  and  with  these  interviews  be- 
gan the  series  of  his  Indian  paintings.  After  the 
close  of  the  ‘Black  Hawk  War’  he  visited 
Black  Hawk  and  five  of  his  warriors,  prisoners 
at  Jefferson  Barracks,  where  he  painted  their 
portraits.  In  the  following  year  he  descended 
the  Missouri  River,  from  the  mouth  of  the 
Yellowstone  to  St.  Louis,  in  a canoe,  with  two 
men  (a  distance  of  two  thousand  miles),  steering 
it  with  his  own  paddle.  In  that  trip  he  visited 
and  painted  the  Mandans,  Grows,  Blackfeet, 
K’nisteneux,  Assinneboins,  Minatarres,  Rec- 
carrees,  Sioux,  Poncas  and  lowas.  During 
these  voyages  he  was  the  correspondent  of  the 
Nev)  York  Spectator.  These  letters  were  pub- 
lished in  a volume  entitled  ‘ Gatlin’s  Life 
Among  the  North  American  Indians.’  ” 

"^Neio  York  Tribune. 


AUTHORS. 


121 


' “ In  the  fall  of  1837  Mr.  Gatlin  lectured  in  New 
York,  in  connection  with  the  exhibition  of  paintings, 
while  Black  Hawk,  Keokuk  and  about  fifty  Indians 
from  four  tribes  were  present. 

“ In  1838  the  value  of  his  paintings  was  estimated 
at  from  $100,000  to  $150,000. 

“ In  eight  years  he  visited  about  fifty  tribes,  and 
brought  home  more  than  six  hundred  oil-paintings 
(in  every  instance  from  nature)  of  portraits,  land- 
scapes and  Indian  customs,  and  every  article  of  their 
manufacture,  such  as  weapons,  costumes,  wugwams, 
etc.  He  exhibited  this  collection  in  New  York  and 
Washington,  and  also  in  London  and  Paris.  He  had 
ofiers  from  noblemen  in  England  for  his  collection, 
but  he  declined  them,  preferring  to  dispose  of  it  in 
his  own  country.  He  offered  it  to  the  government  of 
the  United  Stales  for  $65,000.  The  bill  for  its  pur- 
chase was  discussed  in  the  Senate  and  lost  by  one 
vote.  This  was  probably  owing  to  the  influence  of 
H.  R.  Schoolcraft,  who  had  endeavored  to  secure  the 
use  of  Mr.  Gatlin’s  paintings  to  illustrate  a work  he 
contemplated  editing  for  the  United  States;  but  Mr. 
Gatlin  had  already  incurred  great  labor  and  expense 
towards  a publication  of  his  own,  and  declined  his 
proposition.” 

In  1852  he  sailed  to  Venezuela  and  for  sev- 
eral years  was  employed  in  exploring  the  inner- 
most parts  of  South  America,  interviewing 
scores  of  tribes  of  wild  Indians.  “ Last  Ram- 
bles in  North  and  South  America,”  from  his 
pen,  is  a graphic  description  of  his  life  in  the 
wildernesses  of  those  countries.  He  also  wrote 
“ Lifted  and  Subsided  Rocks  of  North  America,” 
based  on  his  observations ; also  “North  Ameri- 
can Folio,”  containing  twenty-five  plates  of 
hunting  scenes.  As  an  author  Mr.  Gatlin  was 
peculiarly  talented,  and  as  an  artist  his  paintings 
are  spirited  and  accurate  portraits  and  faithful 
and  true  landscapes.  The  remnant  of  his  paint- 
ing can  be  seen  at  Washington,  D.  C.,  having 
been  collected  by  the  government  at  last.  He 
died  in  1872,  at  Jersey  City,  aged  seventy- eight. 

Miss  Emily  C.  Blackman  was  born  at 
Gilbertsville,  Otsego  County,  N.  Y.,  July  15, 
1826.  When  she  was  three  years  old  her  father. 
Dr.  J.  Blackman,  whose  sketch  will  appear  in 
the  medical  chapter,  removed  to  Binghamton, 
where  he  resided  seven  years,  removing  to 
Montrose  in  1836.  Miss  Blackman  has  a very 
distinct  recollection  of  Binghamton,  where  she 
first  attended  school ; but  her  early  education 


was  principally  obtained  at  the  Susquehanna 
County  or  Montrose  Academy.  At  the  age  of 
fifteen  she  commenced  teaching  as  an  assistant 
in  the  academy,  still  continuing  her  studies, 
however.  About  this  time  she  and  her  sister 
Many  Ann  planned  to  found  a school;  but  her 
sister  married  soon  after,  and  that  destroyed  one 
of  Miss  Blackman’s  early  hopes.  After  she  left 
school  and  teaching  here,  she  was  preceptress  at 
Towanda,  also  teaching  three  years  at  Chester, 
Delaware  County,  Pa.  She  has  taught  in  the 
schools  of  Wisconsin  and  Illinois  and  Freed- 
man’s school  in  Mississippi  from  1866  to  1868. 
In  fact,  her  whole  life  since  she  was  fifteen  has 
been  that  of  an  instructor-in  one  way  or  another. 
During  all  these  years  she  has  been  a student  of 
languages  and  music.  She  studied  music  in 
New  York  and  Philadelphia,  and  became  an 
accomplished  music-teacher. 

In  later  years  she  has  given  more  attention  to 
the  study  of  the  languages,  and  is  able  to  read 
the  Testament  in  ten  different  languages.  Miss 
Blackman  is  of  a literary  turn  of  mind,  and 
during  the  time  she  was  in  the  South  she  was  a 
constant  contributor  to  the  press,  and  also  while 
in  Europe.  Her  greatest  literary  work  is  the 
“ History  of  Susquehanna  County,”  upon  which 
she  spent  four  years  of  conscientious,  painstaking 
labor.  No  one  but  a historian  can  appreciate 
the  labor  required  in  searching  through  countless 
old  dust-covered  records,  newspaper  files  and 
diaries,  to  ascertain  a date,  a name  or  a fact, 
which  requires  only  a short  sentence  to  express 
when  found,  and  the  interviewing  of  the  oldest 
inhabitants,  and  the  comparing  of  conflicting 
statements,  all  requiring  method  in  arrangement, 
patience  in  research  and  perseverance  until  the 
desired  information  is  obtained.  All  of  these 
characteristics  were  made  manifest  in  Miss 
Blackman’s  work,  which  has  received  many 
commendations  from  those  most  capable  of 
criticising. 

Miss  Blackman  united  with  the  Presbyterian 
Church  of  Montrose  when  she  was  twelve  years 
old,  and  has  been  active  in  every  good  work 
growing  out  of  her  relation  thereto.  The 
Home  and  Foreign  Missions  of  the  church,  the 
I Soldiers’  Aid  Society  and  Sanitary  Commission 
I during  the  war,  and  Freedman’s  Aid,  Woman’s 


8 


Blackman. 


122 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


Christian  Temperance  Union,  have  all  enlisted 
her  sympathies  and  taken  more  or  less  of  her 
time  as  secretary.  More  I’ecently  she  has  acted 
as  superintendent  of  the  work  among  the  prison- 
ers in  the  Montrose  jail.  She  has  been  across 
the  continent  twice  and  to  Europe  once,  but  the 
principal  theatre  of  her  labors  has  been  at  home, 
in  Montrose,  and  throughout  Susquehanna 
County.  This  brief  outline  but  feebly  indicates 
the  manner  of  her  education  or  the  intense  ac- 
tivity of  her  life.  Being  naturally  susceptible 


she  can  have  the  consolation  of  knowing  that 
her  life  has  not  been  unfruitful  of  good  results 
at  home;  that  it  has  been  as  usefully  spent  at 
Montrose,  as  it  could  have  been  any  where. 

Rev.  Elisha  Mulford,  I^L.  D. — While 
most  men  of  letters  who  exert  a great  influence 
in  their  day  and  generation,  and  attain  a national 
or  even  a world-wide  reputation,  are  soon  for- 
gotten, or  live  here  only  in  name  when  they 
pass  away,  it  is  but  rarely  true  that  the  really 
great  men  in  the  world’s  history  attain  any  very 


and  conscientious,  she  drank  freely  at  the  foun- 
tain of  knowledge  and  truth  as  presented  to  her 
understanding  by  her  teachers,  pastors  and  books. 
Being  ambitious  and  persevering,  she  has  ac- 
quired and  imparted  much  information,  even  to 
the  second  generation  as  a teacher,  and  has 
watched  the  development  of  her  pupils  with 
that  keen  interest  which  a true  teacher  always 
feels  in  her  pupils.  Miss  Blackman’s  hearing 
began  to  fail  when  she  was  teaching  at  Towan- 
da.  If  it  had  not  been  for  this  misfortune, 
she  would  have  gone  abroad  as  a missionary ; but 


marked  distinction  while  yet  living.  The  former 
cultivate  present  and  transient  interests,  and  are 
content  with  things  as  they  are,  if  only  they 
may  secure  the  popular  recognition,  and  attain 
thereby  the  temporal  and  often  fictitious  ap- 
plauses and  honors  of  the  world ; but  the  latter,  in 
natural  gifts  and  sympathies  ahead  of  their  age, 
and  in  love  of  truth  for  its  own  sake,  are  only 
satisfied  in  progressive  and  enduring  work,  and 
aspire  to  become  the  pioneers  and  prophets  of  a 
new  dispensation.  The  subject  of  this  brief 
sketch,  although  fairly  successful  in  a worldly 


AUTHORS. 


123 


sense,  is  not  an  exception  to  this  general  rule. 
Well-known  and  appreciated  by  the  widely- 
scattered  few  who  sympathized  wdth  his  ideas, 
he  was,  previous  to  his  death,  but  little  known. 
As  the  poet  Whittier  has  since  written  of  him : 

“Unnoted  as  the  setting  of  a star 

He  passed ; and  sect  and  party  scarcely  knew 
When  from  their  midst  a sage  and  seer  withdrew 
To  fitter  audience,  where  the  great  dead  are 
In  God’s  republic  of  the  heart  and  mind, 

Leaving  no  purer,  nobler  soul  behind.” 

And  the.se  whisperings  are  becoming  day  by 
day  more  frequent  and  distinct,  and  we  believe 
will  ultimately  grow  into  the  voices  of  a vast 
multitude  in  the  ages  to  come,  who  shall  have 
come  to  regard  him  as  the  “sage  and  seer” 
of  this  generation. 

Dr.  Mulford  was  born  in  Montrose,  Pa.,  No- 
vember 19,  1833.  His  father  was  Sylvanus  S. 
Mulford,  a prominent  and  successful  merchant, 
of  pure  English  extraction.  His  family  form- 
ed one  of  a social  group  of  friends  and  relatives 
distinguished  not  only  for  their  refined  and 
intellectual  character,  but  also  for  their  practi- 
cal and  business  abilities.  He  was  endowed 
with  a rare  combination  of  natural  gifts,  both 
physical  and  mental.  He  possessed  a remark- 
able facility  and  beauty  of  expression,  an  im- 
passioned temperament,  and  a lofty  style  which, 
without  affectatiou  or  haughtiness,  carried  with 
it  the  impression  of  greatness.  Joined  with 
these,  he  possessed  a philosophic  cast  of  mind — 
all  of  which  gifts  had  been  thoroughly  cul- 
tured by  the  best  discipline  that  could  be  se- 
cured in  our  schools,  by  travel,  and  by  social 
intercourse  with  the  best  cultured  minds  at 
home  and  abroad. 

Rev.  Theodore  T.  Munger,  D.D.,  in  a brief 
review  of  his  life  and  works  in  The  Independent, 
also  says : 

“ Dr.  Mulford,  previous  to  his  death,  was  generally 
known  only  as  the  author  of  his  books.  His  name, 
bare  of  all  titles  on  the  title-page  of  ‘The  Nation,’ 
simply  announced  him  as  a writer.  This  work  drew 
from  Yale  College  an  LL.D.;  and  he  was  thenceforth 
known  as  Dr.  Mulford;  but  still  he  remained  barely 
more  than  a name  in  the  public  mind.  ‘The  Repub- 
lic of  God,’  published  four  years  later,  had  run  the 
gauntlet  of  three  commencement  seasons  without 
attracting  to  its  author  the  degree  of  D.D. ; and  so 
the  anomaly  becomes  an  unalterable  fact  that  the 


author  of  an  oilginal,  able  and  learned  work  on 
theology  secured  no  formal  recognition  in  his  day, 
where  it  might  most  be  expected.” 

With  this  imj)ressiou,  that  so  far  as  regarded 
the  general  public,  his  great  contrii^utions  to 
the  religious  and  political  advancement  of  the 
race  were  but  little  recognized,  he  died  ; and  we 
can  hardly  conceiv^e  of  any  more  bitter  experi- 
ence than  that  one  who,  in  love  of  truth,  had  de- 
voted his  life  to  its  development  in  the  con- 
sciousne.ss  of  men,  should,  in  his  last  moments, 
believe  the  popular  mind  wholly  indifferent 
thereto.  But  no  sooner  had  he  gone  than  there 
aro.se  whisperings  that  a really  great  man  had 
lived  and  died  in  our  midst  unrecognized,  and 
had  left  behind  him  imperishable  works.  He 
graduated  at  Yale  College  in  the  class  of  1855; 
took  an  independent  course  of  study  for  one 
year;  studied  theology  at  Andover,  graduating 
in  1859;  traveled  and  studied  in  Europe  two 
years,  thoroughly  acquainting  himself  with  the 
progress  of  English  and  German  thought  and 
research  ; took  orders  in  the  Protestant  Epis- 
copal Church  in  1862,  and  subsequently  be- 
came rectoi'  of  a parish  in  Orange,  N.  J. 

Though  successful  in  his  chosen  profession, 
the  management  of  his  own  and  his  wife’s  es- 
tates, requiring  his  presence  and  personal  atten- 
tion, constrained  him  to  resign  his  rectorship 
and  retire  to  the  seclusion  of  one  of  his  farms, 
where  he  spent  nearly  twenty  years  of  the 
subsequent  period  of  his  life.  He  was  not  nat- 
urally, as  some  have  supposed,  a recluse  — one 
who  enjoyed  seclusion  for  its  own  sake — but 
sought  retirement  only  for  the  quiet  essential 
to  his  great  literary  work.  On  the  contrary, 
he  emerged  from  his  obscurity  at  every  oppor- 
tunity presented  to  visit  his  many  personal 
friends,  and  to  acquaint  himself  with  the  affairs 
of  the  world.  He  was  deeply  in  sympathy 
with  humanity,  and  alive  to  all  its  interests. 
As  Prof.  Allen  said  of  him  in  The  Chridian 
Union, — 

“He  felt  an  interest  in  all  that  came  under  his 
gaze,  not  merely  high  things,  but  things  of  small  re- 
pute. The  incidents  of  common  life  had  a charm  for 
him.  In  the  language  oi'  Wordsworth,  he  was  wont 
‘Along  life’s  common  way 
With  sympathetic  heart  to  stray, 

And  with  a soul  of  power.’  ” 


124 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


He  was  not  a prolific  writer,  but  what  he 
wrote  he  elaborated  with  the  greatest  patience 
and  care.  His  first  book,  “ The  Nation,”  pub- 
lished in  Boston,  1870,  had  been  the  subject  of 
his  studies  and  reflections  for  many  years.  He 
was  at  least  five  years  in  producing  the  first 
manuscript  after  having  set  himself  to  the  task, 
and  subsequently  re-wrote  it  again  and  again. 
Indeed,  so  great  was  his  effort  to  make  the 
book  an  accurate  aud  complete  exposition 
of  its  subject,  he  devoted  to  the  correction  of 
the  proof-sheets  as  much  time  as  would  ordi- 
narily be  required  for  a complete  revision. 
When  finally  published,  it  arrested  the  atten- 
tion of  some  of  the  greatest  scholars  and 
thinkers,  not  only  in  this  country,  but  also  in 
Europe.  It  is  said  that  Senator  Sumner,  casu- 
ally taking  up  the  large  volume  in  a book-store, 
became  at  once  so  deeply  interested  that  he 
stood  for  hours  as  one  transfixed  while  perusing 
its  contents.  He  afterwards  declared  it  to  be 
“ an  ideally  perfect  work,”  and  wrote,  sending 
his  personal  congratulations  to  the  author  : 

“I  have  read  it  from  first  to  last  with  constant  in- 
terest and  sympathy.  It  is  a most  important  contri- 
bution to  our  political  literature,  and  cannot  fail  to 
strengthen  and  elevate  our  national  life.” 

From  England  also  came  personal  congratu- 
lations, and  notably  from  F.  D.  Maurice,  one 
of  the  most  distinguished  of  British  theological 
writers,  and  rightly  deemed  the  great  pioneer 
in  the  modern  development  of  Christian 
thought. 

From  many  distinguished  men  in  this  coun- 
try also  came  letters  and  reviews  highly  appre- 
ciative of  the  work. 

His  design  and  effort  in  this  great  work  are 
to  show  that  “ Man  is  by  nature  a political  be- 
ing;” that  the  nation  has  existence  in  the  pur- 
pose of  God,  and  is  designed  to  be  a chief 
medium  in  the  moral  development  of  the  race. 
To  use  his  own  language:  “The  nation  is  the 
goal  of  history  in  the  fulfilment  of  the  highest 
political  ideal.”  It  is  towards  this  goal  the 
“ nations  move  in  the  fulfilment  of  the  life  of 
humanity.”  It  is  “ to  work  as  one  whose 
achievement  passes  beyond  time,  whose  glory 
and  honor  are  borne  into  the  eternal  City.” 

His  second  great  work  appeared  in  1881, 


eleven  years  later,  and  is  entitled  “ The  Repub- 
lic of  God  : Au  Institute  in  Theology.”  Both 
works  might  well  have  received  the  same  title ; 
for,  though  one  is  political  and  the  other  theo- 
logical— the  one  treating  of  the  nation,  the 
other  of  the  church — yet  each,  he  believed  and 
taught,  has  a similar  design  in  the  Divine  mind. 
Both,  svhen  each  shall  have  attained  the  goal  of 
its  earthly  history,  will  merge  in  the  kingdom 
of  God,  which  is,  in  the  true  and  ideal  sense,  a 
republic,  self-governing,  and  whose  only  law  is 
love. 

“ The  Republic  of  God,”  although  it  has  ap- 
parently attracted  less  attention  than  “ The 
Nation,”  is,  if  possible,  his  greater  work.  It  is, 
in  reality,  a prophecy  of  a glory  to  come — of 
the  spiritual  advent  of  the  Christ  in  the  minds 
and  hearts  of  men. 

In  1880  he  was  appointed  to  the  position  of 
lecturer  in  the  Episcopal  Theological  School  at 
Cambridge,  Massachusetts,  where  he  soon  drew 
around  him  a class  of  enthusiastic  students  and 
disciples.  Prof.  Allen  thus  writes  of  his  work 
there  : 

“His  lectures,  though  few  in  number,  were 
carefully  elaborated,  embodying  the  reflections 
of  his  mature  life,  with  many  deep  thoughts, 
careful  distinctions  and  many  exquisite  expres- 
sions. He  dwelt  chiefly  upon  the  living  God 
as  the  central  principle  of  theology.  In  him 
theology  rested,  not  in  attributes  or  covenants 
or  mechanical  conceptions  of  revelation,  not  in 
doctrines  either  of  the  incarnation  or  atone- 
ment.” 

He  died  at  his  residence  in  Cambridge  De- 
cember 9,  1885,  and  is  buried  in  the  old  burial- 
ground  at  Concord,  beside  Emerson  aud  many 
other  distinguished  men  or  letters.  He  left  a 
wife — nee  Rachel  Carmalt,  a native  also  of  this 
county  and  of  excellent  family — and  four  chil- 
dren. 

Rev.  Ed  wake  A.  Waeeiner  was  born  in 
Agawam,  Mass.,  and  graduated  at  Union  Col- 
lege in  1855.  He  taught  school  twelve  years, 
and  studied  theology  under  Dr.  Mombert  at 
Lancaster,  Pa.,  while  he  was  principal  of  the 
Yates  Institute.  In  1866,  while  yet  in  deacon’s 
orders,  he  was  called  to  minister  at  Saint  Paul’s 
Church  at  Montrose,  where  he  still  remains.  In 


AUTHORS. 


125 


1875  he  published  a thological  novel  entitled 
“ Victor  La  Tourette,”  advocating  broad  church 
views,  and  which  had  a large  influence  and  cir- 
culation ; flve  years  later  a poem  in  seven  cantos 
entitled  “ Kear,”  and  has  now  in  press  a theologi- 
cal work  entitled  '‘I  am  that  I am;  or,  The  Philo- 
sophic Basis  of  the  Christian  Faith.”  Mr.  War- 
riner’s  poem,  “Kear,”  is  based  on  Indian  legends 
and  religious  notions.  The  heroine  is  Eni.skiu, 
Tamaueud’s  daughter,  who  is  in  love  with  Ne- 
pauet,  an  Indian  of  her  own  tribe,  the  Lenni 
Lenape  ; but  she  finally  consents  to  become  the 
bride  of  an  Oneida  chieftain  in  order  to  save 
her  people  from  the  vengeance  of  the  Six  Na- 
tions ; but,  when  the  bride  is  sought,  it  is  found 
that  she  has  gone  to  the  spirit  land.  The  scene 
of  the  poem  is  laid  at  Montrose  and  along  the 
Susquehanna.  Tamanend,  or  St.  Tammany, 
was  a famous  chief  of  the  Lenni  Lenape  or  Del- 
awares, and  when  the  whites  first  knew  Susque- 
hanna County  the  Six  Nations  had  gained  the 
victory  over  the  Delawares,  and  Susquehanna 
County,  lying  between  the  tribes,  may  have  been 
“ dai’k  and  bloody  ground.” 

Proud  Susquehanna  rolls  his  waters  on, 

Scarce  mindful  of  the  changes  time  has  brought ; 
The  Delaware  and  Iroquois  have  gone, 

And  every  work  by  nature’s  children  wrought ; 

Yet  the  same  spirit  which  her  children  caught 

From  cloud  and  sunshine,  wood  and  mountain 
stream. 

And  which  the  laws  of  life  and  virtue  taught. 

Still  lingers  on  his  shores,  and  still  the  theme 
Inspires  of  ancient  legend  and  of  poet’s  dream. 

Hidden  remote  in  Pennsylvania’s  hills. 

Thy  vine-clad  cottages,  0 fair  Montrose ! 

Thy  tields  of  green  watered  by  mountain  rills. 

And  the  pure  sparkle  of  thy  winter’s  snows 
No  romance  of  forgotten  years  disclose  ; 

Yet  here  strange  legends  of  the  past  abound. 

Here  hostile  ashes  side  by  side  repose. 

For  thine  was  once  the  '*  Dark  and  Bloody  Ground,” 
Where  heroes  strove  for  fame  and  graves  of  glory 
found. 

DESCRIPTION  OF  ENISKIN. 

A lonely  lake,  once  called  the  Whispering  Wave, 

At  twilight  hour  mirrored  a maiden  face 
Of  wondrous  beauty,  pure  as  sculptors  grave 
On  spotless  stone,  yet  dark  as  limners  trace 
On  chancel  windows  ; and  a form  whose  grace 
Was  like  the  supple  willow’s  bending  o’er 
Ewayea’s  dreamy  tide — maiden  of  royal  race. 


Named,  as  a crystal  pebble  on  the  shore. 

Eniskin — fairest  spirit  of  the  days  of  yore. 

Her  dress  was  green  and  russet.  Nature’s  prints 
Of  spring  and  autumn,  gathered  at  her  waist 
By  woven  belt  of  red  and  orange  splints  ; 

White  moccasins  her  slender  feet  encased. 

Beaded  and  worked  in  Nature’s  faultless  taste 
Of  blending  figures.  Olive  leggings  bound 
Her  rounded  limbs,  vermillion  beads  embraced 
Her  neck,  bright-tinted  as  her  lips  ; around 
Her  form  a scarlet  mantle  gracefully  was  wound. 

Of  noble  birth — daughter  of  Tamanend — 

Alike  for  courage,  strength  and  counsel  famed  ; 

The  most  renowned  of  the  illustrious  dead 
In  Indian  legend  and  tradition  named ; 

Whose  mighty  deeds  heroic  souls  inflamed. 

And  o’er  his  tribe  a matchless  lustre  threw. 

That  long  the  brave  inspired,  the  faltering  shamed — 
No  glory  but  her  sire's  she  deemed  as  true. 

And  in  its  inspiration,  jjride  and  spirit  grew. 

Beneath  a spreading  elm,  whose  branches  swept 
The  ground,  her  infancy  was  nursed.  Here  hung, 
In  the  cool  summer  shadows,  while  she  slept. 

Her  tiny  hammock,  by  the  breezes  swung 
And  branches  tossed;  nursed  as  the  oriole’s  young. 
That  built  its  netted  hammock  o’er  her  own. 

And  ’mid  the  leaves  from  morn  till  evening  sung, 
Thus  had  her  life  begun,  and  thus  had  grown. 

And  naught  but  Nature’s  freedom,  music,  gladness 
known. 

SAD  REJECTION  OF  HER  LOVER. 
“Beware,  O Nepanet!  ” Eniskin  quick 
Replied  with  flashing  eyes  and  form  erect 
“How  thou  dost  to  thy  chieftain's  daughter  speak 
With  mocking  words.  How  couldst  thou  expect — 
No  glory  having  won — I should  reject 
Thy  love?  ’Twere  needless  thou  shouldst  bid  adieu 
To  me.” — Then  suddenly  her  words  were  checked 
With  choking  sobs,  and  in  her  light  canoe. 

As  swift  as  swallow  o’er  the  lake  she  flew. 

Till  hid  within  the  shadows  of  the  mountains. 
Wooded  and  dark  beyond.  Here  resting  from 
Her  flight,  o’erwhelmed  with  shame  and  grief,  the 
fountains 

Of  bitterness  o'erflowed  in  tears.  No  room 
For  reconciliation  now  ; yet  whom 
But  Nepanet  can  she  e’er  love?  and  he 

Can  ne’er  forgive  her  bitter  words,  nor  come 
Again  as  oft  in  days  gone  by,  when  she. 

While  yet  afar,  would  run  to  meet  him  joyfully. 

Dr.  E.  L.  Bi.akesi.ke  is  not  only  a pky- 
sician  and  lawyer,  but  he  is  also  soinethino;  of  a 
poet.  He  delivered  the  centennial  poem  July 


126 


HISTOIIY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


4,  1876,  from  which  the  following  extracts  are 
taken : 

THE  BIRTH  OF  COLUMBIA. 

Fair  land,  in  beauty  wild  and  green, 

Ere  man  thy  native  smile  had  seen, 

How  long  since  Ocean  gave  thee  birth 
And  made  thee  Hemisphere  of  earth  ? 

Or  since  the  sea  surge  beat  thy  shore, 

And  rivers  rocky  channels  wore. 

Or  red  man  started  bison’s  tread 
O’er  native  meads,  unbounded  spread? 

Or  why  sprang  up  from  Ocean’s  deep, 

From  night  of  long  and  billowy  sleep. 

The  land  with  forests  green  and  wild. 

To  rock  the  cradle  of  the  child  ? 

Heaven’s  descending  favorite  born. 

Liberty’s  babe  of  coming  morn, 

AVhere  mountain  breeze  shall  fan  her  face 
And  teach  her  freedom’s  queenly  grace. 

And  hardship’s  toil  make  strong  the  arm 
To  strike,  when  foe  shall  threaten  harm  ; 
Christening  her  of  Ocean  birth, 

Columbia,  fairest  of  the  earth  ! 

BATTLE  OF  BUNKER  HILL. 

AVhen  noonday  sun  with  streaming  gold, 
A-down  the  blue  his  chariot  rolled, 

Where  sleeps  the  bay,  in  waters  still 
Beneath  the  brow  of  Bunker  Hill ; 

The  burnished  armor  of  the  foe. 

Its  glittering  sheen  and  silver  glow. 

Shall  shimmer  in  the  warm  blood’s  flow 
Ere  day  declining  shadows  bring 
Of  night,  on  swift  and  sable  wing. 

The  sweejjing  scythe  the  day  before 
Cut  close  the  sward  where  human  gore 
Ran  redder  streams  in  redder  sea 
Than  ever  flowed  Thermopylte. 

The  ill-arrayed,  determined  band. 

Upon  the  brow  now  boldly  stand. 

And  sternly  wait  the  coining  foe 
AVith  serried  lines  in  scarlet  glow. 

The  belching  cannon’s  seething  flame, 

O’er  jarring  earth  deep  grumbling  came. 

The  sleety  fire  far-flashing,  rung 
Through  rolling  clouds,  its  rattling  tongue  ; 
AVith  banners  flaunting  in  their  pride. 

Their  lines  moved  up  the  sloping  side. 

Our  fathers  stood  in  silence  still, 

Content  to  wait  their  leader’s  will. 

Until  they  saw  the  flashing  eye 

And  heard  brave  Prescott  sound  the  cry. 

Then,  like  volcano’s  molten  tide, 

Hot,  sweeping  down  the  bursting  side. 

The  fiery  blast,  with  bending  gale. 

Sent  down  her  drifts  of  leaden  hail ! 

While  broken  lines  now  backward  reel. 
Beneath  the  blows  of  dripping  steel ; 


Again  they  come,  again  recoil, 

O’er  slippery  steps  of  reddest  soil. 

At  dangerous  post,  where  country  calls, 

Brave  AYarren  stands,  but  stands  and  falls ! 
AVhen  foes’  thinned  ranks  fain  take  the  field, 
AYith  thrice  in  numbers  fully  steeled. 

And  leave  upon  contested  plain, 

The  whitening  bones  of  hundred  slain. 

They’re  welcome  to  their  Cadmean  gain. 

THE  RED,  AVHITE  AND  BLUE. 

Pale  Liberty  in  vestal  robe 
Of  starry  light,  in  azure  wove. 

Her  flowing  hair  unbound  and  free 
As  waves  that  roll  upon  the  sea ; 

And  fire  celestial  in  her  eye, 

Which  saddened  when  the  wafted  sigh 
Fell  on  her  ear,  and  looking  far 
Away  where  rolled  the  burning  star. 

Her  sister  called  and  victory  came 
With  flashing  eyes  on  wings  of  flame. 

Her  thunderbolts  were  blazing  white. 

Her  robes  were  flecked  in  boreal  light. 
Descending  now  but  hovering  o’er 
The  struggling  field  of  human  gore. 

Now  hears  her  sister’s  pleading  voice. 

But  long  withholds  bestowing  choice. 

No  wreath  to  man  she  ever  gave. 

Or  gift,  except  the  nobly  brave  ! 

She  counts  the  scars  and  glory  won. 

And  touched  the  sword  of  Washington  ! 

Then  rising  in  her  reddest  fold 
Around  her  sisters  blue  it  rolled, 

AYhile  Seraphs  their  white  streamers  flew. 

And  made  our  own  red,  white  and  blue  ; 
When  Britons  saw  that  Banner  wave 
On  Yorktown  plains,  above  the  brave, 

AVith  lights  that  bore  a magic  spell. 

Their  boasted  cross  and  lion  fell. 

John  Wesley  Cargill  was  born  in  Jack- 
son  May  25,  1831.  He  obtained  his  education 
at  the  common  schools  and  attended  the  Wyo- 
ming Seminary  and  Harford  Academy  one 
term  each.  He  taught  school  nine  winters. 
His  first  term  was  taught  in  a log  school-house 
in  Jackson.  He  is  a farmer  and  has  been 
something  of  a politician.  He  is  not  as  stable 
in  politics  or  religion  as  some  men.  He  has 
been  an  Anti-Slavery  man,  Republican,  Green- 
backer,  Democrat  and,  lastly,  a Prohibitionist. 
He  evidently  has  no  traditional  love  for  party 
names  and  views  things  from  his  own  stand- 
point. He  was  elected  county  auditor  in  1853, 
and  State  Representative  in  1879.  It  was  dur- 
ing his  term  that  Kemble  and  others  tried  to 


AUTHORS. 


127 


bribe  the  Legislature  to  indemnify  the  Penn- 
sylvania Railroad  for  losses  sustained  in  the 
Pittsburgh  riot.  Mr,  Cargill  was  approached 
on  the  subject  and  money  was  offered  him.  He 
led  the  bribers  on,  and  finally  exposed  the  whole 
plot,  and  under  lead  of  Charles  S.  Wolfe  the 
bribers  were  convicted,  and  some  four  million 
dollars  was  saved  to  the  State  of  Pennsylvania. 
But  Mr.  Cargill’s  best  gift  is  in  the  poetic  line. 
He  commenced  to  write  some  pieces  while 
young,  and  has  written  much  more  within  the 
last  two  years, — in  all  some  forty  short  poems, 
among  them  “ The  Pirate  Ship,”  “ Susquehanna 
County,”  “ Spirit  Home  of  the  Indians,”  “Sink- 
ing of  the  Island  of  Atlantis,”  “Border  of 
Hades,”  “ Land  of  Despair,”  “ Charge  of  the 
Louisiana  Tigers  at  Gettysburg,”  etc.  He  has 
printed  but  two  pieces,  but  commits  his  verses 
to  memory,  and  often  repeats  them  to  his  friends. 
He  is  one  of  the  most  natural  poets  that  Susque- 
hanna County  has  ever  produced. 

ISLAND  OF  DEADLAND. 

In  a worn-out  planet. 

There  is  an  island  in  a wide  distant  ocean 

Where  silence  and  gloom  and  despair  ever  reign  ; 
No  waves  on  that  deep  inky  sea  are  in  motion, 

A shadow  death  sends  o’er  the  land  and  the  main. 

No  soft  fragrant  breeze  o’er  this  island  is  blowing, 

No  clouds  ever  fly  through  the  dead,  silent  air. 

The  shore  dry  and  barren — no  green  grass  is  growing, 
No  flowers  ever  bloom  in  this  land  of  despair. 

We  see  no  bright  streamlets,  no  clear,  sparkling  foun- 
tains. 

No  trees  in  this  desolate  land  are  in  sight; 

The  sun,  veiled  in  mourning,  looks  on  the  black 
mountains. 

In  sorrow  ’tis  shining ; how  dim  is  its  light ! 

The  ocean,  the  wide,  stagnant  ocean,  is  lying 
In  sullen  despair  in  its  deep  and  wide  bed ; 

No  birds  from  the  shore  o’er  this  dark  sea  are  flying; 
The  black  inky  waters  are  silent  and  dead. 

No  forms  that  have  life  are  before  us  appearing ; 

From  demons  unseen  we  hear  not  a breath  ; 

No  sound  from  the  mountain  or  plain  are  we  hearing. 
To  break  for  one  moment  the  stillness  of  death. 

Oh  ! Let  the  wild  storm  break  the  silence  here  reign- 
ing, 

Let  demon-tossed  billows  dash  on  this  dark  shore. 


No  answer  comes  back  to  our  prayer  or  complaining; 
The  land  and  the  sea  are  as  dead  as  before. 

Miss  Sakah  Jones,  daughter  of  Austin 
Jones,  was  boru  at  Harford  February  18, 
1828,  and  was  educated  in  the  common  sclioolsj 
Harford  Academy  and  Ontario  Female  Semi- 
nary, where  she  graduated  in  1852.  She 
taught  fourteen  years  in  that  school,  and  since 
her  return  to  Harford  has  been  teaching  nearly 
every  year.  She  has  been  a teacher  for  thirty- 
five  years,  and  has  written  poetry  as  occasion 
has  seemed  to  require  for  anniversaries  or  for 
some  particular  purpose.  She  wrote  a poem 
for  the  Adam  Miller  semi-centennial,  entitled 
“An  Echo  of  Fifty  Years,”  which  was  pub- 
lished with  the  addresses  on  that  occasion.  We 
cpiote  the  following,  entitled 

LILACS  FOR  PAPA. 

“Oh!  lilacs  for  Papa,”  the  children  cried, 

And  the  taller  boy  on  tiptoe  tried 
To  pull  the  clustering  branches  down 
Within  the  reach  of  the  small  hands  brown 
That  broke  the  blossoms  with  eager  glee 
From  the  very  heart  of  the  laden  tree; 

All  shouting  in  chorus,  with  cheeks  aglow, 

As  they  swung  their  treasures  to  and  fro, 

“Sweet  lilacs  for  Papa,  he  loves  them  so.” 

They  lay  on  his  table,  his  desk,  his  chair. 

And  filled  the  house  wdtli  their  fragrance  rare. 

Till  the  question  asked  in  each  chosen  spot 
Was  not  where  are  they,  but  where  are  they  not? 

As  he  fondly  smiled  in  each  rosy  face, 

His  own  grew  soft  with  a tender  grace  ; 

All  care  and  grief  through  those  sunny  hours 
Seemed  banished  far  from  his  world  of  flowers. 

While  he  heard  glad  voices  with  rippling  flow 
Sing  “ Lilacs  for  Papa,  he  loves  them  so.” 

Years  came  and  went  and  the  “ children  three  ” 

Still  gathered  flowers  from  the  lilac  tree. 

They  grew  in  stature  and  mind  and  heart. 

And  of  Papa’s  life  were  the  richest  part. 

They  did  not  see  that  his  cheeks  grew  pale. 

That  his  quick.  Arm  footsteps  began  to  fail  ; 

They  only  knew  that  his  loving  voice 

Made  their  pulses  thrill  and  their  hearts  rejoice; 

So  they  kept  on  singing,  as  long  ago. 

“Sweet  lilacs  for  Papa,  he  loves  them  so.” 

O thought  of  anguish  I there  came  a day 
When  the  children  stood  in  the  smiliTig  i\Iay, 

And  listened  under  the  lilac  tree 
To  the  song  of  bird  and  the  hum  of  bee. 


128 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


And  saw  the  shadowy  branches  wave 

While  they  gathered  blossoms  for  Papa’s  grave ; 

And  whispered  sadly  in  accents  low 
“Sweet  lilacs  as  ever,  he  loved  them  so.” 

One  beautiful  May  as  the  years  sped  on, 

The  sweet  flowers  bloomed,  but  the  boys  were  gone. 
And  a lovely  maiden  stood  alone 
By  a mossy  mound  with  lilacs  strown. 

“ I have  not  forgotten,”  she  softly  sighed, 

“ When  ‘ Lilacs  for  Papa  ’ we  gaily  cried. 

And  so  to-day  from  the  dear  old  tree 
I have  gathered  blossoms  enough  for  three. 

For  he  would  miss  them,  I almost  know, 

Should  I fail  to  bring  them,  he  loved  them  so.” 

Soon  one  by  one  will  the  “ children  three  ” 

Go  forth  from  the  shade  of  the  household  tree ; 

Two  noble  men  and  a woman  sweet 
The  joys  and  sorrows  of  life  to  meet. 

Then  lilac  buds  as  they  bloom  and  fade 
Will  never  on  Papa’s  grave  be  laid  ; 

But  memory’s  choicest  flowers  will  rest 
In  tender  silence  above  his  breast; 

And  the  children  still,  as  they  older  grow. 

While  watching  the  lilacs  come  and  go. 

Will  love  them  because  he  loved  them  so. 

Wallace  L.  Thacker,  son  of  Russell  B. 
Thacher,  was  born  in  Harford,  March  28, 1841. 
He  received  his  education  in  the  common 
schools,  and  was  one  term  in  Harford  Academy, 
but  his  principal  education  has  been  by  study  at 
home.  He  has  taught  nineteen  terms  of  school, 
covering  a period  of  thirty  years.  He  has 
been  school  director,  and  has  often  reported  the 
proceedings  of  the  County  Institutes  for  the 
local  press.  He  read  an  article  on  the  tariff  at 
an  institute,  which  was  published.  In  1879  he 
published  a work  on  “ Civil  Government,” 
adapted  to  use  in  the  common  schools.  It  is 
an  excellent  little  work,  the  result  of  four  years 
of  labor  and  thought  on  the  part  of  the  author. 
It  is  used  in  the  schools  of  Susquehanna  County 
to  a considerable  extent,  and  is  deserving  of  a 
wider  recognition  than  it  has  yet  received.  The 
degree  of  A.M.  was  recently  conferred  upon 
him  by  Lafayette  College. 

Wm.  a.  Ceossmak,  in  1867,  prepared  a work 
to  facilitate  county  busine.ss,  entitled  “ Asse.ssors’ 
Form  Guide,”  and  its  worth  is  securing  its 
use  in  several  counties  besides  our  own. 

Honorable  S.  B.  Chase  of  Great  Bend,  has 
issued  several  works,  among  which  are  the  fol- 


lowing : “ Digest  and  Treatise  on  Parliamentary 
Law  ” (now  in  its  ninth  edition)  ; “ Good  of  the 
Order  ; ” “ Manual  of  Good  Templars  ; ” His- 
tory of  Good  Templars,”  for  Mill’s  Temperance 
Manual. 

Mrs.  S.  B.  Chase,  in  1870,  issued  “Derry’s 
Lake,”  a good  temperance  story. 

Mrs.  Laura  Trowbridge,  of  Great  Bend,  is 
the  author  of  a cook-book  of  “ more  than  thir- 
teen hundred  sensible  receipts,”  from  a practical 
cook. 

Henry  McKinney,  son  of  John  McKin- 
ney, was  born  at  Binghamton  February  12, 
1818.  His  father  moved  to  Great  Bend  when 
he  was  young,  and  became  the  leading  mer- 
chant in  what  is  now  Hallstead  for  about 
fifteen  years.  Henry  was  educated  at  Great 
Bend,  Montrose  and  Oxford  Academy,  New 
York,  and  assisted  his  father  in  his  saw-mill 
and  store.  After  several  store  ventures  in 
Bradford  County,  in  which  he  lost  money,  he 
came  back  to  Great  Bend  and  clerked  for  his 
father,  and  finally  succeeded  him  in  the  busi- 
ness, which  he  closed  out  in  1866,  when  his 
wife  died.  In  1870  he  began  trade  at  Plym- 
outh, Luzerne  County,  and  in  the  unequal 
contest  with  company  stores,  his  attention  was 
directed  to  the  unfairness  of  the  monopoly 
system,  which  led  to  the  production  of  a pam- 
phlet on  “ Capital  and  Labor.”  The  evils  of  in- 
temperance led  to  the  production  of  an  exhaus- 
tive Bible  es.«ay,  entitled  “No  License  for 
Alcoholic  Drinks  in  the  Bible.”  His  last  pro- 
duction is  a work  of  two  hundred  and  forty 
pages,  entitled  “ Romanism,”  which  was  pub- 
lished in  1886. 

Mary  Harriet  Overfield,  the  eldest  of 
eighteen  children,  was  born  March  26,  1837, 
in  Auburn  township,  Susquehanna  County, 
Pa.  Her  parents  were  William  Overfield  and 
Anna  Bunnell,  who  settled  on  Shannon  Hill, 
Auburn  township,  in  1836.  She  was  educated 
at  the  district  schools,  besides  attending  to  the 
duties  devolving  upon  an  eldest  daughter  in  a large 
family,  with  a beloved  mother  blind  four  years  who 
died  when  the  daughter  was  seventeen,  bringing 
added  responsibility.  The  following  winter  a 
broken  term  of  school  was  attended  at  North 
Flat,  taught  by  Henry  W.  Smith,  A.M.  A 


AUTHOKS. 


129 


school  paper,  “ The  Good  Templar,”  was  issued 
under  the  noni  de  plume  of  “ Topsy.”  At 
eighteen  she  commenced  school  at  Wyoming 
Sendnary,  and  took  a scientific  course,  accom- 
panied by  French,  German  and  drawing.  Here 
she  edited  a school  newspaper,  taught  school, 
and  graduated  in  the  class  of  ’59.  She  taught  at 
Moscow,  Meshoppen  and  Wyoming  Seminary. 
In  1860  she  was  married  to  John  M.  France; 
in  1873  was  elected  lecturer  in  Auburn  Grange, 
No.  101,  P.  of  H.  From  that  time  correspond- 
ence, essays,  obituaries  and  poems  have  accumu- 
lated, and  have  been  published  in  the  3Iontrose 
Democrat,  Indej)endent  Republican,  New  3Iilford 
Advertiser,  Farmer's  Friend  of  the  Patrons  of 
Husbandry  and  other  papers.  In  1853  Lieuten- 
ant D.  C.  Titraan  Post,  G.  A.  R.,  made  M.  H. 
Vanscotan  historian  of  Company  H,  P.  A^.  R. 
C.,  Thirty-third  Regiment  in  line,  and  he  so- 
licited Mrs.  France’s  services,  who,  from  his 
retentive  memory,  compiled  a book  of  one 
hundred  pages,  which  serves  as  a milestone  of 
one  of  the  actual  experiences  of  war.  Mrs. 
France  has  been  devoting  her  energies  of  late 
largely  to  the  advancement  of  the  farmers’  in- 
terest as  lecturer  of  Pomona  Grange  and 
chairman  of  the  committee  on  pi'ogrammes. 

Ja.sper  T.  Jennixgs  was  born  in  New 
Milford,  on  the  farm  on  which  he  now  I'esides, 
February  8,  1846.  His  father  commenced  there 
in  the  forest,  with  no  capital  save  his  axe,  a 
strong  arm  and  a determined  purpose;  conse- 
quently his  son  was  called  upon  to  perform 
manual  labor  on  the  farm  as  soon  as  his  services 
were  of  any  value.  At  the  age  of  nine  he  was 
kept  from  school  summers.  He  attended  the 
■district  schools  winters,  with  one  term  at  New 
Milford  Academy  while  it  was  under  the  man- 
agement of  W.  W.  Watson  ; this  comprised  his 
school  advantages,  but  his  education  has  been 
obtained  principally  at  home.  When  he  was 
fourteen  years  of  age  he  resolved  to  never  use 
tobacco,  liquor  nor  tea  in  any  form,  and  that  he 
would  save  a small  sum  of  money  for  the  .semi- 
annual purcha.se  of  books  ; as  a result,  he  has  a 
library  of  some  four  or  five  hundred  volumes. 
Stormy  days  and  the  midnight  hours  found  him 
poring  over  books  relating  to  history,  geology, 
physiology,  astronomy,  etc.  In  1871  he  entered 
9 


the  school-room  as  a teacher,  and  taught  six 
successive  winters,  and  returned  to  his  farm 
labors  in  the  summer.  He  commenced  writing 
serials  and  descriptive  articles  for  his  own 
amusement.  The  local  press  received  some  of 
his  articles  favorably,  and  he  wrote  an  article 
on  astronomy  for  the  Growing  World,  then 
published  in  Jersey  City,  N.  J.,  which  was 
accepted,  and  a desire  expressed  for  mons.  He 
was  finally  engaged  as  a permanent  contributor, 
and  in  1874  wrote  a series  of  articles  on  “Won- 
ders of  Nature,  Science  and  Art.”  Since  then 
he  has  written  for  the  Young  Folks’  Rural, 
Home  Companion,  Oriental  Casket,  Munyon’s 
Illustrated  World,  Chicago  Popular  Monthly, 
Saturday  Night,  New  Milford  Advertiser  and 
other  publications.  His  last  literary  work  has 
been  the  history  of  New  Milford  borough  and 
township  for  this  work.  He  has  held  the  posi- 
tion of  principal  .statistical  correspondent  from 
Sirsquehanna  County  for  the  Department  of 
Agriculture  since  1881.  Mr.  Jennings  is  a 
hard  student,  wields  a ready  pen  and  has  good 
descriptive  powers. 

^ Captain  H.  F.  Beard.sley  is  a frequent 
contributor  to  the  columns  of  the  local  press, 
and  in  the  field  of  poetry  he  wields  a “ metrical  ” 
pen.  Resides  many  fugitive  pieces  that  have 
appeared  in  print  from  time  to  time,  his  more 
notable  poetical  contributions  are  “ The  A^ision 
of  James  Buchanan,”  published  in  1861,  the 
poem  delivered  at  the  laying  of  the  corner-stone 
of  the  County  Soldiers’  Alonument,  and  the 
Grant  Alemorial  Poem,  read  on  the  occasion  of 
the  memorial  exercises  at  Alontrose,  Pa. ; a 
brief  extract  from  the  latter  is  here  given  : 

■5'-  -a  iS  -X-  * -if  -X- 

To-day,  in  his  coffin,  the  Hero  is  lying. 

There  to  wait  the  last  siunnions — the  last  bugle-call ; 
He  was  victor  in  life — no  less  victor  in  dying. 

For  the  foes  he  once  vanquished  are  bearing  his  pall: 
Friends  who  were  ever  true. 

Army  and  Navy,  too, 

Wearers  of  Gray  and  Blue, 

Bear  him  to  rest. 

’Tis  well  he  should  sleep  near  the  gates  of  that  city. 
Where  wife,  home  and  children  his  pathway  did 
cheer; 


^ See  military  chapter  fur  sketcli. 


130 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


Where  the  hand  of  affection,  when  Death  had  no  pity, 
Stretched  forth  and  upheld  him,  when  Death’s  hand 
was  near. 

But  the  place  matters  not:  in  the  hearts  of  the  nation, 
The  grave  of  our  Hero  will  ever  be  found ; 

And  the  cycles  of  Time,  in  their  endless  duration, 
Shall  mark  on  the  ages  his  deathless  renown. 

Where  the  Hudson’s  dark  w'aters  in  grandeur  and 
glory 

Roll  ceaselessly  on  to  their  home  in  the  sea. 

There  raise  the  proud  arch  that  shall  herald  the  story 
Of  Liberty’s  homage— our  Grant — unto  thee. 
******* 
My  comrades,  ’mid  this  universal  grief 
That  stirs  a Nation’s  heart,  there  comes  to  us 
A dearer  and  more  tender  memory — 

Of  comradeshij).  Our  old  commander’s  dead! 
The  unbidden  tear,  on  veteran’s  cheek. 

Is  no  unmanly  sign.  Bond  fraternal 
That  did  bind  him  to  us  now  is  bi'oken. 

But  if,  as  w'e  believe,  there  is  a bright 
Beyond — a glorious  hereafter — then 
When  hand  grasps  hand. 

That  broken  band 
Re-welded  in  fraternal  love. 

Shall  comrades  greet 
When  comrades  meet — 

On  Heaven’s  camping-ground,  above. 

Besides  those  already  mentioned,  there  are 
many  others  that  occasionally  write  for  the 
newspapers.  Among  them,  W.  B.  Deans,  Jas. 
C.  Bushnell,  E.  A.  Weston  and  many  others 
occasionally  contribute  to  the  local  press. 


CHAPTER  XII. 

MEDICAL  HISTORY. 

Early  Practice — Sketches  of  Physicians — Dentistry. 

Dr.  Caperton,  at  Hopbottom,  in  1787, 
may  have  been  the  first  physician  in  the  county, 
but  he  remained  only  a short  time,  and  Rev. 
Daniel  Buck,  who  came  to  Great  Bend  in  1788 
and  practiced  medicine,  is  thought  by  some  to 
be  entitled  to  the  honor  of  being  the  pioneer 
physician  of  the  county. 

Almost  all  the  early  ])hysicians,  and  a great 
majority  of  all  the  physicians  of  the  county, 
belonged  to  the  ‘‘regular”  practice,  as  distin- 
guished from  the  systems  vliich  have  sprung 


up  in  the  county  during  the  past  half-century. 
Few  of  the  medical  pioneers  had  much  oppor- 
tunity for  acquiring  their  medical  education,, 
and  most  of  them  ^vere  self-made  men,  who,  by 
their  diligent  study  of  nature,  by  their  patience 
and  faithfulness  in  practice,  wrought  a grand 
and  beneficent  work  in  the  generation  in  which 
they  lived.  Most  of  them  were  in  moderate 
circumstances,  commencing  with  a horse,  a few 
books  and  a small  supply  of  medicines  as  the- 
outfit.  For  many  years  the  saddle-horse  and 
capacious  saddle-bags  were  indispensable  for 
practice  among  the  primitive  forests  and  rugged 
hills  of  Susquehanna  County ; but  as  the  wood- 
lands receded  before  the  feller’s  axe,  and  the 


A DOCTOR  OF  YE  OLDEN  TYME. 


roads  improved,  the  two-wheeled  sulky  and 
other  vehicles  with  modern  comforts  and  con- 
veniences came  into  use. 

Pioneer  medical  practice  was  one  of  hard- 
ship, privation  and  toil,  too  often  unappreciated 
and  unrequited.  Few  of  these  worthy  pioneers 
acquired  wealth,  but  many  of  them  acquired 
what  is  better, — a good  name.  With  the  in- 
crease of  population,  physicians  are  located 
much  nearer  each  other,  and  consequently,  as  a 
rule,  have  shorter  rides  to  visit  their  patients, 
'which  they  can  now  do  with  ease  and  comfort, 
in  the  elegant  vehicles,  and  over  the  fine  roads 
of  the  present  day. 

The  botanic  and  eclectic  systems  of  practice 
appeared  in  the  county  about  1840,  and  the  ho- 
meopathic system  about  1860.  At  a meeting  of 
physicians  held  at  West  Harford,  Susquehanna 
County,  August  15, 1872,  an  organization,  called 
the  Susquehanna  Eclectic  Medical  Society,  was' 
formed,  as  an  auxiliary  to  the  State  and  Na- 
tional Societies — President,  E.  N.  Loomis,  of 
Oakley.  This  society  was  short-lived,  and  has 


MEDICAL  HISTOKY. 


131 


never  been  revived.  The  homoeopaths  have 
done  vei’y  little  that  is  apparent  in  the  way  of 
medical  organization.  Except,  therefore,  as  con- 
tained in  the  individual  sketches  of  the  prac- 
titioners of  the  different  systems,  the  history  of 
the  medical  profession  is  largely  embodied  in 
the  history  of  the  Susquehanna  Comity  Medi- 
cal Society. 

Perfection  of  character  cannot  be  claimed  for 
every  member  of  the  medical  profession  of  the 
county.  From  the  nature  of  the  case,  they 
have  been  subjected  to  severe  trials  and  peculiar 
temptations.  Their  anxious,  weary  vigils,  fa- 
tigue, exposure,  irregularity  of  meals  and  the 
restful  repose  of  sleep,  the  awful  responsibility 
where  the  issues  of  life  and  death  rest  upon 
them,  with  faithful  service  sometimes  poorly 
recompensed,  and  sometimes  with  base  ingrati- 
tude, to  say  nothing  of  the  uncharitable  treat- 
ment of  selfish  rivals, — all  tend  to  break  down 
the  physical  system,  depress  and  dishearten  the 
spirit,  until  exhausted  nature  calls  imperatively 
for  some  relief ; so  that,  here  and  there,  one 
and  another  have  fallen  victims  to  the  inebriat- 
ing cup,  to  enable  them  to  tide  over  places  to 
which  their  unaided  powers  have  seemed  une- 
qual. It  is  a sad  thing  to  record,  that  the  lustre 
of  some  of  the  brilliant  stars  in  the  medical 
galaxy  of  the  county  has  been  dimmed  by 
habits  of  intemperance  ; but  it  is  also  very  grat- 
ifying to  be  able  to  say  that  these  cases  have 
been  exceptional,  that  the  great  majority  have 
been  men  of  temperate  habits  and  some  of  them 
earnest  advocates  of  total  abstinence.  So,  too, 
in  regard  to  any  obliquity  of  moral  character, 
the  rule  has  been  on  the  side  of  rectitude. 

The  positions  of  duty  and  trust  to  which,  in 
all  the  walks  of  life,  the  members  of  the  pro- 
fession have  been  called,  they  have  dignified 
and  honored.  In  the  church,  in  the  causes  of 
education  and  temperance,  in  the  affairs  of  the 
township  or  the  county  and  in  legislative  halls 
the  medical  profession  has  been  rej)resented  in 
a creditable  manner.  When  the  rude  alarm  of 
war  was  heard  in  the  land,  the  doctors,  with  the 
inspiration  of  sincere  patriotism,  res])onded  to 
the  call  of  the  country,  and  were  ready  for  any 
service, — as  surgeons  or  in  the  rank  and  file  of 
the  array. 


A century  of  years  is  covered  by  this 
brief  history,  and  many  of  the  actors  in  it  have 
passed  to  their  reward  in  the  life  to  come.  May 
their  illustrious  examples  be  the  emulation  of 
their  successors  in  the  present  time  and  in  the 
years  to  come  ! better  yet,  may  all  be  imitators 
and  disciples  of  the  Great  Physician,  who,  when 
here  on  earth,  “ went  about  doing  good  !” 

The  earliest  effort  in  the  line  of  medical  or- 
ganization in  Susquehanna  County  appears  to 
have  been  in  1820,  and  for  this  the  credit  is 
doubtless  due  to  Dr.  L.  W.  Bingham,  a sketch 
of  whom  appears  elsewhere  in  this  work.  It 
is  not  known  to  what  extent  this  effort  was 
successful,  as  no  records  are  to  be  found  of  any 
meetings  held. 

The  second  effort  to  organize  a society  was 
upon  the  suggestion  of  Dr.  John  L.  Kite,  and 
the  following  extract  from  the  newspaper  of  the 
day  clearly  illustrates  the  purpose  aimed  at  and 
the  unselfish  spirit  of  its  prime  movers : 

“ Medical  Meeting. — At  a meeting  of  a number 
of  the  physicians  of  Susquehanna  County,  held  in  the 
borough  of  Montrose  on  the  19th  day  of  November, 
1838,  Dr.  Asa  Park  was  appointed  chairman,  and  J. 
Blackman  secretary. 

“ The  following  preamble  and  resolutions  were 
adopted : 

“ Whereas,  Of  all  the  various  classes  of  society 
there  is  none  that  is  capable  of  exerting  a greater  or 
more  direct  influence  upon  the  comfort  and  happiness 
of  mankind  than  the  medical  profession  ; and, 

“ Whereas,  The  greatest  amount  of  benefit  to  our 
patients  cannot  be  achieved  without  a unity  of  feel- 
ing, a reciprocal  interchange  of  views  and  a unani- 
mous determination  to  lend  our  aid  towards  elucidat- 
ing, establishing  and  promulgating  those  principles 
and  practices  of  the  profession  which  science  has 
pointed  out,  or  shall  yet  j)oint  out,  for  experience  to 
confirm,  it  is,  therefore,  the  opinion  of  the  meeting 
that  it  is  the  duty,  as  well  as  the  interest,  of  the  med- 
ical practitioners  of  this  county  to  unite  themselves 
into  a society  for  the  purj)ose  of  promoting  the  cause 
of  medical  science.  It  is,  therefore, 

“ Resolved,  That  we  hereby  form  ourselves  into  an 
association  under  the  name  and  denomination  of  the 
Susquehanna  Counhy  Medical  Society,  the  objects  of 
which  are,  and  ever  shall  be,  the  im])rovement  of  the 
various  branches  of  medical  science  and  the  develop- 
ment of  honorable  and  friendly  feeling  and  conduct 
among  ourselves. 

'^Resolved,  That  l)rs.  Bingham,  Kite  and  E.  S.  Park 
be  a committee  to  prepare  a constitution  and  by-laws 


132 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


to  be  laid  before  the  Society  at  their  next  meeting  for 
their  consideration. 

“ Resolved,  That  Drs.  Blackman,  Lyman  and  Bissell 
be  a committee  to  prepare  a code  of  medical  ethics 
for  the  consideration  of  the  next  meeting. 

Resolved,  That  the  officers  of  this  Society  be  cho- 
sen at  the  next  meeting. 

“ Resolved,  That  this  Society  will  meet  on  Monday 
of  court  week,  February  term,  1839,  at  ten  o’clock 
A.M.  of  said  day,  at  the  office  of  Dr.  Park,  in  Mont- 
rose, at  which  time  and  place  all  the  regular  medical 
practitioners  of  the  county  are  cordially  invited  to 
attend. 

“ Asa  Park,  Chairman. 

“J.  Blackman,  Secretary." 

In  pursuance  of  the  foregoing,  February  4, 
1839,  a meeting  was  held,  at  which  a constitu- 
tion was  adopted,  and  Dr.  B.  Hichardson  was 
elected  president,  and  Dr.  J.  Blackman  secre- 
tary. 

The  original  members  of  the  society  were 
Drs.  Asa  and  Ezra  S.  Park  and  Josiah  Black- 
man, of  Montrose ; L.  W.  Bingham,  New 
Milford ; B.  Hichardson,  Brooklyn ; W.  W. 
Pride,  Spriugville  ; Calvin  Leet,  Friendsville  ; 
Eleazar  Lyman,  Great  Bend ; and  John  L. 
Kite,  Silver  Lake. 

A certificate  of  membership,  with  recommenda- 
tion to  the  favorable  notice  of  the  medical  pro- 
fession and  of  the  public,  was  issued  by  the  so- 
ciety, which  was  signed  by  the  president  and 
secretary,  and  attested  by  a seal,  having  for  its 
circumscribed  motto  “Pahiiam  qui  meruit  ferat,” 
with  a mortar  and  pestle,  snrronnded  by  a wreath 
in  the  centre. 

Thus  rank  in  the  profession  was  to  depend 
upon  merit  alone,  and  the  common  implements 
of  the  office  of  the  doctors  are  suggestive  of  the 
times  when  they  prepared  almost  all  their  reme- 
dies from  the  crude  materials,  instead  of  pro- 
curing them  from  the  druggist  and  apothecaiy 
in  the  elegant  style  of  preparation  of  the  present 
day. 

For  about  sixteen  yeai’s  the  annual  and  semi- 
annual meetings  were  held  with  considerable 
regularity.  All  the  records  of  the  society  having 
been  destroyed  in  the  great  fire  which  took  place 
in  Montrose  in  November,  1854,  it  is  impossible 
to  give  a list  of  the  officers  and  members  during 
this  interval. 

At  the  next  annual  meeting  held  at  IMontrose 


January  3,  1855,  we  have  these  additional 
names  : Drs.  Ezra  Patrick  and  Gordon  Z.  Dim- 
ock, Montrose;  Latham  A.  Smith,  New  Mil- 
ford ; C.  C.  Edwards  and  A.  M.  Tiffany,  Har- 
ford. Braton  Richardson  w'as  chosen  president 
for  that  year ; L.  W.  Bingham,  vice-president ; 
G.  Z.  Dimock,  secretary ; and  L.  A.  Smith, 
treasurer.  Delegates  were  appointed  to  the 
State  Medical  Society  and  to  the  American  Medi- 
cal Association.  The  Committees  on  Sanitary 
Condition  of  the  County  and  Fee  Bill  reported, 
and  the  secretary  was  requested  to  rewrite  the 
constitution.  Adjourned  meetings  were  held  at 
New  Milford  in  May,  and  at  Lodersville  (now 
Great  Bend  Boro’)  in  June  following,  at  which 
time  the  constitution  rewritten  by  the  secretary 
was  adopted.  A fee  bill  was  also  adopted  at 
that  time. 

While  the  society  has  existed  nearly  fifty 
years,  its  annual  and  semi-annual  meetings  have 
been  held  without  scarcely'  any  interruption,  and 
in  several  instances  there  have  been  extra  meet- 
ings. Unless  some  other  place  is  designated, 
the  meetings  are  held  at  Montrose,  and  it  has 
been  customary,  at  least  half  the  time,  to  meet 
at  such  localities  in  the  county  as  would  best 
accommodate  the  members  of  the  society. 

Delegates  are  elected  every  year  to  the  State 
Society  and  to  the  American  Medical  Associa- 
tion, and  attendance  at  the  meetings  of  those 
bodies  constitutes  permanent  membership  in 
them.  A large  number  of  the  society  have 
availed  themselves  of  this  honor,  and  their  re- 
ports at  subsequent  meetings  have  added  interest 
to  the  exercises.  Tlie  annual  address  of  the 
president  rarely  fails,  and  often,  by  request,  finds 
publication  in  the  leading  newspapers.  At  the 
semi-annual  meetings  essays  are  in  order,  and 
this  exercise  frequently  tests  the  mettle  of  the 
younger  members.  For  many  years  numerously- 
attended  clinics  have  been  held  by  the  society, 
at  which  patients  have  received  advice  without 
charge,  and  a meeting  rarely  occurs  at  which 
some  do  not  appear,  whether  the  clinic  is  adver- 
tised or  not. 

At  a meeting  held  at  Montrose  January  5, 
1859,  at  which  G.  Z.  Dimock,  M.D.,  delivered 
the  annual  address,  he  said  : 

“ In  complying  with  the  appointment  with  which  I 


MEDICAL  HISTORY. 


1.33 


am  honored,  Mr.  President,  I shall  endeavor  to  bring 
to  your  recollection  something  of  the  early  history  of 
the  society  over  which  you  are  called  this  day  to  pre- 
side. It  is  needless  to  remind  you  that  its  records 
were  burned  four  years  ago  in  the  office  of  the  secre- 
tary, and  that  the  date  of  its  formation,  the  names  of 
its  originators  and  the  minutes  of  its  proceedings 
were  thus  lost.  To  remedy  this  as  far  as  possible,  I 
resorted  to  a file  of  the  county  newspaper,  and,  turning 
it  over  leaf  by  leaf,  found  a notice  of  the  first  medical 
meeting  held  in  the  county.  With  data  thus  obtained 
I refreshed  the  memories  of  the  older  members,  and 
from  their  recollections  have  gathered  facts  enough  to 
save  the  early  history  of  the  Society  from  entire  for- 
geti'ulness. 

“ On  the  19th  day  of  November,  in  the  year  1838, 
six  physicians,  residents  of  Susquehanna  County,  met 
at  the  office  of  Dr.  Asa  Park,  in  Montrose,  and  formed 
themselves  into  an  association  under  ‘the  name  and 
denomination  of  the  Susquehanna  County  Medical 
Society.’ 

“ In  reading  this  notice  we  are  surprised  at  the  age 
of  this  society — more  than  twenty  years  old ! Twenty 
years  ago  there  was  no  National  Medical  Association, 
sending  its  able  discussions  and  erudite  monographs 
into  every  part  of  the  country,  stimulating  the  physi- 
cians to  reading  and  study,  and  infusing  new  energy 
into  the  entire  profession.  Twenty  years  ago  Penn- 
sylvania had  no  State  Medical  Society  to  which  the 
local  organizations  could  send  an  annual  delegate  to 
report  the  health  statistics  of  the  county,  and  to  bring 
back  the  history  and  treatment  of  any  epidemic  or 
new  disease  occurring  in  other  parts  of  the  State. 
Had  it  been  to-day  this  society  was  formed,  it  would 
have  been  simply  to  carry  out  the  suggestions  of  the 
National  Association,  or  merely  to  comply  with  the 
urgent  requests  of  the  State  Society,  or  only  to  follow 
the  example  of  physicians  in  every  county  around  us. 
But  it  was  formed  years  before  the  idea  of  a National 
Medical  Association  was  conceived — years  before  the 
State  Society  was  proposed;  and  when  there  were  no 
outside  influences  of  any  kind  to  aid  and  encourage 
the  undertaking.  Whatever  credit  there  is  in  the 
foundation  of  this  society  is  due  entirely  to  the  six 
physicians  who  gave  it  existence.  The  place  of  its 
formation  is  noticeable.  Montrose  was  then  a small, 
obscure  village.  There  were  no  telegraphs,  as  now,  to 
put  it  in  communication  with  the  rest  of  the  world. 
It  was  off  in  the  ‘ Beech  Woods,’  by  itself,  far  from  the 
business  marts  of  the  country.  Susquehanna  County 
was  yet  half-wilderness.  Its  hill-sides  were  every- 
where dotted  with  new  choppings.  Comfortable  and 
commodious  framed  houses  were  just  beginning  to 
displace  the  log  huts  of  the  first  pioneers.  Such 
was  the  condition  of  the  county  when  her  physi- 
cians, isolated  physically  and  professionally  from 
the  great  seats  of  enterprise  and  learning,  united 
themselves  together  for  the  noble  purposes  set  forth  in 


the  first  resolution  which  organized  them  into  an  asso- 
ciation. The  two  objects  set  forth  in  that  resolution 
are  indeed  noble,  from  whatever  point  we  view  them  ; 
but  the  philanthropic  and  unselfish  motives  which 
incited  the  movement  are  best  seen  in  the  preamble 
preceding.  Nothing  of  self  or  sordid  interest  is  mani- 
fested. It  exhibits  an  ardent  desire  for  an  increase 
of  professional  knowledge  and  usefulness,  in  order 
that  they  might  be  able  to  achieve  the  greatest  amount 
of  benefit  to  the  patient.  The  organization  of  this 
society  for  such  objects  and  from  such  motives  evinces 
on  the  part  of  its  originators  an  honorable  determina- 
tion to  make  themselves  of  the  greatest  possible  bene- 
fit to  the  community,  not  only  by  perfecting  their 
knowledge  and  skill  in  the  divine  art  of  healing,  but 
also  by  promulgating,  establishing  and  elucidating 
earnest  medical  and  hygienic  principles  and  practices 
among  the  people.  It  manifests  a devotion  to  that 
profession  from  high  and  philanthropic  motives. 

“ The  early  formation  of  this  society  is  a credit  to  the 
physicians  of  the  county,  and  the  names  of  those  who 
took  part  in  its  organization  should  not  be  forgotten. 
They  should  be  again  placed  upon  the  records  of  the 
society  and  saved  to  those  who  come  after  us. 

“ Who  are  the  six  physicians  who  proved  themselves 
so  much  in  advance  of  the  profession  in  larger  towns 
and  more  populous  districts  ? As  a class  (and  it  is  a 
pleasure  to  speak  of  them  as  a class),  they  were  ‘ Reg- 
ular Practitioners  of  Medicine.’  They  belonged  to 
that  ancient  and  honorable  school  which  was  founded 
more  than  two  thousand  years  ago  by  Hippocrates, 
the  venerated  Father  of  Medical  Science,  and  which 
has  come  down  to  us  through  the  lapse  of  ages,  with 
its  fundamental  principles  unchanged  and  unchange- 
able. In  every  age  of  its  long  existence  it  has  wit- 
nessed the  rise  as  well  as  the  fall  of  new  and  rival 
systems,  while  itself  progressed  and  improved  in  every 
changing  period. 

****** 

“ The  qualification  which  admits  the  candidate  to 
membership  in  this  ancient  school  is  a thorough  med- 
ical education.  Not  that  he  shall  be  versed  in  theo- 
ries and  doctrines,  but  that  he  shall  be  thoroughly 
learned  in  medical  truths.  His  mind  must  be  stored 
with  the  fruits  of  close,  unremitted  study.  Y"ear 
after  year  must  he  pore  over  the  pages  of  medical 
books,  and  month  after  month  must  he  sit  in  close 
attention  to  medical  lectures,  before  he  may  present 
himself  for  admission  in  that  learned  body.  Medical 
education  is  the  qualification,  and  this  disqualifi- 

cation.— ‘ Any  physician  who  procures  a patent  for  a 
remedy,  or  instrument  of  surgery,  is  disqualified  for 
membership  in  this  body.’ 

“ To  a school  so  ancient  and  learned  and  honorable 
belonged  the  six  physicians  who  formed  the  Susque- 
hanna County  Medical  Society.  It  is  a high  honor  to 
them  that  their  long  professional  lives  have  never  been 
j sullied  by  any  species  of  (piackery. 


134 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


“ Years  ago  the  physicians  of  Susquehanna  County 
stood  each  with  his  elbows  out  ready  to  thrust  the 
side  of  his  professional  neighbor.  When  they  met,  to 
disagree  was  the  rule ; to  quarrel  was  not  an  exception. 
If  called  in  counsel,  the  life  and  health  of  the  patient 
was  quite  forgotten  in  the  anxiety  to  injure  the  repu- 
tation of  the  physician  in  attendance.  If  they  met, 
as  two  once  did  in  this  village,  on  a jdank  over  a mud- 
hole,  they  fought  for  the  right  of  way.  When  they 
met  on  their  professional  rounds  they  often  stopped 
to  quarrel,  and,  on  one  occasion  at  least,  did  not  part 
until  they  knocked  off  hats  and  bestowed  other  ‘ amia- 
ble attentions  ’ upon  each  other.  To  this  there  were 
honorable  exceptions.  There  were  physicians  in  the 
county  who  would  not  violate  their  honor  to  injure  a 
rival.  But  among  them  was  a feeling  of  jealousy 
and  distrust  which  was  a shame  to  them  and  an  injury 
to  the  profession.  Now,  through  the  kindly  influence 
of  this  society,  the  physicians  of  the  county  meet  each 
other  as  brothers.  They  counsel  and  advise  with  each 
other  without  an  effort  or  a desire  to  take  undue  advan- 
tage. The  patient  can  get  the  honest  opinions  of  con- 
sulting physicians  and  have  the  benefit  of  their  uni- 
ted judgment  and  skill.  By  adopting  a code  of  Med- 
ical Ethics,  and  a uniform  Fee  Bill,  the  society  has  re- 
moved the  two  most  frequent  causes  of  jealousy  and 
ill-feeling.  It  has  accomplished  its  primary  object, 
and  ‘ developed  an  honorable  and  friendly  conduct  and 
feeling  among  its  members.’ 

“ As  I am  about  to  close,  do  I hear  any  one  ask 
what  good  it  does  to  teach  the  principles  and  practices 
by  which  health  is  preserved  and  life  prolonged  ? To 
all  such  let  me  say,  we  do  not  profess  to  cure  every 
disease  ; but  let  me  assure  you,  the  list  of  incurable 
diseases  is  growing  less  every  day.  W e do  not  profess 
to  save  from  death.  The  fiat  has  gone  forth  ‘ ihou 
shall  surely  die’  From  that  decree  we  make  no  ap- 
peal. All  that  we  can  do  is  to  put  off  the  day  of  death, 
and  that  we  have  done,  ten  and  twenty  years.  By 
statistics,  carefully  prepared,  it  is  demonstrated  be- 
yond a doubt  that  the  average  duration  of  human 
life  has  mere  than  doubled  in  the  last  two  hundred 
jmars,  in  which  the  regular  practice  has  triumphed 
over  every  species  of  empiricism. 

“ During  the  past  few  years  deaths  and  removals 
have  greatly  depleted  our  ranks  and  several  are  now 
w’ell  advanced  in  years.  At  all  the  meetings  an  esprit 
du  corpsis  manifest  which  is  very  gratifying,  and  it  is 
as  true  in  1887  as  in  1859  that  the  efforts  of  the  orig- 
inal members  have  been  successful  and  have  bene- 
fited the  community  and  the  profession. 

“ In  1869  a new  certificate  of  membership  was 
adopted  and  a new  seal,  having  the  words  ‘ The  Sus- 
quehanna County  Medical  Society  ’ on  the  outer  mar- 
gin, with  a winged  caduceus  of  Mercury  on  a shield 
in  the  centre,  and  outside  the  shield  the  motto  ‘ quse 
prosunt  omnibus,’  a fitting  expression  of  the  unselfish 
and  philanthropic  character  of  the  society.  The  so- 


ciety possess  a small  collection  of  medical  works  in- 
tended to  be  the  nucleus  of  a library.” 

Of  those  who  practiced  in  the  county  before 
1820,  of  whom  no  sketches  are  given,  are  the 
following : 

1787.  A Dr.  Caperton,  it  is  said,  accom- 
panied the  Nicholson  settlers  to  Hopbottom 
(now  Brooklyn),  but  may  not  have  remained 
more  than  a year.  1788.  Rev.  Daniel  Buck, 
of  Great  Bend,  practiced  as  a physician,  1791. 
Dr,  Forbes  at  Great  Bend.  He  left  before 
1807.  1794.  Comfort  Capron  in  Nine  Part- 

ners’ Settlement,  Harford,  until  his  death  in 
1800.  1801.  Noah  Kincaid,  who  died  in 

1804,  and  Asa  Cromwell,  “ phesitions  ” on  tax- 
list  for  “ Willingborough.”  1804.  Robert 
Chandler,^  at  Gibson,  a “ root  and  cancer  doc- 
tor” of  considerable  practice.  1807,  or  earlier. 
Reuben  Baker,  near  the  forks  of  the  Wyalusing, 
but  just  below  the  present  line  of  Susquehanna 
County,  practiced  extensively  in  its  western 
townships,  1807,  or  earlier.  Jonathan  Gray  at 
Great  Bend.  1808.  Dr.  Luce  at  Harford  a few 
years;  then  removed  to  Great  Bend.  1810. 
Horace  Griswold  at  Harford  a year  or  two. 
1811.  James  Cook  in  Bridgewater,  1812. 
Dr.  Stanford  in  Liberty.  1816.  Wm.  Bacon 
at  Hopbottom,  1818.  Charles  B.  Johnson, 
Silver  Lake.  1820.  Dr.  Emerson,  Silver 
Lake. 

Of  the  physicians  whose  names  are  not  men- 
tioned in  the  sketches  of  this  chapter  are  the 
following : 

Drs.  Charles  W,  Banksou  and Plant, 

of  Silver  Lake ; R.  H.  Eastman  and  A.  H. 

Bolles,  of  Montrose;  Hunger  (1822),  E. 

B.  Slade,  E.  Mack,  P.  M.  Way  and  Meacham, 

Brooklyn;  Ruttan,  Rush ; Joseph  Falk- 

ner,  Dundatf ; Rufus  Fish,  Liberty ; 

Vailes,  Friendsville ; Field,  an  English- 
man, in  Bridgewater;  Daniels,  Great 

Bend  ; J.  P.  Lambert,  Springville  and  Auburn 
(dead). 

Dr.  James  Cook,  the  first  regularly  educated 
physician  in  Bridgewater,  located  about  1810, 
across  the  Wyalusing  Creek,  opposite  Stephen 
Wilson.  He  practiced  there  several  years  and 


1 He  may  have  been  in  Gibson  as  early  as  1800. 


MEDICAL  HISTORY. 


135 


then  removed  to  Sj^encer,  N.  A".  Jonathan  H. 
Merrill,  son  of  Amos  IMerrill,  who  came  to 
Hopbottom  in  1818,  became  a physician  and 
died  in  New  Hampshire.  Dr.  Rufus  Fish  was 
an  early  settler  of  Great  Bend,  but  subsequently 
(about  1819)  lived  in  Liberty,  on  the  “ Ranney 
Clearing.”  He  moved  back  to  Great  Bend, 
then  again  to  Liberty,  on  the  farm  where  Philo 
C.  Luce  since,  and  from  there  to  the  Salt 
Spring,  in  I"ranklin,  Avhere  he  died.  Dr.  Win. 
S.  Gritman  came  to  Clifford  in  1830  and  left 
in  1836.  Dr.  Thomas  Halsey  was  also  one  of 
the  temporary  residents.  Dr.  Merrick  died  in 
the  same  place.  Thomas  Jackson,  M.D.,  was 
jiresident  of  a stock  company  which  built  a 
bridge  across  the  Susquehanna  River  at  Sus- 
quehanna Depot  in  1855. 

Wm.  W.  Tyler,  M.D.,  came  to  Gibson  in 
1824  and  made  a short  stay.  Dr.  Chester 
Tyler  (not  related  to  the  former)  established 
himself  on  Kennedy  Hill,  where  he  remained 
in  practice  until  his  death,  in  1846.  He  was  an 
elder  in  the  Presbyterian  Church.  He  had  six 
children.  His  only  son,  James  C.^  resides  in 
Montrose. 

Dr.  John  L.  Kite,  of  Silver  Lake,  enjoys 
the  credit  of  making  the  suggestion  which  led 
to  the  organization  of  the  County  Medical 
Society  in  November,  1838.  He  was  a mem- 
ber of  the  Society  of  Friends  and  a gentleman 
of  culture  and  refinement.  After  a few  years’ 
residence  in  the  county  he  removed  to  Phil- 
adelphia. 

Dr.  William  Terrell  came  to  Dun- 
daff  in  1825  or  1826,  and  built  just  be- 
low' Gould  Phinney  on  the  hill  near  the  Pres- 
byterian Church.  March,  1836,  he  purchased 
the  stand  of  B.  A.  Denison,  M.D.,  at  Montrose. 
It  was  said  of  the  latter,  He  can’t  show  off  so 

much  as  Dr.  , but  he  understands  the 

theater  of  medicine  better.”  Dr.  Terbell  re- 
moved to  Corning  in  1837. 

Dr.  Miner  Kelly  was  appointed  justice  of 
the  peace  for  Springville  in  1828.  Either  in 
that  year  or  the  one  following  Dr.  Jethro  Hatch, 
from  Connecticut,  settled  in  the  place.  Previous 
to  their  coming.  Dr.  Jackson,  father  of  Thomas 
Jackson,  M.D.,  of  Tunkhannock,  was  the 
physician  for  all  this  region. 


Dr.  Joseph  B.  Streeter  (1787-1883), 
whose  name  was  widely  known  for  his  skill  as 
a physician,  w'as  a native  of  Chesterfield,  Conn. 
His  parents,  Barzillai  and  Nancy  Brown 
Streeter,  subsequently  removed  to  Richmond, 
N.  H.,  W'here  they  were  farmers,  and  died  in 
Swansea,  the  same  State.  Soon  after  reaching 
his  majority  he  began  the  study  of  medicine 
in  Cheshire,  N.  H.,  where  he  jiracticed  his  pro- 
fession for  about  one  year  after  comjileting  his 
studies.  In  1812  he  set  out  for  the  then  far 
West,  intending  to  locate  in  the  Lake  country  in 
the  western  part  of  New'  York  State;  but  learn- 
ing from  a traveler  that  the  British  were  about 
to  invade  that  part  of  the  State,  he  turned  his 
course  south  from  Central  New  York,  and 
resolved  to  visit  his  friend,  Noah  Aldrich,  of 
the  “Nine  Partners’”  settlement.  His  ride  w'as 
made  on  horse-back,  with  his  saddle-bags  and 
portmanteau  strapped  on  behind.  He  possessed 
some  three  hundred  Spanish  dollars,  some  of 
w'hich  he  retained  afterward  and  gave  as  souve- 
nirs to  his  children  and  friends. 

U])on  reaching  Harford  he  met  Dr.  Luce 
and  Dr.  Griswold,  who  induced  him  to  locate 
there.  About  this  time  he  was  called  to  attend 
a case  of  fever  in  the  vicinity  of  Glenwood, 
which  he  so  successfully  treated  that  he  soon 
became  known,  and  acquired  a w'ide  range  of 
practice,  which  extended  in  after-years  through- 
out Brooklyn,  Lenox,  Clifford,  Herrick,  Gibson, 
Jackson,  Ararat,  Thomson,  Harmony,  New 
Milford  and  Great  Bend;  besides,  he  was  fre- 
quently called  as  counsel  with  other  physicians 
in  different  parts  of  the  comity.  For  nearly 
fifty-five  years  Dr.  Streeter  continued  the  prac- 
tice of  medicine  and  surgery,  and  w'as  successful 
in  the  treatment  of  cancers.  For  most  of  the 
time  he  made  his  rides  on  horse-back,  which  he 
preferred  to  the  use  of  either  carriage  or  sleigh, 
especially  in  summer-time.  He  was  well-know'ii 
for  his  correct  diagnosis  of  disease,  his  honest 
and  skillful  treatment  of  his  patients,  and 
particularly  in  cases  of  fevers,  and  for  his  good 
judgment  in  the  management  of  the  sick-room. 
To  him  the  practice  of  medicine  seemed  natural. 
He  had  kind  words  ahvays  ready  for  the  down- 
cast, a pleasant  story  for  the  diversion  of  the 
impatient,  and  a fund  of  conversation  at  hand 


136 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


in  every  emergency.  He  served  the  poor  with 
the  same  care  as  the  rich,  and  in  every  way 
within  the  range  of  his  professional  work 
sought  to  heal  the  sick  and  administer  comfort- 
ing words  to  those  past  medical  aid.  During 
the  last  eight  years  of  his  life  he  was  an  invalid 
and  sat  in  a wheel-chair  much  of  the  time. 
He  bore  his  suffering  cheerfully,  and  always 
had  kind  words  for  those  near  him,  and  a 
hearty  welcome  and  cheer  for  his  many  friends. 
He  was  possessed  of  strong  perceptive  faculties. 


was  ever  the  welcome  .stopping-place  for  the 
itinerant  ministers  of  that  church  in  the  early 
days.  Both  himself  and  wife  were  members  of 
the  Gibson  Church,  of  which  they  were  among^ 
its  founders.  One  brother,  Sebastian  Streeter, 
was  a Universalist  clergyman,  and  succeeded 
Hosea  Ballou,  the  founder  of  Universalism  in 
Boston ; another  brother,  Russell  Streeter,  was 
also  a Universali.st  clergyman  in  New  England^ 
and  both  lived  to  be  over  eighty;  and  a third, 
Barzillai,  was  for  s(-me  time  a lawyer  at  Mont- 


marked  individuality  and  both  as  a physician  and 
a citizen,  was  highly  respected  by  the  profession 
and  the  community.  Aside  from  his  profession, 
he  was  closely  identified  with  the  political 
movements  of  the  vicinity,  although  seeking  no 
place  for  himself,  always  interested  in  temper- 
ance reform,  and  an  advocate  of  its  principles, 
closely  allied  with  all  matters  of  education  at 
home,  and  gave  his  children  the  best  opportuni- 
ties for  an  education  then  afforded.  In  relig- 
ious belief  he  was  a Universalist,  and  his  home 


rose.  One  sister,  Prutia,  married  John  Aldrich, 
in  Massachusetts,  and  after  his  death  resided 
with  her  son,  Nathaniel,  in  Jackson  township. 

Dr.  Streeter  married,  in  1814,  at  Harford, 
Chloe  Aldrich  (1795-1849),  a woman  devoted 
to  her  family  and  to  the  church,  and  who 
proved  her  Christian  character  by  her  life-work 
and  left  its  impress  on  the  lives  of  her  children. 
Her  father,  David  Aldrich  (1770-1830),  a 
native  of  Worcester,  Mass.,  was  one  of  the 
early  settlers  in  Harford.  Her  mother,  Polly 


MEDICAL  HISTORY. 


137 


Capron  (1770-1845),  a native  of  Bristol,  Mass., 
was  the  daughter  of  Dr.  Comfort  Capron  (1744- 
1800),  the  first  physician  in  Harford. 

Their  children  are  Diantha  (1818-85), 
wife  of  Dr.  J.  F.  Smith,  died  in  Wellsburg, 
N.  y.  Hon.  Farris  B.  Streeter  (1819-1877), 
whose  sketch  is  in  the  judicial  chapter  of  this 
volume.  Nancy  (1824),  succeeded  to  her  father’s 
homestead,  in  Harford,  and  cared  for  him  in 
his  declining  years.  (House  built  in  1825). 
Alpha  M.  (1827-48),  married  Hon.  George 
H.  Wells,  of  Gibson.  Joseph  Everett  (1829- 
63),  read  law  in  Joliet,  111.,  and  was  appointed, 
by  President  Lincoln,  in  1861,  a judge  of  the 
United  States  Court  in  Nebraska,  which  posi- 
tion he  filled  until  his  death,  two  years  after. 
One  of  his  colleagues  on  the  bench  was  Hon. 
Wm.  Pitt  Kellogg,  of  Louisiana.  Rienzi  (1838), 
educated  at  Harford  Academy,  at  Clinton  and 
Homer,  N.  Y.,  read  law  with  his  brother.  Judge 
Farris  B.  Streeter,  at  Montrose,  and  was  admit- 
ted to  the  bar  in  1860.  He  was  clerk  of  the 
United  States  District  Court  of  Nebraska  from 
1862  until  1867,  when  it  was  admitted  as  a 
State;  he  removed  to  Colorado,  where  he  was  a 
member  of  the  Legislature,  1879-80,  and 
Speaker  of  the  House  for  those  years.  In  1881 
he  was  elected  to  the  State  Senate  for  four  years, 
and  in  1883  chosen  president  of  the  Senate  for 
two  years. 

PRESIDENTS  OF  THE  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY  MEDICAL  SOCIETY. 


1838. 

B.  Richardson. 

1873-78. 

W.  L.  Richardson. 

1839A6. 

No  record. 

1879. 

L.  A.  Smith. 

1847-48. 

E.  S.  Park. 

1880. 

H.  Peimepacker. 

1849-54. 

No  record. 

1881. 

S.  Birdsall. 

1855-56. 

B.  Richardson. 

1882. 

E.  F.  Wilmot. 

1867-58, 

J.  Blackman. 

1883. 

A.  T.  Brundage. 

1859-60. 

L.  W,  Bingham. 

1884. 

E.  N.  Smith. 

1861-65. 

B.  Richardson. 

1885. 

A.  Chamberlin. 

1866-67. 

L.  A.  Smith. 

1886. 

G.  A.  Brundage. 

1868-71. 

C.  C.  Halsey. 

1887. 

F.  B.  Lamb. 

1872. 

C.  C.  Edwards. 

SECRETARIES. 

1838. 

J.  Blackman. 

1860. 

G.  Z.  Bimock. 

1839-47. 

No  record. 

1861-63. 

C.  C.  Halsey. 

1848. 

E.  Patrick,  Jr. 

1864-72. 

E.  L.  Gardner. 

1849-54. 

No  record. 

1873-78. 

C.  C.  Halsey. 

185,5-56. 

G.  Z.  Bimock. 

1879. 

E.  L.  Gardner. 

1857-58. 

E.  S.  Park, 

1880-87. 

0.  C.  Halsey. 

1859. 

W.  L.  Richardson. 

Dr.  Benadam  Denison,  son  of  George  and 
Theody  Brown  Denison,  of  Stonington,  Conn., 
was  born  at  Hartland,  Vt.,  March  31,  1773. 
He  was  twice  married, — first  to  Polly  Morse,  of 
Hartland,  Vt.,  and  second  to  Eunice  Williams, 
91 


at  Montro.se,  Pa.,  in  1817.  He  moved  to 
Montrose  a few  years  previous  to  his  last  mar- 
riage, where  he  resided  until  March,  1836. 
He  then  moved  to  Dimock  Eour  Corners,  and 
died  at  Montrose  February  8,  1837.  His 
second  wife  died  in  1872.  He  read  medicine 
in  Vermont,  and  (as  one  of  his  sous  says)  after- 
ward graduated  at  Geneva  Medical  College, 
N.  Y.  He  had  twelve  children,  of  whom  seven 
are  now  living,  and  three  are  physicians  in 
practice. 

Dr.  Eeeazer  Parker,  a native  of  Connec- 
ticut, came  to  Great  Bend  in  August,  1807, 
and  practiced  medicine  and  surgery  two  and  a 
half  years  successfully.  In  the  fall  of  that  year 
he  was  appointed  surgeon’s  mate  to  the  One 
Hundred  and  Twenty-ninth  Regiment,  which 
had  been  formed  the  spring  previous.  He  was 
commissioned  the  first  postmaster  in  the  county 
February  1,  1808,  Isaac  Post,  of  Bridgewater, 
being  commissioned  one  month  later.  The 
same  year,  March  6th,  Dr.  Parker  performed 
the  operation  of  bronchotomy  on  a little  girl 
two  years  old  (Lucina  Farrar),  and  extracted  a 
watermelon-seed  from  her  windpipe.  She  re- 
covered, had  the  seed  in  her  possession,  and 
died  at  Harford  in  1873.  He  introduced  vac- 
cination into  the  county,  and  vaccinated  a 
number.  His  practice  extended  into  almost 
every  settlement  in  what  is  now  Susquehanna 
County — a circuit  of  fifty  miles  of  bad  roads, 
on  horseback  when  practicable,  but  in  many 
places  there  were  only  foot-paths  for  miles 
through  the  woods — and,  laborious  as  it  was,  it 
proved  very  unremunerative,  for  the  people 
were  really  unable  to  pay  much. 

Dr.  Parker  married  a daughter  of  Jonathan 
Dimon,  and  in  1810  moved  to  Kingston, 
Luzerne  County.  He  was  examining  surgeon 
of  the  Thirty-fifth  Pennsylvania  Regiment 
during  the  War  of  1812  ; was  a teetotaler  over 
forty  years,  and  never  prescribed  alcohol  to  a 
patient  in  his  practice  of  sixty  years ; and,  in 
1872,  at  the  age  of  ninety  years,  was  hale  and 
active.  On  petition  of  Dr.  Parker,  the  north 
end  of  the  Newburg  turnpike,  finished  by  D. 
Summers,  was  made  a post-road. ‘ 

1 Blackman’s  “History.” 


138 


HISTOEY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


The  physicians  who  had  lived  at  Great  Bend, 
and  removed  previous  to  1807,  were  Drs.  Forbes, 
Noah  Kincaid,  Charles  Fraser  and  Jonathan 
Gray.  Dr.  Forbes  was  there  in  1791  or  before, 
and  was  probably  the  first  regular  physician  in 
Susquehanna  County. 

In  1813  or  1814  Dr.  Daniel  McFall,  an 
Irishman,  educated  and  highly  respected,  came 
to  Great  Bend  and  died  there  about  1835.^ 

Dr.  Israel  Skinner  and  his  twin  brother 
Jacob  came  in  1814  to  the  farms  adjoining  or 
lying  on  the  line  between  Great  Bend  and  the 
present  township  of  Oakland  (then  Harmony). 
Dr.  Skinner  is  remembered  as  the  author  of  a 
“ History  of  the  American  Revolution  in 
verse.”  ^ 

Dr.  William  YVells  Pride,  of  Cambridge, 
N.  W,  a returned  missionary  from  the  Choc- 
taws, was  established  at  Burrows’  Hollow,  Gib- 
son, in  January,  1830.  He  married  Miss  Han- 
nah Thacher,  daughter  of  Obadiah  Thacher,  of 
Harford,  at  the  Choctaw  Mission.  In  1834  he 
removed  to  Springville,  and  remained  there 
nearly  twenty-five  years,  when  he  removed  to 
Middletown,  Conn.,  where,  having  passed  the 
evening  of  his  days  with  his  daughter,  Mrs. 
Rev.  Dr.  J.  Taylor,  he  died  March  24,  1865, 
aged  sixty-nine.  Mrs.  Pride  died  August  8, 
1861,  aged  sixty-one. 

One  cannot  correctly  estimate  the  value  to 
the  community  of  two  such  Christian  lives  as 
those  of  Doctor  and  Mrs.  Pride.  Both  had 
gone  in  their  early  prime  as  missionaries  of  the 
American  Board  of  Commissioners  of  Foreign 
Missions  (1819-26)  to  the  Choctaws  in  Missis- 
sippi. Dr.  Pride  was  a ruling  elder  in  the 
Presbyterian  Church  at  Springville,  and  was  an 
active  anti-slavery  advocate.  He  enjoyed  in  a 
high  degree  the  respect  and  confidence  of  all 
who  knew  him.  He  was  one  of  the  original 
members  of  the  Susquehanna  County  Medical 
Society. 

Dr.  Charles  Fraser,  son  of  Charles  and 
Obedience  Tyler  Frazer,  was  born  in  Connecti- 
cut, 1779.  His  parents  removed  during  his 
boyhood  to  Sangerfield,  Oneida  County,  N.  Y. 
He  made  good  use  of  his  advantages  for  acquir- 


' Blackman’s  “ History.” 


ing  an  education.  His  daughter,  Ann  L.,  has 
heard  him  say  that  he  read  medicine  with  Dr. 
White,  of  Cherry  Valley,  N.  Y.  He  attended 
lectures  at  the  University  of  Pennsylvania,  when 
Dr.  P.  S.  Physick  was  professor  there.  He 
practiced  a short  time  at  Great  Bend,  and  re- 
moved to  Montrose.  He  married  Miss  Mary 
Lord,  of  Clinton,  Dutchess  County,  N.  Y.,  De- 
cember 25,  1809.  They  had  four  children, — 
Philip,  Franklin,  Ann  L.  and  Caroline,  of 
whom  only  Ann  L.  is  living. 

Dr.  Frazer  held  the  offices  of  prothonotary, 
clerk  of  courts,  register  and  recorder,  by  ap- 
pointment of  Governor  Snyder,  from  the  or- 
ganization of  Susquehanna  County,  in  1812,  for 
four  years,  and  he  was  elected  to  the  State  Sen- 
ate in  1816.  Dr.  Frazer  was  precise  and  accu- 
rate in  mannei’,  dignified  and  prepossessing  in 
appearance.  He  died  February  4,  1834,  and 
his  widow,  September  13,  1870. 

Dr.  Calvin  Leet,  from  Vermont,  located 
in  1819,  first  at  “ Slab  City,” — as  the  vicinity  of 
Wright’s  Mill  was  called, — but  in  1820  re- 
moved to  Friendsville,  where  he  owned  about 
three  hundred  acres.  His  father,  Captain  Lu- 
ther Leet,  came  soon  after.  Dr.  Leet  was  the 
first  regular  physician  in  the  western  half  of  the 
county,  and  for  some  years  the  only  one.  “He 
had  a rough  circuit  to  ride  at  a time  when  roads 
were  rooty  and  full  of  stumps.”  He  married  Miss 
Susan  Williams,  of  Vermont,  in  1813.  They 
had  six  children,  of  whom  only  Dr.  Nathan 
Young  Leet,  of  Scranton,  Pa.,  and  Martha  D., 
wife  of  Dr.  E.  L.  Hendrick,  of  Friendsville,  are 
living.  Dr.  Leet  was  one  of  the  original  mem- 
bers of  the  Susquehanna  County  Medical  So- 
ciety. After  a practice  of  nearly  fifty  years,  he 
died  January  1,  1874.  He  was  once  associate 
judge  of  Susquehanna  County,  and  served  in 
the  Legislature.  His  son.  Dr.  N.  Y.  Leet, 
practiced  several  years  at  Friendsville,  joined 
the  Susquehanna  County  Medical  Society  in 
1860  ; was  surgeon  during  the  war  of  1861, 
and  has  since  enjoyed  an  immense  practice  at 
Scranton,  Pa.,  his  present  residence. 

Eleazbr  Lyman,  M.D.,  was  born  in  Hins- 
dale, Mass.,  1802;  married  Miss  Sally  Payne, 
and  removed  to  Berkshire,  Tioga  County,  N.  Y., 
about  1821  ; thence  removed  to  Eriendship, 


MEDICAL  HISTOKY. 


139 


Allegany  County,  N.  A”.,  where  he  studied 
medicine  with  Dr.  James  Wellman.  He  aradu- 

o 

ated  at  Geneva  Medical  College  about  1831. 
He  practiced  at  Bolivar,  N.  Y.,  about  two  years, 
and  at  Speedsville,  N.  Y.,  until  about  1835, 
when  he  removed  to  Great  Bend,  where  he  con- 
tinued in  practice  until  his  death  by  an  acci- 
dental fall  from  his  horse,  in  1845.  (He  suc- 
ceeded Dr.  Daniel  McFall,  who  died  at  Great 
Bend  in  1835.)  His  first  wife  died  in  1838, 


at  Fort  Fisher  in  1865) ; Vincent  P.  was  second 
lieutenant  in  a California  regiment. 

Dk.  E.  N.  Smith  was  born  in  Brooklyn 
township.  Pa.,  November  23,  1818,  and  was 
the  second  son  of  Latham  A.  and  Sally  (Newton) 
Smith.  He  early  evinced  a liking  for  study, 
and  availed  hinrself  of  all  the  advantages  of  the 
district  schools,  and  also  attended  Newton’s 
select  school  in  Brooklyn.  He  afterwards  taught 
school  for  several  years  in  his  native  State,  and 


and  he  afterward  married  Miss  Sally  Clark,  of 
Great  Bend. 

Of  Dr.  Lyman’s  sons,  Chauncey  A.,  the  eldest, 
was  a lawyer  at  Lock  Haven,  Pa.,  and  lieuten- 
ant-colonel of  the  Seventh  Regiment  Pennsyl- 
vania Reserves;  Charles  E.,  a lawyer  at  Great 
Bend,  was  captain  of  Company  H,  Two  Hun- 
dred and  Third  Regiment  Pennsylvania  Volun- 
teers; Dr.  J.  W.  was  medical  director  of  the 
Kearney  Division,  and,  after  1863,  lieutenant- 
colonel  of  the  Two  Hundred  and  Third  Regi- 
ment Pennsylvania  Volunteers  (he  was  killed 


also  in  New  Jersey.  He  then  decided  to  adopt 
the  profession  of  medicine,  and  entered  the  office 
of  Dr.  Braton  Richardson,  of  Brooklyn,  Pa., 
as  a student.  He  continued  his  studies  after- 
wards at  Geneva  College,  but  did  not  graduate. 
In  1848  he  located  at  Lanesboro’,  and  entered 
into  partnership  with  Dr.  Henry  Shutts  in  the 
practice  of  his  profession.  AVhen  the  Erie  Rail- 
road Company  established  their  shops  at  Sus- 
quehanna, Dr.  Smith  opened  a branch  office 
there,  and  shortly  afterwards  himself  and  Dr. 
Shutts  erected  a building  on  the  site  of  tlie 


140 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


1 


present  post-office,  put  in  a stock  of  drugs  and 
opened  a drug-store.  Upon  the  dissolution  of 
the  partnership,  which  continued  several  years, 
tlie  building  and  drug  business  became  the 
property  of  Dr.  Smith.  This  building  and 
contents  were  afterwards  destroyed  by  fire,  and 
he  then  erected  the  store-building  now  occupied 
by  Mitchell.  Here  he  carried  on  the  drug 
business  in  connection  with  his  pi’ofession  until 
about  1872,  when  he  relinquished  it  and  gave 
his  exclusive  attention  to  his  professional  duties 
and  extensive  practice.  In  1852  he  married 
Frances  (1836-69),  daughter  of  Calvin  (1805) 
and  Mary  (1805-86)  Sheldon,  who  was  born  in 
Broome  County,  N.  Y.  Their  children  were, 
Bert  E.  (1853)  educated  at  graded  and  select 
schools  at  Susquehanna,  and  also  at  the  Wy- 
oming Seminary,  at  Kingston,  Pa. ; he  studied 
medicine  with  his  father,  and  afterwards  at- 
tended the  medical  school  at  Syracuse,  K.  Y. 
In  1873  he  went  West  and  spent  several  years 
in  Mexico,  Colorado  and  other  Western  States. 
While  engaged  in  railroading,  as  conductor  of 
a train,  he  met  with  a serious  and  nearly  fatal 
accident.  In  1880  he  married  Anna  Guilkey, 
a resident  of  Kansas  City,  Missouri.  In  1885 
he  returned  home  on  account  of  the  illness  of 
his  father,  and  is  now  residing  at  Susquehanna. 
George  S.  (1859),  educated  at  the  public  schools 
of  Susquehanna,  and  also  attended  the  medical 
school  at  Baltimore,  Md.  He  also  studied 
medicine  with  his  father,  but  never  engaged 
in  the  practice  of  that  profession.  He  resides 
with  his  brother  at  Susquehanna. 

Dr.  Smith  was  widely  known  in  Northern 
Pennsylvania  and  Southern  New  York  as  a 
skillful  and  successful  physician.  Coming  to 
Susquehanna  when  it  was  simply  a small  ham- 
let, he  saw  it  grow  and  expand  into  the  first 
town  in  the  county.  Into  the  households  of 
many  of  its  first  residents  he  came  as  their 
family  physician,  and  he  continued  to  hold  this 
relation  until  his  death,  which  occurred  in 
March,  1886.  In  1873  Dr.  Smith  married,  for 
his  second  wife,  Mary  E.  Marshall,  born  in 
1837,  who  survives  him.  Wedded  to  his  pro- 
fession, which,  in  its  exacting  demands  upon 
his  time,  left  him  but  little  opportunity  to  exer- 
cise the  social  proclivities  of  his  nature,  yet  he 


was  ever  genial  and  pleasant  in  his  intercourse  'j 
with  his  fellow-citizens,  and  ever  took  a lively  ji 
interest  in  all  public  enterprises  for  the  improve-  jl 
ment  and  benefit  of  his  town.  His  large  and  iQ 
lucrative  practice  gained  him  a competence,  and  | 
in  his  death  the  medical  fraternity  lost  an 
honored  member,  and  the  community  a skilled 
and  successful  physician. 

Doctok  Latham  Avery  Smith,  eldest  son 
of  Latham  A.  (1781-1848)  and  Sally  (New- 
ton) (1789-1840)  Smith,  was  born  in  Brooklyn, 
Susquehanna  County,  Pa.,  August  14,  1816. 

His  parents  were  natives  of  Groton,  New 
London  County,  Conn.,  where  they  were  mar- 
ried in  1807,  and  whence  they  came  to  Su.sque- 
hanna  County  in  1813,  having  purchased  a large 
tract  of  land  in  Brooklyn  township. 

His  paternal  grandparents  were  James  and 
Annis  Smith,  who  were  born  and  raised  in  New 
London  County,  Conn.,  and  had  ten  children. 
They  came  to  Susquehanna  County  with  their 
son  and  died  here.  His  maternal  grandparents 
were  Elijah  and  Judith  (Jones)  Newton,  of  Gro- 
ton, Conn.,  who  were  married  in  1788  and  died 
within  a few  mouths  of  each  other,  after  attain- 
ing the  great  age  of  ninety-five  years.  The 
children  of  L.  A.  and  Sally  (Newton)  Smith 
were  Sally  L.  (1808-72),  married  William 
W.  Weston,  one  of  the  pioneers  of  Brooklyn 
and  the  parent  of  E.  A.  Weston,  ex-superin- 
tendent of  schools  and  a prominent  citizen,  and 
was  the  mother  of  Dr.  Wm.  L.  Weston,  the 
dentist,  practicing  at  New  Milford  ; Cyntha  S. 
(1810-84),  married  Edwin  Tiffany,  of  Harford 
township;  Emma  A.,  born  181 2,  is  the  wifeof  Col.  * 

C.  M.  Gere,  and  resides  at  Montrose ; Mary  H. 
(1814-84)  was  the  wife  of  James  Adams,  the  tan- 
ner, of  Brooklyn  township;  Latham  A.;  E. 

N.  (1818-86)  studied  medicine  and  became  a 
prominent  practitioner  in  the  county,  as  will  be 
noted  in  a sketch  on  page  139  of  this  chap- 
ter; Hubbard  N.,  born  1821,  a farmer,  of 
Lenox  township ; Deborah  A.  (1824-82) 
was  the  wife  of  L.  R.  Peck,  a well-known 
farmer  and  business  man  of  Harford  township  ; 
James  F,,  born  1826,  a farmer  of  Lenox  town- 
ship; and  Eunice  J.,  born  1829,  the  wife  of 
John  Ives,  of  New  Milford  borough. 

The  youthful  days  of  Latham  A.  Smith  were 


MEDICAL  HISTORY. 


141 


spent  upon  liis  father’s  farm  and  in  attendance 
upon  the  district  school,  finishing  with  a course 
at  Harford  University  in  1836.  The  following 
spring  he  commenced  reading  medicine  with  Dr. 
Braton  Richardson,  of  Brooklyn,  Pa.,  and 
during  1839  and  ’40  he  attended  lectures  at  the 
Fairfield  Medical  College,  N.  Y.  After  a year 
and  a half  of  practice  with  his  preceptor  he 
located  at  New  Milford,  where  he  has  been  in 
continuous  practice  to  the  present  time.  In 
1841-42  and  part  of  1843  he  was  in  partner- 
ship with  the  late  Dr.  L.  W.  Bingham, 

Dr.  Smith  joined  the  Susquehanna  County 
Medical  Society  in  1840  and,  with  two  excep- 
tions, has  attended  every  meeting  of  that  body 
for  the  past  forty-six  years.  He  was  j)resident 
of  the  society  in  1866  and  ’67  and  again  in 
1879.  He  represented  the  County  Society  at 
the  State  Medical  Society’s  meetings  in  1858 
and  1864,  and  was  a delegate  in  attendance 
upon  the  meeting  of  the  American  Medical  As- 
sociation also,  in  1864.  Dr.  Smith  is  the 
premier  of  the  Susquehanna  County  medical 
fraternity  in  continuous  practice  within  the 
county,  and  has  ever  maintained  a high  position 
in  the  esteem  of  his  professional  brethren  and 
of  the  community  at  large. 

In  1845  he  married  Mary  J.  (1824-59), 
daughter  of  Henry  and  Eliza  (Fairchild)  Bur- 
ritt,  who  were  among  the  first  settlers  of  New 
Milford.  They  had  three  children,  all  of  whom 
died  in  September,  1852. 

May  30,  1865,  he  married  Mary,  the 

daughter  of  Elias  and  Mary  (Weston)  Hoyt,  of 
Luzerne  County,  Pa.,  who  is  a cousin  of  the 
Hon.  Henry  M.  Hoyt,  ex-Governor  of  Penn- 
sylvania, and  is  a lady  of  cultivated  tastes  and 
artistic  ability.  Their  children  are  Isabella, 
married  Charles  Tipton,  a business  man  of 
Brantford,  Ontario;  Sidney  Hoyt  (1868-72); 
Channing  (1871-72);  Gessella  and  Pauline 
Smith. 

De.  Lemuel  Webb  Bingham  was 
born  at  Windham,  Conn.,  in  1794,  and  read 
medicine  at  his  native  place  with  Dr.  Avery, 
completing  his  course  with  lectures  at 
the  Medical  Department  of  A^ale  Col- 
lege. In  1817  he  commenced  the  ]>raclice  of 
medicine  at  New  Milford,  where  he  spent  the 


remaining  fifty  years  of  his  life,  his  death  oc- 
curring in  1867.  He  married  Alma  Dean, 
and  of  their  nine  children,  only  one,  Mrs.  Dr. 
G.  D.  Kimball,  of  New  Milford,  is  now  living 
in  the  county.  Dr.  Bingham  was  in  partner- 
ship with  Dr.  L.  A.  Smith  in  1841-42,  and 
with  Dr.  D.  C.  Ainey  in  1860-61. 

He  met  the  hardships  and  trials  incident  to 
the  practice  of  a pioneer  physician  resolutely 
and  cheerfully,  finding  many  warm-hearted 
friends  among  his  patrons,  not  only  in  New 
Milford,  but  in  all  the  adjoining  townships. 
Without  much  of  the  culture  or  polish  of  the 
schools,  he  profited  by  his  experience,  and 
aimed  at  a high  standard- in  his  chosen  vocation. 
Pie  was  among  the  earliest  and  most  active  to 
organize  a County  Medical  Society,  and  on 
the  19th  of  November,  1834,  he  was  one  of  six 
who  met  for  that  purpose,  and  was  chairman  of 
the  committee  to  draft  the  constitution. 

He  was  president  of  the  society  in  1 859  and 
1860,  and  was  ever  held  in  high  regard  by  his 
professional  brethren.  His  services  were  so 
cheerfully  rendered  to  all  classes,  that  his  gen- 
erous disposition  did  not  allow  the  accumulation 
of  much  wealth,  but  his  memory  is  embalmed 
in  the  hearts  of  many  to  whom  he  ministered. 

De.  Samuel  Bissell,  the  youngest  of  five 
children  of  Samuel  and  Betsey  Pierce  Bissell,  was 
born  at  Newport,  R.  1.,  in  1789.  His  parents 
removed  to  ITartwick,  Otsego  County,  N.  A"., 
where  he  read  medicine  two  years  with  a Dr. 
Arnold,  and  pi'acticed  two  years  under  instruc- 
tion with  Dr.  Gott,  a graduate  from  Edin- 
burgh, Scotland,  residing  in  Hartwick.  He 
did  not  attend  lectures  or  receive  the  degree  of 
M.D.,  but  had  for  his  credentials  a certificate 
signed  by  Drs.  Arnold  and  Gott,  of  Hartwick; 
Dr.  White,  of  Cherry  Valley,  and  two  prom- 
inent physicians  of  Cooperstown,  N.  Y. 

In  1811  he  married  Sally,  daughter  of  Israel 
Foote,  of  Hartwick,  and  in  1815  removed  to 
what  is  now  Brooklyn,  this  county,  where  he 
practiced  medicine  until  his  death,  in  1829.  He 
had  twelve  children,  eight  of  whom  are  now  liv- 
ing. His  practice  extended  from  Bridgewater  to 
.\bington,  and  he  often  went  on  horseback 
through  the  woods  to  the  latter  place  and  back 
without  partaking  of  food.  Some  of  the  roads 


142 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


could  be  followed  only  by  marked  trees,  and  he 
was  sometimes  out  all  night  in  the  woods.  He 
was  a surgeon  of  the  War  of  1812,  and  had  an 
honorable  discharge  from  the  service.  He  was 
also  a Free-Mason. 

His  widow  survived  him  until  her  death,  in 
1783,  at  the  age  of  eighty-two  years.  For 
twenty-five  years  after  the  doctor’s  death  she 
was  so  often  sent  for  to  see  the  sick,  that  her 
family  sometimes  felt  that  she  did  not  stay  at 
home  at  one  time  long  enough  to  make  a visit. 

His  daughtei’,  Mrs.  Mary  A.  Fairchild,  re- 
sides close  by  the  old  homestead,  about  half  a 
mile  west  of  Brooklyn  Centre. 

Chester  Tyler,  M.D.  (1787-1847),  was  a 
successful  practicing  physician  for  twenty-two 
years,  and  resided  in  Kennedy  Hill,  in  Gibson.  He 
was  a native  of  Windham  County,  Conn.,  was 
examined  in  physics  and  surgery  at  Delhi, 
N.  Y.,  in  1816,  and  licensed  to  practice  by  the 
Board  of  Examiners.  He  settled  at  Hartwick, 
Otsego  County,  N.  Y.,  where  he  remained 
until  1825,  when  he  removed  to  Gibson.  He 
had  a wide  field  of  practice,  was  known  as  a 
student  of  his  profession,  and  his  counsel  was 
often  sought  by  the  neighboring  physicians.  He 
was  an  elder  in  the  Presbyterian  Church. 

Dr.  William  BissELL,son  of  John  and  Mary 
Bissell,  was  born  at  Milton,  Litchfield  County, 
Connecticut,  in  1803.  In  1828  he  came  to 
Brooklyn,  this  county,  and  studied  medicine 
with  Dr.  Samuel  Bissell  oue  year,  and  at  Mont- 
rose, with  Dr.  Charles  Frazier  one  year  and 
eight  months.  He  practiced  a short  time  at 
Warren,  Pa.,  and  at  Friendsville  with  Dr. 
Calvin  Leet,  until  he  was  married,  in  1834,  to 
Parthenia  H.  Web.ster.  He  then  settled  in 
Forest  Lake,  and  subsequently  moved  about  two 
miles  south,  in  Rush  (now  Jessup)  township, 
where  he  lived  until  his  death,  in  1883.  Of 
eight  children,  only  Jessie  W.,  widow  of  ex- 
Sheriff  M.  B.  Helme,  survives  him.  His  son, 
Alanson  AV.,  died  for  his  country  at  Belle  Plain, 
Va.,  in  June,  1863.  AAJth  the  increasing  infirm- 
ities of  life,  the  doctor  gave  more  attention  to 
his  farm  than  to  practice  in  his  last  years. 
His  widow  resides  with  her  daughter  at  the 
homestead. 

Dr.  Bissell  was  a member  of  the  Susquehanna 


County  Medical  Society  and  enjoyed  the  respect 
of  the  medical  profession  for  his  worth. 

Dr.  Nathaniel  Pendleton  Cornwell, 
son  of  Alba  and  Keturah  Cornwell,  was  born 
in  the  Black  River  country,  in  the  State  of  New 
York  in  1804.  When  he  was  a year  old  his 
parents  removed  to  Susquehanna  County.  AVhen 
a mere  lad  he  began  to  live  with  Dr.  Mason 
Dennison,  of  Montrose,  and  afterward  read  med- 
icine with  him.  He  practiced  about  three  years 
at  Warren,'  Pa.,  and  then  Paupack,  Pa.,  in  con- 
nection with  hotel-keeping  three  or  four  years. 
About  1840  he  purchased  a farm  at  Fairdale, 
where  he  lived  until  his  death,  in  1883.  For 
many  years  he  had  an  extensive  practice,  and 
was  considered  a shrewd  financier.  His  first 
wife  was  Amanda  Reynolds,  and  they  had  eight 
children,  six  of  whom  attained  to  adult  years. 

Braton  Richardson,  M.D.,  the  youngest 
son  of  Caleb  and  Huldah  Richardson,  was  born 
at  Appleborough,  Bristol  County,  Mass.,  in  1803, 
and  came  with  his  parents  to  Harford,  Pa.,  in 
1806.  He  was  to  a great  extent  deprived  of 
literary  advantages ; yet  his  education  was  not 
neglected,  for  around  his  father’s  fireside  he  and 
his  brothers  diligently  prosecuted  their  studies. 
He  read  medicine  with  Thomas  Sweet,  M.D., 
at  Canaan,  Pa.,  in  1825-27,  and  with  Charles 
Marshall,  M.D.,  at  Newton,  N.  J.,  in  1 828-29 ; 
attended  lectures  at  the  Western  Medical  Col- 
lege, at  Fairfield,  N.  Y.,  receiving  a diploma 
from  Albany  Medical  College  in  the  year  1834  ; 
commenced  practice  at  Carbondale,  Pa.  in  1829 
for  one  year,  and  at  Brooklyn,  this  county,  in 
1830,  where  he  led  an  active  and  useful  life  of 
thirty-four  years. 

In  September,  1840,  he  married  Lucy  C. 
Miles,  daughter  of  Joshua  Miles,  Jr.,  of  Brook- 
lyn. They  had  no  children  and  she  survived  him. 

He  was  the  first  president  of  the  Susquehanna 
Medical  Society  when  organized,  in  1838.  He 
was  also  president  in  1855  and  ’56,  and  from 
1860  to  his  death,  after  a brief  illness,  March 
20,  1864. 

For  several  years  he  represented  the  County 
Society  at  the  State  Society,  of  which  he  was 
one  of  the  censors,  and  twice  attended  the 
American  Medical  Association  as  a delegate. 

As  a physician.  Dr.  Richardson  was  in  the 


MEDICAL  HISTORY. 


143 


foremost  rank  of  the  profession  in  Susquehanna 
County.  He  despised  quackery  out  of  the  pro- 
fession or  in  it,  and  was  a zealous  supporter  of 
medical  organizations  for  its  suppression.  He 
was  reinarkabfe  for  his  punctuality  in  all  appoint- 
ments, and  whenever  absent  or  tardy,  it  was 
well-known  that  there  must  be  some  good  reason 
for  it.  Precise,  dignified  and  courtly  in  man- 
ner, with  a vigorous  intellect  and  good  common 
sense,  he  secured  the  respect  and  esteem  alike  of 
his  professional  brethren  and  the  community 
to  whose  welfare  he  devoted  the  best  years  of 
his  life. 

Dr.  JasiAH  Bi.ackman,  son  of  Josiah  and 
Clarissa  Camp  Blackman,  was  born  at  Newtown, 
Conn.,  May  24,  1794.  He  read  medicine  with 
Dr.  Gideon  Shepard,  of  the  same  place,  and  at- 
tended lectures  at  the  Medical  Department  of 
Yale  College  in  the  winter  of  1814  and  ’15, 
and  received  his  diploma  to  practice  medicine 
according  to  the  practice  of  the  time  from  the 
Connecticut  Medical  Society,  January  16,  1816. 
A certificate  of  his  qualifications  to  practice, 
which  has  the  autograph  of  Prof.  Benjamin 
Silliman,  is  now  in  the  possession  of  his  daugh- 
ter. In  April,  1816,  he  settled  in  Gilbertsville, 
Otsego  County,  N.  Y.  He  married  Miss  Emily 
Donaldson,  of  Butternuts,  N.  Y.,  Feb.  8,  1820. 
They  had  three  daughters,  of  whom  only  Emily 
C.,  the  historian  of  Susquehanna  County,  sur- 
vives. They  adopted  a son,  who  bears  the  name  of 
Harlan  Page  Blackman,  and  resides  at  Wilkes- 
Barre.  Mrs.  Blackman  was  a most  estimable 
lady,  and  died  in  1864. 

In  September,  1829,  Dr.  Blackman  removed 
to  Binghamton,  N.  Y.,  and  in  July,  1836,  he 
located  at  Montrose,  Susquehanna  County,  Pa., 
where  he  remained  in  practice  nearly  forty 
years,  until  his  death,  July  25,  1875.  Nov.  12, 
1836,  he  united  by  letter  with  the  Presbyterian 
Church  at  Montrose,  of  which,  Eeb.  25,  1840, 
he  was  elected  a ruling  elder,  and  held  that 
position  for  more  than  thirty-five  years. 

He  was  elected  coroner  of  Susquehanna 
County  for  three  years  in  1857.  Pie  was  sec- 
retary of  the  meeting  of  physicians  held  Nov. 
19,  1838,  which  dates  the  successful  organiza- 
tion of  the  Susquehanna  County  Medical  Soci- 
ety, and  was  actively  interested  in  it  for  thirty- 


seven  years.  He  held  the  offices  of  secretary 
and  treasurer  at  different  times  and  was  presi- 
dent in  1857  and  ’58. 

Dr.  Blackman  was  plain  and  unassuming, 
modest  and  diffident,  slow  and  cautious  in 
coming  to  conclusions,  but  firm  and  decided  in 
them  when  reached.  An  independent  thinker,  a 
sincere  Christian,  kind-hearted  and  generous. 
Dr.  Blackman  commanded  the  highest  respect 
and  confidence  of  the  church  of  his  choice,  of 
the  community  in  which  he  lived  and  of  the 
medical  profession,  of  which  he  was  an  honored 
member. 

His  extreme  modesty  in  regard  to  the  value 
of  his  services  was  such  that,  in  a field  where 
many  would  have  secured  ample  means,  his  last 
years  found  him  in  moderate  circumstances. 
He  sought  a good  name  rather  than  riches,  and 
his  reward  is  on  high. 

Peter  Harris  Gardner,  M.D.  — His 
fourth  paternal  grandfather,  Stephen  Gardner, 
of  East  Greenwich,  11.  I.,  is  believed  to  be  a 
great-grandson  of  Lion  Gardiner,  first  jiroprie- 
tor  of  Gardiner  Island.  Perigreen,  son  of  Ste- 
phen, born  in  East  Greenwich  about  1710, 
married  Susanna  Robinson,  of  South  Kingston, 
had  eight  children,  and  removed  about  1747 
with  his  family  to  New  London,  Conn.  John, 
third  child  of  Perigreen,  born  1737,  married 
Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Benjamin  and  Hannah 
Mumford,  who  were  sureties  for  Gilbert  Stew- 
art, the  famous  portrait  painter  of  Revolution- 
ary days,  in  the  baptism  of  his  infant  son  Gil- 
bert in  1756,  and  with  his  wife  and  two  chil- 
dren, Richard  and  Thankful,  removed  to  Exe- 
ter, in  the  Wyoming  Valley,  about  1771.  He 
was  elected  a town  officer  there  at  the  first  elec- 
tion in  1774,  and  was  a prominent  and  patriotic 
citizen.  On  June  30,  1778,  while  at  work  with 
seven  others  in  their  cornfields,  three  miles  up 
the  river  from  Fort  Jenkins,  the  party  was 
attacked  by  the  Indians,  four  of  their  number 
killed  and  scalped,  one  e.scapcd,  and  John  Gard- 
ner and  two  others  were  taken  alive.  Miner, 
in  his  history  of  the  early  settlers  of  Exeter, 
makes  special  mention  of  this  John  Gardner. 
On  the  morning  of  July  4th  following,  his  wife 
and  children  were  permitted  to  see  and  take 
leave  of  him.  A heavy  load  was  then  placed 


144 


HISTOEY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


on  his  slioulders,  a halter  was  put  around  his 
neck  and  he  was  led  away  by  his  captors.  “ I 
go  to  return  no  more,”  he  said.  Upon  arriving 
at  “Standing  Stone,”  Bradford  County,  he  fell, 
crushed  to  the  ground  by  the  weight  of  his  load, 
and  was  handed  over  to  the  squaws,  who  drove 
slivers  of  pine  into  his  flesh  and  tortured  him 
to  death  by  fire.  Steuben  Jenkins  also  wrote 
an  account  of  Gardner’s  captivity  as  related  by 
an  eye-witness — Elisha  Harding,  then  a boy. 
After  the  parting,  the  wife  and  mother,  by  the 
advice  of  her  husband  at  the  interview,  with 
her  five  children,  made  her  way  on  foot  back  to 
her  friends  in  Connecticut,  passing  over  the 
mountains  and  through  the  “Shades  of  Death” 
in  Northern  Pennsylvania.  Ten  years  after- 
ward, the  eldest  child,  Richard,  married  Lydia 
Chapman,  and,  with  his  mother  and  the  other 
children,  returned  and  settled  upon  the  lands 
formerly  occupied  by  his  father  in  the  Wyoming 
Valley.  He  established  Gardiner’s  Ferry  (so 
spelled  from  the  spelling  of  his  own  name) 
across  the  Susquehanna,  which  has  been  in 
uninterrupted  operation  for  nearly  a century. 
He  distinctly  remembered  the  terrible  days  of 
the  massacre  and  the  circumstances  of  his 
father’s  captivity.  He  died  July  4,  1858,  aged 
ninety-one,  just  eighty  years  from  the  last  time 
he  saw  his  father.  John  (1789-1867),  eldest 
son  of  Richard,  married,  at  twenty-two,  Rosiua, 
youngest  daughter  of  Peter  Harris,  a Quaker 
and  an  early  settler  of  the  Wyoming.  He  was 
a stone-mason  and  farmer,  served  in  the  War  of 
1812,  and  in  1819  settled  with  his  family  at 
Tunkhannock,  where  he  resided  until  his  death. 
He  was  an  honest  man  and  a Christian.  His 
wife  died  in  1863.  She  was  a woman  of  Chris- 
tian excellence  and  marked  individuality. 

This  Peter  Plarris  was  also  taken  by  the 
scouts  prior  to  the  mas,sacre  of  Wyoming  ; but, 
being  known  by  some  of  them  to  be  a non- 
combatant,  was  released  subsequent  to  the  battle 
and  immediately  started  with  his  wife,  Mrs. 
Gardner  and  their  children,  to  Goshen,  N.  Y. 
Leaving  his  family  there  with  their  friends,  he 
accompanied  Mrs.  Gardner  and  children  to  her 
father’s  home  in  Connecticut.  Returning  after 
the  Pennamite  War,  he  found  his  land  on  the 
east  side  of  the  river,  in  Exeter,  occupied  by 


one  Jones,  to  dispossess  whom  he  instituted  pro- 
ceedings, and  in  1803  obtained  judgment  before 
the  board  of  commissioners  appointed  by  the 
State  of  Pennsylvania  to  hear  the  claims  of 
Yankee  settlers,  and  afterward  possession  of  the 
property,  nothing  having  been  established  in 
court  to  invalidate  his  claim,  though  great  and 
persistent  efforts  was  made  by  Jones  to  annul 
his  title  by  an  attempt  to  prove  disloyalty  to  his 
neighbors  and  the  settlement.  Peter  Harris’ 
wife  was  Polly  Goldsmith,  a Quaker  lady  whose 
family  was  prominent  in  the  early  history  of 
New  AMrk  colony,  and  her  mother  was  a sis- 
ter of  Lieutenant-Governor  Golden. 

The  children  of  John  and  Rosina  Gardner 
were  Mary  A.,  born  1812,  married  Adna  Wood, 
resided  in  Philadelphia,  where  she  died,  leaving 
six  children  ; Lydia  Malvina,  1814,  unmarried, 
resides  on  the  old  homestead  at  Tunkhannock, 
was  for  many  years  a member  of  the  faculty 
of  Franklin  Academy,  where  she  taught  bot- 
any, drawing  and  painting  ; Ruth,  1815,  mar- 
ried Rev.  Nathan  Leighton,  now  of  Tunkhan- 
nock, and  has  two  surviving  children,  her  son 
Theodore  being:  an  Alumnus  of  Yale  College 
and  principal  of  a private  school  at  Yonkers, 
N.  Y.  ; Phebe  (1817-61)  married  George 
Leighton,  and  has  seven  surviving  children,  of 
whom  one  son,  James  G.,  is  a leading  merchant 
at  Tunkhannock;  Dr.  Peter  Harris,  1819; 
John  Richard,  1821,  a mill-wright,  went  West 
in  1853  ; Nancy,  1824,  married  Dr.  F.  B. 
Davison,  of  Fleetville,  Pa.,  had  four  children, 
one  of  whom.  Dr.  Harry  Gardner  Davison, 
died  in  1886;  Caroline  Calista,  1826,  wife  of 
Dr.  J.  C.  Miles,  of  Dalton,  Pa.,  has  three 
children, — Dr.  C.  A.  Miles,  of  Yonkers,  N.  Y., 
Edwai’d  Miles,  a lawyer  in  Scranton,  and  Car- 
rie Miles  ; Sarah  Samantha,  1829,  wife  of  Dr. 
G.  B.  Seamans,  of  Pleasant  Valley,  Pa.,  has 
two  children  ; and  Angeline,  born  in  1833, 
wife  of  Thomas  Young,  I’esides  in  Scranton. 

Peter  Harris  Gardner,  eldest  son  of  John,  was 
born  at  Tunkhannock,  Wyoming  County,  Pa., 
May  16,  1819.  In  boyhood  he  learned  to  work 
on  the  farm  and  in  the  quarry,  and  besides  in- 
struction in  the  public  school,  he  was  taught  by 
his  elder  sisters  at  home.  He  was  a student  at 
Franklin  Academy  for  two  years,  and  in  the 


MEDICAL  HISTOKY. 


145 


private  school  of  his  sisters  at  Timkhannock 
during’  the  winter  of  1842-43.  At  the  age  of 
seventeen  he  met  with  an  accident  which  proved 
the  determining  circumstance  in  causing  him  to 
choose  the  practice  of  medicine  for  his  life-work, 
and  afterward  he  gave  himself  to  study.  He 
read  medicine  with  Dr.  B.  A.  Bouton,  of  Tunk- 
hanuock,  and  attended  lectures  in  1844-45  at 
Pennsylvania  Medical  College.  He  began  the 
practice  of  his  profession  at  Merryall,  Pa.,  in 
May,  1845,  removed  to  Tunkhannock  in  the 
autumn  of  1848,  and  in  1852  settled  in  Clilford, 
Susquehanna  County,  where  he  has  since  resi- 
ded and  successfully  practiced  medicine. 

Dr.  Gardner  married,  in  1844,  Adaline  S., 
daughter  of  Deacon  Lee  Richardson  and  Lois 
Carpenter,  and  sister  of  Dr.  William  L.  Rich- 
ardson, of  Montrose.  She  was  born  March  21, 
1822,  and  educated  at  Franklin  Academy  un- 
der the  eminent  educator.  Rev.  Lyman  Richard- 
son, her  uncle.  Deacon  Richardson  was  a 
descendant  of  Stephen  Richardson,  who  came 
from  England  about  1666  and  settled  at  Wo- 
burn, Mass.  The  line  follows  through  Wil- 
liam, born  1678,  and  his  son  Stephen,  born 
1714,  residents  of  Attleborough,  in  the  same 
State.  Caleb,  born  at  Attleborough,  1739,  son 
of  Stephen,  married  Esther  Tiffany,  was  a 
soldier  in  the  French  War  of  1765  and  was 
with  General  Bradstreet  at  the  capture  of  Fron- 
tenac.  He  was  a captain  in  the  Continental 
Army  under  Washington  and  was  left  in  com- 
mand of  the  fort  -when  the  latter  withdrew 
from  New  York.  He  was  one  of  the  “Nine 
Partners  ” noticed  in  the  early  history  of  Har- 
ford township,  although  he  did  not  make  Penn- 
sylvania his  home  until  1808.  His  son  Caleb, 
1762,  came  to  Harford  in  1806,  and  his  sons, 
Dea.  Lee,  Rev.  Lyman,  Preston  and  Dr.  Braton 
Richardson,  are  prominent  in  the  early  history 
of  the  county. 

Lois  Carpenter  was  a granddaughter  of 
another  of  the  “ Nine  Partners.”  Dr.  Gardner 
has  five  surviving  children, — Morton  Atlee, 
married  Minnie  M.  Wells,  resides  in  Clifford, 
was  a merchant,  was  sixteen  years  assistant 
postmaster  at  Clifford,  and  about  1882  estab- 
lished the  Clifford  Agency  for  Fire  and  Life  In- 
surance ; Helen  A.,  married  George  Simpson, 


of  Clifford  ; A’Delphine,  married  Rev.  James 
W.  Putnam,  pastor  of  the  Temple  Baptist 
Church,  Philadelphia  ; Dr.  Edward  R.,  since 
his  graduation  in  1882,  has  been  associated  with 
his  father  in  the  practice  of  medicine  ; Clara  M., 
is  the  wife  of  Professor  Frank  S.  Miller,  prin- 
cipal of  the  public  schools  of  Everett,  Bedford 
County,  Pa. 

Dr.  Gardner  has,  through  disheartening  physi- 
cal disability,  largely  retired  from  the  active 
practice  of  his  profession.  In  his  chosen  field 
of  labor  he  has  been  a student,  skillful  in  the 
diagnosis  and  treatment  of  disease  and  highly 
esteemed  by  his  professional  brethren.  As  a 
citizen,  he  has  been  identified  with  the  various 
public  enterprises  of  the  community  where  he 
resides,  and  especially  has  he  taken  a deep  in- 
terest in  educational  matters  and  advocated 
every  measure  tending  to  facilitate  and  improve 
the  school  system  and  educational  work.  In 
1862  he  was  chiefly  instrumental  in  the  removal 
of  the  board  of  directors  of  the  township  and 
in  the  appointment  of  a new  board  pledged  to 
construct  suitable  school  buildings.  He  was 
prime  mover  in  the  purchase  of  the  grounds  of 
the  Clifford  Valley  Cemetery  Association  and  in 
instituting'that  organization.  Dr.  Gardner  is  a 
member  of  the  Susquehanna  County  Medical 
Society  and  held  the  commission  of  postmaster 
of  Clifford  for  over  sixteen  years. 

Ezra  Patrick,  Jr.,  M.D.,  son  of  Ezra  and 
Rhoda  Casey  Patrick,  was  born  at  New  Leban- 
on, Columbia  County,  N.  A".,  November  22, 
1815.  His  early  education  was  obtained  at 
Columbia  Boarding  School.  At  the  age  of 
twenty-one  he  read  medicine  with  Dr.  Harvey 
Barnes,  of  Canaan,  Columbia  County,  one  year 
and  the  remainder  of  his  time  with  Prof.  H.  H. 
Childs,  of  the  Berkshire  Medical  College,  at 
Pittsfield,  Mass.,  where  he  attended  his  first 
course  of  lectures.  He  attended  his  second 
course  of  lectures  at  the  Vermont  Medical  Col- 
lege, at  Woodstock,  and  his  third  at  the  Berk- 
shire College,  from  which  he  graduated  in  1839. 
He  spent  the  winter  of  1839-40  in  one  of  the 
hospitals  of  New  York  City,  and  in  1840 
located  at  Montrose,  Pa.,  where  he  eontinued  in 
practice  for  a quarter  of  a century.  At  first  he 
was  in  partnership  with  Dr.  E.  S.  Park  for  a 


146 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


few  years,  with  Dr.  G.  Z.  Dimock  in  1855,  and 
with  Dr.  E.  L.  Gardner  from  1859  to  1861. 

In  1846  he  married  Miss  Elizabeth  Jane 
Niven,  step-daughter  of  Col.  F.  Lnsk,  of  Mon- 
trose. He  had  a son,  a young  man  of  great 
promise,  who  died  in  1861,  and  a daughter 
Jenny,  who  is  still  living.  Dr.  Patrick  removed 
to  Great  Bend  village  about  1866,  and  died  there 
in  March,  1874.  His  widow  died  in  Jnly, 
1877. 

He  was  colonel  of  militia  of  Susquehanna 
County.  His  grandfather,  Robert  Patrick,  of 
the  State  of  Connecticut,  was  a captain  in  the 
War  of  the  Revolution.  The  doctor’s  youngest 
brother.  Dr.  David  N.  Patrick,  of  Schuyler’s 
Lake,  N.  Y.,  is  the  sole  survivor  of  his  father’s 
family. 

Dr.  Patrick  was  a member  of  the  Susque- 
hanna County  Medical  Society  for  several  years 
prior  to  1855,  and  was  secretary  in  1848.  In 
his  best  days  he  was  the  leading  surgeon  of  the 
county.  His  keen  perception,  ready  and  reten- 
tive memory  were  of  great  service  to  him  in 
the  practice  of  his  profession.  His  intuitive 
judgment  of  human  nature  was  rarely  equaled 
or  surpassed,  while  his  superabuudanee  of  anec- 
dote, wit  and  humor,  combined  with  the  bril- 
liancy of  his  professional  skill,  were  potent  fac- 
tors in  the  enviable  popularity  which  he  for 
many  years  enjoyed  among  the  people  of  Sus- 
quehanna County. 

Ezra  S.  Park,  M.D.,  son  of  Dr.  Asa  and 
Loraua  Gregory  Park,  was  born  at  Mount 
Pleasant,  Pa.,  August,  1811,  and  came  with  his 
parents  to  Montrose  in  the  spring  of  1812.  At 
the  age  of  fourteen  he  commenced  attending  the 
Montrose  Academy  winters,  and  worked  on 
the  farm  during  the  summer  mouths.  He 
secured  a good  education.  He  read  medicine 
with  his  father.  Dr.  Asa  Park,  and  attended 
two  courses  of  lectures  at  Berkshire  Medical 
College,  Mass.,  where  he  graduated  in  1836. 
He  at  once  commenced  practice  in  Montro.se, 
where,  with  the  exception  of  a few  months  at 
La  Porte,  Pa.,  in  1851,  he  continued  until  1858, 
when  he  removed  to  Iowa,  and  in  1862  to  Red 
Wing,  in  the  State  of  Minnesota,  where  he  now 
resides.  Failing  health  compelled  him  to 
abandon  practice  in  1876.  He  held  the  office 


of  coroner  of  Goodhue  County,  Minn.,  for 
eighteen  years. 

In  1835  he  married  Miss  Ann  Warner,  of 
Montrose.  They  had  seven  children,  of  which  i 
two  died  in  infancy.  Four  are  now  living  in  I 
Iowa  and  one  in  Illinois.  ' 

Dr.  Park  was  a member  of  the  Baptist 
Church.  A kind,  generous  heart  gave  him  a 
warm  place  in  the  affections  of  many.  He  joined 
the  Susquehanna  County  Medical  Society  in 
1838,  and  for  a score  of  years  was  deeply  inter- 
ested in  its  welfare.  He  was  its  president  in 
1847,  secretary  in  1857-58,  and  delegate  to  the 
State  Medical  Society  in  1853.  While  adhering 
to  the  code  of  ethics,  he  was  sensitive  of  unpro- 
fessional treatment,  and  on  such  occasions  could 
express  himself  in  a manner  not  to  be  misunder- 
stood. 

William  Lee  Richardson,  M.D.,  the  old- 
est son  of  Lee  and  Lois  Carpenter  Richardson, 
was  born  at  Harford,  Susquehanna  Co.,  Pa., 
June  7,  18i5.  His  father  was  son  of  Caleb 
Richardson,  one  of  the  nine  partners  of  Harford. 
He  owned  a farm,  but  rvas  a millwright  by 
trade,  and  owned  a saw-mill,  grist-mill  and 
carding  machine.  He  was  colonel  of  militia, 
but  was  generally  known  as,  and  called  “Deacon 
Lee.”  William  lived  at  home  until  eighteen 
years  of  age,  when  his  father  died.  He  had  no 
love  for  farm  labor,  but  had  a fondness  for  me- 
chanics, and  working  with  his  father,  learned 
the  trade  of  carpenter  and  joiner,  at  which  he 
worked  until  October,  1839,  when,  on  account 
of  physical  inability  to  work  at  the  bench,  he 
determined  to  prepare  himself  for  the  medical 
profession.  He  built  the  fine  residence  of  his 
uncle.  Dr.  Braton  Richardson,  of  Brooklyn  Cen- 
tre, and  lived  with  him  from  the  spring  of  1838 
until  the  fall  of  the  succeeding  year,  when  he 
went  to  Fairfield,  N.  Y.,  to  attend  lectures  at 
the  western  district  of  the  University  of  New 
York.  This  was  the  first  course  of  lectures 
delivered  by  the  late  Frank  H.  Hamilton.  In 
1840  he  attended  lectures  at  the  Geneva  Medical 
College,  N.  Y.,  and  soon  afterward  commenced 
practice  in  Brooklyn.  In  1842  he  went  intn 
partnershij>  with  his  uncle  Braton  for  two  or 
three  years,  and  afterwards  practiced  at  Brook- 
lyn independently.  He  attended  lectures  at 


MEDICAL  HISTORY. 


147 


JelFerson  Medical  College,  Philadelphia,  in 
1847-48,  graduating  there  in  tlie  latter  year. 

He  joined  the  Susquehanna  County  Medical 
Society  prior  to  1855 — was  secretary  in  1859, 
president  1873-78,  six  yeans — represented  the 
society  in  the  State  Society  in  1859,  ’71,  ’75, 
’76,  ’84  and  ’85,  and  was  a vice-president  of 

the  State  Society  in . He  was  a delegate 

from  the  State  Society  to  the  International 
Medical  Congress,  held  at  Philadelphia  in  1876. 

In  January,  1849,  he  married  Miss  Mary 
Fish,  whose  parents  were  among  the  early  set- 
tlers of  Brooklyn  township. 

From  Brooklyn  Dr.  Richardson  removed  to 
Ne.squehoning,  Carbon  Co.,  Pa.,  in  1848,  and 
was  in  the  employ  of  dilferent  mining  compa- 
nies until  October,  1858,  when  he  removed  to 
Montrose.  At  the  end  of  a year  he  returned  to 
Hesquehoning  and  remained  there  until  1867, 
when  he  again  returned  to  Montrose,  where  he 
now  resides. 

His  friend.  Dr.  R.  Leonard,  of  Mauch  Chunk, 
in  the  “History  of  Carbon  County,”  says  of 
him,  “He  has  always  been  a faithful  aud  con- 
scientious physician,  kind  and  attentive  to  his 
patients,  gentlemanly  and  courteous  to  his 
brother  practitioners  and  a strict  observer  of  the 
code  of  ethics  He  takes  an  active  interest  in 
the  local  medical  society  where  he  resides.” 

A plain,  unassuming  man,  these  sentiments 
have  been  applicable  to  him  in  all  his  profes- 
sional career,  and  there  are  few  practitioners  in 
the  county  who  have  found  more  steadfast 
friends  among  their  patients  than  he.  Childless, 
he  has  a fondness  for  children  which  is  heartily 
reciprocated  by  his  many  little  friends.  He  has 
an  eye  for  good  horses,  and  always  drives  a 
splendid  team;  and,  though  not  a sportsman, 
has  skill  with  rod  and  gun. 

Among  the  people  of  Brooklyn  he  was  famil- 
iarly called  Doctor  “ Bill,”  to  distingui.sh  him 
from  his  uncle  Braton. 

Dr.  Daniel  Avery  Latiirop,  son  of  Hon. 
Benjamin  aud  Clarissa  Avery  Lathrop  was 
born  in  Bridgewater  township,  March  3,  1811. 
He  attended  school  at  Montrose,  and  com- 
menced the  study  of  medicine  with  Dr.  Adam 
Davison  and  finished  with  Dr.  Charles  Fraser 
of  the  same  place.  He  attended  lectures  at 


Jefferson  College,  Philadelphia  in  1833-34, 
and  practiced  a short  time  with  Dr.  C.  Leet,  of 
Friendsville.  A young  man  of  good  parts,  with 
share  of  good  sen.se  and  acquired  ability,  he 
located  at  Bellevue,  Ohio,  in  1835,  where  he  re- 
mained until  1862,  when  he  returned  to  Mont- 
rose. In  1836  he  married  Miss  Nancy  M., 
daughter  of  Dr.  Forbes.  They  had  five  chil- 
dren— Fredrick,  Chauncey,  Mary,  Clarissa  and 
Benjamin.  Fredrick  died  in  1846;  Chauncey 
pa.s.sed  through  the  whole  of  the  war  of  1861, 
and  was  five  years  in  the  regular  service  after 
its  close  ; he  resides  at  Bellevue,  Ohio ; Mary 
died  in  her  early  girlhood.  Clara  married  AY. 
E.  Green,  Esq.,  and  little  Benny,  the  youngest, 
died  almost  instantly  from  being  choked  to 
death  by  a morsel  entering  the  windpipe  and 
producing  spasmodic  stricture  of  the  glottis. 

Dr.  Lathrop  remarried  Miss  Eudora,  daughter 
of  George  and  Flora  Simmons  Keeler,  of  IMont- 
rose,  in  1861.  He  died  in  1884. 

The  Experiment  published  at  Norwalk,  Ohio, 
in  September  following,  says  of  him,  “ The 
doctor  was  one  of  the  best  known  physicians 
and  surgeons  in  this  section  of  country  for 
many  years.  His  practice  was  extensive,  and 
his  attainments  in  his  profes.siou  univer.sally  re- 
cognized. He  was  for  some  years  surgeon  for 
the  “ Cleveland  aud  Toledo  Railroad,”  and  is 
said  to  have  performed  difficnlt  surgical  oper- 
ations on  the  same  day  both  at  Toledo  and 
Cleveland,  one  hundred  miles  apait.  He  was 
a man  of  great  industry  and  energy,  which  he 
freely  gave  to  the  calls  of  his  profession  until 
past  middle  life,  'when  he  retired  from  its  hard- 
ships and  spent  the  remainder  of  his  days  in 
quiet,  among  his  kindred  and  early  friends  in 
his  native  home — his  health  for  several  years 
havinvseriouslv  broken  down.  He  was  seventv- 
three  years  of  age.  Death  was  due  to  loss  of 
vital  force. 

He  joined  the  Susquehanna  County  Medical 
Society  in  1863  and  enjoyed  the  fraternal  I'e- 
gard  of  the  profession. 

Dr.  Johnson  C.  Oiaistead,  son  of  Oshoru 
and  Violetta  Raymond  Olmstead,  was  born  in 
New  Y’ork  City  in  1819.  In  early  life  his 
parents  moved  to  Bethany,  then  the  county-scat 
of  Wayne.  He  received  his  education  at 


148 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


Bethany  Academy.  Among  his  school  mates 
were  R.  B.  Little,  \Vm.  Little,  R.  R.  Little, 
David  Wilmot,  G.  B.  Eldred,  Ira  Vadakin  and 
Jonathan  Langdon,  all  since  residents  of  Mont- 
rose. 

In  1841  he  entered  the  office  of  Dr.  Edwin 
Graves  of  Bethany.  He  attended  lectures  at 
Castleton  Medical  College,  Vermont  in  1844— 
45,  and  in  the  following  year  commenced  prac- 
tice with  his  preceptor  at  Honesdale.  In 
1846  he  married  Dency  C.  Woodward,  sister  of 
Hon.  W.  J.  Woodward,  who  died  in  1864. 
He  remarried  Jo  Emelyn  Brownel  of  Dundaff, 
in  1868.  In  the  latter  part  of  1846  he  settled 
at  Clifford,  and  in  1849  removed  to  Dundaff, 
Pa.,  where  he  remained  in  continuous  practice 
except  the  year  1856,  which  he  spent  in 
taking  lectures  at  University  of  New  York 
and  Bellevue  Hospital  Medical  College  (his 
brother,  Dr.  J.  H.  Olmstead,  occupying  his 
place  in  his  absence),  until  his  death  after  a 
short  illness,  in  1887,  leaving  his  widow  and 
one  sou.  Drs.  Janies  L.  Reed,  Wm.  Alexander, 
J.  H.  Olmstead  and  D.  L.  Bailey  were  his 
partners  at  different  times. 

De.  John  Williams  Denison,  son  of 
Ben.  Adam  and  Eunice  Williams  Denison,  was 
born  at  Montrose,  1818;  read  medicine  with 
his  father  and  uncle.  Mason  Denison  ; also 
with  Drs.  Park  and  Patrick,  of  Montrose.  He 
attended  lectures  at  the  Berkshire  Medical 
College,  Mass.,  in  1840,  and  the  following 
year  located  at  Mehoopany,  Wyoming  County 
Pa.,  where  (with  the  exception  of  from  1856  to 
1866  at  Terrytown,  Bradford  County,  Pa.,  and 
from  1866  to  1877  at  Wilkes-Barre  Pa.,)  he 
has  since  resided,  and  is  at  present  engaged  in 
the  drug  business.  He  Avas  elected  to  the  House 
of  Representatives  of  Pennsylvania  in  1852.  He 
married  Miss  Caroline  Margaret,  daughter  of 
Major  John  Fassett  of  Mehoopany,  in  1843. 
She  died  in  1854.  He  remarried  Clarissa, 
daughter  of  Timothy  Whitcomb,  1856. 

Calahn  Colton  Halsey,  M.  D.,  son  of 
Rev.  Herman  and  Sophia  Woolworth  Halsey, 
both  natives  of  Bridge-Hampton,  L.  I.,  A\as 
born  at  Bergen,  Genesee  County,  N.  Y.,  March 
31,  1823.  His  paternal  ance,strv  is  traced  back 
three  hundred  and  sixty-seven  years.  The 


“ History  of  Hertfordshire,  England,”  says  the 
family  of  Halsey  has  been  settled  in  Great 
Gaddesdeu  for  many  generations.  The  earliest 
mention  of  the  family  is  contained  in  a deed 
bearing  date  10th  of  July,  1458  (now  in  pos- 
session of  Thomas  Frederick  Halsey,  Esq., 
M.P.,  of  Gadsden  Place).  In  1559  there  were 
four  families  of  the  name  resident  at  Great 
Gaddesden,  viz.  : Halsey  of  the  Parsonage, 
Halsey  of  the  Wood,  Halsey  of  Northend  and 
Halsey  of  the  Lane.  March  20,  1520,  the 
Rectory  of  Great  Gaddesden  A\ns  leased  to 
John  Halsey  and  William  Halsey,  his  son.  On 
the  dissolution  of  religious  houses  this  rectory 
came  to  the  Crown,  and  was  granted  by  Henry 
VIII.,  on  12th  of  March,  1545,  to  William 
Halsey.  The  estate  knoAvn  as  the  Golden 
Parsonage  has  since  continued  in  the  family  of 
Halsey, and  is  now  vested  in  Thomas  Frederick 
Halsey,  M.P.  Thomas  Halsey,  great-grandson 
of  William  Halsey,  AAns  baptized  in  1592 ; 
Avas  in  Lynn,  Mass.,  in  1637,  Avhence  he  re- 
moved to  the  eastern  part  of  Long  Island. 
The  subject  of  this  sketch  is  in  the  seventh 
generation  from  this  Thomas  Halsey. 

His  paternal  grandfather.  Dr.  Stephen  Hal- 
sey, Jr.,  Avas  born  at  Southold,  L.  I.,  in  1757, 
served  in  the  army  of  the  Revolution,  received 
a pension  and  died  at  Bi’idge-Hampton,  N.  Y., 
in  1837.  His  paternal  grandmother  Avas  Ham- 
utal,  daughter  of  Philip  and  Cleopatra  HoAvell, 
of  Bridge-Hampton. 

His  father.  Rev.  Herman  Halsey,  graduated 
at  Williams  College,  Mass.,  in  1811,  and  now, 
nearly  ninety-four  years  of  age,  enjoys  good 
health. 

His  maternal  grandfather.  Rev.  Aaron 
Woohvorth,  D.D.,  Avas  born  at  Long  Meadow, 
Mass.,  October  25,  1763.  He  was  grandson  of 
Richard  Woohvorth,  of  Suffield,  Mass.,  Avho 
Avas  born  in  the  latter  part  of  1600.  Dr. 
WoolAAmrth  Avas  pastor  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church  at  Bridge-Hampton,  L.  I.,  from  Au- 
gust 30,  1787,  to  his  death,  in  1821.  His  ma- 
ternal grandmother  Avas  Mary,  daughter  of 
ReA'.  Samuell  Buell,  D.D.,  pastor  at  East 
Hampton,  L.  I.,  from  1746  to  1798,  a period 
of  fifty-two  years. 

Dr.  Halsey’s  advantages  for  education  in 


MEDICAL  HIBTOEZ. 


149 


early  life  were  very  limited,  being  mostly  un- 
der the  supervision  of  his  father,  a pioneer 
preacher  among  the  Presbyterian  Churches  in 
Western  Nevv  York. 

He  entered  Williams  College,  Mass.,  in  1840, 
graduated  in  1844,  and  subsequently  received 
the  degree  of  A.M.  from  his  Alma  Mater. 
To  help  himself  through  college,  he  taught 
school  in  Pownal,  Vt.,  as  did  also  Garfield  and 
Arthur. 

In  the  winter  of  1844-45  he  taught  school 
in  Lewiston,  N.  Y.  ; came  to  Montrose,  Pa.,  in 
April,  1845,  and  was  principal  of  Susquehanna 
Academy  until  April,  1847  ; read  medicine 
with  Drs.  E.  Patrick  and  G.  Z.  Dimock,  of 
Montrose,  and  attended  first  course  of  lectures 
at  Jefferson  Medical  College,  Philadelphia,  in 
1847-48.  In  the  fall  of  1848  he  became  clerk 
of  the  Bank  of  Susquehanna  County,  and  so 
continued  until  January,  1850,  when  the  bank 
went  into  the  hands  of  assignees ; attended 
lectures  at  Castleton  Medical  College,  Vermont, 
and  received  the  degree  of  M.D.  in  1850; 
practiced  in  Cambria,  Niagara  County,  N.  Y., 
one  year;  returned  to  Montrose  and  practiced 
one  year;  then,  early  in  1853,  removed  to 
Nicholson,  Wyoming  County,  Pa.,  and  re- 
mained until  late  in  the  fall  of  1859,  when  he 
returned  to  Montrose,  where  he  has  remained 
until  the  present  time.  During  an  active  prac- 
tice of  seven  years  at  Nicholson  he  found  time 
and  inclination  for  pioneer  work  in  Sabbath- 
school  and  religious  services. 

In  1859  he  joined  the  Susquehanna  County 
Medical  Society,  of  which  he  was  secretary  in 
1861-63,  1873-78  and  1880-87,  and  president 
1868-71.  He  attended  the  meetings  of  the 
State  Medical  Society  in  1863,  ’66,  ’85  and 
’86,  and  twice  represented  that  body  as  a dele- 
gate to  the  Medical  Society  of  the  State  of 
New  York.  He  was  elected  vice-president  of 
the  State  Society  in  1885.  He  was  examining 
surgeon  for  Susquehanna  County  for  the  draft 
of  1862,  and  went  to  Harrisburg  with  the 
drafted  men.  He  was  appointed  pension  exam- 
ining surgeon  in  1864,  and  after  holding  the 
position  twenty-one  years  he  was  notified  that 
his  services  were  no  longer  required.  Since 
1865  with  the  exception  of  two  years,  he  has 


held  the  office  of  jail  physician  for  Susquehanna 
County.  He  was  elected  coroner  for  three 
years  in  1860,  and  again  in  1869,  and  re-elected 
three  successive  terms,  making  fifteen  years  of 
service. 

In  1872  he  was  elected  a ruling  elder  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church  of  Montrose,  and  in  the 
following  year  clerk  of  the  session,  which  posi- 
tion he  still  holds. 

He  became  a Fellow  of  the  American  Acad- 
emy of  Medicine  in  1880.  His  political  faith 
has  been  Abolition,  Free-Soil  and  Republican, 
his  first  Presidential  vote  beina;  for  J.  G.  Bir- 
ney  and  his  last  for  J.  G.  Blaine.  During  the 
war  of  1861  he  was  active  in  the  work  of  the 
Sanitary  Commission.  In  December,  1862,  he 
visited  the  Convalescent  Camp,  at  Alexandria, 
Va.,  in  behalf  of  soldiers  of  Susquehanna 
County,  and  in  June  of  the  following  year 
went  to  Acquia  Creek,  Va.,  to  get  the  body  of 
a dead  soldier  for  his  parents.  Soon  after  this 
General  Lee  invaded  Pennsylvania,  and  the 
Governor  called  earnestly  for  volunteers.  W. 
H.  Jessup’s  company  had  just  gone,  and  there 
seemed  to  be  no  more  men  ready  to  go.  The 
citizens  held  meetings.  The  doctor  was  the 
first  to  volunteer  and  E.  L.  Weeks  the  next. 
They  at  once  commenced  recruiting,  and  in  two 
days  had  the  skeleton  of  a company,  of  which 
the  doctor  was  elected  captain,  and  Frederick 
Warner  orderly.  Proceeding  the  next  day  to 
Harrisburg  with  the  volunteers,  a company 
organization  was  soon  effected,  a squad  of  men 
from  Wyoming  County  joining.  This  was 
Company  D,  Thirty-fifth  Regiment  Pennsylva- 
nia Militia.  The  doctor’s  commission  was 
dated  June  30th,  to  serve  ninety  days,  unless 
sooner  discharged.  The  heavy  cannonading  at 
Gettysburg  was  distinctly  heard  at  Camp  Cur- 
tin, but  the  issue  of  the  battle  was  an  earnest 
to  the  men  that  they  were  not  likely  to  be 
pushed  to  the  front.  The  regiment  went  as  far 
as  Greencastle,  adjoining  the  Maryland  line, 
and  was  mustered  out  by  reason  of  general 
orders  at  Camp  Curtin  August  8th,  after  a ser- 
vice of  thirty-five  days.  On  the  return  of  the 
com])any  to  Montrose  the  citizens  gave  the  men 
a hearty  welcome  and  an  ovation. 

In  the  fall  of  1863  the  doctor  had  a severe 


150 


HISTOKY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


illness,  from  the  effects  of  which  he  has  never 
rallied,  and  for  the  past  decade  of  years,  by  rea- 
son of  impaired  health,  has  been  unable  to 
engage  in  active  service  as  a physician. 

September  27,  1866,  he  married  Miss  Mary 
Etheridge,  daughter  of  Jeremiah  and  Clarissa 
H.  Etheridge,  early  settlers  of  Montrose,  and 
has  since  led  a quiet,  unobtrusive  life. 

Geoege  Milton  Gamble,  M.  D.,  son  of 
George  and  Anna  Keeney  Gamble,  was  born  in 
Bradford  County,  1822.  His  father  was  a 
native  of  Ii’eland,  of  Scotch  parentage,  while 
his  mother  was  born  in  Wyoming  County,  Pa., 
of  parents  who  came  from  Connecticut.  Dr. 
Gamble’s  education  was  obtained  at  Harford 
University.  He  read  medicine  with  Dr.  Geo. 
F.  Horton,  of  Terrytown,  in  his  native  county; 
attended  lectures  at  Jefferson  Medical  College, 
Philadelphia,  from  which  he  graduated  in  1848. 
He  practiced  medicine  for  ten  years  at  Grant, 
Pa.  From  1861,  to  1878  he  practiced  at 
Harford,  this  county,  and  at  Nicholson,  Pa.  He 
served  six  months  as  assistant  surgeon  in  the 
United  States  army  during  the  war  of  1861. 
He  was  physician  and  surgeon  of  the  Soldiers’ 
Orphan  School  at  Harford  for  two  years.  In 
September,  1878,  he  removed  to  Earned,  Kansas, 
where  he  still  resides.  He  married  Miss  Catha- 
rine C.  Guile,  of  Harford,  1848.  Of  six  chil- 
dren, only  three  lived  to  adult  age.  Miss 
Gamble  died  at  Earned,  1881.  In  1883  he 
re-married  to  Mrs.  Mary  S.  Blanden,  of  Bur- 
lingame, Kansas.  Owing  to  impaired  health,  the 
doctor  combined  dentistry  with  his  practice,  and 
at  present  pursues  that  vocation  almost  exclu- 
sively. Dr.  Gamble  became  a member  of  the 
Susquehanna  County  Medical  Society  in  1863. 

Gordon  Zebina  Dimock,  M.  D.,  youngest 
son  of  Davis  and  Betsey  Jenkins  Dimock,  was 
born  in  Montrose  February  26,  1821.  He 
attended  school  at  Montrose  and  Mauniugtou, 
Pa. ; read  medicine  with  Drs.  E.  Patrick  and 
E.  S.  Park,  of  Montrose ; attended  lectures  at 
Berkshire  Medical  College,  Pittsfield,  Mass.,  in 
1840-41;  at  Jefferson  Medical  College,  Phila- 
delphia, in  1842-44,  graduating  in  1844.  He 
was  in  partnership  with  Dr.  Park,  of  Montrose, 
two  years.  In  1846  he  married  Elizabeth  V. 
Post  (daughter  of  Major  Lsaac  Post),  who  died 


in  1854.  He  went  into  partnership  with  Dr. 

E.  Patrick  one  year  in  1855.  He  removed  to  ju® 
Dundee,  N.  Y.  in  1856  for  two  years;  came  j| 
back  to  Montrose  in  1858  and  resumed  practice,  | H 
continuing  until  1861,  vvhen  he  enlisted  as  | ^ 
captain  of  Company  D,  Fiftieth  Regiment  1 1^' 
Pennsylvania  Volunteers,  and  was  discharged  I ® 
September  29,  1864,  by  reason  of  expiration  of 
term  of  service.  While  in  the  service  in  1 863,  : 
he  was  brigade  quartermaster  of  the  First  j|  < 
Division  of  the  Ninth  Army  Corps.  He  was  ■ ' 
regarded  as  one  of  the  finest  military  officers 
from  Susquehanna  County,  and  was  very  popu- 
lar with  his  men.  He  resumed  his  practice  and 
continued  in  Montrose  until  1869,  when  he 
again  went  to  Dundee,  N.  Y.,  where  he  remained 
until  1876.  Thence  he  I’einoved  to  Williams- 
port, Pa.,  and  in  1880  returned  to  Montrose, 
where  he  still  resides.  Physical  Infirmities  and 
impaired  vision,  have  for  the  past  few  years 
prevented  his  engaging  in  active  practice.  He 
receives  a pension  for  disabilities  incurred  in  the 
service.  February  4,  1866,  he  married  Mrs. 
Charlotte  E.  True,  who  died  February  23,  1885. 

He  has  a son  named  Davis  and  a daughter 
named  Alice. 

Dr.  Diraock  joined  the  Susquehanna  County 
Medical  Society  in  1848,  and  represented  it  as 
a delegate  to  the  first  meeting  of  the  State 
Society  in  the  following  year,  and  was  one  of 
the  first  secretaries  of  that  body  at  the  time  of 
its  organization.  He  was  secretaiy  of  the 
County  Society  in  1855-6  and  1860.  In  1859 
he  delivered  the  annual  address,  which  was 
published  in  the  leading  paper  of  the  county, 
and  furnishes  some  data  for  this  chapter.  While 
at  Williamsport  he  became  a member  of  the 
Eycoraing  County  Medical  Society. 

Charles  Chandler  Edwards,  M.  D.,  son 
of  Charles  and  Mary  M.  Chandler  Edwards, 
was  born  in  Harford,  Pa.,  October  1,  1825. 

His  father  was  born  in  Rhode  Island  in  1797, 
and  his  mother  in  Connecticut  in  1802.  He 
obtained  his  early  education  in  the  local  schools; 
read  medicine  with  Dr.  C.  Dickerman,  of 
Harford,  commencing  in  the  spring  of  1845; 
attended  lectures  at  Jefferson  Medical  College,  ( 
Philadelphia,  1848-9;  commenced  practice  in 
company  with  Dr.  C.  Dickerman  in  the  spring 


3IED1CAL  HISTORY. 


151 


of  1849  at  Harford;  attended  lectures  at  Jeffer- 
son Medical  College  in  1874-5,  and  received 
the  degree  of  M.  D.  at  the  close  of  the  session. 
He  practiced  medicine  and  surgery  in  Harford, 
from  1849,  to  1873,  when  he  removed  to  Bing- 
hamton, N.  Y.,  where  he  now  resides,  and  is  in 
active  practice.  In  March,  1850  he  married 
Sarah  M.  Stanton,  of  Wayne  County,  Pa.  He 
has  two  daughters,  Celia  J.  and  Agnes  E.,  and 
one  son,  Frank  M.  Dr.  Edwards  joined  the 
Susquehanna  County  Medical  Society  prior  to 
1855,  and  attended,  as  a tlelegate,  the  meetings 
of  the  State  Society  in  1866  and  1867.  He 
served  as  president  of  the  County  Society,  and 
since  his  removal  to  Binghamton,  he  has  been 
an  active  member  of  the  Broome  County  Medi- 
cal Society,  N.  Y.,  and  is  Medical  Director  of 
the  Security  Mutual  Life  Association  at  Bing- 
hamton, N.  Y.  Dr.  Edwards’  reputation  as  a 
surgeon  was  that  of  one  of  the  best  in  Susque- 
hanna County.  He  was  highly  popular  with 
his  numerous  patrons  for  his  professional  skill 
and  suavity  of  manner,  and  without  envy,  his 
professional  brethren  shared  in  these  sentiments. 
It  has  been  his  fortune  to  reap  more  substantial 
reward  for  his  labor  than  falls  to  the  lot  of  the 
average  practitioner  in  this  vicinity. 

Samuel  Birdsall,  M.  D.,  son  of  William 
H.,  and  Harriet  Gilbert  Birdsall,  was  born  in 
the  town  of  Butternuts,  near  Gilbertsville, 
Otsego  County,  N.  Y.,  September  19,  1842. 
His  father  was  a regularly  ordained  Baptist 
clergyman,  and  served  as  pastor  of  several 
churches,  as  well  as  acting  as  “ supply  ” for 
others.  His  parentage  on  both  sides  is  of  Eng- 
lish descent,  and  both  the  Birdsall  and  the  Gil- 
bert families  were  represented  in  the  Revolu- 
tionary army.  Dr.  Birdsall  acquired  his  early 
education  at  the  public  schools  and  Gilbertsville 
Academy,  and  had  some  experience  as  a teacher, 
but  having  early  decided  to  enter  the  medical 
profession,  he  became  a pupil  of  Dr.  C.  D. 
Spencer,  of  Gilbertsville,  and  his  elder  brother. 
Dr.  Gilbert  Birdsall,  of  North  Brookfield,  N. 
Y.,  and  subsequently  of  Prof.  Stephen  Smith,  of 
New  A"ork  City.  He  attended  his  first  course 
of  lectures  at  the  University  of  Buffalo,  in  1862- 
’63,  and  having  fulfilled  the  requirements  for 
an  appointment  as  a Medical  Cadet  of  the 


United  States  Army,  he  reported  at  Washing- 
ton, D.  C.,  for  examination.  In  the  absence  of 
Dr.  W.  A.  Hammond,  Surgeon-General,  this 
examination  was  under  the  supervision  of  Dr. 
E.  S.  Dunster,  since  Professor  in  the  University 
of  Michigan,  and  resulted  in  his  receiving  a let- 
ter of  appointment  dated,  September  4th,  1863, 
signed,  E.  M.  Stanton,  Secretary  of  War.  The 
number  of  military  cadets  was  limited  to 
seventy ; they  were  surgeon’s  assistants  with 
the  same  rank  and  pay  as  the  West  Point  mili- 
tary cadets.  They  belonged  to  the  staff  of  the 
regular  army,  and  their  appointment  was  for 
one  year. 

After  a brief  visit  to  hjs  brother,  Andrew  J. 
Birdsall,  Ordnance-Sergeant  at  Fort  Ward, 
opposite  Georgetown,  D.  C.,  in  pursuance  of 
orders,  he  reported  to  John  T.  Carpenter,  Medi- 
cal Director  of  the  Department  of  the  Ohio,  at 
Cincinnati,  and  was  assigned  to  duty  at  the 
Licking  Branch  Hospital,  near  Covington,  Ky. 
In  a short  time  thereafter  he  was  transferred  to 
the  large  general  hospital  of  over  two  thousand 
beds  at  Madison,  Indiana,  in  charge  of  Dr.  G. 
Grant,  of  New  Jersey.  Dr.  S.  S.  Schultz,  now 
Superintendent  of  the  Insane  Asylum,  at  Dan- 
ville, Pa.,  was  there  on  duty  as  assistant  sur- 
geon at  this  hospital,  and  his  marked  courtesy 
and  kindness  are  recalled  by  Dr.  Birdsall  with 
great  pleasure. 

The  year  of  his  appointment  having  expired 
in  September,  1864,  he  was  mustered  out  with 
Surgeon  Grant’s  endorsement,  “ Studious  in  his 
habits,  character  and  habits  excellent.”  He 
soon  afterward  entered  Bellevue  Ho.spital  Medi- 
cal College,  and  joined  the  private  class  of  Prof. 
Stephen  Smith,  to  whose  influence  and  thorough- 
ness he  attributes  much  of  his  success  in  after 
years.  In  February,  1865,  he  sustained  a rigid 
examination  for  assistant  surgeon  of  United 
States  volunteers,  with  successful  result.  The 
corps  of  assistant  surgeons  was  limited  to  one 
hundred  and  twenty,  and  they  were  commis- 
sioned by  the  President.  They  belonged  to  the 
general  staff  of  the  army,  and  were  under  the 
immediate  supervision  of  the  surgeon-general. 
Dr.  Birdsall  was  at  once  assigned  to  duty  at 
Fairfax  Seminary  Hospital,  near  Alexandria, 
Va.  The  return  of  the  army  from  Richmond 


152 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


filled  the  hospital  to  overflowing.  After  several 
months  the  hospital  was  closed,  and  Dr.  Bird- 
sail  was  transferred  to  the  garrison  of  Washing- 
ton, D.  C.,  where  having  been  breveted  major, 
he  was  mustered  out  November  27,  1865. 

After  spending  a short  time  at  home,  he  loca- 
ted at  Susquehanna,  Pa.,  in  February,  1866, 
where  he  has  continued  in  the  practice  of  his 
profession  nearly  all  the  time  since.  He  has 
held  the  office  of  United  States  examining  sur- 
geon for  pensions  for  many  years,  and  when 
the  Board  of  Examining  Surgeons  for  Susque- 
hanna County  was  organized,  in  October,  1885, 
he  was  retained  as  a member.  He  is  also  exam- 
iner for  several  life  insurance  companies.  In 
1883,  he  was  elected  coroner  of  Susquehanna 
County,  on  the  Republican  ticket.  When  the 
surgical  department  of  the  Erie  Railroad  Com- 
pany was  organized  in  1874,  he  was  appointed 
surgeon  at  Susquehanna. 

Dr.  Bird.sall  married  Miss  Addie  E.  Sweet, 
of  Susquehanna,  in  1868.  She  died  in  1875, 
leaving  one  .son,  Willie  S.,  now  fifteen  years  of 
age.  In  1881,  he  was  re-married  to  Mi.ss  Car- 
rie F.  Haven,  of  Sirsquehanna.  They  have 
two  sons, — Charles  F.  and  Eddie  S. 

Dr.  Birdsall  has  ever  been  a Republican.  He 
practices  total  abstinence  and  advocates  prohibi- 
tion. He  is  a member  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church,  and  a Sabbath-school  teacher. 

He  joined  the  Sirsquehanna  County  Medical 
Society  in  1867,  and  became  a permanent  mem- 
ber of  the  State  Medical  Society  in  1869,  at 
which  time  he  was  a delegate  from  the  County 
Society,  as  also  in  1871  and  1884.  He  was 
president  of  the  County  Society  in  1881,  and 
has  served  several  years  as  one  of  the  censors  of 
the  Thirteeenth  District  of  the  State  Society. 

The  foregoing  sketch  shows  that  Dr.  Birdsall 
has  thoroughly  equipped  himself  for  his  profes- 
sional duties,  and  his  successful  career  as  a phy- 
sician and  surgeon,  is  evidence  that  he  engages 
con  amove,  and  not  from  sordid  motives  in  his 
chosen  vocation.  In  the  profession  he  has  been 
gentlemanly  and  courteous  ; a strict  observer  of 
the  code  of  ethics  of  the  American  Medical 
Association,  and  always  intolerant  of  quackery 
in  any  form.  The  Medical  Society  has  found 
in  him  one  of  the  best  of  workers,  and  a faith- 


ful ally  in  every  effort  in  the  line  of  improve- 
ment. 

He  has  always  been  intere.sted  in  the  moral 
as  well  as  temporal  welfare  of  the  place  of  his 
home,  never  hesitating  to  come  to  the  front 
in  educational.  Sabbath-school  or  temperance 
movements.  Among  the  best  citizens  of  the 
county,  in  the  full  vigor  of  life,  he  gives  pro- 
mise of  filling  a wide  sphere  of  usefulness, 
while  his  successful  practice  well  attests  the 
high  regard  in  which  he  is  already  held  by 
tho.se  who  know  him  best. 

John  We.sley  Cobb,  M.D.,  son  of  Zipron 
and  Sarah  M.  Crane  Cobb,  was  born  at  Middle- 
town,  N.  Y.,  in  1838.  In  1848  his  father  re- 
moved to  Montrose  for  a short  time,  and  thence 
to  a farm  in  New  Milford,  where  John  attended 
district  school  in  the  winter,  his  teacher,  for  one 
term,  being  Hon.  J.  B.  McCollum.  He  also 
afterward  attended  school  at  New  Milford  vil- 
lage and  at  Montrose.  In  1856  he  began  to 
read  medicine  with  Dr.  E.  Patrick,  of  Mont- 
rose ; attended  lectures  at  Albany  Medical  Col- 
lege, and  graduated  there  in  1859  and  imme- 
diately commenced  practice  at  Montrose.  In 
July,  1862,  responding  to  the  call  of  the  United 
States  Government,  he  went  to  Philadelphia, 
and  having  passed  a .satisfactory  examination, 
he  was  in  Augu.st  following  appointed  to  exam- 
ine volunteers  at  Camp  Curtin,  Harrisburg, 
and  afterward  was  mustered  into  the  One 
Hundred  and  Eighty-fourth  Regiment  Penn- 
sylvania Volunteers  as  first  assistant  surgeon. 
Honorable  M.  S.  Quay  being  its  colonel.  He 
did  duty  at  the  .second  battle  of  Bull  Run  and 
at  Antietam,  was  in  charge  of  general  hospital 
at  Stoneman’s  Station,  near  Falmouth,  Va.,  at 
the  time  of  the  Battle  of  Fredericksburg,  and 
remained  in  charge  until  ordered  to  Washing- 
ton, D.  C.,  with  all  the  sick  and  wounded, 
when  four  hundred  patients  were  transported 
by  cars  to  Acquia  Creek,  Va.,  and  thence  by 
steamboat  to  the  wharf  and  removed  to  the 
General  Hospital  in  Washington,  D.  C.  On 
his  return  to  the  camp  he  was  ordered  to  take 
charge  of  the  third  division  of  the  Fifth  Army 
Corps  Artillery  until  the  Battle  of  Chancellors- 
ville,  when  he  was  put  in  charge  of  the  Medical 
Department  of  the  Fifth  Army  Corps  Artil- 


MEDICAL  HISTORY. 


153 


lery.  In  June,  18G3,  he  was  mustered  out  with 
the  regiment  and  resumed  practice  in  Montrose, 
remaining  there  until  the  winter  of  1873,  when 
he  located  in  Scranton,  Pa.,  and  thence  removed 
to  Binghamton,  N.  Y.,  where  he  now  resides 
in  the  spring  of  1887.  He  joined  the  Suscpie- 
hanna  County  Medical  Society  in  1859,  and 
was  a delegate  to  the  State  Society  in  1865  and 
1866. 

Albright  Dunham,  M.D.,  youngest  of 
twelve  children  of  Elijah  B.  and  Temperance 
Dunham,  was  born  in  Franklin,  N.  Y.,  in 
1825,  to  which  place  his  parents  removed  from 
Hartford  County,  Conn.,  in  the  early  years  of 
their  married  life.  At  the  age  of  twenty  years 
he  started  out  from  home  to  make  his  own  way 
through  life.  In  1836  he  went  to  Illinois, 
where  he  earned  enough,  as  a carpenter,  to  en- 
able him  to  spend  two  years  in  a school  in 
Chicago,  where  he  studied  Latin,  German  and 
mathematics.  He  read  medicine  two  years  with 
Dr.  Danforth,  of  Oswego,  Ills.,  and  attended 
lectures  at  the  Iowa  State  University.  He  re- 
turned eastward,  and  continued  his  studies  with 
Dr.  Henry  Clark,  of  Livingston  County,  N.  Y., 
and  attended  a course  of  lectures  at  Berkshire 
Medical  College,  Massachusetts,  and  afterward 
attended  lectures  at  Jetferson  Medical  College, 
Philadelphia,  where  he  graduated  in  1855.  In 
July  of  the  same  year  he  located  in  Bush,  this 
county.  At  the  end  of  two  years  he  attended 
another  course  of  lectures  in  Philadelphia. 

His  first  wife  was  Helen  E.,  daughter  of 
Hiram  Dewers,  Escp,  of  Bush,  who  died  four 
years  after  marriage.  After  spending  two 
years  at  Meshoppen  in  the  drug  business,  he 
returned  to  Bush.  In  1868  he  remarried  Mrs. 
Olive  E.  Dunham,  sister  of  Dr.  G.  W.  Durga, 
and  they  have  one  child,  a son.  In  1878  he 
removed  to  West  Eaton,  Madison  County, 
N.  Y.,  his  present  residence,  where  he  has  com- 
bined the  practice  of  medicine  with  the  drug 
business. 

David  Leland  Bailey,  M.D.,  eldest  child 
of  Bev.  Edward  L.  and  Mary  T.  Bailey,  was 
born  in  Liberty  township,  1851.  His  father 
was  pastor  of  Berean  Baptist  Church,  Carbon- 
dale,  fourteen  years,  and  pastor  of  the  First 
Baptist  Church  at  Harrisburg.  He  was  chap- 
10 


lain  of  the  State  Senate  three  years.  From 
1867  to  1872  Dr.  Bailey  was  in  the  drug  busi- 
ne.ss  as  prescription  clerk,  and  at  the  end  of 
that  time  commenced  the  study  of  medicine 
with  Dr.  D.  B.  Hand,  of  Carbondale.  He  at- 
tended lectures  at  the  University  of  New  York, 
where  he  graduated  in  1875.  After  a brief 
practice  at  Unioudale,  Pa.,  he  entered  into 
partnership  with  Dr.  J.  C.  Olmstead,  of  Dun- 
dafi‘,  for  four  years,  at  the  end  of  which  time  he 
removed  to  Carbondale,  where  he  now  resides. 
He  joined  the  Susquehanna  County  Medical 
Society  in  1877,  and  was  vice-president  of  the 
Lackawanna  County  Medical  Society  in  1884. 

Samuel  Wellington  Dayton,  M.D.,  son 
of  Jehiel  and  Lydia  Harriet  Dayton,  was  born 
at  Athens,  Pa.,  in  1840,  and  when  a few  weeks 
old  his  parents  removed  to  Great  Bend,  which 
became  his  home  for  the  remainder  of  his  life. 
He  attended  school  at  Elmira,  N.  Y.,  and  a 
private  school  at  Berk.shire,  N.  Y.  He  read 
medicine  with  Dr.  James  Brooks,  of  Great 
Bend,  attended  lectures  at  Long  Island  Medical 
College  and  at  Jefferson  Medical  College,  whence 
he  graduated  in  1863.  He  practiced  medicine 
at  Great  Bend  (now  Hallstead),  from  1865 
until  his  death  in  1883.  He  was  a member  of 
the  Presbyterian  Church.  He  joined  the  Sus- 
quehanna County  Medical  Society  in  1870,  and 
represented  that  body  in  the  meetings  of  the 
State  Society  in  1872-’74-’75.  As  a ])racti- 
tioner  he  aimed  to  keep  abreast  of  the  progress 
of  medical  science  and  had  the  ability  to  take 
high  rank  in  his  profession.  He  was  a gentle- 
man of  culture  and  refinement,  with  pleasing 
manner  and  a generous  disposition,  making 
many  friends  to  sincerely  mourn  his  untimely 
fate. 

Albert  Tibbals  Brundage,  M.D.,  was 
born  in  Newark,  N.  J.,  in  1820,  and  was  the 
son  of  Parmenas  and  Lillis  Brundage.  He  was 
fitted  for  college  by  his  uncle,  Bev.  Abner 
Brundage  and  was  two  years  at  Yale  College.  He 
read  medicine  with  Dr.  Williams  and  with  Dr. 
Wheelei’,  of  Dundalf.  He  was  graduated  in 
1845  at  Castleton  Medical  College,  where  he 
attended  lectures.  He  practiced  medicine  at 
AVhite  Haven,  Waverly  and  Elcetville,  Pa., 
until  1855,  was  a })ublic  lecturer  on  anatomy 


154 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


and  surgery  for  twenty  years,  and  resided  at 
Factoryville.  He  joined  the  Susqiielianna 
County  Medical  Society  in  1868,  and  was  its 
president  in  1883.  Dr.  Brundage  settled  at 
Harford  in  the  spring  of  1887. 

Dr.  Israel  B.  Lathrop  is  the  son  of  James 
Lathrop,  and  was  the  youngest  of  live  children. 
He  was  born  in  Dimock  July  21,  1821,  in  the 
log-house  first  erected  by  his  grandfather,  Asa 
Lathrop,  when  he  came  to  this  county  in  1800. 
His  early  boyhood  was  uneventful,  and  similar 
to  that  of  other  farmers’  boys  of  sixty  years 
ago.  He  attended  the  district  schools,  and 
afterwards  had  the  advantages  of  some  of  the 
best  select  schools  of  that  day.  Naturally  of  a 
studious  disposition,  he  early  decided,  with  the 
consent  of  his  parents,  to  undertake  a profes- 
sional career,  and  his  tastes  inclining  to  the 
practice  of  medicine,  he  at  once  commenced  to 
prepare  himself  to  become  a disciple  of  Escula- 
pius.  At  the  age  of  nineteen  he  entered  the 
office  of  that  well-known  and  eminent  physi- 
cian and  surgeon.  Dr.  Ezra  Patrick,  of  Mont- 
rose, and  was  his  first  student.  Here  he  dili- 
gently applied  himself  to  the  study  of  medicine 
and  surgery,  and  during  the  four  years  of  stu- 
dent-life with  Dr.  Patrick,  he  gained  not  only 
a theoretical  knowledge  of  medicine,  but  what 
was  of  equal  or  greater  value,  a practical 
knowledge  of  the  same.  While  a student  in 
Dr.  Patrick’s  office  he  attended  several  courses 
of  lectures  at  the  Albany  New  A"ork  IMedical 
College.  Looking  about  him  for  a place  to 
locate,  he  decided  upon  Springville,  and  in 
May,  1844,  a modest  shingle  bearing  the  name 
“ Dr.  I.  B.  Lathrop  ” was  nailed  up,  and  he 
at  once  entered  upon  the  practice  of  his  pro- 
fession. Here  he  has  remained  in  active 
practice  for  nearly  half  a century,  and  his  ac- 
knowledged ability,  and  the  reputation  he  has 
established  as  a skillful  and  successful  physi- 
cian has  extended  his  practice  to  many  parts  of 
this  and  adjoining  counties.  Of  commanding 
stature,  robust  health  and  genial  ways,  his  very 
presence  often  proves  a tonic  to  the  invalid  and 
makes  him  or  her  forget  that  his  visit  is  other- 
wise than  a social  one.  In  1845  he  married 
Mary  E.,  daughter  of  Andrew  and  Susan  Bolles, 
who  was  born  in  Dimock  November  8,  1824, 


to  which  place  her  parents  came  from  Connec- 
ticut. In  1853  he  purchased  the  place  where 
he  now  resides,  which  he  has  changed  and  re- 
modeled into  his  present  pleasant  home.  He 
was  commissioned  postmaster  in  1853,  and  held 
the  office  until  1861.  In  1860  he  was  ap- 
pointed deputy  marshal  for  taking  the  census 
of  that  year,  but  his  profes.sional  engagements 
claiming  his  whole  time,  he  declined  the  office. 
During  the  war  he  was  active  and  instrumental 
in  filling  the  quota  of  Springville,  was  treasurer 
of  the  bounty  fund  raised  for  that  purpose,  and 
often  visited  the  board  of  ‘‘Enrollment”  in 
Scranton,  which  he  sometimes  assisted  in  a 
professional  way.  During  the  war  he  was  the 
only  physician  at  Springville  (Dr.  Brush  hav- 
ing entered  the  service),  and  putting  a “ substi- 
tute ” in  his  place,  he  remained  at  home  attend- 
ing to  the  duties  of  his  profession.  Dr.  Lathrop 
has  also  been  engaged  in  business  enterprises 
outside  of  his  profession.  From  1859  to  1862 
he  was  in  partnership  with  Minot  Riley,  in  the 
mercantile  business,  under  the  firm-name  of 
“ Riley  & Lathrop.”  In  1864  he  entered  into 
partnership  with  Henry  N.  Sherman,  in  the 
mercantile  busine.ss,  at  Lynn,  continuing  the 
business  thus  until  1868,  when  it  was  removed 
to  Tunkhannock,  and  from  there  to  Wilkes- 
Bari'e  in  1875,  where  he  still  continues  the 
partnership  business  under  the  firm-name  of 
“ Sherman  & Lathrop.”  Dr.  Lathrop  has  not 
allowed  his  business  enterprise  to  interfere  with 
his  professional  duties.  He  has  earned  and 
enjoys  an  extended  and  lucrative  practice,  and 
his  genial  social  qualities  have  made  him  hosts 
of  friends  outside  of  his  profession  and  his 
patients.  Their  children  are  Henry  Andrew 
(1850-1853);  Edgar  James  (1852),  educated 
principally  in  select  schools,  is  now  residing  at 
Sayre,  Pa.,  where  he  is  a superintendent  in  the 
shops  of  the  Lehigh  Valley  Railroad;  William 
Arthur  (1854)  was  educated  at  select  schools, 
and  after  finishing  a preparatory  course,  entered 
Lehigh  University,  at  Bethlehem,  Pa.,  where 
he  graduated  with  honors  in  the  class  of  ’75. 
During  his  college  course,  besides  the  other 
scientific  branches  taught,  he  made  civil  and 
mine  engineering,  analytical  chemistry  and 
metallurgy  a specialty,  and  shortly  after  he 


MEDICAL  HISTORY. 


155 


graduated  he  entered  the  employ  of  the  Lehigh 
Valley  Railroad  Company,  and  is  now  superin- 
tendent of  the  companies’  mines  and  coke  manu- 
factories at  Snow  Shoe,  Centre  County,  Pa., 
where  he  has  his  home — being  married ; Homer 
Beardsley  (1856)  educated  at  the  home  district 
and  select  schools,  and  also  at  the  Montrose 
Academy,  where  he  graduated  in  1874.  He 
commenced  a post  graduate  course,  but  in  1875 
he  decided  to  adopt  the  profession  of  medicine, 
and  returning  to  Springville,  he  immediately 
commenced  its  study  with  his  father,  and  the 
following  year  he  entered  the  Medical  Depart- 
ment of  the  University  of  Pennsylvania,  and 
graduated  therefrom  in  1878.  Returning  to 
Springville  he  immediately  entered  upon  the 
practice  of  his  profession  in  partnership  with 
his  father,  and,  with  the  exception  of  two  years, 
when  his  health  failed,  has  continued  in  suc- 
cessful practice.  In  January,  1886,  he  was  ap- 
pointed postmaster  at  Springville. 

The  grandparents  of  Dr.  I.  B.  Lathrop  were 
Asa  and  Alice  (Fox)  Lathrop,  who  were  natives 
of  New  London,  Conn.  Asa  Lathrop  came  to 
this  county  in  1800,  and  located,  under  the 
Connecticut  title,  six  or  eight  hundred  acres  of 
land,  near  Lathrop’s  (now  Elk)  lake  in  what  was 
then  Bridgewater  township.  He  erected  a log- 
house,  cleared  three  or  four  acres,  and  returned 
to  Connecticut  for  his  family.  The  father  of  Dr. 
Lathrop  was  James,  eldest  sou  of  Asa  and  Alice 
Lathrop,  and  was  born  in  Bozrah,  New  Lou- 
don County,  Conn.,  in  1785.  He  was  sixteen 
years  old  when  his  parents  came  to  this  county.  ' 
He  had  received  in  Connecticut  superior  educa- 
tional advantages,  and  was  a fine  mathematician 
and  a good  surveyor.  Upon  his  attaining  his 
majority  his  father  turned  over  the  home  farm 
of  two  hundred  acres  to  him.  He  shortly  after- 
wards married  Lydia  Litheresa,  daughter  of 
Israel  and  Lydia  Birchard,  who  was  born  in 
Massachusetts,  but  removed  with  her  parents 
to  this  county,  in  1803,  and  settled  in  what  is 
now  Je.ssup.  James  Lathrop  took  his  bride  to 
the  log-house  erected  by  his  father  in  1800, 
where  they  commenced  housekeeping.  A few 
years  thereafter,  at  the  solicitation  of  his  father, 
he  removed  to  the  lake,  built  a home,  and  al- 
lhough he  continued  to  carry  on  the  home  farm. 


never  again  resided  on  it.  The  old  log-house 
remained  a landmark  for  many  years,  and  Dr. 
Lathrop  remembers,  when  a boy,  of  stubbing 
his  toes  on  the  pegs  that  held  the  floor  to  the 
sleepers.  Upon  the  death  of  his  father  the 
grist-mill  came  into  his  po.ssession,  and  in  1837 
he  re-built  and  enlarged  it,  and  afterwards 
erected  near  it  a saw-mill.  He  was  an  enter- 
prising, energetic  business  man,  and  was  actively 
engaged  in  farming  and  milling  until  his  death, 
in  1854;  his  widow  survived  him  about  twelve 
years.  He  was  a man  with  liberal  views,  both 
in  politics  and  religion.  He  was  appointed 
justice  of  the  peace  by  Governor  Wolfe,  and 
was  afterwards  elected  by  the  people  for  sev- 
eral terms.  Their  children  were  William  Fox 
(1811-1873);  Austin  Birchard  (1813-1874); 
Charles  Jacob,  1815,  was  elected  to  the  Legis- 
lature of  Pennsylvania  in  1854;  is  a farmer  re- 
siding in  Brooklyn  ; Lydia  Alice,  1817,  now 
residing  in  Dimock;  and  Israel  Birchard,  July 
21,  1821. 

Henry  Augu.stus  Tinc4LEY,  M.D.,  son  of 
Thomas  and  Marcy  Tingley,  was  born  at  Attle- 
borough, Mass.,  in  1820.  His  parents  moved 
to  Harford  in  1823,  where  his  father  died  at 
the  age  of  seventy-eight,  and  his  mother  at  the 
age  of  ninety-nine  year.s.  Dr.  Tingley’s  edu- 
cation was  obtained  at  district  schools  and  after 
the  age  of  sixteen  at  Franklin  Academy,  Har- 
ford. In  1844  he  commenced  reading  medi- 
cine with  Dr.C.  Dickerman,  and  taught  schools 
winters  until  November,  1847,  when  he  at- 
tended lectures  at  Albany  Medical  College.  In 
1848  he  attended  lectures  at  the  University  of 
Buffalo,  whence  he  graduated  in  June  of  the 
.same  year.  In  October,  1848,  he  commenced 
practice  at  Equinunk,  Pa.,  and  was  married  to 
L.  S.  Ellsworth,  of  Harford.  In  July,  1852, 
he  I'emoved  to  Susquehanna,  Pa.,  where  he  has 
been  a successful  practitioner  for  more  than 
thirty-four  years.  In  1864  he  entered  the  army 
as  assistant  surgeon,  first  at  Mansion  House 
Hospital,  Va.,  and  next  at  King  Street  Hospi- 
tal, Alexandria,  from  which  he  was  transferred 
to  Battery  H,  First  Pennsylvania  Light  Artil- 
lery, then  in  camp  at  Great  Falls,  Md ; was 
discharged  May  28,  1865,  and  immediately  re- 
turned to  Sus([uehanna.  Of  Dr.  Tingley’s  two 


156 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


surviving  children  Elmer  Ellsworth  is  tele- 
graph operator  and  railroad  dispatcher  at  Car- 
bondale,  Pa.  Elorence  E.  is  music  teacher  and 
resides  with  her  parents.  Dr.  Tingley  joined 
the  Susquehanna  County  Medical  Society  in 
1862. 

Henry  Pe.nnepacker,  M.  D.,  was  born  at 
Yellow  Springs,  Chester  County,  Pa.,  1839. 
He  entered  Franklin  and  Marshall  College  at 
Lancaster,  Pa.,  but  left  before  graduating  to 
commence  the  study  of  medicine  and  teach  school. 
He  continued  teaching  and  the  prosecution  of 
his  medical  studies  under  the  supervision  of  Dr. 
J.  L.  Forwood.  He  attended  lectures  at  the 
University  of  Pennsylvania,  where  he  graduated 
in  1866.  March  22d,  of  the  same  year,  he 
married  Jennie  Marshall  of  Chester  City,  and 
immediately  went  to  Harford,  Susquehanna 
County,  Pa.,  to  look  after  his  interest  in  the 
Soldiers’  Orphan  School,  which  he  and  Prof. 
C.  W.  Deans  originated  in  October  of  the  pre- 
vious year. 

In  1868,  he  disposed  of  his  interest  in  the 
school,  and  returned  to  Chester  City.  He  held 
a position  under  the  Census  Bureau  at  Washing- 
ton, D.  C.,  for  eighteen  months,  when  he  re- 
signed and  returned  to  Hartford,  Pa.,  where  he 
remained  until  1884,  when  he  removed  to 
Scranton,  his  present  residence,  where  he  enjoys 
a large  and  successful  practice.  He  joined  the 
Susquehanna  County  Medical  Society  in  1875, 
and  was  president  in  1880.  He  represented 
that  body  in  the  State  Society  in  1876,  and  also 
once  in  the  American  Medical  Association. 

Frederick  D.  Lamb,  M.  D.,  the  eldest 
child  of  Darius  N.  liamb  (born  1826),  and  his 
wife  Lydia  M.  Graves  (born  1828),  who  reside 
in  Broome  County,  N.  Y.,  farmers,  was  born 
November  21,  1849.  Their  children  were 
Frederick  De  Forest  (Dr.  Lamb)  ; Herbert  A., 
a merchant ; Mary,  the  Avife  of  Dr.  A.  E.  Blair  ; 
Alice,  married  Theodore  Parker,  a farmer;  Ira 
Edward  and  Irwin  D.,  business  men,  all  residing 
in  Broome  County.  Darius  N.,  was  the  son  of  Ira 
Lamb  and  Alice  Gates  his  wife,  both  natives  of 
Broome  County,  where  Isaac  Lamb,  the  great- 
grandfather of  Dr.  Lamb,  settled  and  founded 
Lamb’s  Corners,  having  removed  from  Dutchess 
County,  N.Y.,  soon  after  the  revolutionary  war.  I 


Ira  Lamb  and  his  second  wife  died  Avithiu  a few 
hours  of  each  other,  and  Avere  buried  together. 

The  early  education  of  Dr.  Lamb  was  obtained 
in  the  public  and  private  schools  of  Broome 
County,  and  in  attendance  at  the  Whitney’s 
Point  Academy.  He  commenced  the  study  of 
medicine  with  Dr.  S.  P.  Allen,  of  Castle  Creek, 
N.  Y.,  took  tAvo  courses  of  lectures  at  the  Uni- 
versity of  Buffalo,  at  Avhich  institution  he  was 
graduated  in  class  of  ’75.  Immediately  after- 
wards he  located  at  Great  Bend  Village  for  the 
practice  of  medicine,  and  has  there  continued  to 
date.  In  1881  he,  in  company  Avlth  George  E. 
Hawley  of  Chenango  County,  N.  Y.,  started  the 
first  drug  store  in  the  borough.  After  eighteen 
months  partnership.  Dr.  Lamb  bought  out  Mr. 
HaAvley  and  still  carries  on  that  business  in 
connection  Avith  his  practice.  He  is  a member 
of  the  Susquehanna  County  Medical  Society, 
and  was  for  tAVO  years  its  vice-president ; he  is 
also  a member  of  the  Broome  County  Medical 
Society.  In  1885  he  Avas  the  delegate  from 
this  county  to  the  State  Medical  Society  of  Penn- 
sylvania, to  Avhich  body  he  also  belongs.  Dr. 
Lamb  holds  membership  in  Great  Bend  Lodge, 
No.  338,  F.  and  A.  M.,  and  he  was  the  first 
Sachem  of  OttaAva  Tribe,  I.  O.  R.  M.  He  is 
an  able  physician,  and  has  performed  satisfac- 
torily a number  of  difficult  surgical  operations ; 
hence,  he  enjoys  the  confidence  and  esteem  of  the 
community.  On  May  27,  1879,  he  married 
Margaret  N.,  the  daughter  of  D.  L.  (born  1820) 
and  Sarah  (Williams)  (born  1828)  Richards, 
both  of  whom  Avere  born  in  Wales,  and  came 
to  this  country  in  early  childhood,  and  lived 
near  Pottsville,  Pa.,  where  their  parents  became 
engaged  in  mining.  Mr.  Richards  forsook  min- 
ing and  went  into  farming  many  years  ago,  and 
noAv  resides  in  Clifford  Township,  Susquehanna 
County.  His  children  are  David  W. ; Robert  W. 
(now  a publisher  in  Melbourne,  Australia);  Mar- 
garet N.  ; William  G. ; Sarah  E. ; Samuel  (with 
his  brother  in  Australia) ; and  John  L.  Of 
this  family  Margaret  N.,  Sarah  E.  and  Mary  E. 
have  long  been  interested  in  educational  work, 
and  Mrs.  Dr.  Lamb  had  the  honor  of  being  the 
first  lady  valedictorian  at  the  Bloomsburg  State 
Normal  School,  Avhence  she  was  graduated  in 
1877.  Her  grandparents  were  David  M.  and 


MEDICAL  HISTORY. 


157 


Margaret  (Lewis)  Richards,  both  natives  of 
Wales  but  residents  of  this  State  since  1831,  and 
now  lying  in  the  Welsh  cemetery,  Clitford 
Township,  where  they  were  interred  upon  the 
same  day.  The  children  of  Dr.  and  Mrs.  F. 
D.  Lamb  ai’e  Frederick,  Frank  R.,  Robert  R. 
and  Mary  A. 

Alfred  O.  Stimpson,  M.D.,  C.M.,  son  of 
Oman  Stimpson,  a native  of  Windham,  N.  Y., 
was  born  in  the  village  of  St.  Pie,  Province  of 
Canada,  in  1 842.  His  father  went  to  Canada 
at  the  age  of  nineteen,  and,  after  becoming  pos- 
sessed of  considerable  real  estate,  married  Jane 
Fisk,  of  Abbotsford,  Canada  East.  Dr.  Stimp- 
son, the  eldest  child,  in  1860  pursued  a classical 
and  scientific  course  of  study  at  Fort  Edward 
Institute,  Y.  A".  This  institute  becoming  dis- 
organized by  the  war  of  1861,  he  went  to 
Buffalo,  N.  Y.,  and  followed  the  occupation  of 
clerk  and  book-keeper  until  the  spring  of  1863, 
when  he  returned  to  his  home  in  Canada.  He 
pursued  a classical  and  scientific  course  of  study 
at  St.  Francis  College,  in  Richmond,  Quebec, 
whence  in  the  spring  of  1864  he  graduated  as 
Master  of  Arts  and  Bachelor  of  Science  (A.M., 
B.S.)  In  the  fall  of  the  same  year  he  entered 
McGill  University  Medical  College,  at  Mon- 
treal, Quebec,  as  a student,  and  graduated  May, 
1869,  with  the  title  of  M.D.,  C.M.  (Doctor 
of  Medicine  and  Master  of  Surgery).  On 
account  of  ill  health  he  did  not  engage  in 
practice  until  1870,  when  he  located  at  Long 
Eddy,  Sullivan  County,  N.  Y.,  where  he  re- 
mained until  April,  1876,  when  he  came  to 
Thomson,  this  county,  his  present  residence. 
In  1878  he  married  Kate  Kishbaugh  of  Her- 
rick, Pa.  They  have  a son,  Ellis  Alfred. 

Dr.  Stimpson  joined  the  Sitscpiehanna  County 
Medical  Society  in  1876.  Previous  to  coming 
to  Pennsylvania,  he  was  a member  of  the  Sulli- 
van County  Medical  Society  of  Y.  Y.,  and  of 
the  Tri-States  Medical  Association.  His  pro- 
fessional life  has  been  uneventful,  but  he  has 
endeavored  to  be  affable,  pains-taking  and  scien- 
tific in  the  treatment  of  his  patients. 

Dr.  William  Yelson  Green,  son  of  Rob- 
ert and  Melissa  Green,  was  born  at  Factory- 
ville.  Pa.,  in  1826.  He  was  engaged  in  agricn- 
cultural  pursuits  until  1849,  when  he  married 


Euphemia  A.  Cannon.  He  then  engaged  in 
mercantile  pursuits  for  ten  years.  His  wife 
died  in  1859,  leaving  one  child.  In  1860  he 
married  Miss  Sarah  J.  Millard.  He  read  med- 
icine with  Dr.  A.  C.  Blakeslee,  of  Yicholson, 
Pa.,  and  attended  his  first  course  of  lectures  in 
Yew  A^ork  City.  He  commenced  practice  in 
Wyoming  County,  Pa.,  in  1865,  and  not  long 
afterward  removed  to  Hopbottom,  where  he  re- 
sided and  practiced  almost  continuously  until  his 
death,  1886.  He  attended  a second  course  of  lec- 
tures at  the  University  of  Buffalo  in  1876-77, 
graduating  there  in  the  latter  year.  He  united 
with  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  in  1849. 
He  became  a member  of  the  Susquehanna 
County  Medical  Society  in  1868. 

Dr.  E.  P.  Hines. — James  Hines  was  born 
in  the  north  of  Ireland  and  came  to  this  country 
in  early  manhood.  He  located  in  Bradford 
County,  Pa.,  and  carried  on  the  business  of  a 
stone-mason  until  a short  time  before  his  death. 
He  married  a Miss  Hancock,  of  that  county, 
who  bore  him  Jesse,  John  and  Marquis.  The 
latter  became  farmers  there.  The  former,  Jesse 
Hines  (1805-1882),  moved  to  Susquehanna 
County  when  a young  man,  and  there  married 
Sarah  Morley,  who  was  born  in  1807  in 
Auburn  township,  and  now  lives  at  Lacey- 
ville,  Wyoming  County.  Their  children  were: 
Thomas  M.  enlisted  in  the  One  Hundred  and 
Thirty-second  Regiment  Pennsylvania  Volun- 
teers, and  died  at  Harrisburg  from  sickness 
contracted  while  in  the  field.  Charles  G.,  a 
farmer  in  Wyoming  County.  Sarah  Elizabeth 
resides  at  Laceyville.  Eben  P.  (Dr.  E.  P. 
Hines)  and  Alzina  married  Charles  Ford,  of 
LeRaysville.  Eben  P.  Hines  obtained  his  edu- 
cation at  the  district  school  and  Montro.se 
Academy,  supplemented  by  a course  at  Har- 
ford University,  in  1855  and  1856,  for  eight  or 
nine  terms  succeeding  which  he  taught  schools 
in  Susquehanna  and  Wyoming  Counties. 
Having  chosen  a medical  profes.sion  for  his 
life-work,  he  pui’sued  studies  to  that  end  with 
Dr.  Thompson,  of  Laceyville,  and  attended  the 
Medical  Department  of  the  LTniversity  of  IMich- 
igan,  from  which  institution  he  was  graduated 
in  1865.  The  following  year  he  settled  at 
Friendsville  for  the  practice  of  his  profession, 


158 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


aud  there  remained  until  June,  1879,  having  in 
the  meantime  attended  lectures  and  been  gradu- 
ated from  the  Jefferson  Medical  College  at 
Philadelphia  in  the  class  of  1874.  In  1876  he 
was  nominated  by  the  Republican  party  and 
elected  as  a member  of  the  State  Legislature,  in 
which  body  he  sat  during  the  two  sessions  of 
1877-78,  and  served  upon  committees  as  fol- 
lows : Pensions  and  Gratuities,  Geological  Sur- 
vey, Labor  and  Industry,  Corporations  and 
Counties  and  Townships.  Dr.  Hines  removed 
to  Great  Bend  in  1879,  and  his  large  practice 
attests  the  consideration  of  the  citizens  for  his 
ability.  He  is  now  serving  his  second  term  as 
burgess  of  the  borough  of  Great  Bend.  He  is 
a member  of  the  Susquehanna  County  and  also 
of  the  Broome  County,  N.  Y.,  Medical  So- 
cieties, and  has  upon  various  occasions  been 
delegated  therefrom. 

Dr.  Hines  is  active  in  the  Masonic  Order,  and 
holds  membership  in  the  Great  Bend  Lodge, 
No.  338,  Chapter  No.  210,  R.  A.  M.,  and 
Commandery  No.  27,  K.  T.  On  April  12, 
1870,  he  married  Eliza  Foster,  of  Dimock 
the  daughter  of  John  (born  1814)  and  Amanda 
(Tyler)  (1822-1884)  Foster.  John  Foster  is 
the  son  of  James  and  Mary  (Mains)  Foster,  who 
came  from  Ulster,  Ireland,  in  1813,  and  settled 
in  Orange  Co.,  N.  V^.,  where  John  was  born. 
The  family  removed  to  Dimock  township,  this 
county,  in  1838  and  engaged  in  farming.  In 
1865  John  Foster  went  into  the  hotel  business, 
which  he  continued,  first  at  Dimock  Corners, 
then  at  Friendsville,  until  1879,  when  h^  re- 
tired. His  children  are : Eliza  (Mrs.  Dr. 
Hines),  Josephine  (Mrs.  Charles  Glidden,  of 
Friendsville),  Frank  L.,  a farmer  near  Frieuds- 
ville,  and  John,  now  lumbering  in  Minnesota. 
To  Dr.  E.  P.  and  Eliza  (Foster)  Hines  have 
been  born — Carrie,  John  F.  (died  in  his  third 
year),  Lillian  Josephine,  Daisy,  and  an  infant 
son  unnamed. 

Edgar  Levandee  Haxdeick,  M.  D., 
second  son  of  AVakeman  and  Urania  Stone 
Handrick,  was  born  in  what  is  now  Jessup  town- 
ship in  1 840.  His  early  education  was  in  com- 
mon schools  and  at  the  Montrose  Academy 
when  Prof.  J.  F.  Stoddard  was  Principal.  He 
began  to  read  medicine  with  Dr.  W.  L.  Rich- 


ardson at  Nesquehoning,  Pa.,  in  1860.  He  at- 
tended lectures  at  Jefferson  Medical  College  in 
1861— ’63,  graduating  there  in  the  latter 
year.  He  commenced  practice  at  Friendsville 
in  1863  and  still  resides  there.  In  1865  he 
married  Martha  D.,  daughter  of  the  late  Dr. 
Calvin  Leet,  of  Friendsville.  They  have  a 
son,  Frank  D.  Dr.  Handrick  had  an  extensive 
practice,  and  is  held  in  high  regard  by  his  pa- 
trons. He  was  a member  of  the  Susquehanna 
County  Medical  Society  in  1868. 

William  Rogers,  M.  D.,  a practicing 
physician  at  South  Gibson  for  fourteen  years 
past,  was  born  in  Harford  September  24,  1839, 
and  is  the  son  of  Jeremiah  and  Margaret  Martin 
Rogers,  who  were  of  Scotch-Irish  origin, 
natives  of  Ireland,  came  to  Newburgh,  N.  Y., 
soon  after  their  marriage,  and  six  years  after- 
ward about  1835,  settled  in  Harford,  where 
they  resided  the  remainder  of  their  lives.  They 
were  farmers.  The  father  died  in  1880  at  the 
age  of  eighty-six  ; the  mother  died  at  seventy- 
eight  years  of  age.  William  was  reared  on  the 
farm,  received  his  preparatory  education  at  the 
Harford  Academy  and  was  a teacher  for  several 
terms  in  the  home  district  schools.  He  began 
reading  medicine  in  the  spring  of  1862  with 
Dr.  A.  M.  Tiffany,  of  Harford,  but  in  the  fall 
of  that  year  he  enlisted  at  Harrisburg  in  Com- 
pany C,  Captain  Bowen,  Third  Pa.  Artillery, 
and  offered  his  services  to  the  Union  cause. 
During  that  winter  the  troops  remained  en- 
camped near  Fortress  Monroe.  In  the  spring 
he  was  detailed  on  a flag  of  truce  boat,  where 
he  served  until  June  1st,  when  he  was  taken 
prisoner  but  fortunately  paroled  the  same  day, 
and  returned  to  Fortress  Monroe  where  he  was 
exchanged.  In  the  fall  of  1863  he  was  detailed 
to  serve  on  provost  guard  and  mounted  as  a 
scout.  He  served  on  the  Peninsula  until  the 
capture  of  Jeff.  Davis,  when  he  was  appointed 
a military  detective  under  General  Miles,  who 
had  charge  of  the  noted  rebel  prisoner.  In  this 
capacity  he  served  some  two  months,  when  he 
was  honorably  discharged  and  returned  home. 
He  at  once  resumed  the  study  of  medicine,  and 
while  prosecuting  his  studies  attended  Lowell’s 
Commercial  College,  from  which  he  was  gradu- 
ated in  1865.  He  attended  three  courses  of 


Si  /f^ 

4 f 


MEDICAL  HISTORY. 


159 


lecture.s  at  the  University  of  Michigan,  and  was 
graduated  from  that  institution  in  the  class  of 
’69.  Dr.  Rogers  prospected  for  some  time,  but 
finally  after  practicing  his  profession  in  differ- 
ent places  for  about  two  years,  settled  at  South 
Gibson,  where  he  has  continued  since  a success- 
ful practice,  his  ride  reaching  adjoining  and 
more  distant  localities. 

Dr.  Rogers  is  reputed  as  a physician  of  quick 
perception  and  correct  diagnosis  of  disease. 


dren  of  Jeremiah  Rogers  are : James,  of  Har- 
ford ; John  M.,  St.  Croix  Falls,  Wisconsin ; 
Margaret,  wife  of  J.  W,  Lewis,  residing  on  the 
Rogers  homestead  in  Harford.  Jane  died  at 
the  age  of  twenty-six,  and  Louisa  Rogers  died 
at  the  age  of  thirteen. 

Dr.  Frederick  Firewood,  son  of  John 
and  Ann  Filewood,  was  born  in  London,  Eng- 
land, 1821.  His  father  was  a gardener  or  bailiff 
on  a gentleman’s  estate.  At  the  age  of  fourteen 


skillful  in  his  treatment,  and  a student  of  the 
profession  to  which  he  belongs.  Dr.  Rogers 
became  a member  of  the  Susquehanna  Medical 
Society  soon  after  beginning  the  practice  of 
medicine,  and  he  is  Post  Commander  of  the 
Charles  M.  Holmes  Post,  G.  A.  R.,  of  Gibson. 
His  first  wife,  Mary  D.  Brainerd,  of  Harford, 
died  1881.  His  second  wife,  Helen  IM.  Potter, 
of  Gibson,  died  Feb.  2,  1887.  The  other  chil- 


he  began  learning  the  machinist’s  trade,  and 
served  seven  years.  He  worked  at  his  trade 
about  twenty-two  yeai's,  first  in  England  (came 
to  America  in  1853)  then  worked  a few  months 
at  Piermont,  then  came  to  Susquehanna,  where 
he  lived  until  his  death,  which  occurred  A[)ril 
11,  1886.  He  married  Angela  Benson,  March 
29,  1861,  and  about  three  years  after  this  he  left 
the  machine  shop  and  began  the  practice  of 


160 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


medicine.  His  early  education  was  obtained  at 
the  common  schools;  his  medical  education  con- 
sisted in  lectures  heard  at  Guy’s  Hospital  during 
the  time  he  was  learning  his  trade ; he  would 
hear  two  lectures  in  the  morning  before  his 
hours  begun  at  the  shop.  He  is  said  to  bear  a 
very  striking  resemblance  to  his  father  in  looks 
and  manner.  He  had  no  children.  His  widow 
survives  him.  He  joined  the  Suscpiehanna 
County  Medical  Society  in  1878,  and  was  a 
regular  attendant  at  its  meetings. 

George  Martin  Harrison,  M.D-,  eldest 
son  of  Joseph  H.  and  Mary  M.  Harrison,  was 
born  in  Union  township,  Luzerne  County,  1851. 
In  1872  he  began  to  read  medicine  with  A.  D. 
Tewksbury,  M.D.,  of  Ashley,  Luzerne  County. 
In  1873  he  entered  the  medical  department  of 
the  University  of  Michigan,  where,  having  at- 
tended two  full  courses  of  lectures,  he  graduated 
in  1875.  He  practiced  in  a small  mining  town 
in  Luzerne  County  until  August,  1876,  when 
he  removed  to  Fairdale,  in  Susquehanna  County. 
In  1877  he  married  Eva  M.,  daughter  of  David 
and  Catharine  Olmstead,  of  Fairdale.  They 
have  one  daughter  and  two  sons.  In  Novem- 
ber, 1881,  he  removed  to  Auburn  Centre,  his 
present  residence.  He  became  a member  of  the 
Susquehanna  County  Medical  Society  in  May, 
1879. 

David  Carlyle  Ainey,  M.D.,  the  third 
son  of  Jacob  and  Catharine  (Kinnan)  Ainey, 
was  born  in  Dimock  township,  Susquelianna 
County,  Pa.,  May  31,  1837.  He  is  of  French 
extraction,  his  ancestors  having  been  Huguenots 
who  came  to  this  country  subsequent  to  the 
Revocation  of  the  Edict  of  Nantes  by  Louis 
Fourteenth,  and  settled  in  the  Mohawk  Valley, 
Montgomery  County,  N.  Y. 

His  paternal  grandfather,  William  Ainey 
(1776-1850),  born  in  Fulton  County,  N.  Y., 
married  Hannah  Crawford,  who  was  born  in 
Connecticut  and  died  in  1835,  and  made  a home 
a few  miles  south  of  Goshen,  N.  Y.,  whence 
they  came  to  Susquehanna  County  in  1825,  and 
located  in  Brooklyn  township,  where  they  both 
died.  His  maternal  grandfather,  John  Morrison 
Kinnan,  was  of  Irish  descent,  his  father.  Rev. 
John  Kinnan  from  the  north  of  Ireland,  having 
settled  in  Orange  County,  N.  Y^.,  about  1767. 


Jacob  Ainey  (1802-1854),  the  son  of  Wil- 
liam and  Hannah,  was  born  in  Orange  County, 
and  in  1824  married  Catharine  Kinnan  (1804- 
1875).  The  following  year  they  moved  to 
Brooklyn  township,  this  county,  and,  some  years 
afterward ,s,  to  Di mock  township.  Their  children 
were  John,  a prosperous  farmer  in  Springville  ; 
William  H.,  a lawyer,  banker  and  ironmaster 
at  Allentown,  Pa. ; David  C.,  as  stated  ; Albert 
J.,  a practicing  physician  at  Brooklyn,  Pa. ; and 
Hannah  M.  and  Sarah  A.,  who  died  in  early 
womanhood. 

Dr.  D.  C.  Ainey  obtained  his  education  at 
the  old  Woodruff  Academy  at  Dimock,  and 
further  prosecuted  his  studies  at  Harford  Uni- 
versity in  1854,  also  later  at  Oberlin  College, 
Ohio,  He  began  reading  medicine  in  1857 
with  Dr.  E.  M.  Buckingham,  of  Springfield, 
Ohio,  and  later  with  Dr.  Ezra  Patrick,  of 
Montrose. 

He  attended  lectures  at  the  Medical  Depart- 
ment of  Yale  College,  New  Haven,  Conn.,  and 
received  the  degree  of  M.D.  from  that  institu- 
tion in  1860.  In  February  of  the  same  year 
he  entered  into  partnership  with  Dr.  L.  W. 
Bingham,  of  New  Milford,  and  so  continued 
until  July,  1861,  when  he  engaged  in  the  drug 
business  in  connection  with  pi’actice,  which  was 
thus  continued  until  1874.  He  was  postmaster 
of  New  Milford  from  1864  to  1885.  In  1869 
he  was  burgess  of  the  borough  of  New  Milford. 
On  October  28,  1861,  he  married  Kate,  daugh- 
ter of  Hiram  and  Amanda  (Whipple)  Blakes- 
lee,  of  Dimock.  They  have  two  sons, — Wil- 
liam D.  B.,  a law  student  in  the  office  of  his 
uncle.  Dr.  E.  L.  Blakeslee,  Montrose,  and 
Charles  H.  Ainey. 

Dr.  Ainey  is  District  Deputy  Grand  Master 
of  the  Masonic  fraternity  for  the  Fifteenth 
District,  and  holds  membership  in  New  Milford 
Lodge  No.  507,  Great  Bend  Chapter  No.  210, 
and  Great  Bend  Commandery  No.  27,  K.  T. 

He  joined  the  Susquehanna  County  Medical 
Society  in  1861,  and  represented  that  body  at 
the  meetings  of  the  State  society  in  1874  and 
1884. 

His  medical  attainments  and  surgical  ability, 
with  his  large  experience  and  native  suavity  of 
manner,  have  given  him  high  rank  among  his 


MEDICAL  HISTOEY. 


161 


professional  brethren  and  in  the  community 
where  the  active  years  of  his  life  have  been  spent. 
His  instruction  and  aid  as  preceptor  have  been 
obtained  by  a number  of  students  who  have 
since  taken  honorable  rank  in  their  chosen  pro- 
fession, among  them  being  Dr.  E.  L.  Blakeslee, 
now  practicing  law  at  Montrose  ; Dr.  A.  J. 
Ainey,  of  Brooklyn  ; Dr.  J.  J.  Boyle,  of  Sus- 
quehanna ; Dr.  William  R.  Blakeslee,  of  Har- 
ford ; and  Dr.  G.  P.  Clements,  now  of  Harlem, 
N.  Y. 

Albert  Joseph  Ainey,  M.  D.,  son  of  Jacob 
and  Catharine  Kinnan  Ainey,  was  born  in 
Dimock,  Susquehanna  County,  Pa.,  March  26, 
1838.  His  early  years  were  spent  on  a farm, 
and  the  educational  advantages  of  Dimock 
Academy,  Harford  University  and  Montrose 
Academy  were  improved  by  him.  In  June, 
1863,  he  enlisted  in  Captain  C.  C.  Halsey’s 
company  of  volunteer  militia,  and  was  in  the 
service  thirty-five  days.  He  read  medicine  with 
his  brother.  Dr.  D.  C.  Ainey,  of  New  Milford, 
and  attended  his  first  course  of  lectures  at  the 
University  of  Michigan  in  1864-’65,  and  his 
second  at  the  Medical  Department  of  YTale  Col- 
lege in  1866-’67  ; receiving  the  degree  of  M.  D. 
in  the  latter  year.  He  pradiced  a short  time  at 
New  Milford  and  removed  to  Brooklyn,  Pa., 
in  August,  1867,  where  he  has  enjoyed  a large 
and  successful  practice  to  the  pi’esent  time. 
December  8,  1874,  he  was  married  to  L.  Maria 
Haight,  of  Birchardville,  Pa. 

Dr.  Ainey  joined  the  Susquehanna  County 
Medical  Society  in  1869,  and  was  a delegate  to 
the  State  Medical  Society  in  1885. 

Nathan  Callender  Mackey,  M.  D.,  .son 
of  David  and  Miranda  C.  Griggs  Mackey,  was 
born  in  Harford,  Pa.,  September  7,  1848,  and 
in  1852  removed  with  his  parents  to  New  Mil- 
ford, where  his  early  education  was  obtained, 
and  subsequently  at  the  Academy  in  New 
Milford  Borough.  He,  at  the  age  of  eighteen, 
commenced  teaching  district  .school.  He  took 
a course  in  the  State  Normal  School  at  Mans- 
field, from  1869  to  1871  inclusive,  commenced 
the  study  of  medicine  with  Dr.  A.  C.  Blakeslee, 
of  Nicholson,  Pa.,  in  June,  1871,  and  was 
principal  of  the  Graded  School  of  that  place  for 
two  years,  while  pursuing  his  medical  studies. 


He  entered  the  medical  department  of  Yale 
College  in  1873,  attended  two  courses  of  lec- 
tures, and  graduated  at  the  University  of  New 
A^ork  City,  February,  1875;  commenced  pi’ac- 
tice  at  Foster,  Pa.,  and  in  July,  1876,  removed 
to  Spriugville,  where  he  secured  a good  practice, 
aud  was  held  in  high  regard.  November  23, 
1875,  he  married  Nellie  J.  Marcy,  of  Nichol- 
son. His  wife  died  very  suddenly  in  1879. 
He  married  Miss  Anna  M.,  daughter  of  Miles 
W.  Bliss,  of  Waverly,  in  1883.  He  became  a 
member  of  the  Susquehanna  County  Medical 
Society  in  1876,  and  on  his  removal  to  Waverly 
joined  the  Lackawanna  County  Medical  Society. 

James  D.  Leslie,  M.  D.  (1843-’81),  son  of 
John  Leslie,  of  Harford,  received  his  prepara- 
tory education  at  Harford  Academy,  attended 
lectures  at  Auu  Arbor  Medical  College,  Michi- 
gan, and  was  graduated  there  in  the  class  of 
’69.  He  practiced  his  profession  at  Susque- 
hanna for  a number  of  years,  and  settled  at 
Lincoln,  Neb.  He  went  to  Hickman,  Ky., 
during  the  great  epidemic,  yellow-fever,  where 
he  showed  great  heroism  and  skill  in  the  treat- 
ment  of  the  sick — for  M’hich  he  was  presented 
by  the  citizens  with  many  valuable  presents, 
among  which  was  a gold-headed  cane.  The 
eminent  Dr.  Blackburn  subsequently  introduced 
him  to  the  citizens  of  Louisville  as  the  hero  of 
Hickman.  He,  himself,  also  became  afflicted 
with  the  disease,  from  which  he  never  recovered 
his  former  health.  He  was  surgeon  of  the 
Burlington  and  Missouri  Railroad,  while  a I’esi- 
dent  of  Lincoln.  He  died  at  Susquehanna,  Pa., 
while  on  a visit  to  his  home  and  relatives. 

Ellen  Eliza  Mitchell,  M.  D.,  was  born 
in  New  Milford  township,  in  1829.  Her 
])arents,  Seth  and  Comphey  Lewis  IMitchell, 
were  natives  of  Connecticut  and  among  the 
early  settlers  of  Susquehanna  County.  At  the 
age  of  seven  years  she  lost  her  mother.  In 
childhood  she  mo.st  faithfully  improved  the  ad- 
vantages of  the  district  school  until  she  passed 
therefrom  to  the  old  INIontrose  Academy,  where 
she  recalls,  with  Dr.  C.  C.  Halsey,  of 

Montro.se,  who  was  ])rincipal  during  two  years 
of  her  attendance.  Tlie  closing  two  years  of 
her  school-life  were  j)as.scd  at  tlie  Academy  in 
Hamilton,  N.  Y.  She  subsetpiently  taught 


162 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


school  in  Bridgewater  township,  Sraithboro, 
N.  Y.,  Pella,  Iowa,  and  Warsaw,  Illinois.  At 
different  timeS  she  was  an  assistant  in  the  High 
School  at  Montrose,  and  taught  several  terms  of 
private  school.  In  1849  she  united  with  the 
Bridgewater  Baptist  Church,  at  Montrose,  and 
henceforth  her  teaching  was  viewed  in  the  light 
of  Mission  work. 

In  May,  1861,  .she  commenced  a cour.se  of 
instruction  in  surgical  nursing  at  Bellevue  Hos- 
pital, N.  Y.,  preparatory  to  assuming  the  duties 
of  an  army  nurse,  a service  in  which  she  W’as 
engaged  for  four  years,  at  different  hospitals 
about  Washington,  D.  C.,  and  Knight  Hospital, 
New  Haven,  Conn.  In  May,  1864,  she  was  at 
Fredericksburg,  Va.,  and  afterward  at  Judiciary 
Square  Hospital,  Washington,  D.  C.,  until 
June,  1865.  A full  sketch  of  her  army  work 
is  in  “Woman’s  Work  in  the  Civil  War,’’ 
pp.  420-’26. 

After  recuperating  from  this  exhaustive  ser- 
vice, she  taught  in  Illinois,  Iowa  and  the 
colored  school  in  Montrose,  and  at  the  same 
time  entered  her  name  in  the  office  of  Dr.  C.  C. 
Halsey,  of  Montrose,  as  a student  of  medicine. 
She  entered  the  Woman’s  Medical  College  of 
the  New  York  Infirmary,  whence  she  graduated 
in  1870,  and  afterward  spent  a year  as  assistant 
resident  physician  at  the  Infirmary.  She  then 
practiced  four  years  at  Fond  du  Lac,  Wis.,  and 
was  one  of  the  Censors  of  the  County  Medical 
Society.  She  returned  to  Montrose  and  joined 
the  Susquehanna  County  Medical  Society  in 
1877,  and  engaged  in  practice  until  the  summer 
of  1878,  when  she  took  a tour  of  two  months 
to  Europe.  On  her  return  she  entered  into 
correspondence  with  Mission  Boards,  and  was 
appointed  Medical  Missionary  to  Maulmaiu, 
Burmah,  by  the  Baptist  Board  of  Foreign  Mis- 
sions, and  sailed  in  October,  1879. 

Here  she  has  led  an  active,  useful  life  in  the 
service  of  Him,  to  whom  thirty  years  before 
she  had  consecrated  herself.  Possessing  high 
intellectual  endowments  with  indomitable  en- 
ergy,  she  has  sought  the  physical  and  spiritual 
welfare  of  fallen  humanity  in  far-off  heathen- 
lands, — and  in  the  day  of  final  reckoning  it 
will  doubtless  be  said  of  her  “She  hath  done 
what  she  could.” 


Julius  Jerome  Boyle,  M.D.,  son  of  Hon. 
John  and  Rachel  McCarty  Boyle,  was  born  at 
New  Milford  in  1846.  He  received  his  early 
education  at  the  district  and  graded  schools  of 
New  Milford  and  at  St.  Joseph’s  College.  Read  I 
medicine  with  Dr.  D.  C.  Ainey,  of  New  Mil- 
ford. In  1866-67  attended  lectures  at  Rush 
Medical  College,  Chicago,  Ilk,  and  the  follow-  ! 
ing  year  at  Buffalo  University,  N.  Y.,  w’here  * 
he  received  the  degree  of  M.D.  in  1869.  He 
practiced  about  one  year  in  Syracuse,  N.  Y., 
then  in  Ottawa,  Ilk,  from  1870  to  1874,  when 
he  spent  two  years  in  California  for  the  benefit 
of  his  health.  He  returned  to  Ottawa,  but 
soon,  finding  his  disease  returning,  he  came  to 
New  Milford  and  remained  until  1877,  when 
he  located  at  Susquehanna,  where  he  has  since 
been  in  continuous  practice.  He  married  Cece- 
lia F.  Kilellea,  of  Ottawa,  Ilk,  in  October, 
1872.  Four  children  have  been  born  to  them, 
of  whom  only  two  are  living.  Dr.  Boyle  was 
appointed  examining  surgeon  for  pensions  at 
the  time  an  examining  board  was  organized  in 
Susquehanna  County,  in  1885. 

Emily  H.  Wells,  M.D..  daughter  of  Per- 
rin and  Emily  Wells,  was  born  at  Towanda, 
Pa.,  November  17,  1840,  and  two  years  later 
removed  with  her  parents  to  South  Bridgewater. 
She  received  her  early  education  at  the  “ little 
red  school-house,”  of  that  district,  and  after- 
ivard  attended  the  schools  at  Montrose  and 
Harford.  She  graduated  at  the  State  Normal 
School,  at  Mansfield,  Pa.  Attended  lectures  at 
Woman’s  Medical  College  (of  New"  York)  In- 
firmary, whence  she  graduated  in  1873.  Had 
about  fifteen  months  hospital  practice,  first  as 
student  and  afterw^ard  as  physician.  Located 
at  Binghamton,  N.  Y.,  November,  1874,  wffiere 
she  has  been  in  continuous  practice  to  the  pres- 
ent time.  She  joined  the  Broome  County  Med- 
ical Society  in  1875,  w"as  elected  treasurer  in 
1885,  and  re-elected  in  1886.  She  has  been 
treated  w"ith  courtesy  and  kindness  by  all  the 
members  of  the  profession.  Dr.  Wells  joined 
the  Presbyterian  Church  at  Montrose  in  1856, 
thence  in  1873  took  letter  to  Dr.  John  Hall’s 
church.  New  York  City  and  thence  to  Eirst 
Presbyterian  Church,  Binghamton,  N.  Y. 

Dr.  John  Dunning  Vail,  the  well-known 


MEDICAL  HISTORY. 


163 


I 

and  popular  homoeopathic  physician,  was  born 
at  Goshen,  N.  Y.,  December  3,  1831,  and  after 
receiving  his  prepai’atory  education  at  Farmers’ 
Hall  Academy,  Orange  County,  entered  Berk- 
shire Medical  College,  Pittsfield,  Mass.,  and 
was  graduated  therefrom  in  1855.  He  imme- 
diately commenced  the  practice  of  medicine  in 
Brackneyville,  Pa.,  and  married  Augusta,  eldest 
daughter  of  Captain  John  W.  Brackney,  of 


gentleman  thoroughly  proficient  in  his  profess- 
ion, which  standing  he  has  gained  from  close 
study  and  practical  experience.  The  liberal 
views  which  he  entertains  towards  others  who 
differ  from  him  in  the  theory  and  practice  of 
medicine,  his  care  of  and  devotion  to  his  pa- 
tients, his  safe  and  judicious  counsel  and  his 
constant  attendance  upon  his  professional  du- 
ties, have  made  his  name  widely  and  favorably 


that  place,  who  died  the  same  year.  In  1859, 
through  the  advice  of  Dr.  Hand,  of  Bingham- 
ton, and  following  his  own  inclination,  he  began 
to  investigate  the  principles  of  homfeopathy. 
In  this  field  he  found  a wide  and  interesting 
study,  and  became  convinced  of  its  superior 
theory  of  practice  and  consequent  results,  and 
accordingly  adopted  homoeopathy  as  his  regular 
practice.  Dr.  Vail  maintains  the  highest 
standing  among  the  medical  fraternity,  and  is  a 


known  throughout  this  part  of  the  country. 
Dr.  Vail  is  a member  of  the  Hommopathic 
Medical  Society  of  Broome  County,  N.  Y.,  and 
since  1876  has  been  a member  of  the  American 
Institute  of  Hommopathy.  Dr.  Vail  settled 
at  Montrose  in  1801,  becoming  the  fir.st  at 
Montrose,  if  not  in  tlie  county,  to  open  an  office 
for  tlie  regular  practice  of  homu'opathy.  His 
wife,  whom  he  married  in  1863,  is  iMargaret, 
a daimliter  of  H.  R.  Esmond,  who  .settled  in 


164 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


Susquehanna  County  from  Saratoga,  N.  Y.  In 
1864  he  built  his  present  residence  at  Montrose, 
where  he  still  resides  with  his  wife  and  only 
child,  Alma  Louise,  an  honored  and  respected 
citizen.  Dr.  Y^ail  and  family  are  members  of 
the  Presbyterian  Church. 

Sylvanus  Sandford  Mulford,  M.D., 
son  of  Sylvanus  Sandford  and  Fanny  Jessup 
Mulford,  was  born  at  Montrose,  January  24, 
1830.  He  received  his  early  education  at 
Montrose  and  Cortland  Academy,  at  Homer, 
N.  Y.  Graduated  at  Yale  College  in  1850. 
Read  medicine  with  Dr.  J.  Blackman,  of 
Montrose.  Attended  lectures  at  the  College  of 
Physicians  and  Surgeons,  of  New  York  City^ 
whence  he  graduated.  Had  considerable  hos- 
pital experience  in  New  York  City  and  Europe. 
Practiced  ever  since  in  New  York  City,  excejrt 
during  the  war  of  1861.  July  4,  1861,  he  was 
commissioned  by  Governor  Morgan  as  surgeon’s 
mate,  and  1st  of  September  following  as  sur- 
geon of  the  Thirty-third  Regiment,  New  York 
Volunteers.  February  28th,  1863,  he  received 
a commission  as  snrgeon  of  volunteers,  signed 
by  A.  Lincoln  and  E.  M.  Stanton,  Secretary  of 
War.  In  1864  he  was  chief  medical  officer  of 
United  States  Volunteers,  on  the  staff  of  Brig- 
adier-General A.  H.  Terry.  June  1,  1865,  he 
received  a commission  as  lieutenant-colonel  by 
brevet  for  distinguished  services,  signed  by  A. 
Johnson  and  E.  M.  Stanton,  Secretary  of  War. 
Tlie  Doctor  is  unmarried.  In  June,  1887,  he 
sailed  for  Europe. 

Dr.  James  Griffin  practiced  at  Great 
Bend,  and  was  a member  of  the  Susquehanna 
County  Medical  Society.  His  death  occurred 
January,  1858,  and  at  the  next  meeting  of  the 
.society  thereafter  the  following  action  was 
taken : 

“Whereas,  It  has  pleased  Almighty  God  in  His 
all-wise  j^rovidence  to  remove  from  among  us  Dr. 
James  Griffin,  an  honored  member  of  the  society, 
after  a protracted  and  painful  illness ; and, 

“ Whereas,  Dr.  Griffin,  by  his  kind  and  courteous 
deportment  to  his  medical  brethren,  his  scientific  at- 
tainments, his  ardent  pursuit  of  his  profession  and  his 
highly  estimable  character  as  a man  has  gained  him 
the  high  regard  of  his  brethren  of  the  society.” 

Dr.  Abram  Chamberlin,  son  of  Abraham 
and  Almira  Chamberlin,  was  born  in  Bridge- 


water, Susquehanna  County,  Pa.,  in  1830.  In 
early  life  he  made  the  best  use  of  such  means  as 
were  available  for  getting  an  education,  and  the 
careful  religious  training  of  his  parents  is  recalled 
with  pleasure.  His  medical  studies  were  chief- 
ly under  the  supervision  of  Dr.  E.  N.  Loomis  of 
Harford.  Not  being  altogether  satisfied  on 
trial  of  the  eclectic  practice,  the  doctor  soon 
began  to  tnrn  his  attention  to  the  regular  prac- 
tice, and  in  time  followed  it  exclusively.  In 
1866-’67  he  was  graduated  at  the  University 
Medical  College  of  New  York  City.  His  first 
practice  was  at  Le  Raysville  Bradford  County, 
Pa.,  in  1851,  bnt  ill  health  prevented  his  doing 
much  there.  In  1853,  he  practiced  with  Dr.  E. 
N.  Loomis,  and  in  June  1853  removed  to  Brook- 
lyn, Susquehanna  County,  where  he  has  since 
resided. 

He  joined  the  Susquehanna  County  Medical 
Society  January,  1871  and  in  1885  was  elected 
President.  On  retiring  from  the  office  he  de- 
livered an  address  on  the  “ Dignity  of  the 
Medical  Profession,”  which  was  published  in 
the  leading  paper  of  the  county.  He  was  a 
delegate  to  the  meeting  of  the  State  Society  of 
Scranton  in  1885. 

In  May  1856  he  married  Levira  Bagley  of 
Brooklyn.  Their  oldest  danghter  is  now  Mrs. 
T.  E.  Shadduck,  and  the  younger  ones  are  Lillian 
and  Be.ssie.  Their  only  son  died  in  1876. 

The  Doctor  is  a member  of  the  Baptist  church 
at  Montrose. 

Platte  Edward  Brush,  M.  D.,  son  of 
Hon.  Lewis  and  Imcy  Ann  Williams  Brush, 
natives  of  Conn.,  was  born  near  Montrose  in 
1833.  He  received  his  education  in  common 
schools  except  a few  terms  in  select  schools  and 
two  terms  at  Harford  University.  In  1857 
and  1858  he  read  medicine  with  Dr.  N.  Y. 
Leet  at  Friendsville,  and  Dr.  Richard  Foote  at 
Carbondale.  He  attended  lectures  at  the 
University  of  Michigan  in  1858-59,  and  at  the 
Medical  Department  of  Yale  College  in  1859- 
’60,  where  he  graduated,  and  immediately  com- 
menced practice  in  Springville.  April  7,  1863, 
he  was  mustered  into  the  service  of  the  United 
States  as  assistant  surgeon  of  the  One  Hundred 
and  Fourth  Regiment  Pennsylvania  YYlunteers, 
from  which  he  was  mustered  out  August  25, 


MEDICAL  HISTORY. 


165 


1866.  In  1865-’66  he  took  a graduating 
course  at  the  University  of  Pennsylvania  and 
continued  practice  at  Springville  until  about 
1868,  when  he  engaged  in  keeping  a hotel. 
In  1882  he  rented  the  hotel  and  has  not  since 
been  actively  engaged  in  business.  He  married 
Mrs.  Lathrop  of  Springville.  Has  no  children- 
He  was  a member  of  the  Susquehanna  County 
Medical  Society  before  1868. 

JuDsoN  C.  Beach,  M.  D.,  sou  of  Lorenzo 
and  Emily  Beach,  was  born  at  Springville, 
Susquehanna  County,  Pa.,  in  1844.  When  a 
small  boy  his  parents  removed  to  the  vicinity 
of  Montrose,  a little  below  Jones’  Lake,  In 
June,  1 863,  heenlisted  in  Company  “B”  Twenty- 
Eighth  Regiment  Pennsylvania  Militia  for  the 
defense  of  the  State.  February,  1865,  he  re- 
enlisted  in  the  Navy  for  two  years;  made 
a voyage  round  South  America  to  San  Francisco, 
and  thence  to  Sandwich  Islands,  returning  by 
way  of  Panama  and  was  discharged  in  March, 

1867.  He  read  medicine  with  his  brother.  Dr. 
G.  W.  Beach,  then  at  Little  Meadow,  Pa., 
attended  lectures  at  Ann  Arbor,  Mich.,  1870-71 
and  1873-’74,  graduating  in  the  latter  year. 
He  then  located  at  Etna,  Tompkins  County,  N.  Y. 
They  have  two  children,  a daughter  and  a son. 
He  was  elected  President  of  the  Tompkins 
County  Medical  Society  in  1887,  and  is  acting 
in  his  second  term  as  one  of  the  county  coroners. 

Dr.  Francis  Edmund  Grattan,  second 
son  of  Dr.  Thomas  and  Mary  Ann  Grattan, 
was  born  in  Middle  Smithfield  township,  Mon- 
roe County,  in  1823.  He  read  medicine  with 
his  father,  a graduate  of  the  Dublin  Medical 
College,  Ireland,  attended  lectures  at  Geneva 
Medical  College  N.  Y , and  New  AYrk  City  in 
the  latter  year,  1848.  In  the  fall  of  that  year. 
Dr.  F.  E.  Grattan  entered  into  partnership 
with  his  father  for  five  years.  He  maiTied 
Harriet  Jackson  of  Carbondale.  In  1854  lie 
succeeded  Dr.  A.  T.  Brundage  at  Fleetville, 
and  in  1872  removed  to  Springville,  this 
county,  where  he  had  a successful  practice  until 
1876,  when  on  account  of  his  wife’s  health,  he 
removed  to  Meshoppen.  His  wife  died  in  1880 
and  the  doctor  returned  to  Springville.  His 
present  wife  was  Mrs.  Annie  T.  Wilson,  widow 
of  the  late  Mason  B.  Wilson  of  Bridgewater. 


Clarence  N.  Vanness,  M.D.,  sou  of 
Joseph  Era.stus  and  Emma  Vanness,  was  born 
at  Standing  Stone,  Pa.,  in  1849.  In  1854  his 
parents  removed  to  Jessup,  and  in  1864  settled 
in  Springville,  in  this  county.  He  read  medi- 
cine with  Dr.  J.  W.  Cobb,  of  Montrose,  and 
attended  his  first  course  of  lectures  at  Syracuse 
University,  N.  Y.,  in  1871-72.  Meanwhile 
Dr.  Cobb  having  removed,  he  completed  his 
studies  with  Dr.  I.  B.  Lathrop,  of  Springville, 
and  attended  a second  course  of  lectures  at 
Fort  Wayne  College  of  Medicine,  Indiana. 

In  June,  1875,  he  located  at  Auburn  Centre, 
Pa.,  and  1877  married  Mary  E.,  daughter  of 
John  Tewksbury,  Esq.,  of  the  same  place.  In 
1882  he  removed  to  Huntingdon,  Pa.  In  the 
spring  following  he  attended  lectures  at  the 
Long  Island  College  Hospital,  and  afterward 
another  course  at  Fort  Wayne  College  of 
Medicine,  where  he  received  the  degree  of 
M.D.,  in  1 884.  He  soon  afterwards  commenced 
practice  at  Hallstead,  Pa.,  his  present  residence. 
He  joined  the  Susquehanna  County  Medical 
Society  in  1885. 

William  Riley  Blakeslee,  M.D.,  son 
of  Hiram  and  Amanda  Whipple  Blakeslee,  of 
Dimock,  was  born  in  Auburn  township  July 
12,  1845.  His  mother  died  in  December, 
1860.  He  received  his  early  education  at  the 
academy  in  Dimock,  where  his  boyhood  days 
were  spent.  In  July,  1863,  he  enlisted  in  Cap- 
tain C.  C.  Halsey’s  company  of  State  militia, 
and  while  in  the  service  was  prostrated  with 
typhoid  fever  at  Greencastle,  Pa.  In  Decem- 
ber, 1863,  he  enlisted  in  Company  I,  Twenty- 
second  Regiment  New  York  Calvary,  and  pass- 
ed through  the  campaign  of  the  Wilderness. 
He  returned  home  after  the  close  of  the  war, 
in  August,  1865. 

He  read  medicine  with  Drs.  D.  C.  Ainey,  of 
New  Milford,  Pa.,  and  A.  C.  Blakeslee,  of  Nich- 
olson, Pa.  In  1870  he  was  married  to  Rose 
M.,  daughter  of  Charles  Risley,  Esq.,  of  Elk 
Lake.  They  have  one  son,  Elbert  W.  He 
attended  lectui-es  at  the  University  of  Buffalo 
in  1871-72,  and  jwacticcd  a short  time  at  Hop- 
bottom  in  the  latter  year,  and  before  its  close 
i-emoved  to  Harford,  Susquehanna  County, 
which  is  his  present  residence.  He  attended 


166 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


lectures  at  the  University  of  New  York  in  1874- 
75,  whence  he  graduated  in  February  of  the 
latter  year.  He  at  once  became  a member  of 
the  Su-squehanna  County  Medical  Society,  and 
in  1870  represented  that  body  at  the  meeting 
of  the  State  Society  at  Pittsburgh.  He  was 
vice-president  of  the  County  Medical  Society  in 
1879,  and  treasurer  in  1881-85.  In  January, 
1884,  he  was  appointed  physician  surgeon  at 
the  Harford  Soldiers’  Orphan  School.  The 
doctor  has  taken  an  active  part  in  the  public 
improvements  of  Harford. 

Dr.  S.  a.  Brooks  was  born  in  Chenango 
County,  N.  Y^.,  the  son  of  Samuel  and  Dolly 
Brooks,  in  1843.  He  obtained  his  medical 
education  at  the  Hahnemann  Medical  College, 
Chicago,  and  graduated  therefrom  in  the  class 
of  1878.  He  served  three  years  during  the 
late  Rebellion  in  Company  K,  Tenth  New 
YTork  Calvary.  He  practiced  medicine  in 
Tioga  County,  N.  Y.,  about  one  year,  and  came 
to  New  Milford,  Pa.,  October,  1879,  and  has 
continued  in  practice  since.  He  is  a member 
of  the  Broome  County  Homoeopathic  Medical 
Society,  also  of  the  Southern  Tier  Homoeopathic 
Medical  Society.  He  married  Anna  Mathews, 
of  Cortland  County,  N.  Y.,  in  1867,  and  has 
three  living  children. 

Dr.  E.  E.  Snyder,  a native  of  New  York 
State,  was  graduated  from  Eclectic  Medical 
Institute  at  Cincinnati,  O.,  and  from  the  Hahne- 
mann Medical  College,  Philadelphia.  He  came 
to  New  Milford  June,  1876,  and  practiced  here 
nearly  four  years.  He  is  now  practicing  at 
Binghamton. 

Alexander  Hamilton  Lewis,  M.D.,  was 
born  in  Schenectady,  N.  Y.,  in  1829.  He  read 
medicine  with  his  brother,  Dr.  Isaac  W.  Lewis, 
at  Brackney,  this  county  ; attended  lectures  at 
Castleton  Medical  College,  Vt.,  where  he  grad- 
uated in  the  fall  of  1851.  He  immediately 
commenced  practiced  at  Brackney,  where  he 
continued  until  1873,  when  he  removed  to 
Apalachin,  N.  Y.  In  1879  he  returned  to 
Brackney,  and  in  the  fall  of  1881  removed 
to  Salamanca,  N.  Y.  In  1885  he  returned  to 
Apalachin  for  one  year,  and  removed  to  Upper 
Lisle,  N.  Y.,  his  present  residence.  He  mar- 
ried Abbie  J.  Lillie,  of  Warrenham,  Pa.,  1852. 


Edwin  Latham  Gardner,  M.D.,  son  of 
Latham  and  Angeline  (Moore)  Gardner,  was 
born  in  Bridgewater  in  1841.  His  early  edu- 
cation was  obtained  at  the  common  schools, 
Harford  University  and  Montrose  Academy. 
He  taught  in  common  schools  from  1856  to 
1859.  Read  medicine  with  Dr.  E.  Patrick, 
of  Montrose,  from  1859  to  1861,  and  graduated 
at  the  Medical  Department  of  Yale  College  in 
the  latter  year.  He  soon  after  commenced  prac- 
tice at  Montrose  in  partnership  with  his  pre- 
ceptor. After  about  eleven  years  he  removed 
to  Scranton,  Pa.,  where  he  became  one  of  the 
proprietors  of  the  Wyoming  House.  He  re- 
turned to  Montrose  in  the  fall  of  1877,  where 
he  practiced  until  the  spring  of  1884,  when  he 
removed  to  Binghamton,  N.  Y.,  where  he  now 
resides.  He  joined  the  Susquehanna  County 
Medical  Society  in  1863,  and  was  secretary  from 
1864  to  1873,  and  in  1879.  He  attended  the 
State  Medical  Society,  at  Altoona,  in  1865. 

Dr.  Ezra  A.  Kent,  son  of  Charles  and 
Henrietta  (Watrous)  Kent,  was  born  in  Brook- 
lyn, Pa.,  in  1840.  He  read  medicine  with  Dr. 
L.  A.  Smith,  of  New  Milford,  and  after  attend- 
ing lectures  at  Ann  Arbor,  Mich.,  and  Cleve- 
land, O.,  began  practice  at  Erie,  Pa.,  where  he 
continued  for  two  years.  He  returned  to  Sus- 
quehanna County  and  practiced  in  Auburn  and 
elsewhere  until  1875,  when  he  removed  to  the 
State  of  New  York,  and  continued  in  practice 
until  the  failure  of  his  health  compelled  him 
to  abandon  it.  He  married  a daughter  of 
A.  G.  Hollister,  Esq.,  of  Brooklyn,  Pa.  He 
united  with  the  Susquehanna  County  Medical 
Society  in  1873. 

Theodore  Tyler  Wing,  M.D.,  was  born 
in  Philadelphia,  1844.  He  graduated  at  Dick- 
inson College  in  1864,  and  received  the  degree 
of  A.M.  in  1867.  After  a theological  course 
at  Auburn  Theological  Seminary  of  three  years 
he  graduated  from  that  institution  in  1868. 
He  mari’ied  Harriet  Schlager  Brandt,  1868. 
They  have  one  daughter.  He  read  medicine 
with  S.  Birdsall,  M.D.,  of  Susquehanna  ; at- 
tended lectures  at  the  Medical  Department  of 
the  University  of  Pennsylvania,  whence  he 
graduated  in  1873.  He  became  a Fellow  of 
the  American  Academy  of  Medicine  in  1878. 


MEDICAL  HISTORY. 


167 


He  practiced  one  year  in  Carbondale,  Pa.  ; sev- 
eral months  at  Salem  Corners,  Pa. ; one  year  in 
Philadelphia  and  in  Susquehanna,  Pa.,  from 
1875  to  1877.  He  gave  up  general  practice  in 
1885,  and  combined  the  drug  business  with 
office  and  consulting  practice  since  that  period. 
Dr.  Wing  enlisted  in  the  Signal  Corps,  United 
States  Army,  April,  1864,  and  served  under 
Generals  Sigel,  Hunter  and  Sheridan  in  the 
Shenandoah  Valley  until  December,  when  he 
was  transferred  to  the  Army  of  the  James, 
under  General  B.  F.  Butler,  and  in  January, 
1865,  went  on  the  successful  expedition  under 
General  A.  H.  Terry  against  Fort  Fisher,  N.  C., 
and  was  honorably  discharged  in  May,  1865. 

Charles  William  Tiffany,  M.D.,  son  of 
William  Coy  and  Louisa  Coman  Tiffany,  was 
born  at  Harford,  Pa.,  1859.  He  attended  the 
co»mmon  schools  of  the  town  until  fifteen  years 
of  age  and  then  the  high  school  of  Binghamton, 
N.  Y. ; read  medicine  with  Dr.  C.  C.  Edwards, 
of  Binghamton,  1878-79;  attended  lectures 
at  the  Medical  Department  of  the  University  of 
New  A"ork,  where  he  graduated  in  March, 
1881,  and  practiced  in  Montrose  until  Septem- 
ber following,  when  he  was  at  Franklin  Forks 
until  April,  1882.  Since  that  time  he  has  re- 
sided at  Brackney,  Pa.,  in  the  enjoyment  of  a 
good  practice.  In  September,  1885,  he  married 
Andra  La  Delle  Wilbur,  of  Brackney.  He 
joined  the  SusD[uehanna  County  Medical  Society 
in  April,  1881. 

Anderson  Dana  Tewksbury,  M.D.,  son 
of  John  and  Lucia  (Whitcomb)  Tewksbury, 
was  born  in  Meshoppen,  Pa.,  1838.  His  pa- 
rents removed  to  Auburn  township  late  in 
1839,  and  he  resided  there  until  1872.  He 
obtained  his  education  at  Montrose  Academy 
and  Wyoming  Seminary.  He  read  medicine 
with  Dr.  R.  H.  Dana,  of  Wilkes-Barre,  1860- 
62,  and  attended  two  full  courses  of  lectures  at 
the  University  of  Michigan,  where  he  grad- 
uated in  1864.  He  was  assistant  surgeon  of 
One  Hundred  and  Fifty-fifth  Regiment  Penn- 
sylvania Volunteers  from  July  3,  1864,  to  the 
close  of  the  war.  He  practiced  in  Auburn  from 
1865  to  1872,  when  he  attended  a course  of  lec- 
tures at  Bellevue  Hospital  Medical  College, 
and  afterwards  located  at  Ashley,  Pa.,  where  he 


practiced  until  1883,  when  he  devoted  two  years 
to  the  more  thorough  equipment  of  himself  for 
the  practice  of  his  profession  by  attending  the 
Post-Graduate  Medical  College,  School  of  Oph- 
thalmology and  Otology,  and  Metropolitan  Nose 
and  Throat  Hospital  of  New  York  City,  the 
Eye  Department  of  the  University  of  Edin- 
burgh, Scotland,  and  Mooresfield  Eye  and  Ear 
Hospital  of  Loudon,  England.  Located  at 
Elmira,  N.  Y.,  1885,  and  has  limited  his  prac- 
tice to  the  eye,  ear,  nose  and  throat.  In  1879 
he  married  Mary,  daughter  of  John  and  Lucy 
C.  Beardsley,  of  Auburn.  He  joined  the  Sus- 
quehanna County  Medical  Society  in  1866. 

Charles  Abner  Johnstone,  M.D.,  son  of 
Cyrus  Smythe  and  Huldah  Louise  Edmunds 
Johnstone,  was  born  at  Harford,  Pa.,  May  1, 
1853.  His  father  was  of  Irish  descent.  His 
great-grandfather,  M^m.  Johnstone,  born  in 
Ireland  in  1713,  was  a graduate  of  Trinity 
College,  Dublin,  and  a Presbyterian  minister. 
He  removed  to  America  and  settled  in  the 
Upper  Susquehanna  Valley,  where  he  was  once 
compelled  to  leave  his  home  by  Joseph  Brant. 
Dr.  Johnstone’s  great-grandfather,  Hugh  John- 
stone, was  a Revolutionary  soldier.  His  mother 
was  of  Scotch  descent,  and  her  ancestors  for  the 
past  two  hundred  years  were  New  Englanders. 
Both  his  parents  are  still  living  at  Harford. 
He  attended  school  at  Harford  until  eighteen 
years  of  age,  except  an  absence  of  six  mouths 
in  his  sixteenth  year,  for  a voyage  as  sailor  to 
Havana.  He  commenced  reading  medicine  with 
his  uncle,  C.  C.  Edwards,  M.D.,  at  the  age  of 
eighteen  ; was  graduated  at  Bellevue  Hospital 
Medical  College  in  the  class  of  1880 ; became  a 
member  of  the  Susquehanna  County  Medical 
Society  in  1884. 

William  Jessup  Chandler,  M.D.,  son  of 
Frank  B.  and  Mary  S.  Jessup  Chandler,  was 
born  at  Montrose  in  1842.  His  early  education 
was  at  Montrose,  and  Cortland  Academy,  Ho- 
mer, N.  Y.  He  graduated  at  Yale  College  in 
1864;  read  medicine  with  Dr.  J.  Blackman  in 
Montrose,  and  with  Drs.  W.  H.  Draper  and 
Charles  IMielps  in  New  A"ork  City ; attended 
medical  lectures  at  the  College  of  Physicians  and 
Surgeons,  New  York  City,  and  graduated  in 
1868;  entered  Bellevue  Ho.spital  in  1867,  and 


168 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


was  house  surgeon  there  iu  1868  and  1869 ; 
since  April,  1869,  has  practiced  in  South  Orange, 
N.  J. ; was  one  of  the  incorporators  of  Memorial 
Hospital,  Orange,  N.  J.,  in  1872,  and  has  been 
attending  surgeon  there  since  that  date.  In 
1880  he  was  appointed  attending  surgeon  to 
St.  Barnabas’  Hospital,  Newark,  N.  J.  He 
married  Miss  Jennie  Milligan,  of  South  Orange, 
in  1873. 

Amos  Cranmer  Blakeslee,  M.D.,  was 
born  at  Springville,  this  county,  in  1825.  He 
read  medicine  with  Dr.  J.  C.  Platt,  of  Water- 
bury.  Conn.,  and  attended  lectures  at  the  Medi- 
cal Department  of  Yale  College,  whence  he 
graduated.  After  some  hospital  experience  at 
New  Haven,  he  located  at  Dimock  about  1858, 
and  joined  the  Susquehanna  County  Medical 
Society  in  1859.  He  served  as  a surgeon  in  the 
war  of  1861,  and  afterward  located  at  Nichol- 
son, Pa.,  where  he  remained  until  his  death,  in 
1882.  He  married  Jane  Bradley,  of  Water- 
bury.  Conn.,  in  1845.  He  left  one  son,  Mer- 
rick C.,  now  living  at  Great  Bend. 

William  Henry  Carmalt,  M.D.,  son  of 
Caleb  and  Sarah  Carmalt,  was  born  at  Lakeside, 
this  county,  in  1836  ; read  medicine  with  Drs. 
JefiFers  and  Morrill  Wyman,  of  Cambridge, 
Mass.;  attended  lectures  at  Harford  Medical 
School ; graduated  at  the  College  of  Physicians 
and  Surgeons,  New  York,  in  1861;  w’as  .sur- 
geon in  the  New  York  Eye  and  Ear  Infirmary 
for  several  years ; further  prosecuted  his  medi- 
cal studies  in  Germany,  and,  in  1876,  settled 
in  New  Haven,  Conn.  ; now,  also,  a lecturer  in 
Yale  College. 

John  Cross  Secor,  M.D.,  son  of  Abraham 
and  Mahala  Secor,  was  born  in  Monroe,  Orange 
County,  N.  Y.,  1855.  He  attended  the  district 
school  in  Wyoming  County,  Pa.,  and  subse- 
quently Keystone  Academy,  at  Factory ville, 
until  he  was  qualified  to  teach,  and  having 
spent  a number  of  years  in  this  vocation,  he 
entered  the  office  of  Dr.  Darwin  Kelly,  of  Mill 
City,  Pa.  At  the  end  of  two  years  he  attended 
lectures  at  Bellevue  Hospital  Medical  College, 
N.  Y.,  and  a second  course  at  the  University  of 
Vermont,  where  he  graduated  in  1885.  He 
located  for  a short  time  at  Herrick  Centre,  and 
thence  removed  to  Forest  City,  Susquehanna 


County,  Pa.,  being  the  first  and  only  resident 
physician  in  the  place  at  that  time. 

Augustus  Perry  Rowley,  M.D.,  son  of 
Alexander  William  and  Ann  Caroline  Priest 
Rowley,  was  born  at  Susquehanna,  Pa.,  1859. 
He  was  educated  at  Newton  Collegiate  Insti- 
tute, Sussex  Co.,  N.  J.  ; commenced  reading 
medicine  with  Dr.  E.  N.  Smith,  of  Susquehanna, 
in  the  fall  of  1878  ; attended  lectures  at 
Bellevue  Hospital  Medical  College,  where  he 
graduated  in  the  spring  of  1882.  In  the  sum- 
mer of  the  same  year  he  commenced  practice  at 
Norfolk,  Va.,  but  returned  north,  and  in  the 
spring  of  1883  attended  the  post-graduate 
course  at  . the  University  of  Pennsylvania ; 
began  practice  at  Susquehanna  in  the  fall  of 
1883,  and  in  the  spring  of  1884  entered  into 
partnership  with  Dr.  E.  N.  Smith,  remaining 
with  him  until  the  .spring  of  1866,  when  he  re- 
moved to  Creston,  Ogle  County,  Ilk,  and  thence 
at  the  end  of  three  months  to  Chicago,  his 
present  residence.  He  joined  the  Susquehanna 
County  Medical  Society  in  1885. 

Jame.s  Martin  Newman,  M.D.,  son  of 
Martin  and  Belinda  Salisbury  Newman,  was 
born  at  Lanesboro’,  1846.  His  father  M^as  a 
native  of  Stamford,  Conn.,  and  his  mother  of 
Lanesboro’.  He  attended  school  at  Lanesboro’, 
Great  Bend  and  Montrose,  and  taught  school 
two  terms ; read  medicine  with  Dr.  C.  C. 
Halsey,  of  Montrose,  and  attended  lectures  at 
the  University  of  Michigan  in  1867-68.  He 
attended  a second  course  at  a medical  college 
at  Cleveland,  Ohio,  whence  he  graduated  in 
1869. 

He  married  Elizabeth  Dewing,  of  Warren- 
ham,  Bradford  County,  Pa.,  1873.  He  prac- 
ticed a short  time  at  Montrose,  then  at  Stevens- 
ville,  Bradford  County,  from  spring  of  1870  to 
December,  1872,  then  at  Little  Meadows, 
whence  he  removed  to  Elmira,  N.  Y.,  where  he 
was  in  continuous  practice  until  his  death,  in 
1881.  He  was  elected  coroner  in  Elmira  in 
1875  for  three  years.  He  was  greatly  mourned 
by  the  poor,  to  whom  he  had  been  very  kind. 

Perry  Schoonmaker,  M.D.,  son  of  William 
D.  and  Eliza  Smith  Schoonmaker,  was  born  in 
Brooklyn,  this  county,  1854.  He  attended  the 
Montrose  Graded  School  about  two  years,  and 


MEDICAL  HISTORY. 


1G9 


had  some  experience  as  a teacher  of  common 
schools.  He  commenced  reading  medicine  with 
Dr.  C.  C.  Halsey,  of  Montrose,  in  1876,  and 
after  attending  the  requisite  courses  of  lectures 
at  the  University  of  Michigan,  was  graduated 
from  that  institution  in  1880.  kSoon  afterward 
he  commenced  practice  at  Hopbottom,  where  he 
continued  until  May,  1887,  when  he  removed 
to  the  city  of  New  York.  In  1874  he  married 
Ann  M.  Henry,  who  died  1879.  In  1883  he 
married  Linnie  I.  Utley,  of  Hopbottom.  In 
1880  he  became  a member  of  the  Susquehanna 
County  Medical  Society,  and  represented  that 
body  at  the  meeting  of  the  State  Society  in 
1885.  Faithful  and  conscientious  in  the  dis- 
charge of  his  duties,  he  is  a growing  man  and 
sustains  an  excellent  reputation  among  his  pro- 
fessional brethren. 

Warren  Willis  Strange,  M.D.,  son  of 
Isaac  and  Ann  E.  Gregory  Strange,  was  born 
at  Birchard ville.  Pa.,  1849.  He  attended  the 
Montrose  Graded  School  and  taught  several 
winter  terms  of  district  school.  In  1878  he 
began  to  read  medicine  with  Dr.  C.  C.  Halsey, 
of  Montrose,  and  attended  his  first  course  of 
lectures  at  the  University  of  Michigan  in 
1879-80,  and  his  second  ctourse  at  Jefferson 
Medical  College,  Philadelphia,  in  1880-81, 
graduating  there.  He  immediately  commenced 
practice  at  Montrose,  where  he  has  continued  to 
the  present  time.  He  has  been  jail  physician 
and  held  the  office  of  coroner  by  appointment 
of  the  Governor  to  fill  an  unexpired  term,  and 
was  elected  to  that  office  in  1886.  He  joined 
the  Susquehanna  County  Medical  Society  in 
1882.  In  1887  he  married  Emma  Dalrymple, 
of  Morristown,  N.  J. 

Covington  H.  Warner,  M.D.,  was  born 
1837  in  Pike  township,  Bradford  County,  Pa., 
to  which  place  his  father,  Harmon  Warner, 
came  from  Litchfield  County,  Conn.,  about 
1817.  In  1858  he  commenced  reading  medi- 
cine with  Dr.  Benjamin  De  Witt,  of  Le  Rays- 
ville.  He  attended  one  course  of  lectures  at 
the  UniveLsity  of  Michigan  and  another  at 
Georgetown,  D.  C.,  where  he  graduated  in  1861. 
He  was  married,  1861,  to  Emeline  M.  Barnes, 
of  Orwell,  Pa.  He  practiced  medicine  at  Belle- 
fontaine,  Iowa,  two  years  and  then  returned  to 
11 


Bradford  County.  In  March,  1864,  he  enlisted 
as  a private  in  the  One  Hundred  and  Forty- 
first  Regiment  Pennsylvania  Volunteers,  and 
was  with  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  in  its  en- 
gagements under  General  Grant  until  Novem- 
ber, 1864,  when  he  was  detailed  as  assistant 
surgeon  to  the  Emery  Hospital,  Washington, 
D.  C.,  where  he  remained  until  March,  1865, 
when  he  returned  to  the  front  and  continued 
until  the  end  of  the  war.  He  practiced  medi- 
cine at  Stevensville,  Bradford  County,  until 
1869,  when  he  removed  to  Le  Raysville,  where 
his  wife  died.  He  re-married  Amelia  M.  Brls- 
ter,  of  the  same  place,  in  1872.  He  removed 
from  Le  Raysville  to  Rushville,  this  county,  in 
1883,  where  he  is  engaged  in  a large  practice. 
His  genial  manner,  uniform  courtesy  and  open 
hospitality  have  won  him  many  friends,  while 
his  successful  treatment  has  commanded  the 
confidence  of  his  patients. 

Dr.  Mason  Dennison  came  from  Vermont 
to  Brooklyn,  Pa.,  in  1811,  and  after  a few  years’ 
practice  there,  removed  to  Montrose,  where  he 
died  1838.  He  married  Miss  Wealthy  Lathrop, 
of  Bridgewater,  who  died  1852.  They  had 
two  sons  and  two  daughters,  of  whom  only  Mrs. 
Jane  A.,  wife  of  Edmund  Baldwin,  Esq.,  of 
Montrose,  is  living. 

Dr.  Harry  Denni.son  Baldwin,  son  of 
Edmund  and  Jane  Antoinette  Dennison  Bald- 
win, and  grandson  of  Dr.  Ma,son  Dennison, 
was  born  at  Montrose,  1852.  He  obtained  his 
education  in  the  schools  of  Montrose  and  studied 
medicine  with  Dr.  J.  D.  Vail,  of  the  same 
place.  He  attended  lectures  at  the  New  York 
Homoeopathic  Medical  College  in  1873-74-75, 
whence  he  graduated,  and  has  since  practiced  in 
Montrose,  except  about  a year  in  Syracuse,  N.  Y., 
in  1882-83.  In  1881  he  was  elected  coro- 
ner of  Susquehanna  County  and  served  part  of 
a term.  He  married  Mrs.  Rose  B.  Allen  in 
1883. 

William  W.  Fletcher,  M.D.,  was  born  in 
Mt.  Pleasant,  Wayne  County,  Pa.,  January  20, 
1845.  He  obtained  his  education  in  the  com- 
mon schools  and  followed  teaching  a number  of 
years.  In  1879  he  commenced  to  read  medicine 
with  Dr.  Henry  Penuypacker  and  Dr.  Samuel 
Birdsall  and  attended  the  College  of  Physicians 


170 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


I 


and  Surgeons  at  Baltimore,  and  the  Medical 
Department  of  the  University  of  New  York. 
He  practiced  three  years  at  Uniondale  and  is 
now  located  at  Susquehanna. 

George  W.  Durga,  M.D.,  only  sou  of  Eliud 
W.  Durga,  of  Connecticut,  was  born  near 
Rushville,  Pa.,  1852.  His  mother  was  a 
daughter  of  Henry  Pepper.  He  received  an 
academic  education  and  read  medicine  with  Dr. 
A.  Dunham  at  Rush.  He  attended  his  first 
course  of  lectures  at  Jefferson  Medical  College 
in  1876-77,  and  his  second  at  Long  Island  Col- 
lege Hospital,  whence  he  graduated  in  1878. 
The  same  year  he  commenced  practice  in  Rush, 
where  he  still  continues,  and  in  1886  formed  a 
partnership  with  W.  L.  Keeney  in  the  drug 
business.  He  married  Libbie  Walden,  of  Rush, 
1881. 

William  Seth  Mitchell,  M.D.,  son  of 
Norman  and  Eliza  Halsey  Mitchell,  was  born 
at  Montrose  in  1844.  He  graduated  at  Madi- 
son University  in  1866  ; read  medicine  with 
Dr.  C.  C.  Halsey,  of  Montrose  ; attended  lec- 
tures at  the  University  of  Michigan  in  1869-70; 
took  second  course  of  lectures  at  the  College 
of  Physicians  and  Surgeons,  New  York  City, 
whence  he  graduated  in  the  spring  of  1871.  In 
the  following  autumn  he  engaged  in  the  drug 
business  at  Susquehanna,  and  has  so  continued 
to  the  present  time.  In  January,  1875,  he 
married  Mrs.  Carrie  Tait. 

Charles  Jarvis  Drinker,  M.D.,  son  of 
Joseph  D.  Drinker,  late  of  Montro.se,  was  born 
at  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  about  1832.  His  parents 
came  to  Montrose  when  he  was  young,  where  he 
attended  school  at  the  academy.  He  subse- 
quently took  one  or  more  sea  voyages.  He  was 
a student  of  medicine  in  the  office  of  Dr.  J.  W. 
Cobb,  of  Montrose,  and  attended  a course  of 
lectures  at  the  University  of  Pennsylvania  in 
1860-61.  He  entered  the  army  and  served 
until  1864,  when  he  resumed  the  study  and 
graduated  at  the  University  of  Pennsylvania. 
He  was  e.stablished  in  successful  practice  at 
South  Gibson  until  within  a week  or  two  of 
his  decease,  in  1869,  at  the  house  of  his  father 
in  Montrose. 

Andrew  Stryker  Blair,  M.D.,  the  young- 
est of  eleven  children  of  Alfred  and  Charlotte 


Blair,  was  born  at  Conesville,  N.  Y.,  Novem- 
ber 20,  1857.  Dr.  Blair  read  medicine  with 
Dr.  J.  W.  Burr,  of  Newark  Valley,  N.  Y. ; 
attended  lectures  at  the  University  of  New 
York,  whence  he  graduated  in  1881  ; prac- 
ticed in  Centre  Lisle,  N.  Y.,  until  June,  1883, 
when  he  located  at  Franklin  Forks,  this  county. 
Pa.,  his  present  residence.  In  September,  1882, 
he  married  Lida  E.  Japhet,  of  Ketchumville, 
N.  Y.  They  have  a son  and  a daughter.  He 
joined  the  Susquehanna  County  Medical  Society 
in  1885,  and  was  elected  vice-president  in 
1887. 

Dr.  Norman  Brundage,  son  of  Dr.  E L. 
and  Agnes  V.  Brundage,  was  born  at  Upson- 
ville.  Pa.,  in  1842.  He  obtained  his  early  edu- 
cation at  Montrose  Academy.  He  practiced 
dentistry  in  Montrose  from  Oct.,  1864,  to  Aug., 
1868,  pursuing  the  study  of  medicine  at  the 
same  time.  He  commenced  practice  with  his 
father  in  South  Gibson  in  1868,  and  so  contin- 
ued until  the  death  of  his  father,  in  1871;  then 
practiced  at  Lawsville  until  1874,  at  Tunkhan- 
nock.  Pa.,  a year,  at  Uniondale,  Susquehanna 
County,  until  1878,  when,  after  spending  a 
summer  in  Virginia,  he  located  at  Sherman, 
Wayne  County,  Pai.,  his  present  residence.  He 
married  Ellen  M.  Baker,  of  New  Milford,  in 
1866. 

Dr.  Jonathan  W.  Brundage  was  born 
in  Wallkill,  Orange  County,  N.  Y.,  1796.  He 
came  with  his  brother.  Dr.  G.  N.  Brundage,  to 
Gibson  township,  in  April,  1834,  where  he  re- 
mained in  continuous  practice  until  his  decease, 
in  1861.  He  married  Permelia  Mills  in  1820, 
and  she  died  1859.  Stephen  S.  (the  eldest  of 
their  eight  children),  P.  Jane  and  George  C. 
still  reside  in  Gibson.  His  brother,  Dr.  G.  N. 
Brundage,  died  in  1838. 

Dr.  Duane  F.  Brundage,  son  of  Dr.  Jon- 
athan W.  Brundage,  Avas  born  1823.  He  com- 
menced practice  in  Gibson  in  1841,  where  he 
continued  until  his  death,  in  1864.  He  received 
the  degree  of  M.D.  from  an  eclectic  school  in 
Philadelphia.  In  1852  he  erected  a water  cure 
establishment,  forty  by  sixty  feet  in  size  and 
three  stories  high,  which  was  burned  in  1872- 
In  1853  he  married  Julia  Edith  Packer,  of 
Woodstock,  Vt.,  and  she  is  now  the  wife  of  Dr. 


MEDICAL  HISTORY. 


171 


A.  B.  Woodward,  of  Tuukhannock,  Pa.  His 
son,  Dr.  Arthur  D.  Brundage,  is  practicing  in 
Tuukhannock. 

Dr.  Edwin  L.  Brundage  was  born  in 
Wallkill,  Orange  County,  N.  Y.,  1804.  He 
studied  and  practiced  medicine  with  Dr.  Carter, 
an  eclectic  physician  of  his  native  place.  In 
the  fall  of  1834  he  located  at  Upsonville,  Pa., 
as  a practitioner  of  medicine;  in  1856  removed 
to  Lawsville,  on  the  Snake  Creek,  in  the  adja- 
cent township  of  Liberty,  and  in  1868  to  South 
Gibson,  where  he  was  in  partnership  with  his 
son  Norman  until  his  death,  in  1871. 

He  married  Agnes  Vanamburgh,  of  Mont- 
gomery, New  York.  One  daughter,  Adelia 
A.,  is  wife  of  Dr.  L.  P.  Roberts,  of  Port 
Crane,  N.  Y. 

Dr.  Brundage  possessed  a kind,  genial  pres- 
ence, whieh  helped  greatly  to  endear  him  to 
many  who  sought  his  aid,  and  the  poor  never 
looked  to  him  in  vain.  If  not  one  of  the  great 
and  gifted,  there  are  many  to  whom  his  memory 
is  precious. 

James  A.  Lewis,  M.D.,  son  of  Isaac  W. 
Lewis,  was  born  in  Silver  Lake  township  in 
1847.  He  was  a graduate  of  the  Owego  High 
School ; read  medicine  with  his  father.  Dr.  I. 
W.  Lewis,  at  Apalachin,  N.  Y.;  attended  lec- 
tures at  the  University  of  Michigan  in  1864-65, 
and  at  the  University  of  New  York  in  1866,  ’67 
and  ’68;  received  the  degree  of  M.D.  from  the 
Medical  Department  of  the  University  of  New 
York  in  1869,  and  immediately  located  at 
Brackney,  Pa.,  where  he  continued  in  practice 
until  the  spring  of  1882,  when  he  removed  to 
Ithaca,  N.  Y.,  where  he  now  resides.  He  mar- 
ried Jennie  L.  Ferous,  of  Brackney,  in  1870. 
He  joined  the  Susquehanna  County  Medical 
Society  in  1877. 

Charles  David  Mackey,  M.D.,  son  of 
David  and  Miranda  Mackey,  was  born  in  New 
Milford  in  1854.  His  father  was  a farmer  and 
he  received  Jiis  education  at  the  district  school 
and  in  the  graded  schools  of  New  Milford  and 
Scranton ; commenced  reading  medicine  in 
1879  with  his  brother.  Dr.  N.  C.  Mackey,  in 
Springville,  and  afterward  with  Dr.  G.  W. 
Weaver,  of  Wilkes-Barre ; attended  first 
course  of  lectures  at  the  University  of  New 


York  in  1880-81,  and  his  second  course  at  Bal- 
timore Medical  College  in  1881-82,  graduating 
in  the  latter  year  and  immediately  commenced 
practice  at  Lynn,  this  eounty,  where  he  contin- 
ued until  January,  1885.  He  located  at  Mont- 
rose in  March,  1885,  where  he  now  resides. 

June  7,  1884,  he  married  Mary  R.  Lyman, 
of  Springville. 

Dr.  Dever  James  Peck,  the  second  of  a 
family  of  three  children,  was  born  July  4,  1856, 
in  Harford,  Susquehanna  County,  Pa.  His 
father,  L.  R.  Peck,  a farmer,  and  mother, 
Deborah  A.  Smith,  sister  of  Dr.  L.  A.  Smith, 
of  New  Milford,  and  of  the  late  Dr.  E.  N. 
Smith,  of  Susquehanna,  were  born  in  Susque- 
hanna County.  Dr.  Peck  received  his  education 
principally  in  the  Graded  School  of  Harford, 
and  followed  the  occupation  of  farming,  then 
practical  bee-keeping,  and  the  profession  of 
teaching  for  a term  of  seven  years.  He  became 
a student  of  medicine  in  March,  1883,  and 
attended  the  University  Medical  College  of 
New  York,  where  he  graduated  in  the  spring  of 
1886,  and  is  now  located  at  Susquehanna,  Pa. 
He  became  a member  of  the  Medical  Society 
April  28,  1886. 

Austin  Birchard  Sherman,  M.D.,  son  of 
Abel  and  Louisa  Birchard  Sherman,  was  born 
in  Jessup  township,  1829.  He  was  the  fifth  of 
ten  children.  His  father  was  a native  of  New 
York,  and  his  mother  of  Massachusetts.  He 
read  medicine  with  Dr.  G.  Z.  Dimock,  of  Mont- 
rose and  Dr.  W.  L.  Richardson,  at  Nesque- 
honing,  Pa. ; attended  lectures  at  Jefferson 
Medical  College,  whence  he  graduated ; practiced 
a few  years  at  Fairdale,  this  eounty,  and  removed 
to  Girardsville,  Pa.,  his  present  residenc(\  He 
joined  the  Susquehanna  County  Medical  Society 
in  1862. 

Charles  G.  Estabrook,  M.  D.,  the  eldest 
son  of  T.  D.  and  Eliza  T.  (Buck)  E.stabrook, 
of  Great  Bend,  'was  born  in  Cattaraugus  County, 
N.Y.jiu  1850.  He  attended  Franklin  Academy, 
and  his  medical  studies  were  jnirsued  at  the 
University  of  Pennsylvania,  where  Dr.  AVilliam 
Pepper  was  his  preceptor.  He  was  graduated 
therefrom  in  1870,  and  came  at  once  to  Great 
Bend  and  practiced  medicine  in  connection  with 
the  drug  business  of  his  father  between  three 


172 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


and  four  years.  He  then  located  at  Bingham- 
ton, N.  Y.,  and  practiced  tliere  until  his  death, 
in  August,  1880.  He  mai’ried  Miss  Caroline 

M.  Sears,  who,  with  two  children,  survives  him. 
He  joined  the  Susquehanna  County  Medical 
Society  in  1873. 

C.  L.  Stii.es,  M.D.,  son  of  L.  N.  and 
Cynthia  Green  Stiles,  was  born  in  Sussex  County, 

N.  J.,  in  1837.  He  read  medicine  with  Dr.  S. 
Milton  Hand,  then  of  Windsor,  N.  Y.,  now  of 
Norwich,  N.  Y.,  for  four  years,  and  after  attend- 
ing lectures  at  Geneva  Medical  College,  gradu- 
ated at  that  institution  in  1865.  He  practiced 
a short  time  at  Gibson  and  thence  removed  to 
Owego,  N.  Y.,  his  present  residence.  Dr. 
Stiles  united  with  the  Susquehanna  County 
Medical  Society  in  1863. 

De.  Ceaek  Dickerman  (1803-63)  was 
born  in  Guilford,  Conn.,  where  he  read  medi- 
cine with  Dr.  Knapp.  He  married  Lydia 
Knapp,  and  practiced  in  his  native  place  for  a 
few  years.  His  first  wife  died,  and  he  married 
Sarah  A.  Chandler  for  his  second  wife,  in  1833. 
He  practiced  medicine  in  Harford  five  years,  in 
partnership  with  Dr.  Streeter,  and  subsequently 
alone  in  that  township  until  he  died.  He  was 
highly  esteemed  as  a physician  and  had  a good 
practice.  Of  his  children,  Mary  Louisa  is  the 
wife  of  Clemuel  R.  Woodin,  who  owns  the 
Cooper  property,  which  he  makes  his  summer 
residence. 

Sanford  J.  Engle,  M.D.,  a practicing  phy- 
sician at  Jackson,  was  born  in  Newark,  N.  J., 
in  1855,  and  is  the  son  of  Jacob  Engle,  a ser- 
geant in  the  late  war,  who  was  killed  at  the 
battle  of  the  Wilderness  in  1864.  Dr.  Engle 
received  his  preparatory  education  at  the  acad- 
emy at  Union,  N.  Y.,  read  medicine  with  Dr. 
L.  D.  Witherell,of  that  place,  and  was  graduated 
in  the  January  class  of  ’79,  at  the  Albany 
Medical  College.  He  practiced  his  profession 
for  a few  months  at  Union,  and  in  July  of  the 
same  year  settled  in  Jackson,  where  he  has  con- 
tinued his  professional  labor  with  success  since. 
His  ride  extends  throughout  Gibson,  and  into 
the  townships  of  Thomson  and  Ararat.  He 
is  a member  of  the  Susquehanna  County  Medical 
Society.  He  married,  in  1879,  Ella,  a daughter 
of  James  McWade,  of  Union,  N.  Y. 


W.  J.  Lowry,  M.D.,  was  born  In  1855,  in 
Clilford  township,  and  is  a son  of  Jas.  W. 
Lowry,  Esq.,  of  Elkdale,  Pa.  His  early  in- 
struction was  received  at  the  “ city  school,”  near 
Elk  Mt.  He  entered  “ Keystone  Academy,”  at 
Factoryville,  Pa.,  in  September,  1873,and  gradu- 
ated from  that  institution  in  June,  1876.  He 
registered  and  studied  with  Dr.  J.  C.  Olmstead, 
of  Dundaff.  He  continued  his  studies  at  the 
University  of  Michigan  and  the  Jefferson  Medi- 
cal College,  of  Philadelphia,  graduating  from  f 
the  last-mentioned  institution  in  1882.  | 

Since  that  time  he  has  followed  the  practice  - 
of  his  profession. 

He  located  in  Harford,  his  present  residence, 
in  December,  1883,  and  became  a member  of  the 
Medical  Society  of  Susquehanna  County  in 
1886. 

Dr.  Charles  Decker,  son  of  Densmore 
Washington  and  Miriam  Cobb  Decker,  was 
born  in  Walkill,  Orange  County,  N.  Y.,  in 
1844.  In  1862  he  came  to  Montrose  and  read 
medicine  with  his  cousin.  Dr.  J.  W.  Cobb ; at- 
tended lectures  at  Albany  Medical  College  in 
1864-65;  began  practice  in  Birchardville  in 
1865.  In  1873  he  removed  to  Montrose,  where 
he  has  since  resided.  In  1861  he  married 
Mary  E.  Kirby,  of  Montrose. 

Ray  Lyons,  M.D.,  son  of  Frank  A.  and 
Hattie  Lyons,  was  born  at  Lanesboro’  in  1863; 
received  his  early  education  at  Lanesboro’ 
Graded  School,  Susquehanna  High  School  and 
State  Normal  School,  Potsdam,  N.  Y. ; read 
medicine  with  Dr.  Morgan  L.  Miller,  of  Lanes- 
boro’ ; attended  lectures  at  the  University  of 
Peun.syvania  from  1883  to  1886,  graduating  in 
the  latter  year.  In  the  fall  of  1886  he  located  at 
Uniondale.  He  joined  Susquehanna  County 
Medical  Society  in  1887. 

Dr.  Albert  Augustus  Lindabury,  son  of 
John  Redding  and  Elmira  Hall  Lindabury, 
was  born  at  Clinton,  N.  J.,  January  15,  1858; 
was  educated  at  Rutgers  College  and  Fleming- 
ton  School  of  Science,  whence  he  received  the 
degree  of  B.S.  in  1878;  read  medicine  with 
Drs.  W.  S.  Criveling  and  A.  S.  Pettinger,  of 
New  Jersey;  attended  lectures  at  the  Bellevue 
Hospital  Medical  College  in  1882-83  ; at  Balti- 
more Medical  College  in  1883-85,  graduating 


MEDICAL  HISTORY. 


173 


there  in  the  latter  year ; was  resident  physician  at 
Maiyland  General  Hospital  one  year  ; married 
Miss  Mary  McPherson,  of  Scranton,  Pa.,  July 
15,  1885;  located  at  West  Auburn,  Susque- 
hanna County,  Pa.,  March  16,  1886. 

Dr.  Elijah  Shell,  son  of  John  and  Demaris 
Suell,  was  born  in  Sanford,  N.  Y.,in  1825.  At 
the  age  of  nineteen  he  came  to  Auburn  Centre; 
read  medicine  with  Dr.  E.  W.  Pitts,  an  eclectic 
practitioner  of  Elmira,  1ST.  Y.,  and  commenced 
practice  at  Auburn  Four  Corners  in  1851.  In 
1855  he  removed  to  Le  Raysville,  Pa.,  and  thence 
in  1859,  to  Grangerville,  this  county,  where 
he  practiced  more  than  twenty  years.  In  1881, 
he  removed  to  a farm  in  Jessup  township, 
where  he  now  resides.  In  July,  1850,  he  mar- 
ried Betsey  D.  Ely,  of  Brooklyn,  and  they  have 
four  sons  and  four  daughters,  all  living.  He 
has  served  three  years  as  road  commissioner,  three 
terms  as  school  director,  eighteen  years  as  tru.stee 
of  Rush  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  and  nine 
years  as  local  elder  of  the  same  denomination. 

Patrick  F.  Griffin,  M.D.,  a native  of 
Honesdale,  Pa.,  and  graduate  of  Jefferson 
Medical  College  in  1886,  has  located  at  Forest 
City,  Susquehanna  County,  Pa. 

Dr.  William  John  MoCausland,  son  of 
Robert  and  Caroline  K.  McCausland,  was  born 
at  Gorton,  Tyrone  County,  Ireland,  in  1844. 
When  about  three  years  of  age  his  parents  re- 
moved to  Toronto,  U.  C.  In  1863  he  married 
Agnes  Law,  of  Woodstock,  Canada.  They  had 
two  sons  and  three  daughters.  The  doctor’s 
father  gave  him  excellent  advantages  for  his 
preliminary  education.  He  pursued  his  medical 
studies  with  physicians  in  Woodstock,  Canada, 
attending  lectures  at  Victoria  University,  To- 
ronto; removed  to  Providence,  Pa.,  in  January, 
1872,  and  taught  school  there  (meanwhile  pur- 
suing his  medical  studies)  until  June,  1877, 
when  he  located  at  Montrose,  and  practiced 
there  until  his  death,  in  1886. 

George  N.  Hall,  M.D.,  graduate  of  Syra- 
cuse University,  Y.  Y.,  joined  the  Susquehanna 
County  Medical  Society  October  14,  1884.  He 
practiced  a year  or  two  at  East  New  Milford, 
and  thence  removed  to  Binghamton,  his  present 
residence. 

Dennis  Wesley  Sturdevant,  M.D.,  was 


born  at  Scranton,  Pa  ; received  the  degree  of 
M.D.  at  the  University  of  Vermont,  1884  ; 
located  at  Lynn,  this  county,  1885,  and  re- 
moved to  Lacey ville,  1886. 

Abraham  Lewis  Baughner,  M.D.,  was 
born  at  Tamaneud,  Pa.,  in  1856  ; pursued  his 
studies  at  Pleasantville  Collegiate  Institute, 
Ohio,  Pennsylvania  State  Normal  School, 
National  University,  Ohio,  and  the  University 
of  Michigan,  and  completed  a full  course  in 
the  Medical  Department  of  the  latter  institution  in 
1885,  receiving  the  degrees  of  B.S.  and  M.D.; 
practiced  in  the  coal-mining  region  in  the 
southern  part  of  Pennsylvania,  and  located  at 
Lynn,  Susquehanna  County,  Pa.,  October,  1886. 

Dr.  Rufus  Thayer,  son  of  Rufus  and 
Mary  Niles  Thayer,  of  Massachusetts,  was  born 
in  Lebanon,  N.  Y.,  1820.  He  read  medicine 
with  Dr.  Van  Fleet,  of  Hamilton,  N.  Y ; at- 
tended lectures  at  Cincinnati  Eclectic  Medical 
College,  Ohio,  and  graduated  there  in  1841  ; 
practiced  at  Smithville  Flats,  N.  Y.,  five  years, 
when  he  removed  to  Montrose  in  1846,  and  has 
lived  there  most  of  the  time  since.  After  resid- 
ing several  years  at  Hopbottom,  he  returned  to 
Montrose  in  the  spring  of  1887. 

He  married  Joanna  G.  Tarbell,  of  Smith- 
ville Flats,  in  1842.  She  died  in  1859.  Her 
son  Eugene  and  daughter  Sybil  (wife  of  E.  L. 
Weeks,  of  Binghamton,  N.  Y.)  survive  her. 
In  1870  he  married  H.  Selina  Bush. 

John  Gilbert  Woodhouse,  M.D.,  son  of 
John  and  Sally  Burch  Woodhouse,  was  born  in 
Dimock  township  in  1820  ; attended  school 
at  Dimock  and  had  some  experience  as  a 
teacher;  read  medicine  with  Dr.  E.  Patrick, 
of  Montrose ; attended  lectures  at  Pennsyl- 
vania Medical  College  in  1847,  ’48,  ’49,  gradu- 
ating there  in  the  latter  year.  He  at  once  lo- 
cated at  Springville,  and  practiced  three  years 
with  Dr.  I.  B.  Lathrop.  He  removed  to 
Laceyville,  Pa.,  in  1852,  and  died  there  1871. 
He  married  Miss  Angeline  Keeney  in  1861, 
and  she  died  in  1866.  Their  only  child,  a 
daughter,  survives  them. 

Dr.  Urfah  (?)  Lewis  came  to  New  Milford 
about  1833  with  wife  and  three  children.  He 
was  eccentric,  and  after  four  or  five  years’  prac- 
tice lie  went  away. 


174 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


Dr.  George  D.  Kimball,  son  of  Auson 
M.  and  Ann  F.  (Hovey)  Kimball,  was  born  in 
Windham  County,  Conn.,  1834  ; studied  with 
Dr.  Tarbox,  Berkshire,  K.  Y. ; was  a farmer 
and  teacher  several  years  ; graduated  at  Ec- 
lectic Medical  Institute,  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  in 
1881  ; settled  at  South  Gibson  first,  when  he 
removed  to  New  Milford  in  1886  ; married 
Alma,  daughter  of  Dr.  L.  W.  Bingham. 

Edwin  Alison  Butterfield,  M.D., 
youngest  child  of  Joseph  and  Sally  Butterfield, 
was  born  in  South  Bridgewater  in  1823,  and 
died  at  the  same  place  in  1851  ; read  medi- 
cine with  Dr.  E.  S.  Park,  of  Montrose;  at- 
tended one  course  of  lectures  at  Berkshire  Med- 
ical College,  Massachusetts,  and  another  in 
Kentucky,  where  he  received  the  degree  of 
M.D.  in  1847.  His  residence  in  Kentucky 
was  at  Maysville.  He  married  a lady  of  that 
place,  who  survived  him.  He  was  uncle  of 
Dr.  Edwin  S.  Butterfield. 

Edwin  Stone  Butterfield,  A.B.,  M.D., 
son  of  Benjamin  Alanson  and  Julia  Stone 
Butterfield,  was  born  in  Bridgewater,  1840; 
early  education  at  Montrose  Academy; 
entered  Yale  College  in  1863  and  graduated 
in  1867 ; read  law  with  Judge  Israel  S. 
Spencer,  of  Syracuse,  N.  Y.,  and  practiced  in 
that  city  ; attended  three  full  courses  of  lec- 
tures at  Medical  College  of  Syracuse  Univer- 
sity, graduating  in  1887  ; commenced  practice 
at  Susquehanna  Mineral  Springs,  in  Bush 
township. 

Morgan  L.  Miller,  M.D.,  son  of  David 
and  Edney  Loder  Miller,  was  born  at  Strouds- 
burg, Pa.,  in  1857  ; received  his  education  at 
Stroudsburg  and  Monroe  Collegiate  Institute; 
read  medicine  with  Dr.  N.  G.  Lesh,  of  Sti’ouds- 
burg ; attended  lectures  at  the  University  of 
Pennsylvania  in  1879,  ’80,  ’81,  ’82,  graduating 
in  the  latter  year.  In  October  following  he 
located  at  Lanesboro’,  Pa.,  his  present  residence. 
In  1883  he  married  Nellie  E.,  daughter  of 
David  Taylor,  of  the  same  place.  He  joined 
the  Susquehanna  County  Medical  Society  in 
1887. 

Dr.  Frederick  Douglas  Brewster,  son 
of  Horace  and  Augustus  Brewster,  was  born  in 
Bridgewater,  1850;  received  his  education  at 


Montrose,  and  graduated  at  Mansfield  Normal 
School  in  1871.  He  taught  school  several 
terms;  read  medicine  with  Dr.  J.  D.  Vail,  of 
Montrose,  and  graduated  at  the  Homoeopathic 
Medical  College  in  New  York  City.  He  has 
since,  to  the  present  time,  been  a successful 
practitioner  at  Tunkhaunock,  Wyoming  County, 
Pa. 

Dr.  Samuel  Wright,  for  thirty  years  a 
practicing  physician  in  the  southern  part  of 
Susquehanna  County,  was  born  on  the  Wright 
homestead,  an  old  landmark,  at  the  confluence 
of  Hopbottom  and  Martin’s  Creeks,  in  Lathrop, 
September  17,  1811.  He  was  mostly  self-edu- 
cated, only  receiving  in  boyhood  the  meagre 
opportunities  offered  by  the  early  district  school, 
which  he  attended,  nearly  two  miles  from  home. 
He  learned  farming  with  his  father,  and  was 
known  as  a young  man  of  correct  habits,  good 
morals,  and  possessed  with  self-reliance  and  a 
laudable  ambition  to  make  his  life-work  a bene- 
fit to  his  fellow-men.  He  married,  in  1836, 
Sarah  B.  Squires,  who  was  born  in  Brooklyn 
April  7,  1817 — a devoted  wife  and  mother,  and 
a woman  whose  Christian  character,  as  a life- 
long member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church, 
still  lingers  in  the  hearts  of  her  children.  She 
resides  with  her  daughter  (in  1887)  on  the  old 
homestead,  and  is  the  daughter  of  William 
(1788-1865)  and  Betsey  Brown  (1795-1864) 
Squires,  who  came  to  Brooklyn  from  Vermont 
in  1816,  and,  in  1826,  settled  on  the  Colonel 
Phelps  place,  in  Lathrop,  where  they  spent  the 
remainder  of  their  lives  and  reared  their  family. 

Naturally  possessed  of  an  analytical  mind, 
and  inclined  to  the  study  of  physics.  Dr.  Wright, 
in  1845,  visited  his  cousin.  Dr.  Kibby,  of  Cuba, 
N.  Y.,  who  induced  him  to  give  his  attention 
to  the  study  of  medicine,  and  loaned  him  some 
medieal  books.  From  this  time  the  inclinations 
of  his  mind  and  the  bent  of  his  life-work  were 
changed.  He  studiously  applied  himself  to  the 
great  work  before  him,  became  conversant  with 
the  causes  and  treatment  of  disease,  and  as  early 
as  1847  began  the  practice  of  medicine  in  the 
vicinity  of  his  home.  His  success  with  his 
patients,  his  careful  diagnosis  of  c4ses  which  he 
was  called  to  treat,  and  his  intelligent  treatment, 
with  his  untiring  labor  and  sympathy  for  the  sick. 


I 


'j 

! 


MEDICAL  HISTORY. 


175 


soon  gave  him  a wide  field  of  practice,  in  which 
his  services  were  highly  esteemed.  The  poor, 
where  no  remuneration  in  money  could  be  ex- 
pected, alike  received  his  constant  attention  with 
the  rich,  and  his  words  of  Christian  encourage- 
ment, always  administered,  as  Avell  as  his  pro- 
fessional advice  and  medical  aid,  were  fearlessly 
given  to  those  whom  he  attended.  His  ride 
extended  throughout  Lathrop,  Springville, 
Brooklyn,  Harford,  Lenox  and  Nicholson,  and 
he  was  frequently  called  to  counsel  with  other 
physicians  besides  those  of  his  school  of  practice. 
He  was  one  of  the  founders  of  the  Eclectic 
Medical  Society  of  the  county,  and  he  was  one 
of  the  charter  members  of  the  Eclectic  Medical 
Association  of  the  State  of  Pennsylvania  in 
1875.  As  early  as  1839  he  was  converted  and 
united  with  the  Methodist  Church  at  Hopbot- 
tom,  of  which  he  was  afterward  during  his  life 
one  of  its  most  influential,  liberal,  devoted  work- 
ing members.  He  was  a pillar  in  the  church 
while  he  lived,  and  as  a class-leader  and  super- 
intendent of  the  Sunday-school  for  many  years, 
his  whole  ambition  seemed  to  be  to  lead  others 
to  know  the  truth,  and  to  live  devoted  lives  as 
men  and  women.  His  example  and  influence  for 
good,  live  on  in  the  minds  of  all  who  knew  him- 
He  was  a warm  supporter  of  temperance  reform 
and  of  education,  and  gave  his  children  a liberal 
education  in  the  district  home  school  and  at 
Harford  Academy.  He  died  September  6, 1877. 

The  children  of  Dr.  Wright  are  Frances  E., 
born  1838,  wife  of  William  Squier,  son  of 
Arab  and  Fanny  A.  (Phelps)  Squier,  resides  on 
the  Wright  homestead,  and  has  children  (Sarah 
E.,  wife  of  P.  A.  Lord,  of  Chicago,  and  Jennie 
and  Samuel  Squier);  Jason  S.  Wright,  1840, 
for  many  years  a merchant  at  Hopbottom,  mar- 
ried Ella  E.,  a daughter  of  Hiram  C.  and  Maria 
R.  (Watrous)  Guernsey,  of  Bridgewater  (they 
had  one  child,  Robert,  died  at  ten  months  old) ; 
Hersey  G.  Wright,  1843,  a farmer  in  Lathrop, 
and  owns  the  farm  formerly  owned  by  William 
Crandall,  married  Ellen  R.,  a daughter  of  Wil- 
liam and  Phylena  Crandall,  of  Hopbottom  (chil- 
dren— Gertie,  died  young,  and  William  S.)  ; and 
Irwin  Wright,  born  in  1847,  owns  the  Stephen 
W.  Breed  farm,  in  Brooklyn,  and  succeeded  his 
brother,  Jason  S.,  in  the  mercantile  business  at 


Hopbottom  in  1885  (he  married  Ella  E.,  a 
daughter  of  Stephen  and  Catherine  Bell,  of 
Lathrop,  and  has  children — Cora  Bell,  Emma 
Elizabeth  and  Parley  Stephen  Wright). 

Dr.  Samuel  Wright’s  father,  Anthony  Wright 
(1781-1857),  came  from  Somers,  Conn.,  with  his 
wife,  Sally  Sweatland  (1787-1850),  in  1809,  and 
settled  on  one  hundred  acres,  a woodland  tract 
in  the  northeast  corner  of  Lathrop,  the  home- 
stead of  the  family  since,  before  mentioned. 
This  farm  had  been  occupied  before  by  Ira 
Sweatland.  His  brothers,  Wise  and  Samuel 
Wright,  came  also  and  settled  in  Brooklyn. 
Anthony  Wright  was  one  of  the  early  and 
prominent  members  of  the.  Brooklyn  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church — a man  of  sterling  integrity 
in  all  his  business  relations,  and  a judicious  and 
industrious  farmer.  His  wife,  formerly  a Bap- 
tist, after  the  faith  of  her  parents,  united  with 
the  chiu'ch  of  her  husband,  and  reared  her  chil- 
dren under  careful  religious  training.  The  old 
elm  tree,  now  over  four  feet  in  diameter,  then 
only  a twig,  marks  the  site  of  the  homestead  of 
the  Wright  family  for  nearly  eighty  years,  and 
the  spot  early  selected  by  the  first  settlers  has 
been  the  burial-place  of  its  members  since,  now 
known  as  the  Lathrop  Cemetery,  situated  on  a 
part  of  the  homestead.  The  early  log  house 
gave  place  to  a frame  one  built  by  Anthony, 
and  that  was  supplanted  by  the  pre.sent  residence 
built  by  his  graudson-in-law,  William  Squier, 
in  1880. 

Anthony  Wright’s  children  were  Loren  (1809- 
82),  resided  on  the  Tuukhannock,  in  Lenox; 
Dr.  Samuel;  Caroline  (1814-83),  was  the  wife 
of  David  Davis,  of  Rock  Island  County,  111.; 
Sally  (1817-57),  married  Joseph  Hawley,  of 
Brooklyn ; Amanda,  born  in  1821,  wife  of 
George  Sweet  (grandson  of  Amos  Sweet),  of 
New  Milford;  Lois  (1825),  wife  of  James  Con- 
rad, of  Lenox  ; and  Polly,  wife  of  Lois  Baker, 
of  Dakota.  Anthony  Wright’s  father.  Captain 
Samuel  Wright,  an  officer  of  the  Revolution 
and  a Presbyterian,  came  to  Lathrop  later,  and 
settled  on  a farm  one  mile  west  of  Hopbottom, 
which  he  cleared.  He  died  in  1829.  His  wife, 
Azuba  (Gibbs)  Wright,  died  in  1824,  and  their 
remains  were  interred  in  the  family  burying- 
ground. 


176 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


Dr.  William  W.  Wheaton  (eclectic),  for 
twenty-five  years  a practicing  physician  at 
Jackson,  was  born  where  he  now  resides  in 
1823,  and  was  the  son  of  Moses  B.  and  Mary 
Aldrich  Wheaton,  natives  of  Richmond,  N.  H. 
He  was  educated  under  Rev.  Lyman  Richard- 
son, at  the  old  Harford  Academy,  read  medi- 
cine with  his  brother.  Dr.  Washington  W. 
Wheaton,  of  Bradford  County,  and  was  gradu- 
ated at  the  Eclectic  Medical  College,  at  Roch- 
ester, in  1850.  For  five  years  he  practiced  his 
profession  at  Newark,  N.  Y.,  and  in  1855  set- 
tled at  Jackson,  where  he  remained  in  constant 
practice  until  some  ten  years  since,  when  he 
partially  retired  from  practice,  and  has  since 
given  his  attention  to  agricnlture.  His  first 
wife,  whom  he  married  in  1846,  was  Ruth,  a 
daughter  of  Ira  and  Barbara  Ballou  Wheaton, 
of  Bradford  County,  by  whom  he  had  three 
children.  His  second  wife,  whom  he  married 
in  1873,  is  Juliet,  the  widow  of  the  late  Dr. 
Card,  of  Philadelphia,  the  daughter  of  Thurs- 
ton Lewis,  of  Harford,  by  whom  he  has  two 
children. 

Ephraim  F.  AVilmot,  M.D.,  son  of  Gilead 
and  Lucinda  Owen  AVilmot,  was  born  at  Wind- 
sor, New  York,  in  1826.  At  the  age  of  sixteen 
he  left  home,  and  found  the  means  of  complet- 
ing his  education  by  teaching  schcol.  He  read 
medicine  with  Dr.  Henry  Hearshbergh,  of 
Dauphin  County,  and  attended  his  first  course 
of  lectures  at  Berkshire  Medical  College,  Mass., 
and  his  second  course  at  Philadelphia  Medical 
College  in  1853-54,  graduating  there  in  the 
latter  year.  In  1855  he  attended  lectures  at 
the  Homoeopathic  Medical  College  of  Philadel- 
phia, and  received  a diploma  from  that  institu- 
tion. In  1856  he  located  at  Great  Bend,  where 
he  has  continued  in  active  practice  to  the  pres- 
ent time.  He  married  Mehitable  Ann  Clem- 
ons, of  Bridgewater,  in  1859,  who  died  1884. 
They  had  ten  children,  of  whom  eight  are  liv- 
ing. He  joined  the  Susquehanna  County  Med- 
ical Society  in  1855,  and  represented  it  at  the 
State  Society,  at  Pottsville,  in  1875.  He  was 
president  of  the  society  in  1882. 

Dr.  a.  B.  Woodward,  sou  of  Artemas 
AVoodward,  was  born  in  Gibson  in  1824.  He 
commenced  the  study  of  medicine  early.  His 


means  and  facilities  for  obtaining  medical  works 
at  that  time  were  limited.  From  1840  to  1848 
his  opportunities  were  enhanced  by  having  the 
benefit  and  the  library  of  two  of  the  best  phy- 
sicians then  practicing  in  that  section.  In 
1847-48,  being  called  upon  by  his  neighbors, 
he  prescribed  for  them,  and  continued  to  prac- 
tice successfully  for  twenty-nine  years  in  the 
place  of  his  nativity.  He  subsequently  prac- 
ticed in  Carbondale  until  1871,  when  he  moved 
to  Tuukhannock,  where  he  now  resides.  He 
has  in  connection  with  his  practice  a drug-store, 
and  is  interested,  with  Dr.  Mulholland,  in 
another  drug-store  in  Pittston.  For  many 
years  Dr.  Woodward  has  been  a leading,  fight- 
ing pioneer  of  eclecticism.  He  helped  organize 
the  first  eclectic  medical  society  in  the  State  in 
1845,  known  as  the  Susquehanna  Eclectic 
Medical  Society.  In  1850  it  numbered  from 
ten  to  fifteen  members.  The  doctor  held  the 
position  of  president  in  this  society  two  terms, 
in  the  State  Society  one  term  and  was  elected 
third  vice-president  of  the  National  Eclectic 
Medical  Association,  at  Springfield,  111.,  1875. 

Dr.  Elisha  N.  Loomis,  for  over  forty  years 
a physician  at  Harford,  was  born  in  Coventry, 
Conn.,  in  1809,  and  died  in  Harford,  this 
county,  on  the  Loomis  homestead,  in  1874. 
He  came  to  Harford  with  his  parents,  Eldad 
and  Fanny  Jetfers  Loomis,  in  1824,  from  Cov- 
entry ; was  a student  at  the  Harford  Academy, 
and  read  medicine  with  Dr.  Dickerman,  of 
Harford.  He  began  the  practice  of  medicine 
about  the  time  of  attaining  his  majority,  and 
later,  in  1852,  he  was  examined  at  the  Syracuse 
Medical  College,  adjudged  a qualified  physician, 
surgeon  and  accoucheur,  and  granted  a diploma. 
He  was  a member  of  the  Eclectic  Botanical 
Society  of  Susquehanna  County.  He  was  a 
successful  practitioner  of  medicine,  a man 
highly  respected  both  in  his  profession  and  in 
social  life,  and  a useful  citizen.  His  first  wife, 
Rowena,  a daughter  of  Laban  Capron,  who 
died  in  1845,  bore  him  four  sons, — Edgar,  a 
lawyer  in  Scranton  ; Alonzo,  a farmer  in  Har- 
ford ; Selwin  Roscoe,  killed  at  the  battle  of 
Chancellorsville  ; and  Gorton,  who  died  at  the 
age  of  twenty-four.  His  second  wife  was 
Edith  Bell.  His  third  wife,  Laura  Snow,  bore 


MEDICAL  HISTORY. 


177 


him  children, — Rowena,  wife  of  John  Gage,  of 
Ararat ; Mary  E.,  wife  of  Nelson  Tiffany,  of 
New  York  State ; Bertie ; and  Frank  R. 
Loomis,  of  Lenox.  Dr.  Loomis’  fourth  wife  was 
Mary  Ann  Lee,  a resident  in  1887  of  Brook- 
lyu.  Pa. 

The  following  persons  are  among  the  number 
who  have  left  Susquehanna  County  and  are 
practicing  medicine  elsewhere : Charles  Rose 
Bliss,  Enos  S.  Wheeler,  Frederick  Cushman 
Dennison,  J.  Arthur  Bullard,  William  H. 
Knapp,  Wm.  H.  Carmalt,  William  Rogers, 
Albert  J.  Bruudage. 

DENTISTRY. 

Probably  no  profession  in  the  world  has  made 
such  rapid  strides  during  the  last  half-century 
as  has  that  of  dentistry.  Prior  to  that  period 
the  study  and  care  of  the  teeth  was  limited  to 
those  who  made  the  study  of  anatomy  and  phys- 
iology a specialty,  and  to  the  members  of  tlie 
medical  profession,  very  much  as  blood-letting 
and  tooth-drawing  were  once  included  among 
the  functions  of  a barber.  Many  persons  are 
still  living  who  can  distinctly  remember  when 
the  scalpel  and  forceps  were  as  necessary  instru- 
ments in  a barber-shop  as  a pair  of  shears  or  a 
razor.  The  first  dental  college  in  the  world  was 
established  at  Baltimore  in  the  year  1839.  Since 
that  time  the  science  of  dentistry  has  developed 
until  it  now  ranks  among  the  most  useful  and 
artistic  of  the  professions,  and  includes  among 
its  representatives  men  of  education,  culture  and 
high  social  standing.  The  development  of  the 
science  has  been  rapid,  and  a profession  that  is 
the  offspring  of  the  nineteenth  century  has  not 
proven  tenacious  of  old  ideas  nor  unfitted  itself 
for  growth  and  improvement  by  a blind  devo- 
tion to  the  errors  of  the  past,  so  that  the  science 
of  dentistry  as  it  exists  to-day  is  the  exact  anti- 
podes of  that  which  received  the  attention  of  its 
professors  but  a few  years  ago.  The  most  rapid 
improvement  has  been  made  in  operative  den- 
tistry, in  which  there  has  been  almost  an  entire 
revolution.  The  highest  point  at  first  attainable 
was  to  fill  such  teeth  as  were  slightly  decayed, 
whereas,  by  the  aid  of  the  various  improved 
dental  instruments,  together  with  medicinal 
treatment  of  the  teeth,  the  profession  is  not  only 
12 


enabled  to  preserve  teeth  slightly  decayed,  but 
to  restore  and  preserve  them  for  many  years. 
The  early  practice  advocated  smooth-pointed 
instruments  for  introducing  the  filling,  and  non- 
cohesive  gold,  whereas  serrated  instruments  and 
cohesive  gold  are  now  recognized  as  the  proper 
thing. 

Artificial  teeth  were  in  use  as  early  as  Wash- 
iugtou’s  time,  and  he  himself  is  alleged  to  have 
worn  them  ; but  at  that  early  day  they  were 
either  carved  out  of  solid  pieces  of  ivory,  which 
involved  great  labor  and  expense,  or  were 
human  teeth  attached  to  gold  plates.  Aaron 
Burr  is  said  to  have  worn  such  teeth.  The  later 
improvements  made  in  this  direction,  and  their 
introduction  into  general  use,  have  added  largely 
to  both  the  attractions  and  difficulties  of  the 
profession,  and  drawn  to  it  many  possessed  of 
superior  mechanical  skill.  Formerly  the  plates 
in  which  the  teeth  are  set  were  made  only  of 
gold  and  silver  ‘or  carved  out  of  ivory,  which 
necessarily  made  them  both  heavy  and  costly, 
whereas  now  plates  are  made  not  only  of  gold 
and  silver,  but  also  of  platinum,  rubber  and 
celluloid.  Rubber  plates  were  not  introduced 
until  about  1854,  and  celluloid  much  more  re- 
cently. The  filling  of  artificial  teeth  is  also  a 
leading  branch  of  the  science,  requiring  both 
skill,  judgment  and  delicacy  when  properly 
done. 

The  county  of  Susquehanna  has  a number  of 
representative  dentists,  who  attend  assiduously 
to  their  profession  and  reflect  credit  upon  it. 

Dr.  Horace  Smith,  a native  of  Coopers- 
town,  N.  Y^.,  came  to  Montrose  in  1819,  and 
shortly  afterwards  opened  an  office  for  the  ex- 
traction of  and  filling  teeth  and  putting  in  arti- 
ficial plates.  He  had  been  preceded  by  only 
one  dentist — Dr.  Sumner — who  left  the  place 
about  the  time  he  came.  Dr.  Smith  continued 
the  }iractice  of  dentistry  here  for  thirty  years, 
and  died  in  1886,  aged  eighty-seven.  His  wife 
was  Marilla  Meacham,  who  bore  him  four  .sons 
and  one  daughter,  the  latter  dying  at  the  age 
of  twenty.  The  sons  arc — Mortimer,  a lawyer 
at  Oregon,  111. ; Noel  Byron  studied  dentistry 
with  his  brother.  Dr.  William  W.  Smith,  at 
Montro.se,  and  is  practicing  his  profession  at 
Port  Deposit,  Md. ; William  Wallace  Smith 


178 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


studied  dental  surgery  with  his  father,  and  be- 
gan practice  at  Montrose  in  1858,  and  has  re- 
mained in  continuous  practice  since,  a period  of 
nearly  thirty  years. 

His  wife  is  Deborah,  a daughter  of  Harry 
Elliott,  of  Merryall,  Bradford  County,  and  he 
has  five  children — Carrie  A.,  wife  of  Earnest 
Sutton,  of  Waverly,  N.  Y.  ; Jennie  M.,  widow  of 

F.  H.  Stevens,  a late  bookseller  at  Montrose; 
Frank  W.,  Harry  E.,  and  Mort.  L.  Smith. 
Dr.  Smith  was  born  in  Monroetown,  Bradford 
County,  in  1836. 

Dr.  Dunning,  the  eminent  dentist  of  Yew 
York,  and  several  other  dentists,  many  years 
ago,  occasionally  visited  Monrose  on  their  pro- 
fessional tours,  and  several  dentists  settled  here 
for  a short  time  and  then  left  for  supposed  bet- 
ter fields  of  labor.  Among  these  were  Drs. 
Sumner,  Brundage,  Dalryrnple,  Wheaton,  H. 
Smith,  W.  W.  Smith,  Gifford  and  Griswold. 

Dr.  Virgil  came  here  about  1820,  but  re- 
mained only  five  years,  when  he  settled  in 
Meshoppen,  where  he  afterwards  died. 

Dr.  L.  S.  Potter  was  born  in  Gibson 
township  February  28,  1853,  son  of  Stephen 
W.  and  Emeline  (Thayer)  Potter.  He  obtained 
his  preparatory  education  at  Montrose  Academy, 
studied  dentistry  with  Dr.  George  W.  Hall- 
stead,  of  Great  Bend,  and  in  1874  formed  a 
partnership  with  that  gentleman,  which  con- 
tinued one  year.  In  1875  he  settled  at  Mont- 
rose, where  he  has  remained  in  practice  since. 

Arthur  King  Harroun,  D.D.S.,  born  at 
Stockbridge,  N.  Y.,  in  1857,  a son  of  Rev. 
Thomas  Harroun,  for  some  time  a minister  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  here,  received 
his  preparatory  education  at  the  Wyoming  Con- 
ference Seminary,  Kingston,  N.  Y.,  and  at  the 
Cazenovia  Seminary,  and  at  the  age  of  seven- 
teen began  the  study  of  dental  surgery  with  Dr. 

G.  A.  Bishop,  of  Binghamton.  He  attended  lec- 
tures at  the  Wisconsin  Dental  College,  from 
which  he  was  graduated  in  the  class  of  1880. 
He  at  once  settled  for  the  practice  of  his  pro- 
fession at  Honesdale,  where  he  remained  until 
1883,  when  he  located  at  Montrose. 

The  first  dentists  to  open  an  office  in  Susque- 
hanna was  the  firm  of  Smith  & Williams,  who 
began  practice  about  1860  and  continued  for 


two  years,  when  Smith  settled  at  New  Milford 
and  shortly  afterwards  in  Binghamton.  His 
partner,  Clinton  Williams,  remained  for  a short 
time  afterwards,  and  then  settled  in  Pittston, 
Pa.,  where  he  has  been  since.  The  next  den- 
tist to  open  an  office  was  another  Williams,  who  '' 
practiced  dentistry  here  for  a short  time,  but  left  | 
in  1865,  and  settled  at  Great  Bend,  where  he  | 
died  some  three  years  thereafter.  In  the  fall  of 
1865  Dr.  G.  W.  Gleason  settled  at  Susque- 
hanna, and  has  practiced  his  profession  with 
varied  success  until  the  present  time  (1887). 

He  was  born  in  Virgil,  Cortland  County,  N.  Y., 
in  1838,  studied  dental  surgery  with  his 
brother.  Dr.  L.  R.  Gleason,  of  Cortland,  and,  after 
completing  his  studies,  practiced  dentistry  at 
Ludlowville,  at  Candor,  and  at  Owego  and 
Watkins,  N,  Y.  He  enlisted  in  Company  H, 
Twenty-sixth  New  York  Volunteers,  and 
served  from  the  spring  of  1861  until  December, 
1862,  when  he  was  honorably  discharged  on 
account  of  disability,  having  been  wounded  at 
the  battle  of  Second  Bull  Run.  He  married 
Emily  E.,  a daughter  of  J.  H.  Patrick,  of  Har- 
mony, and  has  three  children.  Dr.  M.  Gilman 
came  to  Susquehanna  about  1868,  and  practiced 
dentistry  one  year.  He  subsequently  returned 
in  1873  and  remained  for  four  years,  and  then 
settled  at  Great  Bend,  but  in  1882  removed  to 
Forksville,  Pa.  Dr.  Frank  Barnes  came  to 
Susquehanna  in  1871,  and  remained  for  two 
years,  when  he  removed  to  Middletown,  where 
he  has  practiced  since. 

Dr.  Sherwood  settled  at  Susquehanna  in 
1873,  and  was  in  practice  until  his  death,  three 
years  afterwards. 

Dr.  Maxon  began  practice  at  Susquehanna 
in  1877,  coming  from  Harford.  After  some 
two  years  he  returned  to  Harford,  where  he 
continued  to  reside. 

Jacob  Brandt,  D.D.S.,  son  of  Henry  W. 
Brandt,  was  graduated  in  dental  surgery  at  the 
Philadelphia  Dental  College  in  the  class  of 
1880  and  1881,  and  practiced  his  profession  at 
Susquehanna  for  some  two  years  afterwards, 
when  he  gave  up  the  business,  and  has  since 
been  engaged  in  mercantile  and  manufacturing 
business  at  Brandt. 

Lloyd  S.  Gilbert,  D.D.S..  son  of  F.  H. 


I 


MANNEKS  AND  CUSTOMS.  179 


i Gilbert,  was  born  in  Susquehanna  in  1861,  to 
I which  place  his  parents  had  removed  from 
Otsego  County,  N.  Y.,  in  1860.  He  studied 
1 dentistry  with  his  uncle,  S.  E,  Gilbert,  of 
I Philadelphia,  and  was  graduated  at  the  Phila- 
h delphia  Dental  College  in  the  class  of  1882  and 
1883.  He  has  had  an  office  at  Susquehanna 
since. 

I Dr.  George  W.  Hallstead  was  born  in 
Nicholson,  Pa.,  in  1826,  studied  dentistry  in 
I Rochester,  N.  Y.,  and  came  to  Susquehanna 
1 County  about  1856,  where  he  was  a traveling  den- 
I tist  for  some  years.  In  1859  he  located  at  Har- 
ford, but  after  three  years  settled  at  New  Mil- 
ford, where  he  was  the  first  dentist.  In  1865 
he  removed  to  Great  Bend,  where  he  practiced 
dentistry  until  his  death,  in  1874.  His  wife, 
Jane  R.  Hall,  of  New  Milford,  bore  him  one 
child — Mrs.  George  Dickerman,  of  New  Milford. 

Dr.  John  Halestead  was  born  in  AYyoming 
County,  Pa.,  in  1823,  the  sou  of  Samuel  Hall- 
stead.  After  practicing  dentistry  in  various 
places  for  several  years,  he  settled  at  Great 
Bend  in  1865,  where  he  remained  for  three 
years.  He  then  removed  to  Lenox,  and  was  a 
traveling  dentist  until  a short  time  before  his 
death,  in  1885. 

Dr.  a.  W.  Halestead,  son  of  Dr.  John  and 
Elizabeth  Hallstead,  was  born  in  Lathrop  in 
1854,  studied  dentistry  with  his  father  and 
uncle,  George  W.,  and  has  practiced  his  pro- 
fession at  Great  Bend  since  1875. 

Dr.  William  L.  Weston,  son  of  William 
W.  (1791-1853)  and  Sally  L.  Smith  Weston 
(1808-72),  was  born  in  Brooklyn  in  1840. 
He  was  educated  in  the  Brooklyn  public  school, 
began  the  study  of  dentistry  with  Dr.  George 
W.  Hallstead  at  New  Milford  in  1864,  and  the 
following  year  settled  at  the  same  place,  where 
he  has  continued  the  practice  of  his  profession 
since.  He  married,  in  1866,  Clara  J.  Virgil, 
and  has  one  child,  Frank  E.  Weston. 

Dr.  Foster  I.  Smith,  son  of  Irvin  and 
Fanny  M.  Smith,  of  Snyder  County,  Pa.,  was 
born  in  1862.  He  studied  dentistry  with  Dr. 
Ahl,  of  Bradford,  Pa. ; practiced  at  Beaver 
Springs  until  1882,  when  he  settled  at  Great 
Bend.  His  wife  is  Libbie  A.  Duthveiler,  of 
that  place. 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

MANNERS  AND  CUSTOMS. 

1 Manners  and  Customs  of  the  Pioneer  Fathers  and  Mothers  of  Susque- 
hanna County. 

“ O list  the  mystic  lore  sublime 
Of  fairy  tales  of  ancient  time ; 

I learned  them  in  the  lonely  glen, 

The  last  abodes  of  living  men. 
********* 

“ Of  themes  like  these  when  darkness  fell 
The  gray-haired  sires  the  tales  would  tell, 
When  doors  were  barred  and  elder  dame 
Plied  at  her  task  besides  the  flame.” 

— James  Hogg. 

A PICTURE  of  the  home  life  and  social  life  of 
one  family  of  the  pioneers  of  Susquehanna 
County  would,  with  slight  modifications,  fit  al- 
most any  other,  and  as  this  home  life  is  largely 
the  outgrowth  of  their  material  surroundings, 
the  resultant  of  their  physical  environments,  it 
is  not  easy  to  describe  their  “ Manners  and 
Customs”  without  considering  the  conditions 
which  produced  them. 

These  pioneers  were  mainly  of  New  Eng- 
land stock,  and  its  best  blood  at  that ; for  it  is 
not  the  men  that  are  wanting  in  energy,  in 
courage,  in  strength  of  body  or  soul  that 
strike  into  such  a wilderness  as  clothed  these 
hills  and  valleys  a hundred  years  ago.  Let  us 
look  at  one  of  these  primitive  homes.  Quite 
likely  it  stands  on  some  commanding  hill,  or 
its  southern  or  eastern  slope.  There  are  two 
or  three  reasons  for  supposing  this.  The 
higher  grounds  were  timbered  mainly  with 
hard  woods,  as  were,  also,  the  eastern  slopes  of 
those  hills  which  trend  north  and  south.  Lands 
so  timbered  are  much  more  easily  “ cleared  ” 
than  the  valleys,  with  their  dense  forests  of 
hemlock.  M'^hen  cleared,  they  would  produce 
two  or  three  times  as  much  wheat  or  other 
grains,  and,  lastly,  the  stumps  would  much 
sooner  decay,  so  as  to  admit  the  plow. 

In  all  pi’obability  the  mansion-hou.se  is  a 
log  cabin — possibly  the  planks  on  the  floor  were 
flattened  with  a broad-axe.  The  one  door  opens 
to  the  south,  from  which  we  look  down  across 

1 By  Prof.  S.  S.  Thonuis. 


180 


HISTOEY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


the  little  “ clearing  ’’  into  a valley,  where  a 
trout  stream  wanders  away  towards  the  river, 
till  it  is  lost  in  the  interminable  wilderness. 
The  beams  may  project  six  or  eight  feet,  form- 
ing a “stoop,”  on  which  axes  and  other  rude 
tools  are  stored — on  whose  floor  “ the  house- 
dog on  his  paws  outspread  ” shall  sleep  on 
sunny  days.  The  chimney  is  built  of  stone — 
perhaps  entirely — without  the  wall,  and  be- 
side this  may  be  an  oven  whose  flue  opens  into 
the  chimney.  The  “ fire-place  ” is  an  institu- 
tion. It  is  wide  enough  to  admit  a back-log 
three  feet  or  more  in  length  and  of  correspond- 
ing depth. 

In  one  of  the  “jambs”  is  inserted  a “crane,” 
which  reaches  nearly  to  the  other  jamb.  To 
this  crane  numerous  “pot-hooks”  are  at- 
tached for  the  pots  and  kettles  in  which  the 
daily  meals  are  cooked.  The  meat  is  usually 
fried  in  a “ spider  ” over  a heap  of  coals  drawn 
out  on  the  stone  hearth.  Not  unfrequently,  on 
festive  occasions,  such  as  Christmas,  a turkey, 
a goose,  a spare-rib  or  a haunch  of  venison  is 
suspended  by  a string  to  a friendly  beam,  and 
hangs  before  the  fire,  till,  by  turning  and  bast- 
ing, it  is  cooked,  seasoned  as  never  was  meat 
cooked  and  flavored  in  any  other  way.  Ah  ! 
the  thought  of  it  makes  our  mouth  water,  and 
our  spirits  sigh  for  the  days  that  are  gone. 
And  then  the  potatoes  roasted  in  hot  ashes,  “ that 
to  be  honored  need  but  to  be  known.” 

Around  that  fire-place  gathered  a home  cir- 
cle of  from  eight  to  a dozen — sometimes  more — 
for  no  Malthusian  philosophy  regulated  or  even 
remotely  suggested  the  number  which  should 
constitute  that  household  band.  Yet  no  matter 
how  numerous  the  fiimily,  there  was  always 
room  and  hospitable  greeting  for  any  neighbor ; 
nay,  the  traveler,  though  an  entire  stranger,  was 
welcomed  as  if  he  had  been  a long-expected 
guest.  Matches  were  unknown.  The  fire  was 
carefully  covered  each  night,  for  if,  through 
any  inadvertence,  it  failed  to  “ keep,”  recourse 
must  be  had  to  the  flint  and  steel  and  tinder- 
box,  which  latter  was  a piece  of  spunk,  more 
commonly  called  “ punk,”  procured  from  some 
half  decayed  maple  log. 

In  the  absence  of  these,  it  was  sometimes 
necessary  to  go  a mile  or  more,  on  a bitterly  cold 


morning,  to  some  more  fortunate  neighbor  and 
borrow  some  fire.  Stoves  were  almost  unknown 
as  late  as  1840. 

It  is  but  a step  from  the  pioneer’s  hearth  to 
his  table,  and  here  we  note  quite  as  marked  a 
contrast  from  that  of  to-day.  The  menu  was 


WILLIAM  PENN’S  TEA  SEEVICE. 


meagre  enough,  yet  could  it  boast  some  things 
now  most  eagerly  sought.  Our  ancestors  were 
more  familiar  with  the  flavor  of  flesh  from  the 
forest  and  the  stream  than  with  that  from  the 
stall  or  the  pen.  Venison,  bear-meat,  quail 
and  pheasant  (ruffed  grouse)  and  wild  turkey 
were  no  rare  treat ; while  any  one  of  the  streams 
could  furnish  such  a string  of  trout  as  the  mod- 
ern disciples  of  Izaak  Walton  and  Frank  For- 
rester have  dreamed  of  all  their  lives,  and 
“ died  without  the  sight.”  Even  the  pork  was 
largely  a forest  product, — a semi-transparent, 
greasy  stuft’,  known  as  beech-nut  pork.  The 
pigs  were  turned  into  the  woods  in  the  autumn, 
where  they  subsisted  on  the  mast  for  months, 
even  when  the  snow  was  quite  deep.  Grist- 
mills were  few  and  far  between ; hence  “ hulled  ” 
corn,  boiled  wheat  and  boiled  rye  were  among 
the  dishes  that  graced  that  table.  Ten  miles 
was  often  the  shortest  distance  to  mill,  and  this 
journey  must  be  made  with  oxen,  or  a horse 
that  carried  the  grist  on  his  back,  guided  by  a 
man  or  boy,  who  found  his  way  by  marked 
trees.  We  have  been  told  of  going  to  Wilkes- 
Barre  to  mill  in  this  manner,  the  trip  requiring 
three  days. 

The  only  sugar  known  was  obtained  from 


MANNERS  AND  CUSTOMS. 


181 


the  maples.  Salt  could  not  be  had  in  exchange 
for  grain  or  dairy  products.  That  was  a cash 
article,  a term  still  in  use,  which  has  almost 
wholly  lost  its  significance. 

The  word  “ browsing  ” has  become  sadly  cor- 
rupted. To  the  average  boy,  nowadays,  it  sug- 
gests the  idea  of  a school  exercise,  more  stimu- 
lating than  refreshing,  while  to  the  cattle  of 
that  early  time  it  often  meant  the  only  alterna- 
tive of  starvation.  When  the  farmer  of  that 
day  was  out  of  feed  for  his  stock,  he  was  out ; 
no  railroad  brought  him  corn  from  beyond  the 
Mississippi,  and  the  chances  were  that  every 
other  man  in  the  settlement  was  alike  destitute 
of  fodder.  The  writer,  even  as  late  as  1842, 
has  seen  his  father  start  with  his  axe  each  morn- 
ing for  the  woods,  while  the  cattle  followed 
with  hungry  cries,  eager  to  devour  the  twigs  of 
the  fallen  maples,  beeches  and  birches.  Cut- 
ting timber  for  this  purpose  was  sometimes 
facetiously  called  “ uncapping  a ninety-foot 
haystack.”  The  maple  “ browse,”  on  account 
of  the  .sugar  it  contained,  was  reckoned  best, 
and  cattle  could  subsist  on  it  much  better  than 
would  at  first  be  supposed. 

There  was  no  Bru.ssels  carpet  or  upholstered 
furniture  in  the  dvvellings.  The  chairs  were 
splint-bottoms, — that  is,  the  seats  were  made  of 
splints,  split  from  ash  or  oak,  or  of  bark  strip- 
ped from  an  elm  tree,  while  the  broom  was 
made  of  a yellow  birch  sapling.  It  would  take 
too  long  to  giv^e  a description  of  its  manufac- 
ture ; so  we  just  call  it  a splint-broom,  and  let 
it  pass. 

Passing  to  the  wardrobe  of  our  ancestors,  we 
notice  the  same  self-reliance,  the  same  ability  to 
live  independent  of  the  outside  world,  that  dis- 
tinguished them  in  other  matters.  Nearly 
every  article  of  clothing  or  bedding  was  fabri- 
cated in  that  same  log  man.sion.  For  winter 
wear  the  wool  was  carded,  spun,  dyed  and  woven 
by  the  light  and  warmth  of  that  old  stone  fire- 
place, while  summer  clothing,  sheets,  ticking, 
towels  and  grain-bags  were  the  product  of  the 
flax,  grown  on  the  premises,  'pulled  by  the  small 
boy  of  the  period,  at  the  expense  of  an  aching 
back,  rotted,  subjected  to  a terrible  punishment 
in  a machine  called  a flax-break,  and  spun  by 

mother  ” on  that  funny  little  old  wheel,  with 


its  shrouded  distaff,  its  gourd  shell  of  water, 
in  which  she  wetted  her  fingers  every  half- 
minute, and  the  pedal  which  supplied  the  mo- 
tive-power for  its  musical  hum.  That  little 
flax-wheel  was  the  organ  that  furnished  the 
music  of  the  household  in  that  distant  day. 

A single  fact  will  convey  an  idea  of  what 
“ store-clothes  ” meant.  The  writer’s  mother 
has  told  him  that  the  first  dress  her  husband 
ever  bought  for  her  was  a calico  one,  purchased 


lady’s  pashioxable  head-dress,  1776. 

in  Wilkes-Barre,  at  one  dollar  per  yard.  When 
it  is  remembered  tliat  the  money  for  the  pur- 
chase came  from  the  sale  of  choice  pine  boards, 
that  were  cut,  sawed,  hauled  teu  miles  to  the 
river,  rafted  and  “ run  ” to  Marietta,  and  sold 
for  four  dollars  per  thousand,  some  notion  may 
be  formed  of  the  value  of  a dress  that  her  great- 
granddaughter  would  think  hardly  good  enough 
to  wear  to  school,  though  containing  twice  the 
material  and  of  most  elaborate  architecture. 

In  passing,  may  be  noted  the  fact  that  about 
the  only  way  any  money  could  be  obtained  was 
from  the  sale  of  pine,  cherry  or  curled-maple 
lumber  or  oars.  The.se  last  were  split  from 
white-ash  trees,  hewed  and  dressed, — that  is, 
shaved  ready  for  u.se  on  boats.  Sometimes, 


182 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


however,  they  were  shij^ped  in  the  rough.  They 
were  of  ditferent  lengths,  from  ten  to  twenty- 
six  feet.  The  oars  were  sometimes  loaded  on  a 
raft  of  lumber,  at  others  on  an  “ark” — a rude 
boat  of  large  size,  specially  made  for  carrying 
shingles,  boards  or  oars.  When  spring  came, 
the  lumbermen  watched  for  a rafting-fresh,  as 
a freshet  was  called,  and  “ went  down  the  river.” 
Sales  were  usually  made  at  towns  along  the 
Lower  Susquehanna ; if  not,  they  hired  a schooner 
to  tow  their  stock  around  to  Philadelphia.  The 
homeward  trip  was  made  on  foot. 

For  shoes  and  boots,  in  families  that  did  not 
have  some  member  who  could  make  them,  an 
itinerant  shoemaker  came  once  a year  with  his 
bench  and  kit  of  tools  and  “ shod  up  ” the  entire 
family.  The  sole-leather  was  imported;  but 
very  excellent  upper-leather  was  made  by  placing 
calf-skins  in  a large  trough,  filled  with  hemlock 
barlj  crushed  by  pouuding.  In  this  bark,  which 
was  kept  wet,  the  skins  were  allowed  to  remain 
a year,  and  then  dressed  with  fresh  butter  in- 
stead of  oil. 

For  lights,  the  usual  thing  was  a tallow-dip. 
It  was  an  all-day  job  for  the  matron  of  the 
house  to  “ dip  ” candles.  The  usual  number 
made  at  one  batch  was  twenty  dozen.  The 
wicks  were  first  prepared  and  hung  on  “candle- 
rods,”  a dozen  on  each  rod.  The  tallow  was 
melted  in  a large  kettle  nearly  filled  with  water. 
Into  the  mass  of  tallow,  floating  on  the  hot 
water,  the  wicks  on  the  rods  were  dipped,  one 
rod  after  another, — we  don’t  know  how  many 
times, — till  the  candles  a,ssumed  the  required 
proportions.  Not  unfrequently  light  was  fur- 
nished by  burning  pine-knots  or  a saucerful  of 
lard,  on  the  margin  of  which  a lighted  rag  was 
floating.  No  other  light  was  needed  in  the 
kitchen  when  a roaring  fire  W'as  burning.  Some- 
how, we  know  not  why,  the  strongest,  yet  ten- 
derest,  of  all  our  memories  cluster  and  linger 
about  that  old  stone  fire-place,  and  we  have  a 
sort  of  pity  for  those  children  who  grow  up  by 
stoves,  and  never  sit  on  the  hearth  and  watch 
the  big  coals  fall  from  behind  the  “fore-stick,” 
and  the  ever-changing  pictures  on  them. 

The  farming-tools  were  neither  numerous  nor 
far-fetched.  The  grain  was  cut  with  a sickle, 
forged  by  the  local  blacksmith,  as  was,  also,  the 


hoe,  that  had  an  “eye”  in  which  to  insert  a 
handle.  Forks  came  from  the  same  shop,  while 
the  plow  was  a monstrous  engine,  the  product  of 
the  joint  labors  of  the  smith  and  the  carpenter — 
its  mould-board  of  wood,  its  point  of  wrought- 
iron,  which  from  time  to  time  was  sharpened. 
Around  that  old  log  house  the  honey-suckles 
and  many-hued  morning-glorys  clambered,  while 
all  the  old-fashioned  flowers  bloomed  in  pro- 
fusion near  the  door,  in  company  with  the  well- 
known  herbs  that  were  grown  for  their  medicinal 
virtues.  Doctors’  visits  were  like  those  of 
angels  are  supposed  to  be. 

A peach-stone  buried  beside  a stump  would, 
in  three  or  four  years,  bear  fair  fruit,  and  as 
there  was  no  communication  with  markets 
abroad,  this  fruit  was  sometimes  so  plentiful  that 
it  could  hardly  be  given  away  and  was  left  to 
rot  on  the  ground.  The  protection  afforded  by 
the  forests  had,  doubtle.ss,  something  to  do  with 
this  abundance  of  peaches,  which,  with  the 
forests,  is  a thing  of  the  past. 

In  those  early  days  the  sheep  had  to  be  gath- 
ered, each  night,  into  an  inclosure  that  was 
proof  against  wolves;  to  leave  them  out  meant 
certainty  of  their  destruction  before  morning. 
Every  neighborhood  in  the  county  has  its  own 
store  of  local  traditions  of  fierce  encounters 
with  wolves,  bears,  wild-cats  and  panthers. 
The  rifle,  with  its  flint-lock,  was  a necessary 
piece  of  furniture. 

The  history  of  the  world’s  heroism  has  never 
been  written  and  never  can  be.  In  a million 
instances,  all  through  the  world’s  history,  deeds 
have  been  enacted  in  humble  life  yet  never 
chronicled,  that  would  put  to  blush  the  boasted 
achievements  of  those 

“ Whose  distant  footsteps  echo  through  the  corridors 
of  Time.” 

That  mother,  who,  surrounded  by  a half- 
dozen  children,  none  of  them  more  than  twelve 
years  old,  spent  the  winter  months  with  them, 
while  her  husband  was  miles  away  in  the 
“shingle- woods,”  with  no  neighbor  nearer  than 
a mile,  and  wolves  howling  in  the  door-yard 
every  night,  had  a courage  that  would  not  suffer 
in  comparison  with  Queen  Elizabeth  or  the 
jMaid  of  Orleans,  and  a nobleness  of  soul  that 
can  scarcely  be  measured. 


MxlNNERS  AND  CUSTOMS. 


183 


Passiug  to  the  social  habits  in  those  old  times, 
we  cannot  fail  to  notice  a contrast  from  those  of 
to-day.  There  was  no  caste  based  on  wealth 
when  all  were  alike  poor ; no  arrogant  independ- 
ence, when  all  were  mutually  dependent ; no 
exclusion  from  society  on  the  grounds  of  fash- 
ion in  dress,  when  all  were  clad  so  nearly  alike. 
Growing  out  of  mutual  dependence,  perhaps, 
was  a spirit  of  mutual  helpfulness  unknown  in 
older  eommunities. 

Logging  “bees,”  stone  “bees”  and  huskings 
were  among  the  most  common  gatherings,  in 
which  both  sexes  mingled — the  women  to  cook 
and  serve  the  food,  and  it  was  a good  wether 
that  would  furnish  meat  and  “ pot-pie  ” for 
dinner  and  supper,  to  say  nothing  of  the  pump- 
kin pies  and  Indian  pudding.  Nearly  every 
man  had  a “ fallow  ” each  year.  Quiltings 
came  later,  to  which  all  the  elder  and  younger 
dames  gathered,  not  more  to  help  a neighbor 
than  to  visit  with  each  other.  Possibly  tlie 
young  men  came  in  the  evening  to  see  their 
best  girls  home,  or  to  engage  in  the  invigorating 
and  fascinating  exercise  of  “ snap  and  catch 
’em.”  At  rare  intervals  a ball  was  given,  and, 
if  at  some  distance,  a gallant  young  knight 
would  mount  a steed  that,  for  spii-it  and  fleet- 
ness, might  vie  with  Don  Quixote’s  Rozinante, 
and  take  his  fair  one  up  behind  him  on  a “pil- 
lion.” Thus  mounted,  they  would  thread  the 
sombre  mazes  of  the  forest  to  the  appointed 
place  of  rendezvous.  And  then  the  visits,  pure 
and  simple  visits,  made  for  the  sake  of  vis- 
iting. With  all  their  isolation  and  lack  of 
means  of  conveyance  and  roads,  there  was  un- 
questionably more  social  intercourse  among  the 
farmers  of  this  county  sixty  years  ago  than 
there  is  now.  Development  of  material  resources 
and  growth  in  wealth  have  brought  many  ad- 
vantages for  personal  comfort  and  intellectual 
culture,  but  they  have  imposed  conditions  on  us 
which  fetter  friendly  intercourse  and  have  well- 
nigh  crushed  out  all  social  feeling.  No  such 
free  and  unrestrained  visits  now  as  when  one 
family  started  out  in  the  morning  with  oxen 
and  sled,  stopped  at  each  hou.se  for  reinforce- 
ments till  the  load  contained  a round  dozen, 
who  would  rush  in  on  some  unsuspecting  house- 
hold and  make  them  a surprise  party  that  was 


not  a donation,  and  of  which  the  host  was  not 
apprised  in  advance. 

We  have  been  with  the  pioneer  at  his  fireside, 
at  his  table,  in  the  field  and  the  forest,  and 
among  his  neighbors.  His  splendid  work  in 
the  attempt  to  educate  his  children  under  ad- 
verse circumstances  will  be  reviewed  by  another, 
than  whom  none  is  better  fitted  for  the  task. 
It  remains  for  us  only  to  consider  him  in  that 
highest  outconje  of  our  human  nature — his  re- 
ligious life.  And  just  here  we  would  fain  lay 
down  our  pen,  for  it  may  be  difficult  to  make 
the  young  reader  understand  the  zeal,  the  earn- 
estness, the  charity  and  the  hospitality  of  those 
old-time  Christians. 

It  is  not  for  us  to  discuss  the  cause  or  its 
moral  significance,  but  the  fact  is  that  the  con- 
gregations that  assemble  at  public  worship  are 
not  as  large  as  they  were  when  the  population 
was  less  than  half  what  it  now  is.  This  volume 
might  easily  be  filled  with  the  records  of  mis- 
sionary work  performed  by  the  ministers  of  all 
denominations.  The  itinerant  Methodist,  whose 
circuit  extended  from  Wyoming  Valley  to  Cen- 
tral New  York,  holding  service  every  day  or 
night  in  some  house,  or  barn,  or  grove,  is  but 
an  example  of  the  work  done  by  all  the  preach- 
ers of  that  day. 

“ They  felt  that  they  were  fellow-men, 

They  felt  they  were  a band 
Sustained  here  in  the  wilderness 
By  Heaven’s  upholding  hand.” 

Many  of  the  settlers  from  Connecticut  were 
Epi.scopalians,  and  wherever  a sufficient  num- 
ber of  them  had  settled  near  enough  together  to 
erect  a house  of  worship,  there  was  always  one 
church  festival  in  the  year,  so  fraught  to  us 
with  pleasant  memories,  that  we  cannot  resist 
the  prompting  to  give  it  mention.  AVe  mean 
the  decoration  and  “illumination”  of  the  church 
for  the  Christmas-eve  services.  For  a week  or 
more  previous  to  Chri.stmas,  the  young  people, 
and  some  of  the  old  ones,  worked  with  a will 
to  fill  the  edifice  with  decorations  of  evergi’cens 
— hemlock,  pine,  the  two  varieties  of  laurel,  and 
that  exquisite  little  creeper,  the  running  ground- 
pine — till  every  pillar  was  wreathed,  every  win- 
dow draped,  the  walls  festooned  and  every 
balu.ster  in  the  chancel  entwined.  Over  the 


184 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


pulpit,  in  large  capitals  wrought  in  evergreens, 
these  words  formed  an  arch:  “For  we  have 
seen  his  star  in  the  east  and  are  come  to  worshijD 
him,”  while  a transparency  in  the  form  of  a 
five-})ointed  star  shone  below  the  arch.  Im- 
mense chandeliers  hung  from  the  ceiling,  impro- 
vised of  narrow  boards  framed  into  suceessive 
circles  one  above  another,  forming  a cone,  with 
holes  bored  to  receive  the  candles.  Two,  at 
least,  of  similar  construction,  except  that  they 
were  semicircular,  were  sprung  from  the  casings 
of  each  window,  while  two  seven-branched  can- 
dlesticks shed  light  upon  the  pulpit.  At  either 
corner  of  the  chancel  .stood  a pine  tree  a dozen 
feet  in  height.  Through  these,  too,  candles  were 
generously  scattered.  When  all  the  candles 
were  lighted,  it  was  a scene  not  soon  to  be  for- 
gotten by  the  children  of  a day  when  such 
scenes  were  unusual.  To  witness  it  and  join  in 
the  services,  the  entire  population  for  miles 
around  gathered.  A dozen  ox-teams  stood 
around  the  church  while  the  white-robed  priest 
within  was  telling  to  the  assembled  people  the 
old,  old  story  of  those  other  cattle  that  ate  at  the 
manger  in  Bethlehem,  where  the  child  was 
cradled  at  whose  feet  the  wise  men  came  to 
worship. 

“Time  rolls  his  ceaseless  course,  the  race  of  yore 
Who  danced  our  infancy  upon  their  knee. 

And  taught  our  marveling  boyhood  legends  store 
Of  their  strange  ventures,  happ’ed  by  land  or  sea, 
How  are  they  blotted  from  the  things  that  be. 

“ How  few,  all  weak  and  withered,  of  their  force 
Wait  on  the  verge  of  dark  eternity. 

Like  stranded  wrecks,  the  tide  returning  hoarse 
Shall  sweep  them  from  our  sight. 

Time  rolls  his  ceaseless  course.” 

All  honor  to  the  pioneer  fathers  and  mothers 
of  Susquehanna  County.  They  had  hearts  of 
oak,  but  those  hearts  were  warm  and  tender  and 
true.  It  well  becomes  us,  who  are  reaping  .so 
richly  the  harvest  which  they  planted  with  such 
infinite  toil  and  pain,  to  stand  with  heads  un- 
covered in  their  presence.  We  feel  satisfied 
with  having  prepared  this  imperfect  sketch,  if 
it  shall  do  aught  to  render  their  labors  honored 
and  keep  their  memory  green. 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

^ TEMPERANCE. 

Temperance  in  Susquehanna  County — Woman’s  Christian  Temperance 
Union. 

The  early  settlers  of  the  county  were  mainly 
industrious,  prudent,  eminently  social  and 
temperate,  as  the  word  temperate  was  then 
used  ; but  the  use  of  spirituous  liquors  was 
common  among  all  classes  of  the  people. 
Drunkenness  was  not  approved,  but  preachers 
and  church  members  used  spirituous  liquors  as 
a beverage,  and  at  all  special  gatherings  some 
form  of  liquor  was  an  important  appendage. 

New  England  rum.  New  Orleans  molasses 
and  Bibles,  with  the  many  other  articles  in  a 
country-store,  were  grouped  together  in  ad- 
vei’tisements  in  the  public  prints.  Cider  was 
made  in  large  quantities  and  freely  drank. 

As  in  other  States,  so  here  in  these  early 
days,  occasional  addresses  and  sermons  were 
delivered  upon  the  evils  of  strong  drink ; yet, 
but  little  was  accomplished;  the  people  con- 
tinued the  use  of  stimulants.  From  1835  to 
1840,  and  after  that  time,  efforts  were  made  to 
secure  “ total  abstinence,”  and  pledges  for  that 
purpose  were  pre,sented  to  the  people,  with  some 
immediate  success. 

The  early  advocates  of  total  abstinence  met 
with  bitter  opposition,  and  in  cases  resort  was 
had  to  denunciation,  locking-out  of  churches, 
and  an  occasional  use  of  the  mob’s  missile,  rotten 
eggs ; but  truth  and  patience,  with  Christian 
fidelity,  produced  a change  in  sentiment  which 
gradually  spread,  until  the  churches  were  brought 
to  acknowledge  the  wrong  in  any  use  of  spirit- 
uous liquors,  including  beer,  wine  and  cider,  as 
beverages;  and  several  churches  added  a pledge 
to  the  church  covenant,  to  abstain  from  their  use. 

In  1841-44  large  and  enthusiastic  meetings, 
or  conventions,  were  held  in  Montro.se  for  the 
promotion  of  temperance,  and  to  devise  means 
whereby  the  license  and  sale  of  intoxicat- 
ing beverages  might  be  lessened  and  finally 
abolished.  Many  of  the  public  and  prominent 
business  men,  and  clergy  of  the  county,  were 


1 Written  by  Rev.  W.  C.  Tilden. 


TEMPERANCE. 


185 


active  in  these  gatherings ; and  the  speeches 
made  and  resolutions  adopted,  strongly  con- 
demned the  use  of  such  beverages;  also  claimed 
the  right  and  necessity  of  restraint  by  legal 
•enactment.  The  thought  of  Prohibitory  Laws 
is  not  of  recent  origin  ; the  fathers  saw,  with  a 
degree  of  clearness,  the  necessity  for  public 
safety  and  personal  prosperity.  A stirring  ap- 
pe*al  was  adopted  and  sent  to  licensed  dealers  iu 
hotels  and  other  places,  urging  the  evil  and 
wrong  iu  the  business ; pleading  in  behalf  of 
helpless  women  and  children,  and  fallen  man- 
hood ; that  they  continue  no  longer  in  this  work 
of  destruction.  Good  results  followed  these 
efforts.  Many  were  saved  from  intoxication  ; 
a sentiment  was  implanted  that  has  borne  fruit 
in  after-years,  even  earnest  men  and  women  for 
the  temperance  work.  From  1860  to  1870  a 
number  of  Good  Templar  lodges  were  formed, 
and  for  a time  were  influential  in  holding  in 
■check  the  evil  of  strong  drink. 

The  blue  ribbon  or  Murphy  movement  came 
in  its  time,  and  aroused  many ; saving  some 
from  the  evil  into  which  they  had  fallen ; 
awakening  others  to  new  or  firmer  resolves  to 
contend  for  total  abstinence. 

For  a few  of  the  years  just  pa.st  the  work  of 
the  Constitutional  Amendment  Associations,  of 
which  a number  were  formed,  of  the  Women’s 
Christian  Temperance  Unions,  of  the  political 
Temperance  party — each  and  all  have  added 
much  to  the  strict  temperance  sentiment  of  the 
county.  While  the  vote  of  the  Temperance 
party  had  not  been  large,  yet  the  influence  was 
felt;  and  on  the  issues  taken  by  the  Prohibi- 
tion party,  with  the  efforts  made  to  inform 
the  public  of  the  situation  and  necessities  now 
pressing  upon  the  great  interests  of  our  country, 
many  have  come  to  feel  that  prohibition  of  the 
manufacture  and  sale  of  all  intoxicating  liquors, 
as  a beverage,  is  necessary  to  the  safety  of  the 
family,  society,  business  and  the  welfare  and 
security  of  State  and  nation. 

The  large  majority  in  favor  of  No-License  in 
1873,  with  the  indignation  when  the  Local 
Option  Law  was  repealed,  testified  to  the 
generally  correct  sentiment  of  the  peoj)le ; and 
the  vote  with  the  Pi’ohibitioii  party  in  1886, 
with  the  manifest  feeling  in  the  old  parties  con- 


cerning the  submission  of  a prohibitory  clause 
to  our  State  Constitution  to  a vote  of  the  people, 
indicate  very  clearly  that  a large  majority  of 
the  people  would  rejoice  in  the  success  of  such 
a measure. 

^The  Woman’s  Christian  Temperance 
Union  in  Susquehanna  County. — In  sym- 
pathy with  the  movement  started  in  Hillsboro’, 
O.,  by  Mrs.  Judge  Thompson,  and  deeply  im- 
pressed with  the  feeling  that  the  liquor  traffic 
was  becoming  a power  of  destruction  to  all  that 
was  good  and  pure  u[)on  earth,  woman,  true 
to  her  nature,  rallied  to  the  rescue;  nor  were 
the  women  too  soon  in  the  crusade  movement ; 
not  only  peril  of  home  and  friends  seemed  im- 
minent, but  self-government  itself,  in  the  hands 
of  men  weakened  by  dissipation,  seemed  upon 
the  verge  of  ruin.  In  Pennsylvania  the  organ- 
ization of  the  Woman’s  Christian  Temperance 
Union  was  first  made  by  Congressional  Dis- 
tricts, and  the  Fifteenth  District,  comprising  the 
counties  of  Bradford,  Wayne,  Susquehanna  and 
Wyoming,  were  for  eight  years  organized  to- 
gether ; afterwards  each  county  was  organized 
separately. 

The  first  Union  in  the  Fifteenth  Congres- 
sional District  was  organized  in  Montrose  July 
10,  1874.  The  first  officers  w^ere  Mrs.  G.  H. 
Drake,  pre.sident ; Mrs.  William  Cox,  vice- 
pre.sident ; William  Euphrasia  Keeler,  secretary; 
Miss  E.  C.  Blackman,  corresponding  .secretary  ; 
JMrs.  Fanny  Lathrop,  treasurer.  There  were  a 
large  number  interested  in  the  work,  and  the 
names  of  Mrs.  Eleanor  Po.st  for  eleven  years 
president.  Miss  E.  C.  Blackman,  county  super- 
intendent of  jail  work,  Mrs.  Edwin  Lathrop, 
whose  devotion  ivas  a worthy  example.  Dr. 
Ellen  Mitchell,  now  in  Burmah,  and  many 
others  might  be  mentioned.  A Bund  of  Hope 
for  the  children  was  sustained  for  years  under 
the  direction  of  Mrs.  Euphrasia  Keeler. 
Weekly  prayer-meetings,  with  few  exceptions, 
have  been  kept  until  the  present  date.  Most  of 
the  -work  of  organizing  for  the  district  was 
done  by  the  women  of  Susquehanna  County. 
Mrs.  Cook,  of  Suscpiehanna  County,  president 
of  the  Congressional  District,  Mrs.  S.  B.  Chase, 

1 ContiilmttMl  by  iMm.  Henry  D.  Warner. 


186 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


and  Mrs.  Henry  Warner,  of  Great  Bend,  Mrs. 
Dr.  L.  A.  Smith  and  Airs.  John  Hayden,  of 
New  Alilford,  a.ssisted  and  sustained  by  many 
others  equally  interested,  spared  neither  time, 
etfort  nor  means  to  give  character  and  influence 
to  the  work.  New  Milford  was  organized 
April  6,  1876.  The  first  officers  were  Airs.  H, 
L.  Hewitt,  president;  Airs.  AI.  R.  Gibson,  vice- 
president  ; Airs.  H.  G.  Smith,  corresponding 
secretary  ; Airs.  L.  A.  Smith,  recording  secre- 
tary. The  names  of  Airs.  C.  B.  Arnold,  Airs. 
L.  J.  Barlow,  Airs.  AI.  E.  Hayden  and  many 
others  are  given  as  interested  in  the  work. 
Unions  were  organized  in  Gibson  and  Thom- 
son. Lawsville  and  other  towns  which  have 
not  regularly-organized  Unions  have  been  iden- 
tified with  the  work. 

For  many  years  the  work  was  purely  a gos- 
pel work,  and  often  in  churches  stirring  meet- 
ings were  conducted  by  the  pastors,  many  per- 
sons signing  the  pledge.  Lately,  the  distribu- 
tion of  temperance  literature  became  an  impor- 
tant part  of  the  work. 

Great  Bend  organized  July  30,  1874.  The 
first  officers  were  Airs.  James  B.  Johnson,  presi- 
dent; Airs.  R.  B.  Thomas,  vice-president ; Airs. 
C.  E.  Baldwin,  secretary ; and  Airs.  George 
Baldwin,  treasurer. 

The  Woman’s  Christian  Temperance  Union 
has  for  many  years  sustained  a monthly  Union 
meeting  on  the  first  Saturday  evening  of  each 
month,  the  pastors  of  the  different  churches  as- 
sisting in  the  services. 

In  the  winter  of  1887  a grand  temperance 
revival  occuri’cd,  which  resulted  in  the  organiz- 
ing of  a Law  and  Order  League.  Air.  J.  Will 
McConnell  labored  with  great  success,  and 
many  signed  the  pledge. 

Great  Bend  is  a railroad  town,  with  no  Sab- 
bath, irregular  meals  and  sleep,  sulqecting  men 
to  very  unnatural  ways  of  living,  and  to  great 
temptations.  Railroad  companies  will  be  held 
responsible  in  a great  degree  for  the  ruin  of 
many,  although  there  are  men  of  sufficient  will- 
power to  stand  for  the  right  under  all  circum- 
stances. AI  rs.  S.  B.  Chase,  of  Great  Bend,  and 
Mrs.  Judge  Cook,  of  Sirsquehanna,  were  delegates 
to  the  first  National  Convention,  at  Cleveland, 
O.,  November  16,  1874. 


Circulating  petitions  to  influence  State  legis- 
lation has  been  one  important  branch  of  work 
of  the  Woman’s  Christian  Temperance  Union 
of  Susquehanna;  and  although  not  always  as 
successful  as  they  hoped,  it  showed  their  inter- 
est and  willingness  to  work  in  every  possible 
way  to  do  away  with  the  license  system. 

The  Scientific  Instruction  Bill  was  passed 
Alarch  31,  1885.  Airs.  Hunt,  the  author  and 
national  champion  of  the  bill,  assisted  by  Mrs. 
J.  D.  AVeeks,  Pennsylvania  State  superinten- 
dent, pressed  the  bill  strongly,  and  urged  the 
women  of  the  State  to  do  their  best  for  it,  and 
of  the  102,581  signatures  presented  in  favor  of 
the  bill,  Susquehanna  County  contributed  her 
share.  The  women  of  Pennsylvania  have  rea- 
son to  respect  Governor  Pattison  for  his  consid- 
eration of  and  prompt  signature  to  the  bill, 
causing  it  to  become  a law.  Scientific  instruc- 
tion is  now  taught  in  the  public  schools  in 
Susquehanna  County,  and  from  an  intelligent 
education  of  the  young,  good  results  are  hoped 
for  in  the  near  future. 

Susquehanna. — The  large  and  flouri.shing 
town  where  the  shops  of  the  New  York  and 
Erie  Railroad  are  located  may  well  be  called 
the  banner-town  of  the  county.  The  first  union 
was  organized  April  18,  1874.  The  first  officers 
were  Airs.  William  Emery,  president;  Airs. 
Judson  Cook,  vice-president;  Aliss  Casteline, 
secretary ; Airs.  Griswold,  treasurer.  “ Working 
and  praying  and  praying  and  working”  has  been 
their  motto  from  the  first.  A large  number  of 
men  employed  in  the  shops  and  along  the  line 
found  at  the  headquarters  of  the  Woman’s 
Christian  Temperance  Union  many  warm 
friends  and  encouraging  words.  The  young 
ladies  were  very  active.  They  were  twice 
burned  out,  but  succeeded  in  keeping  their  or- 
ganization, literature,  reading-room,  etc.,  in  good 
order  for  vmrk.  Bauds  of  Hope  were  sustained 
for  the  children.  In  the  winter  of  1887,  J. 
Will  AIcConnell  spent  three  weeks  in  earnest 
temperance  work  under  the  auspices  of  the 
Union.  He  was  sustained  by  the  pastors  of  the 
churches  and  the  best  people  in  the  community. 
As  a result,  about  thirteen  hundred  persons 
signed  the  pledge,  and  to  many  it  was  the  be- 
ginning of  a better  life.  Mr.  McConnell  re- 


TEMPERANCE. 


187 


ceived  three  hundred  and  ten  dollars  for  his 
services ; all  expenses  were  paid,  and  fifteen 
dollars  left  for  the  treasury  of  the  Women’s 
Christian  Temperance  Union. 

A Law  and  Order  League  was  formed,  and  a 
fund  of  three  thousand  five  hundred  dollars  was 
subscribed  to  carry  on  the  work.  A public 
sentiment  was  educated  which  says,  “ The  sa- 
loon must  go.”  The  present  officers  of  the 
Union  are, — President,  Mrs.  J.  Barnes ; Viee- 
President,  Mrs.  Carrie  W.  Cook ; Treasurer, 
Mrs. Levi  Page;  Corresponding  Secretary,  Mrs. 
Lizzie  Cook. 

The  county  officers  are,  — President,  Mrs. 
J udge  Cook  ; the  vice-presidents  are  the  presi- 
dents of  the  several  local  unions  ; Corresponding 
Secretary,  Mrs.  J.  Barnes ; Treasurer,  Mrs. 
Emma  Perkins. 

Superintendents  of  Departments.  — Sunday- 
school  work,  Mrs.  S.  B.  Chase,  Great  Bend ; 
legislative  and  legal  work,  Mrs.  Henry  Warner, 
Montrose  (formerly  of  Great  Bend) ; jail  work. 
Miss  E.  C.  Blackman,  Montrose;  Sabbath  ob- 
servance, Mrs.  Lizzie  Cook,  Susquehanna ; 
mothers’  meetings,  Mrs.  Levi  Page,  Susque- 
hanna ; scientific  instruction,  Mrs.  U.  B.  Gillett, 
Gibson  ; temperance  literature,  Mrs.  Dr.  L.  A. 
Smith,  New  Milford ; influenciug  the  pre.ss, 
Mrs.  C.  Hawley,  Montrose. 

The  writer  of  this  article  being  interested 
that  our  taxpayers  of  the  county  should  know 
something  of  the  expense  of  crime  caused  by 
intemperance,  subjoins  the  following  statement, 
obtained  from  the  county  officers,  the  burgess  of 
Great  Bend  (where  the  crime  was  committed), 
and  from  State  reports  of  prison  expenses. 

On  the  night  of  November  9,  1884,  Theodore 
Gillen  was  murdered  iu  a saloon,  and  his  body 
placed  upon  the  railroad  track.  The  following 
will  show  the  expense  of  “ one  night  in  asaioon 


Commonwealth  ) 
vs. 

Patrick  Winters, 
Thomas  Driscoll, 
and 

Valdine  Wilmot. 


Indictments. 
Murder  and 
Accessory  to  it. 


COSTS  OF  PEOSECUTION. 


Witness  bill,  April  18,  1885  .f!lG8.43 

“ “ August  15,  1885  173.20 

“ “ November  13,  1885  101.15 


Costs  of  Justice’s  Court,  District  Attorney, 


Clerk  of  Court  and  Coroner’s  Inquest  . . 100.00 

Detectives’  bill 215.00 

Cost  of  four  days’  session  in  April,  1885  . . 400.00 

“ “ “ “ August,  1885  . 400.00 

“ two  “ “ November,  1885  200.00 


Extra  expenses  in  bringing  witnesses  outside 
the  Commonwealth,  and  incidentals  thereto  200.00 
Cost  of  transporting  prisoners  to  penitentiary  143.00 
Expenses  to  borough  of  Great  Bend,  not  paid 


by  county 985.00 

Board  of  prisoners  in  jail 423.00 

“ ‘‘  penitentiary 1700.00 

Total $5204.80 


Tliis  report  was  published  iu  the  county  at 
the  time,  and  accepted  as  correct. 

Good  TEitPLARS. — The  Independent  Order 
of  Good  Templai’s  had  fifty  lodges  and  five 
thousand  members  in  the  county  at  one  time. 
There  are  only  a few  of  these  lodges  iu  active 
operation  now,  but  take  the  order  througliout 
the  world,  and  it  is  larger  now  than  it  ever  was 
before.  Previous  to  the  War  of  the  Rebellion 
a number  of  the  States  had  enacted  prohibitory 
laws;  during  the  war  most  of  the.se  laws  wei’e 
repealed,  and  the  excitement  consequent  to  a 
soldier’s  life,  with  its  demoralizing  tendencies, 
affected  every  neighborhood  in  the  land.  The 
old  temperance  organizations,  such  as  Washing- 
tonians and  Sons  of  Temperance,  were  nearly 
all  disbanded.  At  this  crisis  the  Good  Tem- 
plars’ Order  was  instituted,  aud  it  spread  rapidly 
throughout  the  Union.  It  admitted  women 
and  enlisted  them  in  this  great  work,  and 
although  most  of  the  Good  Templars’  lodges 
have  surrendered  their  charters,  the  influence  of 
this  organization  still  lives  and  is  bearing  fruit 
iu  the  increased  interest  which  is  being  mani- 
fested in  the  temperance  question  throughout 
the  land.  The  Prohibition  itarty  of  Susque- 
hanna County  polled  472  votes  for  St.  John  iu 
1884,  550  for  AVolfe  in  1886,  and  934  for  W. 
C.  Tilden;  but  the  vote  for  the  Prohibition  can- 
didates does  not  indicate  the  temperance  seuti- 
meiit  of  the  county  by  any  means.  Both  of  her 
Re})reseutatives  aud  State  Senator  voted  to  sub- 
mit a prohibitory  constitutional  amendment  to 
the  people,  aud  they  represent  a large  majority 
of  the  voters  of  the  county,  ix'gardless  of  the 
old  party  lines.  We  close  this  temperance 


188 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


f 


chapter  with  a biographical  sketch  of  Hon. 
Simeon  B.  Chase,  of  Great  Bend,  who  was 
prominently  connected  with  the  Good  Templars 
for  many  years,  and  whose  wife  is  now  promi- 
nently identified  with  the  Woman’s  Christian 
Temperance  Union. 

Hon.  Simeon  B.  Chase  was  born  at  Gib- 
son, Susquehanna  County,  April  18,  1828.  He 
is  a descendant  of  English  ancestry  that  settled 
in  New  England  in  the  pioneer  days  of  our 
country’s  history.  Aquila  Chase  (1618-70)? 
one  of  three  brothers  that  came  from  Cheshire- 
lAigland,  in  1639,  settled  in  Hampton,  N.  H., 
and  had  a family  of  eleven  children.  Thomas, 
one  of  these  children,  married  Rebecca  Follans- 
bee;  their  son,  Elder  Daniel  Chase  (1770-1850), 
came  to  Jackson  township  in  1816,  and  subse- 
quently resided  in  Windsor,  N.  Y.,  and  Mt. 
Pleasant,  Wayne  County,  Pa.  He  was  a well- 
known  Baptist  elder,  who  preached  and 
engaged  in  missionary  work  in  this  section  of 
the  country.  He  married  Catharine  Fillbrook, 
and  of  their  seven  children,  Amasa  (1805-76) 
married,  in  1827,  Sarah,  daughter  of  Samuel 
and  Hannah  (Coleman)  Guile,  a settler  of  Har- 
ford township,  where  the  family  history  will 
be  found.  He  did  not  remove  with  his  parents, 
but  remained  in  Harford,  where  he  learned  the 
tanner’s  trade  of  Gains  Moss.  Simeon  B.,  their 
only  son,  attended  the  common  schools  of  the 
county,  and  by  teaching  school  in  the  winter  to 
earn  the  means,  together  with  diligence  in  his 
studies  at  all  times,  he  prepared  himself  for  ad- 
mission into  Hamilton  College,  -svhere  he  was 
graduated  with  honors  in  1851.  He  partially 
defrayed  his  collegiate  education  by  acting  as 
deputy  jirothonotary.  His  industrious,  perse- 
vering efforts  at  this  time,  and  throughout  his 
career,  in  fact.  Illustrate  the  power  of  self-help, 
a prominent  characteristic  in  many  of  our  most 
illustrious  men.  He  read  law  with  F.  B. 
Streeter,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  of  Sus- 
quehanna County  in  1851.  He  was  a Demo- 
crat, and,  in  connection  with  his  brother,  E.  B. 
Chase,  edited  the  Montrose  Democrat  for  four 
years,  commencing  with  1851.  In  1856  he, 
with  other  Free-Soil  Democrats,  assisted  in 
forming  the  Republican  party,  and  became  at 
once  a leading  and  influential  member.  He 


was  chairman  of  the  convention  of  1856,  that 
nominated  David  Wilmot  for  Governor,  and 
has  been  chairman  of  the  Committee  on  Nomi- 
nations once  since.  He  was  elected  Representa-  f 
tive  to  the  State  Legislature  in  the  years  1856, 

’57,  ’58,  ’59.  Here  he  took  high  rank,  occupy- 
ing the  position  of  chairman  of  the  Ways  and 
Means,  Judiciary  and  other  important  commit-  j 
tees.  He  was  a prominent  candidate  for  ! 
Speaker  one  terra,  though  not  elected  ; he  occu-  I 
pied  the  Speaker’s  chair  most  of  the  session,  on  I 
account  of  the  ]>rotracted  illness  of  the  Speaker-  | 
elect.  Thoroughly  familiar  with  parliamentary 
law,  self-possessed,  firm,  an  excellent  speaker 
and  of  commanding  and  agreeable  address,  he 
presides  with  dignity  and  ease  over  the  most 
turbulent  bodies,  always  preserving  order  and 
decorum  during  the  most  exciting  discussions. 

As  a presiding  officer  he  probably  has  no  supe- 
rior in  the  State.  In  1868  the  Good  Templars 
employed  him  to  give  his  entire  time  to  the 
temperance  work,  and  probably  no  more  fitting 
selection  could  have  been  made,  for  he  signed 
the  Washingtonian  pledge  when  but  nine  years 
of  age  and  has  ever  kept  it  inviolate.  He  also 
worked  with  the  Sons  of  Temperance  from  1850 
to  1853,  and  with  the  Good  Templars  from  that 
time  forward.  Always  a master-spirit,  he  at 
once  took  and  kept  a controlling  position  among 
his  co-workers,  and  has  held  many  important 
positions  in  the  Order  of  Good  Templars.  He 
was  presiding  officer  of  either  State  or  Na- 
tional Lodges  almost  continuously  for  about 
twenty  years  from  1856,  and  attended  every 
session  of  the  R.  W.  G.  L.  of  North  America, 
over  which  he  presided  for  five  consecutive 
years.  He  was  Grand  Worthy  Chief  Templar 
of  the  State  of  Pennsylvania  for  seven  years, 
and  discharged  the  duties  of  his  office  with 
ability  and  dignity.  His  reputation  thus  be- 
came extended  beyond  his  home  surroundings, 
throughout  the  State  and  nation.  Mr.  Chase 
commenced  to  make  temperance  speeches  when 
he  was  only  sixteen  years  old,  and  his  clarion 
voice  has  rung  out  in  opposition  to  the  traffic 
ever  since.  Since  1872  Mr.  Chase  has  acted 
with  the  Prohibition  party  and  was  president  of 
the  first  National  Convention  of  that  party 
when  James  Black,  of  Pennsylvania,  was  nomi- 


GENERAL  EDUCATION. 


189 


nated  for  President  of  the  United  States.  He 
was  candidate  for  Governor  on  the  Prohibition 
ticket  in  1872,  for  judge  of  the  Supreme  Court 
in  1878  and  from  the  Bucks,  Lehigli  and 
Northampton  district  for  Congress  in  1886. 

Mr.  Chase  is  a polished  writer  and  has  writ- 
ten much  that  has  had  an  extended  influence. 
His  “Digest  and  Treatise  on  Parliamentary 
Law,”  which  has  passed  through  many  editions 
and  has  had  a large  circulation  in  Europe  as 
well  as  America,  became  a standard  work  in  the 
Good  Templars’  Order.  “ Good  of  theOi’der” 
and  “ Manual  of  Good  Templarism,”  for  “Mills’ 
Tempei’ance  Annual,”  are  among  his  well-known 
works. 

He  is  the  author  of  the  ritual  of  the  Grand 
Lodge  of  the  order.  He  was  connected  with 
the  banking  business  at  Great  Bend  and  New 
Milford  for  a few  years,  and  is  now  practicing 
law  at  Easton,  Pa.,  although  he  continues  to 
make  his  residence  at  Great  Bend,  where  he 
usually  spends  Saturday  and  Sunday.  He  is  a 
Presbyterian  and  an  elder  in  the  church  and  was 
twice  commissioner  to  the  General  Assembly  of 
the  United  States.  He  has  also  been  superin- 
tendent of  the  Sunday-school  for  many  years. 
He  was  married,  May  1,  1851,  to  Miss  Fanny 
Du  Bois,  daughter  of  Abraham  and  Juliet 
(Bowes)  Du  Bois.  Mrs.  Chase  is  a worthy  com- 
panion of  her  distinguished  husband  and  has 
contributed  her  full  share  to  the  success  of  the 
temperance  cause.  She  was  active  with  her 
husband  from  1854  until  1874.  She  was  dele- 
gate to  the  National  Convention  in  1874  in 
Cleveland,  Ohio,  which  organized  the  National 
Woman’s  Christian  Temperance  Union,  and  was 
chosen  vice-president  for  Pennsylvania,  and  the 
same  winter  called  and  presided  over  the  con- 
vention that  organized,  and  was  the  first  presi- 
dent of,  the  Woman’s  Christian  Temperance 
Union  in  Pennsylvania.  She  held  the  office  of 
president  for  five  years  thereafter,  and  has  been 
State  superintendent  of  the  Sunday-school  de- 
partment of  their  work  ever  since.  Mrs.  Chase 
is  the  author  of  a book  on  Good  Templar  work 
entitled  “ Derry’s  Lake,”  which  has  been  repub- 
lished in  Edinburgh  and  London.  She  also 
wrote  the  three  degrees,  “ Faith,  Hope  and  Char- 
ity ” in  the  Good  Templars’  Ritual,  which  have 


been  translated  into  eighteen  different  languages 
and  are  still  in  use.  Their  children  are  Nicho- 
las Du  Bois,  1852,  a lawyer  in  Easton,  Pa.  ; 
Martha  Ellen,  who  died  at  the  age  of  twenty- 
one  ; Emmett  C.,  1858;  George  A.,  1862  ; 
Marcella,  Simeon  and  Catharine  died  in  child- 
hood. 


CHAPTER  XV. 

^ GENEEAL  EDUCATION. 

Pioneer  Schools — Public  Schools — Academies— County  Institutes — Su- 
perintendents and  Teachers. 

The  earliest  settlers  of  Susquehanna  County, 
coming  as  they  did  from  Connecticut,  Massachu- 
setts, Vermont  and  Eastern  New  York,  were 
people  who  h ighly  appreciated  that  basal  truth, 
“ Knowledge  is  Power.” 

At  that  early  period,  amid  their  trials  and 
sacrifices,  they  organized  and  sustained  common 
schools  of  a valuable  character.  Next  to  their 
reverence  for  the  God  of  their  religion,  perhaps, 
was  their  desii’e  for  knowledge ; and  few  were 
the  localities  which  had  not  at  least  one  man  or 
woman  who  was  energetic  in  establishing  a pub- 
lic school. 

Of  necessity,  the  school  buildings  were  rude 
and  simple  in  style.  They  were  built  of  logs  ; 
the  scholars  sat  on  slab  benches  with  faces 
towards  the  writing  tables  and  their  backs 
toward  the  centre  of  the  room.  The  fire-place 
occupied  one  end  of  the  building,  and  logs  were 
used  for  fuel  to  warm  the  school-room. 

Not  a few  of  the  early  teachers  undertook  the 
preparation  of  this  fuel  as  a healthy  morning 
exercise.  Pupils  often  traveled  more  than  three 
miles  to  school.  Many  New  England  customs, 
religious  and  social,  were  firmly  established  by 
the  early  settlers;  also  the  New  England  method 
of  teaching.  Teachers  were  seldom  educated 
specially  for  the  business,  however;  but  the  best 
educated  among  the  farmers  and  mechanics  often 
spent  a part  of  each  year  in  teaching.  INIale 
teachers  taught  for  ten  and  even  eight  dollars  a 
month,  and  a female  for  one  dollar  per  week 


1 Written  by  Professor  13.  E.  James. 


190 


HISTOEY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


and  boai’d.  Schools  were  kept  open  from  three 
to  six  mouths  in  a year. 

The  method  of  hiring  and  paying  teachers 
was  in  substance  as  follows  : Notices  of  a school 
meeting  were  written  and  posted  in  the  neigh- 
borhood. At  the  meeting  a school  committee 
was  chosen  in  their  own  way,  which  committee 
selected  the  teacher,  and  exercised  a general  su- 
pervision over  the  school.  The  teacher  was 
paid  by  the  patrons  of  the  school  in  proportion 
to  the  number  of  days  they  sent  to  the  school. 
Not  less  than  twenty-four  and  often  twenty-six 
days  were  expected  as  a month’s  service.  The 
teacher  made  out  the  rate-bills  and  the  commit- 
tee, or  the  teacher  for  them,  collected  the  bills. 
Prior  to  the  law  of  1834  no  assistance  by  pub- 
lic money  or  appropriation  was  given,  except 
from  “ the  county  funds.” 

Aid  from  this  source  could  be  secured  in 
special  cases  by  an  act  passed  in  1809,  in  the 
following  manner  : The  assessor  was  instructed 
to  make  inquiry  if  any  persons  there  were  in 
the  district  so  poor  as  to  be  unable  to  pay  tui- 
tion for  their  children,  or  a part  of  them.  In 
case  names  of  such  indigent  children  were  re- 
turned to  the  commissioners,  a warrant  for  the 
tuition  of  such  children  was  drawn  on  the 
county  treasurer  in  favor  of  the  teacher  in- 
structing them. 

According  to  the  commissioners’  books,  Sus- 
quehanna County  paid  $273.60  in  1832  “ for 
pupils’  tuition  ; ” the  orders  varying  in  amount 
from  three  shillings  to  two  dollars.  These  orders 
wei-e  drawn  in  favor  of  sixty  teachers.  While 
in  a majority  of  cases  this  assistance  was  received 
gratefully,  in  others  it  acted  unfavorably  to 
attendance  at  the  schools,  pupils  and  parents 
objecting  to  the  term  “County  Scholars.”  There 
were  no  blackboards,  no  uniformity  of  text- 
books and  little  attempt  at  class  recitation. 
Much  time  was  wasted  by  this  lack  of  organi- 
zation. The  pupil,  when  puzzled  in  arithmetic, 
walked  across  the  room  to  the  teacher,  who 
“ worked  out  the  sum  ” and  handed  it  back  to 
the  pupil,  who  returned  to  his  seat. 

In  some  of  the  homes  of  the  county  may  be 
found  The  English  Reader,  The  American 
Preceptor,  Hale’s  History,  Murray’s  Grammar, 
Webster’s,  Dillworth’s  and  Cobb’s  Spelling- 


Books  and  Daboll’s  Arithmetic  as  representative 
text -books  of  those  times.  Fool’s-cap  paper  was 
easily  arranged  into  writing-books,  in  which  the 
copies  were  written  by  the  teacher,  who  used  a 
goose-quill  pen.  A teacher  who  could  make  a j 
good  quill  pen  enjoyed,  justly,  an  enviable  | 
prestige  on  account  of  that  artistic  acquirement,  j 
Occasionally  ambitious  boys  and  girls  were  in- 
structed in  the  art.  ! 

According  to  Superintendent  William  C.  j 
Tilden’s  excellent  report  of  the  schools  in  1877  ' 

and  other  available  records,  it  is  probable  that 
the  earliest  common  school  of  the  county  was 
started  in  Harford  township  in  1794.  Later, 
schools  were  begun  in  Great  Bend  in  1800  and 
1801  ; in  Brooklyn  in  1800  ; those  at  Great 
Bend  were  taught  by  Alba  Dimond  and  Abijah 
Barnes,  and  at  Brooklyn  by  Leonard  Tracy. 
Mollie  Post  taught  a school  in  Lenox,  near 
Glenwood,  in  1804,  using  a barn  for  a school- 
house  till  needed  for  hay,  then  closing  the  term 
under  a large  tree.  Miss  Post  taught  a school 
in  Gibson  in  1807.  Esther  Buck  taught  a 
school  in  Franklin  in  1806,  and  Joshua  Rayns- 
ford  one  in  Bridgewater  in  1803,  having  an 
attendance  of  forty-two  scholars. 

It  is  not  possible  within  the  limits  assigned 
the  present  chapter  to  refer  to  many  of  the 
names  of  worthy  pioneer  teachers,  or  enterpris- 
ing committees  and  trustees  o;f  eommon  and 
higher  schools.  We  are  assured  that  all  sueh 
persons  will  be  fully  presented  in  the  detailed 
history  of  townships  and  boroughs.  But  with 
all  their  discouraging  circumstances  and  defec- 
tive methods  of  instruction,  they  accomplished 
an  educational  work  which  told  mightily  for 
the  mental  and  moral  future  of  Susquehanna 
County,  and  the  work  of  the  teachers  and  pro- 
moters of  those  schools  is  to  be  the  more  highly 
valued  in  view  of  the  fact  that  then,  even  more 
than  now,  there  were  stubborn  opposers  to  pub- 
lic education,  opposers  who  maintained  that 
general  education  was  not  only  needless,  but 
positively  harmful. 

Of  the  higher  public  and  select  schools,  the 
Susquehanna  Academy  was  incorporated  by 
act  of  Assembly  passed  March  19,  1816;  the 
Legislature  also  granting  two  thousand  dol- 
lars towards  the  erection  of  a building  in  Mont- 


GENERAL  EDUCATION. 


191 


rose,  the  Jaw  tlien  allowing  appropriations  for 
aiding  public  classical  schools. 

In  1850  a new  academy  building  was  com- 
pleted at  a cost  of  four  thousand  two  hun- 
dred dollars.  A normal  school  was  established 
in  this  building  in  1857,  J.  F.  Stoddard  being 
principal. 

In  1863  the  borough  school  directors  leased 
the  building  for  graded  school  purposes.  It 
has  since  been  known  as  the  Montro.se  Graded 
School.  Owing  to  the  constantly-increasing 
demand  for  public  education,  but  few  branches 
beside  those  found  in  the  common  school  curric- 
ulum can  be  undertaken.  Formerly  boys 
were  prepared  for  college  at  this  school. 

In  1817  the  Centre  School-house  was  built 
in  Harford,  in  the  edge  of  a beautiful  and 
thrifty  grove  of  evergreens ; and  Lyman 
Richardson  opened  in  it  a classical  select  school. 

A^oung  men  were  there  prepared  for  college, 
teaching  and  the  professions ; and  Harford  be- 
came the  prominent  educational  centre  of  North- 
ern Pennsylvania.  Lyman  Richardson,  enter- 
ing the  ministry,  was  succeeded  by  his  brother 
Preston,  a graduate  of  Hamilton  College,  in 
1829. 

Thus  organized,  it  continued  nearly  forty 
years.  This  classical  institution  was  wholly  a 
private  alfair,  but  was  the  germ  of  the  Frank- 
lin Academy,  incorporated  in  1836.  Franklin 
Academy  was  afterward  enlarged,  under  the 
more  ambitious  title  of  Harford  University. 

Though  never  a denominational  school,  the 
life  of  the  school  came  largely  from  the  Con- 
gregational Church  at  Harford.  The  annual 
commencement  exercises  grew  to  be  elaborate 
affairs.  The  close  of  the  term  occurred  the 
last  of  June.  Large  stages  were  erected  under 
cover  in  a spacious  field.  The  attendance 
numbered  thousands,  including  many  from  ad- 
joining counties,  as  well  as  States.  Horace 
Greeley  was  once  a visitor,  and  delivered  an 
address.  The  library  of  the  institution  at  one 
time  embraced  several  thousand  volumes.  A 
laboratory  and  a large  amount  of  philosophical 
apparatus  added  effectiveness  to  its  course  of 
study.  The  benefits  of  this  popular  institu- 
tiou  wei’e  within  the  reach  of  those  of  slender 
means,  and  the  accommodations  for  students  to 


board  themselves  were  so  ample  that  the  best 
of  the  youth  from  all  parts  of  the  country 
were  there  constantly  represented. 

A glance  at  the  detailed  history  of  Harford 
will  show  that  an  unusually  rich  harvest  of 
distinguished  men  attended  at  some  time 
in  their  careers  Harford  University — many 
reaching  eminence  in  law,  the  ministry  and  in 
the  faculties  of  colleges.  Not  a few  have  stood 
high  in  the  councils  of  Legislatures  and  the 
United  States  Congress.  The  buildings  and 
grounds  were  purchased  by  Charles  W.  Deans, 
and  an  orphan  school  was  opened  in  1865. 
In  1868  Henry  S.  Sweet  took  charge  of  the 
school,  continuing  his  supervision  till  Decem- 
ber, 1886,  when  it  passed  into  other  hands. 
The  success  of  the  Harford  Soldiers’  Orphan 
School  has  given  a true  worth  to  this  noble 
State  work  in  Northeastern  Pennsylvania. 

An  academy  was  built  at  Duudaff  in  1833, 
Hon.  Almon  H.  Read  being  instrumental  in 
procuring  two  thousand  dollars  from  the  State 
for  its  improvement,  in  1839. 

John  Maun  opened  a select  school  in  1833. 
In  1839,  with  improved  facilities,  it  was  iu- 
cor})orated  as  Maimington  Academy.  Saint 
Joseph’s  College  was  opened  near  the  site  of 
Mannington  in  1852,  continuing  till  1864, 
when  it  was  destroyed  by  fire.  It  had  an  at- 
tendance of  about  one  hundred. 

Four  professors  and  four  priests,  with  other 
assistants,  aided  in  carrying  on  the  .school. 
The  valuable  library  connected  with  the  col- 
lege w'as  lost.  The  college  has  never  been  re- 
built. The  loss  of  that  institution  wj\s  keenly 
felt  by  the  people  of  Choconut  and  adjoining 
localities. 

A building  was  erected  at  Dimock  Corners 
by  L.  H.  Woodruff,  in  which  select  or  academic 
schools  were  taught  for  many  years.  Some 
years  later  another  building  was  erected,  by  a 
company  of  citizens,  in  which  select  schools  often 
comprising  two  grades,  W'ere  taught.  The 
building  finally  passed  into  the  hands  of  the 
township  school  directors,  who  have  since  used 
it  for  public  school  purposes. 

A school  known  as  the  “ New'tonville  Semi- 
nary ” was  opened  by  Samuel  Newton  in  1839. 
This  was  situated  about  four  miles  from  Mont- 


192 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


rose.  It  continued  several  years.  A private 
Catholic  school  was  taught  at  Susquehanna  by 
Thomas  Wall  in  1856.  Laurel  Hill  Academy, 
also  Catholic,  was  established  at  Susquehanna 
in  1857.  It  still  continues  with  a large  at- 
tendance. This,  in  brief,  is  an  outline  of  the 
private  and  higher  schools  which  have  existed 
in  the  county. 

According  to  Miss  Blackman’s  history,  “ In 
June,  1830,  Hon.  Almon  H.  Read  offered  three 
memorials  Horn  Susquehanna  County,  praying 
for  a general  system  of  education.  An  act  to 
establish  a general  system  of  education,  by 
common  schools,  was  approved  by  Governor 
Wolf,  April  1,  1834,  to  which  an  act  supple- 
mentary was  passed  a fortnight  later.  Both 
these  were  still  far  from  satisfactory  to  the 
public.”  Mr.  Read  was  instrumental  in  after- 
ward securing  the  passage  of  legislation  more 
acceptable  to  the  general  public.  There  were 
those,  however,  who  opposed  persistently,  and 
often,  through  the  county  press  of  those  days, 
the  principle  of  the  majority’s  imposing  a tax 
upon  the  whole  people  for  the  purposes  of  uni- 
versal education. 

Hon,  William  Jessup  issued  a circular  to  the 
districts  urging  the  assembling  in  convention, 
with  a view  of  at  once  adopting  the  amended 
law  of  1834  and  agreeing  upon  plans  for  the 
application  of  the  general  law  throughout  the 
county.  A majority  of  the  districts  were 
represented  and  co-operated  in  this  move. 

It  is  a notable  fact  that  while  Harford  stood 
in  the  foreground  as  to  .school  privileges,  that 
township  was  one  of  the  last  to  accept  the  law 
of  1834.  Being  satisfied  with  their  excellent 
high  and  other  schools,  it  was  with  a sigh  of 
regret  that  they  relinqui,shed  the  old  regime  for 
the  new.  While  numbers  of  common  schools 
were  faithfully  and  cheerfully  maintained  ac- 
cording to  the  spirit  of  the  school  law  in  dilfer- 
ent  localities  of  the  county,  it  is  unquestionable 
that  the  schools  in  the  aggregate  were  greatly 
benefited  by  the  enactment  of  1854,  which 
created  the  superintendency.  It  is  probable, 
however,  that  no  office  ever  commenced  its 
history  in  Susquehanna  County  with  a more 
bitter  opposition. 

Willard  Richardson  was  chosen  by  the  di- 


rectors’ convention  in  1854  and  his  salary 
fixed  at  three  hundred  and  fifty  dollars. 

Mr.  Richardson’s  successors  in  office  were 
elected  in  the  following  order  : 

B.  F.  Tewksbury,  elected  1857,  one  term;  A.  N. 
Bullard,  elected  1860,  one  term;  E.  A.  Weston,  elec- 
ted 1863,  one  term  ; W.  W.  Watson,  elected  1866,. 
two  years ; A.  W.  Larrabee,  appointed  1868,  one  year ; 
W.  C.  Tilden,  elected  1869,  three  terms;  O.  E. 
French,  elected  1878,  one  term ; B.  E.  James,  elected 
1881,  two  terms;  U.  B.  Gillett,  elected  1887,  present 
incumbent. 

Educational  meetings  were  at  once  organized 
by  the  first  superintendent,  and  with  little 
intermission  they  have  been  continued  during  a 
large  part  of  the  school  year  to  the  present 
time. 

Many  were  the  discouragements  met  by  the 
men,  and  successfully.  It  may  fairly  be  said 
that  Mr.  Tilden,  during  his  long  and  indus- 
trious term  of  service,  first  popularized  public 
schools  in  Susquehanna  County.  He  left  the 
office  with  the  people  friendly  to  the  public 
school  system.  His  successor,  O.  E.  French, 
began  a movement  in  the  line  of  grading  sal- 
aries, consolidating  terms  and  preparing  school 
exhibits  for  the  County  Institute.  A very  per- 
ceptible elevation  of  the  standard  of  scholar- 
ship in  the  rural  schools  \^las  effected  by  a 
comparative  test  in  arithmetic,  language  and 
penmanship  undertaken  throughout  the  county. 
The  people  of  the  county  have  rendered  his 
successor,  Mr.  James,  a most  cheerful  co-opera- 
tion in  any  and  all  efforts  to  further  perfect  or 
newly  organize  educational  progress  or  reform. 
An  efficient  .school  superintendency  meets  with 
a sincere  appreciation  by  the  forty  thousand 
people  of  our  county. 

Of  all  the  available  educational  agencies 
knowm  to  the  present  school  system,  none, 
perhaps,  has  had  a more  constant  growth  than 
the  Teachers’  Institutes.  They  had  their  in- 
ception in  the  “ Teachers’  Association,”  organ- 
ized as  early  as  1853.  The  following  is  the 
report  of  the  first  of  these,  as  found  in  one  of 
the  early  newspaper  files  : 

“ At  a meeting  of  teachers  held  in  the  court- 
house at  Montrose  for  the  purpose  of  forming  a 
Teachers’  Association  for  Susquehanna  County, 


GENERAL  EDUCATION. 


193 


December  31,  1853,  S.  T.  Scott,  of  Bridge- 

I water  was  chosen  chairman  and  B.  F. 

Tewksbury  was  made  secretary.  C.  W.  Deans, 
E.  McKenzie,  J.  Jameson  and  George  McKen- 
zie were  appointed  a committee  to  draft  a con- 
stitution. They  reported  a constitution,  which 
was  adopted,  and  S.  T.  Scott  was  chosen  presi- 
dent ; J.  Jameson,  vice  president ; B.  F. 
t Tewksbury,  recording  secretary ; and  E.  McKen- 
zie, treasurer.  William  H.  Hayward,  George 
McKenzie,  J.  Jameson,  A.  B.  Johnston,  O.  E. 
Burtch  were  chosen  an  executive  committee ; 
E.  McKenzie,  S.  G.  Barker,  and  A.  Johnson, 
business  committee. 

This  association  met  in  different  boroughs  of 
the  county,  and  everywhere  to  the  awakening 
of  educational  spirit.  The  names  of  E.  A. 
Weston.  A.  N.  Bullard  and  Amos  Kent  are 
often  found  on  the  minutes  of  their  proceed- 
ings. This  association  gave  place  to  the  County 
Teachers’  Institute,  provided  for  by  law.  It 
meets  annually  at  the  county-seat  for  five  days, 
every  three  days’  attendance  by  teachers  enti- 
tling the  institute  to  one  dollar,  the  sum  not  to 
exceed  two  hundred  dollars,  to  be  paid  from 
the  county  treasury.  In  1881  teachers  actively 
engaged  at  the  time  of  holding  the  institute 
were  allowed  time  and  wages  while  in  attend- 
ance at  its  sessions.  In  1884-85  this  act  was 
repealed.  To  the  credit  of  the  teachers  be  it 
said,  no  diminution  in  the  attendance  was  per- 
ceived. In  1886-87  the  Legislature  again 
passed  an  act  allowing  the  teachers  their  time 
while  attending  the  institute.  But  the  attend- 
ance and  faithfulness  of  the  teachers  of  Sus- 
quehanna County  to  the  institute  does  not 
depend  on  legislative  pressure  or  provision. 
Without  such  enactments  the  majority  of  the 
working  teachers  are  present.  Local  institutes 
are  held  throughout  the  county  yearly.  Beside 
the  work  accomplished  in  the  way  of  instruc- 
tion in  the  branches  and  methods  of  teaching, 
the  literary  tastes  of  the  teachers  and  public 
are  yearly  developed  at  these  institutes.  It  is 
but  a statement  of  fact  to  say  that  the  Teachers’ 
Institute  has  sustained  the  strongest  and  most 
popular  lecture-course  to  be  found  in  the  county 
during  the  past  two  decades. 

In  1868  one  hundred  and  sixty  teachers  were 
13 


present  at  the  institute.  In  1886  over  three 
hundred  were  in  attendance.  Section  drills,  a 
feature  of  the  northern  tier  of  counties,  are  a 
prominent  feature  of  these  yearly  sessions.  As 
a result  of  a resolution  passed  by  the  institute 
in  1884,  and  in  sympathy  with  the  proclama- 
tion of  Governor  Pattison,  more  than  one  thou- 
sand trees  were  planted  on  the  school  grounds 
the  two  years  following.  A directors’  organi- 
zation was  effected  in  1885,  which  meets  yearly 
with  the  institute,  and  promises  to  become  a 
potent  educational  lever  in  giving  support  to 
the  needed  reforms  urged  at  its  sessions.  The 
agricultural  fairs  held  at  Harford  and  Montrose 
have  recognized  and  financially  encouraged  ed- 
ucational exhibits  and  contests  at  their  displays 
of  the  last  two  years.  A brief  comparative  list 
of  school  statistics  of  the  county  from  the  State 
Department  may  profitably  take  place  at  the 
elose  of  this  chapter, — 

FROM  THE  REPORT  OF  1861. 

No.  of  school  districts 33 

No.  of  schools 261 

Average  no.  of  months  taught 5.76 

Salaries  of  male  teachers  (average) $25.95 

“ “ female  “ “ $17.31 

No.  of  scholars 7190 

No.  of  mills  levied  for  school  purposes... 7. 51 

From  State  appropriation $3,314 

From  taxes  levied $21,243 

Total  receipts $24,557 

FROM  OFFICIAL  REPORT  OF  1886  (twenty-five  yeans 


later). 

No.  of  districts 

42 

No.  of  schools 

Average  no.  of  months  taught 

6.34 

Average  salaries  of  male  teachers 

“ “ “ female  “ 

No.  of  scholars 

9446 

No.  of  mills  for  school  purposes.... 

10.65 

From  State  appropriation 

..$9,427.21 

From  taxes  levied 

,$69,251.21 

Total  receipts 

.$78,679.42 

Showing  an  increase  in  months  taught  and 
salaries  paid  ; while  the  State  appropriations 
and  taxes  levied  for  the  aggregate  expenditures 
for  the  maintenance  of  the  schools  have  more 
than  tripled.  There  are  in  the  county  seven- 
teen borough  and  township  graded  schools,  em- 
ploying fifty-nine  teachers.  Of  the  present 
acting  corps  of  teachers  in  the  county,  the  fol- 


194 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


lowing  are  known  to  be  teachers  of  twenty  or 
more  years’  experience  : S.  S.  Thomas,  James 
W.  Raynor,  U.  B.  Gillett  (present  superintend- 
ent), C.  T.  Thorpe,  E.  S.  P.  Hine,  David  Ring, 
W.  L.  Thacher,  James  Gillin,  Julius  Tyler, 
A.  IT.  Berlin,  C.  W.  Cook,  Lydia  Chamberlin, 
Mary  Chamberlin,  Mary  Bradley,  Anastatia 
Sweeney,  Addie  Gillett,  Mattie  Hayward,  Mary 
Nicol,  Katie  Coleman,  Minnie  Burdick,  Nettie 
Chamberlin,  Helen  Tyler,  Frank  Newell,  Sarah 
Jones,  Mary  Sherer. 

Probably  Samuel  Wright,  of  Great  Bend 
township,  had  as  lengthy  an  experience  as  a 
teacher  in  the  common  schools  as  any  person 
who  ever  lived  in  the  country.  He  died  while 
teaching  his  one  hundred  and  thirty-sixth  term, 
in  188J,  at  the  age  of  sixty-six.  As  possessing 
the  model  spirit  of  a teacher  he  was  a pattern. 
He  taught  his  last  term,  not  as  an  “ antiquated 
master,”  but  as  a teacher  of  ripe  experience, 
keenly  aware  of,  and  fully  appreciating  modern 
facilities  and  ideas  of  instruction. 

Benton  Elgyn  James  was  born  at  West 
Auburn,  Susquehanna  County,  December  28, 
1851.  His  grandfather,  Thomas  W.  James, 
was  born  in  New  Jersey,  and  moved  to  Auburn 
in  1817.  He  was  a man  of  powerful  physique, 
six  feet  three  inches  tall,  weighing  two  hundred 
pounds,  well  fitted  to  endure  the  hardships  of 
pioneer  life.  He  walked  to  Wilkes-Barre  by 
marked  trees  one  day,  a distance  of  fifty  miles, 
for  a letter.  He  married  Hannah  Smith,  of 
New  Jersey,  and  she  became  a woman  of  some 
local  repute  in  West  Auburn,  where  she  assisted 
in  the  pioneer  religious  work  of  the  place. 
Their  son,  Abijah  S.  James,  was  born  in  West 
Auburn,  and  followed  school-teaching  as  his 
principal  occupation.  He  is  a man  of  inde- 
pendence in  his  political  and  religious  views. 
His  wife  was  Sarah  B.  daughter  of  Dexter 
Marshall,  who  came  to  Susquehanna  County 
from  Vermont  about  1840.  Mr.  Marshall  was 
a teacher  of  vocal  music  in  Forest  Lake  and 
adjoining  townships.  His  wife,  Fannie  T. 
(Colby)  Marshall,  exerted  considerable  local 
influence  in  the  churches,  po.ssessing  a wonderful 
memory  and  rare  powers  of  expression.  For 
years  she  exhorted  occasionally  in  the  school- 
houses  and  churches  in  Forest  Lake,  Middletown 


and  Rush,  and  always  to  respectable  and  atten- 
tive audiences ; being  bed-ridden  for  twenty 
years,  she  was  visited  by  hundreds  who  were 
impressed  by  her  conversational  powers  and  her  | 
deep  religious  convictions.  Abijah  S.  James’ 
children  are  Benton  E.  and  Harry  A.,  who  is 
now  principal  of  the  schools  at  Athens,  Pa., 
sons ; and  Effie  M.  Dickinson,  a teacher  of 
instrumental  music  at  Cedar  Rapids,  and  Mrs. 
Cora  W.  Bouter,  of  Cavour,  Dakota,  daughters.  ! 
Benton  E.  James,  at  two  years  of  age,  went  to  ' 
Canada  with  his  parents,  where  his  advantages 
in  the  common  schools  (at  great  painstaking  on 
the  part  of  his  parents)  were  good.  At  the  age 
of  eight  years,  his  parents  having  returned  to 
Susquehanna  County,  he  attended  school  a part 
of  the  time,  working  on  a farm  during  vaca- 
tions to  aid  a crippled  father  in  maintaining  the 
family.  In  1863,  at  twelve  years  of  age,  he 
had  the  sole  charge  of  a canal  lock  at  Meshop- 
peu  and  had  to  work  every  day,  Sundays  not 
excepted,  and  many  times  late  at  night,  “locking 
boats  through.”  On  one  occasion  he  came  near 
losing  his  life  by  falling  fourteen  feet  into  the 
lock.  Having  learned  to  swim  a few  weeks  pre- 
vious, he  barely  kept  afloat  until  the  lock  was 
filled  with  water  again.  Af  thirteen  his  mother 
died,  and  one  year  later  his  father,  owing  to 
failing  health,  was  unable  longer  to  keep  his 
family  together,  and  our  youth,  at  this  critical 
age  in  a boy’s  history,  was  left  to  care  for  him- 
self. He  worked  for  farmers  in  summer  and 
did  chores  for  his  board  and  attended  school  in 
winter,  usually  making  his  home  with  T.  C. 
James,  of  West  Auburn,  N.  Sterling,  of  Carter- 
town,  and  Thomas  S.  James,  of  East  Rush.  At 
seventeen  he  taught  his  first  school  in  a neigh- 
borhood known  as  Retta.  For  two  years  he 
attended  select  school  in  the  fall  at  East  Rush, 
and  taught  there  in  the  winter.  At  twenty  he 
attended  the  seminary  at  Kingston  for  some 
time,  still  continuing  to  teach  in  his  own  county. 

In  1877  he  was  graduated  at  the  Mansfield 
Normal  School  and  commenced  teaching  a select 
school  at  Auburn  Four  Corners,  having  an  at- 
tendance of  nearly  one  hundred  pupils,  about 
one-fourth  of  whom  were  preparing  to  teach. 

In  1880  he  formed  a business  partnership  with 
D.  C.  Titman  and  engaged  in  the  mercantile 


GENERAL  EDUCATION. 


195 


business  until  elected  county  superintendent  of 
the  schools  of  Susquehanna  County  in  1881, 
which  position  he  held  by  re-election  until  1887, 
when  he  declined  to  be  a candidate  for  a third 
term,  with  a view  of  engaging  iu  County  Insti- 
tute instruction  and  general  lecturing  as  future 
work.  The  six  years  of  his  incumbency  of  the 
office  of  county  superintendent  have  been  years 


went  out  ot  office  June  1,  1887,  with  the  gen- 
eral feeling  that  he  had  discharged  the  duties  of 
his  trust  with  ability  and  fidelity,  inspiring  the 
teachers  with  zeal  and  earnestness  in  their  work 
and  elevating  the  standard  of  the  schools.  As 
a speaker,  Prof.  James  is  animated,  instructive 
and  entertaining,  which  secures  the  thoughtful 
attention  of  his  hearers.  Benton  E.  James  inar- 


of  earnest  work  and  progress.  He  organized 
the  institute  into  class  drills,  planned  and  com- 
pleted a school  directors’  organization  in  con- 
nection with  the  County  Institute,  conducted 
over  one  hundred  local  institutes  and  delivered 
seventy- five  evening  addresses  in  the  interest  of 
popular  education  and  organized  and  pushed 
tree-planting  on  school-grounds  for  three  years. 
He  takes  a lively  interest  in  agriculture  and  in 
the  breeding  of  pure-blooded  cattle.  Mr.  James 


ried  Jesse  Benton  Adams,  October  20,  1881. 
Her  father,  Elijah  Adams,  born  August  4, 
1824,  in  Auburn,  is  now  justice  of  the  peace  in 
that  township,  a man  noted  for  his  enterprise  in 
building,  having  erected  nearly  one-half  the 
buildings  standing  in  and  about  Auburn  Cor- 
ners. Chester  Adams,  her  grandfather,  married 
Susan  Sherwood,  and  came  from  Connecticut  to 
Auburn  in  1813.  Elijah  Adams’  wife  was 
Phebe  Ann  Bushnell,  daughter  of  David  Bu.-;h- 


196 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


nell  and  Tirzah  (Hitchcock)  Bushnell,  pioneer 
settlers  in  Bridgewater.  The  latter  is  still  liv- 
ing, aged  ninety-one,  with  her  mental  powers 
unimpaired.  B.  E.  James  has  one  daughter, 
Anna  Sarah,  born  June  4,  1884. 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

AGEICULTUEE,  GEANGES  AND  STOCK. 

Agricultural  Societies— Patrons  of  Husbandry — Stock-Breeding. 

“ ^ The  first  agricultural  society  in  Susque- 
hanna County  was  organized  January  27,  1820, 
and  was  mainly  the  result  of  the  energy  and 
enthusiasm  of  Robert  H.  Rose.  He  was  one  of 
the  corresponding  secretaries  of  the  Luzerne 
Agricultural  Society,  as  early  as  1810.  The 
first  officers  of  the  society  were  R.  H.  Rose, 
president ; Putnam  Catlin,  vice-president ; 
Isaac  Post,  treasurer  ; J.  W.  Raynsford,  secre- 
tary ; I.  P.  Foster,  recording  secretary.  The 
society  held  a meeting  in  September  following 
its  organization,  but  in  December  it  was  deemed 
expedient  to  organize  anew,  so  as  to  obtain  the 
benefits  of  an  act  of  Assembly  for  the  promotion 
of  agricultural  and  domestic  manufactures, 
passed  in  March  preceding.  The  same  presi- 
dent and  secretary  were  re-elected  December  6, 
1820 ; Dr.  Asa  Park,  treasurer ; Colonels 
Fred.  Bailey  and  Thos.  Parke,  D.  Post,  Z. 
Bliss,  Rufus  Lines,  Jonah  Brewster,  Joab 
Tyler  and  Walter  Lyon,  Esqs.,  Messrs.  Calvin 
Leet  and  William  Smith,  directors.  The 
meeting  was  opened  with  prayer  by  Elder  Davis 
Dimock,  and  was  followed  by  an  address  by 
Dr.  Rose.  In  this  he  stated  : 

“ ‘ The  soil  of  the  beech  and  maple  lands  which 
compose  the  greater  part  of  Susquehanna  County  is 
a sandy  loam,  about  eighteen  inches  in  depth,  resting 
on  a compact  bed  of  argillaceous  earth  and  minute 
sand,  which  from  its  retentive  nature  is  extremely 
well  calculated  to  prevent  the  escape  of  moisture,  and 
to  preserve  the  fertilizing  quality  of  the  manures 
which  may  be  intermingled  with  the  superincumbent 
soil.’ 

“ Dr.  Rose  was  indefatigable  in  promoting 
farming  interests  ; offered  large  inducements  to 

I Blackman’s  “History.” 


the  raising  of  stock ; and  in  carrying  out  his 
owu  extensive  plans,  furnished  employment  to 
many  persons — thus  incidentally  extending  his 
ideas  doubtless  to  the  permanent  benefit  of  this 
section. 

“ The  first  agricultural  show  occurred  No- 
vember 10,  1821.  Captain  Watrous’  artillery 
company  accompanied  members  to  the  court- 
house after  they  had  viewed  the  stock,  when 
they  listened  again  to  an  address  from  the 
president.  He  said  : ‘ To  the  hilliness  of  the 
county  we  are  indebted  for  the  salubrity  of  the 
air,  the  abundance  of  the  springs,  and  the 
purity  of  the  water  ; also,  for  the  fewest  sheep 
with  disordered  livers.’  He  referred  to  the  fact 
that  oursoil  is  peculiarly  adapted  to  grazing.  He 
advised  farmers  to  fatten  cattle  with  grain  in 
winter,  discouraging  distilleries ; ‘ whiskey 

must  be  taken  in  wagons  to  market,  but  cattle 
can  ivcdh  to  market  with  their  fat;  whiskey 
does  mischief,  good  beef  hurts  no  one.’  He  be- 
lieved one  thousand  dollars’  worth  of  cattle 
could  be  driven  from  this  county  to  New  York 
or  Philadelphia  for  the  sum  which  it  would 
cost  to  haul  one  thousand  dollars’  worth  of 
wheat  five  miles. 

“ He  stated  that  the  cost  of  clearing  land  here 
was  not  more  than  the  expense  of  hauling  out  the 
manure  and  ploughing  old  lands,  and  added  : 
‘ Putnam  Catlin,  on  his  first  settlement,  cleared 
a field  of  thirty  acres;  the  first  crop  of  grain 
paid  all  the  expenses  of  clearing  and  those  at- 
tendant on  the  crop,  paid  for  the  land,  and  left 
$3.00  per  acre  over.’ 

“ Statements  of  the  Agricultural  Society 
FOR  1821. — -To  personal  subscriptions,  personal  and 
county  donations,  and  paid  for  1882,  $177 ; paid  the 
following  persons  premiums  from  $5  to  $2,  amounting 
to  $109. 

“To  William  Ross,  for  the  best  acre  of  wheat; 
David  Post,  best  oats,  and  best  half  acre  of  potatoes ; 
R.  H.  Rose,  best  quarter  acre  ruta  baga;  Jacob  P. 
Dunn,  best  mare;  Archie  Marsh,  best  bull;  John 
Griffin,  best  cow ; Charles  Perrlgo,  bestyoke  of  oxen  ; 
R.  H.  Rose,  best  ram ; Putnam  Catlin,  best  ewe  ; 
William  Ward,  best  boar;  Robert  Eldridge,  best 
cheese ; Peter  Herkimer,  greatest  quantity  of  maple 
sugar  (upwards  of  one  hundred  tons  were  manufac- 
tured the  previous  spring  in  the  county) ; R.  H.  Rose, 
best  quality  of  maple  sugar  (J.  C.  Sherman  made 
1127  pounds  from  200  trees) ; Erastus  Catlin,  best 
woolen  cloth  ; John  Kingsley,  second  best  do. ; Put- 


AGRICULTUKE,  GRANGES  AND  STOCK. 


197 


( iiam  Gatlin,  best  specimen  flannel;  S.  S.  Mulford, 

» best  carpeting;  Samuel  Weston,  best  sj^ecimen  linen  ; 

^ James  Dean,  second  best  do. ; Jesse  Sherman,  best 
I plough;  R.  H.  Rose,  best  harrow;  Dalton  Tiffany, 

. greatest  quantity  of  stone  fence ; Jonah  Brewster, 
greatest  quantity  of  harvesting  without  spirits  ; Mrs. 
Rice,  a grass  bonnet;  Mrs.  Emmeline  Chapman,  a 
straw  bonnet;  William  C.  Turrel,  hair  cloth.” 

In  1822  the  premiums  paid  amounted  to  $89. 
This  society  seems  to  have  discontinued  about  1824. 
“ In  1838  there  were  2768  farms,  average  size  105 
acres ; 5459  acres  were  given  to  wheat,  1624  to  rye, 
8404  to  oats,  3330  to  corn  ; meadow,  34,792;  potatoes, 
2367  ; turnips,  73  ; buckwheat,  3546 ; flax,  195  ; ruta 
bagas,  32.  There  were  3998  horses,  2919  oxen,  8187 
cows,  51,609  sheep,  9033  swine,  22,746  neat  cattle  of 
all  kinds.  Butter  sold,  257,325  lbs. ; cheese,  58,559 
lbs.  ; maple-sugar,  293,783  lbs.” 

The  first  call  for  a meeting  of  farmers  and 
mechanics,  with  practical  results,  was  made 
January  7,  1846.  On  the  26th  following  a 
meeting  was  held  at  the  court-house,  at  which 
a meeting  of  fifteen  from  tlie  different  town- 
ships were  appointed  to  draft  a constitution,  and 
another  of  three  to  prepare  a circular  calling 
attention  to  the  subject ; and  a committee  of  five 
from  each  township  to  attend  a meeting  for 
organization.  A permanent  organization  was 
effected  March  4,  1846,  with  the  following 
officers  : 

Caleb  Carmalt,  president;  Benjamin  Lathrop, 
Thomas  Johnson,  vice-presidents ; Thomas  Nichol- 
son, corresponding  secretary  ; George  Fuller,  record- 
ing secretary  ; D.  D.  Warner,  treasurer;  William  Jes- 
sup, Wm.  Main,  Frederick  Bailey,  George  Walker, 
Chas.  Tingley,  Abraham  Du  Bois  and  Stephen  Barnum, 
executive  commttee.  A constitution  and  by-laws 
had  been  drafted  the  day  before  at  Judge  Jessui^’s 
office.  August  24,  1864,  Thomas  Nicholson,  M.  F. 
Gatlin,  Charles  F.  Reed,  S.  S.  Mulford,  Daniel 
Brewster,  S.  H.  Mulford,  B.  S.  Bentley,  William  L. 
Post,  Albert  Beardsley,  Azur  Fathrop,  M.  C.  Tyler, 
C.  L.  Brown,  Henry  C.  Tyler,  W.  II.  Boyd,  Henry 
Drinker,  A.  Chamberlin,  W.  K.  Hatch,  F.  B.  Chand- 
ler, W.  W.  Smith,  William  Jessup,  W.  H.  Jessup,  G. 
A.  Jessup,  A.  Baldwin,  J.  P.  W.  Riley,  F.  C.  Keeler, 
J.  W.  Chapman,  D.  R.  Lathrop,  Daniel  Sayre,  J. 
Mulford  petition  for  a charter  for  the  Susquehanna 
County  Agricultural  Society,  which,  upon  motion  of 
William  H.  Jessup  for  the  petitioners,  was  granted 
by  the  court. 


of  the  land  for  that  purpose.  In  November, 
1861,  the  society  procured  one  hundred  and 
three  and  one-half  acres  of  land  in  the  upper 
part  of  the  borough  of  Avery  Frink,  which, 
with  additions,  constitutes  the  present  fair- 
ground. The  grounds  are  inclosed  with  a 
board  fence  and  contain  an  exhibition  building 
twenty  by  eighty,  with  two  wings  twenty  by 
thirty-four,  stalls  for  stock  and  no  race-course. 
The  location  is  elevated  and  rather  romantic ; 
the  view  from  this  point  is  extended  and  pic- 
turesque. The  existing  books  of  the  society 
date  from  1861.  At  least  two  presidents  had 
succeeded  Caleb  Carmalt  previous  to  that  year, 
— William  Jessup  and  Henry  Drinker.  The 
ofiicers  since  1861  have  been  as  follows  : 

Presidents  : Abel  Cassidy,  M.  F.  Catlin,  Samuel  F. 
Carmalt,  Benjamin  Parke,  J.  C.  Morris,  William  H. 
Jessup,  James  E.  Carmalt,  C.  M.  Gere,  H.  Skinner, 
William  J.  Turrell,  A.  Lathrop,  H.  Brewster,  H.  H. 
Harrington,  R.  S.  Searle,  J.  H.  Munger,  John  S. 
Tarbell.  William  H.  Jessujr  has  been  president  the 
greatest  number  of  times. 

Vice-Presidents;  J.  F.  Deane,  J.  Blanding,  W.  H. 
Jessup,  S.  F.  Carmalt,  B.  Barker,  Stephen  Breed,  R. 
S.  Birchard,  H.  M.  Jones,  M.  L.  Catlin,  H.  H.  Har- 
rington, David  Summers,  E.  T.  Tiffany,  Eli  Barnes, 
John  Tewksbury,  F.  H.  Hollister,  James  Kasson,  H. 
H.  Skinner,  C.  J.  Hollister,  H.  C.  Conklin,  Abner 
Griffis,  E.  C.  Potter,  H.  K.  Sherman,  Friend  Hollis- 
ter, Abner  Griffis,  Avery  Frink,  C.  M.  Crandall,  W. 
H.  Jones,  A.  Lathrop,  H.  M.  Bailey,  D.  Brewster,  C. 
F.  Watrous,  P.  C.  Conklin,  J.  H.  Williams,  II.  C. 
Jessup,  D.  C.  Titman,  D.  Sayre,  William  White. 

Recording  Secretaries : C.  L.  Brown,  C.  M.  Gere,  C. 
W.  Tyler,  G.  A.  Jessup,  M.  M.  Mott,  H.  C.  Tyler, 
Jerome  R.  Lyons,  D.  T.  Brewster,  A.  D.  Birchard, 
E.  C.  Smith,  Myron  Kasson,  D.  A.  Titsworth. 

Corresponding  Secretaries  : C.  M.  Gere,  A.  N.  Bull- 
lard,  C.  L.  Brown,  C.  W.  Tyler,  J.  E.  Carmalt,  G.  A. 
Jessup,  J.  R.  Lyons,  William  A.  Crossman,  J.  F. 
Butterfield,  John  F.  Hunter,  H.  C.  Tyler,  H.  C. 
Jessup,  D.  Sayre. 

Treasurers : Azur  Lathrop,  C.  M.  Gere,  B.  L.  Bald- 
win, H.  C.  Tyler,  M.  J.  Harrington. 

Executive  Committee  (first  appointed  in  1863) ; Al- 
fred Baldwin,  S.  F.  Carmalt,  J.  C.  Morris,  F.  H.  Hol- 
lister, J.  S.  Tarbell,  J.  E.  Carmalt,  A.  Frink,  H.  H. 
Skinner,  H.  H.  Harrington,  D.  F.  Austin,  Allen 
Shelden,  Henry  Sherman,  .Tohn  C.  Morris,  J.  F. 
Butterfield,  A.  L.  Kent,  J.  H.  Munger,  H.  Lake,  J. 
M.  France,  John  Hunter. 

Membcr.s  of  the  executive  committee  are 
elected  for  three  years,  one  each  year,  .so  that 


The  first  fair-ground  was  upon  the  land  of 
David  Post,  adjoining  the  garden  of  G.  V. 
Bentley  on  the  south.  Mr.  Post  gave  the  use 


198 


HISTOEY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


the  committee  consists  of  three  members.  The 
names  of  officers  and  committeemen  have  not 
been  repeated,  although  many  of  them  liave 
served  a number  of  years  in  the  .same  office. 
The  officers  elected  for  1887  are  : President,  A. 
Lathrop  ; First  Viee- President,  R.  S.  Searle ; 
Second  Vice-President,  Myron  Kasson  ; Treas- 
urer, John  R.  Raynsford  ; Secretary,  D.  A. 
Titsworth  ; Cor.  Secretary,  J.  H.  Monger. 

Various  changes  have  been  made  in  the 
constitution  and  by-laws  from  time  to  time,  in 
order  to  adapt  the  society  to  changed  condi- 
tions. The  Fortieth  Exhibition  was  held 
September  16  and  17,  1886.  Exhibitors  were 
permitted  to  enter  animals  or  articles  free  of 
charge,  excepting  horses.  Among  other  things, 
there  was  an  exhibition  of  pupils’  work  in  the 
common  schools. 

^Patrons  of  Husbandry. — A grange  of 
the  Order  of  Patrons  of  Hu.sbaudry  was  organ- 
ized January  9,  1874,  at  the  Tarbell  House,  in 
Montrose,  by  S.  W.  Buck,  Deputy  of  the  Na- 
tional Grange.  This  organization  has  for  its 
objects  the  uniting  of  the  farmers  in  one  com- 
mon brotherhood,  in  order  to  develop  a higher 
manhood  and  womanhood  among  them.  To 
this  end,  women  are  eligible  to  membership 
and  office  in  the  order.  The  better  education 
of  the  farmer  and  his  family  in  order  that  he 
may  make  his  home  more  attractive,  co-opera- 
tions in  buying  and  selling,  opposition  to 
monopoly  in  all  its  forms,  high  .salaries,  high 
rates  of  interest,  and  exorbitant  profits  in  trade 
are  matters  that  receive  attention  in  the  order. 
Its  members  desire  the  protection  of  every  true 
interest  of  our  laud  by  legitimate  transactions, 
legitimate  trade  and  legitimate  profits.  It  is 
not  a political  or  party  organization,  does  not 
discuss  religious  or  political  questions  in  its 
meetings,  never  calls  political  meetings  or  con- 
ventions nor  nominates  candidates ; yet  the 
principles  it  teaches  underlie  all  true  politics, 
all  true  statesmanship,  and  if  properly  carried 
out,  will  tend  to  purify  the  whole  political 
atmosphere  of  our  country ; for  it  seeks  the 
greatest  good  of  all.  No  jjersou  by  joining  it 
has  to  leave  the  political  party  with  which  he 
affiliates ; on  the  contrary,  he  feels  it  incumbent 

1 Written  by  F.  H.  Bunnell. 


upon  him  to  do  all  in  his  power  to  influence  for 
good  the  action  of  his  party — to  put  down 
bribery,  corruption  and  trickery,  and  see  that 
none  but  competent,  fiiithful  and  honest  men 
are  nominated  for  positions  of  trust,  and  to  try 
and  carry  out  the  principle  that  the  office  should 
seek  the  man  and  not  the  man  the  office. 

After  this  grange  was  thoroughly  organized, 
the  first  to  apply  for  admission  to  its  member- 
ship was  F.  H.  Bunnell,  of  Dimock,  and  he 
was  the  first  man  initiated  in  Susquehanna 
Grange,  No.  74,  and  his  wife,  Mrs.  Harriet 
Bunnell,  was  the  first  woman  to  take  the  four 
degrees  of  the  order  in  this  grange.  They  are 
both  members  of  Grange,  No.  74,  Pomona 
Grange,  No.  7,  and  the  State  . Grange  of  Penn- 
sylvania. Mr.  Bunnell  is  at  present  the 
Deputy  of  the  southern  portion  of  the  county. 
This  grange  movement  rapidly  spread  over 
the  county,  some  sixteen  or  seventeen  granges 
were  soon  organized,  and  the  order  had  a mem- 
bership of  one  thousand  or  more  ; but  as  many 
persons  went  into  it  for  the  p urpose  of  making 
money  out  of  it,  and  niciny  more  from  mere 
curiosity,  many  of  the  granges  soon  became 
dormant,  and  remain  so  to  this  day,  while 
others,  that  had  members  that  studied  the  true 
principles  of  the  order,  lived  and  flourished,  and 
have  became  a power  for  good  in  the  county ; 
and  to-day  the  order  has  a large  membership, 
compo.sed  of  men  and  women  that  know  the 
teachings  of  the  order  and  believe  in  them. 
And  as  the  children  get  old  enough,  they  are 
taking  them  to  the  grange,  where  they  will  be- 
come educated  in  such  a manner  that  they  will 
become  farmers  and  citizens  that  the  county 
will  be  proud  of.  The  fact  that  there  are  a 
couple  of  empty  Grange  Halls  in  the  county 
does  not  argue  that  the  order  is  dead,  any  more 
than  a couple  of  empty  churches  would  argue 
that  the  Christian  religion  has  died  out  in  the 
county.  The  nine  live  granges  in  the  county 
are  doing  such  effective  work  as  Avill  ere  long 
revive  many  more  of  the  dormant  ones  and 
make  some  new  ones  besides — and  may  the 
good  work  go  on  until  all  the  agricultural 
toilers  in  this  county  are  united  in  this  noble 
fraternity,  is  the  wish  of  the  Deputy,  F.  H. 
Bunnell. 


AaRICULTURE,  GRANGES  AND  STOCK. 


199 


Susquehanna  Grange,  No.  74,  South  Montrose. 
Organized  January  9,  1874,  by  S.  AV.  Buck, 
Deputy  of  National  Grange,  Patrons  of  Hus- 
bandry. Master,  R.  S.  Searle ; Secretary,  J.  R. 
Lyons ; Charter  Members,  R.  S.  Searle,  M.  L. 
Catlin,  Horace  Brewster,  Apollos  Stone,  L.  C. 
Smith,  O.  M.  Hall,  E.  L.  Cool,  J.  R.  Lyons, 
Kirby  Bunnell,  John  S.  Tarbell,  I.  G.  Lake, 

G.  S.  Johnson,  D.  A.  McCracken,  N.  S.  Harri- 
son, J.  AV.  Allen,  F.  H.  Hollister,  M.  M.  Mott, 

H.  H.  Harrington,  J.  F.  Hunter,  C.  J.  Hollis- 
ter, Jacob  Tewksbury,  Margaret  Lake,  A.  S. 
Hall,  S.  A.  Bunnell,  L.  B.  Stone,  Ellen  E. 
Searle,  Anna  E.  Lyons,  R.  A.  Allen,  J.  N. 
Catlin,  H.  C.  Harrison,  S.  E.  Harrington,  E. 

C.  Hunter,  Lucy  Smith,  Chloe  Tewksbury. 
Present  Master,  Silas  Decker ; Secretary,  F.  H. 
Bunnell. 

Auburn  Grange,  No.  101,  organized  by  S. 
AV.  Buck,  February  7,  1874.  Good  hall  and 
active  membership.  Charter  members,  Alex- 
ander Stevens,  J.  M.  France,  Elijah  Crane, 
Norman  Sterling,  I.  R.  Low,  AA"m.  AA'hite,  Jr., 
AA".  AV.  Lee,  G.  Carter,  Daniel  Seely,  Amasa 
AVilcox,  G.  AA’'.  Kirkhutf,  John  C.  Rifenbury, 
Emmett  Tewksbury,  J.  B.  A^oung,  AV.  H 
Ming,  C.  AV.  Pierson,  M.  H.  V^anscoten,  \V. 
N.  Bennett,  George  Harris,  Mrs.  J.  AI.  France, 
Christine  Harris,  Airs.  AV.  AA’^.  Lee,  Dianna 
AVilcox,  Sallie  Sterling,  Jeanette  Stevens,  Airs. 
E.  Aling,  Airs.  C.  AV.  Pierson,  Airs.  G.  Carter, 
Airs.  Daniel  Seely,  Floyd  Tewksbury. 

Brooklyn  Grange,  No.  246,  organized  by 
S.  AV.  Buck,  Alay  8, 1874;  reorganized  by  R.  S. 
Searle,  November  20,  1884.  Alaster,  H.  AV. 
Kent ; Secretary,  E.  G.  AA^illiams ; Charter 
members,  H.  AA^.  Kent,  E.  H.  AVesten,  J.  J. 
Roper,  G.  I.  Giles,  G.  B.  Rogers,  C.  F.  Perigo, 
E.  G.  AVilliams,  E.  F.  Stephens,  A.  E.  Waldie, 

D.  S.  AVatrous,  Ansel  Sterling,  Ralph  Sterling, 
Lodowick  Bailey,  George  Sterling,  Fred  Aliller, 
Airs.  E.  H.  AVesten,  Airs.  G.  I.  Giles,  Airs.  J. 
J.  Roper,  Airs.  E.  F.  Stephens,  Mrs.  A.  E. 
AValdie,  Airs.  R.  Sterling,  Airs.  D.  S.  AVatrous, 
Airs.  L.  Bailey,  Airs.  George  Sterling,  Airs. 
Fred  Aliller. 

Union  Grange,  No.  152,  Lathrop,  organ- 
ized by  S.  AV.  Buck,  Alarcli  5,  1874.  Alaster, 
G.  S.  Bronson  ; Secretary,  C.  R.  Bailey  ; Char- 


ter members,  P.  S.  Bronson,  S.  P.  Mack,  G. 
S.  Alackey,  Jesse  Silvius,  AI.  A^.  Bisbee,  C.  R. 
Bailey,  J.  E.  Sanders,  G.  C.  Bronson,  R.  O. 
Silvius,  Z.  Alackey,  I.  A.  Hotchkiss,  C.  AV. 
Parker,  H.  G.  Mack,  H.  B.  AVood,  Airs.  A.  E. 
Bronson,  Airs.  C.  C.  Risley,  Airs.  J.  E.  Alack, 
Airs.  E.  Bailey,  Airs.  K.  Bisbee,  Airs.  Esther 
Alackey,  Aliss  Mina  Mackey,  Aliss  Lizzie  Bron- 
son, Miss  Alattie  Mackey ; reorganized  by  E. 

H.  Bunnell,  December  11,  1886. 

Middletoion  Grange,  No.  172,  organized 

Alarch  20,  1874,  by  S.  AV.  Buck.  Master, 
Geo.  L.  AVells ; Secretary,  L.  A.  Howard ; 
Charter  members.  Geo.  L.  AVells,  J.  J.  Can- 
field,  L.  AV.  Camp,  J.  AV.  Lewis,  L.  A.  Howard, 
Chas.  Camp,  E.  Stedwell,  A.  I.  Coleman, 
Samuel  Dodge,  N.  AV.  Bauman,  P.  S.  Ross,  A. 

I.  Lewis,  John  Alderson,  J.  AV.  Bent,  F.  E. 
Briggs,  G.  H.  Hurdy,  O.  H.  Coleman,  G.  N. 
Deimm,  AI.  A.  Shafer,  Henry  Alderson,  Airs. 

E.  J.  Stedwell,  Airs.  Sarah  Coleman,  Miss 
Lucy  I.  AATlls,  Aliss  Aledia  Camp,  Aliss  Anna 

J.  Ross,  Airs.  S.  A.  Lewis,  Airs.  A.  Ijewis, 
Mrs.  J.  J.  Canfield,  Mrs.  Alary  Alderson,  Miss 
Mary  Aldenson. 

Eeo'st  Bridgewater  Grange,  No.  187,  organ- 
ized by  R.  S.  Searle,  November  19,  1874. 
Alaster,  Samuel  Smyth  ; Secretary,  S.  Jewett ; 
Charter  members,  Samuel  Smyth,  S.  Jewett, 
Daniel  AIcCollum,  C J.  Curtis,  AVm.  C.  Curtis, 
John  C.  Curtis,  N.  O.  Passmore,  A.  J.  Baldwin, 
H.  Griffin,  Geo.  Alackey,  S.  Frink,  J.  Baldwin, 
Daniel  Stewart,  Libbie  Jewett,  Jennie  Smyth, 
Alary  Curtis,  Alary  Passmore,  Harriet  Frink, 
Chas.  Curtis,  L.  E.  Baldwin,  I.  C.  Alackey, 
Eva  Fort,  Airs.  S.  Kennard. 

Franklin  Grange,  No.  260,  organized  by 

R.  S.  Searle,  Alay  12,  1874.  Alaster,  Benj. 
Affince ; Secretary,  David  Alarsh  ; Charter 
members,  Benj.  C.  Vance,  R.  R.  Bailey, 
David  Alursh,  John  P.  Fish,  AVm.  AVatson,  L. 
B.  Cole,  F.  L.  Smith,  John  J.  Stockholm,  N. 

S.  Buck,  E.  C.  Parks,  H.  AV.  Ives,  A.  L.  South- 
worth,  AVm.  Meeker,  Jr.,  D.  B.  Townsend,  Airs. 
Kate  Vance,  Airs.  Cora  Bailey,  Airs.  Alaria 
Alursh,  Airs.  Alary  Buck,  Airs.  AI.  E.  Cole, 
Airs.  H.  Watson,  Airs.  Elizabeth  Smith. 

Springrille  Grange,  No.  266,  organized  by 
Roger  S.  Searle,  State  Deputy,  Alay  20,  1874. 


200 


HISTOKY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


Master,  H.  R.  Sherman ; Secretary,  A.  D. 
Woodhouse;  Charter  members,  H.  R.  Sher- 
man, A.  D.  Woodhouse,  F.  A.  Muzzy,  Ezra 
Sehooley,  James  Wallace,  Wm.  Main,  O.  F. 
Blakeslee,  John  Main,  S.  S.  Tyler,  J.  1.  S.  Wal- 
lace, Samuel  Blakeslee,  Asher  Quick,  Amy  P. 
Sherman,  R.  P.  Muzzy,  G.  Sehooley,  Sarah 
Tyler,  Mary  Blakeslee,  E.  Woodhouse,  Ruth 
Quick. 

Jackson  Grange,  No.  342,  organized  by  R. 
S.  Searle,  State  Deputy,  September  22,  1874. 
Charter  members. — H.  H.  Stoddard,  H.  N . 
Tyler,  J.  R.  Crandall,  H.  D.  Corse,  Avery  W. 
Barrett,  Alvin  W.  Barrett,  Edsou  Barrett,  I.  C. 
Hill,  Stephen  Barnard,  E.  C.  Chandler,  Friend 
Barrett,  H.  A.  Barrett,  H.  S.  Stoddard,  T.  J. 
Tallman,  S.  E.  Morse,  E.  O.  Perry,  Mrs.  H.  H. 
Stoddard,  Mrs.  H.  W.  Tyler,  Mrs.  J.  R.  Cran- 
dall, Mrs.  A.  D.  Corse. 

This  Grange  never  became  dormant ; it  has  a 
good  hall,  and  store-room  well  filled  with 
goods,  and  an  active  membership. 

Milford  Gh'ange,  No.  289,  organized  by  State 
Deputy  R.  S.  Searle,  June  20,  1874.  Master, 
Jno.  Bisbee;  Secretary,  George  Williams; 
Charter  members,  G.  S.  Corwin,  L.  A. 
Smith,  Jno.  Bisbee,  S.  P.  Smith,  C.  Fletcher, 
J.  W.  H.  Bradford,  F.  Wellman,  G.  N Well- 
man, G.  P.  Terwillager,  J.  P.  Harding,  William 
Harding,  J.  W.  Bennett,  O.  Bennett,  Mrs.  M. 
Corwin,  A.  A.  Bisbee,  A.  Smith,  Jane  Well- 
man, Sarah  WTllman,  F.  E.  Terwillager,  Mrs. 
Carrie  Bennett,  E.  R.  Bennett,  Julia  A.  Davis. 

Rising  Sun  Grange,  No.  417,  of  Forest 
Lake,  organized  by  State  Deputy  R.  S.  Searle, 
December  17,  1874.  Has  a good  big  hall,  good 
membership  and  is  in  a flourishing  condition. 
Master,  Levi  Birchard;  Secretary,  Randolph 
Turrell ; Charter  Members,  Levi  Birchard,  H. 
F.  Handrick,  Randolph  Turrell,  Le.ster  Turrell, 
W.  G.  Small,  W.  C.  Small,  A.  B.  Griffis,  E. 
Griffis,  Perry  Birdsall,  E.  L.  Riuevault,  Philip 
Riuevault,  S.  R.  Wright,  Albert  Ball,  Edward 
Ball,  A.  S.  Horton,  J.  E.  Birchard,  F.  S.  Tur- 
rell, S.  Turrell,  Phoebe  A.  Small,  Theresa  Small, 
Aggie  Griffis,  Cipena  Griffis,  Julia  Birdsall, 
Rebecca  Rinevault,  Martha  Riuevault. 

Harford  Grange,  No.  418,  organized  by 
State  Deputy  R.  S.  Searle.  Master,  Abel  T. 


Sweet ; Secretary,  D.  P.  Brewster  ; Charter  mem- 
bers, Watson  Jeffers,  A.  T.  Sweet,  C.  A.  Stearns, 
T.  Brewster,  D.  P.  Brewster,  Andrew  Adams, 
S.  A1  worth.  Geo.  Lindsley,  Geo.  Whitney,  O.  P. 
Tiffany,  O.  L.  Hine,  E.  N.  Carpenter,  Walter 
Wilmarth,  Horace  Lindsley,  G.  Hotchkiss,  L. 
E.  Carpenter,  S.  E.  Carpenter,  L.  Moore,  Geo. 
Fort,  Mrs.  W.  Wilmarth,  Mrs.  W.  Jeffers,  Mrs. 
A.  T.  Sweet,  Mrs.  D.  P.  Brewster,  Mrs.  L. 
Brewster,  Mrs.  A.  J.  Adams,  Mrs.  L.  Moore, 
Mrs.  M.  J.  Alworth,  Mrs.  G.  Whitney. 

Cascade  Grange,  No.  452,  organized  by  State 
Deputy  R.  S.  Searle,  January  23,  1875.  Master, 
Geo.  McKune ; Secretary,  P.  L.  INorton ; Char- 
ter members,  Geo  McKune,  John  Warbomes, 
J.  F.  McKune,  J.  R.  Comfort,  L.  E.  Shutts, 
W.  W.  Watrous,  B.  F.  McKune,  G.  E.  Mc- 
Kune, C.  F.  Bailey,  P.  L.  Norton,  Francis 
Comfort,  Julia  McKune,  Delia  Watrous,  Mary 
McKune,  Nina  Muse,  Sarah  Norton,  Sarah 
Bailey,  L.  M.  Shutts,  Betsey  McKune. 

Niven  Grange,  No.  457,  Springville,  organ- 
ized by  State  Deputy  R.  S.  Searle,  January 

28,  1874.  Master,  Jerry  Stephens  ; Secretary, 
S.  G.  Lewis  ; Charter  members,  Jerry  Stephens, 
H.  Stark,  Calvin  Mangett,  T.  L.  Couklyu, 
M.  Stephens,  John  Thomas,  A.  G.  Lewis, 
A.  A.  Stark,  D.  Stark,  John  Oakley,  Jasper 
Billings,  Oliver  Squier,  Albert  Squier,  Rosetta 
Stephens,  Sarah  Conklyn,  Amelia  Smith, 
Sarah  E.  Lewis,  Mary  Stark,  Emeliue  Billings, 
Nancy  Palmester,  F.  Stark,  Elizabeth  Squier, 
Eva  Squier. 

Topeka  Grange,  No.  458,  Silver  Lake,  oi’gan- 
ized  by  State  Deputy  R.  S.  Searle,  January 

29,  1875.  Master,  C.  H.  Clarke;  Secretary,  T. 
H.  Gage  ; Charter  members,  C.  H.  Clarke,  T. 
H.  Gage,  S.  R.  Wilbur,  B.  M.  Gage,  J.  C.  Gage, 
M.  D.  Lee,  W.  S.  Meeker.  H.  F.  ludelied, 
W.  J.  Wilbur,  D.  C.  Cameron,  A.  M.  Gage, 
Thos.  Rogers,  Jr.,  Antoinette  Gage,  S.  Wilbur, 
S.  S.  Clarke,  Lydia  Gage,  Jane  S.  Gage,  E.  M. 
Lee,  Hannah  Wilbur,  Melissa  Cameron,  A.  M. 
Meeker,  Hattie  Gage. 

Clifford  Grange,  No.  514,  organized  by  State 
Deputy  R.  S.  Searle,  March  27,  1875.  Ma.ster, 
Reese  Hughes ; Secretary,  C.  L.  Halstead ; 
Charter  members,  Reese  Hughes,  J.  B.  Stephens, 
Thos.  Maxey,  H.  Cudderback,  Jas.  Decker,  W. 


i 

i 


i 


AGRICULTURE,  GRANGES  AND  STOCK. 


201 


A.  Tiucker,  John  Bolton,  D.  L.  Ricliards,  L.  C. 
Abers,  J.  G.  Wetherby,  S.  D.  Robinson,  A.  A. 
Linciley,  Win.  Bai’ber,  J.  R.  Bennett,  J.  Hal- 
stead, H.  Rivenburgh,  C.  L.  Halstead,  Warren 
Halstead,  Mrs.  Rivenburgh,  E.  Tingley,  Mrs. 

B.  F.  Halstead,  Mrs.  R.  L.  Rivenburgh,  Mrs. 
M.  A.  Decker,  Salome  Stephens,  A.  Hasbrnck, 
Elsie  Robinson,  Hannah  Ciidderback,  C.  S. 
Halstead,  Minerva  Hobbs, Charity  Rivenburgh. 

Gibson  Grange,  No.  798,  organized  by  State 
Deputy  R.  S.  Searle,  March  11,  1886.  Charter 
members,  G.  R.  Berry,  Rufus  Barnes,  E.  R. 
Gelatt,  D.  S.  Walter,  G.  P.  Barnes,  R.  W.  Gelatt, 
R.  T.  Smith,  E.  O.  Perry,  Mrs.  G.  R.  Berry, 
Mrs.  Rufus  Barnes,  Mrs.  E.  R.  Gelatt,  D.  S. 
Walter,  Mrs.  O.  P.  Walter. 

Elk  Lake  Grange,  No.  806,  organized  by 
■State  Deputy  F.  H.  Bunnell,  August  1,  1886, 
Master,  Otis  B.  Titus  ; Secretary,  V.  N.  A'oung  ; 
Charter  members,  Otis  B.  Titus,  V.  N.  Young, 
Isaac  B.  Woodhou.se,  Elijah  Lathrop,  B.  L. 
Brush,  H.  C.  Miles,  A.  Nf.  Fargo,  J.  G.  Cart, 
Harry  Lyon,  John  Tyler,  John  Ralston,  G.  T. 
Lowe,  James  Lathrop,  Wealthy  M.  Titus,  Rose 
Woodhouse,  Emma  Griswold,  Sabra  Brush, 
Mary  Miles,  Anna  Fargo,  Adelia  Cart,  Dora 
Lyon,  M.  A.  Y^oung,  Dora  Tyler,  He.ster  Rals- 
ton, Emily  E.  Henry,  Jennie  E.  Henry,  Lizzie 
Henry,  Frankie  Lathrop,  Dell  Lathrop. 

Highland  Grange,  No.  339,  Oakland, 
was  organized  with  the  following  officers  and 
charter  members:  L.  E.  Griffis,  Master;  S.  J. 

Northrop,  Secretary;  charter  members,  S.  J. 
Northrop,  E.  Bradford,  Orrin  Foster,  Theodore 
Galloway,  Warren  E.stabrook,  L.  E.  Griffis,  A. 
F.  Galloway,  Wm.  W.  Blai.sdell,  Sylvester 
Griffis,  Henry  Hehner,  Chas.  Bradford,  Hanna 
M.  Bradford,  Mrs.  C.  M.  Northrop,  N.  A.  Fos- 
ter, Ella  A.  Estabrook,  Mrs.  B.  C.  Griffis,  Mrs. 
J.  W.  Galloway,  J.  M.  Bradford,  Mercy  A.  Gal- 
loway, Hulda  Blai.sdell,  Aurilla  Griffis. 

Roger  S.  Searle,  elde.st  son  of  Daniel  and 
Johannah  (Stark)  Searle,  was  born  at  the  liome- 
stead  in  Pittston,  Luzerne  County,  September 
24,  1826,  and  came  to  Montrose  with  his  parents 
the  following  year.  He  was  educated  at  the 
Moravian  School  at  Nazareth,  Pa.,  John  Mann’s 
Academy,  St.  Joseph,  and  at  the  Montrose 
Academy.  At  the  age  of  fourteen  he  began  a 


clerkship  in  the  store  of  his  father  and  Uncle 
Ra.ssela.s,  where  he  remained,  together  with  at- 
tending school,  until  he  reached  his  majority. 
His  father  had  purchased  a large  timber  property 
in  Lathro])  township,  this  county,  and  in  con- 
nection with  his  other  business  was  manufactur- 
ing lumber  and  shipping  to  various  markets. 

Immediately  after  becoming  of  age  Roger 
succeeded  his  father  in  this  lumber  business, 
manufacturing  and  sliipping  down  the  Susque- 
hanna to  Columbia  and  Baltimore.  He  took 
large  contracts  for  the  supply  of  timber  and 
lumber,  and  furnished  the  Delaware,  Lacka- 
wanna and  Western  Railroad  Company,  from  a 
point  on  that  road  at  Nicholson,  with  quantities 
of  pine  and  oak  and  wood  for  fuel. 

He  shipped  timber  to  Richmond,  Va.,  and 
furnished  timber  for  the  Smithsonian  Institute 
at  AVashington,  D.  C.,  under  contract  with  one 
Sniffen.  Upon  the  breaking  out  of  the  Rebel- 
lion in  1861  he  di.scontinued  his  business,  and, 
under  the  solicitation  of  Generals  Meylert  and 
Morris,  gathered  together  a large  number  of 
men  in  that  vicinity  and  went  to  Harrisburg. 
Mo.stof  these  men  enlisted  in  the  three  months’ 
service.  Mr.  Searle  at  once  entered  service  as 
sergeant-major,  under  Colonel  Seiler  and  Colonel 
Biddle.  After  the  act  of  May  15th,  creating 
the  Pennsylvania  Re.serves,  he  enlisted  in  Com- 
}>any  B,  under  Captain  Harding,  was  transferred 
to  Company  H,  Fourth  Peun.sylvania  Re.scrves, 
and  went  with  his  regiment  to  Baltimore  on  July 
21st,  the  day  of  the  fight  at  Bull  Run.  There 
he  was  detailed  in  the  Aledical  Directory  under 
Doctor  Page,  where  he  remained  until  the  regi- 
ment was  ordered  to  Tenallytown.  He  rejoined 
his  regiment,  was  aj)pointed  ho.spital  steward 
and,  a short  time  afterwai’ds,  sergeant-major 
Fourth  Pennsylvania  Reserves,  and  served  in 
that  capacity  until  Christmas.  Under  an  order 
from  Governor  Curtin  he  returned  and  raised 
a company  of  men  for  the  Twelfth  Penn.syl- 
vania  Re.serve.s,  mostly  from  Sirsquehanna  and 
AA^  yoming  Counties,  and  took  them  to  Harris- 
burg. Among  the  number  were  Ira  and  Loren 
Burritt;  the  former  became  captain  of  a com- 
pany, the  latter  colonel  of  a colored  regiment, 
and,  after  his  return  from  the  war,  a member  of 
the  Legislature.  Air.  Searle  subsecpiently,  after 


202 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


recovering  from  sickness  consequent  upon  camp 
life,  went  as  a volunteer  in  the  hospital  depart- 
ment under  Doctor  Horn  to  the  Peninsula,  and 
was  there  during  the  Seven  Days’  Fight.  He  was 
appointed  drill-master  by  Governor  Curtin  at 
the  camp  that  bore  his  name,  where  for  one 
year  he  drilled  four  companies  of  cavalry  and 
four  companies  of  infantry,  the  latter  commanded 
by  Captains  M,  C.  Morris  and  Isaac  S.  Little. 
These,  together  with  two  coni{)anies  of  militia, 
were  commanded  by  Major-General  Reynolds, 
and  formed  the  advance  guard,  ready  to  be 
called  upon  if  required,  at  the  battle  of  Antietam  ; 
none,  however,  were  ordered  into  the  fight. 

Mr.  Searle  returned  with  the  eight  companies 
to  Camp  Curtin,  where  he  remained  until  the 
Wyoming  regiment  was  formed,  when  he  was 
tendered  a major’s  commission,  but  was  unable 
to  accept  on  account  of  disability  and  returned 
home.  In  the  spring  of  1863  he  took  charge 
of  his  father’s  real  estate  in  the  county,  and  one 
year  later  settled  at  the  foot  of  Jones’  Lake,  in 
Bridgewater,  on  the  property  which  his  father 
had  purcha.sed  in  1848,  where  he  has  continued 
to  reside  since. 

Mr.  Searle  has  been  greatly  interested  in 
agriculture  and  in  everything  that  would  im- 
prove the  condition  of  the  fanner.  He  was  the 
prime  mover  in  organizing  the  first  Grange — 
Susquehanna,  No.  74 — of  which  he  was  elected 
master,  and  made  State  Deputy.  He  subse- 
sequently  organized  Granges  at  New  Milford, 
Brooklyn,  Jackson,  Highland,  Union,  Harford, 
Clifford,  Rising  Sun,  Topeka,  Auburn,  Spring- 
ville.  East  Springville,  Lanesboro’  and  at  Damas- 
cus, Starrucca  and  Dyberry,  Wayne  Co.  He  was 
elected  in  the  fall  of  1 885  member  of  the  executive 
committee  of  the  State  Grange.  Mr.  Searle  was 
elected  president  of  the  Susquehanna  Agricul- 
tural Society  in  1884,  and  in  January,  1885,  he 
was  elected  a repre.seutative  of  the  State  Board 
of  Agriculture  for  three  years.  He  was  influ- 
ential with  the  State  Board  in  obtaining  an 
appropriation  for  the  establishment  of  a Farmers’ 
Institute,  which  was  organized  at  Montrose  in 
May,  1886,  of  which  he  was  elected  president. 
During  his  residence  at  Nicholson,  while  en- 
gaged in  the  lumber  business,  he  had  charge  of 
the  stage  line  from  Montrose  to  Scranton,  a 


section  of  the  route  from  Great  Bend  to  New 
York,  and  continued  the  management  of  this  i 
until  it  was  superseded  by  the  Delaware,  Lacka-  | 
wanna  and  Western  Railroad.  Mr.  Searle  is  an  ' 
advocate  of  temperance,  and  strongly  urges 
every  measure  calculated  to  promote  its  princi- 
ples and  put  down  the  liquor  traffic.  He  mar- 
ried, in  1858,  Ellen,  a daughter  of  Joseph  and  i 
Elizabeth  (Barry  Croad)  Spaulding,  the  former  j 
a native  of  Vermont,  who  settled  in  Lathrop  ' 
township,  the  latter  a native  of  London,  Eng-  ' 
land.  She  was  born  November  17,  1836. 
Their  children  are  Anna  C.;  Barry,  an  ana- 
lytical chemist  at  Hurley,  Wisconsin,  who  was 
graduated  at  Lehigh  University;  Ellen;  and 
Daniel  Searle. 

Farmers’  Institute. — The  Farmers’  In- 
stitute of  Susquehanna  County  was  organized 
at  the  court-house  at  Montrose  May  5,  1886. 
Roger  S.  Searlej  who  had  been  the  prime  mover 
in  the  enterprise,  called  the  meeting  to  order,  | 
and  the  organization  was  effected  by  electing 
H.  H.  Harrington  president,  and  D.  D.  La- 
throp secretary.  Later,  Mr.  Harrington  re- 
signed and  Mr.  Searle  was  elected  president. 

On  motion  of  J.  S.  Tarbell,  W.  W.  Williams 
and  William  H.  Jones  were  chosen  vice- 
presidents. 

Hon.  J.  B.  McCollum  delivered  the  opening 
address  in  the  interests  of  agriculture,  and  dur- 
ing the  two  days’  session  many  speeches  were 
made  and  valuable  papers  read,  among  which 
were  the  following  : 

“The  Vital  Needs  of  Industry,”  by  E.  A.  Weston, 
of  Brooklyn;  “ How  we  manage  our  Dairy,”  by  E.  G. 
Ball,  Forest  Lake;  “How  to  make  Home  Happy,” 
by  Mrs.  E.  A.  Weston,  Brooklyn  ; “ The  Progress  and 
Art  of  Agriculture,”  by  Roger  S.  Searle,  Bridgewater ; 

“ Fruits  and  Trees,”  by  E.  A.  Weston,  Brooklyn ; “The 
New  Agriculture;  or.  The  Waters  led  Captive,”  by 
Hon.  A.  N.  Cole,  Wellsville,  N.  Y. ; “Small  versus 
Large  Farms,”  by  Hon.  N.  F.  Underwood,  Lake 
Como,  Pa. ; “ The  Art  of  Breeding,”  by  James  E. 
Carmalt,  Friendsville ; “A  Practical  Education,”  by 
Mr.  James,  superintendent  of  schools;  “General 
Farm  Topics,”  address  by  Colonel  Victor  E.  Piolett, 
Wysox,  Pa. ; “Disease  of  our  Farm  Animals,”  by  J. 

F.  Butterfield,  South  Montrose;  “ Legislation  for  the 
Protection  of  Farmers,”  by  Roger  S.  Searle ; “Twenty 
Years’  Experience  with  Ayrshires,”  by  Christopher 
Byrne,  Choconut;  “Experiments  on  Five  Acres,” 
by  S.  B.  Eldi  idge,  Brooklyn ; “ Devons,”  by  William 


AGRICULTUEE,  GRANGES  AND  STOCK. 


203 


H.  Jones,  South  Montrose;  “Farm  Life  for  the 
Young,”  by  Rev.  W.  C.  Tilden,  Forest  Lake;  “Sheep 
Husbandry,”  by  L.  T.  Birchard,  Birchardville ; 
“ Graded  Schools,”  by  Prof.  A.  H.  Berlin,  Montrose  ; 
“ Advanced  Agriculture,”  by  Hon.  J.  H.  Selkreg, 
Ithaca,  N.  Y. 

A committee  of  five  wa.s  appointed  to  report 
a plan  of  permanent  organization.  This  com- 
mittee, on  Thursday,  made  the  following  re- 
port : 

“The  undersigned  committee  of  the  Farmers’  Insti- 
tute respectfully  report  that  the  following  citizens 
of  Susquehanna  County,  in  their  respective  town- 
ships, be  invited  to  join  under  the  leadership  of  Mr. 
Roger  Searle  as  chairman,  until  this  convention  is 
called,  organized  and  elects  his  successor,  and  ap- 
point such  executive  committee  as  they  may  think 
proper  to  organize  a series  of  institutes  as  may  seem 
best  to  hold  the  farmers  of  the  county  in  working 
harmony  to  protect  their  united  interest : 

“Apolacon,  Samuel  Rice;  Ararat,  James  Bush- 
nell ; Auburn,  C.  E.  Davis ; Bridgewater,  Roger 
Searle;  Brooklyn,  Frank  Kent;  Clifford,  F.S.  Green; 
Choconut,  Christopher  Byrne  ; Dimock,  F.  H.  Bun- 
nell; Franklin,  R.  K.  Bailey;  Forest  Lake,  Lester 
Turrell ; Gibson,  E.  B.  Potter ; Great  Bend  township, 
John  Crosson  ; Harmony,  Charles  Beebe ; Herrick, 
Silas  Churchill ; Harford,  A.  T.  Sweet ; Jackson^ 
E.  0.  Perry  ; Jessup,  William  Clark  ; Lathrop,  P.  S. 
Bronson;  Lenox,  Warren  Tingely ; Liberty,  Theron 
Smith;  Middletown,  Samuel  Davis;  New  Milford 
township,  Jasper  T.  Jennings;  Oakland,  George 
Squii’es  ; Rush,  Clark  Kinney  ; Silver  Lake,  Thomas 
Patton  ; Springville,  Samuel  Shook. 

“All  of  which  is  respectl'ully  submitted. 

“C.  E.  Davis. 

“E.O.  Perry. 

“ F.  H.  Bunhell. 

“M.  J.  Harrington, 

“James  E.  Carmalt.” 

“ Committee. 

Montrose,  May  6,  1886.” 

By  an  act  of  the  State  Legi.slature  during 
its  session  in  1886,  one  thousand  dollars  was 
voted  the  counties  of  the  State  for  the  purpose 
of  establishing  Farmers’  Institutes.  In  accord- 
ance with  this  law,  Susquehanna  County  re- 
ceived an  appropriation  of  one  hundred  and 
eight  dollars  from  the  State  Board  of  Agricul- 
ture for  the  purpose  of  organizing  the  Institute. 

The  second  Farmers’  Institute  for  Susque- 
hanna County  was  held  at  Montrose,  in  the 
court-house,  February  9 and  10,  1887,  Boger 
S.  Searle,  chairman  ; Charles  F.  Watrous  and 


Charles  Bailey,  secretaries.  James  E.  Carmalt, 
Esq.,  of  Apolacon,  made  the  opening  ad- 
dress. Papers  were  read  by  E.  A.  Weston  on 
“ Boads  and  Boad-Makiug Mi‘s.  M.  H. 
France  on  “ How  to  Induce  the  Children  to 
Stay  on  the  Farm  Mrs.  H.  Mary  Tewksbury 
on  the  subject  of  poultry-raising ; Jasper  T- 
Jennings  on  the  “ Duty  of  Farmers  to  Organ- 
ize G.  A.  Lathrop,  D.A^.S.,  gave  a talk  on 
pleuro-pneumonia  and  tuberculosis ; F.  H.  Hol- 
lister ou  butter-making ; W.  L.  Sterling  on 
“ Winter  Dairying.”  George  E.  Besseguie  read 
an  essay  on  “ Strawberry  Culture;”  W.  J. 
Baker,  of  Dimock,  on  “ Horse-Breeding;  S.  W. 
Lester,  of  Troy,  Bradford  County,  gave  his 
experience  in  running  a creamery.  The  in- 
equality of  taxation  was  discussed  and  denounced. 
Chairman  Searle  called  out  a young  man  by 
the  name  of  Frank  Carter,  who  gave  a very 
encouraging  account  of  farming  in  Susquehanna 
County,  as  follows : 

“I  have  70  acres  of  cleared  land,  and  from  that 
land  everything  had  been  taken  off,  and  nothing  put 
back  for  12  years.  I bought  it  April  1,  1884.  I put 
on  12  cows  that  year  and  from  those  cows  the  first 
year  I made  1800  jiounds  of  butter  and  sold  it  at  20 
cents  per  pound.  My  receipts  that  year  were  1800 
lbs.  butter,  at  20  cents  per  pound,  $360 ; veal  and 
calves  raised,  $72  ; pork  sold,  $50  , potatoes,  $75.  I 
bought  8 cows  and  wintered  them.  The  first  of  April, 
1885,  found  me  with  18  cows  and  3 yearlings.  I made 
from  those  18  cows  that  year  3600  pounds  of  butter 
and  sold  it  at  25  cents  per  pound,  making  $900.  My 
other  receipts  that  year  were,  pork  sold,  $100 ; veal 
and  calves  raised,  $140;  poultry  and  eggs  sold,  $30. 
The  first  of  April,  1866,  found  me  with  24  cows.  I 
have  made  this  year,  or  will  by  April  1,  1887,  5500 
pounds  of  butter  and  sell  it  at  25  cents  per  pound, 
making  $1375;  other  receipts,  calves,  $125;  pork, 
$10;  poultry,  $30;  apples,  $30.  During  the  year  I 
have  fed  $300  worth  of  grain  and  have  cleared  $50.44 
per  head  from  my  cows.  I fed  ensilage  to  all  my 
stock,  horses  included.” 

^ Principles  of  Stock-Breeding.  — xVll 
breeding  is  founded  on  the  principle  that  like 
begets  like.  This  is,  however,  liable  to  some 
exceptions,  and  is  much  more  generally  true 
when  breeding  down  than  when  breeding  up. 
If  two  animals  (which  can  never  be  exactly 
similar  in  all  respects)  are  reqidsite  to  the  per- 


1 By  Win.  II,  Jones. 


204 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


petuation  of  the  species,  it  necessarily  results 
that  the  progeny  must  ditfer  more  or  less,  from 
each  parent.  With  wild  animals,  and  such  of 
the  domestic  animals  as  are  allowed  to  propagate 
without  the  interference  of  art,  and  whose  hab- 
its, treatment  and  food  are  nearly  similar  to 
their  natural  condition,  the  change  through  suc- 
cessive generations  is  scarcely  perceptible.  It 
is  only  when  we  attempt  to  improve  their  good 
qualities  that  it  is  essential  carefully  to  determine 
and  rigidly  to  apply  what  are  adopted  as  the 
present  scientific  principles  of  breeding.  We 
cannot  believe  that  we  have  penetrated  beyond 
the  mere  threshold  of  this  art.  Unless,  then, 
we  launch  into  experiments,  which  are  necessar- 
ily attended  with  uncertainty,  our  duty  will  be  to 
take  for  our  guide  the  most  successful  practice  of 
modern  times,  until  further  discoveries  enable 
us  to  modify  or  add  to  such  as  are  already 
known  and  adopted.  We  may  assume,  then,  as 
the  pre.sent  rules  for  this  art : 

First.  That  the  animals  selected  for  breeding 
should  unite  in  themselves  all  the  good  qualities 
we  wish  to  perpetuate  in  the  offspring. 

Second.  These  qualities,  technically  called 
points,  should  be  inbred  in  the  animals,  as  far 
as  practicable,  by  a long  line  of  descent  from 
parents  similarly  constituted.  The  necessity 
for  this  rule  is  evident  from  the  fact  that  in 
mixing  different  species,  and  especially  mon- 
grels, with  a long-established  breed,  the  latter 
will  most  stamp  the  issue  with  its  own  peculiar- 
ities. This  is  forcibly  illustrated  in  the  case  of 
the  Devon  cattle,  an  ancient  race,  whose  color, 
form  and  characteristics  ai’e  strikingly  perpetu- 
ated, sometimes  to  the  sixth,  or  even  a later  gen- 
eration. So  far  is  this  principle  carried  by 
many  experienced  breeders,  that  they  will  use 
an  animal  of  indifferent  external  appearance,  but 
of  approved  descent  (blood),  in  preference  to  a 
decidedly  superior  one,  whose  pedigree  is  im- 
perfect. 

Third.  All  the  conditions  of  soil,  situation, 
treatment  and  food  should  be  favorable  to  the 
object  sought. 

Fourth.  As  a general  rule,  the  female  should 
be  relatively  larger  than  the  male.  This  gives 
ample  room  for  the  perfect  development  of  the 
foetus,  ea.sy  parturition,  and  a large  sujjply  of 


milk  for  the  offspring,  at  a period  in  its  exis- 
tence, when  food  has  greater  influence  in  per- 
fecting character  and  form  than  at  any  subse- 
quent time. 

Pairing  should  be  with  a strict  reference  to 
correcting  the  imperfections  of  one  animal  by  a 
corresponding  excellence  in  the  other.  The  in 
and  in  breeding,  or  propagating  from  animals 
nearly  allied,  may  be  tolerated  under  certain 
circumstances,  though  seldom,  and  only  in  ex- 
treme cases  between  those  of  the  same  genera- 
tion, as  brother  and  sister.  When  the  animal 
possesses  much  stamina  and  peculiar  merit, 
which  it  is  desired  to  perpetuate  in  the  breed,  it 
may  be  done  either  in  the  ascending  or  descend- 
ing line,  as  in  breeding  the  son  to  the  parent,  or 
the  parent  to  his  own  progeny.  This  has  been 
practiced  with  decided  advantage,  and  in  some 
cases  has  even  beeA  continued  successively  as  low 
as  the  sixth  generation.  It  is  always  better  to 
avoid  too  close  relationship,  by  the  selection  of 
equally  meritorious  stock-getters  of  the  same 
breed  from  other  sources.  Wholesome,  nutri- 
tious food,  at  all  times  sufficient  to  keep  the  ani- 
mals steadily  advancing,  should  be  provided ; 
but  it  is  always  best  to  avoid  too  much  of  the 
fat-producing  kind,  as  yonng  calvms  must  never 
be  allowed  to  get  fat,  only  when  intended  for 
the  butcher ; of  the  two  evils,  starving  is  pref- 
erable to  surfeit.  Careful  treatment,  and  the 
absence  of  disease,  must  be  always  fully  con- 
sidered. Animals  should  never  be  allowed  to 
breed  either  too  early  or  too  late  in  life.  The 
periods  cannot  be  arbitrarily  laid  down,  but 
must  depend  on  their  time  of  maturity,  the 
longevity  of  the  breed  and  the  stamina  of  the 
individual.  Effect  of  the  first  impregnatio?i 
upon  future  progeny.  Farmers  who  are  breeders 
on  a small  scale  are  sometimes  careless  as  to  the 
male  serving  their  cows  or  mares  for  the  first 
time,  the  argument  being  too  often  used  that 
the  first  produce  is  seldom  worth  raising,  and 
anything  will  answer  until  they  see  how  they 
will  breed,  etc.,  and  if  the  animal  proves  to  be 
a good  breeder,  as  they  term  it,  they  will  next 
time  use  a better  sire.  This  is  a sad  mistake. 
When  our  breeders  realize  that  the  first  impreg- 
nation exercises  a powerfnl  effect  upon  subse- 
quent ones,  and  in  some  cases  may  even  nullify 


AGRICULTURE,  GRANGES  AND  STOCK. 


205 


those  which  will  follow,  we  will  have  taken  a 
very  important  step  forward,  and  one  which  in 
the  future  will  show  its  results  in  our  farm  ani- 
mals. We  might  and,  only  that  space  forbids, 
could  write  pages  citing  cases  to  prove  the  cor- 
rectness of  this  theory,  but  a few  must  suffice. 
The  writer  has  known  cases  where  mares  have 
raised  mules,  and  afterwards  colts ; those  colts 
had  the  appearance  of  mules,  and  the  mares 
could  never  after  be  depended  upon  for  raising 
fine  horses.  A gentleman  had  a lot  of  pure- 
bred hens,  and  lost  his  rooster,  and  used  one  of 
another  breed  one  season ; of  course  the  progeny 
was  a cross  between  the  tw’o.  He  sold  all  of  the 
progeny  and  the  rooster,  and  obtained  a pure- 
bred rooster,  and  kept  all  of  his  hens.  He  now 
had  a pure  rooster  and  pure  hens,  and  the 
second  year’s  progeny  was  quite  as  much  on  the 
mixed  order  as  the  first.  Chester  White  sows 
have  been  bred  to  Berkshire  boars,  in  which 
the  former  produced  more  spotted  pigs  when 
bred  to  white  boars  at  the  second  impregnations 
than  their  first  litters. 

We  have  now  explained  the  principles  of 
breeding,  and  deem  it  necessary  to  explain  the 
general  form  and  characteristics ; within  cer- 
tain limits  these  may  be  reduced  to  a common 
standard.  All  animals  should  have  a good  head, 
well  set  up  ; a clean,  fine  muzzle,  and  a bright, 
clear  and  full,  yet  perfectly  placid  eye.  With 
the  exception  of  the  dog  and  cat,  whose  orig- 
inal nature  is  ferocious,  and  whose  whole  life, 
unless  diverted  from  their  natural  instincts,  is 
given  to  plunder  and  prey,  and  the  race-horse, 
which  is  required  to  take  the  purse,  at  any  haz- 
ard of  life  and  limb  to  the  groom,  a mild, 
quiet  eye  is  indispensable  to  the  profitable  use  of 
the  domestic  animal.  The  neck  should  be  well 
formed,  not  too  long,  tapering  to  its  junction 
with  the  head,  and  gradually  enlarging  to  a 
firm,  well-expanded  attachment  to  the  back, 
shoulders  and  breast.  The  back  or  chine  should 
be  short,  straight  and  broad ; the  ribs  spring- 
ing out  from  the  backbone  nearly  at  right 
angles,  giving  a round  appearance  to  the  carcass, 
and  reaching  well  behind  to  a close  proximity 
to  the  hip;  tail  well  set  on  and  full  at  its  junc- 
tion with  the  body,  yet  gradually  tapering  to 
fineness  ; thighs,  fore-arms  and  crops  well  de- 


veloped ; projecting  breast,  or  brisket ; the 
forelegs  straight,  and  hind  ones  properly  bent, 
strong  and  full  where  attached  to  the  carcass, 
but  small  and  tapering  below  ; good  and  sound 
joints;  dense,  strong  bones,  but  not  large;  large 
bones  always  denote  an  ill-bred  and  coarse  ani- 
mal ; but  plenty  of  fine  muscles  in  the  right 
places,  and  the  hair  firm  and  soft.  The  chest 
in  all  animals  should  be  full,  for  it  will  be  in- 
variably found  that  only  such  will  keep  the 
healthiest,  do  the  most  work,  and  will  fatten 
easiest  and  quickest  on  the  least  food. 

The  principal  domestic  animals  reared  for 
economical  purposes  in  this  county  are  horned 
or  neat  cattle,  horses,  sheep  and  swine,  and  for 
a number  of  years  our  farmers  have  greatly 
increased  their  herds  and  flocks  both  in  quality 
and  in  numbers,  by  the  introduction  of  improved 
breeds.  Of  the  improved  cattle  in  Susque- 
hanna County,  the  Devons  are  by  far  the  most 
numerous  and  the  most  universally  favorite. 
This  popularity  is  well  deserved,  and  is  based 
upon  several  substantial  considerations.  The 
cows  invariably  yield  milk  of  superior  rich- 
ness, and  have  never  been  beaten  in  public 
tests;  none  surpass  them  in  the  richness  of 
their  milk,  and  they  are  wonderfully  hardy  and 
docile,  and  easy  keepers.  Their  principal  breed- 
ers in  this  county  ai’e  Orrin  Prichard,  of 
Springville ; C.  E.  Davies,  of  Auburn  Four 
Corners  ; William  H.  Jones  & Son,  South  Mont- 
rose ; B.  L.  Brush,  Elk  Lake  ; Byron  E.  Smith, 
Great  Bend;  and  D.  &.  J.  Banker,  Franklin 
Forks.  Messrs.  Prichard  and  Jones  are  by  far 
the  oldest  breeders.  They  have  both  bred  them 
for  over  thirty  years.  Next  is  IMr.  Davies. 
At  this  time  they  all  possess  very  good  individ- 
ual animals,  and  their  stock  are  kept  recorded. 
In  the  cow  test  by  the  Pennsylvania  Agricul- 
tui’al  Society,  in  1884,  one  of  the  cows  owned 
by  William  H.  Jones  produced  the  most  milk 
of  any  breed,  and  her  yield  of  cream  was  thirty- 
five  per  cent.  Hon.  J.  Buckingham,  of  Zanes- 
ville, Ohio,  paid  a fifty-dollar  prciuiiuu  to  D. 
& J.  Bariker,  on  the  cow  “ Bright  Promise,” 
for  a sworn  testimony  that  she  made  twenty 
pounds  five  ounces  of  butter  in  seven  consecu- 
tive days.  Mr.  B.  L.  Brush  for  a time  kept 
Durhams,  but  not  being  satisfied  with  them  and 


206 


HISTOEY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


having  an  eye  for  beauty,  hardiness  and  milking 
qualities,  changed  to  Devons,  and  is  well  pleased 
with  the  change. 

The  Ayrshire  Cattle. — This  breed  is  also  very 
valuable,  and  is  much  sought  after  of  late  years 
from  their  reputation  for  fine  dairy  qualities. 
The  milk  is  good  both  in  quantity  and  quality, 
yielding  according  to  statements  the  average  of 
fifteen  quarts  per  day,  during  the  best  of  the 
season,  twelve  of  which  make  a pound  of  butter. 
The  product  of  the  latter  averages  about  one 
hundred  and  seventy  pounds  per  annum  to  each 
cow.  This,  while  it  is  a good  yield,  has  been 
greatly  surpassed  by  the  forcing  process  of 
individuals.  They  are  bred  by  Messrs.  Chris- 
topher Byrne,  of  Friendsville  and  J.  F.  Butter- 
field, of  South  Montrose.  Mr.  Byrne  has  made 
excellent  purchases.  The  foundation  of  his  herd 
started  from  the  well-known  herd  of  E.  P. 
Prentice,  of  Albany,  New  York,  who  now  makes 
occasional  purchases  of  animals  from  some  of  the 
best  herds.  He  finds  them  profitable  dairy 
cows  and  now  has  a dairy  of  fifteen,  with  ready 
sale  for  his  surplus  stock,  and  from  frequent 
trials,  twenty  pounds  of  their  milk  has  made  a 
pound  of  butter  of  fine  color  and  good  keeping 
quality. 

Red  Polled  Cattle  are  bred  by  Mr.  D.  L. 
Stevens,  of  Elkdale.  He  informs  us  that  his 
first  purchase  was  in  1882,  of  one  bull  and  two 
heifer  calves,  from  G.  F.  Taber,  an  importer  of 
Paterson,  Putnam  County,  N.  Y.,  and  now 
has  forty  head.  He  gives  names  and  numbers 
of  his  animals  from  the  American  record,  and 
adds,  that  with  him  they  have  been  very  hardy, 
superior  milkers  and  first  class  beef-makers. 
James  E.  Carmalt,  of  Friendsville,  is  also  a 
breeder  of  Red  Polled  Norfolk  cattle,  Short- 
horns and  fine  horses,  etc.,  and  Hon.  William  H. 
Jessup,  of  Montrose,  breeds  Shorthorns,  Chester 
White  swine,  etc.,  and  Mr.  L.  B.  Birchard,  of 
Birchardville  breeds  fine  horses,  Jersey  cattle  and 
sheep.  Mr.  Amos  L.  Green,  of  Fairdale,  has  a 
herd  of  cattle  called  by  the  name  of  American 
Holderness ; also  Albert  Squires,  of  Springville, 
has  a herd  of  the  same  breed,  which  they 
obtained  from  a Mr.  T.  A.  Cole,  of  Solsville, 
N.  Y.  William  Norris,  M.  D.,  of  Dimock,  breeds 
Jersey  and  Guernsey  cattle,  and  trotting  bred 


and  carriage  horses  ; and  William  B.  Baker,  of 
South  Montrose,  is  breeding  Norman  and  Perche- 
ron  horses,  and  has  an  imported  stallion. 

This  county  by  nature  is  specially  adapted  to 
dairying  and  stock-raising. 

Oerin  Prichard. — The  progenitor  of  the 
Prichard  family,  Roger  Prichard,  came  from 
Massachusetts,  and  settled  in  Milford,  Conn., 
previous  to  1635.  From  him  descended  Amos, 
whose  son,  Amos,  born  in  1770,  was  the  grand- 
father of  Orrin  Prichard.  Amos  married 
Lamira  Lounsbury  in  Connecticut,  and  came  from 
there  to  Springville  in  1824  (his  son,  Asahel 
B.,  having  preceded  him  several  years),  and 
located  a farm,  upon  which  was  a log  house. 
He  married  that  season,  then  returned  to  Con- 
necticut, and  the  following  year  returned  with 
his  family  to  the  farm  he  had  purchased,  where 
he  resided  until  his  death.  They  had  children, — 
Asahel  B.  (1792-1869);  Roxanna,  married 
Simeon  Nichols,  and  removed  to  Ohio;  Erastus 
also  removed  to  Ohio,  and  at  one  time  owned 
the  land  where  the  city  of  Cleveland  stands; 
Marinda  married  Merritt  Warner,  and  settled 
in  Ohio ; Marshall  went  to  Ohio  and  settled ; 
Esther  is  the  widow  of  John  Hudders,  now  re- 
siding at  Catasauqua,  Pa. ; Betsey,  wife  of  Wm. 
H.  Coho,  residing  in  Rockford,  111.  ; and  Isaac, 
a resident  of  Iowa. 

Asahel  B.  Prichard,  was  born  in  Connecticut, 
August  31, 1792.  At  the  age  of  fourteen  he 
went  to  learn  the  trade  of  a carpenter  and 
joiner  and  served  an  apprenticeship  of  seven 
years.  Worked  at  his  trade  after  attaining  his 
majority  until  his  marriage.  In  1815  he 
married  Melinda  (1792-1864)  daughter  of 
Joseph  and  Phebe  Cooper,  a native  of  Con- 
necticut. In  1817  he  removed  with  his  wife  to 
Springville,  bought  a piece  of  land,  erected  a 
log  house,  and  built  a saw-mill,  which  he  run 
for  a time.  He  sold  out  after  a few  years,  and 
came  to  the  Corners,  where  he  built  a house  and 
resided  there  until  his  death.  He  worked  at 
his  trade  most  of  the  time,  but  he  engaged  in 
farming  during  the  latter  years  of  his  life. 
Their  children  are  Miles,  1819,  learned  the 
trade  of  a carriage-maker,  which  business  he 
has  carried  on  at  Springville,  where  he  has 
always  resided ; Orrin,  1823 ; Jane  (1825- 


AGRICULTUKE,  GRANGES  AND  STOCK. 


207 


36) ; Amy,  1828,  wife  of  H.  K.  Sherman,  a 
farmer  of  Springville  ; Roxanna,  1830,  widow 
of  Frederick  Muzzy,  residing  in  Dimock. 

Orrin  Prichard  was  born  November  11, 1823, 
in  Springville.  He  had  the  usual  advantages 
of  the  district  schools,  and  remained  at  home 
with  his  father,  A few  years  subsequent  to 
his  grandfather’s  death,  himself  and  father  pur- 
chased from  the  heirs  the  homestead  farm,  and 
worked  it  together,  he  still  residing  at  home. 


cattle,  procuring  their  original  stock  from 
Connecticut,  and  were  the  first  to  introduce 
thoi’oughbred  Devon  cattle  in  this  section. 
Their  efforts  have  done  much  to  improve  the 
stock  in  this  county,  and  Mr.  Prichard  has 
spared  no  pains  or  expense  in  keej^ing  his  stock 
up  to  its  original  standard  of  excellence.  He 
has  been  to  Connecticut  several  times  and  pur- 
chased stock,  which  he  has  transported  to  his 
Springville  farm,  in  order  to  keep  his  Devon 


In  1866  he  married  Hester  A.,  daughter  of 
Giles  and  Polly  Rogers,  who  came  from  Con- 
necticut to  Springville,  where  Mrs.  Prichard 
was  born  May  24,  1837.  After  marriage  he 
remained  at  his  father’s  house  until  1869,  when 
he  removed  to  a farm  he  had  previously  pur- 
chased, in  1860,  where  he  remained  six  years. 
He  then  removed  to  the  old  homestead,  into 
the  new  and  commodious  house  he  had  that 
year  erected,  and  which  still  continues  to  be  his 
pleasant  home.  About  the  year  1847  himself 
and  father  commenced  the  breeding  of  Devon 


blood  pure.  From  his  boyho#d  he  has  been  a 
lover  and  admirer  of  fine  cattle  and  horses. 
He  has  now  on  his  farm  a valuable  herd  of 
eighteen  Devons,  that  would  delight  the  eye  of 
an  appreciative  farmer.  Whenever  he  has  ex- 
hibited at  fairs,  his  stock  has  been  awarded 
first  premiums. 

The  Devon  stock  introduced  by  Mr.  Prichard 
forty  years  ago  has  borne  fruit  in  the  improved 
breed  of  cattle  now  raised  in  the  county,  and 
his  example  has  stimulated  other  to  follow  in  his 
footsteps.  While  agriculturists  may  differ  as  to 


208 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


the  value  of  the  various  breeds  of  cattle,  yet  no  one 
will  dissent  from  the  statement  that  Mr.  Prich- 
ard deserves  the  thanks  of  the  farmers  of  the 
county  for  his  efTorts  at  improvement  in  the 
breeding  and  raising  of  cattle.  He  is  a typical 
farmer,  devoting  his  whole  attention  to  his 
farm  and  his  stock-raising,  in  both  of  which 
he  seeks  best  methods  and  best  results.  In 


Jones  (1786-1855),  married  Elizabeth  Roberts 
(1791-1881),  both  natives  of  the  same  place. 
He  was  the  son  of  Elder  John  Jones,  a Baptist 
clergyman  of  Garn,  of  the  same  county,  who 
was  also  a large  land-owner.  Hugh  Jones  and 
his  family  emigrated  to  New  York  City  in  1831, 
where  he  followed  his  trade  as  a tailor  until 
1845,  when  he  went  to  Oneida  Co.,  N.  Y.,  but 


politics  he  was  originally  a Whig,  but  has  been 
identified  with  the  Republican  party  since  its 
organization,  and  while  never  seeking  office, 
has  felt  a lively  interest  in  political  affairs,  and 
always  exercised  his  franchise  in  accordance 
with  his  political  convictions. 

William  H.  Jones  was  born  October  24, 
1821,  in  Parish  Pistill,  County  of  Caernarvon, 
NorthWales,  Great  Britain.  His  father,  Hugh 


afterwards  settled  at  Frankfort  Hill,  Herkimer 
Co.,  where  he  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life 
on  his  farm.  He  was  a very  religious  man,  and 
while  in  New  York  and  subsequently,  exhorted 
in  public  meetings  and  fervently  advocated  the 
truth  according  to  the  Baptist  belief.  Both 
himself  and  wife  were  buried  at  Utica.  Of 
their  children,  John  died  in  New  York  City; 
Catharine  in  Wales  ; Hugh  resides  on  the  farm 


AGEICULTURE,  GRANGES  AND  STOCK. 


209 


in  Herkimer  Co. ; Mary  is  the  widow  of  the  late 
Owen  Williams,  of  Slatington,  Northampton 
Co.,  Pa  : Robert  resides  with  his  brother  Hugh  ; 
and  Thomas  is  carrying  on  the  slate  business 
at  Lafayette,  Sussex  Co.,  N.  J. 

William  H.  Jones,  second  son,  on  arriving 
in  New  York  with  his  parents,  upon  the  solici- 
tation of  his  aunt,  Mrs.  Owen  Evans,  of  Colum- 
bia, Warren  Co.,  N.  J.,  went  to  live  with  her, 
whose  husband  was  engaged  in  the  slate  busi- 
ness at  that  place.  What  opportunities  for  an 
education  were  offered  him  before  leaving  Wales 
and  after  reaching  his  new  home  here  he  im- 
proved, and  by  reading  and  study  since  reach- 
ing mature  years  he  has  made  him,self  one  of 
the  well-informed  men  among  agriculturists  of 
his  day.  At  the  age  of  seventeen  he  took  charge 
of  Mr.  Evans’  slate  works  on  the  Jersey  side, 
which  he  conducted  until  about  one  year  after 
his  marriage,  in  1847.  His  wife  is  Harriet 
Taylor,  a native  of  Rockport,  Carbon  Co.,  Pa., 
where  she  was  born  February  24,  1826.  The 
children  of  Wm.  H.  and  Harriet  Jones  are 
Elizabeth  Lodeska,  a lady  of  recognized  talent 
as  an  artist  painter,  wife  of  W.  J.  Holding  of 
Albany  N.  Y.;  Samuel  T.,  died  in  1879,  aged 
twenty-six ; Annie,  first  the  wife  of  Mason  B. 
Wilson,  and  who  after  his  death  married  Dr.  F. 
E.  Grattan,  of  Springfield  ; Alfred  H.  married 
Edna  Garfield,  of  Little  Meadows  Pa.;  Catha- 
rine resides  at  Troy,  N.  Y.;  Benjamin  F.  How- 
ey ; Gertrude  died  in  1885  at  the  age  of  nineteen  ; 
and  Martha  Jones.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jones  are 
members  of  the  Auburn  Baptist  Church  and  are 
identified  with  the  various  charitable  enterprises 
of  their  church  and  neighborhood. 

Mrs.  Jones’  father,  Samuel  Taylor,  born  in 
1800,  was  a native  of  Providence,  Lackawanna 
Co.,  resided  at  Easton  for  many  years  where  he 
acted  as  deputy  sheriff  of  Northampton  Co.; 
afterwards  resided  at  Slateford,  and  is  at  present 
with  his  daughter,  Mrs.  Clancy.  Her  fraternal 
grandfather,  John  Taylor,  of  English  descent, 
was  a native  of  Danbury,  Conn.,  and  removed 
to  Providence,  Lackawanna  County,  a large  land- 
owner.  Her  mother,  Ellen  Hartz,  was  a daugh- 
ter of  Colonel  Jacob  and  Barbara  (La  Vann) 
Hartz,  of  Carbon  County.  Barbara  La  Vann 
was  of  French  descent.  Colonel  Jacob  Hartz 
14 


was  sheriff  of  Northampton  County,  and  had 
Samuel  Taylor  for  his  deputy.  The  children 
of  Samuel  and  Ellen  Taylor  are  Harriet  (now 
Mrs.  Jones)  and  one  son,  George,  connected 
with  the  Eutaw  Savings  Bank,  at  Baltimore, 
Md.  By  his  second  marriage,  to  Hetty  John- 
son, after  the  death  of  his  first  wife,  at  the  age 
of  thirty,  he  had  children, — Amanda,  a noted 
teacher,  and  at  one  time  principal  of  Lewisburg 
Seminary  ; Mary  Jane,  wife  of  Elder  T.  F. 
Clancy,  a Baptist  minister  at  Drakesville,  Mor- 
ris County,  N.  J.  ; Hetty  Almira,  wife  of 
Harry  Smith,  Pittsburgh  ; and  Anna,  wife  of 
Elder  Alfred  Harris,  a Baptist  clergyman  at 
Baltimore. 

He  removed  in  1848  to  Slatington,  Pa., 
where  he  took  charge  of  the  slate  quarries  for 
Samuel  Taylor,  James  M.  Porter  and  Robert 
McDowell.  Upon  the  death  of  his  uncle 
Evans,  three  months  later,  at  his  aunt’s  request, 
he  returned,  settled  up  his  uncle’s  estate  and 
conducted  the  slate  business  there  for  the  fol- 
lowing six  years  on  his  own  account.  He  sold 
the  lease  of  this  property  to  his  partner,  Hugh 
Hughes,  and  for  two  years  following  superin- 
tended the  Slateford  Quarry,  owned  by  James 
M.  Porter  and  Samuel  Taylor.  In  1855  he 
removed  to  Susquehanna  Co.,  where  he  pur- 
chased a farm  at  Elk  Lake  (now  owned  by 
Charles  Ely),  which,  after  managing  for  ten 
years,  he  sold,  and  removed  to  Springville  Hol- 
low. In  1867  he  bought  his  present  farm  in 
southwestern  Bridgewater,  of  one  hundred  and 
fifty  acres,  where  he  has  carried  on  farming  and 
stock-raising  since.  In  May,  1868,  upon  the 
organization  of  the  Farmers’  Institute  at  Mon- 
trose, Mr.  Jones  read  a paper  before  the  conven- 
tion entitled  “ Devon  Cattle,”  which  was  favor- 
ably received  and  published  in  the  newspapers 
at  the  time,  and  showed  his  thorough  knowledge 
of  pure-blooded  “ Devons  ” and  the  practical 
utility  of  this  stock  to  the  Susquehanna  farm- 
ers. 

In  1855  he  began  giving  largely  his  attention 
to  blooded  stock,  especially  “ Devons,”  and  since 
that  time  has  bought,  bred  and  sold  hundreds 
of  the.se  choice  cattle.  He  keeps  a record  of  his 
stock,  and  has  at  present  eighteen  head.  “Rose 
of  Baltimore,  5th  ” produced  in  one  week  three 


210 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


hundred  and  twenty-seven  and  one-half  pounds 
of  milk  ; “ Helena,”  three  hundred  and  twenty- 
seven  and  one-fourth  pounds  during  the  same 
length  of  time.  The  former’s  milk,  when  tested 
in  1884  at  Philadelphia,  proved  to  be  thirty-five 
per  cent,  cream.  From  her  he  has  bred  “Prince 
Albert,”  “ Baltimore  Prince,”  “ Blanche,” 
“Castellaw.”  From  “ Pride  2d,  No.  2265,”  he 
has  bred  “ Pride  3d,”  which  took  the  first  prize 
at  Montrose  and  Harford ; also  “ Prince  Howell,’’ 
“ Pride  4th,”  “ Fairfield  Bloom,”  “ Leva,” 

“ Bernice,”  a pair  of  twin  steers,  “ Temperance 
Quick,”  “Cogswell,”  “Shadeland”  and  “Queen 
of  the  Prides.” 


CHAPTER  XVII. 


THE  AMERICAN  REVOLUTION. 


Revolutionary  Soldiers — Militia — War  of  1812. 


Susquehanna  County  was  not  opened  up  to 
settlement  until  after  the  defeat  of  the  Six  Na- 
tions by  General  Sullivan,  and  no  settlements 
were  made  therein  until  after  the  close  of  the 
Revolutionary  War.  When  Couuecticut  under- 
took to  establish  her  supremacy  over  this  terri- 
tory, the  most  venturesome  and  courageous  men 
in  the  State  would  find  ample  inducement  in  the 
offers  which  the  Delaware  and  Susquehanna 
Companies  made  to  forego  all  the  dangers  inci- 
dent to  pioneer  life  and  Pennsylvania’s  opposi- 
tion. The  most  natural  class  of  men  to  em- 
bark in  such  ventures  would  be  persons  who 
had  lost  their  strong  attachment  to  their  homes, 
and  the  localities  of  their  birth  by  long  disas- 
sociation,  and  who  had  become  reckless  of  dan- 
ger by  hardships  and  perils  of  war.  Such  a 
class  of  persons  were  found  in  the  recently  dis- 
charged soldiers  of  the  Revolutionary  Army ; 
hence  a large  number  of  the  pioneer  settlers  of 
Susquehanna  County  had  seen  service  in  the 
War  of  the  Revolution.  The  following  is  as 
complete  a list  of  that  hero  band  that  suffered 
so  much  to  establish  our  liberties  as  can  now  be 
obtained  : 


Asa  Adams,  at  Bunker  Hill. 
Jedediah  Adams,  six  and  one- 
half  years  in  the  war. 

John  Adams,  died  in  Harford. 
Ezekiel  Avery. 


Benjamin  Babcock. 

Babcock  (Dimock). 

John  Baker. 

Nathaniel  Balcom. 

Joel  Barnes. 


Nehemiah  Barnes. 

Reuben  Beebe. 

Amos  Bennett. 

Elias  Bennett. 

Abiel  Bills. 

John  Blaisdell. 

Nathan  Brewster,  Sen.t 
Isaac  Brown. 2 

Brownson. 

Jonas  Brush. 

Capt.  Ichabod  Buck,  Great  Bend. 
Major  Daniel  Buck.^ 

Isaac  Bullard. 4 
John  Burnham. 

Joseph  Button. 

Andrew  Canfield. 

Capt.  Benjamin  Case,  Great  Bend. 
Putnam  Catlin.5 
Benjamin  Chamberlain. 

Daniel  Chamberlain,  Choconut. 
Moses  Chamberlain,  Gibson. 
Wright  Chamberlain,  Gibson. 

Dr.  Robert  Chandler,  Gibson. 
Samuel  Clark,  Forest  Lake. 

Darius  Cook. 

Ezekiel  Cook. 

Ozem  Cook. 

Henry  Cougdon. 

Dyer  Crocker. 

John  Darrow. 

Josiah  Davis. 

Peter  Dickey. 

Lieut.  David  Dimock,  Bridgewater. 
Edward  Dimmick,  Herrick. 

David  Doolittle. 

Capt.  Ezra  Doty. 

Isaac  Doud. 

Jonathan  Dimon,  Great  Bend. 
Jonathan  Edwards. 

James  Eldridge. 

Stephen  Ellis,  Herrick. 

Gabriel  Ely,  Brooklyn. 

Pardon  Fish. 

Simeon  Foot. 

Ford. 

Silas  Fowler. 

Cosider  Fuller,  Brooklyn. 

Nathaniel  Gates,  Gt.  Bend. 

Geo,  Gelatt.® 

Asahel  Gregory.^ 

Abner  Griffis.8 
Stephen  Griffis. 

Timothy  Hall. 

Israel  Hewitt. 

Capt.  Bartlett  Hinds,  Bridgewater. 
Dudley  Holdridge. 

Seth  Holmes. 

Garner  Isbell,  Montrose. 

Joshua  Jackson,  Brooklyn. 
Nathaniel  Jeffers,  Harford. 

Luther  Kallam. 

Rufus  Kingsley.^ 

Gershom  F.  Lane. 

Hezekiah  Leach. 

Daniel  Lawrence. 


Capt.  Luther  Leet. 

Rufus  Lines. 

Capt.  John  Locke. 

Elder  Gideon  Lewis. n 
Gideon  Lyman. 

Ezekiel  Maine. 

Nathan  Maxon. 

Joseph  McKune. 

Jesse  Miles. 

Miller. 

Capt.  Josiah  Mills.i2 
Solomon  Millard,  Lenox. 
Almon  Munson,  Gt.  Bend. 
Jonathan  Moxley,  Harford. 
Jonathan  Newman,  Gt.  Bend. 
Patrick  Nuang. 

Robert  Nichols. 

Issachar  Nicherson. 

David  Olmstead. 

Hezekiah  Olney. 

Thaddeus  Peet,  Rush. 

Joseph  Potter,  Gibson. 

Capt.  Hazard  Powers,  Sen.i^ 
Jotham  Pickering,  Gibson. 
Henry  Pruyne. 

Joseph  Raynsford.i4 
John  Reynolds. 

Simeon  Reynolds. 

Capt.  Caleb  Richardson.'^ 
Caleb  Richardson,  Jr.'® 
Jonathan  Ross. 

Isaac  Rynearson. 

Bristol  B.  Sampson  (colored). n 
Samuel  Scott. 

Zerah  Scott. 

Capt.  Westol  Scoville. 

Ichabod  Seavor. 

Christian  Shelp. 

David  Sherer. 

Christopher  Sherman. 

William  Shufelt. 

Garrett  Snedaker.'S 
Asahel  Southwell. 

Staples. 

Capt.  Jarah  Stephens. 

William  Stephens. 

Nathaniel  Stewart. 

Clement  Sumner. 

Capt.  Joshua  Sabin. 

Lawrence  Tarpining. 

John  Thatcher. 

Thomas  Thatcher. 

Eseck  Thayer. 

Joseph  Thomas. 

Hozea  Tiffany,  Harford. 
Thomas  Tiffany,  Harford. 
Noah  Tiffany,  Brooklyn. 
Nathaniel  Tower,  Lenox. 
Isaac  Turrell. 

David  Turrell,  Jessup. 

Moses  Tyler. 

Elias  Van  Winkle. 

David  Wakelee. 

Sylvanus  Wake. 

Lemuel  Wallbridge. 


I In  American  and  French  Revolutions.  2 Died  in  Lathrop  aged  98. 

3 In  French  and  Indian  War.  * Bridgewater,  died  1842,  aged  97. 

6 Drummer  at  the  Battle  of  Bunker  Hill. 

6 Died  it  Gelatt  Hollow,  aged  106. 

^ Herrick,  with  Arnolds  expedition  to  Quebec. 

8 Forest  Lake,  Minute-Man.  ^ Drummer  at  Bunker  Hill. 

10  Of  the  Boston  Tea  Party, 1773. 

II  Baptist  preacher  and  early  settler  in  Clifford. 

12  Drummer  at  the  Battle  of  Bunker  Hill. 

13 Gibson.  i^  Bridgewater.  '^Harford,  French  War. 

16  Drummer  in  Revolution.  i'^  Brooklyn.  is  New  Milford. 


THE  AMERICAN  REVOLUTION. 


211 


Ephraim  Warfield. 
Amos  Webster. 

Jacob  Wellman. 
Cornelius  Westbrook. l 
John  Whitely. 

Total,  150. 


Thomas  Williams.2 
Barnard  Worthing. 

Capt.  Samuel  Wight. 
Simeon  Wylie,  Gt.  Bend. 
Samuel  Yeomans. 


“Sergeant  Simeon  Wylie  served  his  country- 
through  the  War  of  the  Revolution,  having  entered 
the  service  in  the  spring  of  1776,  at  the  age  of  eigh- 
teen years.  He  was  early  detached  from  the  ranks  as 
waiter  to  General  Arnold,  and  served  as  such  until  the 
time  of  Arnold’s  defection,  and  was  the  principal 
witness  to  prove  the  identity  of  Major  Andre,  his 
visits  to  Arnold  at  his  quarters  at  the  Robinson  house, 
and  the  manner  of  Arnold’s  escape.  From  that  time 
he  served  as  a sergeant  to  the  close  of  the  war.  He 
was  in  the  battle  of  Long  Island  and  White  Plains,  in 

1776,  in  the  northern  campaign  at  the  battle  of  Ben- 
nington, and  at  the  capture  of  General  Burgoyne,  in 

1777.  He  was  also  in  a preceding  battle  in  which 
Arnold  was  wounded,  and  was  in  the  battle  of  Mon- 
mouth in  1778. 


nine  years.  She  had  resided  forty-three  years  on  the 
farm  where  she  died,  and  had  been  a member  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church  eighteen  years.  He  died  sud- 
denly while  on  a journey  into  the  State  of  New  York 
to  visit  one  of  his  sons,  September  14,  1836,  aged 
seventy-eight  years.” 

Draft  for  the  War  of  1812. — A company  was 
drafted  for  the  defence  of  Baltimore  in  the 
War  of  1812. — A class  was  drawn  from  each 
company  in  the  regiment,  making  up  one  com- 
pany of  nearly  a hundred  for  the  famous  Dan- 
ville campaign ; being  marched  to  Danville  with 
companies  drawn  in  like  manner  from  other  regi- 
ments of  militia  for  organization,  where,  after  a brief 
encampment,  they  were  discharged,  the  danger  to  Bal- 
timore being  over.  In  drawing  for  captain,  the  lot 
fell  on  the  late  Col.  Frederick  Bailey,  of  Brooklyn, 
who  had  then  just  been  promoted  to  the  colonelcy. 
The  lieutenant  and  orderly  sergeant  happened  also 
to  be  drawn  from  the  same  company. 


“In  the  confusion  of  the  retreat  from  Long  Island, 
on  the  evening  after  the  battle.  Sergeant  Wylie  was 
one  of  a party  of  seventeen  (including  a lieutenant), 
left  in  a piece  of  woods  near  the  enemy.  Not  know- 
ing, in  the  dark,  what  course  to  take,  they  agreed  to 
wait  until  daylight,  and  then  attempt  to  cross  the 
East  River  or  Sound.  As  soon  as  it  was  light  they 
sent  two  of  the  party  to  search  for  a boat  and  give  a 
signal  to  the  detachment  remaining  in  the  woods. 
Upon  hearing  the  signal  the  latter  hurried  to  the 
shore,  w’here  they  found  a boat  which  had  been  drawn 
upon  the  beach,  and  while  pushing  it  wdth  some  diffi- 
culty into  the  water,  they  saw  a party  of  ‘red-coats  > 
passing.  They,  however,  succeeded  in  launching  the 
boat  and  took  to  the  oars.  The  enemy,  being  near, 
discovered  them,  ordered  them  to  halt  and  surrender,  or 
they  would  fire  upon  them.  Disregarding  the  threat, 
they  pushed  on,  and  the  enemy  fired,  and  continued  to 
fire,  until  the  boat  reached  the  New  York  shore,  and  so 
well  was  their  aim  taken  that  every  man  except  the 
lieutenant  and  Sergeant  Wylie  was  either  killed  or 
wounded.  The  killed  were  burled  with  the  honors  of 
war,  and  the  wounded  taken  to  the  hospital  in  New 
York.  Some  forty  years  after,  a crippled  pensioner, 
traveling  through  this  part  of  the  country,  stopped 
for  the  night  with  Mr.  Wylie.  In  the  course  of  the 
evening  he  spoke  of  the  Revolution  and  the  cause  of 
his  lameness.  He  proved  to  be  one  of  the  seventeen. 
He  remained  with  Mr.  Wylie  through  the  winter  and 
taught  school.  Sergeant  Wylie  was  a brave  man  and 
a good  soldier.  This  bloody  transaction,  with  many 
other  Revolutionary  reminiscences,  he  was  accus- 
tomed to  narrate  with  thrilling  effect. 

“ In  the  spring  of  1835  he  buried  his  wife  (a  daugh- 
ter of  Rev.  D.  Buck),  with  whom  he  had  lived  forty- 

^ Brooklyn. 

2 la  American  and  French  Revolutions;  lived  to  be  104  years  old, 
dying  in  1826. 


MUSTER  ROLL. 

Officers. 

Captain  Fred.  Bailey. 

Lieutenant  Cyril  Giddings. 

Ensign  Kiel  Tupper. 

1st  Sergeant  Jesse  Bagley. 

2d  Sergeant  Samuel  Baldwin. 

3d  Sergeant  James  Truesdell. 

4th  Sergeant  Joseph  Marsh. 

Corporals  Josiah  Davis,  Orange  Whitney,  John  L.  Travis. 


Privates. 


Asahel  Adams. 

Levi  S.  Agard. 

Phineas  Arms. 

George  Avery. 

Roswell  Babcock, 

Thomas  Bagley. 

Gideon  Beebe. 

Calvin  Bell. 

Richard  Bill. 

Calvin  Blasdell. 

John  Bullock. 

Jacob  Bump. 

Daniel  Bump. 

David  Carpenter. 

Levi  Chamberlin. 

Moses  Chamberlin. 

Isaac  A.  Chapman. 

Harry  Clark. 

Gurdon  Darrow. 

Peter  Davis. 

James  Dean. 

Joseph  Doolittle. 

Eliphalet  Elsworth. 

John  Fancher. 

Jason  Fargo, 

James  Farguson. 

Joseph  Fish. 

Joseph  Guernsey. 

Hiram  Guernsey. 

Oliver  Greatracks. 

John  Greek. 

David  Hale. 

Jesse  Hale. 

Amasa  Harding. 

Stephen  Harding. 

William  Harkins. 

John  Haywood,  Jr. 

David  Holmes. 

Nathaniel  Ives. 

Enos  Jewell. 

Eleazer  Kimball. 

Zeb.  Lathrop. 

Dyer  Lathrop. 

Ebenezer  Lines. 

Ralph  Lines. 

Nathaniel  Locke. 

Josiah  Lord,  Jr. 

Jonathan  Miles. 

Robert  McCarty. 

Hugh  McCollum. 

Alick  McGee. 

John  Newman. 

Thomas  Oakley. 

Corbett  Pickering. 

Noah  Reed. 

James  Robinson. 

William  Rockwell. 

Jesse  Ross. 

Elisha  Safford. 

Thomiis  M.  Safford. 

Sylvester  Smith. 

Joshua  Smith,  Jr. 

James  Steenback. 

Wells  Stanley. 

Ezra  Sturdevant. 

Daniel  C.  Tliacher. 

Nathan  P.  Thatcher. 

Daniel  Tingley. 

Dalton  Tiffany. 

Lewis  Tiffany. 

Noah  Tiffany,  Jr. 

Bradley  Thomas. 

Jonathan  Treaciwoll. 

Michael  Van  Winkle. 

Hiland  Vickery. 

Samuel  Ward. 

William  B.  Welsh. 

Hiram  Whipple. 

Latham  Williams. 

Daniel  P.  Wiley. 

Esock  Wood. 

Jonathan  Wood. 

Jonathan  Woodruff. 

Josiah  Woodworth. 

212 


HISTOKY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


Among  others  who  were  in  the  War  of  1812,  who 
either  were  residents  at  the  time  or  afterwards  became 
residents,  are  the  following : P.  Turner  Baldwin, 

Daniel  Brewster,  Billings  Burdick,  Calvin  Corse, 
Zeph.  Eldred,  S.  B.  Fessenden,  Jonas  Fuller,  Martin 
Hall,  Jonathan  Howard,  Joseph  McKune,  N.  Norris, 
Eldad  Loomis,  Major  Isaac  Post,  Philander  Pepper, 
Joseph  Peck,  Charles  Payn,  Samuel  Pickett,  A.  H. 
Bead,  Enoch  Smith,  Luther  Stanley,  Saxa  Seymour, 
Amos  Tiffany,  Tingley  Tiffany,  Job  Tyler,  Nathan  P. 
Thatcher,  Wareham  B.  Walker,  Samuel  Wilson, 
Lieut.  J.  B.  Worden,  Aaron  Dewitt,  Thos.  Garland, 
Andrew  Eogers,  Erastus  Caswell,  Lodowick  Bailey, 
Libbeus  Rogers,  P.  G.  Burch,  Joshua  Baker,  S.  B. 
Blake.  Mexican  War:  James  Johnson  and  William 
P.  Carr. 

Militia. — ^“The  earliest  item  found  respecting  mi- 
litary organizations  in  this  section  after  its  settlement 
is  the  appointment  by  the  Governor,  December,  1797, 
of  Putnam  Catlin  as  brigade  inspector  for  Luzerne 
County.  A year  or  two  later,  when  it  was  feared  the 
country  was  on  the  eve  of  a war  with  France,  the  in- 
habitants of  this  section  were  alive  to  the  situation. 
In  the  Wilkes-Barre  Gazette  and  Luzerne  Advertiser, 
about  this  time,  appeared  a notice  to  attract  the  at- 
tention of  ‘ ambitious,  spirited  and  patriotic  young 
men,  tired  of  lounging  about  their  fathers’  houses, 
and  who  wish  to  exchange  a life  of  tasteless  indolence 
for  that  of  glory,’  offering  them  a chance  to  join  the 
army. 

“ The  first  military  movement  within  the  limits  of 
Susquehanna  County  appears  to  have  been  in  1806, 
when  the  first  militia  training  was  held  at  Parkevale' 
There  is  special  mention  of  training  there  in  1807-8. 
In  the  spring  of  1808  there  was  a ‘ muster  and  inspec- 
tion ’ at  Joseph  Chapman,  Jr's.  Thomas  Parke  was 
then  colonel,  and  Walter  Lyon  major  of  the  129th 
Regiment,  Pennsylvania  Militia.  In  1811,  at  a mili- 
tary election,  William  C.  Turrel  was  chosen  lieuten- 
ant-colonel ; Isaac  Post’and  Asa  Dimock  majors  ; Elias 
Bell,  Hezekiah  Leach,  Hlel  Tupper,  Amos  Tiffany, 
Seth  Mitchell,  Fred.  Bailey,  John  Bard  and  Calvin 
D.  Cobb  were  early  captains  in  this  regiment ; and  at 
some  time,  probably,  Rufus  Fish,  Jeremiah  Spencer 
and  Jabez  A.  Birchard. 

“ The  War  of  1812  furnished  practical  reasons  for 
military  duty.  An  ‘Appeal  to  Patriots,’  published 
in  the  Luzerne  County  papers  in  1813,  offered  a 
bounty  of  $16  (for  enlistment  for  three  years)  and 
three  months’  pay  at  $8  per  month,  with  one  hundred 
and  sixty  acres  of  land.  Those  who  enlisted  for  only 
eighteen  months  received  no  land. 

“ Complaint  of  taxes  increased  as  hostilities  con- 
tinued. May,  1814,  bounty  was  raised  to  $124,  be- 
sides 160  acres.  In  the  summer  a call  appeared  in  the 
Luzerne  County  papers  (none  were  then  established 
in  Susquehanna  County)  for  a meeting  immediately 


after  court,  23d  August,  at  Edward  Fuller’s,  ‘ friendly 
to  a restoration  of  peace  or  a more  vigorous  prosecu- 
tion of  the  war.’ 

“The  burning  of  the  Capitol  at  Washington  stimu- 
lated militia  organizations.  At  a militia  election,  in 
the  summer  of  1814,  Fred.  Bailey  was  elected  colonel, 
Joseph  Burgess  lieutenant-colonel,  J.  Slocum  and 
Benjamin  Lathrop  majors. 

“ Isaac  Post  was  appointed  inspector  of  2d  Brigade. 
From  his  diary  we  learn  that,  October  23,  1814,  he 
‘ received  orders  for  marching  the  militia,  and  set  out 
for  Wilkes-Barre  on  the  24th.  Arrived  at  Danville, 
Pa.,  November  1 ; with  detachment  of  militia  on  the 
13th  ; received  orders  to  halt  19th ; to  dismiss  the  de- 
tachment 21st ; the  wholej  discharged  24th  and  25th, 
same  month.’  Colonel  F.  Bailey  accompanied  this 
expedition.  It  was  held  up  to  ridicule,  while  the 
militia  were  waiting  for  their  pay  until  April,  1819, 
and  afterwards  for  its  fruitlessness.  Ezra  Sturdevant, 
drafted  from  Harford  or  New  Milford,  was  left  sick  at 
Danville,  died,  and  was  buried  with  military  honors. 
It  is  laughingly  asserted  that  Major  Post  brought 
back  one  hand-rifle  and  one  tin  camp-kettle  as  the 
spoils  of  this  expedition. 

“ After  the  war  the  old  organization  died  out,  and  the 
76th  Regiment  appears  to  have  taken  its  place. 
Walter  Lyon  and  Joseph  Washburn  were  majors  of 
this  regiment,  and  Austin  Howell,  Job  Tyler  (after- 
wards colonel),  Daniel  Lathrop  and  John  Comfort 
captains.  In  1819  Daniel  Lathrop  was  elected  lieu- 
tenant-colonel of  the  same.  I.  Post  declined  a re- 
election  as  brigade  inspector,  and  Samuel  Thomas  was 
chosen  in  1823.  The  2d  Brigade,  8th  Division,  was 
composed  of  the  2d  Regiment,  Luzerne  County,  the 
76th  in  Susquehanna,  and  the  70th  in  Wayne.  Colo- 
nel Aden  Stevens  had  command,  very  early,  of  a regi- 
ment composed  of  Bradford  and  Susquehanna  men. 
At  some  time  Francis  Fordham  was  colonel  of  the 
76th  Regiment. 

“ Luman  Ferry  was  captain  of  an  independent  volun- 
teer company,  formed  in  1816.  Several  similar  com- 
panies sprang  up,  among  which  we  find  the  Harford 
Artillery,  Captain  Asahel  Sweet  and  also  Obadiah 
Carpenter ; a Rifle  Company  at  Great  Bend,  Captain 
Jonathan  Treadwell ; the  Choconut  Infantry,  Captain 
Goodsell ; the  Bridgewater  Yeomanry  Guards,  Cap- 
tain Benjamin  Sayre,  and  later,  Bela  Jones,  A.  C. 
Luce  and  Horace  Smith  ; the  Brooklyn  Infantry  and 
the  New  Milford  Infantry,  Captain  SethBisbee;  the 
Montrose  Artillery,  Captain  H.  J.  Champion ; the 
Susquehanna  Troop,  of  which  Fred.  Stephens  was 
orderly-sergeant,  and  Samuel  Gregory,  Hyde  Crocker, 
Samuel  Bard,  captains ; Montrose  Rifle  Grays,  David 
Francis,  captain ; Springville  Rifle  Company,  and 
Captain  Canfield’s  Infantry  (Middletown  ?). 

“In  1824  nine  companies  united  to  form  the  126th 
Volunteer  Regiment,  William  Jessup,  colonel ; Saxa 
Seymour,  lieutenant-colonel ; B.  Jones,  adjutant ; 
Stephen  S.  Jewett,  and  Simon  S.  Chamberlain,  majors. 


f 


1 Blackman,  p.  621. 


THE  KEBELLION. 


213 


For  a few  years  succeeding  military  trainings  were 
great  occasions.  Then  came  a lull — a sort  of  dis- 
repute, while  the  question  of  temperance  was  promi- 
nent in  the  public  mind.  But  the  country  was  awake 
to  the  interests  of  the  patriots  of  the  Revolution,  and 
many  availed  themselves  of  the  benefits  of  acts  of 
Congress  on  their  behalf. 

“ In  1837  there  was  a revival  of  military  matters. 
Colonel  D.  D.  Warner  was  elected  brigadier-general. 
Mention  is  made  of  the  76th  and  136th  Regiments — 4 
battalions ; the  Washington  Guards  and  Northern 
Guards  Volunteer  battalions,  and  70th  Regiment — 2 
battalions,  Wayne  County — with  which  Susquehanna 
was  connected. 

“ May,  1852,  the  Montrose  Artillery  procured  a can- 
non.” 

There  were  ten  independent  companies  within  the 
county,  besides  the  Dundaff  battalion,  in  Clifford. 
They  met  for  drill  three  times  per  year,  and  were 
armed  by  the  States.  There  were  also  a few  cavalry 
companies.  Asa  Dimock,  M.  C.  Tyler,  C.  M.  Gere 
and  others  were  colonels,  and  C.  D.  Lathrop  was 
elected  major-general  by  Wayne  and  Susquehanna 
Counties. 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 

SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY  IN  THE  WAR  OF  THE  RE- 
BELLION (1861-65). 

WRITTEN  AND  COMPILED  BY  CAPTAIN  H.  F.  BEARDSLEY. 

“The  rolling  eeaeons  pass  away, 

And  Time,  untiring,  wavea  his  wing  ; 

Whilst  honor's  laurels  ne’er  decay. 

But  bloom  in  fresh,  unfading  spring.” 

It  is  eminently  fitting  and  proper  in  this,  the  Cen- 
tennial year  of  our  county’s  history  that  an  effort  be 
made  to  place  in  convenient  form  a permanent  record 
of  the  names,  at  least,  of  the  men  who  dared  death 
for  the  flag,  and  whose  brave  deeds  and  achievements 
reflect  so  much  credit  and  honor  upon  the  county. 

While  it  would  be  impossible  in  one  chapter,  or 
even  one  volume,  to  recount  the  part  taken  by  the 
soldiers  from  Susquehanna  County  in  the  late  Civil 
War,  the  writer  has  aimed  to  mention  all  by  name, 
and,  when  possible  to  do  so,  has  placed  each  soldier  in 
the  organization  in  which  he  served.  The  attempt  to 
do  this  has  entailed  much  time  and  research;  and, 
after  the  lapse  of  a quarter  of  a century,  the  under- 
taking was  beset  with  difficulties  that  at  times  seemed 
insurmountable.  Susquehanna  being  a border  county, 
many  of  her  sons  enlisted  in  New  York  and  other 
States,  and  no  “ official  ” record  of  their  service  could 
be  given — the  writer  having  to  depend  on  the  per- 
sonal recollection  of  comrades.  Of  those  who  served 
in  Pennsylvania  organizations,  their  record  of  service. 


as  published  by  Bates,  in  his  “History  of  the  Pennsyl- 
vania Volunteers,”  has  been  followed;  and,  while  in 
this  compilation  errors  will  doubtless  be  found,  yet 
much  care  has  been  exercised  to  prevent  them.  Some 
names  will  be  misspelled,  some  may  be  duplicated, 
and  doubtless  the  names  of  a few  soldiers  are  pub- 
lished who  did  not  belong  in  the  county,  for,  where  a 
doubt  existed,  the  name  was  retained. 

It  is  not  the  purpose  of  the  writer  to  attempt  to 
picture  or  embellish  the  part  taken  by  the  soldiers 
from  this  county  in  the  war;  but,  as  citizens  of  the 
old  Keystone,  we  have  a just  and  pardonable  pride  in 
the  part  taken  by  our  grand  old  commonwealth  in 
that  terrible  struggle  with  treason  that  commenced 
with  the  firing  on  Sumter  and  ended  at  Appomat- 
tox. It  was  Pennsylvania  soldiers  who  first  marched 
to  the  defense  of  the  imperiled  Capitol;  and  the  five 
companies  of  Pennsylvanians  that  arrived  there  the 
morning  of  April  18,  1861,  were  the  head  of  the 
grand  column  of  two  millions  of  men  that  were 
afterwards  mustered,  and  of  which  number  Pennsyl- 
vania furnished  nearly  one-fifth. 

It  is  not  our  purpose  to  recapitulate  and  recall  the 
events  that  transpired  immediately  preceding  the 
war,  or  attempt  to  follow  the  footsteps  of  our  “ boys 
in  blue  ” through  that  sanguinary  and  bloody  strug- 
gle. In  its  patriotic  efforts  in  defense  of  the  Union 
Susquehanna  County  bore  well  and  manfully  her  part 
with  her  sister  counties  in  the  State ; and  the  devo- 
tion and  sacrifices  of  her  sons,  together  with  the 
record  of  their  brave  and  heroic  achievements,  forms 
one  of  the  brightest  and  most  interesting  chapters  of 
her  one  hundred  years  of  history. 

AVe  regret  that  the  space  at  our  disposal  will  not 
admit  of  our  giving  a brief  resume,  of  the  service, 
of  other  organizations,  many  of  which  made  noble 
records,  and  in  which  the  “ boys  ” of  the  county  have 
a just  pride.  There  were  many  who  belonged  to  the 
“ scattering  ” organizations,  who  were  among  the  first 
to  enlist  in  1861.  We  have  already  alluded  to  the  fact 
that  many  enlisted  outside  of  the  county  and  State, 
and,  being  scattered  among  scores  of  different  organ- 
izations, it  has  been  difficult  to  establish  their  iden- 
tity correctly  or  to  credit  them  to  the  place  of  their  en- 
listment. 

The  actual  number  that  enlisted  from  the  county 
can  never  be  definitely  fixed ; but,  from  the  best  in- 
formation at  our  disposal,  the  number  is  ascertained  to 
be  a little  more  than  thirty-one  hundred. 

Comrades  of  this  county,  I am  indebted  to  a num- 
ber of  you  for  valuable  assistance  in  the  prosecution 
of  this  difficult  task,  which  was  undertaken  with 
many  misgivings.  Its  labors  have  been  lightened  by 
the  interest  you  have  manifested,  and  if  the  result 
shall  prove  reasonably  satisfactory  to  the  soldiers  of 
the  county  and  their  friends,  I shall  feel  that  my 
efforts  have  not  been  iu  vain. 

The  Pennsylvania  Reserves. — No  body  of 
troops,  whether  great  or  small,  that  participated  in 


214 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


the  War  of  the  Rebellion,  earned  greater  distinction 
or  covered  themselves  with  more  deserved  and  last- 
ing renown  than  did  the  “Pennsylvania  Reserve 
Corps.”  It  is  proper  in  this  connection  to  briefly 
review  the  history  of  its  formation. 

It  is  known  that  previous  to  the  breaking  out  of 
the  Rebellion  many  of  the  Southern  people  and 
some  Southern  sympathizers  believed  that  if  war 
resulted  from  secession,  it  would  be  on  Northern  soil. 
As  early  as  February,  1861,  Jefferson  Davis,  in  a 
speech  at  Jackson,  Miss,  declared : — “ If  war  must 
come,  it  must  be  upon  Northern  and  not  upon  Southern 
soil.”  The  national  authorities  were  not  oblivious  to 
this  threatened  contingency,  and  early  in  April,  1861, 
took  measures  to  co-operate  with  Governor  Curtin  in 
protecting  the  Pennsylvania  border  from  invasion. 
But  the  killing  of  the  Massachusetts  soldiers  in  the 
streets  of  Baltimore  on  the  19th  of  the  same  month, 
and  the  severing  of  all  communication  between 
Pennsylvania  and  Washington  served  to  increase  the 
apprehension  already  felt.  Finding  that  under  exist- 
ing laws  there  was  no  provision  whereby  the  military 
power  of  the  State  could  be  used  for  its  protection. 
Governor  Curtin,  on  the  20th  of  April,  1861,  issued  his 
proclamation,  convening  the  Legislature  in  extra 
session  ten  days  thereafter.  In  his  message  to  the 
Legislature  he  said : “ The  time  is  past  for  tempor- 
izing or  forbearing  with  this  rebellion,  the  most 
causeless  in  history.  * * * The  insurrection 

must  now  be  met  by  force  of  arms.  * * * a 

quarter  of  a million  of  Pennsylvania’s  sons  will 
answer  the  call  to  arms,  if  need  be,  to  wrest  us  from 
a reign  of  anarchy  and  plunder,  and  secure  for 
Themselves  and  their  children,  for  ages  to  come,  the 
perpetuity  of  this  government  and  its  beneficent  insti- 
tutions. * * * To  furnish  ready  support  to  those 
who  have  gone  out,  and  to  protect  our  borders,  we 
should  have  a well  regulated  military  force.  I,  there- 
fore, recommend  the  immediate  organization,  dis- 
ciplining and  arming  of  at  least  fifteen  regiments  of 
cavalry  and  infantry,  exclusive  of  those  called  into 
the  service  of  the  United  States.” 

This  message  was  at  once  referred  to  a select  corn- 
committee  of  seven  of  the  House,  and  two  days 
thereafter,  in  compliance  with  the  recommendations 
of  the  Governor,  a bill  was  reported,  creating  a loan 
and  providing  for  arming  the  State,  and  on  the  15th 
of  May  it  received  the  signature  of  the  Governor  and 
became  a law.  Among  other  provisions,  the  act 
authorized  and  directed  the  commander-in-chief  (the 
Governor)  to  organize  a military  corps  to  be  com- 
posed of  thirteen  regiments  of  infantry,  one  of 
cavalry  and  one  of  light  artillery,  to  be  enlisted  in 
the  State  service  for  three  years,  or  dui'ing  the  war, 
and  to  be  subject  to  muster  into  the  United  States 
service  upon  requisition  of  the  President. 

In  compliance  with  the  act  of  Assembly,  Gov- 
ernor Curtin  immediately  issued  his  call  for  men  to 
compose  this  corps,  apportioning  them  to  each  county 


according  to  population,  in  order  that  each  section  of 
the  State  might  have  due  representation  in  it. 
Enlistments  were  rapid  and  great  enthusiasm  was  felt 
to  enter  its  ranks.  Four  camps  of  instruction  were 
established — one  at  Easton,  one  at  Westchester,  one 
at  Pittsburgh,  and  one  at  Harrisburg.  Geo.  A. 
McCall,  a West  Point  graduate,  who  had  distin- 
guished himself  in  the  war  with  Mexico,  was 
appointed  a major-general  to  command  the  corps, 
and  he  entered  upon  the  duty  of  organizing  and  pre- 
paring it  for  the  field  with  the  zeal  of  a volunteer 
and  the  skill  of  a veteran. 

The  First  Regiment  of  the  corps  were  organized  on 
the  19th  of  June  following,  and  became  the  Thir- 
tieth in  the  line;  and  while  the  whole  corps  was 
principally  recruited  during  that  month,  owing  to 
delays  in  a few  of  the  regimental  formations,  notably 
the  First  Cavalry,  the  corps  was  not  fully  organized 
until  September  1st.  But  the  angry  tide  of  rebellion 
did  not  stay  its  onward  course,  and  long  before  the 
last  “ Reserve  ” regiment  was  in  the  field,  the  timely 
wisdom  of  the  Executive  and  loyal  people  of  Penn- 
sylvania, in  thus  forming  the  nucleus  of  a reserve 
army,  was  widely  noted  and  commended.  The 
camps  of  instruction  became  such  only  in  name,  for 
many  of  the  regiments  were  ordered  into  active  ser- 
vice almost  immediately  upon  their  organization. 

The  disasters  at  Bull  Run,  that  culminated  on  the 
20th  of  July  in  the  defeat  of  the  Union  army, 
caused  the  government  to  call  loudly  for  troops. 
Fortunately  for  the  country,  and  to  the  lasting  honor 
and  glory  of  Pennsylvania,  she  had  an  organized 
body  of  troops  ready  for  duty.  We  have  thus  briefly 
noted  the  inception  and  formation  of  this  corps, 
which  was  designated  by  the  act  of  Assembly  creat- 
ing it,  the  “Reserve  Volunteer  Corps  of  the  Com- 
monwealth ; ” but  the  name  that  struck  terror  to  its 
foes,  and  which  will  go  down  in  history  side  by  side 
with  its  glorious  achievements,  was  “ Pennsylvania 
Reserves,”  in  the  formation  of  which,  Susquehanna 
County  promptly  furnished  her  full  quota,  and  more. 
This  was  composed  of  Company  H,  Fourth  “Re- 
serves,” and  thirty-third  in  the  line;  Company  K 
Sixth  “ Reserves,”  and  thirty-fifth  in  the  line,  and 
parts  of  Batteries  A,  F and  H,  First  Pennsylvania 
Light  Artillery,  which  was  forty-third  in  the  line. 

Fourth  Pennsylvania  Reserves  ( Thirty-third  Regi- 
ment).— The  companies  composing  the  Fourth 
Regiment  were  recruited,  one  from  each  of 
the  counties  of  Chester,  Monroe,  Montgomery, 
Lycoming  and  Susquehanna,  and  the  remaining  five 
from  the  city  and  county  of  Philadelphia.  The 
companies  were  ordered  to  rendezvous  at  the  “re- 
serve ” camp  at  Easton,  where  they  assembled  early 
in  June.  On  the  20th  of  that  month  a regimental 
organization  was  effected  by  the  election  of  the  fol- 
lowing field  officers : Colonel,  Robert  G.  March ; 
Lieutenant-Colonel,  John  F.  Gaul ; Major,  Robert 
M.  McClure. 


THE  KEBELLION. 


215 


The  regiment  received  clothing  and  equipments 
early  in  July,  and  on  the  16th  it  was  ordered  to  Har- 
risburg, proceeding  thither  by  rail,  and  the  following 
' day  it  was  mustered  into  the  United  States  service- 
On  the  21st  of  July,  in  obedience  to  orders  from 
Washington,  it  moved  by  rail  to  Baltimore  and  was 
on  duty  in  that  city,  under  command  of  Gen.  Dix, 

I until  the  last  of  August,  when  it  was  ordered  to  the 
1 general  camp  of  rendezvous  of  the  Eeserves  at 
! Tenallytown,  Md.  Upon  the  organization  of  the 

< division,  the  Fourth  was  assigned  to  the  Second 

Brigade,  commanded  by  Brigadier-General  Geo.  G. 
Meade,  which,  besides  the  Fourth,  was  composed  of 
the  Third,  Seventh  and  Eleventh  Regiments  of  the 
Reserves.  On  the  9th  of  October,  in  company  with 
the  whole  division,  the  Fourth  broke  camp  and  cross- 
ing the  Chain  Bridge,  first  stepped  foot  on  the  “ sacred 
I soil”  of  Virginia,  and  became  an  integral  part  of 
the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  so  soon  to  become  the 
object  of  deepest  solicitude  to  every  loyal  heart,  and 
destined  to  win  a place  in  history  second  to  no  army 
of  ancient  or  modern  times.  On  the  20th  of  Decem- 
ber occurred  the  brilliant  little  victory  at  Drainsville, 
which  was  won  by  General  Ord’s  brigade  (the  Third), 
but  the  Second  Brigade  marched  rapidly  to  its  sup- 
port, but  arrived  too  late  to  take  part  in  the  action. 

In  the  spring  of  1862,  upon  McClellan’s  departure 
for  the  Peninsula,  the  Reserves  were  left  with  the 
First  Corps  under  command  of  General  McDowell ; but 
early  in  June  the  plan  of  the  campaign  was  changed; 
the  Reserves  were  detached  from  McDowell’s  Corps, 
and  ordered  to  proceed  by  water  to  White  House, 
and  thence  march  and  form  a junction  with  McClel- 
lan’s army.  The  Fourth  reached  the  vicinity  of 
Mechanicsville  on  the  20th  of  June,  and  on  the  26th 
a severe  battle  was  fought.  In  this  engagement  the 
Fourth  was  held  in  reserve,  and  although  not  actively 
engaged,  was  under  fire  during  the  entire  battle. 
During  the  night  following  the  division  was  with- 
drawn to  Gaines’  Mill,  when  the  next  day  the  rebel 
army,  sixty  thousand  strong,  commanded  by  its 
most  skillful  and  trusted  generals,  attacked  the  single 
corps  of  Fitz-John  Porter.  In  this  engagement 
McCall’s  division  was  held  in  reserve  until  three 
o’clock  p.  M.,  when  it  was  ordered  in  and  imme- 
diately became  desperately  engaged.  The  Fourth, 
supporting  Duryea’s  Zouaves,  drove  the  enemy  from 
the  woods,  after  which  it  was  ordered  to  the  extreme 
left,  where  it  charged  the  rebel  line ; but  they  were 
met  by  the  overwhelming  numbers  of  the  enemy  and 
were  forced  to  fall  back  with  much  loss. 

Following  on  the  heels  of  this  desperate  engage- 
ment came,  on  the  30th,  the  battle  of  Charles  City 
Cross-Roads,  that  was  to  prove  to  the  Fourth  even 
more  desperate  and  bloody.  The  Fourth  was  posted 
in  the  front  line  on  the  right,  in  support  of  Randall’s 
battery.  General  McCall  says  in  his  official  report : 
“ The  most  determined  charge  of  the  day  was  made 
upon  Randall’s  battery  by  a full  brigade,  advancing 


in  wedge  shape,  without  order,  but  with  a wild  reck- 
lessness that  I never  saw  equalled.”  After  referring 
to  other  charges  that  had  been  made  by  single  regi- 
ments upon  Cooper's  and  Kern’s  batteries,  which  had 
been  gallanted  repulsed,  the  general  continues : “A 
like  result  appears  to  have  been  anticipated  by  Ran- 
dall’s battery,  and  the  Fourth  Regiment  (as  was 
subsequently  reported  to  me)  was  requested  not  to 
advance  between  the  guns,  as  I had  ordered,  as  it 
interfered  with  the  cannoneers,  but  to  let  the  battery 
deal  with  them.  Its  gallant  commander  did  not 
doubt,  I am  satisfied,  his  ability  to  repel  the  attack, 
and  his  guns  fairly  opened  lanes  in  the  advancing 
hosts.”  But  nothing  daunted,  the  rebel  column 
closed  up,  and  with  trailed  arms  came  on  at  a run  to 
the  very  muzzles  of  the  guns,  where  they  pistoled 
and  bayoneted  the  cannoneers  and  attacked  their 
supports  (the  Fourth)  with  such  fury  and  in  such 
overwhelming  numbers  that  they  were  broken  and 
thrown  into  confusion.  But  the  regiment  rallied  and 
held  their  ground  with  the  most  determined  ob- 
stinacy. General  McCall,  continuing,  says  ; “ It  was 
here  my  fortune  to  witness,  between  those  of  my  men 
who  stood  their  ground  and  rebels  who  advanced, 
one  of  the  fiercest  bayonet  fights  that  perhaps  ever 
occurred  on  this  continent.  Bayonets  were  crossed 
and  locked  in  the  struggle;  bayonet  wounds  were 
freely  given  and  received.  I saw  skulls  crushed  by 
the  heavy  blow  of  the  butt  of  the  musket,  and,  in 
short,  the  desperate  thrusts  and  parries  of  a life-and- 
death  encounter,  proving  indeed  that  Greek  had  met 
Greek  when  the  Alabama  boys  fell  upon  the  sons  of 
Pennsylvania.” 

The  enemy  was  successfully  held  in  check,  and 
during  the  night  the  Reserves  retired  to  Malvern 
Hill.  During  the  battle  that  followed  McCall’s 
division  was  held  in  reserve  and  was  not  called  into 
action.  The  casualties  in  the  Fourth  Regiment, 
during  the  seven  days  of  battle,  were  upward  of  two 
hundred.  But  weary  marches  and  fierce  fighting 
were  still  in  store  for  the  Fourth  before  the  begin- 
ning of  a new  year.  From  Malvern  Hill  to  Harri- 
son’s Landing,  to  the  Rapidan,  to  the  plains  of 
Manassas  it  marched,  and  here,  on  the  29th  and  30th 
of  August,  it  again  met  the  enemy  at  the  second 
battle  of  Bull  Run,  where  the  Reserves  were  under 
the  command  of  General  John  F.  Reynolds — Gen- 
eral McCall  having  resigned.  On  the  14th  of  Sep- 
tember the  Fourth  again  encountered  the  enemy  at 
South  Mountain  and  was  heavily  engaged,  that 
battle  resulting  in  the  retreat  of  the  enemy.  On  the 
evening  of  the  16th  the  Reserves  crossed  Antietam 
creek,  with  the  Fourth  in  the  advance,  and  opened 
that  important  and  bloody  battle.  They  slept  that 
night  on  the  ground  where  they  fought,  and  at  day- 
break renewed  the  battle,  which  raged  with  great 
fury  for  five  hours,  when  the  Reserves  were  relieved. 
The  enemy  retreated,  leaving  substantial  evidence 
of  victory  in  the  hands  of  the  Union  army.  At  the 


216 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


battle  of  Fredericksburg,  on  the  13th  of  December, 
the  Fourth  held  the  right  of  the  second  line  in  the 
memorable  charge  of  the  “Pennsylvania  Reserves” 
on  Marye’s  Heights,  when  they  broke  through  the 
enemy’s  lines,  carried  the  summit,  which  was  the 
key  to  his  position,  but  failing  of  support,  they  were 
forced  to  retire.  The  casualties  in  the  Fourth  Regi- 
ment during  these  series  of  battles  exceeded  one 
hundred  and  twenty-five. 

On  the  8th  of  February  1863,  the  Reserves,  now 
greatly  reduced  by  active  service,  were  ordered  to  the 
defences  of  Washington  to  rest  and  recruit.  Here 
the  Fourth  remained,  engaged  in  various  duties, 
until  the  6th  of  January,  1864,  when  it  was  ordered 
to  duty  in  West  Virginia.  Of  its  subsequent  honor- 
able service  we  shall  make  mention  in  the  brief 
history  which  follows  of 

Company  H. — The  w'riter  is  indebted  for  such  facts 
in  relation  to  Company  H as  are  not  found  in  the 
“ official  ” records  to  a very  complete  and  compre- 
hensive history  of  the  company,  published  a few 
years  since,  compiled  by  Mrs.  M.  H.  France,  and  of 
which  Sergeant  M.  H.  Van  Scoten,  of  Auburn,  is 
historian.  We  have  before  alluded  to  the  fact  that 
the  company  was  the  army  family,  and  companies, 
like  families,  often  had  family  secrets.  It  must  not 
be  inferred  from  this  that  Sergeant  Van  Scoten  dis- 
closed any  family  secrets  in  his  history.  We  wish 
that  space  allowed  us  to  quote  copiously  from  this 
work ; but  we  have  only  place  for  such  facts  as 
bear  upon  the  military  record  of  Company  H,  and 
the  men  who  made  it. 

Shortly  after  Governor  Curtin  had  issued  his  call 
for  men  to  compose  the  “ Reserve  Corps,”  heretofore 
alluded  to,  E.  B.  Gates,  of  Dimock,  applied  to  and 
received  authority  from  the  Governor  to  recruit  a 
company  for  the  corps.  He  was  materially  aided  in 
this  undertaking  by  George  W.  Crandall,  of  Liberty, 
and  other  patriotic  citizens,  many  of  whom  became 
members  of  the  companjq  and  June  11, 1861,  eighty- 
five  men  assembled  at  Montrose,  who  not  only  rep- 
resented more  than  half  of  the  towns  in  our  county, 
but  its  intelligence  and  the  patriotic  loyalty  of  its 
citizens.  On  the  13th  they  left  Montrose,  via  the 
Delaware,  Lackawanna  and  W estern  Railroad,  for  Eas- 
ton, where,  after  passing  a rigid  medical  examination, 
they  were,  on  the  20th,  mustered  into  the  State  ser- 
vice. The  company  had  previously  organized  by 
electing  E.  B.  Gates,  captain  ; George  W.  Crandall, 
first  lieutenant;  and  Edwin  Rogers,  second  lieu- 
tenant, and  its  “muster”  roll  showed  an  aggregate  of 
seventy-five  men.  Its  assignment  as  Company  H,  of 
the  Fourth  Regiment,  has  already  been  alluded  to, 
and  the  history  of  the  movements  of  the  company, 
its  marches  and  battles  up  to  Jan.  6, 1864,  would  only 
be  a repetition  of  the  Fourth  Regiment’s  history 
already  given. 

On  the  15th  of  October,  1861,  Lieutenant  Crandall, 
on  account  of  failing  health,  resigned  and  returned 


home,  and  Lieutenant  Rogers  was  promoted  to  first 
lieutenant.  Lieutenant  Crandall  afterwards  re-en- 
listed and  became  captain  of  Company  A,  One  Hun- 
dred and  Fifty-first  Pennsylvania  Volunteers.  On 
the  16th  the  first  death  in  the  company  occurred — 
that  of  Samuel  Hathaway,  and  on  the  29th  Edwin 
Bennett  died  in  the  hospital  at  Washington.  On  the 
2d  of  November  Lieutenant  Rogers,  on  account  of 
continued  ill  health,  resigned.  He  was  a native  of 
Brooklyn,  and  died  before  the  close  of  the  war.  His 
memory  is  cherished  and  preserved  by  “ Lieutenant 
Rogers”  Post,  G.  A.  R.,  of  that  town.  The  resigna- 
tion of  Lieutenant  Rogers  left  Company  H with  but 
one  commissioned  officer.  At  an  election  held  to  fill 
the  vacancies.  Sergeant  A.  T.  Sweet  was  elected  first 
and  Sergeant  Wm.  McGee  second  lieutenant.  “But,” 
says  Sergeant  Van  Scoten  in  his  history,  “General 
Meade  refused  to  recommend  Sergeant  McGee  for 
promotion,  having  a friend  in  Philadelphia — Wm.  M. 
Watmough — whom  he  desired  the  company  to  elect 
second  lieutenant,  that  he  might  have  him  on  his 
staff,  and  against  the  protests  of  the  company  they 
were  obliged  to  accept  him,  and  he  was  duly  commis- 
sioned.” 

At  the  battle  of  Charles  City  Cross-Roads  Captain 
Gates  was  struck  by  a piece  of  shell  that  shattered 
the  ankle  joint  and  necessitated  the  amputation  of 
his  leg.  He  was  discharged  from  the  service  Oct.  7, 
1862,  and  given  a commission  as  captain  in  the  Vet- 
eran Reserve  Corps,  which  he  held  for  eight  years, 
doing  duty  in  various  capacities  in  that  corps.  After 
his  discharge  from  the  service  he  returned  to  Dimock, 
where  he  resided  until  a few  years  ago,  when  he  went 
West,  where  he  is  now  permanently  located.  He  has 
been  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits  since  his  dis- 
charge from  the  service.  In  the  spring  of  1863,  while 
the  company  was  in  the  vicinity  of  Washington, 
Lieutenant  A.  T.  Sweet  was  promoted  to  captain, 
Sergeant  T.  P.  Mills  to  first  lieutenant,  and  Private 
James  P.  Gay  to  second  lieutenant,  while  on  the 
non-commissioned  staff  M.  H.  Van  Scoten  and  C.  E. 
McCrackin  were  promoted  to  sergeants,  and  W.  J. 
Lawrence  and  J.  B.  Hinchman  to  corporals.  From 
the  history  of  Company  H we  learn  that  at  the  end 
of  two  years’  service  the  company  numbered  but 
thirty-three.  Seven  had  been  killed  or  died  of 
wounds,  five  died  from  disease,  three  were  discharged 
for  wounds  and  twenty  for  disability,  three  officers 
had  resigned  and  four  privates  were  “absent  without 
leave.”"  Jan.  6,  1864,  the  company  started  on  their 
West  Virginia  campaign  and  arrived  at  Martinsburg 
on  the  7th.  On  the  25th  thirteen  of  the  company 
re- enlisted  for  three  years  or  the  war,  and  as  twelve 
had  previously  re-enlisted,  this  made  twenty-five  vet- 
eran volunteers  in  Company  H.  Early  in  March 
following  those  who  had  re-enlisted  received  a “ vet- 
eran furlough  ” for  thirty  days  and  returned  to  their 
homes.  But  amid  friends  and  the  delights  of  home, 
how  swift  flew  the  days,  and  all  too  soon  came  the 


THE  REBELLION. 


217 


leave-tiikiugs  and  the  good-byes ! On  tlie  16th  of 
April  they  again  assembled  at  Harrisburg,  and  there 
found  that  twenty-one  recridts  had  joined  the  com- 
pany, all  from  Susquehanna  County,  and  many  of 
them  neighbors  and  acquaintances.  A few  days 
thereafter  they  received  transportation  and  rejoined 
their  regiment  in  West  Virginia. 

On  the  9th  of  May  occurred  the  battle  of  Cloyd 
Mountain,  which,  though  not  prominent  in  the  annals 
of  the  war,  was  a severe  and  desperate  engagement 
for  the  forces  that  participated.  The  Third  and 
Fourth  were  the  only  regiments  of  the  “ Reserves  ” 
sent  to  act  with  the  other  troops  in  this  campaign  in 
West  Virginia.  At  this  battle  the  two  regiments 
numbered  from  live  to  six  hundred,  and  had  nearly 
one  hundred  killed  and  wounded.  Colonel  Wool- 
worth,  of  the  Fourth,  fell  mortally  wounded  at  the 
head  of  his  regiment,  but  strange  to  relate.  Company 
H,  although  in  the  thickest  of  the  tight,  did  not  lose 
a man.  This  was  the  first  battle  of  the  new  recruits, 
but  their  unflinching  valor  on  this  occasion  proved 
them  worthy  to  belong  to  a company  of  “Old  Vets.” 

On  the  28th  of  May,  the  three  years’  term  of  enlist- 
ment of  the  Third  and  Fourth  Reserves  having  ex- 
pired, those  who  had  not  re-enlisted  were  ordered 
home  to  be  mustered  out,  while  the  “Vets”  and  re- 
cruits of  the  two  regiments  were  organized  into  a 
battalion  of  five  companies,  and  placed  in  command 
of  Captain  A.  T.  Sweet.  Thus  ended  the  service  of 
the  Fourth  Regiment  as  an  organization.  It  arrived 
at  Philadelphia  on  the  8th  day  of  June,  and  on  the 
15th  was  mustered  out.  We  will  now  briefly  follow' 
the  fortunes  of  the  “Vets”  and  recruits  of  Company 
H.  During  the  remainder  of  the  campaign  in  West 
Virginia  the  battalion  shared  in  all  its  battles  and 
terrible  marches,  at  one  time  being  without  food  and 
with  no  halt  for  rest  for  eight  days  and  nights.  On 
the  13th  of  July,  1864,  they  arrived  on  the  Upper 
Potomac,  above  Martinsburg.  Here  Captain  Sweet 
and  Lieutenant  Gay,  both  having  served  thirty  days 
beyond  their  three  years’  term  of  enlistment,  bade 
good-bye  to  their  comrades  and  proceeded  to  their 
homes. ^ Here  the  veterans  and  recruits  of  the  two 
“Reserve”  Regiments  w'ere  transferred  to  the  Fifty- 
fourth  Regiment  Pennsylvania  Volunteers.  On  the 
18th  the  company,  as  re-organized,  had  a short  hut 
severe  engagement  w'ith  the  enemy,  in  which  five  of 
the  original  members  of  Company  H,  including  Ser- 
geant Van  Scoten,  were  wounded,  two  or  three  of 
them  subsequently  dying  of  their  wounds.  They 
shared  the  disasters  and  triumphs  of  Sheridan’s  cam- 
paign in  the  Shenandoah  Valley,  and  late  in  Decem- 
ber they  proceeded,  via  Washington,  to  City  Point, 
on  the  James  River.  In  this  vicinity  they  passed  the 
winter,  and  March  25,  1865,  they  broke  camp  for  their 
last  and  final  campaign,  that  was  to  end  at  Appo- 
mattox. By  the  fortunes  of  war,  three  days  before 


the  final  surrender  of  Lee,  the  Fifty-fourth  Pennsyl- 
vania and  the  One  Hundred  and  Thirty-second  Ohio 
Regiments  were  captured.  We  would  like  to  recapit- 
ulate and  review  the  past;  we  would  like  to  mention 
the  survivors  of  this  company,  and  note  the  positions 
of  trust  and  honorable  citizenship  they  to-day  occu- 
py, but  we  have  only  room  for  their  names  and  their 
“official”  military  record,  which  follows: 


ABBREVIATIONS  USED. 


Acl.jt.,  Adjutant. 

Ab.,  Absent. 

Bur.,  Buried. 

Bvt.,  Brevet. 

Capt.,  Captain. 

Capt'd,  fiaptured. 

Ceni.,  (‘einetery. 

Cert.,  Certificate. 

Cliap.,  Chaplain. 

Cur.,  Corporal. 

Cum.,  Commissioned  or  Com- 
missary. 

Cav.,  (!avalry. 

Ch.,  Church. 

Bisch.,  Discliarged. 

Exp.,  Expiration. 

Enr.,  Eurlougli. 

G.  0.,  General  Order. 

Hus.,  Hospital. 

Lieut,  or  Lt.,  Lieutenant. 


Mis.,  Missing. 

Muc.,  Musician. 

Mus.,  Mustered. 

Pr.,  Promoted. 

Priv.,  Private. 

Pris.,  Prisoner. 

Regt.,  Regiment. 

Res.,  Resigned. 

Re.,  Re-en listed. 

Serv.,  Service. 

S.  0.,  Special  Order. 

Surg.,  Surgeon. 

Sergt.,  Sergeant. 

Tr.,  Transferred. 

Vet.,  Veteran  Volunteer. 

V.  R.  C.,  Veteran  Reserve 
Corps. 

Wd.,  Wounded. 

Wds.,  Wounds. 


The  date  following  name  indicates  date  of  muster  into  service. 


COMPANY  H,  FOURTH  PENNSYLVANIA  RESERVES. 

Mustered  into  service  Jane  18t31,  unless  otherwise  stated;  mustered  out 
June  17,  ISfp-l. 

Capt.  E B.  Gates,  wd.  June  30,  ’02,  at  Charles  City  Cross-Roads;  foot  am- 
putated ; discli.  Oct.  7,  ’02  ; recommissioned  capt.  of  Invalid  Corps, 
and  served  eight  years. 

1st  Lt.  Geo.  W.  Crandall,  res.  Oct.  15,  ’61  ; re.  in  Co.  C,  151st  P.  V. 

2d  Lt.  Edwin  Rogers,  pr.  to  1st.  It.  ; res.  Nov.  2,  ’61  (see  “ Rogers  Post, 
G.  A.  R.). 

1st  Sergt.  William  McGee,  honorably  disch.  July  1,  ’62;  re.  in  Co.  H, 
141st  P.  V. 


Sergeants. 

Horton  Ellis,  ab.  on  detached  service  at  mus.  out. 

A.  T.  Sweet,  pr.  to  1st  It.  and  capt. 

Theodore  P.  Mills,  pr.  to  1st  It.  ; disch.  by  S.  0.  at  expiration  of  term. 
William  E.  Gates,  disch.  Dec.,  ’62. 

Corporals. 

Marshall  II.  Van  Scoten,  tr.  to  Co.  E,  54th  P.  V. ; pr.  to  sergt.  ; wd.  at 
Snicker’s  Gap,  Va. , July  18,  '64  ; disch.  by  G.  O.  May  31,  ’65  ; vet. 
Wallace  E.  South  worth,  tr.  to  54th  P.  V.;  j)i*.  to  sergt;  captd ; died  in 
rebel  prison  ; vet. 

Charles  M.  Chapman,  wd.  and  captd.  at  Gaines’  I\tills,  Va.,  June  27,  ’62. 
Americus  M.  Murray,  tr.  to  54th  P.  V. ; pr.  to  sergt.  ; tr.  to  Invalid 
Corps ; vet. 

Elbert  L.  Blakeslee,  disch.  Dec.  31,  ’62. 

Privates. 

Anderson,  John,  tr.  to  54th  Regt.,  P.  V.  ; pr.  to  cor.  ; pris.  7 mo. ; disch. 
byG.  0.  May  31,  ’05  ; vet. 

Ackerman,  Newell,  Mar.  '64;  disch.  by  G.  O.  May  31,  ’65. 

Ackerman,  Stephen,  I\Iar.  ’64  ; died  in  ’64. 

Bennett,  Alex.,  killed  at  Gaines’  Mills  Juno  27,  ’62. 

Bennett,  Edwin,  died  Oct.  20,  '01. 

Beebe,  Stephen  K.,  disch.  Oct.  24,  ’62. 

Brown,  Bernard,  disch.  Nov.  18,  ’62. 

Buchanan,  Jackson,  Mar.,  ’04 ; disch.  by  G.  0.  I^Iay  31,  ’65. 

Brotzman,  George,  Mar., ’61  ; wd.  July  18,  ’61,  at  Lymdihurg,  Va.  ; 

disch.  by  G.  O.  May  31,  ’65. 

Cokely,  Jeremiah,  not  on  n»us.  out  roll. 

Corey,  IsaJicD.,  wd.  at  South  Mountain,  31d.,  Sept,  14,  ’02  ; tr.  to  54th 
P.  V.  ; disch.  by  G,  0.  Jlay  31,  ’65  ; vot. 


^See  personal  sketch  of  Captain  Sweet. 


218 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


Corey,  John  AV.,  tr.  to  54th  Regt.,  P.  V.  ; disch.  by  G.  0.  May  31,  ’65; 
vet. 

Carter,  Chat?.  A.,  Mar.,  ’64  ; was  in  35th  Regt , Pa.  ; in  3 mos.  service  ; 
wd.  twice  at  Winchester,  Va.  ; disch.  Jan.  19,  ’65. 

Corey,  Geo.  W.,  Mar.,  ’04 ; nuis.  out  with  Co.  July  15,  '65. 

Clapp,  Dennis,  Mar.,  ’64  ; disch.  hy  G,  O.  May  31,  ’05. 

Dailey,  Patrick,  not  with  Co.  at  mus.  out. 

Davidson,  Asa,  tr.  to  54th  Regt.,  P.  V.  ; mus.  out  with  Co.;  vet. 

Darrow,  H.  A.,  Mar.,  ’64  ; wd.  at  Lynchburg,  Va.,  July  18,  '04;  disch. 
by  G.  0.  May  31,  ’65. 

Ely,  Anson  T.,  killed  at  Fredericksburg  Dec.  13,  ’62. 

Frink,  William,  disch.  Aug.  25,  '02. 

Gay,  Calvin  S.,  wd.  at  South  Mountain,  l\Id.,  Sept.  14,  '02  ; re. ; vet. 

Gatliany,  John  S.,  tr.  to  54th  Regt.  P.  V.  ; disch.  by  G.  0.  May  31,  ’05  ; 
vet. 

Gay,  James  P.,  pr.  to  2d  It.  for  bravery  in  battle. 

Gray,  Wm.  II.,  tr.  to  54th  Regt.  P.  V.;  pris.  5 mos.  ; disch.  by  G.  0.  May 
31,  ’65  ; vet, 

Guernsey,  Silvester,  disch.  June,  '02. 

Gunsaliis,  Virgil  P.,  tr.  to  54th  Regt.  P.  V.;  mus  out  by  G.  0.  May  3, ’65 

Gates,  Chas.  S.,  Mar.,  ’64  ; pris.  4 mos.  ; disch.  by  G.  O.  May  31,  ’65. 

Hinclimaii,  Jas.  D.,  tr.  to 54th  Regt.  P.  V.  ; pr.  to  sergt.  killed  at  Snick- 
er’s Gap,  Va.,  July  18,  ’64  ; vet. 

Hall,  Aaron  J.,  disch.  June  15,  ’62;  re.  and  killed  in  front  of  Peters- 
burg, \d. 

Hathaway,  Samuel  0.,  died  Oct.  16,  '61. 

lloleiibeck,  Ezekiel  M.,  died  Mar.  10,  '62. 

Hickok,  Thomas  S.,  disch  in  '62  ; re.  in  Co.  H,  141st  P.  V. 

Higley,  De  AVitte,  died  Jan.  3,  '62. 

Hawley,  Daniel  E.,  Mar,,  '04  ; mus.  out  with  Co.  July  15,  '65. 

Kinyon,  Charles,  tr.  to  54th  Regt.  P.  V.  ; muc.  ; not  on  mus.  out  roll. 

Knowles,  John  AV.,  Mar.,  ’64  ; mus.  out  with  Co.  July  15,  ’05. 

Law'rence,  AVTn,  J.,  was  in  3 mos.  serv.  ; pr.  to  corp.  ; wd.  June  30,  ’62  ; 
tr.  to  54th  P.  V.  ; disch.  July  15,  '65;  vet. 

Larney,  Jos.  R.,tr.  to  54th  P.  V.  ; mus.  out  with  Co.  ; vet. 

Lasure,  liarouet  J.,  tr.  to  51th  P.  V.;  wd.  Oct.  15,  ’04  ; disch.  by  G.  0. 
May  31,  '05  ; vet. 

Lewis,  Llewellyn  G.,  tr.  to54tb  P.  V.  ; wd.  April  7,  ’65  ; disch.  by  G.  0. 
May  3,  ’65  ; vet. 

Luce,  Russell  S.,  disch.  April  1, ’02. 

Lewis,  Hanford  S.,  IRar.,  ’64  ; disch.  by  G.  0.  Blay  31,  ’65. 

McCracken,  Chas.  E.,  tr.  to  P.  V.  ; pr.  1st  It.  Co.  E,  54th  P.  V.  ; wd.  at 
Lynchburg,  Va.,  June  19,  ’64  ; i)r.  to  capt.  April  3,  ’65  ; not  mus.  ; 
disch.  by  G.  0.  May  31,  ’65  ; vet. 

McCracken,  Daniel,  was  in  3 mos.  serv. ; tr.  to  54th  P.  V.  ; pris.  4 mos.  ; 
disch.  by  G.  0.  May  31,  '65  ; vet. 

Osterhont,  Henry,  Mar., '64;  wd.  April  2,  ’65,  at  Ft.  Gregg,  Va.  ; in 
hos.  at  mus.  out. 

Ousterliout,  Philip,  Mar.,  ’04  ; w'd.  July  18,  ’64,  at  Snicker’s  Gap,  A’a. ; 
disch.  by  G.  0.  June  6,  ’65  ; died  from  effects  of  w^ound  7 years  after- 
wards. 

Paul,  Geo.  K.,died  June  29,  ’02. 

Perkins,  David  B.,  killed  at  Antietam  Sept.  16,  ’62. 

Reynolds,  Joseph  L.,  disch.  April,  ’63. 

Reynolds,  Philander,  disch.  April  31,  ’02. 

Riley,  Edward,  disch.  Ang.  25,  ’62. 

Stone,  Thos.  AV.,  killed  at  Gaines’  Mills,  June  27,  '02. 

Sherman,  Perry  C.,  killed  at  Charles  City  Cross-Roads  June  30,  ’62. 

Smith,  George  A\^,  wd.  and  capt’dat  Gaines’  Mills  June  27,  ’62  ; disch. 
for  wals. 

Smith,  John  L.,  tr.  to  54th  P.  V.  ; pr.  to  sergt.-niajor  ; mus.  out  with 
Co.;  vet. 

Smith,  Denmark,  died  May  1,  ’62. 

Smith,  Franklin  G.,  tr.  to  51th  P.  V,  ; mus.  out  with  Co.  ; vet. 

Smith,  Alfred,  not  with  Co.  at  mus.  out.  i 

Soarle,  Roger S.,  disch.  by  S.  0.  Blay  0,  ’62. 

Springer,  Tunis,  disch.  Aug.  25,  ’61. 

Simpson,  Stephen  G.,  disch.  in  ’61. 

Shaddock,  Thomas  E.,Mar.,  ’04  ; disch.  hy  G.  0.  May  31,  ’65. 

Stevens,  Jesse,  Mar.,  ’64  ; pris.  l inos. ; disch.  by  G.  0.  June  19,  ’65. 

Sw'ackhanimer.  Alden,  Mar.,  ’64;  died  in ’64. 

Truesdell.  John  W.,  tr.  to  54th  P.  V.  ; wd.  July  18, ’64,  at  Snicker’s 
Gap,  A'^a.  ; leg  amputated  ; vet. 

Tripler,  AATn.  K.,  disch.  Aug.  25,  ’61. 

AA’'arner,  Geo.  L.,  tr.  to  54th  P.  V.  ; not  on  mus.  out  roll  ; vet. 

Warner,  William,  not  on  mus.  out  roll. 


AVarner,  Dennis,  injured  at  Gaines’  Mills,  Va.,  June  27,  ’62;  disch. 

AVhite,  Slarshall,  tr.  to  54th  P.  V.  ; wd.  at  Snicker’s  Gap  July  18,  ’64  ; , 

died  in  Danville  prison,  Va. 

AVoodrulT,  George  E.,  tr.  to  54th  P.  V. ; disch.  by  G.  0.  May  31,  '65  ; vet. 
AV'oodward,  Lauriston  S.,  w'd.  at  Bull  Run  Aug.  29,  '62  ; tr.  to  54th  P.  V. ; 

disch.  by  G.  0.  May  31,  '65  ; vet. 

Youngs,  John  B.,  mortally  wd.  June  30,  '62 ; died  Aug.  25,  '62. 

Sixth  Pennsylvania  Reserves  (Thirty-fifth  ' 
Regiment). — The  companies  composing  this  regi- 
ment were  recruited,  one  from  each  of  the  counties  of 
Susquehanna,  Columbia,  Daujihin,  Tioga,  Snyder, 
Franklin,  Montour  and  AYayne,  and  two  from  the  j 
county  of  Bradford.  It  is  a remarkable  coincidence,  i, 
that,  although  recruited  in  different  sections  of  the  |! 
State,  six  of  the  ten  companies  were  organized  on  the 
same  day,  April  22,  1861,  and  this  included  the  com- 
pany from  this  county — the  “ Sus(]nehanna  Guards.” 
The  companies  rendezvoused  at  Camp  Curtin,  where, 
on  June  22d,  a regimental  organization  was  effected 
by  the  election  of  William  W.  Ricketts,  colonel ; 
William  M.  P«nrose,  lieutenant-colonel;  and  Henry 
J.  Madill,  of  Towanda,  major.  On  the  22d  of  July 
it  received  orders  to  proceed  to  AVashington,  where  it 
arrived  on  the  24th,  and  on  the  27th  was  mustered 
into  the  United  States  service.  Shortly  afterwards 
it  proceeded  to  the  camp  of  the  Reserve  Corps  at 
Tenallytown,  Md.  Here  it  was  assigned  to  the  Third 
Brigade,  commanded  by  Brigadier-General  Ord, 
which,  besides  the  Sixth,  was  composed  of  the  Ninth, 
Tenth  and  Twelfth  Regiments  of  the  Reserves. 

On  the  20th  of  December,  at  Dranesville,  the  Third 
Brigade  won  the  initial  victory  of  the  Reserves,  and 
thus  early  in  their  army-life  did  the  Sixth  go  forth  to 
battle  and  to  victory.  In  our  history  of  the  Fourth 
Regiment  we  have  recounted  the  transfer,  in  the 
spring  of  1862,  of  the  Pennsylvania  Reserves  from 
McDowell’s  corps  to  McClellan’s  army,  then  operat- 
ing on  the  Peninsula. 

The  Sixth  arrived  at  AVhite  House  on  the  14th  of 
June.  Here  much  alarm  existed  on  account  of  the 
cavalry-raids  of  Stewart,  which  threatened  destruc- 
tion to  the  vast  stores  here  accumulated  for  the  supply 
of  McClellan’s  army.  AVhen  the  Third  Brigade 
marched  to  join  McClellan,  the  Sixth  was  detailed  to 
remain  behind  for  the  delicate  and  responsible  duty  of 
guarding  this  important  base  of  supplies.  But  the 
advance  of  the  rebels  on  the  right-flank  of  the  Union 
army  rendered  AVhite  House  no  longer  tenable,  and 
hasty  preparations  were  made  to  evacuate. 

The  available  transports  were  laden  to  the  water’s 
edge  with  government  stores,  and  huge  piles  were 
burned  for  lack  of  transportation.  Five  comiianies 
of  the  Sixth,  under  command  of  Colonel  Sinclair,  were 
at  Tunstall’s  Station,  four  miles  from  AV'^hite  House, 
and  at  four  o’clock  on  the  afternoon  of  May  28th,  we 
received  orders  to  march  to  White  House  without 
delay.  On  the  way  he  was  twice  urged  forward  by 
orders  from  General  Stoneman,  and  finally  directed 
to  throw  everything  away  but  their  guns  and  cart- 
ridge-boxes, and  move  at  double-quick.  The  enemy 


THE  REBELLION. 


219 


followed  closely,  but  they  reached  the  landing  in 
safety  and  immediately  embarked — the  other  five 
companies  of  the  regiment  having  already  departed. 
From  White  House  they  proceeded  to  Harrison’s 
Landing,  arriving  there  the  1st  of  July.  That  night 
the  wagon  trains  from  McClellan’s  discomfited  army 
began  to  arrive,  and  towards  morning  brigade  after 
brigade  came  pouring  in.  A sad  spectacle  was  pre- 
sented as  the  worn  and  thinned  regiments,  just  from 
the  fields  of  the  Seven  Days’  battles,  many  not  larger 
than  a full  company,  came  toiling  in  through  the 
mud.  The  meeting  of  the  Sixth  with  its  comrades 
of  the  division  was  touching  indeed,  their  greatly 
reduced  numbers  enabling  the  regiment  to  fully 
realize  how  dreadful  had  been  the  late  contest  before 
Richmond. 

On  the  4th  the  Sixth  was  transferred  to  the  First 
Brigade,  and  thus  became  associated  with  the  First) 
Second  and  Fifth  Regiments  of  the  Reserves.  From 
the  Peninsula  the  Sixth  moved  by  water  to  Acqnia 
Creek,  and  from  there  by  rail  to  Falmouth,  where  it 
arrived  on  the  16th  of  August.  In  the  sanguinary 
battles  of  the  28th,  29th  and  30th  of  August,  known 
as  the  Second  Bull  Run,  the  Sixth  was  hotly  en- 
gaged and  bore  a conspicuous  part.  While  gallantly 
charging  the  enemy  on  the  30th,  the  flag  of  the  Sixth 
was  shot  from  the  staff  while  in  the  hands  of  Major 
Madill.  It  was  instantly  taken  by  the  gallant 
Reynolds,  who,  holding  it  aloft,  dashed  along  the  line, 
the  wind  catching  it  as  he  turned  and  wrapping  it 
about  his  noble  form.  The  sight  inspired  the  men  of 
the  Sixth  to  deeds  of  greater  valor,  and  for  an  instant 
they  paused  in  the  midst  of  battle  and  gave  a 
tremendous  soul-stirring  cheer  for  their  commander. 
The  casualties  in  the  Sixth  during  these  three  bloody 
days  were  nearly  fifty. 

On  the  30th  of  August  Major  Madill  was  elected 
colonel  of  the  One  Hundred  and  Forty-first  Regi- 
ment, and  a few  days  thereafter,  took  leave  of  the 
Sixth,  not  without  many  regrets;  for  in  the  battle 
they  had  just  passed  through,  he  had  displayed  con- 
spicuous daring  and  gallantry,  and  had  won  the  con- 
fidence of  all.  The  Sixth  next  met  the  enemy  at 
South  Mountain  on  the  14th  of  September,  and  during 
the  engagement,  five  companies  of  the  regiment  had 
a fierce  encounter  with  the  Eighth  Alabama  Regi- 
ment, which  they  drove  in  confusion  from  the  moun- 
tain, but  with  the  loss  of  twelve  killed  and  forty-one 
wounded.  Scarcely  had  the  echoes  of  this  battle  died 
away  ere  the  Sixth  again  confronted  the  enemy  on  the 
memorable  field  of  Antietam.  Here  its  heroic  courage 
was  again  put  to  the  test,  and  nobly  sustained  ; its 
losses  in  killed  and  wounded  aggregating  one  hun- 
dred and  thirty-two.  But  the  day  of  its  greatest  trial 
had  not  yet  arrived.  Yet,  the  13th  of  December  came 
all  too  soon,  and  the  dawn  of  that  day  found  the 
Sixth  confronting  the  rebel  hosts  on  the  heights  of 
Fredericksburg.  The  charge  of  the  “Pennsylvania 
Reserves”  on  Marye’s  Heights  has  already  been 


alluded  to,  and  the  Sixth  fought  fierce  and  well,  as 
its  depleted  ranks  gave  sad  and  convincing  evidence. 
Its  colonel  was  borne  from  the  field  wounded,  and 
of  the  three  hundred  men  who  went  into  action,  one 
hundred  and  twenty-two  were  killed  and  wounded, 
and  nineteen  were  missing.  After  the  battle  the 
Sixth  went  into  camp  near  Belle  Plain  and,  excepting 
participating  in  Burnsides’  “mud  march,”  remained 
there  until  February  7th,  1863,  when  it  was  ordered 
to  Alexandria.  Nothing  of  moment  occurred  until 
the  25th  of  June,  when  it  joined  the  general  move- 
ment of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  in  the  memorable 
camimign  that  ended  at  Gettysburg.  The  Sixth 
reached  Gettysburg  at  two  o’clock,  P.  M.,  of  the  2d  of 
July,  and  made  a charge  from  Little  Round  Top. 
It  remained  on  the  field  that  night, and  on  the  morn- 
ing of  the  3d,  was  again  engaged,  and  in  a charge 
made  towards  evening  of  that  day,  it  captured  a 
number  of  prisoners  and  re-captured  a gun  and  five 
caissons,  and  relieved  a large  number  of  Union 
prisoners.  It  sustained  a loss  of  two  killed  and 
twenty-two  wounded. 

During  the  remainder  of  1863  it  had  several  en- 
counters with  the  enemy,  one  at  Bristoe  Station  and 
again  at  New  Hope  Church..  The  spring  cani|)aign 
of  1864,  opened  for  the  Sixth  hy  its  breaking  camp, 
April  29th,  and  marching  to  the  bloody  battle-fields 
of  the  Wilderness,  where  on  May  5th,  6th  and  7th  it 
was  actively  engaged,  contesting  with  determined 
obstinacy  every  incb  of  ground.  At  Spottsylvania, 
on  the  8th,  it  was  heavily  engaged.  On  the  10th  it 
made  two  determined  charges  upon  the  enemy’s 
works,  and  again  on  the  22d.  Its  losse.s  in  these 
engagements  were  thirteen  killed,  sixty-four  wounded 
and  nine  missing.  Constantly  upon  the  skirmish  and 
picket-line,  the  Sixth  met  the  enemy  on  every  field 
with  unflinching  courage.  On  the  22d  it  captured 
ninety  men  belonging  to  Hill’s  Cor|)s. 

At  length,  the  final  day  of  its  service  came,  and 
with  it  its  crowning  triumph  at  Bethesda  Church. 
The  Sixth  being  deployed  as  skirmishers,  was  at- 
tacked by  an  overwhelming  force  and  compelled  to 
retire.  It  then  threw  up  a rifle-pit,  upon  which  the 
enemy  impetuously  charged.  Reserving  its  fire  until 
the  foe  was  sufficiently  near,  it  poured  into  their 
ranks  a volley  which  inflicted  most  terrible  slaugb- 
ter.  Although,  but  about  one  hundred  and  fifty 
strong,  the  Sixth  captured  one  hundred  and  two 
prisoners,  and  buried  seventy-two  dead  rebels  in  tbcir 
immediate  front. 

After  three  years  of  service  in  camp  and  on  field, 
from  its  first  victory  at  Dranesville  to  its  final  brilliant 
success  at  Bethesda  Cburcb,  sharing  always  the  hard- 
ships and  j)rivations  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  as 
well  as  the  glory  which  clusters  around  its  name,  the 
Sixth,  on  the  1st  of  June  starlcd  for  Harrisburg, 
where,  with  other  regiments  of  the  Reserves,  it  was 
enthusiastically  received  on  the  (ith,  and  on  the  14tb 
was  mustered  out  of  service. 


220 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


Company  K. — This  company,  which  was  organized 
at  Susquehanna,  April  22,  1861,  was  largely  recruited 
from  the  borough  of  Susquehanna,  and  the  township 
of  Harmony.  J.  R.  McCauly,  of  the  latter  place, 
assisted  by  John  Shull,  David  Mason  and  J.  A. 
Bonawitz,  was  largely  instrumental  in  recruiting  the 
company.  It  left  Susquehanna  on  the  22d  of  April, 
1861,  for  Harrisburg,  and  was  known  as  the  “ Susque- 
hanna Guards,” — its  distinguishing  uniform  being  a 
red-flannel  blouse,  which  was  manufactured  and  given 
to  them  by  the  ladies  of  Susquehanna.  Upon  reach- 
ing Harrisburg  it  was  mustered  into  the  State  service, 
being  the  first  company  from  the  county.  Its  oflicers 
were  John  Shull,  captain  ; David  Mason,  first  lieuten- 
ant; and  J.  A.  Bonawitz,  second  lieutenant.  Captain 
Shull  was  a Virginian  by  birth,  and  had  served  in  the 
Mexican  war  from  April,  1846,  to  June  1847,  and  was 
a captain  in  the  Pennsylvania  militia  in  1834-51.  At 
the  time  of  his  enlistment,  in  1861,  he  was  a locomo- 
tive engineer. 

After  the  war  he  became  crippled  by  rheumatism, 
contracted  in  the  army  during  his  three  years’  service. 
He  died  in  1885,  near  Cowan,  Tenn. ; where  he  had 
resided  the  last  ten  years  of  his  life,  engaged  in  farm- 
ing. Lieutenant  David.  Mason  is  a well-known  resi- 
dent of  Susquehanna,  to  which  place  he  returned 
after  nearly  three  years’  honorable  service.  The 
present  whereabouts  of  Lieutenant  Bonawitz  are 
unknown. 

We  have  followed  the  fortunes  of  the  Sixth  from 
Dranesville  to  Bethesda  Church,  and  in  its  achieve- 
ments, its  toils,  and  its  triumphs,  no  company  in  the 
regiment  shared  more  fully  than  did  Company  “ K.” 
On  the  25th  of  December,  1863,  P.  L.  Norton,  who 
had  previously  been  promoted  from  orderly-sergeant 
of  the  company  to  commissary-sergeant  of  the  regi- 
ment, with  twelve  or  fourteen  more  of  Company  K, 
re-enlisted.  We  doubt  if  these  men  had  turkey  that 
day  for  dinner,  but  they  could  have  made  no  more 
valuable  Christmas-offering  upon  the  altar  of  their 
country.  Just  previous  to  the  muster  out  of  the  regi- 
ment, at  the  expiration  of  its  term,  the  veterans  from 
the  Sixth  were  transferred  to  the  One  Hundred  and 
Ninety-first  Regiment,  Pennsylvania  Volunteers, — 
those  from  Company  K,  forming  part  of  Company  E, 
of  that  regiment.  P.  L.  Norton  was  promoted  to 
first  lieutenant  of  that  company  June  6,  1864,  and 
to  captain,  December  3,  1864,  and  on  April  1,  1865, 
was  made  major  by  brevet.  George  W.  Belcher 
was  made  orderly-sergeant  of  the  company,  and  on 
November  1,  1864,  was  commissioned  first  lieutenant 
but  was  not  muslered,  being  a prisoner. 

It  was  the  misfortune  of  this  regiment  to  be  cap- 
tured, with  others,  on  the  19th  of  August,  1864,  while 
gallantly  defending  an  advanced  position  near  the 
Weldon  Railroad.  The  men  suffered  all  the  horrors 
of  Salsbury,  not  being  released  until  near  the  close  of 
the  war. 


COMPANY  K.,  SIXTH  PENNSYLVANIA  RESERVES. 

Mustered  into  service  A}wil  23,  1861,  unless  otherwise  stated ; mustered  out 

June  11,  18C4. 

Capt  John  Shull,  nius.  out  witli  Co. 

1st  Lt.  David  Mason,  disch.  on  surg.  cert.  March  25,  ’64. 

2d  Lt.  Jacob  A.  Bonawitz,  mus.  out  with  Co. 

1st  Sergt.  Perez  L.  Norton,  wd.  and  captd.  Dec  13,  ’62  ; pr.  to  com.  sergt., 
to  1st  Lieut.  Co.  E,  191st  Reg.  P.  V.,  June  6,  ’04  ; to  capt.  Dec.  3,  ’04  ; 
to  bv.  major  April  1,  ’05  ; mus.  out  with  Co.  June  28,  ’65  ; vet. 

1st  Sergt.  James  Riordan,  mus.  out  with  Co. 

SergeunUs. 

George  W.  Belcher,  tr.  to  Co.  E.  191st  Reg.  P.  V.  May  31,  ’64  ; captd.  at 
Weldon  Railroad,  Va.,  Aug.  19,  1804;  com.  1st  It.  Nov.  1,  ’04  ; not 
mus.  ; disch.  by  G.  0.  May  27,  ’05;  vet. 

Jas.  P.  Van  Gorder,  mus.  out  with  Co. 

Aug.  B.  Williams,  mus.  out  with  Co. 

Wm.  F.  Kresky,  May  29,  ’61,  wd.  in  action,  date  unknown  ; disch.  on 
surg.  cert.  Dec.  31,  ’62. 

Alexander  Ives,  tr.  to  Vet.  Res.  Corps  March  28,  ’64  ; vet. 

Isaac  W.  Day,  died  at  Richmond  of  w'ds.  reed,  at  Fredericksburg  Dec.  13, 
’62. 

Edward  Broeser,  not  with  Co.  at  mus.  out. 

Corporals. 

John  Connelly,  July  17,  ’01,  mus.  out  with  Co. 

Charles  Brock,  mus.  outuith  Co. 

Wm.  McKeever,  disch.  on  surg.  cert.  Nov.  3,  ’02. 

C.  J.  Harrington,  disch.  on  serg.  cert.  April  27,  ’62. 

Thomas  G.  Newman,  tr.  to  191st  Reg.  P.  V.  May  31,  ’04  ; mus.  out  June 
28.  ’05;  vet. 

A.  G.  Townsend,  died  Nov.  21,  ’01. 

H.  E.  Demander,  died  Jan.  2,  ’63,  of  wds.  rec.  at  Fredericksburg  Dec.  13, 
’62. 

Privates. 

Ackerman,  Newell,  disch.  on  surg.  cert.  Dec.  3,  ’62 ; re.  in  Co.  H,  4th 
Pa.  Res. 

Andenson,  Thomas,  di.sch  on  surg.  cert.  Dec.  12,  ’6?. 

Allman,  Isaac,  Oct.  8,  ’01 ; tr.  to  191st  Reg.  P.  V.  May  31,  ’04;  cajit’d  at 
Weldon  R.  R.,  Va.,  Aug.  19,  '04  ; vet. 

Andre,  Jeffei-son,  Oct.  8,  ’fd  ; tr.  to  191st  Regt.  P.  V.  May31,  ’04;  disch. 
Oct.  0,  ’04  ; exp.  of  term. 

Attwood,  Elijah,  Aug.  12,  ’01  ; tr.  to  2d  Vt.  Regt.  Sept.  20,  '01. 

Attwell.  Lucius  G.,  died  March  13,  ’02. 

Athony,  Stephen,  May  29,  ’01  ; killed  at  Spottsylvania  C.  H.  May  12, 
’04;  hur.  at  Wilderness  burial  groiiml. 

Belcher,  Oscar  L.,  mus  out  witli  Co. 

Bagley,  Daniel  B.,  tr.  to  Bat.  A,  1st  Pa.  Art.  Aug.  15,  ’02. 

Brown,  John  M.,  absent;  sick  at  mus.  out. 

Belcher,  Charles  T.,  disch.  on  surg.  cert.  Nov.  3,  ’62. 

Blanchard,  Ferri.s,  July  17,  ’61  ; disch.  on  surg.  cert.  March  28,  ’62. 

Babcock,  Charles  F.,  disch.  on  surg.  cert.  May  30,  ’62. 

Bronson,  James  M.,  July  17,  ’61  ; disch.  on  surg.  cert.  Jan  3,  ’63. 

Bowers,  George,  tr.  to  Co.  E,  191st  Reg.  P.  V.  ; pris.  from  Aug.  10,  ’64, 
to  March  12,  ’65  ; pr.  to  cor.  June  1,  ’65  ; mus.  out  with  Co.  June 
28,  ’65  ; vet. 

Blanding,  Osman  L.,  killed  at  Nashville,  Toim.,  April  17,  ’62. 

Brisbing,  Andrew,  May  20,  ’61 ; not  with  Co.  at  mus.  out. 

Banks,  Edward  S.,  not  with  Co.  at  mus.  out. 

Oallan,  John,  mus.  out  witli  Co.  June  11,  ’64. 

Comfort,  Isaac  L.,  disch.  on  surg.  cert.  Dec.  17,  ’62. 

Daffy,  John,  mus.  out  with  Co. 

Denning,  John,  tr.  from  R.  C.  ; mns.  out  with  Co. 

Dll  Buis,  Richard  C.,  disch.  on  surg.  cert.  Jan.  25,  ’62. 

Fitzmyer,  Albert,  mns.  out  with  Co. 

Fisher,  Iliram,  May  29,  ’61 ; not  with  Co.  at  mus.  out. 

Fitzgerald,  Michael,  wd.  at  New  Hope,  Va.,  Nov.  27, ’63 ; disch  on 
surg.  cert.  April  4,  ’64. 

Grotevant,  H.  H.,  July  17,  ’61  ; mus.  out  with  Co. 

Gregory,  Benjamin,  mus.  out  with  Co. 

Garinan,  Eldridge,  May  20,  '61 ; mus.  out  with  Co. 

Garvey,  Daniel,  disch.  on  surg.  cert.  Dec.  8, ’62. 

Garver,  Nicholas,  May  29,  ’61  ; tr.  to  Co.  E,  191st  Reg.  P.  V.  May  31, 
’64 ; capt’d  at  Tolopotomy,  Va.,  May  30,  ’(4 ; vet. 

Grotevant,  George  l\I.,died  Dec.  29,  ’62,  of  wds.  rec.  at  Fredericksburg, 
Dec.  13,  '62  ; bur.  at  Mil.  Asy.  Cem. 


THE  REBELLION. 


221 


Ilolgate,  Richard  H.,  May  2U,  ’Gl  ; mus,  out  with  Co. 

Hamilton,  James  W.,  May  20,  'Gl  ; disoh.  on  surg.  cert.  Aug.  2,  '01. 
Hawkins,  Charles,  disch.  on  surg.  cert.  Jan.  8,  ’(52. 

Hoagland,  Charles,  July  17,  ’(51 ; disch.  on  surg.  cert.  Aug.  30,  ’(51. 

Hunt,  Warren,  killed  at  Hull  Run  Aug.  30,  ’(V2. 

Hendoi'son,  V.  F.,  July  17,  ’(51  ; killed  at  Fi'edorickshiirg  Dec.  13,  ’02. 
Hough,  Alonzo,  not  with  Co.  at  mus.  out. 

Illig,  Alexander,  disch.  on  surg.  cert.  Dec.  29, ’62. 

Kay,  CJenrge,  mus.  out  with  Co. 

Lewis,  Sidney,  disch.  on  surg.  cert.  Aug.  20,  '(52. 

Larrabee,  Melvin,  July  17,  ’01 ; disch.  on  surg.  cert.  Feb.  9,  ’03 
Lydon,  Michael  J.,  not  with  Co.  at  mu.s.  out. 

Martin,  John  D , pris  from  May  30,  ’04,  to  April  20,  ’65  ; disch.  June  0, 
’05. 

Maynard,  David  P.,  disch,  on  surg.  cert.  Aug.  2,  ’02. 

Moynahan,  John  A.,  pr.  to  hos.  steward,  date  unknown  ; regular  army 
vet. 

Mathewson,  Charles,  <lisch,  on  surg.  cert.  Aug.  20,  ’01. 

Millins,  Luman  S.,  died  March  9,  '03,  of  wds  rec’d  at  Antietam,  Sept.  17, 
’02. 

Morris,  Joseph  B.,  killed  at  Fredericksburg  Dec.  13,  '62. 

Pope,  Charles  L.,  ab.sent ; sickatnuis.  out. 

Pennell,  William,  mus.  out  witi»  Co. 

Parrish,  William  A.,  mus.  out  with  Co. 

Purdy,  Ahrain,  May  29,  't>l  ; tr.  to  Co.  E,  191st  Reg.  P.  Y May  31,  ’04. 
Ritter,  John,  disch.  on  surg.  cert.  March  11,  ’02. 

Remmele,  John,  disch.  on  surg.  cert.  Dec.  8,  ’02. 

Rotharmel,  Jacob,  ()ct.  8,  ’61  ; disch.  on  surg.  cert.  May  14,  ’03. 

Radinan,  Theodore,  Oct.  8,  ’01  ; tr.  to  Co.  E,  191st  Keg.  P.  V.  ; capt’d  at 
Weldon  R.  R.,  Va , Aug.  19,  ’(H. 

Streetan,  Patrick,  mus.  out  with  Co. 

Seigler,  Samuel,  tr.  from  V.  R.  C.  ; mus.  out  with  Co.  June  11,  ’04. 

St.  Clair,  George  W.,  disch.  on  surg.  cert.  Jan.  8, ’02. 

Shafer,  Stoughton  P.,  May  29,  ’01  ; disch.  on  .snrg.  cert.  April  27,  ’02. 
Shunk,  Jacob,  May  29,  ’61  ; disch.  on  surg.  cert.  Jan.  5,  ’62. 

Scranton,  Oliver,  disch  on  surg.  cert.  Feb.  24,  ’62. 

Sims,  Robert  F.,  May  29,  ’01 ; tr.  to  Co.  E,  191st  Reg.  P.  V.  May  31,  ’(j4  ; 

capt’d,  died  in  Salisbury  prison,  N.  C.,  Feb.  13,  ’05  ; vet. 

Sloat,  Urbane,  July  17,  ’01 ; tr.  to  Co.  E,  191st  Reg.  P.  V.  May  31,  '04  ; 

mus.  out  with  Co.  June  28,  ’65  ; vet. 

Slawson,  Henry  D.,  killed  at  Fredericksburg  Dec.  13,  ’02. 

Tracy,  Frank  M.,  tr.  to  Co.  E,  191st  Reg.  P.  V.  ; wd.  at  Sputtsylvania  0. 

H.,  Va.,  May  12,  ’04 ; ah.  in  hos.  at  mus.  out  ; vet. 

Tanner,  Gaylord  C.,  killed  at  Antietam  Sept.  17,  ’02. 

Tinsman,  Henry,  not  with  Co.  at  mus.  out. 

Ulrich,  Philip,  mus.  out  with  Co. 

Underwood,  A.  E.,  disch.  on  surg.  cert.  Jan.  7,  ’62. 

Utter,  Calvin,  July  17,  ’61  ; tr.  to  Battery  C,  5th  U.  S.  Art.  Dec.  20, ’02. 
Van  Dusen,  Granto,  July  17,  ’Gl ; disch.  on  snrg  cert.  Aug.  30,  ’01. 
Warner,  E.  D.,  disch.  on  surg.  cert.  Aug.  2,  ’01. 

Walker,  Charles  N.,  Aug.  — , '61  ; disch.  on  surg.  cert.  Ang.  7,  ’01. 
Webster,  Isaac  D.,  disch.  on  surg.  cert.  Nov.  18,  ’02. 

Young,  David,  pris.  from  May  30,  to  Nov.  19,  ’04  ; disch.  Nov.  25,  ’64. 

Fourteenth  Reserves,  First  Artillery  (For- 
ty-third Regiment). — This  was  the  artillery  regi- 
ment of  the  Pennsylvania  Reserve  Corps,  and  was 
composed  of  eight  batteries, — A,  B,  C,  D,  E,  F,  G 
and  H.  The  men  composing  these  batteries  were 
recruited  from  all  sections  of  the  State.  Susquehanna 
County  furnished  more  thaji  one  luindrcd  men  for 
this  regiment,  who  principally  enlisted  in  Batteries 
A,  F and  H.  May  29th,  1861,  a regimental  organ- 
ization was  effected,  and  early  in  August  the  regi- 
ment was  ordered  to  Wasliington.  As  fast  .as  tlie 
batteries  were  armed  and  equipped,  they  moved  to 
Camp  Barry,  east  of  the  Capitol,  from  which  camp 
the  several  batteries  were  assigned  to  different  divis- 
ions and  corps  of  the  army,  and  never  came  together 
again  as  a regiment. 

Battery  A. — This  battery,  known  as  Easton's  Bat- 
tery, was  principally  recruited  at  Chambersburg  by 


Captain  Hezekiah  Easton,  and  after  his  death  was 
commanded  respectively  by  Captains  Simpson  and 
Stitt.  In  1861  twelve  men  from  Susquehanna  County 
joined  it,  and  in  1864  about  twenty  more.  Battery  A 
was  the  first  of  the  “Reserve”  artillery  to  meet  the 
enemy,  it  participating  with  the  Third  Brigade  in 
the  battle  of  Dranesville,  December  20,  1861.  The 
fine  artillery  practice  then  displayed  by  Easton’s 
Battery  was  such  as  to  elicit  commendation  from 
General  McCall  in  his  official  report.  On  the  27th 
of  June,  1862,  at  G.aines’  Mills,  while  the  battery  was 
hotly  engaged  with  the  enemy,  in  a sudden  emer- 
gency, the  regiment  of  infantry  siqiporting  it  was 
withdrawn  to  another  part  of  the  field. 

The  enemy,  seeing  its  exposed  position,  imme- 
diately charged  upon  it.  Under  cover  of  a cavalry 
charge,  the  guns  were  attempted  to  be  withdrawn  ; 
hut  the  charge  was  repulsed  by  the  terrible  infantry 
fire  of  the  enemy,  aiid  the  cavalry  came  pouring 
through  the  battery,  carrying  with  them  to  the  rear 
all  the  available  teams  and  limbers.  The  enemy, 
yelling  like  demons,  rushed  boldly  to  the  guns,  now 
left  without  ammunition,  crying  out  to  Captain  Easton 
and  the  brave  men  who  stood  by  him,  to  surrender. 
His  reply,  never  to  be  forgotten  by  his  comrades 
who  clustered  about  him,  was;  “No!  we  never  sur- 
render!” Alas!  the  next  moment  that  voice  was 
hushed  in  death.  He  fell  beside  Ids  guns;  none 
were  left  to  surrender  them. 

The  battery  was  reorganized  and  received  new 
gnus  upon  the  arrival  of  tlie  army  at  Harrison’s 
Landing.  It  participated  in  the  battles  of  Bull  Run, 
South  Mountain,  Antietam  and  Fredericksburg,  ever 
maintaining  its  reputation  for  skill  and  bravery,  and 
during  the  last-named  battle  it  held  its  position  under 
a concentrated  fire  of  the  enemy’s  artillery,  marks  of 
Ids  shot  and  shell  being  visible,  after  the  engage- 
ment, on  every  gun  and  caisson.  Battery  A was 
afterwards  detached  from  the  Army  of  the  Potomac 
and  assigned  to  what  was  known  as  the  Army  of 
Virgiida  or  Army  of  the  James;  and  while  with  this 
command  it  operated  on  the  Black  Water,  at  Deep 
Bottom,  Fort  Darling,  Seven  Pines  and  Petersburg. 
Upon  the  fall  of  Richmond,  under  command  of  Ca|>- 
tain  Stitt,  it  entered  the  fallen  city,  with  Weitzel’s 
Corps,  on  the  day  of  its  surrender.  It  remained  on 
duty  in  that  city  until  early  in  .Inly,  lS(!r),  when  it 
received  orders  to  turn  in  its  horses  and  guns  and 
proceed  to  Harrisburg.  Here,  on  the  2r>th  of  July, 
1865,  after  four  years  and  four  months  of  service,  it 
w.as  mustered  out. 

Battery  1<\ — This  battery  was  recruited  principally 
from  Schuylkill  County,  and  organized  witli  Ezra 
W.  Mathews  as  captain.  Upon  Ids  promotion  as 
major  of  the  regiment,  R.  Brnce  Ricketts  succeeded 
to  the  command,  who  in  turn  was  promoted  to  major, 
when  .Tohn  F.  Campbell  was  commissioned  captain, 
and  commanded  the  battery  during  the  remainder  of 
its  term  of  service.  In  the  sj)ring  of  1861,  twenty- 


222 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


one  men,  a majority  of  whom  were  from  the  town- 
ship of  Jackson,  enlisted  with  T.  LeRoy  Case,  and 
joined  Battery  F.  When  tlie  battery  was  organized, 
Mr.  Case  was  made  second  lieutenant,  and  eight  of 
the  other  Su.squehanna  County  “boys”  were  placed 
on  the  non-commissioned  staff  of  the  battery.  When 
it  is  called  to  mind  that  nearly  three  hundred  and 
fifty  men  were  borne  upon  the  roll  of  this  battery,  it 
was  no  small  compliment  to  the  men  from  our  county 
to  be  thus  selected.  From  the  cam2'>  of  the  Reserves 
at  Tenallytown,  Battery  F was  ordered,  on  the  12th 
of  September,  18(51,  to  join  General  Banks’  command 
at  Darnstown,  Md.,  and  was  never  afterwards  in  any 
way  connected  with  the  regiment  or  the  Reserves. 
On  the  20th  of  December  a section  of  the  battery, 
under  command  of  Lieutenant  Ricketts,  had  an  en- 
gagement with  a body  of  the  enemy’s  artillery  and 
cavalry. 

In  the  latter  part  of  February,  1862,  the  battery 
was  furnished  with  new  guns  (six,  three-inch  rifled) 
and  new  equipments.  The  battery,  on  the  1st  of 
March,  started  with  Banks’  advance  up  the  Shenan- 
doah Valley,  and  had  frequent  engagements  with  the 
enemy,  the  more  imijortant  being  Cedar  Mountain 
and  the  spirited  engagement  had  with  the  enemy’s 
artillery  when  Pope  withdrew  his  forces  across  the 
Rappahannock.  In  the  latter,  the  battery  had  two 
guns  disabled,  and  Lieutenant  Godbald  was  struck 
by  a ))ercussion  shell,  and  from  the  effects  of  the 
wound  he  soon  after  died.  At  the  second  battle  of 
Bull  Run,  August  30,  1863,  the  battery  was  posted 
near  the  Henry  House.  On  the  afternoon  of  that 
day  Lieutenant  Case  was  ordered,  with  one  section 
(two  guns),  to  report  to  General  Stevens,  leaving 
Lieutenant  Brockway  alone  with  his  section,  the  two 
disabled  guns  not  having  been  repaired.  A fierce 
cannonade  ensued;  but  the  troops  sujjporting  the 
battery  being  withdrawn,  it  was  moved  to  a new  po- 
sition. But  the  enemy  gained  jjo.ssession  of  the  Sudly 
Spring  Road,  the  only  avenue  of  esca2ie,  and  the 
guns  were  lost.  Another  gun  was  placed  under 
Lieutenant  Brockway,  with  orders  to  “fill  the  chest 
with  ammunition,”  and  at  dusk  he  was  directed  by 
General  Heintzleman  to  “hold  the  position  until  fur- 
ther orders  and  kee2>  up  a steady  fire  in  the  direction 
of  the  enemy.”  Su232)osing  he  was  to  be  su2q>orted, 
he  continued  his  fire  until  suddenly  he  was  charged 
upon  by  the  enemy,  who  came  swarming  on  all  sides. 
Much  to  the  chagrin  of  the  rebel  commander,  this 
bold  charge  of  the  enemy’s  hosts  resulted  in  the  cap- 
ture of  one  gun  and  caisson  and  eight  men.  “ It  was 
intended,’’  said  Lieutenant  Brockway  afterwards, 
“that  we  should  hold  the  hill  until  killed  or  cap- 
tured, while  the  army  retreated  across  Bull  Run. 
The  ruse  succeeded,  and  I afterwards  learned  that 
while  our  single  gun  was  booming  from  the  Henry 
House,  the  Bucktails  were  cutting  down  the  bridge 
across  Bull  Run.”  Only  one  gun  was  saved,  and  tbe 
remnant  of  the  battery  marched  all  night,  and  the 


next  day  reached  Centreville.  Here  the  guns  and 
horses  of  an  Indiana  battery  were  turned  over  to 
Captain  Mathews,  and  the  battery  was  partially  re- 
fitted. E.arly  in  September  Lieutenant  Case  was 
obliged  to  leave  the  b.attery  on  account  of  sickness, 
and  never  afterwards  returned,  being  honorably  dis- 
charged in  February,  1863.  On  the  17lh  of  Septem- 
ber, at  daylight,  Battery  F o2icned  the  battle  of 
Antietam,  being  posted  just  in  rear  of  the  cornfield 
which  has  become  historic.  During  this  engagement 
Captain  Matthews  had  his  horse  killed  under  him, 
and  this  was  the  fate  of  most  of  the  horses  of  the  bat- 
tery. The  battery  sustained  a loss  of  four  killed  and 
fifteen  wounded.  At  the  battle  of  Fredericksburg, 
December  13th,  it  was  engaged,  and  afterwards  went 
into  winter-quarters  near  Belle  Plain.  In  March, 
1863,  Ca2)tain  Matthews  was  2)i'omoted  to  major,  and 
Lieutenant  Ricketts  became  ca2itain  of  Battery  F.  At 
the  battle  of  Cbancellorsville,  May  1st  to  bth,  the 
battery  passed  through  another  baptism  of  fire,  and  in 
such  close  quarters  did  the  b.attery  fight,  that  grape 
and  cani.ster  w.as  almost  the  only  .ammunition  used. 
But  it  was  at  Gettysburg  that  “ Ricketts’  B.attery  ” 
won  fresh  and  Lasting  laurels.  It  was  upon  the  2>osi- 
tion  where  this  battery  was  posted  that  the  famous 
charge  of  the  Louisiana  Tigers  was  made.  It  was 
the  supreme  moment  of  that  terrible  and  memor.able 
battle.  On  rushed  the  maddened  and  yelling  rebels, 
and  into  their  ranks  the  b.attery  of  Ricketts  2>oured  a 
stream  of  canister  at  the  rate  of  four  discharges  a 
minute.  But  closing  up  the  g.a2)s,  the  determined 
enemy  .advanced  into  the  very  midst  of  the  bat- 
tery, when  a hand-to-hand  contest  ensued,  the 
men  of  the  battery  defending  their  guns  with 
h.and-S2)ikes,  r.ammers  and  stones.  At  this  critical 
moment  Carroll’s  brigade  came  to  the  rescue,  and  the 
enemy  retreated.  The  battery  was  engaged  in  a most 
ex2iosed  2>ositiou  on  the  following  day.  Its  losses 
were  nine  killed,  fourteen  wounded  and  three  taken 
prisoners,  while  more  than  forty  of  its  horses  were 
killed  or  dis.abled.  On  the  14th  of  October,  at  Bris- 
tow Station,  five  of  the  enemy’s  guns  were  captured, 
and  in  acknowledgment  of  the  2>art  taken  by  Ricketts’ 
battery,  it  was  selected  to  t.ake  the  captured  guns  to 
the  headquarters  of  the  commanding  general.  Early 
in  January,  1864,  more  than  one  hundred  men  of  the 
battery  re-enlisted,  and  were  granted  a veteran 
furlough.  During  the  cam2)aign  of  1864  it  partici- 
pated in  the  bloody  battles  of  the  Army  of  the  Poto- 
mac under  Grant.  At  the  Wilderness,  at  Cold  Har- 
bot,  at  Petersburg,  the  guns  of  Ricketts  belched  forth 
their  iron  hail.  In  the  final  campaign  it  bore  a con- 
s2Jicuous  part,  and  after  the  fall  of  Richmond,  April 
3,  1865,  was  sent  to  City  Point.  From  here  it  2Jro- 
ceeded  to  Washington,  where  its  guns  .and  horses 
were  turned  over,  and  from  there  to  Harrisburg, 
where,  June  10,  1865,  it  was  mustered  out. 

Battery  7/1— This  b.attery  was  recruited  principally 
in  the  city  of  Philade^Aia,  by  James  Brady,  who 


THE  REBELLION. 


223 


was  coiumisisioiied  its  captain,  but  alter  his  promotion 
to  major  of  the  rogiiuent  the  battery  was  command- 
oil  respectively  by  Captains  Fagan  and  Richards.  In 
the  early  part  of  1861  William  J.  Park,  of  Dimock; 
and  seven  more  Susquehanna  County  men  joined  the 
battery,  and  ui^on  its  organization,  Mr.  Park  was  made 
first  lieutenant.  In  1861  about  thirty  more  from  this 
county  became  members  of  the  battery.  Battery  H, 
soon  after  being  equipped,  was  assigned  to  the  artillery 
brigade  of  Buell’s  division.  On  the  10th  of  March 
1861,  the  battery  Avas  transferred  to  Couch’s  division 
of  the  Fourth  Corps,  with  which  it  remained  during 
the  Peninsula  campaign.  For  a month,  during  the 
siege  of  Yorktown,  the  batttery  was  actively  employ- 
ed. At  the  battle  of  Fair  Oaks  the  battery  was 
hotly  engaged,  and  after  it  had  exhausted  its  canister 
and  grape,  it  fired  Parrott  shells  without  fuse.  Alter 
the  battles  of  Charles  City  Cross-Rimds  and  Malvern 
Hill,  Battery  H,  with  others,  covered  the  rear  of  the 
army  on  its  retreat  to  Harrison’s  Landing.  When 
the  army  of  McClellan  returned  from  the  Peninsula, 
Battery  H and  Battery  E,  of  the  same  regiment,  was 
left  with  the  Fourth  Corps  at  Yorktown,  to  garrison 
that  post  and  Gloucester.  At  the  o[)ening  of  the 
Gettysburg  campaign  the  battery  was  ordered  to 
Washington,  and  I'rom  there,  on  the  1st  of  July, 
made  a forced  march  to  the  battle-field,  but  did  not 
arrive  in  time  to  participate  in  tliat  battle.  It  was 
again  ordered  to  Washington  and  placed  on  duty  as  a 
reserve  battery  at  Cami)  Barry.  In  May,  1861,  Bat- 
tery H was  dismounted  in  common  with  other  volun- 
teer batteries,  and  placed  in  the  defences  south  of  the 
Potomac,  being  stationed  at  Fort  Whipple.  It  remain- 
ed in  the  defences  of  Washington,  and  on  picket  duty 
at  Edwards’  Ferry  until  .lune,  1865,  when  it  was  order- 
ed to  Philadelphia  and  on  the  27th  it  was  mustered 
out  of  service. 

H.ATTERY  A,FIRSr  PU lYNSYLVANIA  RIIJJIT  ARTILLERY. 

Miisiered  into  service  29,  ISHl,  unless  otherwise  staled;  mustered  ont 

July  25,  1865. 

Sergt.  Will.  H.  Whitmar.sl),  Sept.  4,  '61  ; pr.  to  sergt.  Juiif  IG,  ’05  ; mus. 
out  with  battery  ; vet. 

Corp.  Geo.  W.  Beiinutt,  Sept.  7,  ’G1  ; wd.  at  Gains’  Mills  ; mus.  out  witli 
battery  ; vet. 

Corp.  Daniel  11.  Jlagloy,  July  27,  ’G1  ; pr.  to  cori).  June  16,  ’G5  ; mus.  out 
witli  battery  ; vet. 

Artilicer  James  lU.  Warner,  Dec.  1,  'G1  ; mus.  out  with  battery;  vet. 
Prirales. 

Barriger,  Simon,  Mar.  28,  ’Gl;  mus.  out  with  battci-y. 

Barriger,  Jonathan,  Aug.  5,  ’64  ; mus.  out  witli  battery. 

Ball,  Tlios.,  Mar.  25,  ’61 ; nui.s.  out  with  battery  ; vet. 

Bass,  Andrew  J.,  Sept.  5,  'Gl  ; died  Sept.  11,  '62,  at  Washington,  D.  C. ; 
bur.  in  Mil.  Asy.  Cem. 

Craft,  James  M.,  Sept.  4,  ’61  ; pr.  com.  sergt.  Juno  1,  '65  ; mus.' out  with 
regt.  July  10,  ’05;  vet. 

Case,  Marcus,  Mar.  28,  ’G4  ; mus.  out  with  battery. 

Churchill,  Carvarso,  Mar.  20,  'Gl ; not  on  muster-out  roll. 

Daniels,  Janies  II.,  Oct.  81,  ’Gl  ; mus.  out  with  battery  ; vet. 

Daniels,  Azarins  L.,  Mar.  24,  64  ; mus.  out  with  battery. 

Daniels,  Thos.  J.,  Mar,  24,  ’(J4  ; mus.  out  with  l)attery. 

Dutdier,  Geoi^e  D.,  Mar  9,  ’61  ; mus,  out  with  battery  ; vet. 

Green,  William  A.,  Mar.  28,  ’64;  capt’d  ; died  May  80,  ’65  ; bur. at  llioh- 
mond,  Va. 


Hardy,  M'ni.  W.,  Mar.  28,  '(M;  mus.  out  with  battery. 

Jayne,  David  P.,  Sept.  lU,  ’61  ; disch.  on  surg.  cert.  Dec,  5,  ’62. 

Michael,  Joseph,  Mar.  25,  ’G5;  disch.  May  25,  ’65  ; from  ’63  to  ’64  was 
member  of  14th  Conn. 

Osborn,  Charles,  killed  at  Aiitietani,  Md.,  Sept.  18,  ’02. 

Bought,  R'jfus,  Mar.  28,  ’64;  mus.  out  with  battery. 

Stark,  Grilhii  G.,  Sejit.  5,  ’61  ; dropped  from  roll  by  S.  0 Mar.  16,  ’62. 
Steinback,  Byron,  Sept.  10,  ’61 ; discli.  on  surg.  cert.  Doc.  17,  '61. 
SteiiJiens,  Addison,  Mar.  8,  ’64  ; died  at  Point  of  Bucks,  I\ld.,  ]\Iay  21  ’65. 
Tennant,  Frederick  M.,  Mar.  31,  ’64;  disch.  by  special  order  May  31,  ’65. 
Tennant,  Byron,  Mar.  31,  '61  ; not  on  muster-out  roll. 

Washburn,  Henry,  Mar.  30,  ’64;  mus.  out  with  battery. 

\\  escott,  J.  G.,  Mar.  28,  ’04;  mus.  out  with  battery. 

Weston,  William,  mus.  out  with  battery  ; vet. 

Whitney,  Newell  D.,  Mar.  25,  ’64  ; mus.  out  with  battery. 

Uhitmursh,  Frank  C.,  Aug.  5,  ’64  ; mus.  out  with  battery. 

BATTEllY  F,  FIRST  PENNSYLVANIA  LIGHT  AKTILLERA^ 
j)rnstered  into  service  July  8, 1861,  unless  otherwise  stid.ed;  mustered  out  June 
9,  1865. 

Second  Lieut.  Truman  L.  Case,  disch.  Feb.  4,  ’63. 

Sergeants. 

Smitii  L.  French,  mus.  out  with  battery  ; vet. 

Jlyrtm  Freuch,  killed  at  Gettysburg  (see  sketch  with  “ Myrou  French  ” 
IVst,  G.  A.  K.). 

Lee  Greenwood,  pr.  to  sergt. ; disch.  on  surg.  cert.  Jan.  13,  '63. 

Oscar  G.  Larrabee,  capt'd  at  second  Bull  Run  ; wd.  and  taken  jirls.  at 
Gettysburg;  mus.  out  with  battery  ; vet. 

Alfred  W.  Larrabee,  pr.  to  sergt.  ; wd.  at  second  Bull  Run  ; disch.  on 
surg.  cert.  I\lar.  5,  ’63. 

Corporals. 

Wm.  Patterson,  wd.  at  Bristoe  Station,  Vt.,  Oct.  11,  ’63  ; tr.  to  Batteiy 
G Mar.  26,  ’64  ; mus.  out  July  20,  ’64;  Exp.  of  term. 

Delos  D.  Bryant,  discli.  on  surg.  cert.  May  19,  ’62. 

Eliali  Eastman,  capt’d  at  secoiul  Bull  Run  ; pr.  to  cor.  ; tr.  to  Batteiy  G 
Mar.  26,  '64  ; mus.  out  July  2l,  '61 ; exp.  of  term. 

Privates. 

Dix,  Burton  W.,  mus.  out  with  battery  .lune  9,  ’65;  vet. 

Estabrook,  Whitmore,  disch.  on  surg.  cert.;  date  unknown. 

Fox,  Enoch,  died  Aug.  19,  ’61. 

French,  fllerritt  C.,  not  with  company  at  muster-out. 

Gates,  Maynard,  tr.  to  Battery  G IVIar.  26,  ’64;  mus.  out  July  20,  '64  ; 
oxp.  of  term. 

Galloway,  Aaron  B.,  Sept.  7,  ’61  ; disch,  on  surg.  cert.  Aug.  8,  ’62;  re. 
in  company  A,  151st  P.  V. 

Lake,  Velasco  0.,  wd,  at  battle  of  Wilderness  ; mus.  out  with  battery 
June  9,  ’65 ; vet. 

Larrabee,  J.  Wesley,  Feb.  3,  ’64;  mus.  out  with  batteiy  June  9,  ’05. 
IMattison,  Orrin,  disch,  on  surg,  cert.  Dec.  5,  ’Gl. 

Maynard,  David  P.,  Sept.  11,  ’61  ; disch,  on  surg.  cert.  Feb.  26,  ’62. 
Sweet,  Oney  F.,  Jan.  1,  ’Gl  ; wd.  at  Getfysburg  ; mus.  out  witli  battery  ; 
vet. 

Scott,  Raymond  T.,  mus.  out  July  16,  '64  ; exp.  of  term. 

Tiffany,  Bernard,  Aug.  I,  '01  ; disch,  on  surg.  cert.  Feb.  24,  '63. 

Tifi'any,  Henry  M.,  Deo.  11,  ’61  ; died  while  homo  on  furlough  Jan.  16, 
64  ; vet. 

Wells,  C.  M.,  Mar.  31,  ’64;  not  on  tho  muster-out  roll. 

BATTERY  II,  FIRST  PENNSYLVANIA  LIGHT  ARTILLERY. 

Mustered  into  service  July  8,  1861,  unless  otherwise  staled;  mustered  out 
June  27,  1865. 

First  Lioul.  William  J.  Park»*,  Aug.  1,  61  ; res.  Jan.  12,  '02. 

Sergt.  J,  W.  Throckmorton,  Aug.  5,  ’Gl  ; mus.  out  with  battery  June 
27,  1865  ; vet. 

Privates. 

Avery,  Addison. 

Avery,  David,  Mar.  25,  ’61;  mus.  out  with  battery. 

Brink,  Geo.  W , Idar.  25,  '64  ; mus.  ont  with  battery. 

Brink,  Calvin  D.,  Aug.  5,  ’61  ; not  on  muster-out  roll  ; vet. 

Buir,  Samiud  G.,  Mar.  26,  ’64;  mus.  ont  with  battery. 

Bronson,  James  F.,  Mar.  31,  '64;  mus.  out  w'ilh  battery. 

Bolles,  (9ms.  31.,  Aug.  29,  ’61  ; mus.  ont  July  3,  '65. 

Barrett,  Alonzo,  noton  muster-out  roll. 


224 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


Barrett,  Elias  II.,  not  on  niustor-out  roll. 

Curtis,  John  L.,  3Iar.  25,  'O-l ; nms.  out  with  battery. 

Clark,  Rufus  D.,  Aug.  5,  ’(51  ; not  on  iniister-oiit  roll. 

Doyle,  Theodore  W.,  Mar.  25,  ’G-i  ; imis.  out  witli  battery. 

Fowler,  AVilliam  IT.,  Mar.  26,  ’GJ;  nms.  out  witli  battery. 

Gregoi*y,  Warren  W.,  Aug.  2G,  ’G4  ; mus.  out  with  l)atteiy. 

Gregory,  Daniel,  Aug.  20,  ’G4  ; mus.  out  with  battery. 

Gates,  Nathaniel  IT.,  July  30,  ’G1  ; disch.  on  surg.  cert.  Oct.  IG,  ’G2. 
Grow,  Jas.  A. 

Grow,  A.  C. 

Hungerford,  Clark  E.,  I\Iar.  27,  ’G4;  tr.  and  pr.  to  colored  troops  3Iay  0, 
’G5. 

Hungerford,  John  R.,  Blar.  2G,  ’G4  ; pr.  to  It.  of  C(.»lored  regt.  ; date  un- 
known. 

Jackson,  John  W.,  IBar.  25,  ’(54;  imis.  out  with  battery. 

Lewis,  Geo.  W.,  Mar.  25,  ’G4;  disch.  IMay  30,  ’G5. 

McYey,  Seymore,  I^Iar.  25,  ’(54  ; mus.  out  with  battery. 

Moore,  Geo.  W.,  Nov.  27,  ’63  ; ab.  sick  at  muster-out. 

Mason,  Jonas,  Aug.  2G,  ’(13;  disch.  on  snig.  cert.  Aug.  18,  ’04. 

Norris,  Edw'ard  F.,  Aug.  5,  ’Gl  ; not  on  muster-out  roll. 

Reauch,  Henry. 

Shejilierdson,  Jarvis  E.,  Mar.  25,  ’(54  ; mus.  out  with  battery. 

Sweet,  Emerson,  Blar.  2(5,  ’(14 ; mus.  out  May  .30,  ’G5. 

Severson,  Edward  C.,  July  3((,  ’Gl  ; discli.  at  Fortress  lUonroe,  Ya.,  ’(53. 
Spencer,  Orville  T.,  July  30,  ’Gl  ; disch.  on  surg.  cert.  Oct.  22,  ’02  ; for 
wds.  received  at  battle  of  Fair  Oaks,  Ya. 

Taylor,  Francis  W.,  I'lar.  31,  ’G4  ; mus.  out  with  battery. 

Taylor,  Llewellyn,  Mar.  25,  ’64;  mus.  out  with  battery. 

Tennant,  Frederick  M.,  Mar.  31,  ’G4;  disch.  by  S.  O.  lUay  31,  ’65. 
Tiffany,  Thos.  W.,  IMar.  18,  ’G4  ; mus.  out  with  battery. 

Williams,  Benjamin. 

Williams,  Geo.  L.,  Dec.  1,  ’63;  mus.  out  with  battery. 

Williams,  Henry  B.,  Mar.  30,  ’64  ; mus.  out  with  battery. 

Williams,  Rmlolph,  Mar.  30,  ’64;  mus.  out  with  battery. 

Wallace,  Geu’go,  Mar.  25,  ’Gl;  mus.  out  witli  battery. 

Ward,  Ira,  Mar.  25,  ’G4  ; mus.  out  with  battery. 

The  following  were  also  nieinber.s  of  the  First 
Light  Artillery.  (For  letter  of  battery,  see  colunm 
of  “ Remarks.’’) 

Sergt.  Arba  Dimmock,  .lune  13,  ’01  ; Battery  D ; mus.  out  June  21,  ’G4, 
exp.  of  term. 

Sergt.  Alford  G.  Lewis,  Aug.  5,  ’61  ; Battery  D ; mus.  out  with  battery 
June  30,  ’65  ; vet. 

Privttles. 

Reeder,  Theodore  W.,  Sojit.  1,  ’G4  ; Battery  I)  ; mus.  out  June  21,  ’(55. 
Gates,  Charle.s,  Aug.  31,  ’(54;  Battery  G;  mus.  out  with  buttery  Juno 
20,  ’(55. 

Pickering,  Warren,  not  on  muster-out  roll. 

SutlilT,  Solomon,  Aug.  10,  ’02  ; Battery  B ; tr.  from  Co.  B,  143d  P.  Y. 

Dec.  28,  ’(53 ; tr.  to  battery  1 Mar.  25,  ’(55  ; mus.  out  June  9,  ’G5. 

Van  Horn,  Jackson  W.,  Mar.  23,  ’65  ; Battery  E ; mus.  out  with  battery 
July  20,  ’65. 

Larrabee,  Win.  H.,  Mar.  23,  ’C5  ; Battery  E;  not  on  muster-out  roll. 

Fiftieth  Regiment  Pennsylvania  Volun- 
teers.— The  Fiftieth  Regiment  was  reumited  one 
company  i'rom  each  of  the  Counties  of  Sus(pielianna, 
Lancaster  and  Luzerne,  two  companies  from  each  of 
the  Counties  of  Bradford  and  Schuylkill,  and  three 
companies  from  the  County  of  Berks.  It  was  organ- 
ized as  a regiment  on  the  25tli  of  September,  1861,  by 
tlie  election  of  the  following  officers  : Benjamin  C. 
Christ,  Colonel ; Tliomas  S.  Brenholtz,  Lieutenant- 
Colonel;  and  Edward  Overton,  Jr,,  Major.  The 
regiment  received  its  colors  from  the  hands  of  Gover- 
nor Curtin  on  the  1st  of  October.  The  prominent 
features  of  its  varied  and  houorahle  service  are  given 
in  the  following  brief  history  of 

Company  D. — One  Saturday  evening  in  the  middle 
of  June,  1861,  Frederick  Warner,  Benjamin  Lyons, 


Luke  Lyons  and  Thomas  Foster  called  upon  Dr.  G. 
Vi.  Dimock  and  said  that  they  had  decided  to  enlist 
in  the  army  and,  desiring  to  keep  together,  they  re- 
quested him  to  act  as  captain  and  proceed  to  raise  a 
comiiany.  At  first  Dimock  refused,  feeling  that  he 
liad  no  qualifications  for  the  position ; hut  September  6, 
1861,  he  locked  his  office  and  commenced  to  recruit  a 
company.  In  this  work  lie  was  ably  assisted  by  John 
C.  Foot,  J.  R.  Cornwall,  George  Doolittle  and  Ben- 
jamin Doolittle,  who  had  served  three  months  under 
Lincoln’s  call  for  seventy-five  thousand  men.  As 
they  had  been  drilled  they  were  of  great  assistance  at 
first.  Charles  Warner,  a West  Point  cadet,  drilled 
squads  of  the  boys  also.  September  24,  1861,  the 
company  arrived  at  Camp  Curtin  one  hundred  and 
twenty-five  strong,  being  tlie  largest  new  company 
that  marched  through  Harrisburg. 

When  the  hoys  left  Montrose  Hon.  Wm.  J.  Turrell 
made  a speech,  and  they  were  conveyed  to  the  depot 
in  carriages,  accompanied  by  many  of  the  citizens. 
Colonel  Gere  went  as  far  as  Harrisburg  and  assisted 
Captain  Dimock  in  selecting  non-commissioned 
officers  and  in  making  out  the  first  muster-roll.  The 
company  was  organized  by  electing  Gordon  Z. 
Dimock  cajitaiu,  John  C.  Foot  first  lieutenant  and 
B.  R.  Lyons  second  lieutenant.  Frederick  R.  War- 
ner was  the  first  orderly-sergeant.  They  were  mus- 
tered in  Monday,  September  26,  one  hundred  and 
one  strong,  as  Company  D,  and  attached  to  the 
Fiftieth  Regiment,  which  only  lacked  one  company, 
and  were  sent  to  Washington,  October  2,  and  en- 
camped at  Kalorama  Heights,  where  it  remained 
until  tlie  9th,  and  thence  moved  to  Annapolis.  From 
Annapolis  they  were  sent,  October  19,  on  board  the 
transport  Winfield  Scott,  to  Hilton  Head.  They  en- 
countered a fearful  storm,  a portion  of  Captain 
Dimock’s  thrilling  account  of  whicli  is  here  given  : 

“The  blue  sky  lowered  itself  down  and  grew  black. 
The  gentle  undulations  became  heavy  swells;  the 
swells  got  themselves  up  to  huge  billows ; the  soft 
breeze  increased  to  a strong  wind  ; the  wind  stiffened 
into  a fierce  gale.  Then  the  storm  came.  Such  a 
*storm ! * * * We  looked  back  and  saw  the  Governor 
lift  her  bow  toward  heaven  and  sink  stern  foremost 
into  the  ocean.  We  passed  the  Union,  saw  her  sig- 
nals of  distress  and  heard  her  cries  for  help.  In 
reply  the  Winfield  Scott  run  lier  flag  up  to  half-mast, 
with  the  union  down,  as  signal  of  her  own  distress, 
then  sped  on  without  waiting  to  witness  the  final 
catastrophe  of  her  consort.  She  went  rolling  and 
pitching  and  floundering  along  like  a tub  in  the 
water.  She  was  nothing  more  than  a tub  with 
wheels  attached  to  her  sides.”  The  guns  were  fired 
until  the  ammunition  was  exhausted,  then  thrown 
overboard.  “ A large,  heavy  wave  struck  the  side  of 
the  boat  careening  well  over,  carried  away  part  of 
the  wheel-house,  swept  over  the  hurricane  deck  and 
broke  the  connection  between  the  rudder  and  pilot’s 
wheel,  while  the  soldiers  were  clinging  to  the  extra 


THE  REBELLION. 


225 


guards  of  rope  which  had  been  thrown  around  the 
boat.  Levers  and  tackle  were  rigged  to  the  rudder 
and  managed  by  six  men  sitting  on  the  deck  on  each 
side.  The  harsh  sound  of  the  trumpet  heard  for  the 
first  time,  sent  a thrill  through  every  fibre  and  made 
every  soldier  feel  the  full  force  of  the  couplet, 

“ It  is  a fearful  thing  at  midnight  to  be  shattered  by  the  blast, 

And  hear  the  rattling  trumpet  thunder,  ‘ Cut  away  the  mast.’  ” 

By  the  dim  light  of  a lantern  the  masts  were  cut 
away,  and  were  borne  by  a gale  over  the  side  of  the 
boat,  into  the  ocean.  The  gunboat  “ Bienville”  hove 
in  sight,  but  every  boat  that  she  lowered  was  dashed 
to  pieces  against  the  side  of  the  vessel.  The  two 
boats  tried  to  lash  together,  but  the  first  big  wave 
parted  their  cables  like  two  strings. 

Attempts  to  rescue  having  failed,  the  soldiers  held 
a prayer-meeting  on  the  forward  deck.  Men  con- 
fessed their  sins  who  had  never  before  been  penitent; 
and  men  prayed  who  had  never  prayed  before. 
Sailors  tied  ropes  around  the  breasts  of  the  soldiers 
and  hung  a coil  of  it  upon  the  arm,  and  showed  them 
how  to  lash  themselves  to  anything  they  could  find 
that  would  float  them,  and  informed  them  that  the 
boat  would  sink  in  two  hours.  All  stood  dumb  with 
consternation.  Company  D grasped  each  other’s 
hands  in  silence.  One  of  the  number  was  missing. 
Search  was  made  everywhere.  Was  he  washed  over- 
board ? At  length  he  was  seen  below,  sitting  by  the 
fire  of  the  furnace.  He  was  informed  that  the  boat 
was  about  to  sink,  and  was  called  to  come  up  and  get 
his  rope.  “ Ah  ! now,  you  just  be  afther  waiting  a 
minute,”  says  Jimmy;  “ I’ve  found  a bully  place  for 
gracing  boots !”  There  is  sometimes  an  opportune 
moment.  It  so  happened  that  while  the  boys  were  in 
good  humor,  a little  cheered  by  Jimmy’s  remarks, 
the  command  was*  given,  “Attention,  Company  D ! 
Man  the  buckets,  man  the  casks,  man  the  tackles,  take 
the  water  out  of  the  hold  and  you  shall  go  ashore!  If 
you  don’t  take  the  water  out  of  the  hold  you  are  all 
drowned  in  less  than  two  hours!”  The  boys  went  to 
work  with  a will.  Captain  Burket’s  company,  com- 
posed mostly  of  boatmen  from  Schuylkill  Canal, 
handled  the  buckets  well.  The  other  companies 
soon  fell  in.  Among  the  casualties  to  Company  D, 
were  ; Spafford,  of  Friendsville,  was  so  overworked 
that  he  came  home  to  die;  McMillan,  of  New  Mil- 
ford, shared  the  same  fate ; Lieutenant  Lyons  shouted 
heave  away  until  he  could  hardly  speak ; Lieu- 
tenant Cornwall  and  William  Sutton,  of  New  Mil- 
ford, were  lashed  with  ropes  under  their  arms  to 
upright  posts  in  the  hold,  to  sink  the  casks  with 
their  feet,  until  their  breasts  weregalled  and  crushed 
by  the  ropes.  The  boys  finally  jumped  into  the 
ocean,  and  all  reached  shore.  At  Hilton  Head  the 
boys  made  a charge  on  the  fort,  and  Company  D was 
so  fleet  of  foot  and  pursued  General  Drayton  so 
closely,  that  he  dropped  his  field-glass,  and  it  was 
captured  by  Amos  Quick. 

15 


Company  D was  the  last  company  that  joined  the 
regiment.  The  captains  of  the  other  companies  all 
agreed  with  Captain  Dimock,  that  if  he  would  join 
the  regiment  so  that  they  could  get  away  from  Camp 
Curtin,  he  should  not  be  called  upon  to  do  any 
fatigue  duty  or  guard  duty.  This  created  some  dis- 
satisfaction after  awhile,  which  probably  was  the 
reason  why  his  company  was  detached  from  the  regi- 
ment from  February  until  June,  1862,  to  guard  part 
of  St.  Helena  Island.  It  was  Captain  Dimock’s 
duty  to  guard  all  the  property  on  the  island,  besides 
doing  scout  duty,  consequently,  his  company  made 
their  raids  on  the  mainland.  One  day  they  caj^tured 
a cow  and  calf.  Captain  Dimock  kept  the  calf  and 
sent  a hind-quarter  of  the  cow  to  General  Stevens. 
Shortly  after  Captain  D.  noticed  a boat  approach- 
ing the  island  from  headquarters,  and  he  repaired 
to  the  beach  in  full  dress,  with  some  trepidation. 
The  officer  approached,  saluted  him  and  handed 
him  a sealed  order,  and  retired.  The  order  was 
from  General  Hunter  directing  that  Captain  D.  and 
his  men  should  be  passed  by  the  guards  and  pickets 
at  all  points  along  the  line.  Dimock  asked  General 
Stevens  what  it  meant,  and  he  said,  “ Get  more  beef.” 

When  an  overseer  intended  to  promote  a negro,  he 
first  gave  him  an  old  saddle  ; if  he  did  well  this  was 
followed  by  a horse,  which  gave  the  negro  a chance 
to  ride  to  church,  which  was  quite  an  honor  above  a 
field  hand  ; and  finally,  if  he  did  well  he  made  him  a 
household  servant.  The  Christian  Commission  had 
missionaries  there  to  teach  the  negroes.  Probably 
some  of  them  were  unworthy  of  the  mission  they  had 
undertaken.  One  of  them  wanted  a saddle  and 
quarreled  with  a negro  who  did  not  want  to  give  up 
his  badge  of  honor.  Captain  D.  promptly  arrested 
the  “ Gideonite,”  as  he  called  the  missionary,  and 
sent  him  to  General  Stevens,  who  sent  him  back  and 
told  Captain  D.  to  attend  to  all  those  matters  him- 
self. “ Old  Iron  Gray,”  as  they  called  Captain  D. 
then  realized  that  he  was  in  full  command,  and  he 
lived  in  clover  after  that.  He  had  three  horses,  a 
pair  of  mules  and  a cart,  three  good  boats  and  eighteen 
skilled  negro  oarsmen.  The  stroke  oarsman  Avas 
very  faithful,  and  always  on  duty.  Dimock  sent  to 
Stevens  for  whiskey  and  quinine  to  keep  off  fever, 
and  he  sent  him  a barrel  of  Avhiskey  and  three  bottles 
of  quinine.  One  day  he  was  ordered  to  catch  all  the 
negroes  on  the  island  and  send  them  up  to  Hilton 
Head.  He  commenced  at  midnight,  and  sent  up 
about  one  hundred.  When  at  Hilton  Head  they  Avere 
invited  to  enlist  in  the  First  South  Carolina  Colored 
Regiment,  and  about  fifty  of  them  did  so.  Lieutenant 
Foot  made  a raid  on  the  mainland  and  captured  nine 
pickets. 

January  1,  1862,  General  Stevens  led  his  brigade 
under  cover  of  the  gun-boats  across  the  CoosaAV,  and 
captured  a fort  in  process  of  construction  at  Port 
Royal  Ferry  and  two  heavy  guns.  The  battle  of 
Coosaw  Avas  the  first  engagement  in  force  in  Avhich 


226 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


the  company  was  engaged.  Colonel  Christ,  with  the 
Fiftieth  Regiment,  two  companies  of  the  First  Massa- 
chusetts Cavalry  and  a section  of  ai'tillery,  was  ordered 
to  bnrn  the  railroad  bridge  near  Pocotaligo.  The 
approach  to  this  place  was  by  a narrow  causeway  a 
fourth  of  a mile  long,  flanked  on  either  side  by  a 
marsh  through  which  a canal  had  been  dug  to  irrigate 
rice-swamps.  The  plank  had  been  removed  from  the 
bridge,  and  the  only  way  of  crossing  was  over  the 
stringers  exposed  to  the  enemy’s  Are.  Captain  Charles 
Parker,  of  Company  H,  gallantly  led  across,  and  his 
own  and  five  other  comjtanies,  inclnding  Company  D, 
followed  him.  Captain  Parker  was  killed,  but  they 
drove  the  enemy  and  re-planked  the  bridge.  The 
enemy  being  reinforced  and  ammunition  being  nearly 
exhausted,  it  was  decided  to  return  acro.ss  the  bridge. 
The  loss  was  four  killed  and  nine  wounded.  July  12th 
the  regiment,  now  under  command  of  Lieutenau-Col- 
onel  Brenholtz — Colonel  Christ  being  in  command  of 
this  brigade — was  ordered  to  Fortress  Monroe,  and 
was  incorporated  with  the  Ninth  Corjjs  under  General 
Burnside.  At  Fredericksburg  Stevens’  Division,  now 
forming  part  of  Reno’s  command,  was  detached  from 
the  corps  and  pushed  forward  to  confront  the  advance 
of  Lee,  and  had  several  skirmishes  with  the  head  of 
his  column  at  the  fords  of  the  Rapidan  and  the  Rap- 
pahannock. On  the  first  day  at  Bull  Run,  Christ’s 
Brigade  was  attached  to  Schurz’s  Division  of  Sigel’s 
Corps,  and  was  engaged  during  a greater  part  of  the 
day,  occujjying  a position  on  the  right  wing  of  the 
army,  and  driving  the  enemy  at  several  points,  sus- 
taining heavy  loss.  At  night  the  brigade  returned  to 
Stevens’  Division. 

“ In  the  second  day’s  fight,”  says  Captain  Dimock, 
“we  lost  less  but  fought  harder.  Stevens’  Brigade 
drove  the  whole  line  in  front  of  it,  the  enemy  parted 
and  left  it  open  in  front,  and  we  supposed  we  had 
gained  a victory.  I heard  Captain  Lusk,  aid  to  Gen- 
eral Stevens,  order  Colonel  Christ  to  bring  his  men 
out  of  the  woods.  He  did  so,  faced  his  men  towards 
the  enemy,  and  ordered  rest  after  giving  three  cheers 
for  victory.  We  had  scarcely  laid  down  before  Cap- 
tain Lusk  returned  in  great  excitement,  exclaiming: 

‘ for  G ’s  sake.  Colonel  Christ,  get  your  men  away 

from  here.’  We  now  observed,  as  it  grew  dark,  that 
the  fighting  to  the  right  and  left  of  us  was  terrific, 
that  the  two  wings  were  driven  far  back  of  us,  and  that 
we  were  nearly  inclosed  in  a horse-shoe.  We  beat  a 
hasty  retreat,  and  were  soon  joined  by  General  Stevens, 
who  said  the  Eighth  Michigan  was  missing.  In  less 
than  five  minutes  after  his  arrival  a volley  from  the 
enemy  forced  us  again  to  fall  back.”  General  Stevens 
sent  Captain  Dimock  on  a scout  in  order  to  ascertain 
where  the  rebel  picket-lines  were,  and  gave  him  in- 
structions to  throw  up  his  arms  and  surrender  if  he 
was  confronted  by  the  enemy,  rather  than  get  killed, 
unless  he  obtained  important  information — then  he 
was  to  take  greater  risk.  While  Dimock  was  gone, 
Stevens  was  ordered  to  guard  the  supply-train,  and  on 


the  thirty-first  Christ’s  Brigade  was  posted  upon  the 
heights  beyond  Centreville,  where  it  was  vigorously 
shelled.  On  the  following  day  it  was  engaged  in  the 
battle  of  Chantilly,  where  the  brigade  was  early  in  the 
fight,  driving  the  enemy  before  them.  The  Fiftieth 
bore  itself  with  great  gallantry  in  this  battle,  and  was 
led  by  Major  Overton,  and  Company  D was  led  by 
Lieutenant  Foot,  Captain  Dimock  not  having  yet 
been  able  to  find  his  company  since  he  was  sent  on 
that  scouting  expedition.  General  Stevens,  who  had 
warned  the  captain  not  to  get  killed,  was  himself 
killed  while  carrying  the  colors  of  the  Seventy-ninth 
(Highlander)  Regiment,  after  several  of  the  color- 
bearers  had  been  shot  down.  The  division  moved  to 
South  Mountain,  where  General  O.  B.  Wilcox  took 
command.  It  formed  part  of  the  left  wing,  and  was 
engaged  at  Turner’s  Gap,  the  Fiftieth  still  under  Major 
Overton  being  the  first  engaged.  Next  they  were 
engaged  at  Antietam,  where  Major  Overton  was 
wounded.  Captain  Dimock  next  commanded  two 
companies  at  Fredericksburg,  where  they  stood  in 
sight  of  the  battle  all  day,  though  not  actively  en- 
gaged. After  this  they  removed  to  Newport  News, 
thence  to  Kentucky,  where  it  was  attached  to  the 
Army  of  the  Ohio.  During  the  siege  of  Vicksburg, 
the  Fiftieth  was  posted  on  Haines  Bluff,  and  after  the 
fall  of  that  place  it  was  attached  to  General  Sher- 
man’s command,  and  was  deployed  as  skirmishers  in 
the  campaign  to  Jackson,  where  the  gallant  Lieuten- 
ant-Colonel, Thos.  S.  Brenholtz,  was  mortally 
wounded.  August  10th  the  regiment  moved  from 
Mississippi  to  Kentucky,  thence  across  the  mountains 
via  Cumberland  Gap  to  Knoxville.  At  this  time  the 
number  present  for  duty  in  the  regiment  was  but 
eighty.  At  Blue  Springs  Christ’s  Brigade  assisted  in 
driving  the  enemy  back  near  the  Virginia  line.  Next 
they  weie  engaged  with  Longstreet's  Corps  near 
Chattanooga,  and  were  compelled  to  retire  through 
the  deep  mud  where  the  books,  papers  and  baggage 
of  the  regiment  were  lost.  November  17th  they  com- 
menced fortifying  Knoxville,  subsisting  on  fresh  pork 
and  corn-cob  bread.  On  the  29th  of  December  the 
enemy  charged  Fort  Sanders.  The  attack  was  repelled 
with  great  slaughter,  and  the  Fiftieth,  which  held  a 
position  on  the  right,  pursued  to  Blaines  Cross  Road, 
where  it  went  into  winter-quarters.  January  1,  1864, 
nearly  the  entire  regiment  re-enlisted,  and  they  were 
ordered  to  Nicholas ville,  Ky.,  a distance  of  two  hun- 
dred miles.  They  had  drawn  no  clothing  or  shoes 
since  September,  and  thirty  raw  hides  had  been  made 
into  moccasins  which  answered  a good  purpose  until 
they  came  to  muddy  ground,  when  they  stretched 
until  they  loosened  and  came  off  their  feet,  leaving 
many  of  the  men  barefoot.  On  arriving  at  Harris- 
burg, February  6th,  the  regiment  was  given  a veteran’s 
furlough.  The  thirty-three  men  remaining  of  Com- 
pany D were  treated  to  an  ovation  as  they  came  back 
to  Montrose.  They  arrived  at  the  depot  at  night, 
where  they  were  met  by  citizens  and  taken  in  car- 


THE  KEBELLION. 


227 


riages  to  the  suburbs  of  the  borough,  where  the  vet- 
erans formed  in  line  and  were  escorted  into  town  by  the 
fire  companies  and  a band  of  music,  amid  the  ringing 
of  bells  and  the  illumination  of  the  town.  The 
streets  were  thronged  with  citizens.  Judge  Bentley 
made  the  address  of  welcome,  followed  by  Messrs. 
Turrell,  Jessup  and  others.  A sword  was  presented 
to  Captain  Dimock,  J.  B.  McCollum  making  the  pre- 
sentation speech.  During  the  thirty  days  the  company 
remained  home,  the  citizens  vied  with  each  other  in 
giving  them  suppers  and  in  doing  them  honor. 
March  20th  the  regiment  was  again  rendezvoused  at 
Annapolis,  and  assigned  to  the  Second  Brigade  of  the 
First  Division  of  the  Ninth  Corps.  They  lost — 
seventeen  killed  and  fifty-three  wounded  and  missing 
at  the  battle  of  the  Wilderness.  On  May  9th  they 
were  engaged  at  Ny  Eiver,  near  Spottsylvania  Court- 
House,  gallantly  charging  the  enemy  up  a steep  as- 
cent, driving  them  from  their  position ; but  at  a loss 
of  one  hundred  and  twenty  men  killed  and  missing 
from  the  Fiftieth  Eegiment.  Company  D lost  heavily 
at  this  battle.  The  regiment  was  engaged  in  that 
series  of  battles  that  preceded  the  fall  of  Petersburg, 
and  was  one  of  the  first  regiments  to  enter  that  place. 
When  the  three  years  were  expired,  Captain  Dimock 
was  discharged  and  Captain  Thos.  Foster  commanded 
the  company  until  it  was  mustered  out. 

Upon  the  laying  of  the  corner-stone  of  the  National 
Monument  at  Gettysburg,  on  the  4th  of  July,  1865, 
by  order  of  the  Secretary  of  War  and  upon  the  recom- 
mendation of  General  Grant,  the  Fiftieth  Eegiment 
was  honored  by  being  selected  to  represent  the  in- 
fantry of  the  army  in  the  ceremonies  of  that  occasion. 
Eeturning  from  Gettysburg  it  went  into  camp  near 
Georgetown,  and  on  the  30th  of  July  was  mustered 
out  of  service,  the  members  of  Company  D reaching 
Montrose  early  in  August,  after  nearly  four  years  of 
service.  Captain  Diinock  claims  for  the  Fiftieth 
that  it  sailed  more  miles  on  steamboats,  traveled 
more  miles  on  foot,  and  fought  in  more  battles  than 
any  other  regiment.  During  his  term  of  service, 
Captain  Dimock  was  on  “ detached  ” service  for 
nearly  a year  as  brigade-quartermaster,  but  was  in 
fifteen  of  the  thirty-two  engagements  in  which  the 
regiment  participated. 

COMPANY  D,  FIFTIETH  EEGIMENT. 

Clustered  into  service  September  6,  1861,  unless  otherwise  stated ; mustered 
out  Jidy  30,  1865. 

Capt.  Gordon  Z.  Dimock,  mus.  out  Sept.  29,  ’64,  expiration  of  term  (see 
medical  chapter). 

Capt.  Thomas  F.  Foster,  pr.  from  cor.  to  sergt.  major  Apr.  1,  ’62  ; to  2d 
lieut.  Apr.  8,  ’64  ; to  capt.  Nov.  26,  ’64  ; wd.  at  Wilderness  May  0, 
’64  ; mus.  out  with  Co.  ; vet, 

1st  Lt.  John  C.  Foot,  was  in  command  of  the  Co.  nearly  one  year  ; res. 
Feb.  17, ’63. 

1st  Lt.  Jonathan  A.  Cornwall,  pr.  from  sergt.  to  2d  It.  Aug.  1,  ’62  ; to 
1st  It.  Dec.  13,  ’63  ; mus.  out  Oct.  27,  ’64,  exp.  of  term. 

1st.  Lt.  Wilbur  H.  Wilcox,  pr.  from  priv.  to  sergt. ; to  1st  It.  Dec.  4, ’64; 
mus.  out  with  Co.  ; vet. 

2d  Lt.  Benjamin  R.  Lyons,  died  July  6,  ’62,  of  wds.  received  in  action 
(see  Four  Brothers  Post,  G.  A.  R.). 


2d  Lt.  Hugh  Blitchell,  pr.  from  cor.  to  sergt.  Mar.  1,  ’65 ; 2d  It.  Apr.  16, 
’65  ; mus.  out  with  Co.  ; vet. 

1st  Sergt.  Amos  B.  Baldwin,  Feb.  27,  ’62  ; capt’d  May  12,  ’64  ; pr.  to 
cor. ; to  sergt.  Mar.  1,  ’65  ; to  1st  sergt.  May  1,  ’65  ; mus.  out  with 
Co. ; vet. 

1st  Sergt.  Luke  L.  Lyons,  pr.  from  cor.  to  1st.  sergt. ; died  May  15,  ’64, 
of  wds.  rec.  in  action  ; vet.  (see  Four  Brothers  Post,  G.  A.  R.) 

1st  Sergt.  Frederick  R.  Warner,  pr.  to  1st  It.,  Co.  G,  Feb.  15,  ’62 ; res. 
Oct.  31,  ’63. 

Sergeants. 

Daniel  W.  Brundage,  pr.  from  priv.  to  sergt.  ; mus.  out  with  Co.;  vet. 

Edwin  S.  Howell,  pr.  from  priv.  to  sergt.  ; mus.  out  with  Co. ; vet. 

Jordan  Palmer,  pr.  to  cor. ; to  sergt.  May  1,  '65  ; mus  out  with  Co. ; vet. 

Edward  J.  Messinger,  pr.  to  cor.  Mar.  1,  ’65  ; to  sergt.  May  1,  ’65  ; mus. 
out  with  Co.  ; vet. 

Alfred  J.  Stephens,  pr.  from  priv.  to  sergt.  ; to  sergt.  maj.  Nov.  21,  ’64  ; 
to  1st  It.,  Co.  B,  Mar  25,  ’65  ; mus.  out  with  Co. ; vet. 

Charles  W.  Lung,  pr.  to  cor.  ; to  sergt.  ; tr.  to  V.  R.  C.  Jan.  25,  ’65  ; 
vet. 

Cyrill  Depue,  Feb.  28,  ’62  ; pro.  to  cor.  ; to  sergt. ; killed  at  Wilderness 
May  6,  ’(>4  ; vet. 

George  A,  Doolittle,  disch.  July,  ’63,  for  pr.  in  reg.  army  ; served  during 
war;  remained  in  serv.  until  his  death. 

Truman  G.  Larrabee,  disch.  on  surg.  cert. 

E.  W.  Rosencrance,  disch.  on  surg.  cert. 

Henry  L.  West,  pr.  from  muc.  to  sergt.  ; disch.  for  wds.  rec.  in  action. 

Corporals. 

Levi  S.  Blaisdell,  capt’d  May  12,  ’64  ; pr.  cor.  July  1,  64 ; mus.  out  with 
Co. ; vet. 

Yelosco  V.  Leonard,  pr.  to  cor.  Dec.  4,  ’64 ; mus.  out  with  Co.  July  30, 
’65;  vet. 

Peter  W.  McFall,  pr.  to  cor.  Mar.  1,  ’65  ; mus.  out  with  Co. ; vet. 

William  H.  Fordham,  pr.  to  cor.  Mar.  1.  ’65  ; mus.  out  with  Co. ; vet. 

Peter  H.  Allen,  pr.  to  cor.  May  1,  65  ; mus.  out  with  Co. ; vet. 

Marble  Wells,  Mar.  25,  ’64  ; pr.  to  cor.  May  1,  ’65  ; mus.  out  with  Co. 

John  Smith,  Mar.  7,  ’64  ; pr.  to  cor.  July  1,  ’65 ; mus.  out  with  Co. 

Walter  L.  Beebe,  pr.  to  cor.  Dec. '62  ; wd.  at  Bull  Run  Aug. ’62  ; mus. 
out  Sept.  29,  ’64,  exp.  of  term. 

Charles  W.  Snyder,  pr  to  cor  ; killed  at  Wilderness  May  6,  ’64  ; vet. 

Frederick  A.  llolebrook,  pr.  to  cor. ; killed  at  Cold  Harbor,  Va.,  June  3, 
’64;  vet. 

Daniel  R.  Day,  capt’d  May  12,  ’64  ; died  at  Montrose,  Pa.,  May  24,  ’64 
shortly  after  release  from  rebel  prison  ; vet. 

Silas  E.  Leonard,  died  May  12,  ’64. 

Hugh  Lenox,  disch.  on  surg.  cert. 

Ezra  N.  Dewers,  disch.  on  surg,  cert. 

Ledyard  P.  Mack,  pr.  to  cor.  ; disch.  on  surg.  cert. 

Joseph  A.  Beebe,  died,  date  unknown.  * 

Musicians. 

Edward  J.  Malone,  Mar.  25,  ’64  ; Absent,  sick,  at  mus.  out. 

Horace  P.  Snyder,  Mar.  8,  ’64  ; Absent,  sick,  at  mus.  out* 

Henry  C.  Lines,  Sept.  16,  ’61  ; disch.  on  surg.  cert. 

Privates. 

Allen,  Henry  C.,  Mar.  3,  ’64  ; mus.  out  with  Co. 

Anderson,  John,  Feb.  27,  ’65  ; drafted  ; mus.  out  w’ith  Co. 

Avis,  William  C.,  Mar.  3,  ’64  ; died  at  Florence,  S.  C.,  Oct.  8,  1864. 

Ayei'S,  Ashman  C.,  disch.  on  surg.  cert. 

Alderson,  Thomas  W.,  disch.  on  surg.  cert. 

Burgess,  Henry  C.,  on  detached  serv.  ; disch.  Oct.  1,  ’64,  exp.  of  term. 

Blowers,  David  E.,  Mar.  10,  ’65  ; sub. ; mus.  out  with  Co. 

Benjamin,  W.  S.,  mus.  out  Sept.  20,  ’64,  exp.  of  term. 

Brown,  Theodore  F.,  Mar.  8,  ’64  ; disch.  by  G.  0.  May  26,  ’65. 

Bolls,  William  !>.,  Apr.  2,  ’64;  disch.  by  G.  0.  May  30,  ’65  ; previously 
served  in  27th  N.  Y.  Vols. 

Beebe,  Alonzo  H.,  Mar.  3,  ’64 ; pris.  from  Stay  12,  ’64,  to  Feb,  27,  *05 ; 
disch.  by  G.  0.  July  19,  *65. 

Bodine,  Charles,  lUar.  3,  ’64 ; died  at  Florence,  S.  C.,  Oct.  13,  ’64. 

Brown,  Martin  Y.,  Mar.  30,  ’64  ; died  at  Aiulersonville,  Ga.,  Aug.  1,’64. 

Baldwin,  Lyman  I\I.,  disch.  on  surg.  cert. 

Baldwin,  H.  Scott,  disch.  by  G.  O.  May  25,  ’65. 

Baldwin,  Edwin  F.,  ab.,  sick  at  mus.  out. 

Backus,  Samuel  A.,  disch.  on  surg.  cert. 

Benson,  Philander  K.,  disch.  on  surg.  cert. 

Babcock,  B.  F.,  pr.  to  2d  It.,  (’o.  1).,  55th  Regt,  P.  V.,  Apr.  6,  ’62  ; res. 
July  31,  ’62. 


228 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


Baker,  George  M.,  Fel>.  25,  ’62  ; disch.  on  surg.  cert. 

Burdick,  Joseph,  Mar.  28,  ’64  ; not  on  mus.  roll. 

Canfield,  John  S.,  Mar.  3,  ’64  ; mus.  out  with  Co. 

Chapman,  James  Q.,  Apr.  12,  ’64  ; mus.  out  with  Co. 

Cornell,  Judson  L.,  mus.  out  Sept.  29,  ’64,  exp.  of  term. 

Chamberlain,  C.  W.,  Feb.  28,  ’62  ; mus.  out  Mar.  23,  ’65,  exp.  of  term. 
Canfield,  Lyman  B.,  Mar.  29,  ’64  ; killed  at  Spottsylvania  C.  H.  May  12, 
’64. 

Carter,  Charles  T.,  or  R.,  Mar.  29,  '64  ; died  June  3,  ’64,  of  wds.  rec.  at 
Spottsylvania  C.  H.  May  12,  ’64. 

Corey,  James  II.,  Feb.  25,  ’64;  died  at  Scranton,  Pa.,  Mar.  26,  ’65,  just 
released  from  Andersonville  Prison. 

Cross,  Isaiah  II.,  Sept.  9,  ’61 ; mus.  out  Sept.  29,  ’64,  exp.  of  term. 

Cool,  David,  Sept.  9,  ’61 ; disch.  on  surg.  cert. 

Coddington,  W.  H.,  Sept.  9,  ’61 ; disch.  for  wds.  rec.  in  action. 

Day,  Thomas,  Apr.  1,  ’64  ; ab , in  hos.,  at  mus.  out. 

Dennis,  William  II.,  Apr.  2,  ’64 ; mus.  out  with  Co. 

Doloway,  Hiram,  Apr.  2,  ’64  ; disch.  June  28,  ’65,  for  wds.  rec.  at  Wil- 
derness May  9,  ’64. 

Davis,  Thomas  P.,  Mar.  1,  ’64  ; tr.  to  Co.  F Apr.  30,  ’64  ; wd.  June  18, 
’64 ; pr.  to  1st  sergt.  July  1,  ’65  ; com.  2d  It.  May  2,  ’66  ; not  mus.  ; 
mus.  out  with  Co. 

Denel,  Benjamin,  disch  on  surg.  cert. 

Darrow,  Oscar  B.,  Feb.  24,  ’62  ; disch.  for  wds.  rec.  in  action. 

Estes,  Joseph  W.,  Apr.  2,  ’64  ; tr.  to  V,  R.  C.  Jan.  25,  ’65. 

Estes,  Jolm  N.,  Apr.  2,  ’(i4 ; died  at  Philadelphia  July  31,  ’64. 

Estes,  Andrew,  Apr.  2,  ’64  ; died  at  Florence,  S.  C.,  Oct.  5,  ’64. 

Estes,  Miles  R.,  died  of  wds.  rec.  ifi  action. 

Esterbrook,  W.  D.,  Sept.  6,  ’64  ; disch.  on  surg.  cert. 

Fessenden,  C.  E.,  Apr.  2,  ’64  ; ab.,  in  hos.,  at  mus.  out. 

Fish,  William  C.,  wd.  in  South  Carolina  and  battle  of  Wilderness ; mus. 

out  Sept.  29,  '64,  exp.  of  term. 

Frink,  Charles  C.,  disch.  on  surg.  cert.  Nov.  17,  *64  ; vet. 

Fordham,  Abram,  died  at  Andersonville  June  26,  ’64. 

Foster,  Charles  A.,  died  at  Knowville  Feb.  5,  ’64. 

Fisher,  James,  Mar.  27,  ’64;  not  on  mus.  roll. 

Hoage,  Charles  A.,  Apr.  2,  ’64 ; wd.  at  Petersburg  ; ab.,  in  hos.,  at  mus. 
out. 

Hyde,  Jonathan,  Feb.  24,  ’65  ; drafted  ; musr  out  with  Co.  July  30,  ’65. 
Howard,  Joseph  W.,  Mar.  31,  ’64 ; disch.  by  G.  0.  May  31,  ’65. 

Hacket,  James,  died  at  Andersonville,  Ga.  July,  ’64. 
liufteln,  Palmer,  not  on  mus.  out  roll. 

Howard,  John  W.,  not  on  mus.  out  roll. 

Jackson,  James,  Mar.  30, ’64  ; died  June  18,  ’64,  of  wds.  rec.  in  battle. 
Jenks,  George  E.,  disch.  on  surg.  cert. 

Kirhuff,  Barney,  Mar.  7,  ’64;  mus.  out  with  Co. 

Kanaway,  Joseph  G.,  mus.  out  with  Co. ; vet. 

Krause,  Edgar  F.,  Qtar.  3,  ’64  ; disch.  on  surg.  cert.  Dec.  2,  ’64,  for  wds., 
loss  of  arm  at  Wilderness. 

Kelsey,  Samuel  A.,  mus.  out  by  S.  0.  Jan.  17,  ’66,  to  date  July  30,  ’65  ; 
vet. 

Leary,  John  J.,  Mar.  28,  ’64  ; ab.,  in  hos.,  at  mus.  out. 

Lines,  Orrin  A.,  Apr.  12,  ’64  ; mus.  out  with  Co. 

Lester,  William  H.,  pr.  to  cor.  ; mus.  out  Sept.  29,  ’64,  exp.  of  term. 
Lord,  Franklin,  mus.  out  Sept.  29,  ’(>4,  exp.  of  term. 

Lindsley,  George  A.,  mus.  out  Sept.  29,  ’61,  exp.  of  term. 

Lindsley,  Henry,  disch.  on  surg.  cert. 

Lewis,  Francello,  died,  date  unknown. 

Lee,  Thomas,  died,  date  unknown. 

Manzer,  Price,  Mar.  7,  ’64  ; mus.  out  with  Co.  July  30,  ’65. 

Mallison,  Joshua  D.,  Mar.  28,  ’64  ; absent  in  hospital  at  muster  out. 
3Iessiiiger,  Rufus,  Aug.  9,  ’62  ; wd.  in  front  of  Petersburg,  Va. ; disch. 
by  G.  0.  July  10,  ’65, 

Millins,  Seth,  mus.  out  with  company  ; vet. 

Miller,  Elijah,  Feb.  24,  ’65 ; drafted  ; disch.  by  G.  0.  May  10,  ’65. 
Mooney,  Eben  B.,  Feb.  26,  ’62  ; trans.  to  V.  R.  C.  Jan.  23,  ’64. 
Maynard,  Elvin,  died  May  12  of  wds.  rec.  at  Spottsylvania  C.  II. ; vet. 
Marsh,  Darius,  Mar.  25,  ’64  ; died  at  Andersonville  July  2,  ’64. 

Moore,  Andrew  J.,  Apr.  2,  ’64  ; died  May  13,  ’64,  of  wds.  rec.  in  action. 
Mulkey,  James  A.,  Apr.  2,  ’64  ; died  at  Andei-sonville,  Ga.,  July  13,  ’64. 
Mott,  De  Wolf,  disch.  on  surg.  cert. 

Mitchell,  Geo.  W.,  mus.  out  Sept.  29,  ’64  ; expiration  of  term. 

McKune,  Michael,  mus.  out  with  the  company  ; vet. 

McKenzie,  Chas.,  killed  at  Wilderness  May  6,  ’64. 

McRoy,  John,  disch.  on  surg.  cert. 

BlcMillan,  Daniel  F.,  disch.  on  surg.  cert. 


Newcomb,  Edgar  E.,  Mar.  3,  ’64  ; mus.  out  with  company. 

Nichols,  James,  Mar.  8,  ’64;  mus.  out  with  company;  vet. 

Owens,  Ebenezer,  Mar.  7,  ’64;  died  at  Andersonville,  Ga.,  Sept.  20,  ’64. 
Perkins,  William  A.,  Apr.  2,  ’64;  mus.  out  with  company. 

Pennington,  Isaac,  Feb.  26,  ’6i;  drafted  ; mus.  out  with  company. 
Pickering,  John  D.,  Mar.  9,  ’64  ; disch.  by  G.  0.  May  15,  ’65. 

Patterson,  David,  Apr.  2,  ’64  ; died  Oct.  13,  ’64. 

Price,  Chauncey,  Mar.  7,  ’64  ; died  May  13,  ’64,  of  wds.  rec.  at  Spottsyl 
vania  C.  H. 

Pierson,  Henry  T.,  died,  date  unknown. 

Pierson,  David  C.,  disch.  on  surg.  cert. 

Potter,  Charles  B.,  disch.  on  surg.  cert. 

Quick,  Amos  M.,  died,  date  unknown. 

Rose,  Wm.  S.,  Apr.  2,  ’64 ; died  at  home  while  on  a fur.  Mar.  23,  ’65. 
Rockwell,  W.  C.,  disch.  on  surg.  cert.  Jan.  8,  ’64  ; re.  Mar.  28,  ’64 
mus.  out  with  company  July  30,  ’65 ; vet. 

Ryan,  Philip,  Sept.  5,  ’61  ; mus.  out  with  company  ; vet. 

Rodgers,  Henry  B.,  disch.  on  surg.  cert. 

Resseguie,  Amasa,  died,  date  unknown. 

Sterling,  Collins  M.,  mus.  out  with  company  ; vet. 

Smith,  John  P.,  Feb.  24,  ’65  ; drafted  ; mus.  out  with  company. 

Smith,  Wm.  G,,  Feb.  27,  ’65  ; drafted  ; mus.  out  with  company. 

Shippy,  John,  Feb  24,  ’64;  drafted  ; mus.  out  with  company. 

Stanton,  John,  Mar.  13,  ’65;  substitute;  mus.  out  with  company. 
Snyder,  Hiram  J.,  mus.  out  Sept.  29,  ’64  ; exp.  of  term. 

Spencer,  Edwin  D.,  died  May  12,  ’64,  of  wds.  rec.  at  Wilderness,  May  9, 
’64. 

Smith,  Mark,  disch.  by  G.  0.  May  9,  ’65 ; vet. 

Stephens,  Chandler,  Mar.  7,  ’64 ; disch.  on  surg.  cert.  Nov.  17,  ’64. 
Smith,  Thos.,  mus.  out  with  company  July  30,  ’65  ; vet. 

Smith,  David,  Feb.  24,  ’65  ; disch.  by  G.  0.  May  10,  ’65. 

Sloat,  Edwin  H.,  Mar.  7,  ’64  ; died  at  Andersonville,  Ga.,  July  28,  ’64. 
Snyder,  Sylvester,  Apr.  6,  ’64  ; died  May  10,  ’64,  of  wds.  rec.  in  action. 
Spencer,  Milo  A.,  Blar.  7,  ’64 ; died  May  16,  ’64,  of  wds.  rec.  at  Freder- 
icksburg. 

Stephens,  Daniel  H.,  Mar.  7,  ’64;  died  at  Washington,  D.  C.,"  June  19, 
1864,  of  wds.  rec  in  battle  of  Wilderness. 

Street,  Wm.  H,,  disch.  on  surg.  cert.;  date  unknown. 

Spafford,  Blilton  L.,  disch.  on  surg.  cert. ; date  unknown. 

Sutton,  Wm.  A.,  disch.  on  surg.  cert.;  date  unknown. 

Sutton,  Edward  L.,  died  ; date  unknown. 

Shaw,  Henry  A.,  disch.  on  surg.  cert.;  date  unknown. 

Stebbins,  Wm.  H.,  disch.  on  surg.  cert.  ; date  unknown. 

Tiffany,  Alonzo  M.,  Mar.  27,  ’64  ; ab.  in  hos.  at  mus.  out. 

Tarbox,  Samuel  A , April  2,  ’64;  disch.  by  G.  0.  May  15,  ’65. 

Tallon,  James,  April  2,  ’64  ; died  at  Florence,  S.  C.,  Nov.  15,  ’64. 

Todd,  Theodore  L..  died  ; date  unknown. 

Turner,  John  W.,  disch.  on  surg.  cert. 

Van  Wye,  Moore  T.,  Feb.  28,  ’62 ; not  with  company  at  mus.  out. 
Warner,  Ansel  L.,  April  2,  ’64 ; ab.  in  hos.  at  mus.  out. 

Weaver,  Wm.H.,  Mar.  28,  ’64  ; mus.  out  with  company  July  30,  ’65. 
White,  Samuel,  Mar.  9,  ’65  ; substitute ; mus.  out  with  company. 
Weiman,  Geo.,  Mar.  2,  ’65 ; substitute  ; mus.  out  with  company. 

Webb,  Thos.  H.,  Mar.  14,  ’64 ; substitute  ; mus.  out  with  company. 
Warner,  Julius,  Mar.  3,  ’64  ; died  Sept.  24,  ’64. 

Westbrook,  John,  Mar.  7,  ’64 ; died  May  10,  ’64,  of  wds.  rec.  at  Wilder- 
ness. 

Williams,  Porter  S.,  disch.  on  surg.  cert. 

Warner,  Theodore  F.,  died  of  wds.  rec.  in  action  ; vet. 

Warner,  Edson  S.,  pr.  to  1st  It.  Company  K,  56th  Regt.  P.  V.  Mar.  3, ’62. 
Watkins,  Azariah  J.,  died  ; date  unknown. 

Wells,  Horatio  M.,  disch.  on  surg.  cert.  ; date  unknown ; re.  in  same 
company  in  ’64  as  Marble  Wells. 

COMPANY  G. 

Mapes,  Milton  C.,  Mar.  8,  ’65  ; substitute  ; mus.  out  July  30,  ’65. 
Markham,  Rufus  A.,  Feb.  20,  ’62  ; mus.  out  Feb.  30,  ’65 ; exp.  of  term. 

COMPANY  K. 

Corp.  Jerry  Bolles,  Sept.  9,  ’61 ; killed  at  Bull  Run  Aug.  28,  62. 

Fifty-Sixth  Regiment. — The  men  composing 
this  regiment  were  from  various  sections  of  the  State, 
but  principally  from  Philadelphia  and  the  counties  of 
Indiana,  Centre,  Luzerne,  Schuylkill,  Susquehanna 


THE  REBELLION. 


229 


and  Wayne.  The  regiment  was  organized  at  Camp 
Curtin  in  the  fall  of  1861.  Sullivan  A.  Meredith  was 
made  colonel  and  commanded  the  regiment  until  his 
promotion  to  brigadier-general  in  November,  1862. 
The  other  field-officers  were  J.  William  Hofman, 
lieutenant-colonel,  and  John  B.  Smith,  majoi-.  The 
regiment  remained  at  Camp  Curtin  during  the  win- 
ter, and  on  the  8th  of  March,  1862,  broke  camp  and 
2)roceeded  to  Washington.  It  remained  in  the  vicin- 
ity of  Washington  until  April  4th,  when  it  proceeded 
by  steamer  to  Budd’s  Ferry,  on  the  Lower  Potomac, 
and  was  there  engaged  on  guard  duty.  On  the  24th 
it  embarked  for  Acquia  Landing,  and  upon  its  arrival 
was  engaged  in  repairing  damages  done  by  the  rebels 
to  the  railroad  and  landing.  Until  August  9th  it  was 
occupied  in  doing  guard  duty,  but  on  that  date  was 
assigned  to  Doubleday’s  Brigade,  King’s  Division  of 
McDowell’s  corps,  and  became  associated  with  the 
Seventy-sixth  and  Ninety-fifth  New  A^ork  Regiments, 
the  Seventh  Indiana  and  the  First  New  Hampshire 
Battery.  The  Brigade  immediately  moved  with  the 
corps  across  the  Rapi^ahannock,  and  on  the  21st, 
near  Rappahannock  Station,  the  men  of  the  regiment 
first  heard  the  shriek  of  shells.  On  the  28th  it  had 
a short  but  sharp  encounter  with  the  enemy,  in 
which  Colonel  Meredith  was  severely  wounded.  On 
the  29th  it  again  engaged  the  enemy  and  was  de- 
ployed to  hold  in  check  the  rebel  line  of  battle  while 
our  troops  changed  position.  The  regiment  changed 
front  under  fire  and  held  its  ground  until  ordered  to 
retire,  but  suifei’ed  severely  in  killed  and  wounded. 
On  the  morning  of  the  30th,  the  day  on  which  was 
fought  the  principal  battle  of  the  second  Bull  Run, 
the  regiment  mustered  but  one  hundred  and  fifty-four 
men  for  duty.  It  was  engaged  that  day,  but  mainly 
in  support  of  other  troops.  When  the  army  retired 
it,  with  the  brigade  to  which  it  belonged,  was  the 
rear-guard  and  suffered  some  loss.  The  campaign 
in  Maryland  soon  opened,  and  the  Fifty-sixth  again  en- 
countered the  enemy  at  South  Mountain,  when  it 
inflicted  severe  blows  and  suffered  severe  loss. 

In  the  battle  of  Antietam,  which  occurred  two  days 
afterwards,  it  jiarticipated,  but  did  not  suffer  serious 
loss.  Its  next  serious  engagement  with  the  enemy  was 
had  after  crossing  the  Potomac,  on  the  30th  of  Octo- 
ber, when  it  moved  to  the  support  of  Pleasanton’s 
cavalry  and  met  the  enemy  near  Union,  on  the  2d  of 
November.  They  defeated  and  drove  the  enemy 
from  his  position,  but  with  considerable  loss.  The 
Fifty-sixth,  for  its  gallant  action  on  that  occasion, 
received  the  congratulations  of  the  division  comman- 
der. At  the  battle  of  Fredericksburg,  December  13, 
it  occupied  the  left  of  Franklin’s  division,  l)ut  was 
not  actively  engaged,  although  within  range  and 
under  fire  of  the  enemy’s  guns.  Early  in  January, 
1863,  Lieutenant-Colonel  Hofman  was  jjromoted  to 
colonel,  and  Cajjtain  George  B.  Osborn  to  lieu- 
tenant-colonel of  the  regiment.  In  the  Chancellors- 
ville  campaign  the  regiment  bore  an  active  part,  but 


its  movements  were  confined  to  the  operations  in  and 
about  Fredericksburg,  designed  to  divert  the  enemy 
from  Hooker’s  real  point  of  attack.  On  the  7th 
of  June  the  Fifty-sixth  was  detailed  with  the 
Seventh  Wisconsin,  to  support  the  cavalry  at  Brandy 
Station,  and  had  several  sharp  encounters  with  the 
enemy.  On  the  25th  of  June  the  regiment  started  on 
its  march  to  Gettysburg.  It  reached  Frederick  on  the 
28th,  and  Emmittsburg  the  morning  of  the  30th,  At 
this  time  the  regiment  belonged  to  the  Second  Bri- 
gade of  the  First  Corjjs,  and  when  the  corjjs  reached 
the  battle-field  on  that  ever-memorable  1st  of  July 
the  Second  Brigade  had  the  advance,  and  the  Fifty- 
sixth  was  the  second  in  the  brigade  column.  Getting 
into  jjosition  a little  in  advance  of  the  other  regiments, 
and  seeing  the  enemy  advancing,  it  was  ordered  to 
fire  and  thus  opened  the  battle.  General  Cutler,  then 
in  command  of  the  First  Division  of  the  First  Corps, 
in  a letter  to  Governor  Curtin  dated  November  5, 
1863,  says  : “ In  noticing  in  the  papers  to-day  an  ac- 
count of  the  proposition  for  a national  cemetery  at 
Gettysburg  for  the  men  who  fell  there  in  July  last,  I 
am  reminded  that  I have  neglected  a duty  which  I 
owe  to  one  of  your  regiments,  the  Fifty-sixth,  and  its 
brave  commander.  Colonel  Hofmann.  * * * It  was 
my  fortune  to  be  in  the  advance  on  the  morning  of 
July  1st  when  we  came  upon  the  ground  in  front  of 
the  enemy.  Colonel  Hofmann’s  regiment  got  into 
position  a moment  sooner  than  the  others.  The  at- 
mosphere being  a little  thick,  I took  out  my  glass  to 
examine  the  enemy.  Being  a few  paces  in  rear  of  Col. 
Hofmann,  he  turned  to  me  and  inquired,  ‘ Is  that 
the  enemy  ?’  My  repl}^  was  yes.  Turning  to  his  men, 
he  commanded:  'Ready,  right-oblique,  aim,  fire ! ’ and 
the  battle  of  Gettysburg  was  opened.  The  fire  was 
followed  by  other  regiments  instantly  ; still,  that  bat- 
tle on  the  soil  of  Pennsylvania  was  opened  by  her 
own  sons,  and  it  is  just  that  it  should  become  a mat- 
ter of  history.  * * * I desire  to  say  to  your  Excel- 
lency that  the  Fifty-sixth  is  one  of  the  very  best  regi- 
ments in  the  service.  * * * I hope  you  will  cause 
proper  measures  to  be  taken  to  give  that  regiment 
the  credit,  which  is  its  due,  of  having  opened  that 
memorable  battle.”  It  was  fiercely  engaged  on  the 
2d,  and  on  the  3d  supported  the  batteries  at  the  cem- 
etery. Its  losses,  mainly  sustained  the  first  day,  were 
ten  killed,  sixty-seven  wounded  and  seventy-eight 
missing.  Among  the  wounded  was  Cai)taiu  Burritt, 
of  Company  K.  On  the  10th  of  March,  1864,  a suffi- 
cient number  having  re-enlisted  to  retain  its  organiza- 
tion as  a veteran  regiment,  it  was  granted  a veteran 
furlough  and  returned  to  Philadelphia.  On  the  20th 
of  April  it  returned  to  the  front,  and  after  a few  days 
of  camp  life  started  on  the  memorable  Wilderness 
cami)aign.  The  regiment  crossed  the  Rapidan  on 
the  morning  of  iVIay  4th,  and  at  noon  of  the  5tli  be- 
came desiierately  engaged  with  a vastly  superior  force 
of  the  enemy,  and,  though  bravely  contending,  was 
forced  to  fall  back  with  heavy  loss.  Among  the 


230 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


killed  was  Lieutenant  Titman,  of  Company  G,  a 
brave  officer  whose  sword — drawn  for  the  first  time 
in  this  battle — was  presented  to  him  in  acknowledge- 
ment of  his  services  in  the  ranks.  On  the  6th  it  was  in 
the  thickest  of  the  fight,  and  towards  evening  assisted 
in  re-capturing  the  intrenchments  wrested  from  the 
Second  Corps,  and  was  the  first  to  plant  its  flag  on 
the  works  where  a moment  before  had  floated  the  rebel 
colors.  Again  on  the  7th  it  bravely  faced  the  foe,  and 
during  the  bloody  battles  that  followed  it  was  ever 
at  the  front.  On  the  19th  of  August,  during  a fierce 
attack  of  the  enemy,  the  Fifty-sixth  settled  an  old 
debt  with  the  rebels.  At  the  battle  of  Bull  Run  in 
’62  its  color  company  was  surrounded  and  colors  cap- 
tured. It  now  saw  an  opportunity  to  avenge  the  loss. 
The  foe  was  repulsed,  and,  hotly  imrsuing  them,  the 
regiment  captured  the  battle  flag  of  the  Fifty-fifth 
North  Carolina.  It  shared  in  the  perils  and  honors 
of  the  last  campaign,  and  on  the  1st  of  July,  1865, 
was  mustered  out  of  service  at  Philadelphia. 

Company  K. — Susquehanna  County  furnished  some- 
thing over  fifty  men  to  this  company,  the  remainder 
being  principally  from  the  county  of  Schuylkill. 
Upon  its  organization  David  Mitchell,  of  Schuylkill 
County,  was  made  captain;  Edson  S.  Warner,  at  the 
time  a member  of  Company  D,  Fiftieth  Pennsylvania 
Volunteers,  was  promoted  to  first  lieutenant;  and 
Ira  N.  Burritt,  also  of  this  county,  was  made  second 
lieutenant.  That  Company  K was  a part  of  the  gal- 
lant Fifty-sixth,  whose  brilliant  record  we  have 
briefly  traced,  is  sufficient  commendation.  Upon  the 
resignation  of  Captain  Mitchell,  in  December,  1862, 
IJeutenant  Warner  was  promoted  to  captain,  and 
was  in  command  of  the  comjiany  until  February, 
1863,  when  he  resigned.  He  is  now  in  the  postal  ser- 
vice of  the  United  States,  being  mail  agent  on  the 
Montrose  Railway,  and  resides  at  Montrose.  Lieu- 
tenant Burritt  w'as  promoted  to  the  command  of  the 
company  when  CapLiin  Warner  was  discharged, 
which  he  retained  until  November,  1864,  when,  on 
account  of  wounds,  he  was  discharged.  Lieutenant 
B.  C.  Stoddard,  of  Company  A,  was  then  promoted  to 
the  captaincy,  who,  although  residing  in  Wayne 
County  before  the  war,  is  now  and  has  been  for  many 
years,  a resident  of  the  borough  of  Susquehanna. 
Captain  Burritt  is  a resident  of  Washington,  D.  C., 
where  he  is  engaged  in  editing  and  publishing  a 
newspaper.  Loren  Burritt,  when  the  company  was 
organized,  was  made  first  sergeant,  from  which  he 
was  promoted  to  second  and  to  first  lieutenant. 
November  7,  1863,  he  was  commissioned  major  of  the 
Eighth  Regiment,  United  States  Colored  Troops.  On 
the  20th  of  February,  1864,  at  Olustee,  Florida,  Major 
Burritt  was  severely  wounded.  He  was  afterwards 
promoted  to  lieutenant-colonel  and  brevet-colonel, 
but,  on  account  of  his  wound,  was  obliged  to  relin- 
quish command  of  the  regiment,  and  was  placed  on 
detached  service.  November  10,  1865,  Colonel  Bur- 
ritt was  mustered  out  with  his  regiment  and  returned 


to  Susquehanna  County.  The  next  year  he  was 
elected  to  the  Legislature,  and  again  in  1867.  But  he 
had  never  recovered  from  the  wound  received  in 
Florida,  and  about  this  time  it  began  to  afiect  his 
health  in  an  alarming  manner.  Baffling  the  skill  of 
the  most  eminent  physicians  of  the  country,  his  dis- 
ease soon  completely  prostrated  him,  and  for  moi’e 
than  twenty  years  he  has  been  a helpless  invalid. 

But  Susquehanna  County  was  represented  in  the 
Fifty-sixth  by  fifty  or  sixty  other  patriotic  “ boys  ’ 
who  enlisted  in  other  Companies — princi23ally  in  A, 
D and  I,  and  their  names  appear  in  the  record  of  their 
service,  which  follows.  When  the  “ date  of  muster 
into  service  ” is  marked  1864,  it  refers  to  date  of  re- 
enlistment : 

COMPANY  K,  FIFTY-SIXTH  KEGIMENT. 

Muatered  into  service  March  3^  1862,  vnless  otherwise  stated;  mustered  out 
July  1,  1865. 

Capt.  Edfion  S.  Warner,  pr.  from  1st  It.  Feb.  3,  ’63 ; res.  Feb.  27,  ’63. 
Capt.  Ira  N.  Burritt,  pr.  from  2d  to  1st  It.  Feb.  3,  ’63 ; to  capt.  Feb.  27, 
’63 ; wd.  at  Gettysburg,  Wilderness  and  Weldon  E.  R.  ; disch.  Nov. 
21,  ’64. 

1st  Lt.  Loren  Burritt,  Mar.  7,  ’62;  pr.  from  1st  sergt.  to  2d  It.  Feb.  3, 
’63  ; to  1st  It.  Apr.  1,  ’63;  to  major , 8tli  Regt.  U.  S.  Colored  Troops, 
Nov.  7,  ’63  ; afterwards  pr.  to  It. -col  and  bev.  col. 

Sergt.  John  L.  Vanauken,  Apr.  19, ’62,  died  May  12, ’64,  of  wds.  reed,  in 
action. 

Corporals. 

Drake,  Henry  W.,  Mar.  6,  ’64  ; wd.  four  times  ; mus.  out  with  Co.  ; vet. 
Baxter,  Orrin,  W.,  Jan.  25,  ’64  ; mus.  out  with  Co.  ; vet. 

Potter,  Richard  B.,  Jan.  28,  ’64;  pr.  to  cor.  June  1,  ’65  ; mus.  out  with 
Co. ; vet. 

Richards,  Joseph  D.,  Mar.  27,  ’64  ; pr.  to  cor.  June  1,  ’65,  mus.  out  with 
Co.  ; vet. 

Maxfield,  Cyrus  N.,  Jan.  23,  ’63  ; disch.  June  16,  ’65  ; vet. 

Privates. 

Ainey,  Peter,  wd.  at  Gettysburg ; leg  ampuhited  ; disch.  Feb.  7,  ’64. 
Brown,  George,  July  27,  ’63  ; drafted  ; mus.  out  with  Co. 

Brown,  Josiali  R.,  Mar.  7,  ’64  ; ub.  sick  at  mus.  out. 

Bradshaw,  E.  31.,  Feb.  3,  ’64  ; not  on  mus.  out  roll  ; vet. 

Chase,  3Vm.  J.,  Jan.  3u,  ’64  ; mus.  out  with  Co.  ; vet. 

Crow,  Patrick,  Feb.  13,  ’64  ; mus.  out  with  Co.  ; vet.  ; enlisted  after  war 
in  Mexican  Army. 

Coy,  Asa,  Feb.  17,  ’62  : died  at  Annapolis,  3Id.,  .June  17,  ’62. 

Colvin,  Jared  B.,  com.  1st  It.  Nov.  22,  ’64;  not  ou  mus.  out  roll. 

Driscol,  Jerry  C.,  Apr.  19,  ’62 ; died  June  17,  ’62. 

Devine,  Hiram,  disch. ; date  unknown. 

Doud,  William,  disch. ; date  unknown. 

Eldridge,  Wm.  H.,  disch.  June,  ’62. 

Ellis,  John  H.,  not  on  mus.  out  i*oll. 

Goss,  Edward  A.,  Feb.  14,  ’64  ; ab.  sick  at  mus.  out;  vet. 

Gleason,  Stephen,  Feb.  27,  ’63;  tr.  to  V.  R.  C.  3Iar.  2,  ’64. 

Garvey,  Janies,  not  on  mus.  out  roll. 

Hughes,  Geo.  W.,  Jan.  27,  ’64  ; mus.  out  with  Co.  ; vet. 

Hughes,  Tlios.  W.,  Sept.  10,  ’62 ; disch.  on  surg.  cert.  Sept.  11,  63. 
Jewett,  Allen,  Jan.  29,  ’62  ; died  at  Alexandria,  Va.,  June  23,  ’63,  of 
wmIs.  reed,  in  action, 

Kerr,  Christian,  Mar.  28,  ’62  ; mus.  out  Apr.  5,  ’65 ; exp.  of  term. 
Lindsay,  Ezra  D.,  Jan.  20,  ’62 ; disch.  ; date  unknown  ; re.  in  Lgt.  Art. 
Lynch,  Harvey  W.,  Jan.  29,  ’62  ; disch.  on  surg.  cert.  ; date  unknown. 
McKiiiny,  Chester,  Mar.  25,  ’62  ; died  at  Knoxville,  Tenn.  ; date  un- 
known. 

Otis,  Leander,  Mar.  25,  ’62 ; not  on  mus.  out  roll ; re.  in  U.  S.  Navy. 
Perkins,  Julius  G.,  Feb.  27,  ’62;  mus.  out  with  Co.;  vet 
Perkins,  Chas.  L.,  Feb.  27,  ’62  ; not  on  mus.  out  roll. 

Richards,  Lemuel,  Mar.  27,  ’64  ; mus.  out  with  Co. ; vet. 

Reynolds,  Wm.  H.,  Mar.  27,  ’64;  noton  mus.  out  roll ; re.  in  2d  Pa. 
Heavy  Art. 

Rhinevault,  Sylvester  P.,  Mar.  27,  ’64  ; not  on  mus.  out  roll. 

Richards,  Chas.  F.,  Mar.  27,  ’64  ; not  on  mus.  out  roll. 

Snyder,  Philo  J.,  Feb.  21,  ’64;  mus.  out  with  Co.  ; vet. 


THE  KEBELLION. 


231 


Swisher,  Andrew  J.,  Feb.  2,  ’G4  ; mxis.  out  with  Co, ; vet. 

Sanders,  James  E.,  Apr.  5,  ’62  ; disch.  on  suig.  cert.  Dec.  9,  ’62  ; re.  in 
Co.  B,  IVth  Pa.  Cav. 

Slade,  James,  Mar.  24,  ’62  ; disch.  on  surg.  cert. ; date  unknown. 
Sanders,  Beuj.  F.,  Mar.  24,  '62  ; disch.  on  surg.  cert.  ; date  unknown. 
St.  Clair,  Geo.  "W.,  Mar.  24,  ’62  ; disch.  on  surg.  cert.  ; date  unknown. 
Thompson,  John  J.,  Feb.  24,  ’62  ; mus.  out  with  Co.  July  1,  ’65  ; vet. 
Vergason,  Newell  J.,  Feb.  24,  ’62  ; disch.  on  surg.  cert.  ; date  unknown ; 
re.  in  Co.  K,  187th  P.  V. 

Westbrook,  John,  Feb.  27,  ’62  ; disch.  on  surg.  cert.  Jan.  28,  ’63- 
White,  William,  Feb.  27,  ’62 ; disch.  on  surg.  cert. ; date  unknown. 
Whitford,  Adney  J.,  Mar.  28,  '64;  disch.  Apr.  26,  ’64;  vet. 

Wilbur,  Charles,  Feb.  27,  ’62  ; tr.  to  Battery  B,  1st  Pa.  Art. 

Wilbur,  Isaiah  S.,  Feb.  13,  ’64;  killed  in  action  Aug.  20,  ’64;  vet. 

The  following-named  men  were  also  members  of 
the  Fifty-sixth  Kegiment : 

COMPAXY  A. 

Sergt.  Andrew  J.  Archer,  Oct.  2,  ’61  ; not  with  Co.  at  mus.  out. 

Cor.  Avery  Porter,  Feb.  12,  ’64;  pr.  to  cor.  Apr.  1,  ’65;  mus.  out  with 
Co.  ; vet. 

Pi^ivates. 

Avery,  George,  Star.  30,  ’64  ; not  on  mus.  out  roll. 

Burman,  George  H.  Oct.  4,  ’61 ; capt’d  at  Bull  Run  Aug.  29,  ’62. 
Bloxham,  Arthur  E.,  Feb.  24,  ’62  ; killed  at  Bull  Run  Aug.  29,  ’62. 
Burman,  David,  died  at  Camp  Curtin  Jan.  25,  ’62. 

Burman,  Danford,  Mar.  30,  '64;  disch.  by  G.  0.  June  17,  ’65. 

Cass,  Frederick,  Oct.  2,  '61  ; disch.  on  surg.  cert.  ; date  unknown. 

Foster,  Archibald  L,  Oct.  2,  '61  ; not  with  Co.  at  mus.  out. 

Gelatt,  C.  W.,  Oct.  22,  ’61 ; disch.  for  wds.  reed,  at  Gettysburg  July  1, ’63. 
Hine,  Isaac,  died  at  Camp  Curtin  Jan.  20,  ’62. 

Lathrop,  Eugene,  not  on  muster  out  roll. 

Lagier,  George,  disch.  on  surg.  cert.  May  7,  ’62. 

Perkins,  Lewis  L.,  Oct.  22,  ’62  ; killed  at  North  Anna  River. 

Robinson,  Henry  J.,  Mar.  6,  ’62  ; disch.  on  surg.  cert.  May  6,  ’62. 

Sillick,  Milton,  Feb.  4, ’62;  disch.  ; date  unknown. 

Sillick,  Wm.  H.,  Oct.  22,  ’62  ; not  on  mus.  out  roll. 

Storer,  Isaac  F.,  Oct.  22,  ’61  ; disch.  on  surg.  cert.  ; date  unknown. 
Schriver,  Jeremiah,  not  on  mus.  out  roll. 

Ticknor,  George  B.,  Oct.  22,  ’61 ; capt'd  at  Bull  Run  Aug.  29,  ’62. 

Wood,  Albert  N.,  Oct.  2,  ’61 ; killed  at  Bull  Run,  Aug.  29,  ’62. 

White,  Orrin  B.,  Oct.  2,  ’61  ; died  of  wds.  reed,  at  2d  Bull  Run. 
Washburn,  Luman,  died  at  Camp  Curtin  Dec.  2,  ’61. 

COMPANY  D. 

Capt.  Robert  H.  Day,  Nov.  1,  ’61  ; pr.  from  1st  sergt.  to  2d  It.  Sept.  27, 
,’62  ; to  1st  It.  Mar.  1,  ’63;  to  capt.  June  13,  '61 ; disch.  Jan.  10,  ’65. 
Sergt.  Wm.  H.  Miller,  pr.  to  sergt.  June  24,  ’62 ; disch.  for  wds. 

Cor.  Walter  F.  Aldrich,  pr.  to  cor.  Jan.  24,  ’62 ; tr.  to  V.  R.  C. 

Privates. 

Brush,  Geo.  A.,  disch.  ; date  unknown. 

Brush,  Edgar  J.,  capt’d  at  2d  Bull  Run. 

Grimes,  Curtis  F.,  Feb.  13,  '64  : mus.  out  with  Co.  July  1,  ’65  ; vet. 
Gordon,  Samuel  G.,  disch.  on  surg.  cert. ; date  unknown. 

Morse,  Joel  Furman,  died  June  2,  ’63  ; bur.  at  Antietam. 

Middaugh,  Charles,  died  ; date  unknown. 

Martin,  Edward  F.,  Feb.  13,  ’64;  disch.  for  wds.,  \sith  loss  of  leg,  reed. 
June  20,  ’64. 

Lung,  Addison  W.,  not  on  mus.  out  roll. 

COMPANY  G. 

1st  Lt.  Henry  C.  Titman,  1861  ; pr.  from  sergt.  to  1st.  It.  Dec.  6,  ’63; 

killed  at  Wilderness  May  5,  '64.  (See  Lt.  “ Titman  ” Post,  G.  A.  R.) 
Strunk,  Wm.  C.  Priv.  died  Aug.  12,  ’64. 

COMPANY  I. 

Sergt.  William  Anderson,  Feb.  13,  ’64,  pr.  to  sergt.  Apr.  1,  ’65;  mus. 
out  with  Co.  July  1,  ’65  ; vet. 

Sergt.  Urbane  Barrager,  Feb.  13,  '64  ; pr.  from  cor.  to  sergt.  May  21, 
’65  ; mus.  out  with  Co.  July  1,  ’65  ; vet. 

Cor.  Jasper  Gardner,  Feb.  *13,  ’64  ; wd.  in  action  June  18,  ’64,  ab.  in  hos. 
at  mus.  out  ; vet. 

Cor.  M.  J.  Slocum,  Feb.  13,  '64;  pr.  to  cor.  Feb.  25,  ’62  ; not  on  nuis.  out 
roll ; vet. 

Mus.  Winfield  S.  Carr,  not  on  mus.  out  roll. 


Privates. 

Bennett,  Geo.  E.,  not  on  mus.  out  roll. 

Coil,  Charles,  tr.  to  Co.  A ; date  unknown. 

Coil,  John,  Aug.  20,  ’64  ; tr.  to  Co.  A ; date  unknown. 

Coil,  Thomas,  Aug.  20,  ’64  ; tr.  to  Co.  A ; date  unknown. 

Coil,  James,  not  on  mus.  out  roll. 

Canfield,  James  A.,  not  on  mus.  out  roll. 

Galloway,  E.  F.,  not  on  mus.  out  roll. 

Weed,  Phiueas,  not  on  mus.  out  roll. 

Fifty-sevexth  Regimext. — The  men  of  this  I’egi- 
ment  were  mainly  from  the  counties  of  Mercer,  Craw- 
ford, Venango,  Tioga,  Bradford,  Wyoming  and  Sus- 
quehanna. The  regiment  was  organized  early  in 
December,  1861,  by  the  choice  of  the  following  officers : 
^Wlliam  Maxwell,  colonel ; Elhanan  W.  Woods, 
lieutenant-colonel ; and  Jeremiah  Culp,  major.  The 
regiment  left  Camp  Curtin  for  'Washington  on  the 
14th  and  encamped  on  the  Bladensburg  Pike.  In 
February,  1862,  it  crossed  the  river  into  Virginia  and 
joined  the  Army  of  the  Potomac.  It  was  here  assigned 
to  General  Jameson’s  brigade  of  the  Third  Corps, 
being  associated  with  the  Eighty-third  and  One 
Hundred  and  Fifth  Pennsylvania  regiments  and  the 
Eighty-seventh  New  AMrk.  On  the  4th  of  April  it 
moved  with  the  army  to  Yorktown,  and  after  remain- 
ing under  the  fire  of  the  enemy’s  guns  for  a few  days 
it  was  moved  to  a wooded  swamp  in  the  rear,  where, 
for  a month,  the  men  labored  in  the  trenches.  “ Here,” 
wrote  Surgeon  Lyman,  “the  men  walked  in  mud, 
slept  in  mud,  and  drank  water  from  holes  scooped 
out  of  the  mild  ; and  the  combined  remonstrances  of 
the  medical  officers  of  the  brigade  were  met  by  the 
silencing  reply,  ‘ It  is  a military  necessity.’  But  the 
result  proved  the  fears  of  the  surgeons  well  founded, 
and  nearly  half  the  regiment  were  rendered  unfit  for 
duty  and  many  of  them  died.  On  the  11th  the  regi- 
ment had  a brief  but  sharp  engagement  with  the 
enemy,  and  on  May  4th,  while  on  the  march  to  the 
battle-field  of  Williamsburg,  it  was  ordered  to  throw 
off  knapsacks,  blankets  and  overcoats,  and  proceed 
‘double  quick  ’ to  the  front.  They  reached  the  field, 
but,  night  coming  on,  they  were  not  engaged  ; and, 
overheated  by  their  rapid  march,  wet  to  the  skin  by  a 
drenching  rain,  without  rations,  blankets  or  fires,  they 
remained  under  arms  all  night.”  “ It  seemed,”  writes 
Colonel  Perkins,  then  adjutant  of  the  regiment,  “im- 
mediately after,  as  though  the  regiment  had  been 
struck  by  a pestilence.  I think  the  loss  to  the  regi- 
ment by  discharges,  on  account  of  that  night’s  expo- 
sure, was  greater  than  our  casualties  in  any  battle 
during  the  war.”  At  the  battle  of  Fair  Oaks  the 
regiment  suffered  severely,  having  eleven  men  killed 
and  forty-nine  wounded. 

In  the  severe  battle  of  the  30th  the  enemy  assaulted 
the  Union  lines  in  vastly  superior  numbers,  but  he 
was  repulsed  with  great  slaughter,  and  the  conduct  of 
the  Fifty-seventh  on  that  occasion  was  highly  com- 
mended by  that  accomplished  soldier.  General  Kearny. 
The  loss  in  the  regiment  was  seven  killed  and  fifty-six 
wounded.  But,  with  undaunted  spirits  and  unflagging 
zeal  it  met  the  enemy  at  Malvern  Hill  on  the  following 


232 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


day,  and  in  this,  the  last  of  the  series  of  bloody  battles 
of  that  Peninsular  campaign,  it  sustained  well  its 
reputation  for  efficiency  and  bravery.  But,  without 
a field  officer  and  with  only  a few  line  officers  fit  for 
duty — reduced  by  battle,  by  sickness  and  by  death  to 
only  fifty-six  effective  men— it  presented  a marked 
contrast  to  the  thousand  strong  that,  scarcely  three 
months  before,  had  marched  forth  to  battle.  But 
before  leaving  the  Peninsula,  recruits  were  received, 
the  sick  rapidly  returned  and  the  regiment  was 
restored  to  almost  its  original  efficiency. 

From  the  Peninsula  the  regiment  proceeded  to 
Alexandria,  and  from  there  joined  Pope’s  army  in 
time  to  participate  in  the  second  Bull  Run  battle  on 
the  29th  and  30th  of  August.  By  a forced  march  the 
regiment  reached  the  battle-field  of  Chantilly.  Here 
the  gallant  Kearny,  having  ridden  into  the  enemy’s 
lines  while  reconnoitring,  was  killed,  and  his  body 
fell  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy.  On  the  following 
day  four  companies  of  the  Fifty-seventh  were  sent, 
under  a flag  of  truce,  to  receive  his  body  and  bear  it 
within  our  lines.  On  the  13th  of  December  the  regi- 
ment crossed  the  Rappahannock  on  pontoons,  and 
soon  was  fiercely  engaged  with  the  enemy  on  the 
bloody  field  of  Fredericksburg.  On  the  14th,  in 
company  with  the  One  Hundred  and  Forty -first 
Pennsylvania,  it  was  ordered  to  the  extreme  front 
line,  where  it  remained  until  the  night  of  the  15th. 
Upon  recrossing  the  river  it  returned  to  its  old  camp, 
but  with  sadly-thinned  ranks.  Of  the  three  hundred 
and  sixteen  men  with  which  the  regiment  went  into 
that  battle,  twenty-one  were  killed,  seventy-six 
wounded  and  seventy-eight  were  missing.  About  the 
1st  of  March,  1863,  in  the  reorganization  of  the  army 
under  Hooker,  the  Fifty-seventh  was  assigned  to 
Graham’s  brigade,  composed  entirely  of  Pennsylvania 
regiments,  viz. ; The  Fifty-seventh,  Sixty-third,  Sixty- 
eighth,  One  Hundred  and  Fifth,  One  Hundred  and 
Fourteenth  and  One  Hundred  and  Forty- first.  On 
the  28th  of  April  it  started  on  the  Chancellorsville 
campaign,  crossing  the  river  on  the  30th  and  reaching 
the  field  on  the  1st  of  May.  On  the  2d  it  moved  to 
the  front,  but,  with  the  exception  of  some  skirmishing, 
was  not  seriously  engaged.  At  daylight  of  the  3d,  the 
brigade  being  in  column  of  regiments,  the  enemy 
suddenly  assaulted  it  with  great  fury.  It  immediately 
moved  by  the  flank  at  double  quick  and  deployed  in 
line  of  battle  near  the  Chancellor  House,  where  it 
charged  and  drove  the  enemy;  but,  after  a desperate 
encounter,  was  forced  to  fall  back.  The  regiment 
again  suffered  a grievous  loss,  having  thirteen  of  its 
number  killed,  forty-eight  wounded  and  twenty-three 
missing.  On  the  6th  it  recrossed  the  river  and  re- 
turned to  its  old  camp.  On  the  11th  of  June  the 
regiment  started  on  the  Gettysburg  campaign,  arriv- 
ing at  Emmittsburg,  Md.,  July  1st,  and  reaching  the 
battle-field  that  night.  Early  on  the  2d  it  moved  to 
the  front,  and  during  the  fierce  fighting  that  occurred 
the  Fifty-seventh  was  in  the  thickest  of  the  fray. 


While  the  regiment  was  in  position  near  Sherfy’s 
house  the  brigade  was  compelled  to  fall  back  by  a 
flank  movement  of  the  enemy,  and  a number  of  the 
men  having  taken  cover  in  an  old  cellar,  did  not  hear 
the  order  to  retire,  but  continued  a rapid  and  destruc- 
tive fire.  When  too  late,  they  discovered  their  isolated 
position  and  were  nearly  all  captured.  During  the 
3d  it  remained  at  the  front  and  at  night  was  placed 
on  picket.  The  casualties  of  the  regiment  were  again 
heavy,  being  twelve  killed,  forty-five  wounded  and 
forty-seven  missing.  In  the  pursuit  of  Lee,  and  in 
all  the  subsequent  campaigns  and  engagements  in  the 
Valley  of  Virginia,  including  Mine  Run,  Auburn 
Creek,  Kelly’s  Ford  and  Locust  Grove,  the  regiment 
participated,  and  at  noon,  on  the  9th  of  April,  when 
within  a mile  of  Aj^pomattox  Court-House,  the  joyful 
tidings  was  brought  that  Lee  had  surrendered. 

Company  A.— Nearly  half  of  Company  A enlisted 
from  this  county,  and  the  remainder  wei’e  mostly  from 
our  neighboring  county  of  Wyoming.  J.  R.  Lyons  was 
mainly  instrumental  in  recruiting  the  men  from  Sus- 
quehanna, having  a recruiting  station  on  the  fair- 
ground during  the  county  fair  in  September,  1861. 
Upon  the  organization  of  the  company  he  was  chosen 
first  lieutenant,  and  upon  the  promotion  of  Captain 
Sides  to  lieutenant-colonel,  soon  after,  he  was  made 
captain  of  the  company,  and  continued  in  command 
until  obliged  to  leave  the  service  on  account  of 
wounds  received  in  the  severe  engagements  his  regi- 
ment participated  in.  His  brother,  Clark  M.  Lyons, 
was  made  adjutant  of  the  regiment,  and  died  from 
wounds  received  in  battle.  Henry  H.  Hinds  was 
promoted  to  captain  of  the  company,  and  Edgar 
Williams  was  promoted  to  captain  Company  E,  and 
died  of  wounds.  The  company  bore  manfully  its 
part  during  the  severe  service  of  the  regiment,  as  the 
record  of  its  members  will  bear  evidence. 

COMPANY  A,  FIFTY-SEVENTH  REGIMENT. 
Clustered  into  service  NovemherW^  1861,  unless  otheinvise  slated;  mustered 
out  June  29,  1865. 

Capt.  Jerome  K.  Lyons,  Pec.  4,  ’61 ; pr.  from  1st  It.  to  capt.  Sept.  15, 
’62  ; disch.  Oct.  4,  ’64,  for  wds.  rec.  in  action  (see  Capt.  Lyons  Post. 
G.  A.  R.) 

Capt.  Henry  H.  Hinds,  Pec.  4,  ’61 ; pr.  from  1st  sergt.  to  1st  It.  Jan.  7, 
’6.3  ; taken  pris.  at  Gettysburg ; pr.  to  capt.  May  15,  ’65  ; disch.  May 
15,  ’65. 

Sergeants. 

Wm.  Poherty,  Feb.  10,  ’64;  pr.  from  cor.  to  sergt.  June  1,  ’65 ; mus.  out 
with  Co. 

Edgar  Van  Loan,  April  1,  ’62  ; mus.  out  April  10,  ’65,  exp.  of  term. 
Edgar  Winiams,  Oct.  4,  ’61  ; pr.  to  2d  It.  Co.  E.,  Nov.  4,  ’63  ; to  1st  It. 
Sept.  1,  ’63;  to  capt.  Nov.  1,  ’63  ; died  May  23,  ’64,  of  wds.  rec.  in 
action. 

Wm.  W.  Hinds,  Pec.  4,  ’61 ; wd.  at  Malvern  Hill ; mortally  wd.  at  Fred- 
ericksburg, Va.  ; died  Pec.  22,  ’62. 

Corporals. 

Gilbert  H.  Mitchell,  Jan.  1,  ’64;  mus.  out  with  Co.  June  29,  ’65 ; vet. 
Theodore  S.  Clink,  Pec.  4,  ’61 ; not  on  mus.  out  roll ; disch.  April  19,  ’62. 
Adelbert  B.  Robinson,  Pec.  4,  ’61 ; wd.  at  Chancellorsville  ; knocked 
senseless  by  a shell  at  Gettysburg  ; on  detached  serv.  at  mus.  out  of 
Co. ; vet. 

Edward  F.  Hawley,  Oct.  23,  ’61 ; capt’d  ; died  at  Andersonville,  Ga.,  July 
7,  ’64. 


THE  KEBELLION. 


233 


John  L.  Strunk,  Dec.  4,  '61 ; died  June  4,  ’62,  at  Yorktown,  Va. 

Bentley  Stark,  Dec.  4,  ’01 ; died  at  Harrison  Landing,  Aug.  3,  ’62. 

Privates. 

Anson,  Levi,  Dec.  31,  ’63  ; mus.  out  with  Co.  June  29,  ’65 ; vet. 

Anson,  Lafayette,  Oct.  22,  ’61  ; mus.  out  Oct.  25,  64,  exp.  of  term. 

Austin,  John,  Dec.  4,  ’61 ; tr.  to  V.  R.  c.  Nov.  1,  ’63. 

Bronson,  Philander  S.,  Dec.  4,  ’01;  disch.  Sept.  16,  ’62,  for  disability. 

Brotzraan,  Isaac,  Dec.  4,  ’61  ; taken  pris.  at  Cliancellorsville ; died  at 
Camp  Parole,  Annapolis,  Md.,  Aug.  17,  ’63. 

Bolls,  Lyman,  Dec.  4,  ’61 ; disch.  Nov.  16,  ’62. 

Bump,  Dennis  L.,  Dec.  4,  ’61 ; disch.  Nov.  14,  ’62,  at  Ft.  Hamilton  ; re. 
in  Co.  C,  203d  P.  V. 

Barnes,  Horace  J.,  Dec.  4,  ’61  ; wd.  at  Fair  Oaks,  and  left  in  the  hands 
of  the  enemy. 

Bray.  Levi  T.,  Feb.  12,  ’62  ; taken  pris.  at  Fredericksburg  ; on  detached 
duty  at  mus.  out ; vet. 

Bramlee,  Wm.  J.,  Jan.  29,  *62  ; re.  as  a vet. 

Brauilee,  Alonzo  T.,  Mar.  10,  ’62  ; not  on  mus.  out  roll. 

Clink,  Adam,  Oct.  22,  ’61 ; not  on  mus.  out  roll. 

Clink,  James,  Oct.  22,  ’61 ; disch.  Jan.  16,  ’63. 

Coggswell,  Aaron,  Oct.  22,  ’61 ; died  at  Ft.  Monroe,  June  17,  ’62. 

Doherty,  Patrick,  Dec.  31,  ’63;  mus.  out  with  Co.  June  29,  ’65  ; vet. 

Devine,  Daniel,  Nov.  1,  ’61  ; wd.  at  Glendale ; disch.  Jan.  16,  ’63. 

Devine,  Jno.  Wesley,  Nov.  1,  ’61 ; taken  pris.  at  Chancellorsville  ; re- 
turned to  Co.  Dec.  10,  ’63  ; vet. 

Fargo,  Jason  E.,  Nov.  1,  ’61 ; not  on  mus.  out  roll. 

Granger,  John  W.,  Nov.  1,  ’61  ; pr.  to  cor.  Feb.  18,  ’63 ; to  sergt.  July  1, 
’63  ; tr.  to  V.  R.  C.  Jan.  15,  ’64. 

Granger,  Luther  A.,  Nov.  1,  ’61 ; killed  at  Gettysburg. 

Hinds,  Fi'ederick  M.,  Oct.  22,  ’61  ; pr.  to  cor.  Mar.  1,  ’62;  disch.  Oct. 
14, ’62. 

Jackson,  Fred.,  not  on  mus.  out  roll. 

Keator,  W.  B.,  Nov.  1,  ’61 ; not  on  mus.  out  roll. 

Kennard,  Lewis  C.,  Jan.  30,  ’62  ; in  actions  of  Williamsburg,  Fair  Oaks  ; 
killed  at  Glendale. 

Kennedy,  Richard  V.,  Nov.  1,  ’61 ; left  arm  shot  off  at  Gettysburg  ; disch. 
Dec.  3,  ’63. 

Kirkhoff,  J.,  died  April  12,  ’65  ; bur.  at  Arlington,  Va. 

Larum,  Joseph,  April  8,  ’65  ; substitute  ; ab.  sick  at  mus.  out. 

Lines,  Sumner  E.,  Nov.  1,  ’61  ; killed  in  front  of  Petersburg,  Va.,  June 
18,  ’64. 

Lyons,  Clark  M.,  Nov.  1,  ’61 ; pr.  to  1st  It.  and  adjt.  May  2,  ’64 ; died 
June  20,  ’64,  of  wds,  received  in  action  (see  “Four  Brothers  ” Post, 
G.  A.  R.) 

Lewis,  Kennard,  Nov.  1,  ’61  ; not  on  mus.  out  roll. 

McCauley,  John,  Nov.  1,  ’61;  disch.  for  disability  Dec.  9,  ’62. 

McCormick,  John  C.,  Nov.  1,  ’6i;  wd.  at  Gettysburg;  disch.  at  Harris- 
burg, Pa. 

McCormick,  Chas.,  Nov.  1,  ’61 ; wd.  at  Gettysburg,  leg  amputated  ; died 
from  wds.  July  12,  ’63. 

McCracken,  Volney,  Feb.  13,  ’64 ; not  on  mus.  out  roll. 

McDonald,  Myron,  Feb.  13,  ‘64  ; not  on  mus.  out  roll. 

Osborn,  Wm.  H.,  Nov.  1,  ’61  ; disch.  March  10,  ’63,  disability. 

Osborn,  Stephen  M.,  Nov.  1,  ’61 ; wd.  at  2d  Bull  Run,  and  died  of  his 
wds.  at  Alexandria,  Va.,  Sept.  17,  ’62. 

Otis,  Ferdinand,  Nov.  1,  ’61  ; killed  in  action  Dec.  13,  ’62. 

Otis,  Dudley  M.,  Nov.  25,  ’61;  died  near  Falmouth,  Va.,  June  9,  ’63,  of 
wounds  received  at  Chancellorsville,  Va. 

Otis,  Israel,  Nov.  1,  ’61 ; wd.  at  Chancellorsville,  Va. ; pr.  to  cor.  ; killed. 

Potter,  Henry  W.,  Nov.  1,  ’61  ; died  Jan.  12,  ’62,  at  Union  Heights, 
Georgetown. 

Penny,  Wm.  H.,  Nov.  1,  ’61 ; not  on  mus.  out  roll. 

Penny,  Sidney  E.,  Nov.  1,  ’61  ; not  on  mus.  out  roll. 

Roberts,  Blortimer,  Nov.  1,  ’61 ; disch.  Sept.  20,  ’62,  at  Ft.  Monroe. 

Stage,  Geo.  E.,  March  31,  ’64;  wd.  at  Wilderness,  Va.,  May  5,  ’64  ; ab.  at 
mus.  out. 

Seeley,  Benj.  E.,  Feb.  13,  ’64;  disch.  on  surg.  cert.  April  14,  ’65. 

Stage,  Aaron,  Feb.  11,  ’62 ; fifer ; tr.  to  Co.  I,  April  1,  ’62  ; died  at  Ft. 
McHenry  Oct.  28,  ’62. 

Stage,  Richard  H.,  March  31,  ’64  ; died  May  7,  ’04,  of  wounds  received 
in  action  ; previously  served  9 mos.  in  Co.  11,  177th  Regt. 

Sliaddock,  Joseph,  Feb.  15,  ’62  ; not  on  mus,  out  roll. 

Seeley,  Malory,  not  on  mus.  out  roll. 

Sembler,  Frank  0.,  Nov.  1,  ’61 ; not  on  mus.  out  roll. 

Stephens,  Fred.,  Nov.  1,  ’61;  killed  Dec.  13,  ’62. 

Sherwood,  N.  Y.,  Nov.  1,  ’61 ; disch.  Dec.  12,  ’62,  of  disability. 


Simpson,  Walter  B.,  Nov.  1,  ’61  ; pris.  at  Fredericksburg;  exchanged  ; 

wd.  at  Kelly’s  Ford  ; re-enlisted  ; vet. 

Stark,  Mitchell  0.,  Nov.  1,  ’61 ; not  on  mus.  out  roll. 

Strickland,  P.  B.,  Nov.  1,  ’61 ; died  at  Ft.  Monroe  June  17,  ’62,  of 
wounds  received  at  Fair  Oaks,  Va. 

Seeley,  Hollis,  Feb.  22,  ’64 ; not  on  mus.  out  roll. 

Seeley,  Malvern  E.,  Feb.  22,  ’64  ; not  on  mus.  out  roll. 

Smith,  Daniel,  Mar.  22,  ’64  ; died  June  14,  ’64. 

Sweet,  Perry,  Feb.  1,  ’04;  ab.  in  hos,  at  Phila.  at  mus.  out ; disch.  by 
G.  0.  June  12,  ’65. 

Sweet,  Henry,  Feb.  1,  ’64 ; died  at  Beverly  hos.,  N.  J,,  Oct.  22,  ’64 ; had 
served  9 months  in  Co.  A.,  151st  P.  V. 

Terry,  Henry  W.,  Feb.  25,  ’62 ; wd.  at  Chancellorsville,  Va.,  May  3,  ’63  ; 
al).  at  mus.  out. 

Talloii,  James,  Nov.  1,  ’61 ; disch,  for  disability  Oct.  28,  ‘62  ; re.  in  Co.  D, 
50th  P.  V. 

Tiffany,  Volney  W.,  Nov.  1,  ’61 ; killed  at  Fair  Oaks,  May  31,  ’62. 
Whitney,  Willard  J.,  Oct.  5,  ’61  ; wd.  at  Charles  City  Cross-Roads  June 
30,  ’63 ; wd.  and  capt’d  at  Chancellorsville,  Va.,  May  3,  ’63 ; disch. 
Nov.  15,  ’63. 

Wickson,  Joshua,  Nov.  1,  ’61  ; re-enlisted;  killed  at  battle  of  Wilderness 
May  5,  ’64  ; vet. 

Wood,  Warren  S.,  Nov.  1,  ’61 ; disch.  for  disability  April  13,  ’62. 

Warner,  Erastus,  Nov.  1,  ’61 ; wd.  at  Fair  Oaks  ; on  detached  duty  at 
mus.  out ; vet. 

COMPANY  I. 

Privates. 

Maxum,  Charles,  Feb.  28,  ’62  ; died  in  hospital  Ang.  2,  ’63. 

Parker,  Joeeidi  W.,  Feb.  28,  ’62  ; disch.  for  disability  Sept.  30,  ’62. 

COMPANY  D. 

Privates. 

Dimmick,  Addison,  Feb.  21,  ’62  ; disch.  on  surg.  cert.  Aug.  8,  ’62. 

Freer,  Du  Bois,  Feb.  28,  ’62  ; died  June  3,  ’62. 

Thatcher,  C.  E.,  Feb.  16,  '62;  tr.  to  V.  R.  C.  Oct.  7,  ’63. 

One  Hundred  and  Forty-first  Eegiment. — 
The  three  counties  of  Bradford,  Susquehanna  and 
Wayne  furnished  the  men  composing  this  regiment, 
seven  companies  being  recruited  in  Bradford,  two  in 
Susquehanna  and  one  from  Wayne.  The  companies 
rendezvouzed  at  Camp  Curtin,  where,  on  the  28th  of 
August,  1862,  the  commissioned  officers  of  the  several 
companies  met  to  select  regimental  officers.  With  a 
unanimity  that  thus  early  evinced  that  the  purpose  of 
both  officers  and  men  of  the  regiment  was  to  stamp  out 
rebellion,  and  not  self-aggrandizement,  they  decided 
to  call  to  the  command  of  the  regiment  a soldier  of 
experience  and  known  ability;  and  their  choice  fell 
upon  Major  Henry  J.  Madill,  of  the  Sixth  Pennsyl- 
vania Reserves,  a resident  of  Bradford  County.  At 
the  moment  of  his  election  Major  Madill  was  partici- 
pating with  his  regiment  in  the  bloody  battles  that 
culminated  on  the  30th  in  another  disaster  to  the 
Union  troops  at  Bull  Run.  The  organization  was 
completed  by  the  selection  of  Guy  H.  Watkins  and 
Israel  P.  Spalding,  of  Bradford  County,  as  lieuten- 
ant-colonel and  major,  Daniel  W.  Searle,  of  Susque- 
hanna, as  adjutant,  and  Robert  N.  Torrey,  of  Wayne, 
as  quartermaster.  The  total  number  on  the  rolls  of 
the  regiment,  including  field  and  staff,  was  nine  hun- 
dred and  forty-nine  men.  Gn  the  evening  of  the  28th 
orders  were  received  for  the  regiment  to  proceed  to 
Washington  the  next  day,  which  was  received  with 
great  satisfaction  and  obeyed  with  alacrity.  The 
regiment  left  Cami>  Curtin  the  next  afternoon,  and 
reached  Washington  the  following  day.  The  booming 


234 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


of  cannon  from  the  battle-field  of  Bull  Bun  could  be 
distinctly  heard,  and  all  was  excitement  and  confusion 
at  the  Capitol.  Taking  dinner  at  the  Soldiers’  Rest, 
the  regiment  was  immediately  ordered  to  Arlington 
Heights ; but  upon  reaching  Long  Bridge,  they  were 
detained  until  dark  by  an  ambulance  train  going  to 
Bull  Run,  and  did  not  reach  their  destination  until 
eleven  o’clock.  Here,  weary  and  exhausted,  they 
threw  themselves  down  to  sleep  ; but  within  an  hour 
orders  came  to  proceed  to  Chain  Bridge,  some  nine 
miles  distant.  Pope’s  defeat  was  now  known,  and  the 
regiment  fell  into  line  for  this  march,  not  knowing 
at  what  moment  it  might  encounter  the  victorious 
foe.  To  add  to  the  perils  of  the  situation,  the  regiment 
was  practically  without  arms ; for  there  was  not  a 
round  of  ammunition  that  would  fit  their  old  Austrian 
muskets,  nor  a hundred  bayonets  that  could  be  used. 
Had  the  men  of  the  regiment  known  at  that  time  what 
they  soon  afterwards  learned — the  value  of  having  in 
their  hands  a trusty  musket,  capped  and  primed,  with 
“ forty  rounds  ” in  their  pockets — they  might  have 
done  what  never  occurred  during  their  term  of  service 
— disobeyed  orders.  The  survivors  of  the  regiment 
will  never  forget  that  night-march.  No  glimmering 
star  illumined  the  blank  darkness,  and  to  add  to  its 
misfortunes  the  guide  lost  his  way,  and  it  was  daylight 
when  the  regiment  halted  near  its  destination.  Less 
than  two  hundred  men  were  in  line.  The  remainder, 
overcome  by  fatigue,  had  “ fallen  by  the  way  ; ” but 
during  tfie  forenoon  most  of  the  men  arrived  in  camp. 
Bates,  in  his  “ History  of  the  Pennsylvania  Volunteers,” 
speaking  of  the  regiment  at  this  time,  says  ; “For  two 
days  it  was  kept  marching  and  counter-marching 
among  the  defences  of  Washington,  being  held  in 
readiness  to  repel  an  attack  of  the  enemy,  which 
seemed  to  be  hourly  anticipated.  The  days  were  in- 
tensely hot  and  the  nights  cool,  and  for  more  than  a 
week  after  its  arrival  the  regiment  was  without  tents. 
Rations  also  were  scarce,  and  privation  and  exjjosure 
soon  began  to  tell  fearfully  upon  the  health  of  the 
men,  nearly  three  hundred  being  carried  to  hospitals, 
and  five  hundred  reported  unfit  for  duty.’’  On  the 
12th  of  September  the  regiment  was  assigned  to  the 
First  Brigade,  First  Division  of  the  Third  Corps,  and 
became  associated  with  the  Sixty-third,  Sixty-eighth, 
One  Hundred  and  Fifth,  and  One  Hundred  and  Four- 
teenth Pennsylvania,  and  the  Twentieth  Indiana 
Regiments.  General  John  C.  Robinson,  now  a resi- 
dent of  Binghamton,  N.  Y.,  commanded  the  brigade. 
He  was  a regular  army  officer,  a gallant  soldier  and 
strict  disciplinarian. 

In  the  following  brief  account  of  the  regiment’s 
services  the  writer  is  indebted  for  many  items  of  in- 
terest to  a very  complete  and  accurate  history  of  the 
One  Hundred  and  Forty-first  Regiment,  written  by 
Chaplain  David  Craft,  and  published  in  1885.  The 
regiment  remained  in  the  defences  of  Washington 
until  the  10th  of  October,  when,  with  the  brigade,  it 
made  a forced  march  to  Poolsville,  Md.,  in  a fruitless 


attempt  to  intercept  Stewart  on  his  retnrn  from  his 
rebel  raid  into  Pennsylvania.  It  is  said  that  “severe 
marches  are  more  destructive  to  armies  than  battles;” 
and  this  march,  so  far  as  the  One  Hundred  and  Forty- 
first  was  concerned,  was  a striking  illustration  ofits  truth 
The  surgeon  of  the  regiment  reported  that  more  than 
one  hundred  cases  of  hernia  alone  were  traceable  to 
the  Poolsville  march.  The  regiment  remained  here 
on  picket  duty  until  the  28th,  when  it  crossed  the 
river  at  White’s  Ford,  and  joined  the  army  in  its 
march  to  Warrenton.  When  Burnside  assumed  com- 
mand, it  moved  with  the  army  towards  Fredericks- 
burg, reaching  Falmouth  on  the  22d  of  November. 
The  battle  of  Fredericksburg  was  the  first  engage- 
ment in  w’hich  the  regiment  participated.  It  was  un- 
der arms  all  day  the  10th,  and  on  the  morning  of  the 
11th  of  December  it  was  awakened  by  a ‘^reveille"  it 
will  never  forget — the  booming  of  cannon  at  Freder- 
icksburg. All  day  and  the  next  it  waited,  momentarily 
expecting  orders  to  cross  the  river.  On  the  morning 
of  the  13th  it  marched  to  a point  on  the  hills  oppo- 
site the  head  of  Franklin’s  pontoon  bridge,  and 
stacked  arms.  Here  it  lay,  a silent  spectator,  in  full 
view  of  the  terrible  battle  now  raging  across  the  river, 
until  nearly  two  o’clock  in  the  afternoon,  when  it  re- 
ceived orders  to  cross  and  hasten  to  the  relief  of  the 
gallant  Reserves,  who  were  being  forced  back  by  over- 
whelming numbers.  For  nearly  a mile  the  regiment  was 
exposed  to  the  fire  of  the  enemy’s  artillery,  which,  as  the 
brigade  approached  the  field,  was  concentrated  upon 
it,  and  shot  and  shell  flew  thick  and  fast.  The  arrival 
of  the  brigade  was  most  timely.  The  yelling  rebels 
of  Early’s  brigade  were  within  a hundred  yai’ds  ot 
Randolph’s  battery,  and  would  doubtless  have  cap- 
tured it  but  for  the  withering  fire  poured  into  their 
ranks  by  the  advance  regiments  of  the  brigade,  which 
compelled  them  to  fall  back.  The  One  Hundred  and 
Forty-first  was  ordered  in  support  of  Randolph’s  bat- 
tery, upon  which  the  enemy  did  not  cease  their  fire 
until  dark.  On  the  night  of  the  14th  Major  Spalding, 
with  twenty  men  from  each  company  and  six  commis- 
sioned officers,  were  placed  on  advanced  picket,  within 
twenty  rods  of  the  enemy’s  lines.  Here  they  re- 
mained from  five  o’clock  Monday  morning  until  two 
o’clock  Tuesday  morning,  when,  the  army  having 
safely  recrossed  the  river,  they  silently  withdrew,  and 
were  among  the  last  to  reach  the  north  bank  of  the 
Rappahannock.  The  regiment  returned  to  its  old 
camp  and  erected  winter-quarters.  On  the  20th  of 
January  the  regiment  started  on  what  was  afterwards 
known  as  Burnside’s  “ mud  march;”  and  its  particular 
significance  to  the  regiment  arises  from  the  fact  that 
in  this  well-planned  movement  it  had  been  selected 
for  the  important  and  perilous  duty  of  crossing  the 
river  in  boats,  and  taking  possession  of  the  hill  and 
holding  it  while  the  pontoon  bridge  was  laid.  The 
confidence  thus  placed  in  the  courage  and  ability  of 
the  officers  and  men  of  the  regiment  was  no  small 
compliment;  but  fortunately  for  them,  the  elements 


THE  REBELLION. 


235 


interposed,  and  they  were  spared  the  ordeal.  Return- 
ing to  camp,  it  quietly  passed  the  remainder  of  the 
winter,  and  the  spring  found  it  ready  and  waiting  for 
the  campaign  that  followed. 

On  the  27th  of  April,  1863,  orders  were  received  to 
be  ready  to  march  on  the  following  day.  The  regi- 
ment participated  in  the  operations  of  Sedgewick  in 
and  about  Fredericksburg,  designed  to  divert  the 
attention  of  Lee  from  Hooker’s  real  point  of  attack 
at  Chancellorsville,  but  did  not  cross  the  river.  On 
the  30th  the  regiment  started  up  the  river,  and  early 
on  the  morning  of  May  1st  it  crossed  the  pontoon 
bridge  at  United  States  Ford,  and  marched  to  the 
front.  It  will  be  remembered  that  in  the  Chancellors- 
ville  campaign  the  regiment  was  in  Graham’s  bri- 
gade, Birney’s  division,’  and  Sickles’  (Third)  corps. 
We  have  space  to  only  briefly  note  the  part  taken  by 
the  regiment  in  the  terrible  battles  then  fought. 
During  the  day  of  the  1st,  Graham’s  brigade  was 
ordered  to  the  support  of  the  Twelfth  Corps,  and  was 
subjected  to  the  fire  of  the  enemy’s  artillery,  losing 
some  men.  On  the  2d  it  participated  in  the  advance 
in  which  the  enemy  were  driven  back,  but  just  before 
dark  “Stonewall”  Jackson's  rebel  legions  swooped 
down  upon  the  Eleventh  Corps,  “rolling  it  up  like  a 
scroll,”  and  placing  the  regiment,  with  the  other  troops 
in  the  advance,  in  a perilous  condition.  But  aided 
by  the  darkness,  they  withdrew,  and  that  night  were 
placed  on  picket.  At  daylight  on  the  morning  of 
the  3d,  while  the  brigade  was  in  column  of  regiments, 
the  enemy  suddenly  opened  fire  upon  it.  Says  Bates: 
“The  brigade  was  unprepared  for  the  shock,  but 
retiring  by  the  flank  it  rapidly  re-formed  near  the 
Chancellor  house  and  delivered  a counter-charge  upon 
the  enemy,  who  had  followed  them  up  sharply,  and 
was  now  crossing  an  open  field  towards  a wood,  where 
he  was  met,  and  where  a fierce,  almost  hand-to-hand 
fight  ensued.  The  fighting  on  the  part  of  the  regi- 
ment One  Hundred  and  Forty-first  was  here  most 
heroic,  and  resulted  in  driving  the  enemy  from 
its  front  and  holding  him  in  check  until  nearly 
surrounded,  when  it  retired  in  good  order,  re- 
peatedly rallying  and  pouring  destructive  volleys 
into  the  faces  of  the  closely  pursuing  foe.  * * * 
For  its  discipline  and  bravery  exhibited  on  the 
memorable  3d  of  May,  the  regiment  was  warmly 
complimented  by  both  Generals  Birney  and  Graham.” 
In  his  report  of  the  battle.  General  Graham  says : “ I 
would  give  especial  praise  to  the  One  Hundred  and 
Forty-first  Pennsylvania  Volunteers,  a new  regiment, 
for  the  second  time  under  fire.  No  men  could  have 
behaved  better.  Its  thinned  ranks  are  better  proof 
of  its  steadiness  under  fire  than  any  words  can  be; 
of  four  hundred  and  seventeen  men  taken  into  the 
fight,  it  lost  two  hundred  and  thirty-four.”  On  the 
evening  of  the  6th  the  regiment  reached  its  old  camp 
on  Potomac  Creek.  On  the  11th  of  June  the  regiment 
again  broke  camp,  and  on  the  night  of  July  1st 
bivouacked  on  the  battle-field  of  Gettysburg.  At 


dawn  of  the  2d  the  regiment  was  in  line  of  battle. 
It  was  not  seriously  engaged  until  after  noon,  when, 
being  temporarily  detached  from  the’  brigade,  it  was 
placed  in  support  of  the  batteries  in  the  Peach 
Orchard.  We  quote  from  Bates — “ For  two  hours  it 
held  this  exposed  position,  when  the  enemy’s  infantry 
charged  in  heavy  force  along  his  whole  line.  Already 
had  his  lines  reached  the  fence  which  skirted  the 
orchard,  counting  on  the  easy  capture  of  the  Union 
guns,  when  the  regiment,  which  had  lain  concealed 
from  view,  leaped  the  wall  and  dashed  forward  upon 
the  foe.  Bewildered  by  its  sudden  appearance,  and 
from  front  the  enemy  gave  ground,  and  the  regiment 
held  its  advanced  position  until  the  guns  could  be 
dragged  by  hand  to  a place  of  safety.  * * * The 
enemy’s  attack  was  now  renewed  with  overwhelming 
force  and  the  Union  lines  were  forced  to  give  way. 
Though  fearfully  torn,  the  regiment  preserved  a bold 
front,  and  again  and  again  rallied  and  turned  upon 
the  foe.  Its  loss  in  this  day’s  fight  was  probably 
greater,  in  proportion  to  the  number  engaged,  than 
almost  any  other  regiment  in  the  army.”  Colonel 
Madill,  in  his  report  of  the  battle,  says : “I  took  two 
hundred  men  into  the  fight,  with  nine  officers.  Out 
of  that  number  I lost  one  hundred  and  forty-five  men 
and  six  officers.”  Of  these,  one-third  were  killed  on 
the  field  or  died  of  their  wounds — among  the  number, 
the  gallant  Major  Spalding. 

The  regiment  participated  in  the  fall  campaign, 
and  among  other  engagements  in  which  it  par- 
ticipated were  Auburn,  Kelly’s  Ford  and  Mine  Run. 
It  went  into  winter-quarters  early  in  November  near 
Brandy  Station.  Upon  the  opening  of  the  spring  cam- 
paign of  1864  the  regiment,  having  received  accessions 
to  its  ranks  by  recruits,  and  by  men  returned  from 
hospitals,  numbered  about  three  hundred  and  twenty- 
five  officers  and  men  present  for  duty.  Under  Grant 
it  started  on  the  bloody  Wilderness  campaign,  break- 
ing camp  on  the  3d  of  May.  On  the  fifth  it  was  hotly 
engaged,  and  early  on  the  morning  of  the  6th  it 
charged  a line  of  breastworks,  carrying  them  and 
capturing  the  colors  of  the  Thirteenth  North  Carolina 
Regiment  and  fifty  prisoners.  On  the  12th  the  regi- 
ment, occupying  a portion  of  the  works  wrested  from 
the  enemy,  was  repeatedly  assaulted  in  their  desper- 
ate efforts  to  regain  their  lost  ground,  but  were  each 
time  bloodily  repulsed.  In  front  of  the  position 
occupied  by  the  One  Hundred  and  Forty-first  stood 
the  large  tree  which  was  entirely  cut  off  by  bullets, 
the  trunk  of  which  is  preserved  at  Washington  as  a 
memorial  of  the  war.  Around  this  the  enemy  were 
slain  by  hundreds.  The  losses  in  the  regiment  were 
again  severe,  being,  from  May  5th  to  18th,  nine 
killed,  ninety-eight  wounded  and  twenty-nine  miss- 
ing. At  North  Anna,  Cold  Harbor  and  at  I’eters- 
burg  the  regiment  met  the  foe,  and  at  the  latter  place, 
on  the  18th  of  June,  while  gallantly  leading  the  reg- 
iment, Colonel  Madill  being  in  command  of  the 
brigade,  Lieutenant-Colonel  Watkins  was  almost 


236 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


instantly  killed.  Captain  Tyler,  of  Company  H, 
was  commissioned  major  June  22d,  and  soon  after- 
wards was  promoted  to  lieutenant-colonel.  In  the 
remaining  engagements  of  the  year  the  regiment 
bore  manfully  its  part  of  hardship  and  fighting.  In 
the  final  camjDaign,  and  almost  to  the  very  day  of 
Lee’s  surrender,  it  was  at  the  front,  winning  new 
laurels  by  its  gallantry.  On  the  11th  of  April  it 
commenced  the  march  to  Washington,  where,  after 
participating  in  the  Grand  Review,  it  was  mustered 
out  of  service  on  the  28th  of  May.  Colonel  Madill, 
in  the  “ Introductory”  to  Chaplain  Craft’s  history  of 
the  regiment,  speaking  of  its  members,  says : “ Through 
the  thirty-three  battles  in  which  they  fought  they 
never  became  demoralized,  or  willingly  turned  their 
back  to  the  foe.”  The  same  authority  states:  “ The 
records  of  the  State  Department  show  that  it  sacri- 
ficed more  men  upon  the  altar  of  its  country’s  needs 
than  any  other  regiment  in  the  service,  save  one,  and 
that  a regiment  that  entered  the  service  with  a good 
many  more  men.”  The  total  number  borne  upon  the 
rolls  of  the  regiment  was  ten  hundred  and  thirty-six. 
Of  these,  one  hundred  and  fifty-six  were  killed  or 
died  of  wounds,  four  hundred  and  four  were  wounded, 
seventy-five  were  reported  captured  or  missing  and 
eighty-two  died  of  disease.  Its  brave  commander, 
Colonel  Madill,  for  gallant  and  meritorious  services 
in  the  field,  was  breveted  brigadier-general  in  1864, 
and  a major-general  in  April,  1865. 

Company  F. — As  has  already  been  stated,  Susque- 
hanna County  furnished  two  comiranies  to  the  One 
Hundred  and  Forty-first  Regiment — “F”  and  “H.” 
The  history  of  their  service  in  the  field  is  but  a 
recapitulation  of  the  service  of  the  regiment;  and 
the  writer,  in  the  limited  space  at  his  disposal,  can 
only  briefly  refer  to  their  organization,  and  a few 
matters  of  local  interest  to  surviving  members  and 
friends  of  the  two  companies.  About  the  middle  of 
July,  1862,  H.  F.  Beardsley,  of  New  Milford,  and 
A.  A.  Hempstead,  of  Brooklyn,  having  received  au- 
thority from  Governor  Curtin,  began  to  enlist  men 
for  a “three  years’”  company.  In  this  they  were 
assisted  by  E.  B.  Brainard,  of  Gibson,  and  others,  and 
on  August  22d,  a sufficient  number  being  enrolled, 
they  were  directed  to  rendezvous  at  New  Milford, 
prepared  to  leave  at  once  for  Harrisburg.  On  that 
day  ninety-six  men  reported,  who  were  principally 
from  the  townships  of  New  Milford,  Brooklyn, 
Lathrop,  Gibson,  Harford,  Jackson,  Thomson  and 
Great  Bend.  They  repaired  to  the  Academy  building, 
where  a company  organization  was  pierfected  by  the 
election  of  Henry  F.  Beardsley,  captain;  Albert  A. 
Hempstead,  first  lieutenant;  and  Elisha  B.  Brainard, 
second  lieutenant.  After  its  organization  the  com- 
pany sat  down  to  a bountiful  repast  jJrovided  by  the 
citizens  of  New  Milford,  after  which  appropriate 
addresses  were  made;  and  then,  with  tearful  adieus 
and  lingering  hand-clasps,  the  company  marched  to 
the  depot,  where  the  train  was  in  waiting,  and  pro- 


ceeded to  Scranton.  The  next  day,  being  joined  by 
Company  “ H,”  they  reached  Harrisburg ; on  the 
24th  they  passed  the  medical  examination,  and  on 
Monday,  the  25th  of  August,  they  were  mustered  into 
the  United  States  service,  and  became  Company  “ F ” 
of  the  regiment.  That  it  bore  well  its  part  through 
the  terrible  ordeals  the  regiment  passed  through,  is 
attested  by  a glance  at  the  “ muster-out  ” roll  of  the 
company  which  follows.  At  Chancellorsville,  where 
half  the  regiment  were  killed  and  wounded,  the  losses 
in  Company  “ F ” were  seven  killed,  or  died  of 
wounds,  and  nineteen  wounded — being  toore  than 
one-eighth  of  the  total  casualties  in  the  regiment. 
Again  at  Gettysburg,  when  forty-nine  of  the  regiment 
were  killed,  six  of  the  number  were  from  Company 
“F.”  Of  the  officers  of  the  company,  space  admits 
of  but  brieU  notice.  Captain  Beardsley  was  dis- 
charged June  8,  1864,  by  special  order  of  the  War 
Department,  on  account  of  disability.  (See  personal 
sketch.)  Lieutenant  A.  A.  Hempstead  was  the  son  of 
G.  D.  and  Mary  L.  Hempstead,  of  Brooklyn,  and  was 
born  in  Dimock,  March  8, 1835.  Previous  to  entering 
the  service  he  was  engaged  in  selling  fruit  trees. 
When  the  regiment  left  Poolsville,  in  October,  1862, 
Captain  Beardsley  was  left  there  sick,  and  Lieutenant 
Hempstead  had  command  of  the  company  on  the 
march  to  Falmouth,  and  until  just  before  the  battle  of 
Fredericksburg,  when  Captain  Beardsley  returned. 
He  was  with  the  company  at  Fredericksburg,  and  was 
one  of  the  officers  detailed  to  hold  the  advance 
picket  line  while  the  army  withdrew.  But  during 
the  winter  he  suffered  from  disabilities  contracted  by 
exposure  in  the  field,  and  on  the  10th  of  February, 
1863,  he  was  honorably  discharged  from  the  service. 
He  resides  at  Lemou,  Wyoming  County,  where,  for 
several  years,  he  has  been  engaged  in  farming.  He 
is  a member  of  Reynolds  Post,  No.  98,  G.  A.  R.,  of 
Tunkhannock,  Pa. 

Lieutenant  E.  B.  Brainard  is  the  son  of  Lewis  and 
Louisa  Brainard,  and  was  born  in  Gibson,  January 
26,  1840.  He  was  engaged  in  farming,  and  teach- 
ing school  winters,  at  the  time  of  his  entering  the 
service.  He  was  promoted  to  first  lieutenant 
December  5,  1863,  and  when  Adjutant  Searle  was 
discharged,  on  account  of  wounds.  Lieutenant  Brain- 
ard was  promoted  to  adjutant,  in  which  position  he 
served  to  the  close  of  the  war. 

In  1869  he  moved  to  Kansas — first  to  Bourbon  Co., 
and  afterwards,  in  1871,  to  Butler,  where,  two  years 
afterwards,  he  was  elected  commissioner,  and  served 
two  years.  In  1875  he  was  elected  treasurer  of  the 
county,  and  re-elected  in  1877.  He  is  at  present 
engaged  in  farming  and  stock-raising,  and  resides  at 
Brainard,  Butler  Co.,  Kansas. 

Captain  Nelson  J.  Hawley  is  the  only  son  of 
Joseph  W.  and  Sally  Hawley,  and  was  born  in 
Brooklyn,  September  14,  1841.  At  the  time  of  his 
enlistment  he  was  preparing  himself  for  the  ministry, 
and  attempting,  by  his  own  unaided  efforts,  to  obtain 


THE  EEBELLION. 


237 


an  education  that  would  fit  him  for  that  high  calling. 
But  the  war  came,  and  to  respond  to  the  call  of  his 
country  seemed  his  highest  duty,  and  he  enlisted  in 
Company  “ F.”  He  was  promoted  to  corporal,  and 
placed  in  charge  of  the  pioneer  corps  of  the  regiment. 
He  was  afterwards  promoted  to  sergeant,  to  first 
sergeant,  and  on  February  14,  1865,  he  was  com- 
missioned captain  of  the  company,  and  served  as 
such  to  the  close  of  the  war.  After  the  war  he  com- 
pleted his  studies  at  Wyoming  Seminary,  and  soon 
afterwards  joined  the  Wyoming  Conference.  He 
successfully  continued  his  pastoral  calling  until  his 
health  failed,  and  in  January,  1886,  he  removed  to 
Grove  Park,  Florida,  where  he  now  resides. 

Lieutenant  Salmon  S.  Hager  is  a son  of  Nelson 
Hager,  and  at  the  time  of  his  enlishment  was  residing 
in  New  Milford  borough.  Upon  the  appointment  of 
Lieutenant  Bramard  to  be  Adjutant  of  the  Regiment, 
he  was,  on  July  2,  1864,  promoted  from  Sergeant  to 
First  Lieutenant,  and  took  command  of  the  Company. 
At  the  engagement  at  Deep  Bottom,  on  the  16th  of 
August,  following,  he  was  captured,  and  remained  a 
prisoner  in  the  enemy’s  hands  until  April  14,  1865, 
when  he  was  exchanged.  After  Lieutenant  Hager’s 
capture,  Sergeant  Geoi-ge  R.  Resseguie  commanded 
the  Company  for  a time.  After  the  war  Lieutenant 
Hager  engaged  for  a time  in  the  mercantile  business, 
and  then  entered  the  employ  of  the  Delaware,  Lack- 
awanna and  Western  Railroad  Company  as  station 
agent  at  Gouldsboro’,  Pa.  He  was  elected,  in  1886,  a 
member  of  the  Legislature  from  Wayne  County. 

Company  H. — About  the  same  time  that  men  were 
eni'olling  themselves  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  county 
in  Company  F,  Casper  W.  Tyler  and  Daniel  W. 
Searle,  two  rising  young  lawyers  of  Montrose,  com- 
menced recruiting  men  for  a Company.  The  meeting 
held  at  the  court-house,  July  21,  of  which  we  have 
already  made  mention,  was  called  at  their  suggestion. 
Enlistments  were  rapid,  and,  besides  the  gentlemen 
named,  Aaron  Bunnell,  of  Auburn,  was  instrumental 
in  enlisting  a number  from  that  town.  On  the  16th 
of  August  the  men  met  at  the  court-house  in  Mon- 
trose and  organized  the  Company  by  electing  Casper 
W.  Tyler,  captain ; Daniel  W.  Searle,  first-lieutenant, 
and  Aaron  Bunnell,  second-lieutenant.  The  men 
were  principally  from  Montrose,  Auburn,  Bridgewa- 
ter, Franklin,  Liberty,  Silver  Lake,  Forest  Lake, 
Rush,  Dimock  and  Springville.  On  the  22d  the 
Company  re-assembled  at  Montrose  preparatory  to 
leaving  for  Harrisburg,  and  a large  concourse  of  citi- 
zens assembled  to  witness  their  departure ; and  thus, 
not  only  by  their  presence,  but  by  words  and  acts  did 
they  evince  their  interest  in  the  brave  men  who  were 
about  to  go  forth  to  battle  for  their  country  and  flag. 
In  the  afternoon  they  took  cars  for  Scranton,  and  the 
following  day,  with  Company  F,  proceeded  to  Harris- 
burg. After  their  medical  examination  they  were  mus- 
tered into  the  United  States  service  on  Tuesday,  August 
26th,  and  became  Company  H of  tlie  Regiment.  Of 


its  valor,  its  sacrifices,  its  achievements,  they  are 
recorded  with  the  history  of  the  Regiment,  to 
which  every  member  of  the  Company  can  point  with 
pride.  Almost  every  battle-field  from  Fredericksburg, 
to  Appomattox  was  stained  by  the  blood  of  some  of 
its  members.  We  make  the  following  brief  mention 
of  its  officers : Captain  Tyler  was  wounded  at  Chan- 
cellorsville  and  Gettysburg,  and  after  the  death  of 
Major  Spalding,  he  was,  June  22,  1864,  promoted  to 
Major,  and  in  July  following,  upon  the  death  of  Col- 
onel Watkins,  to  Lieutenant-Colonel.  On  the  1st  of 
Mareh,  1865,  his  disabilities  unfitting  him  for  duty  in 
the  field,  he  was  honorably  discharged  from  the  ser- 
vice. He  returned  to  Montrose  and  resumed  the 
practice  of  his  profession,  but  in  186 — removed  to 
Meadville,  Crawford  County,  Pa.,  where  he  now  re- 
sides. He  is  a prominent  member  of  the  bar,  and 
has  represented  that  county  in  the  State  Legislature. 

Lieutenant  Searle,  as  noted  in  the  history  of  the 
regiment,  was,  upon  its  organization,  promoted  to 
Adjutant,  the  responsible  duties  of  which  position  he 
filled  with  such  marked  efficiency  as  to  elicit  the 
commendation  of  his  superior  officers.  The  duties  of 
his  position  brought  him  in  constant  contact  with  the 
officers  and  men  of  the  regiment,  and  although  as  its 
“executive”  officer,  those  duties  were  sometimes  un- 
pleasant, both  to  them  and  himself,  yet  no  officer  was 
more  popular,  and  his  long  form  will  long  remain  in 
their  remembrance.  ^ 

Lieutenant  Bunnell  was  one  of  those  who  were 
obliged  to  succumb  to  the  exposure  and  exhaustion 
of  that  first  night’s  march  to  Chain  Bridge;  and 
broken  in  health  and  unfitted  for  duty,  he  resigned 
September  22,  1862,  and  returned  to  Auburn.  He 
subsequently  removed  to  Russell  Hill,  Wyoming 
County,  where  he  now  resides. 

Lieutenant  Logan  C.  Tyler  was  a native  of  Mon- 
trose, where  he  was  born  June  22,  1836,  and  was  a 
cousin  of  Captain  Tyler.  Upon  the  organization  of 
the  company  he  was  made  “ Orderly  ’’-Sergeant,  and 
upon  the  promotion  of  Lieutenant  Searle,  and  resig- 
nation of  Lieutenant  Bunnell,  he  was,  September  22, 
1862,  promoted  to  First  Lieutenant  of  the  company. 
Being  on  detached  service  at  the  time  the  battle  of 
Fredericksburg  was  fought,  he  was  not  present ; and 
when  the  regiment  started  for  Chancellorsville,  al- 
though suffering  from  rheumatism  and  advised  to  go 
to  the  hospital,  he  refused  to  be  left  behind.  On  the 
Sunday  morning  of  that  fatal  3d  of  May,  during  the 
fierce  fighting  of  the  regiment  in  the  woods  in  front 
of  the  Chancellor  House,  Lieutenant  Tyler  having 
stooped  down  to  give  a drink  of  water  to  one  of  the 
men  of  his  company  who  was  severely  wounded,  was 
in  the  act  of  rising  when  he  was  struck  by  a minie- 
ball  in  the  right  temple  and  instantly  killed.  His 
loss  was  sincerely  mourned  in  the  regiment,  and  every 


1 He  was  wounded  nt  (iettyslmi'K,  on  neconnt  of  wliicli  lie  wan  honor- 
ably discharged,  J nne  2,  18G4.  (See  porsonal  sketch.) 


238 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


man  in  his  company  felt  he  had  lost  a friend  and  a 
brother. 

Captain  John  L.  Gyle  was  promoted  from  Sergeant 
to  Second  Lieutenant  December  10,  1862 ; to  First 
Lieutenant,  December  5,  1863 ; and  to  Captain,  J uly 
4,  1864,  in  which  position  he  served  to  the  close  of  the 
war.  While  in  the  ranks,  and  as  commander  of  the 
company,  he  had  the  respect  of  his  fellow-soldiers 
and  the  confidence  of  his  superior  officers.  He  resides 
at  Auburn,  Pa.,  where  he  is  engaged  in  farming. 

Lieutenant  B.  B.  Atherton  was  promoted  from 
Sergeant  to  First  Lieutenant  August  10,  1864.  He 
was  wounded  at  Spottsylvania,  but  served  with  the 
company  until  the  close  of  the  war. 

COMPANY  F,  ONE  HUNDRED  AND  FORTY-FIRST 
REGIMENT. 

Mustered  into  service  August  26,  1862,  unless  otherwise  stated;  mustered  out 
Mag  28,  1865. 

Capt.  Henry  F.  Beardsley,  Aug.  26,  ’62  ; disch.  for  disability  by  S.  0. 

War  Department  June  8,  ’64  (see  personal  sketch). 

Capt  Nelson  J.  Hawley,  pr.  to  capt.  Feb.  14,  ’65  ; nius.  out  with  Co. 

1st  Lt.  Albert  A.  Hempstead,  Aug.  26,  ’62;  discli.  on  surg.  cert.  Feb.  10, 
’63. 

1st  Lt.  Elisha  B.  Braiuard,  Aug.  27,  ’62  ; pr.  from  2d  It.  Dec.  5,  ’63;  to 
adjt.  July  1,  ’64  ; mus.  out  with  reg. 

1st  Lt.  Salmon  S.  Hager,  pr.  from  sergt.  July  2,  ’64;  pris.  from  Aug.  16, 
’64,  to  April  14,  ’65  ; mus.  out  with  Co. 

1st  Sergt.  Richard  H.  Kent,  died  May  14,  ’63,  of  wds.  received  at  Chan- 
cellorsville,  Va. 

1st  Sergt.  George  R.  Ressegule,  wd.  at  Chancellorsville,  Ya,.,  May  3,  ’63  ; 
pr.  from  sergt.  Feb.  14,  '65  ; mus.  out  with  Co. 

Sergeants. 

Wm.  H. Doolittle,  wd.  at  Chancellorsville,  Va.,  May  3,  ’63;  disch.  by  G. 
0.  May  31,  ’64. 

Jackson  B.  Ferris,  killed  at  Gettysburg,  Pa.,  July  2,  ’63. 

Philip  Peckins,  died  July  9,  ’63,  of  wds.  received  at  Gettysburg,  Pa. 
Augustus  J.  Roper,  wd.  at  Chancellorsville,  Va.,  May  3,  ’63  ; killed  at 
Petersburg,  Sept.  11,  ’64. 

David  T.  Salsbury,  pr.  to  sergt.  July  2,  ’64  ; mus.  out  with  Co. 

Ellis  W.  Steadman,  wd.  at  Chancellorsville,  Va.,  May  3,  ’63,  and  at  Au- 
burn Oct.  13,  ’63  ; pr.  to  sergt.  Sept.  12,  ’64  ; mus.  out  with  Co. 

John  A.  Brown,  pr.  to  sergt.  Feb.  14,  ’65  ; mus.  out  with  Co. 

Henry  M.  Stearns,  wd.  at  Poplar  Grove  Church,  Va.,  Oct.  2,  ’64 ; disch. 
by  G.  0.  May  15,  ’65. 

Corporals. 

Edwin  A.  Leonard,  capt’d  at  Poolsville,  Md.,  Nov.  28,  ’62;  pr.  to  corp. 
July  2,  ’64 ; mus.  out  with  Co. 

Charles  H.  Tripp,  capt’d  at  Chancellorsville,  Va.,  May  3,  ’63  ; wd.  at 
Wilderness  May  6,  ’64  ; pr.  to  corp.  July  3,  ’64 ; mus.  out  with  Co. 
Leauder  Brooks,  pr.  to  corp.  Deo.  5,  ’63  ; mus.  out  with  Co. 

LTrbane  T.  Hall,  pr.  to  corp.  July  2,  ’64;  mus.  out  with  Co. 

Christopher  C.  Nicholas,  capt’d  at  Chancellorsville,  Va.,  May  3,  ’63  ; pr. 

to  corp.  July  2,  ’64  ; disch.  by  G.  0.  June  25,  ’65. 

George  Taylor,  pr.  to  corp.  Sept.  12,  ’64;  mus.  out  with  Co. 

Elisha  M.  Skinner,  pr.  to  corp.  Feb.  16,  ’65  ; mus.  out  with  Co. 

Julius  H.  Burr,  wd.  at  Gettysburg,  Pa.,  July  2,  ’63;  pr.  to  corp.  Feb.  16, 
’65  ; mus.  out  with  Co. 

John  H.  Green,  disch.  on  surg.  cert.  Feb.  12,  ’63. 

Benjamin  F.  Barnes,  wd.  at  Chancellorsville.  Va.,  May  3,  ’63;  tr.  to 
V.  R.  C.  Jan.  15,  ’64. 

Jerome  Davison,  wd.  at  Chancellorsville  May  3,  ’63  ; tr.  to  V.  E.  C.  Jan. 
11,  ’64. 

Price  F.  Miller,  w'd.  at  Gettysburg,  Pa.,  July  2,  ’63  ; tr.  to  V.  R.  C.  Dec. 

25,  ’64 ; disch.  June  28,  ’65,  by  G.  0. 

William  P.  Brainard,  died  at  Poolsville,  Md.,  Nov.  1,  ’62. 

Frederick  D.  Young,  died  Dec.  14,  ’62  ; bur.  at  Washington,  D.  C. 

Mmicians. 

Nelson  D.  Coon,  pris.  from  May  3,  ’63,  to  Oct.  10,  ’63  ; mus.  out  with  Co. 
William  H.  Nutt,  disch.  by  G.  0.  June  12,  ’65. 


Privates. 

Aldrich,  Moses  B.,  tr.  to  Y.  R.  C.  May  15,  ’G5  ; disch.  July  6,  ’65,  by 

G.  0. 

Adams,  Jacob  B.,  wd.  at  Chancellorsville  May  3,  ’63  ; tr.  to  V.  R.  C. 
April  14, ’61. 

Austin,  John  C.,  tr.  to  57th  Reg.  P.  V.  ; date  unknown. 

Baldwin,  Albert  J.,  wd.  at  Chancellorsville  May  3,  ’63  ; mus.  out  with 
Co. 

Bennett,  \Vm.  H,  H.,  disch.  on  surg.  cert.  May  15,  ’63. 

Barnes,  Myron,  disch.  on  surg.  cert.  Feb.  20,  ’63. 

Bonner,  Philander  J.,  capt’d  at  Poolsville,  Md.,  Nov.,  ’62  ; wd.  at  Chan- 
cellorsville May  3,  ’63  ; tr.  to  Y.  R.  C.  May  15,  '64. 

Burchel,  Warren,  wd.  at  Gettysburg,  Pa.,  July  2,  '63  ; killed  at  Peters- 
burg, Ya.,  June  22,  ’64. 

Benaon,  Manger,  missing  in  action  at  Deep  Bottom,  Ya.,  Aug.  16,  ’64. 

Chrispell,  Hiram,  wd.  at  Chancellorsville  May  3,  ’63  ; tr.  to  Y.  R.  C. 
Aug.  26,  ’64. 

Crandall,  Wm.  J.,  died  May  21,  ’64,  of  wds.  received  at  Spotsylvania 
Court  House  ; bur.  at  Arlington. 

Duren,  Daniel  D.,  disch.  on  surg.  cert.  Nov.  18,  ’62  ; re.  Aug.  19,  ’64  ; 
wd.  at  Poplar  Grove  Ch.,  Ya.  ; mus.  out  with  Co. 

Doughty,  Adolmer,  wd.  at  Chancellorsville  May  3,  ’63,  and  at  Wilderness 
May  6,  ’64 ; disch.  by  S.  0.  May  16,  ’65. 

Doloway,  John  W.,  disch.  on  surg.  cert.  Feb.  8,  ’63. 

Davison,  Orimel  S.,  wd.  and  capt’d  at  Gettysburg,  Pa.,  July  2,  ’63  ; died 
at  Richmond,  Ya,  Jan.  24,  ’64. 

French,  Edson  M.,  wd.  at  Chancellorsville  May  3,  ’63  ; tr.  to  Y.  E.  C. 
Nov.  1,  ’03  ; disch.  Aug.  24,  ’65. 

Green,  Asa,  disch.  on  surg.  cert.  Dec.  30,  ’62. 

Gollaher,  Patrick,  disch.  on  surg.  cert.  May  15,  ’63. 

Goss,  David  S.,  tr.  to  57th  Reg.  P.  Y.  ; date  unknown. 

Hawley,  Francis,  wd.  at  Chancellorsville  May  3,  ’63  ; ah.  in  hos.  at 
mus.  out. 

Hobbs,  John  M.,  disch.  on  surg.  cert.  Feh.  18,  ’63. 

Hempstead,  John  E.,  Dec.  16,  ’62  ; wd.  at  Gettysburg,  Pa.,  July  3,  ’63  ; 
died  at  Phila.  Aug.  28,  ’63,  of  his  wds. 

Hughes,  Cyrenius  W.,  died  Dec.  2,  ’62. 

Kenyon,  Henry  W.,  disch.  on  surg.  cert.  Feb.  23,  ’65. 

Linsey,  Samuel,  disch.  on  surg.  cert.  Dec.  8,  ’62. 

Lindsey,  Pardon  T , disch.  on  surg.  cert.  Nov.  13,  ’62. 

Lewis,  Nathan,  disch.  on  surg.  cert.  Feb.  18,  ’63. 

Lord,  Asahel,  disch.  on  surg.  cert.  Nov.  9,  ’62. 

Lord,  John,  disch.  on  surg.  cert.  May  15,  ’62. 

Lord,  Enoch  W.,  tr.  to  Y.  R.  C.  July  3,  ’04;  disch.  by  G.  0.  Nov.  22,  ’65. 

Loomis,  Roscoe  S.,  died  May  19,  ’63,  of  wds.  rec.  at  Chancellorsville,  Ya. 

Martin,  Nicholas,  mus.  out  with  Co. 

Merrill,  Jonathan  H.,  disch.  on  surg.  cert.  Nov.  25,  ’62. 

Miller,  Harvey  W.,  disch.  on  surg.  cert.  Mar.  12,  ’63. 

Melody,  Henry,  killed  at  Chancellorsville,  Ya.,  May  3,  ’63. 

Moss,  Levi,  missing  in  action  at  Wilderness  May  6,  ’64. 

McRoy,  James  M.,  wd.  at  Chancellorsville  May  3,  ’63  ; disch.  on  surg. 
cert.  Sept.  4,  ’63. 

McDonald,  Melanchton,  killed  at  Chancellorsville,  Ya.,  May  3,  ’63. 

Ousterhout,  James  X.,  mus.  out  witli  Co. 

Ousterliout,  John,  capt’d  at  Warrenton,  Ya.,  Nov.  18,  ’62  ; mus.  out 
with  Co. 

Oakley,  Orriu  A.,  mus.  out  with  Co. 

Osborn,  Wm.  D.,  died  July  24th,  of  wds.  rec.  at  Gettysburg,  Pa. 

Osman,  Wm.  E , tr.  to  57th  Regt.  P.  Y. ; date  unknown. 

Potter,  Yictor  A.,  wd.  at  Gettysburg,  Pa.,  July  2,  ’63  ; mus.  out  with  Co. 

Potter,  Herman  I.,  tr.  to  Y.  R.  0.  Sept.  30,  ’63. 

Phillips,  Davis  N.,  died  Dec.  13,  ’62. 

Pierson,  Phineas  H.,  tr.  to  57th  Regt.  P.  Y.  ; date  unknown. 

Riker,  John  L.,  wd.  at  Gettysburg,  Pa.,  July  2,  ’63  ; tr.  to  Y.  R.  C.  Aug. 
30,  ’04;  disch.  by  G.  0.  June  29,  ’65. 

Reynolds,  John  N,,  died  Mar.  29,  ’63. 

Seely,  Charles  L.,  disch.  on  surg.  cert.  Dec.  6,  ’62. 

Squires,  Jonathan,  tr.  to  Y.  B.  C.  July  25,  ’64  ; disch.  by  G.  0.  July 
26,  ’65. 

Salsbury,  Charles  B.,tr.  to  Co.  C.,  57th  Regt.  P.  Y.,  May  28,  ’65. 

Saunders,  Perry  D.,  killed  at  Wilderness  May  6,  ’64. 

Sweet,  George  M.,  wd.  at  Chancellorsville  May  3,  ’63  ; died  July  13,  ’63, 
of  wds.  rec.  at  Gettysburg. 

Tewksbury,  Wm.  P.,  disch.  on  surg.  cert.  Nov.  25,  ’62. 

Tennant,  John  Y.,  wd.  at  Chancellorsville  May  3,  ’63  ; disch.  on  surg. 
cert.  Aug.  27,  ’63. 


THE  REBELLION. 


239 


Tennant,  Orange  W.,  disch.  on  surg.  cert.  Nov,  28,  ’62. 

Tliayer,  Christopher  C.,  tr.  to  V.  11.  C.  Nov,  13,  ’63  ; disch.  by  G.  0. 
July  5,  ’65. 

Tiffany,  Linus  N.,  killed  at  Chancellorsville  May  3,  ’63. 

Trowbridge,  Oscar,  killed  at  Cliancellorsville  May  3,  ’63. 

Tennant,  Eldridge  G.,  tr.  to  57th  Regt.  T.  V.  ; date  unknown. 

Vanauken,  Daniel,  pris.  from  May  3 to  Oct.  10,  1863  ; wd.  at  Wilderness 
May  6,  ’64  : disch.  by  G.  0.  June  5,  ’65. 

Van  Horn,  Simon  M.,  died  Oct.  24,  ’62  ; bur.  at  Alexandria,  Va, 

Wilson,  George  A.,  mus.  out  with  Co. 

Whitman,  Jacob,  pris.  from  May  3 to  Oct.  25,  ’63  ; mus.  out  with  Co. 
Wilmarth,  C.  C.,  died  June  9,  ’63,  of  wds.  rec.  at  Chancellorsville,  Va. 

COMPANY  G. 

Corp.  Theodore  Fuller,  wd.  at  Chaucellomville,  Va.,  May  3, ’63  ; disch. 
by  S.  0.  Oct.  9,  ’63. 

COMPANY  B. 

Bunt,  Wm.  H.,  priv.;  Aug.  22,  ’62  ; disch.  for  wds.  rec.  at  Chancellors- 
ville  May  3,  ’62  ; loss  of  limb. 

COMPANY  H.,  ONE  HUNDRED  AND  FORTY-FIRST 
REGIMENT. 

Mastered  into  sem’ce  26,  unless  otherwise  slated  ; mustered  out 

May  28,  1865. 

Capt.  Casper  W.  Tyler,  Aug.  27,  ’62  ; pr.  tomaj.  June  22,  ’64  ; to  It.- 
col.  July  4,  ’64  ; disch.  on  surg,  cert  Mar.  1,  ’65. 

Capt.  John  L.  Gyle,  pr.  from  sergt.  to  2d  It.  Dec.  10,  ’62  ; to  1st  It.  Dec. 

5,  ’63;  to  capt  July  4,  ’64;  mus.  out  with  company. 

First  Lieut.  Daniel  W.  Searle,  Aug.  27,  ’62;  pr.  to  adjt.  of  regt.  Aug. 
29,  ’62  ; disch  June  2,  ’64,  for  wds.  rec.  at  Gettysburg,  Pa.  (See 
personal  sketch.) 

First  Lieut.  Logan  O.  Tyler,  pr.  from  1st  sergt.  Sept.  22,  ’62  ; killed  at 
Chancellorsville,  Va.,  May  3,  ’63. 

First  Lieut.  B.  B.  Atherton,  pr.  from  cor.  to  sergt.  Sept.  23,  ’62  ; to  1st 
It.  Aug.  10,  ’64  ; mus.  out  with  company. 

Second  Lieut.  Aaron  Bunnell, res.  Sept.  22,  ’62. 

First  Sergt.  Parker  J.  Gates,  pr.  from  priv.  Sept.  23,  ’62  ; wd.  at  Poplar 
Grove  Ch.,  Va.,  Oct.  2,  ’64  ; disch.  G.  0.  June  5,  ’65. 

Sergeants. 

John  Harris,  wd.  at  Wilderness,  Va.,  May  6,  ’64  ; ab.  in  bos.  at  mus. 
out. 

Wm.  Magee,  mus.  out  with  company. 

H.  H.  Daugherty,  pr.  from  cor.  June  30,  ’64  ; mus.  out  with  company. 
Isaac  Z.  Babcock,  disch.  on  surg.  cert.  Jan.  27,  ’63. 

Philip  E.  Quick,  pr.  from  cor.  Mar.  1, ’64;  died  May  19  of  wds.  rec.  at 
Spottsylvania  C.  H.  May  12,  ’64  ; buried  at  Arlington,  Va. 

Corporals. 

James  H.  ^yeaver,  ab.,  sick,  at  mus.  out. 

Albert  B.  Gates,  mus.  out  with  company. 

Thos.  Hickock,  pr.  to  cor.  Sept.  23,  ’62  ; mus.  out  with  company. 

Abram  V.  Alden,  pr.  to  cor.  Mar.  1,  64  ; mus.  out  with  company, 

H.  J.  Millard,  pr.  to  cor.  June  30,  ’64  ; mus.  out  with  eonijiany. 

Lorenzo  W.  Sullivan,  pr.  to  cor.  June  30,  ’64  ; mus.  out  with  company. 
Horace  A.  Roberts,  pr.  to  cor.  June  30,  ’64  ; mus.  out  with  company. 
Asa  H.  Decker,  tr.  to  V.  R.  C.  Jan.  1,  ’65. 

Jeremiah  Hayes,  tr.  to  V.  11.  C.  Nov.  15,  ’64. 

Frederick  Fargo,  Aug.  23,  ’62  ; tr.  to  V.  K.  C.  Mar.  15,  ’64, 

3Iusicians. 

Geo.  W.  Hewett,  mus.  out  with  company. 

Geo.  C.  Hill,  disch.  on  surg.  cert;  re.  in  1st  N.  Y.  Blounted  Rifles ; 
disch.  June  17,  ’65. 

Privates. 

Avery,  Charles,  tr.  to  V.  R.  C.  Feb,  15,  ’64  ; disch.  Aug.  25, ’05. 

Baker,  Horace,  mus.  out  with  company. 

Bayley,  Jas.  H.,  disch.  by  G.  0.  June  30,  ’05, 

Bookstaver,  Chas.  tr.  to  V.  R.  C.  Jan.  31,  ’04. 

Bonnell,  Ahara  A.,  Mar.  18,  ’64;  tr.  to  Co.  H,  57th  regt.  P.  V.  May  28, ’05. 
Baker,  Hiram  V.,  Aug.  6,  ’64 ; tr,  to  Co.  H,  57th  regt.  P.  V.  May  28, ’05. 
Baker,  Henry,  Mar.  18,  ’04 ; tr.  to  Co.  H,  57th  regt.  P.  V.  May  28,  ’05. 
Beeman,  Stephen  S.,  Mar.  18,  ’04 ; tr.  to  Co.  D,  57th  Regt.  P.  V.  ; disch. 
by  G.  0.  May  26,  ’65. 

Carney,  Henry  D.,  must  out  with  company. 

Carney,  Geo.  D.,  mus.  out  with  company. 


Conrad,  Ithaniar,  disch.  on  surg.  cert.  Sept.  30,  ’62. 

Cox,  John,  disch.  on  surg.  cert.  Dec.  11,  ’62. 

Oonrad,  John,  tr,  to  V.  C.  R.  Aug.  20,  03. 

Corwin,  Adelbert,  killed  at  Petemburg,  Va.,  June  17,  ’04;  buried  at  City 
Point, 

Chapman,  Geo  , killed  at  Gettysburg,  Pa.,  July  2,  ’63. 

Carter,  Hiram,  Mar.  18,  ’04;  died  at  Brattleboro’,  Vt.,  Aug.  3,  '64 ; bur- 
ied in  Soldiers’  Cemetery. 

Corwin,  Gilbert,  mis.  in  action  at  Boydton  Plank  Road,  A''a.,  Oct.  27, ’64. 
Conger,  Hampton  A.,  Mar.  18,  ’64  ; tr.  to  Co.  D,  5th  Regt.  P.  V.  May 
28,  ’65. 

Dewitt,  Alexander,  mus.  out  with  company. 

Daley,  Patrick,  mus.  out  with  company. 

Davis,  Thos..,  Mar,  18,  ’64  ; disch.  Dec.  23  for  wds,,  with  loss  of  arm,  rec. 

at  Spottsylvania  C.  H.,  Va.,  May  12,  ’64. 

Harrow,  Jonathan  0.,  killed  at  Chancellorsville,  Va.,  May  3,  1863. 
Darrow,  Lewis  F.,  died  at  Washington,  D.  C.,  Dec.  18,  ’02. 

Delameter,  Jacob,  mis.  in  action  at  Gettysburg,  Pa.,  July  2,  ’63. 

Eckert,  Jonathan  M.,  died  Feb.  ’65  ; buried  in  Poplar  Grove  Cemetery, 
Petersburg,  Va. 

Grant,  Henry,  mus.  out  with  company. 

Garey,  Samuel,  mus.  out  with  company  May  28,  ’65. 

Goodsell,  Nathan,  absent,  sick,  at  mus.  out. 

Gates,  Wm.  S.,  disch.  on  surg.  cert.  Feb.’ 7,  ’63. 

Gates,  Elwood  F.,  disch.  on  surg.  cert.  Dec.  0,  ’62;  re.  in  Co.  H,  89th 
N.  Y. ; killed  at  Rice  Station. 

Gates,  Harlan  W.,  disch.  on  surg.  cert.  Dec.  6,  ’62. 

Gary,  Joseph,  Mar.  19,  ’04 ; tr.  to  Co.  H,  57th  P.  V.  May  28,  ’65. 

Hyna,  Dutch,  mus.  out  with  company  May  28,  ’05. 

Hill,  Michael  G.,  pr.  to  principal  muc.  Dec.  31,  ’04;  mus.  out  with  regt. 
Hill,  Oliver  B.,  killed  at  Gettysburg,  Pa.,  July  2,  ’63. 

Hobbs,  Asahel,  Mar.  18,  ’64  ; died  at  Andersonville,  Ga,,  July  28 ; wds. 
rec,  at  Wilderness. 

Hotel,  Wm.,  died  near  Falmouth,  Va.,  Feb.  26,  ’63. 

Hast,  Henry  S.,  tr.  to  57th  Regt.  P.  V.,  date  unknown. 

Kishpaugh,  Richard  M.,  Mar.  16,  '04  ; must  out  with  company. 

Kuukle,  John  W.,  died  Aug.  8,  wds.  rec.  at  Gettysburg,  Pa.,  July  2, ’63. 
Kellogg,  Henry  N.,  Mar.  IS,  ’04;  wd.  ; tr.  to  Co.  D,  57th  Regt.  P.  V., 
May  28,  ’05 ; disch.  by  G.  O.  June  3,  ’65. 

Lott,  Leander,  tr,  to  V.  R.  C.  Jan.  1,  ’65. 

Lillie,  Merritt,  Mar.  18,  ’61;  tr.  to  Co.  D,  57th  Regt.  P.  V.,  May  28,  ’65  ; 
disch.  by  G.  0.  June  17,  ’65. 

Lemon,  Jason,  Mar.  IS,  ’04 ; tr.  to  Co.  I),  57th  Regt.  P.  V,,  May  28,  ’65. 
Markham,  William  U.,  disch.  on  surg.  cert,  Oct.  6,  ’62  ; re.  in  5th  N.  Y. 
Cav. 

Millard,  Stephen,  Mar.  28,  ’04  ; disch.  by  G.  0.  May  17,  ’05. 

Blarshall,  Chas.  H.,  disch.  on  surg,  cert.  Feb.  20,  ’63. 

Marshall,  Benjamin  C.,  tr.  to  Co.  1,  10th  Regt.  V.  R.  C.,  Sept.  30,  ’04; 

disch.  by  G.  0.  June,  ’65. 

Mackey,  Joseph,  tr.  to  V.  R.  C.  Sept.  30,  ’04. 

McShere,  Barney,  mus.  out  with  company  May  28,  ’65. 

McLeod,  John,  disch.  on  surg.  cert.  Nov.  21,  ’62. 

McSherer,  Joseph,  tr.  to  Co.  F,  19th  Regt.  V.  R.  C.,  Sept.  30,  ’04  ; disch. 
by  G.  0.,  July  13,  ’05. 

Oliver,  Matthias  C.,  mus.  out  with  company  May  28,  ’05. 

Uverfield,  John  B.,  Mar.  18,  ’04 ; tr.  to  Co.  H,  57th  Regt.  P.  V.,  May  28, 
1805. 

Peet,  Wm.  H.,  mus.  out  with  company  May  29,  ’05. 

Palmer,  Theron,  disch.  by  G.  0.  May  17,  ’65. 

Perkins,  Cbas.,tr.  to  V.  R.  C.  l^ov.  15,  ’03. 

Peasley,  James  A.,  tr.  to  V.  R.  C.  Aug.  20,  ’63  ; disch.  by  G.  0.  June  29, 
1805. 

Peasley,  Christopher  C.,  tr.  to  V.  R.  C.  Nov.  15,  ’03. 

Palmer,  Jacob,  tr.  to  57th  Regt.  P.  V ; date  unknown. 

Pickett,  A.  N.,  Mar.  18, ’04;  tr.  to  Co.  II,  57th  Regt.  P.  V.,  May  28,  *65. 
Ransom,  Wm.,  tr.  to  Randolph  Battery,  R.  I.  Art.,  Feb.  17,  ’63. 

Ralston,  John,  disch.  on  surg.  cert. 

Rice,  Geo.  W.,  disch.  on  surg.  cert.  Blay  23,  '03  ; re.  in  Co.  I,  I02d  P.  V. ; 

disch.  Juno  28,  ’05,  by  S.  0. 

Rifeiibury,  John  C.,  disch.  on  surg.  cert.  Mar.  10,  ’03. 

Stade,  Frederick  W.,  mus.  out  witli  company. 

Stockholm,  John  J.,  mus.  out  with  company. 

Spencer,  Benjamin  N.,  disch.  by  S.  0.  I\lar  1,  ’05. 

Snow,  Alpheus,  discli.  by  G.  O.  Blay  15,  ’05. 

Sodau,  John  II.,  tr.  to  V.  R.  C.  Aug.  20,  ’03. 

I Sinsebaugli,  Egbert,  tr.  to  V.  R.  C.  June  15,  ’04. 


240 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


Stare,  Geo.,  tr.  to  53d  Co.,  V.  R.  C.,  June  15,  ’04  ; disch.  by  G.  0.  Nov. 
25,  ’65. 

Stillwell,  John,  died  Nov.  2,  ’64,  of  wds.  rec.  at  Poplar  Grove  Ch.,  Va., 
Oct.  2,  ’64. 

Spencer,  Prancis  A.,  Dec.  31, ’63  ; pr.  to  hos.  steward,  U.  S.  A.,  July 
6,  ’04. 

Sterling,  Chas.  D.,  Mar.  18,  ’64  ; died  Feb.  15,  ’64. 

Taylor,  Wm.  A.,  pr.  to  hos.  steward,  U.  S.  A.,  July  6,  ’64 ; tr.  to  Co.  H, 
57th  Regt.  P.  V.,  May  25,  ’65. 

Tarbox,  David  H.,  disch.  on  surg.  cert.  April  6,  ’04. 

Thornton,  Wm.  G.,  disch.  on  surg.  cert.  Mar.  10,  ’64. 

Tarbox,  Wm.  W.,  tr.  to  Co.  G,  3d  Regt.  V.  R.  C.,  Nov.  1,  ’63  ; disch.  by 
G.  0.  July  22,  ’65. 

Treible,  Peter  A.,  died  at  Washington,  D.  C.,  Nov.  23,  ’62. 

Treible,  Moses,  died  at  Waterloo,  Va.,  Nov.  10,  ’62. 

Uptegrove,  Levi,  killed  at  Gettysburg,  Pa.,  July  2,  ’63. 

Yanarsdale,  Wm.  S-,  disch.  by  G.  0,  May  15,  ’65. 

Yaness,  Chas.  H.,  disch.  on  surg.  cert.  Feb.  20,  ’63. 

Wiles,  Warren,  absent,  sick,  at  mus.  out. 

Wiles,  Martin,  absent,  sick,  at  mus.  out. 

Warner,  Sidney,  disch.  on  surg.  cert. 

Wiles,  John,  Mar.  28,  ’04  ; tr.  to  Co.  H,  57th  Regt.  P.  V.,  May  28,  ’65. 
Winans,  Silas,  Mar.  18,  ’64  ; tr.  to  Co.  H,  57  th  Regt.  P.  V.,  May  28,  ’65. 

One  Hundred  and  Forty-third  Regiment. — 
This  regiment  was  recruited  in  the  county  of  Luzerne 
with  the  exception  of  about  two  companies,  which 
were  furnished  by  the  counties  of  Susquehanna, 
Wyoming  and  Lycoming.  The  men  from  Susque- 
hanna County  were  principally  in  Companies  B and  H, 
the  latter  company  being  entirely  recruited  from  this 
county,  although  during  its  term  of  service  a number 
of  drafted  men  were  assigned  to  it.  There  were  in 
Company  B about  seventy-five  men  from  the  county, 
most  of  them  being  from  the  southeastern  part. 
The  companies  from  Luzerne  County  rendezvoused  at 
a camp  about  three  miles  from  Wilkes-Barre,  and  on 
the  18th  of  October,  1862,  a regimental  organization 
was  elfected  by  the  choice  of  the  following  field- 
officers : Edmund  L.  Dana,  colonel;  George  E. 

Hoyt,  lieutenant-colonel ; and  John  D.  Musser, 
major.  Colonel  Dana  had  seen  service  in  the  Mexi- 
can War  and  at  the  time  was  a major-general  of 
militia.  The  regiment,  therefore,  had  the  good  for- 
tune to  enter  the  service  under  the  command  of  an 
officer  familiar  with  military  drill  and  discipline.  On 
the  7th  of  November  the  regiment  broke  camp  and 
proceeded  to  Harrisburg,  where,  after  receiving  guns 
and  equipments,  it  was  ordered  to  Washington,  and 
upon  its  arrival  was  placed  in  the  defences  of  the  city. 
Here  it  remained  during  the  winter,  and  on  the  17th 
of  February,  1863,  it  was  ordered  to  join  the  Army  of 
the  Potomac,  and  proceeded  to  Belle  Plain.  Here 
it  was  assigned  to  the  Second  Brigade,  Third  Division 
of  the  First  Corps,  and  became  associated  with  the 
One  Hundred  and  Forty-ninth  and  One  Hundred  and 
Fiftieth  Pennsylvania  Regiments.  The  preparations 
for  the  spring  campaign  being  completed,  on  the  27th 
of  April  the  regiment  broke  camp  and,  with  the  First 
Corps,  moved  to  Pollock’s  Mills,  below  Fredericks- 
burg. On  the  29th  the  regiment  was  under  a brisk 
cannonade  from  the  south  bank  of  the  Rappahannock, 
and  on  the  morning  of  May  2d  it  started  for  Chan- 
cellorsville  and,  after  a long  and  fatiguing  march, 
reached  the  battle-field  at  midnight.  The  First 


Corps  went  into  position  on  the  extreme  right  of  the 
army.  At  five  o’clock  on  the  morning  of  the  3d  the 
enemy  attacked  in  heavy  force,  but  to  the  left  of  the 
position  occupied  by  the  regiment,  and  although 
momentarily  expecting  to  be  called  on  to  repel  the 
enemy,  the  regiment  and  corps  were  not  seriously  en- 
gaged during  the  Chancellorsville  fights.  On  the 
6th  the  regiment  re-crossed  the  ilver  and,  after  a 
tedious  march,  reached  Falmouth  on  the  8th,  where 
it  went  into  camp.  Here  it  rested  for  a month  and 
then  started  on  the  Gettysburg  campaign,  and  on  the 
night  of  June  30  bivouacked  four  miles  from  Get- 
tysburg. On  the  1st  of  July  it  was  early  in  motion 
and  soon  the  sound  of  artillery  greeted  their  ears, 
as  Buford’s  cavalry  struck  the  rebel  advance.  At  a 
little  before  noon  the  brigade  went  into  position  on  a 
ridge  beyond  the  Theological  Seminary  under  a heavy 
fire,  the  One  Hundred  and  Forty-third  forming  on 
the  line  of  railroad.  It  was  early  in  this  action  that 
the  gallant  and  lamented  Reynolds  was  killed  and 
Colonels  Stone  and  Wister  wounded,  leaving  the  com- 
mand of  the  brigade  to  Colonel  Dana,  of  the  One 
Hundred  and  Forty-third.  Bates,  in  his  account  of  the 
battle  and  the  part  taken  by  the  One  Hundred  and 
Forty-third,  says : “A  terrific  fire  of  infantry  and 

artillery  was  brought  to  bear  upon  the  position,  but  it 
was  manfully  held,  though  the  dead  and  wounded  on 
every  hand  told  at  what  a fearful  cost.  Repeated 
charges  were  made  with  even  fresh  troops,  but  each 
was  repulsed  with  fearful  slaughter.”  Later  in  the 
day,  by  a flank  movement,  the  brigade  was  forced  to 
fall  back  to  a position  near  the  Seminary.  When  the 
order  for  this  movement  was  given  the  same  authority 
states : “ The  color-bearer  of  the  regiment  and  many 

of  the  men  could  with  difficulty  be  made  to  face  to 
the  rear,  seeming  determined  to  die  rather  than  yield 
the  ground.  In  executing  this  movement  the  color- 
bearer,  Sergeant  B.  H.  Crippin,  of  Company  E,  was 
the  last  to  move  and  was  killed  in  the  act,  still 
clinging  to  his  standard.  The  flag  was  rescued  and 
brought  safely  off.”  On  the  afternoon  of  the  2d, 
during  the  fierce  attack  of  the  rebels  on  the  Third 
Corps,  Colonel  Dana’s  brigade  was  ordered  to  its  sup- 
port under  a heavy  fire  of  shot  and  shell  from  the 
enemy’s  batteries.  It  took  a position  in  the  open 
field  on  the  left  centre  of  the  Third  Corps,  where  it 
threw  up  works  and  rested  for  the  night.  At  daylight 
of  the  3d  the  enemy’s  artillery  opened,  and  at  one 
o’clock  p.M.  every  rebel  gun  was  concentrated  upon 
the  Union  front  and  a perfect  tempest  of  solid  shot 
and  shell  was  rained  upon  it  preparatory  to  the  last 
grand  infantry  charge,  which  was  completely  re- 
pulsed and  the  battle  of  Gettysburg  was  won.  Re- 
ferring to  Bates,  we  find : “ The  regiment  entered 
this  fight  with  four  hundred  and  sixty-five  men,  rank 
and  file.  Of  these,  the  killed,  and  missing  in  action, 
supposed  to  be  killed,  was  forty-seven ; and  the 
wounded  and  prisoners  were  two  hundred  and  five, 
an  aggregate  loss  of  two  hundred  and  fifty -two,  more 


THE  REBELLION. 


241 


than  half  of  its  entire  strength.”  It  participated  in 
the  movements  following  the  retreat  of  Lee  and  on 
the  19th  of  October,  at  Haymarket,  it  had  a sharp 
encounter  with  the  enemy,  in  which  his  advance  was 
handsomely  repulsed. 

During  the  fall  campaign  more  than  three  hundred 
recruits  were  received  in  the  regiment,  bringing  its 
aggregate  strength  up  to  nearly  five  hundred  and 
fifty.  Late  in  December  the  regiment  went  into 
t winter-quarters  at  Culpeper,  after  eight  months  of 
a active  and  severe  campaigning. 

In  the  reorganization  of  the  army  for  the 
i campaign  of  1864  the  One  Hundred  and  Forty- 
third  became  part  of  the  First  Brigade,  First  Divi- 
sion, Fifth  Corps.  On  the  4th  of  May  the  regiment 
broke  camp  for  the  Wilderness  campaign,  and  on  the 
5th  was  engaged  in  a fierce  battle  with  the  enemy. 
Colonel  Dana  had  his  horse  shot  under  him,  was 
wounded  and  taken  prisoner ; and  Lieutenant 
Michael  Keenan,  of  Company  H,  was  mortally 
wounded.  It  was  hotly  engaged  on  the  6th,  and  for 
several  successive  days  it  was  in  the  thickest  of  the 
fight,  repeatedly  charging  the  enemy  and  as  often 
being  compelled  to  withstand  their  fierce  assaults. 
With  its  face  ever  to  the  foe,  it  finally  came  with 
Grant  to  the  siege  of  Petersburg,  and  in  tbe  advance 
on  the  18th  of  June  it  again  met  the  enemy  and  won 
new  laurels.  During  the  operations  of  the  army  be- 
fore Petersburg  and  its  successful  raids  for  the  de- 
struction of  the  Weldon  Railroad,  it  bore  a conspicu- 
ous part.  It  was  the  middle  of  December  before  the 
regiment  went  into  winter-quarters.  In  the  prelim- 
inary movements  of  the  final  campaign,  in  the  spring 
of  1865,  it  participated ; and  at  Hatcher’s  Run  the 
One  Hundred  and  Forty-third  was  engaged  and  suf- 
fered severely.  It  returned  to  its  former  camp,  and 
on  the  9th  of  February  it  was  detached  from  the 
corps,  and,  in  company  with  three  other  regiments 
of  the  brigade,  all  greatly  reduced  by  hard  fighting, 
but  of  the  most  trusted  troops,  were  ordered  North 
for  special  service.  It  was  sent  to  Hart’s  Island,  in 
New  York  Harbor,  and  there,  and  on  other  special 
duty,  it  was  engaged  until  June  20, 1865,  when  it  was 
finally  discharged. 

Company  H. — As  before  stated.  Company  Hof  this 
regiment  was  recruited  entirely  from  this  county,  and 
mainly  through  the  efforts  of  John  C.  Morris,  an  in- 
fluential citizen  of  Middletown,  whose  efforts  were 
ably  seconded  by  Michael  Keenan,  also  a resident  of 
that  township.  The  men  were  from  Middletown, 
Apolacon,  Choconut,  Forest  Lake,  Rush,  Jessup  and 
Friendsville  Borough.  So  rapidly  did  the  men  en- 
list that,  just  three  weeks  from  the  time  Mr.  Morris 
commenced  to  recruit  for  the  company,  it  was  en  route 
for  Harrisburg.  It  met  at  Friendsville  on  the  last 
days  of  August,  1862,  and  organized  by  electing 
John  C.  Morris,  captain;  Michael  Keenan,  first  lieu- 
tenant ; and  B.  F.  Babcock,  second  lieutenant.  It 
left  for  Harrisburg  on  the  3d  of  September,  and  on 
IG 


the  6th  was  mustered  into  the  United  States  service. 
Before  becoming  a part  of  the  One  Hundred  and 
Forty-third  Regiment  it  was  sent  with  the  militia  to 
participate  in  the  movements  preceding  and  subse- 
quent to  the  battle  of  Antietam,  after  which  it  joined 
its  fortunes  with  the  One  Hundred  and  Forty-third, 
and  shared  its  hardships  and  its  glory. 

Captain  Morris  was  born  in  Otsego  County,  N.  Y., 
February  11,  1822,  and  was  from  good  old  Revolu- 
tionary stock.  He  came  to  Middletown  in  1858  and 
was  one  of  the  foremost  citizens  of  that  township,  as 
well  as  the  county.  Engaged  in  the  peaceful  pur- 
suits of  agriculture,  it  was  only  at  the  urgent  and 
necessitous  call  of  his  country  that  he  decided  to 
sever  his  delightful  family  connections  and,  in  com- 
pany with  his  neighbors  and  friends,  go  to  the  front 
in  defence  of  the  flag  and  his  country’s  honor.  Re- 
fusing merited  promotion,  that  he  might  remain  with 
his  “ boys,”  he  was  finally  compelled,  by  disease 
brought  on  by  exposure  in  camp  and  on  field,  to  re- 
sign, and  on  the  16th  of  April,  1854,  he  was  honor- 
ably discharged  from  the  service  on  surgeon’s  certifi- 
cate of  disability,  but  he  continued  to  exercise  a fath- 
erly interest  in  the  “ boys”  of  his  company  until  the 
close  of  the  war.  Captain  Morris  was  an  influential 
member  of  the  State  Board  of  Agriculture,  and  at  the 
time  of  his  death  was  serving  his  third  term  as  presi- 
dent of  the  State  Agricultural  Society.  In  1878  he 
was  elected  a member  of  the  Legislature  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  served  in  that  body  in  the  sessions  of 
1879-80.  His  death,  in  1872,  was  doubtless  the  re- 
sult of  disabilities  incurred  in  the  army,  and  thus,  at 
the  age  of  sixty,  he  passed  away,  another  invaluable 
sacrifice  to  home  and  country. 

Of  the  other  commissioned  officers  of  the  com- 
pany from  this  county,  we  have  already  alluded  to 
the  death  of  the  gallant  Keenan,  and  Captain  W.  T. 
White  died  some  four  years  ago  in  one  of  the  Western 
States.  First  Lieutenant  E.  L.  Rhinevault  is  an  hon- 
ored resident  of  the  county,  and  Asa  Warner,  its 
efficient  orderly,  still  lives  to  recount  the  honorable 
service  of  his  company.  The  capture  and  escape  of 
Sergeant  Frank  E.  Foster  is  an  interesting  episode, 
and  the  promotion  of  W.  A.  Southwell  to  captain  in 
the  Twenty-ninth,  and  M.  S.Towne  to  first  lieutenant 
in  the  Forty-fifth  United  States  Colored  Troops, 
evidenced  the  material  of  which  Company  H was 
made. 

Company  B. — The  men  from  this  county  who  en- 
listed in  Company  B,  as  already  intimated,  were  from 
the  eastern  part  of  the  county — mostly  from  Clifford, 
Dundaff  and  that  immediate  vicinity.  Its  first  cap- 
tain was  Joseph  H.  Sornberger,  wbo  did  not  belong 
to  this  county,  and  resigned  early  in  1863.  He  was 
succeeded  in  the  command  by  William  G.  Graham,  a 
native  of  Clifford,  who  was  also  discharged  in  Octo- 
ber, 1863.  He  was  succeeded  in  command  of  the 
company  by  Jacob  M.  Lingfelter,  of  Clifford,  who 
commanded  the  “boys”  until  they  were  mustered 


242 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


1 


out,  June  12,  1865.  Of  the  other  commissioned  offi- 
cers we  have  but  meagre  history.  Paul  R.  Bar- 
riger,  who  enlisted  in  August,  1862,  was  discharged 
in  July,  1864,  as  second  lieutenant  of  the  company. 
He  is  an  honored  resident  of  Great  Bend  township, 
and  well  known  in  the  county.  • That  the  record  of 
Company  B,  One  Hundred  and  Forty-third  Pennsyl- 
vania Volnnteers,  is  an  honorable  one  no  one  will 
doubt  after  glancing  over  its  record,  which  follows  : 

COMPANY  B,  ONE  HUNDRED  AND  FORTY-THIRD 
REGIMENT. 

Musteted  into  eet'vice  AvguM  26,  1862,  unless  othenvise  stated;  mustered 
out  June  12,  18G6. 

Capt.  William  G.  Graham,  pr.  from  1st  It.  Feb.  4,  ’63  ; disch.  Oct.  26, ’63. 
Capt.  Jacob  M.  Lingfelter,  pr.  from  1st  sergt.  to  2d  It.  Julyl,  ’63  ; to  1st 
It.  Feb.  9, ’64  ; to  capt.  Feb.  29, ’64  ; mus.  out  with  Co.  June  12, ’65, 
2d  Lt.  Paul  E.  Barrager,  pr.  from  sergt.  to  1st  sergt.  Aug.  15,  ’63  ; to  2d 
It.  Feb.  15,  '64  ; disch.  July  29,  ’64. 

2d  Lt.  Martin  Chandler,  pr.  from  cor.  to  sergt.  Oct.  6,  ’63  ; to  1st  sergt. 

June  3,  ’04  ; to  2d  It.  Sept.  25,  ’64  ; mus.  out  with  Co.  June  12,  ’65, 

1st  Sergt.  John  H.  Lingfelter,  pro.  to  sergt.  Feb.  ’64 ; to  1st  sergt.  Sept. 
26,  ’64  ; mus.  out  with  Co. 

Sergeants. 

Bo  Witte.  Graham,  pr.  to  cor.  Jan.  15,  ’63  ; to  sergt.  July  16,  1864  ; mus. 
out  with  Co. 

Avery  Harris,  pr.  to  cor.  Aug.  15,  ’64 ; to  sergt.  Oct.  16,  ’64  ; mus.  out 
with  Co. 

Henry  F.  Bennett,  pr.  to  cor.  Aug.  15, ’63  ; to  sergt.  Bee.  31,  ’64  ; mus. 
out  with  Co, 

N.  W.  Butterfield,  pr.  from  cor.  Feb.  ’64  ; tr.  to  V.  R.  C.  March,  ’65. 
Haddick  Sullender,  pr.  from  cor.  Jan. 15, ’63;  diedMay2,  ’63. 

Owen  Philips,  pr.  to  cor.  Jan.  15,  ’63  ; to  sergt.  July  1,  ’63  ; died  of  wds. 
rec.  at  Wilderness,  Va.,  May  9,  ’64. 

Corporals. 

William  H.  Cole,  pr.  to  cor.  Aug,  15,  ’63  ; ab.  sick  at  mus.  out. 

Anthony  Clarkson,  pr.  to  cor. ; mus.  out  with  Co. 

Bavid  R.  Anthony,  pr.  to  cor.  Nov.  10,  ’63  ; mus.  out  with  Co. 

William  T.  Chandler,  pi\  to  cor.  Bee,  15,  ’64  ; mus.  out  with  Co. 

William  Sweet,  pr.  to  cor.  April  15,  ’65  ; mus.  out  with  Co. 

Leonard  C.  Wilbur,  pr.  to  cor.  April  15, ’65;  ab.  inhos.  at  mus.  out. 
Henry  Ulrich,  died  July  12th  of  wds.  rec.  at  Gettysburg,  Pa.,  July  1,  '63. 

3Iusician. 

H.  C.  Yarriugton,  pr.  to  principal  muc.  March  1,  ’65. 

Privates. 

Abers,  Alonzo,  ab.  sick  at  mus.  out. 

Albright,  Bexter,  mus.  out  with  Co. 

Adams,  Seth  H.,  pris,  from  May  6,  ’64,  to  Feb.  26,  ’65  ; disch.  on  surg. 
cert.  June  13,  ’65. 

Albright,  Alonzo,  disch.  on  surg.  cert.  Jan.  29,  ’63. 

Anderson,  Thomas,  Aug.  20,  ’63  ; died  May  26.  ’63. 

Baker,  Martin  E.,  Aug.  20,  ’63  ; disch.  on  surg.  cert.  Juno  7,  ’65. 

Baker,  Almond,  Feb.  29,  ’64;  mus.  (mtw'ith  Co. 

Burrett,  Payson,  April  1,  ’65  ; mus.  out  with  Co. 

Brown,  George  W.,  March  2,  ’64;  died  April  5,  ’64. 

Carpenter,  Elijah,  March  7,  ’66  ; mus.  out  with  Co. 

Carpenter,  Freeman,  March  7,  ’65  ; mus.  out  with  Co. 

Chandler,  Frederick  B.,  not  with  Co.  at  mus.  out. 

Clarkson,  William,  not  with  Co-  at  mus.  out. 

Carpenter,  Harding,  March  7,  ’65  ; died  in  New  York  March  26,  ’66. 
Barrow,  Orlando,  Feb.  29,  ’64  ; mus.  out  with  Co. 

Bow'd,  William,  March  7,  ’65  ; mus.  out  with  Co. 

Dopp,  George  M.,  tr.  to  Battery  B,  43d  Regt.  P.  V.,  Jan.  9,  ’64. 
Farnham,  Kind  L , died  Jan  17,  ’64. 

Felts,  William  L.,  March  2,  ’64  ; died  of  wds.  rec.  at  Wilderness,  Va.,  May 
6,  ’64. 

Gardner,  Eliphalet  S.,  not  with  Co.  at  mus.  out. 

Hardy,  Ira,  Jan.  28,  ’64  ; sub. ; disch.  by  special  order. 

Hunter,  John  H.,  mus.  out  with  Co. 

Hunter,  Thadd.  W.,  March  2,  ’64  ; mus.  out  with  Co.  ; vet. 

Hull,  George,  March  2,  ’64;  ab.  sick  at  mus.  out ; vet. 


Hull,  Frank  E , March  7,  ’65 ; mus.  out  with  Co.  j 1 

Hartley,  James  P.,  March  7,  ’65  ; mus.  out  with  Co.  . • 

Holford,  Ferdinand  J.,  tr.  to  Battery  B,  43d  Regt.  P.  V.,  Bee.  28,  *63. 

Ingham,  Stephen  T.,  Aug.  II,  ’62  ; mus.  out  with  Co.  I , 

Johnson,  Leroy,  Feb  29, ’64  ; not  with  Co.  at  mus.  out.  ' , 

Lindsley,  Edgar,  wd.  at  Gettysburg ; mus.  out  with  Co.  | 

Lingfelter,  Samuel  F.,  March  2,  ’64  ; mus.  out  with  Co. ; vet. 

Lake,  Charles,  disch.  on  surg.  cert.  Jan.  29,  ’63. 

Low,  Henry  P.,  tr.  to  V.  R.  C.  Oct.  1,  ’63. 

Lathrop,  C.  H,,  tr.  to  V.  R.  C.  Nov.,  ’64  ; disch.  by  G.  0.  July  27,  ’65. 

Lingfelter,  Charles  F.,  March  2,  '64  ; died  Sept.  19,  ’64  ; bur.  in  Cypress 
Hill  Cem.,  L.  I. 

Mahoney,  John,  disch.  on  surg.  cert.  March  9,  ’66. 

McKivett,  William  not  with  Co.  at  mus.  out. 

Miller,  Levi  B.,  capt'd  ; died  Aug.  15,  '64,  at  Andersonville,  Ga. 

Payne,  George  L.,  March  2,  ’64  ; mus.  out  with  Co. 

Pattent,  George,  March  31,  ’64  ; tr.  to  V.  R.  C.  Jan.  1,  ’65. 

Pattent,  Peter,  March  2,  ’64  ; tr.  to  V.  R.  C.  Jan.  9,  *65  ; disch.  by  G.  0 
July  21,  ’65. 

Payne,  Ichabod-,  March  2,  ’64  ; died  July  21,  ’64  ; bur.  at  Point  Look- 
out, Md. 

Philbine,  Thomas,  March  15,  ’64  ; died  of  w ds.  rec.  at  Wilderness,  Va., 

May  6,  ’64. 

Rankins,  Isaac,  disch.  on  surg.  cert.  April  25,  *65. 

Smith,  John  R.,  Jr.,  mus.  out  with  Co. 

Smith,  Jacob  H.,  mus.  out  with  Co. 

Shultz,  Christopher  E.,  mus.  out  with  Co. 

Simpson,  George,  mus.  out  with  Co. 

Smith,  Charles  H.,  mus.  (*ut  with  Co. 

Sutliff,  Solomon,  tr.  to  Battery  B,  43d  Regt.  P.  V.,  Jan.  9,  ’64. 

Smith,  John  R.,  tr.  to  V.  R.  C.  Jan.  29,  ’64. 

Seely,  William,  not  with  Co.  at  mus.  out. 

Truesdell,  John,  mus.  out  with  Co.  June  25,  ’65. 

Whipple,  Truman.  March  2,  ’64;  mus.  out  with  Co. 

Williams,  Frank,  died  May  13,  ’63. 

COMPANY  H,  ONE  HUNOREB  AND  FORTY-THIRD 
REGIMENT. 

Mustered  into  service  Sept.  6,  1862,  unless  otherwise  stated;  mustered  out 
June  12,  1865, 

Capt.  John  C.  Morris,  Sept.  18,  ’62  ; disch.  on  surg.  cert.  April  16,  ’64. 

Capt.  Benjamin  F.  Babcock,  Sept.  27,  ’62  ; pr.  from  2d  to  1st  It. ; to  capt. 

June  24,  ’64;  res.  Sept.  7,  ’64. 

Capt.  Warren  T.  White,  pr.  from  sergt.  to  1st  sergt.  May  1,  ’63 ; to  1st  It. 

June  23,  ’64 ; to  capt.  Sept.  25,  ’64  ; mus.  out  with  company  June 
12.  ’65. 

First  Lieut.  Michael  Keenan,  Sept.  8,  '62  ; com.  capt.  April  19,  ’64;  not 
mus. ; died  at  Washington,  B.  C.,  June  1st,  of  wds.  received  at 
Wilderness,  Va.,  May  6,  ’64. 

First  Lieut.  E.  L.  Rhinewault,  pr.  from  priv.  to  sergt.  May  1,  ’63 ; to  1st 
sergt.  July  1,  ’64;  to  1st  It.  Sept.  25,  ’64 ; mus.  out  with  company. 

First  Sergt.  Asa  Warner,  pr.  to  cor.  Bee.  ’63;  to  1st  sergt.  Sept.  25,  ’64  ; 
mus.  out  with  company. 

Sergeants. 

Frank  E.  Foster,  capt’d  at  Wilderness,  Va.,  May  5,  ’64  ; com.  2d  It.  Sept. 

8,  ’64;  not  mus. ; disch.  by  G.  0.  May  20,  ‘65. 

Francis  P.  Ryan,  pr.  from  cor.  June  1,  ’63 ; wd.  at  Spottsylvania  C.  H.,  Va., 

May  10,  ’64 ; tr.  to  V.  R.  C.  Feb.  21,  ’65  ; disch.  on  surg.  cert.  April 
17,  ’65. 

Calvin  L.  Leet,  pr.  from  cor.  Nov.  25,  ’63 ; mus.  out  with  company. 

Orange  A.  Baldwin,  pr.  from  cor.  July  1,-  ’64  ; disch.  Sept.  7,  ’65,  exp.  of 
term. 

Baniel  Hawes,  disch.  on  surg.  cert.  Bee.  5,  ’63. 

Alanson  W.  Bissell,  died  at  Windmill  Point,  Va.,  June  1,  ’63.  (See 
“Bissell”  Post,  G.  A.  R.) 

Corporals. 

Myron  Bradshaw,  pr.  to  cor.  July  1,  ’64 ; mus.  out  with  company. 

Miles  B.  Baldwin,  pr.  to  cor.  Sept.  25,  ’64 ; mus.  out  with  company. 

George  B.  Strange,  pr.  to  cor.  Oct.  6,  ’64  ; mus.  out  with  company. 

Frank  Angell,  pr.  to  cor.  Jan.  16,  ’65  ; mus.  out  with  company. 

Robert  Booth,  pr,  to  cor.  Jan.  21,  ’65  ; mus.  out  with  company. 

Bavid  H.  Beuel,  pr.  to  cor.  Jan.  25,  ’65  ; mus.  out  with  company. 

Mark  B.  Perigo,  pr.  to  cor.  May  22,  ’65 ; mus.  out  with  company. 

Calvin  L.  Lincoln,  pr.  to  cor. ; disch.  on  surg.  cert.  Jan.  16,  ’65. 

Oscar  Caswell,  pr.  to  cor.  ; disch.  by  S.  0.  May  21,  ’65, 


THE  REBELLION. 


243 


Win.  A.  Southwell,  pr.  to  cor. ; disch.  by  S.  O.  Oct.  6,  ’04;  pr.  to  capt.  in 
29th  U.  S.  C.  T. 

Joshua  P.  Miller,  pr.  to  cor. ; tr.  to  V.  R.  C.  June  31,  ’65. 

James  Dean,  pr.  to  cor.  ; tr.  to  V.  R.  C.  Dec.  5,  ’04  ; disch  Sept.  6,  ’65. 
Amos  James  Geary,  pr.  to  cor.  ; died  at  Washington,  D.  C , Jan.  7,  ’63. 
Silas  Light,  pr.  to  cor. ; capt’d  at  Wilderness,  Va.,  May  5,  ’64 ; died  at 
Andersonville,  Ga.,  Aiig.  25,  ’64. 

Van  Ness  Small,  killed  at  Wilderness,  Va.,  May  5,  ’64. 

Archie  S.  Horton,  imis.  out  with  company. 

John  W.  White,  ab.,  sick,  at  mus.  out. 

Geo.  B.  Smith,  not  with  company  at  mus.  out. 

Privates. 

Allen,  Daniel,  died  at  Windmill  Point,  Va.,  May  5,  ’05. 

Brink,  David  W.,  mus.  out  with  company. 

Baxter,  Geo.  W.,  wd.  at  Petersburg,  Va.,  June,  ’64  ; disch  , date  unknown. 
Beebe,  Amos  C.,  mus.  out  with  company. 

Beebe,  David  P.,  disch.  on  surg.  cert.  Aug.  11,  ’63. 

Beebe,  Lewis,  Sept.  17,  ’62 ; disch.  on  surg.  cert.  Aug.  11,  ’63. 

Baxter,  Samuel  S.,  disch.  on  surg.  cert.  Jan.  14,  ’63. 

Burbeck,  John,  died  at  Windmill  Point,  Va.,  April  23,  ’63. 

Burch,  Lorenzo,  Dec.  4,  ’62  ; substitute  ; died  April  3,  ’63, 

Baruum,  Henry  C.,  died  at  Baltimore,  Md.,  July  18,  ’63,  of  wds.  re- 
ceived at  Gettysburg,  Pa.,  July  1,  ’63. 

Burbeck,  Robert,  died  March,  ’64. 

Cook,  Hiram,  Sept.  17,  ’62  ; mus.  out  with  company. 

Cunningham,  D.  J.,  mus.  out  with  company. 

Casterline,  Thos.  E.,  Mar.  19,  ’04  ; mus.  out  with  company. 

Carroll,  John,  disch.  on  surg.  cert.  Oct.  3,  ’64. 

Gamp,  Charles,  tr.  to  V.  R.  C.  April  14,  ’64. 

Canfield,  David  A.,  Dec.  4,  ’62 ; substitute  ; tr.  to  V.  R.  C.  May  9,  ’63. 
Crocket,  Geo.  W.,  died  at  Ft.  Schuyler,  N.  Y.,  Aug.  24,  ’63,  of  wds.  re- 
ceived at  Gettysburg,  Pa.,  July  1,  ’63. 

Dunn,  Wm.  P.,  mus.  out  with  company. 

Degnan,  Peter,  tr.  to  V.  R C.  Jan.  2,  ’65. 

Deuel,  Wm.  H.,  tr.  to  V.  R.  C.  Feb.  16.  -64. 

Eldred,  Luther,  disch.  on  surg  cert.  Feb.  8,  ’64. 

Estus,  Win.  H.,  Mar.  19,  ’64 ; died  at  City  Point,  Va.,  Aug.  3,  ’64. 
Fitzgerald,  Jas.  E.,  disch.  on  surg.  cert.  June  6,  ’63. 

Gillen,  Jas.  S , Aug.  24,  ’63  ; mus.  out  with  company. 

Glidden,  John  W.,  died  at  Jefferson,  Md.,  July  5,  ’63. 

Gilroy,  James,  not  with  company  at  mus  out. 

Hickey,  Michael,  capt’d  at  Wilderness,  Va.,  May  5,  ’64 ; disch.  S.  0.  June 
13,  ’65. 

Hoadley,  August  P.,  tr.  to  V.  R.  C.,  date  unknown. 

Heath,  Hial,  Sept.  17,  ’62  ; died  at  Alexandria,  Va.,  July  9th,  of  wds. 

received  at  Wilderness,  May  6,  ’64. 

Jonner,  Walter,  Sept.  17,  ’63  ; mus.  out  with  company. 

Jenner,  Henry,  di§ch.  on  surg.  cert.  Jan.  17,  ’63. 

Jones,  Theron  H.,  died  at  Windmill  Point,  Va.,  April  26,  ’63. 

Jarvis,  Rufus  H.,  Sept.  19,  ’63 ; drafted ; tr.  to  Co.  H,  7th  Ind,  Vols.,  Oct. 
25,  ’63. 

Lane,  Dennis,  Jr.,  mus.  out  with  company. 

Lester,  Ezra  P.,  mus.  out  with  company. 

Lynch,  Thomas,  disch.  on  surg.  cert.  Feb.  10,  ’65. 

Larrabee,  Truman  G.,  Sept.  3,  *63;  drafted;  capt’d  at  Wilderness,  Va., 
May  5,  ’64  ; died  at  Florence,  S.  C.,  Nov.  15,  ’64. 

Lepper,  William  F.,  died  at  Fredericksburg,  Va.,  May  15th,  of  wds.  re- 
ceived at  Wilderness,  Va.,  May  6,  ’64. 

Mooney,  John,  pris.from  May  6,  ’64,  to  Mar.  10,  ’65  ; disch.  by  G.  0.  June 
29,  ’65. 

Millin,  Patrick,  disch.  on  surg.  cert.  Feb.  14,  ’65. 

Moore,  Jacob,  tr.  to  V.  R.  C.  April  4,  ’64;  disch.  by  G.  0.  July  5,  ’65. 
Mott,  Alonzo,  killed  at  Petersburg,  Va.,  June  18,  ’64;  bur.  in  Poplar 
Grove  Cem. 

McRoy,  John,  Sept.  17,  ’62;  mus.  out  with  company. 

McCreary,  Ed.  P.,  pr.  to  sergt.  Co.  I Oct.  1,  ’63  ; to  1st  It.  Co.  B Feb.  28, 
’64;  disch.  May  5,  ’64. 

McVinen,  Andrew,  not  with  company  at  mus.  out. 

Porter,  Henry  M.,  died  at  Culpeper  C.  H.,  Va.,  Jan.  8,  ’64. 

Porter,  Henry  A.,  died  April  21,  ’65. 

Porter,  William  A.,  Dec.  4,  ’62;  drafted;  died  at  Culpeper  C.  H.,  Va., 
Jan.  7,  ’64. 

Ross,  Leonard  B.,  mus.  out  with  company. 

Riley,  Terence,  disch.  on  surg  ccrt.  July  18,  ’63. 

Ring,  Richard,  Sept.  17,  ’62 ; disch.  on  surg.  cert.  Mar.  4,  ’64. 


Ragan,  Jeremiah,  Jr,,  disch.  on  surg.  cert.  Nov.  16,  ’63. 

Rochford,  James,  not  with  company  at  mus.  out. 

Sheldon,  Geo  W.,  mus.  out  with  company. 

Strange,  James,  disch.  on  surg.  cei't.  Aug.  24,  ’63. 

Small,  Charles,  Sept  17,  ’62  ; disch.  on  surg.  cert.  Dec.  22,  ’68. 

Scribner,  Frederick  M.,  disch.  on  surg,  cert.  April  4,  ’64. 

Southwell,  Wm.  B.,  tr.  to  V.  R.  C.  May  10,  ’63. 

Slauson,  Edward  B.,  tr.  to  V.  R.  C.  Oct.  10,  ’64. 

Smith,  Daniel,  not  with  company  at  mus.  out. 

Turrell,  Leman,  disch.  on  surg.  cert.  July  19,  '63. 

Towne,  Myron  S,,  pr.  to  com.  sergt.  April  20,  ’64 ; to  1st  It.  U.  S.  C.  T. ; 

to  Brig.  Q,  M. ; mus.  out  Nov.  5,  ’65. 

West,  Hobart  R.,  disch.  by  G.  0.  June  3,  ’65. 

Warner,  Stanley  B.,  disch.  on  surg.  cert.  Oct.  9,  ’64. 

Webster,  Charles  E.,  tr.  to  V.  R.  C.  Dec.  19,  ’63. 

West,  Charles  A.,  died  at  Washington,  D.  C.,  Jan.  16,  ’63. 

Woodworth,  Douglass,  Dec.  4, ’62  ; substitute  ; died  at  Philadelphia,  Pa., 
Aug.  15,  ’64. 

COMPANY  I. 

Private  Leonard  Gow,  Mar.  20,  ’65  ; mus.  out  with  company  June  12,  ’65. 
COMPANY  K. 

Cor.  William  N.  Williams,  Sept.  4,  ’62  ; died  July  6,  ’63,  of  wds.  received 
at  Gettysburg,  Pa. 

Privates. 

Steel,  Balser,  Sept.  1,  ’62  ; mus.  out  with  company  June  12,  ’65. 

Bell,  Samuel  R.,  Mar.  7,  ’65  ; mus.  out  with  company  June  12,  ’65. 
Palmer,  Geo.  W.,  not  on  muster-out  roll. 

Seventeenth  Cavalry. — Under  the  call  of  the 
President  in  July,  1862,  Pennsylvania  was  required 
to  furnish  three  regiments  of  cavalry.  The  Seven- 
teenth was  one  of  the  three  thus  called  for,  and  was 
recruited  in  various  sections  of  the  State,  no  county 
furnishing  more  than  one  company. 

It  was,  therefore,  a representative  regiment,  and 
four  of  the  companies  composing  it  were  from  the 
“ Northern  tier,”  viz- : One  each  from  the  counties 
of  Susquehanna,  Bradford,  Wayne  and  Luzerne. 
During  September,  and  the  early  part  of  October,  the 
companies  rendezvoused  at  Camp  Simmons,  near 
Harrisburg ; and  on  the  18th  of  the  latter  month  a 
regimental  organization  was  effected,  by  the  selection 
of  J.  H.  Kellogg,  colonel ; J.  B.  McAllister,  lieuten- 
ant-colonel ; and  D.  B.  Hartranft,  Coe  Durland  and 
R.  R.  Reinhold,  majors.  Colonel  Kellogg  was  a 
regular  officer,  being  a captain  in  the  First  United 
States  Cavalry ; and  a few  of  the  other  officers  and 
men  had  seen  service  in  the  Mexican  War.  But 
while  most  of  the  regiment  were  unskilled  in  the  du- 
ties of  a soldier,  they  were,  to  a marked  extent,  good 
horsemen.  The  regiment  was  ordered  to  Washing- 
ton on  the  2oth  of  November,  and  was  soon  after- 
wards ordered  to  the  front. 

Cn  the  22d  of  December  its  maiden  engagement 
was  had  with  Hampton’s  Legion,  at  Cccoqiian 
Creek,  which  was  here  driven  and  pursued  for  some 
distance.  The  regiment  was  actively  engaged  in 
scouting  and  picket-duty,  and  early  in  1863  was  as- 
signed to  the  Second  Brigade  of  the  First  Cavalry 
Division  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  being  associa- 
ted with  the  Sixth  New  York,  Sixth  United  States 
and  Eighth  Pennsylvania  Regiments,  the  brigade 
being  under  the  command  of  Colonel — afterwards 
General — Thomas  C.  Devin. 


244 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


In  the  Chancellorsville  campaign  the  Seventeenth 
was  one  of  the  three  cavalry  regiments  that  moved 
with  Hooker,  the  main  cavalry  force  being  dispatched 
to  cut  the  enemy’s  communications  and  harass  his 
rear.  It  was  during  the  progress  of  this  battle  that 
the  Seventeenth  was  placed  in  one  of  the  most  trying 
positions  of  its  whole  service.  When  Stonewall 
Jackson  struck  the  Eleventh  Corps  on  the  evening  of 
the  2d  of  May,  and  drove  it  in  disorder  back  upon  the 
Union  lines,  General  Pleasanton,  with  the  Seven- 
teenth and  the  Eighth  Pennsylvania  Cavalry,  hap- 
pened to  be  in  the  line  of  the  rebel  assault.  In  his 
report  of  that  battle,  the  general  says  : 

“ This  remaining  regiment  (the  Seventeenth)  was 
composed  of  raw  men,  new  troops.  I had  them  formed 
in  single  line,  with  sabres  drawn,  with  orders  to  charge 
in  case  the  enemy  came  to  the  guns.  . . . And  thus 
was  the  mad  onset  of  Jackson’s  army  checked  by 
artillery  supported  by  a single  line  of  raw  cavalry. 
It  was  a trying  position  for  the  regiment,  but  the 
firm  front  presented  saved  the  day,  and  enabled 
Hooker  to  re-form  his  chattered  columns,  and  once 
more  present  an  unbroken  line.”  General  Pleasan- 
ton, in  a general  order  issued  after  the  battle,  pays 
this  high  compliment  to  the  Seventeenth:  “The 
coolness  displayed  by  the  Seventeenth  Cavalry  in 
rallying  fugitives  and  supporting  the  batteries  which 
repulsed  the  enemy’s  attack  under  Jackson  on  the 
evening  of  the  2d,  has  excited  the  highest  admira- 
tion.” 

During  the  month  of  June  it  was  actively  em- 
ployed with  the  cavalry  of  the  enemy,  and  crossed 
sabres  with  them  at  Beverly  and  Kelly’s  Fords,  and 
at  Middleburg  and  Upperville.  In  the  campaign 
that  inscribed  on  its  banner  “ Gettysburg  ” the  Sev- 
enteenth bore  a conspicuous  part.  General  Buford 
was  in  command  of  the  cavalry  division  of  which  the 
Seventeenth  was  a part. 

As  they  approached  Gettysburg,  the  people  hailed 
their  presence  with  songs  and  other  evidences  of  re- 
joicing. They  were  among  the  first  troops  that  ar- 
rived on  that  memorable  battle-field,  and  in  the  ac- 
tion of  the  1st  of  July,  General  Pleasanton  says,  in  his 
report : 

“ Buford,  with  his  four  thousand  cavalry,  attacked 
Hill,  and  for  four  hours  splendidly  resisted  his  ad- 
vance, until  Reynolds  and  Howard  were  able  to  hurry 
to  the  field  and  give  their  assistance.  To  the  intre- 
pidity, courage  and  fidelity  of  General  Buford  and 
his  brave  division,  the  country  and  the  army  owe  the 
field  of  Gettysburg.”  In  the  pursuit  of  Lee,  after  the 
battle  of  Gettysburg,  the  Seventeenth  bore  a con- 
spicuous part,  and  met  the  enemy  in  several  sharp 
and  close  engagements;  and  at  Morton’s  Ford,  Stev- 
ensburg.  Brandy  Station,  Oak  Hill  and  the  conclud- 
ing engagements  of  that  year  on  the  Rapidan,  it  bore 
its  share  of  the  toils  and  privations,  and  sustained  its 
share  of  the  losses,  and  late  in  the  season  went  into  win- 
ter-quarters on  the  memorable  plains  of  Culpeper. 


In  the  movements  of  the  army  in  1864  the  Seven- 
teenth early  took  the  field.  In  May  it  had  several 
severe  encounters  with  the  enemy  in  the  vicinity  of 
the  Chancellorsville  battle-field,  and  was  at  the  front 
in  the  movements  of  the  cavalry  under  Sheridan  to- 
wards Richmond.  At  Trevilian  Station,  on  the  11th 
and  12th  of  June,  the  Seventeenth  was  hotly  engaged, 
and  suffered  severe  loss.  In  the  operations  of  Sheri- 
dan in  the  Shenandoah  Valley,  the  Seventeenth  bore 
an  honorable  part.  At  Front  Royal,  at  Shepherds- 
town,  at  Kearneysville  it  met  the  enemy  and  bravely 
contested  every  foot  of  ground.  While  at  Martins- 
burg,  a detachment  of  the  Seventeenth  escorted  Gen- 
eral Sheridan  on  his  famous  ride  to  Winchester,  and 
in  all  the  cavalry  movements  of  the  year,  it  manfully 
bore  its  part,  and  during  the  winter  of  1864-65  it  re- 
mained in  the  Shenandoah  Valley.  In  the  final 
campaign  of  1815  the  cavalry,  under  Sheridan,  was 
an  important  factor.  At  Stony  Creek,  on  the  1st  of 
April,  the  Seventeenth  was  severely  engaged,  and  suf- 
fered a grievous  loss  in  killed  and  wounded.  But  the 
enemy  never  lost  sight  of  its  glittering  sabres  till  the 
rebel  army  surrendered  to  Grant,  at  Appomattox, 
when  the  regiment  returned  to  the  vicinity  of  Wash- 
ington, and  on  the  16th  of  June  was  mustered  out. 
A detachment  of  the  regiment,  which  became  a part 
of  the  Second  Provisional  Cavalry,  was  not  mustered 
out  until  the  7th  of  August  following. 

Of  the  services  of  the  Seventeenth,  General  De- 
vin, in  his  farewell  order,  remarks : 

“ In  five  successive  campaigns,  and  in  over  three- 
score engagements,  you  have  nobly  sustained  your 
part.  Of  the  many  gallant  regiments  from  your 
State,  none  has  a brighter  record,  none  has  more 
freely  shed  its  blood  on  every  battle-field,  from  Get- 
tysburg to  Appomattox.” 

Company  B. — While  the  Seventeenth  was  a repre- 
sentative regiment  of  the  commonwealth,  Company 
B was  no  less  a representative  of  "Susquehanna 
County.  There  were  but  few  townships  in  the 
county  but  what  had  one  or  more  members  in  Com- 
pany “ B.”  The  company  was  mainly  recruited  by 
the  efforts  of  D.  E.  Whitney,  of  Gibson,  and  M.  T. 
Whitneys  of  Thomson.  Upon  its  organization  they 
were  elected  captain  and  first  lieutenant  respectively, 
and  William  A.  Larue,  of  Jessup,  second  lieutenant. 

On  the  18th  of  September,  1862,  the  company  met 
at  New  Milford,  and  the  citizens  of  that  patriotic 
town  gave  them  a generous  reception,  and  the  boun- 
tiful dinner  they  set  before  them  was  in  marked  con- 
trast with  thescanty  “ rations ’’that  the  members  of  the 
company  soon  encountered. 

The  company  reached  Harrisburg  on  the  evening  of 
the  19th,  and  on  the  21st  were  duly  mustered  into  the 
United  States  service.  Of  its  subsequent  history  and 
service  we  have  attemped  to  give  a short  epitome. 
The  surviving  members  of  the  company  are  among 
the  best  citizens  of  our  county  to-day.  Of  its  officers, 
space  admits  of  but  brief  mention.  Captain  D.  E. 


THE  REBELLION. 


245 


Whitney  was  discharged  by  special  order  in  December 
1862.  M.  T.  Whitney,  afterwards  well  known  as  a 
popular  commissioner  of  the  county,  resigned  in  Janu- 
ary, 1863.  (See  personal  sketches.)  Warren  F.  Sim- 
rell  was  promoted  to  captain  of  Company  D.  After 
the  war,  he  was  elected  prothonotary  of  the  county. 
(See  “ Simrell  ” Post,  G.  A.  R.)  Lieutenant  William 
A.  Larue  remained  with  his  company,  sharing  its 
perils  and  its  glory,  until  January,  1865,  when,  becom- 
ing unfit  for  further  service  in'the  field,  he  was  honor- 
ably discharged.  Lieutenant  W.  N.  Chamberlin  was 
promoted  from  the  ranks  and  for  quite  a time  served 
on  the  staff  of  General  Devin.  He  was  breveted 
major  for  meritorious  services,  and  in  1865  was  ap- 
pointed to  a clerkship  in  the  United  States  Treasury, 
which  position  he  still  occupies.  Lieutenant  Asa  D. 
Coree  was  elected,  upon  the  organization  of  the  com- 
pany supernumerary  second  lieutenant,  but  finding 
that  office  abolished  upon  reaching  Harrisburg,  he 
entered  the  ranks.  Of  his  service  and  future  promo- 
tion, see  personal  sketch.  We  would  like  to  say 
of  Company  “ B ” of  the  Seventeenth,  that  its  members 
were  the  best  soldiers  that  Susquehanna  County  fur- 
nished to  the  war,  but  the  record  of  its  achievements 
must  be  placed  side  by  side  with  the  blood-stained 
record  of  the  true  and  noble  men  who  preceded 
and  followed  them. 

COMPANY  B,  SEVENTEENTH  CAVALRY. 

Mmtered  into  sei-vice  September  unless  oihenoise  stated;  mustered 

out  June  16,  1865. 

Capt.  David  E.  AVhitney,  Oct,  20,  ’62 ; disch.  by  S.  0.  Dec.  29,  ’62. 

1st  Lieut.  Menick  T.  Whitney,  Sept.  23,  ’62  ; res.  Jan.  2,  ’63. 

1st  Lieut.  Warren  F.  Simrell,  pr.  from  1st  sergt.  Dec.  15,  ’62,  to  capt.  Co. 
D,  July  22,  ’64  ; disch,  by  G.  0.  June  20,  ’65  (see  “Simrell”  Post, 
G.  A.  R.). 

1st  Lieut.  W.  N.  Chamberlain,  pr.  from  q.m.-&ergt.  to  2d  It.  Jan.  11,  ’63  ; 
to  1st  It.  July  4,  ’64 ; bvt.  capt.  and  major  March  13,  ’65  ; mus.  out 
■with  Co.  G,  2d  Regt.  Pro.  Cav.,  Aug.  7,  ’65, 

2d  Lt.  Warren  A.  Larue,  Oct.  20,  ’62  ; disch.  on  surg,  cert.  Jan.  13, ’65. 

2d  Lt,  Asa  D.  Corse,  Sept.  27,  ’62;  pr.  from  1st  sergt.  July  23,  ’64  ; mus. 

out  with  Co.  B,  2d  Regt.  Pro.  Cav.,  Aug.  7,  ’65  (see  personal  sketch). 
1st  Sergt.  Jerome  I.  Stanton,  pr.  from  q.m. -sergt.  April  1,  ’65,  to  sergt.- 
major  June  10,  ’65  ; mus.  out  with  regt.  June  16,  ’65. 

1st  Sergt.  Matthew  McPherson,  killed  at  Five  Forks,  Va.,  April  I,  ’65 
(see  “McPherson”  Post,  G.  A.  R.) 

Q.m. -Sergt.  James  E.  Curtis,  pr.  to  cor.  Aug.  17,  ’63  ; to  sergt.  Jan.  1,  ’65  ; 

to  q.m. -sergt.  April  1,  ’65  ; mus.  out  with  Co.  June  16,  ’65. 
Com.-Sergt.  Dennis  Shay,  mus.  out  with  Co.  June  16,  ’65. 

Sergeants. 

Edwin  A.  French,  pr.  to  sergt.  Jan.  ’63 ; mus.  out  with  Co.  June  16,  ’65. 
George  H.  French,  pr.  to  cor.  Dec.  18,  ’63 ; to  sergt.  July  6,  ’64  ; mus. 
out  with  Co. 

Edward  E.  Thayer,  pr.  to  cor.  July  1,  ’64;  to  sergt.  Nov.  1,  ’64  ; mus. 
out  with  Co. 

Martin  V.  Bisbee,  pr.  to  cor.  July  1,  ’64  ; to  sergt.  April  1,  ’65  ; mus.  out 
with  Co. 

Wm.  H.  Brookins,  pr.  from  cor.  Jan.  ’63;  wd.  at  Cold  Harbor,  Va., 
May  31,  ’64  ; tr.  to  V.  R.  C. ; disch.  on  surg.  cert.  May  30,  ’65. 
Bussell  V.  Whitney,  disch.  on  surg.  cert.  March  13,  ’63. 

Richard  C.  DuBois,  pr.  to  adjt.  158th  Regt.  P.  V.  Nov.  30,  '62  ; mus.  out 
with  that  regt.,  Aug.  12,  ’65. 

Erastus  Bennet,  died  at  Washington,  D.  C.  ; bur.  at  Arlington. 

Corporals. 

Jerry  Sivers,  pr.  to  cor.  Sept.  6,  ’64  ; mus.  out  with  Co. 

William  G.  Seamans,  pr.  to  cor.  Nov.  1,  ’64 ; mus.  out  with  Co. 

George  F.  Rezane,  pr.  to  cor.  April  1,  ’65 ; mus.  out  with  Co. 


Elisha  N.  Lord.  pr.  to  cor.  Dec.  18,  ’63  ; tr.  to  Co.  F,  10th  Regt.  V.  R. 
C.;  disch.  by  G.  0.  June  26,  ’65. 

Freeman  P.  Whitney,  pr.  to  cor.  Sept.  6,  ’64  ; capt’d  Oct.  29,  ’64  ; disch. 
by  G.  0 June  13,  ’65. 

Stanley  Stone,  pr.  to  cor.  Nov.  1,  ’64  ; capt'd  Dec.  26,  ’64;  disch.  by  G. 
0,  May  30,  ’65. 

Timothy  C.  Simpson,  disch.  on  surg.  cert.  Jan.  12,  ’63. 

Harry  T.  Castle,  Nov.  17,  ’63  ; pr.  to  cor.  Jan.  1,  ’65  ; mus.  out  with  Co. 

A,  2d  Regt.  Provisional  Cavalry,  Aug.  7,  ’65. 

Harvey  S.  Rice,  killed  at  Trevilian  Station,  Va.,  June  12,  '64. 

William  H.  Brown,  died  of  wds.  rec.  in  action  Aug.  13,  ’64. 

A.  Judson  Perigo,  died  at  Alexandria,  Va.,  Nov.  20,  ’63. 

Bugler. 

Benjamin  W.  Barrett,  mus.  out  with  Co. 

Blacksmiths. 

Thomas  J.  Tallman,  mus.  out  with  Co. 

Danford  H.  Newton,  mus.  out  with  Co. 

Joseph  S.  Halstead,  disch.  on  surg.  cert. 

Saddlers. 

Leroy  H.  Aldrich,  mus.  out  with  Co. 

Michael  J.  Mulvey,  disch.  on  surg.  cerL  July  30,  ’63. 

Privates. 

Austin,  Albert,  died  June  21st  of  wds.  rec.  at  Cold  Harbor,  Va.,  May  31, 
’64 ; bur.  at  Arlington. 

Abbott,  Charles,  Apr.  2,  ’64  ; not  on  mus.  out  roll. 

Barrett,  Luther  L.,  mus.  out  with  Co. 

Brown,  Henry,  mus.  out  with  Co. 

Bowen,  William  B.,  mus.  out  with  Co. 

Blauding,  Herbert,  mus.  out  with  Co. 

Barnard,  William  E.,  mus.  out  with  Co. 

Brooks,  Livingston  J.,  killed  at  Cold  Harbor,  Va.,  May  31,  ’64. 

Bagley,  John  W.,  died  at  Fairfax  Seminary,  Va.,  June  19,  ’63  ; bur.  at 
Alexandria. 

Babcock,  Andrew  J.,  capt’d;  died  at  Richmond,  Va.,  Nov.  18,  ’63. 

Brady,  John,  Oct.  27,  ’64  ; not  on  mus.  out  roll. 

Black,  David,  Mar.  24,  ’64  ; not  on  mus.  out  roll. 

Carlin,  Peter  M.,  mus.  out  with  Co. 

Carlin,  Asa  F.,  mus.  out  with  Co. 

Corey,  Enos  W.,  mus.  out  with  Co. 

Corwin,  Eli  E.,  disch.  on  surg.  cert.  Jan.  27,  ’63. 

Darrow,  Jonathan  M.,  mus.  out  with  Co. 

Decker,  George,  mus.  out  with  Co. 

DeWitt,  Isaac  M.,  wd.  at  Todd’s  Tavern,  Va.,  May  8,  ’64 ; disch  by 
G.  0.  June  17,  ’64. 

Disbro,  Jesse  C.,  disch.  on  surg.  cert.  Aug.  18,  ’63. 

Dana,  John  C.,  mus.  out  with  Co.  A,  2d  Regt.  Pro.  Cav.,  Aug.  7,  ’65. 
Estabrook,  Sylvenus  H.,  disch.  on  G.  0.  May  23,  ’65. 

Griswold,  Daniel  L.,  mus.  out  with  Co. 

Galloway,  Theodore,  disch.  by  S.  0.  Feb.  10,  ’63. 

Gregg,  Alvin  M.,  disch.  on  surg.  cert.  July  6,  ’64. 

Gibb,  George,  Mar.  23,  ’64  ; mus.  out  with  Co.  B,  2d  Regt.  Pro.  Cav., 
Aug.  7,  ’65. 

Greek,  William,  died  at  York,  Pa.,  May  18,  ’63  ; bur.  at  Prospect  Hill 
Cem. 

Hart,  Isaac,  capt’d  Aug.  13,  ’64  ; disch.  by  G.  0.  July  18,  ’65. 

Howell,  John  S.,  disch.  on  surg.  cert.  Jan.  14,  ’63. 

Hinkley,  Marquis,  disch.  on  surg.  cert.  Aug.  19,  ’63. 

Hart,  William,  Mar.  29,  ’64  ; mus.  out  with  Co.  B,  2d  Regt.  Pro.  Cav., 
Aug.  7,  ’65. 

Halstead,  S.  C.,  Mar,  16,  ’64 ; mus.  out  with  Co.  B,  2d  Regt.  Pro.  Cav., 
Aug.  7,  ’65. 

Haggerty,  Charles  H.,  Mar.  25,  ’64 ; not  with  Co.  at  mus.  out. 

Harrison,  Thomas,  Mar.  24,  ’64  ; not  on  mus.  out  roll. 

Hamilton,  Henry  H.,  disch  on  surg.  cert.  July  23,  ’63. 

Haley, James,  Mar. 24,  ’64;  noton  mus.  out  roll. 

Ireland,  Elisha,  died  in  Susquehanna,  Pa.,  ISlar.  25,  ’65. 

Jenkins,  Stephen,  mus.  out  with  Co. 

Johnson  Thomas,  Mar.  2(3,  ’64  ; not  on  mus.  roll. 

Lake,  William  H.,  mus.  out  with  Co. 

Lee,  William,  mus.  out  with  Co. 

Leight,  Charles  A.,  Aug.  19,  ’64  ; mus.  out  with  Co. 

Lamb,  George  W.,  ab.  in  hos.  at  mus.  out. 

Lord,  Drew  IL,  disch.  by  (».  O.  Juno  20,  ’65, 

Lathrop,  Zara,  tr.  to  H.  S.  army  Nov.  10,  ’62. 


246 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


Lord,  Jerome,  pr.  to  1st  It.,  27th  Regt.  U.  S.  C.  T.,  Aug.  8,  ’65  ; mu8.  out 
Sept.  21,  ’65. 

Lahar,  John,  Mar.  29,  ’64  ; killed  at  Trevilian  Station,  Va.,  June  12,  ’64. 
Lyon,  Harmon  D.,  died  at  Washington,  D.  C.,  May  10,  ’63. 

Logan,  Edward  C.,  Feb.  26,  ’64  ; not  with  Co.  at  mus.  out. 

Murphy,  Frank  H.,  mus.  out  with  Co. 

Mack,  Henry,  mus.  out  with  Co. 

Moffit,  Mortiinore,  disch.  by  G.  0.  June  3,  ’65. 

Mitchell,  Stanley  N.,  pr.  to  sergt.-major  Aug.  1,  ’64;  to  2d  It.  Co.  D. 
Dec.  28,  ’64;  disch.  May  15,  ’65. 

McCarroll,  Samuel  L.,  wd.  at  Opequan,  Va.,  Sept.  19,  ’64  ; ab.  iu  hos.  at 
mus.  out. 

McKeeby,  Theodore,  disch.  by  G.  0.  Sept  7,  ’65. 

McKeeby,  James  B.,  disch.  on  surg.  cert.  Feb.  5,  ’63. 

McKeeby,  William  B.,  disch.  on  surg.  cert.  June  26,  ’63. 

McDonald,  Allen  W.,  Mar.  24,  ’64  ; disch.  on  surg.  cert.  Sept.  9,  ’64. 
McConnell,  S.  W.,  tr.  to  U.  S.  army  Nov.  10,  ’62. 

McKeeby,  Samuel,  mus.  out  with  Co.  B,  2d  Regt.  Pro.  Cav.,  Aug.  7,  ’65. 
Nash,  William  H.,  killed  at  Trevilian  Station,  Va.,  June  12,  ’64. 

Oakley,  Edwaid  G.,  disch.  by  G.  0.  May  25,  ’65. 

Palmer,  William  H.,  mus.  out  with  Co. 

Payne,  George  L.,  mus.  out  with  Co. 

Rodgers,  Levi  S.,  disch.  on  surg.  cert.  Jan.  15,  ’63. 

Rogers,  Francis,  tr.  to  U.  S.  army  Nov.  10,  ’62. 

Round,  Amasa  N.,  killed  at  Deep  Bottom,  Va.,  July  28,  ’64. 

Ross,  John,  Mar.  14, ’64  ; died  Apr.  18,  ’64;  bur.  in  Military  Asylum 
Cem.,  D.  C. 

Smith,  David,  mus  out  with  Co. 

Stoddard,  Horace  S.,  mus.  out  with  Co. 

Sterling,  Jabez  S.,  mus.  out  with  Co. 

Shay,  Aaron  W.,  disch.  by  G.  0.  June  28,  ’65. 

Scott,  James  H.,  disch.  July  15,  ’65. 

Smith,  George  B.,  disch.  on  surg.  cert.  Mar.  6,  ’63. 

Stoddard,  Henry  H.,  disch.  on  surg.  cert.  Jan.  22,  ’64. 

Steinback,  Lewis,  disch.  by  G.  0.  May  23,  ’65. 

Smith,  James  N , pr.  to  hos.  steward  Apr.  9,  ’63  ; disch  on  surg.  cert., 
date  unknown. 

Stewart,  Stanley,  accidentally  killed  at  Winchester,  Va.,  Nov.  29,  ’64. 
Struble,  George,  Mar.  29,  ’04  ; not  with  Co.  at  mus.  out. 

Sweaney,  William,  Nov.  23,  ’64  ; not  on  mus.  out  roll. 

Tyler,  Henry  W.,  mus.  out  with  Co. 

Tennant,  Walter,  Mar.  24,  ’04;  mus.  (mt  with  Co.  B,  2d  Regt.  Prov.  Cav., 
Aug.  7,  ’65 ; vet. 

Tennant,  Dallas  P.,  killed  at  White  House,  Va.,  June  21,  ’64  ; bur.  in 
Yorktown. 

Tripp,  Joseph  0.,  Mar.  13,  ’64  ; died  at  Washington,  D.  C.,  Sept.  17,  ’64  ; 
bur.  at  Arlington. 

Williams,  Henry  G.,  pr.  to  2d  It.,  1st  Regt.  U.  S.  C.  Troops,  July  14,  ’65  ; 
mus.  out  Sept.  29,  ’65. 

Wayman,  Harvey  B.,  disch.  by  G.  0.  Apr.  24,  ’65. 

Wheaton,  Myron,  pr.  to  hos.  steward,  date  unknown. 

Whitney,  Harland  S.,  died  at  Hope  Landing,  Va.,  Apr.  14,  ’63. 

Wells,  Hezekiah  S.,  capt’d  ; died  at  Richmond,  Va.,  Oct.  14,  ’64. 

The  following  were  also  members  of  the  Seven- 
teenth Cavalry  (for  letter  of  company  see  column  of 
“ Remarks  ”) : 

Sergt.  George  W.  Jloore  (2d),  Oct.  2,  ’62  ; Co.  K ; pr.  to  cor.  May  ’64  ; 

to  eergt.  Apr.  1,  ’65  ; niiis.  out  with  Co. 

Saddler  George  P.  Goodrich,  Sept.  •<!l,  ’62 ; Co.  K ; killed  at  Barryville, 
Va.,  Sept.  24,  ’64. 

Privates. 

Bancome,  Orsel  C.,  Co.  K. 

Brands,  John  C.,  Co.  H. 

Carpenter,  Shepherd,  Oct.  2,  ’62  ; Co.  K ; mus.  out  with  Co. 

Case,  George,  Sept.  22,  ’62  ; Co.  M ; mus.  out  with  Co. 

Douglierty,  George  F.,  Oct.  3,  ’62  ; Co.  D ; mus.  out  with  Co. 

Knapp,  Henry,  Oct,  2,  ’62  ; Co.  K ; wd.  and  capt’d  at  Trevilian  Station, 
Va.,  June  12,  '64. 

Merrell,  George,  Co.  K. 

Nice,  Oliver  B.,  Co.  K. 

Norris,  John,  Co.  H. 

Norris,  John  G.,  Oct.  19,  ’62  ; Co.  H ; capt’d  at  Brandy  Station,  Va.,6ct. 
11,  ’63 ; mus.  out  with  Co.  H,  2d  Regt.  Prov.  Cav.,  Aug.  7,  ’65. 

One  Hundred  and  Fifty-first  Regiment — The 


service  of  this  regiment  extended  over  a period  of  but 
nine  months,  but  those  nine  months  were  fraught 
with  such  momentous  issues  and  events,  that  the 
grandest  chapter  of  the  war  was  written  during  its 
term  of  service.  The  disastrous  battle  of  Bull  Run 
had  been  fought,  and  the  draft  that  followed  had 
impressed  the  men  of  the  loyal  North  that  a gigantic 
rebellion  was  in  progre-^s,  and  that  its  loyal  sons  must 
meet  the  emergency.  Under  these  circumstances,  the 
One  Hundred  and  Fifty- fi  rst  Regiment  was  organized  at 
Camp  Curtin  in  September,  1862.  It  was  ordered  to 
Washington  on  the  26th  of  November,  and  its  organ- 
ization then  comprised  the  following  field  officers : 
Harrison  Allen,  colonel ; George  F.  McFarland, 
lieutenant-colonel ; and  John  W.  Young,  major. 
Susquehanna  County  furnished  two  full  companies  to 
this  regiment, — Companies  “ A ” and  “ C,” — and  in  its 
organization  the  regiment  selected  the  captain  of 
Company  “ C ” for  its  major.  Early  in  December  the 
regiment  was  sent  to  Union  Mills,  in  a section  of 
Virginia  infested  by  Mosby’s  guerrillas,  and  whose 
inhabitants  were  intensely  disloyal.  Here  it  remain- 
ed until  the  middle  of  February,  1863,  when  it  was 
ordered  to  Belle  Plain,  and  was  assigned  to  the  First 
Brigade,  Third  Division  of  the  First  Corps.  Its  ar- 
rival here  was  attended  with  much  exposure  and 
privation,  and  a number  died,  among  them  Lieuten- 
ant Hollenback,  of  Company  “ A.”  Preliminary  to 
the  Chancellorsville  campaign,  the  regiment  accom- 
panied the  Third  Division  to  Port  Conway,  the  march 
occupying  two  days,  during  which  it  rained  almost 
incessantly.  For  its  behavior  on  this  march  the 
regiment  was  thus  highly  complimented  by  General 
Doubleday:  “The  general  commanding  desires  to 

express  his  appreciation  of  the  good  order  and 
compactness  which  marked  the  march  of  the  One 
Hundred  and  Fifty-first.  . . . It  also  attracted  the  at- 
tention of  Major-General  Reynolds  and  staff,  who  wish- 
ed this  compliment  tendered.”  In  the  Chancellorsville 
campaign  it  moved  with  the  First  Corps  to  Frank- 
lin’s Crossing,  where  it  was  twice  subjected  to  a vig- 
orous shelling.  On  the  2d  of  May  it  made  a forced 
march  to  the  battle-field,  and  occupied  the  line  on  the 
right  of  the  army,  from  which  the  Eleventh  Corps 
had  been  driven  by  Stonewall  Jackson.  On  the  3d 
and  4th  it  remained  at  the  front,  and  after  the  army 
recrossed  the  river  it  went  into  camp  near  White  Oak 
Church. 

On  the  12th  of  June  it  started  for  Gettysburg,  being 
a part  of  the  right  wing  of  the  army,  which  was  com- 
posed of  the  First  and  Eleventh  Corps,  under  com- 
mand of  General  Reynolds.  In  three  days  these 
troops  made  a forced  march  of  one  hundred  and  five 
miles,  and  Lee  suddenly  found  himself  confronted,  in 
the  Shenandoah  Valley,  by  Reynolds’  forces.  Push- 
ing on  into  Pennsylvania,  it  reached  the  vicinity  of 
Gettysburg  on  that  memorable  1st  of  July,  and  in  the 
forenoon  of  that  day  moved  to  the  front  and  was  hot- 
ly engaged.  About  noon  the  regiment,  with  the  brig- 


THE  KEBELLION. 


247 


ade,  was  placed  in  support  of  Cooper’s  battery.  At 
half-past  two  the  regiment  was  detached  from  the 
brigade  and  posted  in  reserve  along  a fence  at  the 
south  end  of  Seminary  Grove.  In  the  fierce  fighting 
that  followed,  the  Union  lines  were  forced  back  by 
the  overwhelming  numbers  of  the  enemy,  and  a seri- 
ous gap  between  the  brigades  of  Gens.  Biddle  and  Mer- 
edith exposed  the  whole  left  wing.  Into  this  gap,  by 
command  of  Gen.  Rowley,  the  One  Hundred  and  Fifty- 
First  was  thrown  to  stay  the  onrushing  tide.  The  fight- 
ing was  now  terrific,  and  the  losses  of  the  enemy  in  front 
of  the  position  where  the  regiment  stood,  as  acknowl- 
edged in  his  official  report,  was  most  grievous.  Col. 
McFarland,  in  his  official  report  of  the  part  here  tak- 
en by  the  regiment,  says  : “ I know  not  how  men 

could  have  fought  more  desperately,  exhibited  more 
coolness,  or  contested  tbe  field  with  more  determined 
courage.”  Later  in  the  day  Colonel  McFarland  was 
shot  down,  and  some  of  the  companies  were  left  with- 
out a commkssioned  officer.  In  the  severe  fighting  on 
the  2d,  and  in  the  crowning  charge  of  the  enemy  on 
the  third  day,  the  One  Hundred  and  Fifty-First  again 
covered  itself  with  glory.  The  heroism  displayed  by 
the  One  Hundred  and  Fifty-First  in  this  battle  is 
unsurpassed.  It  went  into  the  fight  with  four  hun- 
dred and  eighty-seven  officers  and  men.  Of  these,  two 
officers  and  sixty-six  men  were  killed,  twelve  officers 
and  one  hundred  and  eighty-seven  men  wounded,  and 
one  hundred  were  missing — more  than  seventy-five 
per  cent,  of  its  aggregate  numbers.  General  Double- 
day, in  his  official  report,  pays  this  regiment  the  fol- 
lowing high  compliment : “ I can  never  forget  the  ser- 
vices rendered  me  by  this  regiment,  directed  by  the  gal- 
lantry and  genius  of  McFarland.  I believe  they  saved 
the  First  Corps,  and  were  among  the  chief  instruments 
to  save  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  and  the  country 
from  unimaginable  disaster.”  The  regiment  partici- 
pated in  the  movements  of  the  army  in  the  pursuit  of 
Lee,  but  its  term  of  service  being  nearly  expired,  it 
was  relieved  from  duty  on  the  19th,  and  proceeding 
to  Harrisburg,  it  was,  on  the  27th  of  July,  mustered 
out  of  service. 

Company  A. — As  already  intimated.  Companies 
“ A ” and  “ C ” of  this  regiment  were  from  Susque- 
hanna County.  After  the  enrollment  and  the  order 
for  the  draft  in  1862,  it  was  learned  that  nine  months’ 
enlistments  would  be  received,  and  credited ; and  by 
request  of  George  L.  Stone,  Col.  Gere  went  to  Harris- 
burg and  obtained  special  permission  from  Governor 
Curtin  to  recruit  a company.  Enlistments  were  rapid, 
and  before  the  close  of  September  the  ranks  were  full, 
and  the  men  met  at  the  court  house,  and  organized 
by  electing  George  L.  Stone  captain,  Wm.  H.  Frink, 
first  and  U.  F.  Hollenback  second  lieutenants.  Of 
its  subsequent  honorable  career  in  connection  with 
the  One  Hundred  and  Fifty-First,  we  have  already 
spoken.  Capt.  Stone  was  wounded  at  Gettysburg, 
and  after  the  war  was  postmaster  of  Montrose,  and  is 
at  present  a resident  of  New  Milford  township.  Lieu- 


tenant Hollenback  died  in  service,  and  Lieutenants 
Frink  and  Tucker — the  latter  being  promoted  upon 
the  death  of  Lieutenant  Hollenback — were  mustered 
out  with  the  company. 

Company  C. — The  circumstances  attending  the  en- 
listment of  this  company  were  similar  to  those  of  Com- 
pany A.  Upon  the  organization  of  the  regiment.  Cap- 
tain John  W.  Young  was  made  major,  and  Lieutenant 
George  W.  Crandall  was  promoted  to  captain.  He 
had  been  first  lieutenant  of  Company  H,  of  the  Fourth 
Pennsylvania  Reserves,  but  was  compelled  to  resign 
on  account  of  ill  health.  He  was  again  prostrated  by 
sickness  shortly  after  the  Chancellorsville  battle,  and 
was  absent,  sick,  when  the  company  was  mustered  out. 
He  died  August  24,  1863,  a few  weeks  after  the  com- 
pany came  home.  Major  Young  was  mustered  out  with 
the  regiment,  and  after  spending  a number  of  years  in 
the  West,  returned  to  Susquehanna  County,  and  is  now 
residing  at  Montrose.  Lieutenant  Gardner  resigned 
early  in  1863,  and  Lieutenants  Jamison  and  Lusk 
were  mustered  out  with  the  company,  both  of  whom 
are  well-known  residents  of  Montrose.  The  “rank 
and  file  ” of  these  two  companies  are  among  Susque- 
hanna County’s  most  respected  citizens. 

COMPANY  A,  ONE  HUNDRED  AND  FIETY-EIEST 
REGIMENT. 

Mustered  into  service  October  17,  1862,  unless  otherwise  stated ; mustered  out 
July  29,  1863. 

Capt.  George.  L.  Stone,  Nov.  8,  ’62  ; wd.  at  Gettysburg,  Pa.,  July  1,  '63  ; 
muB.  out  with  Co. 

1st  Lt.  William  H.  Frink,  Oct.  18,  ’62  ; mus.  out  with  Co. 

2d  Lt.  Urias  F.  Hollenback,  Oct.  24,  ’62  ; died  at  Windmill  Point,  Va., 
Apr.  24,  ’63. 

2d  Lt.  Amos  Tucker,  pr.  to  sergt. -major  Nov.  11,  ’62  ; to  2d  It.  Apr.  24, 
’63  ; muB.  out  with  Co. 

1st  Sergt.  Jerome  Wade,  mus.  out  with  Co. 

Sergeants. 

William  Perigo,  wd.  at  Gettysburg,  Pa.,  July  1,  ’63  ; ab.  in  hoB.  at  mus. 
out. 

William  Ira,  mus.  out  with  Co. 

Edward  S.  Jackson,  mus.  out  with  Co. 

James  W.  Adams,  mus.  out  with  Co. 

Corporals. 

Earl  Love,  pr.  to  cor.  June  15,  ’63  ; wd.  at  Gettysburg,  Pa.,  July  1,  '63  ; 

ab.  in  hos.  at  mus.  out. 

Charles  D.  Rogers,  mus.  out  with  Co. 

Byron  R.  Wade,  mus.  out  with  Co. 

Charles  H.  Stone,  wd.  at  Gettysburg,  Pa.,  July  1,  ’63  ; ab.  in  hos.  at 
mus.  out. 

Eseck  P.  Bailey,  pr,  to  cor.  Dec.  1,  ’62  ; mus.  out  with  Co. ; re.  in  U.  S. 

Navy  for  four  yeai's;  disch.  June,  ’65,  for  wds.  reed,  at  Fort  Fisher. 
Sidney  Van  Auken,  pr.  to  cor.  Oct.,  ’62  ; mus.  out  with  Co. 

•John  H.  Smith,  Oct.  30,  ’62 ; disch.  on  surg.  cert.  Mar.  24,  ’63. 

John  B.  Webster,  tr.  to  18th  Regt.  U.  S.  A.  Nov.  7,  ’62. 

David  D.  Moxley,  pr.  to  q.m.-sergt.  Nov.  11,  ’62. 

Hugh  McCready,  killed  at  Gettysburg,  Pa.,  July  1,  ’63. 

Thomas  D.  Allen,  killed  at  Gettysburg,  Pa.,  July  1,  ’63. 

Amos  T.  De  Witt,  mus.  out  with  Co. 

Musicians. 

Phinney  R.  Stockwell,  mus  out  with  Co. 

Geo.  Legier,  mus.  out  with  Co. 

Privates. 

Brush,  Edmund  M.,  mus.  out  witli  Co. 

Buck,  Melvin  J.,  wd.  at  Gettysburg,  Pa.,  July  1,  ’63  ; ab.  at  mus.  out. 
Brown,  Peter,  mus.  out  with  Co. 


248 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


Bogart,  Henry  V.,  mus.  out  with  Co. 

Bump,  Aaron  P.,  ab.  sick  at  mus.  out ; re.  in  Co.  C,  203d  P.  V. 

Brotz.man,  George,  wd.  at  Gettysburg,  Pa.,  July  1,  ’63  ; ab.  sick  at  mus. 

out ; re.  in  Co.  H,  4th  Reserves. 

Barbor,  Joseph  R.,  mus.  out  with  Co. 

Brink,  Levi  L.,  mus.  out  with  Co. 

Bartlett,  Wm.  E.,  Oct.  30,  ’62  ; mus.  out  with  Co. 

Brown,  Henry  W.,  killed  at  Gettysburg,  Pa.,  July  1,  ’63. 

Cole,  Alanson,  ab.  sick  at  mus.  out. 

Culver,  Wm.  H.,  mus.  out  with  Co. 

Carter,  Oliver,  mus.  out  with  Co. 

Crofut,  Thompson  D.,  mus.  out  with  Co. 

Cummings,  F.  G.,  Oct.  30,  ’62  ; died  at  Windmill  Point,  Va.,  Dec.  18, ’62. 
Doolittle,  Wallace  W.,  mus.  out  with  Co. 

Drake,  George  W.,  mus.  out  with  Co. 

Devine,  Theodore,  mus.  out  with  Co. 

Drummond,  John,  tr.  to  18tb  Regt.,  U.  S.  A.,  Nov.  7,  ’62  ; kil.  in  battle. 
Dennis,  John  L.,  Oct.  30,  ’62  ; died  at  Belie  Plain,  Va,,  Apr.  12,  ’63. 
Eastman,  Eli,  ab.  at  mus,  out. 

Ellworth,  Freeman  J.,  mus.  out  with  Co. 

Everett,  Lemuel  S.,  Oct.  30,  ’62  ; mus.  out  with  Co. 

Foster,  Wallace  J.,  wd.  at  Gettysburg,  Pa.,  July  1,  ’63  ; mus.  out  with  Co. 
Ford,  Ransom  W.,  mus.  out  with  Co. 

Fish,  Charles  F.,  killed  at  Gettysburg,  Pa.,  July  1,  ’63. 

Galloway,  Dennis  M.,  mus.  out  with  Co. 

Galloway,  Sidney  N.,  mus.  out  with  Co. 

Griggs,  Jas.  N.,  mus.  out  with  Co. 

Galloway,  Aaron  B,,  not  with  Co.  at  mus.  out. 

Houghton,  Jerome,  mus.  out  with  Co. 

Howard,  Oliver  J.,  mus  out  with  Co. 

Howe,  Cyrus  C.,  mus.  out  with  Co.;  re.  in  Co.  K,  52d  P.  V. 

Hinckley,  Wm.  C,,  mus.  out  with  Co. 

Harris,  James,  tr.  to  18th  Regt.,  U.  S.  A.,  Nov.  7,  ’62. 

Johnson,  Cassius  J.,  mus.  out  with  Co. 

Jacobus,  John  S.,  mus,  out  with  Co. 

Kent,  Franklin  M.,  wd.  at  Gettysburg  July  1,  ’63  ; mus.  out  with  Co. 
Kent,  Ezra  A.,  wd.  at  Gettysburg  July  1,  ’63  ; ab.  at  mus.  out. 

Larrabee,  Monroe  J.,  mus.  out  with  Co.  ; re.  in  N.  Y.  Regt.  (See  per- 
sonal sketch.) 

Lowe,  John  C.,  tr.  to  18th  Regt.,  U.  S.  A,,  Nov.  7,  ’o2. 

Ledyard,  George,  not  on  mus.  out  roll. 

Lowe,  Benjamin,  tr.  to  ISth  U.  S.  Inf.  Nov.  7,  ’62. 

Langdon,  Wm.  W.,  died  at  White  Oak  Ch.,  Va.,  June  11,  ’63. 

Melhuish,  Isaac,  wd.  at  Gettysburg  July  1,  ’63  ; ab.  at  mus.  out. 

Mack,  Geo,  C.,  mus.  out  with  Co. 

Mericle,  Albert,  died  at  Georgetown,  D.  C.,  Dec.  10,  ’62. 

McMicken,  Nelson,  wd.,  with  loss  of  leg,  at  Gettysburg  July  1,  ’63  ; ab. 

at  mus.  out;  died  of  his  wds. 

Newkirk,  Evelin,  tr.  to  18th  Regt.,  U.  S.  A.,  Nov.  7,  ’62. 

Parks,  Orlando,  wd.  at  Gettysburg,  Pa.,  July  1,  ’63  ; mus,  out  with  Co. 
Perrigo,  Edward  S,,  mus.  out  with  Co. 

Post,  Isaac  J.,  pr.  to  q.m.  172d  Regt.  P.  V.  Nov.  22,  ’62. 

Potter,  Abram  G.,  died  at  Windmill  Point,  Va.,  May  10,  ’63. 

Rowe,  Peter,  mus.  out  with  Co. 

Rifenbury,  Philip,  mus.  out  with  Co. ; re.  in  Co.  D,  203d  P.  V. 
Rosengrantz,  S.  S.,  mus.  out  with  Co. 

Sweet,  Henry,  mu3.  out  with  Co. 

Shipman,  Fredk.  E.,  ab.  sick  at  mus.  out. 

Sherwood,  Joel,  wd.  at  Gettysburg  July  1,  ’63  ; ab.  in  bos.  at  mus.  out. 
Sheeyn,  Terry,  ab.  sick  at  mus.  out. 

Stephens,  Daniel  H.,  mus.  out  with  Co. 

Sherwood,  Benj.,  wd.  at  Gett3'sburg,  Pa.,  July  1,  ’63  ; mus.  out  with  Co. 
Squires,  Silas,  wd.  at  Gettysburg,  Pa.,  July  1,  ’63 ; ab.  in  hos.  at  mus.  out. 
Stockwell,  Chas.  R.,  mus.  out  with  Co. 

Shove,  Seth,  killed  at  Gettysburg  July  1,  ’63. 

Shoemaker,  Andrew,  killed  at  Gettysburg  July  1,  ’63. 

Sines,  Charles  E.,  died  at  Union  Mills,  Va.,  Dec.  23,  ’62. 

Towner,  William,  mus.  out  with  Co. 

Titman,  Elhis,  mus.  out  with  Co. 

Taylor,  Gardner,  wd.  at  Gettysburg,  Pa.,  July  1,  ’63  ; ab.  in  hos.  at  mus. 
out. 

Tooker,  Daniel,  wd.  at  Gettysburg,  Pa.,  July  1,  ’63  ; ab.  in  hos.  at  mus. 
out. 

Titman,  Lemuel,  tr.  to  18th  Regt.,  U.  S.  A.,  Nov.  7,  ’62. 

Tewksbury,  J.  W.,  mus.  out  with  Co. 

Watrous,  Addison,  mus.  out  with  Co. 


Ward,  Wm.  H.,  wd.  at  Gettysburg  July  1,  ’63  ; ab.  in  hos.  at  mus.  out. 
Wright,  Alanson,  mus.  out  with  Co. 

Willman,  Theron,  disch.  on  surg.  cert.  Mar.  26,  ’63. 

COMPANY  C,  ONE  HUNDRED  AND  FIFTY-FIRST 
REGIMENT. 

Mustered  into  service  October  20,  1862,  unless  otherwise  stated;  mustered 
out  July  27,  1863. 

Capt.  John  W.  Young,  Nov.  8,  ’62  ; pr.  to  major  Nov.  18,  ’62  ; mus.  out 
with  regt.  July  27,  ’63. 

Capt.  Geo.  W.  Crandall,  Oct.  21,  ’62  ; pr.  from  1st  It.  Nov.  26,  *62  ; ab.  sick 
at  mus.  out ; subsequently  died. 

1st  Lt.  Joseph  Jamison,  Nov.  10,  ’62  ; pr.  from  2d  It.  Nov.  26,  ’62 ; ab.  sick 
at  mus.  out. 

2d  Lt.  Wm.  D.  Lusk,  pr.  from  sergt.  Feb.  3,  ’63  ; mus.  out  with  Co.  July 
27,  ’63. 

2d  Lt.  Jonathan  F.  Gardner,  pr.  from  sergt.  Nov.  26,  ’62 ; res.  Jan.  3,  ’63. 
1st  Sergt.  Benjamin  C.  Vance,  pr.  from  sergt.  May  12,  ’63 ; mus.  out  with 
Co.  July  27,  ’63 ; re.  in  2d  N.  Y.  Cav. 

Sergeants. 

Stephen  A.  Smith,  pr.  from.  cor.  May  12,  ’63 ; mus.  out  with  Co. 

Joseph  W.  Pruner,  Nov.  9,  ’62;  pr.  from  priv.  May  12,  ’63;  mus.  out 
with  Co. 

Isaac  Morgan,  Jr.,  pr.  from  cor.  Dec.  6,  ’62  ; mus.  out  with  Co. 

Samuel  Truesdell,  mus.  out  with  Co. 

Charles  W.  Holmes,  died  at  Windmill  Point,  Va.,  May  11,  ’63. 

Corporals. 

Gilbert  R.  Whilbeck,  mus.  out  with  Co. 

John  Quinn,  mus.  out  with  Co. 

William  H.  Stark,  ab.  sick  at  mus.  out. 

Theron  L.  Smith,  pr.  to  cor.  April  12,  ’63 ; mus.  out  with  Co. 

Francis  Decker,  pr.  to  cor.  April  12,  ’63 ; mus.  out  with  Co. 

Russell  Darrow,  pr.  to  cor.  Jan.  1,  ’63  ; mus.  out  with  Co. 

Richard  Davis,  pr.  to  cor  May  12,  ’63  ; mus.  out  with  Co. 

David  Krum,  disch.  on  surg.  cert.  Feb.  9,  ’63. 

Benj.  F.  Chamberlain,  disch.  on  surg.  cert.  April,  ’63. 

Lyman  Beebe,  died  at  Falmouth,  Va.,  June  4,  ’63. 

MusicUms. 

Wentz  P.  Snidiker,  mus.  out  with  Co. 

Henry  Mericle,  mus.  out  with  Co. 

Privates. 

Adams,  Alva  M.,  mus.  out  with  Co. 

Allen,  Sherwood,  mus.  out  with  Co. 

Brewer,  Moses,  mus.  out  with  Co. 

Baldwin,  George  H.,  ab.  sick  at  mus.  out. 

Bivins,  Henry  J.,  mus.  out  with  Co. 

Barnes,  Franklin  S.,  wd.  at  Gettysburg,  Pa.,  July  1,  ’63  ; mus.  out  with  Co. 
Burns,  John,  mus.  out  with  Co. 

Brownell,  Eben,  Nov.  9,  ’62  ; ab.  sick  at  mus.  out. 

Barker,  William,  Nov.  9,  ’62  ; mus.  out  with  Co. 

Banker,  Israel,  Oct.  30,  ’62 ; ab.  sick  at  mus.  out. 

Burch,  Henry  C , tr.  to  18th  Regt.  U.  S,  A.,  Nov.  10,  ’62. 

Bookstaver,  M.  B.,  tr,  to  18th  Regt.  U.  S.  A.,  Nov.  10,  ’62. 

Bray,  Patrick,  tr.  to  18th  Regt.  U.  S.  A.,  Nov.  10,  ’62. 

Burch,  Philo,  not  with  Co.  at  mus,  out. 

Card,  Henry,  mus.  out  with  Co. 

Coyle,  Henry,  Nov.  9,  ’62  ; ab.  sick  at  mus.  out. 

Crissle,  Private,  Nov.  9,  ’62 ; died  at  Harrisburg,  Pa.,  Nov.  28,  ’62. 
Darrow,  Charles,  mus.  out  with  Co. ; re.  in  Batt.  E,  2d  Pa.  Heavy  Art. 
Disbrow,  Ambrose  E.,  mus.  out  with  Co. 

Dickey,  Nelson,  mus.  out  with  Co. 

Dutcher,  George  E,,  mus.  out  with  Co. ; re.  in  Battery  A,  1st  Penna.  Art. 
Davis,  Morris,  Oct.  30,  ’62;  mus.  out  with  Co. 

Disenberg,  Deidrich,  Nov.  1,  ’62  ; wd.  at  Gettysburg,  Pa.,  July  1,  ’63  ; ab. 
in  hos.  at  mus.  out. 

Dowd,  Mortimer  H,,  died  at  Union  Mills,  Va,,  Dec.  29,  ’62. 

Darrow,  J.  H.,  not  on  mus.  out  roll. 

Evans,  Thomas,  Oct.  30,  ’62  ; mus.  out  with  Co. 

Felton,  Charles,  mus.  out  with  Co. 

Faulkner,  John,  Nov.  9,  ’62  ; ab.  sick  at  mus.  out. 

Gunn,  Theodore  0.,  wd.  at  Gettysburg,  Pa.,  July  1,  ’63;  ab.  in  hos.  at 
mus.  out. 

Godard,  Frank,  disch.  on  surg.  cert.  April  1,  ’63. 


THE  KEBELLION. 


249 


Griggs,  Albert  R.,  killed  at  Cbaucellorsville,  Va.,  May  3,  ’63. 

Geary,  Charles,  Oct.  30,  '62  ; not  with  Co.  at  mus.  out. 

Hall,  George,  urns,  out  with  Co. 

Howard,  Alva,  mus.  out  with  Co. 

Hayward,  Peter,  mus.  out  with  Co. 

Hull,  James  S.,  mus.  out  with  Co. 

Howell,  John,  Jr.,  Nov.  1,  ’62  ; disch.  on  surg.  cert.  Feb.  5,  ’63. 

Hughes,  Lafayette,  died  at  Washington,  D.  C.,  Dec.  1,  ’62. 

Jameson,  George,  Oct.  30,  ’62  ; mus.  out  with  Co. 

Keach,  James,  ab.  sick  at  mus.  out. 

Knapp,  Silas  B.,  ab.  sick  at  mus.  out. 

Loomis,  John  C.,  wd.  at  Gettysburg,  Pa.,  July  1,  ’63;  mus.  out  with  Co. 
Lockwood,  William,  died  at  Union  Mills,  Ya.,  Dec.  21,  ’62. 

Mervin,  Daniel  C.,  mus.  out  with  Co. 

Manzer,  Lawrence,  mus.  out  with  Co. 

Michael,  William,  mus.  out  with  Co. 

Maynard,  Jarvis,  Oct.  30,  ’62  ; mus.  out  with  Co. 

Millard,  Ransom,  Nov.  9,  ’62  ; died  at  Washington,  D.  C.,  Dec.  3,  ’62, 
Mitchell,  Frank,  Oct.  30,  '62  ; not  with  Co.  at  mus.  out. 

Osterhout,  George,  died  at  Washington,  D.  C.,  June  4,  ’63. 

Payne,  Nehemiah,  mus.  out  with  Co. 

Pickering,  Henry  J.,  mus.  out  with  Co. 

Percy,  E.  R.  M.,  ab.  sick  at  mus.  out. 

Robbins,  Ira,  died  at  Alexandria,  Va.,  March  1,  ’63. 

Stanton,  Perry,  mus.  out  with  Co. 

Snow,  John  W.,  Oct.  30,  ’62 ; ab.  sick  at  mus.  out. 

Stockholm,  Geo.  P,,  mus.  out  with  Co. ; re.  in  1st  N.  Y.  Mounted  Ritles . 
disch.  June  17,  ’65. 

Smith,  John,  tr.  to  18th  Regt.  U.  S.  A.,  Nov.  10,  ’62. 

Smith,  Philander,  died  at  Union  Mills,  Va.,  Dec.  25,  ’62. 

Trumbull,  William  C.,  wd.,  with  loss  of  arm,  at  Gettysburg,  Pa.,  July  1, 
’63 ; ab.  in  hos.  at  mus.  out. 

Taylor,  Charles,  mus.  out  with  Co.  • 

Taylor,  Freeman,  ab.  sick  at  mus.  out. 

Tyler,  Andrew  0.,  wd.  at  Gettysburg,  Pa.,  July  1,’63;  ab.  in  hoe.  at 
mus.  out. 

Taylor,  Edwin,  Nov.  1,  ’62;  mus.  out  with  Co. 

Thomas,  James  B.,  Nov.  1,  ’62';  ab.  sick  at  mus.  out. 

Tupper,  Henry,  killed  at  Gettysburg,  Pa.,  July  1,  ’63. 

Wilson,  George  M.,  mus.  out  with  Co. 

Warner,  Geo.  D.,  died  at  Windmill  Point,  Va.,  May  13,  ’63. 

Miscellaneous. — We  wish  we  had  time  and  space 
to  make  proper  mention  of  the  glorious  records  made 
by  Susquehanna  County  “boys ’’during  the  war,  in 
the  various  organizations  in  which  they  served.  We 
can  only  group  them  together,  when  possible,  show- 
ing whe^e  they  “ touched  elbows  ” during  those  fear- 
ful days  of  our  country’s  peril,  and  where  they  fol- 
lowed the  flag  which  their  courage  and  heroism  saved 
from  dishonor.  It  made  but  little  difference  where 
they  served ; it  was  how  they  served  that  makes  their 
record  of  interest  to  them,  and  those  who  follow  after. 

Besides  the  organizations  we  have  already  noted, 
that  were  exclusively,  or  nearly  so,  from  this  county, 
there  were  more  than  four  hundred  men  enlisted  from 
the  county,  in  the  various  Pennsylvania  regiments,  of 
which  they  were  less  than  a company,  as  follows  : 

COMPANY  M,  POURTH  CAVALRY. 

Mustered  into  service  Scjptemhei\  ISQl,  unless  otherwise  stated;  mustered  out 
July  1,  1865. 

Com.  Sergt.  Manger  Dart,  Oct.  31,  ’61  ; pr.from  priv.  March  1,  ’65  ; mus. 
out  with  Co.  July  1,  ’65  ; vet. 

Sergeants. 

John  H.  Marcy,  Oct.  30,  ’61 ; mus.  out  Nov.  11,  ’64,  exp.  of  term. 

George  W.  Conrad,  Oct.  31,  ’61;  pr.from  Oct.  12,  ’63,  to  Nov.  21,  ’64; 
disch.  to  date  Nov.  21, ’04. 

Corporals. 

John  W.  Lake,  Oct.  31,  ’61 ; pr.  to  cor.  March  1,  ’65  ; mus.  out  with  Co. 
July  1,  ’65  ; vet. 

17 


Laurice  J.  Adams,  Oct.  31,  ’61 ; pr.  to  cor.  March  1,  ’65  ; mus.  out  with 
Co.  July  1,  ’65  ; vet. 

Michael  B.  Conrad,  Oct.  31,  ’01  ; pr.  to  cor.  March  1,  ’65  ; mus.  out  with 
Co.  July  1,  ’65  ; vet. 

James  Barton,  Oct.  30,  ’61;  capt’d ; died  at  Andersonville,  Ga.,  Aug.  1, 
’64. 

Elisha  Guard,  Oct.  12,  ’61  ; capt’d ; died  at  Andersonville,  Ga.,  Aug.  17, 
’64. 

Blacksmith  Thomas  Kelly,  Oct.  31,  ’61 ; mus.  out  with  Co.  July  1,  ’65  ; 
vet. 

Farrier  Charles  0.  Ellis,  Oct.  31,  ’61 ; ab.  wd.  at  mus.  out ; vet. 

Privates. 

Adams,  Edwin  F.,  not  on  mus.  out  roll. 

Berry,  George  R.,  Oct.  31,  ’61 ; mus.  out  Oct.  29,  ’64,  exp.  of  term. 

Conrad,  William  S.,  not  on  mus.  out  roll. 

Conrad,  Lodowick  H.,  Oct.  31,  ’61  ; mus.  out  with  Co.  July  1,  ’65  ; vet. 

Dart,  Clark  R.,  Oct.  13,  ’G1 ; capt’d ; died  at  Andersonville,  Ga.,  Sept. 
28,  ’64. 

Felton,  G.  M., noton  mus.  out  roll. 

Felton,  Alexander  T.,  Aug.  19,  ’62  ; mus.  out  with  Co.  July  1,  ’65. 

Guard,  Daniel,  Oct.  31,  ’61;  mus.  out  with  Co.  July  1,  ’65  ; vet. 

Harding,  Elias  J.,  Oct.  30,  ’61  ; mus.  out  Nov.  3,  ’64,  exp.  of  term. 

Maples,  B.  B.,  uot  on  mus.  out  roll. 

Maxon,  Charles,  Oct.  31,  '61  ; mis.  in  action  at  St.  Mary’s  Ch.,  Va.,  June 
24,  ’64  ; vet. 

Maxon,  David,  March  30,  ’64  ; mus.  out  with  Co.  July  1,  ’65. 

Morse,  E.  J.,  March  30,  ’64  ; disch.  by  G.  0.  May  9,  ’65. 

Pattent,  George,  May  31,  ’64;  mus.  out  with  Co.  July  1,  ’65. 

Potter,  George,  Jan.  4,  ’64;  not  with  Co.  at  mus.  out. 

Price,  David,  not  on  mus.  out  roll. 

Phillips,  George,  Oct.  31,  ’61 ; died  at  Harrisburg  May  4,  ’64  ; vet. 

Taylor,  John  F.,  uot  on  mus.  out  roll. 

COMPANY  D. 

Sergeants. 

Jacob  Robertson,  Aug.  20,  ’61  ; re.  Jau,  1,  ’64 ; wd.  Feb.  6,  ’65  ; disch.  July 
13,  ’65  ; vet. 

George  Cornell,  Aug.  27,  ’61 ; disch.  on  surg.  cert.  ’62. 

Privates. 

Lester,  Orrin  E.,  Sept.  16,  ’61  ; mus.  out  Sept.  15, ’64,  exp.  of  term. 

Lester,  Harlan  W.,  Sept.  16,  ’61 ; mus.  out  Sept.  15,  ’64,  exp.  of  term. 

Miller,  William,  Aug.  27,  ’61 ; re.  Jan.  1,  ’64  ; wd.  July  24,  ’04 ; disch. 
July  13,  ’65  ; vet. 

Russell,  Frederick,  Sept.  16,  ’61 ; capt’d  Oct.  12,  ’63  ; died  at  Anderson- 
ville,  Ga.,  April  27,  ’64. 

Stokes,  William  A.,  Feb.  16,  ’64;  died  at  Washington,  D.  C.,  July  5,  ’64, 
of  wds.  rec.  June  11,  ’64. 

Mullen,  Patrick,  Feb.  23,  ’64;  unassigned;  not  on  mus.  out  roll. 
COMPANY  C. 

Priv.  Glidden,  D.  W.,  Aug.  29,  ’64  ; capt’d  March  31,  ’65  ; disch  by  G.  0. 
June  27,  ’65. 

COMPANY  E,  NINTH  CAVALRY. 

Mustered  into  service  October  17,  1861,  unless  otherwise  stated  ; mustered  out 
July  18,  1865. 

Regt.  q.m.  Eugene  S.  Handrick,  Dec.  9,  ’Cl ; pr.  from  priv.  to  I'egtl.  q.m. 
sergt.  ; to  2d  It.  Co.  A ; to  1st  It.  Feb.  6,  '63  ; to  q.m.  May  22,  ’63  ; 
mus.  out  with  regt.  July  18,  ’65  ; vet. 

Yet.  Surg.  Charles  W.  Slierman,  Dec.  9,  ’61 ; pr.  from  priv.  Co.  E Jan. 
23,  ’65  ; mus.  out  with  regt.  July  18,  ’65 ; vet. 

Sergeants. 

Asa  W.  Hickok,  Oct.  29,  ’61  ; pr.  to  sergt.  Jan.  1,  ’64  ; mus.  out  with  Co. ; 
vet. 

Joel  Myers,  Dec.  9,  '61  ; pr.  to  sergt.  Jan.  1,  ’64  ; mus.  out  with  Co.  ; 
vet. 

Daniel  D.  Tompkins,  Dec.  9,  ’61;  pr.  to  sergt.  Jan.  1,  ’64  ; mus.  out  with 
Co. ; vet. 

Sylvester  S.  Ransom,  pr.  to  sergt.  May  20,  ’65  ; mus.  out  with  Co.  ; vet. 

Charles  A.  Huiigerford,  Aug.  25,  ’62  ; disch.  by  G.  0.  May,  29,  '65. 

Charles  A.  Lyman,  killed  at  Lafayette,  Ga.,  Sept.  13,  '63. 

Corporals. 

Cliarles  S.  Fargo,  Oct.  29,  ’(>1 ; pr.  to  cor.  Oct.  4,  '64 ; mus.  out  with  Co.  ; 
vet. 


250 


HISTORY  OP  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


Albert  H.  Phillips,  disch.  ’62. 

Nathan  L.  Howe, killed  near  Raleigh,  N.  0.,  April  12, ’65. 

Bugler  Elisha  M.  Fargo,  disch.  on  surg.  cert.  Jan.  19,  ’62. 

Farriers. 

Orrin  Blakeslee,  Oct.  29,  ’61 ; pr.  to  far.  Jan.  1,  ’64 ; mus.  out  with  Co.  ; 
vet. 

Isaac  Strickland,  died  at  Knoxville,  Tenn.,  March  12,  ’64. 

Blacksmith  Edwin  L.  Taylor,  Oct.  29,  ’61 ; disch.  Dec.  24,  ’64,  exp.  of 
term. 

Privates. 

Black,  Israel,  disch.  on  surg.  cert.  Feb.  16,  ’62. 

Bullock,  John,  Jr.,  disch.  on  surg.  cert.  March  17,  ’62. 

Ball,  Edward  J.,  Dec.  9,  ’61 ; tr.  to  Marine  Corps,  date  unknown. 

Baker,  Amos,  disch.  Sept.  24,  ’64,  exp.  of  term. 

Clary,  James. 

Cummings,  James  W.,  not  with  Co.  at  mus.  out. 

Dowd,  Harrison,  not  on  mus.  out  roll. 

Dewers,  David  L.,  Dec.  9,  '61 ; disch.  Sept.  14,  ’64,  exp.  of  term. 

De  Witt,  Andrew  W.,  Oct.  29,  ’61  ; disch.  Dec.  24,  ’64,  exp.  of  term. 
Emery,  D.  W. 

Griswold,  Charles  A.,  Oct.  29,  ’61 ; disch.  Dec.  24,  ’64,  exp.  of  term. 
Griswold,  Charles. 

Haudrick,  11.  T. 

Hungerford,  Ira,  Aug.  25,  ’62  ; disch.  on  surg.  cert.  Sept.  24,  ’64. 

Hall,  Charles  H.,  Nov.  29,  ’61 ; capt’d  at  Glasgow,  Ky.,  July  10,  ’62  ; tr. 
to  V.  E.  C.  July  2,  ’63. 

Huntsman,  D.  H.,  Dec.  9,  ’61 ; disch.  on  surg.  cert,  in  ’61. 

Jackson,  Walter  A.,  Oct.  29,  ’61 ; disch.  Dec.  24,  ’64,  exp.  of  term. 
Kelsey,  Nelson,  Oct.  29,  ’61 ; ab.  in  hos.  at  mus.  out ; vet. 

Lyman,  G.  C.,  Aug.  24,  ’64  ; disch.  by  G.  0.  July  21,  ’65. 

Lyman,  Thomas  W.,  Aug.  24,  ’64 ; wd.  at  Griswoldville,  Ga.,  Nov.  22,  ’64  ; 

disch.  by  G.  0.  June  9,  ’65. 

Lyman,  Charles,  not  on  mus.  out  roll. 

Moore,  Calvin,  not  on  mus.  out  roll. 

McStraw,  John,  Nov.  9,  ’61 ; not  on  mus.  out  roll. 

Palmer,  George  A.,  disch.,  date  unknown. 

Palmer,  Orlo  W.,  disch.  Dec.  24,  ’64,  exp.  of  term. 

Stephens,  H.  C.,  pr.  to  chf.  bugler  of  regt.  ; disch.  on  surg.  cert.  Nov.  14, 
’62. 

Scott,  R.  P.,  disch.  on  surg.  cert.  Oct.  29,  ’62. 

Sheldon,  George  A.,  disch.  Dec.  24,  ’64,  exp.  of  term. 

Sherman,  N.  G.,  disch.  Dec.  24,  ’64,  exp.  of  term. 

Taylor,  E.  L. 

Bugler  Henry  Brandt,  Oct.  29,  ’61  ; belonged  to  Co.  H ; died  at  Clarks- 
ville, Tenn.,  May  13,  ’62. 

COMPANY  A,  ONE  HUNDRED  AND  SEVENTH  REG- 
MENT. 

Mustered  into  service  Februari/,  1862,  unless  otherwise  stated  ; mustered  out 
Jtdy  13,  1865. 

Sergt.  Charles  W.  Conrad,  Mar.  1, ’62  ; wd.  at  Gettysburg  July  1,  ’63  ; 
tr.  to  V.  R.  C.  Mar.  1,  ’64. 

Privatet. 

Brewster,  Chas.  W.,  Mar.  1,  ’62 ; disch.  on  surg.  cert.  Dec.  24,  ’62. 
Conrad,  Rufus,  Feb.  24,  ’62  ; disch.  on  surg.  cert.  May  29,  ’62  ; re.  in 
Co.  H,  187th  P.  Y. 

Conrad,  Gerald  F.,  Jan.  21,  ’61  ; died  at  Culpeper  C.  H.,  Va.,  Jan.  2,  ’64. 
Conrad,  J.  Osker,  Feb.  24,  ’62  ; killed  at  Petersburg,  Va.,  June  20,  ’64  ; 
vet. 

Case,  Orson,  Sept.  20,  ’62  ; disch.  on  surg.  cert.  Feb.  27,  ’63. 

Clarkson,  John  S.,  Mar.  2, ’62  ; capt’d  at  Weldon  R.  R.,  Va.,  Aug.  19, 
’64  ; disch.  onsurg.  cert.  June  2,  ’65  ; vet. 

Hardy,  Ira,  Mar.  1,  ’62  ; wd.at  Antietam,  Md.,  Sept.  17,  ’62  ; disch.  on 
surg.  cert.  Dec.  18,  ’63  ; re.  in  Co.  B,  143d. 

Hardy,  David  N.,  Feb.  11,  ’62  ; disch.  on  surg.  cert.  Feb.  11,  ’63. 
Hinkley,  Peter  B.,  Mar.  1,  ’62  ; died  at  Clouds’  Mills,  Va.,  May  8,  ’62. 
Hinkley,  Elias,  Sept.  9,  ’63  ; tr.  to  V.  R.  C.  June  25,  ’64. 

Kunkle,  George,  Feb.  18,  ’62  ; capt’d  at  Bull  Run  and  Weldon  R.  R.  ; 

died  at  Camp  Parole,  Md.,  April  19,  ’66. 

Lancaster,  George  W.,  May  6,  ’64  ; disch,  by  G.  0.  June  6,  ’65. 

Phillips,  Russell,  Mar.  1,  ’62  ; killed  at  Gettysburg,  Pa.,  July  1,  ’63. 
Tiffany,  Allison,  Sept.  8,  ’02  ; disch.  on  surg.  cert.  April  14,  ’65. 
Wilmarth,  Frederick  A.,  Mar.  1,  ’62  ; disch.  Mar.  2,  ’65,  exp.  of  term. 
Waterman,  Ira  V.,  Sept.  14,  ’62  ; tr.  to  V.  R.  C.  June  24,  ’64  ; disch.  by 
G.  0.  July  6,  ’65. 


COMPANY  C. 

Privates. 

Taylor,  Kendle,  Mar.  9,  ’62  ; disch.  on  surg.  cert.  Jan.  19,  ’65. 

Woodward,  A.  B.,  Mar.  1,  ’62  ; disch.  by  G.  0.  July  1,  ’65. 

COMPANY  F. 

Jones,  Thomas  J.,  priv.,  Mar.  8,  ’62  ; disch.  Feb.  2,  ’65,  exp.  of  terra. 
BATTERY  M,  SECOND  HEAVY  ARTILLERY. 
Mustered  into  service  August^  1862,  unless  otherwise  stated;  mustered  out 
Jan.  29,  1866. 

1st  Lt.  Urbane  S.  Cook,  Aug.  26,  ’62  ; died  at  Fort  Delaware,  Del.,  Oct. 
17, ’62. 

2d  Lt.  James  Buckly,  Aug.  13,  ’62  ; pr.  from  1st  sergt.  Jan,  1,  ’65  ; disch. 
July  3U,  ’65,  exp.  of  term. 

Sergt.-Maj.  John  M.  Roper,  Aug.  19,  ’62  ; pr.  from  corp.  Dec.  3,  ’64,  to 
sergt.  ; to  sergt.  maj.  of  regt.  May  3,  ’65;  disch.  by  G.  0.  June 
29,  ’05. 

Sergt.  Char^  S.  Page,  Aug.  12, ’62  ; tr.  to  Signal  Corps  Dec.  5,  ’63. 
Privates. 

Bryant,  John  N.,  Aug.  8,  ’62  ; died  at  Fort  Saratoga,  D.  C.,  Aug.  13, ’63. 
Bryant,  Chauncy  E.,  Aug.  21,  ’62  ; disch.  by  G.  0.  June  20,  ’65. 

Cargill,  James,  Aug.  21,  ’62  ; disch.  by  G.  0.  June  20,  ’65. 

Dimmick,  Byron,  Aug.  19,  ’62  ; disch.  by  G.  0.  June  20,  ’65. 

Fesenden,  Simon  E.,  Aug.  21,  ’62  ; disch.  by  G.  0.  June  20,  ’65. 

Hall,  George  W.,  Aug.  21,  ’62  ; disch.  by  G.  0.  June  14,  ’65. 

Stone,  George  H.,  Aug.  12,  ’02  ; tr.  to  Sig.  Corps  Dec.  5,  ’63. 

Shew,  Ezra  H.,  Aug.  ^1,  ’62  ; disch.  by  G.  0.  June  20,  ’05. 

Sterling,  Charles,  Sept.  19,  ’04  ; disch.  by  G.  0.  June  20,  ’65. 

Sterling,  Daniel  S , Sept.  19,  ’62  ; disch.  by  G.  0.  June  20,  ’65. 

Tyler,  Duane  L.,  Aug.  16,  ’62  ; disch.  by  G.  0.  June  20,  ’65. 

Titus,  Henry  P.,  Aug.  21,  ’62  ; disch.  by  G.  0.  May  15,  ’65. 

Washburn,  H.  V.,  Aug.  19,  ’62  ; disch.  by  G.  0.  June  19,  ’65. 

Washburn,  Michael,  Aug.  21,  ’02  ; disch.  by  G.  0.  June  12,  ’65. 

Williams,  Solomon,  Sept.  19,  ’64  ; not  on  mus.  out  roll. 

. The  following  were  also  members  of  the  Second 
Heavy  Artillery. 

Privates. 

Van  Antwerp,  Nicholas,  Aug.  25,  ’64  ; Battery  A ; not  accounted  for. 
Williams,  Hiram  G.,  Aug.  29,  ’64  ; Battery  A ; disch.  by  G.  0.  June 
23,  ’0  5. 

Ives,  Wm.  F.,  Aug.  31,  ’64  ; Battery  B ; disch.  by  G.  0.  June  21,  ’65. 
Barrow,  Charles,  Aug.  30,  ’04  ; Battery  E ; pris.  2 mos.;  disch.  by  G.  0. 
June  24,  ’65. 

Parmeter,  Dennis,  Aug.  31,  ’64  ; Battery  E ; disch.  by  G.  0.  June  24,  ’65. 
Parmeter,  David,  Aug.  31,  ’64  ; Battery  E ; disch.  by  G.  0.  Jiyie  24,  ’65. 
Barton,  Geo.  E.,  Aug.  26,  ’64;  Battery  F ; disch.  by  G.  0.  June  17,  ’65. 
Deans,  Henry  W.,  Aug.  21,  ’64  ; Battei'y  F ; disch.  by  G.  0.  June  26,  ’65_ 
Doloway,  John  W.,  Aug.  26,  ’04  ; Battery  F ; disch.  by  G.  0.  June  26, ’65. 
Edwards,  Harmon  C.,  Aug.  27,  ’04  ; Battery  F ; disch.  by  G.  0.  June  26, 
’05. 

Foster,  Jas.  W.,  Aug.  18,  ’64  ; Battery  F ; disch.  by  G.  0.  June  26,  ’65. 
Hui’lburt,  Charles  H.,  Aug.  30, ’64  ; Battery  F ; disch.  by  G.  0.  June 
26, ’65. 

Reynolds,  Wm.  H.,  Aug.  26,  ’64  ; Battery  F ; disch.  by  G.  0.  June  26,  ’65. 
Tingley,  Mason,  Aug.  29,  ’64  ; Battery  F ; disch.  by  G.  0.  June  26,  ’65. 
Westfall,  Aaron  T.,  Aug.  26,  ’64  ; Battery  F ; disch.  by  G.  0.  June  26, ’65. 
Corp.  Phineas  R.  Phillips,  Sept.  28,  ’62  ; Battery  H ; pr.  to  corp.  Dec. 
10,  ’04  ; disch.  by  G.  0.  June  23,  ’64. 

The  following  enlisted  in  the  Third  Heavy  Artil- 
lery. 

Privates, 

Bonner,  David  L.,  Mar.  28,  ’64  ; Battery  L,  mus.  out  with  battery  Nov. 
9,  ’66. 

Conrad,  Martin,  Mar.  28,  ’64 ; Battery  A ; not  on  mus.-out  roll. 
Carpenter,  Russel,  April  1,  ’64  ; Battery  L ; not  with  company  at  mus 
out. 

Curtis,  Alpheus  H.,  Mar.  31, ’64  ; Battery  L;  mus.  out  with  battery 
Nov,  9,  ’65. 

Dimmick,  Theron  B. , April  1, ’64  ; Battery  L;  mus.  out  with  battery 
Nov.  9,  ’65. 


THE  REBELLION. 


251 


Dimmick,  Lucien  H.,  Nov.  12,  ’64;  Battery  D ; mus.  out  with  battery 
Nov.  9,  ’65  ; vet. 

Bimmick,  Walter,  Sept.  3,  ’65  ; disch.  by  G.  0.  Nov.  9,  ’65. 

Follett,  Albert  C.,  Mar.  29,  ’64 ; absent,  sick,  at  muster  out. 

Hiue,  N.  F.,  Mar.  29,  ’64  ; Battery  L ; previously  served  six  months  in 
Co.  B,  188th  P.  V.  ; mus.  out.  with  battery. 

Pooler,  Ira  A.,  April  7,  ’63;  Battery  I ; tr.  to  188th  Regt.  P.  V.  April  1, 
’64;  killed  at  Cold  Harbor. 

Rounds,  Israel,  Sept.  3,  ’64  ; disch.  June  9,  ’65. 

Resseguie,  H.  T.,  Mar.  28,  ’64  ; not  on  muster-out  roll. 

Rogers,  Wm.,  Nov.  8,  ’62  ; Battery  C ; disch.  by  G,  0.  June  7,  ’65. 

Smyth,  Willard,  June  27,  ’64  ; Battery  L;  disch.  by  S.  0.  June  8,  ’65. 

Smith,  Lucian  H.,  Mar.  31,  ’64  ; Battery  L ; mus.  out  with  battery  Nov. 
9,  ’65. 

Smith,  Joseph,  Nov.  10,  ’62  ; Battery  C ; not  on  muster-out  roll. 

Wilmarth,  Willard  W.,  Mar.  25,  ’64 ; Battery  A ; disch.  by  G.  0.  May 
25,  ’65. 

FIFTY-SECOND  REGIMENT  PENNSYLVANIA  VOLUN- 
TEERS. 

Elbert  N.  Barney,  principal  muc.,  Oct.  24,  ’61  ; Co.  F ; pr.  to  principal 
inuc.  July  4,  ’64  ; mus.  out  with  regt.  July  12,  ’65  ; vet. 

Corporals. 

Charles  S.  Hallstead,  Feb.  16,  ’65 ; Co.  F ; pr.  to  cor.  July  1,  ’65  ; mus. 
out  with  company  July  12,  ’65. 

Bindley,  Rufus  P.,  Oct.  24,  ’61  ; Co.  F ; re.  at  exp.  of  term  ; disch.  by 
G.O.  June  12,  ’65  ; vet. 

Privates. 

Bailey,  Minor  K.,  Feb.  14  ’66  ; Co.  K ; mus.  out  with  Co.  July  12,  ’65. 

Corwin,  Joshua  H.,  Mar.  3,  ’65  ; Co.  C ; mus.  out  with  company. 

Boloway,  0.  M.,  Mar.  3,  ’65  ; Co.  A ; mus.  out  with  company  July  15, ’65. 

Esterbrook,  Henry,  Feb.  16,  ’65 ; Co.  F ; disch.  by  G.  0.  June  14,  ’65. 

Gavit,  Prentiss  A.,  Sept.  16,  ’61 ; Co.  A ; died  Nov.  17,  ’61. 

Hallstead,  Richard,  Oct.  31,  ’63;  Co.  F ; drafted;  captd.  July  3, ’64  ; 
returned  May  15,  ’65  ; mus.  out  with  company  July  12,  ’65. 

Hawley,  Leslie  E.,  Sept.  30,  ’63  ; Co.  F ; drafted  ; captd.  July  3,  ’64  ; ah. 
at  mus.  out. 

Harris,  Elliott,  Mar.  25,  ’64  ; Co.  H ; drafted  ; mus.  out  with  company 
July  12,  ’65. 

Howe,  Cyrus  C.,  Mar.  27,  ’64  ; Co.  K ; mus.  out  with  company  July  12, 
1865. 

Howe,  Ephraim  P.,  Feb.  14,  ’65  ; Co.  K ; mus.  out  with  company  July 
12,  ’65. 

Mitchell,  A.,  not  on  mus.-out  roll. 

Morgan,  Wm.  B.,  Mar.  24,  ’64  ; Co.  B ; enlisted  for  three  years ; died  at 
Morris  Island,  S.  C.,  Dec.  26,  ’64. 

Overfield,  Paul  J.,  Oct.  11,  ’61  ; Co.  B ; must,  out  Nov.  5,  ’64 ; exp.  of 
term.  (See  “ Overfield  ” Camp,  Sons  of  Veterans.) 

Richardson,  Lyman  E.,  Feb.  16,  ’65  ; Co.  F ; mus.  out  with  company. 

Spencer,  James  R.,  Feb.  16,  ’65  ; Co.  F ; ab.,  sick,  at  mus.  out. 

Stearns,  Chas.  A.,  Feb.  15,  ’65  ; Co.  C ; mus.  out  with  compaii}'  July  12, 
1865. 

Tiffany,  Edward,  Feb.  15,  ’65  ; Co.  C;  mus.  out  witli  company  July  12, 
1865. 

Thatcher,  Edwin,  Feb.  16,  ’65  ; Co.  F ; mus.  out  with  company  July  12, 
1865. 

Williams,  John,  Nov.  20,  ’63  ; Co.  C ; drafted  ; mus.  out  with  company. 

Watrous,  Orlando,  Feb.  16,  ’65 ; Co.  F ; mus.  out  with  company  July  12, 
1865. 

Whitney,  Henry,  Feb.  17,  ’65  ; Co.  F ; mus.  out  with  company. 

Way,  Thos.,  Co.  F ; not  on  mus.-out  roll. 

Walker,  Ackley,  Mar.  27,  ’64  ; Co.  K ; en.  for  three  years  ; mus.  out 
with  company. 

COMPANY  G,  ONE  HUNDRED  AND  EIGHTY-SEVENTH 
REGIMENT. 

Mustered  into  service  April  7 j 1864,  otherwise  stated;  mustered  out 

Avgust  3,  1865. 

Privates. 

Adams,  Amos  II.,  disch.  by  G.  0.  May  16,  ’65. 

Benjamin,  Asa,  died  at  Petersburg,  Va. 

Benjamin,  James  0.,  mus.  out  with  Co. 

Brundage,  Homer  N.,  May  17,  ’64 ; mus.  out  with  Co. 

Clark,  Andrew  J.,  mus.  out  with  Co. 

Clark,  Wm.  M.,  mus.  out  with  Co. 


Conrad,  James  M.,  disch.  on  surg.  cert.  July  11,  1865. 

Conrad,  John,  mus.  out  with  Co. 

Bimmick,  Ami  B.,  May  17,  ’64  ; mus.  out  with  Co. 

Becker,  Ellias  C.,  disch.  on  surg.  cert.  Nov.  26,  ’64. 

Ely,  John,  died  at  Washington,  B.  C.,  Aug.  28,  ’64. 

Farnam,  James,  disch.  on  surg.  cert.  June  17,  ’65. 

Felton,  Everett  H.,  died  at  Washington  Oct.  5,  ’64. 

Fisk,  Henry,  May  17,  '64  ; mus.  out  with  Co. 

Hallstead,  Andrew,  mus.  out  with  Co. 

Hayden,  Francis  F.,  mus.  out  with  Co. 

Hayden,  Chas.  J.,  mus.  out  with  Co. 

Hayden,  Harvey,  mus.  out  with  Co. 

Howard,  John,  died  Feb,  15,  ’65. 

McConnell,  James,  May  17,  ’64;  mus.  out  with  Co. 

McDonald,  Byron,  mus.  out  with  Co. 

Millard,  Cyrus  B.,  mus.  out  with  Co. 

Payne,  Francis  W.,  mus.  out  with  Co. ; vet. 

Rose,  Alonzo  A.,  not  with  Co.  at  mus.  out. 

Rosengrant,  Perry,  mus.  out.  with  Co. 

Tewksbury,  Henry,  mus.  out  with  Co, 

Thorn,  William,  mus.  out  with  Co. 

Tiffany,  Orrin  C.,  killed  at  Petersburg,  Va.,  June  18,  ’64. 

Vergason,  Ansel,  died  at  Reading,  Pa.,  May  7,  ’64. 

Wright,  Lester,  died  at  Brooklyn,  Pa.,  Nov.  24,  ’64. 

White,  John  W.,  disch.  on  surg.  cert.  July  29,  ’Go. 

Yarrington,  Geo.  E.,  mus.  out  with  Co. 

COMPANY  H. 

Sergt.  Eldridge  B.  Davis,  May  7,  ’64;  pr.  from  cor.  June  1,  ’65;  mus. 

out.  with  Co.  Aug.  3,  ’65  ; vet. 

Cor.  John  C.  Allen,  May  7,  ’64  ; mus.  out  with  Co.  ; vet. 

Privates. 

Baldwin,  Geo.  H.,  May  7,  ’64;  mus.  out  with  the  Co.  Aug.  3,  ’65 ; vet. 
Baldwin,  James  T.,  May  7,  ’64;  mus.  out  with  Co.  ; vet. 

Baldwin,  Jonathan  M.,  May  7,  ’64  ; mus.  out  with  Co. 

Conrad,  Henry  W.,  Aug.  17,  ’64 ; disch.  by  G.  0.  July  15,  ’65. 

Conrad,  Rufus  C.,  May  7,  ’64 ; mus.  out  with  Co. 

Bunn,  Geo.  M.,  May  7,  ’64  ; mus.  out  with  Co. 

Gardner,  Barney  A.,  May  7,  ’64  ; mus.  out  with  Co. 

Miller,  Loren  B.,  May  7,  ’64  ; mus.  out  with  Co. 

Rynearson,  Cornelius,  May  7,  ’64  ; mus.  out  with  Co. 

Stevens,  Henrj',  May  7,  ’64  ; mus.  out  with  Co. 

Tiffany,  Curtis  W.,  May  7,  ’64  ; died  at  Petersburg,  Va.,  July  29,  ’64. 
Titus,  Robert  C.,  May  7,  ’64  ; mus.  out  with  Co. 

Whitney,  Orange  P.,  May  7,  '64  ; missing  in  action  at  Petersburg,  Va., 
Aug.  21,  '64. 

Whitney,  Ebenezer  B.,  May  7,  ’64 ; mus.  out  with  Co. 

Whitney,  WJllard  M.,  May  7,  ’64;  pr.  to  cor.  June  1, ’65  ; mus.  out 
with  Co. 

Whiting,  Henry  S.,  May  7,  ’64 ; died  July  5,  ’64,  at  Philadelphia,  Pa. 

COMPANY  A. 

Privates. 

Bell,  Wm.  J.,  May  4,  ’64;  mus.  out  with  Co.  Aug.  3,  ’65. 

Bought,  Daniel,  March  31,  ’64;  mus.  out  with  Co. 

COMPANY  K. 

Privates. 

Titman,  Jacob,  April  8,  ’64  ; mus  out  with  Co.  Aug.  3,  '65. 

Vergason,  Newell  J.,  May  4,  ’64  ; mus.  out  with  Co. 

COMPANY  C,  TWO  HUNDRED  AND  THIRD  REGIMENT. 

Mustered  into  service  Augusty  1864  ; mustered  out  June,  1865. 

First  Sergt.  Silas  G.  Lewis,  Aug.  29,  ’64  ; enlisted  Aug.  11,  ’62,  in  Co.  B, 
132d  P.  V.,  for  9 months;  mus.  out  with  Co.;  re.  in  Co.  C,  203d  P. 
V. ; wd.  at  Ft.  Fisher,  N.  C.,  Jan.  15,  ’65 ; ab.  in  hos.  at  mus.  out. 
Coi'portls. 

Daniel  Younker,  Aug.  31,  ’64  ; mus.  out  with  Co.  June  22,  ’65. 

Andrew  Jackson,  Aug.  31, ’li4  ; ab.  in  hos.  at  mus.  out;  previously 
served  9 months  in  Co.  II,  I77tli. 

Samuel  Mcl'lain,  Sept.  2,  ’64;  mus.  out  with  Co.;  previously  served  9 
months  in  Co.  H,  177th. 

Charles  H.  Marsliall,  Aug.  31,  ’04 ; wd.  at  Ft.  Fisher,  N.  Jan.  15,  ’65  ; 
disch.  by  G.  0.  May  13,  ’65  ; previously  served  7 mouths  in  Co.  H, 
141st  P.  V. 

rates. 

Aney,  Henry  C.,  .\ug.  3(),  ’61  ; mus.  out  with  (’o. 

Avery,  Jerome,  Aug.  30,  ’64 ; mus.  out  witk  Co. 


252 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


Baker,  Lunis  L.,  Aug.  31,  ’64  ; died  at  Philadelphia  Sept.  25,  ’04. 

Bump,  Dennis  L.,  Aug.  31,  ’64;  ab.,  sick,  at  mus.  out. 

Bump,  Aaron  P.,  Aug.  31,  ’(>4  ; mus.  out  with  Co. 

Belcher,  Janies  S.,  Aug.  31,  *64 ; mus.  out  with  Co. 

Baldwin,  Jeremiah,  Aug.  31,  ’64  ; disch.  Aug.  31,  ’07,  to  date  June  22, ’65. 
i'anfield,  Northrop,  Aug.  30,  ’64;  killed  at  Ft.  Fisher,  N.  C. 

Crawford,  (’harles  F.,  Aug.  31,  ’61 ; mus.  out  with  Co. 

Crawford,  Alpheus  B.,  Aug.  30,  ’64  ; wd.  at  Ft.  Fisher,  N.  C.,  Jan.  15, 
’65 ; ab.  at  mus.  out. 

Carter,  Benjamin,  Aug.  31,  ’64  ; disch.  by  G.  0.  June  29,  ’65. 

Culver,  Samuel  0.,  Aug.  30,  ’64;  mus.  out  with  Co. 

Coss,  Andrew  L.,  Aug.  31,  ’64  ; mus.  out  with  Co. 

Carpenter,  Milo,  Aug.  31,  ’(>4  ; mus.  out  with  Co. 

Corse,  Luther  S.,  Aug.  31,  ’64 ; mus.  out  with  Co. 

Conrad,  Martin,  Sept.  3,  ’64;  not  on  mus. -out  roll. 

Dailey,  Christian,  Aug.  30,  ’64 ; wd.  at  Ft.  Fisher,  N.  C.,  Jan,  15,  ’65  ; 
mus.  out  with  Co. 

Dunmore,  Porter  S,,  not  on  mus.-out  roll. 

Dougherty,  James,  Sept.  6,  ’li4  ; not  on  mus.-out  roll. 

Fuller,  Charles,  Sept.  31,  ’64  ; mus.  out  with  Co. 

Fuller,  Josiah  0.,  Sept.  31,  ’64  ; mus.  out  with  Co. 

Fletcher,  Geo.  W.,  Feb.  14,  ’65 ; not  on  mus.-out  roll. 

Green,  John  W.,  Sept.  2,  ’64  ; mus.  out  with  Co. 

Hobbs,  Nelson,  Feb.  18,  ’65  ; died  at  Wilmington,  N.  C.,  April  12,  ’65. 
Huff,  Nelson  J.,  Sept.  1,  ’65  ; disch.  on  G.  0.  June  11,  ’65. 

Hillis,  James,  not  on  mus.-out  roll. 

Jacoby,  Benj.  F.,  Sept.  3,  ’64  ; mus.  out  with  Co. 

Lafrance,  Dana  S.,  Aug.  30,  ’64  ; previously  served  9 months  in  Co.  H, 
177th  ; mus.  out  with  Co. 

Laughly,  Wm.  H.,  Aug.  30,  ’(J4  ; mus.  out  With  Co. 

Lewis,  Pardon,  Aug.  30,  *64  ; disch.  by  G,  0.  June  2,  ’65. 

Marcy,  Cyrus,  Aug.  31.  ’64 ; mus.  out  with  Co. 

Meeker,  Joseph  A.,  Aug.  30,  ’64;  mus.  out  with  Co. 

Manning,  John,  Sept.  5,  ’64 ; not  on  mus.-out  roll. 

McCracken,  Wesley,  Feb.  30,  ’64  ; mus.  out  with  Co. 

McDonald,  Frederick  H.,  Feb.  29,  ’64  ; mus.  out  with  Co. 

Newton,  Zenas  0.,  Aug.  31,  ’64  ; not  on  mus.-out  roll. 

Oakley,  Byron,  Aug.  30,  ’64  ; mus.  out  with  Co. 

Potter,  Geo.  W.,  Aug.  31,  ’64  ; mus.  out  with  Co. 

Page,  Calvin  I.,  Aug.  31,  ’64 ; wd.  at  Ft.  Fisher,  N.  C.,  Jan.  15,  ’65  ; 
mus.  out  with  Co. 

Payne,  Jesse,  Sei>t.  5,  ’64  ; mus.  out  with  Co. 

Roberts,  Geo.  A.,  Aug.  31,  ’64 ; wd.  at  Ft.  Fisher,  N.  C.,  Jan.  15,  ’65  ; 
disch.  on  surg.  cert.  May  4,  ’65. 

Riley,  Patrick  W.,  Aug.  31,  ’64 ; wd.  at  Ft.  Fisher,  N.  C. ; disch.  by  G.  0. 
July  2,  ’65. 

Sisson,  Benjamin,  Aug.  31,  ’64;  wd.  at  Ft.  Fisher,  N.  0.,  Jan.  15,  ’65  ; 
mus.  out  with  Co. 

Stevens,  Hiram,  Aug.  31,  ’64  ; mus.  out  with  Co. 

Taylor,  Benjamin  L.,  Aug.  31, ’64;  wd.  at  Ft.  Fisher,  N.  C.,  Jan.  15, ’65; 
disch.  by  G.  0.  July  3,  ’65. 

Titman,  D.  C.,  Sept.  2,  ’64  ; wd.  at  Ft.  Fishei',  N.  C.,  Jan.  15,  ’65 ; ab.  in 
hos.  at  mus.  out. 

Thomas,  Asa,  Sept.  3,  ’64;  died  at  Wilmington,  N.  C.,  April  12,  ’65  ; bur. 
in  Nat.  Cem. 

Taylor,  Henry  C.,  Feb.  14,  ’65 ; not  on  mus.-out  roll. 

Williams,  Abram  V.,  Aug.  31,  ’64 ; disch.  by  G.  0.  June  13,  ’65. 
Washburn,  Alonzo,  xVug.  31,  ’64 ; died  in  Susquehanna  County  Sept.  12,  ’64. 
Wilber,  James,  Aug.  30,  ’64;  mus.  out  with  Co.;  previously  served  in 
137th  N.  Y. 

COMPANY  D. 

Pi'ivates. 

Belcher,  John  W.,  Aug.  31,  ’64 ; mus.  out  with  Co.  June  22,  ’65. 

Maines,  Geo.  A.,  Aug.  31,  ’64;  mus.  out  with  Co. 

Rifeiiberry,  Philip  II.,  Aug.  31,  ’64;  ab.  on  detached  serv.  at  mus.  out. 
Rifenberry,  James  L.,  Aug.  31,  ’64  ; mus.  out  with  Co. 

Van  Scoten,  Andrew,  Aug.  31,  ’64  ; mus.  out  with  Co. 

Washburn,  Ebenezer,  Aug.  31,  ’64  ; mus.  out  with  Co. 

COMPANY  E. 

Cor.  A.  E.  Brush,  Sept.  6,  ’64  ; pr.  to  cor.  Nov.  1,  ’64;  mus.  out  with  Co. 
June  22,  ’65. 

Privates. 

Brush,  Albert  G.,  Sept.  5,  ’64;  inns,  out  with  Co. 

Bunnell,  James  M.,  Sept.  6,  ’64  ; died  at  New  York  City  Feb.  4,  ’65,  of 
wds.  received  at  Ft.  Fisher. 

Hewitt,  William,  Sept.  5,  ’64;  mus.  out  with  Co. 


Leavitt,  Hiram  N.  Sept.  5,  ’64  ; mus.  out  with  Co. 

Smith,  Jonas,  Sept.  5,  ’64;  killed  at  Ft.  Fisher  Jan.  15,  ’65. 

Teel,  Robert  G.,  Sept.  5,  ’64  ; disch.  by  G.  0.  June  10,  ’65. 

Tennant,  Lewis  W.,  Sept.  5,  ’64  ; disch.  by  G.  0.  July  6,  ’65. 

Very,  Miles  T.,  Sept.  5,  ’64  ; mus.  out  with  Co. 

Very,  Luther  L.,  Sept.  5,  ’64  ; mus.  out  with  Co. 

Witter,  Geo.  G.,  Sept.  3,  ’64 ; mus.  out  with  Co. 

Williams,  Warner  H.,  Sept.  5,  ’64  ; died  at  Moorehead  City,  N.  0.,  Feb. 
20,  ’65. 

COMPANY  F. 

Private,  Tower,  PerdngtonR.,  Sept.  7, ’64  ; mus.  out  with  Co.  June  22,  ’65. 

COMPANY  K. 

Privates. 

Blodgett,  Frederick,  not  on  mus.-out  roll. 

Hillis,  James,  Sept.  5,  ’64;  mis.  inaction  Oct.  6,  ’64. 

COMPANY  I,  ONE  FIUNDRED  AND  FOURTH  REGI- 
MENT. 

Miistered  in  September  1861^  unless  otherwise  stated  ; mustered  out  Sep- 
temheVy  1864;  the  men  transferred  to  Companies  C and  H,  were  dis- 
charged August  25,  1865,  unless  otherwise  noted. 

Privates. 

Armstrong,  Thos.,  Oct.  30,  ’63  ; drafted  ; tr.  to  Co.  C Sept,  24,  ’64. 
Bryant,  Charles,  Oct.  21,  ’63  ; drafted  ; tr.  to  Co.  C Sept.  24,  ’64, 
Barriger,  Wm.,  Oct.  21,  ’63  ; drafted  ; tr.  to  Co.  C Sept.  24,  ’64. 

Bennett,  R.  W.  F.,  Oct.  21,  ’63  ; drafted  ; tr.  to  Co  C Sept.  24,  ’64. 
Brown,  Wm.,  Jan.  5,  ’64  ; drafted;  tr.  to  the  U.  S.  Navy  June  25,  ’64. 
Boyer,  Israel,  died  at  Hilton  Head,  S.  C.,  June  20,  ’64. 

Betz,  Peter,  drafted  ; tr.  to  Co.  C Sept.  24,  ’64. 

Coleman,  Charles  H.,  Oct.  21,  ’03  ; drafted  ; tr.  to  Co.  C Sept.  24,  ’64. 
Carter,  Wm.,  Jan.  8,  ’62  ; not  with  Co.  at  mus.  out. 

Denny,  Geo.,  Oct.  21,  ’63  ; drafted  ; tr.  to  Co.  0 Sept.  24,  ’64. 

Devine,  Michael,  drafted  ; tr.  to  Co.  C Sept.  24,  ’64  , not  with  Co.  at  mus. 
out. 

Decker,  Geo.  W.,  Jan.  0,  ’64  ; drafted  ; tr.  to  Co.  C Sept.  24,  ’64  ; died 
July  3,  ’65,  of  wds.  rec.  in  action. 

Fleming,  Geo.,  not  on  mus.-out  roll. 

Gleason,  Jas.  J.,  Oct.  21,  ’63  ; drafted  ; tr.  to  Co.  C Sept.  24,  ’64  ; disch. 
by  G.  0.  June  17,  ’65. 

Gorman,  Isaac,  drafted  ; tr.  to  Co.  C Sept.  24,  ’64  ; pr.  to  cor. 

Harvey,  Wm.,  drafted  ; tr.  to  Co.  C Sept.  24,  '64  ; disch.  by  G.  0.  June 
17,  ’65. 

Hartman,  Franklin,  drafted ; tr.  to  Co.  C Sept.  24,  ’64. 

Hillpot,  Jonas  F.,  July  28,  ’63  ; drafted  ; tr.  to  Co,  C Sept.  24,  ’64. 

Lynn,  John,  drafted  ; tr.  to  U.  S.  Navy  June  25,  ’64. 

Murphy,  Thos.  J.,  Oct.  21,  ’63 ; drafted  ; tr.  to  Co.  C Sept.  24,  ’64. 
Minnig,  Edward,  Sept.  23,  ’63  ; drafted  ; tr.  to  Co.  C Sept.  24,  ’64. 
O’Dell,  Thaddeus,  Oct.  21,  ’63 ; drafted  ; tr.  to  Co.  C Sept.  24,  ’64. 
Pereon,  David,  Sept.  24,  *63  ; drafted  ; tr.  to  Co.  C Sept.  24,  ’64. 
Resseguie,  John,  Oct.  21,  ’63  ; drafted  ; tr.  to  Co.  C Sept.  24,  ’64;  disch. 
by  G.  0.  June  30,  ’65. 

Smith,  Jas.  C.,  July  24,  ’63  ; drafted ; tr.  to  U.  S.  Navy  June  25,  *64. 
Smith,  Chas.  I.,  Sept.  25,  ’63  ; drafted;  tr.  to  Co.  C Sept.  24,  ’64. 

Sprague,  Harrison,  not  on  muster  roll. 

Strickler,  Jonathan,  drafted  ; tr.  to  Co.  C Sept.  24,  ’64. 

Snyder,  Jacob,  drafted  ; tr.  to  Co.  C Sept.  24,  ’64. 

Stockhouse,  Wm.  E.,  Oct.  19,  ’63  ; drafted ; tr,  to  Co.  C Sept.  24,  ’64. 
Schooley,  Peter,  Oct.  19,  ’63  ; drafted  ; tr.  to  Co.  C Sept.  24,  ’64. 

Sackett,  Charles,  Oct.  19,  ’63  ; drafted  ; tr.  to  Co.  C Sept.  24,  ’64  ; disch. 
by  G.  0.  June  12,  ’65. 

Shirk,  Wm.,  Sept.  25,  ’63  ; drafted  ; tr.  to  Co.  C Sept.  24,  ’64. 

Schoonover,  Daniel,  Jan.  6,  ’64 ; drafted  ; tr.  to  Co.  C Sept.  24,  ’64. 

Stone,  Oscar,  Mar.  3,  ’65  ; mus.  out  Aug.  25,  ’65. 

Tanner,  Cyrus,  Oct.  21,  ’63 ; drafted;  tr.  to  Co.  C Sept.  24,  ’64. 

Tanner,  Mordecai  C.,  Oct.  21,  ’63  ; drafted  ; tr.  to  Co.  C Sept.  24,  ’64. 
Walker,  Francis  M.,  Oct.  21,  ’63  ; drafted  ; tr.  to  Co.  C Sept.  24,  ’64. 

COMPANY  K. 

Private  Mason  C.  Richardson,  Oct.  21,  ’63  ; drafted  ; tr.  to  Co.  H Sept. 

24,  ’64. 

Private  Carman  Sprague,  Oct.  21,  ’63  ; drafted  ; tr.  to  Co.  H Sept.  24, ’64. 
COMPANY  C. 

Private  Thos.  IVIurphy,  Oct.  21,  ’63  ; drafted  ; mus.  out  with  Co.  Aug. 

25,  ’65. 


THE  REBELLION. 


253 


Eighty-ninth  Regiment  New  York  Volun- 
teers.—The  Eiglity-n  inth  Regiment  New  York 
State  Veteran  Volunteers  was  raised  by  the  Hon. 
Daniel  S.  Dickinson,  and  were  mostly  from  Broome, 
Delaware  and  Chenango  Counties,  N.  Y.  Companies 
G and  K had  quite  a number  from  Susquehanna 
County,  Pa.  They  were  mustered  into  the  United 
States  service  on  the  18th  day  of  October,  1861,  at 
Elmira,  for  three  years,  or  during  the  war.  The  regi- 
ment was  called  the  Dickinson  Guards.  The  field 
and  staff  were  Colonel  H.  S.  Fairchilds,  from  Roches- 
ter; Lieutenant-Colonel  J.  C.  Robie,  of  Binghamton ; 
and  Major  Wm.  Everetts,  of  Binghamton.  About 
Nov.  18th  the  regiment  was  ordered  to  Washington 
and  remained  there  about  thirty  days  on  the  Bladens- 
burg  turnpike-  While  there  they  were  presented 
with  a beautiful  State  flag  by  the  daughter  of  the 
Hon.  Daniel  S.  Dickinson.  The  presentation  address 
was  made  by  Vice-President  Hannibal  Hamlin.  The 
regiment  was  assigned  to  the  Ninth  Corps,  and  went 
on  the  Burnside  expedition  to  Hatteras.  The  regi- 
ment sailed  on  the  ship  “ Arecan.”  The  vessel  drawing 
nineteen  feet  of  water,  and  there  being  only  twelve 
feet  of  water  on  the  Hatteras  bar,  they  were  forced  to 
remain  at  anchor  outside  the  bar  twenty-eight  days 
in  a terrible  storm.  The  twenty-eighth  day,  after 
throwing  out  the  ballast,  the  ship  was  towed  over  the 
bar.  The  regiment  was  rendered  unfit  for  duty  on 
account  of  the  rough  passage.  They  remained  on 
Hatteras  about  six  weeks,  and  from  there  went  to 
Roanoke  Island.  Their  first  battle  was  on  the  19th 
of  April,  1862,  General  Reno  being  in  command,  and 
was  a grand  victory,  causing  the  evacuationof  Nor- 
folk. The  regiment  remained  with  Burnside,  and 
was  with  him  at  Fredericksburg,  and  from  there  went 
to  Washington,  and  there  joined  McClellan’s  army. 
Were  the  first  troops  in  Frederick  Valley,  where  they 
met  with  a grand  reception  from  the  citizens  for 
driving  the  rebels  from  their  beautiful  city.  The 
regiment  was  in  the  battle  of  South  Mountain  and 
received  the  last  grand  charge  made  by  the  rebels  on 
the  left,  and  were  under  the  command  of  the  gallant 
Reno  until  he  was  killed.  The  regiment  was  on  the 
extreme  left  of  the  line  at  Antietam  and  crossed  on 
the  stone  dam  below  the  bridge.  Under  a galling 
fire  they  captured  two  guns  and  charged  into  the 
town  of  Sharpsburg ; but  Stonewell  Jackson  coming 
up,  they  were  forced  to  cut  their  way  through  the 
rebel  lines,  losing  very  heavily.  The  regiment  fol- 
lowed Burnside  to  Fredericksburg  and  were  the  first 
to  cross  the  river  in  boats,  and  with  one  hundred  men, 
captured  double  this  number  of  prisoners,  and  held 
the  centre  of  the  town,  in  front  of  the  Lacey  House, 
until  the  bridge  was  laid.  For  their  bravery  they 
received  a vote  of  thanks  from  Congress.  They  were 
in  the  battle  the  next  day  and  lost  nearly  one-half 
of  their  number.  The  regiment  did  duty  at  Fred- 
ericksburg through  the  winter  and  then  went  south 
to  Charleston,  remaining  there  about  seven  months. 


taking  part  in  the  siege  of  Charleston.  About  the 
15th  ot  April,  1864,  they  were  ordered  to  join  Butler’s 
army  and  were  with  him  at  the  first  battle  of  Peters- 
burg, Bermuda  Hundred  and  Drury’s  Bluff,  taking 
an  active  part  in  all  engagements ; also  at  Suffolk, 
and  captured  sixty-three  on  the  Nansemond  River. 
Captured  a fort,  one  hundred  and  sixty-five  prisoners 
and  six  pieces,  four  of  which  were  captured  from 
Getty’s  battery  at  the  battle  of  Bull  Run.  They  were 
in  the  battle  of  Suffolk  the  20th  day  of  May.  At  Suf- 
folk they  crossed  the  river  and  charged  into  A.  P. 
Hill’s  headquarters,  capturing  his  baggage  and  some 
ot  his  staff.  They  were  with  Grant  at  Cold  Harbor, 
being  the  last  to  leave  the  trenches ; from  there  they 
went  by  boat  to  Petersburg  and  were  in  the  advance 
on  Petersbnrg  on  the  15th  of  June  ; the  first  into  the 
fort  said  to  be  captured  by  colored  troops  under 
Smith  ; were  continually  under  fire  and  fighting  from 
the  15th  until  the  20th  ; were  in  the  battles  of  Cha- 
pin’s Farm,  Mine  Run  and  Weldon  Railroad,  and  all 
engagements  until  the  war  closed.  Lieutenant-Colo- 
nel Robie  resigned  at  Roanoke,  and  Captain  England 
was  made  lieutenant-colonel.  Major  Everetts  was 
injured  at  Camden  by  falling  from  a battery,  injuring 
his  spine  and  unfitting  him  from  duty  ; he  was  trans- 
ferred to  the  Invalid  Corps.  In  1863  Lieutenant 
Frank  Tremain  was  promoted  to  major,  and  was 
killed  at  Petersburg.  The  regiment  was  fitted  up 
three  times,  having  on  the  rolls  about  fifteen  hun- 
dred names,  and  when  mustered  out  at  the  close  ot 
the  war  only  about  three  hundred  answered  to  their 
names.  They  were  called  “ Burnside's  Pets,”  “ Bat- 
tlecats,”  and  “ the  regiment  that  never  ran  from  the 
enemy.” 


EIGHTY-NINTH  REGIJIENT  NEW  YORK  YOLUNTEERS. 
Major,  Frank  W.  Tremain  i 
Lientf^annt  Ci).  G,  John  B.  Russell.2 
(h'derlf/  Sergeant,  Co.  K,  George  Pheros. 

Coiyoral,  Jeremiah  Donovan. 


Privates. 

Atwell,  Paul,  Co.  K 
Atwell,  Elijah,  Co.  K 
Atwell,  Charles,  Co.  K 
Bisbee,  Noah, 3 Co.  K 
Carrier,  Joseph  W.,  Co.  H 
Carrier,  Scott,  Co.  H 
Crocker,  John  \V.,  Co.  H 
Crocker,  Stephen  G.,  Co.  H 
Donley,  Thomas,  Co.  D 
Foot,  Andrew,**  Co.  K 
Fitzgibbons,  Patrick,^  Co.  D 
Gates,  E.  F.,  Co.  II 
Hall,  R.  H.,G  Co.  G 
Haynes,  Hobart, ^ Co.  G 
Haynes,  Warren,  Co.  G 


Hayes,  James,8  Co.  K 
Hiirlbnrt,  Geo.  II.,  Co.  K 
Howai’d,  Alson,^  Co.  K 
Kenyon,  Herbert,  Co.  G 
King,  Percy Co.  K 
Knapp,  Job,  Co.  K 
Knight,  Christopher,**  Co.  K 
Lacey,  S.  W.,  Co.  K 
Lacey,  W.  C.,  Co.  K 
Lawson,  Charles,*-  Co.  K 
Blerret,  Emory, *3  Co.  A 
IRcKune,  G.  E ,*•*  Co.  K 
Meeker,  Nelson. *5  Co.  K 
Miller.  Hebron,  Co.  K 
Newton,  George,*®  Co.  II 


* Killed  before  Petersburg,  Va.,  April  2, 1S65.  (See  “Tremain  Post, 
G.  A.  R.)  ~ Wounded  before  Petersburg.  3 Wounded,  with  loss  of  leg, 

**  Killed  before  Petersburg,  Va.  ® Killed  at  Antietam,  I\Id.  ® Wounded 
at  Fredericksburg,  Va.,  in  right  thigh  Doc.  13, 1802,  ami  again  in  same 
place  June  18,  18G4,  before  Petei’slmrg,  Va.  ■ Wonmled  at  Chapin’s 
Farm.  ® Wounded  before  Petersburg,  Va.  ^Died  in  prison.  *®  Prisoner. 
**  Killed  at  South  Mountain,  3Id.  *3  Wonmled  before  Petersburg  and 
taken  prisoner.  *3  Died  in  service.  *•*  Wounded  in  front  of  Potei'shurg, 
Va.  *®  Discharged  for  disability.  *®  Prisoner  in  Salisbury,  N.  C. 


254 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


1 


Pheros,  Lafayette,  Co.  K 
Kobinson,  Leauder,  Co.  K 
Rood,  Silas  C.,^  Co.  K 
Reed,  Ichabod  S.,  Co.  K 
Russell,  Plinney  A., 2 Co.  G 
Ryne,  John,  Co.  K 


Spafford,  Lorenzo  D.,  Co.  K 
Taylor,  James  C.,^  Co.  K 
Tiel,  Elmer, ^ Co.  G 
Tobey,  John  L.,  Co.  G 
Watrous,  Edgar, ^ Co.  D 
Winters,  D.  C.,  Co.  K. 


Sixteenth  New  York  Independent  Battery. 
— This  battery  was  recruited  by  Captain  Milo  W. 
Lock  at  Binghamton,  Broome  County,  N.  Y.,  in  the 
fall  of  1861,  commencing  in  September,  and  went 
into  barrack  and  was  there  under  instruction  until 
March  10,  1862,  when  it  was  ordered  to  Washington, 
D.  C.,  where  it  operated  in  the  defence  of  that  city 
until  July,  when  it  was  assigned  to  Burnside’s  Ninth 
Corps,  which  it  joined  at  Fredericksburg,  Va.  When 
the  army  left  there  it  was  returned  to  the  defence  of 
Washington,  at  Alexandria,  Va.,  and  was  in  the  de- 
fence of  the  city  until  April  5,  1863,  when  it  was 
transferred  to  the  army  under  General  Peck,  at  Suf- 
folk, Va.,  where  it  first  participated  in  active  opera- 
tions. From  there  it  went  in  June  with  the  demonstra- 
tions against  Richmond,  by  the  way  of  Bottom’s 
Bridge,  Va.  Upon  its  return  it  was  assigned  to  duty 
at  Fort  Yorktown,  Va.  There  becoming  greatly  de- 
pleted by  sickness,  it  was  relieved  from  duty,  and 
sent  to  Portsmouth,  Va.,  to  recruit,  where  it  remained 
until  November  15,  1863,  when  it  was  sent  to  join 
General  Heckman’s  command  at  Newport  News, 
Va.,  where  it  veteranized  in  December,  1863.  The 
men  not  re-enlisting  were  assigned  to  Battery  H,  Third 
New  York  Artillery,  until  the  return  of  the  veterans 
and  many  recruits,  when  it  was  reorganized  under 
Captain  R.  H.  Lee,  and  assigned  to  the  Second  Divi- 
sion, Eighteenth  Corps,  with  which  it  operated  before 
Petersburg,  Va.,  being  actively  engaged  in  its  many 
encounters  with  the  enemy,  especially  at  the  taking 
of  Fort  Harrison,  Chapin’s  Farm  and  Newmarket 
Heights,  when,  at  the  organization  of  the  force  for 
the  Fort  Fisher  expedition,  it  was  transferred  to  the 
Second  Division,  Tenth  Corps,  and  participated  in 
both  the  first  and  second  expeditions  and  final  reduc- 
tion of  the  fort,  January  16,  1865,  as  well  as  all  the 
subsequent  movements  of  General  A.  H.  Terry 
against  and  capture  of  Wilmington,  N.  C.  The 
advance  and  co-operation  with  Sherman’s  army 
through  North  Carolina  to  Raleigh,  N.  C.,  when  the 
battery  went  into  camp,  and  remained  till  June  25, 
1865,  when  it  started  on  the  return  home  by  rail  and 
boat  to  Elmira,  N.  Y.,  where,  on  the  8th  of  July,  it 
was  mustered  out,  having  served  nearly  four  years. 
When  first  enlisted  it  was  known  as  the  Dickinson 
Light  Artillery,  in  honor  of  Daniel  S.  Dickinson. 
This  battery  sustained  an  honorable  reputation,  and 
although  its  losses  in  action  were  not  severe,  it  suffered 
heavily  by  disease,  having  on  its  rolls  at  different 
times  more  than  three  hundred  and  thirty  men. 


1 Died  in  hospital.  2 Wounded  before  Petersburg,  Va.,  with  loss  of  leg. 
3 Died  of  wounds  received  at  Antietam,  Md.  4 Wounded  before  Peters- 
burg, Va.  6 Died  in  hospital. 


sixteenth  independent  new  YORK  BATTERY  II 
(“  DICKINSON  ” LIGHT  ARTILLERY). 

1st  Lt.  Thomas  Moses.  2d  Lt.  G.  W.  Powers. 

1st  Sergt  Sylvester  L.  French. 

Co'poraU. 

Benoni  Lewis  William  Moses 


Bryant,  Geo.  S. 
Bryant,  R.  0. 
Bryant,  C.  D. 
Bostwick,  Clark  6 
Canfield,  Benson  ^ 
Dunniore,  Curtis  R. 
Estabrook,  E.  W. 
Gaige,  Isaac  B. 
German,  Wm. 


Privates. 

Garregan,  Wm. 
Henderson,  R.  N. 
Layton,  John 
Miller,  James  A. 
Minkler,  Chester  P. 
Mooney,  Michael 
Martin,  Frederick 
Taylor,  William 
Van  Wagner,  Alfred 


ONE  HUNDRED  AND  THIRTY-SEVENTH  REGIMENT 
NEW  YORK  VOLUNTEERS. 


John  Brackney,  Adjt.  of  Regt. 
Allard,  Oliver  H. 

Brown,  Zachary,  Co.  A 
Comfort,  John  R.,  Co.  I 
Casterline,  Chas.  R.,  Co.  I 
Clapper,  John,  Co.  I 
Duren,  Cyrus,  Co.  I 
Fuller,  John  L. 

Foster,  Willis  S.,  Co.  G 
Fox,  Alberti  0.,  Co.  B 
Gage,  John 

Hawkins,  Chas.,  Co.  B 
Hinchman,  John 
Howard,  Enos  8 
Hilborn,  John,  Co.  L 
Ingraham,  Jonathan,  Co.  F 
Knapp,  Albert,  Co.  B 
Lawler,  Peter,  Co.  B 
Lovelace,  Joseph  9 
Meeker,  Norman 
Runkle,  Frank 
Roberts,  Asaliel  L, 


Reynolds,  John  P.,  Co.  B 
Spinnings,  Daniel  D.io 
Spinnings,  Theron 
Summerton,  Thos.,  Co.  B 
Spoor,  Wm.,  Co,  B 
Tarbox,  James,  Co.  B 
Thatcher,  S.  N. 

Tarbox,  Charles  12 
Tarbox,  David 
Tarbox,  Geo.  (re-enlisted) 
Tarbox,  Samuel  H. 

Van  Horn , Samuel,  Co.  I 
Van  Horn,  Nathaniel,  Co.  I 
Van  Horn,  John,  Co.  I 
Van  Horn,  Hampton,  Co.  I 
Whitney,  Geo.  W. 

Whitney,  John  0. 

VTiitney,  Roderick  B. 
Webster,  Alexander 
Wilbur,  Frederick 
Wakeley,  Nathaniel 
Wood,  Stephen 


ONE  HUNDRED  AND  NINTH  REGIMENT  NEW  YORK 
VOLUNTEERS. 


Barney,  D.  W,,  Co.  K 
Cortright,  Dennis,  Co.  H 
Cortright,  Richard,  Co.  H 
Cortright,  John,  Co.  H 
Clifford,  John,  Co,  H 
Dowd,  James,  Co.  H 
Finn,  Patrick,  Co.  II 
Fox,  James  H.,  Co.  H 
Fessenden,  James  B.,  Co.  H 


Gifford,  John  M.,  Co.  H ^6 
Lentzen,  Augustus  H. 

Martin,  Frederick  H.  is 
O’Doud,  James,  Co.  H 
O’Shaughnessy,  James,  Co.  H 
Stone,  Nelson,  Co.  H 
Sentersou,  Augustus,  Co.  H 
Williams,  Edmond  B.,  Co.  K 19 
Walker,  John  T.,  Co.  A 20 


FIFTIETH  REGIMENT  NEW  YORK  VOLUNTEER 
ENGINEERS. 


Barnes,  Frank,  Co.  I 
Brown,  Elmer,  Co.  I 
Brooks,  Henry  L. 
Brown,  Orville,  21  Co.  G 
Carpenter,  Daniel 
Coon,  S,  S. 

Dix,  George,  Co.  I 
Holland,  William,  Co.  B 
Lamoiit,  G.  K.,  Co.  F 


Moore,  Joseph,  Co.  F 
Morrison,  James,  Co.  B 
McKernan,  James,  1st,  Co.  H 
Pooler,  George  E. 

Steenback,  Nelson 
Sackett,  Edwin 
Whitney,  J.  B.,  Co.  F 
Whitney,  L.  B.,  Co.  F. 


6 Wounded  at  Chapin’s  Farm,  Va.  7 Died  in  service.  ® Died  in  service. 
9 Wounded  at  Savannah,  Ga.  19  Wounded,  n Wounded,  with  loss  of  leg. 
12  Wounded  at  Lookout  Mountain  ; re-enlisted.  I8  Wounded  at  Gettys- 
burg, Pa.  14  Died  in  hospital.  i&  Re-enlisted  in  34th  N.  Y.  Light  Artil- 
lery; injured  at  Petersburg,  Va.  i^  Wounded,  i^  Killed  at  Petersburg. 
18  Died  in  service.  19  Wounded.  20  Died  April,  18G4.  21  Died  in  the  ser- 
vice. 


THE  KEBELLION. 


255 


FIFTH  REGIMENT  NEW  YORK  VOLUNTEER  CAVALRY. 


Charles  A.  Crandall, ^ Co.  A 
Avis,  Henry 
Baxter,  Daniel,  Co.  E 
Birdsall,  Perry,  Co.  E 
Bliss,  Edwin 
Birdsall,  Chester,  Co.  E 
Barnum,  Newell  2 
Hawes,  Leroy,  wounded. 


Jenner,  Edward 

Markham,  Chas.  C.,  died  in  hos. 
Mooney,  John,  Jr.,  Co.  E 
Quick,  Joseph,  Co.  D 
Rhinevault,  Sylvester  P.,3  Co.  D 
Spafford,  Abijah,  Co.  D 
Williams,  John  E.,  Co.  G 
Weston,  Matthew,  Co.  D 


Weston,  James  K.,4  Co.  D 


United  States  Signal  Corps.— The  Signal  Corps 
of  the  army  comprised  about  two  thousand  five  hun- 
dred men  and  officers,  and  was  divided  into  detach- 
ments of  from  eight  to  twelve,  and  assigned  to  the 
difierent  departments  and  army  corps.  The  duties  of 
the  corps  consisted  principally  in  transmitting  mes- 
sages by  a code  of  signals,  using  fiags  by  day  and 
torches  at  night.  It  was  their  duty  to  observe  and 
make  known  the  position  and  movements  of  the  ene- 
my, which  information  could  only  be  gained  from  the 
highest  points  attainable,  and  often  they  constructed 
towers  several  hundred  feet  high.  The  service  was 
valuable  in  guiding  the  movements  of  the  army,  and 
the  signal  stations  were  often  targets  for  the  enemy’s 
sharp-shooters  and  cannoneers.  The  following  served 
in  the  Signal  Corps ; 

Sergeant. 

Charles  S.  Page^ 


Privates. 


Beach,  Henry  L. 
Barney,  George  W. 
Case,  Benjamin  T. 
Cruser,  Bela  J. 
Colter,  Patrick 
Deans,  Horace  A. 
Butcher,  Albert 
Gow,  William 


Lane,  Samuel  F.® 
Magee,  H.  A. 
Robbins,  Francis  E. 
Stone,  George  H.^ 
Sterling,  Alfred  L. 
Tiffany,  John  H. 
Thayer,  William  E. 
Wade,  Byron  R. 


Musicians. 

Daniel  S.  Skinner  Pardon  M.  Green 

Privates. 


Allen,  John  C. 

Arnold,  Gilbert  M. 

Berry,  Charles  R. 

Bailey,  Otis 
Bell,  Alonzo 
Barrett,  James 
Cordner,  William 
Cameron,  Thomas 
Cameron,  John 
Coleman,  James 
Coney,  William  F. 

Conrad,  Martin  (re-enlisted). 
Decker,  Elias 
Davis,  Eldridge 
Foley,  Michael 
Finch,  Isaac  B. 

Golden,  Martin  J. 

Green,  George  W. 

Gritman,  Dewitt  C. 

Goodrich,  Samuel  F. 
Gardner,  Harrison 
Harding,  Stucky  M. 
Hurlburt,  David 
Jerrould,  George 
Kibler,  Abraham 
Kenyon,  Burton  D. 
Lamphere,  John 
Lobr,  Charles  T, 

Lewis,  William  J. 

Moon,  Samuel  0. 

Mapes,  George  W. 

Melody,  Charles 
Montgomery,  W.  A. 
Mantzer,  Horatio 
McNamara,  Ricliard  D. 
Payne,  Franklin  W.  (re.) 
Parsons,  Sextus  E. 

Pass,  William 
Pell,  Philander 
Phillips,  Noah 


Price,  William 
Payne,  Alonzo  A. 

Payne,  Charles  M. 
Poison,  James 
Robinson,  Benjamin  C. 
Rivenberry,  Benjamin  F. 
Ritter,  Reuben 
Rought,  Sylvester  L. 
Rankin,  William 
Ryuearson,  Israel 
Rounds,  Zenas 
Reese,  John  R. 
Resseguie,  Nelson 
Ransom.  Alonzo  A. 
Reimbold,  Benjamin 
Reeves,  Simeon 
Smith,  Washington  G. 
Squires,  Lewis  B. 

Smith,  Ebert 
Sweet,  Jeremiah 
Siley,  John 
Smith,  Nicholas 
Smith,  Ziba  B. 

Smith,  John  A. 

Smith,  James  C. 

Smith,  William 
Sumnerell,  Sterling  F.® 
Stanford,  Eugene  L. 
Taylor,  John 
Titus,  Myron  J. 
Truesdell,  Charles  M. 
Van  Campen,  M.  J. 
Williams,  James 
Whipple,  Henry 
Wademan,  Samuel  E. 
Wilkinson,  Robert  W. 
Whitman,  Julian  E. 
Whiting,  George  S. 
Wiedman,  George  S. 
Youngs,  Nicholas 


COMPANY  B,  ONE  HUNDRED  AND  SEVENTY-SEVENTH 
REGIMENT,  DRAFTED  MILITIA. 

Mustered  into  service  November^  1862  ; mustered  out  August,  1863. 
Captains. 

Arthur  M.  Phillips®  Benjamin  F.  Gardner 

First  Lieutenant,  William  Miller. 

Second  Lieutenant,  James  C.  Decker. 

Sergeants. 

William  F.  West  (1st)  Martin  L.  Miller 

Nathan  D.  English  Abram  L.  Wiedman 

Douglass  S.  Miller  Edward  C.  Reynolds 

George  W.  Keiser 
Corporals. 

Harlo  Quick  Nathan  W.  Foster 

George  W.  Brownell  Warren  H.  Whit© 

John  Carpenter  l\Iilo  Felts 

Benton  Coleman  Isaiah  Lesh 

H.  II.  Reivenburg 


' Was  under  sixteen  at  enlistment ; served  to  close  of  war.  In  1872 
enlisted  in  Seventh  Regiment  Cavalry  ; promoted  to  sergeant ; was  one  of 
the  few  survivors  of  those  with  Custer  at  “ Little  Big  Horn  ” ; died  in 
1885  of  disease  contracted  in  service. 

2 Was  General  Sheridan’s  flag-bearer  at  Five  Forks,  Va.  ; mustered  out 
in  1865  ; veteran. 

3 Killed  at  battle  of  Wilderness.  ^ Killed  in  service. 

^ Ti'ansferred  from  One  Hundred  and  Twelfth  Pennsylvania  Volun- 
teers. 6 Transferred  from  First  Pennsylvania  Cavalry. 

7 Transferred  from  One  Hundred  and  Twelfth  Pennsylvania  Volun- 
teers. 

8 Died  December  13, 1862. 


COMPANY  E,  ONE  HUNDRED  AND  SEVENTY-SEVENTH 
REGIMENT,  DRAFTED  MILITIA. 

Mustered  into  service  November,  1862  ; mustered  oxd  1863. 

Captain,  Lewis  M.  Bunnell. 

First  Lieutenant,  Joseph  D.  Davis. 

Second  Lieutenant,  William  Cunningham. 

Sergeants. 


1st,  Henry  Keller 

James  Hendrickson 

Horace  J.  Kelly 

James  C.  Harding 

Henry  D.  Bruster 

Thomas  D.  Reese  10 
Joseph  P.  Stewart  It 
Corporals. 

Charles  D.  Tingley 

Leonard  E.  Stanford 

William  Keller 

Gilford  M.  Wrigliter 

Samuel  C.  Avery 

Elias  E.  Coffman 

Forest  F.  Sweet 

James  Cleaveland 

William  Pickering 

D.  A.  Sinsabaugh 
Musicians. 

James  K Hamilton 

Lewis  Arnold 

Privates. 

Austin,  Nelson  C. 

Ball,  Thomas  (re-enlisted) 

Altimus,  John  D. 

Barnes,  Rufus 

Adams,  John  F.^2 

Benson,  A\istin 

Avery,  Nathan  IM® 

Baragas,  Theodore  A. 

Augdin,  Daniel 

Bradley,  Luke 

0 Died  at  Harrisburg  December  9,  1862. 

10  Promoted  to  quartermaster-sergeant  Dec.  3, 1802. 

Promoted  to  hospital  steward  Doc.  3,  1862. 

^2  Died  at  PortHmouth,  Va.,  Nov.  10,  1862. 

Died  at  Deep  Creek,  Va.,  Juno  2,  i860. 


256 


HISTUllY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


1 


Biirkheart,  Geo.  W. 

Leonard,  Barney 

Burklieart,  H.  A. 

Long,  Madison 

Baragan,  Simeon  (re-enlisted)  Lytle,  David  S. 

Brattlebaugh,  J,  M.i 

Morton,  John 

Brant,  Chas.  D. 

Mock,  Samuel 

Coil,  Henry 

Maloy,  Joseph 

Carpenter,  Cyrus  B. 

Miilvehill,  Thomas 

Carson,  Robert 

Mikesell,  Solomon 

Chapman,  Joseph 

McOarrell,  David 

Cramer,  Ritner 

McCullough,  John 

Corie,  Wilson 

McLeod,  Enos 

Carson,  James  S. 

McHenry,  Levi  W. 

Carrier,  Myron 

Neal,  John 

Clenson,  .John  2 

Osman,  Andrew 

Dowd,  William 

Page,  Walter  R. 

Doyle,  William  0. 

Robinson,  Miles  H. 

Davis,  Ezekiel 

Rhea,  Joseph 

Furgeson,  John 

Risinger,  David 

Guild,  Charles 

Stewart,  Archibald  A. 

Gillespie,  William  F. 

Spencer,  William  F. 

Goodrich,  Manzer  J. 

Sloab,  Stephen  M. 

Hefftefiuger,  W.  ,T. 

Spearbeck,  Theodore  A. 

Hendrickson,  S.  W. 

Steel,  Joseph  H. 

Hadden,  Bartholomew 

Snyder,  George 

Hathaway,  R.  M. 

Tennant,  Lewis  W. 

Halstead,  Richard  R.  (re.) 

Tennant,  Walter  (re-enlisted) 

Halstead,  Chas.  S.  (re-enlisted)  Tooley,  John  H. 

Harding,  Elijah  C. 

Taylor,  Charles  M. 

Hill,  Pardon 

Tiffany,  Alonzo  (re-enlisted) 

Hobert,  James  (re-enlisted)  Tiffany,  Amos  N. 

Hileman,  David  Y. 

Tennant,  Myron 

Halstead,  John  A. 

Williams,  Sherman 

Jamison,  William 

Wilber,  Henry  J. 

Johnson,  William 

Williams,  Solomon  (re-enlisted) 

Kelley,  David 

Williams,  Ralph  3 

Kelley,  Samuel 

Yonkinburg,  A. 

Kunkle,  Emanuel  E. 

Young,  Albert  ^ 

Loughery,  Wilson 

COMPANY  H,  ONE  HUNDRED  AND  SEVENTY-SEVENTH 

REGIMENT,  DRAFTED  MILITIA. 

Mustered  into  service  November,  1862  ; mustered  out  August,  1863. 

Captain, 

Edward  W.  Rogers. 

Second  Lieutenant,  Samuel  Smith. 

Sergeants. 

First,  George  E.  Dodge 

James  McCauly 

First,  A.  C.  Parliman^ 

George  H.  France 

Corporals. 

Thomas  J.  Nicholson 

George  K.  Cooley  ® 

Peter  A.  Conrad 

Thomas  Foley 

Musicians. 

Emory  B.  Larribee 

John  L.  Williams 

Privates. 

Adams,  James  E.7 

Chamberlain,  Lewia 

Bagley,  Edward  P. 

Carey,  Chesterfield 

Bryant,  Harvey 

Conway,  Henry 

Bartle,  John 

Colby,  Lawrence  8 

Buel,  Nathan 

Chamberlain,  Levi 

Brink,  Porter 

Cooley,  George  K. 

Blakeslee,  Lewis 

Downs,  James® 

Biglow,  John 

Downs,  John 

Cadden,  Owen 

Dutcher,  Stephen  lo 

Chamberlin,  C.  K. 

Edgecome,  Lyman 

Cole,  Charles  0. 

Felton,  Christian 

Cromwell,  John 

Ford,  George  D. 

1 Transferred  to  Company  K Dec.  30,  1862. 

2 Died  Mar.  6, 1863. 

8 Died  at  Suffolk,  Va.,  Feb.  1,  1863, 

4 Died  at  Suffolk,  Va.,  Jan.  21,  1863. 
s Discharged  on  surgeon’s  certificate  April  18,  1863. 

6 Died  at  Suffolk,  Va.,  February  0,  1863. 

7 Re-enlisted  in  Ninth  New  York  Heavy  Artillery. 

8 Not  with  company  at  muster  out. 

Q Re-enlisted  in  Company  A,  Fifty-third  Regiment. 

10  Discharged  on  surgeon’s  certificate  November  12, 1862. 


France,  Wesley  L. 

Murphy,  Matthew 

Filan,  John 

McLane,  Samuel 

Hill,  Minor  R.  n 

Nicholson,  James 

Hathaway,  Raynsford 

Nichols,  Henry 

Hurlburt,  David 

Otis,  Theodore 

Jackson,  Scriver 

Pettis,  George 

Knapp,  Lebius 

Pooler,  George  E. 

Lagier,  Benjamin 

Quick,  Stephen 

Lane,  Daniel  W. 

Rose,  Henry  C. 

Lalley,  John 

Sheldon,  Daniel  L. 

Lathrop,  William  K.  12 

Stage,  Richard  H.  (re-enlisted) 

Lewis,  Obadiah 

Schryver,  Jackson 

McCannon,  James 

Titman,  Philip  i5 

Many,  Henry  C.  13 

Wrighter,  Marvin  0. 

Munson,  Edward 

Whitaker,  Edwin 

Mills,  John  E. 

Warner,  John  T. 

Mills,  Dwight 

Warner,  Amos 

COMPANY  “B,  TWENTY-EIGHTH  REGIMENT  PENNSYL- 
VANIA MILITIA. 

Mustered  in  June  19-24,  1863  ; discharged  July  27,  1863. 

Captains. 

William  H.  Jessup  lo  William  E.  Post 

First  Lieutenant^  Benjamin  S.  Bentley 
Second  Lieutenant.,  Henry  F.  Atherton. 

Sergeants. 

Henry  C Foster  Charles  H.  Webb 

Charles  F.  Watrous  William  H.  Stebbins  (re-enlisted) 

William  L.  Cox 
Corporals 

George  F.  Bentley  William  E.  Thayer 

Marcus  Hunter  Lewis  Langdon 


Musician^  Henry  F.  Kesler 
Privates 


Atherton,  Jesse  L. 

Mott,  Edson 

Barnes,  Nathaniel  A. 

Mahoney.  Daniel 

Beach,  Judsoii  (re-enlisted) 

Meeker,  Henry  C. 

Baldwin,  Lyman  M.  (re-enlisted) 

Mulford,  Benjamin  H. 

Bostwick,  Mahlon 

Mack,  Theodore  F.  (re-enlisted) 

Barber,  Isaac 

Moore,  Liiius  W. 

Bors,  Joseph  D. 

McKinney,  Janies  J, 

Chandler,  Benjamin  L. 

Oakley,  Joseph 

Cruser,  Bela  J.  (re-enlisted) 

Odell,  William  N. 

Chapman,  Joseph  L. 

Porter,  Addison 

Du  Bois,  Joseph 

Randall,  John  H. 

Dunmore,  Hamilton  H. 

Rogers,  Edward  J. 

Dodd,  Thomas  P. 

Reynolds,  Philander  (re.) 

Dutcher,  Lewis 

Rose,  William  S.  (re-enlisted) 

Dolloway,  John  W.  (re-enlisted) 

Reed,  William  T. 

Dolloway,  Silas 

Rutherford,  Samuel  P. 

Fletcher,  Joseph  B. 

Quick,  Alvah 

Fisk,  James  M. 

Sayre,  Benjamin  C. 

Fargo,  Elbert  R. 

Sprout,  James  M. 

Faunt,  Augustus  W. 

Smith,  Charles  H. 

Frink,  Charles  A. 

Smith,  Edward  R. 

Fessenden,  Charles 

Sherman,  Cliristopher 

Fordham,  De  Witt  C. 

Scott,  Irving 

Foster,  .George 

Southworth,  Almond  L.  (re.) 

Gerretson,  Andrew  J. 

Summers,  Orner  N. 

Griffin,  Isaac 

Thayer,  Leroy 

Howard,  Calvin  L. 

Taylor,  Jonathan  D. 

Hungerford,  John  R.  (re.) 

Torrey,  Henry  F. 

Handrick,  Joseph  P. 

Tingley,  Edwin  R. 

Lines,  Orrin  A. 

Todd,  Lewis  S. 

Little,  George  P. 

Todd,  Alonzo  L. 

Lines,  Henry  C.  (re-enlisted) 

Underhill,  S.  S. 

11  Discharged,  date  unknown. 

12  Absent,  sick,  at  muster  out. 

13  Discharged  on  surgeon’s  certificate  .January  7,  1863. 

14  Transferred  to  Company  I.  One  Hundred  and  Sixty-third  Regiment 
Pennsylvania  Volunteers,  November  18,  1862. 

15  Discharged  on  surgeon's  certificate  March  5,  1863. 

16  Promoted  to  major  of  regiment. 


THE  REBELLION. 


257 


Van  Aulcen,  Cortriglit 
Williams,  Joseph  H, 
Warren,  Charles  A. 


Watrous,  Benjamin  S. 
Williams,  Augustus  H. 
Waterman,  Bussell 


Corporals. 

Orrin  A.  Lines  (Re.)  M'^m.  E.  Thayre 

Edward  J.  Rogers 


COMPANY  D,  THIRTY-FIFTH  REGIMENT  PENNSYL- 


VANIA  MILITIA. 

Mustered  in  July  2,  1803  ; mustered  out  August  7,  1863. 

Captain, 

Calvin  C.  Halsey 

First  Lieutenant,  Edwin  L.  Weeks 

Second  Lieutenant,  Charles  A.  Ward 
Sergeants. 

Frederick  D.  Warner 

David  P.  Maynard  (Re.) 

John  C.  Lacey,  Jr 

Miner  K.  Williams 

Andrew  F.  Ely 
Corjyorals. 

Albert  B.  Alger 

Robert  S.  Shoemaker 

Charles  Uptegrove 

Gilbert  R.  Stiles 

Alfred  B.  Tingley 

George  D.  Silvius 

George  H.  Leal 

Wm.  W.  Cowles 

Musician 

, Jas.  Southworth 
Privates . 

Anderson,  John  (Re.) 

Kellogg,  Henry  N.  (Re.) 

Ainey,  Albert  J 

Knapp,  Chauncy  L. 

Avery,  Horace  G. 

Loomis,  Horatius  N. 

Baldwin,  Alexanders. 

Lott,  Edward  C. 

Bennett,  Wm.  H.  H.  (Re.) 

Lyman,  Thomas  W.  (Re). 

Bailey,  Ebenezer  T. 

Lyman,  Wilbur. 

Bailey,  Elisha 

Mann,  Findlay  W. 

Barager,  Jonathan  (Re.) 

Marcy,  John  J. 

Barrager,  Simeon  (Re.) 

Martin,  Edward  A. 

Barnes,  Myron  (Re.) 

Mills,  Albert. 

Blackington,  Merrit 

Mills,  Obey  S. 

Blakeslee,  Riley  W.  (Re.) 

Morgan,  Wm.  B. 

Bullock,  Lyman. 

Paine,  Albert  B. 

Ballard,  Frederick  0. 

Peck,  Collins. 

Chamberlain,  Durand 

Place,  Armstrong  B. 

Colvin,  Geo.  N. 

Russell,  Frank  D. 

Davis,  Clark  E. 

Roseugrantz,  Hiram. 

Ely,  Edgar  C. 

Service,  Robert 

Ester,  John  N.  (Re.) 

Stevens,  Frank  D. 

Evans,  Samuel. 

Taylor,  Davis  J. 

Farnum,  Wm.  A. 

Taylor,  Uewellyn  (Re.) 

Farnum,  Zenas  N.  (Re.) 

Tiffany,  Geo.  B. 

Fuller,  Francis 

Thompson,  Cyrus 

Gillett,  Ulric  B. 

Warner,  Sidney. 

Groo,  John. 

Warner,  Wm.  W.  (Re.) 

Hanyon,  Adam  (Re.) 

Whipple,  Chas.  J. 

Ingalls,  Henry. 

Whitney,  Duane. 

COMPANY  Fj  TWENTY-NINTH  REGIMENT  PENNSYL- 
VANIA MILITIA. 


Mustered  in  June  20,  1863  ; discharged,  Aug.  1,  1863. 
Second  Lieutenant,  Horatio  G.  Hotchkiss 
Musician,  Ransaler  McFarland. 


Anson,  Enos 
Adams,  J.  T. 
Comfort,  N.  R. 
Chase,  J.  A. 
Drake,  G.  F. 
Eastwood,  Win. 
Mayo,  Lyman. 
Patrick,  Orrin 


Privates. 

Robinson,  H.  J. 
Scott,  L.  W. 

Shew,  A.  L. 

Slmtts,  J.  D. 

Taylor,  J.  0. 

Van  Barrager,  H.  P. 
Wakeman,  B. 
Westfall,  Geo.  W. 


CAPTAIN  RICHARD  VAN  VALKENBURG’S  COMPANY. 
Organized  September  15,  1802  ; discharged  September  24,  1862. 
Captain,  Richard  Van  Valkenburg 
First  Lieutenant,  La  Fayette  Fitch 
Second  Lieutenant,  William  H,  Jessup 
Sergeants. 

Alphonso  H.  Smith  Henry  C.  Foster 

Sheridan  G.  Pache  Daniel  Sayre 


Musician,  Henry  F.  Keeler 


Privates. 


Atherton,  Jesse  L. 

Lyman,  James  H. 

Avery,  Jerome  (Re.) 

Langdon,  Lewis 

Boyd,  Wm.  H. 

Loomis,  Horatio  P. 

Bard,  Cyrus  W. 

Lung.  Jesse  B. 

Bentley,  Benjamin  S.,  Jr. 

Loomis,  Norman  P. 

Brackney,  John 

Mulford,  Benjamin  H. 

Blakeslee,  Benjamin  F. 

Meacham,  Leman  F. 

Beebe,  Orson  P. 

Millard,  Seward  E. 

Chandler,  Francis  B. 

McCollum,  J.  B 

Conrad,  Horace  J. 

Pierce,  Wm.  L. 

Crandall,  Charles  M. 

Pierson,  Henry  N. 

Cooley,  Zenas  L. 

Phillips,  Jonas 

Carpenter,  David  B. 

Post,  Norman  J. 

Dumore,  Hamilton  H. 

Park,  Solomon  T. 

Darrow,  Augustus. 

Robinson,  Miles  II. 

Doolittle,  Lyman  E. 

Stephens,  Chandler  (Re.) 

Dunham,  Lewis  R. 

_ Sherman,  Christopher 

Day,  Charles  C. 

Smith,  Charles  H, 

Ely,  Edgar  C. 

Shipman,  Frederick  E. 

Fordham-,  De  Witt  C. 

Southworth,  Henry  M. 

Fordham,  Gilbert  F. 

Smith,  Justus 

Faurott,  Augustin  W. 

Sheldon,  Nelson  W. 

Fletcher,  Joseph  B. 

Simpson,  Wm.  B.  (Re.) 

Griffin,  Bela 

Smales,  Wm. 

Grow,  John 

Tyler,  Henry  C. 

Granger,  Edward 

Tyrrell,  Seth 

Harris,  Isaac 

Tiffany,  Theron  W.  (Re.) 

Hungerford,  Clark  E.  (Re.) 

Thompson,  Horace  V. 

House,  Wm.  A. 

Vought,  Wm.  H. 

Hunter,  Marcus 

Webb,  Chas.  H. 

Jessup,  George  A. 

Welsh,  Daniel  T. 

Johnson,  Henry  P. 

Wheelock,  Ziba 

Johnson,  Cassius. 

Wilson,  Chas.  I). 

Little,  George  P. 

Young,  James. 

IDENTIFIED  MISCELLANEOUS  LIST. 

The  following  list  evidences  the  fact  that  Susque- 
hanna County  “ boys  ” served  in  every  arm  of  the 
service,  both  on  sea  and  land,  and  that  they  “ took  the 
touch  of  elbows  ” with  the  patriotic  sons  of  almost 
every  loyal  State. 

Alexander,  Wm.,  siir.  U.  S.  Vols. 

Ainey,  Peter,  priv.,  Co.  K,  1st  N.  J.  Vols. ; wd.  at  Wilderness  and  captd.; 
died  in  Andersonville. 

Ainey,  Nicholas  0.,  priv.,  Co.  G,  13th  Pa.  Cav. ; en.  Sept.  4,  ’62  ; inns. 

out  with  Co.  July  14,  ’Go. 

Allen,  Abram,  killed  in  battle. 

Alpaugli,  Win.,  Co.  G,  0th  N.  Y.  Heavy  Art. 

Ambrose,  David,  Co.  B,  2d  Del.  Inf. 

Adams,  Jas.  E,,  Co.  G,  9th  N.  Y.  Heavy  Art. 

Adams,  E.  L.,  Co.  G,  35th  Pa.  Militia. 

Archer,  Geo.  W.,  Co.  A,  11th  N.  Y.  Cav. 

Avery,  Eli  L.,  Co.  L,  1st  N.  Y.  Vet.  (’av. 

Archer,  Thos.  J , priv.,  Co.  A,  IGth  Pa.  Cav. ; en.  Oct.  28,  ’62 ; disch- 
witli  Co.  Aug.  11,  ’65. 

Adams,  Chas.  G.,  Co.  H,  8th  P.  V. 

Brush,  Dr.  P.  E..  siirg.  U.  S.  Vols. 

Bushnell,  Henry  I.,  priv.,  Co.  K,  S3d  P.  V.  ; en.  Sept.  1,  ’61  ; died  of 
wdsi  rec.  at  Gaines’  Mills,  Va.,  June  27,  ’02. 

Blakeslee,  J.  G.,  Co.  G,  81st  N.  Y.  Vols.  ; died  in  service. 

Bolles,  Jasper,  22d  N.  Y.  ('av.  ; was  a prisoner  in  Andersonville  ; died  of 
starvation. 

Beebe,  E.  L.,  Co.  K,  185th  N.  Y.  Vols. ; wd.  at  Five  Forks,  Va. ; disch, 
June  12,  ’65. 

Brewster,  Samuel  T.,  2d  Mass.  Cav.  ; died  iu  service. 

Burns,  Andw.  B.,  l»os.  stow.  134th  P.  V.  ; en.Sopt.  10,  ’62  ; mus.  out  with 
regt.  May  2(;, ’63. 

Barns,  Henry,  artificer,  Co.  K,  15th  N.  Y.  Eng. 


258 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


Bowell,  Thos.  S.,  Co.  A,  16th  Pa.  Cav.  ; en.  Oct.  28,  ’62  ; pr.  to  cor. ; mus. 

out  with  Co.  Aug.  11,  ’65. 

Beaumont,  Thos.,  Co.  I,  177th  P.  D.  M. 

Brotzman,  Wm.,  Co.  L,  13th  Pa.  Cav.  ; en.  Nov.  7,  ’62  ; killed  Sept.  26, 

1864. 

Beuninger,  Adam,  Co.  F,  107th  P.  V. ; en.  Mar.  8,  ’62  ; wd.  ; ab.  at  mus. 
out. 

Burchell,  Horace,  Co.  D,  76th  P.  V. 

Barrett,  Hollis  A.,  Battery  E,  1st  Pa.  Art. 

Barrett,  Geo.  W.,  Co.  B,  16th  N.  Y.  Heavy  Art. 

Barnes,  Stephen,  9th  N.  J.  Vols. 

Bryant,  David  L,  1st  N.  Y.  Mounted  Rifles. 

Birchard,  Albert,  en.  Aug.,  ’62  ; killed  on  picket-line  in  front  of  Peters- 
burg, Ya. 

Bronson,  George  C.,  Co.  G,  71st  Cal.  Vols.  ; wd.  at  Wilderness  May  23, 

1865. 

Baxter,  Silas,  Scott  Legion. 

Bowell,  Geo.  E.,  Battery  A,  1st  N.  J.  Art. ; en.  Jan.,  ’64  ; disch.  June  17, 
1865. 

Bliss,  James  H.,  Co.  I,  22d  N.Y.  Cav. ; wd.  and  captd. ; died  in  Ander- 
sonville. 

Brock,  Silah,  124th  Regt.  N.  Y.  Vols. 

Bristol,  Silas  M.,  Co.  G,  9th  N.  Y.  Heavy  Art. 

Burns,  Michael  L.,  Co.  B,  1st  Bat.  U.  S.  Inf, 

Burns,  James  H.,  Co.  B,  1st  Bat.  U.  S.  Inf. 

Brush,  F.  E.,  Ullman’s  Pa.  Batt. 

Brown,  C.  L.,  priv.,  Co.  D,  97th  P.  V.;  en.  Nov.  24,  ’64 ; disch.  by  G.  0_ 
June  28,  ’65. 

Bailey,  James,  priv.,  Co.  B,  12th  Pa,  Res. ; en.  Nov.  13,  ’61  ; died  at 
Acquia  Creek,  Va.,  Dec.  1,  ’62. 

Blakeslee,  R.  W.,  was  in  Co.  D,  35th  Pa.  Mil.  ; re.  in  Co.  I,  22d  N.  Y. 

Cav.,  Dec.,  ’63  ; disch,  at  close  of  war. 

Beach,  Judson,  was  in  Co.  B,  28th  Pa,  Mil.  ; re.  in  U.  S.  Navy  for  two 
years. 

Betts,  Loomis,  priv.,  Co.  I,  97th  P.  V. ; en.  Mar.  1,  ’65 ; disch.  by  G.  0. 
Aug.  7,  ’65. 

Banker,  Levi,  Co.  E,  63d  N.  Y.  Vols. 

Bunnell,  F.  H.,  Co.  A,  21st  Regt.  Mich.  Vols. 

Baker,  Chas.  W.,  priv., Co.  E,  5th  Pa.  Cav, ; en.  Mar.  23,  ’65;  mus.  out 
with  Co.  Aug.  7,  ’65. 

Blakeslee,  Edward  M.,  priv.,  Co.  E,  5th  Pa.  Cav. ; en.  Mar.  23,  ’65  ; not 
on  must. -out  roll. 

Barber,  Israel  W.,  in  Emergency. 

Burrows,  S.  A.,  27th  N.  Y.  Vols. ; served  two  years  ; re.  in  2d  N.  Y. 
Cav. 

Bryant,  Edwin  H.,  Co.  F,  70th  Regt.  N.  Y.  Vols. 

Bryant,  Edward,  Co.  K,  70th  Regt.  N.  Y.  Vols. 

Brink,  Wm.  R.,  Co.  K,  11th  Pa.  Cav. ; en.  Axig.  31,  ’61  ; pr.  to  sergt.; 
wd.  June  23,  ’64  ; com.  2d  It.;  not  mus.  ; mus.  out  with  Co.  Aug. 
13,  ’65 ; vet. 

Brink,  Levi  L.,  Co.  H,  11th  Pa.,  Cav.  ; en.  Nov.  28,  ’63  ; pr.  to  sergt. ; 

mus.  out  with  Co.  Aug.  13,  ’65  ; vet. 

Brink,  Chas.  W.,  Co.  K,  11th  Pa.  Cav. ; en.  Aug.  31,  ’61 ; disch.  Sept. 

1,  ’64  ; exp.  of  term. 

Bryant,  0.,  16th  N.  Y.  Ind,  Batt. 

Burleigh,  John  H.,  9th  U.  S.  Inf. 

Carter,  W.  G.  M.,  en.  Sept.  1,  ’64,  in  U.  S.  Marine  Corps. 

Cogswell,  Edward  S.,  priv.,  Co.  F,  53d  P.  V.  ; en.  Feb.  15,  ’65  ; wd.  at 
Five  Forks,  Va  .,  with  loss  of  arm  ; ab.  at  mus.  out. 

Capron,  Albert,  It.,  3d  Regt.  Ohio  Cav. 

Card,  Dr.  James  C.,  asst,  surg.,  100th  P.  V. ; en.  April  5,  ’65  ; res.  June 
19,  ’65  ; died  before  reaching  home. 

Carpenter,  Wm.  T.,  priv.,  Co.  F,  53d  P.  V.,  en.  Mar.  8,  ’65  ; disch.  by 
G.  0.,  June  12,  ’65. 

Cook,  Thos.  V.,  39th  Regt.  N.  J.  Vols. 

Conkling,  A.  B.,  5th  N.  Y.  Eng. 

Conklin,  Oliver  T.,  Co.  B,  90th  N.  Y.  Vols. 

Carr,  Geo.,  203d  P.  V. 

CosB,  Marshall  A.,  Go.  B,  194th  N.  Y.  Vols. 

Cunningham,  Edward,  killed  at  Franklin,  Tenn. 

Cortwright,  Jacob,  Co.  G,  22d  N.  Y.  Cav. 

Cogswell,  Wm.,  en.  in  July,  ’61 ; died  of  disease. 

Cord,  Chas.  L.,  priv.,  Co.  B,  12th  Res. ; tr.  to  2d  U.  S.  Cav.  May  31, ’64  ; 

pris.  six  months;  disch.  Feb.  27,  ’65. 

Champlin,  Geo.,  drowned  at  Phila.  before  mus,  into  service. 

Cloon,  Geo.,  14th  U.  S.  Inf.  ; w'd.  at  Bull  Run,  with  loss  of  leg. 


Clawson,  Watson,  Co.  H,  1st  N.  Y.  Vet.  Cav. 

Coy,  John,  priv.,  Co.  B,  48th  P.  V.  ; en.  Jan.  17, ’65  ; mus.  out  with 
Co.  July  17,  ’65. 

Cobb,  Dr.  John  W.,  asst,  surg.,  134th  Regt.  P.  V.;  en.  Aug.  25,  ’62  ; 
mus.  out  with  regt.  May  26,  ’63. 

Campbell,  J.  J.,  Co.  A,  5tli  U.  S.  Art. 

Curtis,  Ferand  D.,  Co.  I,  61st  N.  Y.  Vols.  ; died  in  Salisbury  prison  Jan. 
7,  ’65. 

Compton,  Miles,  priv.,  Co.  E,  5th  Cav. ; en.  Mar.  25,  ’65  ; mus.  out  with 
Co.  Aug.  7,  ’65. 

Cassidy,  Peter,  priv.,  Co.  G,  132d  P.  V. ; en.  Aug.  15,  ’62  ; mus.  out  with 
Co.  May  24,  ’63. 

Crocker,  Hyde,  Jr.,  first  enlisted  under  3 months’  call,  in  April,  ’61 ; 
quota  being  full,  in  June  enlisted  in  1st  N.  J.  Cav.  ; pr.  to  2d  It. 
Feb.,  ’63  ; capt’d  June  9,  ’63  ; paroled  Mar.  1,  ’65 ; pr.  to  1st  It. 
Mar.,  ’65  ; mus.  out  June,  ’65.  Probably  there  were  less  than  30, 
among  all  the  thousands  capt’d,  that  passed  so  long  a term  in  rebel 
prisons  (2J.  months)  as  Lieut.  Crocker ; he  was  confined  in  Libby, 
Macon,  Charleston  and  Columbia. 

Doney,  James  H.,  It.,  en.  for  “emergency”  in  ’62  in  Ulman’s  Batt.  ; re: 
in  Batt.  L,  5th  XJ.  S.  Art.  ; pr.  to  sergt.  Sept.  19,  *64 ; pr.  to  It.  in  8th 
U.  S.  C.  T.  ; disch.  in  fall  of  ’66. 

Dunn,  Peter  N.,  enlisted  in  U.  S.  navy. 

Davis,  George  T.,  Co.  B,  90th  Regt.  N.  Y.  Vols. 

Davis,  Nelson,  Co.  H,  12th  Regt.  N.  J.  Vols. 

Downs,  William  B.,  Co.  F,  2d  N.  Y.  Cav. 

Drake,  A.  J.,  Co.  H,  12th  Regt.  N.  J.  Vols. 

Drake,  Daniel  W.,  Co.  B,  4th  Regt.  N.  J.  Vols. 

Deans,  Horace  A.,  hos.  steward  ; en.  Aug.  15,  ’62,  in  Co.  1, 132d  P.  V.  ; 
pr.  to  hos.  steward  ; mus.  out  May  24,  ’63. 

Drake,  Charles,  enlisted  in  U.  S.  navy. 

Delavergne,  Chas,  141st  Regt.  N.  Y.  Vols. 

Derby,  Samuel,  1st  N.  Y.  Vet.  Cav. 

Dowd,  F.  0.,  Co.  F,  155th  N.  Y.  Vols. 

Deuel,  Myron,  Co.  C,  52d  P.  V. 

Eckart,  George,  Co.  C,  18th  U.  S.  Inf. ; killed  at  battle  of  Stone  River. 

English,  Thomas,  21st  Pa.  Cav. ; 2d  enlistment. 

Ernst,  Charles,  Co.  B,  40th  N.  Y.  Vols. 

Eastwood,  William,  Co.  D,  5th  N.  Y.  Heavy  Art. 

Eldridge,  Seymour,  Co.  B,  21st  N.  Y.  Cav. 

Fassett,  Pearl  C.,  Co.  B,  141st  Pa.  Vols. 

Frith,  W.  C.,  Co.  F,  70th  N.  Y.  Vols. ; re.  on  U.  S.  ironclad  “Dictator.” 

Frink,  George  S.,  priv.,  Co.  D,  6th  Cav. ; en.  Mar.  8,  ’65  ; tr.  to  Co.  D, 
2d  Prov.  Cav.  June  17,  ’65. 

Faurot,  James,  Gth  N.  Y.  Art. ; wd.  severely  at  battle  of  Cedar  Creek, 
Va.,  Oct.  19,  ’64. 

Fisk,  Squire  B.,  priv.,  Co.  B,  12th  Pa.  Res. ; en.  Nov.  21,  ’61;  disch.  on 
surg.  cert.  May  24,  ’62. 

Fessenden,  Asa  D.,  34th  Regt.  N.  Y.  Lgt.  Art. 

Faurot,  Wesley,  priv.,  6th  Pa.  Cav.  ; en.  Mar.  13,  ’65  ; tr.  to  Co.  A,  2d 
Prov,  Cav.,  June  17,  ’65. 

Findon,  John,  fireman,  U.  S.  ironclad  “Dictator.” 

Fairchild,  H.  C.,  in  emergency. 

Fisk,  J.  M.,  in  emergency. 

Fiunigan,  Richard,  Co.  F,  70th  N.  Y.  Vols. 

Foster,  Erastus  P.,  Co.  C,  67th  P.  V. 

Flint,  J.  L.,  Co.  H,  89th  N.  Y.  Vols. 

Green,  Porter  L.,  priv.,  Co.  F,  53d  P.  V. ; en.  May  1,  ’65  ; died  in  Field 
Hos.  May  28,  ’65. 

Gamble,  Dr.  G.  M.,  surg.,  U.  S.  Vols. 

Gardner,  E.  L.,  died  in  serv. 

Gates,  Lewis,  enlisted  in  U.  S.  navy. 

Gay,  Treadway  K.,  U.  S.  Signal  Corps. 

Gardner,  E.  P.,  Co.  B,  4th  Pa.  Reserves. 

Gray,  Rev.  H.  H.,  Co.  H,  52d  P.  V. 

Giffin,  Robt.,  Co.  C,  52d  P.  V, 

Gavitt,  James  W.,  Co.  B,  52d  P.  V. 

Gavitt,  Wm.  H.,  chap.  52d  P.  V. 

Green,  Erastus,  Co.  A,  57th  P.  V.;  enlisted  Oct.,  ’61 ; disch.  Oct.,  ’64, 
exp.  of  term. 

Gelatt,  Sizer,  Co.  C,  lOOth  Regt.  Pa.  Vols. 

Grow,  Philander,  priv.,  Co.  B,  132d  P.  V.  ; enlisted  Aug.  11,  ’62  ; died 
near  Falmouth,  Va.,  Dec.  17,  ’62. 

Greely,  Wm.  R.,  fireman,  U.  S.  ironclad  “ Dictator.” 

Galloway,  Geo.  W.,  2d  Regt.  N.  Y.  M.  R. 

Gregg,  Andrew  W.,  Co.  H,  16th  Regt.  N.  Y.  Heavy  Art, 


THJ]  REBELLION. 


259 


Gilbert,  Edward,  Co.  H,  70tb  N.  Y.  Vols. 

Gary,  H.  W.,  Co.  C,  2d  N.  Y.  Vet.  Cav. 

Horton,  W.  W.,  Co.  I,  22d  Regt.  N.  J.  Cav.;  capt’d  and  died  in  Salisbury 
prison. 

Hobart,  James,  New  York  Regt. 

Hobart,  Henry  H.,  14ith  Regt.  N.  Y.  Vols. 

Howell,  Geo.  W.,priv.,  Co.  D,  58th  P.  V.  ; enlisted  Nov.  12,  ’64  ; mus. 
out  Nov.  11,  ’65. 

Holmes,  John,  90th  Regt.  N.  Y.  Vols.;  died  in  service. 

Holland,  Daniel,  Co.  H,  15th  Regt.  N.  Y.  Eng. 

Holland,  Daniel,  Jr.,  Co.  B,  15th  Regt.  N.  Y.  Eng. 

Hanyon,  Peter  B.,  priv.,  Co.  B,  132d  P.  V,;  enlisted  Aug.  11,  ’62  ; disch. 
on  surg.  cert.  Feb.  16,  ’63. 

Hanyon,  Benj.  H.,  priv.,  Co.  B,  132d  P.  V.;  enlisted  Aug.  11, ’62  ; not 
with  Co.  at  mus.  out. 

Hosford,  Hiram,  Co.  I,  22d  Regt.  N.  Y.  Cav. 

Hanyon,  JohnR.,  sergt.,  Co.  1, 22dRegt.  N.  Y.  Cav. 

Hassett,  Thomas,  Co.  F,  70th  N.  Y.  Vols. 

Hyde,  Austin,  Co.  I,  1st  Pa.  Art. 

Hungerford,  Geo.  L.,  priv.,  enlisted  Feb.  27,  ’65  ; tr.  to  Co.  F,  2d 
Prov.  Cav.,  June  17,  ’65. 

Horton,  Daniel  T.,  priv.,  enlisted  Julyy  15,  ’61,  Co.  A,  1st  Pa.  Cav.  ; 

capt’d  Apr,  18,  '63  ; mus.  out  Aug.  1,  ’64. 

Hallstead,  Theodore,  Co.  I,  3d  Regt.  N.  Y.  Cav. 

Hoffman,  Robert,  Co.  E,  120th  Regt.  N.  Y.  Vols. 

Harding,  Benj.  E.,  priv.,  enlisted  Mar.  6,  ’64,  Co.  I,  11th  Pa.  Cav.  ; mus. 
out  with  Co.  Aug.  13,  ’65. 

Hinkley,  Frederick,  priv.,  enlisted  May  15,  ’01,  Co.  B,  12th  P.  R.;  disch. 
on  surg.  cert.  Oct.  15,  ’62. 

Hinkley,  Orrin,  priv,,  enlisted  May  15,  ’61,  Co.  B,  12th  P.  R.  ; disch.  on 
surg.  cert.  Oct.  15,  ’62. 

Hamlin,  Isaac,  priv.,  enlisted  Mar.  1,  ’62,  Co.  H,  12th  P.  R.  ; wd.  before 
Richmond,  Va.,  in  ’62  ; tr.  to  190th  P.  V.  May  31,  ’64  ; disch.  June 
28,  *65,  by  S.  0.  ; vet. 

Harris,  C.  E.,  Co.  K,  1st  Regt.  N.  Y.  Vet.  Cav, 

Hunter,  IMark,  in  emergency. 

Hanyon,  Adam,  in  emergency. 

Hartman,  John,  priv.,  enlisted  Mar.  25,  ’6",  Co.  E,  5th  Regt.  Pa.  Cav.  ; 

mus.  out  with  Co.  Aug.  7,  ’65. 

Halloran,  Michael,  Co.  H,  70th  N.  Y.  V, 

Hamlin,  Charles,  Co.  M,  1st  N.  Y.  Vet.  Cav. 

Hunter,  Geo.  R.,  106th  P,  V. 

Hunter,  George  M.,  52d  P.  V. 

Hubbard,  L.  N.,  Co.  B,  30th  Militia. 

Isbell,  Byron  L.,  U.  S.  Navy. 

Jessup,  Rev.  Samuel,  chap.  6th  Pa.  Res.  ; mus.  in  June  22,  ’61  ; res. 
July  30,  ’62. 

Jessup,  Huntting  C.,  1st  It.  Co.  A,  101st  U.  S.  C.  T.  ; com.  Apr.,  '65; 
disch.  Jan.,  ’66. 

Jones,  T.  J.,  Co.  F,  207th  Regt.  P.  V. 

Jurish,  Charles,  priv.,  en.  ^Sept,  28,  ’64,  Co.  C,  97th  Regt.  P.  V.  ; disch. 
by  G.  0.  June  29,  ’65. 

Jolliff,  John,  Co.  F,  70th  N.  Y.  V.  ; killed  at  Gettysburg,  Pa. 

Kinne,  L.  A.,  Ind.  Regt.  ; died  in  serv. 

Kipfer,  John,  Co.  M,  6th  Regt.  N.  Y.  Cav. 

Kimball,  Chas.  L.,  Co.  I,  15th  Regt.  N.  Y.  Eng. 

Kernan,  John,  27th  Regt.  N.  Y.  V, 

Knapp,  0.  U.,  Co.  E,  121th  Regt.  N.  Y.  V.  ; killed  at  Gettysburg* 

Kane,  Mathew,  Co.  K,  1st  Excelsior  N.  Y.  Regt. 

Kennedy,  A.  B.,  Co.  K,  11th  Pa.  Cav. ; en.  Feb.  1,  ’62  ; pr.  to  sergt, ; 

disch.  Feb.  1,  ’65,  exp.  term. 

Kelley,  Esick,  N.  Y.  Cav. 

Kunkle,  J.  S.,  Co.  K,  4th  N.  J.  Cav. 

Lambert,  Chas.  A.,  Batt.  H,  1st  Art.  ; en.  Aug.  5,  ’61 ; mus.  out  with 
Batt.  June  27,  ’65 ; vet. 

Lewis,  Benjamin,  Co.  C,  152d  P.  V. 

Lowe,  Victor  P.,  died  in  serv. 

Lewis,  Wm.  T.,  52d  P.  V. 

Lowe,  Daniel  C.,  Co.  B,  152d  P.  V. 

Lowe,  Leander  C.,  Co.  B,  152d  P.  V. 

Lathrop,  Edwin,  Co.  F,  106th  P.  V. 

Lathrop,  Anson,  Co.  B,  52d  P.  V. 

Lindsey,  Zina  A.,  Co.  M,  1st  N.  Y.  Vet.  Cav. 

Luce,  Israel  C.,  Co.  H,  44th  N.  Y.  V. ; mus.  out  with  Co.  Oct.,  ’64. 
Lathrop,  Francis  J.,  priv.,  Co.  B,  12th  Pa.  Res.  ; en.  May  15,  ’61  ; disch. 
on  surg.  cert.  May  21,  ’62. 


Laughlin,  Michael,  Pa.  Heavy  Art. 

Lonergan,  James,  U.  S.  Navy  ; on  steamship  “ Crusader.” 

Lament,  G.  K.,  Co.  F,  50th  Regt.  N.  Y.  Eng. 

Lyman,  Marvin  B.,  sergt.  ; en.  Oct.  2,  ’62,  Co.  A,  16th  Regt.  Pa.  Cav,  ; 
tr.  to  Co.  C,  date  unknown  ; disch.  by  G.  0.  July  26,  ’65. 

Lane,  Samuel  F.,  sergt.  ; en.  July  25,  ’61,  Co.  A,  1st  Pa.  Cav. ; tr.  to  U. 
S.  Sig.  Corps  Mar.  1,  ’64. 

Lane,  Newton  A.,  sergt.  ; en.  July  25,  ’61,  Co.  A,  1st  Pa.' Cav. ; disch. 
on  surg.  cert.  Mar.,  ’64. 

Lambert,  Ezra  A.,  priv.  ; en.  Aug.  11,  ’62,  Co.  B,  132d  Regt.  P.  V. ; mus. 
out  with  Co.  May  24,  ’63. 

Leet,  Dr.  N.  Y.,  surg.,  XJ.  S.  V. 

Le  Roy,  L.  L.,  14th  N.  Y.  Heavy  Art. 

Lonergan,  James,  Co.  B,  44th  N.  Y.  V. 

Lott,  Peter  ; en.  spring,  ’63,  in  V.  S.  Reg.  Art.  for  three  years ; disch.  at 
exp.  of  term. 

Lathrop,  M.  E.,  Co.  K,  97tli  P.  V. 

Mowers,  Henry,  Batt.  A,  1st  N.  J.  Art.  ; en.  Jan.  ’64  ; died  in  Aug.  ’64. 

Mathews,  Thomas,  Co.  F,  155th  Regt.  N.  Y.  V.  ; disch.  for  wds.  reed,  in 
action. 

Mayo,  Charles,  21st  Regt.  N.  Y.  V. 

Mayo,  Orrin,  135th  Regt.  N.  Y.  V.  ; tr.  to  6th  Regt.  N.  Y.  Heavy  Art.  J 
died  in  hos. 

Mayo,  Nelson  P.,  144th  Regt.  N.  Y.  Vols. 

Meyers,  Hermon,  144th  Regt.  N.  Y.  Vols.  ; died  in  hos. 

McIntosh,  Nelson,  185th  Regt.  N.  Y.  Vols, 

Marsh,  Silas,  U.  S.  Navy. 

Maynard,  Henry,  Co.  K,  1st  Regt.  N.  J.  Vols. 

McRoy,  Calvin,  13th  U.  S.  Inf. 

McRoy,  William,  Co.  I,  3d  Regt.  N.  Y.  Cav. 

Mahoney,  Daniel,  en.  for  emergency. 

McMan.  Thomas,  14th  U.  S.  Inf. 

Michael,  Joseph,  14th  Regt.  Conn.  Vols. ; re.  in  Battery  A,  1st  Pa.  Lgt. 
Art. 

Michael,  David  S.,  priv.,  Co.  G,  77th  P.  V. ; en.  Nov.  15,  ’61  ; mus.  out 
Dec.  6,  ’64,  exp.  of  term. 

Martin,  Chas.  W.,  priv,,  Co.  B,  132d  P.  V. ; en.  Aug.  11,  ’62;  disch,  on 
surg.  cert.  Jan.  6,  ’63  ; re. 

McCauly,  Levi  G.,  capt.,  Co.  C,  7th  Pa.  Res.  ; en.  June  13,  ’61 ; pr.  to 
1st  It.  Jan.  1,  ’62  ; to  capt.  July  20,  ’63  ; wd.,  with  loss  of  arm,  June 
30,  ’62 ; tr.  to  V.  R.  C.  Dec.  8,  ’63. 

McCauley,  James  N.,  priv.,  Co.  C,  7th  Pa.  Res.  ; en.  July  8,  ’61  ; disch. 
July  8,  ’63  ; re.  in  27th  Pegt.  N.  Y.  Vols. 

McCauley,  William,  sergt.,  Co.  H,  29th  Regt.  N.  J.  Vols. 

McCauley,  John,  Jr.,  Co.  C,  15th  Regt.  N.  J.  Vols. 

Merret,  John,  Co.  C,  27th  Regt.  N.  Y.  Vols. 

Malpass,  Job,  priv.,  Co.  E,  53d  P.  V. ; en.  Sept.  21,  ’64;  disch.  by  G.  0. 
May  31 , ’65. 

Murphy,  Robert,  Co.  G,  N.  Y.  Heavy  Art. 

Morris,  E.  U.  B.,  Co.  D,  41st  Regt.  Pa.  Militia. 

McKernan,  James  (2d),  15th  Regt.  N.  Y.  A’’ols. 

Moore,  George,  sergt.,  en.  May  15,  ’61 ; Co.  B,  12th  Pa.  Res.  ; mus.  out 
with  Co.  June  11,  ’64. 

Meeker,  Charles  A.,  sergt.,  en.  May  15,  ’61 ; Co.  B,  12th  Pa.  Res. ; died 
Oct.  30,  ’62,  of  wds.  received  in  action. 

McKinney,  Edward  N.,  Co.  C,  22d  Regt.  111.  A'ols.  ; en.  June  11,  ’61  ; 
wd.  and  taken  pris.  at  Chickamauga  ’63  ; pris.  3 months  ; disch.  ’64, 
exp,  of  term;  re.  in  Co.  K,  179th  N.  Y.  V. ; disch.  June  8,  ’65  ; vet. 

Meeker,  C.  F.,  en.  May  1,  ’61  ; Co.  H,  25th  N.  Y.  Vols.  ; mus.  out  July 
10,  ’63. 

McFarlane,  Jesse,  Co.  K,  1st  Regt.  N.  Y.  A"et.  Cav. 

Meacham,  Charles,  died  in  hos.  at  Washington,  D.  C.,  three  weeks  after 
enlistment. 

Miller,  Daniel  T.,  4th  N.  Y.  Heavy  Art. 

Marks,  Henry  K.,  Oo.  F,  70th  N.  Y.  A'ols. 

Munson,  S.  B.,  Co.  11,  58th  Pa.  A'ols. 

McMicken,  Hamilton,  Co.  E,  31st  Mo.  Cav.  ; killed  at  Vicksburg. 

Miller,  R.  C.,  Co.  G,  109th  P.  V. 

Miller,  S.  F.,  Co.  C,  14th  U.  S.  Inf. 

Myers,  George,  N.  J.  Vols. ; killed. 

Magee,  Daniel,  57th  Pa.  A'ols. 

Newell,  Edward  F.,  priv.,  en.  Jan.  30,  ’62,  Co.  C,  I2th  Pa.  Res.  ; tr.  to 
190th  P.  V.  May  31,  ’64  ; vet. 

Norris,  William  H.,U.  S.  navy,  mortar  boat  “Norfolk,”  S.  A.  s«pmd.;  pr 
to  ward-room  steward. 

Nash,  William,  fireman  on  U.  S.  ironclad  “ Dictator.” 


260 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


Norton,  Oliver  W.,  priv.,  eii.  Sept.  1,  ’61,  Co.  K,  83d  Pa.  Yols. ; wd.  at 
Gaines'  Mills,  Va.,  June  27,  ’62  ; pr.  to  It.  U.  S.  C.  T.  Nov.  10,  ’63. 

Otis,  Leander,  U.  S.  navy. 

O’Ooiid,  Thomas,  Co.  F,  55th  Regt.  N.  Y.  Yols. 

O’Oay,  Francis,  U.  S.  navy. 

Ottenger,  Charles,  fireman,  U.  S.  ironclad  “ Dictator.” 

Osborn.  Harry,  Co.  K,  156th  Pa.  Yols. 

Perrington,  Judson  J.,  U.  S.  navy. 

Penny,  H.,  en.  Jan.,  ’64,  Batt.  A,  1st  N.  J.  Art. ; mus.  out  with  battery. 

Pickering,  Henry  D.,  Co.  F,  14th  Regt.  N.  Y.  Heavy  Art. 

Payne,  William  A.,  Co.  M,  1st  Regt.  Mich.  Eng.  ; served  2 yrs.  ; disch. 
Sept.  21,  ’65. 

Patrick,  Daniel  C.,  9th  Regt.  N.  Y.  Yols.  ; in  1st  N.  Y.  Yet.  Cav. ; pris. 
in  Andersonville. 

Patrick,  John  H.,  Co.  B,  25th  N.  Y.  Cav. 

Patrick,  Orrin,  was  in  29th  Pa.  Mil. ; re.  in  1st  N.  Y.  Yet.  Cav.  ; killed 
at  Piedmont,  W.  Ya. 

Pryun,  James  L.,  Matthews’  Pa.  Batt. ; killed. 

Perry,  Edwin  0.,  U.  S.  navy  mortar  boat  “ Norfolk,”  S.  A.  squadron;  pr. 
to  ship  carpenter. 

Potter,  Marvin,  priv.,  en.  Nov.  7,  *61,  Co.  B,  12th  Pa.  Res. ; died  of  wds. 
rec.  at  White  Oak  Swamp  June  30,  ’61. 

Penny,  William,  Co.  E,  3d  Regt.  N.  Y.  Cav. 

Purtle,  Thomas,  14th  Regt.  U.  S.  Inf. 

Parke,  Charles  B.,  Nevins’  Pa.  Battery. 

Penny,  Tliomas  E.,  Batt.  A,  1st  N.  J.  Art. 

Phelps,  Otis,  priv.,  en  Oct.  2,  ’62,  in  Co.  A,  16th  Pa.  Cav.  ; tr.  to  Co.  C ; 
died  Nov,  5,  ’63. 

Pierson,  H.  J.,  Co.  D,  144th  Regt.  N.  Y.  Yols. 

Parker,  S.  T.,  in  emergency. 

Parker,  W.  R.,  in  emergency. 

Phinney,  John  B.,  Co.  L,  1st  Ohio  Cav. ; died  in  Libby  Prison. 

Penny,  William,  57th  Pa.  Yols. 

Quick,  Frederick  H.,  priv.,  en.  Mar.  1,  ’65,  in  6tli  Pa.  Cav, ; tr,  to  Co.  F, 
2d  Prov.  Cav.,  June  17,  ’65. 

Roper,  Charles,  enlisted  in  a western  regiment. 

Rendel,  Charles,  unattached  Co. 

Roe,  Peter  D.,  Co.  H,  38th  Regt.  N.  Y.  Y. 

Reidy,  Maurice,  0th  Regt.  N.  Y.  Heavy  Art. 

Reed,  Charles  M.,  U.  S.  Marine  Corps,  enlisted  Oct.  22,  ’61 ; pr.  to 
sergt.  ; disch.  Nov.  11,  ’65,  exp.  of  term. 

Rose,  George  W.,  Co.  H,  143d  Regt.  N.  Y.  Y. 

Ross,  Leander,  34th  Regt.  N.  T.  Light  Art. 

Raynard,  James,  colored  regiment. 

Rogers,  Wm.,  Co.  C,  3d  Pa.  Heavy  Artillery,  enlisted  Aug.,  ’62  ; disch. 
June,  ’65. 

Rathbone,  John  N.,  Co.  C,  38th  Mo.;  died  at  Galena,  111. 

Robinson,  Barrett,  203d  P.  Y. 

Shannon,  Joseph,  Co.  B,  152d  P.  V. 

Spearbeck,  Andrew,  Co.  M,  1st  N.  Y.  Cav. 

Smith,  David,  176th  Regt.  P.  V. 

Snow,  Clinton,  61st  Regt.  P.  Y. 

Snow,  Abel,  Co.  M,  1st  Regt.  N.  Y.  Cav. 

Shew,  Aaron  L.,  was  in  29th  Pa.  Militia  ; re-enlisted  in  1st  N.  Y.  Vet. 
Cav. 

Strickland,  H.  H.,  IT.  S.  Navy  mortar-boat  “Norfolk;  ” pr.  to  yeoman. 

Shay,  Allen,  Co.  F,  12th  Regt.  N.  J.  Y. 

Swan,  Orange  S.,  Co.  C,  2d  N.  Y.  Yet.  Cav. 

Shelp,  Henry  (2d),  Co.  F,  12th  Regt.  N.  J.  Y. ; wd.  at  battle  of  Wil- 
derness. 

Shelp,  John,  Co.  F,  12th  Regt.  N.  J.  Y.;  killed  at  battle  of  Wilderness. 

Safford,  Jedediah,  1st  Conn.  Heavy  Art. 

Searle,  Roger  S.,  priv.,  enlisted  May  15, ’61,  Co.  B,  12th  Pa.  Res.;  tr. 
to  Co.  H,  4th  Pa.  Res.,  July  21,  ’61 ; pr.  to  sergt. -maj.  ; disch.  by 
S.  0.  May  6,  ’62. 

Southworth,  Almon  L.,  Co.  H,  Harris  N.  Y.  Light  Cav. ; capt’d  Oct 
5,  ’64,  at  Fisher’s  Hill,  Ya.,  stripped  of  clothes  and  given  rebel 
rags,  escaped,  was  arrested  as  a spy  by  Union  troops,  ordered  court- 
martialed,  but  identified  by  officers  of  his  regiment. 

Stockwell,  Porter,  63d  Regt.  N.  Y.  Y.;  re-enlisted. 

Smith,  Franklin  E.,  priv.,  enlisted  July  7,  ’64,  in  Co.  C,  93d  Regt.  P. 
V.;  disch.  by  S.  O.  June  20,  ’65. 

Smullen,  Patrick,  Co.  A,  15th  Regt.  N.  Y.  Eng. 

Smith,  Charles  H.,  was  in  28th  Pa.  Militia  ; re-enlisted  in  U.  S.  Ma- 
rine Corps. 

Sherwood,  Lyman  1\I.,  U.  S.  Marine  Corps. 


Shoemaker,  J.  F.,  U.  S.  Marine  Corps. 

Shappee,  Garry,  Co.  E,  loth  Regt.  N.  Y.  Cav. 

Shoemaker,  Burton,  priv.,  enlisted  Aug.  11,  ’62,  Co.  B,  132d  Regt.  P. 
disch.  on  surg.  cert.  Jan.  6,  ’63. 

Simmons,  Emory  I.,  Co.  E,  IGth  Regt.  N.  Y.  V. 

Sherman,  George,  Co.  B,  114th  Regt.  N.  Y.  Y. 

Springer,  Frederick,  Co.  D,  9th  Regt.  N.  J.  Inf. 

Sweet,  George,  48th  Regt.  N.  Y.  Y. 

Stark,  Harmon,  priv.,  enlisted  Aug.  11,  ’62,  Co.  B,  132d  Regt.  P.  V.  ; wd. 
at  Antietain,  Md.,  Sept.  17,  ’62  ; mus.  out  May  24,  ’63. 

Severson,  Edward  C.,  Co.  C,  6th  Pa.  Cav. ; re.  in  Batt.  H,  1st  Pa.  Light 
Art. 

Shaeff,  Manning,  fireman  U.  S.  ironclad  “Dictator.” 

Shaeff,  Washington,  fireman  U.  S.  ironclad  “Dictator.” 

Smith,  James,  Co.  D,  Wilson’s  Zouaves. 

Sexton,  William,  priv.,  enlisted  Aug.  26,  ’64,  Co.  D,  88th  Regt.  P.  V.  ; wd 
April  1,  ’65j/hb.  at  mus.  out. 

Shrimpton,  Joseph  H.,  Co.  C,  6th  P.  I.  C. 

Slater,  Samuel,  Co.  A,  143d  Regt.  Pa.  V. 

Smales,  David,  priv.,  enlisted  March  23,  ’65,  Co.  E,  5th  Regt.  Pa.  Cav. ; 
mus.  out  with  Co.  Aug.  7,  ’65. 

Stillwell,  S.  L.,  Co.  K,  185th  N.  Y.  Y. 

Southworth,  Turner  J.,  Co.  H,  61st  N.  Y.  Y.  ; enlisted  in  ’61 ; died  at 
Washington,  D.  C.,  May  28,  ’62  (see  Southworth  Post,  G.  A.  R.) 

Stockholm,  A.  E.,  enlisted  Aug.  19,  ’61,  Co.  E,  44th  N.  Y.  V.  ; capt’d  May 
8,  ’64.  and  re-capt’d  by  Sheridan’s  Cav.  five  days  afterwards ; re.  in 
same  regt. ; tr.  to  140th  N.  Y.  ; the  last  year  served  in  Md.  bat.  of 
sharpshooters  of  5th  Corps  ; disch.  June  19,  ’65 ; vet. 

Stark,  Nathan,  Co.  A,  193d  N.  Y.  V. 

Sexton,  Henry,  Co.  F,  70th  N.  Y.  V. 

Smith,  Richard,  Co.  C,  97th  Pa.  V. 

Thomas,  Frederick  E.,  priv.,  enlisted  March  7,  ’G2,  Co.  B,  58th  Regt.  P.  Y. 
died  April  19,  ’63,  of  wds.  received  in  action. 

Taylor,  Robert  A.,  priv.,  enlisted  Feb.  27,  ’66,  in  6th  Pa.  Cav. ; tr.  to  Co. 
C,  2d  Prov.  Cav.,  June  16,  ’65. 

Thomas, Leroy  M., priv.,  enlisted  Sept.  5, ’64,  in  Co.  H,  198th  Regt.  P.Y. ; 
wd.  at  Lewis  Farm,  Va.,  Mar.  29,  *65  ; mus.  out  with  Co.  June  4, ’65. 

Taylor,  E.  G.,  fireman  U.  S.  ironclad  “Dictator.” 

Tingley,  Dr.  H.  A.,  asst.  surg.  in  hos.  ; afterwards  with  Batt.  H,  1st  Pa. 
Light  Art. 

Trowbridge,  Charles  E.,  Co.  H,  2d  Regt.  Wis.  Y. ; capt’d  at  first  Bull  Run  ; 
died  in  Richmond,  Va. 

Tewksbury,  Benjamin  P.,  Co.  E,  3d  Regt.  N.  Y.  Cav. 

Taylor,  J.  D.,  priv.,  enlisted  Feb.  25,  ’65,  in  6th  Pa.  Cav. ; tr.  to  Co.  C,  2d 
Prov.  Cav.,  June  17, ’65. 

Teel,  John,  Co.  K,  1st  Regt.  N.  Y.  Yet.  Cav. 

Tyler,  Ebenezer  D.,  priv.,  enlisted  Sept.  1,  ’61,  Co.  K,  83d  Regt.  P.  V. ; 
wd.  at  Gaines’  Mills,  Va.,  June  27, ’62  ; disch.  on  surg.  cert.  Sept.  1, 
’62. 

Tewksbury,  Dr.  A.  D.,  asst,  surg.  155th  Regt.  P.  V-  ; mus.  July  24,  ’64  ; 
mus.  out  June  2,  ’65. 

Tewksbury,  Emmet,  U.  S.  Marine  Corps ; enlisted  Sept.  1,  ’64 ; disch. 
Feb.  24,  ’69. 

Tiffany,  Willis  W.,  priv.,  enlisted  March  3, ’65,  Co.  G,  100th  Regt.  P.Y.  ; 
mus.  out  with  Co.  July  24,  ’65. 

Tiffany,  Cyrus  A.,  priv.,  enlisted  Feb.  18,  ’64  ; not  with  Co.  at  mus.  out. 

Tripp,  Sands  N.,  Batt.  A,  1st  N.  J.  Art. 

Tewksbury,  Ira,  Co.  E,  3d  Regt.  N.  Y.  Cav. ; killed  in  action. 

Tarbox,  Robert,  Co.  I,  22d  Regt.  N.  Y.  Cav. 

Tuck,  Francis,  Co.  F,  17th  Regt.  Mass.  Eng. 

Taylor,  James,  priv.,  en.  Nov.  21,  ’61,  in  Co.  B,  12th  Regt.  Pa.  Res  ; 
disch.  on  surg.  cert.  Oct.  27,  ’62. 

Truesdell,  Harrison,  capt.,  en.  April,  '61,  in  Co.  B,  11th  Regt.  Pa.  3 mos. 
Yols.  ; the  regt.  re-enlisted  and  was  the  first  3 yra.  regt ; Gov.  Cur- 
tin allowed  it  to  retain  its  old  No, ; pro.  to  cor. ; from  cor.  to 
sergt.  Nov.  1,’62  ; to  1st  sergt.  March  1,  ’63  ; to  1st  It.  Nov.  1,  ’64  ; to 
capt.  May  15,  ’65  ; wd.  July  1,  ’63,  and  June  22,  ’64  ; disch.  by  G.  0. 
June  22,  ’65  ; vet. 

Truesdell,  Rollin  B.,en.  April,  ’61,  in  27th  Regt.  N.  Y.  Y ; disch.  in  June, 
’63. 

Taylor,  John  G.,  in  emergency. 

Thompson,  Thomas  N.,  Co.  F,  9th  Pa.  Cav. 

Thornton,  Joshua  D.,  Co.  A,  188th  P.  V. 

Underhill,  William,  killed  at  Petersburg,  Ya. 

Van  Scoten,  George,  saddler;  en.  Dec.  5,  ’62,  Co.  I,  18th  Pa.  Cav. ; died 
June  21, ’63. 


THE  REBELLION, 


261 


Van  Houten,  Thomas,  Co.  F,  12th  Regt.  N.  J.  Eng. 

Vance,  Lorenzo,  Gist  Regt.  N.  Y.  V. ; wd.,  with  loss  of  arm. 

Vail,  Horace  A.,  sergt.,  en.  Sept.  2,  ’Gl,  in  Co.  C,  1st  Hist.  Col.  V.  ; disch. 
Sept.  2,  ’G4. 

Van  Barrager,  H.  S.,  Co.  II,  1st  Regt.  N.  Y.  V.  Cav. 

Watson,  Dallas,  76th  Regt.  P.  V. 

Wilmarth,  Vester,  67th  Regt.  P.  V. 

Wilmarth,  Wesley  S.,  sergt.  Co.  H,  51st  N.  Y.  V.  ; en.  in  ’61 ; wd.  at 
Antietam,  Md.  ; on  detached  service  in  Ky.  ; served  as  pro.  mar. 
until  close  of  war. 

Williams,  John  M.,  priv.  ; en.  June  11,  ’61,  Co.  C,  41st  Regt.  P.  V. 
Walker,  Abram  J.,  Co.  C,  27th  Regt.  N.  Y,  V.  ; re.  in  1st  N.  Y.  V.  Cav. 
Walker,  lanthus  W.,  Co.  B,  64th  Regt.  N.  Y.  V. 

Webb,  John  H.,  Co.  E,  3d  Regt.  N.  Y.  Cav. 

Walker,  Rinaldo,  Co.  F,  12th  Regt.  N.  Y.  V. ; en.  Feb.  22,  ’64 ; died  of 
disease  Jan.  12,  ’63. 

Warner,  Jacob,  Co.  F,  12th  Regt.  N.  J.  V. 

White,  Heni’y,  en.  July,  ’61  ; died  of  disease. 

Woodward,  Charles,  en.  in  the  Pa.  Res.  ; wd.  ; served  during  war. 
Williams,  Rodney,  34th  Regt.  N,  Y.  Lgt.  Art. 

Whalen,  James,  Gth  N.  Y.  Cav.  ; killed  inaction. 

Weller,  James  M.,  Co.  K,  1st  Excelsior  N.  Y. 

Wright,  Stephen,  Co.  F,  24th  Regt.  Pa.  Militia. 

Waldie,  John  S.,  Co.  I,  3d  N.  Y.  V.  : tr.  to  72d  Regt.  N.  Y.  V.  ; died  of 
wds.  rec.  at  battle  of  Williamsburg,  May  20,  ’62. 

Waterman,  Edward  P.,  4th  N.  J.  Ind.  Batt. 

Waterman,  Andrew  A.,  4th  N.  J.  Ind.  Batt. 

Warner,  Matthew,  fireman  U.  S.  ironclad  “Dictator.” 

Wallace,  Samuel,  asst.  eng.  U.  S.  steamship  “Katahdin.” 

Wood,  Thomas  P.,  1st  Regt.  N.  J.  Cav. 

White,  George,  Co.  F,  144th  Regt.  N.  Y.  V. 

Wright,  Orlando,  priv. ; en.  May  15,  ’61,  Co.  B,  12th  Pa.  Res. ; disch.  on 
surg.  cert.  Feb.  9,  ’63. 

Williams,  Alamander,  U.  S.  N. 

Ward,  James  H.,  priv.  Co.  A,  16th  Pa.  Cav.  ; en.  Sept.  6,  ’62 ; tr,  to  Co. 
C Oct,  2,  ’62;  pr.  to  cor.  Jan.  1,  ’65;  to  sergt.  June  14,  '65  ; mus. 
out  with  Co.  Aug.  11,  ’65. 

Whitney,  Chester  W.,  enlisted  in  Western  regt. 

Williams,  George,  Co.  F,  70th  N.  Y.  V. 

Warner,  Charles  A.,  graduated  at  W’est  Point  in  ’62  ; com.  2d  It.  4th  XJ. 
8.  Art.  June  17,  ’62;  served  from  ’62  to  ’66  ; bv.lst  It.  at  Gettysburg 
for  meritorious  service  ; remained  an  officer  of  reg.  army  nine  years. 
Warner,  Edward  R.,  graduate  of  West  Point ; served  during  the  Rebel- 
lion; was  It. -col,  of  a N.  Y.  regt.;  is  now  a capt.  in  reg.  army. 

Wade,  G.  B.  R.,  in  the  emergency. 

Woodruff,  Seldon  A.,  Co.  B,  3d  Pa.  Res. ; en.  July  6,  ’61 ; tr.  to  54th 
P.  V.  ; vet. 

Walker,  Darius,  en.  in  a Western  regt. ; died  in  service. 

Warner,  Loman  D.,  50th  P.  V. 

Yeomans,  F.  C.,  en.  Aug.  15,  ’62,  in  Co.  G,  132d  P.  V.  ; mus.  out  with 
Co,  May  24,  ’63 ; re.  in  Pa.  regt. ; served  11  months  afterwards  in 
construction  corps. 

Youngs,  H.,  162d  N.  Y.  V. ; died  at  New  Orleans. 

Unidentified  List. — The  following  also  enlisted 
from  the  county,  but  we  are  unable  to  place  them 
with  the  organization  in  which  they  served  : 


Avery,  Thomas 
Abbott.  R.  N. 

Abbott,  J.  F. 

Ames,  G.  S, 

Adams,  George 
Atwood,  Timothy 
Ackert,  George 
Ainey.  A.  L. 

Adams,  Malanthon 
Adams,  S.  A. 

Allen,  J. 

Avery,  II.  W. 

Aldrich,  W.  F. 

Angel,  S.  R. 

Beeman,  Joseph  G, 
Boughton,  Benjamin  F. 
Brotzman,  Samuel 
Derringer,  Cliauncy 


Bullock,  Willard 
Bullock,  Benjamin 
Bagley,  J . H. 
Benjamin,  Lyman 
Berthweck,  Charles 
Brown,  Henry 
Bailey,  J.  A. 
Baldwin,  Myron 
Baldwin,  Isaac 
Babsoii,  John  W. 
Bidwell,  George 
Barber,  J. 

Burdick,  William 
Birch,  Philander 
Bloom,  W. 

Burdick,  Peter 
Bolles,  Frc*d. 

Baker,  Cbauncy 


Barber,  Rensalear 
Blessing,  Harlow 
Buchanan,  Benjamin 

Barnes,  

Beauregard, 

Beckwith,  Elias 
Belknap,  Josiah 
Backus,  George 
Burcholl,  Urbane 
Betts,  Julius 
Betts,  Marion 
Bake,  Orrin 
Bailey,  Otis 
Barber,  Marvin 
Bell,  Jasper 
Bonerman,  Augustus 
Baynard,  Edward 
Bailey,  Joshua 
Barnum,  Randolph 
Bruyn,  S.  T. 

Buel,  Daniel 
Burchell,  Frank 
Bronson,  Myron 
Button,  D. 

Burch,  Wilson 
Brink,  D.  L. 
Benedict,  Horace 

Benedict, 

Brigham,  0.  S. 
Bristol,  Sterling 
Clifford,  Lorenzo 
Cool,  George  R. 
Ck)rey,  Henry 
Carter,  Malory 
Conrad,  Alexander 
Crandall,  Ransome 
Carter,  William 
Codington,  Thomas 
Cromwell,  James 
Conboy,  John 
Crandall,  Joseph 
Crissell,  Isaac 
Crissell,  Joseph 
Crissell,  Jourden 
Crissell,  William  H. 
Conklin,  0.  T. 

Clark,  George 
Crissell,  Henry 
Conklin,  Jacob 
Cline,  John 
Carlisle,  William 
Coville,  Joseph  A. 
Camel,  John 
Conklin,  Oliver  C. 
Conklin,  Charles 
Coffin,  Merrit 
Carpenter,  Z. 

Cory,  Alva 
Cory,  Warren 
Carpenter,  Warren 
Carpenter,  Russell 
Curtis,  Jerome 
Cole,  L,  B. 

Crofut,  Cliarles 
Case,  Orson,  Jr. 
Case,  Jerome 
Crandall,  Joshua 
Cameron,  John,  Jr. 
Coney,  William  F. 
Carter,  Abel  A. 
Caswell,  William 
Cole,  Samuel 
Cornwall,  William 
Creestle,  Itosea 
Cummings,  Frank 
Curtis,  Forrand  D. 
Carter,  Reuben 


Champion,  Henry 
Collar,  Ira 
Coleman,  Harvey 
Carter,  James 
Carrier,  Eldred 
Conrad,  Horace  J. 
Clark,  Henry  • 
Clearwater,  R.  M. 
Cowley,  John 
Cafferny,  James 
Cooper,  John  L. 

Cook,  Frank 
Cook,  George 
Duel,  Samuel 
Dinnany,  John 
Dinnany,  Michael 
Dickerson,  A.  J. 
Davis,  R.  R. 

Davis,  George 
Deyoe,  Newton  W. 
Deyoe,  Leroy 
Deyoe,  Lucius 
Driscoll,  Thomas 
Daniels,  Azainus  L. 
Dart,  Augustus 
Dart,  L.  M. 

Dart,  Norton 
Dimmick,  E. 

Dart,  Frank  D. 
Denney,  Wheaton 
Depue,  John 
Dade,  Emanuel 
Decker,  Nelson 
Devine,  Ammi 
Darrow,  Timothy 
Elliott,  McKendry 
Ely,  Marvin 
Edsel,  Harvey 
Eldridge,  Luther 
Ellis,  George  E. 
Edsou,  Daniel 
Ellis,  Stephen 
English,  Daniel 
Foster,  Archibald 
Foster,  E.  A. 

Finney,  John 
Flannigan,  Hugh 
Fancher,  Samuel 
Fairbrother,  Ed. 
Ferry,  Andrew  J. 
Fitzgerald,  William 
Foot,  Myron 
Foster,  Edgar  M. 
Foster,  Luman 
Foster,  Victor 
Furgerson,  Andrew 
Fitzgerald,  Michael 
Frazier,  Curtis 
Fowler,  John 

Fitzgibbons, 

Fusdick,  Gilbert  C. 
Gard,  Samuel 
Giles,  Lyman  E. 
Goss,  Zacburiah 
Giles,  George  I. 
Guernsey,  George  A. 
Griffisk,  Jolin 
Giles,  Judson  A. 
Gavitt,  Charles 
Goodrich,  Nathaniel 
Goble,  Jessup 
Goble,  William  II. 
Gregg,  Andrew  W. 
Gray,  William  II. 
Gardner,  E.  S. 
Gardner,  William 
Golden,  Martin  J. 


262 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA, 


Gates,  Uriah 
Gray,  William 
Gage,  David 
Gary,  John 
Greely,  Robert 
Hill,  Elgeroy 
Hine,  Isaac 
Mine,  Luther 
Hyde,  Anson  B. 

Hall,  Samuel 
Hollister,  Preston  T. 
Holbrook,  Frederick 
Hull,  John 
Hawley,  E. 

Higley,  Timothy 
Hawley,  Jackson 
Hawley,  Leroy 
Hamlin,  William 
Hamlin,  Seth 
Handrick,  H.  W. 

Hill,  Samuel 
Howard,  Oliver 
Hodgkiss,  Wm. 
Hallstead,  J.  T, 

Hall,  Geo.  E. 

Hall,  M.  L. 

Holmes,  John 
Hughes,  George 
Hosmer,  Geerge 
Hallstead,  Joseph 
Hawley,  Benjamin 
Hall,  Lucas 
Houghtaliu,  P. 
Hallstead,  Elisha  (2d) 
Hedsall,  Henry 
Hinkley,  A.  D. 
Harris,  Elijah 
Howard,  Augustus 
Holman,  Melvin 
HufF,  Jackson, 
Hickey,  Edward 
Hall,  Richmond 
Harris,  John  H. 

Hart,  Elbert 
Hallstead,  Joseph  S. 
Hibbard,  Edward 
Hawkins,  Benjamin 
Hill,  Fowler 
Henry,  Uziel 
Handrick,  J.  P. 

Hawley, 

Hunter,  W.  J. 

Hulce,  George 
Hubbard,  Samuel 
Hyno,  Dutcher 
Heary,  John 
Harlan,  P. 

Ireland,  Reuben 
Jacoby,  E.  F. 

Jacoby,  Charles 
Jackson,  Geo.  (Col.) 
June,  John 
Jenkins,  Nelson 
Jacobs,  Robert 
Jackson,  George 
Knolles,  Marshall 
Ketcham,  W.  F. 
Kane,  Roger 
Kane,  Lawrence 
Kane,  Michael 
Keeler,  Samuel 
Keegan,  Thomas 
Kitchen,  Frank 
Kerney,  John 
Kishbaiigh,  L. 
Kishbaugh,  Jerome 


Knapp,  Sylvester 
Kenyon,  Jerauld 
Kenyon,  Henry 
Keeler,  Horace  M. 
Keeler,  Oscar 
Keeney,  Mortimer  T. 
Keeney,  Fred.  M. 
Kittle,  Frederick 
Kittle,  Charles 
Kent,  Henry 
Kelly,  Jacob 
Kendred,  Orlando 
Low,  John 
Low,  Henry 
Lillie,  Jared 
Lyon,  George 
Lacey,  M.  L.  (Lieu.) 
Lindsley,  P.  F. 
Leonard,  Martin 
Lake,  S.  A. 

Losaw,  Daniel 
Low,  Edward  (coFd) 
Lewis,  Streeter 
Lockard,  John 
Larrabee,  Benjamin  H. 
Larral>ee,  L.  D. 

Lord,  James 
Lord,  J.  J. 

Lord,  E.  N. 

Lenox,  George 
Lathrumb,  Albert 
Leonard,  Ed.  C. 

Le  Roy,  Delevan 
Logan,  John 
Lawrence,  Charles 
Malone,  Patrick 
Ming,  Nelson 
Monahan,  Frank 
Monahan,  Peter 
McCarty,  Dennis 
Morgan,  Enoch 
Miles,  R. 

Maryott,  Joseph 
Marshall,  Legrand 
McCreary,  Gregory 
Munroe,  James  0. 
Murphy,  Wm. 

Mayo,  Charles 
Melody,  Henry 
Mason,  Joshua  (col’d) 
Morehead,  Legrand 
Miller,  John 
Myers,  I. 

Miller,  Zeb.  A. 
Mclntire,  Charles 
Malony,  John 
Merrill,  Ansel 
Merrill,  Janies 
Manzer,  Charles 
Manzer,  Henry 
McNamara,  D.  K. 
Millard,  Freeman 
Millard,  Joseph  V. 
Miller,  Adolph 
Mott,  H.  N. 

Morris,  Isaac  N. 

Mott,  Chauncy 
McKinstry,  A.  H. 
Malay,  Edward 
Milmore,  Henry 
Manzer,  Edmund 
McMillen,  Frazier 
Marshall,  Wm, 

Magee,  Theodore 
Mitchell,  Alba 
Mitchell,  David  (Cap.) 


Magee,  Henry 
Mackey,  Geo.  S. 
Mackey,  Joseph 
McNerney,  Thos. 
Mudge,  Alamanzer 
Neba,  Lewis 
Newton,  Z,  0. 
Northrup,  Benson 
Noble,  Chas.  H. 
Nichols,  Frank 
Oaks,  Nelson 
Oaks,  Daniel 
Odell,  F.  G. 

Odell,  Gersham 
Odell,  Albert 
Oakley,  Hiram 
0’ Donald,  Thomas 
O’Brien,  Patrick 
Oakley,  James. 

Osborn,  Wm. 

Penny,  Chas, 

Park,  Asa  (Lieut.) 
Parmer,  Geo. 

Price,  Edgar 
Price,  Arthur 
Pease,  Charles 
Pickei'ing,  Frank 
Plummer,  Joseph 
Price,  Allison 
Preston,  Geo. 

Perkins,  Lewis 
Pender,  E.  A. 
Parmeter,  John 
Parks,  David 
Phillips,  Lyman. 
Palmer,  Homer 
Perrine,  Abel  R. 
Phillips,  David  W. 
Peck,  J.  L. 

Rolph,  Chas. 

Reynolds,  Chas. 
Reynolds,  Oscar 
Rooney,  Martin 
Richards,  S.  L.  (Capt.) 
Roberts,  Chas. 
Robinson,  John 
Randall,  Henry 
Ramsdell,  Henry 
Ransom,  John 

Ransom,  

Richmond,  Ed. 
Rockwell,  Lymen 
Ridge,  Robert 
Reader,  J.  W. 

Risley,  Benj.  F. 
Ransom,  Alonzo  A. 
Ransom,  Orville 
Reese,  John 
Robinson,  Francis  M. 
Rynearson,  John. 
Robinson,  James 
Robinson,  Warren  E. 
Rogers,  Isaac 
Rosencrantz,  Ziba 
Robbins,  Leander  S. 
Rogers,  I.  B. 
Shoemaker,  Wm. 
Smith,  Davis  C. 

Smith,  Terrance 
Show,  John 
Stilwell,  Julian  W 
Stilwell,  Paul  0, 
Sumne,  Henry 
Smith,  Dan.  W. 

Stark,  Fred. 

Stage,  Eliab 


Slocum,  Lloyd 
Slocum,  Merritt. 

Stark,  Geo. 

Seaime,  John 
Skinner,  Simeon 
Stoddard,  Hiram 

Southworth,  

St.  Clair,  Charles 
Schweckendish,  Aug. 
Shaw,  George 
Stewart,  C.  R. 

Slater,  Charles 
Steenback,  Paul 
Steenback,  J. 

Strickland,  Alvin 
Strickland,  Joseph 
Slocum,  Fred. 

Smith,  Parmenus,  (2d) 
Sprague,  Norman 
Stephens,  Lafayette 
Sackett,  Charles  H. 
Simmons,  J.  B. 

Smith,  Silas  A. 

Stoors,  Russell 
Starks,  John 
Sexton,  Charles 
Stevenson,  Henry 
Steer,  Washington 
Stevens,  Henry 
Slawson,  Henry 
Taylor,  William 
Transue,  Davis 
Tripp,  Alson 
Thomas,  Evan  L. 

Tierney,  Joseph 
Travis,  John  I. 

Tafe,  Frank 
Tafe,  George 
Trowbridge,  Melvin 
Taylor,  Robert 
Turner,  Isaac 
Taylor,  William 
Tiffany,  Judson 
Tarbox,  James 
Townsend,  Sidney 
Thayer,  Edmon 
Tanner,  Riley 
Titus,  Eugene 
Tower,  Warner 
Tupper,  Henry 
Travis,  John  I. 

Truesdell,  Joel 
Tompkins,  Daniel  D. 
Towner,  Calvin 
Towner,  Daniel 
Towner,  Henry 
Trout,  Jacob 
Taylor,  George 
Travis,  Landis 

Thompson, 

Tinglej’,  A.  J. 

Townsend,  H.  E. 

Thomas,  E.  R, 

Underwood,  Marcus  De  L. 
Underhill,  William 
Underhill,  Levi 
Voss,  David 
Vannetten,  Dewitt 
Vannay,  Charles 
Vanorsdale,  Isaac 
Vannetten,  William 
Vanway,  John 
Vanauken,  Jacob 
Vandermark,  Josiah 
Vandermark,  Silas 
Virgil,  William 


THE  REBELLION. 


263 


Vangoider,  A.  C. 

Waterman,  Willard 

Wilbur,  Joseph 

Watters,  John 

Winans,  Ira 

West,  Samuel  E. 

Wright,  Chauncy 

West,  William  F. 

Wilcox,  Daniel 

Webster,  Ira 

Warner,  A.  S. 

Wellman,  Adin  S. 

Weed,  Alvinzy 

Wheat,  Charles  W. 

Woodruff,  L.  H. 

Williams,  Edson 

Wilbur,  Luther 

Williams,  Dwight 

Weaver,  Edgar 

Washburn,  Lan. 

Witter,  Wm.  A. 

West,  John 

Watson,  Edward 

Williams,  H.  L. 

W'oodruff,  L.  H.,  Jr. 

Williams,  George 

M'^ilmot,  Wm.  H. 

Williams,  Guerdon 

Wilbur,  Emory 

Welch,  Thomas 

Warner,  Ed. 

Welch,  Alonzo 

Warner,  Charles 

Washburn,  Floyd 

Williams,  J.  J. 

West,  John 

Wilmarth,  J. 

Wilson,  E.  0. 

West,  Benjamin 

Washburn,  Charles 

Washburn,  Delos 

Young,  David 

Washburn,  Velosco 

Y'oung,  William 

Watson,  Perry 

York,  Benjamin 

Withey,  Orrin 

Woman’s  Work  for  the  United  States  San- 
itary Commission. — The  women  of  Susquehanna 
County  showed  their  patriotism  and  Christian  spirit 
during  the  “ War  of  the  Rebellion  ” by  organizing 
Soldiers’  Aid  Societies  in  the  different  townships, 
where  they  assembled  and  made  haversacks,  shirts, 
picked  lint  and  did  other  work  for  the  comfort  of  the 
soldiers  in  the  field. 

It  is  not  our  purpose  to  give  a detailed  account  of 
all  these  societies.  Miss  Blackman  has  written  at 
length  upon  the  subject  and  we  shall  only  give  a 
brief  synopsis  of  the  work. 

Montrose  Society  was  permanently  organized  about 
January  1,  1863,  with  Mrs.  Mary  L.  Wooten,  presi- 
dent ; Mrs.  F.  B.  Chandler,  vice-president ; Mrs.  M. 

C.  Tyler,  Mrs.  Joel  D.  Lyons,  Mrs.  I.  Vadakin,  Mrs. 
Hugh  McCollum,  Mrs.  Wm.  L.  Post,  Mrs.  Erastus 
Rogers,  Mrs.  N.  Mitchell  and  Mrs.  Gilbert  Warner 
on  financial  and  executive  committees ; Miss  Hetty 

D.  Biddle,  treasurer;  Miss  Ellen  Searle,  secretary; 
and  Miss  Emily  C.  Blackman,  corresponding  secre- 
tary. May  5,  1863,  Miss  Sarah  M.  Walker 
accepted  the  appointment  as  associate  manager  of 
the  W.  P.  B.  of  the  Soldiers’  Aid  Society  for  Susque- 
hanna County.  This  position  virtually  made  her 
president  of  the  Susquehanna  County  organizations 
and  vice-president  of  the  Pennsylvania  Branch  of 
the  United  States  organization.  Miss  Walker  im- 
mediately became  the  directing  spirit  of  the  whole 
movement,  and  it  was  not  long  before  forty  societies 
were  organized  in  the  county.  The  following  is 
from  the  secretary’s  report,  October  18,  1864: 

“ The  Ladies’  Aid  Societies  of  Susquehanna  County 
in  council,  and  friends  of  the  soldiers,  met  at  the 
court-house  at  2 o’clock  p.  M.,  on  the  18th  inst. 
Hon.  Wm.  J.  Turrell  was  elected  president  of  the 
council,  and,  on  taking  the  chair,  addressed  the 
meeting  with  a few  well-timed  remarks.  The  follow- 
ing were  elected  vice-presidents : Hon.  C.  F.  Read, 
B.  R.  Lyons,  M.  C.  Stewart,  Miss  Sarah  M.  Walker,  Mrs. 


L.  Hewen,  Mrs.  Wade,  Mrs.  Cooley,  Mrs.  Stanford, 
Mrs.  Thomas,  and  Mrs.  M.  C.  Stewart.  Secretaries, 
Dr.  C.  C.  Halsey,  Thomas  Nicholson  and  G.  A. 
Jessup. 

“Miss  Sarah  M.  Walker  associate  manager  for  Sus- 
quehanna County,  from  her  list,  called  on  the  different 
societies  to  report.  Reports  were  made  (some  at 
length,  and  some  briefly  and  verbally)  by  the  follow- 
ing, viz. : Montrose,  Elk  Lake,  Springville,  Lawsville 
Centre,  West  Herrick,  Auburn,  West  Auburn, 
Jackson,  Glenwood,  Rush  (Eddy),  Clifford,  Dimock, 
Bridgewater,  West  Harford,  Liberty,  Fairdale  and 
Franklin. 

“Hon.  C.  F.  Read  reported,  as  chairman  of  the 
county  committee  to  the  sanitary  fair,  that  over  $3000 
had  been  sent  to  the  Central  Fair  at  Philadelphia 
from  this  county,  and  Miss  Walker  added  the  testi- 
mony of  one  prominent  in  the  Sanitary  Commission, 
that  the  direct  supplies  thereto  from  this  county  had 
not  been  lessened  by  this  great  contribution  to  the 
fair,  as  had  been  the  case  in  many  other  counties. 
Mrs.  D.  Parish,  of  Philadelphia,  made  a brief 
address.  Mrs.  Holstein,  of  the  same  place,  who  has 
for  the  most  of  two  years  labored  for  the  Sanitary 
Commission,  and  has  recently  come  from  the  front, 
made  a very  interesting  report,  and  many  important 
suggestions.  Said  the  organization  here  was  more 
complete  than  in  any  other  county  she  knew  of.  She 
had  seen  no  rooms  equal  to  those  of  the  Soldiers’  Aid 
Society  in  this  place. 

“ Dr.  Halsey,  secretary  of  the  council,  at  a later  date, 
rejiorted : 

“ A few  societies  were  unable  to  report  by  reason  of 
the  loose  manner  in  which  their  accounts  had  been 
kejit.  Deaths,  sickness  and  removals  are  the  reasons, 
in  some  cases,  of  imperfect  reports.  A large  number 
sent  in  complete  returns  containing  lists  of  all  articles 
forwarded,  with  estimated  cash  value,  while  some  sent 
complete  lists,  with  cash  value  of  only  a part,  or  the 
cash  value  of  all  that  had  been  done,  with  only  a par- 
tial list  of  articles.  Some  have  only  a list  of  articles, 
and  others  only  the  cash  value. 

“Montrose,  Harford,  Uniondale,  Franklin,  Sisters 
of  the  Immaculate  Heart  of  Mary,  Rush,  Forest  Lake, 
Friendsville  and  Forest  Lake,  West  Harford,  Laws- 
ville Centre,  Dimock  (two  societies),  Friendsville,  West 
Auburn,  Clifford,  Springville,  Auburn,  East  Bridge- 
water  and  Little  Meadows  Aid  Societies  have  sent  to 
the  Sanitary  Commission  1247  shirts,  174  sheets,  588 
pairs  drawers,  720  pillows,  755  pillow-cases,  212  arm- 
slings,  291  dressing  gowns,  247  pairs  slippers,  342  pairs 
socks,  1913  towels  and  handkerchiefs,  126  quilts  and 
blankets,  295  bottles  of  wine,  71  gallons  of  wine,  1 keg 
of  wine,  1 cask  of  wine,  28  gallons  syrup,  507  cans  of 
fruit,  2709  pounds  of  dried  fruit  of  all  kinds,  131 
bushels  dried  fruit,  273  packages  dried  I'ruit,  31V 
firkins  of  pickles,  100  pounds  of  butter,  5 tubs  of  but- 
ter, 1 firkin  of  butter,  50  pounds  maple  sugar,  1125 
cakes  maple  sugar,  1731  dozen  eggs,  1 keg  eggs,  16 


264 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


coats,  64  hop  pillows,  2 pairs  shoes,  3a  bushels  apples, 
10  quarts  vinegar,  12  cans  honey,  14  cans  sundi'ies,  11 
bushels  potatoes,  110  needle-books,  etc.,  61  pads,  1 
sack  dried  corn,  8 quarts  dried  corn,  12  pounds  horse- 
radish, 17  pounds  corn  starch,  32  pounds  cheese,  6 
pairs  mittens,  4 pairs  pants,  110  lemons,  300  and  more 
packages  of  unenumerated  articles.” 

The  above  from  the  secretary’s  reports  shows  that 
the  ladies  of  Susquehanna  County  were  deeply  inter- 
ested in  providing  for  the  wants  of  the  “ boys  in  blue,” 
and  much  might  be  truthfully  written  of  the  individual 
sacrifices  of  these  noble  women  ; but  it  is  not  within 
the  scope  of  this  work  to  give  a detailed  account  of 
them ; and  this  brief  synopsis  will  be  closed  with 
a biographical  sketch  of  Miss  Sarah  M.  Walker,  whose 
unselfish  devotion  will  never  be  forgotten. 

Sarah  M.  Walker  was  born  at  Moorehall,  Ches- 
ter County,  Pa.,  not  far  from  the  ever-memorable  Val- 
ley Forge,  October  19,  1799.  She  was  educated  at 
Westtown  Boarding-School,  in  Chester  County.  This 
school  was  early  established  by  the  Friends,  and  is 
still  maintained  by  them.  In  1820  her  father,  Enoch 
Walker,  moved  with  his  family  into  Susquehanna 
County,  and  located  at  Lake  Side,  near  Friendsville, 
where  he  could  enjoy  the  society  and  religious  privi- 
leges of  the  Friends  who  lived  in  that  vicinity  ; for  he 
was  a Friend,  and  had  been  sent  as  a missionary  by 
that  society  as  early  as  1796  to  the  Oneida  Indians 
In  1822  Mr.  Walker  and  family  removed  to  Wood- 
bourne,  in  Dimock  township,  where  George  Walker, 
the  only  remaining  member  of  the  family,  still  resides, 
aged  nearly  ninety  years.  Miss  Sarah  Walker  was  a 
young  woman  twenty-one  years  of  age  when  she  came 
to  this  county.  Educated  in  the  schools  of  the 
Eriends,  and  imbibing  the  spirit  of  her  grandmother, 
she  became  a typical  member  of  the  Orthodox  Fid  ends’ 
Society.  She  was  well  educated,  yet  she  was  not  a 
decidedly  literary  person.  Her  domestic  nature  made 
her  home  life  a blessing  to  her  father’s  family,  and 
especially  to  her  brother,  after  they  two  alone  remained 
of  the  family  on  the  old  homestead ; and  he  is  not 
unmindful  of  her  many  good  qualities,  but  always 
makes  mention  of  her  as  his  “ dear  sister.”  But  her 
kind  heart,  which  contained  so  much  goodness  for  her 
friends,  was  not  confined  in  its  operations  to  the  home 
circle.  Her  benevolence  was  far-reaching,  and  ex- 
tended to  suffering  and  needy  humanity  everywhere. 
These  benevolent  qualities  were  brought  out  in  a re- 
markable degree  in  connection  with  the  Women’s 
Work  for  the  United  States  Sanitary  Commission  in 
Susquehanna  County.  In  this  work  she  traveled 
about  the  county,  and  was  largely  instrumental  in  or- 
ganizing forty  Soldiers’  Aid  Societies  in  the  county. 
Inspiring  and  cheering  by  her  hopeful  disposition  and 
calm  determination  everywhere,  she  was  the  leading 
spirit  in  the  work,  in  fact  as  well  as  in  name.  As 
president  of  the  Susquehanna  branch  of  the  society, 
she  made  visits  to  Philadelphia  and  had  a large  cor- 
respondence. She  discharged  the  duties  of  her  office 


with  such  energy  and  executive  ability  as  to  make 
Susquehanna  the  banner  county  in  the  State  in  the 
soldiers’  aid  work.  Although  opposed  to  war  from 
religious  conviction,  she  labored  for  the  suffering  sol- 
diers with  the  same  zeal  that  she  would  for  suffering 
humanity  anywhere.  One  of  her  well-known  traits 
was  to  find  good  in  everybody.  This  characteristic 
was  so  pronounced  that  it  had  a restraining  effect  upon 
others,  who  refrained  from  speaking  evil  of  any  one 
in  her  presence.  Says  one  of  her:  “Not  a Governor 
of  our  State  within  the  past  forty  years  but  she  has 
importuned,  personally  or  by  letter,  to  interpose  the 
pardoning  power  in  behalf  of  some  poor,  and  as  she 
charitably  believed,  penitent  convict  in  prison,  with 
whose  case  she  (either  here  or  during  her  annual  visits 
to  Philadelphia)  had  been  made  acquainted.”  “At 
the  close  of  the  Rebellion  her  heart  and  influence  were 
largely  given  in  aid  of  the  ‘ Freedmen  of  the  South,’ 
especially  in  their  education  and  enlightenment.” 
By  birth,  education  and  choice  Miss  Walker  was  a 
Friend.  A friend  and  sister  she  was  in  heart  and  deed 
to  all  who  bore  the  image  of  her  Master,  without  re- 
gard to  their  creed  or  mode  of  worship.  In  her  last 
sickness  she  said  to  her  friend.  Miss  Blackman ; 
“There  is  not  a cloud  between  me  and  the  face  of  my 
Saviour.” 

Thus  she  died  in  full  confidence  of  the  One  in  whom 
she  had  trusted,  March  22,  1874,  aged  seventy-four 
years,  and  was  buried,  pursuant  to  her  request,  beside 
her  father  at  Friendsville. 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

GRAND  ARMY  POSTS,  SOLDIERS’  MONUMENT  AND 

woman’s  relief  corps. 

BY  CAPT.  H.  F.  BEARDSLEY. 

The  preservation  of  the  Union  was  accomplished 
at  a fearful  cost  of  blood  and  treasure.  A million  of 
men  confronted  each  other  in  deadly  conflict,  and  the 
land  shook  with  the  tread  of  armed  hosts.  But  after 
Appomattox  what  a grand  transformation  scene  was 
witnessed. 

This  "was  the  end.  The  Blue  and  Gray 
Faded  from  sight,  as  melts  away 
The  frost,  upon  an  April  day. 

After  the  Union  Army  had  disbanded,  upon  the 
suspension  of  hostilities,  and  had  returned  to  the 
quiet  pursuits  of  private  life,  this  organization  was 
founded.  The  purpose  of  its  founders  and  the  broad 
foundation-stone  upon  which  it  was  builded  was  to 
bind  together  in  a bond  of  union  those  who  responded 
to  the  call  of  the  nation  in  the  dark  days  of  rebellion. 
The  watchwords  emblazoned  on  the  escutcheon  of  the 
order  are  Fraternity,  Charity  and  Loyalty,  and 


THE  GRAND  ARMY. 


264  a 


these  words,  which  form  the  basis  of  its  constitution, 
have  so  little  of  a military  character  that  they  could 
have  been  used  equally  well  by  any  body  of  civilians 
who  desired  to  unite  themselves  together  for  the  pur- 
pose of  carrying  out  any  philanthropic  measure.  Any 
foreign  orders  of  a semi-military  character  would 
have  certainly  had  the  word  glory  on  their  escutcheon, 
but  the  founders  of  this  order  wisely  left  the  word  out. 

Is  there  a Union  soldier  whose  heart  does  not  beat 
a quicker  march  when  his  eye  meets  that  splended 
ensign  whose  erimson  folds  now  wave  in  triumph 
over  an  undivided  country,  that  stretches  from  ocean 
to  ocean  and  from  the  lakes  to  the  gulf,  embracing 
nearly  a eontinent,  and  can  say  to  himself,  I at  least 
bore  an  humble  part  in  preventing  the  erasure  of  one 
single  star  from  the  azure  field  that  represents  the 
Union  as  it  was,  as  it  now  is  and  as  it  will  be,  we 
trust,  as  long  as  human  government  may  last? 

The  objects  to  be  accomplished  by  this  organization 
are  as  follows : To  preserve  and  strengthen  those  kind 
and  fraternal  feelings  which  bind  together  the  soldiers, 
sailors  and  marines  who  united  to  suppress  the  late 
rebellion,  and  to  perpetuate  the  memory  and  history 
of  the  dead.  To  assist  such  former  comrades  in  arms 
as  need  help  and  protection,  and  to  extend  needlul 
aid  to  the  widows  and  orphans  of  those  who  have 
fallen.  To  maintain  true  allegianee  to  the  United 
States  of  America,  based  upon  a paramount  respect 
for,  and  fidelity  to,  the  National  Constitution  and 
laws;  to  discountenanee  whatever  tends  to  weaken 
loyalty,  incites  to  insurrection,  treason  or  rebellion, 
or  in  any  manner  impairs  the  efficiency  and  perma- 
nency of  our  free  institutions;  and  to  encourage  the 
spread  of  universal  liberty,  equal  rights  and  justice  to 
all  men. 

Eligibility  to  Membership. — Soldiers  and  sail- 
ors of  the  United  States  Army,  Navy  or  Marine  Corps, 
who  served  between  April  12,  1861  and  April  9,  1865, 
in  the  war  for  the  suppression  of  the  Rebellion,  and 
those  having  been  honorably  discharged  therefrom 
after  such  service,  and  of  such  State  regiments  as 
were  called  into  active  service  and  subject  to  the 
orders  of  United  States  General  Officers,  between  the 
dates  mentioned,  shall  be  eligible  to  membership  who 
has  at  any  time  borne  arms  against  the  United  States. 

Thus  briefly  have  we  noted  the  objects,  aims  and 
purposes  of  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic ; an 
army  which  to-day  numbers  on  its  rolls  nearly  three 
hundred  and  fifty  thousand  men,  but  whose  ranks, 
alasl  are  being  sadly  decimated  each  year — not  by 
the  sword,  but  by  the  reaper.  Death ! The  amount 
expended  in  charity  since  its  organization,  is  nearly 
or  quite  a million  and  a half  of  dollars — the  sum 
expended  the  last  year  (1886)  being  over  two  hundred 
thousand  dollars. 

In  this  Grand  Army,  the  veterans  from  Susquehanna 
County  early  enlisted;  and  in  1867-68  there  were  six 
or  seven  posts  organized.  But  for  various  reasons, 
unnecessary  to  enumerate,  the  order  did  not  llouri.sh, 
17a 


and  in  a few  years,  nearly  all  the  posts  in  the  county 
disbanded.  In  1879  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic 
was  re-organized  throughout  the  country,  and  soon 
afterwards  new  posts  were  organized  in  the  county, 
and  the  order  continued  to  flourish,  while  to-day  we 
have  fifteen  G.  A.  R.  Posts  in  the  county. 

Grand  Army  Posts. — The  following  abbreviations 
are  used  : P.  C.,  Post  Commander  ; S.  V.  C.,  Senior 
Vice  Commander;  J.V.  C.,  Junior  Vice  Commander; 
Adjt.,  Adjutant;  Q.  M.,  Quartermaster;  C.,  Chaplain; 
S.,  Surgeon ; 0.  D.,  Officer  Day ; O.  G.,  Officer  Guard ; 
S.  M.,  Sergeant  Major;  Q.  M.  S.,  Quartermaster  Ser- 
geant. 

Moody  Post,  No.  53. — Moody  Post,  of  Susquehanna, 
was  instituted  April  1,  1867,  and  is  the  oldest  post  in 
the  county,  and  the  only  one  of  the  earlier  posts  that 
did  not  disband.  It  has  had  an  honorable,  though 
varied  career,  having  had  its  hall  and  most  of  its 
property  destroyed  by  fire  on  two  occasions.  Owing 
to  the  destruction  of  its  records,  we  are  unable  to  give 
a list  of  its  charter  members  or  of  its  first  officers, 
though  among  the  number  were  R.  H.  Day,  David 
Mason,  J.  R.  McCauley,  W.  C.  Frith,  Wm.  Eastwood, 
Selah  Brock,  A.  Williams  and  Wm.  Dougherty — the 
four  first  named  being  among  its  first  officers.  A list 
of  its  Past  P.  C.’s  is  also  lacking,  but  the  post  has 
been  commanded  by  R.  H.  Day,  John  C.  Foot,  H.  P. 
Moody,  R.  H.  Hall,  Wm.  H.  Telford  and  Clark  Evans. 
Its  present  officers  are;  D.  T.  Sprague,  P.  C. ; W.  H. 
French,  S.  V.  C. ; A.  G.  Brush,  J.  V.  C.;  Wm.  All- 
paugh,  Adjt.;  L.  Finckenoir,  Q.  M. ; H.  A.  Tingley, 
S.;  Wm.  H.  Telford,  C.;  A.  Westfall,  O.  D.;  H. 
Persons,  0.  G.;  W.  C.  Frith,  S.  M.;  J.  A.  Sutliff, 
Q.  M.  S.  Its  present  membership  is  sixty-five. 

We  regret  that  we  are  unable  to  give  but  little  of 
the  personal  history  of  Dr.  H.  P.  Moody,  after  whom 
the  post  is  named,  for  he  was  an  honored  citizen  of 
Susquehanna,  and  held  in  high  esteem  by  his  com- 
rades of  the  Grand  Army.  In  the  summer  of  1861, 
he  was  instrumental  in  recruiting  company  “F”  of 
the  Fifty-third  Pennsylvania  Volunteers  in  Luzerne 
County,  and  October  12  was  commissioned  its  cap- 
tain. On  the  1st  of  June,  1862,  at  the  battle  of  Fair 
Oaks,  he  was  wounded,,  from  the  effects  of  which  he 
was  compelled  to  resign  in  September  following. 
After  the  war  he  removed  to  Susquehanna  for  the 
practice  of  his  profession,  and  was  afterwards  ap- 
pointed postmaster  of  that  place.  He  died  August  3, 
1869,  from  the  effects  of  the  wounds  he  received  at 
Fair  Oaks,  at  the  early  age  of  thirty-four,  and  is  buried 
in  the  cemetery  at  Susquehanna. 

Captain  Lyons  Post,  No.  85. — Captain  Lyons  Post, 
of  Glenwood,  was  instituted  on  the  29th  day  of 
September,  1877,  and  the  post  was  mustered  and  the 
officers  installed  by  Comrade  James  Smith,  assisted 
by  a delegation  from  Moody  Post,  No.  53.  The  fol- 
lowing were  mustered  as  charter  members:  A.  A. 
Clearwater,  C.  W.  Conrad,  liCamler  Lott,  George 
Simpson,  B.  E.  Miles,  Martin  Conrad,  Israel  Rynoar- 


264  b 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


son,  John  Cameron,  Moses  Brewer,  Noah  Phillips, 
Wm.  J.  Bell,  Henry  P.  Titus,  D.  N.  Hardy,  W.  W. 
Hardy,  P.  J.  Bonner,  Jas.  M.  Conrad,  Geo.  W.  Mapes, 
W.  C.  Kirk,  Cornelius  Rynearson,  C.  M.  Hunter. 
The  officers  at  that  time  installed  were : A.  A.  Clear- 
water, P.  C. ; C.  W.  Conrad,  S.  V.  C. ; Leander  Lott, 
J.  V.  C. : B.  E.  Miles,  Adjt. ; George  Simpson,  Q.  M. ; 
James  M.  Conrad,  C. ; D.  N.  Hardy,  S. ; W.  W.  Hardy, 
0.  D. ; N.  C.  Kirk,  O.  G. ; C.  M.  Hunter,  S.  M. ; John 
Cameron,  Q.  M.  S. 

Soon  after  its  organization  the  post  decided  to  re- 
build and  fit  up  the  hall  over  the  tannery  store,  at 
Glenwood,  which  they  converted  into  a very  fine  and 
commodious  meeting-room.  They  afterwards  added  a 
kitchen  and  dining-room,  thus  making  it  one  of  the 
first  post  halls  in  the  county.  The  post  has  expended, 
in  fitting  up  and  furnishing  its  rooms,  between  seven 
and  eight  hundred  dollars.  But  it  has  not  used  all 
its  funds  in  a nice  hall  and  fine  surroundings.  It  has 
nobly  responded  to  the  calls  of  charity,  and  during 
the  ten  years  of  its  existence  has  expended  nearly 
three  hundred  dollars  for  the  relief  of  deserving  and 
needy  comrades.  The  whole  number  borne  upon  the 
rolls  of  the  post  is  one  hundred  and  twenty-one,  of 
which  number  six  have  died,  twenty-one  have  been 
dropped  or  suspended,  and  fifty-three  have  been 
transferred  to  other  posts,  leaving  a membership  in 
good  standing  of  forty-one.  Past  Post  Commanders 
are:  A.  A.  Clearwater,  C.  W.  Conrad,  Byron  Mc- 
Donald and  W.  W.  Hardy.  The  present  officers  of 
the  post  are;  D.  N.  Hardy,  P.C.;  H.  P. Titus,  S.V.  C.; 
Elias  Hinkley,  J.  V.  C. ; W.  O.  Miller,  Adjt.;  C.  D. 
Millard,  Q.  M.;  Theron  Hinkley,  C.;  Dr.  F.  B.  Davi- 
son, S.;  Byron  McDonald,  O.D.;  Noah  Phillips,  O.G.; 
W.  W.  Hardy,  S.  M. ; J.  G.  Wescott,  Q.  M.  S. 

In  May,  previous  to  the  organization  of  the  post. 
Captain  J.  R.  Lyons,  of  Montrose,  a representative 
soldier  and  worthy  citizen,  died,  and  the  post  unani- 
mously decided  to  perpetuate  and  keep  green  his 
memory  by  giving  his  name  to  the  post. 

Jerome  Richards  Lyons,  son  of  Nathan  H.  and 
Elizabeth  L.  Lyons,  was  born  in  1828,  at  Milford, 
Pike  County,  Pa.  In  early  youth  he  came  to  Mon- 
trose, where  he  grew  to  manhood,  and  for  the  greater 
part  of  his  life  resided  in  his  native  State.  An  archi- 
tect by  profession,  few  surpassed  him' in  skill  in  his 
chosen  calling.  He  was  living  in  St.  Louis,  Mo., 
when  the  life  of  the  nation  was  imperiled  by  the  in- 
auguration of  civil  war.  He  resigned  his  position 
and  returned  to  his  former  home  to  enlist  in  his 
native  State,  and  go  with  brothers  and  friends  to  fight 
for  the  preservation  of  the  Union.  In  September, 
1861,  he  had  a recruiting  station  on  the  Fair  Ground 
during  the  county  fair,  at  which  time  a number 
rallied  around  the  “ Old  Flag,”  and  enlisted  for  the 
war.  November  1,  with  a squad  of  men  from 
Susquehanna  County,  he  went  to  Tunkhannock  and 
joined  a squad  from  Wyoming  County.  A company 
was  organized,  electing  Peter  Sides,  of  Philadelphia, 


captain;  Jerome  R.  Lyons,  of  Montrose,  first-lieuten-  ' 
ant;  Edson  J.  Rice,  of  Factoryville,  second-lieuten-  I 
ant.  Going  immediately  into  active  service  Lieu-  f 
tenant  Lyons  remained  with  his  company  until  late  i 
in  the  winter  of  that  year,  when  he  came  home  on  ; ] 
recruiting  service,  and  in  the  spring  returned  with 
recruits  enough  to  bring  his  company  to  the  maxi- 
mum. (For  service  of  Company  see  Military  Chap- 
ter Company  A Fifty-seventh  Regiment). 

Lieutenant  Lyons  was  promoted  to  captain  Com- 
pany A September  15,  1862.  He  was  wounded  three 
times,  and  was  discharged  for  physical  disability 
for  wounds  received  in  action,  October  6,  1864.  In 
1869  he  was  elected  to  the  office  of  regi.ster  and 
recorder,  and  clerk  of  the  Orphans’  Court,  of  this 
county.  After  the  expiration  of  his  term  of  office 
he  turned  his  attention  to  farming,  but  broken  in 
health  and  suffering  from  wounds  and  sickness  he 
died  at  the  early  age  of  forty-nine  years.  May  5,  1877. 

His  last  work  was  designing  and  superintending  the 
erection  of  the  Soldiers’  Monument,  at  Montrose,  in 
the  inscription  and  building  of  which  he  took  a lead- 
ing and  prominent  part;  and  that  monument  will  not 
only  perpetuate  the  memory  of  the  soldiers  who  fell 
in  defence  of  their  country  from  Susquehanna  County, 
but  will  be  a monument  as  well  of  his  indomitable 
perseverance  and  skill. 

Lieutenant  Titman  Post,  No.  93.  Lieutenant  Tit- 
man  Post,  of  Auburn  Four  Corners,  was  instituted 
November  23,  1878.  On  the  night  of  its  organization 
the  following  charter  members  were  mustered : Calvin 
S.  Gay,  D.  C.  Titman,  C.  L.  Lowe,  0.  M.  Parks,  J.  C. 
Rifenbury,  James  P.  Gay,  E.  L.  Adams,  Davis  D. 
Layton,  Frank  Angel,  Levi  Warner,  John  B.  Over- 
field, Leander  Lott,  M.  H.  Van  Scoten.  We  are 
nnable  to  give  the  names  of  its  first  officers,  its  past 
post  commanders  or  its  present  officers,  with  the  ex- 
ception of  its  post  commander,  who  is  D.  C.  Titman. 

The  total  number  borne  on  its  rolls  is  sixty-seven, 
and  its  present  membership  is  forty-five.  The  Post 
was  named  in  honor  of  Lieutenant  H.  C.  Titman,  a 
gallant  young  officer  of  Company  G Fifty-sixth  Reg- 
iment Pennsylvania  Volunteers.  (See  history  of 
regiment  in  military  chapter). 

Lieutenant  H.  C.  Titman  was  born  in  1835,  at 
Blairstown,  N.  J.  He  was  the  eldest  son  of  S.  Matil- 
da Van  Scoten,  late  of  Auburn,  Pa.  After  casting 
his  maiden  vote  for  John  C.  Fremont,  he  migrated 
with  his  parents  to  Auburn,  this  county.  His  business 
was  that  of  a contractor,  and  when  the  Rebellion 
broke  out  it  found  him  in  Kent  County,  Delaware. 

He  returned  to  his  adopted  State,  where  he  helped 
recruit  and  organize  Company  G,  Fifty-sixth  Regi- 
ment Pennsylvania  Volunteers.  Upon  the  organiza- 
tion of  the  regiment  he  was  detailed  upon  recruiting 
service  at  Philadelphia,  and  did  not  rejoin  his  com- 
pany until  after  the  battle  of  Antietam.  He  re- 
mained with  his  company  sharing  the  hardships  of 
the  campaigns  of  Fredericksburg  and  Chancellors- 


THE  GRAND  ARMY. 


264  c 


ville,  when  he  was  promoted  to  quartermaster-ser- 
geant. This  position  he  filled  acceptably  until  the 
eve  of  the  battle  of  Gettysburg,  when  he  asked  to  be 
relieved  and  returned  to  his  company  for  duty.  He 
participated  in  that  never  to  be  forgotten  battle  with 
his  company  and  regiment.  By  orders  of  Colonel 
Hofman  he  was  promoted  to  second  and  first  lieuten- 
ant of  his  company  for  conspicuous  bravery  in  battle. 
In  the  fall  of  1863  he  again  was  detailed  upon  re- 
cruiting service,  but  rejoined  his  company  before  the 
campaign  had  opened.  The  comrades  of  his  company, 
in  March,  1864,  presented  him  with  a sword  and 
belt,  thus  showing  their  respects  for  his  comradeship  ; 
hut  he  had  scarcely  drawn  it  from  its  sheath  in  the 
Wilderness,  May  5,  1864,  when  he  was  killed  while 
trying  to  rally  his  men,  his  body  and  sword  falling 
into  the  enemy’s  hands. 

Lieutenant  Rogers  Post,  No.  143. — Lieutenant  Rog- 
ers Post,  of  Brooklyn,  was  instituted  June  28,  1879, 
with  the  following  charter  members : T.  E.  Shad- 
duck,  Moses  Caldwell,  G.  T.  Price,  0.  M.  Doloway, 
J.  D.  Richards,  C.  C.  Nichols,  M.  Smith,  John  H. 
Tiffany,  Perry  Sweet,  J.  S.  Sterling,  Wm.  Chase,  L. 

B.  Squires,  J.  W.  Adams. 

The  first  election  resulted  in  the  choice  of  the  fol- 
lowing officers,  who  were  duly  installed  on  the  night 
of  organization : P.  C.,  Moses  Caldwell ; S.  V.  C., 
T.  E.  Shadduck;  J.  V.  C.,  O.  M.  Doloway ; Chaplain, 
Rev.  Getchel;  Surgeon,  John  H.  Tiffany;  0.  D.,  Jo- 
siah  Smith;  O.  G.,  Perry  Sweet;  Q.  M.,  G.  T.  Price; 
Adjutant,  Wm.  Chase;  S.  Major,  J.  Richards;  Q.  M. 
S.,  L.  Squire.  The  post  meets  in  Odd  Fellows’  Hall, 
and  has  a present  membership  of  thirty-five.  The 
present  officers  of  the  post  are  : P.  C-,  J.  W.  Adams ; 
S.  V.  a,  J.  H.  Tiffany ; J.  V.  C.,  R.  P.  Bindley ; 
Adjutant,  T.  E.  Shadduck;  Q.  M.,  0.  M.  Doloway; 

C. ,  M.  Caldwell ; O.  D.,  J.  M.  Whitman ; 0.  G., 
Benj.  T.  Case;  S.  M.,  Perry  Sweet;  Q.  M.  S.,  George 
Mack. 

The  post  was  named  in  honor  of  Lieutenant  Edwin 
Rogers,  son  of  Lebbeus  Rogers,  of  Brooklyn,  where 
he  was  born  on  the  20th  of  July,  1835.  When  war 
was  inaugurated  by  the  firing  upon  Sumter,  he  was 
one  of  the  first  from  the  township  of  Brooklyn  to 
volunteer  for  the  war.  In  June,  1861,  he  became  a 
member  of  Company  H,  Fourth  Pennsylvania  Re- 
serves, and  upon  its  organization  he  was  made  first 
lieutenant.  But  his  health  broke  down  from  the  ex- 
posure and  hardships  of  the  field,  and  he  was  obliged 
to  re>ign  in  October  of  that  year.  He  never  recov- 
ered his  health,  and  died  before  the  close  of  the  war, 
in  January,  1865. 

Captain  Abel  T.  Sweet  was  born  on  the  farm 
where  he  now  resides,  in  Harford,  July  21,  1835. 
He  learned  in  boyhood  to  do  manual  labor,  and  un- 
derstood all  the  departments  of  farm-work.  To  this 
practical  knowledge  he  added  the  usual  home  district- 
school  education,  and  one  term  at  the  Harford  Acad- 
emy. After  attaining  his  majority  he  had  taken  a 


trip  West,  and  spent  some  time  in  the  lumber- woods 
of  Pennsylvania,  when,  in  the  spring  of  1861,  just  as 
he  was  preparing  to  raft  lumber  down  the  West 
Branch  of  the  Susquehanna,  he  read  an  account  of 
the  bombardment  of  Fort  Sumter  by  the  rebels,  and 
at  once  resolved  to  go  to  the  defence  of  his  country’s 
flag.  After  one  day  at  home,  he  enlisted  at  Mon- 
trose, in  Company  H,  Captain  E.  B.  Gates,  Fourth 
Pennsylvania  Reserve  Corps,  under  General  McCall, 
and  was  the  first  boy  from  Harford  to  enlist  for  the 
war.  He  was  elected  fourth  sergeant  of  the  com- 
pany and  accompanied  it  to  Camp  Washington, 
thence  to  Camp  Curtin,  where  the  men  were  sworn 
in,  thence  to  Baltimore  and  the  camp  at  Tenallytown. 
On  November  6th  he  was  promoted  to  first  lieuten- 
ant, at  Camp  Pierpont,  and  the  company  became  a 
part  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac.  The  line  of 
march  was  to  Manassas,  thence  to  Alexandria  and  to 
Fredericksburg,  and  thence  to  the  Peninsula  before 
Richmond,  where  the  memorable  Seven  Days’  Fight 
took  place,  General  George  B.  McClellan  command- 
ing. Lieutenant  Sweet’s  company  lost  heavily,  and 
Captain  Gates  lost  a leg  at  the  battle  of  Charles  City 
Cross-Roads,  one  of  the  Seven  Days’  Fights.  After  the 
battle  the  company  went  into  camp  at  Harrison’s 
Landing.  Lieutenant  Sweet  commanded  the  com- 
pany from  this  time.  He  was  taken  sick  and  was 
off  duty  for  four  weeks,  during  which  time  his  com- 
pany fought  at  the  battle  of  Second  Bull  Run.  On 
October  8,  1862,  he  was  promoted  to  the  captaincy  of 
the  company,  and  commanded  it  at  the  battles  of 
Fredericksburg,  Cloyd  Mountain,  Staunton,  and  five 
companies  at  Lynchburg  and  at  the  skirmish  of 
Lexington.  Captain  Sweet  continued  in  the  service 
until  July,  1864,  when  he  was  honorably  discharged 
and  returned  home.  For  some  time  afterward  he 
took  charge  of  a gang  of  men  for  the  Delaware, 
Lackawanna  and  Western  Railroad  Company,  super- 
intending a coal-breaker.  In  1867  he  purchased  the 
homestead  of  his  father  and  has  since  resided  on  it, 
engaged  in  general  farming.  He  is  a member  of 
Rogers  Post,  G.  A.  R.,  Brooklyn,  a Republican,  and 
takes  an  active  part  in  township,  county  and  national 
politics.  Captain  Sweet  was  a brave  soldier,  is  an 
honorable  citizen  and  possesses  a genial,  social  na- 
ture. His  patriotism  kindles  afresh  when  speaking 
of  the  incidents  of  the  war,  and  his  nerve  is  still 
strung  to  answer  the  call  for  troops  to  defend  the 
Union.  In  February,  1863,  Captain  Sweet  visited 
his  home  on  furlough,  and  on  March  1st  following 
married  Julia  A.  Carpenter,  of  Harford,  a daughter 
of  Tyler  (1802-82)  and  Mary  Graham  (1803-73)  Car- 
penter, and  granddaughter  of  Cyril  and  Mary  (Tyler) 
Carpenter,  both  belonging  to  the  earliest  families, 
who  settled  in  Harford.  This  Mary  Tyler  was  a 
daughter  of  Job  Tyler,  a sister  of  Deacon  .Toab  Tyler 
and  granddaughter  of  John  Tyler,  who  was  born  in 
Attleborough  Mass.,  in  174(),  and  settled  in  Harford 
in  1794,  after  some  of  his  children  died.  Mary  Gra- 


264  d 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


ham  was  a daughter  of  John  and  Isabell  (McFarlin) 
Graham,  natives  of  Scotland,  who  emigrated  to  New 
York  State  in  1803,  and  settled  in  Harford,  near  the 
Lower  Lake,  in  1812.  The  children  of  Tyler  Carpen- 
ter are  Catharine  S.,  wife  of  Edwin  Thatcher,  of  Ra- 
venna, Mich. ; John  G.,  deceased  ; William  T.,  en- 
gineer, of  Columbia  County,  N.  Y. ; Simeon  M.,  of 
Canaan,  Wayne  Co. ; Mary  I.;  Jane  A.,  wife  of  Linus 
W.  Moore,  of  Harford;  Julia  A.,  the  twin  sister  of 
Jane;  Miles  D.,  engineer  at  Olyphant,  Pa. ; and  Alex- 
ander M.,  an  engineer  at  the  same  place. 

The  children  of  Captain  and  Julia  A.  Sweet  are 


Drinker  estate,  a woodland  tract,  and  built  the  pres- 
ent residence,  where  he  spent  his  life  and  reared  his 
family.  He  was  one  of  the  founders  of  the  Harford 
Agricultural  Society,  an  early  advocate  of  temper- 
ance and  a member  of  the  Old  Washington  Temper- 
ance Society  of  Harford.  He  was  a Universalist  in 
religious  belief,  a useful  member  of  society,  and 
served  his  township  in  various  official  capacities. 
His  children  are  Eliza  Ann,  wife  of  Ansel  Page,  of 
Jackson  ; Sarah  Jane,  resides  in  Washington,  D.  C. ; 
Foster  F..,  of  Atlantic  County,  N.  J.,  served  nine 
months  in  the  late  Rebellion  ; George  M.,  enlisted  in 


Arta  T.,  a teacher,  educated  at  Harford  and  Keystone 
Academies ; Mary  L.,  George  Graham  and  Sarah 
Winona  Sweet.  Captain  Sweet  is  the  son  of  Arta 
(1802-78)  and  Sally  Osmun  (1807-66)  Sweet,  the  lat- 
ter the  daughter  of  Embly  and  Catharine  (Teeple) 
Osmun,  natives  of  New  Jersey,  who  died  in  New 
Milford.  Arta  Sweet  was  the  son  of  Elias  and  Abi- 
gail Foster  Sweet,  who  resided  in  the  west  part  of 
Harford,  where  Jackson  Tingley  is  located.  This 
Elias  Sweet  came  to  Harford  from  Attleborough, 
Mass,  in  the  fall  of  1797,  and  was  the  son  of  Amos 
Sweet,  who  settled  here  with  his  wife  and  five  chil- 
dren in  the  fall  of  1795,  from  the  same  place.  Arta 
Sweet  first  settled  the  homestead,  a part  of  the 


the  One  Hundred  and  Forty-first  Regiment,  Com- 
pany F,  Captain  Beardsley ; was  wounded  at  the 
battle  of  Gettysburg  and  died  shortly  afterwards ; 
Captain  Abel  T. ; Hannah  A.,  wife  of  George  War- 
ner, of  Lackawanna  County  ; Hilan  B.,  merchant  at 
Scranton ; and  Eva  C.,  wife  of  D.  Payson  Brewster, 
of  Harford. 

Elias  Sweet  had  children, — Captain  Elias ; Joseph ; 
Alfred ; Hannah,  wife  of  Saxa  Seymour,  was  a mer- 
chant at  Harford;  Eliza,  a Mrs.  Capron,  of  Ohio; 
Arta  ; and  Abigail,  wife  of  Ira  Belcher,  of  Gibson. 

Tremain  Post,  No.  81. — Tremain  Post,  of  Lanesboro’, 
was  instituted  on  the  16th  day  of  June,  1880,  pursu- 
ant to  special  orders  from  department  headquarters. 


THE  GRAND  ARMY. 


264  e 


directed  to  R.  H.  Hall,  of  Susquehanna,  who  was 
designated  to  muster  the  post  and  install  its  officers. 
The  following  were  mustered  as  charter  members : 

G.  E.  McKune,  J.  F.  Stewart,  J.  D.  Shutts,  Noah 
Bisbee,  J.  A.  Hard,  Dr.  C.  H.  Yelvington,  E.  P.  Bag- 
ley,  D.  C.  Patrick,  S.  VV.  Foster,  C.  J.  Duren,  Frank 
Plunkett,  R.  N.  Henderson.  The  following  were 
chosen  as  officers  and  were  duly  installed : P.  C.,  G. 
E.  McKune;  S.  V.  C.,  Noah  Bisbee;  J.  V.  C.,  J.  F. 
Stewart ; C.,  R.  N.  Henderson ; Q.  M.,  J.  D.  Shutts ; 

S.,  Dr.  C.  H.  Yelvington  ; O.  D.,  J.  A.  Hard  ; O.  G., 
S.  W.  Foster ; A.,  J.  O.  Taylor ; S.  M.,  F.  Plunkett ; 

Q.  M.  S.,  C.  J.  Duren. 

After  the  post  was  duly  organized.  Comrade  Wm. 

H.  Telford,  on  behalf  of  Moody  Post,  No.  53,  pre- 
sented a marble  gavel  block,  and  on  behalf  of  Cap- 
tain Lyons  Post,  No.  85,  a gavel  to  the  newly-organ- 
ized post.  The  total  number  borne  upon  its  rolls  is 
sixty-two,  and  its  present  membership  is  forty-one. 
The  post  meets  in  Grand  Army  Hall,  and  owns  furni- 
ture and  post  property  to  the  value  of  three  hundred 
dollars.  Its  Past  P.  C.’s  are  G.  E.  McKune  and  Jas. 
0.  Taylor,  and  its  present  officers  are:  P.  C.,  G.  H. 
Hurlburt;  S.  V.  C.,  W.  C.  Lacey;  J.  V.  C.,  F.  James ; 

S.,  Dr.  C.  H.  Yelvington;  C.,  H.  D.  Wood;  A.,  J.  D. 
Shutts ; Q.  M.,  J.  F.  Stewart ; 0.  D.,  J.  0.  Taylor  ; 
0.  G.,  Paul  Atwell ; S.  M.,  G.  E.  Pooles ; Q.  M.  S., 
G.  E.  McKune. 

The  post  was  named  in  honor  of  Major  Tremain, 
who  enlisted  as  a private  in  the  Eighty-ninth  Regi- 
ment New  York  Volunteers,  but  at  the  time  of  his 
death  he  was  in  command  of  his  regiment  as  its 
major. 

Major  Frank  W.  Tremain,  for  whom  the  G. 
A.  R.  Post  at  Lanesboro’,  Susquehanna  County,  Pa., 
was  named,  was  the  oldest  child  of  William  and 
Harriet  Blanchard  Tremain,  and  was  born  at  Dur- 
ham, Greene  County,  N.  Y.,  in  1843.  At  an  early 
age  he  removed  with  his  father’s  family  to  Lanesboro’, 
where  he  resided  at  the  breaking  out  of  the  Rebellion, 
being  then  eighteen  years  old.  Obtaining  his  parents’ 
consent,  he  commenced  a vigorous  canvass  for  recruits 
and  succeeded  in  getting  several  who  went  with  him 
to  Binghamton  and  joined  the  Eighty-ninth  New 
York  Volunteers,  called  the  Dickinson  Guards 
(named  for  the  Hon.  Daniel  S.  Dickinson).  He  was 
promoted  from  time  to  time  for  faithful  and  merito- 
rious service,  and  escaped  injury  to  the  time  of  his 
death,  April  2,  1865,  in  the  last  moments  of  the  army 
before  Petersburg,  while  he  was  in  command  of  the 
regiment  charging  Fort  Gregg. 

T.  J.  Southworfh  Post,  No.  222. — Southworth  Post, 
of  Franklin  Forks,  was  instituted  October  28,  1881, 
by  Comrade  A.  A'.  Clearwater,  assisted  by  a delegation 
from  Capt.  Lyons  Post,  No.  85,  who  mustered  the 
following  as  charter  members:  B.  J.  Lasure,  E.  C. 
Yeomans,  D.  T.  Salsbury,  G.  W.  Rice,  John  Snow, 

R.  S.  Luce,  I.  C.  Disbro,  A.  L.  Southworth,  M.  V. 
Bisby,  Morris  Reidy,  Jeremiah  Hays.  The  following 


were  also  charter  members  and  were  elected  the  first 
officers  of  the  post,  being  duly  installed  on  the  night 
of  its  organization,  as  follows : P.  C.,  J.  J.  Stockholm ; 

S.  V.  C.,  B.  C.  Vance ; J.  V.  C.,  T.  L.  Smith ; Adjt., 
J.  H.  Munger ; Q.  M.,  S.  B.  Knapp ; C.,  A.  E.  Stock- 
holm ; Surg.,  E.  P.  Munger ; 0.  D.,  A.  M.  Snow ; 
0.  G.,  J.  W.  Palmer;  S.  M.,  H.  B.  Wilbur  ; Q.  M.S., 
Geo.  C.  Hill. 

The  total  number  borne  upon  its  rolls  is  forty-six, 
and  its  present  membership  is  thirty-five.  In  1882 
their  Post  Hall  and  all  their  property,  except  the 
records,  were  destroyed  by  fire.  The  present  officers 
of  the  post  are:  P.  C,,  S.  B.  Knapp  ; S.  V.  C.,  Geo.  P. 
Stockholm ; J.  V.  C.,  J.  W.  Palmer ; Adjt.,  J.  H. 
Munger ; Q.  M.,  W.  L.  Beebe ; C.,  A.  E.  Stockholm ; 

S.,  H.  H.  Dougherty;  O.  D.,  A.  M.  Snow;  O.  G.,  G. 
W.  Rice  ; S.  M.,  E.  L.  Beebe ; Q.  M.  S.,  John  Harsh. 
Its  Past  P.  C.’s  are  J.  J.  Stockholm,  B.  C.  Vance,  T. 
L.  Smith  and  E.  L.  Beebe. 

The  post  was  named  in  honor  of 

Turner  J.  Southworth,  son  of  Arthur  and  Maria 
Southworth,  who  was  residing  in  Liberty  township 
when  the  Rebellion  burst  upon  the  country.  Early 
in  the  fall  of  1861  he  enlisted  in  Company  H,  Sixty- 
first  Regiment  New  York  Volunteers,  and  soon  pro- 
ceeded to  the  front.  In  the  spring  of  1862  he  was 
w'ith  McClellan  in  the  disastrous  Peninsula  campaign. 
He  contracted  disease  amid  the  miasma  of  the  Chicka- 
hominy  swamps  and  was  sent  to  Carver  Hospital,  at 
Washington,  D.  C.,  where,  on  the  28th  of  May,  1862, 
he  died  of  typhoid  fever.  His  body  was  embalmed 
and  brought  home,  and  tenderly  and  tearfully  laid  to 
rest  in  the  cemetery  at  Lawsville — one  of  the  first 
martyrs  of  the  deadly  strife  to  find  a resting-place 
among  his  kindred. 

Simrell  Post,  No.  233. — Simrell  Post,  of  Great  Bend, 
was  instituted  December  9,  1881,  with  the  folloiving 
charter  members : Thos.  Summerton,  R.  Y.  Hazard, 
Francis  S.  Ericson,  A.  B.  Conklin,  L.  W.  Chichester, 
S.  B.  Munson,  Chas.  Hamlin,  George  Wolcott,  George 
Bagart,  0.  A.  Lines,  F.  B.  Decker,  Chas.  M.  Reinhart, 
Robert  Thomas,  W.  A.  Gates,  Stephen  Armstrong, 
Jeremiah  Haney,  Christopher  Guiles,  Henry  Talmage. 

We  are  unable  to  give  the  names  of  its  first  or  its 
present  officers;  but  its  Past  P.  C.’s  have  been  R.  Y. 
Hazard,  0.  A.  Lines  and  Thomas  Summerton,  and  its 
present  P.  C.  is  H.  H.  Williams.  The  total  number 
borne  on  its  I’olls  is  sixty-five  and  its  present  member- 
ship is  forty-one.  The  po.st  was  named  in  honor  of 
Captain  Warren  F.  Simrell,  one  of  the  three  months’ 
volunteers  under  the  first  call  of  President  Lincoln, 
who  afterwards  served  with  distinction  in  Companies 
B and  D of  the  Seventeenth  Pennsylvania  Cavalry. 

Captain  Warren  F.  Simkelu  was  born  in  1841 
in  Scott,  Luzerne  County,  Pa.,  and  was  one  of  the 
fourteen  children  of  William  and  Sarah  Simrell.  At 
the  age  of  sixteen  he  began  to  teach  school,  and  fol- 
lowed that  occupation  until  the  beginning  of  the  war, 
when  he  enlisted  for  three  months,  and  at  the  expira- 


264/ 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


tion  of  that  time  came  home  sick.  As  soon  as  pro- 
nounced well  he  again  enlisted  in  Company  B, 
Seventeenth  Pennsylvania  Cavalry,  and,  upon  the 
organization  of  the  company,  was  made  first  sergeant; 
soon  afterward,  first  lieutenant,  and  subsequently 
promoted  to  captain  of  Company  D,  which  command 
he  held  until  the  close  of  the  war,  being  honorably 
discharged  June  20,  1865.  At  the  battle  of  Chancel- 
lorsville  he  was  wounded  by  a piece  of  shell,  which 
eventually  caused  his  death.  After  his  return  from 
the  army  he  was  book  and  time-keeper  in  the  Dela- 
ware, Lackawanna  and  Western  Railroad  shops  at 
Hallstead,  deputy  postmaster  in  Great  Bend  borough, 
and  subsequently  engaged  in  the  insurance  business. 
In  1869  he  was  elected  prothonotary  of  Susquehanna 
County  and  removed  to  Montrose  and  assumed  the 
duties  of  his  office.  But  death  drew  its  sable  curtain 
betwixt  him  and  the  brilliant  future  that  seemed  to 
await  him,  and,  on  the  21st  of  January,  1870,  the 
office  which  he  had  filled  but  a few  weeks  became 
vacant  by  his  death;  and  thus  upon  our  country’s 
altar  was  laid  another  noble  sacrifice.  His  wife  was 
Mary  Cummings,  who  bore  him  two  children, — Nellie 
and  Warren  F.  Simrell. 

Levi  Moss  Post,  No.  313. — Levi  Moss  Post,  of  New 
Milford,  was  instituted  several  years  since,  but  its 
exact  date  we  have  been  unable  to  obtain,  and  we 
have  no  data  at  hand  as  to  its  charter  members,  or  its 
past  or  present  officers.  The  last  official  report  places 
its  membership  at  thirty-eight.  The  post  was  named 
in  honor  of  Levi  Moss,  an  honored  citizen  of  New 
Milford  previous  to  the  war,  and  who,  with  his  broth- 
ers, was  engaged  in  the  tanning  business  at  that  place. 
When  Captain  Beardsley’s  company  left  New  Milford, 
on  the  22d  of  August,  1862,  Mr.  Moss,  who  had  been 
revolving  in  his  mind  the  terrible  problem  that  the 
war  presented,  suddenly  resolved  to  lend  his  aid  in  its 
solution,  and  joined  the  company  as  it  was  starting 
for  the  front.  He  was  made  a corporal,  and,  true  to 
the  purpose  that  led  him  to  leave  family  and  friends, 
he  was  ever  present  when  duty  called.  The  “ official  ” 
record  of  his  service  is  comprised  in  this  sad  and 
significant  sentence, — “Mustered  into  service  August 
25,  1862;  missing  in  action  at  Wilderness,  Va.,  May 
6, 1864.” 

A.  J.  Roper  Post,  No.  452. — A.  J.  Roper  Post,  of 
South  Gibson,  was  instituted  July  26,  1884,  and  was 
known  as  “C.  M.  Holmes”  Post  until  April,  1887, 
when  a change  was  made  and  the  present  name 
adopted.  The  charter  members  of  the  post  are  Wm. 
Rogers,  G.  R.  Resseguie,  D.  S.  Michael,  G.  G.  Wilier, 
George  H.  Burman,  George  M.  Felton,  Hiram  Stevens, 
George  E.  Bovvell,  James  Griggs,  Theodore  Fuller, 
Prank  Pickering,  James  Keech,  A.  C.  Follet,  George 
Yarrington,  Peter  Patten,  Lawrence  Manzer,  Wm. 
Michael,  James  S.  Hall,  David  Nicholas,  Isaac  Morgan, 
Thomas  Kelly,  John  D.  Pickering,  Wm.  Thorn,  M. 
B.  Davis,  George  Berry. 

Its  first  officers  were  elected  and  installed  as  fol- 


lows : P.  C.,  Dr.  Wm.  Rogers;  S.  V.  C.,  G.  R.  Resse- 
guie ; J.  V.  C.,  Isaac  Morgan  ; Adjt.,  D.  S.  Michael ; 

O.  D.,  James  Keech;  Q.  M.,  A.  C.  Follet;  Chaplain, 
Theodore  Fuller ; O.  G.,  Wm.  Thorn ; S.  M.,  Freeman 
Whitney ; Q.  M.  S.,  Lawrence  Manzer.  The  whole 
number  on  its  rolls  is  forty-seven,  and  its  present 
membership  thirty-five.  The  value  of  post  property 
is  nearly  two  hundred  dollars.  The  officers  for  1887 
are : P.  C.,  Dr.  Wm.  Rogers  ; S.  V.  C.,  Rufus  Barnes ; 
J.  V.  C.,  George  Burman;  Adjt.,  D.  S.  Michael;  Q. 
M.,  James  Keech;  C.,  Gilbert  Witter;  S.,  Frank 
Pickering;  O.  D.,  H.  D.  Pickering;  O.  G.,  George 
Bowell ; S.  M.,  Solomon  Williams;  Q.  M.  S.,  Law- 
rence Manzer ; Past  Post  Commander,  Theodore 
Fuller. 

Sergeant  Augustus  J.  Roper,  after  whom  G.  A. 
R.  Post  No.  452  is  named,  was  born  in  Gibson  in  1839, 
the  son  of  Wm.  Roper,  a well-to-do  farmer,  who  re- 
sided near  Union  Hill.  “Gus,”  as  he  was  familiarly 
called,  enlisted  in  Company  F,  One  Hundred  and 
Forty-first  Pennsylvania  Volunteers,  at  the  organiza- 
tion of  that  company,  and  was  one  of  its  first  corpo- 
rals. He  was  with  his  company  up  to  the  battle  of 
Chancellorsville,  where  he  was  severely  wounded, 
getting  a bullet  through  the  leg,  which  kept  him  from 
the  field  until  March,  1864.  He  was  with  his  regiment 
in  its  campaign  from  the  Wilderness  to  Petersburg. 
On  September  11,  1864,  while  on  duty  as  sergeant  of 
the  advanced  picket,  he  became  exposed  to  the  quick 
eye  of  one  of  the  rebel  sharp-shooters,  and  was  shot 
through  the  head,  killing  him  instantly.  His  body 
was  embalmed  and  brought  home,  and  now  lies  in  the 
Union  Hill  Cemetery ; and  a grassy  mound  attests  the 
resting-place  of  as  brave  a soldier  as  fought  under  the 
folds  of  the  flag. 

Four  Brothers  Post,  No.  453. — During  the  encamp- 
ment of  the  Veteran  Organization  of  Susquehanna 
County  at  Montrose,  September  4,  1884,  Four  Broth- 
ers Post  was  instituted  by  Colonel  Thomas  J.  Stew- 
art, adjutant-general  Department  of  Pennsylvania, 
G.  A.  R.,  assisted  by  Q.  M.  General  H.  G.  Williams^ 
also  of  the  department  staff.  Twenty-nine  charter 
members  were  mustered,  the  ceremonies  being  held  in 
Odd  Fellows’  Hall,  which  was  filled  to  overflowing 
by  members  of  the  Grand  Army.  After  “ muster,’’ 
preceded  by  the  band,  they  all  marched  to  the  camp 
at  the  fair-grounds,  where  the  following-named 
officers  were  publicly  installed  by  Colonel  Stewart ; 

P.  C.,  H.  F.  Beardsley ; S.  V.  G.,  L.  M.  Baldwin  ; J. 

V.  C.,  F.  G.  Warner ; Adj’t,  H.  C.  Jessup ; Q,  M., 

W.  A.  Taylor;  C.,  S.  F.  Lane;  S.,  C.  H.  Smith;  0. 
D.,  S.  B.  Loomis ; O.  G.,  Hugh  Mitchell. 

Following  are  the  names  of  the  remaining  charter 
members:  D.  W.  Searle,  C.  N.  Warner,  W.  F.  L. 
Hartig,  John  Quinn,  Chandler  Stephens,  N.  J.  Huff, 
T.  F.  Mack,  E.  F.  Baldwin,  Joseph  Jameson,  Isaac 
Z.  Babcock,  Jacob  Titman,  Otis  McCracken,  James 
P.  Taylor,  Hamilton  Youngs,  William  Johnson,  C. 


THE  GRAND  ARMY 


M.  Read,  G.  Z.  Dimock,  Hyde  Crocker,  Jr.,  Isaac 
Hamlin,  P.  J.  Hart. 

After  the  “ installatipn,”  by  invitation  of  the  newly- 
made  post,  the  members  of  the  encampment  sat  down 
to  “ bean  soup  ” and  other  army  “ rations,”  seasoned 
with  stories,  speeches  and  songs,  and  all  the  necessary 
adjuncts  of  an  old-fashioned  “ camp-fire.”  The  post 
meets  in  Grand  Army  Hall  (old  court-house),  and  it 
is  the  purpose  of  its  members  in  the  near  future  to 
rebuild  and  remodel  it.  The  total  number  borne 
upon  its  rolls  is  eighty,  and,  with  two  deaths,  and 
three  transfers,  its  present  memberhip  is  seventy-five. 

The  present  officers  of  the  post  are  : P.  C.,  H.  F. 
Beardsley ; S.  V.  C.,  L.  M.  Baldwin ; J.  V.  C.,  W.  F., 
L.  Hartig;  Adj’t,  H.  C.  Jessup;  Q.  M.,  James  P. 
Taylor;  C.,  S.  F.  Lane;  S.,  Dr.  C.  C.  Halsey;  0.  D. 
C.  S.  Page ; 0.  G.,  James  K.  Brady ; S.  M.,  A.  H. 
Berlin ; Q.  M.  S.,  William  L.  Cox.  The  post  was 
named  “ Four  Brothers  ” in  honor  of  four  as  brave 
and  manly  “ boys  ” as  ever  wielded  a sabre  or  sighted 
a musket.  Perhaps  its  appropriateness  cannot  be  more 
clearly  shown  than  by  quoting  from  a published  arti- 
cle written  by  Captain  Beardsley,  at  whose  suggestion 
this  name  was  adopted  by  the  post.  “ What’s  in  a 
name?” — The  inquiry  that  heads  this  article  will 
naturally  be  made  by  those  unacquainted  with  the 
circumstances  that  renders  the  name  adopted  by  this 
post  of  more  than  local  significance.  Early  in  the 
War  of  the  Rebellion,  four  noble  sons  and  patriotic 
brothers  enlisted  in  defence  of  the  flag.  Their  names 
were  Jerome  R.,  Clark  C.,  Luke  L.  and  Benjamin  R. 
Lyons.  Before  Grant’s  victorious  flag  Avaved  over 
Appomattox,  the  three  last  named  were  lying  side 
by  side  on  the  hillside,  in  our  village  cemetery, 
stricken  down  by  war’s  cruel  hand,  and  to-day  their 
bones  lie  mouldering  beneath  the  shadow  of  a broken 
shaft,  emblematic  of  life’s  sudden  ending. 

“ How  significant  the  lines 

• “ ‘ Brave  boys  were  they  ; gone  at  their  country’s  call  ; 

And  yet,  and  yet  we  cannot  forget  that  many  brave  boys  must  fall ! ’ 

“ The  other  brother.  Captain  Jerome  R.  Lyons, 
barely  escaped  with  life  from  the  perils  of  many 
battles,  and  returned  to  his  home  bearing  the  scars 
of  rebel  bullets,  and  with  constitution  shattered  and 
health  destroyed.  He  died  in  1877,  universally  la- 
mented by  his  comrades  and  all  who  knew  him.  The 
beautiful  soldiers’  monument  that  graces  our  square 
is  alike  a monument  to  him  and  his  architectural 
skill  and  ability,  for  he  designed  and  superintended 
its  erection.  The  ‘ Four  Brothers  ’ sleep  their  last 
sleep  in  our  village  cemetery,  and  is  it  not  most  fit- 
ting that  their  memory  should  be  revived  and  per- 
petuated, and  our  post  honored,  by  adopting  a name 
whose  significance  calls  to  mind  a circumstance  per- 
haps without  parallel  in  the  whole  country  ? ” 

The  spirit  of  patriotism  that  with,  it  seemed,  one 
accord,  impelled  these  four  brothers  to  go  forth  in 
defence  of  their  country  and  flag,  was  the  same  as 


264  g 

impelled  their  great-grandfather,  David  Lyons,  to 
help  tumble  the  tea  overboard  into  Boston  harbor. 
We  have  already  given  a brief  sketch  of  Captain 
Jerome  R.  Lyons  in  connection  with  the  post  that 
bears  his  name.  Lieutenant  B.  R.  Lyons  enlisted 
with  Captain  Dimock  in  Company  D,  Fiftieth  Penn- 
sylvania Volunteers,  and  was  second  lieutenant  of  the 
company.  General  Stevens,  in  a letter  to  Lieutenant 
Lyons,  written  shortly  after  he  had  received  the 
wound  that  resulted  in  his  death,  says : “You  have 
acquitted  yourself  nobly  during  your  whole  service 
at  the  South,  commencing  with  your  energetic  con- 
duct on  the  ‘ Winfield  Scott,’  and  ending  with  your 
leading  the  forlorn  hope  at  Secessionville.  I have 
announced  you  as  one  of  my  aids-de-camp,  and  you 
will  continue  as  such,  however  long  your  wound  may 
disable  you.”  He  died  July  6,  1862,  nine  days 
after  the  above  letter  was  \yritten. 

Luke  L.  Lyons  was  also  a member  of  Company  D, 
and  its  first  sergeant.  At  the  expiration  of  his  first 
three  years’  term  of  service  he  re-enlisted.  At  Spott- 
sylvauia  he  was  severely  wounded,  and  died  on  the 
20th  of  May,  1864.  Company  D had  no  truer  or  braver 
soldier.  Lieutenant  Clark  M.  Lyons  was  adjutant 
of  the  Fifty-seventh  Regiment  Pennsylvania  Volun- 
teers— the  same  regiment  in  which  his  brother. 
Captain  J.  R.  Lyons,  served.  He  was  wounded,  while 
charging  with  his  regiment  the  enemy’s  works  at 
Petersburg,  on  the  18th  day  of  June,  1864,  and  died 
two  days  afterwards.  He,  too,  was  a veteran  volun- 
teer, having  re-enlisted — it  seeming  to  be  the 
determination  of  these  four  brothers  to  see  the  end  of 
rebellion  unless  “ killed  or  disabled.” 

Truly  “Four  Brothers”  Post  has  honored  itself  in 
thus  seeking  to  honor  them,  and  perpetuate  and  keep 
green  their  memories. 

Captain  H.  F.  Beardsley  was  born  in  the  town- 
ship of  New  Milford  July  18,  1836.  He  is  the  eldest 
son  of  Jared  and  Polly  (Peck)  Beardsley,  who  were 
both  natives  of  Connecticut,  and  to  whom  clung  many 
of  the  characteristics  of  the  “ Nutmeg  ” State.  He 
has  one  sister,  Lucy  E.,  the  wife  of  Rev.  R.*  J.  Kellogg, 
residing  in  Connecticut,  and  one  brother,  William  L., 
who  resides  in  Kansas.  His  father  was  an  intelligent, 
energetic  farmer,  zealously  wedded  to  agricultural 
pursuits,  but  not  to  the  neglect  of  mental  recreation  or 
intellectual  culture. 

Captain  Beardsley’s  boyhood  was  spent  on  the  home 
farm  until  after  his  father's  death  in  1852,  when,  de- 
sirous of  obtaining  an  education,  he  entered  Wyoming 
Seminary,  at  Kingston,  Pa.,  then  under  the  able  man- 
agement of  Dr.  Reuben  Nelson,  where  he  remained 
two  years,  and,  besides  adding  to  his  store  of  knowl- 
edge, he  gained  many  life-long  friends.  While  at  the 
seminary  he  developed  a taste  for  literary  pursuits, 
and  at  the  close  of  his  school-life  there,  he  shared  the 
honors,  with  a schoolmate,  of  being  selected  to  write 
the  anniversary  colloquy.  He  was  then  engaged  in  cleri- 
cal duties  and  teaching  school  most  of  the  time,  until 


264  h 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


1862,  his  last  term  being  at  Brooklyn,  Pa.  Inclining 
to  the  law  as  a profession,  he  had,  in  1861,  made  ar- 
rangements to  prosecute  its  study  with  McCollum  & 
Searle,  but  the  war  came,  and  Coke  and  Blackstone 
were  thrown  aside  for  Hardee  and  Casey.  Early  in 
August,  1862,  having  received  authority  from  Gov- 
ernor Curtin,  assisted  by  A.  A.  Hempstead  and  E.  B. 
Brainard,  he  recruited  a company,  and,  upon  its  or- 
ganization at  New  Milford  on  the  22d  of  August,  was 
elected  to  command  it.  (Military  Chapter,  Company 
E,  One  Hundred  and  Forty-first  Regiment).  On  the 
forced  march  which  the  regiment  made  from  Arling- 
ton Heights  to  Poolsville,  Captain  Beardsley  became 
disabled  and  was  obliged  to  be  left  behind  when  the 
army  moved.  He  came  near  being  captured  while  at 
Poolsville,  but  managed  to  escape  in  the  “ role  ” of  a 
Quaker  cattle  buyer,  aided  by  his  Quaker  host.  His 
valise,  however,  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  rebels,  and 
in  it  were  his  commission  and  private  papers.  Par- 
tially recovered,  he  joined  his  regiment  just  in  time  to 
participate  in  the  battle  of  Fredericksburg,  December 
13th.  When  the  spring  campaign  of  1863  opened  and 
the  regiment  started  for  Chancellorsville,  Captain 
Beardsley  was  in  command  of  his  company,  though 
weak  and  unfitted  for  the  hardships  and  fatigue  of  the 
march.  Through  the  terrible  ordeal  of  those  three 
days,  culminating  in  the  fearful  carnage  of  that  Sun- 
day morning,  he  remained  with  his  company,  but  af- 
ter the  battle  he  was  unable  to  resume  command,  and, 
being  unfit  for  duty,  was  granted  a sick  leave.  He 
was  never  afterwards  able  to  resume  duty  in  the  field. 
As  to  Captain  Beardsley’s  subsequent  service  we  quote 
from  Chaplain  Craft’s  “ History  of  the  One  Hundred 
and  Forty-first  Regiment,”  page  222,  as  follows: 

In  June,  after  the  battle  of  Chancellorsville,  the 
captain  had  been  granted  a twenty-day  sick  leave  and 
went  home.  He,  however,  accompanied  the  militia, 
who  left  Montrose  in  response  to  Governor  Curtin’s 
call  for  aid  in  repelling  Lee’s  invasion,  tendered  his 
services  to  the  adjutant-general  of  the  State,  was  as- 
signed to  duty  at  Camp  Curtin,  remaining  on  duty 
until  the  expiration  of  his  sick-leave.  Unable  to  reach 
his  regimenthe  reported  to  General  Couch,  command- 
ing the  department  of  the  Susquehanna,  who  ordered 
him  to  Reading,  where  a camp  of  instruction  had  been 
established,  and  shortly  after  he  was  appointed  acting 
assistant  adjutant  general  on  General  Sigel’s  staff, 
then  commanding  the  district  of  Lehigh,  where  he 
remained  until  March  9, 1864,  receiving  an  acknowl- 
edgement from  his  chief  in  general  orders  for  faithful 
and  able  services,  and  leaving  him  in  temporary  com- 
mand until  the  arrival  of  his  successor. 

Captain  Beardsley  continued  to  hold  the  same  place 
on  the  staff  of  General  Ferry,  who  succeeded  Sigel  in 
the  department.  On  the  18th  of  March  he  was  ordered 
to  Chambersburg,  and  was  assigned  to  duty  as  acting 
assistant  adjutant  general  to  General  Couch.  He  re- 
mained on  the  staff  of  General  Couch  until  June  9, 
1864,  when  a special  order  was  received  from  the  War 


Department,  honorably  discharging  him  from  the  ser- 
vice. 

This  order  from  the  War  Department  was  in  accord- 
ance with  previous  instructions,  transmitted  to  Gen- 
eral Couch  as  follows : “ If  at  the  expiration  of  sixty 
days  Captain  Beardsley  is  still  unfit  for  field  duty,  he 
will  be  discharged  the  service.”  For  nearly  a year 
after  this  Captain  Beardsley  remained  at  home  en- 
deavoring to  regain  his  health,  when  being  tendered 
a place  in  the  quartermaster’s  department  at  Harris- 
burg by  Major  Reichenbach,  with  whom  he  had  served 
while  with  General  Sigel  at  Reading,  he  accepted  and 
remained  there  nearly  a year,  or  until  the  affairs  of 
the  department  were  closed  up.  In  1865,  during  his 
residence  in  Harrisburg,  he  married  Sarah  Elizabeth, 
daughter  of  Hon.  R.  T.  Ashley,  of  Brooklyn,  Penna., 
whose  acquaintance  he  had  made  while  a student  at 
Wyoming.  The  captain  remarked  to  the  writer  that, 
although  his  alma  mater  had  never  conferred  any 
“ degrees  ” upon  him,  yet  he  should  ever  hold  it  in 
grateful  remembrance. 

Returning  to  Susquehanna  County,  he  engaged  in 
various  business  enterprises,  among  others,  that  of 
editing  and  publishing  a newspaper  until  1875,  when 
he  was  elected  register  and  recorder  of  Susquehanna 
County,  and  upon  the  expiration  of  his  term  was  re- 
elected and  filled  the  office  for  six  years.  In  1878  he 
was  elected  a councilman  for  the  borough  of  Mont- 
rose, and  for  two  years  served  as  president  of  that 
body,  being  re-elected  in  1886.  He  commanded  the 
veterans’  organization  of  the  county  for  three  years, 
and  has  been  commander  of  “ Four  Brothers”  Post, 
Grand  Army  of  the  Republic,  since  its  organization 
in  1884.  He  is  now  aid-de-camp  on  the  staff  of  the 
commander-in-chief  of  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Re- 
public and  has  also  served  on  the  staff  of  the  depart- 
ment commander.  He  has  always  been  active  in  every 
public  enterprise,  and  notably  in  his  efforts  to  pay  off 
the  debt  of  nearly  seven  hundred  dollars,  on  the 
soldiers’  monument,  and  it  was  at  his  suggestion  that 
the  “ Monument  Celebration  ” was  held.  We  quote 
an  extract  from  the  published  report  of  that  celebra- 
tion. “There  was  but  one  aim — o?ie  ambition  perva- 
ding all  who  labored  for  the  celebration — success  and 
the  payment  of  the  Debt.  And  while  many  contrib- 
uted to  the  result — some  more,  others  less,  we  think 
we  do  injustice  to  none,  and  but  echo  the  sentiment 
of  all  who  are  capable  of  judging  the  facts  when  we 
say  that  the  full  and  perfect  success  of  the  celebration 
is  due  to  the  indefatigable  zeal  and  almost  ceaseless  la- 
bors of  Captain  H.  F.  Beardsley,  from  the  very  incep- 
tion of  the  undertaking  to  its  triumphant  close.” 

Captain  Beardsley  is  a ready  writer  commanding  a 
flowing  and  poetic  style ; free-hearted  and  generous 
to  a fault,  he  has  hosts  of  friends  throughout  the 
county  ; patriotic  and  public-spirited,  he  gives  freely 
of  his  time  and  energies  to  the  public,  even  to  the 
neglect  of  his  own  private  affairs;  an  ardent  Republi- 
can he  serves  his  party  with  the  same  zeal  that 


THE  GRAND  ARMY. 


264  i 


prompts  all  of  his  public  acts,  having  served  as  chair- 
man of  the  Republican  County  Committee  for  eight 
years.  He  has  one  child,  a son  of  eleven  years,  and 
he  enjoys  his  pleasant  home  which  is  located  on  North 
Main  Street,  Montrose. 

Bissell  Post,  No.  466. — Bissell  Post,  of  Rush,  was 
instituted  under  charter  dated  November  26,,  1884, 
by  Comrade  J.  H.  Munger,  assisted  by  a detail  from 
“ Southworth  ” and  “ Four  Brothers  ” Posts.  The 
following  charter  members  were  mustered : L.  L. 
Very,  P.  D.  Roe,  A.  W.  Hickok,  M.  T.  Very,  Can- 
field  Stone,  M.  B.  Perrigo,  E.  P.  Howe,  Samuel 
Smith,  H.  W.  Terry,  David  H.  Tarbox,  Samuel 
McKuby,  Wm.  S.  Gibbs.  The  officers  were  then 
elected  and  installed,  as  follows:  P.  C.,  L.  L.  Very; 
S.  V.  C.,  Samuel  Smith  ; J.  V.  C.,  O.  W.  Baxter  - A., 
E.  P.  Howe;  Q.  M.,  Peter  D.  Roe;  C.,  M.  B.  Per- 
rigo ; S.,  C.  H.  Warner ; 0.  D.,  Wm.  S.  Gibbs ; O.  G., 
Asa  Hickok ; S.  M.,  M.  T.  Very ; Q.  M.  S.,  H.  W. 
Terry. 

The  total  number  borne  on  rolls  is  thirty-five,  and 
the  present  membership  is  thirty-three.  The  post 
meets  at  Odd  Fellows’  Hall,  at  Rush. 

Sergeant  Alanson  W.  Bissell,  in  whose  honor 
this  post  was  named,  was  a member  of  Company 
“H,”  One  Hundred  and  Forty-third  Regiment 
Pennsylvania  Volunteers.  He  was  born  May  21, 
1839,  in  Forest  Lake  township,  Susquehanna  County, 
Pennsylvania.  His  parents,  William  and  Parthema 
H.  Bissell,  moved  to  Jessup  township  in  1840.  His 
father  was  a practicing  physician  for  many  years. 
Alanson  was  brought  up  on  the  farm,  attending  the 
district  school,  and  afterwards  the  “Normal  School” 
at  Montrose.  In  the  winter  of  1861-62  he  taught  the 
district  school  adjoining  his  own  neighborhood. 
Although  surrounded  by  parents  in  the  decline  of 
life  and  two  loving  sisters,  when  his  country  called  he 
left  them  all  behind  and  enlisted  August  17,  1862, 
for  three  years,  in  Captain  J.  C.  Morris’  company, 
then  forming  at  Friendsville,  this  county. 

The  company  became  attached  to  the  One  Hundred 
and  Forty-third  Regiment,  which  near  the  close  of 
the  year  arrived  at  Washington,  where  it  spent  the 
winter,  and  joined  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  in  Feb- 
ruary, 1863,  and  was  attached  to  the  First  Corps.  At 
this  time  the  rebels  opened  their  batteries  on  the 
Union  lines  at  Fredericksburg.  While  the  shot  and 
shell  were  flying  and  bursting  around,  young  Bissell 
could  be  heard  singing  that  old  war  song,  “ The  Bat- 
tle Cry  of  Freedom.”  The  corps  moved  from  Freder- 
icksburg early  in  the  morning  of  May  2d,  for  a forced 
march  to  Chancellorsville.  The  day  proved  to  be  ex- 
ceedingly hot,  the  men  were  heavily  laden,  and  before 
noon  many  began  to  fall  out,  overcome  by  the  heat. 
Young  Bissell,  from  sun-stroke,  was  among  the  num- 
ber, and  was  finally  sent  to  Windmill  Point  Hospital, 
where  he  died  of  typhoid  fever  on  the  1st  day  of  J une, 
1863.  His  remains  were  brought  home  by  Dr.  C.  C. 
Halsey,  of  Montrose,  and  interred  in  the  cemetery  at 
17  b 


Birchardville,  Susquehanna  County,  June  12,  1863. 
Such  is  a brief  account  of  the  life  of  this  noble  young 
patriot,  the  memory  of  which  Post  466,  G.  A.  R.,  has 
sought  to  honor  with  his  name. 

Owen  Phillips  Post,  No.  486. — Owen  Phillips  Post, 
of  Clifford,  was  instituted  under  charter  dated  July 
24,  1885.  It  was  mustered  with  twenty-one  charter 
members,  and  on  tbe  night  of  its  organization  the 
following  were  elected  its  first  officers,  and  duly 
installed : P.  C.,  A.  Harris ; S.  V.  C.,  D.  B.  Mott ; 
J.  V.  C.,  Henry  J.  White ; Adjutant,  C.  M. 
Hunter ; Q.  M.,  George  Simpson ; C.,  G.  R.  San- 
ders; S.,  Dr.  J.  C.  Harding;  O.  D.,  T.  W.  Hunter; 
0.  G.,  Uriah  Ridgeway.  The  names  of  the  other 
charter  members  are  J.  H.  Hunter,  N.  C.  Hal- 
stead, Wm.  Barker,  George  M.  Dopp,  R.  W.  Barney, 
D.  S.  Miller,  B.  B.  Mapes,  J.  C.  Decker,  S.  A.  Hal- 
stead, Milo  Carpenter,  M.  V.  Kennedy,  M.  Arnold. 
The  post  meets  in  Grangers’  Hall  at  Clifford  Corners, 
and  the  total  number  borne  on  its  roll  is  thirty-one. 
Its  Past  P.  C.’s  are  A.  Harris  and  D.  B.  Mott.  A par- 
tial list  of  its  present  officers  is  given  ; P.  C.,  Silas 
Halstead;  S.  V.  C.,  H.  J.  White;  Adjutant,  George 
Simpson;  Q.  M.,  D.  B.  Mott;  0.  D.,  J.  C.  Decker. 
The  post  was  named  in  honor  of  Sergeant  Owen  Phil- 
lips, a brief  account  of  whose  service  and  death  is  here 
given  : He  was  the  son  of  Nelson  and  Sally  Ann  Phil- 
lips, of  Clifford.  The  booming  of  the  rebel  guns,  firing 
on  Sumter,  soon  re-echoed  throughout  the  land  in 
the  President’s  proclamation  calling  for  volunteers, 
and  young  Phillips  responded  to  the  call,  and  served 
his  time  with  the  three  months’  troops.  In  August, 
1862,  he  again  enlisted  as  a private  in  Company  B., 
One  Hundred  and  Forty-third  Regiment  Pennsylva- 
nia Volunteers.  At  the  battle  of  Gettysburg  the  reg- 
iment was  most  fiercely  engaged  and  suffered  severely 
in  killed  and  wounded.  In  a desperate  charge  of  the 
enemy,  the  regiment  was  forced  to  retire,  and  the 
color-bearer,  Sergeant  Crippin,  was  killed.  (See  mili- 
tary chapter.  One  Hundred  and  Forty-third  Regi- 
ment.) It  was  Private  Phillips  who  rescued  the 
flag  and  bore  it  safely  from  the  field.  ' For  this 
brave  and  heroic  act  he  was  promoted  to  color-ser- 
geant. But  in  the  battle  of  the  Wilderness  he,  too, 
became  tbe  target  for  rebel  bullets,  being  mortally 
wounded — “And  one  more  was  numbered  with  the 
Union  dead.” 

Frank  Hall  Post,  No.  505. — Frank  Hall  Post,  of 
Thomson,  was  instituted  some  time  in  the  latter  part 
of  1885,  or  early  in  1886.  We  are  unable  to  give 
any  particulars  as  to  its  organization  or  its  past  or 
present  officers.  Its  present  Post  Commander  is  C. 
T.  Belcher.  The  post  was  named  in  honor  of  one  of 
Susquehanna  County’s  brave  and  true  soldiers.  We 
regret  that  we  have  not  full  data  of  his  home-life, 
together  with  more  than  the  “ official  ” record  of  bis 
long  and  honorable  service.  Urbane  Frank  Hall — 
only  known  to  his  comrades  as  “ Frank  ” — enlisted 
in  Company  F,  One  Hundred  and  Forty-first  Regi- 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


264  i 


ment,  and  was  mustered  into  service  August  25, 
1862.  He  was  promoted  to  corporal,  and  during  all 
the  hardships  and  perils  in  which  his  company  and 
regiment  participated,  during  its  nearly  three  years 
of  service,  he  was  ever  present  where  duty  called. 
Social  in  his  habits,  genial  in  his  manner,  he  won 
the  love  of  his  comrades  and  the  confidence  of  his 
superior  officers.  Spared  through  the  perils  of  the 
battle-field  and  dangers  of  the  camp,  he  was  one  of 
the  faithful  and  honored  few  who  were  mustered  out 
with  the  company  May  28,  1865.  Returning  to  his 
home,  he  sought  the  pursuits  of  private  life,  but  after 
enjoying  for  a number  of  years  the  privileges  and 
benefits  of  the  government  he  helped  to  save,  death 
came  and  robbed  the  community  of  an  honored 
citizen  and  his  fellow-soldiers  of  a loved  comrade. 
Peace  to  his  ashes. 

Mathew  McPherson  Post,  No.  509. — Mathew  McPher- 
son Post,  of  Uniondale,  was  instituted  under  a charter 
dated  February  5,  1886,  and  the  following  officers 
were  elected  at  its  first  meeting  and  duly  installed 
by  Comrade  Clark,  assisted  by  Comrade  B.  C.  Stod- 
dard, of  Susquehanna:  P.  C.,  William  Anderson; 

S.  V.  C.,  F.  K.  James;  J.  V.  C.,  Urbane  Barrager; 
Adjt.,  J.  F.  Bass;  Q.  M.,  Charles  Tucker;  C.,  T.  B. 
Dimmick;  O.  D.,  Shepherd  Carpenter;  O.  G.,  J.  G. 
Brando.  The  remaining  charter  members  were  A.  J. 
Hartson,  Emmett  Gibson,  Jerome  Curtis,  Andrew 
G.  Gregg,  Alfred  W.  Larrabee.  The  total  number 
borne  on  the  roll  is  twenty- five.  Its  present  officers 
are : P.  C.,  William  Anderson ; S.  V.  C.,  Charles 
Tucker;  J.  V.  C.,  C.  H.  Coleman;  Adjt.,  Alfred 
W.  Larrabee;  Q.  M.,  T.  B.  Dimmick;  O.  D., 
Emmett  Gibson;  O.  G.,  A.  J.  Hartson;  S.,  Jerome 
Curtis ; C.,  Elijah  Carpenter.  The  post  was  named  in 
honor  of  First  Sergeant  Mathew  McPherson,  who 
was  a member  of  Company  B,  Seventeenth  Pennsyl- 
vania Cavalry,  a brief  sketch  of  whom  follows. 

Mathew  McPherson,  after  whom  Post  509,  G.  A. 
R.,  is  named,  was  the  son  of  William  McPherson,  of 
Scotch  descent,  was  born  and  bred  in  the  township  of 
Gibson,  this  county.  Being  the  oldest  of  the  family, 
Mathew,  from  childhood,  had  the  main  care  of  the 
farm,  as  his  father  worked  for  the  Delaware  and  Hud- 
son Canal  Co.,  at  Honesdale.  Thus  inured  to  toil  in 
summers,  and  attending  the  district  school  in  winter, 
he  grew  to  a sturdy  manhood,  and  was  among  the 
first  of  the  “Northern  Mud-Sills”  to  don  the  blue 
and  take  the  part  of  a private  soldier.  He  had  stood 
by  the  old  flag  all  through  the  campaign  of  the 
“Army  of  the  Potomac  ” to  fall  in  the  flush  of  early 
manhood  and  victory  in  the  last  bloody  skirmi.-h  of 
the  war  at  Five  Forks.  Thus  has  the  post  honored 
the  “Rank  and  File”  by  adopting  the  name  of  one 
of  its  noblest  representatives. 

Myron  French  Post,  No.  512. — Myron  French  Post, 
of  Jackson,  was  instituted  March  26,  1886,  by  Com- 
rade Clark  Evans,  assisted  by  Colonel  George  Os- 
borne and  comrades  from  “Moody”  Post.  It  was 


organized  by  the  selection  of  the  following  officers, 
who  were  duly  installed : C.  C.  Bookstaver,  P.  C. ; 
0.  G.  Larrabee,  S.  V.  C. ; James  E.  Curtis,  J.  V.  C. ; 
Charles  Estabrook,  0.  D.;  P.  K.  Benson,  Q.-M.;  W. 
W.  Larrabee,  0.  G. ; E.A.  Leonard,  Adjt.;  Rev.  H. 
G.  Blair,  Chap.;  H.  M.  Benson,  Q.-M.  Sergt. ; Elon 
Dix,  Sergt. -Maj.  The  remaining  charter  mem- 

bers were  Sidney  Estabrook,  Austin  Benson,  F.  D. 
Brown,  Delos  Washburn,  D.  L.  Bryant,  George 
Brink,  Fred.  Slocum,  M.Washburn,  Alonzo  Barrett, 
Thomas  Ball,  Thomas  Payne,  Whitmore  Easterbrook. 

The  present  officers  are  the  same  as  those  first 
elected,  with  the  following  exceptions ; J.  V.  C., 
Alonzo  Barrett;  C.,H.  M.  Benson ; Q.-M.  S.,  Thomas 
Tallman. 

Its  meeting-place  is  Roberts  Hall,  which  the  post 
has  nicely  fitted  up  and  placed  therein  some  fine 
scenery.  Its  present  membership  is  thirty-five. 
The  post  was  named  in  honor  of  a valiant  soldier, 
whose  portrait,  with  a sketch  of  his  life,  follows : 

Sergeant  Myron  French. — His  great-grand- 
parents were  Nathaniel  (1721-1801)  and  Elizabeth 
(1722-77)  French.  His  grandparents  were  Joel  and 
Polly  French,  the  former  born  1768,  died  1872,  was  a 
native  of  Vermont  and  the  youngest  of  eleven  chil- 
dren. His  brother  William,  born  in  1753,  was  killed 
by  Tories  at  Westminster  Court-House,  Vermont, 
March  13,  1775.  It  had  long  been  handed  down 
by  tradition  that  this  was  the  first  blood  spilled  in  the 
Revolutionary  War,  and  research  instituted  in  con- 
nection with  the  centennial  anniversary  of  the  battles 
of  Concord  and  Lexington  established  it  as  a histori- 
cal fact.  Nathaniel,  son  of  Joel  French,  was  born  at 
Dummerston,  Vermont,  March  5,  1812,  and  was  the 
youngest  of  five  brothers,  ^^t  the  age  of  fifteen  his 
father  died,  and  a year  later  his  mother,  and  thus  he 
was  left  at  an  early  age  to  care  for  himself.  When 
he  was  twenty  years  of  age  he  came,  in  company  with 
Charles  French,  to  Jackson  and  purchased  a farm  in 
what  was  long  known  as  the  “ Vermont  settlement.” 
Here  he  vigorously  set  to  work  to  make  a clearing 
for  his  future  home,  and  after  toiling  here  for  several 
months,  he  sought  employment  in  the  lumber-woods 
near  Great  Bend,  where  he  remained  until  the  close  of 
the  year  1833.  He  then  procured  a team  from  his 
employer,  Wright  Chamberlin,  Esq.,  and  returned  to 
Vermont.  Here,  on  the  6th  day  of  January  following, 
he  married  Betsey  Chase  (1814-62),  a native  of  Dum- 
merston, Vermont,  daughter  of  James  A.  Chase  and 
granddaughter  of  James  Chase,  who  landed  at  Boston 
from  a whaling  voyage  at  the  breaking  out  of  the  war 
for  independence,  and  immediately  enlisted  in  the 
Continental  army,  where  he  served  to  the  close  of  the 
war,  after  which  he  settled  in  Vermont.  After  their 
marriage  the  young  couple  started  for  their  wilderness 
home,  then  a home  only  in  name  ; but  with  untiring 
industry  and  unflagging  perseverance,  with  hearts 
buoyed  up  with  faith  in  a kind  Providence,  they 
endured  hardships,  overcame  obstacles  until  that 


THE  GRAND  ARMY. 


264  k 


forest-home  was  transformed  from  one  of  privations 
and  discomforts  to  one  where  peace  and  plenty  dwelt 
as  the  reward  of  honest  toil.  Their  children  were 
Martin  N.,  1835,  married,  in  1855,  Diana  Thornton,  of 
Java,  New  York,  is  a farmer,  residing  at  Wethersfield, 
New  York ; Edwin  A.,  1837,  was  a sergeant  in 
Company  B,  Seventeenth  Regiment  Pennsylvania 
Cavalry,  and  during  Sheridan’s  campaign  in  the 
Shenandoah  Valley  was  in  charge  of  the  ambulance 
train,  married  Ann  Whitney,  of  Thomson,  now  re- 
siding at  New  Milford;  Newell  A.,  1838,  married 
Jennie  Cady,  of  New  York,  now  residing  at  Kalkaska, 


Houghton,  residing  at  Binghamton,  New  York;  Chloe 
C.  1848,  married,  1868,  H.  Fowler,  residing  in  New 
York  City;  Almeron  N.,  1850,  married,  1871,  Alice 
Barrett,  of  Jackson,  farmer,  and  residing  on  the  old 
homestead. 

Myron  French  was  born  in  Jackson,  March  15, 
1841.  His  early  boyhood  was  spent  at  home,  where  he 
attended  the  district  school,  but  when  old  enough  to 
assist  on  the  farm  he  only  attended  during  the  winter 
term.  But  with  a taste  for  study  and  a desire  for 
knowledge,  he  so  improved  his  time  that  he  excelled 
in  his  studies  many  whose  educational  advantages 


Michigan;  Merritt  C.  was  a member  of  Battery  F, 
First  Pennsylvania  Light  Artillery,  married  A.  Wor- 
den, of  Jackson,  now  residing  in  Nebraska;  Myron 
(1841-63) ; Sylvester  L.,  1842,  enlisted  in  1861  in 
Sixteenth  New  York  Independent  Battery  as  private, 
was  promoted  to  first  sergeant,  and  served  three  years 
and  eight  months  (see  military  chapter  for  history  of 
battery),  married,  in  1866,  Mary  L.  Washburn,  of 
Jackson,  has  been  in  the  employ  of  the  Erie  Rail- 
road Company  for  the  last  thirteen  years,  has  been 
foreman  of  the  carpenter  shop,  resides  at  Susque- 
hanna; Sabrie  M.,  1847,  married,  1868,  N.  A. 


were  far  superior  to  his  own.  When  eighteen  years 
old  he  worked  for  his  board  and  attended  select 
school.  Studious  in  his  habits,  yet  he  was  fond  of 
athletic  sports,  and  out  of  school  was  a leader  among 
his  companions.  Trained  in  the  moral  atmosphere 
of  a Christian  home,  he  early  made  a public  profession 
of  religion  and  joined  the  Free-Will  Baptist  Church 
in  Jackson.  When  the  War  of  Rebellion  broke  out, 
it  found  young  French  working  on  a farm  for  Deacon 
Norris,  of  Jackson.  It  would  seem  but  natural  that 
the  first  impulse  of  a descendant  from  Revolutionary 
sires  would  be  to  resent  the  insult  to  the  old  flag;  but 


264  I 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


with  an  intelligent  understanding  of  the  course  of 
events,  he  felt  that  a crisis  had  come  that  demanded 
something  more  than  sentiment,  and  upon  due  con- 
sideration he  decided  that  the  path  of  duty  led  him 
to  the  defence  of  his  country.  Accordingly,  on  the 
6th  day  of  July,  1861,  he  enlisted  in  Battery  “ F.” 
First  Regiment  Pennsylvania  Light  Artillery,  for 
three  years,  and,  in  company  with  other  Jackson  boys, 
proceeded  to  Harrisburg.  (See  history  of  Battery  “ F ”) 
In  his  new  avocation  as  a citizen  soldier  he  soon  dis- 
played those  qualities  of  head  and  heart  that  gained 
him  the  confidence  of  his  superior  officers  and  the 
esteem  of  his  comrades.  He  was  quick  to  comprehend 
the  duties  of  his  new  calling,  and  was  soon  promoted 
from  the  ranks.  At  the  battle  of  Cedar  Mountain  he 
commanded  one  gun  of  the  battery,  also  at  Rappa- 
hannock Bridge,  Second  Bull  Run,  Chantilly  and 
Antietam,  and  this  was  before  he  received  a “ warrant  ” 
as  sergeant.  At  the  second  Bull  Run  the  enemy 
charged  upon  the  battery  in  overwhelming  numbers, 
capturing  it  with  the  exception  of  Sergeant  French’s 
gun,  which  he  gallantly  snatched  from  their  gras2J. 
At  Fredericksburg,  Chancellorsville,  and  in  every  im- 
portant movement  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  he 
was  at  the  post  of  dnty  with  his  battery. 

At  Gettysburg,  on  the  afternoon  of  the  2d  of  July, 
the  battery  was  posted  on  Cemetery  Hill  and  became 
the  centre  of  attack  of  that  famous  charge  of  the 
Louisiana  “ Tigers.”  Here,  during  that  desperate 
hand-to-hand  conflict,  and  while  in  the  act  of  re- 
loading his  gun  that  was  belching  ont  iron  hail  full 
in  the  face  of  the  maddened  foe,  he  fell,  pierced  by  a 
rifle  ball.  Thus  on  the  altar  of  his  country  he  gave 
his  life,  and  the  soil  of  his  native  State  was  watered 
that  day  with  the  life-blood  of  no  purer  or  devoted 
patriot  than  Myron  French.  A comrade  writes  of 
him,  after  the  battle  : " Sergeant  French  was  the  soul 
of  honor,  and  had  he  lived,  would  have  had  a page 
in  the  history  of  this  war.  His  memory  will  ever 
live  in  the  hearts  of  his  friends  in  this  battery,  and 
may  those  he  has  left  behind,  only  follow  in  his  foot- 
steps and  they  will  be  as  well  remembered  on  earth,  and 
be  as  sure  of  grace  in  heaven.”  His  remains  were 
brought  from  Gettysburg  and  laid  by  the  side  of  his 
mother  in  the  quiet  cemetery  at  Jackson,  and  the 
brightest  blossoms  of  spring-time  each  year  find  rest- 
ing-place upon  his  grave. 

After  the  organization  of  a post  of  the  Grand 
Army  of  the  Republic  at  Jackson,  it  was  named  the 
Myron  French  Post,  and  the  published  announce- 
ment of  a camp-fire  by  the  post  chanced  to  catch  the 
eye  of  Captain  L.  E.  C.  Moore,  of  Philadelphia  (he 
was  a corporal  in  Battery  F,  afterwards  captain  Bat- 
tery G),  who  wrote  a letter  to  the  Post,  of  which  the 
following  is  an  extract : “ In  the  above  charge  My- 
ron French,  my  sergeant,  was  killed.  I forward  you 
with  this  letter  the  spurs  he  wore  that  day,  and  which 
are  just  as  they  were  taken  from  his  feet  with  the 
soil  of  Gettysburg  still  clinging  to  them.  I was  not 


aware  that  a post  of  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic  I 
had  been  named  after  him,  or  I would  have  sent  them  j 

before.  I have  always  prized  them  highly  for  their  | 

owner’s  sake,  whom  I esteemed  and  respected,  and  j 
only  surrender  them  where  I hope  they  will  be  prized  j 
by  many  instead  of  one.”  (I 

Colored  Volunteers. — While  there  were  several  j 
colored  soldiers  from  the  county  who  enlisted  in  va- 
rious organizations,  there  were  twenty-five  who  enlisted 
from  the  borough  of  Montrose.  Eleven  of  this  num- 
ber enlisted  in  Company  C,  Fifty-fourth  Massachu- 
setts Colored  Regiment,  and  six  were  in  Company  C, 
Sixth  United  States  Colored  Troops,  while  the  others 
were  in  other  organizations.  In  the  following  list 
they  are  placed  in  the  order  above  indicated : 


Hamilton,  Youngs.^ 
Baker,  George. 
Ennis,  Stephen. 
Green,  Peter. 
Johnson,  William. 
Johnson,  Henry. 
Johnson,  Samuel. 
Nailor,  Benjamin. 
Nelson,  Daniel. 
Price,  George. 
Smith,  Charles. 
Briscow,  John. 
Gilmore,  William. 2 


Nelson,  David. 
Nelson,  Josiah.3 
Parker,  Henry. 
Youngs,  Isaac. 
Allen,  Charles. 
Gains,  Lawson  L. 
Harris,  John. 
Hopkins,  Isaac. 
Smith,  James. 
Thompson,  John. 
Thompson,  James. 
Wilson,  Josiah. 


The  Soldiers’  Monument. — The  history  of  the 
Soldiers’  Monument  should  be  written  in  three  chap- 
ters, the  first  commencing  with  its  inception  and 
ending  with  the  ‘‘  laying  of  the  corner-stone,”  July 
4, 1876  ; the  second  the  erection  of  the  monument,  its 
unveiling  and  dedication  July  4,  1877 ; the  third,  the 
effurts  of  the  Monument  Association  to  cancel  the 
debt  of  six  hundred  and  seventy-five  dollars,  which 
was  due  and  unpaid  when  the  monument  was  dedi- 
cated, and  the  final  consummation  of  their  hopes, 
aided  by  the  citizens  of  the  county,  which  culminated 
in  the  grand  celebration  of  July  3,  1880.  In  the  year 
1866  the  project  of  erecting  a monument  to  the  citi- 
zen soldiers  of  Susquehanna  County,  who  fell  in  de- 
fence of  the  “old  flag”  in  the  War  of  the  Rebellion, 
was  inaugurated.  The  funds  to  accomplish  this  laud- 
able and  patriotic  purpose  were  to  be  raised  by  volun- 
tary contribution,  and  had  the  projectors  of  the  enter- 
prise, at  that  time,  called  upon  the  citizens  of  the 
county  to  contribute  to  this  object  what  their  patriot- 
ism prompted  or  their  means  warranted,  its  inception 
and  completion  would  have  been  separated  only  by 
months  instead  of  years.  But  the  terrible  struggle 
was  just  over  and  the  loyal  hearts  of  the  country  beat 
with  love  toward  its  brave  defenders — ready  to  do 
honor  to  the  survivors  and  anxious  to  evince  grati- 
tude and  sorrow  for  the  dead.  Predicating  the  suc- 
cess of  the  enterprise  upon  the  idea  that  all  would 
desire  to  contribute  their  mite,  the  projectors  limited 
the  subscription  to  one  dollar.  For  two  or  three 


1 Corporal  Company  C,  Fifty-fourth  Massachusetts. 

2 Wounded  in  front  of  Petersburg. 

3 Wounded  at  Deep  Bottom. 


THE  SOLDIERS’  MONUMENT. 


264  m 


months  the  prospect  looked  brilliant — then  the  project 
lagged — then,  seemingly,  died  out.  Several  hundred 
•dollars  had  been  raised,  but  it  was  apparent  to  the 
most  enthusiastic  advocate  of  the  limited  subscrip- 
tion scheme  that  the  funds  necessary  to  erect  a monu- 
ment could  never  be  secured  in  that  manner.  The 
funds  collected  were  deposited  in  bank,  and  there  the 
matter  rested  until  the  Centennial  year,  1876,  when 
new  life  was  infused  into  the  project,  and  a deter- 
mined effort  made  to  secure  the  necessary  funds  to 
•erect  the  monument.  A subscription  was  started, 
bearing  this  legend,  “No  subscription  to  be  paid  until 
work  is  commenced  on  monument.”  Upon  circulat- 
ing the  above  named  subscription,  eight  hundred  and 
forty-two  dollars  were  subscribed.  The  amount  de- 
posited with  W.  H.  Cooper,  treasurer,  (limited  sub- 
scriptions) together  with  interest  on  same,  amounted, 
June  1st,  1876,  to  the  sum  of  $1056.95.  The  available 
funds  for  monument  purposes,  counting  subscriptions 
nil  good,  was,  therefore,  on  June  1,  1876,  $1898.95. 

While  the  Monument  Association  was  fully  aware 
that  said  sum  was  inadequate  to  build  such  a monu- 
ment as  would  be  a credit  to  the  patriotism  of  the 
county  and  reflect  honor  on  its  fallen  heroes,  yet  they 
•decided  to  push  the  monument  to  completion,  trust- 
ing to  the  generosity  of  the  citizens  of  the  county  to 
supply  the  deficiency.  That  the  association  never 
faltered  in  their  purpose  the  completed  monument,  in 
all  its  symmetrical  beauty,  stands  ready  to  testily. 

But  we  anticipate:  On  the  1st  of  June,  1876,  at  a 
meeting  of  the  Monument  Association,  it  was  decided 
to  at  once  commence  work  on  the  monument,  and 
that  every  effort  be  made  to  so  far  advance  the  work 
ns  to  be  enabled  to  lay  the  corner-stone  on  the  com- 
ing 4th  day  of  July — the  Centennial  anniversary  of 
the  nation’s  birth.  Captain  J.  R.  Lyons  was  then 
secretary  of  the  association,  and  he  engaged  in  the 
work  with  the  utmost  enthusiasm.  Being  an  archi- 
tect of  acknowledged  ability,  he  submitted  drafts  and 
plans  for  the  monument  that  received  the  unanimous 
approval  of  the  association,  and  he  was  authorized  to 
proceed  with  its  erection  and  superintend  the  same. 
It  was  also  decided  that,  as  a Susquehanna  County 
soldier’s  monument,  it  should  be  one  in  fact  as  well 
as  name,  and  that  the  material  composing  it  should, 
if  possible,  be  quarried  from  her  own  hills.  Upon 
inspection,  it  was  decided  that  the  quarry  near  the 
fair  grounds,  and  within  the  borough  limits,  was 
available,  and  from  that  source  every  stone  that 
■entered  into  that  beautiful  monument  was  taken. 
This  does  not  refer  to  the  statue  of  a soldier  that  sur- 
mounts it — that  is  of  granite. 

The  grand  celebration,  by  the  citizens  of  the 
county  at  Montrose  that  centennial  year  will  long  be 
remembered,  but  one  of  its  most  interesting  features 
was  the  “ Laying  of  the  Corner-Stone”  ol  the  Sol- 
diers’ Monument. 

Hon.  Wm.  J.  Turrell,  president  of  the  Monument 
Association,  made  a brief  address  having  principal 


reference  to  the  efforts  that  had  been  made  to  erect 
the  monument,  and  alluding  to  the  fact  that  its  foun- 
dations were  built  from  our  native  granite. 

He  then  placed  beneath  the  stone  the  sealed  copper 
box,  containing  lists  of  soldiers,  copies  of  General 
.Tessup’s  oration.  Captain  Lyons’s  address,  E.  L. 
Blakeslee’s,  Esq.,  and  Captain  Beardsley’s  poems,  or- 
der of  exercises,  sketch  of  Monumental  Association, 
with  list  of  its  officers  and  members  and  copies  ot 
Republican  and  Democrat.  The  announcement  that 
the  stone  was  in  position,  where  it  will  rest  perhaps  for 
centuries,  was  signalized  by  the  firing  of  cannon  and 
unfurling  of  flags.  The  address  by  Captain  J.  R. 
Lyons  was  highly  appropriate,  and  a few  extracts  are 
here  given  : 

**  To  these  soldiers’  orphans,  to  you  this  monument  will  represent  the 
courage  and  devotion  of  your  fathers ; to  you  ’twill  be  a shrine,  a Mecca  ; 
to  it  you  will  come  for  inspiration,  for  help  in  life’s  battles.  Their  cour- 
age aud  sacrifice  will  rest  upon  you  like*  a benediction,  enthusing  your 
hearts  with  courage  for  the  duties  before  you,  with  love  for  the  country 
they  died  to  preserve,  and  for  the  dear  old  flag  under  which  they  fell. 
You  will  point  with  pride  to  this  monument  and  from  it  you  will  take 
the  patent  of  your  nobility.  In  the  days  to  come  to  you  will  be  left  the 
legacy  they  died  to  transmit  to  you  as’twas  given  them  by  their  fathers. 
To  you  will  be  left  the  duty  of  protecting  this  nation,  of  making  its  laws, 
building  it  up  and  advancing  its  interests  and  the  great  duty  of  its 
proper  government,  to  see  to  it  that  no  blemish  shall  ever  tarnish  its 
fame,  that  the  starry  banner  is  kept  pure  and  stainless,  not  a star 
erased  nor  a stripe  effaced,”  but  that  you  the  rather  sliall  add  to  its 
glory  and  cover  its  union  with  glittering  stars,  then  to  you  this  monu- 
ment will  be  an  honor  for  duty  done,  and  for  yourselves  you  will  glory 
therein. 

id  ^ ^ 

“ We  rallied  from  these  hill-sides  over  three  thousand  strong,  of  whom 
more  than  four  hundred  this  monument  will  represent.  Their  spirits 
stand  beside  us  to-day  ; we  can  almost  feel  the  touch  of  their  elbows  sis 
they  take  their  position  in  line,  amd  we  can  almost  hear  their  ‘steady- 
boys,  steady  there,’  as  though  ready  for  another  charge.  They  whisper 
in  our  ears  of  the  soldier  life,  of  the  pleasant  days  in  camp,  and  hint  of 
the  battles  fought  and  the  deeds  of  valor  done  and  glory  in  the  credit 
and  honor  this  day  gives  them,  and  say  that  we  too  cannot  help  but  take 
a little  of  the  credit  and  honor  to  ourselves,  for  were  we  not  a part  of 
the  battle?  Yet,  ’twas  their  death  that  gave  us  the  victory.” 

The  address  was  followed  by  a poem  by  Captain  H. 
F.  Beardsley,  from  which  a few  extracts  are  here 
given : 

* Comrades,  friends,  your  brief  attention  let  me  claim 
Erewhile  my  muse,  with  unskilled  fingers  plucks 
From  out  tlie  tlovv’ry  paths  of  Poesy  and  Song 
A bright-hued  garlaml. 

Fame  decks  her  temple  with  traditioned  Bays, 

And  they  whose  names  have  place  within  her  walls 
Live  on  forever ! Aye,  live  on  while  they 
Who  sleep  ’neath  marble  pile  or  shining  bronze 
Sleep  on — forgotten. 

Turn  back  the  leaves  of  Time  and  each  page  mark 
Whereon  tlie  record  shows  the  world  has  i>aid. 

Or  rendered  homage  to  the  deeds  of  men. 

What  find  we  fhore?  That  those  names  brightest  shine 
Whose  lives  were  laid  a willing  sacrifice 
Upon  their  country’s  a!tir;  or  who  lived 
,\nd  died  the  benefactors  of  mankind. 

Aud  did  the  world  its  gratitude  forget? 

Entomb  their  mem’ries  with  their  lifeless  clay? 

No  ! No ! Enshrined  within  a Nation’s  heart 
They  live  ; and  not  content  with  this  they  roar 
The  granite  shaft  and  time-defying  bronze, 

That  generations  yet  unborn  may  see — 

And  seeing,  be  inspired  to  emulate. 


264  71 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


We  meet  to-day  to  lay  foundation  stone, 

On  which  to  rear  a monumental  shaft 
That  shall  attest  the  love  and  gratitude 
We  bear  our  soldier  dead. 

This  stonf*  laid  to-day  will  tell  its  own  story  ; 

’Twill  stand  a memorial  in  ages  to  come 
Of  patriot  dead  I reflecting  the  glory 
Of  patriot  sire  and  patriot  son. 

(The  orphans  from  the  Orphan  School  at  Harford,  one  hundred  and 
eighty  in  number,  were  in  attendance,  and  took  part  in  the  Centennial 
Celebration.) 

Let  these  orphans— sad  tokens  of  War’s  blackened  trace — 

Look  aloft  to  the  flag  that  is  floating  before  us  ; 

’Twas  their  fathers’  brave  hand  kept  those  stars  in  their  place, 
Through  their  father’s  brave  deeds  it  is  now  floating  o’er  us. 
*;jj*sis*’i«*** 

Like  the  IHussulman’s  Mecca  this  stone  shall  e’er  be, 

And  these  children  assembled  around  it  to-day 
Shall  pilgrimage  make  for  here  they  shall  see 
Not  alone  storied  pile,  so  massive  and  gray, 

But  their  fathers’  dear  name ; 

For,  like  Temple  of  Fame, 

This  shaft  shall  arise 
’Neath  Freedom’s  blue  skies. 

And  its  cap-stone  proclaim  to  the  world  far  and  near — 

‘In  memory  of  Patriots — we  ever  hold  dear.’  ” 

With  the  corner-stone  thus  successfully  and  auspi- 
ciously laid,  the  work  on  the  monument  was  pushed 
rapidly  to  completion,  and  in  the  spring  of  1877  it 
was  so  near  completed  that  it  was  found  to  be  practi- 
cable to  make  arrangements  for  its  unveiling  and 
dedication.  Accordingly  preparations  were  com- 
menced on  a scale  commensurate  with  the  importance 
of  the  occasion,  and  an  elaborate  programme,  under 
the  auspices  and  management  of  the  “Veteran  Or- 
ganization ” of  the  county,  was  arranged  for  unveil- 
ing and  dedicating  the  monument  on  the  4th  of  July. 
The  event  was  one  long  to  be  remembered  in  the  his- 
tory of  the  county.  At  the  time  appointed,  four  sol- 
diers’ orphans  loosed  the  flag  that  enveloped  it,  and 
amid  the  booming  of  cannon,  the  waving  of  flags  and 
the  shouts  of  the  people,  the  monument  stood  forth 
in  all  its  symmetrical  beauty.  Hon.  Galusha  A. 
Grow  delivered  the  oration,  which  was  one  of  his 
masterly  efforts.  But  with  the  monument  completed 
and  dedicated,  the  association  found  itself  in  debt  to 
the  amount  of  one  thousand  three  hundred  and  flfty 
dollars.  Learning  this  fact,  Mr.  Grow,  before  leav- 
ing town  handed  to  Captain  Beardsley,  the  secretary 
of  the  association,  his  check  for  six  hundred  and 
seventy-five  dollars,  one-half  of  the  indebtedness. 

Many  expedients  were  resorted  to  to  cancel  the  re- 
mainder of  the  debt,  but  until  1880  only  sufficient 
was  realized  to  pay  the  interest.  On  the  4th  of 
July,  1886,  a celebration  was  held  at  Montrose  for  the 
purpose  of  paying  off  this  debt.  It  was  a grand  suc- 
cess. Hon.  Schuyler  Colfax  delivered  the  oration, 
and  the  hopes  of  the  originators  and  m.anagers  of  the 
enterprise  were  more  than  realized  by  the  payment 
of  the  entire  indebtedness.  The  monument  cost  the 
sum  of  four  thousand  dollars. 

Sons  op  Veterans. — This  organization  is  com- 
posed of  the  sons  of  deceased  or  honorably  discharged 


soldiers  not  less  than  eighteen  years  of  age.  The  fol- 
lowing camps  have  been  organized  in  Susquehanna 
County:  D.  C.  Bronson,  Camp  of  Great  Bend;  John 
A.  Lyons,  Camp  No.  136,  of  Susquehanna,  was  insti- 
tuted October  13,  1886 ; Captain  H.  F.  Beardsley, 
Camp  No.  168,  of  Montrose;  C.  H.  Manzer  Camp,  of 
South  Gibson,  No.  171  ; Overfield  Camp,  of  Auburn. 

Paul  James  Ovebfield  was  the  eldest  son  of 
William  and  Anna  Bunnell  Overfield;  was  born  Feb- 
ruary 6,  1842,  in  Auburn,  Susquehanna  County,  Pa. 
At  the  opening  of  the  Rebellion,  w'hen  the  President 
called  for  three  months’  volunteers,  Paul,  aged  nine- 
teen, was  one  of  the  first  to  go  from  Auburn.  The 
quota  being  filled  for  three  months’  men  ere  reaching 
Harrisburg,  he  went  no  farther,  but  returned  home. 
The  following  September  he  enlisted  in  Company  B 
Fifty -second  Regiment  Pennsylvania  Volunteers,  for 
three  years,  or  during  the  war.  He  sought  no  pro- 
motion, but  served  valiantly  in  many  battles.  In  the 
engagement  at  Fair  Oaks  he,  with  cousins.  Captain 
Robert  Bannatyne  and  F.  C.  Bunnell,  M.  C.,  with 
others,  were  surrounded  three  different  times,  and 
fought  out  by  their  bayonets.  But  thirteen  escaped 
of  their  company,  and  each  received  a medal  for 
bravery.  Being  felled  to  the  ground  by  a spent 
ball.  Captain  Jayne  reported — “He  got  up  furious 
and  fought  like  a tiger.”  He  was  in  camp  at  Morris 
Island,  S.  C.,  over  a year,  with  the  guard  of  the  block- 
ade. He  was  honorably  discharged,  and  reached 
home  November  7,  1864,  after  three  years  and  two 
months’  service.  Married  to  Miss  Sarah  Roe,  Decem- 
ber 30,  1872,  he  located  on  a farm  and  became  the 
father  to  six  children.  He  died  November  3,  1881, 
and  was  laid  with  his  forefathers  in  Overfield  Ceme- 
tery, with  military  honors. 

71/.  L.  Benson  Camp  No.  186,  of  Jackson,  was  insti- 
tuted April  15,  1887. 

D.  N.  Hardy  Camp  No.  189,  of  Glenwood,  was  in- 
stituted April  29,  1887.  D.  N.  Hardy,  for  whom  the 
post  is  named,  was  born  April  3,  1845,  and  enlisted 
at  the  age  of  seventeen  in  Company  A One  Hundred 
and  Seventh  Pennsylvania  Volunteers.  He  was 
wounded  at  Antietam  and  honorably  discharged.  He 
is  now  farming  near  Glenwood. 

Womans’ Relief  Corps  (Auxiliary  to  G.  A.  R). 
— The  Woman’s  Relief  Corps  has  become  an  almost 
indispensable  aid  and  auxiliary  to  the  Grand  Army 
of  the  Republic.  Its  organization  supplied  a long- 
felt  want,  and  it  has  won  recognition  from  the  order 
on  its  merits  alone  in  the  noble  work  of  charity 
and  the  alleviation  of  suffering  and  want.  As  in 
those  dark  days  of  our  country’s  peril,  when  its  noble 
defenders  lay  stricken  and  dying  in  hospital  and  on 
battle-field,  they  came  like  ministering  angels,  with 
healing  on  their  wings,  so  again  they  come  and 
proffer  their  services  to  the  wearers  of  the  blue,  and 
verily  become  sisters  of  mercy  and  charity. 

Although  it  is  auxiliary  to  the  Grand  Army,  yet  it 
is  a separate  and  distinct  organization,  governed  by 


PIONEER  SETTLEMENTS. 


264  0 


its  own  rules  and  regulations,  and  controlled  by  its 
own  code  of  laws.  While  the  mothers,  the  wives 
and  daughters  of  members  of  the  Grand  Army 
constitute  a large  part  of  the  organization,  yet  good 
character  and  loyalty  to  country  and  flag  are  the 
only  tests  to  eligibility.  The  objects  of  the  order 
are  purely  philanthroj)ic — to  aid  and  assist  the  de- 
serving old  soldier  or  sailor  and  their  families,  and 
to  lend  a willing  hand  to  carry  out  all  worthy  and 
laudable  undertakings  of  the  Grand  Army.  That 
there  are  not  more  posts  of  the  Grand  Army  of  the 
of  the  Republic  in  the  county  with  relief  corps  is 
doubtless  owing  to  the  fact  that  most  of  the  posts 
are  situated  in  small  hamlets,  and  the  members 
widely  scattered. 

Moody  Corps,  No.  12,  of  Susquehanna,  was  organ- 
ized September  2,  1884,  with  the  following  oflBcers : 
Mrs.  Fannie  Boydeu,  P. ; Mrs.  Mary  French,  V.  P.; 
Mrs.  Rose  Pettis,  Jr.  V.  P.;  Carrie  Frith,  Sec.;  Mrs. 
Caroline  Findon,  T.;  Mrs.  Lucy  Page,  C.;  Mrs.  Jennie 
Burleigh,  Con.;  Mrs.  Cornelia  Merritt,  G.  The  pres- 
ent officers  are  Mrs.  Burleigh,  P.;  Mrs.  French,  S.  V. 
P.;  Mrs.  Mattie  Murphy,  Jr.  V.  P.;  Mrs.  Lottie  Mon- 
ger, Sec.;  Mrs.  Libble  Anderson,  T.;  Mrs.  Boyden,  C.; 
Miss  Bella  Councilman,  Con.;  Mrs.  Maggie  Hesketh, 
G.  In  addition  to  the  first-named  officers  the  follow- 
ing were  also  charter  members : Mary  L.  French, 
Caroline  Falkenbury,  Marian  Whitney,  Ella  Sut- 
liff,  Ida  Sutliff,  Augusta  Smith,  Lydia  Fessenden, 
Minnie  Hurlbert,  Allie  T.  Evans,  Eliza  Newham, 
Helen  Malpass,  Annie  Miller,  Clarence  M.  Florence, 
Blanche  Dodge,  Helen  Hall,  Ida  Fessenden,  Eva 
Falkenbury,  Carrie  Cook,  Eliza  Johnson,  Margaret 
Findon,  Elizabeth  Alpaugh,  Margaret  Blackburn, 
Mary  Benedict,  Eva  McCauley.  The  corps  meets  in 
Grand  Army  Hall,  and  has  a present  membership  of 
sixty-seven. 

Levi  Moss  Corps,  of  New  Milford,  was  organized 
October  9,  1885,  by  Mrs.  Anna  Witten myer,  with 
nineteen  charter  members.  The  names  of  officers 
are  as  follows : Pres.,  Docia  S.  Hager;  S.  V.,  Addie 
Gillett;  J.  V.,  Sarah  Moffat;  Sec.,  Cornelia  McMil- 
lan ; Treas.,  Sarah  Tewksbury ; Chap.,  Anna  Brooks  ; 
Con.,  Lydia  C.  Tucker ; Guard,  Estella  Hamilton. 
The  present  number  is  the  same  as  when  organized. 
The  names  of  present  officers  are : Pres.,  Docia  S. 
Hager;  S.  V.,  Jane  Middaugh;  J.  V.,  Emma  Lind- 
sey; Sec.,  Addie  Gillett;  Treas.,  Sarah  Tewksbury; 
Chap.,  Anna  Brooks  ; Con.,  Mary  Harrison  ; Guard, 
Ella  Kenyan.  The  meetings  of  the  corps  were  held 
in  the  post-room  until  the  following  spring.  In 
addition  to  the  first  list  of  officers  named,  the  follow- 
ing were  also  charter  members : Margaret  Hoff, 
Elizabeth  Smith,  Sarah  Moss,  May  Southworth, 
Caroline  Morse,  Mary  Risley,  Ella  Warner,  Amanda 
Gillespie,  Emily  Miller,  Jane  Middaugh,  Sarah  Stone. 

Pioneer  Settlement. — In  1787  Susquehanna 
County  was  covered  with  a dense  growth  of  timber, 
without  a clearing  or  a break  in  the  primeval  forests. 


save  a few  acres  along  the  Susquehanna  that  had  been 
cultivated  by  the  Indians,  and  land  that  had  been 
flowed  in  two  or  three  places  by  beavers,  thereby 
killing  the  timber,  so  that  wild  grass  sprang  up  in 
these  places  when  the  dams  washed  away.  Aside 
from  this,  the  county  lay  outstretched  in  savage  slum- 
ber, with  the  accumulated  mold  of  centuries  upon 
her  surface,  ready  for  the  hand  of  civilization  to  de- 
velop its  latent  resources.  The  power  of  the  Indians 
in  this  section  was  broken  forever  after  Sullivan’s 
victory  over  the  Six  Nations.  The  War  of  the  Rev- 
olution had  closed  and  the  colonists  led  on  by  the 
restless  heroes  of  the  war,  were  beginning  to  work 
their  way  westward  in  search  of  cheaper  lands,  where 
they  hoped  to  build  up  homes  for  themselves  and 
their  children.  The  first  two  permanent  settlen\ents 
were  made  in  the  same  year,  1787,  one  in  the  northern 
part  of  the  county  along  the  banks  of  the  Susque- 
hanna, and  the  other  in  Brooklyn  township.  The 
settlement  at  Great  Bend  was  naturally  enough  made 
along  the  river  by  pioneers  who  followed  the  stream 
from  New  York  State.  No  wonder  that  Ozias  Strong, 
Benajah  Strong,  Daniel  Buck,  Comstock,  Gates,  Mer- 
riman,  Parmeter  and  others  were  attracted  to  this 
lovely  valley.  The  Indians,  who  were  good  judges  of 
locations  had  made  this  the  principal  seat  of  their 
occupancy  of  Susquehanna  County,  and  from  this  point 
they  had  trails  leading  in  various  directions.  Great 
Bend  or  Willingboro’  became  the  most  prominent 
pioneer  settlement.  Brooklyn  or  Hopbottom  settle- 
ment was  made  by  a colony  sent  there  by  John  Nich- 
olson, a land  speculator,  who  owned  large  tracts  of 
land  in  that  vicinity.  William  Coonrod  or  Conrad,  a 
Hessian,  a large  number  of  whose  descendants  reside 
in  the  county,  and  Adam  Miller,  a Protestant  Irish- 
man, were  the  pioneers  here.  Some  years  later  most 
of  Nicholson’s  settlers  sold  their  improvements  to  the 
Yankees,  who  began  to  invade  this  region  under 
Connecticut  claim.  In  1789  Jedediah  Adams  came 
with  a surveying  party  from  Great  Bend  up  the  Salt 
Lick,  and  liked  the  country  so  well  that  he  hastily 
constructed  a rude  cabin  near  the  present  site  of  the 
Eagle  Hotel,  and  became  the  first  settler  of  New 
Milford.  Robert  Corbett,  Benjamin  Hayden  and 
others  came  a few  years  later.  Nathaniel  Holdrige 
is  said  to  have  made  a commencement  in  Herrick  in 
1789,  but  he  soon  moved  to  Great  Bend.  The  Kent 
settlement,  which  was  made  about  1790  by  the  Kent 
brothers,  Abel,  John  and  Carlton,  was  the  first  perma- 
nent settlement  in  the  township.  Asahel  Gregory, 
Jonas  and  Sylvenus  Campbell  and  Daniel  Church, 
the  Hale  brothers,  Walter  Lyon  and  J.  C.  Await  were 
there  prior  to  1800.  Harford  was  settled  in  1790  by 
a portion  of  the  Nine  Partners  from  Attleboro’, 
Mass.  Subsequently  others  came  from  that  locality 
and  found  homes  in  Harford,  and  it  became  a Massa- 
chusetts settlement.  The  Tiflanys,  Tylers,  Thachers, 
Tituses,  Tingleys,  Carpenters,  Folletts  and  Hardings 
were  among  the  pioneers.  Gibson  was  settled  as 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


264  p 


early  as  1793  by  Captain  Joseph  Potter,  who  began 
on  the  farm  now  owned  by  his  grandson,  Joshua  M. 
Potter.  Joshua  Jay,  a hunter  and  trapper,  6rst  began 
in  Burrows’  Hollow  about  1790.  He  erected  a log 
house,  grist-mill  and  blacksmith-shop.  The  Five 
Partners  began  at  Kentuck  in  1809.  The  Belchers, 
Bennetts  and  Galloways,  Chamberlins,  Holmeses  and 
Washburnes  were  early  settlers.  Samuel  Carey  was 
the  first  settler  in  South  Gibson,  where  Samuel  Res- 
seguie  afterwards  had  a log  cabin  in  the  wilderness 
near  the  Tunkhannock  River.  Rush  was  settled  by 
Connecticut  Yankees  under  Connecticut  title,  and 
they  were  determined  not  to  yield  to  Pennsylvania, 
and,  under  lead  of  Joab  Pickett,  gave  the  Pennsyl- 
vania land-holders  some  trouble. 

The  first  settlement  in  Rush  was  in  1794  ; Dimock, 
1796;  Lenox,  1796  ; Auburn,  1797  ; Franklin,  1799; 
Bridgewater,  Montrose,  Middletown,  Jessup,  Forest 
Lake,  Clifford,  Lathrop  and  Springville,  in  1799 ; 
Apolacon,  1800;  Choconut,  1806;  Silver  Lake  and 
Jackson,  1809;  Ararat,  1810;  Thomson,  1818. 

It  will  be  seen  from  the  above  brief  review  that  all 
of  the  townships  except  Choconut,  Silver  Lake, 
Jackson  and  Ararat  had  small  settlements  within  their 
bounds  at  the  close  of  the  eighteenth  century,  or  with- 
in thirteen  years  after  the  first  settlement  was  made. 
These  settlements  were  isolated  in  the  dark  forest. 

The  traveler  in  1800  would  have  found  the  pio- 
neer’s lone  cabin  standing  in  a small  clearing,  usually 
near  a spring  of  water,  five  or  ten  miles  from  any 
neighbor,  on  some  Indian  trail  or  pathway  through 
the  woods,  indicated  by  blazed  trees.  The  “ bridle- 
paths,” as  they  were  sometimes  called  were  enlarged 
as  the  settlements  grew  in  population  and  wealth,  un- 
til they  constituted  the  pioneer  roads  of  the  county. 

County  Centennial. — July  1,  1887,  the  Montrose 
Democrat  called  the  attention  of  the  people  of  Susque- 
hanna County  to  the  fact  that  it  was  one  hundred 
years  ago  since  the  first  white  man  settled  in  Susque- 
hanna County,  and  suggested  that  a centennial  cele- 
bration should  be  held  at  Hallstead,  the  place  where 
the  first  permanent  settlement  was  made.  The  Sus- 
quehanna Transcript,  New  Milford  Advertiser,  Inde- 
pendent Republican,  Sentinel  and  Great  Bend  Plain- 
dealer  all  took  up  the  subject  and  favored  the  cele- 
bration. Accordingly,  a meeting  of  the  citizens  of 
Great  Bend  and  Hallstead  was  held  at  the  office  of 
Burgess  C.  M.  Simmons,  in  Hallstead,  at  which  an 
executive  committee,  consisting  of  Jas.  T.  Du  Bois, 
W.  D.  Lusk,  C.  M.  Simmons,  S.  S.  Wright,  Samuel 
Loomis,  G.  W.  Dixon,  O.  A.  Lines,  V.  Reckhow  and 
T.  D.  Estabrook,  were  appointed  a committee  to  draft 
a circular  to  send  to  leading  citizens  in  the  county, 
and  call  a meeting  at  Montrose.  The  following  is  an 
account  of  said  meeting,  as  reported  by  the  Democrat 
under  date  of  August  12,  1887  : 

“On  Monday  afternoon  last.  Judge  McCollum 
closed  court  at  an  early  hour,  to  permit  the  use  of 
the  court-room  for  the  purpose  of  a meeting  to  con- 


sider the  matter  of  a county  centennial.  Twenty-one 
towns  and  boroughs  were  represented  in  the  meeting. 
Mr.  George  A.  Post  was  chosen  to  preside,  with  W.  J. 
Pike  as  secretary.  Mr.  Post,  on  taking  the  chair, 
spoke  earnestly  in  favor  of  a celebration. 

“ The  first  thing  to  be  ascertained  was  the  sense  of 
the  meeting  upon  the  main  question,  ‘Shall  we  cele- 
brate?’ To  bring  the  matter  up  for  discussion,  Hon. 
M.  J.  Larrabee  moved  that  a celebration  of  the  hun- 
dredth anniversary  be  held.  The  chair  called  upon 
several  gentlemen  to  express  themselves  upon  the 
subject,  and  all  spoke  favorably.  Among  those  who 
expressed  themselves  as  decidedly  in  favor  of  the 
proposition  were  Hon.  J.  T.  Du  Bois,  Hon.  J.  B.  Mc- 
Collum, Hon.  J.  W.  Chapman,  A.  B.  Smith,  Sr.  I. 
M.  Gray,  W.  P.  Crandall,  O.  H.  Perry,  A.  O.  Warren, 
J.  G.  Snow,  Abner  Griffis,  S.  S.  Wright,  T.  D.  Esta- 
brook and  others.  It  was  unanimously  decided  to 
hold  the  celebration.  The  committee  is  as  follows  ; 

“H.  F.  Beardsley,  chairman,  Montrose;  J.  T.  Du 
Bois,  C.  M.  Simmons,  Hallstead ; T.  D.  Estabrook, 
Great  Bend ; M.  J.  Larrabee,  Susquehanna ; C.  M. 
Shelp,  New  Milford;  L.  D.  Benson,  Jackson;  W.  P. 
Crandall,  Hopbottom  ; J.  E.  Carmalt,  Choconut ; W. 
H.  Sherwood,  Rush ; I.  P.  Baker,  Dimock ; C.  J.  La- 
throp, Brooklyn ; Horace  Sweet,  Harford ; Dr.  E. 
R.  Gardner,  Clifford ; J.  D.  Miller,  Thomson, 

“ Miss  E.  C.  Blackman  and  Mrs.  Henry  D.  Warner 
expressed  themselves  in  sympathy  with  the  move- 
ment. 

“ On  motion  of  Hon.  J.  T.  Du  Bois,  an  executive 
committee  of  ladies  was  appointed  to  act  in  conjunc- 
tion with  the  main  executive  committee.  The  follow- 
ing ladies  were  named  as  such  committee,  with  power 
to  add  to  their  number  : 

“Mrs.  Henry  D.  Warner,  Mrs.  S.  B.  Chase,  Mrs. 
John  Boyden,  Mrs.  L.  A.  Smith,  Mrs.  J.  H.  Cook,  Mrs. 
M.  J.  Larabee,  Mrs.  Bronson,  Mrs.  E.  Griffis,  Miss 
E.  C.  Blackman. 

“ The  board  of  managers  of  the  county  centennial 
had  a short  meeting  in  Montrose  on  Saturday  last,  at 
which  an  informal  discussion  of  the  programme  was 
had.  It  was  proposed  that  there  should  be  a grand 
parade,  with  representatives  from  every  township  and 
borough  in  the  county,  with  the  trades,  professions, 
societies  and  businesses  represented.  It  is  the  present 
intention  to  have  present  a delegation  of  the  Tnsca- 
rora  Indians,  who  had  a settlement  in  Willingboro’  in 
the  early  days,  and  who  were  the  original  settlers. 
All  kinds  of  sports  will  be  provided,  including  boat- 
races,  base-ball  matches,  sack-races,  and  grand  dis- 
plays of  fireworks  will  occur  each  evening.” 

Hon.  J.  B.  McCollum  is  to  deliver  the  historical 
address,  and  Hon.  Galusha  A.  Grow  and  others  are  to 
be  present  and  make  addresses.  A log  cabin  has 
been  erected  on  the  spot  said  to  have  been  occnpied 
by  the  first  settler,  and  a well-sweep  has  been  placed 
over  the*old  well  that  he  dug.  The  centennial  will 
be  held  in  October. 


MONTROSE. 


265 


CHAPTER  XX. 

THE  BOROUGH  OF  MONTROSE. 

A VILLAGE  plot  was  surveyed  in  1812,  being 
one  hundred  and  twelve  by  one  hundred  and 
thirty-nine  perches,  by  Isaac  Chapman  and 
Isaac  Post.  They  plotted  the  village,  laid  out 
and  named  Beech,  Turnpike  and  Maple  Streets, 
Strawberry  and  Gooseberry  Alleys,  Cedar  and 
Alden  Lanes  and  the  Public  Avenue.  March 
29,  1824,  the  Legislature  enacted  that  the  town 
of  Montrose,  in  the  county  of  Susquehanna, 
shall  be,  and  the  same  is  hereby  erected  into  a 
borough,  which  shall  be  called  “ the  borough  of 
Montrose,”  “ beginning  at  the  west  corner  of 
the  Montrose  plot,  agreeably  to  map  on  record 
in  the  recorder’s  office  of  Susquehanna  County, 
in  deed-book  No.  1,  page  288;  thence  south 
thirty-five  degrees  west  forty  perches  to  a post ; 
thence  South  fifty-five  degrees  east  one  hundred 
and  sixty  perches  to  a post ; thence  north 
thirty-five  degrees  east  forty  perches  to  the 
•south  corner  of  said  town ; thence  by  the  last- 
mentioned  course  to  a post  and  stones,  twenty 
perches  beyond  the  east  corner  of  said  town 
plot ; thence  south  thirty-five  degrees  west  to 
the  place  of  beginning.”  The  same  act  created 
“ the  Burgess  and  Town  Council  of  the  Bor- 
ough of  Montrose,”  a body  corporate.  The 
officers  were  to  be  a burgess  and  nine  Council- 
men,  with  power  to  make  by-laws,  appoint 
street  commissioners,  a clerk,  a treasurer,  etc., 
William  Jessup  and  Almon  H.  Read  to  super- 
intend the  fir.st  election.  In  a supplementary 
act,  passed  March  9,  1826,  the  Council  were 
empowered  to  appoint  a collector,  and  the  bur- 
gess was  empowered  to  recover  fines  and  for- 
feitures. In  1853  Montrose  was  extended  on 
the  southerly  side  fifty-four  perches^  on  the 
easterly  side  thirty  perches  and  on  the  westerly 
side  twenty  perches.  The  act  of  17th  of  April, 
1861,  validated  acts  of  borough  officers  who 
may  have  been  irregularly  elected,  and  author- 
ized the  Town  Council  to  ,levy  as  high  as  one 
per  cent,  tax,  giving  them  power  to  compel 
owners  of  lots  to  build  sidewalks  in  front  of 
their  lots,  etc.  April  11,  1864,  the  Town 
Council  extended  the  borough  until  it  com- 


prised one  mile  square,  with  the  lines  running 
north  and  south  and  east  and  west.  The  centre 
is  a little  south  of  the  foundry.  Benjamin  T. 
Case  was  the  first  burgess,  elected  in  1824. 

From  1824  to  1833  the  minutes  of  the  Town 
Council  meetings  are  not  to  be  found.  In  1833 

A.  H.  Read  was  chosen  president  of  the  Council 
and  F.  M.  Williams  clerk.  C.  Fraser,  D. 
Curtis,  A.  H.  Read,  M.  S.  Wilson,  D.  Post,  A. 
Baldwin,  Asa  Dimock,  Jr.,  and  William  Jes- 
sup appear  as  Councilmen,  J.  W.  Raynsford, 
burgess.  Sidewalks  were  agitating  the  minds 
of  the  “city  fathers”  at  that  time.  They  paid 
one  dollar  per  rod  to  individuals  that  built 
sidewalks  in  front  of  thqir  property,  and  four 
and  one-half  dollars  for  one-fourth  of  a cro.ss- 
walk.  A.  H.  Read,  Charles  Avery,  William 
Jessup  and  David  Post  built  sidewalks  under 
that  arrangement.  Thirty  dollars  was  appro- 
priated to  open  the  road  from  the  Baptist  meet- 
ing-house to  the  Chenango  road.  In  1835 
William  Jessup  was  president  of  the  Council 
and  Henry  J.  Webb  town  clerk  ; shortly  after 

B.  R.  Lyon  was  made  clerk.  The  Council  were 
Henry  Drinker,  C.  L.  Ward,  Rodolphus  Ben- 
nett, S.  A.  Brownson,  Davis  Dimock,  Jr., 
Daniel  Bailey,  S.  S.  Mulford,  M.  C.  Tyler  ; J. 
W.  Raynsford  burgess,  Cormack  Cushman  high 
constable. 

In  1836  James  C.  Biddle  was  burge.ss,  and 
Henry  J.  Webb,  George  Fuller  and  Franklin 
Lusk  were  on  the  Council.  William  Foster 
and  B.  G.  Grover  are  the  new  men  on  the 
Council  in  1837  ; P.  Fraser  and  William  J. 
Turrell  clerks.  Many  of  the  progressive 
men  of  the  town  have  been  members  of 
the  Town  Council  during  all  these  years. 
We  cannot  mention  all  of  them,  but  besides 
those  already  mentioned,  some  of  whom  served 
many  years,  are  Messrs.  A.  L.  Post,  William  L. 
Post,  Charles  Beardsley,  Leonard  Searle,  S.  F. 
Keeler,  G.  V.  Bentley,  F.  B.  Chandler,  N. 
Mitchell,  William  Tnrrell,  B.  S.  Bentley, 
George  Frink,  W.  H.  Boyd,  Daniel  Searle,  S. 
B.  Hinds,  J.  T.  Birchard,  I.  L.  Post,  Jonas 
Mack,  Avery  Frink,  B.  R.  Lyons,  F.  W. 
Hawley,  F.  B.  Streeter,  D.  E.  Patrick,  Benja- 
min Sayre,  Seth  Mitchell,  D.  D.  Warner,  Phil- 
ander Lines,  Ezra  Patrick,  Jr.,  Horace  Brew- 


266 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


ster,  R.  J.  Niven,  B.  T.  Case,  Hiram  Finch, 
George  Little,  Jeremiah  Etheridge,  J.  B.  Salis- 
bury, H.  F.  Turrell,  S.  H.  Mulford,  W.  J. 
Muiford,  C.  F.  Read,  E.  W.  Rose,  G.  Boyd, 
S.  H.  Saj^re,  J.  T.  Richards,  \V.  H.  Jessup.  W m. 
J.  Turrell  was  clerk  a longtime  ; Azur  Lath- 
rop,  C.  M.  Gere,  W.  W.  Smith,  G.  R.  Lathrop, 
Elijah  Mott,  A.  Chamberlain,  E.  C.  Fordham, 
F.  A.  Case,  C.  W.  Mott,  C.  Neale,  F.  Frazier, 
J.  S.  Tarbell,  C.  L.  Brown,  W.  M.  Post,  L.  C. 
Keeler,  Amos  Nichols,  Daniel  Sayre,  T.  A. 
Lyon,  A.  H.  Smith,  C.  C.  Halsey,  J.  B.  Mc- 
Collum, W.  A.  Crossmon  and  many  others 
have  served  on  the  Council  in  later  years.  After 
the  organization  of  the  county  Joshua  W. 
Raynsford  was  appointed  justice  of  the  peace. 
He  was  commissioned  by  Governor  Snyder 
March  28,  1812,  to  hold  during  good  behavior. 
This  commission,  like  all  similar  ones,  termi- 
nated in  1840,  when  the  office  became  elective. 
Zenas  Bliss  was  given  a similar  commission  for 
Bridgewater  in  1813,  David  Post  for  Bridge- 
water  and  Springville  in  1815,  and  Samuel  A. 
Brown  for  Bridgewater  and  Springville  in 
1817. 

J.  W.  Raynsford  did  most  of  the  busi- 
ness. “ During  his  magistracy  of  twenty-eight 
years  he  had  thirty-six  thousand  six  hundred 
and  eighty  suits  before  him,  which  are  regis- 
tered in  twenty-four  folio  volumes  ; he  took 
acknowledgments  of  one  thousand  deeds,  and 
united  one  hundred  and  four  couples  in  mar- 
riage.” Charles  Avery  was  elected  in  1840  for 
five  years,  and  by  re-elections  held  the  office 
until  he  died,  in  1876,  covering  a period  of 
thirty-six  years.  During  that  time  he  made 
eleven  thousand  eight  hundred  and  twenty-eight 
docket  entries.  William  A.  Crossmon  held  the 
office  from  1876  to  1880,  and  had  nine  hundred 
and  fifty-nine  suits.  John  S.  Courtright  has 
held  the  office  since  1880.  There  are  two  jus- 
tices in  the  borough.  Sabin  Hatch  served  from 
1840  to  1845;  Albert  Chamberlin,  from  1845 
to  1860;  Franklin  Frazier,  1860  to  1865;  A. 
O.  Warner,  from  1865  to  1870  ; G.  B.  Eldred, 
from  March,  1870,  to  December,  1870  ; J.  F. 
Shoemaker,  from  December,  1870,  to  March, 
1874  ; A.  W.  Bertholf,  from  March,  1874,  to 
May,  1879;  F.  I.  Lott,  till  1880;  W.  W. 


Simrell,  till  1881  ; G.  G.  Watrous,  since  that 
time  till  now  (1887). 

A post-office  was  established  at  Montrose, 
March  1, 1808,  with  Isaac  Post  first  postmaster. 
He  held  the  office  twenty  years,  and  was  suc- 
ceeded by  his  son,  William  L.  Post,  March  3, 
1828.  Their  successors  have  been  Charles  Fitz 
Read,  July  11, 1838 ; W.  L.  Post,  July  13, 1841 ; 
Rasselas  Searle,  November  3,  1842;  Henry  J. 
Webb,  1845;  Benjamin  Case,  1849;  Dudson 
R.  Lathrop,  1852;  Amory  N.  Bullard,  1853; 
Henry  J.  Webb,  1858;  Dudson  R.  Lathrop, 
1861 ; Daniel  Brewster,  1866;  H.  J.  Webb,  1867 ; 
Geo.  L.  Stone,  1869;  Edward  C.  Fordham,  1873; 
John  R.  Raynsford,  1885.  The  present  post- 
office,  telephone  exchange  and  express  building 
occupies  the  same  site  that  Post’s  Hotel  occupied, 
where  the  first  post-office  was  kept. 

Montrose  is  located  on  hills  whose  general 
slope  is  southward,  although  the  main  ridge 
slopes  in  all  directions.  The  high  point  at  the 
fair-ground  is  some  eighteen  hundred  feet  above 
tide  water.  The  main  business  houses  are  located 
on  both  sides  of  the  Public  Avenue,  as  they  call 
the  short  street  that  extends  from  the  court-house 
on  the  north  to  the  old  Milford  and  Owego 
road  or  Church  Street  on  the  south.  This  street 
is  about  one  hundred  feet  wide  and  about  forty 
rods  long.  From  the  court-house  down  the 
road,  the  first  building  on  the  left  is  the  Tarbell 
House ; opposite  on  the  right  is  the  old-fashioned 
residence  of  Mrs.  Webb.  Following  down  the 
street  we  find  a number  of  lawyers’  offices  on 
both  sides  of  the  avenue;  the  Democrat  office, 
the  post-office,  national  bank  and  several  stores 
farther  down.  At  the  foot  of  the  avenue  is  the 
street  extending  nearly  east  and  west,  which 
contains  the  finest  brick  .stores  in  the  place. 
The  vine-clad  Episcopal  Church  and  the  Pres- 
byterian Church  are  on  this  street  going  east, 
while  the  Baptist  Church  is  on  the  same  street 
going  west,  hence  the  name  Church  Street, 
although  it  is  but  a portion  of  the  old  Milford 
and  Owego  turnpike,  as  the  Public  Avenue  is 
but  a portion  of  the  old  Chenango  turnpike. 
The  extension  of  the  Public  Avenue  southward 
is  known  as  South  Main  Street,  and  it  contains 
a number  of  stores;  farther  south  there  are 
some  fine  residences  with  ample  grounds  and 


MONTROSE. 


267 


shade  trees.  The  Montrose  House  is  on  Church 
Street,  and  there  ai'e  two  streets  parallel  to  Pub- 
lic Avenue,  extending  from  Church  Street  north- 
ward. The  Methodist  Church  is  at  the  head  of 
the  street  that  extends  from  the  court-house 
eastward.  The  public  park  originally  contained 
ten  acres,  and  extended  from  theTarbell  House  to 
W.  J.  Mulford’s,  and  from  Jessup’s  residence 
to  Dr.  Vail’s,  but  a row  of  public  buildings  has 
been  erected  nearly  through  the  centre,  following 
North  Main  Street.  These  are  the  court-house, 
engine-house,  school-house,  old  court-house, 
Universalist  Church  and  jail,  extending  up  the 
hill  northward.  The  narrow  park  on  the  east 
side  of  these  buildings  is  called  Monument 
Park,  from  the  fact  that  a very  fine  granite 
monument  has  been  erected  therein  to  the 
memory  of  the  soldiers  of  the  late  war.  Judge 
Jessup’s  residence  is  on  the  east  side  of  this  park, 
and  Judge  McCollum’s  is  on  the  street  that 
extends  eastward  past  the  park  towards  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  sometimes  called 
Maple  Street.  The  Independent  Republican's 
stone  office  is  on  this  street  also.  Proceeding 
up  the  hill  from  the  north  side  of  the  park  on 
Upper  Main  Street,  there  are  some  fine  resi- 
dences, with  large  and  well-planned  grounds 
and  shaded  walks.  There  is  almost  always  a 
breeze  blowing  on  these  hills,  and  in  summer  it 
is  very  cool,  healthful  and  pleasant.  The  vil- 
lage, being  located  on  hills,  is  seen  from  quite  a 
distance,  and  when  the  foliage  is  on  the  trees,  it 
has  the  appearance  of  a village  in  the  forest. 
The  town  extends  a mile  or  more  north  and 
south,  and  is  built  upon  the  original  road  as  it 
winds  among  the  hills.  It  is  built  after  the 
New  England  style;  most  of  the  residences 
have  large  yards  attached,  and  the  village  is 
nowise  crowded  in  appearance.  The  negroes 
live  on  the  western  slope,  in  Pleasant  Valley,  as 
they  call  it.  Taken  altogether,  it  is  a rambling 
old  town,  which  derives  its  principal  importance 
from  the  fact  that  it  is  the  county-seat,  and  an 
old  turnpike  road  and  mail  centre,  and  a trading 
point  for  the  surrounding  farmers  for  several 
miles  distant.  It  has  a conservative  population, 
mostly  composed  of  the  descendants  of  the 
pioneer  settlers,  either  of  the  second  or  third 
generation,  who  have  in  some  instances  inlierited 


a little  property  and  a family  name  of  which 
they  are  proud.  Lawyers  seem  to  abound  here. 
The  newspapers  are  unusually  well-conducted 
for  so  small  a town  and  have  a large  circulation  ; 
while  the  churches  and  schools  are  well  main- 
tained. The  old  pioneer  names  appear  to  the 
third  generation  among  her  merchants,  as  Mul- 
ford,  Lyons,  Sayre,  Fordham,  Turrell;  while 
the  old  family  names  of  Post,  Jessup,  Lathrop, 
McCollum,  Searle,  Baldwin,  Bullard,  Brewster, 
Deans,  Tyler,  Foster,  Raynsford,  Read  and 
many  others  of  old  settlers  still  have  represent- 
ativ^es  here  in  business  or  in  the  professions.  A 
more  complete  Yankee  town  could  not  be  found 
in  New  England  than  this.  The  town  lacks 
railroad  facilities  to  keep  it  abreast  of  modern 
stir  and  progress,  and  many  men  that  would  be 
otherwise  engaged,  if  business  demanded  it,  are 
often  found  congregated  together,  joking  and 
telling  stories  and  otherwise  passing  the  time. 
This  is  political  headquarters  also;  here  the 
plans  for  the  fall  campaign  are  laid,  and  here 
the  ambitious  men  of  the  county  congregate  for 
the  purpose  of  selecting  candidates  for  office. 
Although  somewhat  staid  and  slow,  Montrose 
business-men  have  Yankee  shrewdness  and  look- 
out for  the  main  chance  in  making  bargains. 
Her  politicians  are  ambitious  and  aspiring,  and 
her  lawyers  are  ever  on  the  alert,  not  only  at 
home  but  abroad.  Some  of  the  brightest  minds 
in  Lackawanna  County  bar  are  from  Montrose. 
The  happiest  people  here  are  the  negroes.  A 
number  of  them  can  be  seen  on  the  streets, 
ready  to  dance  on  the  side-walk  or  sing,  almost 
any  time.  John  Stout  is  the  most  jovial  old 
character  there  is  remaining  of  the  former 
slaves.  The  younger  class  are  not  as  industrious 
as  their  fathers  were,  and  if  they  have  enough 
to  eat  for  one  day,  good-by  care  and  sorrow — 
let  us  be  happy  to-day,  with  no  tliought  of 
to-morrow.  Montrose  has  staying  qualities 
inherited  from  its  Puritan  ancestors  that  will 
doubtless  maintain  the  dignity  of  the  village, 
and  continue  to  make  it  a good,  healthful  home 
of  men  of  brawn,  muscle  and  intelligence,  suffi- 
cient to  manage  her  own  affairs;  besides  sending 
out  young  men  and  women  into  more  enter- 
prising towns  to  take  leading  j)laces  there*. 

Isaac  Post  was  born  Aug.  12,  17<S4,  in  Snf- 


268 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNS  V^LVANIA. 


folk  County,  L.  I.  ^ His  father’s  and  grand- 
father’s names  were  Isaac.  There  was  one 
other  son,  David.  The  father  died  when  Isaac 
was  less  than  four  years  old.  The  young  wife 
settled  the  business  of  her  husband  as  best  she 
could  and  found  that  she  had  but  little  left.  In 
1793-94  Mrs.  Post  married  Capt.  Bartlet 
Hinds.  Prior  to  her  marriage  she  had  carried 
on  farming  with  the  assistance  of  some  slaves 
that  belonged  to  the  estate.  In  1799  Judge 
Haven,  of  Shelter  Island,  offered  large  induce- 
ments to  Captain  Hinds  if  he  would  remove  to 
Pennsylvania  and  take  charge  of  the  settlement 
on  his  lands,  amounting  to  twelve  thousand 
acres  included  in  the  Susquehanna  Purchase 
under  Connecticut  title.  In  February,  1800, 
Bartlet  Hinds,  Isaac  Post,  Daniel  Brewster, 
Eldad  Brewster,  Daniel  Foster,  John  Reynolds, 
Robert  Day,  Ichabod  Halsey  and  Frederick 
Loper,  with  horses  and  two  sleighs,  left  Long 
Island  for  Pennsylvania.  They  found  a log 
hut  at  the  Delaware  (probably  Carpenter’s 
Point),  where  they  stopped  overnight.  The 
next  day  they  found  Blooming  Grove,  which 
consisted  of  one  half-buried  log  hut.  They 
proceeded  thence  by  way  of  Shohola,  where  one 
of  the  party  horsewhipped  the  landlord  for 
stealing  from  the  horses  the  bog  hay  whieh  had 
been  fed  to  them.  They  stopped  at  all  the  log 
houses  along  the  road,  coming  by  way  of  Deacon 
Purdy’s,  Schenck’s  at  Cherry  Ridge,  Asa  Stan- 
ton’s at  Canaan  and  Hosea  Tiffany’s  at  Nine 
Partners.  At  the  latter  place  both  settlers  and 
new-comers  had  a social  drink  of  cider  all 
around.  That  night  they  got  as  far  as  ’Squire 
Tracy’s  at  Hopbottom.  He  had  lately  arrived 
from  Norwich,  Conn.  The  next  day  they  came 
down  to  Joseph  Chapman’s.  From  there  it 
was  six  miles  through  the  woods  to  Stephen 
Wilson’s  cabin,  which  they  reached  at  four  p.m. 
March  11,  1800.  Leaving  young  Isaac,  who 
was  then  sixteen  years  old,  at  Mr.  Wilson’s,  the 
rest  of  the  company  proceeded  three  miles  farther 
to  the  log  cabin  previously  built  by  John  Rey- 
nolds and  Daniel  Foster,  who  were  now  with 
the  company.  There  they  intended  to  build  a 

1 This  narrative  is  authentic  as  preserved  in  the  manuscript  of  one  of 
the  pioneers,  and  is  given  very  nearly  in  the  language  of  the  writer,  as 
illustrative  of  pioneer  hardsliips  and  customs. 


saw-mill.  The  cabin  which  had  been  built  the 
fall  before  was  built  like  a shed,  with  bark 
covering,  being  open  in  front,  where  they  kept 
a log  fire.  Captain  Hinds  and  Mr.  Foster  went 
down  the  Wyalusing  for  provisions.  They 
were  gone  nearly  two  weeks.  There  came  a 
freshet,  and  the  ice  went  out  of  the  river  before 
they  started  back.  They  made  some  trades 
and  got  some  flour,  a barrel  of  pork  and  a keg 
of  whiskey.  They  took  their  things  to  the 
forks  of  the  creek,  and  that  was  the  end  of  any 
road  ; as  the  snow  was  mostly  gone,  they  had  to 
get  a yoke  of  oxen  and  make  a drag,  which 
was  a crotched  tree  something  in  the  shape  of  a 
cart  tongue,  the  only  kind  of  vehicle  that  could 
be  got  through  the  woods,  over  logs  and  through 
the  creeks.  Captain  Hinds,  who  had  traded 
one  of  the  horses  away,  managed  one  load,  and 
Daniel  Foster  and  Ichabod  Halsey  managed 
the  oxen  and  dray.  They  had  to  cross  the 
creek  about  a dozen  times,  and  carry  the  flour 
across  by  hand,  walking  on  a tree  which  they 
felled  across  the  stream  when  they  could  find  no 
log  crossing.  Where  the  water  was  not  too 
deep,  it  was  taken  across  on  the  back  of  the 
horse.  The  oxen  came  near  getting  drowned 
in  the  deep  water,  but  that  was  not  the  Mmrst 
that  befell  our  heroes.  The  most  unfortunate 
circumstance  happened  as  they  were  ascending 
a steep  hill;  here,  somehow,  that  keg  of  whiskey 
got  loose  and  rolled  off.  Foster  saw  the  prize 
going  and  tried  to  catch  it.  The  hill  was  steep. 
The  keg  rolled  on,  Foster  still  in  pursuit,  but 
pursuit  was  vain.  The  keg  “stove,”  and  the 
disconsolate  trio  gathered  around  the  wreck  and 
took  a parting  drink,  which  was  all  they  could 
save  of  the  liquid  treasure.  The  disappoint- 
ment felt  at  the  cabin  for  this  loss  was  in  part 
made  good  by  the  merriment  which  they  had 
at  Foster’s  pursuit.  The  persons  who  had  pre- 
ceded them,  and  were  living  along  the  creek, 
were  Metcalf,  Joab  Pickett,  Abner  Griffis, 
Ebenezer  Whipple,  Samuel  Lewis  and  Ozem 
Cook.  The  last  named  lived  about  one  mile 
above  the  cabin.  Mr.  Hinds  looked  about  the 
country  and  decided  to  make  his  home  near 
Stephen  Wilson’s,  at  the  headwaters  of  the 
Wyalusing  Creek.  Bartlet  Hinds,  Robert  Day, 
Samuel  Coggswell  and  Isaac  Post  secured  lodg- 


MONTROSE. 


269 


ing  in  the  log  hovel  whieh  Stephen  Wilson  had 
erected  for  his  brother’s  oxen,  and  obtained 
bread  of  Mrs.  Wilson.  Having  their  bodily 
wants  thus  supplied,  these  four  hardy  pioneers 
commenced  chopping  down  the  forests  and 
making  a clearing.  This  was  the  rough  begin- 
ning whence  sprang  the  village  of  Montrose. 
They  erected  a log  cabin  just  back  of  Wm.  M. 
Post’s  residence  in  1800,  which  was  the  first 
house  within  the  borough  limits  of  Montrose. 
Isaac  Post  built,  in  1806,  a frame  house  where 
the  po.st-office  now  stands,  which  became  the 
first  tavern,  store  and  post-office  in  the  place. 
About  1810  David  Post  built  the  house  whieh 
constitutes  a large  part  of  the  present  residence 
of  Wm.  M.  Post.  That  same  year  Jabez 
Frink  had  a log  house  opposite  the  present 
Baptist  Church,  and  carried  on  blacksmithing 
for  Isaac  Post. 

The  place  was  known  as  Hinds'  settlement  for 
a number  of  years,  until  Captain  Hinds  and 
Dr.  Rose  agreed  to  name  each  other’s  place  of 
residence.  The  former  named  Silver  Lake,  and 
the  latter  Montrose,  after  a town  in  Scotland. 

Bartlet  Hinds  and  his  step-sons  were  the 
founders  of  the  village.  Together  with  Dr.  Rose, 
they  extended  such  hospitality  and  good  cheer 
to  the  commissioners  appointed  to  locate  the 
county-seat,  that  they  won  the  prize  away 
from  Brooklyn  and  other  aspiring  towns. 
Bartlet  Hinds  was  born  April  4,  1755,  at 
Middleborough,  Mass.,  and  became  a baptized 
member  of  his  father’s  church  in  that  place. 
He  was  the  first  Baptist  in  the  county.  He 
served  in  the  Revolutionary  array  as  private, 
first  lieutenant  and  was  breveted  captain.  He 
was  shot  through  the  left  lung  at  the  taking  of 
Burgoyne,  and  was  one  of  the  leaders  of  the 
forlorn  hope  at  the  taking  of  Stony  Point.  He 
belonged  to  the  order  of  “ Cincinnati,”  and  was 
the  first  justice  of  the  peace  at  Montrose.  He 
was  one  of  the  first  of  those  who  had  settled 
under  Connecticut  authority  to  yield  to  Penn- 
sylvania and  obtain  his  title  from  her  authority. 
He  married  the  widow,  Agnes  Post,  for  his 
second  wife,  by  whom  he  had  one  son,  Bartlet 
Hinds,  Jr.,  who  died  youug.  Conrad  Hinds, 
his  son  by  his  first  wife,  lived  in  Bridgewater 
nearly  sixty  years.  He  was  a deacon  of  the 


Bridgewater  Baptist  Church  in  1829.  He  was 
an  earnest  Bible  Christian  and  lived  a quiet, 
contemplative  life  on  his  farm,  but  was  always 
active  and  ready  to  advance  the  cause  he  loved 
so  well. 

Isaac  Post  made  considerable  of  a clearing 
before  his  family  knew  what  he  was  doing; 
possibly  his  love  for  his  step-sister,  Susanna 
Hinds,  may  have  increased  his  activity  in  pre- 
paring a home  for  himself,  for  after  he  had  a 
home  prepared  he  married  her,  and  became,  in 
many  respects,  the  most  promiuent  man  in  the 
vicinity.  He  assisted  in  the  finst  chopping  and 
clearing  where  Montrose  now  stands,  and  the 
frame-house  that  he  erected  on  the  site  of  the 
present  post-office  building  was  the  first  store 
and  tavern  in  the  place.  He  was  the  first  post- 
master, and  was  connected  wdth  carrying  the 


ISAAC  POST. 


early  mails.  He  wais  treasurer  of  the  first  sub- 
scribers to  the  Milford  and  Owego  turnpike, 
and  let  the  contracts  for  building  that  road. 
He  was  the  first  treasurer  of  the  county,  major 
of  militia  and  brigade  inspector.  He  was  a 
prominent  Republican,  as  the  Democrats  w'ore 
then  called,  and  was  a member  of  the  State 
Legislature  in  1828-29,  and  as.sociatc  judge 
from  1837  to  1843.  He  was  a prominent  Bap- 
tist and  built  the  Baptist  Church  in  1829  ; also, 
the  academy  in  1818.  His  children  w'cre 
William  L.,  for  many  years  a merchant  at 
Montrose,  but  finally  an  cmjiloye  of  the  Treas- 
ury Department  at  Washington,  w'hcre  he  died  ; 


270 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


Rev.  Albert  L.,  born  March  25,  1809,  died 
January  7,  1887  ; Isaac  L.,  many  years  in  busi- 
ness at  Montrose,  now  a resident  of  and  alder- 
man in  Scranton;  Jane  Post;  Elizabeth,  wife  of 
Dr.  G.  Z.  Dimock  ; and  George  L.,  deceased. 
Isaac  Post  died  March  23,  1855. 

David  Post,  brother  of  Isaac,  also  came  here 
with  his  step-father,  Bartlet  Hinds,  shortly  after 
the  first  log-house  had  been  erected,  just  back 
of  where  he  built  a frame  house  in  1814,  which 
constitutes  part  of  the  residence  of  his  son,  W. 
M.  Post.  This  was  one  of  the  largest  and  most 


comfortable  residences  in  town,  and  was  the 
home  of  the  court  judges,  during  court  sessions, 
for  many  years.  Mr.  Post  was  kind,  generous 
and  social ; a Republican  of  the  early  and  later 
times,  a supporter  of  free  missions  and  of  the 
anti-slavery  movement.  He  was  among  the 
number  baptized  into  the  Bridgewater  Baptist 
Church,  by  Elder  Dimock,  iu  1810,  and  took  an 
active  interest  in  tlie  affairs  of  that  denomina- 
tion. He  was  appointed  justice  of  the  peace  in 
1815,  and  served  twenty-five  years;  he  .settled 
a great  many  difficulties  during  that  time,  pre- 
ferring peaceable  adjustment  to  litigation.  He 
married  Minerva,  daughter  of  Samuel  Scott,  in 
January,  1809.  Of  their  eleven  children,  the 
following  six  reached  the  age  of  manhood  and 
womanhood : Norman  I.  Post,  who  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  bar,  but  preferred  business,  and 
became  a merchant  at  Montrose;  Fannie,  wife 


of  Dr.  Thomas  Jackson,  of  Binghamton, 
N.  Y. ; Mary,  wife  of  Sidney  T.  Robinson,  also 
of  Binghamton  ; Phila  A.,  wife  of  Ralph  B. 
Little,  Esq.,  of  Montrose  ; David  went  to  Cali- 
fornia, where  he  now  resides ; and  William  M. 
Post,  Esq.,  who  resides  on  the  old  homestead, 
being  the  last  of  his  father’s  family  remaining 
at  Montrose. 

Rufus  Frink  first  commenced  in  Bridge- 
water  in  1806,  and  subsequently  built  a frame 
house  on  the  lot  now  owned  and  occupied  by 
W.  J.  Mulford.  Mr.  Frink  was  a mason  by 
trade.  His  son,  Avery  Frink,  has  been  a con- 
tractor and  house-builder  for  more  than  half  a 
century.  Mr.  Frink’s  six  daughters  all  mar- 
ried iu  the  vicinity, — Mrs.  Fritz,  the  eldest, 
lives  at  Springville,  aged  eighty ; and  Mrs. 
Ward  lives  at  New  Milford.  Jabez  Frink  was 
the  first  blacksmith  at  Montrose  ; he  finally  re- 
moved to  Rush,  where  he  died.  George  Frink, 
a grandson  of  his,  lives  at  Montro.se  now. 

Isaac  P.  Foster  came  to  Montrose  and  started 
his  little  tannery  in  1811 ; he  sold  to  Luther 
Catlin,  and  removed  to  Honesdale  in  1829, 
where  he  became  one  of  the  prominent  pioneers 
of  that  village. 

Austin  Howell,  Mr.  Foster’s  brother-in-law, 
came  from  Long  Island  to  Montrose  in  1812, 
and  erected  a tavern  just  south  of  the  tannery, 
which  was  destroyed  by  fire  in  1854.  Mr. 
Howell  was  the  second  sheriflF  of  the  county. 
His  wife  was  a sister  of  Hon.  William  Jessup. 
He  removed  to  Jessup,  where  he  died  in  1866, 
aged  seventy-eight  years. 

William  Foster  came  in  the  spring  of  1812, 
and  worked  in  I.  P.  Foster’s  tannery  ; he  subse- 
quently carried  on  tanning  and  shoemaking. 
He  was  an  ardent  Abolitionist,  being  promi- 
nently associated  with  the  Posts,  Deacon  Mea- 
cham  and  others  in  providing  subsistence  and 
employment  for  fugitive  slaves.  He  was  county 
treasurer  from  1832  to  1834 ; he  died  1874,  aged 
seventy-six  years.  His  wife,  Mrs.  Anna  Sayre 
Foster,  died  in  1885,  aged  seventy-nine.  Of  his 
family,  Charles  S.  Foster  remained  at  Montrose, 
and  carried  on  a tannery  for  a number  of  years. 
His  children  are  Selden  M.,  clerk  for  Boyd 
Carrie  R.,  wife  of  W.  J.  Post ; Mary  F.  and 
Julia. 


MONTROSE. 


271 


Francis  Fordham  came  from  Long  Island  in 
1812,  and  established  the  hatter’s  business.  He 
returned  and  brought  his  bride,  July  9,  1813. 
Mrs.  Sarah  Howell  Fordham,  like  a true  wife, 
assisted  her  husband,  and  many  a farmer’s  boy 
wore  evidence  of  her  skill  in  the  trimmings  of 
his  hat.  Their  children  were  Nancy,  wife  of 
George  H.  Williston;  William,  a cabinet-maker, 
who  died  at  Corning,  N.  Y. ; Harriet,  wife  of 
George  Jones,  of  Pittston  ; Phebe,  wife  of  Ed- 
mund Baldwin ; Edward  C.  Fordham,  a cabi- 
net-maker, for  twelve  years  postmaster  of 
Montrose.  He  is  a merchant  now,  and  chair- 
man of  the  Kepublican  County  Committee. 
Emma  and  G.  F.  Fordham,  upholsterer,  are  the 
remaining  children. 

Rufus  Bowman,  a baker,  came  in  1813,  and 
occupied  the  log  house  vacated  by  Dr.  Fraser, 
who  had  come  in  1812  from  Great  Bend,  having 
been  elected  prothonotary,  clerk  of  the  courts, 
register  and  recorder.  Mr.  Bowman  subse- 
quently  built  on  the  site  of  W.  S.  Mulford’s 
store ; two  of  his  daughters  were  teachers  many 
years.  George  Claggett,  a tailor,  and  Stephen 
Hinds  came  in  1813. 

Benjamin  Sayre  established  the  mercantile 
business  at  Montrose  in  1816;  he  first  built 
where  Searle’s  office  now  is,  then  across  the  road 
where  Blakeslee  has  his  residence.  His  wife 
was  Pri.scilla  Chapman,  and  their  children  were 
Anna  M.,  wife  of  J.  T.  Richards ; Catharine, 
wife  of  G.  V.  Bentley;  Samuel  H.,  Benjamin 
C.  and  Daniel.  His  sons  have  all  been  active 
business  men  at  Montrose.  Lydia  is  the  wife 
of  G.  W.  Comstock,  of  New  York  ; Samuel  H. 
married  Frances  M.  Reed.  Their  children  are 
Samuel  H.  and  Mary  Elizabeth. 

Silvanus  S.  Mulford  came  to  Montrose  from 
Long  Island  in  1816,  and  first  built  where 
Judge  Jessup  formerly  resided,  next  where  Jerre 
Lyons  lived,  and  finally  wdiere  B.  H.  Mulford 
now  lives.  He  was  one  of  the  early  and  suc- 
cessive merchants  of  the  place ; he  married 
Fannie  Jessup  and  their  children  were  William 
J.,  a merchant,  who  married  Mary  H.  Cook, 
and  has  two  children, — William  S.,  his  successor 
in  business,  and  Mary  B.  The  other  children, 
of  the  original  family,  were  Samuel  B.,  a lawyer; 
Sylvester  H.,  a merchant;  Silvanus  S.,  a physi- 


cian in  New  York;  Elisha,  an  Episcopal  clergy- 
man ; Benjamin  H.,  a merchant;  Fannie  A., 
wife  of  C.  J.  Conell,  of  Chicago. 

Asahel  Avery  came  to  Dimock  from  Salem, 
Conn.,  and  located  on  what  is  now  called  the 
Cope  farm  in  1801.  His  family  slept  on 
branches  of  trees  all  winter.  Owing  to  difficul- 
ties about  the  title  to  the  property  he  removed 
to  Great  Bend,  where  he  became  the  first  justice 
of  the  peace  after  the  organization  of  the 
county.  He  died  soon  after  his  appointment, 
and  his  widow  built  the  house  now  occupied  by 
some  of  her  descendants  in  Montrose,  in  1817, 
and  removed  there.  The  family  consisted  of 
one  daughter — Clarissa,  wife  of  Benjamin  La- 
throp  — and  four  boys  — A.sahel,  Charles, 
Chauncy  and  Hubbard,  all  carpenters,  cabinet- 
makers or  carriage-makers.  Charles  Avery 
moved  into  the  house  erected  by  his  mother  in 
1820,  and  became  a man  of  some  prominence 
in  the  town.  He  was  county  treasurer  in  1821, 
county  commissioner  in  1825,  commi.ssioners’ 
clerk  in  the  year  1833  ; that  fall  he  was  elected 
sheriff  of  the  county  for  three  years.  He  was 
appointed  register  and  recorder  January  6, 
1839,  and  served  that  year.  In  1840  he  was 
elected  justice  of  the  peace,  and  by  re-elections 
held  the  office  continuously  until  his  death, 
which  occurred  in  1876,  when  he  was  nearly 
eighty  one  years  of  age.  His  wife  was 
Harriet  Lord,  and  their  children  were  Fayette, 
pattern-maker,  who  resides  on  the  homestead  ; 
Mary,  wife  of  Robert  Simpson  ; Helen,  wife  of 
Theodore  Smith  ; Gertrude,  wife  of  Edwin 
McKenzie,  of  Montrose ; Louisa  and  Clara. 

Jerre  Lyons  came  to  Montro.se  in  1819  and 
built  a .store  and  residence  where  the  bank  now 
stands.  He  resided  there  until  he  purchased 
the  Mulford  place,  where  George  H.  Lyons 
now  lives.  Jerre  Lyons’  wife  was  Melinda 
Bennett.  Of  his  children,  J.  Lorenzo  lives  in 
Florida,  Theodore  A.  succeeded  his  father  in 
business,  George  H.  resides  on  the  homestead. 
Of  Theodore’s  children,  Gilbert  is  telegraph 
operator,  Harry  is  in  the  store,  and  Emma  is  at 
home. 

Henry  Drinker,  son  of  Henry  S.  Drinker 
and  grandson  of  Henry  Drinker,  resided  here 
in  the  hou.se  now  owned  by  B.  de  Schweinitz. 


272 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


He  owned  two  farms  in  the  vicinity  of  the 
village,  and  took  considerable  interest  in  the 
Agricultural  Society.  He  died  February  5, 
1868,  and  was  buried  here.  Joseph  Drinker, 
Sr.,  a cousin  of  the  foregoing,  lived  in  the 
house  adjoining,  now  occupied  by  D.  R.  La- 
throp.  Annie  Drinker,  his  daughter,  was 
“ Edith  May,”  mentioned  among  the  authors. 
James  C.  Biddle  married  Sallie  Drinker,  grand- 
daughter of  the  founder  of  the  estate,  and  came 
here  as  his  agent,  and  was  president  of  the 
Bank  of  Susquehanna  County,  of  the  Mutual 
Insurance  Company,  and  was  in  other  respects 
a prominent  man.  He  died  in  the  prime  of 
life  while  at  Philadelphia. 

Moses  C.  Tyler,  son  of  Moses  Tyler,  of 
Bridgewater,  bought  the  place  in  Montrose  and 
built  the  hou.se  now  occupied  by  his  widow, 
at  the  corner  of  Maple  Street  and  Monument 
Park,  when  a young  man.  He  was  a 
merchant  in  the  place  about  forty  years, 
treasurer  of  the  county  from  1839  to 
1843,  and  associate  judge  nearly  five  years 
from  1847.  He  had  three  wives — first.  May 
French;  second,  a daughter  of  A.  H.  Read; 
third,  Harriet  Harris.  Of  his  seven  children, 
Henry  C.  Tyler,  of  Montrose,  alone  is  living. 
He  married  Frances  E.  Wilcox,  and  resides  on 
Upjier  Main  Street.  He  is  a general  insurance 
agent  and  was  county  treasurer  in  1875.  Owen 
B.,  a lawyer,  died  in  California;  Clark  died  in 
St.  Louis.  Moses  Tyler’s  widow  is  living  on 
the  homestead  with  her  sister,  Mrs.  Cooper, 
both  of  whom  are  four-score  years  of  age. 
Judge  Tyler  died  in  1885,  aged  nearly  eighty- 
three.  William  H.  Cooper  read  law  with  Wil- 
liam Jessup  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in 
1851.  He  went  into  the  banking  business 
with  Post  Brothers,  and  after  their  failure 
continued  the  business  as  W.  H.  Cooper  & Co., 
until  he  was  shot  by  Joe  Drinker  (an  insane 
man)  in  1884.  He  built  a fine  residence,  now 
owned  by  Mr.  C.  R.  Woodin.  His  father. 
Captain  Huntting  Cooper,  came  later  and  pur- 
chased the  Isaac  C.  Post  mansion.  He  had 
been  an  old  .sea  captain  and  had  taken  long 
whaling  voyages.  He  died  here  July  2, 
1885,  aged  nearly  ninety-three. 

Seth  and  Nathan  Mitchell  came  from  Rocks- 


bury  to  New  Milford.  Seth  Mitchell  cleared 
up  two  farms  in  New  Milford  township,  and 
about  thirty  years  previous  to  his  death  re- 
moved to  Montrose.  He  was  a member  of  the 
Baptist  Church  and  died  at  the  advanced  age 
of  ninety-three.  He  had  eight  children.  Of 
these,  Ellen  is  a medical  missionary  in  India ; 
Norman  I.  was  a druggist  and  jeweler  at 
Montrose  (he  was  a deacon  in  the  Baptist 
Church  ; he  and  his  brother  Henry,  who  was 
also  a merchant  here,  are  both  dead) ; Lemuel  is 
a farmer  on  Snake  Creek ; Almira  is  the  wife 
of  B.  Grover ; Ophelia  is  the  wife  of  George  R. 
Lathrop,  of  Montrose. 

Henry  J.  Webb  was  born  in  Saybrook, 
Conn.,  in  the  year  1808,  and  was  taken  by  his 
parents  to  Bridgewater  when  a child.  His 
father,  Stephen  J.  Webb,  settled  in  North 
Bridgewater,  near  Williams’  Pond,  on  a farm. 
Henry  came  to  Montrose  when  a young  man, 
and  was  clerk  for  William  L.  Post  a number  of 
years.  He  then  engaged  in  mercantile  busi- 
ness with  George  Williston.  He  was  also 
partner  with  Azur  Lathrop  at  one  time.  He 
was  postmaster  of  Montrose  for  nine  years, 
county  treasurer  one  term,  and  treasurer  and 
warden  in  the  Episcopal  Church,  of  which  he 
was  a consistent  member.  He  was  of  a genial 
disposition  and  thoroughly  honorable  und 
honest  in  all  the  relations  of  life.  He  married 
Mary,  a daughter  of  Arad  Wakelee,  of  Spring- 
ville.  Their  only  son,  Charles,  is  a freight 
agent  at  Mauch  Chunk,  on  the  Lehigh  Valley 
Railroad.  Henry  J.  Webb  died  in  1878,  aged 
seventy.  His  widow  resides  on  the  corner 
opposite  the  court-house,  in  the  old  Charles 
Catlin  house,  which  her  husband  purchased  of 
Colonel  Lusk. 

The  following  persons  were  assessed  at  Mont- 
rose in  the  year  1828  : 

Charles  Avery. 

Rufus  Allen. 

Daniel  Bailey. 

George  Bowman. 

James  C.  Biddle. 

John  Buckingham. 

Elisha  Bronson. 

Samuel  A.  Bronson. 

Thomas  Brooks. 

Burr  Baldwin. 

Alexander  H.  Bolls. 

Daniel  Curtis. 

Keturah  Churchill. 


Asa  Hartshorn. 
Richard  Hinds. 

Hyde  & Ross. 

Sloan  Hamilton. 
George  Hardy. 
Garner  Isbell. 
Thomas  Jackson. 
William  Jessup. 
Ebenezer  Kingsbury. 
Franklin  Lusk. 

Jerre  Lyons. 

Reuben  B.  Lock. 
Mary  Locke. 


MONTROSE. 


273 


Ugenior  Cushman. 

Samuel  Lynn. 

George  Clagget. 

Barney  Lyon. 

Charles  Chandler  (second  sheriff).  George  Mauger. 

Alansmi  Coy. 

Sylvanus  Mulford. 

Putnam  Catlin. 

Eli  Meeker. 

Benjamin  T.  Case. 

Rufus  iMerriam. 

William  Cope. 

David  Post. 

Martin  Curtis. 

Preserved  H.  Porter. 

Martin  Catlin. 

Hiram  Plum. 

George  Cushman. 

Isaac  Post. 

Mason  Denison. 

Nathan  Raynor. 

Ben.  Adam  Denison. 

Joshua  W.  Raynsford. 

William  Drinker. 

Daniel  Ross. 

William  Dennis. 

Almon  H.  Read. 

Asa  Dimock,  Jr. 

Southworth  Russell. 

Benjamin  T.  Dimock. 

Solyman  Shelly. 

Jeremiah  Etheridge. 

Embly  Shaffer. 

Isaac  P.  Foster. 

D.  T.  Simmons. 

Rufus  Frink. 

John  Stewart. 

Mary  Frink. 

David  Scott. 

Herrick  & Fordham. 

Daniel  Searles. 

Edward  Fuller. 

John  D.  Stephens. 

Edward  W.  Fuller. 

Benjamin  Sayi-e. 

William  Foster. 

Frederick  Stephens. 

Abraham  Fordham. 

William  Turrell. 

Chai'les  Fraser. 

Stephen  Vaughn. 

Hiram  Finch  (treasurer). 

Caleb  W>eks. 

Francis  Fordham. 

Mason  S.  Wilson. 

Ebenezer  Gritz. 

Dimock  W’arner. 

Nancy  Groven. 

Dioclesian  "SVelsh. 

Levi  Gregory. 

Adolphus  Ward. 

Joseph  W.  Guernsey. 

Nelson  Warner. 

Abel  Green. 

Walker  G.  Woodhouse. 

Aaron  Green. 

Jacob  ’Wilsey. 

Samuel  Hodgden. 

W^anier  Hayden. 

Fire  Companies.- 

— Montrose  has  not  been 

behind  her  sister  towns  in  the  efficiency  of  her 
fire  companies.  The  first  company  was  organ- 
ized in  1831,  and  was  composed  of  the  leading 
men  of  the  borough.  They  had  a hand-engine 
which  they  called  the  “ Water  Witch.”  It  was 
not  very  effective,  no  matter  how  well  served. 
Rough  and  Ready  Fire  Company,  No.  1,  was 
organized  in  1847  with  fifty-eight  members. 
Isaac  L.  Post  was  the  first  secretary  of  the  com- 
pany. This  company  obtained  a charter  Ajjril 
5,  1849,  and  has  maintained  its  organization 
until  the  present  time.  It  has  had  on  its  roll 
some  of  the  best  men  in  the  place.  Many  of 
the  boys  lost  their  lives  in  the  late  war,  and 
when  Lee  invaded  Pennsylvania  they  volun- 
teered as  a company,  as  emergency  men.  Their 
annual  suppers  have  been  occasions  of  many 
happy  reunions,  bringing  out  the  best  talent  of 
the  company  in  response  to  toasts,  in  the  rela- 
tion of  reminiscences  pertaining  to  the  many 
fires  which  the  company  has  heroically  combat- 
ed, in  commemorative  poems,  in  music  and 
song.  The  early  records  of  this  company  have 
been  destroyed  by  the  fire-fiend,  which  they  were 
organized  to  combat ; but  the  remembrance  of 
18 


their  services  in  times  when  the  town  has  been 
in  danger  of  destruction  will  not  soon  be  for- 
gotten. 

Montrose  Fire  Company,  No.  2,  was  organ- 
ized in  1855,  after  the  destructive  fires  of  the 
pi’eceding  year.  Some  of  the  older  and  leading 
business  men  went  into  this  company.  It  con- 
tains more  mechanics  at  present,  and  is  a very 
effective  organization.  G.  G.  Watrous  is  presi- 
dent now.  The  Hook  ayid  Ladder  Company 
was  organized  largely  through  the  efforts  of 
Captain  Beardsley.  There  have  been  other 
companies  here,  as  Wide  Awake,  etc.  The 
three  above-named  are  the  present  effective  or- 
ganizations, all  under  tire  chief  direction  of 
Edward  C.  Fordham.  ^ The  town  has  no  water- 
W'orks,  and  the  water  supply  in  case  of  fires  is 
derived  from  large  cisterns  located  in  different 
parts  of  the  town,  at  street-crossings.  Mont- 
rose has  been  visited  by  several  destructive 
fires.  Tuesday  morning,  at  one  o’clock,  Decem- 
ber 27,  1831,  Benjamin  T.  Case,  who  happened 
to  be  coming  home  late  on  horseback  from  a 
journey  in  the  country,  discovered  a fire  in  the 
register’s  office,  and  immediately  gave  the  alarm, 
“Fire  ! fire  !”  but  no  one  was  alarmed.  The  angu- 
lar old  attorney  had  been  out  to  see  a friend  in 
Forest  Lake,  and  had  partaken  of  his  “good 
cheer  ” to  that  extent  that  he  was  not  to  be  tri- 
fled with,  and  he  began  to  pace  up  and  down 
the  town  and  notify  them  in  language  more 
profane  than  polite  that  if  they  did  not  get  up 
their  town  would  all  burn  up.  He  at  last  made 
a rally,  and  the  “ Water  Witch  ” was  put  to  the 
test.  “ The  fire  extended  up  the  east  side  of 
the  Public  Avenue  from  Post’s  corner,  including 
the  register’s  office,  Avery  & Drinker’s  store,  J. 
& B.  R.  Lyons’  store,  house  and  granary,  and 
the  building  owned  by  Dr.  Denison — the  front 
room  of  which  was  occupied  by  the  Volunteer 
office,  and  the  remainder  by  the  family  of  F. 
Kingsbury,  Esrp  The  fire  was  extinguished  by 
tearing  down  and  removing  the  store  of  C.  Cush- 
man, and  by  bringing  the  engine  to  play  on  his 
dwelling-house — the  site  of  Mulford’s  store.” 
The  second  large  fire  occurred  in  May,  1851, 

^ A water  company  has  recently  boon  or^aui7A‘d  (1887)  to  pump  water 
from  Joiioh’  Lake  into  a reservoir  on  tlie  bill  ami  thence  tliatributo  it 
throuj^h  the  town. 


274 


HISTOKY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


and  .swept  the  western  side  of  the  avenue  with 
the  exception  of  one  house  on  each  end — Searle’s 
and  Webb’s. 

“The  fire  of  November,  1854,  was  still  more  de- 
structive ; commencing  in  the  harness-shop  of  A. 
Baldwin  (where  is  now  the  drug-store  of  Burns  & 
Nichols),  two  houses  east  of  that  were  burned — James 
Eldridge’s  large  building  and  Mason  Wilson’s  store; 
then  westward  the  stores  of  Bentley  & Bead,  A.  Tur- 
rell,  and  the  dwelling  of  I.  L.  Post,  then  the  only 
brick  building  in  the  place — and  crossing  the  street, 
the  residence  of  Judge  I.  Post,  and  all  the  buildings 
south  on  both  sides  of  the  street  to  the  house  of  Mrs. 
Turrell  and  the  storehouse  of  S.  F.  Keeler. 

“A  week  later  the  old  ‘Farmer’s  Hotel’ — once 
Howell’s,  Fuller’s,  and  Hinds’,  etc. — was  burned. 
Before  the  next  fire.  No.  2 Fire  Company  was  organ- 
ized, and,  like  the  first,  comprised  many  of  the  busi- 
ness men  of  the  place.  About  two  o’clock  in  the 
morning,  March  19,  1863,  the  old  foundry  of  S.  H. 
Sayre  & Brothers  was  totally  destroyed  by  fire.  The 
Republican  of  the  same  week  stated  that  the  estab- 
lishment had  added  $100,000  per  year,  for  three 
years,  to  the  prosperity  of  our  business  population. 
Its  destruction  was  a great  loss  to  the  community.’’ 

The  most  destructive  fire  that  ever  destroyed 
the  buildings  of  Montrose  occurred  Friday 
night,  September  , 1886.  The  fire  originated 
in  the  Crandall  Toy  Factory.  The  firemen 
were  soon  on  the  ground ; the  engines  were 
placed  at  the  cistern.s,  and  as  soon  as  possible 
streams  of  water  were  playing  upon  the  factory. 
Valuable  time  was  lost  by  the  bursting  of  de- 
fective hose.  It  soon  became  apparent  that  the 
factory  must  go.  The  merchants  on  South 
Main  Street,  adjoining,  began  to  remove  their 
goods.  Many  of  them  were  piled  upon  the 
opposite  side  of  the  street,  only  to  be  devoured 
by  the  flames  later.  The  firemen  and  volun- 
teers made  herculean  efforts,  but  all  in  vain. 
When  the  store  of  A.  W.  Cooley,  on  the  east 
side  of  South  Main,  was  seen  to  be  on  fire,  it 
was  feared  that  the  water  supply  would  be  in- 
sufficient to  stay  the  flames.  Almost  as  quickly 
as  can  be  told,  the  flames  leaped  from  building 
to  building,  carrying  destruction  in  their  trail. 
With  both  sides  of  the  street  ablaze  and  the 
roaring  mass  hurling  fire-brands  high  in  the 
air  in  all  directions,  the  scene  baffied  description. 
The  fire  was  finally  checked  at  the  Brewster 
building  on  the  south.  E.  C.  Fordham’s  and  W. 
B.  Dean’s  wooden  stores  burned  quickly,  but  it 


was  hoped  that  M.  S.  AVilson’s  brick  store  would 
stay  the  flames.  Soon,  however,  ominous  clouds 
of  smoke  began  to  rise  from  this  building. 
This  was  the  supreme  moment.  It  was  now  or 
never  that  the  fire  could  be  stayed.  To  climb 
the  stairs  and  gain  the  roof  of  Sparks’  store 
was  the  work  of  a moment,  and  this  was  done 
by  Burgess  Jessup  and  a baud  of  intrepid  spirits 
who  were  willing  to  brave  any  danger  to  save 
the  town.  The  boys,  though  nearly  suffocated 
with  smoke,  fought  bravely  until  the  fire  was 
stayed  at  this  point.  The  damages  were  esti- 
mated at  ninety  thousand  dollars.  Insurance, 
fifty  thousand  dollars.  Some  of  the  buildings 
destroyed  were  Crandall’s  factory,  Boyd  & 
Cooley’s  hardware  and  W.  H.  Boyd’s  building, 
C.  N.  Stoddard,  E.  C.  and  G.  F.  Fordham,  W. 
M.  Post  building,  I.  N.  Bullard,  E.  R.  Steb- 
bins,  M.  S.  Wilson  building,  Bostwick  & Cor- 
win, groceries ; D.  P.  Little,  Mrs.  Cushman  and 
many  others. 

Meechants. — The  pioneer  merchants  of 
Montrose  labored  under  a great  many  disad- 
vantages. True,  their  business  was  not  very 
extensive,  but  it  required  considerable  financial 
engineering  on  the  part  of  merchants  to  realize 
money  sufficient  to  pay  their  bills  in  New  York. 
They  usually  bought  goods  on  six  months’ 
credit  and  trusted  them  out,  taking  whatever 
they  could  get  for  pay.  There  was  very  little 
money  in  circulation  among  the  settlers;  hence, 
early  trade  was  largely  a matter  of  barter.  The 
first  merchants  kept  whiskey,  tobacco,  nails,  tea, 
calico  and  a few  other  articles  such  as  the  set- 
tlers wanted.  They  took  in  exchange  maple- 
sugar,  furs  and  peltry,  home -made  flannels, 
woolen  socks,  ashes  and,  later,  grain  and  butter. 
The  flannels,  socks  and  maple-sugar  could  be  sold 
or  exchanged  in  New  York  for  goods.  In  this 
manner  the  good  hou.se-wives  of  Montrose  and 
vicinity  early  came  to  the  support  of  their  hus- 
bands, with  their  spinning-wheels,  looms  and 
knitting-needles,  producing,  at  first,  about  the 
only  fabrics  upon  which  money  could  be  rea- 
lized. The  grain  taken  by  the  merchants  was 
largely  manufactured  into  whiskey  by  the  mer- 
chants themselves,  such  as  had  distilleries ; and 
if  they  did  not  have  a distillery,  they  sent  the 
grain  there,  and  the  distiller  returned  a stipu- 


MONTROSE. 


275 


lated  amount  of  whiskey  in  payment,  which  was 
sold  to  the  grain  producer.  Mason  Wilson  says, 
“ None  of  it  was  sent  abroad  to  pay  debts  ; it 
was  all  consumed  at  home.”  Mr.  Wilson  says 
there  were  about  forty  Revolutionary  soldiers 
living  in  the  county  who  received  a maximum 
pension  of  ninety-six  dollars  per  year  for  a 
private,  and  more  for  an  officer,  according  to 
rank.  This  was  before  the  day  of  bank-checks, 
and  he  acted  as  attorney  for  them  sometimes,  and 
would  draw  all  their  pensions  at  Philadelphia  and 
distribute  the  moneys  among  them  when  he  re- 
turned. This  brought  some  cash  into  the  settle- 
ment and  facilitated  exchange  among  the  mer- 
chants and  others.  The  pioneer  merchants 
brought  their  goods  from  New  York  up  the 
Hudson  to  Newburg  on  sloops,  and  carted  them 
thence  to  Montrose,  a distance  of  one  hundred 
and  ten  miles,  over  rough  roads  and  through 
the  wood.s — although  there  was  not  a very  ex- 
tensive business  done  until  after  the  beginning 
of  the  Newburg  and  Great  Bend  turnpike,  in 
1811-12,  which  helped  transportation  very 
much. 

Isaac  Post  was  the  first  merchant  at  Mon- 
trose. He  sold  goods  from  the  corner  of  his 
inn,  which  stood  where  the  post-office  now 
stands,  as  early  as  1808.  A short  time  after- 
wards he  erected  a dwelling-house  on  the  oppo- 
site corner,  where  W.  H.  Boyd  is  erecting  a 
brick  building,  and  kept  a store  in  one  part  of 
his  house  for  several  years.  In  1814  he  erected 
a store-building  on  the  opposite  corner  from  the 
post-office,  where  Nichols  & Watrous’  store 
now  is,  where  he  did  business  until  1 828,  when 
he  was  succeeded  by  his  son,  Wm.  L.  Post. 
From  1825  to  1835  Ma.son  S.  Wilson  was  in 
partnership  with  the  Posts,  under  the  firm-name 
of  Post  & Wilson.  The  old  wooden  building 
was  burned  in  1831,  and  rebuilt  and  occupied 
by  Mr.  Post  as  long  as  he  continued  in  business. 
This  building  was  replaced  by  Nichols  with  a 
brick  building  in  1883.  After  dissolving  with 
Mr.  Post,  Mr.  Wilson  opened  a store  where 
Turrell’s  stationery  store  now  is,  and  occupied 
it  until  1854,  when  it  burned.  He  then  built 
a brick  building — where  Bostwick  & Corwin 
rebuilt  in  1886 — and  continued  business  until 
1865.  The  firms  which  succeeded  Mr.  Wilson 


in  this  place  were  Wilson,  Griffis  & Warner, 
Wilson  & Gere,  Saxon  M.  Wilson,  son  of  Mason 
Wilson,  and  Griffis  & Sayre. 

Benjamin  Sayre  came  to  Montrose  in  1816 
and  started  a store  in  connection  with  S.  S. 
Mulford,  under  the  firm-name  of  Sayre  & Mul- 
ford,  where  B.  H.  Mulford  now  resides.  This 
partnership  continued  for  a number  of  years, 
until  Mr.  Sayre  moved  acro.ss  the  road,  where 
Dr.  Blakeslee’s  residence  and  law-office  is.  He 
associated  his  son,  S.  H.  Sayre,  in  the  business 
with  him,  and  erected  a building  which  was 
used  for  a hotel  (Washington),  until  he  finally 
converted  it  into  a store.  This  building  was  de- 
stroyed in  the  conflagration  of  1851,  and  the  pres- 
ent hardware-store  of  S.  H.  Sayre  was  erected  by 
him  on  a part  of  the  same  site.  Benjamin  Sayre 
was  an  energetic  man  in  his  day  and  took  an  ac- 
tive interest  in  everything  that  tended  to  improve 
the  struggling  pioneer  village.  In  1825-30  he 
was  actively  engaged  manufacturing  a spinning- 
machine  that  would  run  from  eight  to  ten 
spindles.  He  also  bought  wood  ashes  and  made 
potash  for  New  York  market.  The  farmers 
would  bring  as  high  as  five  hundred  bushels  of 
ashes  to  his  store  in  one  day,  and  sell  them  for 
ten  and  twelve  cents  })er  bushel. 

Silvauus  S.  Mulford  came  to  Montrose 
from  Long  Island,  and  started  business  as  a 
merchant,  where  B.  H.  Mulford  now  resides, 
in  1816,  in  connection  with  B.  Sayre  until 
1818,  then  with  N.  Raynor  a short  time,  then 
alone.  After  a number  of  years  S.  S.  Mulfoi’d 
associated  his  sou,  William  J.  Mulford,  with 
him  in  business,  which  partnership  continued 
until  about  1845,  when  S.  S.  Mulford  retired, 
and  S.  H.  Mulford  took  his  place,  which  con- 
tinued until  the  death  of  the  latter,  when 
William  J.  continued  the  business  alone ; until 
recently  he  has  been  succeeded  by  his  son, 
William  S.  Mulford.  The  present  commodious 
store  was  built  in  1844.  This  business  has 
been  successfully  conducted  by  three  generations 
in  the  same  family  for  seventy  years.  This 
hou.se  has  always  been  solvent  and  solid. 

Jerre  Lyons  came  to  IMontrose  from  jNLis- 
sachusetts  in  1819,  and  started  a store  where 
the  National  Bank  now  stands.  Benjamin  R. 
Lyons,  his  brother,  was  in  partnership  with 


276 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


him  from  1824  till  about  1835,  when  Judge 
Read  entered  into  partnership  with  Jerre 
Lyons,  and  hardware  was  added  to  their  busi- 
ness. After  about  four  years  Read  went  out, 
and  Lyons  continued  the  business  alone ; then 
he  associated  his  son,  Theodore  A.  Lyons,  with 
him  until  1868,  when  he  retired. 

T.  A.  Lyons,  G.  H.  Drake  and  G.  H.  Ly- 
ons constituted  the  firm  of  Lyons,  Drake  & 
Co.,  which  did  business  until  Di’ake  died, 
when  G.  L.  Lyons  became  interested  with  his 
father,  under  firm-name  of  T.  A.  Lyon  & 
Son,  who  are  still  doing  business  at  the  old 
stand.  Benjamin  R.  Lyons,  after  dissolving 
partnei’ship  with  his  brother,  in  1835,  took 
Francis  B.  Chandler  into  partnership  with 
him,  and  continued  at  Montrose  until  they 
were  burned  out,  in  1884,  when  Mr.  Lyons 
retired,  having  been  engaged  in  the  mercantile 
business  at  Montrose  for  sixty  years.  F.  B. 
Chandler  still  continues  in  business,  being  the 
oldest  merchant  actively  engaged  in  business  at 
Montrose. 

Anson  Dart  commenced  the  drug  business, 
where  the  Episcopal  Church  now  stands,  some 
time  prior  to  1824.  It  is  probable  that  Jerre 
Lyons  had  something  to  do  with  it  when  it  was 
first  started.  Mr,  Dart  continued  the  business 
for  a short  time  and  sold  it  to  Asa  Hartshorn, 
who  combined  the  jewelry  with  the  drug  busi- 
ness. George  V.  Bentley,  who  had  clerked  for 
Mr.  Hartshorn  since  1828,  and  learned  the  jewel- 
er’s trade,  together  with  Norman  Mitchell,  pur- 
chased the  business  in  November,  1833. 
Mitchell  & Bentley  coiatinued  the  business 
where  Abel  Turrell’s  building  now  stands  until 
1842,  when  Bentley  sold  to  Mitchell  and 
bought  where  Read  now  is,  and  was  alone  for 
four  or  five  years,  when  Judge  Charles  F. 
Read  bought  an  interest  in  the  concern.  The 
firm  of  Bentley  & Read  did  not  limit  them- 
selves to  the  drug  and  jeweler’s  business,  but 
went  into  general  merchandising,  and  during 
the  fifteen  years  they  were  in  partnership  they 
sold  more  goods  than  any  other  firm  in  Sus- 
quehanna County.  Mr,  Bentley  retired  in 
1860,  when  the  firm  became  Read,  Watrous 
& Foster.  In  1866  it  became  C,  F.  Read 
& Co.,  then  Read,  Griffis  & Co.  The  busi- 


ness, after  various  changes,  passed  into  the 
hands  of  H.  P.  Read,  a son  of  C.  F.  Read, 
who  now  conducts  it. 

Francis  Fordham  came  to  Montrose  from 
Southampton,  L.  I.,  in  1812.  He  was  a hatter 
by  trade,  and  started  that  business  in  a house 
that  he  built  just  below  Boyd’s  Corner.  He 
worked  at  his  trade  for  a number  of  years. 
The  first  hat  that  he  made  in  Montrose  he 
sold  to  John  Bump,  of  Forest  Lake,  A short 
time  after  he  commenced  merchandising  he 
had  two  distilleries.  He  continued  business 
with  Nathan  Raynor  and  Mr.  Herrick  until 
he  failed.  E.  C.  Fordham,  one  of  his  sons,  has 
a grocery-store  now. 

William  Turrell  came  to  Montrose  from 
Connecticut  in  1816.  He  spent  one  year  in 
Auburn  township,  and  removed  thence  to 
Montrose,  where  he  opened  a saddlery  and  har- 
ness-shop in  1817,  in  the  basement  of  the 
building,  on  the  property  where  he  lived  the 
remainder  of  his  life.  In  1824  he  built  the 
residence  now  owned  and  occupied  by  his  son. 
In  1835  he  erected  a two-story  building  across 
the  street  from  his  residence,  where  he  con- 
tinued his  business  until  1843,  when  he  was 
succeeded  by  his  son,  Henry  F.  Turrell,  who 
continued  the  saddlery  business  until  1868. 
Alfred  Baldwin  conducted  the  harness  business 
a great  many  years.  His  brother  Edmund 
was  with  him  a part  of  the  time.  Since  then 
William  L.  Cox  has_been  the  principal  harness, 
maker.  He  has  been  in  the  business  since 
1848. 

Azur  Lathrop  established  a mercantile  busi- 
ness at  Montrose  in  the  fall  of  1840,  under  the 
firm-name  of  Avery  & Lathrop.  This  firm  did 
business  eighteen  months,  and  were  succeeded 
by  Lathi’op  & Webb,  which  continued  two 
years,  when  Mr.  Lathrop  sold  his  interest  and 
removed  to  Springville,  where  he  engaged  in 
the  same  business.  He  returned  to  Montrose, 
and  the  firm  of  Lathrop  & Saulisbury  was 
established.  This  firm  did  general  merchan- 
dising until  1852,  when  Mr.  Saulisbury  retired 
from  the  firm,  and  the  following  year  D,  R. 
Lathrop  & Co.  succeeded  to  the  business.  In 
1855  Azur  Lathrop  purchased  George  Fuller’s 
interest  in  the  business  of  D.  R.  Lathrop  & Go. 


MONTROSE. 


277 


In  1858-60  he  built  the  brick  block  now  occu- 
pied by  M.  S.  Dessauer,  and  rented  the  first 
floor  to  De  Witt  & Riley,  merchants,  and  W. 
H.  Cooper  & Co.,  private  bankers.  The  second 
story  is  used  for  offices  and  the  third  is  the 
Masonic  Hall,  Lodge  No.  240.  From  1861  to 
1866  Lathrop,  Tyler  & DeWitt  were  in  part- 
nership in  the  mercantile  business,  and  from 
then  till  1871  Mr.  Lathrop  was  alone,  when 
* he  sold  the  store  building  to  M.  S.  Dessauer, 

I the  present  proprietor. 

J.  Wittenberg  & Bro.  started  the  dry-goods 
I business  in  a little  building  on  the  Searle  corner, 
f near  Leonard  Searle’s,  in  September,  1854. 
! This  firm  was  changed  to  Guttenberg,  Rosen- 
baum & Co.,  in  1856,  and  they  rented  of  Alfred 
Baldwin  in  the  brick  block  where  A.  B.  Burns 
now  is.  In  1864  Mr.  Rosenbaum,  the  active 
partner  moved  to  Elmira  and  M.  S.  Dessauer 
took  his  place  as  active  manager.  He  purchased 
the  present  elegant  store  of  Azur  Lathrop  in 
1871,  and  moved  into  it  in  the  fall  of  that  year. 
There  were  six  partners,  brothers-in-law,  who 
were  associated  together  in  business.  They  estab- 
lished a store  in  New  York  and  another  in 
Towanda,  Bradford  County,  in  1855-56,  and  in 
1857  they  removed  from  Towanda  to  Susque- 
hanna Depot,  where  they  established  one  of 
the  finest  dry-goods  stores  in  Susquehanna 
County.  February  1,  1877,  these  six  partners 
met  in  Elmira,  where  one  of  their  stores  was 
I established,  each  with  an  inventory  of  the 
property  over  which  he  had  been  active  man- 
ager, and  in  one-half  day  they  arranged  an 
amicable  dissolution  of  partnership,  leaving  each 
partner  in  ownership  where  he  had  been  active 
manager.  This  arrangement  continued  M.  S. 
Dessauer  at  Montrose,  and  Guttenberg,  Eisman 
& Co.  at  Su.squehanna.  Moses  Tyler  had  a store 
nearly  where  Searle’s  office  now  is  for  forty  years, 

when  he  sold  to Hawley.  After  a few  years 

Hawley  sold  to  Chauncy  Mott,  who  carried  on 
business  a number  of  years.  Then  H.  C.  Tyler 
had  a store  there  for  four  years,  when  mercan- 
tile business  was  discontinued  at  that  point  and 
the  building  was  sold  to  James  E.  Carmalt,  who 
converted  it  into  lawyers’  offices.  Daniel  Brew- 
ster has  a store  adjoining  I.  N.  Bullard’s,  where 
he  keeps  sleighs  and  agricultural  implements  for 


sale.  W.  W.  Smith  has  a furniture  store  in 
connection  with  his  undertaking  shop. 

Nathan  Raynor,  who  was  in  partnership  with 
Mulford  a short  time,  was  one  of  the  pioneer 
merchants  here.  He  was  succeeded  by  Martin 
Curtis  in  1824,  who  was  succeeded  by  David 
Post  & Son.  The  son,  Norman  I.  Post,  and  Mr. 
Grover  had  the  business  finally.  Their  store  was 
on  what  is  known  as  the  Gardner  lot. 

Jewelers. — Asa  Hartshorn  was  the  first 
jeweler,  and  was  succeeded  in  that  business  by 
his  apprentice,  George  V.  Bentley.  Subse- 
quently L.  B.  Isbell  rented  a window  of  F.  B. 
Chandler  and  worked  at  the  business  seventeen 
years  at  Montrose.  F.  D.-Melhuish  learned  his 
trade  of  him  and  eventually  succeeded  him 
in  the  business.  He  carries  the  largest  stock 
of  any  jeweler  in  town.  After  Isbell  left 
Chandler’s,  George  Clarey  did  business  there 
for  about  seven  years.  William  True  was 
a jeweler  many  years  ago  in  George  Fuller’s 
store.  Eugene  H.  True,  his  son,  has  occupied  a 
portion  of  Chandler’s  store  since  1876,  and 
keeps  a fine  stock  of  goods.  He  has  been  twice 
elected  to  the  State  Legislature  on  the  Republi- 
can ticket,  and  has  represented  the  county 
creditably  at  Harrisburg. 

Druggists. — About  1835  Jeremiah  Ether- 
idge purchased  a lot  and  built  a store  on  the 
west  side  of  the  Public  Avenue,  and  started  his 
son  in  business.  This  store  was  burned  in  1851 
and  rebuilt.  After  his  sou  died,  Mr.  Etheridge 
continued  the  business  until  he  died,  in  1866. 

Amos  Nichols  and  A.  B.  Burns  next  occupied 
this  store.  In  1871  they  bought  the  brick 
building  now  occupied  by  A.  B.  Burns  of  Alfred 
Baldwin.  In  1875  Mr.  Burns  purchased  Mr. 
Nichols’  interest,  and  now  conducts  the  business 
alone.  His  drug-store  is  a model  of  neatness 
and  good  order.  Mr.  Burns  has  recently  been 
appointed  by  tlie  Governor  a member  of  the 
Pharmaceutical  Examining  Boaixl  of  the  State 
of  Penn.sylvania. 

The  lot  and  brick  store  building  owned  by 
Abel  Turrell,  and  known  as  the  Central  Drug- 
Store,  has  a history  worthy  of  mention.  A 
drug-store  has  been  continuously  kept  upon  this 
lot  over  sixty  years,  and  during  the  last  forty 
years  it  has  been  owned  by  Abel  Turrell.  In 


278 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


1826  Asa  Hartshorn  commenced  a drug-store 
on  this  ground.  He  also  kept  jewelry  and 
conducted  the  business  of  silversmith  and  watch- 
repairer.  In  1833  he  sold  the  premises  and 
business  to  his  two  apprentices,  George 
Bentley  and  ISTorman  Mitchell,  firm-name  Bent- 
ley & Mitchell.  They  dissolved  in  1842,  and 
Norman  Mitchell  took  his  younger  brother, 
Henry  A.  Mitchell,  as  partner,  firm-name  N. 
Mitchell  & Co.  In  April,  1848,  they  sold  the 
lot,  building  and  goods  to  Abel  Turrell,  who 
personally  and  successfully  conducted  the  store, 
keeping  drugs  as  the  leading  busine.ss,  to  wliich 
were  added  paints,  fancy  goods,  jewelry  and 
many  other  kinds  of  goods,  until  May,  1875,  a 
term  of  twenty-seven  years,  when  he  sold  the 
goods  to  M.  A.  Ijyon,  and  rented  to  him  the 
building  and  lot.  He  afterward  took  as  partner 
his  brother,  Frederick  K.  Lyon,  firm-name  M. 
A.  Lyon  & Brother.  In  1883  they  sold  the 
goods  to  S.  J.  Sparkes  & Co.,  the  present  occu- 
pants by  lease.  In  the  great  fire  of  November 
10,  1864,  the  wooden  building  on  this  lot  was 
destroyed.  The  present  three-story  brick  build- 
ing was  erected  the  following  year  by  Abel 
Turrell,  the  present  owner. 

F.  H.  Cooley  has  a drug-store  on  the  west 
side  of  Public  Avenue. 

I.  N.  Bullard  commenced  merchandising  in 
1850,  and  has  continued  in  the  business  without 
any  partners  until  the  present  time.  Like  most 
of  the  Montrose  merchants,  he  has  passed 
through  the  fire.  In  1854  he  was  burned  out 
and  rebuilt  on  the  same  spot.  This  building 
was  destroyed  in  the  conflagration  of  1886.  He 
now  has  a small  store  north  of  the  Exchange 
Hotel,  and  keeps  groceries,  provisions  and 
drugs. 

Isaac  P.  Foster  and  J.  W.  Raynsford  had  a 
store  here  at  an  early  day  ; likewise  Woodhouse 
& Fordham. 

E.  P.  Stamp  commenced  grocery  business  at 
Montrose  in  1870.  His  place  of  business  was 
burned  in  1875,  and  he  purchased  a lot  and 
built  a store,  which  he  traded  to  Augustus  Faurot 
for  the  old  Raynsford  farm.  Faurot  sold  it  to 
Hr.  Decker,  the  present  owner  (1887).  Decker 
occupies  the  front  part  of  the  building.  Simon 
Sayre  occupied  the  back  part  of  the  store  until 


he  died.  He  was  succeeded  by  John  Burns, 
who  is  doing  a good  grocery  business. 

N.  H.  Lyons  and  Jerre  Lyons  were  book- 
binders by  trade,  and  started  that  business 
when  they  came  to  Montrose,  in  1819.  They 
had  a larger  business  than  one  would  think 
possible  in  this  new  country.  They  had  the 
first  book-store. 

George  Fuller  appears  to  have  been  the  second 
bookseller  and  stationer.  He  was  followed  in 
the  same  business  by  A.  N.  Bullard,  who  was 
succeeded  by  A.  H.  Smith.  AV.  B.  Deans 
bought  of  Mr.  Smith  in  1866,  and  now  occupies 
part  of  L.  M.  TyrrelPs  store,  which  was  erected 
about  two  years  ago  on  the  B.  R.  Lyons  lot. 

F.  H.  Stevens  had  a stationery-store  from 
1876  to  1886,  the  time  of  his  death.  William 
H.  Turrell  has  recently  purchased  the  business 
of  the  estate. 

C.  D.  Miner  has  been  a merchant  at  Montrose 
for  a number  of  years. 

Byington  Thatcher  commenced  grocery  busi- 
ness in  the  basement  of  the  Keystone  Hotel  in 
1862,  was  burned  out  in  1866  and  is  now  in 
Mawhiney’s  basement. 

William  H.  Boyd  and  A.  L.  Webster  formed 
a partnership  in  1868,  and  engaged  in  the  tin 
and  sheet-iron  business.  J.  H.  Corwin  bought 
Webster’s  interest  in  December,  1865,  and  J.  R. 
Cooley  became  one  of  the  firm  of  W.  H.  Boyd 
& Co.  in  1876.  In  1883  Mr.  Corwin  sold  his 
interest  to  Boyd  & Cooley,  who  have  been 
conducting  business  at  the  rink  since  the  fire  of 
1886.  Mr.  Corwin  bought  Griffis’  interest  in 
the  firm  of  Griffis  & Bostwick.  They  occupied 
Wilson’s  store,  which  was  destroyed  in  1886. 
Bostwick  & Corwin  purchased  the  lot  and  have 
just  erected  one  of  the  finest  brick  buildings  in 
the  place.  Mr.  Boyd  also  has  laid  the  founda- 
tion for  a brick  building  on  his  corner. 

D.  P.  Little  has  recently  started  a hardware- 
store  in  one  of  the  new  buildings  that  have  been 
erected  on  the  burnt  district. 

L.  H.  Griffis  has  the  only  bakery  in  the  place. 

Meat-Markets. — The  people  of  Montrose 
w'ere  early  supplied  with  meat  by  butchers,  who 
brought  it  in  wagons  and  sold  it  from  door  to 
door.  Alexander  Allen  butchered  here  as  early 
as  1836-38.  Zipron  Cobb  had  a meat-market 


MONTKOSE. 


279 


after  that  fora  iiumher  of  years.  Edgar  Harper 
had  a meat- market  in  Post’s  basement.  After 
that  Emmett  and  John  Kirby  occupied  the 
same  place.  Then  Samuel  Henstock  and  Nel- 
son Hawley  had  markets.  These  have  been 
succeeded  by  Philip  Hahn,  C.  D.  Hawley  & 
Co.,  A.  B.  Hamlin,  Wallace  Hewitt,  E.  Tiffany 
and  Myron  Kasson,  who  sold  to  Hamlin  again, 
who  has  the  business  in  1887.  S.  B.  Rogers  & 
Co.  started  in  1883. 

Mason  Saxon  Wilson. — The  subject  of  this 
sketch  is  well  entitled  to  especial  notice  in  this 
volume  by  reason  of  his  long-contiuned  career 
as  a merchant  at  Montrose,  his  constancy  in  the 
support  of  its  varied  enterprises,  charities  and 
religious  institutions,  his  correct  habits,  Chris- 
tian example  and  high  moral  sentiment ; and 
because  he  has  continued  to  the  great  age  of 
nearly  four-score  and  nine  years  well  preserved 
in  mind  and  able  to  transact  his  own  business. 
He  has  never  sought  political  preferment ; 
neither  has  he  shrunk  from  responsibility  and 
trust  when  placed  upon  him  by  his  fellow- 
townsmen.  For  a half-century  Mr.  Wilson  was 
engaged  in  mercantile  pursuits  here,  and  in  the 
early  times  when  there  were  no  railroads  or 
canals,  or  means  of  transportation  of  merchan- 
dise, he  recites  the  long  and  tedious  way  in 
which  his  goods  were  conveyed  from  New  York 
to  this  place;  which,  after  being  run  up  the 
Hudson  in  sloops  to  Newburg,  were  thence 
carted  by  way  of  the  Newburg  turnpike  the 
entire  distance  of  one  hundred  and  ten  miles, 
sometimes  taking  many  days  for  the  accomplish- 
ment of  the  journey.  This  state  of  things  ex- 
isted until  the  completion  of  parts  of  the  Erie 
Railway,  when  goods  were  shipped  from  New 
York  by  that  road  to  its  terminus,  and  thence 
by  the  way  of  Port  Jervis  or  Great  Bend  to 
Montrose.  In  the  early  days  of  business  at 
Montrose,  he  says,  there  was  little  or  no  money 
paid  in  the  sale  of  his  merchandise,  hnt  a bar- 
ter was  constantly  carried  on  between  the  farmer 
and  the  merchant,  and  in  turn  between  the  mer- 
chant and  the  jobber.  He  came  to  Bridgewater 
township  with  his  parents  in  1799,  then  an  in- 
fant of  nine  months,  who  settled  just  outside 
and  south  of  the  borough  of  Montrose.  His 
parents  had  come  from  Burlington,  Otsego  Co., 


New  York,  where  he  was  born  June  28,  1798, 
and  located  in  this  then  wilderness  place,  hav- 
ing no  nearer  neighbors  than  five  miles  to  the 
west  at  Fairdale,  on  Wyalusing  Creek,  and 
about  the  same  distance  to  the  east,  in  what  is 
now  Brooklyn  township.  The  log  house  occu- 
pied by  the  family  had  been  erected  by  his  fa- 
ther, Stephen  Wilson  (1772-1848),  who  had 
visited  the  place  in  the  fall  of  1798  in  company 
with  Samuel  Wilson,  his  brother,  and  Samuel 
Coggswell,  brother  of  his  wife,  Anna  Coggswell 
(1775-1865).  Here  his  boyhood  was  spent 
until  the  age  of  sixteen,  when  he  became  a clerk 
in  the  store  of  Isaac  Post  at  Montrose,  and  con- 
tinued with  him  until  he  reached  his  majority. 
At  the  age  of  twenty-two  a lingering  illness 
compelled  him  to  return  to  his  home,  where  he 
remained  for  three  years.  Returning  to  Mon- 
trose, he  became  the  partner  of  Mr.  Post  in 
1825,  and  in  1828  with  his  eldest  son,  William 
Post,  and  continued  his  business  relations  with 
that  firm  until  1835,  when  he  established  mer- 
cantile business  on  his  own  account,  which  he 
continued  until  his  retirement  from  active  busi- 
ness, in  1865.  In  1831  he  united  with  the  Bap- 
tist Church  at  Montrose,  and  has  been  a con- 
sistent member  since,  a period  of  fifty-five 
years,  and  he  was  treasurer  of  the  church  suc- 
cessively for  a half-century,  from  1831  to  1881. 
He  was  a director  and  one  of  the  founders  of 
the  Susquehanna  County  Bank,  treasurer  for 
many  years  of  the  old  Montrose  Academy,  and 
one  of  its  board  of  trustees ; and  he  was  also 
chosen  frequently  as  assessor.  In  politics  he 
was  originally  a Whig,  but  upon  the  formation 
of  the  Republican  party,  adopted  its  principles. 
He  married,  August  25,  1825,  Mary  (1800- 
72),  a daughter  of  Paul  and  Mary  (Halsey) 
Sayre,  of  Southampton,  L.  I.,  who  bore  him 
children,  Saxon  M.  Wilson,  born  in  1826,  for 
many  years  a merchant  succeeding  his  father, 
married  first  Laura  Johnson,  and  has  two  chil- 
dren— Mary  Cooper,  wife  of  Lewis  H.  Sprout, 
and  Mason  B.,  who  died,  leaving  a widow  and 
two  children,  Mary  and  Robert;  his  second 
wife  is  Marietta  Fuller;  Fanny  Midford  Wil- 
son (1828-51) ; Mary  Sayre  Wilson,  born  in 
1830,  widow  of  the  Hon.  La  Fayette  Fitch  ; 
Eliza  and  Adelia  died  in  infancy.  For  Ids 


280 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


second  wife,  in  1873  Mr.  Wilson  married  Eliza 
Halsey  Mitchell,  who  died  July  4,  1885. 
Mr.  Wilson’s  ancestors  were  residents  of  Ver- 
mont, and  his  paternal  grandfather  was  a sol- 
dier in  the  Revolutionary  War.  His  parents, 
Stephen  and  Anna  Wilson,  left  Bridgewater 
township  in  1819  and  settled  at  Wysox,  Brad- 
ford Co.,  and  in  1823  removed  thence  to  West 
Almond,  Allegany  Co.,  N.  Y.,  where  they  re- 
mained for  seven  years,  when  they  settled  at 
Belfast,  on  the  Genesee,  where  they  died. 
Stephen  Wilson  was  an  assessor  of  Bridgewater 
township  when  his  returns  had  to  be  made  at 
Wilkes-Barre,  and  he  was  one  of  the  commis- 
sioners of  Susquehanna  County  in  1815.  He 
was  among  the  early  members  of  the  Baptist 
Church  at  Montrose.  Stephen  Wilson  and 
Anna  Coggswell  were  married  in  1795,  and 
their  children  are  David  (1796-1846),  married 
and  reared  a family  of  children,  moved  to  Brad- 
ford County  and  thence  to  Ohio,  where  he  died  ; 
Almeda  (1800-35)  was  the  wife  of  John 
Bard,  Jr.,  a farmer  in  Bridgewater  township; 
Samuel  Coggswell,  born  in  1803,  was  a pub- 
lisher at  Montrose  with  George  Fuller,  married 
and  moved  to  Allegany  Co.,  N.  Y.,  where  he 
published  for  some  time  the  Angeliea  Reporter, 
was  surrogate  of  that  county,  its  first  judge, 
and  is  now  a retired  lawyer  at  Belfast,  in  the 
same  county;  Anna,  born  in  1804,  widow  of 
Dudley  B.  Smith,  at  Fort  Dodge,  Iowa  ; Polly, 
born  in  1806,  is  the  widow  of  Miller  Dean,  of 
West  Almond,  N.  Y. ; Stephen,  Jr.,  born  in 
1808,  resides  on  the  farm  where  his  father  died; 
Orpha,  born  in  1810,  widow  of  John  Jennings, 
of  Lawrence,  Michigan ; Robert  Stacy  Wilson 
(1812-82),  learned  the  printer’s  trade  at  An- 
gelica with  his  brother,  Samuel  C.,  afterwards 
read  law  and  practiced  his  profession  there  un- 
til 1836,  when  he  moved  to  Ann  Arbor,  Mich- 
igan ; there  he  was  elected  a justice  of  the  peace, 
probate  judge,  and  served  as  a member  of  the 
Michigan  State  Senate  for  one  term.  He  was  a 
delegate  from  that  State  to  the  convention  which 
nominated  James  K.  Polk  for  President.  In 
1850  he  removed  to  Chicago,  where  he  practiced 
his  profession  for  three  years,  when  he  was 
elected  judge  of  the  Recorder’s  Court  of  the  city, 
and  held  that  office  by  re-election  for  ten  years. 


Benjamin  Richards  Lyons  was  born  at 
Coleraine,  Franklin  County,  Mass,  JSTov.  4, 
1802.  He  spent  his  boyhood  at  school  until 
the  age  of  fifteen,  when  he  accompanied  his 
parents  to  Chesterfield,  N.  H.,  and  was  a clerk 
in  a store  at  that  place  for  nine  years.  In  June, 
1824,  he  came  to  Montrose  and  served  as  clerk 
for  his  brother  Jerre,  who  had  established  mer- 
cantile business  here  in  1819.  The  following 
year  he  returned  to  Massachusetts,  and  in  1826 
married  Maria  Augusta  (1801-1846),  daughter 
of  Clark  and  Nancy  (Lyons)  Chandler.  In 
1831,  with  his  wife,  he  returned  to  Montrose 
and  became  a partner  with  his  brother  in  busi- 
ness. Their  store  was  located  on  the  site  of  the 
First  National  Bank  building,  and  was  burned 
that  year.  They  erected  a new  store,  which, 
in  turn,  was  destroyed  by  fire  in  1884,  when 
the  site  was  sold,  and  the  present  First  National 
Bank  building  erected  thereon.  Mr.  Lyons 
continued  in  mercantile  business  here  until  1884, 
when  he  retired  from  active  business  life,  hav- 
ing been  almost  continuously  in  mercantile 
business  as  clerk  and  merchant  for  a period  of 
sixty-seven  years.  In  1849  he  established  a 
branch  store  at  Lanesboro’,  this  county,  and  was 
associated  there  in  business  with  his  brother 
Joel  until  1860.  In  1835  he  established  the 
tin  and  stove  business,  and  in  1849,  in  company 
with  others,  a foundry  for  the  manufacture  of 
stoves  and  other  castings.  This  latter  interest 
he  soon  after  sold  to  his  partners.  For  several 
years  he  had  associated  with  him,  in  Montrose, 
his  brother-in-law,  Mr.  Francis  B.  Chandler. 
He  was  a director  in  the  old  Susquehanna  Bank, 
and  one  of  its  organizers,  when  James  C.  Biddle 
was  made  its  president.  He  is  a member  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church,  and  was  one  of  the  build- 
ing committee  in  1860  to  erect  the  present 
church  edifice.  Mr.  Lyons  is,  at  the  writing  of 
this  sketch,  eighty-four  years  of  age,  and  has 
outlived  most  of  the  associates  of  his  earlier 
business  years.  He  is  a man  well  known  in 
Montrose,  who  has  given  to  the  poor  and  to 
worthy  institutions,  demanding  aid,  largely 
commensurate  with  his  means.  His  sympathies 
have  ever  been  drawn  towards  those  less  for- 
tunate than  himself ; and  while  of  himself  he 
has  been  successful  in  business,  discreet  and  ju- 


MONTROSE. 


281 


dicious  in  the  management  of  affairs,  the  failures 
of  others  and  the  destruction  of  his  property  by 
fire  have  caused  him  great  loss.  In  him  the 
church  has  always  found  a liberal  giver,  and 
many  of  the  citizens  of  Montrose  will  remember 
his  unostentatious  donations  for  their  relief. 
Mr.  Lyons  is  a man  well  informed  on  the  cur- 
rent topics  of  the  day,  and  many  years  ago  sur- 
rounded himself  with  a valuable  librarv  of 
choice  literary  productions.  His  father.  Dr. 
Jerre  Lyons  (1765-1825),  married,  in  1790, 
Mary  Richards 
(1765-1808).  He 
was  a native  of 
Roxbury,  Mass., 
a university  grad- 
uate, practiced  his 
profession  as  a 
physician  at  Cole- 
raine, Mass.,  and 
at  Chesterfield, 

N.  H.,  and  died 
at  the  latter  place. 

His  children  were 
Rev.  Luke  Lyons 
(1791-1845),  a 
Congregational 
minister  during 
his  life,  died  in 
Illinois  ; Betsey 
(1793-1 871)  wife 
of  Gilbert  Minor, 
resided  in  Coler- 
aine, and  there 
died  ; Mary,  died 
young ; Nathan 
Holmes  (1796- 
1877),  came  to 
Montrose  in  1 8 1 8 
was,  by  trade,  a 
book-binder,  and 

diedhere;  Jerre  (1798-1875),  came  to  Montrose 
in  1819,  and  remained  in  mercantile  busine.ss  un- 
til nearly  the  time  of  his  death  ; Nancy  (1800- 
1839),  married  a Mr.  Tenney,  of  Gill,  Mass. ; 
Benjamin  Richards,  subject  of  this  sketch  ; 
Barney  (1805-1830),  was  in  the  store  with  his 
brother  Jerre;  and  Rev.  Lorenzo  Ijyons(1807- 
1886),  educated  at  Union  College,  went  to  the 


Sandwich  Islands  as  a missionary  of  the  Con- 
gregational Church,  where  he  remained  until  his 
death,  a period  of  fifty-five  years.  The  grand- 
parents of  Benjamin  R.  Lyons — David  (1737- 
1803)  and  Abigail  (Draper)  (1740-1829) 
Lyons — were  farmers  at  Coleraine.  He  was  one 
of  the  men  who  assisted  in  pitching  the  British 
tea  into  Boston  Harbor  in  1773.  One  of  his 
sons,  Daniel,  (1778-1850),  settled  at  Great 
Bend,  wdiere  he  was  a cabinet-maker,  farmer, 
and  for  some  time  kept  a hotel.  He  was  a 

deacon  in  the 
Baptist  Church 
there,  and  alone 
built  the  meeting- 
house. During 
his  residence  at 
Montrose  he 
erected  the  stone 
building  back  of 
the  court-house, 
now  used  by  one 
of  the  fire  com- 
panies. The  other 
children  of  David 
Lyons  were  Jer- 
re, Jesse,  Seth, 
Abigail,  Nancy, 
David,  Aaron, 
Joel  and  Polly. 

Abel  Tur- 
RELL,  of  Mon- 
trose, Pennsylva- 
nia, was  born  in 
what  is  now  For- 
est Lake,  Susque- 
hanna  County, 
Pa.,  October  16, 
1812.  His  pa- 
rents, Leman  and 
Lucy  Turrell, 
came  from  Litchfield  Co.,  Conn.,  in  1810.  He 
was  reared  on  the  home  farm  of  his  father,  and 
in  boyhood  obtained  a fair  education  by  at- 
tendance at  the  district  school,  and  by  clo.se  at- 
tention to  his  studies  at  homo,  which  he  further 
completed  at  John  Mann’s  Academy,  and  at  the 
Montrose  Academy.  For  two  years,  commenc- 
ing; in  1837,  he  was  a teacher  at  A'ilkes-Barre. 


282 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


From  May,  1839,  to  Jaiuiaiy,  1846,  he  was  the 
editor  and  proprietor  of  a newspaper  in  Mont- 
rose ; first  the  Jlontrose  Volunteer,  and  after- 
wards the  Montrose  Democrat,  by  a change  of 
name  of  the  paper.  From  April,  1848,  to 
May,  1875,  he  was  successfully  and  continu- 
ously engaged  in  the  drug  business  in  Mont- 
rose. He  then  retired  from  active  business 
with  a competence.  He  was  one  of  the  organ- 
izers of  the  First  National  Bank  of  Montro.se, 
and  a director  several  years.  He  married 
Adelia  Gatlin  October  19,  1843,  who  was  born 
in  Bridgewater,  Susquehanna  Co.,  Pa.,  Janu- 
ary 7,  1818.  Her  parents,  Erastus  and  Polly 
(Wright)  Gatlin,  were  formerly  from  Litchfield 
County,  Connecticut. 

They  have  one  child, — Edgar  Abel  Tur- 
RELL,  who  graduated  at  Yale  College  in  1867, 
and  at  the  Columbia  College  Law  School  in 
1869,  and  was  thereupon  admitted  to  the  New 
York  State  bar.  After  studying  and  traveling 
in  Europe  for  two  years,  he  began  the  practice 
of  law  in  New  York  City  in  1872,  at  170 
Broadway,  where  he  has  since  continued  in  the 
successful  practice  of  his  profession,  in  both  the 
State  and  United  States  Courts.  He  is  a mem- 
ber of  the  Bar  Association,  the  Law  Institute, 
the  Manhattan  Club,  the  Young  Men’s  Demo- 
cratic Club  (of  which  he  was  secretary  and  vice- 
president  several  years),  the  Delta  Kappa  Epsi- 
lon Club,  and  various  other  organizations  of 
the  city.  He  received  the  degree  of  Master  of 
Arts  from  Yale  College  in  1870. 

Events  in  the  family  of  Leman  and  Lucy 
Turrell  and  near  relatives: 

Leman  Turrell  Avas  born  in  New  Milford, 
Litchfield  County,  Connecticut,  July  5,  1776. 
In  the  spring  of  1794,  at  the  age  of  eighteen 
years,  he  came  to  Pennsylvania  to  .survey  land 
under  the  Connecticut  title,  for  Itis  uncle,  Job 
Turrell,  and  returned  in  the  fall.  In  1797  he 
and  Lucy  Turrell  (1776-1864)  were  married, 
and  continued  to  reside  in  New  Milford,  Con- 
necticut. In  April,  1810,  Leman  Turrell,  with 
his  family,  consisting  of  his  wife  and  four  chil- 
dren, left  their  native  place  in  Connecticut,  and 
removed  to  the  western  portion  of  Susquehanna 
County,  Pennsylvania,  now  Forest  Lake,  and 
bought  a tract  of  woodland  on  the  line  of  the 


Milford  and  Owego  turnpike,  about  two  miles 
east  of  Friendsville.  He  subsequently  added 
to  his  original  purchase,  until  he  acquired  .five 
hundred  and  twenty  acres.  He  was  an  enter- 
prising and  thrifty  farmer,  and  with  the  assist- 
ance of  his  sons,  cleared  a large  portion  of  his 
land,  and  brought  it  into  a state  of  cultivation, 
and  erected  good  buildings  thereon.  His  ser- 
vices as  a surveyor  were  often  sought  by  others, 
and  upon  the  construction  of  the  Milfoi’d  and 
Owego  turnpike,  he  contracted  for  and  com- 
pleted about  one  and  a quarter  miles  of  the 
same,  through  the  forest,  first  removing  the 
trees  with  their  roots  from  the  earth,  and  then 
making  a Avide  and  well-formed  road,  mainly 
taking  stock  for  pay  ; and  he  was  one  of  the 
managers  during  its  continuance  as  a company 
road,  supported  by  toll.  In  those  days  this 
turnpike  was  a portion  of  one  of  the  main  and 
most  direct  stage-routes  from  Ohio  and  the 
West  to  NeAv  York  and  the  East,  and  fine  four- 
horse  stage-coaches  and  extensive  droves  of 
cattle  pa.ssed  over  it,  and  it  was  as  important  as 
a railroad  now. 

The  entire  family  of  Leman  and  Lucy  Tur- 
rell consisted  of  five  sons  and  tAvo  daughters, 
whose  ages  are  in  the  order  named, — Britannia, 
1798-1839;  Stanley,  1800-79;  Joel,  1801-73; 
Leman  Miner,  1808-83;  Abel,  1812;  Lucy 
Ann,  1816-83;  and  James,  1818. 

Britannia,  Avife  of  Adolphus  Olmstead,  Avho.se 
daughter,  Sarah  Britannia,  became  the  Avife  of 
the  late  President- Judge  Earris  B.  Streeter, 
and  noAV  resides  in  ToAvanda,  Pa.,  Avhere  her 
son,  Harry  Streeter,  is  engaged  in  the  practice 
of  laAV ; and  their  sou,  Garrick  Mallory  Olm- 
stead, lately  dec'^ased,  Avas  a graduate  of  La- 
fayette College,  and  a prominent  lawyer  in  Jer- 
sey City.  Stanley,  Joel  and  Leman  Miner 
Avere  successful  farmers  in  Fore.st  Lake.  The 
latter  purchased  eighteen  hundred  acres  of  land 
in  Nebraska,  and  .sold  it  to  settlers;  and  he  was 
an  efficient  and  exemplary  deacon  in  the  Bap- 
tist Church  at  Birchardville.  Joel  succeeded 
his  father  as  surveyor  of  land  and  roads,  and  by 
election  he  held  the  office  of  county  surveyor. 
His  son,  Wilson  J.,  was  his  successor  in  said 
office.  Abel,  a prosperous  editor  and  merchant 
in  Montrose.  Lucy  Ann,  Avife  of  Abner  Griffis; 


f 


'■>  ' 


.W 


♦ 


lv; 


IMl 


MONTROSE. 


283 


their  older  son,  Henry  L.  Griffis,  a student  of 
Lafayette  College,  and  now  professor  of  natural 
science  in  the  high  school  at  Binghamton,  NT.  Y., 
and  also  a civil  engineer.  Lafayette  College  con- 
ferred on  him  the  degree  of  Master  of  Arts  in 
1885.  James  resides  in  Longmont,  Colorado; 
his  son,  Judson  Wade  Turrell,  learned  the  drug 
business  with  his  Uncle  Abel,  in  Montrose,  and 
removed  to  Longmont,  Boulder  County,  Col- 
orado, where  he  was  elected  member  of  the  State 
Legislature  at  the  last  election  ; and  he  owns  a 
fine  drug-store  in  that  town. 

Leman  and  Lucy  Turrell  were  persons  of 
strict  integrity,  honesty  and  perseverance,  and 
these  qualities  prevail  in  their  children,  and 
may  be  considered  characteristic  of  the  family. 

William,  father  of  Hon.  Wm.  J.  Turrell  (for 
biography,  see  Law  Chapter),  was  a brother  of 
Leman  Turrell.  Rachel,  a sister  of  Leman, 
and  wife  of  David  Noble,  had  one  son,  a prom- 
inent member  of  Congress  from  Ohio  many 
years.  Leman,  William  and  Beebe  Turrell 
were  sons  of  James  Turrell,  Jr. 

■ Amy,  a sister  of  Lucy  Turrell  (wife  of 
Leman  Turrell),  became  the  wife  of  Alpheus 
Fuller,  whose  son,  Jerome,  was  a prominent 
member  of  the  New  York  State  bar,  a mem- 
ber of  the  State  Legislature,  a delegate  to  the 
Constitutional  Convention  of  1866,  a delegate 
to  the  National  Convention  of  1848,  wherein 
he  nominated  Millard  Fillmore  for  Vice- 
President.  By  the  death  of  President  Taylor, 
in  1850,  Fillmore  became  the  acting  President. 
He  then  appointed  Mr.  Fuller  Minister  Pleni- 
potentiary to  Russia,  which  position  he  declined. 
He  then  appointed  him  chief  justice  of  the 
Territory  of  Minnesota,  which  position  he  held 
until  its  admission  as  a State.  Returning  to 
Monroe  County,  N.  Y.,  he  was  elected  judge, 
holding  his  court  in  the  city  of  Rochester,  and 
he  held  that  office  by  re-election  until  he  was 
retired,  at  the  age  of  seventy  year.s,  under  an 
article  of  the  Constitution  which  he  had  a.ssi.sted 
in  making. 

Not  for  want  of  merit,  but  from  a desire  for 
brevity,  the  names  of  many  equally  worthy 
members  of  branches  of  the  family  are  omitted. 

Azur  Lathrop,  second  son  of  Judge  Benja- 
min Lathrop,  spent  his  boyhood  on  the  farm  of 


his  father  and  obtained  his  education  at  the  dis- 
trict school  and  at  John  Mann’s  Academy,  St. 
Joseph.  He  was  a teacher  for  three  winter 
terms  in  this  county  and  spent  the  winter  of 
1836—37  in  the  Senate  chamber  at  Harrisburg 
as  a reporter  for  the  Pittsburgh  Times  and  Har- 
risburg Reporter,  of  which  latter  General  Simon 
Cameron  was  then  one  of  the  proprietors. 
After  spending  a year  at  home  he  took  a tour 
of  the  West,  and  in  the  spring  of  1840  returned, 
and  in  the  fall  of  the  same  year  settled  at  Mon- 
trose in  the  mercantile  business  (Avery  & La- 
throp). From  1844  to  1849  he  was  engaged  in 
mercantile  business  at  Springville  and  served  as 
postmaster  at  that  place  under  commi.ssion  of 
President  Polk  for  four  years.  Returning  to 
Montrose,  he  continued  in  the  same  business  as 
a successful  merchant  more  or  less  of  the  time 
until  1872.  In  1858-60  he  built  the  brick 
block  of  three  stories  now  occupied  by  Mr.  M. 
S.  Dessauer,  a merchant — the  second  -story  con- 
taining various  offices  and  the  third  story  the 
hall  of  the  F.  and  A.  Masons.  In  1862  he 
purchased  the  Franklin  Tannery  of  New  A"ork 
parties,  which  he  conducted  for  some  six  years 
and  sold  to  Monger  Brothers,  the  present  pro- 
prietors; and  from  1865  until  1868,  under  the 
firm-name  of  A.  Lathrop  & Co.,  he  also  owned 
and  conducted  a tannery  at  Laporte,  Sullivan 
Co.  Upon  the  failui-e  of  the  Montrose  Fork 
Company,  in  1864,  he  became  one  of  its  proprie- 
tors and  continued  the  business  until  the  sale  of 
the  building  to  C.  M.  Crandall  & Co.,  toy  works, 
which  were  burned  in  the  fall  of  1886.  In  1875 
he  established  the  planing-mill  and  lumber-yard 
at  Montrose,  still  conducted  by  A.  & G.  R. 
Lathrop.  After  the  murder  of  William  H. 
Cooper,  the  banker,  Mr.  Lathrop  was  appointed 
by  the  court  the  trustee  of  his  estate. 

He  is  a large  employer  of  laborei’s  ; a large 
farmer  ; a.  director  and  one  of  the  largest  stock- 
holders of  the  Fir.st  National  National  Bank  of 
Montrose  ; was  one  of  the  principal  movers  in 
the  Montro.se  Railway  C’ompany  and  a director 
for  several  years,  and  closely  identified  with  the 
stage  and  exjiress  business  of  the  place.  For 
nearly  a halt-century  Mr.  Lathrop  has  been  one 
of  the  main  factors  in  tlie  business  intere.Ms  of 
Montro.se  Borough  and  Susquehanna  County, 


284 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


closely  connected  with  its  public  matters  and  in 
the  distribution  of  moneys  among  its  people. 
Following  the  religious  persuasion  of  his  father, 
his  family  are  members  of  the  Episcopal  Church, 
of  which  he  has  served  as  vestryman  and  warden 
for  more  than  twenty  years,  and  he  has  been  a 
member  of  Montrose  Lodge,  No.  240,  F.  and 
A.  M.,  since  1857.  On  January  9,  1849,  he 
married  Sarah  E.,  daughter  of  John  and  Sarah 
Cornell,  who  died  August  22,  1862,  leaving  two 
daughters — Ella  Virginia,  wife  of  John  S.  Court- 
right,  Esq.,  a lawyer  at  Montrose,  and  Flor- 
ence May — at  home.  For  his  second  wife  he 
married,  September  9,  1865,  Mrs.  Rebecca  (Gil- 
bert) Burling,  of  New  York,  by  whom  he  has 
one  son,  Gilbert  Azur,  a veterinary  surgeon  at 
Montrose. 

The  family  of  Lathrop,  of  Susquehanna 
County,  are  lineal  descendants  of  Rev.  John  Lo- 
thropp,  the  pioneer  of  the  family  in  this  country, 
who  was  born  in  1584,  graduated  at  Queen’s  Col- 
lege, Cambridge,  1605,  and  was  a minister  of  the 
Church  of  England  at  Egerton,  Kent,  from 
1611  to  1623,  when  he  became  an  Independent 
and  was  at  once  settled  over  the  First  Indepen- 
dent Church  of  Loudon.  He  was  a leader, 
which  is  proved  by  the  fact  that  the  authorities 
kept  a watchful  eye  upon  him,  and  arrested  and 
imprisoned  him;  but,  in  1634,  being  for  a time 
released,  he  escaped  to  this  country  and  settled 
first  in  Scituate  and  later  in  Barnstable,  Mass., 
where  he  died  in  1 653.  A full  account  of  the 
family  in  New  England  may  be  found  in  a 
genealogical  memoir  of  the  Lo-Lathrops,  com- 
piled by  the  late  Rev.  E.  B.  Huntington,  A.M., 
of  Ridgefield,  Conn. 

Hon.  Chj^rles  F.  Read,  only  son  of  Hon. 
A.  H.  Read,  was  born  October  6,  1816.  The 
first  fifteen  years  of  his  life  were  spent  at  home, 
and  eight  or  nine  years  of  that  time  he  attended 
school  at  the  old  academy;  July,  1831,  he  en- 
tered the  Register  printing-office  for  five  years. 
In  connection  with  his  office  duties  he  was  re- 
quired to  carry  a mail  on  horseback,  together 
with  three  or  four  hundred  newspapers,  oiice  a 
week,  through  Brooklyn,  Harford,  Gibson, 
New  Milford,  Great  Bend,  Corbettsville,  Laws- 
ville  and  Franklin,  a distance  of  sixty  miles. 
Faithfully  serving  out  the  term  of  his  engage- 


ment, he  won  the  good-will  of  his  employer 
and  received  an  advance  in  his  wages  above  the 
conti’act.  He  purchased  a half-interest  in  the  In- 
dependent Volunteer  for  five  hundred  dollars. 

In  1838  he  was  made  deputy  United  States  ! 
marshal  for  Susquehanna  County,  taking  the  ] 
census  of  nearly  the  entire  county.  In  1841  he  I 
formed  a partnership  with  Deacon  Jerre  Lyons 
in  the  mercantile  busines.  In  1845  he  dis-  I 
solved  with  Lyons  and  became  a partner  with  ' 

G.  V.  Bentley  for  fifteen  years.  A.  Watrous  ' 
and  H.  C.  Foster  succeeded  Bentley  in  1860  ; 
with  various  partners  he  continued  in  the  mer- 
cantile business  twenty-nine  years.  In  1855 
he  was  associated  three  or  four  years  with  H. 

H.  Frazier  in  conducting  the  Independent  Re- 
publiGan.  In  1856  he  was  elected  associate 
judge  of  Susquehanna  County,  a position  which 
he  held  by  re-election  ten  years.  He  was  Pres- 
idential elector  and  voted  for  Lincoln  and  John- 
son in  1864.  In  business  he  was  careful  and 
conscientious,  avoiding  speculation  and  holding 
usury  in  abhorrence.  In  1840  he  became  a 
member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  and  con- 
tinued an  earnest  and  consistent  member  the 
remainder  of  his  life.  He  died  January  1, 
1876. 

Industries -Manufacturing. — Montrose, 
owing  to  its  location  on  a hill  at  the  fountain 
head  of  a stream,  instead  of  being  beside  its 
majestic  course,  is  not  adapted  to  manufactur- 
ing ; consequently  her  manufactories  are  not 
extensive.  The  first  manufacturing  that  was 
done  consisted  of  home-made  flannels  and 
woven  fabrics  of  various  kinds,  such  as  full- 
cloth  for  men’s  wear,  plaids  for  women’s  wear, 
and  table-cloths  and  toweling  from  flax  wliich 
was  grown  in  the  county.  A large  number  of 
sheep  were  kept  for  their  wool  for  this  domes- 
tic manufacture.  This  industry,  which  was 
carried  on  in  every  household  by  the  good 
house-wives  of  those  early  days,  with  their  spin- 
ning-wheels and  old-fashioned  hand-looms,  was 
of  greater  importance  to  the  hardy  pioneers 
than  we  can  estimate  now.  The  old  merchants 
remember  that  the  manufactured  product  of 
these  old  hand-looms  not  only  clothed  the  fami- 
lies of  the  pioneers,  but  also  furnished  an  arti- 
cle of  commerce  that  could  be  exchanged  in 


I 


MONTROSE. 


285 


New  York  for  such  other  articles  as  the  settlers 
needed.  All  honor  to  the  women,  while  they 
were  “ rising  up  early  in  the  morning  while  it 
was  yet  night,  seeking  wool  and  flax  and  work- 
ing willingly  with  their  hands,  girding  their 
loins  with  strength,  laying  their  hands  to  the 
spindle  and  distalF,  stretching  out  their  hands 
to  the  needy  and  not  fearing  the  snow  for  their 
households,  for  they  were  covered  with  scarlet 
and  plaids  and  full  cloth,  ” ^ — their  husbands,  who 
were  sitting  among  the  elders  of  the  land,  were 
engaged  in  manufacturing  the  rye  (which  ought 
to  have  been  ground  into  flour  to  make  bread 
for  the  needy)  into  whiskey  for  home  con- 
sumption. 

Distilleries  were  operated  contemporaneously 
with  the  early  settlement  of  Montrose,  and 
nearly  all  the  old  families  were  either  interested 
in  its  manufacture  or  sale.  Francis  Fordham 
had  a distillery  on  the  farm  now  owned  by 
John  S.  Tarbell,  also  another  in  town  near  Fos- 
ter’s tannery.  Nathan  Raynor,  Mr.  Herrick 
and  Clark  were  Interested  with  him.  In  1824 
Herrick,  Fordham  & Clark  were  in  partner- 
ship, “ continuing  the  stilling  business  on  a 
pretty  extensive  scale.”  This  establishment 
was  closed  in  June,  1875,  and  soon  after 
“ ^ Clark  & Tyler  (Harvey)  take  pleasure  in  in- 
forming the  public  that  the  distillery  they 
have  been  erecting  near  Jones’  mill  is  now  com- 
pleted and  in  perfect  readiness  for  business.” 

“ In  the  second  issue  of  the  ‘Centinel,’  February, 
1816,  Daniel  Curtis  offers  ‘ 350  gallons  of  good,  rec- 
tified whiskey  at  $1.00  per  gallon  ; ’ and  the  whole 
air  of  the  advertisement  presupposes  the  community 
ready  to  hail  it  as  a benefaction. 

“ F.  Fordham  announces  ‘ a hogshead  of  rum,  to 
be  sold  cheaper  than  ever  it  was  sold  in  the  village.’ 
But  he  was  a respecter  of  money,  if  not  of  persons, 
since  he  asked  ‘ 9 shillings  only  if  N.  Y.  bills  are 
offered,  but  10  shillings  if  those  of  Philadelphia,  and 
11  shillings  if  bills  from  the  interior.’ 

“Nathan  Raynor  ‘ will  sell  rum  if  requested.’ 

“ In  1817,  Isaac  Post  ‘sells  brandy,  rum,  gin,  and 
whiskey  ; ’ but  this  was  not  probably  a new  business 
with  him,  since  he  became  a ‘taverner’  ten  years 
previous  to  this. 

“ Sayre  & Mulford  advertised,  about  the  same  time 
with  Mr.  Post,  rum  and  brandy  ‘ of  the  first  quality ; ’ 
and  doubtlessly  the  endorsement  would  be  considered 


1 See  Ecclesiaeticus  xxxi.  - Blackman’s  “ History.” 


good,  could  their  liquors  be  tasted  after  the  adulterated 
ones  of  the  present  day. 

“ In  1819,  ‘ Nathan  H.  Lyons  sells  whiskey  by  the 
hogshead,  tierce,  barrel,  gallon,  or  quart,’  in  a small 
red  house  on  the  corner  since  occupied  by  J.  R. 
Dewitt  & Co. 

“In  1820,  probably  from  the  increased  number  of 
distilleries,  whiskey  is  sold,  for  cash,  at  44  cents  per 
gallon,  by  I.  D.  Post. 

“ The  Britannia  Distillery  is  announced  in  1821. 

“ In  ] 822  ‘ Butterfield’s  best  rectified  whiskey  ’ was 
by  no  means  the  result  of  his  enterprise  alone  ; I.  P. 
Foster,  Daniel  Lathrop  and  S.  S.  Mulford  were  silent 
partners. 

“ In  1823,  the  Montrose  Gazette  complains  of  the 
scarcity  of  wheat,  which  is  felt  the  more  since  ‘ too 
much  rye  goes  to  the  distilleries.’  One  bushel  of  rye 
purchased  five  quarts  of  whiskey.” 

Daniel  Searle,  who  run  the  stage  lines  for  a 
number  of  years  and  had  a large  number  of 
horses  to  feed,  actually  bought  out  one  or  two 
of  the  distilleries  and  discontinued  them,  be- 
cause they  were  taking  too  much  grain  out  of 
the  country  and  raising  the  price  of  feed  for  his 
horses.  The  temperance  agitation  that  follow’ed 
Rev.  Lyman  Beecher’s  sermons  caused  con- 
scientious men  to  view  the  distilling  business  in 
a different  light  from  what  they  formerly  did, 
and  they  gradually  discontinued  the  business. 

Tanneries. — Isaac  P.  Fo.ster  came  from  South 
FLampton,  L.  I.,  in  1811,  and  started  a tan- 
nery. He  carried  on  shoeraaking  in  connection 
with  tanning,  and  employed  a number  of  hands. 
The  tannery  stood  near  where  the  Exchange 
Hotel  now  stands.  They  obtained  their  water 
supply  from  a well  and  a little  stream  of  water 
that  ran  through  the  yard  in  the  wet  season. 
In  1827  Mr.  Foster  sold  to  Luther  Gatlin, 
whose  son-in-law,  Stephen  Keeler,  .shortly  after 
discontinued  the  business  and  turned  the  resi- 
dence and  shops  into  a hotel. 

William  Foster  started  a little  upper-leather 
tannery  at  Montrose  in  1838.  The  first  tan- 
nery was  a primitive  affair;  the  vats  had  no 
covering  save  the  clouds.  He  had  buildings, 
however,  in  which  he  carried  on  shoemaking, 
together  with  tanning  and  currying.  His 
buildings  were  destroyed  by  fire  and  he  built 
larger,  and  associated  his  sou,  Charles  8.  Fos- 
ter, in  the  business  with  him.  This  building 
was  also  destroyed  by  lire,  when  the  ])resent 


286 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


building  was  erected.  After  William  Foster 
died,  Charles  S.  associated  his  son,  Selden  M., 
iu  business  with  him.  Their  tannery  contained 
thirty  vats  and  consumed  from  seventy-five  to 
one  hundred  cords  of  bark.  They  tanned 
about  one  thousand  skins  per  year  until  1883, 
when  the  business  was  discontinued. 

The  Susquehanna  County  Agricultural  Works 
were  put  into  successful  operation  in  1856  by 
S.  H.  & D.  Sayre.  These  works  were  par- 
tially de.stroyed  by  fire  in  1861-62  and  imme- 
diately rebuilt.  In  1876  F.  B.  Jewett  was 
chosen  president,  W.  H.  Cooper  treasurer,  and 
D.  Sayre  secretary.  These  officers,  together 
with  F.  B.  Chandler  and  S.  H.  Sayre,  consti- 
tuted the  business  directory.  The  foundry  em- 
ployed about  thirty-five  men,  and  made  agri- 
cultural implements,  steam-engines,  grist-mills, 
plows,  wheel-rakes,  mowers,  revolving  rakes, 
cultivators,  dog-powers,  corn-shellers,  wagon- 
boxes,  agricultural  furnaces,  cauldron  kettles, 
etc.  The  works  occu2)y  nearly  two  blocks ; the 
general  foundry  and  machinery  dejiartment,  in 
which  are  located  the  foundry,  wood-working 
dejjartment,  machine-shoj),  blacksmith-shop  and 
finishing  departments,  is  two  hundred  and 
sixty-six  feet  long,  with  an  L one  hundred  and 
fifty  feet  in  length,  which  is  furnished  with 
good  machinery,  and  the  jDOwer  is  furnished  by 
two  engines  of  forty-five  horse-jjower.  On  the 
o^ijDOsite  corner,  diagonally  from  the  work- 
shops, are  the  storehouses,  warerooms  and 
offices,  which  occujjy  a building  one  hundred  and 
fifty  by  forty  feet  in  dimensions.  At  the  western 
end  of  the  shop  is  a grist-mill  with  three  runs 
of  stone,  which  wms  originally  built  by  Isaac 
Post.  The  agricultural  works  were  sold  at 
sheriff’s  sale  November  12, 1885,  and  purchased 
by  H.  L.  Beach  and  J.  Griffis  for  seven  thou- 
sand dollars.  February  1,  1886,  H.  L.  Beach, 
F.  J.  Brown  and  W.  S.  Benjamin  bought  the 
works,  and  are  conducting  the  business  under 
the  firm-name  of  Beach,  Brown  & Co.  They 
have  exj)ended  about  three  thousand  dollars  in 
imjjrovements,  replacing  the  two  engines  with  a 
fifty-five  horse-power  Ball  automatic  cut-off  en- 
gine, which  does  all  the  work  with  one-half  the 
fuel  formerly  used.  They  grind  from  six  hun- 
dred to  seven  hundred  bushels  of  grain  per  day 


in  the  mill,  and  make  all  kinds  of  agricultural 
instruments  in  the  shop,  as  was  formerly  done. 

Toy  Works. — C.  M.  Crandall  Comjmny, 
manufacturers  of  building  blocks  and  toys, 
started  their  toy-factory  at  Montrose  in  the 
second  story  of  the  foundry  building  in  1867. 
It  was  started  jirincipally  for  the  purpose  of 
manufacturing  Crandall’s  bui  Iding-blocks,  which 
were  invented  and  patented  by  Crandall.  This 
toy  had  an  immense  sale.  This  was  the  pioneer 
wooden  toy-factory  in  the  United  States;  })re- 
vious  to  this  wooden  toys  were  imported  from 
Germany.  In  1875  the  works  were  moved 
into  a commodious  building,  about  forty  by 
seventy  feet,  and  three  stories  high  ; besides  this 
there  were  offices,  lumber-sheds,  etc.  The 
buildings  were  back  of  Boyd  & Cooley’s  and 
extended  the  whole  length  of  the  block.  They 
employed  about  sixty-five  hands  and  did  a 
business  of  sixty  thousand  dollars  per  year. 
This  building  was  burned  in  the  great  fire  in 
August,  1886.  The  New  York  Tribune  said  that 
it  was  the  most  complete  factory  of  the  kind  in 
the  w'orld.  The  business  was  conducted  in  the 
foundry  again  for  a time,  but  has  now  been  re- 
moved. 

Fork-Factory. — George  Lathrop  and  Asa 
Hawley  started  a factory  for  manufacturing 
agricultural  implements,  and  operated  it  for  a 
few  years,  when  it  was  reorganized  by  Turner 
and  others,  and  called  The  Fork  Company.  In 
1866  Azur  Lathroj)  took  fifteen  thousand  dollars 
stock  or  one-half  interest  in  it,  and  was  finally 
obliged  to  take  full  charge  of  the  concern.  In 
1875  he  sold  the  building  to  C.  M.  Crandall 
and  moved  the  fork-factory  to  South  Montrose. 
This  factory  did  a business  of  twenty  thousand 
dollars  per  year,  and  employed  from  fifteen  to 
twenty-five  hands. 

Francis  Fordham  was  the  first  hatter  in  town. 
He  started  the  business  in  1812,  just  below 
Boyd’s  corner.  He  found  good  clay  and  burnt 
brick  seventy  years  ago,  where  Boyd  & Cooley 
are  now  burning  brick  for  their  new  store. 
William  Turrell  started  the  first  saddlery  and 
harness-shop  in  1817,  in  the  basement  of  his 
residence. 

Wagon  and  Sleigh-Making. — Charles  Beards- 
lee  started  the  first  wagon-shop  at  Montrose  in 


MONTROSE. 


287 


1832.  He  rented  a building  at  first  and  built 
a shop  the  following  year,  l)ack  of  the  Montrose 
House,  extending  from  Church  Street  to  Straw- 
berry Alley.'  Jonas  Mack,  who  was  an  appren- 
tice in  the  same  shop  with  Mr.  Beardslee  in 
1829,  came  with  him,  and  in  1839  purchased 
the  business,  which  he  continued  until  1856, 
when  he  traded  the  shop  to  Leonard  Searle  for 
a farm,  and  Mr.  Searle  sold  it  to  E.  H.  Rogers, 
who  conducted  the  busine.ss  for  a number  of 
years  and  sold  it  to  Isaac  and  James  Melhuish, 
who  run  it  a while  and  sold  it  to  Blakeslee, 
who  sold  it  to  Jonas  Mack,  who  has  a shop 
near  Lathrojt’s  planing-mill.  E.  H.  Rogers 
has  the  old  shop.  Mr.  Rogers  has  worked  at 
the  business  for  nearly  fifty  years,  and  Mr. 
Mack  has  worked  at  it  since  1829,  excepting  a 
few  years  while  he  was  on  the  farm.  These 
shops  formerly  employed  from  eight  to  eleven 
men,  and  did  a large  business  in  carriage, 
wagon  and  sleigh-making;  but  this  work  is  now 
being  concentrated  in  large  factories,  and  the 
two  veteran  workmen  above  mentioned  are  all 
that  remain  in  the  business  at  Montrose.  Jonas 
Mack  built  the  best  coaches  for  the  stage  pro- 
prietors that  could  be  obtained  anywhere  in  this 
section.  Messrs.  Beck  & Warner  are  manu- 
facturing tables  quite  extensively  at  present 
(1886). 

Cabinet-Shops. — Jeremiah  Ethridge  came  to 
Monti’ose  from  New  London,  Conn  , and  estab- 
lished the  first  cabinet-maker’s  shop  in  1818, 
in  the  South  neighborhood.  He  occupied  a 
building  in  the  rear  of  the  present  residence  of 
Dr.  Halsey.  This  he  used  as  a shop  for  a few 
years  ; then  he  built  a residence  at  the  corner 
of  Cherry  Street  and  Cedar  Lane.  He  devoted 
his  time  exclusively  to  furniture  business  until 
1835.  James  N.  Eldridge  came  to  Montrose 
about  1835  and  established  a furniture-shop  on 
quite  an  extensive  scale.  He  was  burned  out 
in  1854.  W.  W.  Smith  learned  his  trade  of 
Eldridge  and  commenced  business  for  himself 
in  1844.  He  set  up  the  first  engine  in  town, 
employed  from  eight  to  ten  hands,  and  did  a 
large  business  until  competition  from  large  fac- 
tories destroyed  the  small  furniture-shops. 
Smith  & Stevens  were  partners  first ; then 
Fayette  Avery  came  into  the  firm.  Afterwards 


it  was  Smith  & Fordham  ; finally  W.  W. 
Smith,  who  is  still  the  village  undertaker.  The 
first  three  years  that  he  was  in  business  he  only 
took  in  seventy-five  cents  in  money ; all  the 
rest  was  barter,  such  as  cattle,  grain,  apples, 
lumber, — anything  the  farmers  could  produce. 
Money  was  so  scarce  that  he  gave  Norman  J. 
Mitchell  a mahogany  bureau  worth  twenty-five 
dollars  to  pay  fifteen  dollars  taxes.  During  the 
forty  years  and  more  that  IMr.  Smith  has  been 
undertaker  he  has  buried  over  three  thousand 
persons.  He  has  buried  from  one  hundred  to 
one  hundred  and  sixty  annually.  His  services 
have  extended  for  a number  of  miles  around 
Montrose.  Garner  Isbell  was  also  an  early 
cabinet-maker  and  ingenious  at  all  kinds  of 
mechanical  work.  Ira  Vadikan  was  the  first 
man  that  had  marble-works  in  town.  In  1880 
E.  J.  Mathews  started  a shop,  which  employs 
four  men.  T.  C.  Allen  manages  the  business 
(in  1887). 

Jabez  Frink  carried  on  blacksmithing  for 
Isaac  Post  in  a shop  west  of  the  William  Foster 
j)lace  in  1810.  His  sons,  Jabez  Frink,  Jr.,  and 
George  Frink,  followed  the  same  trade  for  many 
years.  Alanson  Coy  and  Daniel  Curtis  were 
also  early  blacksmiths.  Embly  Shaffer  and 
Rufus  Allen  worked  at  the  trade  later  for  a 
long  time.  Ruths  Frink  came  to  Bridgewater 
from  Connecticut  about  1806,  and  was  the  fir.st 
mason  in  the  place.  He  also  worked  at  cooper- 
ing and  shoemaking.  His  only  son,  Avery 
Frink,  has  been  a carpenter  and  builder  for  fifty- 
seven  years.  AV.  H.  Boyd  and  Mr.  Frink  have 
been  the  principal  builders  and  contractors  in 
town.  Zebulon  Deans,  A.sahel  Deans,  Hiram 
Plum,  Oliver  Smith,  Hyde  Crocker,  Levi  Greg- 
ory, Daniel  Gregory,  Ackerly  Bronson,  Charles 
Avery  and  Hubbard  Avery  are  among  the 
number  who  have  built  the  houses  in  Montrose. 
Zebulon  Deans  came  in  1804,  and  his  brother, 
Asahel,  in  1806.  They  were  the  first  carpen- 
ters at  Montrose.  Asahel  Avery,  who  lived  in 
Dimock  in  1801,  was  a carpenter,  and  did  work 
in  AVilkes-Barre.  Mr.  Deans  worked  for  him 
there. 

George  Claggett  was  probably  the  first  tailor. 
Reuben  B.  Locke  advertised  as  a tailor  as  early 
as  1817.  He  continued  in  the  busine.ss  a num- 


288 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


ber  of  years  and  became  so  corpulent  that  he 
seldom  rose  from  his  chair.  He  sat  behind  his 
counter  and  cut  garments  without  rising.  He 
was  a great  reader,  told  good  stories,  laughed 
and  grew  fat,  until  he  weighed  some  four  or  five 
hundred  pounds.  Philander  Lines  learned  the 
trade  of  him  and  continued  the  business  a num- 
ber of  years,  until  S.  H.  Morse,  a tailor  from 
New  Milford,  came  to  Montrose  and  entered 
into  partnership  with  him.  Mr.  Lines  removed 
to  Great  Bend,  and  Mr.  Mor.se  continued  until 
age  compelled  him  to  stop  in  1883.  John 
Grover  is  an  old  tailor  in  town.  W.  H.  Maw- 
hiney  learned  the  trade  of  Morse,  purchased  the 
old  National  Bank  building  and  now  has  the 
finest  tailor-shop  in  town.  George  Walker  and 
Ralph  Smith  also  work  at  the  business.  In 
1887  F.  D.  Melhuish  and  R.  B.  Smith  formed 
a partnership  and  have  combined  the  jewelry, 
dry-goods  and  tailoring  business  in  one  store. 

Mrs.  S.  S.  Mulford  was  one  of  the  first  mil- 
liners. She  kept  the  largest  stock  of  goods  and 
trimmed  bonnets  in  connection  with  her  hus- 
band’s store.  Mrs.  Sayre  also  did  some  work  in 
that  line.  In  1831  the  Misses  Sutton  advertise 
as  milliners  over  A.  Baldwin’s  harness-shop. 
Mrs.  Faurot  worked  at  the  millinery  business  a 
great  many  years.  Mrs.  S.  E.  Newton  has  the 
largest  millinery  store  now  (1887).  Mrs.  Backus, 
Mrs.  Baker  and  a number  of  others  work  at 
the  business.  Miss  Simpson  was  the  finest 
dress-maker  ever  in  the  place  up  to  the  time 
when  she  came  here.  She  worked  at  the  busi- 
ness some  thirty  years  and  died  hei’e.  Many 
women  with  ingenuity  enough  to  construct  a 
woman’s  outfit  have  worked  at  the  business  at 
Montrose. 

William  H.  Boyd. — Robert  Boyd,  his  great- 
great-grandfather,  emigrated  from  the  north  of 
Ireland  early  in  the  eighteenth  century,  and 
settled  in  Sadsbury  township,  in  the  western 
part  of  the  great  Chester  Valley,  in  Chester 
County,  Pa.  Here  he  purchased  laud,  upon 
which  he  resided  until  his  death  (1678-1743). 
His  grave  is  one  of  the  first  in  Octoraro  church- 
yard. The  sturdy  Scotch-Irish  Presbyterian- 
ism of  his  native  land  he  brought  with  him 
from  over  the  sea,  and  his  descendants  have 
always  adhered  to  it. 


He  left  to  survive  him  one  son,  James  Boyd 
(1715-99),  who  inherited  his  lands,  consist- 
ing of  four  hundred  acres.  James  Boyd  had 
two  sous — Matthew  and  George — and  before  his 
death  he  conveyed  these  lands  to  them  by  deed, 
in  equal  proportions.  The  descendants  of  George 
(1742-1818)  yet  occupy  the  land  conveyed  to 
him  by  his  father  (now  the  sixth  generation). 

Matthew  Boyd  was  born  in  1737.  He  had 
imbibed  from  his  Scotch-Irish  ancestry  that 
hatred  of  oppression  and  love  of  liberty  that  led 
him,  early  in  ihe  great  struggle  for  independence, 
to  take  an  active  part  in  opposition  to  British 
oppression ; in  fact,  during  the  darkest  days  of 
the  Revolution,  a Scotch-Irish  “ Tory  ” was 
unheard  of.  The  following  document,  now  in 
possession  of  his  grandson,  evidences  alike  his 
generosity  and  his  patriotism  : 

“ Princetowx,  January  20,  1777. 

Received  of  Capt.  Boyd,  of  the  6th  Battalion, 
Chester  County  Militia,  the  sum  of  Fifteen  Pounds, 
which  he,  the  said  Boyd,  desires  me  to  divide  amongst 
the  poor  associates  of  said  Battalion  now  in  the  ser- 
vice of  their  countr3%  as  equally  as  my  judgement 
would  direct.  (Signed) 

“ J.  Fullerton,  Major.’’' 

Another  time-yellowed  document,  also  in 
possession  of  William  H.  Boyd,  is  a commission 
granted  by  the  “ Supreme  Executive  Council 
of  Penna.  to  Matthew  Boyd,  Esq.,”  as  lieuten- 
ant-colonel, signed  by  the  president  and  secre- 
tary of  the  Council  and  dated  at  Philadelphia, 
May  6,  1777. 

In  January,  1769,  Matthew  Boyd  married  Mar- 
garet Hamilton  (1746-77),  who  belonged  to  an 
early  and  prominent  family  of  Lancaster  County, 
Pa.  They  had  four  children, — James,  born  1769  ; 
Jane,  1771 ; Mary,  1773  ; and  William  Ham- 
ilton, 1776.  The  latter  died  in  1808,  leaving  a 
wife  and  three  children.  On  the  17th  day  of 
May,  1782,  Colonel  Matthew  Boyd  was  almost 
instantly  killed  by  being  thrown  from  his  hor.se 
during  a review  of  his  battalion  at  Cochran- 
ville,  Chester  County,  Pa.  James  Boyd  was 
thirteen  years  old  when  his  father  died,  and 
upon  reaching  his  majority  came  into  posses- 
sion of  the  old  homestead  in  Chester  County, 
known  as  the  “ Valley  Farm.”  He  was  mar- 
ried, in  January,  1804,  to  Mary  McMullin,  who 


MONTKOSE. 


289 


resided  at  Columbia,  Lancaster  County,  Pa. 
They  had  seven  children, — Nancy,  Matthew 
(1806-37),  William  Hamilton,  John  P.  (1810- 
35),  Francis  G.  (married  and  now  living  in 
Iowa),  Hannah  and  Josephus  (1819-83;  he 
was  a printer  by  trade,  and  for  several  years 
edited  and  published  the  People’s  Advocate,  at 
' Montrose,  Pa.).  After  his  marriage  James 
I Boyd  remained  on  the  old  homestead,  culti  vat- 


started  with  his  family  for  their  new  home  in 
Susquehanna  County,  A large,  old-fashioned 
Pennsylvania  wagon  drawn  by  four  horses,  and 
a one-horse  “ Dearborn,”  were  the  means  of 
transportation.  The  journey  occupied  nine 
days.  Few  goods  were  brought,  except  bedding 
and  a few  household  necessities,  and  no  agri- 
cultural implements  except  an  old-style  Scotch 
plow,  which  was  soon  found  to  be  useless  in  the 


ing  its  fertile  acres,  until  1822,  when  he  sold 
the  Chester  County  farm. 

Having  read  some  flattering  accounts  of  the 
lands  in  Susquehanna  County,  in  the  Village 
Record,  published  at  West  Chester,  he  decided 
to  come  and  see  for  himself,  and  he  made  the 
journey  on  horseback,  being  absent  from  home 
three  weeks.  While  in  Susquehanna  County 
he  purchased  of  Joshua  W.  Raynsford  the  farm 
in  South  Bridgewater  now  owned  by  E.  P. 
Stamp.  The  consideration  was  two  thousand 
dollars.  Early  in  April,  1823,  James  Boyd 
19 


stony  soil  of  this  section.  Surrounding  his  new 
home  with  such  comforts  as  he  could  command, 
James  Boyd  continued  to  cultivate  and  improve 
his  farm  until  his  death,  which  occurred  in 
1835.  He  was  a life-long  Democrat  and  a great 
admirer  of  Thomas  Jeffei’son  and  Andrew  Jack- 
son,  both  of  whom  his  vote  assisted  in  electing. 
He  .served  his  country  for  a time  as  a soldier 
during  the  War  of  1812-14,  being  stationed  at 
Baltimore  when  the  British  were  I’cpulsed  near 
that  city,  and  General  Ross  killed.  His  wife, 
Mary,  survived  him  ten  years,  and  died  in 


290 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


Montrose  borougli,  to  which  place  she  removed 
after  her  husband’s  death. 

William  Hamilton  Boyd  was  born  De- 
cember 8,  1808,  at  the  old  homestead  in  Ches- 
ter County,  and  was  named  after  his  uncle,  who 
had  died  that  year.  He  was  fourteen  years  old 
when  his  father  removed  from  Chester  to  Sus- 
quehanna County.  His  boyhood  was  spent  on 
his  father’s  farm,  and  in  the  performance  of  such 
duties  as  fell  to  the  lot  of  farmers’  boys  sixty  or 
seventy  years  ago.  The  only  educational  facil- 
ities within  reach  were  those  furnished  by  the 
country  schools,  and  a few  months  in  summer,  in 
his  early  years,  and  a few  months  in  winter, 
after  he  w'as  old  enough  to  help  on  the  farm, 
comprised  his  educational  advantages. 

When  he  was  eighteen  years  of  age  he  left 
home  to  learn  the  carpenter’s  trade,  and  served 
an  apprenticeship  of  three  years.  After  learn- 
ing his  trade  he  worked  several  years  as  a 
journeyman,  most  of  the  time  in  Bradford 
County,  Pa.,  until  1838,  when  he  went  to  the 
then  Territory  of  Iowa,  where  he  spent  nearly 
two  years  working  at  his  trade.  While  there 
he  voted  at  the  first  election  had  in  the  Territory 
— the  election  being  held  at  Davenport,  in  Scott 
County.  In  December,  1839,  in  company  with 
a Connecticut  man,  he  started  for  home,  travel- 
ing on  foot  the  first  hundred  miles  over  the 
almost  uninhabited  prairies  of  Illinois,  some 
days  hardly  seeing  a habitation,  and  on  one 
occasion,  having  lost  their  way  in  a snow-storm, 
came  near  spending  a December  night  on  the 
bleak  and  desolate  prairie.  Arriving  at  Peru, 
on  the  Illinois  River,  they  took  stage  via 
Chicago  to  Detroit,  from  which  place  they  pro- 
ceeded to  Butfalo  by  boat  over  Lake  Erie.  At 
Buffalo  Mr.  Boyd  separated  from  his  traveling 
companion  and  took  stage  for  Montrose.  The 
trip  occupied  ten  days. 

In  the  spring  of  1840  Mr.  Boyd  commenced 
his  business  career  in  Montro.se  as  a contractor 
and  builder,  and  for  the  ensuing  eighteen  years 
he  devoted  his  entire  time  to  that  business.  The 
first  building  erected  by  him  was  a dwelling- 
hou.se  for  Mrs.  Biddle,  now  owned  by  her 
daughters.  Of  the  public  buildings  in  the 
borough,  the  academy  (now  graded  .school  build- 
ing) was  erected  by  him,  also  the  Episcopal 


Church,  which  was  the  first  building  in  the 
borough  covered  by  a slate  roof.  In  company 
with  one  Smith,  he  built  the  old  jail  (now  used 
by  the  Fire  Department)  and  was  associated  with  . 
Avery  Frink  in  the  erection  of  the  court-house. 
After  engaging  in  mercantile  business  he  con- 
tinued his  occupation  of  builder,  and  besides 
dwellings  and  store-buildings,  he  erected  the  '■ 
present  Presbyterian  Church,  and  in  1883  he  I 
was  awarded  the  contract  for  building  the  addi-  I 
tion  to  the  court-house. 

During  his  active  career  as  a builder  he  has 
erected,  besides  the  public  buildings  mentioned, 
forty  new  dwellings,  eight  stores  and  remodeled 
as  many  more.  The  title  “ veteran  builder  of 
Montrose  ” certainly  belongs  to  him,  and,  what 
is  better,  he  enjoys  a reputation  for  thoroughness 
and  conscientious  work  that  stamps  the  creations 
of  his  mechanical  skill  with  an  appearance  of 
substantial  permanency. 

In  the  fall  of  1858  he  entered  into  partner- 
ship with  A.  L.  Webster  in  the  tin  and  sheet- 
iron  business,  under  the  firm-name  of  Boyd  & 
Webster,  and  a few  months  thereafter,  by  pur- 
cha,se  of  S.  A.  Woodruff,  they  added  stoves, 
tinware  and  hardware  to  their  stock  in  trade. 
This  was  the  foundation  of  the  large  and  pros- 
perous business  with  which  Mr.  Boyd  has  been 
identified  to  the  present  time.  Besides  his 
original  partner,  Mr.  Webster,  who  left  the  firm 
permanently  in  1868,  several  gentlemen  have 
been  associated  with  him  in  the  business.  The 
present  firm  is  Boyd  & Cooley — the  junior 
member,  J.  H.  Cooley,  having  been  connected 
with  the  business  since  1876. 

In  the  disastrous  fire  of  August  27, 1886,  the 
.store  of  Boyd  & Cooley,  with  a large  portion  of 
its  contents,  was  destroyed.  The  building  was 
owned  by  Mr.  Boyd,  and  w'as  built  by  him  in 
1858.  He  had  just  completed  extensive  im- 
provements by  adding  another  story  to  the 
building,  with  French  roof,  etc.,  when  the  fire 
came  and  reduced  it  all  to  ashes.  Scarcely  had 
tlie  embers  cooled  before  Air.  Boyd  began  to 
plan  for  rebuilding.  His  first  step  was  to  pur- 
chase an  adjoining  lot,  and  if  his  present  plans 
reach  fruition,  the  summer  of  1887  will  see  a 
fine  three-story  brick  building  erected  over  the 
now  blackened  waste. 


MONTROSE. 


291 


Few  men  at  his  age  would  undertake  such  an 
enterprise,  but  a pardonable  pride  in  his  old 
calling  still  clings  to  him,  and  the  desire  is  but 
natural  to  leave  to  his  fellow-townsmen  an  en- 
during specimen  of  the  builder’s  skill,  which,  at 
the  same  time,  will  serve  to  remind  the  present 
and  future  generations  of  one  so  closely  identi- 
fied with  the  development  and  growth  of  Mont- 
rose. Mr.  Boyd  has  been,  for  these  many  years, 
a large  employer  of  labor,  both  skilled  and  un- 
skilled; and  there  are  many  successful  mechan- 
ics of  to-day  who  “ learned  their  trade  ” of  him. 

Mr.  Boyd  united  with  the  Presbyterian 
Church  of  Montrose  in  1843,  and  has  ever  been 
active  in  advancing  its  interests,  both  temporal 
and  spiritual,  having  been  one  of  its  trustees, 
and  president  of  the  board.  He  is  a member 
of  Warren  Lodge,  No.  240,  A.  Y.  M. ; a charter 
member  of  Warren  Chapter,  No.  180,  and  a 
member  of  Great  Bend  Commandery,  Knights 
Templar. 

In  politics,  Mr.  Boyd  acted  with  the  Demo- 
cratic party  up  to  the  time  of  Buchanan’s  ad- 
ministration, casting  his  first  Presidential  vote 
for  Andrew  Jackson.  Since  1860  he  has  been 
an  active  Republican.  While  never  .seeking 
office,  his  fellow-citizens  have  frequently  thrust 
office  upon  him.  He  has  served  two  or  more 
terms  as  Councilman,  been  elected  a.ssessor 
several  times,  was  one  of  the  commissioners  ap- 
pointed by  the  Legislature  to  locate  the  Poor 
Asylum  for  Montrose  and  Bridgewater,  and  in 
1851  was  elected  coroner  of  the  county. 

Mr.  Boyd  never  married,  but  for  many  years 
he  has  occupied  his  pleasant  and  commodious 
home  near  the  Methodist  Church,  where  its 
home-comforts  are  shared  by  his  two  si.sters, 
Nancy  and  Hannah  Boyd,  who  reside  with  him. 

De  Witt  C.  Fordiiam. — Abraham  Ford- 
ham  (1784-1859),  a native  of  Southampton, 
L.  I.,  with  his  wife,  Letitia  (Atkins)  Fordiiam 
(1796-1864),  whom  he  married  in  New  York 
City  in  1814,  settled  at  Montrose  in  1818,  with 
his  family.  He  was  a cooper  by  trade,  but 
before  his  marriage  had  had  a quite  interesting 
experience  on  the  high  seas.  During  the  War 
of  1812  he  shipped  on  a whaling  vessel  from 
New  London,  Conn.,  for  South  America,  and 
spent  on  the  coast  of  Peru  and  on  other  parts  of 


the  coast  nearly  one  year,  when,  with  his  com- 
rades, they  sailed  on  a seal  expedition  ; they  had 
completed  their  cargo  of  seals  and  caught  a large 
number,  which  would  net  each  a large  income  in 
the  market,  and  were  within  ten  days’  sail  of  New 
York,  when  they  were  overtaken  by  a British 
man-of-war,  their  cargo  taken  from  them,  and 
they,  penniless,  landed  on  the  coast  near  Norfolk, 
Va.  Fordham,  through  the  kindness  of  a 
gentleman  who  gave  him  ten  dollars,  found  his 
way  to  New  York,  where  he  soon  afterwards 
married,  and  soon  sought  this  then  new  country 
for  a home. 

Upon  arriving  at  Montrose,  he  started  his 
cooper-shop  on  South  Main  Street,  where  a Mr. 
Morse,  a tailor,  now  resides,  and  carried  on  his 
business  there  until  his  removal  to  Cherry 
Street,  where  he  continued  in  business  until 
near  the  close  of  his  life.  He  was,  during  his 
latter  years,  a member  of  the  Methodist  Church, 
but  his  wife  was  a life-long  member  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church,  her  ancestors  having  been 
Scotch-Irish.  His  ancestors  were  English. 

Their  children  were  Abraham  (1815-64), 
a cooper  by  trade,  married  and  reared  a family 
of  children.  He  volunteered  in  the  service  of 
the  United  States  in  the  fall  of  1861  (Company 
D,)  Dr.  Dimock,  captain.  Fiftieth  Regiment 
Pennsylvania  Volunteers,  went  to  South  Caro- 
lina on  that  perilous  voyage  in  the  “ Winfield 
Scott,”  and  remained  with  his  regiment  until 
they  were  called  back  to  Virginia  to  confront 
the  foe.  From  there  they  went  AVest,  where, 
while  on  detached  duty,  he  was  taken  prisoner, 
sent  to  Richmond,  and  subsequently  to  Ander- 
sonville  prison,  where  he  suffered  and  died. 
Five  of  his  sons — Albert,  William,  Amos,  John 
and  George — also  went  to  the  war  and  served 
their  country.  A second  son,  AVilliam,  born  in 
1816,  read  law  with  Arial  Carr  at  IMoutrose, 
practiced  his  profe.ssion  for  many  years,  and 
resides  at  Kismet,  IMorgan  Countyq  Tenn.  He 
handled  supplies  for  the  government  during  the 
war.  Mary  A.,  born  1818,  died  young. 
John  Robert,  born  in  1821,  learned  the  printer’s 
trade  of  Rev.  A.  L.  Post,  was  a teacher  for 
.several  years,  afterwards  a merchant,  and  is  at 
pre.sent  a superintendent  of  the  Dickson  Manu- 
facturing Companv  at  Scranton.  -leremiah 


292 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


(1824-49),  a saddle  and  harness-maker  at 
Friendsville,  Pa.,  died  at  Montrose.  Fitz 
Henry,  born  in  1826,  a cooper  at  Montrose. 
He  Witt  Clinton  Fordham,  born  at  Montrose 
October  2, 1827,  subject  of  this  sketch.  Almira 
E.,  born  in  1829,  never  married.  James  A., 
born  in  1832,  resides  in  Pittston,  Pa.;  volun- 
teered and  served  until  the  close  of  the  late  Civil 
War ; and  Ann  Eliza,  born  in  1825,  died  at  the 
age  of  fourteen  years. 

De  Witt  C.  Fordham  learned  the  cooper’s 
trade  of  his  father,  and  upon  reaching  his  ma- 
jority, set  up  business  for  himself  at  the  old 
place  on  Cherry  Street,  ■where  he  carried  it  on 
successfully  until  after  the  close  of  the  war.  His 
principal  goods  manufactured  were  firkins,  tubs 
and  churns  for  dairy  use  in  Susquehanna  County. 
He  built  the  present  shop  in  1860.  During 
the  war,  when  the  State  called  for  emergency 
men  at  the  time  of  the  battle  of  Antietam,  he 
responded  and,  under  Captain  P.  J.  Van  Valk- 
enburg,  went  to  Harrisburg ; but  danger  being 
averted,  he  returned  home  with  the  company. 
Upon  the  invasion  of  the  State  by  the  Con- 
federate Army  in  1863,  on  June  3d  of  that 
year  he  volunteered  as  an  emergency  man,  and 
was  enrolled  in  Company  B,  Captain  W^.  E. 
Post,  Twenty-eighth  Regiment  Pennsylvania 
Volunteers;  went  with  his  company  to  Carlisle, 
Pa.,  followed  Lee’s  army  across  the  line  of  the 
State,  and  captured  many  prisoners,  who  were 
sent  to  Chambersburg.  He  was  in  service 
about  three  months  and  returned  home.  Before 
arriving  home,  howev’er,  Mr.  Fordham  was 
drafted,  was  ordered  to  Scranton,  where,  upon 
examination,  he  was  rejected  and  allowed  to 
return  home. 

He  has,  outside  of  his  regular  business,  been 
engaged  in  buying  produce  and  pork  and  ship- 
ing  to  New  York,  in  loaning  money,  discount- 
ing paper  and  in  dealing  in  real  estate.  He  is 
the  owner  of  two  farms  in  Bridgewater  town- 
ship, on  one  of  which  he  fitted  up,  five  years  ago, 
three  trout-ponds,  and  stocked  them  with  trout 
caught  in  the  neighboring  streams.  These 
ponds,  which  are  beautifully  laid  out,  are  fed  by 
seven  different  springs,  which  are  one  of  the 
sources  of  the  Wyal using  Creek,  and  abound 
with  fish  at  various  stages  of  growth.  He  is  a 


thorough-going  business  man,  active  and  enter- 
pri.sing.  He  is  unmarried. 

Henry  F.  Turrell. — His  father,  William 
Turrell  (1781-1853),  was  son  of  James  Turrell, 
Jr.,  and  grandson  of  James  Turrell,  of  New 
Milford,  Litchfield  County,  Conn.,  where  he 
was  born.  In  February,  1816,  having  been 
preceded  by  his  brother  Leman,  he  came  to 
Montrose,  and  for  a short  time,  with  his  wife 
and  two  children,  resided  with  his  brother-in- 
law,  David  Benedict,  who  had  a home  on  the 
site  of  the  residence,  now  owned  and  occupied  by 
George  P.  Little,  Esq.  The  same  spring  he 
removed  to  what  is  now  Auburn  township, 
where  he  lived  in  a log  house  for  about  one  year  ; 
and  in  the  spring  of  1817  returned  to  Mont- 
rose, and  settled  where  his  son,  Henry  F.,  now 
resides,  which  was  his  home  the  remainder  ol 
his  life.  He  built  the  present  residence  in 
1824.  He  had  learned  the  saddlery  and  har- 
ness business  in  New  Milford,  while  a young 
man,  and  for  several  years  was  a merchant  at 
Washington,  near  that  place.  In  1817  he 
opened  a saddlery  and  harness-shop  in  the 
basement  of  the  building  where  he  resided,  and 
continued  the  business  there  until  1835,  when  he 
erected  a two-story  frame  building  on  the 
opposite  side  of  the  road,  where  he  continued 
his  business  successfully,  until  he  retired  from 
active  business  in  1843.  He  was  a man  of  ster- 
ling integrity,  and  one  of  the  first  to  establish 
business  in  Monti’ose.  Although  not  a member 
of  any  church,  he  was  a man  of  correct  habits, 
high  moral  sentiment,  and  posse.ssed  a desire  to 
co-o}>erate  with  his  fellow-men  in  the  development 
of  the  place,  and  in  the  establishment  of  edu- 
cational and  religious  institutions,  to  which 
he  contributed.  His  wife,  whom  he  married 
in  1808,  was  Polly  Silvia  Benedict  (1785-1873), 
a native  of  the  same  place  as  himself,  who  was 
a consistent  member  of  the  Baptist  Church  at 
Montrose,  who  reared  her  children  under  Chris- 
tian influences.  Their  children  are  Urania, 
boiTi  in  1808,  widow  of  the  late  Embley  Shafer, 
of  Montrose,  a woman  of  great  excellence  and 
good  influence,  who  has  children,  Mary  Eliza- 
beth, wife  of  Clinton  Lewis,  of  Merryall,  Brad- 
ford County ; Amelia  C.,  widow  of  the  late 
Hon.  E.  B.  Chase,  for  many  years  publisher  of 


. ni. 


MONTROSE. 


293 


the  Montrose  Democrat,  aud  who  served  in  the 
State  Legislature;  Arline  M.,  wife  of  AVm.  J. 
Crane,  of  Pottsville ; and  AVin.  T.  Shafer,  a 
journalist  of  Evanston,  Wyoming  Territory. 
The  eldest  son,  Hon.  AA^illiam  J.  Turrell  (1814- 
81),  was  a lawyer  at  Montrose ; State  Sena- 
ator  in  1863,  ’64,  ’65;  Speaker  of  the  Senate 
in  1865,  whose  sketch  may  be  found  in  the 
Bar  chapter  of  this  volume.  Sarah  Maria 
(1818-53),  never  married,  died  at  Port 
Jervis,  on  her  way  home  from  Connecticut ; and 
Harry  F.  Turrell,  who  was  born  on  the  home- 
stead at  Montrose,  March  12,  1822,  where  he 
has  resided  since.  He  attended  the  Montrose 
Academy  while  a boy,  and  at  the  age  of  fifteen 
began  learning  the  saddlery  and  harness  trade, 
at  which  he  served  faithfully  until  he  reached 
his  majority.  He  bought  out  the  business,  and 
succeeded  his  father  in  the  same,  in  1843,  which 
he  continued  until  1868,  when  he  retired  from 
that  business.  The  building  and  shop  was 
destroyed  by  fire  in  1854,  rebuilt  by  him  the 
following  year,  and  that  in  turn  destroyed  by 
fire  in  the  great  conflagration  of  August,  1886. 
He  has  been  little  identified  with  politics,  but 
served  the  people  as  chief  burgess  of  Montrose 
for  three  terms.  He  is  a member  of  the  Baptist 
church  of  Montrose.  He  married,  July  25, 
1860,  Elsie  H.,  a daughter  of  Thomas  (1805- 
85)  and  Jane  (Hill)  (1807-53),  Hardeu- 
bergh,  of  Sullivan  Co.,  X.  Y.  She  was  born  at 
Eallsburgh,  that  county,  in  1831.  They  have 
one  child,  AVm.  H.  Turrell,  stationer  at  Mont- 
rose. Mrs.  T urrell  is  a member  of  the  Pi’esby  terian 
Church  at  Montrose.  Her  grandfather,  Pler- 
mau  Myer  Hardenbergh,  was  a member  of  the 
State  Legislature,  aud  died  at  Albany,  X.  Y. 
Her  great-grandfather,  Girard  Hardenberg, 
was  a large  laud  owner  in  Ulster  County,  X.  Y., 
and  his  father,  Johannes  Hardenbergh,  was  the 
progenitor  of  the  family  on  the  Hudson.  Jane 
Hill  was  a daughter  of  James  Hill,  who  removed 
from  the  Hudson,  and  was  one  of  the  earliest  set- 
tlers at  Eallsburgh  when  it  was  a wilderness. 
The  children  of  Thomas  and  Jane  (Hill)  Harden- 
bergh are  Elsie  H.,  who  came  as  a teacher  with 
Prof.  Stoddai’d  to  Montrose,  and  there  met  her 
future  husband;  Catherine;  James;  Thomas 
Lockwood,  deceased ; Maria  Louise,  a teacher 


at  Glens  Falls ; Hannah,  Josephine,  Isaiah  and 
Jane  Swift,  deceased;  and  Elizabeth,  wife  of 
Aaron  E.  AA^ right,  of  Xew  Y^ork. 

Hotels. — Isaac  Post,  who  had  a house  on 
the  post-office  corner,  kept  the  first  tavern  at 
Montrose,  about  1806.  He  soon  had  goods  in 
one  corner  of  his  tavern  aud  thus  kept  a kind 
of  combination  hotel  and  store.  He  was  also 
appointed  postmaster  in  1808,  and  for  the  time 
his  place  was  the  centre  of  the  business  activity 
of  the  settlement.  He  was  licensed  in  1807. 
After  Mr.  Post  moved  aca’oss  the  road  to  Boyd’s 
corner,  in  1818  or  earlier,  Mr.  Green  was  there, 
followed  by  John  Buckingham,  Leonard  Searle 
aud  Patrick  Hepburn,  Preserved  Hinds  and 
Rosswell  Morss.  This  for  a number  of  years 
was  the  house  of  the  place,  especially  when 
Leonard  Searle  had  it.  Austin  Powell  erected 
a hotel  in  1812  just  below  the  present  Exchange 
hotel.  Eli  Gregory  had  it  for  a while.  About 
1817  Edward  Fuller  took  the  house  and  run  it 
for  ten  years  or  more.  His  wife  excelled  as  a 
cook.  Stephen  Hinds,  who  afterwards  owned 
the  house,  kept  boarders  for  a number  of  years. 
It  was  finally  abandoned,  and  at  last  destroyed 
by  fire.  Benjamin  Sayre  kept  the  “ AAashington 
Hotel  ” for  about  ten  years,  from  1819.  The 
“ Keystone  Hotel,”  kept  by  AA’illiam  K.  Hatch, 
stood  on  the  same  site,  and  was  destroyed  by 
fire.  The  Aloutrose  Democrat  and  E.  L.  Blakes- 
lee’s  offices  occipiy  the  site  of  the  AVashington 
and  Keystone  Hotels. 

Exchange  Hotel. — After  Luther  Catlin  pur- 
cha.'^ed  the  I.  P.  Fo.ster  tannery,  his  son-in-law, 
S.  F.  Keeler,  converted  the  old  Foster  and 
Raynsfbrd  shoe  and  leather  store  into  a hotel, 
which  he  called  the  “Farmers’  Hotel.”  After 
Keeler  died  his  executors  rented  it  to  Mr. 
Hollenback  and  Daniel  AIcCracken.  It  was 
finally  sold  to  Dr.  Gardner,  who  has  rented  it 
to  M.  J.  Harrington,  Ira  AVoodworth,  E.  Guy 
and  L.  AI.  Baldwin,  who  has  it  now,  iu  1887. 
For  a number  of  years  it  has  been  known  as 
the  “ Exchange  Hotel.”  It  will  accommodate 
about  forty  guests. 

Tarhell  House. — In  1814  Daniel  Curtis  built 
a hotel  on  the  corner  opposite  tlie  eourt-hou.se, 
aud  ke])t  it  as  late  as  1832.  It  was  known  as 
the  “Erankliu  House.”  From  ncwsi)apcr 


294 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


notices  it  appears  that  he  occasionally  gave 
dances  in  his  house.  He  was  succeeded  in  the 
business  by  Adolphus  Olmstead,  who  kept  it 
until  1838,  when  he  was  succeeded  by  Gen. 
Davis  D.  Warner,  who  kept  it  for  a time  him- 
self, and  rented  it  to  W.  K.  Hatch  part  of  the 
time.  January  1,  1856,  Mr.  Wanner  sold  the 
“ Franklin  House  ” to  John  S.  Tarbell,  a native 
of  Vermont.  When  Mr.  Tarbell  bought  the 
property  the  hotel  would  accommodate  about 
forty  guests.  He  raised  the  building  and  built 
it  all  anew,  added  another  story  and  enlarged 
the  cellar.  The  house  is  supplied  with  water 
from  a well.  The  wind  which  blows  so  freely 
over  the  hills  of  Montrose  is  utilized  in  turning 
a wind-mill,  which  supplies  the  power  that 
operates  a force  and  suction  pump,  that  carries 
the  water  to  the  height  of  one  hundred  and 
four  feet  from  the  bottom  of  the  well  into  a 
two  hundred  and  thirty-barrel  tank,  whence  it 
is  distributed  to  all  parts  of  the  house.  The 
house  is  heated  with  steam  and  will  accommo- 
date one  hundred  and  twenty  guests.  Its  promi- 
nent location  near  the  court-house  renders  it  the 
political  headquarters  of  both  political  parties. 
There  is  one  of  the  largest  barns  in  Northern 
Pennsylvania  connected  with  the  hotel.  It  is 
sixty-six  by  one  hundred  feet,  with  a private 
carriage  shed  attached,  twenty-one  by  forty-two. 
Mr.  Tarbell  was  born  in  a hotel  and  has  owned 
the  “ Tarbell  House  ” for  thirty  years.  Re- 
cently J.  W.  Burgess,  a hotel  man  of  forty 
years’  standing,  and  F.  E.  Cramer  rented  the 
hotel,  and  are  rendering  it  alike  agreeable  for 
the  wayfaring  man  and  stranger  who  would 
stop  but  for  a night,  or  the  summer  boarder, 
who  would  tarry  among  the  hills  of  Susque- 
hanna and  breathe  the  pure  mountain  air  of 
Montrose. 

Montrose  House. — Ezekiel  Guy  bought  the 
R.  B.  Little  property  and  rebuilt  and  enlarged 
the  house  for  hotel  purposes  in  1883.  It  is 
heated  by  steam  throughout,  and  can  accommo- 
date seventy  guests.  It  is  patronized  by  sum- 
mer boarders,  and  is  a well-kept  house.  The 
“ Tarbell  House,”  Montrose  House  ” and 
“ Exchange  Hotel  ” are  the  only  licensed  places 
in  Montrose,  which  speaks  volumes  for  the  tem- 
perate habits  and  good  order  of  her  citizens. 


JoHX  S.  Tarbell. — His  ancestors  were 
born  in  sunny  France.  His  grandfather,  Isaac 
Tarbell,  came  with  his  parents  to  America  when 
a child,  and  settled  in  Boston  previous  to  the 
Revolutionary  War.  Here  he  remained  until 
his  marriage,  when  he  removed  to  Windsor 
County,  Vermont,  and  engaged  in  the  business 
of  hotel-keeping.  He  removed,  about  1820,  to 
Jefferson  County,  N.  Y.,  where  he  died.  Their 
children  were  : Isaac,  Jr.,  Eli,  John  S.,  Willard, 
Jonathan,  Johanna  and  Sarah.  Eli  Tarbell 
was  born  in  Windsor  County,  Vt.,  Sept.  25, 
1790,  where  he  spent  the  early  part  of  his  life. 
In  1815  he  married  Sibyl,  daughter  of  Leon- 
ard Parker,  who  kept  a hotel  in  Windsor 
County,  A^t.,  where  she  was  born  Alarch  7, 1798. 
Soon  after  his  marriage  Air.  Tarbell  also  com- 
menced keeping  a public-house  in  Vermont, 
but  in  1820  he  came  to  Smithville,  Chenango 
County,  N.  Y^.,  where,  a few  years  afterward, 
he  erected  a hotel  and  resumed  the  business  of 
a hotel-keeper.  He  afterwards  erected  a larger 
and  more  commodious  hotel,  converting  the 
former  one  into  a dwelling-house,  and  continued 
the  business  until  his  death,  in  1845.  His 
widow  survived  him,  living  to  see  a goodly 
group  of  great-grandchildren  around  her,  as 
evidenced  by  a picture  now  in  ])OSsession  of  her 
son,  John  S.  Tarbell,  repi’e.senting  four  genera- 
tions, and  died  at  the  ripe  age  of  nearly  eighty- 
three. 

Their  children  were  Sewell  (1816-66); 
Laura,  died  young;  John  S.,  1819;  Alary, 
1821,  residing  at  the  old  homestead;  Charles 
P.,  1824,  a resident  of  Smithville,  on  part  of 
the  old  homestead;  George  L.  (1827-71); 
Francis,  1829,  a resident  of  Olympia,  AVash- 
ington  Territory;  and  James  H.,  1835,  a I’esi- 
dent  of  same  Territory. 

John  S.  Tarbell  was  born  in  AVindsor  County, 
A^t.,  June  22,  1819.  AVhen  one  year  old  his 
parents  removed  to  Smithville.  Chenango 
County,  N.  Y.  Here  his  boyhood  and  early 
manhood  were  spent.  His  educational  advan- 
tages were  confined  to  the  public  schools ; for 
when  old  enough  to  hel])  about  his  father’s 
hotel,  he  evinced  such  an  aptitude  for  the  busi- 
ness that  he  became  his  father’s  invaluable 
a.ssistant,  and  although  he  made  more  than  one 


MONTROSE. 


295 


attempt  to  attend  boarding-schoo],  he  was  each 
time  summoned  home  by  Ids  father  to  assist  in 
some  sudden  emergency.  In  1843  he  married 
Mary  E.,  only  daughter  of  Isaac  and  Emeline 
Ketchem,  who  was  horn  in  Smithville,  N.  Y., 
April  10,  1824.  For  two  or  three  years  after 
his  marriage  he  remained  with  his  father  in  the 
hotel,  and  then  engaged  in  the  mercantile  busi- 
ness at  Smithville,  which  he  successfully  carried 
on  until  the  close  of  the  year  1854.  Early  in 
January,  1855,  he  came  to  Montrose,  and  on 
the  8th  of  that  month  he  purchased  tlie  prop- 
erty since  so  well  and  favorably  known  to  the 
traveling  public  as  the  “ Tarbell  House.”  It 
was  then  owned  by  Gen.  D.  D.  AVarner,  and 
the  building  bad  been  erected  in  1814  by  Daniel 
C'urtis,  when  Montrose  was  a mere  hamlet. 
Under  the  able  management  of  Mr.  Tarbell 
the  house  gained  an  enviable  reputation  and  a 
host  of  patrons.  In  1870,  finding  that  his  pa- 
tronage was  outgrowing  his  accommodations, 
he  entirely  remodeled,  rebuilt  and  enlarged  the 
building  into  the  present  spacious  and  commo- 
dious hotel,  introducing  modern  improvements 
and  convenieuce.s,  and  converting  it  into  a 
model  travelers’  home.  The  house  is  three 
stories  in  height,  with  a frontage  of  one  hun- 
dred and  two  feet  and  a depth  of  .seventy-eight 
feet,  with  an  L adjoining.  Standing  nearly 
one  thousand  nine  hundred  feet  above  tide  water, 
its  cool  verandahs  without  and  its  comforts 
within  have  attractions  for  the  summer  tourist 
seeking  mountain  air,  fine  scenery  and  home 
comforts,  that  cause  many  to  tarry  under  its 
hospitable  roof  In  addition  to  the  improve- 
ments noted,  Mr.  Tarbell,  some  years  afterward, 
introduced  water  throughout  his  hotel,  and  also 
further  conduced  to  the  comfort  of  his  guests 
by  heating  the  hotel  with  steam.  He  contin- 
ued to  cater  to  the  wants  and  the  comfort  of  the 
traveling  public  until  a few  years  since,  when  he 
retired  from  its  active  control,  and  at  the  pres- 
ent time  the  hotel  is  under  the  able  manage- 
ment of  Messrs.  Burgess  & Cramer. 

Besides  the  hotel  property,  IMr.  Tarbell  owns 
four  improved  farms,  two  of  which  are  under 
his  own  management.  The  home  or  hotel  farm, 
lying  partly  within  the  borough  limits,  and 
from  which  his  hotel  is  supplied  with  vegeta- 


bles, fruits,  hay,  etc.,  is  one  of  the  most  valua- 
ble in  the  county.  He  has  also  been  largely 
interested  in  lumbering,  owning  a timber  tract 
and  operating  several  .saw-mills.  He  was  for  a 
time  interested  in  a line  of  stag-es,  and  is  a 
stockholder  and  director  of  the  Montrose  Rail- 
way. 

In  all  matters  connected  with  the  devel- 
opment and  improvement  of  Montrose  Mr. 
Tarbell  has  always  been  at  the  front  with  his 
influence  and  means.  The  fine  block  on  the 
corner  of  Public  Avenue  and  Church  Street,  a 
portion  of  which  is  occupied  by  the  post-office, 
was  erected  by  him  in  1886.  In  1879  his  wife, 
a lady  much  respected  by  all  who  knew  her, 
died  after  a short  illness.  Their  children  are 
Mary  F.,  1846,  wife  of  John  R.  Rayusford, 
who  is  secretary  of  the  Montrose  Railway  and 
present  postmaster  at  Montrose,  where  he  re- 
sides, being  also  largely  engaged  in  the  coal 
business  and  other  enterprises;  Eli  K.,  1850, 
now  residing  at  Hurley,  AVis.,  where  he  is  en- 
gaged in  the  hotel  business,  and  is  also  interest- 
ed in  mineral  lands  there ; Emily  A.,  1851, 
married  for  her  first  husband  Leonard  Searle, 
Jr.,  wbo  died  in  1879.  She  married  for  her 
second  husband  AVarren  S.  Danolds,  and  resides 
at  Albion,  N.  Y.  In  1883  Mr.  Tarbell  mar- 
ried for  his  second  wife  Mrs.  Emily  Birchard, 
a native  of  Binghamton,  Y.  Y.  The  .same 
year  he  purchased  of  AAbn.  H.  Cooper  his  pres- 
ent pleasant  home  on  North  Alain  Street.  In 
politics  Air.  Tarbell  has  acted  with  the  AVhig 
and  Republican  parties,  casting  his  first  Presi- 
dential vote  for  General  Harrison  and  his  last 
for  -lames  G.  Blaine.  He  is  a prominent  Alason, 
belonging  to  AYarren  Lodge  and  Chapter,  is  a 
member  of  Alalta  Commandery  of  Bingham- 
ton and  a charter  member  of  Groat  Bend  Con- 
sistory, No.  32.  Air.  Tarl)ell  has  fixed  a land- 
mark in  the  town  of  his  adoption  by  the  hotel 
that  bears  his  name,  and  in  which  he  takes  a 
pardonable  pride.  For  more  than  thirty  years 
he  was  the  popular  pro})rietor  of  this  well- 
known  hostelry. 

Standing  over  six  feet  in  height,  his  cordial 
manner  and  genial  ways  render  him  easy  i>f 
recognition,  and  no  person  in  this  section  of  the 
State  is  more  widely  known.  He  is  a man  of 


296 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


marked  individuality,  positive  in  his  ways,  firm 
in  his  convictions  and  loyal  to  his  friends. 

Liverymen. — The  first  men  that  kept  horses 
to  let  to  the  public  were  the  hotel-keepers, 
Captain  Sayres,  Leonard  Searle,  John  S.  Tar- 
bell,  and  probably  a few  others  kept  a few  horses 
for  such  purposes.  In  1851  David  D.  Hinds 
started  the  livery  business  at  Montrose  and 
carried  it  on  for  eight  years.  He  kept  about 
sixteen  horses,  followed  by  James  Goodwin. 
He  was  succeeded  in  the  business  by  Hugh 
Mitchell  and  J.  R.  Raynsford.  James  Goodwin 
purchased  Rayusford’s  interest  and  Raynsford 
& Goodwin  sold  to  Perigo  & Hibbard,  who 
have  continued  the  business  at  the  old  place 
since.  Their  stable  is  at  the  rear  of  Dessauer’s 
store,  on  Church  Street.  They  keep  twenty 
wagons  and  as  many  sleighs  and  about  twelve 
horses.  Walter  Pratt  keeps  about  ten  horses 
and  Smith  & Co.  about  the  same. 

Albert  Miller,  in  the  Tarbell  Hou.se  basement, 

and Knoll,  over  the  post-office,  are  the 

village  barbers.  In  1886  Mr.  Miller  put  in 
the  first  public  baths  ever  established  in  the 
town. 

Insurance. — In  1824  Almon  H.  Read 
advertised  as  a fire  insurance  agent.  Benja- 
min R.  Lyons  early  acted  as  an  insurance  agent. 
F.  B.  Chandler  also  commenced  nearly  half  a 
century  ago  and  continues  the  business  yet. 
Billings  Stroud  commenced  insuring  in  Susque- 
hanna County,  and  did  the  leading  insurance 
busine.ss  in  the  county  until  he  sold  out  to 
Gilbert  & Kassou.  In  1839  the  Susquehanna 
Mutual  Insurance  Company  was  organized,  with 
James  C.  Biddle,  president ; Asa  Dimock,  vice-' 
president ; Isaac  S.  Kellum,  treasurer ; Davis 
Dimock,  Jr.,  attorney ; J.  W.  Raynsford,  sec- 
retary ; J.  C.  Biddle,  M.  S.  Wilson  and  M.  C. 
Tyler,  Executive  Committee.  This  company 
did  business  for  about  ten  years.  Henry  C. 
Tyler  has  also  been  in  the  insurance  business 
for  about  twenty  years. 

Francis  B.  Chandler  was  born  in  Colerain, 
Mass.,  in  1816.  He  came  to  Montrose  in  1834 
and  went  into  partnership  with  his  brother-in- 
law,  B.  R.  Lyons,  and  continued  with  him  until 
1851,  when  they  dissolved.  Chandler  continues 
the  mercantile  business  yet,  also  the  insurance. 


business,  which  he  then  took  from  Lyons.  His  | 
first  company  was  the  Lycoming  Mutual.  He 
now  has  the  Franklin  and  Pennsylvania.  Mr.  > 
Chandler  has  been  one  of  the  active  business 
men  at  Montrose  for  many  years.  His  wife  is 
a daughter  of  Judge  Jessup. 

John  Stroud  came  to  South  Montrose  from 
New  London  and  bought  a property  of  Rev. 
Joseph  Wood  in  1820.  He  walked  to  New  ; 
York  and  back  to  get  forty  dollars  to  pay  off  , 
the  mortgage  on  his  place.  He  was  a hatter  | 
by  trade  and  followed  that  business  for  some 
time.  His  daughter,  Sallie,  was  the  wife  of 
William  Smith,  a wagon-maker  and  painter. 
Billings  Stroud,  his  son,  has  been  insurance 
agent  since  1851.  He  commenced  with  the 
State  Mutual,  a company  which  Chandler  turned 
over  to  him.  Afterwards  the  Home  became  his 
principal  company.  He  also  became  adju.ster 
for  the  Home  Insurance  Company  of  North 
America  and  agent  for  many  other  fire,  life  and 
accident  companies.  Mr.  Stroud  has  paid  a 
great  many  thousands  of  dollars  in  losses  to  the 
people  of  Susquehanna  County. 

The  Telegraph  was  first  brought  info 
Montrose  by  Ezra  Cornell  in  1852.  He  ran  a 
single  line  from  Binghamton  to  Montrose, 
thence  to  Carbondale,  thence  through  Hones- 
dale  to  New  York  by  way  of  Narrowsburg. 
Charles  Brown  was  the  first  telegraph  opei'ator 
here,  in  a stone  building  near  where  the  engine- 
house  now  stands.  Daniel  Sayre  was  the  next 
operator,  and  T.  A.  Lyon  and  son  have  been 
operators  since  1873.  This  was  one  of  the 
first  telegraph  lines  in  America.  The  telephone 
was  extended  from  New  Milford  to  Montrose 
in  May,  1885.  The  exchange  is  at  the  post- 
office,  and  is  managed  by  J.  R.  Raynsford,  the 
postmaster,  and  his  clerks. 

Photography. — Soon  after  the  renowned  . 
Frenchman,  M.  Daguerre,  made  his  important 
discovery,  by  which  the  human  face  could  be 
pictured  on  the  silver  plate,  an  artist  appeared  in 
Montrose  and  succeeded  in  capturing  the  “ exact 
resemblance”  of  a number  of  our  prominent 
citizens. 

This  was  about  the  year  1842,  and  it  is  be- 
lieved by  some  that  Edwin  Foot,  from  New 
Milford,  was  the  first,  while  others  are  of  the 


MONTROSE. 


297 


impression  that  O.  P.  Reeves,  a traveling  man, 
preceded  Foot.  As  this  is  not  material,  both 
being  here  in  the  same  or  the  following  year, 
we  will  pass  on  to  observe  that  all  who  can 
remember  the  daguerreotypes  of  that  early  day 
will  know  that  we  speak  truthfully  when  we 
say  that  they  were  very  imperfect.  They  could 
not  well  be  otherwise,  for  they  were  taken  by  a 
small  side-window,  which  had  the  effect  of  over- 
doing one  side  of  the  picture  while  the  other 
side  was  left  in  the  deej)  shadow  of  indefinite 
darkness. 

These  gentlemen  were  followed  by  Ambrose 
Hickox,  who  was  afterwards  a quite  prominent 
artist  in  Binghamton.  The  work  which  he 
produced  was  a decided  improvement  upon  that 
of  his  predecessors. 

But  Willis  Gibbs,  a traveling  artist,  was  the 
first  whose  pictures  gave  our  people  a fair  degree 
of  satisfaction.  During  his  stay  of  a number  of 
weeks,  in  the  basement  of  Searle’s  Hotel,  he 
was  liberally  patronized,  and  a number  of  fami- 
lies were  taken  in  groups.  One  of  these  groups 
was  of  three  noted  characters,  who,  if  not  dis- 
tinguished for  their  useful  lives,  or  classed  as 
our  highest  and  most  worthy  men,  were  well 
known  as  leaders  in  everything  that  was  sensa- 
tional. These  were  Lee  Dudley,  Bob  Merrill 
and  Zeke  Card. 

W.  B.  Deans,  a native  of  this  section,  received 
his  first  instructions  in  the  ‘‘art  divine”  with 
Mr.  Gibbs,  and  afterwards  took  additional  les- 
sons with  the  Livermore  Brothers,  who  occu- 
pied rooms  over  Mulford’s  store,  and  who  left 
behind  them  some  very  pleasing  evidences  of 
their  skill  in  the  art.  Mr.  Deans  followed  the 
business  during  the  following  winter  at  Dimock 
and  Springville,  and  the  next  summer  at  several 
points  in  New  York  State,  after  which  he  re- 
turned to  Montrose  and  e,stablished  himself  in 
the  Odd  Fellows’  building,  where  he  remained, 
the  only  artist  in  the  county,  for  four  or  five 
years,  being  familiarly  known  in  his  advertise- 
ments as 

“The  fellow  who  paints  by  the  aid  of  the  sun, 

And  copies  men’s  faces  as  though  it  were  fun.” 

Notwithstanding  the  fact  that  he  held  the  ground 
so  exclusively  during  this  period,  there  were 
soon  after  this  some  fifteen  traveling  artists 
19J 


within  the  county  borders  at  one  time,  who 
moved  their  galleries  from  place  to  place  on 
wheels. 

After  the  great  fire  of  1854  the  brick  block 
(then  called  Phoenix  Block)  was  built,  and  Mr. 
Deans  removed  to  the  first  skylight  gallery 
erected  here,  over  the  store  of  Bentley  & Read. 
Soon  after  this  ambrotypes  were  introduced,  and 
daguerreotypes  were,  in  a great  measure,  super- 
seded by  the  new  process. 

In  1861,  after  a successful  business  of  about 
fourteen  years,  Mr.  Deans  sold  his  business  here 
to  John  B.  Hazleton,  and  purchased  a gallery 
in  Scranton.  But  he  did  not  choo.se  to  remain 
there,  and  after  one  year  returned  to  Montrose 
and  went  into  partnership  with  Mr.  Hazleton. 

Photographs  had  now  come  to  the  front,  so 
that  the  old  styles  were  but  little  in  demand. 
The  following  year  was  the  “year  of  the  draft,” 
when  prices  were  high  and  money  plenty,  and 
it  proved  to  be  a very  profitable  season,  for 
during  that  year  the  firm  of  Hazleton  & Deans 
took  a much  larger  number  of  pictures  thau 
were  ever  taken  in  Montrose  in  the  same  period 
of  time,  either  before  or  since. 

Impaired  eye-sight  made  it  imperative  that 
Mr.  Deans  should  relinquish  the  business;  con- 
sequently, in  the  fall  of  1865,  he  purchased  a 
half-interest,  with  Alphonso  H.  Smith,  in  the 
book  and  stationery  business.  After  one  year 
he  bought  Mr.  Smith’s  interest,  and  continued 
the  general  book  and  wall-paper  trade,  on  the 
same  spot,  near  the  corner  of  Church  and  South 
Main  Streets,  until  the  fire  of  August  27,  1886, 
when,  like  a good  many  others  at  that  time,  he 
“stood  not  upon  the  order  of  going,  but  went 
at  once.” 

A year  or  so  after  Mr.  Deans  retired  from  the 
picture  business,  J.  B.  Hazleton  sold  out  to 
George  N.  Cobb  (now  a prominent  Bingham- 
ton photographer) ; and  a little  later  on,  Cobb 
removed  to  a gallery  which  B.  R.  Ijyons  had 
fitted  up  over  his  store  on  the  east  side  of  Pub- 
lic Avenue. 

The  business  soon  changed  hands  again,  and 
this  time  it  came  into  the  po.ssession  of  our 
po})ular  artist  of  to-day  (1887),  George  . 
Doolittle.  Here  he  remained  until  dauuary, 
1883,  when  the  Ijyons  store  was  burned.  He 


298 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


then  took  up  his  quarters  in  a gallery  in  the 
M.  S.  Wilson  building,  where  he  continued  the 
practice  of  his  chosen  pi’ofession  until  the  fire 
of  1886,  when  he  was  again  burned  out,  and 
this  time  his  loss  was  a severe  one,  including 
his  complete  fixtures  and  a large  number  of 
valuable  plates  and  negatives. 

L.  M.  Tyrrell  having  erected  a fine  building 
on  the  ground  formerly  occupied  by  the  Lyons 
store,  Mr.  Doolittle  decided  once  more  to  lo- 
cate there,  and  now  he  occupies  one  of  the  be.st- 
appoiuted  galleries  in  Northern  Pennsylvania; 
and  his  patrons  are  among  the  best  people  of 
Susquehanna  and  adjoining  counties. 

Aktists  and  Copyists. — Stephen  Wilson,  a 
former  resident  of  Montrose,  but  subsequently 
of  Philadelphia,  became  a portrait-painter  of 
considerable  merit.  Mrs.  Mayo  has  painted 
the  scenery  about  her  home  at  Susquehanna  in 
oil  colors.  Mrs.  Theodore  Smith,  and  her 
sister,  Miss  L.  Avery,  excel  in  water-colors. 
Mrs.  Azur  Lathrop  also  excels  in  peucilings 
and  in  water-colors,  particularly  in  painting 
leaves  and  flowers.  Her  work  is  very  accu- 
rately done.  George  H.  Frazier  has  done  some 
very  good  crayon  work  and  portrait-painting. 
He  is  a young  man,  and  his  work  promises 
Avell  for  the  future.  Mrs.  A.  H.  Berlin,  of 
Montrose,  Mrs.  Dr.  Ainey,  of  New  Milford, 
and  many  others  throughout  the  county,  have 
done  some  painting,  particularly  flowers.  James 
Smiley,  an  artist  from  New  York,  has  a sum- 
mer residence  at  Montrose  that  is  an  art  study 
in  itself.  His  residence  is  near  the  fair-grounds, 
and  commands  an  extensive  view.  The  house 
is  suiTounded  by  a broad  veranda,  and  is  fin- 
ished with  native  hardwoods  inlaid  in  narrow 
strips  of  oak,  cherry,  birch,  ash,  etc.,  so  as  to 
produce  a very  pleasing  effect.  Mr.  S.  is  a 
steel  engraver  and  oil-painter,  besides  working 
at  etching. 

Banks. — The  Silver  Lake  Bank,  at  Mont- 
rose.— The  books  were  opened  for  subscription 
June  6,  1814.  The  bank  was  fully  organized 
with  a board  of  directors  January  4,  1817.  It 
began  to  discount  April  10,  1817.  Suspended 
August  7,  1819,  but  resumed  after  a very  short 
time,  and  continued  in  operation  ten  years 
longer,  when  the  bill  for  its  re-charter  was  lost. 


Dr.  Eose  was  president,  and  Putnam  Gatlin 
cashier. 

Northern  Bank  of  Pennsylvania,  at  Dun- 
daff. — Established  probably  early  in  1825,  and 
closed  January,  1827. 

Bank  of  Susquehanna  County,  at  Montrose. — 
Established  in  1837.  James  C.  Biddle,  presi- 
dent ; Isaac  Kellum,  cashier. 

October  9,  1837,  the  following  board  of  di- 
rectors were  elected  : William  Jessup,  I.  Post, 
S.  S.  Mulford,  William  Ward,  D.  Post,  F. 
Lusk,  Jesse  Lane,  C.  L.  Ward,  William  L. 
Post,  Daniel  Searle,  M.  S.  Wilson  and  Charles 
Avery.  James  C.  Biddle  died  March  31, 1841, 
and  W.  L.  Post  was  chosen  president.  Isaac 
Kellum,  the  cashier,  speculated  with  the  funds 
of  the  bank,  and  it  suspended  payment.  Mr. 
Post  interested  Mr.  Saint  John,  of  New  York, 
in  the  bank,  and  he  sent  his  nephew,  T.  P. 
Saint  John,  to  act  as  cashier.  At  the  directors’ 
meeting,  after  he  was  appointed,  Mr.  Wilson 
inquired  if  Mr.  St.  John  had  given  bonds. 
Saint  John  answered : “ Do  you  suppose  I 
will  give  bonds  for  an  old  rotten  concern  until 
I find  out  what  there  is  in  it?”  Mr.  Wilson 
replied  that  “ he  supposed  a man  gave  bonds 
for  himself  and  not  for  the  bank.”  Mr.  Wil- 
son was  overruled,  and  Saint  John  gave  no 
bonds.  Wilson  sold  his  stock  for  half-price, 
which  was  more  than  the  stockholders  that  re- 
mained realized.  Arrangements  were  made 
whereby  the  Morristown  Bank  was  to  redeem 
the  Susquehanna  County  Bank  notes  and  vice 
versa.  Mr.  Saint  John  managed  matters,  and 
discounted  Western  paper  that  proved  to  be 
worthless,  and  the  bank  failed  in  1849.  The 
stockholders  lost  heavily. 

Isaac  L.  Post,  Henry  Drinker  and  William 
H.  Cooper  started  a private  banking-house  at 
Montrose  in  November,  1855,  with  about 
fifteen  thousand  dollars  capital.  This  continued 
as  Post,  Cooper  & Co.  until  Post  failed,  in 
1859,  when  William  H.  Cooper  and  Henry 
Drinker  reorganized  Avith  about  thirty  thousand 
dollars,  and  did  banking  under  name  of  Wil- 
liam H.  Cooper  & Co.  This  was  the  only 
bank  at  Montrose  for  a number  of  years,  and 
the  people  had  great  confidence  in  its  manage- 
ment. It  Avas  not  chartered,  but  was  a private 


MONTEOSE. 


299 


bank  of  deposit.  Their  deposits  averaged 
eighty  thousand  dollars,  that  they  carried  an- 
nually. Cooper  was  shot  at  Montrose,  June 
14,  1884,  and  the  bank  went  into  the  hands  of 
an  assignee,  William  H.  Jessup,  who  was  ap- 
pointed June  18,  1884.  Finding  that  it  was 
badly  insolvent,  that  there  had  been  no  balance- 
sheet  taken  for  a number  of  years,  he  took  an 
inventory,  and  found  that  the  liabilities  were 
about  three  hundred  and  sixty-five  thousand 
dollars,  and  the  assets  four  hundred  thousand 
dollars,  most  of  which  were  worthless  securi- 
ties. He  found  also  that  Cooper  had  been 
paying  a greater  per  cent,  than  he  was  receiv- 
ing. Mr.  Jessup  resigned  after  about  six 
weeks,  and  Azur  Lathrop  was  appointed  to 
close  up  the  matter.  He  disposed  of  the  se- 
curities and  realized  about  ninety  thousand  dol- 
lars for  the  depositors. 

The  First  National  Bank  of  Montrose. — The 
articles  of  association  were  adopted  January  27, 
1875,  and  the  charter  was  obtained  February 
13,  1875.  There  were  about  seventy  stock- 
holders originally,  with  $100,000  cash  capital. 
William  J.  Turrell  was  the  first  president ; 
D.  D.  Searle,  vice-president;  N.  S.  Lenheim, 
cashier.  The  first  board  of  directors  consisted 
of  eleven  stockholders,  as  follows  : Geo.  V. 
Bentley,  Abel  Turrell,  M.  S.  Dessauer,  A.  J. 
Gerritson,  G.  B.  Eldred,  E.  A.  Pratt,  L.  S. 
Lenheim,  E.  A.  Clark,  M.  B.  Wright,  William 
J.  Turrell  and  D.  D.  Searle. 

In  January,  1877,  N.  S.  Lenheim,  the  cashier, 
was  arrested  for  forgery  in  New  York.  This 
caused  the  bank  officials  to  make  an  investiga- 
tion. The  books  appeared  to  be  all  right.  The 
bank  examiner,  who  had  been  there  a short 
time  previous,  complimented  the  officers  on  the 
manner  in  which  they  kept  their  boolos.  A 
United  States  expert  was  employed,  and  he 
could  discover  nothing  wrong.  M.  B.  Wright, 
one  of  the  directors,  visited  Mr.  Lenheim  in  the 
Tombs,  and  he  revealed  to  him  what  he  had 
done.  The  principal  wrong  consisted  in  putting 
the  bank  indorsement  on  forged  paper,  and  in 
selling  the  securities  of  the  bank  in  New  York, 
and  pocketing  the  proceeds,  instead  of  sending 
them  to  New  York  for  collection  for  the  benefit 
of  the  bank,  as  the  books  showed.  The  total 


loss  to  the  bank,  was  about  $105,000.  The  bank 
was  re-organized  wdth  a capital  of  $50,000. 
The  other  $50,000  of  capital  stock,  together 
with  two  assessments — one  of  twenty-five  and 
another  of  fifteen  per  cent. — and  about  $12,000 
realized  from  L.  S.  Lenheim’s  estate,  were  suffi- 
cient to  pay  all  demands  against  the  bank,  which 
has  continued  to  do  business  until  the  present 
time.  William  J.  Turrell  acted  as  president  un- 
til his  death,  in  August,  1881,  and  was  succeeded 
by  George  V.  Bentley,  who  resigned  in  1885, 
and,  January  13th  of  that  year,  Gabriel  B.  El- 
dred w'as  elected  to  that  position. 

The  following  persons  have  been  vice-presi- 
dents: D.  D.  Searle,  1875-77  ; George  V.  Bent- 
ley, 1877-81  ; F.  B.  Chandler,  from  August, 
1881,  to  January,  1882;  Jefferson  Griffis, 
1882-84;  M.  S.  Dessauer,  1884-86;  W.  D, 
Lusk,  1886. 

Cashiers : N.  S.  Lenheim,  February  13, 
1875,  to  January,  1877 ; Gabriel  B.  Eldi-ed, 
January,  1877,  to  January  13,  1885;  D.  R. 
Lathrop,  January  13,  1885. 

Directors:  George  V.  Bentley,  1875;  Abel 
Turrell,  1875 ; M.  S.  Dessauer,  1875;  A.  J* 
Gerritson,  1875;  G.  B.  Eldred,  1875;  E.  A. 
Pratt,  1875;  L.  S.  Lenheim,  1875;  E.  A. 
Clark,  1875  ; M.  B.  Wright,  1875  ; W.  J.  Tur- 
rell, 1875;  D.  D,  Searle,  1875;  W.  C.  Tilden, 
1877.  In  1878  the  number  of  directors  was  re- 
duced to  nine,  and  in  1879  the  number  was  re- 
duced to  seven.  Jefferson  Griffis,  1879;  D.  C. 
Ainey,  1879  ; F.  B.  Chandler,  1880;  D.  Brew- 
ster, 1880;  Henry  L.  Beach,  1882  ; H.  C.  Ty- 
ler, 1882;  Azur  Lathrop,  1883;  A.  H.  McCol- 
lum, 1885 ; E.  S.  Warner,  1886  ; G.  P.  Little, 
1886;  W.  D.  Lusk,  1886. 

The  above  dates  show  when  the  persons 
named  were  first  chosen  directors.  George  V. 
Bentley  served  continuously  until  1885.  Gabriel 
B.  Eldred  is  the  only  director  that  has  served 
since  the  organization  until  the  pre.sent  time. 
Tuesdays  and  Fridays  are  discount  days.  The 
bank  is  now  in  a healthful  condition.  In  1886 
the  first  dividends  were  declared  since  the  Ijcn- 
heim  defalcation. 

At  the  annual  meetiug  in  January,  1887, 
H labriel  Eldrcd’s  health  having  become  impaired , 

1 Since  doctumMl,  lS87. 


300 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


so  that  he  could  no  longer  act  as  president,  W. 
II.  Lusk  was  cho.sen  to  fill  that  position.  H. 
Ij.  Beach  was  elected  vice-president;  D.  R.  La- 
throp,  cashier ; Amos  Nicholas,  teller.  Direc- 
tors, A.  Lathrop,  W.  D.  Lusk,  G.  P.  Little,  H. 
L,  Beach,  J.  Griffis,  E.  S.  Warner,  G.  B.  Eldred. 

Resources  January  1,  1887. 


Loans  and  Discounts, S165, 879.22 

United  States  Bonds  and  Premiums, 10,100.00 

Due  from  Banks,  Treasurer  of  United  States,  . . . . 25,719.66 

Gold  and  Silver, 12,785.65 

Legal  Tender  and  National  Bank  Notes, 5,931.00 

Sundry  Cash  Items 662.33 

Banking-House, 0,500.00 

Real  Estate, 2,500.00 

Liabilities, 

Capital, 850,000.00 

Circulation, 11,250.00 

Surplus  and  Profits, 9,065.54 

Deposits, 168,762.82 

Total, 230,077.86 


Gabiel  Eldred  was  born  in  Orange  County, 
N.  V^.,  April  15,1818.  His  father,  Ephraim 
Eldred,  moved  to  Bethany  when  he  was  two 
years  old,  and  died  two  years  after.  Gabriel 
lived  with  his  grandfather  in  Sussex  County, 
N.  J.,  until  he  died,  when  he  went  to  Bethany, 
where  his  mother  lived.  He  was  now  a lad  of 
thirteen  years  and  worked  at  the  hatter’s  trade 
with  E.  W.  Hamlim,  attending  school  winters. 
When  he  was  eighteen  he  came  to  Montrose 
and  worked  at  his  trade  with  Case  & Hancock 
two  years ; thence  to  Towanda,  where  he  worked 
at  the  same  trade  three  years;  returning  to 
Montrose  in  1841,  he  worked  at  the  same  trade 
for  C.  W.  Tuttle,  and  finally  for  Wm.  M.  Post, 
who  was  running  a hatter’s  shop  with  employes. 
He  purchased  this  business  and  continued  it 
until  he  was  elected  sheriff  of  Susquehanna 
County,  in  1851.  This  was  the  last  hatter’s 
shop  at  Montrose.  This  industry  now,  like 
many  others,  is  concentrated  in  large  manufac- 
turing houses.  Mr.  Eldred  served  his  full  term 
as  sheriff,  1851-54,  and  was  deputy  sheriff 
under  John  Young  and  Elias  V.  Green  six 
years,  from  1863  to  1869  ; he  was  prothonotary 
and  immediately  after  he  was  elected  justice  of 
the  peace,  but  served  only  one  year,  as  W.  F. 
Simrell,  his  successor  in  the  prothonotary’s  office, 
died,  and  he  was  again  elected  to  that  office  in 
1870,  and  served  three  years  more.  He  became 
so  familiar  with  the  records  in  this  office,  that 
he  knew  from  memory  where  nearly  every  thing 


was ; and  the  members  of  the  bar  and  people 
generally  began  to  think  that  he  was  almost 
indispensable.  After  his  third  term  as  prothon- 
otary he  was  appointed  commissioners’  clerk, 
but  served  only  one  year,  when  he  was  elected 
cashier  of  the  First  National  Bank.  When  he 
took  that  position  the  affairs  of  the  bank  were 
in  a deplorable  condition.  His  predecessor  had 
robbed  the  bank  of  $105,000  or  $5000  more 
than  the  capital  stock.  Mr.  Eldred  acted  as 
cashier  eight  years  and  has  been  president  two 
years.  Although  the  capital  stock  is  reduced  to 
$50,000,  the  bank  has  redeemed  all  its  pledges 
and  is  paying  a dividend  again.  Mr.  Eldred’s 
life  has  been  an  active  one,  and  he  has  dis- 
charged all  of  his  trusts  with  honesty  and  fidel- 
ity. He  married  Jane  Tuttle  in  October,  1844, 
and  had  two  daughters  that  arrived  at  the  age 
of  maturity. 

Dudson  R.  Lathrop,  a son  of  Benjamin  and 
Clarissa  (Avery)  Lathrop,  born  in  1828,  attended 
the  Montrose  Academy  in  boyhood,  and  at  the  age 
of  fifteen  entered  the  store  of  his  brother  Azur  in 
Springville,  where  he  remained  five  years,  fol- 
lowed by  one  year  with  Lathrop  & Salisbury, 
at  Montrose.  He  has  since  been  a member 
of  the  mercantile  firms  of  A.  Lathrop  & Co., 
D.  R.  Lathrop  & Co.,  J.  Griffis  & Co.  and 
A.  & D.  R.  Lathrop,  besides  spending  several 
years  as  a clerk  in  other  houses.  He  served  as 
postmaster  at  Montrose  for  a short  time,  receiv- 
ing his  appointment  under  President  Fillmore, 
and  again  served  during  the  administration  of 
President  Lincoln.  In  1853  he  was  elected  coun- 
ty treasurer  and  served  tWo  years ; was  clerk  in 
the  bank  of  W.  H.  Cooper  & Co.  for  seven 
years  following  1858 ; cashier  of  the  post-office 
at  Scranton  for  a little  over  one  year,. and  teller 
of  the  First  National  Bank  at  Towanda  for  two 
and  one-half  years,  ending  in  1874.  For  .seven 
years  following  he  conducted  a mining  store  at 
Bernice,  Sullivan  County,  Pa.  In  the  fall  of 
1883  he  was  elected  teller  of  the  First  National 
Bank  of  Montrose,  and  after  serving  one  year 
he  was  chosen  cashier,  which  position  he  has 
acceptably  filled  since.  In  1854  he  married 
Sarah  E , a daughter  of  Hon.  Davis  D.  Dimock, 
son  of  Elder  Davis  Diraock,  an  early  Baptist 
clergyman.  Her  mother  was  Maria,  a daughter 


MONTEOSE. 


301 


of  William  Ward.  They  have  two  children — 
one,  Benjamin,  in  the  Post-Office  Department  at 
Washington,  and  Walter  Lathrop,  in  the  Medi- 
cal Department  of  Pennsylvania  University. 

Amos  Nichols  was  born  August  9,  1833, 
in  Bridgewater  township.  His  parents,  Zenas 
Nichols  and  Mary  A.  (Howe)  Nichols,  came 
from  Herkimer  County,  N.  Y.,  in  1808,  and 
located  first  in  Silver  Lake.  Shortly  afterwards, 
in  Bridgewater,  one  mile  south  of  Montrose, 
he  bought  a property  of  the  Clymer  estate,  and 
made  improvements  on  the  place,  which  is  now 
owned  by  Charles  F.  Meeker.  His  children 
were  Abel  H.,  who  died  in  Beverly,  N.  J.,  in 
1884;  Amos;  Lucy,  wife  of  John  H.  Lake,  of 
Haverstraw,  N.  Y.,  died  in  1873.  Amos  helped 
his  father  on  the  farm  and  attended  the  com- 
mon schools  in  boyhood.  In  1859  he  bought 
out  Orlando  Eldridge,  a merchant  in  Brook- 
lyn, and  engaged  in  the  mercantile  business 
three  years  in  that  place.  In  1861  he  was 
elected  county  treasurer  and  returned  to  Mon- 
trose until  the  expiration  of  his  term,  after 
which  he  had  a position  in  the  Treasury  De- 
partment at  Washington.  Returning  to  Mon- 
trose, he  was  in  partnei’ship  with  A.  B.  Burns 
in  the  drug  business  nine  years  ; with  Charles 
H.  Smith  two  years,  firm  Nichols  & Smith ; 
with  H.  P.  Read  three  years,  firm  Read  & 
Nichols.  He  then  went  into  the  crockery, 
grocery,  boot  and  shoe  business  with  his  son 
(firm  Amos  Nichols  & Son)  from  1881  to  Janu- 
ary 1, 1886.  He  has  been  teller  of  the  First 
National  Bank  since  February,  1885.  His  wife 
is  Harriet  A.,  daughter  of  Horace  Wade,  of 
New  Milford.  They  have  one  son,  Harry  A., 
of  the  firm  of  Nichols  & Waltrous. 

Colonel  Christopher  M.  Gere,  son  of 
Ebenezer  Gere,  was  born  in  New  London,  Conn., 
May  7,  1814,  and  came  with  his  parents  to 
Brooklyn  township  when  he  was  seven  years  of 
age.  He  worked  on  the  farm  until  he  was 
sixteen,  when  he  entered  his  father’s  shop  and 
worked  at  plane-making,  meanwhile  attending 
the  common  schools  winters.  He  went  to  Con- 
necticut and  completed  his  trade  and  returned 
to  Brooklyn,  where  he  continued  to  work  at 
his  trade  until  he  was  elected  sheriff,  in  the  fall 
of  1848,  when  he  removed  to  Montrose,  where 


he  still  resides.  He  took  up  surveying,  having 
learned  it  from  surveyors  as  he  carried  the 
chain.  He  was  one  of  the  surveyors  that  es- 
tablished the  county  line  between  Wayne  and 
Susquehanna  Counties ; also  one  of  the  commis- 
sioners on  the  part  of  this  State,  who  had 
charge  of  the  survey  establishing  the  line  be- 
tween Pennsylvania  and  New  York.  He  ob- 
tained his  title  as  colonel  in  the  militia  service. 
He  married  Emily  A.  Smith,  and  has  one  son, 
Christopher  M.,  an  employee  of  the  Lehigh 
Valley  Railroad  Company. 

Schools. — Prior  to  the  enactment  of  the 
law  providing  a system  of  education  by  taxa- 
tion that  should  be  free  to  all,  the  State  of 
Pennsylvania  made  appropriations  for  academies 
in  different  parts  of  the  commonwealth.  The 
people  of  Snsquehanna  County  have  ever  been 
alert  and  active  in  the  matter  of  education,  and 
early  took  advantage  of  the  liberality  of  the 
State  and  obtained  an  appropriation  of  two 
thousand  dollars  on  condition  that  the  citizens 
of  Susquehanna  County  should  raise  one  thon- 
sand  five  hundred  dollars.  The  19th  of 
March,  1816,  Governor  Synder  approved  an 
act  incorporating  ^ The  Susquehanna  County 
Academy  with  William  Thompson,  Davis  Di 
mock,  Isaac  Post,  Jabez  Hyde,  Jr.,  Daniel 
Ro.ss,  Wright  Chamberlain,  Ho, sea  Tiffany,  Jr., 
Robert  H.  Rose,  Jonah  Brewster,  David  Post, 
Au.stin  Howell,  Charles  Fra.ser,  Isaac  Brown- 
son  and  Putnam  Catlin,  trustees. 

These  trustees  comprised  the  principal  officers 
of  the  county,  with  the  president  and  cashier  of 
the  Silver  Lake  Bank.  A meeting  was  ap- 
pointed for  the  3d  of  September  following. 
The  care  of  the  erection  of  a building  was  given 
to  Isaac  Post,  and  it  was  completed  in  1818. 
The  offices  of  judges  and  commissioners  in  the 
board  of  trustees  were  then  filled  by  J.  W. 
Raynsford,  Benjamin  Sayre,  S.  S.  Mulford,  I. 
P.  Foster,  Samuel  Warner,  Justin  Clark,  Bela 
Jones  and  B.  T.  Case,  the  last-named  being 
then  secretary,  and  for  several  years  afterwards. 
There  was  no  church  edifice  in  the  place,  and  the 
second  floor  of  the  building  was  u.sed  as  a place  of 
religious  worsliip  every  Sabbath.  The  academy 


1 lUackinan's  “ History.” 


302 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


at  that  time  occupied  the  brow  of  the  hill  above 
the  new  jail,  the  hill  then  being  much  steejjer 
than  at  present,  and  containing  a valuable  quarry 
but  little  excavated.  The  grandparents  of  our 
time  relate  with  glee  their  feats  in  coasting 
down  this  hill  with  an  upturned  bench  for  a 
sled,  which  many  a merry  boy  and  girl  could 
enjoy  together.  About  1828  the  building  was 
moved  down  close  to  the  sidewalk,  between  the 
present  locations  of  the  new  academy  and  the 
old  court-house,  where  it  remained  for  twenty- 
two  years. 

Among  the  teachers  engaged  in  this  institu- 
tion the  following  are  remembered  : 1818,  Wil- 
liam Jessup  (advertised  by  the  trustees  as  teach- 
er of  mathematics  and  “ the  learned  languages”) 
and  Bela  Jones ; J.  W.  Raynsford,  part  of  the 
year;  1819,  Samuel  Barnard  and  daughter, 
Catharine  (since  Mrs.  Morgan);  1820,  Ralph 
H.  Read,  Walker  Woodhouse ; 1821-24,  Al- 
bert Bingham,  David  Benedict,  P.  Wright ; 
1825-28,  Eli  Meeker,  Sloane  Hamilton,  Frank- 
lin Lusk,  Benjamin  and  D.  Dimock,  Jr. ; 1829 
-31,  Seth  T.  Rogers,  P.  Richardson,  S.  S. 
Stebbins,  Rufus  B Gregory;  1833-36,  B.  S. 
Bentley;  1837-42,  L.  H.  Woodruff (?),  H.  S. 

Fairchild,  Payne,  Rev.  S.  Manning ; 

1843-44,  Z.  L.  Beebe  and  Lafayette  G.  Dim- 
ock ; 1845-47,  C.  C.  Halsey  ; 1848-49,  A.  J. 
Buel.  Most  of  the  above  were  collegiate  grad- 
uates. 

Among  the  lady  teachers  after  Miss  Barnard, 
and  prior  to  1830,  were  Misses  Ann  Harris 
(afterwards  Mrs.  S.  Hodgdon),  Maria  Jones, 
Abigail  Sayre  (Mrs.  James  Gatlin),  Mary  Ann 
Raynsford  (Mrs.  D.  D.  Warner).  Of  other 
schools.  Miss  Harriet  Connor  taught  early  over 
Raynor’s  store.  A French  and  English  select 
school  was  taught  in  1828  by  Mrs.  B.  Streeter. 
Courses  of  lessons  in  English  grammar,  and 
also  lessons  on  the  German  flute  had  been  given 
by  different  gentlemen ; in  the  mean  time, 
Wentworth  Roberts  taught  in  the  Bowman 
House. 

In  1832  the  academy  was  thoroughly  re- 
paired, and  an  orrery  and  other  apparatus  pro- 
cured. The  same  season  an  infant  school  was 
taught  by  Mrs.  Amanda  B.  Catlin.  She  had 
the  first  piano  in  the  place  (in  1819),  and  taught 


music  in  1832.  Subsequently  and  prior  to 
1837  Misses  Jane  A.  Brand  (Mrs.  Dr.  Justin 
A.  Smith,  of  Chicago,  recently  deceased),  Lu- 
cretia  Loomis,  A.  L.  Fraser,  Nancy  and  Caro- 
line Bowman,  Caroline  C.  Woodhouse  and 
possibly  others  were  teachers  in  the  lower  rooms 
of  the  academy,  while  the  classical  department 
occupied  the  one  long  room  on  the  second  floor. 

Early  in  1839  Miss  Elizabeth  Wood  was  the 
first  teacher  of  the  female  seminary,  in  the 
same  building.  It  was  incorporated  through 
the  exertions  of  Colonel  Asa  Dimock.  This 
institution,  it  was  intended,  should  be  entitled 
to  three  hundred  dollars  annually  for  ten  years 
from  the  State.  It  first  trustees  were  A.  H. 
Read,  J.  C.  Biddle,  D.  Dimock,  Jr.,  George 
Fuller  and  Daniel  Searle.  In  1840-41  the 
preceptress  was  Mrs.  Elizabeth  H.  Stone  (after- 
wards Mrs.  Niven).  A piano  was  purchased, 
and  Miss  Theodosia  A.  Catlin  taught  a large 
class  in  music,  though  there  were  then  but  three 
pianos  in  the  place.  In  1841-42  Miss  Mariana 
Read,  of  Homer,  New  York,  was  preceptress 
here.  For  three  or  four  years  following  select 
schools  by  former  teachers  appear  to  have  occu- 
pied the  lower  rooms.  In  1847  Miss  F.  L. 
Willard  began  teaching  in  the  academy,  but 
afterwards  kept  a boarding-school  for  young 
ladies,  assi.sted  by  Mrs.  Theodore  Smith  and 
E.  C.  Blackman,  and  a day-school,  w^hich  in- 
cluded young  lads,  in  the  building  now  the 
residence  of  George  C.  Hill,  later  in  the  old 
Post  house.  Miss  Totten  assistant.  Pupils 
attended  from  remote  parts  of  the  county  and 
from  other  counties. 

A new  academy  had  been  projected  in  1846, 
but  it  was  not  completed  until  the  summer  of 
1850.  The  building,  fifty  by  sixty  feet,  is  now 
occupied  by  the  graded  school.  Its  cost  was 
four  thousand  two  hundred  dollars.  The  fii’st 
board  of  trustees  consisted  of  William  Jessup, 
president ; R.  J.  Niven,  secretary ; M.  S.  Wil- 
son, treasurer ; Rev.  H.  A.  Riley,  F.  B.  Street- 
er, B.  S.  Bentley,  William  L Post,  George 
Fuller,  Alfred  Baldwin,  William  J.  Mulford, 
I^eonard  Searle,  D.  D.  Warner  and  Henry 
Drinker.  They  made  valuable  contributions 
for  the  foundation  of  a library  and  cabinet  of 
natural  curiosities,  which,  it  is  to  be  regretted. 


MONTROSE. 


303 


have  not  been  well  preserved.  The  first  in- 
structors were  Lemuel  H.  Waters,  A.M.,  prin- 
cipal ; Miss  Mary  J.  Crawford,  preceptress ; 
William  H.  Jessup  and  Miss  A.  A.  P.  Rogers, 
assistant  teachers ; Miss  Caroline  Bowman, 
superintendent  of  primary  department ; Emily 
C.  Blackman,  teacher  of  music ; Gustave  H. 
Walther,  teacher  of  German.  Succeeding 
principals  were  Rev.  Isaac  Gray,  Rufus  C. 
Crampton,  William  H.  Richmond,  John  L. 

Mills  and  Hartshorne,  collegiates.  After 

Miss  Crawford  the  lady  teachers  were  Misses 
Bessie  Huntting,  Caroline  Bush,  Frances  J. 

Woolworth  and Brown.  A normal  school 

was  established  in  the  fall  of  1857,  J.  F.  Stod- 
dard principal.  He  was  succeeded  by  H. 
Broadhead,  B.A.,  and  S.  S.  Hartwell,  B.A. 
In  the  fall  of  1863,  under  the  care  of  F.  D. 
Hunt,  it  assumed  distinctively  the  features  of 
a graded  school,  which  it  still  retains.  Rev.  J. 
R.  Stone  had  charge  of  the  classical  department ; 
Misses  C.  M.  Dixon,  M.  M.  Chamberlin,  Jessie 
Bissell,  A.  Perry  and  Mrs.  A.  M.  Richards 
were  among  the  earliest  teachers  of  other  de- 
partments. The  following  is  a list  of  the  prin- 
cipals of  Montrose  Graded  School  : F.  D.  Hunt, 
1863  (two  years) ; G.  C.  Hammond,  1865;  E. 

B.  Hawley,  1866 ; John  G.  Cope,  1867 ; W. 

C.  Tilden,  1868;  A.  H.  Berlin,  1869  (six 
years);  Mont.  Evans,  1875  (two  years) ; Charles 
Roos,  1877  (three  years);  J.  W.  Gray,  1880 
(part  of  one  year) ; C.  S.  Woodrutf,  1881  (three 
years);  S.  D.  Barnes,  1884;  A.  H.  Berlin, 
1885.  The  school  has  six  departments,  graded 
from  the  primary  to  the  higher  department. 
Graduates  from  the  school  are  expected  to  pass 
a thorough  examination  in  the  common  school 
branches,  and  have  a knowledge  of  higher 
mathematics,  the  sciences  and  instruction  in 
Latin.  The  school  is  patronized  by  the  sur- 
rounding country,  and  has  fitted  a number  for 
college  and  many  more  for  teaching.  The 
school  has  always  labored  under  the  disadvan- 
tage of  a constant  change  of  principals,  until 
Professor  A.  H.  Berlin  was  retained  for  six 
years.  He  was  born  in  1845,  and  was  gradu- 
ated from  Keystone  Normal  School,  and  has 
followed  teaching  as  a profession.  He  was  one 
of  the  first  faculty  of  the  normal  school  at  In- 


diana, Pa.,  and  subsequently  principal  of  West 
Pittston  schools  seven  years,  and  was  recalled 
to  Montro.se  in  1885,  where  his  energy  and  en- 
thusiasm are  manifest  in  the  management  of 
the  school. 

The  Old  Free  School  of  Montrose. — William 
J.  Turrell  taught  the  school  upon  its  organiza- 
tion while  it  was  held  in  the  old  academy. 
The  teachers  in  the  old  free-school  build- 
ing were  Messrs.  R.  Pike,  A.  Carr, Hay- 

den, F.  Fraser,  A.  Chamberlin  (three  sea- 
sons), D,  Chamberlin,  A.  N.  Bullard,  L.  F. 
Fitch,  William  A.  Crossmon,  Eugene  A.  I.,y- 

ons,  U.  C.  Johnson,  A.  R.  Vail, Sampson. 

The  last-named  taught  in  1856,  at  twenty-nine 
dollars  per  month,  four  dollars  per  month  more 
than  an}^  jirevious  teacher  had  received.  Later 
teachers  were  paid  still  more. 

The  colored  children  were  taught  separately 
after  November,  1857,  and  Miss  H.  N.  Austin 
was  their  first  teacher.  Mr.  M.  J.  Corse  taught 
that  winter  in  the  free-school  building,  and’ was 
succeeded  by  J.  F.  Shoemaker,  B.  Thatcher 
(three  seasons)  and  F.  D.  Hunt.  While  Mr. 
Hunt  was  teaching  it  was  decided  to  establish  a 
graded  school,  and  to  rent  the  academy  for  that 
purpose. 

The  ladies  who  taught  the  free  school  received 
occasionally  as  much  as  $3.75  per  week — never 
over  $4  ; and  when  two  were  employed  at  once 
each  received  $2.75.  Miss  N.  Bowman  had 
taught  the  female  department  before  the  school- 
house  was  built.  After  December,  1837,  there 
were  the  following  teachers;  Miss  P.  A.  Smith, 
Mrs.  Carr,  Misses  Charlotte  Root,  Helen  Avery, 
Emeline  Brownson,  Ann  P.  Lathrop,  Ruth  A. 
Perkins,  Caroline  Bowman,  Mrs.  Sherer,  Misses 
L.  A.  Chamberlin,  Louisa  Avery,  Mary  War- 
ner, Jane  Simpson,  Helen  Grover,  Maria  A. 
Deans,  Salome  Warner,  Jesse  Bissell,  Jennie 
Mott  and Chubbuck. 

The  building  was  occupied  many  summers 
by  select  schools  taught  by  the  Mi.sses  Caroline 
and  Jane  Wood  house,  H.  Fordham,  C.  G.  Read, 
A.  McNeil,  R.  Tuttle,  C.  B.  Birchard  and  po.s- 
sibly  by  a few  of  those  mentioned  above.  Al- 
together, the  building  and  the  teachers  were  a 
power  for  good  in  the  community  which  it  is 
pleasant  to  recognize. 


304 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


B.  Tliatcher  taught  the  free  school  three 
years,  and  has  been  school  director  twenty-one 
years,  and  is  now  the  secretary  of  the  School 
Board, 

’ Bridgewater  Baptist  Church  of  Mont- 
rose, Pa. — In  1801,  when  this  portion  of  the 
State  was  a dense  wilderness,  Bartlet  Hinds, 
son  of  Elder  Ebenzer  Hinds,  of  Massachusetts, 
came  from  Southampton,  L.  I.,  and  settled  in 
the  township  of  Bridgewater.  His  wife,  Mary, 
two  sous,  Conrad  and  Bartlet,  a daughter 
named  Susanna,  and  two  sons  of  Mrs.  Hinds, 
by  a previous  marriage,  Isaac  and  David  Post, 
accompanied  him.  Jonathan  Wheaton,  also  a 
Baptist,  moved  into  the  township  with  his 
family  the  same  year.  Stephen  Wilson  had 
settled  prior  to  this,  in  1800. 

For  more  than  a year  no  religious  meetings 
were  held  in  the  neighborhood,  although  the 
settlement  grew  rapidly  with  accessions  from 
various  quarters.  At  length  Brethren  Whea- 
ton and  Hinds  commenced  a prayer-meet- 
ing, in  which  several  others  joined.  It  was 
held  frequently,  but  not  every  Sabbath  at  first ; 
and  with  some  manifest  tokens  of  the  divine 
presence,  so  that  the  meetings  were  maintained 
for  many  years.  In  the  winter  of  1806-7 
two  more  praying  families  were  added  to  their 
number,  and  the  same  season  the  way  began  to 
open  for  having  the  Gospel  preached  in  their 
neighborhood.  Mr.  Hinds  being  at  Wilkes- 
Barre,  heard  Elder  Davis  Diraock,  the 
pastor  of  the  Exeter  Baptist  Church,  preaching 
in  the  court-house  ; an  introduction  followed, 
and  the  condition  of  the  new  and  growing  set- 
tlement so  enlisted  the  preacher’s  sympathies 
that  he  made  an  appointment  to  preach  there 
on  Monday  evening,  March  30,  1 807. 

There  was  a general  attendance  and  so  much 
interest  among  the  people  to  hear  the  Gospel 
that  Elder  Dimock  concluded  to  remain 
another  day.  But  God’s  purpose  was  for  a 
longer  period.  A heavy  fall  of  snow,  quite 
four  feet  deep,  prevented  the  preacher’s  return 
for  a week.  Yet  over  it  all,  on  snow-shoes,  or 
through  it  all,  the  people  came  day  after  day, 
many  of  them  a great  distance  and  through 


' By  Rev.  E.  \V,  Husted. 


trackless  woods,  to  hear  the  word  of  God. 
Many  were  pricked  in  the  heart  and  began  to 
seek  salvation,  while  the  Lord’s  weary  but 
trusting  ones  were  greatly  refreshed  and  quick- 
ened. Elder  Dimock  made  two  other  visits 
during  the  summer,  when  two  persons  were 
baptized  upon  a profession  of  faith. 

From  this  time  meetings  were  held  every 
Lord’s  day,  whether  they  had  preaching  or  not, 
and  as  they  who  had  “ one  Lord,  one  faith,  and 
one  baptism  ” had  now  become  acquainted  with 
each  other,  they  agreed  to  hold  every  month 
what  they  called  a “ covenant  meeting,”  for 
each  other’s  mutual  sympathy,  comfort  and 
watch-care.  Tliis  soon  ripened  into  a church 
organization,  for  in  March,  1808,  the  Baptist 
Church  in  Exeter  was  earnestly  requested 
to  take  measures  for  giving  to  these  praying, 
covenanting  disciples  the  privileges  of  distinct 
and  full  membership. 

It  was  the  custom  in  this  section  of  the 
country,  at  that  time,  to  receive  such  appli- 
cants for  church  privileges  into  the  fellowship 
and  membership  of  the  body  to  whom  the  ap- 
plication was  addressed,  through  a committee 
or  commission,  composed  of  the  pastor  and  a 
given  number  of  brethren,  appointed  for  the 
purpose,  hearing  and  pronouncing  upon  each 
person’s  Christian  experience  and  worthiness 
of  church  standing;  and  if  the  examination 
proved  satisfactory,  they  were  subsequently 
“ set  off”  as  reque.sted,  and  “ power  was  given 
them  to  receive  and  expel  members  and  to  do 
all  other  acts  of  an  independent  church,”  sub- 
ject, however,  to  the  authority  of  the  whole 
convention,  as  an  individual  member  is  in  any 
particular  church  subject  to  its  authority. 

Accordingly,  the  church  at  Exeter  sent  their 
pastor.  Elder  Dimock,  and  several  lay  brethren 
to  Bridgewater,  and  on  the  9th  day  of  April, 
1808,  after  the  usual  preliminaries,  at  the 
house  of  Brother  Bartlet  Hinds,  six  brethren 
— Jonathan  Wheaton,  Heniy  Congdon,  Asa 
Baldwin,  David  Knowlton,  Luther  Deans  and 
Samuel  Baldwin — were  organized  into  a church 
of  Christ,  aud,  as  the  records  say,  given  “ fel- 
lowship to  do  and  perform  things  necessary 
thereto.”  Henry  Congdon  was  chosen  clerk, 
and  two  days  after  their  members  were  in- 


MONTROSE. 


305 


creased  to  teu  by  Sisters  INIrs.  Sarah  Congdon, 
Polly  Baldwin  and  Betsey  Baldwin. 

4t  their  next  regular  church-meeting,  May 
14,  1808,  Bi’other  Bartlet  Hinds,  by  letter, 
and  Mrs.  Agnes  Hinds,  Stephen  Wilson  and 
John  Gardner,  by  baptism,  were  added  to 
their  number.  In  June,  1809,  Elder  Davis 
Dimock,  at  their  unanimous  call  and  earnest 
solicitation,  assumed  the  pastorate  and  moved 
his  family  to  Bridgewater. 

From  this  time  additions  were  gradually 
made  to  them,  as  new  settlers  came  into  their 
boundaries.  But  in  the  fall  of  1810  the  Holy 
Spirit  began  to  move  upon  the  community,  so 
that  the  record  of  one  of  their  meetings  expresses 
“ s;reat  thankfulness  for  the  great  mercies  of 

o O 


THE  FIRST  BAPTIST  CHURCH. 

God  in  the  union  of  the  church  and  the  con- 
version of  sinners,  who  were  coming  to  Christ 
like  clouds,  and  like  doves  to  their  windows.” 
Fifty  were  added  to  the  church  by  baptism  as 
the  fruit  of  this  awakening  and  refreshing  from 
the  presence  of  the  Lord. 

Every  year  but  two  of  Elder  Dimock’s  long 
pa.storate  of  over  a quarter  of  a century  wit- 
nessed some  baptism,  but  no  very  general  work 
of  grace  was  experienced  until  182G,  when 
20 


over  eighty  were  baptized,  and  in  1827,  over 
fifty. 

It  was  during  this  revival  that  the  Church 
resolved  upon  preliminary  steps  to  secure  a 
suitable  house  of  worship.  A meeting  was 
held  at  the  court-house  ou  Christmas  day,  1826, 
to  consult  upon  a project.  There  was  but  one 
sentiment,  and  they  unanimously  agreed  to 
undertake  the  work,  great  as  it  was  for  them. 
Accordingly,  Brethren  Isaac  Post  and  Samuel 
Warner  were  appointed  a committee  to  obtain 
subscriptions  and  superintend  the  erection  of 
the  house.  The  undertaking  proved  more 
arduous  and  the  delay  of  their  hopes  much 
greater  even  than  they  feared,  for  it  was  not 
until  three  years  had  passed  that  they  entered 
their  own  sanctuary.  But  in  December,  1829, 
the  church  ceased  to  be  dependent  upon  a 
district  school-house  or  the  county  court-house. 
In  1846  the  edifice  was  enlarged  to  its  present 
dimensions — capable  of  holding  five  hundred 
persons — and  was  otherwise  improved ; since 
then  it  has  undergone  little  change  in  general 
appearance,  being  renewed  from  time  to  time. 
During  the  past  year,  1886,  it  has  been  very 
much  improved,  and  now  stands  a well-pre- 
served laud-mark.  The  year  1832  was  also 
a season  of  large  in-gathering,  when  seventy- 
five  were  added  by  baptism.  The  largest 
accession  made  in  any  one  year  was  in  1843, 
under  the  pastorate  of  Elder  J.  B.  Worden, 
when  one  hundred  were  added. 

But  the  church  has  had  its  days  of  darkness 
and  sore  trials.  The  most  severe  and  afflictive 
of  all  these  can  hardly  be  passed  over  in  this 
historical  sketch.  In  1839  forty-seven  mem- 
bers were  dismi.ssed  to  form  an  independent 
church  in  the  Union  School  District,  Bridge- 
water,  because  of  a wide  difterence  of  views  in 
regard  to  church  action  upon  slavery.  At  first 
this  matter  seemed  portentous  of  great  evil. 
After  a time  it  promised  to  be  satisfactorily 
arranged  by  an  amicable  division,  and  the  ex- 
istence of  two  distinct  churches  living  in  har- 
mony. But  for  two  or  three  years  the  cause  of 
Christ  greatly  suffered,  and  the  people  of  God 
“went  through  fire  and  water.”  At  length, 
after  numerous  efforts  at  reconciliation,  by 
councils,  and  such  associational  overtures  and 


306 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


suggestions  as  seemed  pertinent  and  proper,  the 
old  church  became,  in  1843,  the  sole  organiza- 
tion representative  of  the  Baptist  faith  and 
polity  in  Montrose  and  Bridgewater,  nearly  all 
returning  from  the  Second  Church,  and  the  re- 
united people  striving  together  for  the  unity  of 
the  Spirit,  the  bonds  of  peace  and  the  promo- 
tion of  the  great  cause  of  God. 

* ^ * 

The  pastors  who  have  labored  with  this 
people  are  as  follows  : 

Elder  Davis  Dimock,  1809-39;  J.  B.  Worden,  1839- 
44;  A.  L.  Post,  1844-46;  D.  Taylor,  1846-49;  Davis 
Dimock,  1849-51 ; F.  Glanville,  1851-52  ; S.  L.  Ran- 
sted  and  A.  L.  Post,  1855-56  ; W.  N.  Wopeth,  1856- 
58  ; J.  C.  Boomer,  1858-62  ; J.  R.  Stone,  1862-65  ; 
B.  C.  Morse,  1866-68  ; H.  F.  Cochrane,  1868  ; L.  B. 
Ford,  1870;  J.  E.  Chesshire,  1873-78;  Henry  W. 
Sherwood,  1878-82 ; D.  W.  Shepherd,  1882-84 ; E. 
W.  Husted,  1884. 

During  the  past  few  years  the  church  has 
passed  through  many  scenes  of  revival  interest. 
Nearly  all  of  the  old  members  have  ‘‘fallen 
asleep.”  Deacon  Mason  Wilson  still  remains, 
after  a consistent  membership  of  over  fifty 
years,  being  baptized  by  Elder  Davis  Dimock 
in  1832. 

The  church  still  occupies  an  honorable  and 
prominent  place  in  the  town.  There  are  about 
two  hundred  and  seventy-five  members  en- 
rolled. The  Sabbath-school  numbers  two  hun- 
dred and  twenty-five,  the  largest  number  in  its 
history,  and  is  in  excellent  condition,  the 
church  and  school  working  in  harmony,  the 
pastor  and  people  realizing  the  fact  that  the 
school  is  the  “ hope  of  the  church.”  Deacon 
George  P.  Little  is  the  superintendent.  The 
library  of  five  hundred  volumes,  with  its  im- 
proved library  system,  is  said  to  be  the  finest  in 
the  county. 

And  so,  after  an  existence  of  over  eighty  years 
of  “ stormy  and  of  cloudy  weather,”  the  old 
church  still  stands  a monument  to  God’s  good- 
jiess,  an  old  land-mark,  pointing  weary,  foot- 
sore travelers  to  the  road  which  leads  to  life 
eternal. 

“ ^ Elder  Davis  Dimock  was  born  at  Rocky 
Hill,  Hartford  County,  Conn.,  May  27,  1776.  His 


1 Blackman,  p.  300. 


parents  were  David  and  Sarah  Green  Dimock.  His 
father  at  the  opening  of  the  Revolutionary  War  en- 
tered the  service  first  as  a sergeant,  and  afterwards 
as  lieutenant  of  the  Continental  army.  He,  with  his 
mother  and  three  brothers,  on  the  opening  of  the  war, 
were  taken  as  a measure  of  safety  into  Vermont.  At 
the  close  of  the  war  the  family  returned  to  Connecti- 
cut, and  resided  at  Norfolk  until  the  year  1790,  when; 
with  the  tide  of  emigration  from  Connecticut,  they 
came  into  the  Wyoming  Valley  and  settled  at  Wilkes- 
Barre.  He  was  then  fourteen  years  of  age. 

“ To  a compact,  symmetrical  and  truly  admirable 
physical  organism  there  was  added  a pleasing  per- 
sonal address.  To  an  extremely  social  nature  there  was 
added  an  almost  unbounded  and  attractive  humor.  To 
a quick  perception  of  the  relation  of  things,  and  the 
workings  of  human  nature,  there  was  added  an  ambi- 
tion that  knew  no  bounds  but  those  of  patriotism  and 
honor.  And  to  a heart  unsanctified  by  the  Divine 
Spirit,  and  that  had  come  to  drink  in,  quite  deeply, 
infidelity  to  Christ  and  the  Bible,  there  was  added 
a purpose  to  gain  and  enjoy  as  much  as  possible  of 
the  world’s  pleasures,  riches  and  honors.  With  these 
developments  he  labored  on  the  farm  and  in  the  work- 
shop, improved  the  scanty  opportunities  in  his  reach 
to  gain  knowledge  by  attending  and  teaching  com- 
mon schools,  and  was  active  in  all  of  the  political  and 
other  gatherings  of  the  people.  All  seemed  bright 
before  him. 

“ On  the  5th  of  June,  1797,  he  was  united  in  mar- 
riage to  Betsey  Jenkins,  of  Tunkhannock,  who  became 
the  mother  of  his  twelve  children,  and  the  beloved 
and  faithful  partner  of  his  toils  and  privations,  as 
well  as  his  hopes  and  enjoyments,  during  fifty-five 
years  of  his  earthly  pilgrimage.  In  1801,  while 
living  in  Exeter  with  "his  young  family,  toiling  for 
and  rapidly  acquiring  wealth — carrying  on  at  the 
same  time  the  businesses  of  farming,  blacksmithing  and 
distilling  ardent  spirits — he  was  arrested  in  his 
career,  and  by  the  power  of  Divine  grace  his  proud 
heart  was  made  to  yield  to  the  requirements  of  the 
law  of  faith  in  an  atoning  sacrifice,  and  changed  at 
once  all  of  the  plans  and  purposes  of  his  life. 

‘‘  He  was  received  and  baptized  into  the  Exeter 
Baptist  ■ Church,  August  9,  1801,  by  Elder  Jacob 
Drake,  the  pioneer  Baptist  minister  of  the  valley. 
Heeding  the  great  commission,  which  seemed  directed 
to  him,  ‘ Go  ye  into  all  the  world  and  preach  the  gos- 
pel to  every  creature,’  turning  back  upon  place 
proffered  in  legislative  halls,  he  commenced  preach- 
ing that  Jesus  whom  he  had  persecuted,  and  that  res- 
urrection which,  in  the  skepticism  of  his  heart,  he  had 
repudiated.  His  first  sermon  was  blessed  by  the 
Divine  Spirit  in  leading  his  companion  to  embrace 
Christ  as  her  only  hope. 

“ In  1803,  at  the  yearly  meeting  of  the  Apocalyptic 
number  of  Baptist  Churches,  then  called  the  Susque- 
hanna Baptist  Connection,  he  was  formally  ordained 
to  the  ministry,  by  the  imposition  of  the  hands  of  the 


i 


. V' 


MONTROSE. 


307 


elders,  and  soon  came  to  occupy  a prominence  which 
made  him  the  master-spirit  of  the  Connection. 

■“  In  1810,  under  his  labors,  occurred  what  was  after- 
wards known  as  ‘ the  great  revival,’  in  which  fifty-two, 
mostly  by  baptism,  were  added  to  the  number  of  the 
church.  The  influence  spread  into  the  settlement 
from  fifteen  to  twenty  miles  around,  and  he  followed 
it  up  with  an  energy  and  zeal  that  knew  no  bounds 
but  impossibilities.  Often  might  he  have  been  seen  on 
his  horse,  threading  his  way  from  settlement  to  settle- 
ment, along  forest  paths,  over  hills  and  through  val- 
leys, sometimes  guided  only  by  marked  trees.  Here 
or  there,  where  he  found  a hut  or  log  cabin,  he  was 
wont  to  stop,  if  but  for  a moment,  to  minister  a word 
of  admonition  or  cheer  to  its  sinning,  sick  or  discon- 
solate inhabitants.  He  soon  came  to  be  everywhere 
known  and  a welcome  visitor. 

“ He  had  studied  medicine  in  his  earlier  years ; 
and  on  coming  here  when  there  was  no  physician,  his 
medical  services  were  often  required  and  given. 
Finding  it  an  aid  rather  than  detriment  to  his  gospel 
ministry,  he  continued  more  or  less  to  practice  suc- 
cessfully during  subsequent  life. 

“He  accepted,  through  the  general  solicitation  of 
his  fellow-citizens,  from  the  Governor,  an  appoint- 
ment of  associate  judge  of  the  then  new  county  of 
Susquehanna.  In  this  capacity  he  served  successfully 
and  honorably  from  the  time  of  the  organization  of 
the  judiciary,  a term  of  twenty-seven  years. 

“ He  assisted  in  organizing  churches  in  Auburn, 
Rush,  Middletown,  Choconut,  Great  Bend,  Harford, 
New  Milford,  Jackson,  Gibson  and  Dimock,  and  pos- 
sibly elsewhere.  Elder  Dimock  was  the  sole  pastor 
of  the  Bridgewater  Church  from  its  organization,  in 
1808,  down  to  June,  1835,  a term  of  twenty-seven 
years.  At  the  close  of  that  period,  notwithstanding 
deaths  and  removals,  the  church  numbered  three 
hundred  and  twenty-two  members.  At  the  expira- 
tion of  his  sole  pastorate  of  the  church,  by  his  own 
request.  Elder  J.  B.  Worden  became  associated  with 
him.  This  relation  continued  two  years,  when,  from 
the  infirmities  of  age  and  disease,  and  a desire  to 
retire  from  the  exciting  scenes  of  a new  era  in  the 
church,  he  resigned  his  relation,  took  a letter  from 
this,  and  united  with  the  church  at  Brainirim,  having 
previously  received  a call  to  become  its  pastor.  As 
pastor  of  that  church,  he  labored  according  to  the 
measure  of  his  health  and  strength,  witnessing  many 
tokens  that  those  labors  were  not  in  vain,  until  the 
fall  of  1847,  when,  admonished  by  jjhysicians  and  his 
personal  consciousness  of  what  a long  life  of  labor 
and  privation,  as  well  as  disease,  had  wrought  u])on 
his  wonderful  constitution,  he  resigned  the  pastorate 
to  another. 

“ In  the  spring  of  1848  he  returned  with  his  com- 
panion to  Montrose  to  reside  the  remainder  of  his 
days  with  his  children.  He  reunited  with  this 
church.”  His  name  aj)pears  in  the  Baptist  minutes 
every  year  or  two,  in  connection  with  the  supply  of 


the  pulpit  at  Montrose,  during  the  time  that  he  was 
at  Braintrim.  He  was  a great  force  in  the  church  for 
half  a century.  Gordon  Z.  Dimock,  his  only  living 
child  in  1887,  says  that  his  father  only  attended  com- 
mon school  six  months,  and  his  mother  attended  a 
school  that  his  father  taught  for  three  months.  She 
was  a daughter  of  Benjamin  Jenkins,  of  Wyoming 
Valley,  who  was  killed  during  the  “Pennamite  War.” 
Elder  Dimock  was  a hardshell  Baptist,  and  did  not 
believe  in  having  a regular  salary  for  preaching,  but 
supported  himself  largely  by  blacksmithing,  prac- 
ticing medicine,  etc.  His  salary  as  associate  judge 
also  helped  him  to  raise  his  large  family.  Of  course 
he  performed  the  marriage  ceremony  for  a great 
many  couples.  He  received  a handful  of  goose-quills 
(good  for  pens)  from  his  first  couple.  He  generally 
received  more  than  that,  however.  He  was  a man  of 
great  native  , force,  a fine  specimen  of  the  old-time 
preacher,  and  much  beloved  by  the  people.  Once 
when  he  was  preaching  down  the  Wyalusing,  a young 
couple  that  admired  him  very  much  urged  him  to 
accompany  them  home  and  stay  that  night  with  them. 
He  reluctantly  consented,  as  he  had  made  other  ar- 
rangements. During  the  night  he  awoke  and  saw 
them  sitting  by  the  fire-place  poking  the  fire.  He 
soon  ascertained  that  he  was  occupying  the  only  bed 
in  the  house.  He  arose  and  insisted  upon  the  young 
couple’s  retiring,  while  he  poked  the  fire  the  rest  of 
the  night.  His  wife  died  in  1852,  aged  seventy-two, 
and  he  died  September  27,  1858,  aged  eighty-two. 
Their  children  were  Benjamin  Dimock,  who  was 
principal  of  the  school  at  Bethany  for  a time,  and 
died  at  Pompton,  Wayne  County,  Pa.  One  of  his 
sons  is  a boss  on  the  gravity  road  from  Carbondale  to 
Honesdale.  Sally  married  Nehemiah  Scott,  and  re- 
mained on  the  Dimock  homestead.  One  son,  Norton 
W.  Scott,  rents  the  old  place  now  of  Geo.  P.  Little, 
the  present  owner.  Davis  Dimock,  Jr.,  died  while  a 
member  of  Congress.  Betsey  Dimock  married  Hub- 
bard Avery  for  her  first  husband,  and  Luther  Badger 
(an  ex-member  of  Congress,  who  died  at  Binghamton) 
for  her  second  husband.  Lydia  C.  was  an  authoress, 
wife  of  Leonard  Searle.  Asa  G.  was  a painter,  poli- 
tician, State  Senator  (1841-43)  for  this  district,  and 
finally  editor  of  the  Wayne  County  Democrat,  at  Woos- 
ter, Ohio,  where  he  died.  John  H.,  a lawyer,  at 
Montrose.  David  died  at  sea.  Dr.  Gordon  Z.  Dim- 
ock, the  only  survivor  of  the  old  patriarch’s  family, 
resides  in  the  first  frame  house  that  was  built  in  the 
village,  which  was  moved  to  its  present  location 
many  years  ago,  which  saved  it  from  the  fire  that 
afterwards  destroyed  the  building  where  it  stood. 

David  Dimock,  the  father  of  Davis  Dimock,  was  a 
Revolutionary  soldier,  served  under  Washington. 
He  came  to  Wyoming  Valley  as  a.  land  agent,  and 
finally  came  to  Montrose,  and  lived  with  his  son  the 
latter  part  of  his  life.  He  was  eighty-six  when  he 
died,  and  was  active  almost  up  to  the  day  of  his 
death.  The  Dimocks  are  said  to  be  descended  from 


308 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


an  old  English  family,  and  can  trace  their  ancestry  to 
1060,  the  time  of  William  the  Conqueror.  Sir  Henry 
Dimock  was  challenger  for  King  George  the  IV. 
when  he  was  crowned,  which  was  the  last  time  that 
ceremony  has  ever  been  performed. 

Rev.  Albert  L.  Post,  son  of  Isaac  Post, 
was  born  at  Montrose  March  25,  1809.  He 
was  educated  at  Union  College  and  read  law 
with  William  Jessup.  He  was  admitted  to  the 
bar  in  1833;  he  practiced  law  for  a few  years 
and  was  deputy  attorney-general  in  1836.  In 
1837  he  began  the  publication  of  the  Spectator, 
a journal  devoted  to  the  freedom  of  the  colored 
race.  He  was  an  Abolitionist  when  it  was  un- 
popular to  be  identified  with  the  anti-slavery 
movement.  In  1841  he  was  ordained  to  the 
Christian  ministry,  and  devoted  much  of  his 
time  to  evangelistic  labors  in  connection  with 
the  Baptist  Church,  of  which  he  was  a member. 
He  was  a man  of  Christian  integrity  and  con- 
scientiousness, and  would  rather  suffer  than 
sacrifice  a principle.  Courageous  in  the  main- 
tenance of  what  he  felt  to  be  right,  yet  he  was 
as  gentle  as  a little  child  in  the  simplicity  of  his 
life.  Ever  the  friend  of  the  oppressed,  he  lived 
for  the  benefit  of  others.  He  not  only  talked  in 
favor  of  freedom  for  the  colored  man,  but  assisted 
the  poor  fugitives  when  they  came  to  Montrose 
from  their  homes  of  bondage  in  the  South.  He 
lived  to  see  the  principles  which  he  had  advoca- 
ted triumphant.  His  wife  was  a daughter  of 
Joseph  Williams,  an  old  settler  of  Bridgewater  ; 
their  only  son  was  Isaac  J.  Post,  of  Scranton. 
Rev.  Albert  L.  Post  died  at  Montrose  January 
7,  1887.  During  his  life  he  wrote  a number  of 
obituaries  and  reminiscences.  His  diary  also 
contains  many  historical  facts,  and  for  many 
facts  in  relation  to  the  early  hi.story  of  Montrose 
the  writer  is  indebted  to  him,  as  preserved  in 
his  writings  and  the  writino-s  of  his  father. 

The  present  pastor.  Rev.  E.  W.  Husted  was 
born  in  the  city  of  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  July  24, 
1859.  His  education,  acquired  at  the  best 
schools  in  his  native  city,  and  at  Hamilton 
Theological  Seminary,  has  been  supplemented 
and  rounded  out  by  quite  extensive  European 
travel.  He  graduated  at  Hamilton  in  June, 
1884,  and  was  ordained  here  on  the  24th  of 
August  of  the  same  year.  He  was  married 


January  29,  1885,  to  Miss  Viola  Harris,  of 
Brooklyn,  H.  Y.,  a lady  who,  by  talent  and  cul- 
ture, is  eminently  qualified  for  the  work  to 
which  she  has  been  called. 

^ Montrose  Presbyterian  Church. — For 
a considerable  period  previous  to  the  organizing 
of  the  church,  occasional  services  were  held 
among  the  Presbyterians  and  Congregationalists 
living  within  Bridgewater  township.  Such 
services  have  been  traced  back  as  far  as  to  the 
summer  of  1802  ; and  there  are  records  of  the 
baptism  of  several  children  previous  to  the  or- 
ganizing of  the  church. 

On  the  3d  day  of  July,  1810,  a company  met 
at  the  house  of  Joseph  Raynsford,  about  one 
and  a half  miles  south  of  Montrose,  and  a Con- 
gregational Church  was  organized  by  the  Rev. 
Ebenezer  Kingsbury,  then  a missionary  of  the 
Connecticut  Missionary  Society,  and  afterwards 
pastor  at  Harford,  assisted  by  the  Rev.  M.  M. 
York,  pastor  of  the  Congregational  Church  at 
Wyalusing.  The  following  persons  then  present 
signed  the  covenant  and  entered  into  church  fel- 
lowship on  that  day  : viz.,  Moses  Tyler,  Phineas 
Arms,  Edmund  Stone,  Simeon  Tyler,  Samuel 
Davis,  Amos  West,  Anna  Davis,  Esther  Lath- 
roji,  Sarah  Tyler,  Anna  Raynsford,  Hannah 
Fuller  and  Hannah  Raynsford.  Mo.ses  Tyler 
was  chosen  deacon,  and  Phineas  Arms  clerk. 

Miss  Blackman  states  (“History  of  Susque- 
hanna County,”  p.  337),  on  what  seems  to  be 
abundant  evidence,  that  “ the  sermon  on  this 
occasion  was  preached  in  the  barn  of  MYlter 
Lathrop,  near  the  barns  since  erected  by  his  son 
Daniel.”  This  was  situated  about  one-half  of  a 
mile  south  of  Mr.  Raynsford’s  house.  Meet- 
ings were  afterwards  frequently  held  in  that 
barn.  At  the  first  meeting  of  the  church  which 
followed,  it  was  voted  that  “Each  member 
should  pay  twelve  and  one-half  cents  for  the 
Communion  Table.” 

At  the  first  communion  season  following  its 
organization,  fourteen  additional  members  were 
received  into  the  church  and  twenty-one  chil- 
dren and  adults  were  baptized.  In  January  of 
the  following  year  (1811)  Rev.  Joseph  Wood, 
a Congregationalist  minister,  was  called  to  be 


1 By  Rev.  A.  L.  Beuton. 


MONTROSE. 


309 


pastor  of  the  church  on  a salary  of  two  hundred 
and  sixty  dollars  for  the  first  year,  and  to  increase 
ten  dollars  annnally  until  it  should  reach  three 
hundred  dollars.  He  was  to  labor  half  of  the 
time  with  this  church  and  half  with  what  is  now 
the  Brooklyn  Church.  The  call  was  accepted, 
and  he  was  installed  June  19th  of  the  same 
year  by  the  Luzerne  Association,  and  continued 
pastor  until  September  24,  1815.  During 
this  period,  and  for  a year  later,  the  services  of 
the  church  were  held  most  of  the  time  at  South 
Montrose,  in  the  school-house  or  at  the  resi- 
dence of  Zebulon  Deans,  near  the  school-house. 
But  occasionally  they  were  at  some  other  private 
house. 


FIRST  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH. 

In  the  autumn  of  1816  services  began  to  bo 
held  at  Montrose  village,  at  first  in  the  court- 
house and  later  in  the  academy.  For  several 
years  they  were  divided,  or  alternated  between 
Montrose  village  and  the  South  District.  The 
church  had  no  regular  pastor  after  ]\Ir.  Wood 
left,  but  was  supplied  at  irregular  times  by 
missionaries  or  neighboring  pastors,  until  early 
in  1818,  when  Rev.  Gideon  N.  Judd,  a gradu- 


ate of  Union  College  and  Princeton  Theological 
Seminary,  became  stated  supply.  The  church 
had  then  increased  to  over  sixty  members.  It 
was  during  his  ministry  that  the  academy  began 
to  be  used  for  church  purposes.  The  salarv  of 
the  minister  was  more  than  double  that  first 
given,  and  their  purpose  to  fully  pay  it  is  mani- 
fest in  a vote  taken  June  5,  1819,  to  as.ses.s 
“all  arrearages  remaining  unpaid,  to  everv 
member  of  the  church  in  proportion  to  the 
valuation  of  their  property.”  And  the  fact  that 
this  was  carried  unanimously  was  a very  good 
guarantee  for  its  payment.  At  the  same  meet- 
ing a board  of  trustees  was  chosen  for  the  so- 
ciety. This  board  consisted  of  Josejih  Butter- 
field, Isaac  P.  Foster,  Zebulou  Dean.s,  Benja- 
min Sayre  and  Elizur  Price.  During  the  min- 
istry of  Mr.  Judd  the  first  Sabbath-school  in 
this  town  was  organized,  of  which  the  Sabbath- 
school  of  this  church  is  the  legitimate  successor. 
It  was  in  the  upper  room  of  a public-hou.se,  on 
Sabbath  afternoon,  October  14,  1818,  and  con- 
sisted of  six  scholars  and  two  teachers.  Mr. 
Judd  continued  to  be  the  .stated  supply  of  the 
church  until  May  21,  1820,  when  he  closed  his 
labors  here  to  accept  a call  to  Bloomfield,  X.  J. 
The  church  was  then  irregularly  supplied  until 
February  20,  1822,  when,  at  a church-meeting 
held  at  the  house  of  Reuben  Wells,  “ it  was 
agreed  that  a special  invitation  from  the  church 


be  given  to  Rev. 


Enoch  Conger  to  come  and 


preach  with  us  as  soon  as  consistent.”  Mr, 
Conger  supplied  the  church  for  some  mouths. 

At  a meeting  of  the  church,  held  September 
12,  1823,  Rev.  G.  X.  Judd  (then  visiting  in  the 
place)  presiding,  it  was  unanimously  voted  to 
ado])t  the  Presbyterian  form  of  government 
and  elect  .seven  elders,  and  the  following  per- 
sons were  elected  to  such  office,  viz.  : Phineas 
Arms,  Zebulon  Deans,  Reuben  Wells,  IMoses 
Tyler,  Joshua  W.  Raynsford,  Benjamin  Sayre 
and  Jerre  Lyons.  IMr.  Lyons  immediately 
tendered  his  resignation  and  nominated  Isaac 
P.  Foster  for  his  place,  aiul  IMr.  Foster  was 
unanimously  chosen.  About  six  years  later,  or 
August  4,  1829,  iMr.  I.,yons  was  re-clectcd  and 
ordained  as  an  elder,  together  with  William 
Jessup.  The.se  first  ciders  were  ordained  by 
Mr.  Judd  during  a meeting  of  the  Presbytery 


310 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


of  Susquehanna,  in  session  at  IMontrose,  Sep- 
tember 16,  1823.  In  this  same  year  Rev.  Burr 
Baldwin,  a graduate  of  Yale  College  and  An- 
dover Theological  Seminary,  then  in  his  early 
manhood  and  having  had  considerable  experi- 
ence as  a teacher  as  well  as  a preacher,  and  at 
that  time  agent  for  the  United  Board  of  Foreign 
IMissions,  came  into  this  region  for  his  health, 
and,  having  preached  here,  was  called  to  the 
pastorate  of  this  church.  His  installation  took 
place  September  22,  1824.  Entering  upon  his 
work  with  characteristic  earnestness,  great 
prosperity  attended  his  labors.  Instead  of  half 
a day  at  South  Moutro.se,  both  services  from 
this  time  were  held  in  the  court-house  here. 
Feeling  the  need  of  a hou.se  of  worship,  he 
sought  to  secure  one  and  was  successful.  During 
his  ministry  the  first  meeting-house  was  built, 
on  the  lot  where  now  stands  the  present  church 
edifice.  This  was  dedicated  June  22,  1826. 
Revival  scenes  soon  followed.  Thirty-five 
members  were  received  into  the  church  this 
year  on  confession  of  faith,  and  among  them 
were  many  efficient  workers.  The  church  was 
greatly  prospered  under  his  wise  ministry,  which 
closed  in  May,  1829. 

IMr.  Baldwin,  after  leaving  this  place,  was 
pastor  at  New  Hartford,  Conn.,  and  Ashland, 
Ma.«s.  He  was  nine  years  teacher  at  Newark, 
N.  J.,  and  did  much  missionary  work  within 
the  bounds  of  Montrose  Presbytery,  supplying 
feeble  churche.s,  planting  new  ones,  raising 
money  to  build  sanctuaries  and  to  support  min- 
isters. At  the  age  of  sixty-seven  he  made  a 
tour  of  inspection  through  Texas,  under  the 
auspices  of  the  Southern  Aid  Society.  Return- 
ing, he  gave  a few  more  years’  missionary  work 
in  Montrose  and  Genessee  Valley  Presbyteries. 
Then  he  was  post  chaplain  in  Eastern  Virginia. 
At  seventy-six  he  began  a year’s  missionary 
work  in  Southeastern  New'  Y’ork.  After  this 
he  spent  a graceful  old  age  in  retirement,  but 
not  in  idleness,  among  the  people  of  his  former 
charge  in  Montrose,  and  died  January  23, 1880, 
aged  ninety-one  years  and  four  days. 

In  tiie  autumn  of  1829  the  session  directed 
that  their  moderator  and  clerk  sign  an  invita- 
tion to  Rev.  Daniel  Deruelle,  of  New'  Jersey,  a 
graduate  of  Princeton  Seminary,  to  come  and 


preach  for  one  year.  He  was  afterward  called 
to  the  pastorate  and  installed  in  June,  1830.  A 
man  of  fine  physique,  of  fervid  eloquence  and 
earnest  piety,  under  his  ministry  the  member- 
ship of  the  church  was  greatly  increased.  One 
hundred  and  twelve  were  added  to  it  on  confes- 
sion of  faith  during  the  three  years  of  his 
pastorate,  which  closed  in  1833.  ’Within  this 
period  (in  January,  1831)  the  first  church. bell 
of  the  borough  was  purchased  and  used  by  this 
congregation.  In  the  latter  part  of  his  ministry 
the  people  w^ere  much  moved  and  became  some- 
what divided  in  sentiment  respecting  the 
measures  and  methods  of  an  evangelist  who 
labored  for  a time  with  them.  The  good  pastor 
was  much  grieved  at  the  want  of  entire  har- 
mony among  his  people  for  such  a cause.  And 
when  he  came  to  preach  his  farewell  sermon  he 
announced  his  text  (Gen.  xlv.  24):  “See  that  ye 
fall  liot  out  by  the  way,”  and  was  so  overcome 
by  his  feelings  that  he  burst  into  tears,  and  sat 
dow’ii.  One  of  the  officers  of  the  church  seeing 
that  the  pastor  would  be  unable  to  go  on  with 
his  sermon,  dismissed  the  congregation.  Mr. 
Deruelle,  after  retiring  from  the  work  here, 
spent  some  time  as  agent  of  the  Board  of  Edu- 
cation, that  he  might  improve  his  health  by 
such  active  labors  and  travel.  He  died  in 
North  Carolina,  March  4,  1858,  while  riding  in 
his  carriage  pursuing  his  work  as  agent  of  the 
American  Bible  Society. 

Soon  after  the  retirement  of  Mr.  Deruelle, 
the  Rev.  Timothy  Stow,  a graduate  of  Hamil- 
ton College  and  Auburn  Theological  Seminary, 
w'as  called  to  the  pastorate.  He  came  here  in 
January,  1834,  and  was  installed  the  June  fol- 
low'ing.  After  a successful  ministry  of  four 
years,  suffering  from  bronchial  difficulties,  he 
ceased  his  labors  in  the  spring  of  1838.  He 
died  at  Lawrence,  Mich.,  October  13,  1860. 

The  next  pastorate  was  that  of  Rev.  Henry 
A.  Riley.  Born  in  New  York  City,  a gradu- 
ate of  the  University  of  Pennsylvania,  he 
studied  law  for  a few  months  and  then  entered 
the  Medical  Department  of  the  University, 
from  which  he  was  graduated  in  1825.  After 
practicing  medicine  about  four  years  in  his 
native  city,  he  entered  Princeton  Theological 
Seminary  and  graduated  in  1832.  In  1835  he 


MONTROSE. 


311 


was  ordained  and  installed  pastor  of  what  is 
now  the  West  Twenty-third  Street  Church,  of 
New  York,  from  which  he  came  here  upon  a 
unanimous  call  from  this  church.  His  labors 
here  commenced  January  20,  1839,  and  he 
was  installed  March  12,  1840.  A house  hav- 
ing been  promised  him  in  the  call,  a parsonage 
was  built  on  the  lot  still  used  for  the  same  pur- 
pose, and  was  first  occupied  in  June,  1842. 
With  great  ability,  candor  and  earnestness  in 
the  pulpit,  and  a tender  and  faithfid  pastor  out 
of  it,  his  ministry  was  one  of  marked  success. 
The  old  church  edifice  which  has  been  in  use 
for  thirty-three  years,  being  found  insufficient 
for  their  needs,  it  was  decided  to  build  a new 
one.  The  old  church  was  used  for  tlte  last  time 
for  public  worship  March  25,  1860,  at  which 
time  a tender  communion  service  was  held.  The 
preceding  day  had  been  a reunion  and  memorial 
day  in  the  church.  The  corner-stone  of  the 
new  edifice  was  laid  June  13,  1860,  and  the 
completed  house  of  worship  was  dedicated  Feb- 
ruary 5,  1862.  Greatly  beloved  by  his  peo- 
ple, Mr.  Riley  resigned  his  charge  after  a pas- 
torate of  twenty-five  years,  and  preached  his 
farewell  sermon  December  27,  1863.  The 
remainder  of  his  days  were  spent  among  the 
people  whom  he  had  served  so  long  and  so 
faithfully.  He  died  March  17,  1878. 

A few  months  after  Mr.  Riley  retired,  Au- 
gust 20,  1864,  the  Rev.  Jacob  G.  Miller,  a 
graduate  of  Williams  College  and  of  Auburn 
Theological  Seminary,  then  settled  pastor  at 
Branford,  Conn.,  received  a unanimous  call  to 
this  field.  The  call  was  accepted  and  the  pastor- 
elect  was  installed  October  13,  1864.  This, 
like  the  preceding  pastorate,  was  marked  by 
stability  and  success.  It  was  attended  with 
steady  growth  to  the  church,  and  with  some 
revivals  of  great  power.  And  when,  after  sev- 
enteen years  of  faithful  service,  the  pastor,  with 
impaired  health  and  greatly  beloved,  resigned 
his  charge,  he  left  an  enduring  monument  in 
a strong,  well-equipped  church,  which  he  had 
done  much  to  establish.  Dr.  Miller  preached 
his  farewell  sermon  November  20,  1881. 

After  a year  spent  at  Marathon,  N.  Y.,  he  be- 
came pastor  of  the  Congregational  Church  at 
Manchester,  Iowa,  where  he  still  resides. 


Rev.  A.  L.  Benton  is  the  son  of  Chester  and 
Tirza  Porter  Loomis  Benton,  natives  of  Con- 
necticut, who  resided  in  Cortland,  N.  Y.,  most 
of  their  lives,  and  wei-e  members  of  the  Presby- 
terian Church  there.  He  was  born  in  Cortland 
November  9,  1831,  prepared  for  college  at  the 
academy  at  Cortland,  and,  after  a four  years’ 
course,  was  graduated  at  Hamilton  College  in 
the  class  of  ’56,  and,  after  a three  years’  course, 
he  was  graduated  at  Auburn  Theological  Semi- 
nary in  the  class  of  ’59.  He  supplied  the  First 
Presbyterian  Church  of  Milwaukee,  Wis.,  for 
five  mouths,  and  in  January,  1860,  married 
Emma,  daughter  of  General  Halsey  Sanford,  of 
Ovid,  N.  Y.  In  the  same  month  he  accepted  a 
call  from  the  Presbyterian  Church  at  Lima, 
N.  Y.,  where  he  continued  his  ministerial  labors 
for  eleven  years.  In  the  autumn  of  1870  he 
accepted  a call  to  become  college  pastor,  with 
Rev.  Dr.  John  C.  Lord,  over  the  Central  Pres- 
byterian Church  of  Buffalo,  N.  Y.,  where  he 
remained  until  the  autumn  of  1872,  when,  un- 
der a call  from  the  Presbyterian  Church  at 
Fredonia,  N.  Y.,  he  began  his  labors  there, 
which  continued  for  nine  and  one-half  years. 
In  May,  1882,  Elder  Benton  was  called  to  the 
Presbyterian  Church  at  Montrose,  Pa.;  was  in- 
stalled its  pastor  on  November  25th,  following. 

The  old  parsonage,  which  had  served  as  the 
pastor’s  home  for  forty  years,  being  in  need  of 
extensive  repairs,  it  was  thought  best  to  remove 
it  and  build  new.  Consequently,  the  old  house 
was  sold  and  the  beautiful,  commodious  and 
convenient  parsonage  now  in  use  was  built  on 
the  same  lot.  The  pastor  and  his  family  moved 
into  it  in  the  winter  of  1883-84. 

The  present  membership  of  the  church  is 
three  hundred  and  seventy-two.  The  contribu- 
tions of  the  church  for  the  year  ending  April 
1,  1887,  were:  For  missionary  purpose.s,  seven- 
teen hundred  and  twelve  dollars ; and  for  home 
expenses,  thirty-two  Imndred  and  ninety-two 
dollars. 

The  Sabbath, -School  of  the  church  numbers 
about  two  hundred  and  twenty  .scholars,  witli 
twenty-two  teachers.  Organized  in  1818  in  a 
public-house,  its  first  teachers  were  Joshua  W . 
Rayn.sford,  with  Mi.ss  IMary  Fuller,  in  whose 
father’s  house  it  was  first  held.  J.  Ah  Rayns- 


312 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


ford  was  doubtless  its  first  superintendent.  June 
3,  1819,  the  school  was  moved  from  the  place 
of  its  organization  into  the  academy  building. 
Holding  it  in  a public-school  building  aroused 
opposition  to  the  school,  as  being  a desecration 
of  the  Sabbath.  It  was  thought  to  be  an  un- 
justifiable use  of  the  day.  This  led  the  trustees 
of  the  academy  to  close  their  doors  against  it. 
It  then  went  into  a room  furnished  by  Benja- 
min Sayre,  and  Miss  Hannah  Cochran  became 
superintendent.  In  1822  the  school  numbered 
ninety  scholars  and  eleven  teachers.  June  11, 
1826,  it  was  held  for  the  first  time  in  the  new 
Presbyterian  Church.  In  1829  it  was  reorgan- 
ized, and  Hon.  William  Jessup  was  chosen 
superintendent,  which  office  he  held  with  great 
usefulness  and  succe.ss  until  1849,  or  for  twenty 
years — with  the  exception  of  about  two  years, 
when  Hon.  Benjamin  S.  Bentley  was  superin- 
tendent. 

In  1830,  by  an  equitable  arrangement,  the 
Baptist  portion  of  the  school  withdrew,  to  or- 
ganize a Sabbath-school  of  their  own.  In  1849 
Hon.  William  H.  Jessup,  son  of  the  former 
superintendent,  succeeded  his  father,  and  contin- 
ued its  superintendent  until  April,  1886,  when 
other  duties  compelled  him  to  resign.  This 
prolonged  superintendence  was  marked  by  sig- 
nal succe.ss  in  the  maintained  interest  of  the 
.school  and  the  conversion  of  many  scholars. 
Judge  Jessup  retired  from  the  office  greatly  be- 
loved, after  thirty-six  years  of  faithful  service, 
but  retains  his  intere.st  and  his  place  in  the 
school.  The  pastor  was  chosen  to  succeed  him, 
with  Professor  A.  H.  Berlin  and  S.  M.  Foster 
as  assistants.  After  one  year  Professor  Berlin 
was  made  superintendent  and  Mr.  Fo.ster  assist- 
ant. 

The  church  has  sent  out  eleven  ministers,  five 
of  whom  became  foreign  missionaries.  These 
were  : — 

Rev.  William  Arms,  son  of  Phineas  Arms, 
one  of  the  original  members  and  one  of  the 
first  elders  of  the  church.  He  was  received  into 
the  church  March  16,  1816.  For  a period  he 
was  engaged  in  missionary  work  in  Patagonia. 
Then  he  was  in  the  same  work  in  Borneo,  until 
failing  health  compelled  him  to  relinquish  it. 

Rev.  Oliver  Butterfield  was  sou  of  Joshua 


Butterfield,  oue  of  the  first  trustees  of  the 
church.  He  united  with  it  in  1821.  He  served 
for  a period  the  Congregational  Church  of 
South  Britain,  Conn.,  and  died  at  New  Haven 
in  1848. 

Rev.  Lorenzo  Lyons,  brother  of  Elder  Jerre 
Lyon.s,  united  with  the  church  April  6,  1823. 
Graduating  at  Union  College  and  Auburn  The- 
ological Seminary,  he  gave  himself  to  the  for- 
eign mission  work,  and  sailed  for  the  Sandwich 
Islands  in  1832.  Here,  with  great  delight  and 
devotion,  he  continued  his  work,  never  stopping 
to  again  visit  his  native  land  and  home,  and 
died  at  the  islands  October  6,  1886,  at  eighty 
years  of  age. 

Rev.  James  W.  Raynor  was  received  into  the 
church  May  24,  1840.  Graduating  at  Amherst 
College,  he  studied  theology  in  part  at  Union 
Theological  Seminary,  and  in  part  under  private 
instruction.  Licensed  by  Montrose  Presbytery, 
most  of  his  labors  have  been  within  its  limits. 
He  has  faithfully  served  the  churches  at  Upson- 
ville,  Spriugville,  Le  Raysville,  Mt.  Pleasant 
and  Unioudale,  and  has  recently  closed  a second 
term  of  over  six  years’  service  in  the  Franklin 
Church,  at  Upsonville,  He  now  resides  at 
Montrose,  in  quite  feeble  health. 

Rev.  J.  Lorenzo  Lyons,  son  of  Elder  Jerre 
Lyons,  was  received  into  the  church  August  16, 
1840.  Graduating  at  Williams  College  and 
Union  Theological  Seminary,  he  entered  the 
foreign  field.  After  some  years  of  service  at 
Sidon,  in  Syria,  failing  health  compelled  him  to 
relinquish  his  work  there  and  return  to  his 
native  country.  Here  he  was  for  many  years 
agent  for  the  American  Bible  Society,  residing 
in  Jacksonville,  Fla.  He  is  now  pastor  in 
charge  of  the"  Presbyterian  Church  at  Waldo, 
Fla. 

Rev.  Henry  H.  Jessup,  son  of  Elder  William 
Jessup,  united  with  the  church  October  1, 1843. 
Graduating  at  Yale  College  and  Union  Theo- 
logical Seminary,  he  sailed  for  Syria  in  1856. 
His  first  work  was  at  Sidon ; afterward  he  was 
stationed  at  Tripoli,  whence  he  went  to  Beirut, 
where  he  has  resided  many  years  in  labors  more 
abundant.  In  1879,  while  on  a brief  visit  to  his 
native  land,  being  chosen  to  represent  his  Pres- 
bytery in  the  General  Assembly,  he  was  elected 


MONTROSE. 


313 


its  moderator.  Being  absent  from  the  country 
the  following  year,  and  so  unable  to  preach  the 
opening  sermon  of  the  next  Assembly,  as  is 
customary  for  the  retiring  moderator,  he  was 
providentially  called  to  this  service  in  1884, 
while  on  a brief  sojourn  in  this  country,  after 
nearly  thirty  years  of  service  in  Syria.  The 
moderator  of  the  preceding  Assembly  had  died, 
and  he,  as  the  last  moderator  present,  was  called 
to  this  high  service.  Returning  to  Syria  in 
1885,  he  still  resides  at  Beirut,  where  he  has 
charge  of  the  large  native  church,  and  is  also 
instructor  in  the  Theological  Seminary  at 
Abeih. 

Rev.  Samuel  Jessup,  another  son  of  Elder 
Wm.  Jessup,  was  received  into  the  church  Oc- 
tober 5,  1849.  Graduating  from  Yale  College 
and  Union  Theological  Seminary,  he  served  as 
chaplain  in  the  army  during  the  early  part  of 
the  war.  In  1862  he  sailed  for  Syria  and  was 
engaged  in  missionary  work  at  Tripoli  until 
1885,  when  he  was  called  to  Beirut,  where  he 
still  resides.  He  has  charge  of  the  extensive 
work  of  the  mission  press  there,  and  also  edits 
an  Arabic  newspaper. 

Rev.  Bentley  S;  Foster  united  with  the 
church  May  5,  1850.  Graduating  from  Wil- 
liams College  and  Union  Theological  Seminary, 
he  has  been  a faithful  pa.stor  at  Dunmore,  in 
this  State,  at  Nunda,  in  New  York,  and  of 
churches  in  New  Jersey  and  in  Michigan.  He 
is  now  pastor  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  at 
South  Amboy,  N.  J. 

Rev.  Elisha  Mulford  united  with  the  church 
Api’il  4,  1852.  Graduating  at  Yale  College 
and  Andover  Theological  Seminary,  he  spent 
two  years  in  travel  and  study  in  Germany.  He 
then  entered  the  Episcopal  mini.stry  and  was 
rector  for  a term  of  years  at  Orange,  N.  J.  He 
is  widely  known  as  the  author  of  “ The  Na- 
tion ” and  “ The  Republic  of  God.”  While 
filling  the  chair  of  lecturer  in  theology  in  the 
Episcopal  Theological  School  at  Cambridge, 
Mass.,  he  died  December  9,  1885,  aged  fifty- 
two  years.  (See  more  full  notice  elsewhere.) 

Rev.  Isaac  Riley,  sou  of  Rev.  Henry  A.  Riley, 
former  pastor  of  this  church,  united  with  the 
church  April  4,  1852.  Graduating  from  Yale 
College  and  Union  Theological  Seminary,  he 
20i 


was  successively  called  to  be  pastor  at  Middle- 
town,  Del.,  Pottsville,  Pa.,  Newark,  N.  J., 
and  Thirty-fourth  Street  Reformed  Church, 
New  York,  from  which  latter  place  he  was 
called  to  the  We.stminster  Presbyterian  Church 
of  Buffalo,  N.  Y.  Here,  after  a short  but  very 
successful  pastorate,  he  died  October  23,  1878, 
aged  forty-three  years. 

Rev.  Henry  J.  Crane  united  with  the  church 
April  28,  1856.  Graduating  from  the  Univer- 
sity of  New  York  and  Union  Theological 
Seminary,  he  has  been  settled  successively  at 
Wysox,  Hunter,  N.  Y.,  Gibson  and  Ararat, 
and  is  now  in  his  tenth  year  at  Nicholson,  a 
pastor  beloved. 

William  Jessup,  son  of  Rev.  Dr.  H.  H. 
Jessup,  was  received  into  the  church  January  3, 
1879.  Graduating  at  Princeton  College  in 
1886,  he  is  now  pursuing  his  theological  studies 
at  Princeton  Seminary  preparatory  to  entering 
the  gospel  ministry. 

Two  other  young  men,  members  of  this 
church,  are  now  pursuing  their  studies,  one  in 
college,  and  the  other  preparing  for  college, 
with  a view  of  entering  upon  the  same  work. 

The  following  persons  have  served  as  ruling 
elders  in  the  church  since  the  adoption  of  the 
Presbyterian  form  of  government.  To  their 
wisdom  and  discretion,  as  well  as  piety,  is  due 
much  of  its  stability  and  prosperity,  viz. : 

1823,  Phinehas  Arms,  Reuben  Wells,  Moses 
Tyler,  Zebulon  Deans,  Joshua  AV.  Raynsford, 
Benjamin  Sayre,  Isaac  P.  Foster;  1829,  William 
Jessup,  Jerre  Lyons;  1835,  James  Deans 
Hugh  McCollum;  1840,  Josiah  Blackman, 
Benjamin  S.  Bentley  ; 1847,  Perrin  Wells,  Silas 
Perkins;  1850,  John  Trumbull;  1866,  La 
Fayette  Fitch,  George  V.  Bentley,  William  H. 
Jessup;  1872,  Calvin  C.  Halsey,  William  W. 
Smith,  Milton  Roy,  Edwin  Lathrop;  1878,  A. 
Jackson  Brewster,  Theodore  A.  Lyons,  Daniel 
Sayre;  1886,  Henry  Warner. 

* Methodist  Episcopal  Ciiukch  of  Mont- 
rose.— We  are  unable  to  give  the  date  when  the 
“ Methodist  Itinerant  ” first  visited  Montrose, 
though  it  is  certain  this  .somewhat  ubiquitous 
personage  made  his  presence  known  sometime 


' By  Rov.  U.  0.  McDermott. 


314 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


before  any  church  organization  of  this  denomi- 
nation was  formed.  The  old  Bridgewater  Cir- 
cuit was  organized  in  1813,  hut  a number  of 
years  elapsed  before  there  was  any  stated 
preaching  in  this  village,  and  it  was  not  until 
1841  that  a society  was  formed;  the  fact  is,  the 
ground  hereabouts  in  that  early  day  was  pre- 
occupied and  not  favorable  to  the  growth  of 
Methodism. 

At  the  session  of  the  Oneida  Annual  Confer- 
ence, in  the  year  named,  a uew  circuit  was 
formed  of  part  of  Brooklyn  and  Bridgewater, 
and  denominated  Montrose — the  village  of  that 
name  being  the  most  important  ])lace  within  its 
bounds.  The  appointments  in  the  new  circuit 
were  known  as  follows:  Montrose,  Miller  Hill, 
Franklin,  J.  Hancock’s,  B.  Shay’s,  M.  Hall’s, 
M.  McKeeby’.s,  Liberty,  Conklin,  Great  Bend 
and  New  Milford.  In  the  territory  embraced 
in  the  above  are  now  .six  thriving  charges.  The 
Rev.  E.  B.  Tenny  was  appointed  preacher  in 
charge,  and  the  Rev.  George  C.  Thompson 
assistant.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Tenny  lost  no  time, 
it  appears,  in  perfecting  a church  organization. 
Two  small  classes  of  the  old  Bridgewater  Circuit, 
the  one  meeting  at  South  Montrose  and  the 
one  meeting  in  a school-house  about  one  and 
one-half  miles  northeast  of  the  village  that  stood 
near  the  spot  where  Mott’s  factory  now  stands, 
were  united,  and  in  due  time  chartered  as  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  of  the  borough  of 
Montrose.  The  most  prominent  membei’s  of 
the  new  society  were  Timothy  D.  Shay  and 
wife,  Simeon  Lewis  and  wife,  Joseph  R.  Lewis 
and  wife,  George  W.  Crocker  and  wife,  Jacob 
Tewksbury  and  wife,  George  Lewis  and  Ariel 
Vaughn.  The  male  members  mentioned,  except 
George  Lewis,  constituted  the  first  board  of 
trustees.  Brother  J.  R.  Lewis  has  been  contin- 
uously a member  of  the  board  and  is  now  its 
president.  He,  with  Brother  Jacob  Tewks- 
bury and  Sister  Simeon  Lewis,  are  the  only 
surviving  members  of  the  original  class. 

The  place  of  worship  was  the  old  court- 
house, where  they  had  preaching  and  class- 
meeting once  in  two  weeks.  The  prayer -meet- 
ings were  held  in  private  houses. 

The  Methodists  held  their  services  in  the 
court-house  at  10.30  a.m.  and  the  Universalists 


at  1 P.M.,  and  frequently  the  latter  would  come 
in  and  ring  the  bell  for  their  worship  before 
the  former  were  through  with  class.  The 
society  continued  to  worship  in  the  court-house 
until  1845,  when  the  first  house  of  worship  was 
constructed.  The  initial  step  to  this  enterprise 
was  taken  April  20,  1844,  when,  at  a regular 
meeting  of  the  Quarterly  Conference,  Simeon 
Lewis,  George  W.  Crocker  and  Jacob  Tewks- 
bury were  appointed  a building  committee  for 
the  contemplated  chapel  at  Montrose. 

The  building  was  a frame,  thirty-eight  by 
fifty  feet,  with  galleries  on  sides  and  end,  and 
stood  on  a portion  of  the  ground  occupied  by 
the  present  edifice,  the  land  being  donated  by 
the  Hon.  William  Jessup.  The  cost  of  con- 
struction was  one  thousand  eight  hundred  dol- 
lars. The  church  was  dedicated  to  the  worship 
of  Almighty  God  by  the  Rev.  John  M.  Snyder, 
presiding  elder  of  the  district,  on  Thanksgiv- 
ing day,  1845.  The  Rev.  William  Round  was 
pastor  at  the  time  the  enterprise  was  completed, 
though  it  was  begun  under  the  administration 
of  his  predecessor,  the  Rev.  J.  R.  Boswell.  The 
growth  of  the  society  was  very  slow.  After  the 
dedication  of  the  new  church  divine  service 
was  held  every  Sabbath  instead  of  once  in  two 
weeks,  as  previously.  This  regime  continued 
for  about  twenty  years.  A small  band  of 
noble  and  brave  hearts  contended  earnestly  for 
the  cause  against  opposition  and  discourage- 
ments, slowly  but  surely  gaining  ground.  The 
Rev.  Luther  Peck,  who  was  appointed  to  Mont- 
rose in  April,  1865,  began  holding  services 
twice  on  the  Sabbath. 

At  the  ensuing  session  of  Wyoming  Confer- 
ence the  circuit  was  divided  and  Montrose 
erected  into  a station,  outside  classes  were 
detached,  and  the  work  in  the  village  started  on 
an  independent  basis.  The  membership  at  the 
close  of  that  year  was  reported  at  ninety-two. 
There  was  but  little  change  in  relative  strength 
of  the  membership  until  the  autumn  of  1872, 
when,  under  the  labors  of  the  pastor.  Rev.  A. 
D.  Alexander,  a marvelous  revival  of  religion 
occurred,  “ stirring  the  entire  community  as 
with  a mighty  earthquake.”  Hundreds  were 
converted  to  God,  many  of  them  the  most  sub- 
stantial citizens  of  the  vicinity.  The  results  to 


MONTROSE. 


315 


the  general  cause  of  Christ  were  most  precious. 
Other  churches  shared  largely  in  the  ingather- 
ing, but  the  Methodist  Church  found  itself  sud- 
denly lifted  into  strength  in  numbers  and 
influence.  The  membership  at  the  commence- 
ment of  the  Conference  year  of  1872  was 
ninety-four;  at  the  close  of  that  year  it  was 
three  hundred  and  twenty-nine. 

One  prominent  result  of  that  awakening  was 
the  inauguration  of  a new  church  enterprise. 
The  congregation  had  overgrown  the  church 
accommodations,  and  it  became  imperative  either 
to  enlarge  or  build  anew.  After  prolonged 
consultation  the  latter  was  decided  upon.  The 
removal  of  Brother  Alexander  at  the  end  of 
his  second  year  caused  some  dissatisfaction  and 
considerable  alienation  to  the  new  church  enter- 
prise. But  the  new  pastor,  the  Rev.  W.  J. 
Judd,  aided  by  a noble  few,  pressed  forward 
with  commendable  zeal.  A subscription  list  of 
nine  thousand  dollars  was  secured.  In  August 
the  old  church  was  removed  from  where  it  had 
stood  for  nearly  thirty  years,  and  the  corner-stone 
of  the  new  edifice  was  laid.  Thenewbuildingwas 
seventy-seven  by  forty-five  feet,  with  transept 
thirty -two  by  thirty-six  feet.  E.  L.  Weeks, 
J.  I).  Goodwin  and  S.  F.  Lane  were  selected  as 
building  committee.  E.  L.  Weeks  was  given 
the  general  super! ntendency,  and  day  help 
was  employed.  The  work  proceeded  without 
especial  incident  until  the  sev'ere  winter  com- 
pelled a suspension.  In  the  spring  of  1874 
another  change  of  pastors  occurred,  and  the 
Rev.  W,  L.  Thorpe  was  assigned  to  this  field. 
In  the  meantime  what  proved  to  be  the  severest 
financial  depression  the  country  has  known 
came  on.  One  result  was  to  render  worthless 
about  two  thousand  of  the  above-named  sub- 
scription. In  August  the  building  committee 
concluded  a contract  with  W.  J.  Gordon  to 
complete  the  work  (except  slating)  for  and  in 
consideration  of  the  sum  of  four  thoasand 
eight  hundred  and  fifty  dollars  and  the  material 
on  hand.  In  November  a severe  wind-storm 
blew  down  the  nearly-finished  spire,  entailing 
an  additional  expense  of  about  one  thousand 
dollars.  The  contract  price  being  too  low,  it 
became  necessary  for  the  committee  to  expend 
two  thousand  dollars  more  to  secure  the  comple- 


tion of  the  building.  The  ladies  of  the  church 
and  congregation  provided  for  the  furnishing. 
Bishop  E.  G.  Andrews  dedicated  the  new  house 
of  worship  May  16,  1875.  Rev.  B.  I.  Ives 
managed  the  finances.  The  cost  of  con.struction 
was  about  seventeen  thousand  dollars,  and 
though  enough  was  subscribed  to  cover  this 
amount,  yet  such  were  the  circumstances  and 
the  severity  of  the  financial  depression  that, 
after  all  available  subscriptions  were  secured, 
the  society  found  itself  about  six  thousand  dol- 
lars in  debt.  During  the  second  year  of  Brother 
Thorpe’s  pastorate  another  precious  revival  of 
religion  occurred,  resulting  in  seventy-five  addi- 
tions to  the  church.  For  several  years  succeed- 
ing, the  society  passed  through  great  trials.  It 
was  tried  in  a furnace  of-  affliction.  There  was 
much  dissatisfaction  among  the  members — a 
number  withdrew,  the  love  of  others  waxed 
cold,  and  the  interest  decreased  rather  than 
increased.  During  the  pastorate  of  the  Rev. 
H.  H.  Dresser  a determined  effort  was  made 
to  liquidate  the  indebtedness,  and  about  three 
thousand  five  hundred  dollars  was  secured  and 
paid.  The  remainder  of  the  bonded  indebted- 
ness against  the  church  was  paid  about  one 
year  ago,  largely  through  the  efforts  of  the 
present  pastor  and  the  liberality  of  Mr.  Clem- 
uel  R.  Woodin.  In  1878  the  tall  and  beautiful 
spire  was  found  to  be  unsafe  and  had  to  be 
taken  down.  In  the  autumn  of  1886  a neat 
and  graceful  spire  was  built,  and  the  church 
edifice  repainted.  The  present  parsonage  was 
purchased  in  1856. 

The  society  is  now  peaceful  and  prosperous. 
During  the  present  winter  a very  precious 
revival  of  religion  has  occurred,  resulting  in 
over  one  hundred  accessions.  The  present 
membership  is  two  hundred  and  eighty-seven, 
the  Sunday-school  is  large  and  increasing,  and 
the  prospect  before  this  society  was  never 
brighter. 

Many  persons  might  be  worthily  named,  and 
much  interesting  matter  of  a personal  nature 
might  be  presented,  but  space  forbids. 

The  following  is  a consecutive  list  of  the 
presiding  elders,  pastors  and  assistant  pastors 
wlio  have  served  this  charge,  with  the  dates  of 
their  ai)pointment  and  jieriods  of  service  : 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


31  () 

Presiding  Elders:  Revs.  D.  Holmes,  Jr., 
1841,  two  years;  John  M.  Snyder,  1843,  four 
years  ; D.  A.  Shepard,  1847,  three  years  ; Fitch 
Reed,  1850,  two  years ; F.  Paddock,  1852, 
three  years;  G.  Landon,  1854,  four  years;  G. 

H.  Blakeslee,  1859,  Four  years  ; H.  Browns- 
combe,  1863,  four  years;  D.  C.  Olmstead,  1867, 
four  years;  Luther  Peck,  1871,  four  years; 

I.  T.  Walker,  1875,  three  years;  William  Bix- 
by,  1878,  two  years;  J.  G.  Eckman,  1880,  four 
years;  and  the  present  incumbent,  the  Rev.  Wil- 
liam H.  Olin,  D.D.,  who  was  appointed  in 
1884. 

Pastors  : Revs.  E.  B.  Tenny,  1841,  two  years  ; 

J.  R.  Boswell,  1843,  two  years;  William  Round, 
1845,  two  years;  Asa  Brooks,  1847,  one  year  ; 
G.  P.  Porter,  1848,  one  year;  E.  B.  Tenny, 
1849,  one  year  ; John  Mulkey,  1850,  two  years; 
P.  Bartlett,  1852,  two  years;  Joseph  Whitt- 
ham,  1854,  one  year;  S.  S.  Barter,  1855,  two 
years;  B.  B.  Emory,  1857,  two  years;  J.  K. 
Peck,  1859,  two  years;  R.  Van  Valkenburg, 
1861,  two  years  ; A.  H.  Schoonmaker,  1863, 
two  years ; Luther  Peck,  1865,  three  years  ; 
J.  L.  Legg,  1868,  one  year;  King  Elwell, 
1869,  two  years  ; A.  D.  Alexander,  1871,  two 
years  ; W.J.  Judd,  1873,  one  year ; W.  L.  Thorpe, 
1874,  three  years;  L.  Cole,  1877,  one  year; 
W.  B.  Westlake,  1878,  one  year ; H.  H.  Dresser, 
1879,  three  years;  T.  Harroun,  1882,  three 
years ; and  the  present  incumbent,  H.  C.  Mc- 
Dermott, appointed  in  1885. 

Assistant  Pastors:  George  C.  Thompson, 
1841,  two  years  ; N.  S.  Dewitt,  1843,  one  year; 
R.  S.  Rose,  1846,  one  year;  D.  Torry,  1847, 
two  years;  G.  W.  Ijeach,  1849,  one  year;  W. 
B.  Thomas,  1853,  one  year ; D.  Thompson, 
1854,  one  year;  John  Mulkey,  1860,  one  year; 
William  Shelp,  1865,  one  year.  All  of  these 
have  done  heroic  work  for  the  church  ; a num- 
ber subsequently  became  presiding  elders  in 
,this  or  other  districts,  and  several  have  achieved 
some  distinction  in  the  line  of  authorship.  Ko 
full  history  of  the  Sunday-school  could  be  pre- 
pared, so  we  have  not  attempted  any.  The  school 
is  in  a very  flourishing  condition.  C.  S.  Page, 
Esq.,  is  superintendent. 

St.  Paul’s  Church.’ — The  first  record  of 


any  Episcopal  service  in  Montrose  is  found  in 
tlie  local  papers  under  date  of  March  30,  1828. 
This,  as  were  most  of  the  occasional  services 
subsequent  thereto,  was  held  in  the  old  court- 
house, even  after  a charter  was  obtained,  bear- 
ing date  December  20,  1830. 


ST.  PAUL’S  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH. 


Tiie  first  Episcopal  visitation  was  made  by 
Bishop  Onderdonk,  October  5,  1829,  when  J. 
W.  Raynsford,  Esq.,  wife  and  daughter,  and 
John  Street  and  wife,  were  confirmed.  These 
five  persons  constituted  the  beginning  of  St. 
Paul’s  Church  in  Montrose.  It  is  probable  that 
Mr.  Raynsford  was  instrumental  in  procuring 
the  first  services,  it  being  the  tradition  of  the 
parish  that  he,  accidentally  becoming  posses.sed 
of  a copy  of  the  Book  of  Common  Prayer,  was 
led  by  the  study  of  its  contents  to  the  adoption 
of  the  emblem  of  the  church,  “ Evangelical 
Truth  and  Apostolic' Order.”  He  was  a man 
of  great  integrity  and  distinguished  for  remark- 
able practical  gifts,  being  active  in  all  the  reli- 
gious, educational,  business  and  social  interests 
of  the  community. 


I Written  by  Rev.  Edward  A.  Warriner. 


MONTROSE. 


317 


Tlie  corner-stone  of  the  first  church  edifice 
was  laid  by  Bishop  Onderdouk,  June  2,  1832, 
and  the  building  consecrated  October  27th  in  the 
following  year.  This  building  was  subsequently 
sold  to  the  Roman  Catholics,  and  is  now  owned 
and  occupied  by  them.  In  the  summer  of  1856 
the  corner-stone  of  the  present  substantial  struc- 
ture was  laid,  and  the  building  consecrated  by 
Bishop  Potter,  July  17, 1857.  The  first  rectory, 
the  house  now  occupied  by  Dr.  W.  W.  Smith, 
was  built  on  land  donated  by  J.  W.  Raynsford, 
in  1850.  In  1874  the  present  fine  rectory  was 
built  on  a spacious  lot  given  by  Mrs.  Henry 
Drinker,  on  South  Main  Street ; and  three  years 
later,  the  present  Sunday-school  building  and 
chapel  on  land  adjoining  the  church,  the  plan 
of  which,  by  a New  York  architect,  was  given 
to  the  parish  by  Mrs.  Theodore  Gilman,  of  the 
same  city.  It  will  thus  be  seen  that  the  devel- 
opment of  the  parish  has  been  very  slow,  cover- 
ing a space  of  more  than  fifty-nine  years ; yet 
at  no  one  time,  notwithstanding  frequent  dis- 
couragements, has  the  parish  substantially  de- 
clined in  the  number  of  its  supporters  and 
communicants.  After  the  first  confirmation, 
there  is  no  record  of  any  other  until  July  28, 
1839,  when  three  persons  were  confirmed, 
making  the  whole  number  in  ten  years  but 
eight.  The  third  confirmation  was  eight  years 
later,  July  18,  1847,  when  six  persons  were 
confirmed  by  Bishop  Potter.  During  the  whole 
period  of  Bishops  Onderdonk’s,  Potter’s  and 
Bowman’s  administrations,  covering  the  rector- 
ships of  Revs.  Marks,  Peck,  Pleasants,  Hopkins, 
Long,  Byllesby  and  Peet,  a period  of  thirty 
years,  there  were  only  forty-six  persons  con- 
firmed. During  Mr.  Halsey’s  rectorship  of 
eight  years  there  were  twenty-eight  additions  to 
the  communion-list ; Mr.  Kirkland’s  of  two 
years,  thirteen ; Mr.  Warriner’s  of  eighteen 
years,  one  hundred  and  forty-nine.  There  were 
also  confirmed  eleven  persons  in  the  summer  of 
1867 — making  the  whole  number  two  hundred 
and  twenty-seven.  In  addition  to  this  number, 
many  have  become  communicants  by  transfer 
of  membership  from  other  churches. 

The  first  rector  was  the  Rev.  Samuel  Marks, 
who  was  appointed  resident  missionary  in  Mon- 
trose in  the  spring  of  1831,  officiating  also  in 


New  Milford  and  Springville.  He  was  dis- 
tinguished for  his  zeal  and  personal  popularity. 
Died  recently  at  Huron,  Ohio,  at  an  advanced 
age,  and  while  still  engaged  in  missionary  work. 
Of  the  subsequent  rectors.  Revs.  Peck  and 
Pleasant,  we  have  no  information.  Rev.  George 
P.  Hopkins  is  rector  of  St.  Matthew’s  Church, 
Pike,  Pa. ; Rev.  John  Long,  who  built  the  first 
rectory,  working  on  it  with  his  own  hands,  is 
still  engaged  in  missionary  work  in  the  vicinity 
of  Reading,  Pa. ; Rev.  D.  C.  Byllesby  is  rector 
at  Media,  Pa. ; Rev.  R.  B.  Peet,  at  Newport, 
R.  I.  Rev.  William  F.  Halsey,  under  whose 
thorough  and  conservative  rectorship  the  church 
was  greatly  strengthened  and  became  self-sup- 
porting, died  a few  since  at  Radnor,  Pa., 
where  he  had  been  for  many  years  rector  of  St. 
David’s.  Rev.  George  H.  Kirkland  is  rector 
at  New  Berlin,  N.  Y. 

The  first  vestry  were  : Wardens,  J.  W.  Rayns- 
ford  and  J.  C.  Biddle;  Vestrymen,  Judge  Ben- 
jamin Lathrop,  John  Melhuish,  S.  F.  Keeler, 
Henry  Drinker,  C.  L.  Ward  and  Admiral  Rup- 
ley.  The  present  vestry  are:  Wardens,  A. 
Lathrop  and  C.  N.  Stoddard;  Vestrymen, 
Thomas  Warner,  A.  B.  Burns,  E.  P.  Munger, 
John  R.  Raynsford,  James  Melhuish  and  Wil- 
liam M.  Post. 

Among  the  names  of  deceased  members  of  the 
vestry  not  previously  mentioned,  and  others 
who  have  been  prominent  supporters  and  com- 
municants, are:  F.  M.  W’illiams,  Henry  J. 
Webb,  William  H.  Cooper,  Charles  D.  Lathrop, 
Furman  Stone,  Hon.  F.  B.  Streeter,  Rev. 
Elisha  Mulford,  LL.D.,  Joseph  D.  Drinker, 
Benjamin  C.  Park,  LL.D.,  Philander  Line.s, 
O.  D.  Beaman,  Thomas  John.son,  General  D. 
D.  Warner,  Charles  L.  Brown,  Hon.  E.  B. 
Hawley  and  Captain  Jerome  Lyons. 

Of  devoted  women  who  have  passed  from 
earth,  we  find  the  following  names : Ruth  S. 
Lathrop,  Elinor  Drinker,  Mrs.  Henry  Drinker, 
Mrs.  F.  M.  Williams,  Mrs.  D.  D.  Warner, 
Sally  D.  Biddle,  Mary  E.  Tarbell,  Elizabeth 
Biddle  (Mrs.  Halsey),  Eugenia  A.  Lacy,  Mary 
W.  Groesbeck,  Mrs.  Simon  Sayre,  Eliza  Duffy, 
Lydia  Welsh,  Mrs.  Judge  Lathrop  and  Mrs. 
Truman  Stone. 

The  Sunday-school  numbers  twelve  teach- 


318 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


ers  and  about  one  hundred  scholars.  Thomas 
Warner  is  superintendent,  Charles  N.  Stoddard 
treasurer,  and  William  Stoddard  librarian.  In 
this  connection  should  be  mentioned  the  name 
of  Mrs.  Mary  AVebb,  who  is  the  oldest  living 
communicant  of  the  church,  having  been  a 
member  over  forty  years.  In  all  these  years 
she  has  been  constantly  engaged  in  church  and 
Sunday-school  work,  and  although  advanced  in 
years,  she  still  teaches  a large  class  of  young 
ladies  and  gentlemen. 

From  this  record,  brief  as  it  necessarily  is, 
should  not  be  omitted  the  following  names  of 
those  who,  though  not  members  of  the  parish, 
have,  with  true  missionary  zeal,  interested  them- 
selves in  its  development,  and  have  contributed 
to  its  necessities  and  support  in  the  years  gone 
by : Mr.  Tobias  Wagner  and  wife.  Misses 
Mary  and  Hannah  Drinker,  Mrs.  John  B. 
Wallace,  Mr.  Harry  D.  Biddle  and  Mrs.  Pem- 
berton Pleasants,  of  Philadelphia  ; and  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Paxson,  Miss  Fanny  Paxson  and  Mrs. 
Gilman,  of  New  York. 

The  Univeesalists  have  a church  at  Mon- 
trose. The  prime  movers  in  its  erection  were 
Samuel  Gregory  and  Daniel  Searle.  Sheriff  Wil- 
liams, the  Stevenses  and  some  others  contributed. 
Revs.  Peck,  Marsh,  Rogers  and  A.  O.  Warren 
have  been  preachers  for  them.  During  the 
skating  craze  it  was  converted  into  a skating- 
rink.  Rev.  Mr.  Hand  has  been  preaching  here 
recently.  It  is  now  a missionary  station.  The 
society  was  organized  in  1831,  and  the  church 
was  dedicated  July  11,  1844. 

The  Roman  Catholics  first  celebrated 
Mass  at  the  house  of  Peter  Byrne  about  1840. 
They  then  purchased  the  old  church  edifice  of 
the  Episcopalians,  when  they  built  their  new 
church  in  1857.  The  Catholic  Society  are  now 
completing  a new  church  on  South  Main 
Street.  The  church  is  located  here  because  it 
is  in  a central  point.  The  congregation  is 
mostly  drawn  from  the  surrounding  country. 

Lodges. — The  history  of  Masonry  in  Mont- 
rose begins  with  the  first  settlement  of  the 
village.  Three  charters  have  been  granted  to 
hold  Masonic  lodges  in  Montrose : the  first, 
under  title  Rising  Sun  Lodge,  No.  149,  was 
chartered  in  December,  1816,  with  the  follow- 


ing officers : Jonah  Brewster,  W.  M. ; Perez 
Perkins,  S.  W. ; Wm.  C.  Turrell,  J.  W. ; J. 
Cook,  S.  D. ; Luman  Ferry,  Jun.  D. ; Isaac 
Post,  Treas. ; J.  W.  Hill,  Sec’y ; and  J.  Munger, 
Tyler.  Hon.  Almon  H.  Read,  Stephen  Wil- 
son, Wm.  Turrell  and  David  Post  became 
Masons  and  members  of  this  lodge  in  1817,  and 
later  also  D.  G.  Wilson,  Solomon  Dimock, 
Stephen  Bentley,  B.  T.  Case,  Cyrus  Avery, 
Mason  Denison.  In  the  year  1818  Almon  H. 
Read  was  Worshipful  Master.  Under  minutes 
of  meeting,  February  18,  1819,  a motion  is 
recorded  recommending  G.  Clagget  and  Dr.  M. 
Denison  to  the  Royal  Arch  Chapter,  but  no 
reference  is  made  as  to  where  this  chapter  was 
located.  On  December  27,  1819,  St.  John’s 
day,  the  lodge  formed  a procession  and 
marched  to  the  court-house  where  an  appro- 
priate address  was  delivered  on  the  festival  of 
St.  John  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Chase.  The  lodge 
then  formed  and  returned  to  the  lodge-room 
“ and  partook  of  an  elegant  repast.”  At  a 
meeting  held  on  the  2d  day  of  May,  1825,  Sam- 
uel Bissel  presented  a petition  for  initiation  and 
membership  from  James  W.  Chapman,  and 
on  the  30th  day  of  May,  1825,  Mr.  Chapman 
was  entered  an  appi’entice.  At  this  time  meet- 
ings of  the  lodge  were  held  in  the  old  court- 
house. Judge  Chapman  was  made  a Mason  a 
few  days  after  becoming  of  age.  He  is  prob- 
ably the  only  remaining  member  of  the  old 
Rising  Sun  Lodge,  and,  notwithstanding  his 
eighty-three  years  of  life,  and  fifty-two  of 
Masonic  service,  is  hale  and  hearty,  and  has 
furnished  many  points  in  connection  with  this 
article.  The  annals  of  the  lodge-room  closed 
by  the  Grand  Lodge  suspending  charter  Sep- 
tember 5,1825.  During  its  existence  it  made 
many  Masons,  and  was  a strong  organization. 

About  two  years  after  the  suspension  of  Ris- 
ing Sun  Lodge,  a number  of  its  old  members 
petitioned  for  a charter  for  a new  lodge,  to  be 
located  in  Montrose.  The  petition  was  granted, 
and  in  accordance  therewith,  a meeting  of  the 
following  Masons  was  held  at  the  house  of 
Daniel  Curtis  on  Nov.  13,  1827  : Jonah 
Brewster,  Isaac  Post,  James  W.  Hill,  Samuel 
Gregory,  Daniel  Curtis  and  Hiram  Finch  were 
present.  They  met  again  November,  17,  1827, 


MONTROSE 


319 


at  the  old  court-house,  where  the  new  officers 
were  installed  by  Hon.  Almon  H.  Read  as 
follows;  Jonah  Brewster,  W.  M. ; Janies  W. 
Hill,  S.  W. ; Daniel  Lathrop,  J.  W.  ; Isaac 
Post,  Treas.,  and  Hiram  Finch,  Sec’y. 

This  lodge  did  not  thrive,  and  ceased  its  work- 
ings probably  in  1829,  Daniel  Lathrop  was  its 
last  W.  M. 

The  present  Warren  Lodge,  No.  240,  was 
chartered  by  the  Grand  Lodge  of  Pennsylvania 
about  twenty  years  after  the  suspension  of 
Montrose  Lodge,  No.  213,  under  date  June  4, 
1849,  with  the  following  officers ; R.  C.  Simp- 
son, W.  M. ; Dr.  E.  S.  Park,  S.  W.;  and  J.  W. 
Chapman,  J.  W.  (Bro.  R.  C.  Simpson,  after- 
wards D.  D.  G.  M.) 

Among  the  first  members  of  this  lodge  were 

B.  Richardson,  F.  Avery,  C.  M.  Simmons, 
Walter  Dimock,  S.  W.  Hamilton,  J.  E.  Howe 
and  R,  S.  Searle.  A.  Woodcock,  W.  M.,  in 
1852-63;  G.  L.  Stone,  W.  M.,  1854;  Dr.  B. 
Richardson,  W.  M.,  1 855 ; Dr.  E.  S.  Park, 
W.  M.,  1856  ; Wm.  H.  Boyd  ; F.  Frazier,  W. 
M.,  1857 ; Wm.  M.  Post,  W.  M.,  1858  ; G,  L. 
Stone,  W.  M.,  1859;  W.  M.  Post,  W.  M., 
1860;  Amos  Nichols,  W.  M.,  1861  ; and  later 
on  Hon.  J.  B.  McCollum,  A.  O.  Warren, 
Apollos  Stone,  D.  W.  Searle,  W.  E.  Babcock, 
J.  F.  Shoemaker,  W.  H.  Boyd,  O.  M.  Hall, 
O.  P.  Beebe,  J.  R.  Raynsford  and  J.  F.  Zer- 
fass.  District  Attorney  F.  I.  Lott  is  the 
present  W.  M. 

Montrose  Lodge,  No.  151,  L.  0.  of  0.  F.,  was 
organized  in  March,  1846.  The  charter  mem- 
bers were  Thos.  P.  St.  John,  Ezra  Patrick,  Jr., 
Wm.  J.  Mulford,  Samuel  B.  Mulford,  Robert 
J.  Niven.  T.  P.  St.  John  was  the  first  Noble 
Grand  and  Ezra  Patrick  was  Vice-Grand.  Dr. 

C.  C.  Halsey  and  Daniel  Brewster  were  among 
the  first  initiated.  Moses  C.  Tyler,  Gen.  Warner, 
E.  C.  Fordham  and  many  others  from  different 
parts  of  the  county  soon  joined  the  order.  It 
increased  in  numbers  and  became  the  parent 
order  of  that  fraternity  in  the  county.  Lodge 
meets  every  Tuesday  evening. 

St.  John’ s Encampment,  No.  50,  was  organized 
in  1847.  Charter  members — T.  P.  St.  John, 
Ezra  Patrick,  R.  C.  Niven,  Jas.  N.  Eldridge 
and  Wm.  F.  Bradley.  Sheriff  Johnson,  M.  C. 


Tyler  and  R.  C.  Niven  were  prominent  in  the 
early  days  of  the  order. 

A Rebekah  Lodge,  Mary,  No.  7,  was  organ- 
ized at  Montrose  in  1869. 

The  Montrose  Cemetery  is  located  on  a 
ridge  of  ground  in  the  south  part  of  Montrose 
belonging  to  the  David  Post  estate.  Bartlet 
Hinds,  Jr.,  was  buried  there  soon  after  the  first 
settlement  was  made.  The  ground  was  used  by 
the  Post  and  other  families  and  has  been  en- 
larged from  time  to  time,  as  the  needs  of  the 
village  have  re(piired.  There  has  never  been 
any  charter  or  regular  cemetery  association. 
Years  ago  money  was  raised  by  subscription 
and  a number  of  acres  were  purchased  and  it 
was  made  a public  cemetery.  They  surveyed 
this  land  into  lots  and  apportioned  a certain 
number  to  strangers  and  assigned  lots  to  the 
subscribers.  Wm.  M.  Post  has  recently  en- 
larged the  ground  by  inclosing  more  land  for 
burial  purposes.  The  cemetery  is  handsomely 
located  on  rising  ground,  from  which  beautiful 
sunset  views  are  to  be  seen.  There  are  a num- 
ber of  beautiful  monuments,  the  most  expensive 
of  which  are  Wm.  J.  Turrell’s,  Judge  Streeter’s 
and  Isaac  J.  Post’s. 

CoEORED  People  in  Montrose. — Montrose 
was  the  centre  of  a strong  Abolition  sentiment, 
and  one  of  the  hiding-places  on  the  so-called 
Underground  Railroad.  Isaac  Post  and  his  son. 
Rev.  Albert  Post,  David  Post,  Samuel  Warner, 
William  Warner,  William  Foster,  Deacon 
Meacham,  Isaac  Peckius  and  others  assisted 
them.  There  was  no  one.  Democrat  or  Repub- 
lican, who  would  betray  them.  Judge  Post  was 
the  most  prominent  of  the  early  Abolitionists, 
and  most  of  them  located  in  Pleasant  Valley,  as 
they  called  it,  on  David  Post’s  lands.  He  was 
very  lenient  with  them,  and  his  son,  William 
M.  Post,  never  turns  them  away,  whether  they 
pay  for  their  lots  or  not.  Charles  Hammond 
was  one  of  the  first  that  came  here.  He  and  his 
wife  worked  for  Isaac  Post  a great  many  years. 
They  were  steady  and  industrious.  Mrs.  Ham- 
mond keeps  a restaurant  on  Wall  Street,  New 
York,  now.  They  escaped  with  five  others, 
riding  their  masters’  horses  the  first  night.  They 
abandoned  the  horses  and  turned  them  home- 
ward towards  morning.  Making  their  way 


320 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


nights,  they  finally  reached  Montrose.  They 
usually  came  by  way  of  Wilkes  Barre,  under 
directions  from  Mr.  Gildersleeve,  who  was  per- 
secuted and  rode  on  a rail  in  Wilkes-Barre  be- 
cause of  his  Abolition  views.  Oct.  21,  1840, 
Isaac  Post  makes  mention  in  his  diary  that  five 
males,  four  females  and  two  young  children 
came  to  his  house,  as  there  was  no  place  for  them 
at  the  tavern.  He  gave  up  his  office  to  them 
and  succeeded  in  accommodating  them.  In  1842 
eight  colored  men  came  directly  from  the  South. 
Some  of  their  adventures  while  escaping  were 
quite  thrilling.  Deacon  \Villiam  Smith  gives 
the  following  account  of  his  escape.  We  give 
it  nearly  in  his  own  words  : 

“ I belonged  to  a widow  woman  in  Maryland.  She 
had  several  young  sons.  One  day  I got  wet,  and  was 
drying  myself  by  the  stove.  One  of  the  sons  said, 
‘What  are  you  doing  here?  You  stand  here  happy 
as  a lord.’  This  first  led  me  to  think  if  there  was  a 
just  God,  as  I had  heard  the  preachers  say,  why 
should  I have  no  privileges.  I then  determined  to 
escape.  There  were  seven  of  us  planned  to  escape  on 
the  night  of  the  10th  of  April.  I had  been  up  late 
Friday  night  and  thought  I would  play  sick  in  order 
to  rest  Saturday  before  starting.  So  in  the  morning 
when  the  rest  took  breakfast  I did  not  eat  anything. 
One  of  the  young  men  looked  at  me  and  did  not  be- 
lieve that  I was  sick,  so  he  sent  me  to  his  mother,  who 
was  a good  doctor.  I beat  my  stomach  and  rubbed 
my  eyes  in  order  to  look  sick.  She  looked  at  my 
tongue  and  felt  of  my  pulse  and  looked  at  me  as 
though  she  didn’t  credit  my  story.  She  says,  ‘ I will 
send  you  some  breakfast  and  you  may  come  and 
plant  some  seed  in  the  garden.’  I could  hardly  help 
bursting  out  laughing,  but  I said  I was  sick  ; and  she 
sent  me  up  some  medicine,  which  I threw  into  the 
fire.  My  sister  saw  my  bundle  of  clothes  and  sus- 
pected that  I was  going  to  run  away.  I did  not  dare 
tell  her  for  fear  she  would  cry  and  they  would  find 
me  out,  so  I said  I was  invited  to  a ball  up  to  the 
manor.  That  night,  as  I was  about  to  leave,  my  sister 
came  out  and  looked  at  me.  As  my  eyes  met  hers 
they  filled  with  tears.  I never  knew  that  I loved  my 
relatives.  This  was  the  first  time  that  I ever  knew 
that  I loved  my  sister.  The  first  point  we  reached 
was  Chambersburg.  As  we  were  traveling  along  in 
the  vicinity  of  Gettysburg  we  met  a man  who  said, 
‘Good-evening.’  We  returned  the  salutation.  Our 
speech  betrayed  us.  He  said,  ‘ You  are  escaping 
from  slavery.’  We  said,  ‘No,  we  are  freemen  and 
just  returning  from  boating,’  but  he  knew  that  we 
were  slaves.  He  then  claimed  to  be  our  friend,  and 
said  that  it  would  not  be  safe  to  stay  in  the  hotel ; we 
might  sleep  in  his  barn.  We  took  turns  and  kept  one 


man  on  guard  all  night.  About  two  o’clock  two  big 
men  came  in  and  looked  around,  and  locked  the  door 
as  they  went  out.  Our  watchman  awakened  us  and 
we  heard  many  persons  whispering  around  the  barn. 
We  got  what  arms  we  had  ready,  for  we  had  resolved 
on  liberty  or  death.  Billy  Brooks,  a big,  stout  man 
who  afterward  lived  with  the  Sayres  brothers  a great 
many  years,  said,  ‘ Follow  me.’  He  gave  a run  and 
butted  against  that  door  with  his  head,  knocking 
some  of  the  boards  as  much  as  ten  feet.  We  all  fol- 
lowed him  and  were  pursued.  It  had  rained  that 
night  and  the  streams  were  swollen,  which  was  prov- 
idential for  us.  I was  supple  then  ; taking  a pole,  I 
leaped  across  the  creek  and  helped  the  others  over. 
We  were  on  the  outskirts  of  Gettysburg.  It  was 
morning  and  there  was  no  woods.  We  crept  into  a 
cave'  in  the  rocks.  The  bloodhounds  did  not  get  our 
track.  We  saw  our  mistress’  sons  ride  past.  About 
noon  two  of  our  men  would  go  out.  Providentially, 
they  fell  into  the  hands  of  some  colored  people  near 
Gettysburg.  The  Abolitionists  had  heard  of  our  es- 
cape. They  sent  out  and  found  us  and  gave  us  some- 
thing to  eat  and  directed  us  towards  Lisbon  Forge, 
while  our  owners  went  towards  Harrisburg.  We  had 
a number  of  adventures  as  we  traveled  nights.  We. 
came  near  being  drowned  twice, — once  in  crossing  a 
creek  on  poles  and  in  crossing  the  Susquehanna.  A 
little  man  they  called  ‘ John  the  Baptist’  was  hired 
by  the  Abolitionists  to  row  us  over.  The  Susque- 
hanna was  high  and  the  logs  and  floating  timbers 
were  coming  down  the  river  with  great  speed.  We 
had  a narrow  boat  and  when  we  got  out  in  the  swift 
current  we  found  that  our  boatman  was  drunk.  Billy 
Brooks,  who  had  followed  the  river,  laid  him  down  in 
the  bottom  of  the  boat  and  took  the  oars.  John  Stout 
nearly  upset  us  in  plunging  for  his  hat.  Finally  we 
reached  Wilkes-Barre  and  Gildersleeve  sent  us  to 
Montrose.  When  we  got  here  Benjamin  R.  Lyon  di- 
rected us  to  Judge  Post.  He  assured  us  of  our  safety 
and  encouraged  us.  There  was  a little  house  where 
the  jail  stands,  which  was  the  only  house  used  for 
colored  people  then.  William  L.  Post  hired  me  and 
I w'orked  for  him  nine  years.  The  Posts  were  all 
good  to  us.  That  woman  that  sits  there  was  a little 
girl  then  (referring  to  his  wife).  She  showed  me  into 
Mr.  Post’s  house.  I came  here  in  1842  and  have 
been  a local  preacher  in  Zion  Church  about  thirty- 
four  years.” 

Zion  Church  was  organized  in  the  little  house 
that  stood  where  the  jail  stands  about  1844,  by 
Rev.  John  Tappin.  The  first  leader  was  Peter 
Lee,  assisted  by  John  Carter,  and  John  Booey 
was  local  preacher.  There  were  about  twelve 
members  at  the  time  of  organization.  Rev. 

1 Persons  familiar  with  Gettysburg  battle-field  will  remember  the 
Devil’s  Den,  a cave  under  Little  Round  Top,  which  was  probably  where 
these  poor  fugitives  hid  from  their  relentless  pursuers. 


BEIDGEWATER. 


321 


\Vm.  Smith,  Jane  Gilmore  and  John  Stout  are 
the  only  ones  now  living  here  that  belonged  to 
the  first  class.  Thos.  Cook,  Alfred  Youngs, 
Benj.  Howard  and  Alfred  Wells  belonged  to 
that  first  class.  There  are  about  thirty  members 
now.  The  first  little  church  was  built  about 
1847  ; the  present  church  about  1859. 

The  Bethel  Church  was  first  organized  about 
three  miles  beyond  Montrose.  They  built  a 
church  here  afterwards.  The  Posts  did  not 
neglect  the  education  of  these  fugitives.  Two 
of  Isaac  Post’s  daughters  taught  a number  of 
them  to  read,  and  Miss  Jane  Post  gave  music 
lessons  to  two  of  the  girls.  One  of  the  most 
noted  characters  among  them  was  John  Booey; 
he  had  thick  lips  and  was  very  dull  and  stupid; 
he  thought  he  had  a call  to  preach,  and  was 
anxious  to  learn  to  read ; most  of  them  could 
learn  and  Miss  Post  tried  to  teach  him,  but  it 
was  a hopeless  task.  One  day,  after  she  had 
been  away  from  the  place  some  time,  he  came 
with  his  Testament  to  show  Miss  Post  how  he 
could  read;  he  made  his  own  selection  and 
pointed  with  his  finger  as  he  began  to  repeat 
Scripture.  Miss  Post  observed  that  the  finger 
did  not  point  at  the  same  words  he  was  repeat- 
ing. He  had  learned  to  repeat  a passage  of 
Scripture  and  was  trying  to  make  her  believe 
that  he  was  reading.  He  tried  to  preach  occa- 
sionally; once  he  forgot  his  text.  He  said,  “I 
ha  ve  dun  forgot  my  text,  but  den  let  not  your 
hearts  be  troublesome.”  He  closed  sometimes 
in  grandiloquent  style,  like  the  following: 
“ Mine  eyes  am  closed  in  silence,  and  jaw 
cleaved  to  de  roof  of  de  mouf,  and  hope  to  ’sess 
dat  pardon  bought  by  de  blood  ob  de  Lord,  who 
lay  in  de  heart  ob  de  earth  forty  days  and  forty 
nights.”  Sometimes  he  blundered  out  some 
truth.  Once  he  prayed  that  “ de  Lord  would 
bress  those  who  had  so  often  dissembled  at  dat 
place.”  Lewis  Williams,  a colored  barber;  Ed. 
Williams’  widow,  and  a few  others,  have  accu- 
mulated some  property.  In  1840  there  were 
ninety-seven  colored  people  in  the  county. 
There  are  about  one  hundred  colored  people  at 
Montrose  now.  Many  of  them  have  removed, 
and  the  old  slaves  are  nearly  all  dead. 


CHAPTER  XXI. 

BRIDGEWATER  TOWNSHIP.^ 

‘‘  At  January  sessions,  1805,  the  court  of 
Luzerne  County  was  petitioned  by  Thomas 
Parke  and  others  to  erect  a township  from  parts 
of  Tunkhannock,  Braintrim,  Nicholson  and 
Rush,  to  be  called  Bridgewater.  Its  dimensions 
were  described  thus : 

‘ Beginning  at  a point  one  mile  above  where  Mar- 
tin’s Creek  empties  into  the  Tunkhannock,  thence 
northerly  to  the  forks  of  Martin’s  Creek,  easterly  from 
Bloomfield  Milbourne’s,  thence  north  to  intersect  the 
south  line  of  Lawsville,  thence  on  that  line  to  the 
southwest  corner  of  Lawsville,  thence  northerly  to  the 
State  line,  thence  west  to  the  thirty-second  mile-stone, 
thence  south  till  it  shall  intersect  a line  to  be  drawn 
due  west  from  place  of  beginning.’ 

‘‘  On  hearing  the  petition,  Judge  Rush  directed 
the  commissioners  to  return  a plot,  which  they 
did,  November,  1806,  and  the  court  then  con- 
firmed it.  The  original  dimensions  of  Bridge- 
water  included  a small  portion  of  what  is  now 
Wyoming  County.  Springville,  Dimock,  La- 
throp,  Brooklyn,  Silver  Lake  and  portions  of 
Forest  Lake,  Jessup  and  Franklin  have  been 
taken  from  it.  It  is  more  nearly  the  central 
township  of  the  county  than  any  other.  Mon- 
trose, the  county-seat,  is  about  four  miles  west 
of  a central  north  and  south  line,  and  one  mile 
north  of  an  east  and  west  line.  The  site  of  the 
court-house  was  located  in  1811.  The  township 
is  a water-shed  for  three  streams,  the  sources  of 
which  are  in  the  vicinity  of  Montrose,  and  which 
in  three  different  directions  at  length  reach  the 
Susquehanna  River,  viz..  Snake  Creek  running 
north,  the  Meshoppen  south,  and  the  Wyalusing 
west  and  south.  The  Snake  and  Wyalusing 
Creeks,  which  rise  within  half  a mile  of  each 
other,  are  probably  one  hundred  miles  apart  at 
their  mouths;  but  the  Meshoppen,  though  run- 
ning for  many  miles  at  nearly  a right  angle  with 
the  latter,  falls  into  the  Susquehanna  but  a short 
distance  below  it.  Hopbottom  Creek  is  the 
outlet  of  Heart  Lake  on  the  east  line  of  Bridge- 
water  ; it  runs  southwardly  into  Martin’s  Creek, 
and  eventually  into  the  Tunkhannock.  Jones’ 


1 Bluckniau. 


21 


322 


HISTOKY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


Lake,  within  a mile  of  Montro.se,  is  the  principal 
source  of  Snake  Creek;  Williams’  Pond,  in  the 
northern  part  of  the  township,  is  another,  but 
inferior  soui’ce  of  it.  Cold  Brook,  near  the  line 
of  Silver  Lake,  is  a tributary  of  Silver  Creek, 
which  is  itself  a tributary  of  Snake  Creek.  A 
small  pond  near  the  south  line  of  Bridgewater 
has  an  outlet  emptying  into  the  Meshoppen.” 

The  elevation  of  the  borough  above  sea  level 
is  from  sixteen  hundred  to  seventeen  hundred 
feet.  The  township  varies  in  elevation  from 
thirteen  hundred  to  seventeen  hundred  feet. 
Stephen  Wilson,  Samuel  Wilson,  Samuel  Coggs- 
well,  Nehemiah  Maine,  Samuel  Maiue,  David 
Doud,  Ozem  Cook,  Elisha  Lewis,  Robert  Day, 
Daniel  and  Eldad  Brewster,  Daniel  Foster  and 
John  Reynolds  were  all  here  from  1799  to 
1801. 

Stephen  Wilson  was  the  first  permanent  set- 
tler in  what  is  now  Bridgewater.  He  came 
from  Vermont  originally,  and  built  a cabin  just 
south  of  the  present  borough  limits  in  the  fall 
of  1798.  In  the  spring  of  1799  he  found  his 
way  through  the  wilderness  to  his  humble  habi- 
tation, with  his  wife  and  two  childi’en,  David 
and  Mason  S.,  and  his  brother-in-law,  Samuel 
Coggswell.  His  house  was  located  on  the  path 
from  the  source  of  the  Wyal  using  to  the  Nine 
Partners’  settlement.  The  door  of  his  cabin 
ever  stood  ajar  to  the  pioneers,  many  of  whom 
were  entertained  under  his  hospitable  roof.  His 
brother,  Samuel  Wilson,  commenced  on  what 
was  afterwards  known  as  the  Roberts  farm.  He 
sold  this  improvement  and  built  another  log 
cabin  and  finally  left  the  county.  Samuel 
Coggswell  located  a little  west  of  Stephen  Wil- 
son, on  what  was  afterwards  the  Park  farm, 
within  the  Connecticut  township  of  Manor. 
Nehemiah  Maine  took  up  land  under  Connecti- 
cut title,  just  east  of  the  Reuben  Wells  liome- 
stead.  The  same  year  Ozem  Cook  located  in 
ISIanor,  on  what  was  afterwards  the  Moses  S. 
Tyler  farm. 

Robert  Day  was  a man  of  Christian  integ- 
rity, a member  of  the  Baptist  Church.  He  aided 
David  Harris  in  the  erection  of  the  first  grist- 
mill down  on  the  Wyalusing,  and  had  a farm 
between  that  point  and  Montrose,  where  he 
spent  most  of  his  days.  His  first  wife  was  a 


daughter  of  Jedediah  Hewitt.  H.  H.  Day, 
Esq.,  one  of  his  children,  afterwards  resided  in 
Susquehanna.  Daniel  Brewster  occupied  a farm 
since  occupied  by  Thomas  Johnson.  He  was 
in  the  War  of  1812.  He  removed  and  died  at 
Ei’euchtown  Mountain,  aged  ninety-two. 

Joshua  W.  Raynsford  came  from  Windham 
Co.,  Conn.,  in  1801,  to  the  small  clearing  made 
by  Amolo  Balch,  one  and  one-half  miles  south 
of  Stephen  Wilson.  His  squatter’s  right  was 
valueless,  and  he  repaired  to  Philadelphia  afoot, 
in  order  to  obtain  a valid  title.  He  brought 
his  family  in  1802.  The  little  log  house  that 
stood  down  by  the  spring  had  oiled  paper  for 
window  lights,  like  the  rest  of  the  cabins  in  the 
vicinity.  Mr.  Raynsford  thought  that  he  would 
be  a little  more  aristocratic  than  his  neighbors  and 
purchased  twelve  panes  of  seven  by  nine  glass, 
which  he  brought  very  carefully  from  Wilkes- 
Barre,  only  to  have  his  plans  broken  by  the 
steelyards  which  Mrs.  Raynsford  carelessly 
threw  upon  the  glass  as  it  lay  upon  the  bed. 
Joseph  Raynsford,  his  father,  came  shortly  after 
and  erected  a frame  story  and  a half  house, 
wherein  the  first  Congregational  Church  of 
Bridgewater  was  organized  in  1810.  Joshua  W. 
Raynsford  was  a man  of  marked  characteristics 
and  became  a leading  man  in  the  new  settle- 
ment. He  was  the  first  school-teacher  in  1803 
and  had  forty-two  pupils.  He  was  a leading 
spirit  in  the  establishment  of  the  Susquehanna 
County  Academy,  and  in  the  organization  of 
the  Congregational  Church.  Owing  to  some 
difficulty  he  left  that  church,  and  became  the 
prime  mover  in  the  organization  of  St.  Paul’s 
Episcopal  Church.  He  moved  to  Montrose  in 
1817  and  had  his  residence  and  justice  of  the 
peace  office  opposite  ■ Jerre  Lyons’.  His  first 
wife  was  Hannah,  daughter  of  Walter  Lathrop. 
Their  children  were  Mary  Ann,  wife  of  D.  D. 
Warner;  Edward,  a merchant  in  Owego,  N. 
Y.,  where  he  married  Charlotte  Drake.  John 
R.  Raynsford,  one  of  their  sons,  is  postmaster 
of  Montrose  and  station  agent  of  the  Narrow- 
Gauge  Railway.  Edward,  another  son,  resides 
at  Susquehanna.  Hannah,  of  the  original  fam- 
ily, was  wife  of  C.  L.  Ward,  Esq.  The  other 
children  were  Salome,  Frederick  and  Jones. 

Daniel  Foster  came  to  Bridgewater  in  1800, 


BRIDGEWATER. 


328 


along  with  Captain  Hinds.  He  built  the  first 
saw-mill  in  Bridgewater,  on  a branch  of  the 
Wyalusing,  where  William  Barron  now  lives. 
His  son,  Walter  Foster,  married  Maria  Bentley 
and  lived  at  Montrose.  Their  son,  Bentley  S. 
Foster,  is  a Presbyterian  minister  at  South 
Amboy,  N.  J.  Stephen  Bentley  came  to 
Bridgewater  and  lived  on  a farm  until  he  died, 
in  1833-34,  Maria  was  the  oldest  child  ; Mai- 
shall  was  a farmer  in  Bridgewater  many  years, 
and  finally  came  to  Monti'ose,  where  he  died  ; 
Stephen  moved  to  New  York  and  became  a land 
agent ; Benjamin  S.  became  a judge  at  Williams- 
port ; Jane  E,  taught  school,  and  was  seven  years 
superintendent  of  the  Soldiers’  Orphans’  Home 
at  'Wilke.s-Barre,  (she  now  resides  with  Mrs. 
Riley  at  Montrose) ; George  V.  was  a merchant 
and  president  of  the  National  Bank  at  Mont- 
rose from  1881  to  ’85.  His  first  wife  was 
Catharine  Sayre,  and  their  son.  Geo.  F.  Bentley, 
is  a lawyer  in  New  Y"ork.  His  second  wife 
is  a sister  of  Mrs.  Thos,  Dickson. 

John  Reynolds  came  with  Capt.  Hinds  in 
1800,  and  lived  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  Wy- 
alusing from  Daniel  Foster.  His  wife  was  a 
Halsey.  He  built  the  first  fulling-mill  in  this 
vicinity  on  the  Wyalusing  soon  after  he  came 
here.  Pie  w^as  a Revolutionary  soldier,  member 
of  the  Baptist  Church  and  a good  moral  man. 
He  lived  to  be  ninety-five  years  old.  His  .son, 
Joseph  Reynolds,  married  Effie  Marsh,  and 
followed  the  same  business  that  his  father 
started — carding,  coloring,  fulling  and  dressing 
cloth.  They  took  produce  or  almost  anything 
for  pay.  He  died  before  his  father  did,  in 
1832,  and  left  a widow  and  seven  children.  Of 
Jo.seph  Reynold.s’  children,  George  M.  learned 
the  printer’s  trade  of  Geo.  Fuller,  and  worked 
at  his  trade  in  Carbondale  and  Honesdale,  where 
he  published  a newspaper  and  finally  moved 
West;  Albert  G.  lived  in  Brooklyn,  and  had  a 
feed  and  carding-mill  at  South  Pond;  John  is 
a farmer  in  New  INIilford ; Henrietta  is  the 
wife  of  Nathaniel  K.  Sutton,  a lumberman ; 
Margaret’s  first  husband  was  Wm.  H.  Norris, 
by  whom  she  had  two  sons,  who  were  in  the 
army.  Her  second  husband  was  Sheldon 
Meacham. 

Elias  West,  for  many  years  toll-gate  keeper, 


settled  near  the  line  of  Dimock  township,  on  the 
turnpike.  David  Harris  came  from  Southamp- 
ton, L.  I.,  aud.  as  already  intimated,  built  the 
first  grist-mill  on  the  Wyalusing  about  this 
time,  Jonathan  Wheaton  settled  about  one- 
half  mile  east  of  B.  Hinds,  toward  Jones’  Pond, 
which  was  then  called  Wheaton’s  Pond. 
Abinoam  Hinds  and  his  brother-in-law,  Isaac 
Peckins,  came  from  Middleboro’,  Mass.,  in 
1803.  ^ Isaac  Peckins’  residence  was  within 

the  present  borough  limits.  He  died  in  May, 
1849,  aged  eighty-four. 

David  D.  Hinds. — His  grandfather  was 
Elder  Ebenezer  Hinds,  and  his  great-grandfather 
was  also  a Baptist  minister  in  New  England. 
His  father,  Abinoam  Hinds  (1764-1849),  was 
a native  of  Middleboro’,  Mass.,  and  came  to 
Montrose  in  1802,  two  years  after  his  brother, 
Captain  Bartlet  Hind.s,  who  came  in  1800,  and 
wdiose  sketch  may  be  found  in  the  early  history 
of  Montrose.  When  a boy,  Abinoam  Hinds  left 
home  and  went  to  sea,  where  he  remained  for 
some  seven  years  engaged  on  a whaling  vessel. 
Returning,  he  married  Susan  Snow,  who  bore  him 
the  following  children  : Susan  became  the  wife 
of  Stephen  Hinds,  her  cousin,  and  resided  at 
Montrose,  a sou  of  whom,  Leonard  B.,  w^as  a 
lawyer  at  Su.squehanna,  this  county,  for  thirty- 
three  years,  and  died  in  1882,  aged  fifty-four 
years  ; Mark  died  in  Glean,  Pa.  ; Richard  died 
in  the  South  ; Lydia  w^as  the  wife  of  Ackley 

1 A newspaper  writer,  under  the  lieading  of  A Drawn  Buttle^  says  ; 
“ Over  thirty  years  ago,  the  venerable  Isaac  Peckins  thus  narrated  to  me 
an  adventure  which  happened  about  two  miles  northwest  of  Montrose  : 
‘Due  day  I went  out  to  cut  an  ox-yoke,  in  a little  swale  or  swamp  near 
the  medder  on  your  father’s  farm.  The  briers  on  the  wet  ground  had 
grown  up  drefful  thick,  and  taller  than  my  head.  Wal,  I was  chopping 
when  I heered  a kind  of  growling  and  stirring  among  the  bushes  on 
ahead.  I looked  and  see  a little  kind  of  sheep  path  that  way.  So  I 
got  down  on  my  hands  and  knees — for  I couldn’t  go  straight — and 
crawled  along  under  some  ways.  At  last  I came  to  a round  spot  about 
as  large  as  this  room.  Theie  wa’n’t  anything  onto  it,  but  the  tall  briers 
rose  all  around.  Right  on  t’other  end  there  was  another  hole  which  led 
out.  Just  as  I popped  up  my  head  and  stood  straight,  there  stood  a great 
black  bear  within  three  feet  of  me.  He  stood  still  and  looked  right  at 
me.  I had  left  my  axe  behind,  and  I liad  nothing  to  defend  myself.  I 
remembered  an  old  hunter’t  used  to  be  around  here,  named  Hale,  who 
said  there  was  no  animal  in  this  country  that  would  touch  a man  if  he 
looked  at  it  straight  in  the  eye.  So  I looked  at  him,  and  stepped  towards 
him.  He  brussled  up  and  snarled  and  stood  still.  I thought  it  was  a 
ticklish  place.  I lifted  up  my  voice  and  yelled  and  heowled  as  loud  as  I 
could.  That  seemed  to  set  the  creetur  crazy.  He  heowled  and  tore  the 
ground  with  his  feet.  I didn’t  know  what  would  become  of  me.  At 
last  I took  off  my  old  hat,  shook  it  and  ran  at  him.  All  at  once  he 
dropped  his  brussels,  turned  round,  dropped  his  tail  and  run  out  the 
other  hole.  I followed  him,  and  was  near  enough  when  he  went  out  to 
kick  him  behind.  I had  a good  will  to,  but  thought  1 was  siitisfied  to 
get  off  as  well,  and  I went  back  by  my  hole.  Terrible  great  creetur!’  ” 


324 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


Bronson  and  died  at  Jacksonville,  Fla. ; Abi- 
noam  settled  in  Dixon,  111.,  where  he  died  at 
the  age  of  sixty-nine  ; he  resided  at  Montrose 
until  1856;  Preserved  resides  at  Little  Mead- 
ows, Pa. ; and  Agnes,  the  wife  of  John  Stout, 
died  at  Owego,  N.  Y. 

Abinoam  Hinds  and  Isaac  Peckins  came  here 
together,  with  their  families  and  effects,  in  1803, 
the  former  having  decided  to  locate  here  on  his 
visit  the  preceding  year.  They  came  with  a 


and  no  communication  with  other  parts  of  the 
country  save  by  tedious  journeys  on  horse-back, 
or  by  means  of  a rude  vehicle  on  almost  impas- 
sable roads  and  by  circuitous  routes  following 
some  Indian  trail  or  a line  of  marked  trees. 
Abinoam  Hinds  settled  on  the  farm  now  the 
property  of  Mrs.  Watrous,  formerly  Mrs.  H. 
H.  Frazier,  just  outside  of  the  borough,  which, 
with  the  aid  of  his  sons,  he  largely  cleared  of 
its  forest  trees,  and  brought  into  a state  of  cul- 


yoke  ot  oxen  and  one  horse  the  entire  journey, 
and  it  may  be  difficult,  nearly  a century  after 
this  event,  for  the  reader  to  leave  his  surround- 
ings of  a beautiful  village,  with  its  fine  residences, 
churches  and  schools,  the  country  covered 
with  a network  of  well-worked  public  roads, 
railroads  and  highly  cultivated  farms,  and 
return  to  the  same  locality,  then  an  almost 
unbroken  wilderness,  with  only  here  and  there, 
miles  apart,  a clearing  or  a log  house,  with  none 
of  the  rapid  modes  of  travel  now  so  common. 


tivation.  In  the  chamber  of  his  log  house  Dr. 
Rose,  an  early  physician,  had  his  office  for  a 
time.  Mr.  Hinds  had  also  another  farm ; the 
property  is  now  in  the  possession  of  Eben  Cobb, 
most  of  which  he  also  cleared.  In  connection 
with  Colonel  Frank  Fordham,  he  carried  on  a 
distillery  near  and  below  where  Foster’s  tan- 
nery was  located.  He  went  to  Philadelphia 
with  his  team  of  horses  and  yoke  of  oxen  and 
carted  thence  the  mill-stones  for  Bela  Jones, 
when  that  gentleman  erected  his  grist-mill  at 


BRIDGEWATEK. 


325 


the  foot  of  the  lake  which  bears  his  name,  and 
is  said  to  have  brought  the  first  load  of  goods 
for  Isaac  Post  from  New  York  City,  to  be  sold 
at  Montrose.  He  was  a man  of  great  industry, 
frugality  and  integrity  in  all  his  relations  with 
his  fellow-men,  and  died  at  the  residence  of  his 
son,  David  D.,  in  Wysox,  Pa.,  at  the  age  of 
eighty-five  years.  After  the  death  of  his  first 
wife  he  married  Rachel  Vail  (1783-1876),  a 
native  of  Cooperstown,  N.  Y.,  who  came  to 
Montrose  and  was  residing  with  Elder  Dimock, 
a Baptist  clergyman,  at  the  time  of  her  mar- 
riage. By  this  union  they  had  children, — John 
B.,  resides  in  Wysox,  Pa.,  and  was  born  in 
1816;  Ebenezer  went  to  Iowa  in  1860,  where 
he  died  in  1885  ; Leonard  B.,  resides  in  Frank- 
lin township ; Major  David  D.  ; Conrad,  acci- 
dentally killed  in  youth  ; and  Hannah,  the  wife 
of  James  Van  Tuyl,  of  Towanda,  Pa. 

David  D.  Hinds  was  born  on  the  homestead 
in  Bridgewater  town, ship  January  28,  1822,  and 
after  he  was  nine  years  of  age  depended  upon 
his  own  efforts  for  his  sustenance.  At  that  age 
he  was  bound  out  to  Samuel  Barclay,  in  Dim- 
ock township,  but  only  served  one  year.  He 
afterwards  resided  with  Robert  Day  and  also 
with  Miles  Turrell;  but  when  thirteen,  through 
the  solicitation  of  Mrs.  Susannah  Post,  he  went 
to  live  with  Isaac  Post,  then  a merchant  and 
banker  at  Montrose.  Young  Hinds  was  a boy 
of  quick  perception  in  matters  of  business, 
earnest  in  his  work  and  faithful  and  honest  in 
all  he  had  to  do,  and  at  this  time  had  never 
attended  school.  Mr.  Post  placed  him  under 
the  instruction  of  the  well-known  teacher, 
Benjamin  S.  Bentley,  where  he  first  learned  the 
alphabet  and  the  rudiments  of  an  education, 
and  where  he  continued  for  some  time.  He 
remained  with  Mr.  Post  until  1846,  serving, 
after  reaching  his  majority,  for  eleven  dollars 
per  month,  which  he  added  to  the  eighty-four 
dollars  given  him  by  Mr.  Post  when  he  came 
of  age.  In  all  Mr.  Post’s  general  business 
matters  David  was  his  trusty  boy,  and  whether 
in  teaming  goods  from  New  York,  taking  care 
of  his  bank  at  night  or  collecting  his  accounts, 
he  always  found  him  faithful  to  his  charge  and 
an  expert  in  his  work.  On  August  14,  1845, 
he  married  Malvina,  a daughter  of  Perry  and 


Eliza  (Morse)  Jenks,  who  was  born  April  28, 
1822,  in  Lawrence,  Otsego  County,  N.  Y.  The 
demands  of  a family  led  him  to  sever  his 
business  relations  with  Mr.  Post,  two  years 
after  his  marriage,  and  start  business  on  his  own 
account,  and  accordingly,  in  1847,  he  purchased 
a farm  in  Wysox,  Bradford  County,  which, 
after  farming  and  lumbering  for  four  years,  he 
sold  and  returned  to  Montrose,  where  he  carried 
on  the  livery  business  for  over  eight  years.  In 
1859  he  purchased  the  Benjamin  Sayre  farm, 
near  Montrose,  which  he  carried  on  for  some 
eight  years,  sold  it,  and,  in  1866,  bought  his 
present  farm  of  two  hundred  acres,  in  North 
Bridgewater,  which  was  formerly  the  farm  of 
Caleb  Bush,  where  he  has  resided  since.  Mr. 
Hinds  may  safely  be  classed  among  the  intelli- 
gent and  thorough  farmers  of  Susquehanna 
County,  and  in  all  the  improvements,  the  fences 
and  buildings,  of  his  present  farm,  the  handi- 
work of  a practical  farmer  may  be  seen. 

He  has  never  held  office  except  to  serve  as 
the  present  poor  commissioner  of  the  township, 
having  been  elected  in  the  spring  of  1886,  and 
he  has  served  eighteen  years  on  the  trustee 
board  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 
When  only  eighteen  years  old  he  took  an  active 
intere.st  in  the  militia  drill  of  those  days,  and 
was  elected  major  by  a large  majority  over  his 
competitorg;  and  received  his  commission  from 
Governor  Porter.  During  the  late  Civil  War 
Major  Hinds  gave  his  time  and  money  freely  in 
doing  necessary  home  work  preparatory  to 
enlisting  men  leaving  for  the  war,  and  he  served 
in  the  capacity  of  a recruiting  officer,  though 
not  officially,  in  filling  the  companies  com- 
manded by  Captains  Stone,  Dimock  and  Young. 
He  volunteered  as  a private  in  Captain  Stone’s 
company,  but  on  arriving  at  Scranton  was  re- 
jected on  account  of  disability  by  the  examin- 
ing surgeon.  Although  he  received  little  edu- 
cation from  books  when  a boy.  Major  Hinds  is 
a ready  accountant  in  business  matters,  has  a 
retentive  memory  and  is  possessed  of  much 
natural  talent  and  intellectual  force.  His  word 
is  his  bond,  and  his  integrity  is  beyond  criti- 
cism. Both  himself  and  wife  are  members  of 
the  church,  the  former  of  the  Methodist, 
the  latter  of  the  Baptist  Church.  His  children 


328 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


married,  in  1834,  Naucy  (1804-68),  a daughter 
of  Zebulon  Deans  and  Lucy  (Chafee)  Deans,  a 
native  of  Putnam,  Conn.  Her  father  was  a 
blacksmith  by  trade,  and  served  in  the  War  of 
1812.  She  had  brothers  and  sisters,  but  none 
of  them  came  to  this  county.  The  children 
are  Albert  T.,  farmer  in  Bridgewater ; Ed- 
wai’d  Clinton  ; and  George  P.,  a farmer  on  the 
homestead.  Reuben  Wells  made  large  improve- 
ments on  his  part  of  the  farm,  and  added  one 
hundred  and  twenty-five  acres,  making  his  total 
number  two  hundred  and  forty-five  acres. 
Prior  to  1830  he  assisted  his  father  in  erecting 
the  present  residence.  He  was  a man  of  great 
industry,  and  managed  his  business  affairs  with 
prudence  and  economy.  He  accumulated  a 
fair  competence,  which  was  divided  among  his 
sons  at  his  death.  He  was  well  thought  of  by 
his  townsmen,  and  he  served  for  many  years  as 
poormaster,  supervisor  and  assessor  of  Bridge- 
water.  Both  himself  and  wife  were  members 
of  the  Presbyterian  Church  at  Montrose,  con- 
tributors to  all  worthy  local  enterprises,  and 
both  were  buried  in  the  plot  on  the  homestead. 

Edward  Clinton  Wells,  second  son  of  Reuben, 
was  born  on  the  homestead  near  South  Mont- 
rose, October  22,  1840.  He  was  educated  at 
the  district  school,  Harford  University, 
Montrose  Academy,  and  for  six  terms  was  a 
teacher.  After  his  marriage,  in  1864,  he  re- 
sided on  a rented  farm  near  the  homestead  for 
four  years.  In  the  spring  of  1869  he  pur- 
chased a farm  of  one  hundred  and  fifty  acres, 
three-fourths  of  a mile  west  of  South  Montrose, 
which  he  managed  until  1878,  In  1877  he 
purchased  twenty-five  acres  just  north  of  that 
village,  upon  which  he  erected  his  present  resid- 
ence, which  will  vie  with  any  in  the  township 
in  its  various  appointments.  In  1882  he  added 
to  the  last-mentioned  purchase  one  hundred  and 
ten  acres  more  of  land  contiguous  thereto.  He 
may  be  .safely  classed  among  the  intelligent 
and  industrious  farmers  of  Susquehanna  County. 
He  has  served  his  township  in  various  official 
capacities,  and  was  assessor  for  five  years,  school 
director  for  six  years  and  supervisor  for  three 
years,  and  a member  of  the  Farmers’  Institute. 
His  wife  is  Emma  L.,  a daughter  of  Joseph 
S.  (1800-76)  and  Catharine  (1807-75)  (Eud- 


ress)  Bomberger,  who  resided  in  South  Lebanon 
township,  Lebanon  County,  Pa.  She  was  born 
March  2,  1845.  Their  children  are,  Ada 
E,,  educated  at  Montrose  Academy,  a teacher 
for  several  terms;  and  Lizzie  N.  Wells.  The 
children  of  Joseph  S.  Bomberger  are,  Mary 
A.,  wife  of  Jonah  K.  Spayd  of  Lebanon,  Pa.  ; 
Sarah,  widow  of  Wm.  Shirk,  Shelby  County, 
Iowa ; Endress,  died  in  Iowa  at  Rising  Sun,  and 
left  a family  ; Catharine,  wife  of  Edward  R. 
Zimmerman,  AVashington  County,  Md. ; John 
H.,  died  at  thirteen  ; William  E.,  Kent  County, 
Md. ; Edwin  J.  E.,  farmer  in  Lebanon 
County;  Uriah  J.  (1843-63),  served  in  the 
late  Rebellion,  was  sergeant  of  a company  of 
heavy  artillery,  and  died  in  a hospital  at 
Camden,  N.  J.  ; Emma  L.,  wife  of  Edward  C. 
Wells ; Jo.seph  E.,  resides  in  Lebanon,  Pa. 
Her  grandparents,  Bomberger  and  Endress, 
with  their  families,  settled  in  Lebanon  County, 
from  Germany,  where  they  became  large  land- 
owners. 

Joseph  Butterworth  moved  from  Middle- 
town  to  Bridgewater  about  1808-10,  and  settled 
where  John  Hunter  lives  in  South  Montrose. 
He  was  a farmer  and  drover,  and  bought  the 
improvement  made  by  Samuel  Maine.  His 
children  were  Oliver,  Alau.son,  Lodema,  Joseph 
and  Edwin.  Alanson  married  Julia  Stone,  and 
their  children  were  Edwin,  Albert,  Jerome  and 
Ellen,  who  resided  in  the  vicinity.  Jerome  has 
the  homestead. 

Christopher  Frink  came  to  Bridgewater 
early  with  his  three  sons — Rufus,  Jabez  and 
Amos.  Mrs.  Jabez  Frink  was  one  of  the  first 
school-teachers  at  Montrose. 

Benajah  McKenzie  came  from  Windham 
County,  Conn.,  in  1804,  and  located  on  a farm 
in  the  southwestern  part  of  the  township,  now 
owned  by  William  H.  Jones.  Captain  Bard 
and  McKenzie  went  twenty  miles  to  Black’s 
grist-mill,  near  the  mouth  of  the  Wyalusing, 
to  get  their  grain  ground.  He  was  working 
for  Joab  Pickett  in  1805,  when  the  Connecti- 
cut claimants  were  harassing  the  Pennsylvania 
surveyors  by  stray  bullets  fi)-ed  to  intimidate 
the  surveyors.  Late  in  life  he  removed  to 
Montrose,  where  he  died,  February  9,  1872, 
aged  eighty-seven.  He  had  long  been  a mem- 


I, 

f 


J 


BRIDGE  WATEE. 


329 


•her  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  and  was  highly 
respected.  His  wife  was  a daughter  of  Ezra 
Tuttle,  of  Springville.  Of  their  children, 
Ezra  went  to  Illinois,  John  died  in  Kansas, 
Eli  lives  in  Lackawanna  County,  Naomi  was 
the  wife  of  Cyrus  Barnes,  Gideon  and  George 
removed  West.  Jane  was  the  wife  of  Robert 
Foster,  and  is  now  a resident  of  Montrose. 
Edwin  was  a merchant  at  Montrose  a number 
■of  years,  where  his  family  reside.  He  is  now 
in  business  at  Binghamton.  Charles  McKen- 
zie was  in  the  army  nearly  three  years,  and  was 
killed  during  Grant’s  cani2:»aign  against  Rich- 
mond. 

Walter  Lathrop,  born  at  Norwich,  Conn., 
November  19,  1749,  married  in  1775,  and  had 
one  son,  Matthew,  who  was  born  the  following 
year,  in  which  also  his  wife  died.  In  1779  he 
married,  for  his  second  wife,  Esther  Fox,  of 
Norwich,  then  twenty-four  years  old,  by  whom 
he  had  the  following  children  : Hannah  (1780- 
81)  ; Wealthy  (1782-83)  ; Benjamin,  born 
June  25,  1784,  died  July  22,  1861  ; Wealthy 
2d  (1786-1852),  became  the  wife  of  Dr.  Ma- 
son Dennison,  of  Montrose;  Daniel  (1789- 
1842);  Martha  (1792-1839);  Rodney  (1794- 
1849).  In  the  year  1800  Walter  Lathrop  re- 
moved with  his  family  from  his  native  place, 
and  settled  in  Luzerne  (now  Susquehanna) 
County,  traveling  the  entire  distance  with  an 
ox-team,  which  took  six  weeks’  time.  He  set- 
tled in  the  unbroken  forest  of  what  afterwards 
was  made  Bridgewater  township,  in  the  South 
neighborhood,  and  there  erected  his  log  house,  | 
and  began  clearing  otf  the  forest  and  tilling 
the  virgin  soil.  This  log  house  stood  on  the 
spot  now  covered  with  an  orchard,  just  below 
Silas  Perkins’.  This  family  were  among  the 
first  permanent  settlers,  and  only  preceded  by 
others  by  one  year.  Walter  Lathrop  died  in 
1817,  and  his  wife  in  1838,  leaving  to  their 
children  the  invaluable  legacy — the  example  of 
an  industrious,  virtuous  and  upright  life,  and 
an  opportunity  for  them  to  carve  out  homes  and 
fortunes  for  themselves,  and  establish  schools, 
churches  and  society  in  a new  country.  There 
is  no  further  record  of  the  eldest  son,  Matthew, 
than  his  birth. 

Benjamin  Lathroj)  was  sixteen  years  old 


when  the  family  settled  here.  He  became 
inured  to  the  hardships  and  privations  of  pio- 
neer life,  and  did  his  part  well  in  all  that  per- 
tained to  the  settlement  of  the  country,  devel- 
oping its  resources  and  founding  its  various 
iustitutioi>s  of  education,  religious  instruction 
and  establishing  law  and  order.  Although  his 
life’s  business  was  farming,  mature  years 
brought  to  him  sound  judgment,  a well-bal- 
anced mind  and  sagacity  which  was  ever  ac- 
companied with  his  characteristic  integrity  of 
purpose  in  everything  in  which  he  engaged. 
He  was  active  as  an  officer,  and  took  troops  as 
far  as  Danville,  Pa.,  during  the  War  of  1812- 
14,  where  they  were  dismissed,  owing  to  the 
proclamation  of  peace.  His  commission  as 
major  of  the  Second  Brigade,  Eighth  Division, 
composed  of  the  counties  of  Northumberland, 
LTnion,  Columbia,  Luzerne,  Susquehanna  and 
Wayne,  was  issued  by  Governor  Snyder  and 
dated  August  1,  1814.  In  1811-13  he  was 
one  of  the  projectors  of  the  Bridgewater  and 
Wilkes-Barre  turnpike  to  Binghamton,  N.  Y., 
and  for  many  years  its  jn’esident.  He  served  the 
country  in  a public  capacity  as  commissioner 
for  many  years,  and  as  associate  judge  by  ap- 
pointment, to  fill  the  vacancy  caused  by  the 
death  of  Jabez  Hyde,  for  five  years  following 
November  1841.  Lathrop  township  was 
named  for  him  in  1846.  He  was  active  in 
educational  and  religious  matters,  was  one  of 
the  founders  of  St.  Paul’s  Episcopal  Church 
of  Montrose,  and  served  as  vestryman  for  many 
years.  His  political  affiliations  were  with  the 
Democratic  party,  and  although  defeated,  he 
ran  largely  ahead  in  his  own  county  when  a 
candidate  for  legislative  honors. 

His  first  wife,  Clarissa  (1791-1830),  whom  he 
married  in  1809,  was  the  daughter  of  Asahel 
Avery,  by  whom  he  had  children, — Dr.  Daniel 
A.  Lathrop  (1811-84),  a physician,  whose  life- 
work  sketch  may  be  found  in  the  Medical  Chap- 
ter of  this  volume;  Clarissa  H.  (1813-79), 
became  the  wife  of  E.  M.  Williams,  of  Mont- 
rose ; Azur  Lathrop,  born  September  6,  1815  ; 
Benjamin  F.  (1817-40),  went  West  in  1838, 
and  died  in  Ohio;  Charles  D.  (1822-73),  mar- 
ried Joanna  Searle,  of  Montrose,  in  1855,  and 
was  a farmer  and  stock-dealer  (he  died  at 


330 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANLl. 


Montrose) ; Dudson  R.,  born  October  17,  1828, 
cashier  of  the  First  National  Bank  of  Mont- 
rose; Helen  M.  (1830-31).  By  his  second 
wife,  Fanny  Jones  (1791-1876),  a native  of 
Salem,  Conn.,  he  had  one  son,  Francis  J. 
(1832-78),  who  died  at  Lincoln,  Nebraska. 

Daniel  Lathrop,  son  of  Walter,  married  a 
daughter  of  Jacob  Perkins  and  lived  in  the 
house  previously  occupied  by  his  father’s  family. 
He  occupied  the  Baynsford  house  later,  and 
was  gate-keeper  on  the  turnpike.  He  died  in 
1842.  His  children  were  Edwin  and  George, 
farmers  and  business  men,  and  Dr.  Frederick 
Lathrop,  who  moved  to  Springfield,  111.  The 
daughters  were  Jane,  Anne,  Hannah,  Cecilia 
and  Ruth. 

Ebenezer  Sprout  and  Jesse  Burrowes  walked 
in  from  the  Eastern  States  together  at  an  early 
day.  On  their  way  through  the  wilderness  they 
found  a piece  of  coal,  which  they  took  to  a 
blacksmith,  where  it  was  tested.  They  returned, 
and  brought  their  families  the  next  year  with 
ox-teams.  Ebenezer  Sprout  married  a sister  of 
Amos  Burrowes,  and  lived  about  two  miles  west 
of  Montrose  until  1862,  when  they  removed  to 
Lycoming  County.  Rensselaer,  Amos,  Erastus 
and  Ariel,  live  in  that  vicinity.  Samuel  and 
Lewis  live  in  Muncy.  Zebina  Sprout  resides 
on  the  homestead,  and  Charles  on  the  farm  ad- 
joining. ^ Mrs.  Miriam  Sprout,  years  afterwards, 

1 “One  afternoon,  near  Rundown,  your  father  being  away  from  home, 
I was  sitting  on  a log  by  our  little  cottage  in  the  woods,  thinking  of  the 
scenes  of  my  childhood — the  old  homestead  in  Connecticut,  the  shaded 
yard,  the  old  rock  near  the  house  where  I and  my  brothers  and  sisters 
played  in  youth,  and,  in  fact,  all  the  memories  which  will  naturally 
cluster  around  the  home  of  childhood — a familiar  sound  caught  my  ear_ 
It  was  the  sound  of  the  old  dinner  horn  which  I had  so  often  blown  to 
call  the  family  in  to  dinner,  at  our  old  happy  home  in  Connecticut.  As 
it  echoed  through  the  woods,  my  heart  beat  with  joy  at  that  familiar 
sound. 

“ I caught  the  little  baby  in  my  arms,  and  bidding  my  two  little  girls 
to  follow,  hastened  in  the  direction  from  which  the  sound  proceeded, 
thinking  I should  meet  them  in  a short  distance.  I traveled  a long  w'ay, 
and,  meeting  no  one,  listened,  thinking  I had  been  deceived,  and  that 
what  I had  heard  might  have  been  the  lowing  of  cattle ; yet  the  familiar 
sound  of  the  horn  as  I had  heard  it  clung  to  my  hopes  that  they  were 
coming  and  not  far  away.  While  I listened  I heard  the  sound  again, 
more  convincing  to  me  than  ever  that  I could  not  be  mistaken,  and  in 
the  direction  of  the  place  which  they  had  purchast  d for  their  home.  In 
a short  time  I w'as  met  by  brothers  and  sisters,  and  such  a meeting  I 
shall  never  forget.  Smiles  and  tears,  kisses  and  happy  greetings  ; God  only 
know'S  how  happy  we  all  felt  on  meeting  once  more  after  what  seemed 
to  us  to  be  BO  long  a separation.  Could  we  have  sent  and  received  letters 
by  mail  in  those  days,  as  now,  it  would  not  have  seemed  so  long  ; but 
there  were  no  mails  reaching  there  at  that  time.  How  distinctly  I re- 
member all  things  as  they  looked  the  first  year  around  that  little  house 
in  the  woods  ! Not  having  time  to  clear  away  the  logs,  the  trees  were 
felled,  the  brush  burned,  and  the  corn  planted  among  the  logs  by  means 
of  striking  an  axe  in  the  ground  and  dropping  the  seed  in  the  hole. 


told  her  sou,  Ariel  “ that  their  effects  were  all 
ill  one  wagon,  hauled  by  a yoke  of  oxen,  and  a 
cow  led  behind.  We  left  home  and  friends  and 
came  to  this  dreary  wilderness,  where  we  had 
not  the  smallest  hut  to  call  our  own.  W e did 
not  have  much,  as  over  such  roads,  filled  with 
rocks,  logs  and  brush,  one  team  could  not  haul 
much.  I footed  it  most  of  the  way  from  Con- 
necticut here,  carrying  Emeline  in  my  arms,  and 
leading  Mary  Ann.  Emeline  was  sick  nearly 
all  the  way,  and  we  feared  she  would  die. 
Knowing  that  my  father’s  family  would  follow 
in  about  a year  braced  me  up.” 

The  vivid  account  below  of  the  pioneer 
mother  has  been  given,  because  it  is  a good  de- 
scription of  the  privations  and  heart-aches  of 
hundreds  of  settlers  who  left  their  happy  homes 
in  Connecticut  and  came  into  this  waste,  howl- 
ing wilderness  to  build  up  homes  for  themselves 
and  children. 

Jacob  Perkins  lived  in  the  South  neighbor- 
hood, died  and  was  buried  there.  His  son  Silas 
died  at  Montrose.  Phineas  Arms  commenced 
where  Frank  Wells  now  liv’es.  He  was  a 
Presbyterian  elder.  Part  of  his  family — Phineas 
Philip,  Iddo  and  William — came.  Iddotauned 
deer-skins.  The  family  have  all  removed. 
Samuel  Davis  came  about  the  time  Deacon  Arms 
died.  Roswell  Kingsley  was  here  as  early  as 
1814.  He  had  a large  family,  all  of  whom 
have  removed. 

Samuel  Gregory  lived  a little  south  of  Mont- 
rose. He  came  here  from  Mt.  Pleasant.  He 
was  twice  sheriff  of  the  county  and  was  a bold 
and  efficient  officer.  It  was  during  his  term 
that  Treadwell  was  hung.  He  was  a man  of 
considerable  influence.  Rufus  B.  was  gradu- 
ated at  Union  College  and  became  a lawyer  ; 
A.sa  was  graduated  at  West  Point  Military 
Academy,  a lieutenant  in  the  regular  army, 
died  in  Florida ; Amanda  was  the  wife  of 

The  pumpkin  vines  ran  over  the  black  burnt  logs,  great  red  pumpkins 
banging  dov\-n  their  sides,  and  the  green  corn  peeping  up  among  them 
looked  full  of  promise  for  our  food  for  the  coming  winter. 

“Inthp.se  times  wheat-bread  was  not  thought  of,  and  rye  shortcake 
was  a rare  thing.  The  cow  which  we  brought  with  us  was  one  of  our 
main>tays,  she  furnishing  us  milk  and  butter  to  go  with  our  corn,  pota- 
toes and  pumpkins.  All  the  meat  we  had  was  killed  in  the  woods.  The 
cow  subsisted  on  the  leaves  of  the  small  brush  in  summer,  and  browsed 
in  winter  from  trees  felled  for  that  purpose.  We  raised  flax,  and  I spun 
and  wove  it  at  home  for  summer  wear  ; and  many  a pound  of  wool  have 
I carded,  spun  and  woven,  getting  one-half  for  my  work.*’ 


BRIDGEWATER. 


331 


Rev.  Seth  Rogers,  an  Episcopalian  clergyman ; 
Rhoda  was  the  wife  of  Absalom  Carey ; 
Harriet  was  the  wife  of  Philander  Lines,  a tailor 
at  Montrose,  father  of  Hon.  O.  A.  Lines,  pres- 
ent State  Senator ; Sally  was  the  wife  of  Sam- 
uel Scott.  Deacon  Nehemiah  Scott  lived  on  a 
farm  and  finally  moved  to  Montrose.  Samuel, 
Davis  and  Norton  were  his  sons. 

Jeremiah  Etheridge  came  from  New  London, 
Conn.,  in  1815,  and  was  the  first  cabinet-maker 
in  the  South  neighborhood.  He  removed  to 
Montrose  in  1818.  Dr.  Halsey’s  wife  was  a 
daughter  of  his.  David  Bushnell  purchased  the 
farm  since  owned  by  Matthew  Baldwin  in  1816. 
He  died  in  Auburn,  April  5,  1872,  aged  eighty- 
six.  Joseph  W.  Parker  moved  to  Bridgewater 
in  1816  from  Saybrook,  Conn.  He  was  licensed 
in  1826  and  ordained  in  1829  by  the  Baptists,  for 
whom  he  preached  as  a home  missionary,  princi- 
pally in  the  counties  of  Susquehanna,  AVyoming, 
Luzerne  and  Bradford,  where  he  assisted  in 
organizing  several  churches  and  baptized  six 
hundred  and  two  believers,  of  whom  several 
entered  the  ministry.  He  was  a faithful,  perse- 
vering, good  man,  whose  ministry  covered  almost 
forty  years.  Cyrus  Cheever  came  from  Har- 
ford to  a place  on  the  Wilkesbarre  turnpike, 
where  the  gate  was  last  kept  in  1818.  His 
wife  died  in  1870,  aged  ninety. 

Samuel  Rogers  was  born  July  3,  1790,  in 
Montville,  New  London  County,  Conn.  His 
mother  died  when  he  was  eighteen  months  old, 
and  his  father  when  he  was  less  than  three  years 
old.  He  left  New  London  County  in  1813, 
and  lived  in  Litchfield,  Conn.,  five  years ; then 
he  and  his  two  brothers  came  to  Brooklyn, 
Susquehanna  County.  In  1824  he  bought  an 
improvement  consisting  of  a log  cabin  and  about 
three  acres  cleared,  where  he  now  resides,  in 
the  southwestern  part  of  Bridgewater  town- 
ship. He  has  cleared  about  one  hundred  and 
thirty  acres  of  land.  The  first  house  he  erected 
was  a frame  house,  with  thick  plank  floors,  that 
he  split  out  of  chestnut.  He  is  ^ now  ninety -seven, 
being  the  oldest  resident  of  the  township.  He 
married  Anna  Butler,  who  died  in  1881,  aged 
eighty-three.  Their  children  are  George  W.,who 


resides  on  the  homestead;  Irena,  wife  of  John 
Barron,  a farmer  in  Franklin  ; Samuel  B.,  owner 
of  a meat-market  at  Montrose  ; Experience,  wife 
of  AA^illiam  Barron,  lives  in  Jessup  ; Anna,  wife 
of  Jno.  Wheeler,  of  Binghamton. 

Israel  Stebbins  lived  adjoining  Rogers, 
where  Abram  Lake  commenced  in  1825.  One 
of  his  sons,  E.  R.  Stebbins,  is  a coal  dealer  at 
Montrose.  George  AV’^.,  lives  in  Auburn. 

Henry  Patrick  lived  adjoining  Lake,  where 
Matthew  McKeebe  now  lives.  Of  his  children, 
Harris  was  a lawyer  at  Athens,  Pennsylvania  ; 
Harvey  and  Abel  lived  at  Montrose  ; George 
and  Charles  moved  elsewhere.  Gilbert  Mc- 
Keebe bought  the  Patrick  place  about  fifty 
years  ago.  Of  his  children,  Matthew  retains 
the  homestead,  and  Isaac,  Solomon,  ATilliam 
and  Theodore  wej’e  the  other  sons. 

Moses  S.  Tyler  came  from  Brooklyn,  and 
bought  a farm  of  Phineas  Smith  on  the  AA"ya- 
1 using.  His  sons  were  Ackley  and  Edgar. 

SOUTH  MONTROSE. 

The  large  part  of  the  hamlet  of  South  Alon- 
trose,  which  consists  of  about  twenty-five 
houses,  has  been  built  since  1875,  the  date  of 
the  completion  of  the  narrow-gauge  railroad 
from  Montrose  to  Tunkhannock.  Its  business 
places  are  a post-office,  two  stores  for  general 
merchandising,  steam  saw  and  grist-mill,  cream- 
ery, cider-mill  and  blacksmith-shop.  A post- 
office  was  established  at  Coolville,  about  one 
mile  south  of  South  Montrose,  August  5, 1874, 
and  Frank  S.  F.  AVells  was  appointed  post- 
master, although  Enoch  L.  Cool  performed  the 
duties  of  the  office.  James  Alartin  succeeded 
AA^ells  December  4,  1874,  and  was  succeeded  by 
Du  Bois  Hunter  Alay  31, 1877,  when  the  post- 
office  was  removed  to  South  Montrose,  and 
Frank  Tingley  succeeded  as  postmaster.  He 
was  followed  by  Stewart  Mead  and  Francis 
E.  Barron,  and  upon  the  change  of  the  admin- 
istration, Enoch  C.  Lake  received  the  commis- 
sion in  1885,  and  is  the  present  postmaster, 
with  the  office  located  in  the  store  of  E.  C.  & 
M.  L.  Lake. 

Stores. — Perry  Marcy,  contractor  for  the 
Montrose  Railway,  first  established  a store  at 
South  Montrose  for  the  sale  of  merchandise  to 


1 Since  deceased,  18S7. 


332 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


the  employees  engaged  in  the  construction  of 
the  road.  Up  to  this  time  there  had  been  a 
store  for  the  sale  of  merchandise,  which  was 
carried  on  by  AVilliam  Corey  for  a short  time. 
Mr.  Marcy  was  succeeded  by  J.  P.  Lodrick, 
who.se  store  was  destroyed  by  fire.  The  site, 
located  on  the  south  side  of  the  I'ailroad  track, 
was  purchased  by  F.  E.  Barron,  who  rebuilt 
aud  carried  on  mercantile  business  there  in 
1886.  Enoch  L.  Cool  erected  a store  building 
on  the  north  side  of  the  track  in  1884,  in  which 
mercantile  busine.ss  has  been  carried  on  since  by 
E.  C.  & M.  L.  Lake. 

Judge  Benjamin  Lathrop  established  a black- 
smith-shop at  South  Montrose  in  the  early  part 
of  the  century,  where  Jabez  Erink  carried  on 
biacksmithing  until  1846,  when  he  was  suc- 
ceeded by  Rufus  Allen,  of  Montrose,  a native 
of  Connecticut.  The  shop  has  been  conducted 
by  his  son,  Loren  Allen,  for  the  past  twenty- 
three  years.  The  creamery  was  built  by  Rayns- 
ford.  Cooper  & Blakeslee,  and  is  now  conducted 
by  the  American  Dairy  Company. 

Edgar  Harper  came  to  Bridgewater  in  1851. 
In  1874  he  erected  a steam  saw,  plaster  and 
feed-mill,  which'  was  burned  five  years  after- 
wards. He  rebuilt  in  1879,  and  does  a large 
business  for  the  local  trade.  The  capacity  of 
his  feed-mill  is  four  hundred  bushels  of  corn 
per  week  during  the  winter  season,  which  he 
receives  mostly  from  Indianapolis  and  Chicago. 
His  plaster  is  made  from  stone  brought  here 
from  Union  Springs,  Cayuga  County,  N.  Y. 
The  capacity  of  his  saw-mill  is  from  twelve  to 
fifteen  thou, sand  feet  daily,  mostly  hemlock,  with 
some  cherry  and  pine.  He  employs  ten  men. 

Isaac  Chapman  taught  school  at  South 
Montrose  in  a little  log  school-hou.se,  near 
where  the  pre.sent  LTnion  Church  staud.s,  in 
1805.  Mrs.  Bullard,  now  eighty-eight  years 
of  age,  remembers  that  school  well ; Mr.  Chap- 
man was  only  sixteen  years  of  age  at  that 
time ; he  also  delivered  the  first  4th  of  July 
oration  at  that  place.  J.  W.  Raynsford  taught 
school  in  1803,  and  was  the  first  teacher. 
Ben  jamin  Lathrop,  Daniel  Lathrop  and  Wealthy 
Latlirop  were  early  teachers.  There  were  three 
school-houses  at  that  place;  then  the  district 
was  divided.  One  of  the  houses  is  now  lo- 


cated near  the  railroad,  and  the  other  near 
Jerome  Butterfield’s.  The  little  church  at 
South  Montrose  was  built  as  a Union  Church 
for  all  denominations,  and  for  funeral  pur- 
poses. There  is  no  church  organization  at  this 
place.  The  church  members  in  the  place  are 
all  connected  with  the  several  churches  at  Mon- 
trose. Deacon  Zebulon  Deans  and  Deacon 
Reuben  Wells  were  pioneer  settlers  where  South 
Montrose  stands,  and  it  was  on  their  land 
that  the  church  and  first  school-houses  were 
built.  They  each  donated  one-fourth  of  an 
acre  for  a burial-place.  Olive  Deans  was  the 
first  person  buried  there,  in  1818.  The  grounds 
have  been  enlarged  since,  and  many  persons  are 
buried  there. 

Horace  Brewster. — The  Brewster  family 
is  of  English  origin,  and  the  ancestors  of  Hor- 
ace Brewster  were  settlers  on  Long  Island.  His 
paternal  grandfather,  James,  a shoemaker  by 
trade,  came  from  near  River  Head,  L.  I.,  with 
his  wife,  Anna  Foster,  a sister  of  Daniel  Fos- 
ter, and  resided  with  his  son,  Eldad  Brewster, 
in  Bridgewater,  from  1802  until  1831,  when 
he  went  to  Wysox,  Pa.,  where  he  spent  the  re- 
mainder of  his  days  with  his  daughter,  Mrs. 
Ferguson,  dying  at  the  age  of  ninety-two.  He 
was  in  the  War  of  1812,  and  received  a pension 
from  the  government.  Anna  Foster,  his  wife, 
who  died  a year  before  at  her  daughter’s  resi- 
dence, in  Wysox,  at  the  same  age,  was  a mem- 
ber of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  a genial  com- 
panion, a Christian  woman,  and  very  much  LU 
enjoyed  the  society  of  her  children  and  grand- 
children, to  whom  she  often  told  Bible 
stories  and  tried  to  impress  them  with  the 
truth.  Their  children  were  Abigail,  became 
the  wife  of  David  Ferguson,  of  Wysox,  Pa., 
and  reared  a large  family  of  children ; Daniel, 
a soldier  in  th^  War  of  1812,  was  a pensioner, 
and  died  at  the  residence  of  his  daughter,  at 
Wells’  Hollow,  Bradford  County,  aged  ninety- 
four;  and  Eldad  (1779-1831),  father  of  Hor- 
ace. 

Eldad  Brewster,  a native  of  River  Head, 
served  an  apprenticeship  in  learning  the  trade 
of  a w'eaver,  which  closed  upon  reaching  his 
majority,  in  1800.  In  that  year,  with  barely 
funds  enough  to  leave  his  home,  in  company 


BRIDGEWATBE. 


333 


with  Captain  Bartlet  Hinds,  Isaac  Post,  Robert 
Day,  his  brother  Daniel,  Daniel  Foster,  his 
uncle,  and  others,  nine  altogether,  he  came  from 
Long  Island  and  in  May  reached  Bridgewater 
township,  where  he,  with  a part  of  the  com- 
pany, stopped  at  the  cabin  of  Daniel  Foster, 
which  Mr.  Foster  had  erected  on  a previous 
visit.  Mr.  Brewster  soon  made  a purchase  of 
fifty  acres  of  woodland  two  miles  southeast  of 
the  present  borough  of  Montrose,  a part  of  the 


during  the  winter  season  worked  at  weaving  at 
Wyalusing  and  other  localities  earlier  settled 
until  he  had  his  land  paid  for.  He  added  to 
his  first  purchase  until  he  owned  one  hundred 
and  twenty-two  acres.  He  built  his  first  frame 
house  in  1812,  and  added  a two-story  front  in 
1820,  and  the  entire  building,  now  standing, 
was  his  home  as  long  as  he  lived.  He  was 
genial  and  kind  to  his  family,  a prompt  busi- 
ness man,  and  possessed  pure  motives,  as  indi- 


Clymer  tract,  and  his  brother  Daniel  located  on 
fifty  acres  adjoining.  About  1804  he  had  con- 
siderable of  this  land  cleared,  and  erected  a 
log  house  thereon.  He  had  agreed  to  pay  three 
dollars  per  acre  for  the  land,  but,  in  common 
with  many  of  the  other  settlers,  he  had  no 
money  to  pay  anything  with,  except  as  he  could 
make  it  from  his  land,  and  in  those  days  of 
barter  and  no  money  for  produce,  it  was  diffi- 
cult to  even  get  enough  to  pay  taxes  with.  He 
accordingly  worked  on  his  farm  summers,  and 


cated  by  his  life-work.  Although  he  had  only 
three  months’  schooling  when  a boy,  he  had  a 
good,  practical  knowledge  of  business  matters, 
and  with  his  quick  perception  and  sound  judg- 
ment managed  his  affairs  with  prudence  and 
economy. 

His  wife,  Hannah  (1797-1881),  whom  he 
married  in  1814,  was  a daughter  of  Deacon 
Moses  Tyler,  of  Bridgewater,  who  had  settled 
here  from  Windham  County,  Vt.,  in  1808,  but 
was  a native  of  Massachusetts.  He  died  at 


334 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


Montrose  in  1854,  aged  eighty-eight ; his  wife 
in  1856,  aged  eighty.  Moses  Tyler  had 
eight  daughters,  and  one  son  who  grew  to  man- 
hood, Moses  C.,  late  associate  judge.  The  chil- 
dren of  Eldad  Brewster  are  Tyler  (1815-85), 
Mas  a farmer  in  Harford  tOM’nship,  Mdiere  he 
died  ; Lucena,  born  in  1816,  is  the  widoM^  of 
the  late  Samuel  Sherer,  of  Dimock  ; Horace, 
born  October  15,  1818;  Daniel,  born  in  1820, 
a carpenter  by  ti’ade,  now  engaged  in  the  sale 
of  agricultui’al  implements  at  Montrose ; War- 
ren (1822-73),  died  at  Meshoppen,  Wyoming 
County,  leaving  two  children  ; Andrew  J.,  born 
in  1825,  a blacksmith  at  Montrose;  Sally,  born 
in  1827,  wife  of  Salmon  Hempstead,  of  Mead- 
ville,  Pa.  ; Moses  C.  (1829-59),  a carpenter, 
spent  several  years  in  Kansas,  returned  and 
died  at  Montrose ; and  Ann  Maria,  born  in 
1831,  the  M'ife  of  Ansel  Stearns,  of  Harford. 
All  of  them  reared  families. 

Horace  BrcM'ster  had  the  usual  opportunities 
for  a district-school  education,  but  at  the  age  of 
seventeen  M'as  indentured  to  Levi  Gregory  to 
learn  the  trade  of  a carpenter.  He  served  for 
three  years,  receiving  for  his  total  M’ages  one 
hundred  and  forty-four  dollai’S.  Upon  the 
completion  of  this  time  he  attended  one  term 
at  John  Mann’s  Academy,  St.  Joseph,  and  for 
tM'o  terms  was  a teacher.  He  folloM'ed  his 
trade  at  Montrose,  in  Yates  County  and  at 
Tunkhannock  until  1846,  M'hen  he  M^ent  to 
Davenport,  Iowa,  Mdiere  he  spent  three  years. 
Beturning  in  1849,  he  purchased  the  homestead 
— the  place  of  his  birth — and  until  1874  re- 
sided in  the  house  before  described,  erected  by 
his  father.  In  that  year  he  erected  his  present 
comfortable  residence,  and  he  has  added  to  the 
real  estate,  by  purchase,  forty-seven  acres. 

Mr.  Brewster  is  a member  of  Susquehanna 
Grange,  No.  74,  a member  of  the  Susquehanna 
Agricultural  Society,  of  Mdiich  he  served  as 
president  in  1882  and  1883,  and  he  is  active 
and  interested  in  all  measures  looking  to  the 
improvement  of  agriculture  and  inuring  to  the 
benefit  of  farming  interests.  He  gave  the 
right  of  M'ay  through  his  farm  for  the  construc- 
tion of  the  Montrose  Raihvay,  and  now  ships 
to  market  by  this  outlet  his  surplus  hay  and 
other  farm  products.  Both  himself  and  wife 


are  members  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  at 
Montrose.  Mr.  Brewster  has  given  much  at- 
tention to  the  education  of  his  children,  four  of 
whom  are  graduates  of  the  same  school,  one 
son  a laMyer  and  another  a doctor. 

His  wife,  Augusta,  a daughter  of  Truman 
and  Catherine  (French)  McNeil,  of  Homer, 
Cortland  County,  N.  Y.,  M'hom  he  married  in 
1845,  was  born  May  4,  1820.  Her  father  was 
of  Scotch-Irish  origin,  and  died  in  1821.  Her 
mother  married,  for  her  second  husband,  James 
W.  Hill,  of  Bridgewater,  for  many  years  a 
justice  of  the  peace  and  a prominent  member 
of  the  Baptist  Church  at  Montrose,  and  died 
in  1842.  By  her  first  husband  she  had  two 
children, — Augusta,  wife  of  Horace  Brewster; 
and  David  Truman  McNeil.  By  her  second 
husband  she  had  children, — Naomi,  Sarah, 
Mary,  Fanny,  James,  George  and  Catherine. 
David  Truman  McNeil  married  in  Kentucky, 
and  at  present  resides  at  Osceola,  Clark  County, 
loM-a. 

The  children  of  Horace  and  Augusta  Brew- 
ster are  Katie,  died  at  the  age  of  twelve ; 
Hannah  Elizabeth,  is  the  wife  of  E.  C.  Smith, 
of  BridgeM^ater ; Frederick  D.,  M^as  educated 
at  the  Montrose  Academy,  graduated  at  the 
Mansfield  State  Normal  School  in  1871,  was  a 
teacher  for  several  years,  read  medicine  with 
Dr,  Vail,  and  was  graduated  at  the  Homoeo- 
pathic Medical  College,  New  York,  in  1879, 
and  is  a practicing  physician  at  Tunkhannock, 
Pa.  ; David  Truman,  received  his  preparatory 
education  at  Montrose  Academy,  was  graduated 
at  the  Mansfield  State  Normal  School  in  the 
class  of  ’73,  read  law  M'ith  the  late  Hon.  La- 
fayette Fitch,  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1876, 
and  is  practicing  his  profession  at  Montrose  ; 
Mary,  died  at  the  age  of  four  years  ; Fannie 
(1859-87),  after  taking  the  usual  preparatory 
course  at  Montrose,  M^as  graduated  at  the  Mans- 
field State  Normal  School  in  the  class  of  ’80, 
was  a teacher  and  acting  principal  at  the  Mont- 
rose Academy,  and  was  the  wife  of  S.  M.  Fos- 
ter, of  Montrose;  Addie  (1864-87),  received 
her  preparatory  education  at  the  same  school, 
was  graduated  at  the  Mansfield  State  Normal 
School  in  the  class  of  ’83,  and  taught  in  the 
Montrose  Graded  School  until  her  health  failed. 


BRIDGEWATER. 


335 


She  died  iu  February,  1887,  aud  her  sister  died 
the  INIarch  follo^ying. 

^Luther  Catlin  came  from  Litchfield  County, 
Conn.,  in  1812,  and  located  near  his  cousin, 
Putnam  Catlin,  in  what  is  now  Brooklyn  ; but 
soon  after  made  the  first  clearing  on  the  Robert 
Kent  place,  and  subsequently  took  up  the  farm 
previously  occupied  by  Mr.  Madison.  He  died 
at  his  home  in  East  Bridgewater,  February  4, 
1885,  aged  one  hundred  years,  three  months  and 
ten  days. 

Erastus  Catlin  (brother  of  Luther  Catlin), 
and  formerly  from  Litchfield  County,  Conn., 

1 In  the  JRejmblican^  of  October  27th,  was  announced  the  remarkable 
fact  that  Mr.  Luther  Catlin,  of  Bridgewater,  on  the  Saturday  previous 
(October  25th),  had  attained  the  extreme  ago  of  one  hundred  years. 

As  Mr.  Catlin  had  expressed  a desire  to  cast  one  more  vote  for  Presi- 
dent, the  citizens  of  IHontrose,  irrespective  of  party  connections,  made  ar- 
rangements to  give  to  the  event  a special  and  prominent  recognition  by 
giving  to  this  venerable  citizen  a suitable  escort  to  the  polls  on  Tuesday, 
November  4th. 

Accordingly,  on  the  morning  of  election  day,  between  nine  and  ten 
o’clock,  a line  of  citizens,  in  carriages,  in  which  we  noticed  prominent 
Republicans,  Democrats  and  Prohibitionists,  preceded  by  the.  Montrose 
Cornet  Band,  went  to  the  residence  of  Mr.  Catlin,  something  over  two 
miles  from  Montrose,  where  the  rare  old  man  was  carefully  placed  in  an 
easy  carriage  and  the  procession,  with  cheerful  music  and  flags  flying, 
marched  into  town. 

In  the  carriage  with  the  centenarian  were  his  son,  .Tulius  Catlin,  aged 
seventy-three  ; his  grandson,  Ilariw  Catlin,  aged  twenty-three  ; and  his 
great-grandson,  Charles  Keeler,  aged  twenty-one. 

As  we  drove  through  tlie  principal  streets  handkerchiefs  and  flags 
were  waved  from  many  homes  along  the  route,  and,  as  we  passed  up 
Public  Avenue,  crowds  of  people  lined  the  way,  all  anxious  to  get  a 
sight  of  the  grand  old  man  whose  lite  began  a hundred  years  ago. 

At  the  court-house  he  was  met  by  a dense  throng,  and,  as  he  was 
borne  up  the  steps  and  through  the  hall  to  the  place  of  voting,  a hearty 
cheer  was  given  by  the  assembled  n)ultitud€.  As  he  deposited  his 
twentieth  Presidential  vote,  another  rousing  cheer  rang  out,  in  honor  of 
the  wonderful  event. 

At  the  same  moment  that  he  passed  iu  his  ballot,  at  the  Bridgewater 
polls,  his  great-grandson — a few  feet  away— deposited  liis  first  vote  at 
the  Montrose  polls. 

Mr.  Catlin  was  then  taken  into  the  recorder’s  oifice,  just  across  the 
hall,  where  an  informal  reception  was  held.  Hundreds  of  his  old 
friends  and  neighbors,  and  among  them  many  strangers,  had  the  privi- 
lege of  looking  into  his  pleasant  face,  and  of  taking  the  hand  of  a man 
who  might  appropriately  be  likened  to 

“ The  sturdy  oak,  the  brave  old  oak. 

That  has  stood  in  this  land  so  long.” 

He  seemed  anxious  to  know'  the  names  of  all  w'ho  greeted  him,  and  it 
was  very  interesting  to  note  how',  at  the  mention  of  some  familiar  name, 
his  face  lighted  up  w'ith  the  memories  of  by-gone  years.  For  one  so  old 
it  was  a very  trying  ordeal,  but  he  w’ent  through  it  with  much  less 
fatigue  than  might  have  been  expected,  and  he  seemed  to  have  a re- 
markably intelligent  appreciation  of  the  kind  regard  aud  cordial  defer- 
ence which  was  accorded  him. 

After  the  reception  he  was  taken  to  the  new'  sheriff’s  office,  a large 
and  well-lighted  room  in  the  annex,  where  our  accomplished  artist,  Mr. 
G.  W.  Doolittle,  brougiit  the  photograplier’s  art  and  skill  to  assist  in 
making  a permanent  impression  of  the  four  generations  who  had  to- 
gether cast  their  votes  for  the  President  of  these  United  States. 

Mr.  Catlin  was  again  borne  to  the  carriage,  by  careful  hands,  and, 
amid  parting  cheers,  with  the  escort  of  the  hand  and  citizens’  car- 
riages, was  taken  back  to  his  home,  where  it  is  the  hope  and  prayer  of 
many,  many  friends  that  he  may  dwell  in  great  peace  and  comfort  until 
he  shall  pass  away  to  that  better  land  w'here  none  ever  grow  old. 


as  early  as  about  1815,  owned  a farm  on  what 
is  now  known  as  Butterfield  Hill,  about  two 
miles  south  of  and  in  sight  of  Montrose,  where 
he  and  his  family  resided  many  years.  He 
afterwards  lived  at  North  Pitcher,  Chenango 
County,  N.  Y.,  where  he  died  in  1854,  in  the 
seventy-seventh  year  of  his  age,  his  wife, 
Polly  (Wright),  having  died  in  1830,  aged 
fifty  years.  The  wife  of  Abel  Turrell  is  the 
only  one  of  the  family  now  residing  in  Susque- 
hanna County.  His  nephew,  the  Rev.  L.  R. 
Dickinson,  is  rector  of  the  Episcopal  Church  at 
Great  Bend. 

James  W.  Hill  settled  in  Bridgewater  in 
1812,  and  cleared  a farm,  where  he  resided 
until  his  death,  in  1853.  He  and  Reuben  Rey- 
nolds occupied  a log- house  together  for  a time. 
Josiah  Mills  came  to  Bridgewater  in  1811, 
and  settled  near  Conrad  Hinds’  last  loca- 
tion. A homeless  orphan,  at  fourteen  years  of 
age,  he  enlisted  as  a drummer  in  the  Revolu- 
tionary array.  After  a year’s  service  he  ex- 
changed his  drum  for  a musket,  which  he  car- 
ried to  the  end  of  the  war,  receiving  an  honora- 
ble discharge.  In  1817  he  settled  two  and 
one-half  miles  west  of  Montrose,  where  he  died 
March  23.  1833.  One  son,  B.  H.  Mills,  re- 
moved to  Upper  Alton,  111.  Robert  Eldridge, 
a native  of  Connecticut,  located  on  the  Elias 
West  farm  in  1814.  He  subsequently  moved 
to  Brooklyn  township,  where  he  died,  aged 
eighty.  Of  his  sons,  James  occupied  the  home- 
stead a number  of  years,  then  removed  to 
Owego,  aud  Orlando  resided  iu  Brooklyn 
township. 

Charles  Trumbull  was  a pioneer  iu  Bridge- 
water  ; he  had  a large  family  of  sous  and 
daughters,  who  became  separated.  John  Trum- 
bull, one  of  the  sons,  retained  the  homestead. 
He  died  recently  at  an  advanced  age.  Cornelius 
Wood  came  from  near  Albany,  N.  Y.  His 
sons,  John  and  Pel  eg,  remained  iu  the  town- 
ship. Jonathan,  Eseck,  Ezra  and  Ira  moved 
elsewhere.  Solomon  Simmons  came  from  Con- 
necticut about  the  same  time.  His  sous,  Julius, 
Charles,  Solomon,  Harly  and  Garry  went  to 
Illinois.  Mrs.  Luther  Catlin,  daughter  of 
Solomon  Simmons,  Sr.,  died  in  Bridgewater 
October  25,  1872,  in  the  eighty-fifth  year  of 


336 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


her  age.  Samuel  and  Abraham  Chamberlain, 
Walter  Stewart,  Lemuel  Beebe,  Ebenezer  Wil- 
liams, Abraham  E.  Kennard  and  Joseph 
Guernsey  settled  in  the  neighborhood.  Ezra 
Kingsley  went  with  the  Mormons  in  1832. 

Samuel,  Timothy  and  Phineas  Warner  were 
brothers,  and  came  to  Bridgewater  from  Con- 
necticut. They  were  all  farmers.  Samuel  came 
about  1815  to  Conrad  Hinds’  first  location  in 
the  North  neighborhood.  He  was  an  earnest 
temperance  and  anti-slavery  advocate.  Samuel 
Warner,  Jr.,  and  Gilbert  lived  here  a number 
of  years.  Phineas  died  in  the  army.  Timothy 
had  a family,  of  whom  Eleida  and  Albert  O 
lived  here ; Ansel  lives  in  Brooklyn ; John 
died  in  Oswego  ; Minerva  married  Mr.  Barret, 
of  New  Milford.  Phineas  Warner  first  occu- 
pied the  farm  now  owned  by  George  Little. 
His  children  were  Davis  D.;  Nelson  C. ; Sidney 
D.  J.,a  physician  in  Luzerne  County  ; John  P., 
who  resides  in  Scranton  ; Ann,  wife  of  Dr.  E. 
S.  Park,  of  Red  Wing,  Minnesota  ; Elizabeth, 
wife  of  Gilbert  Angel,  of  Binghamton. 

General  Davis  D.  Warner  was  born  in  Con- 
necticut, February  1,  1802.  His  father,  Phin- 
nehas  Warner,  and  himself,  with  two  other 
brothers, — Mr.  Nelson  C.  M^arner,  who  now 
resides  in  Montrose,  and  Jared  C.  Warner, — came 
to  Montro.se  in  1810.  When  the  Warner  family 
drove  into  Montrose,  with  an  ox-team,  hailing 
from  the  land  of  “ wooden  nutmegs,”  there  were 
only  three  framed  houses  and  the  log  dwelling 
into  which  they  moved.  The  first  night  of 
their  arrival  they  feasted  upon  bear’s  meat  and 
venison.  General  Warner  has  held  the  confi- 
dence of  the  people  of  this  county  to  a con.sider- 
able  extent,  having  been  elected  associate  judge 
in  1851  and  afterwards  being  elected  twice  to 
represent  this  district  in  the  State  Legislature, 
his  first  term  being  in  1861.  While  associate 
judge  he  attended  the  inauguration  of  President 
Buchanan,  and  was  among  the  victims  of  the 
Washington  “National  Hotel  poisoning”  sick- 
ness, which  circumstance  will  be  remembered 
by  many  of  our  readers,  as  some  from  this  county, 
who  were  victims  with  him,  died  from  the  same 
cause.  Mr.  Warner  was  in  the  State  military 
service  for  some  time,  and  among  the  memorable  | 
incidents  of  his  career  in  that  particular  was  the  | 


commanding  of  the  military  at  the  hanging  of 
Treadwell,  so  noted  an  occasion  in  the  history 
of  Susquehanna  County.  One  little  incident 
worthy  of  mention  was  the  patriotic  demonstra- 
tion which  one  of  the  oxen  exhibited  that  fur- 
nished the  motive-power  which  transported  the 
Warner  family  from  Connecticut  to  this  county. 

One  of  these  oxen  seemed  to  manifest  a love  of 
his  native  land  to  so  great  an  extent,  that  he 
started  back  on  the  road  from  Connecticut 
which  he  had  traversed,  and  was  first  found  on 
the  other  side  of  the  Delaware  River  with  his 
head  set  for  his  former  home. 

Mr.  Warner  died  March  29,  1879,  aged 
seventy-nine.  He  was  for  many  years  proprie- 
tor of  the  “Franklin  ” (now  Tarbell)  House.  His 
children  were  Jared,  who  resides  in  Scranton ; 
Edward  R.,  graduate  of  West  Point,  a captain 
in  the  regular  army ; Henry  D.,  member  of 
the  Produce  Exchange  of  Chicago;  and  Fred- 
erick, also  of  Chicago ; Ellen,  wife  of  Henry 
Searle ; Ann,  widow  of  Captain  J.  R.  Lyons  ; 
Salome,  wife  of  A.  Watson  ; Delphine,  wife  of 
Edward  Rogers ; and  Kitty,  wife  of  Benjamin 
Stark.  Nelson  C.  Warner  was  one  of  the  re- 
spected pioneers  of  Montro.se.  He  was  born  at 
Deep  River,  Connecticut,  in  the  year  1804,  and 
was  brought  to  this  county  when  only  four 
years  old.  When  a youth  of  sixteen  he  walked 
back  to  his  native  place,  accomplishing  the  en- 
tire journey  on  foot.  In  1831  he  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Eliza  D.  Baldwin,  of  Bridgewater, 
whom  he  survived  only  four  years.  He  was  elec- 
ted sheriff  in  1845,  serving  three  years,  but  he 
spent  most  of  his  early  life  at  manual  labor,  being 
known  as  an  upright  and  successful  farmer. 
His  children  were  Lydia  F.,  wife  of  C.  N.  Stod- 
dard, merchant ; Edson  S.,  Fletcher  G.,  Charles 
N.,  Mary  A.,  (wife  of  George  P.  Little),  Emily 
A.  and  Helen  E.  (wife  of  F.  I.  Lott). 

Orin  Clemons  came  to  Bridgewater  from 
Litchfield  County,  Connecticut,  in  1829,  and 
purchased  a farm  in  the  North  neighborhood. 
He  died  when  he  was  seventy-seven,  leaving  a 
large  family — Henry,  who  has  been  a carriage- 
maker  for  forty  years;  Welcome  went  South 
and  was  very  successful,  but  lost  his  property 
during  the  war  ; his  brother  Frederick  was  also 
engaged  with  him  at  Columbus,  Ga.,  in  the 


BKIDGEWATER. 


337 


manufacture  of  cottou  gins  ; David  invented  a 
hame  and  engaged  in  manufacturing  them  in 
Scranton.  There  were  seven  girls  ; Eljza  is  the 
wife  of  F.  Churchill,  of  Great  Bend. 

Merritt  Mott  came  with  his  father,  Laomi 
Mott,  to  Middletown  iu  1810.  In  1832  he  came 
to  Bridgewater  and  purchased  a carding-mill  of 

Watrous.  He  started  fulling,  coloring  and 

cloth-dressing,  and  finally  introduced  weaving. 
Judson  W.  Mott  succeeded  his  father  in  the 
same  business  in  1863.  In  1867  the  factory 
was  destroyed  by  fire.  Mr.  Mott  rebuilt  that 
year.  He  employs  four  or  five  hands  and  man- 
ufactures miners’  flannel  and  stocking  yarn 
principally.  He  makes  about  eleven  thousand 
yards  of  cloth  and  a ton  of  yarn,  and  uses  from 
seven  thousand  to  nine  thousand  pounds  of 
wool  per  year,  most  of  which  is  purchased  from 
the  farmers  in  the  county.  Merritt  Mott’s  chil- 
dren were  Myron,  who  lived  and  died  here ; 
Amos,  who  lives  at  Tunkhaunock  ; Frederick, 
who  became  a judge  in  Iowa ; Chauncey,  who 
died  in  the  army ; Judson,  who  retained  the 
homestead ; Fdson  ; Sophronia,  wife  of  Rev- 
John  R.  Murphy,  D.D.,  of  Iowa  ; Mary  Jane, 
wife  of  Charles  S.  Foster  of  Montrose.  Nathan 
Shipman  was  an  early  settler  iu  the  vicinity  of 
Mottville. 

Baldwins. — Noah  Baldwin  (1745-1827) 
and  Sarah  (1756-1842),  his  wife,  came  to 
Bridgewater  from  Connecticut  and  settled  one 
mile  north  of  Moutro.se,  on  the  place  now  owned 
by  W.  W.  Williams,  in  1807.  His  children 
were  Asa  (1778-1819),  Polly,  Samuel  (1783- 
1870),  Sally  (1786-1875),  Scott  (1788- 
1874),  Betsey,  Matthew  born  March  30,1794, 
died  1887,  aged  ninety-three.  Asa  married 
S.  Scott’s  eldest  daughter,  and  died,  leaving 
her  with  eight  children, — Asa ; Fliza,  wife  of 
Nelson  Warner;  Samuel;  Charles;  Mary, 
wife  of  Amasa  Mott;  Charles  and  Samuel 
lived  iu  New  York.  The  family  are  all  dead. 
Polly  was  the  wife  of  Simeon  Cook,  who  re- 
sided near  Susquehanna.  He  died  near  Mon- 
tro.se,  leaving  a family.  Samuel  Baldwin  re- 
sided near  Montrose  and  died  at  the  agre  of 

O 

ninety.  He  had  a large  family,  all  of  whom 
moved  West  except  Polly,  wife  of  Mr.  Hol- 
brook. Sally  was  the  wife  of  John  Turner,  of 
22 


Fulton  County,  N.  Y.  ^ Scott  Baldwin  came 
to  the  farm  adjoining  that  of  Simeon  Tyler  in 
Mareh,  1808,  and  resided  on  the  spot  for  sixty 
years. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Baldwin  lived  together  sixty- 
four  years,  and  reared  a family  of  twelve  chil- 
dren. Alfred  Baldwin,  oue  of  the  sons,  was 
associate  judge  from  1866  to  1871,  and  harness- 
maker  at  Montrose  many  years.  David  went 
to  Wyoming  County,  Sally  was  the  wife  of 
Orren  Wood,  Chapman  moved  to  Sullivan 
County,  John  moved  West,  Noah  lives  in  Au- 
burn, Fdmund  resides  at  Montrose  and  has 
been  court  crier  eighteen  years.  One  of  his 
sons  is  a lawyer,  another  a physician,  and 
George  S.  and  W.  B.  Baldwin  are  printers. 
Myron,  Hannah,  Louisa  and  Isaac  are  the 
youngest  of  Scott  Baldwin’s  family.  Matthew 
Baldwin,  the  youngest  of  the  old  family,  set- 
tled on  the  farm  in  1816,  that  he  occupied 
until  he  died,  and  built  a log  house  at  first, 
which  gave  place  to  the  present  edifice  in  1823. 
All  the  barns  and  other  improvements  were 
made  by  him.  He  was  a Democrat  in  politics, 


^ The  following  statement  made  by  Scott  Baldwin  shows  what  difficul- 
ties they  had  to  encounter  in  this  wilderness  in  1808  and  the  years  im- 
mediately following  : 

“ We  had  but  one  dollar  in  money  left  when  we  got  here.  We  had  to 
work  out  part  of  the  time  for  a living,  and  the  rest  of  the  time  for  our 
place.  Our  house  was  a log  house,  tlie  floor  made  of  slabs  split  out  of 
trees,  the  windows  made  of  sticks  crossed  and  paper  put  on  them  for 
glass.  The  nearest  grist-mill  was  three  miles  off,  and  we  had  to  go  far- 
ther sometimes,  and  carry  our  grists  on  our  backs.  At  one  time  we  had 
to  pay  for  rye,  and  that  we  had  ground  without  bolting.  When 
our  bread  was  almost  gone,  we  had  to  lay  some  by  for  the  children,  and  go 
without  ourselves.  Bay  after  day  we  had  to  depend  on  our  guns  for 
meat.  For  tea,  we  used  spicewood. 

“ We  used  to  make  deer-licks  by  putting  salt  in  certain  places  in  the 
woods.  One  time  I went  to  the  place  where  I had  put  salt,  and  saw  a 
very  large  deer-track.  I climbed  a tree,  some  thirty  or  forty  feet  high, 
with  my  gun.  Before  dark  I tied  my  gun  to  a limb  of  the  tree,  point, 
ing  it,  as  near  as  I could  guess,  where  the  deer  would  come.  There  I 
sat,  all  night,  until  daylight,  but  no  deer  came.  I thought  I would  not 
give  it  up  so,  and  tried  it  again.  The  third  night  1 sat  on  the  tree  as 
before  until  the  cock  crowed  for  morning,  I then  heard  something 
coming.  It  proved  to  be  a deer.  He  came  to  the  lick,  I fired,  and  when 
I came  down  from  the  tree,  found  I had  killed  a very  large  buck.  We 
then  had  meat  again, 

“ In  the  fall  we  got  out  of  salt,  and  there  was  but  one  .place  we  could 
get  it,  and  there  only  at  the  price  of  S-lOO  per  bushel.  I had  nothing 
to  buy  it  with,  and  concluded  to  see  what  hunting  would  do.  I took  my 
gun,  went  out  into  the  woods,  and  found  a bear  that  had  gathered  a 
large  quantity  of  chestnuts.  I shot  it,  took  its  skin,  and  with  it  bought  a 
bushel  of  salt. 

“ Brother  Samuel  and  myself  went  to  Br.  Rose’s  for  work.  He  gave 
us  the  job  of  clearing  out  the  road  between  us  and  Silver  Lake.  We  had 
to  go  from  six  to  eight  miles  to  our  work.  Our  living  was  corn  bread 
and  dried  venison.  Our  bed,  hemlock  houghs,  with  leaves  for  covering. 

“ There  were  settlers  about  six  miles  this  side  of  Binghamton,  and, 
on  thiseiul  of  the  road,  for  about  four  miles  north  of  Montrose  ; between 
them  were  dense  woods,  the  path  being  only  marked  trees.” 


338 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


and  a member  of  the  East  Bridgewater  Method- 
ist Episcopal  Clmrch.  His  children  were 
Jeremiah,  a farmer  near  the  homestead  ; Mary 
M.  (1820-81),  wife  of  John  Trumbull,  a 
farmer  in  Bridgewater;  William  has  a farm 
adjoining  his  father  ; Jonathan,  toll-keeper  at 
Susquehanna;  James;  Horace  S.  in  Sus- 
quehanna ; Lyman  M.,  proprietor  of  the 
Exchange  Hotel ; Benjamin  F.  resides  on  part 
of  the  farm  ; George  H.  (1839-78),  served 
in  the  late  war  with  Captain  Young’s  company 
nine  months,  then  he  enlisted  for  three  years 
and  served  till  the  war  clo.sed.  Jeremiah, 
Horace  S.,  Lyman  M.  and  Jonathan  served  in 
Captain  Dimock’s  company. 

Jonathan  Vaughn  died  in  1869,  aged  ninety. 
His  daughter,  Elizabeth  (1800-81),  was  the 
wife  of  Matthew  Baldwin.  He  resided  in 
Bridgewater,  near  the  North  school-house.  Of 
his  other  children,  Ariel  and  Jeremiah  went  to 
Connecticut,  Stephen  died  in  Wilkes-Barre, 
Mercy  was  the  wife  of  Orrin  Stephens,  and 
Sally  was  the  wife  of  William  Shipman. 

East  Bridgewater. — The  post-office  was 
established  at  East  Bridgewater  in  1868.  Cor- 
nelius J.  Curtis,  Samuel  Smyth  and  N.  O. 
Passmore  were  instrumental  in  getting  this 
office  for  the  accommodation  of  the  neighbor- 
hood. Mr.  Smyth  w'as  commi.ssioned  post- 
master, but  only  served  one  year,  when  James 
McMillen  was  appointed,  and  has  conducted 
the  business  of  the  office  since.  Mr.  McMillen 
has  the  only  store  at  the  place,  which  he  opened 
for  the  sale  of  groceries  in  1881.  David  Rock- 
afeller  and  Hart  Roberts  many  years  ago  car- 
ried on  blacksmithing  just  below  the  old  plank- 
road. 

There  is  a school-house  here,  and  some  of  the 
early  teachers  in  the  neighborhood  were  Sally 
Wilsey  and  Hannah  Belknap.  Thomas  T.  Lillie 
taught  in  the  vicinity  in  1824,  Hiram  Allen  in 
1826,  and,  later,  J.  B.  Kimber  and  James 
Layton. 

Religious  Denominations. — As  early  as  1820 
religious  -services  were  held  in  the  neighbor- 
hood, the  school-house  being  u.sed  for  that  pur- 
pose. The  supply  was  generally  from  the 
Brooklyn  charge  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  and  the  meetings  held  by  ministers  of 


that  denomination,  although  Elder  Davis  Dim- 
ock, from  Montrose,  a Baptist  clergyman,  and 
Rev.  Burr  Baldwin,  the  Presbyterian  minister  of 
the  same  jilace,  frequently  held  services  here. 
Some  of  the  early  members  of  the  class  here 
were  Samuel  Reynolds,  who  for  forty  years 
was  a class-leader,  Nathaniel  Reynolds,  Timothy 
Brown,  Ezra  Brown,  Mrs.  Nathan  Jewett  and 
Mrs.  Peleg  Wood. 

In  1877,  under  the  labors  of  Rev.  George 
Comfort,  of  the  Brooklyn  charge,  a Methodist 
Church  organization  was  effected,  and,  with  the 
aid  of  the  society,  the  present  neat  church 
edifice  was  erected  the  following  year.  It  re- 
mained a part  of  the  Brooklyn  charge  for  some 
three  years,  when  it  was  annexed  to  the  Mont- 
rose charge,  and  has  been  regularly  supplied 
every  alternate  Sunday  since  by  the  minister  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  at  Montrose. 
Rev.  W.  B.  Westlake  succeeded  Mr.  Comfort, 
and  has  in  turn  been  sueceeded  by  Revs.  H.  H. 
Dresser,  Thomas  Harroun  and  the  present  pas- 
tor, Rev.  H.  C.  McDermott.  The  board  of 
trustees  consists  of  five  members — three  of  the 
church  and  two  of  the  society.  Other  clergy- 
men hold  meetings  in  the  church  when  not  oc- 
cupied by  the  regular  minister,  under  the  regu- 
lations of  its  organization,  and  funerals  have 
preference  to  any  other  service. 

The  burying-ground,  which  has  been  used 
since  the  early  settlement  of  the  neighborhood, 
is  situated  near  the  church,  and  there  are  in- 
terred many  of  its  early  members  and  the  first 
settlers  of  the  vicinity.  The  ground  was  do- 
nated by  Hugh  McCollum,  and  the  deed  made 
about  1840  to  Mathew  Baldwin,  Latham  Gard- 
ner and  Hiram  Guernsey  a committee. 

Another  burial-place,  on  the  stage-route  from 
Montrose  to  Heart  Lake,  is  located  on  the 
Foster  farm,  on  the  top  of  a high  knoll,  which 
was  laid  out  during  the  early  settlement  of  the 
neighborhood.  The  proprietaries  of  this  plat 
were  John  Trumbull,  Frederick  Foster,  Abram 
Chamberlain,  John  McCollum,  Lyman  B.  Cole 
and  Latham  Gardner,  the  families  of  which 
have  been  interred  within  the  inclosure. 

A creamery,  for  the  manufacture  of  butter 
and  cheese  and  the  sale  of  milk  and  cream,  was 
erected  at  East  Bridgewater  in  1881  by  the 


I 


1 


BRIDGEWATER. 


339 


American  Dairy  Association,  from  which  large 
shipments  are  made  to  New  A'oi’k  and  other 
markets. 

Cornelius  J,  Curtis. — Nathaniel  Curtis,  a 
native  of  Connecticut,  removed  with  his  family 
from  Herkimer  County,  N.  Y.,  in  1806,  and 
was  the  pioneer  settler  of  East  Bridgewater, 
where  he  settled  on  one  hundred  acres  of  laud, 
the  present  farm  of  his  grandson,  Cornelius  J. 
Curtis.  He  first  erected  a log  house,  but  prior 
to  his  death,  in  1814,  he  built  a frame  house. 
His  wife  died  about  1820,  and  both  were  buried 
in  the  neighborhood  burying-ground,  now  to 
be  seen  near  the  church. 

Nathaniel,  Jr.  (1778-1850),  eldest  son,  mar- 
ried Mary  Lamberson  (1778-1848),  a native  of 
Salisbury,  N.  Y.,  and  I’emoved  from  that  place 
in  1812,  and  occupied  the  homestead  in  East 
Bridgewater,  after  the  death  of  his  father.  He 
erected  the  present  residence  in  1830,  and  was  the 
first  man  in  that  part  of  the  township  to  erect  a 
building  without  the  use  of  liquor  for  his  men. 
This  inaugurated  a new  era,  and  many  of  the 
neighbors  afterwards  followed  his  example.  He 
took  much  interest  in  the  early  establishment  of 
schools  in  the  township,  and  upon  the  act  of  1835, 
creating  the  office  of  school  director,  himself 
and  Judge  Lathrop  were  selected,  and  served  in 
that  capacity.  He  added  one  hundred  and  eighty 
acres  of  land  to  the  original  purchase  of  his  fa- 
ther, and  continued  his  residence  on  the  home- 
stead until  his  death.  Both  himself  and  wife  were 
regular  attendants  of  the  Presbyterian  Church 
at  Montrose,  and  both  were  buried  at  East 
Bridgewater. 

The  second  sou,  Harvey,  was  a man  of  con- 
siderable enterprise.  He  built  the  first  grist- 
mill on  Heart  Lake  in  1823.  His  wife  was  a 
daughter  of  Captain  Newman.  He  removed  to 
Joliet,  Ilk,  where  he  died  in  1860. 

The  third  son,  Warren,  was  a farmer  in 
Bridgewater,  where  he  died  in  1828. 

The  fourth  son,  Daniel,  built  a hotel  in  Mon- 
trose about  1814,  and  was  the  genial  landlord 
during  the  early  days  of  the  old  stage  lines  from 
New  York  to  Owego,  and  from  Philadelphia 
to  Utica,  which  crossed  each  other  at  Montrose. 
This  house  was  the  origin  of  the  present  Tar- 
bell  House,  and  was  kept  by  him  in  a popular 


way,  for  those  days,  until  1834.  He  removed 
to  Joliet,  Ilk,  where  he  died  in  1862.  His 
wife  was  a daughter  of  Major  Ross. 

The  fifth  son,  Ira,  had  a farm  contiguous 
to  the  homestead,  where  he  resided  until  his 
death,  in  1828. 

The  children  of  Nathaniel  and  Mary  (Lam- 
berson)  Curtis  are  Abigail  (1800-72),  married 
Eseck  Wood,  resided  on  the  adjoining  property 
to  the  homestead  for  some  time,  moved  to  Brad- 
ford County,  and  afterwards  to  Polo,  Ilk,  in 
1862,  where  she  died  in  1872  ; Polly,  born  in 
1802,  is  the  wife  of  H.  G.  Ely,  of  Springville; 
Theodosia  (1807-86)  w'as  the  wife  of  Daniel 
McCollum,  who  resided  in  the  same  neighbor- 
hood; Anson  (1810-55)  graduated  at  Fair- 
field,  Herkimer  Co.,  N.  Y.,  in  1836,  practiced 
medicine  at  Pittston  -from  1839  until  1853, 
when  he  was  elected  prothonotary  of  Luzerne 
County,  and  died  while  in  office ; Gaylord, 
born  in  1812,  a banker  at  Susquehanna ; Joshua 
W.  (1815-61)  resided  on  the  plank  road  con- 
tiguous to  the  homestead,  was  a farmer,  and 
died,  leaving  four  sons — William  C.,  Charles 
F.,  Nathaniel  and  John ; Cornelius  J.,  born 
where  he  now  resides,  October  24,  1816;  Syl- 
via L.,  widow  of  Perry  W.  Kennard,  resides  on 
the  homestead  with  her  brother,  the  youngest 
son. 

Cornelius  J.  Curtis  married,  in  1847,  Char- 
lotte G.,  a daughter  of  Harvey  (1795-1872) 
and  Laviuia  (Fowler)  (1808-55)  Griffin,  of 
New  Milford,  who  settled  there  from  Guilford, 
Conn.,  in  1820.  She  was  born  July  6,  1824. 
Her  grandfather  was  the  Rev.  Andrew  Fowler, 
a native  of  Connecticut,  who  was  educated  for 
the  ministry,  went  to  Charleston,  S.  C.,  where 
he  was  rector  of  Christ  Church  parish  (Episco- 
pal) until  his  death,  at  the  age  of  over  ninety 
years.  Their  only  living  child  is  Andrew  Fow- 
ler Curtis,  born  January  26,  1855,  who  married 
in  1875,  Flora  Alice,  a daughter  of  Henry  Bald- 
win, of  Forest  Lake.  Mr.  Curtis  is  one  of  the 
intelligent,  reading,  thinking  men  of  Bridgewa- 
ter township.  He  added  to  his  district  school 
education  instruction  at  Harford  Academy  and 
the  school  at  Montrose.  He  became  some- 
what active  in  politics  in  early  manhood,  and 
served  several  terms  as  supervisor  and  school  di- 


340 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


rector.  He  was  elected  justice  of  the  peace  in 
1865  on  the  Democratic  ticket,  and  is  serving 
by  re-election  his  fifth  term  of  five  years  each, 
consecutively.  He  was  one  of  the  original 
members  of  the  County  Agricultural  Society, 
and  has  taken  an  active  part  in  the  educational 
interests  in  the  community  in  which  he  resides, 
and  in  all  other  matters  pertaining  to  the  wel- 
fare of  its  citizens. 

He  erected  his  present  commodious  barn  dur- 
ing the  centennial  year,  and  his  residence  is  the 
one  built  by  his  father,  herein  alluded  to.  Both 
himself  and  wife  are  members  of  the  Presbyte- 
rian Church  at  Montrose,  and  he  has  served  as 
treasurer  and  a member  of  the  board  of  trustees 
of  the  Methodist  Church  at  East  Bridgewater, 
on  the  part  of  the  society,  since  its  organization, 
in  1877. 

Daniel  Austin  came  in  1810  and  lived  near 
the  line,  in  the  edge  of  Silver  Lake  township. 
His  children  were  Andrus,  who  went  to  Potter 
County ; Nicholas  died  in  Liberty  township  ; 
Dana  lives  near  the  fair-grounds ; Electa  was 
the  wife  of  Edmund  Meeker,  of  Silver  Lake; 
Harriet,  wife  of  Elijah  Backus,  of  Montrose. 
Orrin  Stevens  lived  adjoining,  in  Bridgewater. 
Elder  W.  J.  Parker  married  a daughter  of 
Thomas  Scott,  who  lived  in  that  neighborhood. 
Jonathan  Vaughn  lived  in  that  vicinity;  he 
came  in  1810,  and  died  in  1869,  aged  ninety. 
His  son  Crispen  has  the  homestead.  Avery 
Vaughn  moved  to  Binghamton  ; Lucinda  was 
the  wife  of  Mr.  Carter,  of  Rush;  Jane  married 
Calvin  Griffis ; and  Ann  married  Milton 
Griffis.  Benjamin  Fancher  married  one  of 
Samuel  Scott’s  daughters,  and  had  a large 
family.  David  has  the  homestead.  The  other 
children  were  Richard,  Neherniah,  Sally,  Polly, 
Ann,  Caroline,  Alvira  and  Abigail.  Sally  mar- 
ried Wm.  Thode,  a German,  and  moved  to  Ger- 
many—something  unusual  for  American  girls. 
Thomas  Pickering,  an  Englishman,  also  located 
there.  His  sons  were  John,  Jacob,  Ralph  and 
George.  The  former  resides  on  the  homestead. 

Samuel  Fessenden  came  early  and  cleared  up 
a farm.  His  sons  were  Henry,  Samuel  B.,  Asa, 
John,  Thomas,  Isaac,  and  Harriet,  wife  of  Luke 
Jagger.  Henry  married  Martha  Lathrop.  Their 
sons  were  William,  Charles,  Samuel,  Edward 


and  Theodore.  S.  B.  Fessenden  married  Han- 
nah Harris.  Asa  married  Esther  Backus.  Their 
sous,  Newell  and  Frederick,  reside  at  Montrose. 
Thomas  married  Caroline  Backus.  Of  their 
five  children,  George  lives  at  Montrose;  Joseph 
Beebe  lived  in  the  west  neighborhood.  Their 
children  were  Orrin,  Hiram,  (an  editor  in  Owego, 
N.  Y.),  William,  Ezra,  Edward,  Owen.  Ezra 
and  William  settled  in  the  vicinity.  O.  S.  Beebe 
son  of  Orrin,  was  county  surveyor.  Angel ine, 
Hannah  and  Elizabeth  were  the  daughters. 
Obadiah  Green  was  a pioneer  settler ; of  his 
children,  David  retained  the  homestead  and 
George  lives  in  Auburn. 

John  Darrow  came  to  Bridgewater  at  an  early 
day  in  its  history ; he  was  ninety-seven  years  old 
when  he  died.  Of  his  children,  John  lives  at 
Nicholson  ; Phebe  was  the  wife  of  David  Green  ; 
William  lived  in  New  Milford  ; Amos  in  Brad- 
ford ; Herrick  in  Forest  Lake;  Denison  in 
Michigan  ; Daniel  lived  where  his  son  Augustus 
now  lives,  on  the  Wyalusing,  in  Bridgewater. 
He  is  now  eighty-one  years  old  and  a resident 
in  Montrose.  Mrs.  D.  Green  is  eighty-five  years 
old. 

Captain  Jarah  Stephens,  an  old  Revolutionary 
soldier,  and  his  son-in-law,  Joseph  Williams, 
came  from  Otsego  County  and  located  their 
lands  about  three  and  one-half  miles  from 
Montrose,  on  the  New  Milford  road,  and  in 
1810  they  rolled  up  a log  house.  Joseph 
Williams’  children  were  Orrin,  Frederick  M. 
and  Eleanor,  wife  of  Rev.  Albert  L.  Post. 
Orrin  retained  the  homestead.  His  only  son^ 
Joseph,  resides  with  his  Aunt  Eleanor  at  Mont- 
rose. Frederick  M.  married  Clarissa  Lathrop  ; 
Clarissa,  their  daughter,  was  the  wife  of  Perry 
Barnhart.  Anna,  the  efficient  clerk  at  the  post- 
office,  is  their  only  daughter. 

Philander  Stephens  was  a politician  and  held 
several  offices  of  trust.  He  was  commissioner 
in  1818,  State  Representative  in  1824,  and  a 
member  of  Congress  two  terms,  from  1828  to 
1832.  He  married  Myra  Thatcher  ; his  sons 
were  Reuben,  George  and  Almon;  and  daughters  ^ 
Henrietta,  Huldah,  Clarissa,  Charlotte,  Ellen 
and  Elizabeth.  Almon  is  still  living  at  Great 
Bend.  He  has  been  State  Representative  twice. 

Nathan  Brewster,  a native  of  Alassachusetts, 


BRIDGEWATER. 


341 


and  Simeon  Tyler,  a native  of  Vermont,  came 
in  together  from  Connecticut  with  their  fami- 

o 

lies  in  February,  1807,  and  halted  five  weeks 
at  the  house  of  Joseph  Raynsford.  Mr.  Brew- 
ster being  disabled  by  a cut  in  the  foot,  Mr. 
Tyler  erected  a cabin  for  the  accommodation  of 
both  families,  one  mile  north  of  the  court- 
house, on  the  farm  now  owned  by  Hon.  J.  B. 
McCollum.  The  ^ great  snow-storm  delayed 
their  removal  until  April.  The  cabin  was  three 
miles  north  of  Raynsford’s  ; and  a hole  in  the 
roof  served  for  a flue  to  two  fires  built  upon 
either  side  of  a pile  of  logs  that  were  rolled  up 
in  the  centre.  Mr.  Tyler  married  Betsey,  a 
si.ster  of  Nathan  Brewster.  Their  children  were 
Simeon,  Betsey,  Ansel,  Harvey,  Abigail,  Lu- 
cena,  Ozias  and  Brewster.  Betsey  married 
Harry  Clark,  a printer.  Harvey  Tyler,  a car- 
penter, is  the  only  son  living  in  the  village,  now 
eighty  years  of  age ; he  was  county  treasurer  in 
1847.  Nathan  Brewster  built  opposite  his 
brother-in-law,  where  his  son  Zachariah  now 
resides ; he  cleared  up  the  farm,  and  lived  and 
died  there  when  he  was  sixty-six  years  old. 
Their  children  were  Nathan  Waldo,  removed  to 
Clarion  County ; Zachariah  M.,  lives  on  the 
homestead ; Polly  Ann,  wife  of  Hugh  McCol- 
lum ; Harriet,  wife  of  Peter  McCollum. 

Jonah  Brewster  settled  on  a farm  now  occu- 
pied by  Mr.  Kent.  He  was  something  of  a 
politician  and  held  several  offices;  he  was  the 
first  commissioners’  clerk,  in  1813,  and  was 
State  Representative  four  years,  from  1816  to 
1820,  and  State  Senator  in  1822.  He  had  five 
wives  and  ten  children ; he  was  a very  bland 
man,  as  may  be  inferred  from  his  political  and 
matrimonial  success.  Hugh  and  Alexander 
McCollum  came  in  1810  and  settled  in  Bridge- 
water,  near  Heart  Lake,  on  farms  adjoining. 
They  built  cabins  and  cleared  up  their  farms. 
Hugh  had  a family ; his  son  Daniel  lived  and 
died  here.  Alexander  married  Mary  Trumbull, 
and  after  residing  in  Bridgewater  many  years 
he  removed  to  New  Milford,  and  finally  to 
Lanesborough,  where  he  died,  aged  ninety-one 


^ The  great  snow-storm  in  1807  and  the  total  eclipse  the  year  previous 
are  notable  events  in  the  annals  of  the  pioneers.  The  snow  is  said  to 
have  been  five  feet  on  the  level,  and  the  eclipse  produced  a condition 
similar  to  night. 


years.  He  had  five  sons, — John,  Hugh,  George, 
Alexander  and  Peter.  George  moved  West;  the 
rest  of  the  family  settled  here.  Hugh  McCol- 
lum, (second)  was  born  in  1805.  He  came  to 
Bridgewater  with  his  ])arents,  and  suffered  the 
privations  and  hardships  of  the  pioneers.  He 
married  Polly  A.  Brewster  in  1832  ; they  now 
live  quietly  at  Montrose,  and  recently  celebrated 
the  fifty-fifth  anniversary  of  their  wedding  at 
Hon.  J.  B.  McCollum’s  house;  Joseph  Brewster 
and  Alexander  H.  are  their  only  children. 
They  are  both  lawyers,  the  former  being  pre- 
siding judge  of  the  courts. 

Bela  Jones  came  from  Colchester,  New  Lon- 
don County,  Conn.,  in  1810.  He  purchased  a 
plaee  on  the  lake,  which  bears  his  name,  and,  in 
connection  with  Joseph  Backus,  erected  a card- 
ing-machine  on  its  outlet,  in  1814.  He  subse- 
quently built  a grist-mill  and  saw-mill.  He 
was  a prominent  Democrat,  and  often  presided 
at  public  meetings.  He  was  town  clerk  in  1816 ; 
assistant  teacher  in  the  academy  in  1818-19  ; 
took  the  census  of  Susquehanna  County  in  1820 
and  was  State  Representative  in  1833  and  1835. 
He  married  Polly,  sister  of  Nathan  Brewster. 
Their  children  were  Julia,  wife  of  Henry  Cruser ; 
Louisa,  wife  of  John  Chapman  ; and  Betsey, 
wife  of  Albert  Wey,  of  Binghamton. 

William  Shipman  came  from  Saybrook, 
Conn.,  in  1813,  and  located  in  the  West  neigh- 
borhood, where  Edward  Pickering  now  lives. 
He  was  a farmer  and  carpenter.  He  married 
Sarah  Vaughn,  and  their  children  were  Henry 
E.,  a carpenter  in  Scranton  ; Joseph  W.  resided 
on  the  farm  now  occupied  by  his  son  Harry  ; 
Joanna,  of  Montrose  ; Stephen  V.  is  an  architect 
of  considerable  celebrity  in  Chicago  (he  was 
in  the  late  war  and  rose  to  the  rank  of  colonel)  ; 
Albert  removed  to  Towanda ; Sarah  E.  is  the 
wife  of  Daniel  Langstaff,  of  Scranton;  Worden 
J.  is  a moulder. 

Edward  Fuller  came  from  Connecticut  to 
Bridgewater  in  1806.  He  was  a wrought 
nailmaker.  He  built  a large  frame  house,  which 
became  a central  point,  being  the  place  for  hold- 
ing elections,  and,  from  the  Christian  character 
of  Mrs.  Fuller,  the  place  where  early  religious 
meetings  were  held.  ^ “ As  yet  no  man  of  the 

2 Blackman’s  “History.” 


342 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


South  neighorhood  was  a professed  Christian. 
Determined  to  impress  upon  her  children  her 
estimate  of  the  Sabbath,  she  always  dressed 
them  in  their  best  that  day,  even  if  that  were 
no  more  than  a clean  apron  to  each  one.  They 
learned  to  be  less  boisterous  than  on  week-days ; 
so  praying  mothei’S  could  meet  and  sing  the 
songs  of  Zion,  and  occasionally  listen  to  a ser- 
mon read  by  Mr.  Fuller  or  Mr.  Raynsford.” 
In  1812  Mr.  Fuller  was  apjwinted  sheriff'.  He 


Gardner. — Perry  Green  Gardner  was  at  the 
Wyoming  massacre  in  1778,  with  his  son  Jona- 
than, then  a lad  of  twelve  years.  They  I’eturned 
to  Connecticut  subsequently,  where  the  father 
spent  the  remainder  of  his  life.  Jonathan,  many 
years  afterwards,  visited  the  site  of  the  battle, 
and  found  secreted  the  “ pewter,”  which  his 
father  had  hidden  under  some  rocks,  and  which 
he  used,  as  long  as  he  lived,  on  his  table.  He 
married,  at  New  London,  Connecticut,  Eunice 


married  a sister  of  Elias  "West.  Their  children 
were  Charles,  who  moved  to  Kingston  and  sub- 
sequently to  Scranton,  where  he  was  engaged  in 
the  insurance  business ; Mary ; Edward  "W., 
who  resides  at  Cohoes,  aged  eighty-six  ; George 
resides  in  Scranton,  and  is  mentioned  in  con- 
nection with  the  press.  Edward  Fuller  died  at 
Montrose,  aged  eighty-five,  and  his  wife  died 
at  Scranton,  also  eighty-five.  She  was  the  last 
of  the  original  ten  membei’s  of  the  Alontrose 
Presbyterian  Church. 


Latham  (1771-1853),  and  settled  in  Schoharie 
County,  and  afterwards  in  Durham,  Greene 
County,  N.  Y.  In  1820  he  moved  to  East 
Bridgewater,  this  county,  where  he  bought  of 
William  Jessup  and  Isaac  Post  sixty  acres  ^f 
land  in  the  hollow,  where  Mr.  Freeman  resides 
in  1886,  north  of  Mathew  Baldwin’s,  and  erected 
a log  house.  Here  he  spent  nearly  all  the  re- 
mainder of  his  days,  and  both  himself  and  wife 
were  buried  in  the  little  cemetery  at  East  Bridge- 
water.  He  died  in  1850,  aged  eighty-four  years. 


BRIDGEWATER. 


343 


His  eldest  daughter,  Lucretia  (1795-1870),  wife 
of  Isaac  Babcock,  had  come  here  prior  to  the  set- 
tlement of  her  father,  and  located  in  Dimock, 
where  she  died  at  an  advanced  age.  A second 
daughter,  Lydia,  born  in  1797,  now  the  widow 
of  the  late  Ezekiel  D.  Babcock,  resides  where 
herself  and  husband  early  settled  in  East 
Bridgewater,  at  the  forks  of  the  road.  The 
homestead  is  managed  by  their  son,  Willis  E. 
Babcock. 

William  (1800-54)  settled  on  land  adjoining 
his  father.  Alexander,  born  in  1803,  died  at 
Way  mart,  unmarried.  Latham,  born  Novem- 
ber 26,  1806,  a native  of  the  town  of  Broome, 
Schoharie  County;  and  Hannah,  born  in  1809, 
the  wife  of  Joseph  Stanton,  died  at  Brooklyn, 
N.  Y.,  where  she  resided. 

Latham  Gardner,  at  the  age  of  eleven  years, 
went  from  home,  and  afterwards  depended  upon 
his  own  labor  for  his  subsistence.  He  worked 
on  a farm  for  three  dollars  per  month  and  in- 
creased his  wages  as  he  advanced  in  strength 
and  years.  At  the  age  of  sixteen  he  took  a farm 
on  shares  in  Durham,  Greene  County,  N.  Y., 
which  he  managed  for  four  years ; was  one 
year  employed  as  a foreman  in  con.structiug  a 
road  over  the  Catskills,  and  for  one  year,  1829, 
kept  a hotel  at  Durham,  during  which  time  he 
served  as  postmaster  under  a commission  from 
President  Jackson.  He  married,  in  1829,  Ange- 
line  (1811-81),  a daughter  of  Joseph  Moore, 
of  Catskill,  who  settled  in  East  Bridgewater  in 
1832,  who  with  his  wife  were  buried  in  the  burial 
plot  on  the  Foster  farm — the  neighborhood 
cemetery. 

About  two  years  after  his  marriage  Latham 
Gardner  and  wife,  in  1832,  removed  to  the  little 
farm  occupied  by  his  father,  which  he  himself 
had  paid  for  some  seven  years  before,  and  taken 
the  title  in  his  own  name.  He  built  the  pres- 
ent residence  of  Mr.  Freeman,  bought  the  Philo 
Luce  farm  adjoining,  and  in  1851  sold  his  en- 
tire property  and  purchased  his  present  farm  of 
two  hundred  acres  in  East  Bridgewater  of  John 
F.  Dunsmore,  formerly  the  property  where  Alex- 
ander McCollum  first  settled.  Here  he  has  re- 
sided since,  and  is  now  in  his  eighty-second 
year  of  age.  For  twenty  years  Mr.  Gardner 
bought  stock  in  Bradford,  Broome  and  Susque- 


hanna Counties,  and  drove  to  New  York,  Phila- 
delphia and  other  markets,  closing  this  business 
in  1861.  He  was  a member  of  the  Democratic 
party  until  the  election  of  President  Garfield, 
when  he  esjjoused  the  Greenback  cause  and 
voted  for  General  Weaver,  the  Greenback  can- 
didate. He  was  a candidate  for  sheriff  at  one 
time,  and  in  1884  for  county  treasurer  on  the 
Greenback  ticket;  but  divisions  in  the  party 
brought  about  his  defeat  in  the  former,  and  in 
the  latter  case  his  party  was  largely  in  the  mi- 
nority. His  children  are  Philo  M.,  born  in 

1831,  resides  in  Missouri ; Jane  E.,  born  in 

1832,  wife  of  Joel  Griffin,  a farmer  at  Heart 
Lake ; Fanny  Maria,  born  in  1834,  wife  of 
Harvey  Griffin,  postmaster  and  a farmer  at 
Heart  Lake ; Dr.  Edwin  Latham,  born  in 
1841  ; read  medicine  with  Dr.  Patrick  at  Mon- 
trose, where  he  had  received  his  preparatory  ed- 
ucation ; was  graduated  at  Yale  College ; practiced 
his  profession  at  Montrose  for  several  years ; was 
proprietor  of  Wyoming  House,  Scranton  ; re- 
turned and  practiced  until  1884,  and  removed 
to  Binghamton,  N.  Y.  ; he  became  a member  of 
the  Susquehanna  County  Medical  Society  in  1 869 ; 
Juliet  Augusta,  born  in  1846,  wife  of  F.  H. 
Millard,  a farmer  in  East  Bridgewater ; Harriet 
Angeline,  born  in  1849,  died  in  1860;  Henri- 
ette  A.,  born  in  1851,  wife  of  Stephen  V.  Trum- 
bull, of  New  Milford ; and  six  children  died 
young  of  this  large  family  of  thirteen.  Addi- 
son married Emogene, daughter  of  Chauncy  and 
Eliza  (Belcher)  Allen,  by  whom  he  has  a son 
and  daughter  and  resides  on  the  homestead. 

William  Gardner,  son  of  Jonathan  Gard- 
ner, depended  upon  his  own  resources  after  his 
boyhood  for  making  his  start  in  life.  He 
learned  the  trade  of  a mason  and  followed  this 
business  for  many  years  during  his  early  manhood, 
and  worked  in  constructing  the  locks  on  the 
North  Branch  Canal.  While  at  work  on  the 
Plains,  near  Wilkes-Barre,  he  formed  the  ac- 
quaintance of  Margaret  Ann  (1811-75),  a 
daughter  of  Frederick  Wagner,  a farmer  on  the 
Plains,  Avhom  he  married  and  who  bore  him 
the  following  children  : Eunice,  born  in  1835, 
wife  of  Mathew  J.  Harrington,  of  East  Bridge- 
water  ; Jonathan  F.,  whose  sketch  folloAVS, 
born  October  19,  1836  ; James  S.,  a farmer, 


344 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


near  the  homestead;  Mary  died  in  1871,  at  the 
age  of  twenty-six ; Lydia  A.,  wife  of  Major 
J.  W.  Y^oung,  of  Minneapolis,  Kansas,  who 
raised  a company  in  tlie  county  and  served  in 
tlie  late  Rebellion;  Ziba  (1850-86),  acciden- 
tally killed  at  Alma,  Colorado  ; and  William 
Franklin  Gardner,  who  resides  on  a part  of  the 
homestead  left  by  his  father.  After  his  mar- 
riage, in  1832,  AVilliam  Gardner  settled  where 
his  son,  William  Franklin  now  resides,  and  by 
subsequent  purchases  owned  some  two  hundred 
acres  of  land.  He  erected  the  j^re-sent  residence 
in  1846.  He  was  a man  of  untiring  industry, 
great  courage,  correct  habits  and  ])ure  motives. 
He  never  sought  political  preferment,  but  ex- 
ercised the  right  of  suffrage  according  to  his 
own  will.  Himself  and  wife  were  buried  at 
East  Bridgewater’,  near  the  church. 

Jonathan  Frederick  Gardner,  eldest  son 
of  William  and  Margaret  Ann  Gardner,  took  the 
management  of  the  farm  into  his  own  hands 
upon  the  death  of  his  father,  being  then  only  eigh- 
teen years  old.  His  early  training  had  well  pre- 
pared him  for  this  task,  and  the  property  did 
not  suffer  for  want  of  proper  management,  nor 
did  the  younger  members  of  the  family  have 
less  opportunities  by  the  premature  death  of 
their  father.  After  caring  for  the  general  busi- 
ness of  the  farm  for  twelve  years,  he,  in  1867, 
bought  one-half  of  the  homestead  property,  and 
erected  his  present  residence  the  same  year,  and 
at  different  times  commodious  out-buildings. 
He  subsequently  added  thirty  acres  of  land  to 
his  homestead,  and  in  1883  purchased  the  saw- 
mill property  at  New  Milford  (Keep  property), 
which  he  carries  on.  Mr.  Gardner  is  a thorough- 
going and  intelligent  farmer,  and  by  untiring 
industry  and  judicious  management  has  accumu- 
lated a fair  competence.  In  1862  he  enlisted  in 
Company  C,  commanded  by  Captain  Young, 
which  became  a part  of  the  One  Hundred  and 
Fifty-first  Regiment,  commanded  by  Col.  Allen. 
The  men  being  mustered  in  at  Harrisburg,  pro- 
ceeded to  Arlington  Heights,  where  they  were 
kept  on  picket  duty  after  the  battle  of  Bull 
Run.  Mr.  Gar’dner  was  promoted  to  sergeant, 
and  afterwards  to  second  lieutenant.  He  en- 
listed for  nine  months’  service;  but  unable  to 
stand  camp  life,  after  five  months  he  resigned 


his  commission  and  returned  home,  where  he 
has  been  engaged  in  farming  since.  His  wife, 
born  September  23,  1842,  whom  he  married  in 
1866,  is  Harriet  Elizabeth,  a daughter  of  Rod- 
ney (1810-77)  and  Sally  Maria  (Bailey) 
(1814-51)  Jewett,  of  Brooklyn  township, 
whose  farm  property  lay  just  on  the  line  be- 
tween Bridgewater  and  Brooklyn.  Her  grand- 
father, Nathan  Jewett,  died  1860,  and  wife.  Electa 
Fox,  from  Connecticut,  settled  on  this  property 
in  1810,  and  erected  one  of  the  first  frame 
houses  in  that  locality.  Her  mother,  Sally 
Maria  Bailey,  was  a daughter  of  Col.  Frederick 
Bailey,  and  Mary  Witter,  his  wife.  Col.  Bailey 
settled  in  Brooklyn  township  in  1807,  and  was 
the  younger  brother  of  Captain  Amos  Bailey, 
who  came  from  Groton,  Conn.,  and  settled  in 
the  township  in  1801.  Col.  Bailey  served  in  the 
War  of  1812.  He  had  six  sons  and  four 
daughters.  The  children  of  Rodney  Jewett 
were  Mary  Electa,  wife  of  Rev.  Charles  Blake, 
a Methodist  clergyman,  now  of  Rome,  Pa.; 
Nathan  Rodney,  occupies  the  homestead  settled 
by  his  grandfather  Jewett ; Jennie  A.,  wife  of 
Benson  Wood,  a lawyer  in  Effingham,  111.; 
Harriet  E.,  wife  of  Jonathan  E.  Gardner; 
Gertrude  Eliza,  wife  of  H.  W.  Bardwell,  of 
Tunkhannock ; Lavinia  A.,  wife  of  W.  H. 
Stark,  a farmer  in  East  Bridgewater ; Frederick 
Bailey,  residing  on  the  homestead  formerly 
owned  by  his  father,  adjoining  the  property  of 
his  brother  Nathan.  The  Baileys  were  Uni- 
versalists  and  the  Jewetts  Methodists. 

The  children  of  Jonathan  F.  and  Harriet  E. 
(Jewett)  Gardner  are  Annie  M.,  died  in  1875, 
at  seven  years  of  age ; and  Benson  the  same 
year,  at  the  age  of  tvAm  years;  William  Jewett; 
and  Jonathan  Erederick  Gardner,  Jr. 

The  following  is  a list  of  the  taxables  in 
BridgeAvater  in  the  year  1823 : 


Alex.  Allen. 

Samuel  Berkeley. 

Chas.  F.  Allen. 

Avery  Bolles. 

Erastus  Allen. 

John  Be^^. 

Walter  Allen. 

Eldad  Brewster. 

Rufus  Allen. 

Jonah  Brewster. 

Chas.  Avery. 

Medad  Brush. 

Hubbard  Avery. 

Jonas  Brush. 

Joshua  Allen. 

Wheeler  Backster. 

Phinehas  Armes. 

Elisha  Bisby. 

Iddo  Armes. 

Nathan  Bennett. 

Jas.  B.  Allen. 

Samuel  A.  Brownson. 

John  Bard,  Jr. 

Isaac  Brownson. 

Samuel  Bard. 

David  Benedic. 

Otis  Bullard. 

John  Brutler. 

BRIDGEWATER. 


345 


Rufus  Bowman. 
George  Bowman. 
James  Boyd. 

Joseph  Butterfield. 
John  Backus. 
Samuel  Backus. 
Nathan  Backster. 
Curtis  Bliss. 

Almou  Barber. 
Salmon  Bradshaw. 
Joseph  Backus. 
David  Baldwin. 
Stephen  Bentley. 
Marshall  Bentley. 
Salmon  Bosworth. 
Adrian  Bush. 

Joseph  Beebe. 

Caleb  Bush. 

Scott  Baldwin. 
Samuel  Baldwin. 
Benj.  Banker. 

Alex.  Barron. 
Nathan  Brewster. 
Amos  Burrows. 
Walter  Brown. 

Jesse  Burrows. 
'Timothy  Brown. 
Demuel  Beebe. 
Matthew  Baldwin. 

• Josiah  L.  Beebe. 
David  Biishnell. 
-John  Bennett. 

Elijah  Bullard. 

Polly  Baldwin. 
Nehemiah  Baldwin. 
Samuel  P.  Cory. 
•Chester  Cowles. 

Caleb  Cook. 

George  Craig. 
'Thomas  Crocker. 
Luther  Catlin. 

Hyde  Crocker. 

Benj.  T.  Case. 
Alanson  Coy. 

Daniel  Curtis. 

George  Clagget. 
-John  Champion. 
Henry  J.  Champion. 
Erastus  Catlin. 

Cyrus  Chever. 
Zephaniah  Cornwell. 
Garret  Clarke. 

Noah  Cook. 

Josiah  Churchill. 
Leman  Churchill. 

Ira  Cole. 

Josiah  Crofut. 
Augustus  Convera. 
Richard  Crips. 

Abram  Chamberlain. 
Wm.  Chamberlain. 
.Samuel  Chamberlain. 
Warren  Curtis. 

Harry  Curtis. 
■Sylvester  Curtis. 
Nathaniel  Curtis. 
Henry  Clark. 

Heniy  Clymer. 

John  Chandler. 
Charles  Catlin. 

Henry  Congdon. 
Lyman  Cook. 

Thomas  Carrier. 
Horace  Carbine. 
James  Catlin. 

Aimer  Clark. 

James  Deans. 


Orimel  Deans. 

Elijah  Deans. 

John  N.  Deans. 
Zebulon  Deans. 

Sarah  Daniels. 

Peter  Davis. 

Charles  Davis. 

Davis  Dimock. 

Asa  Dimock. 

Robert  Day. 
Lysander  C.  Da}'. 
Jethro  Dean. 

David  Dimock. 

Benj.  A.  Denison. 
Mason  Denison. 
Ezekiel  Downer. 
Joseph  Darrow. 
William  Darrow. 
Robei’t  Eldridge. 
Jeremiah  Ethridge. 
Henry  Eaton. 

George  M.  Eyre. 
Elisha  Furgo. 

Jason  Furgo. 

Jonas  Fuller. 

Amos  Frink. 

Wm.  Frink. 

Amos  Fuller. 

Edward  Fuller. 
Hiram  Finch. 

Isaac  P.  Foster. 
Fordham  & Herrick. 
Abram  Fordham. 
Fred.  Foster. 

Edward  W.  Fuller. 
Benj.  Fansker. 

Rufus  Frink. 

Asa  Fessenden. 
Samuel  B.  Fessenden. 
Daniel  Foster. 

John  Fessenden. 
Samuel  Fessenden. 
Jabez  Frink,  Jr. 

John  Fancher. 

Cyrus  Freeman. 
Richard  Foster. 
Daniel  Foster,  (2d). 
Jabez  Frink. 

Jos.  S.  Gregory. 

Jos.  Gregory. 

Levi  Gregory. 

Abel  Green. 

Levi  Gregory. 

David  Green. 

Obadiah  Green. 

Israel  B.  Gregory. 
Aaron  Green. 

Ezekiel  Griffis. 

John  Griffis. 

Elisha  Griffis. 

Jos.  W.  Guernsey, 
Hiram  Giiernsey. 

Wm.  Gardner. 

Samuel  Gregor}’. 
Jesse  B.  Goodsell. 
Peter  Graham. 

Benj.  Hickox. 
Stephen  Hazleton, 
James  W.  Hill. 
Samuel  Hagdon. 
Austin  Howel. 
Stephen  Hinds. 

Mark  Hinds. 

Asa  Hartshorn. 

Isaac  Hubbard. 

Rachel  Hewitt. 

Conrad  Hinds. 


Isaac  Hart. 

Joseph  Hailey. 
Samuel  Ilall. 

A.  Hinds. 

Samuel  Hunting. 
David  Jaquish. 

Wm.  Jessup. 

Bela  Jones. 

Alfred  Jones. 

Wm.  Kerr. 

Luther  Kellum. 

Ezra  Kingsley. 
Abram  E.  Kennard. 
Roswell  Kingsley. 
Justus  Kent. 
Nathaniel  Lyons. 
Spencer  Lyons. 

Wm.  Lewis,  Jr. 

Wm.  Lewis. 

Amherst  Linsey. 
Wm.  Ladd. 

Reuben  B.  Lock. 
Jesse  Lyons. 

Nathan  H.  Lyons. 
John  Ladd. 

Thos.  S.  Lillie. 

Benj.  Lathrop. 

Asa  C.  Luce. 

Elisha  Lite. 

Rodney  Lathrop. 
Daniel  Lathrop. 
Butterfield  Lathrop. 
SylvanusS.  Mulford. 
Benajah  McKinsey. 
Ezekiel  Main,  Jr. 
Harry  Mills. 
Jeremiah  Meacham. 
Shelilon  Meacham. 
Wm.  i\Ic]\Iicher. 

John  McLaud. 

A.  Moody. 

Adomjah  Moody. 
Nathan  Morgan. 
Isaac  Northrop. 
Cyrus  Messenger. 
Everet  Messenger. 
Thos.  Meredith. 

Thos.  H.  Mussy. 
George  Manger. 
David  Meriman. 
Jonah  Mills. 
Jonathan  Miles. 

John  McMalmish. 
Hugh  McCollum. 
Alex.  McCollum. 
Amos  Nichols. 

Samuel  Newcomb. 
John  Newcomb. 
Hezekiah  Nickerson. 
Nathan  Northrop. 
Peter  Osborn. 

Asa  Olmstead. 

Henry  Odell. 

John  Palmer. 

D.  A.  Price. 

Henry  Patrick. 

Asa  Parke. 

David  Post. 

Hiram  Plumb. 
Francis  Perkins. 
Joseph  W.  Parker. 
.Tohn  Phinney. 

Peres  Perkins, 

Jacob  Perkins. 

Isaac  Perkins. 

Jason  Potter. 

Samuel  Quick. 


Horatio  Roberts. 
Meirit  Risley. 

Reuben  Reynolds. 
Daniel  Roberts. 
Joseph  Reece. 

Jacob  Roberts. 

Israel  Reynolds. 
Nathan  Raynor. 
Daniel  Ross. 

Alraon  H.  Read. 
Joshua  W.  Raynsford. 
John  Reynolds. 

John  Robertson. 

Wm.  Rowley. 

Benj.  Russell. 

Sabin  Robertson. 

E.  Robinson. 

John  Robinson. 

Simon  Stephens. 
Josiah  Stewart. 

Jacob  Smith. 

Calvin  Shepherd. 

John  Stroud. 

John  Smith. 

Richard  Smith. 
Jonathan  Sherman, 
Nehemiah  Scott. 

Thos.  J.  Scott. 

Benj.  Jayne. 

Jonathan  Silsbee. 
Horace  Smith. 

Lora  Stone. 

Matthias  Smith. 

John  Shelp. 

Christian  Shelp. 
Henry  Shelp. 

David  Shearer. 

Abel  Sherman. 
Christopher  Sherman. 
Jesse  Sherman. 

Walter  Scott. 

John  Street. 

Wm.  Shopman. 

N.  Stephens. 

Orrin  Stephens. 
Nathan  Shipman. 
Josiah  Stephens. 

John  D.  Stephens. 
James  Stephens. 
Philander  Stephens. 
Luther  Snow. 

John  Snow. 

Gideon  Southworth. 
Ebenezer  Sprout. 
Walter  Stewart. 
Solomon  Simons. 
Israel  G.  Stebbins. 
Thos.  A.  Smith. 

Alfred  Stephens. 
Samuel  Scott. 

Royal  Tyler. 

Edward  Terpin. 
Stephen  Trecy. 

David  Turrell. 

Moses  Tyler. 

Wm.  Turrell. 

Wm.  Thatcher. 

Israel  Taylor. 

W.  C.  Turrell. 

Dyer  Taylor. 

Wm.  Turner. 

Eseck  Thayer. 

Simeon  Tyler. 

Chas.  Turnbull. 
Nathan  Taylor. 

Isaac  Van  Brunt. 
James  Vales. 


346 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


C.  F.  A.  Yales. 

Ansel  Watrous. 

Stephen  Vauglui. 

N.  Wilber. 

Jonathan  Vaughn. 

Stephen  Webb. 

Ebenezer  AVhipple. 

John  Watts. 

Cyrus  Whipple, 

Joseph  Williams. 

Samuel  Wilson. 

Esek  Wood. 

Joseph  Watrous. 

Jonathan  Wood. 

John  Williams. 

John  Wood. 

Caleb  Wicks. 

Jared  Warner. 

Walker  G.  Wootlhouse. 

E.  Ward. 

Samuel  Warner. 

Ebenezer  Williams. 

Thos.  Wells. 

Linas  Watrous. 

Hilton  Wood. 

Reuben  Wells. 

John  Walbridge. 

James  Wells. 

Henry  Walbridge. 

Winthrop  Wells. 

John  Whitely. 

James  Young. 

Samuel  West. 

Wm.  Young. 

Wm,  Wynne. 

Israel  Young. 

Jonathan  West. 

Andrew  Young. 

Elias  West. 

Benjamin  Young. 

Phineas  Warner. 

Henry  J.  Kent.- 

— Justice  Kent 

1858),  a young  man,  left  Ws  native  State, 
Massachusetts,  and  settled  in  Windsor,  N.  Y., 
where  he  married,  in  1795,  Anna  Stuart  (1779— 
1858).  Here  they  resided  until  1811,  when 
they  came  to  Brooklyn  township,  this  county, 
and  settled  on  the  farm  afterwards  owned  by 
his  eldest  son,  David,  and  in  1886  by  his  grand- 
son, Justice  M.  Kent.  He  had  visited  the 
place  the  previous  year  and  engaged  a log  house, 
which,  upon  the  arrival  of  the  Kent  family, 
was  occupied  by  Jo.seph  Guernsey  and  family. 
The  two  families  for  six  weeks  lived  in  one 
room,  four  adults  and  twelve  children^ — ^six  in 
each  family.  Mr.  Kent  built  a grist-mill 
(where  Jewett’s  saw-mill  now  is)  near  the 
Bridgewater  line,  and  Robert,  his  second  son, 
tended  it,  although  sometimes  he  did  not  have 
more  than  one  customer  a week.  Ju-stice  cleared 
off  a large  part  of  his  farm  and  brought  its  fields 
into  a state  of  cultivation,  and  in  this  work,  and 
in  paying  for  the  property,  was  assisted  very 
much  by  his  sons.  On  this  farm  he  spent  the 
remainder  of  his  life,  and  died. 

The  present  generation  is  unable  to  realize 
the  hardships  of  these  pioneers  who  settled  in 
the  wdlderness,  met  the  obstacles  and  inconven- 
iences incident  to  carving  out  a home  and  sup- 
porting a large  family,  and  denied  themselves 
of  every  luxury  now  enjoyed,  in  order  to  make 
future  homes  for  their  children.  This  couple 
reared  a family  of  eleven  children,  as  follows : 
David  (1799-1886),  succeeded  his  father  on  the 
homestead  ; Robert  (1801-78),  .settled  in  Bridge- 
water  township;  Elijah  (1803-81),  resided  in 


Brooklyn,  but  died  in  Carbondale ; Harry  AV. 
(1809-81),  was  a farmer  in  Brooklyn  ; Ezra  S. 
(1812-74),  was  a farmer  and  merchant  in  Brook- 
lyn ; Charles,  born  1814,  a farmer  in  Brooklyn  ; 
George  J.,  born  1823,  resides  in  Brooklyn ; 
Almira,  born  1805,  the  wife  of  Josiah  Mack, 
of  Brooklyn  ; Rowena  (1807-72),  was  the  wife 
of  Amos  G.  Bailey,  son  of  Captain  Amos 
Bailey,  who  settled  in  Brooklyn  in  1801  ; Em- 
ily, born  in  1817,  is  the  wife  of  James  AValdie, 
of  Brooklyn;  Eliza,  born  in  1819,  is  the  wife 
of  John  Roper,  of  Brooklyn. 

The  first  six  of  these  children  were  born  in 
Windsor,  N.  Y.  Robert,  second  son,  ren)ained 
on  the  homestead,  in  Brooklyn,  until  his  mar- 
riage, in  1825,  when  he  purchased  one  hundred 
acres  of  land,  the  present  farm  of  M.  J.  Har- 
rington, on  the  Milford  and  Owego  turnpike, 
in  Bridgewater.  His  wife  was  Prudence  (1 804^ 
63),  a daughter  of  Captain  Amos  and  Prudence 
(Gere)  Bailey,  before-mentioned,  whom  he  mar- 
ried in  1825.  He  cleared  most  of  this  farm 
during  his  residence  upon  it,  and  built  the  pres- 
ent residence  about  1833.  All  his  children 
were  born  there.  He  was  a man  of  persevering 
industry,  and  pos.sessed  an  ambition  to  overcome 
every  obstacle.  He  gave  little  attention  to  po- 
litical matters,  but  was  identified  with  the  old 
Whig  party.  He  was  a man  of  strict  integrity 
in  all  the  relations  of  life,  and  both  himself  and 
wife  left  their  impress  upon  the  lives  of  their 
children.  After  the  death  of  his  fir.st  wife  he 
married  Almira  Palmer,  and  removed  to  Bfook- 
lyn,  where  he  died.  In  religious  persuasion  he 
was  a Universalist.  He  left  no  children  by  his 
second  wife.  His  children  are  Amos  B.,  born 
1826,  a farmer  and  mechanic,  of  New  Milford 
township;  Eunice  A.,  1830,  wife  of  Calvin  Brush, 
a farmer  in  Oakland  township  ; Henry  J.,  born 
October  1,  1832;  James  R.,  1835,  a retired 
druggist  of  Brooklyn  ; Alice  S.  (1838-70)  was 
the  wife  of  Henry  Parks,  and  died  in  Great 
Bend  township;  Lucy  A.,  died  in  1863  at  the 
age  of  twenty-two  years;  Eranklin  M.,  1843,  a 
merchant  in  Scranton;  Rodney  W.,  1847,  a 
farmer  in  Brooklyn,  and  Andrew  L.,  1850,  a 
farmer  in  Gi’eat  Bend  township. 

Henry  J.  Kent,  second  son,  in  common  with 
the  boys  of  his  early  days,  had  the  usual  oppor- 


BRIDGEWATER. 


347 


tunities  of  the  district  school.  Upon  reaching 
his  majority  he  learned  the  carpenter’s  trade, 
which  he  followed  for  seven  years,  working  at 
Montrose,  in  New  York  State  and  wherever 
the  best  ojiportnnity  offered.  He  was  depend- 
ent upon  his  own  self-reliance,  and  by  his  trade 
accumulated  enough  to  make  a fair  start  in  farm- 
ing. He  purchased  his  present  farm  in  South- 
eastern Bridgewater,  of  about  two  hundred 
acres,  in  1858,  known  as  the  “ Jonah  Brewster” 
place.  At  this  time  there  was  on  this  property 
a small  frame  house,  said  to  be  one  of  the  first 
built  in  this  part  of  the  county.  By  the  aid  of 
his  trade,  besides  conducting  his  farm,  he  has 
erected  commodious  out-buildings,  and,  with  little 
outside  assistance,  in  1871  built  his  present  fine 
farm  dwelling-house.  Since  his  residence  on 
this  farm  his  main  business  has  been  general 
farming  and  dairying.  He  may  be  safely 
classed  among  the  intelligent  farmers  of  Sus- 
quehanna County,  and  all  the  appointments  of 
his  place  show  the  handiwork  of  a good  agri- 
culturist. He  is  interested  in  the  Farmers’  In- 
stitute, organized  in  1886,  and,  following  the 
footsteps  of  his  father,  is  allied  to  the  Republi- 
can party.  His  wife,  whom  he  married  in  1860, 
is  Emily  W.  Moore,  who  was  born  in  Bridge- 
water  August  26,  1834.  She  is  the  daughter 
of  Robert  (1804-67)  and  Maria  (Foster)  (1810- 
67)  Moore.  Her  paternal  grandfather,  Joseph 
Moore,  a native  of  Ireland,  was  of  Scotch-Irish 
extraction,  and  came  to  Greene  County,  N.  Y., 
at  the  age  of  eighteen,  and  in  1833  settled  in 
Bridgewater.  Her  paternal  grandmother  was 
Elizabeth  Simmons,  of  Long  Island.  The  for- 
mer died  in  1 862,  aged  over  eighty ; the  latter  also 
died  at  about  the  same  age,  and  both  were 
buried  in  the  graveyard  near  Heart  Lake.  Their 
children  were  Eliza,  wife  of  Jeremiah  Brandow, 
of  New  Milford;  Robert;  Jane,  now  the  Widow 
Baldwin,  of  Ohio;  Angelina  (1811-81),  was 
the  wife  of  Latham  Gardner,  of  Bridgewater ; 
and  Joseph,  a farmer  in  Harford.  The  children 
of  Robert  and  Maria  Moore  are  Charles,  of 
Susquehanna ; Emily  W.,  wife  of  Henry  J. 
Kent;  Nancy,  wife  of  John  Gavitt,  of  Bridge- 
water;  Mary  W.,  wife  of  William  McKeeby, 
of  Hooper,  Broome  County,  N.  Y.  ; Eliza,  wife 
of  John  Cros.sen,  of  Great  Bend ; Amanda  F., 


wife  of  Harrison  H.  Van  Cott,  of  New  Mil- 
ford ; Stanley,  a farmer  near  Heart  Lake ; 
Samuel  F.,  of  New  Milford  ; Henry  R.,  of  Scio, 
Allegany  County,  N.  Y. ; and  Frank  E.,  of 
New  Milford.  The  family  of  Moore  were 
Presbyterians,  and  Robert  Moore  and  his  wife 
were  members  at  Montrose.  All  of  this  large 
family  of  children  were  born  in  Bridgew'ater, 
except  the  eldest  son.  The  children  of  Henry 
J.  and  Emily  W.  Kent  are  two  daughters, — 
Lou  Carrie,  educated  at  Montrose  Academy,  w^as 
graduated  at  Mansfield  State  Normal  School  in 
the  class  of  ’84,  and  followed  her  graduation  as 
a teacher  in  the  senior  department  of  the  Mont- 
rose Academy  during  the  latter  part  of  the  same 
years  (she  began  teaching  at  the  age  of  fifteen) ; 
and  Martha  Eliza  Kent. 

Marvin  Kallam  Bush.  — His  paternal 
grandfather,  Caleb  Bush  (1755-1821),  came 
from  Litchfield  County,  Conn.,  in  1809,  and 
bought  five  hundred  acres  of  timber  land  in  the 
northern  part  of  Bridgewater  township.  His 
homestead  was  the  present  farm  of  Major  David 
D.  Hinds,  and  his  other  land  was  contiguous 
thereto,  upon  which  he  settled  three  of  his  sons, 
—Adrian  (1787-64),  Caleb  (1794-1878)  and 
Dennis  (1803-47).  The  third  son,  Abijah 
(1801-1867),  remaining  on  the  homestead, 
afterward  removed  to  Mount  Pleasant,  WAyne 
County,  where  he  died.  His  wife  was  Susan- 
nah, who  died  about  1815,  and  his  daughters 
were  Lucy,  became  the  second  wife  of  Robert 
Day,  who  had  settled  in  the  township  in  1800, 
where  he  resided  until  after  the  death  of  his 
wife,  when  he  removed  to  Montrose,  where  he 
died  in  1865.  Fanny,  married  first  Hewitt 
Kallam  and  had  two  sons,  Lyman  and  Samuel. 
The  former  kept  a public-house  at  Hopbottom 
until  his  death.  The  latter  resides  at  Elizabeth, 
N.  J.  For  her  second  husband  she  married 
Sargent  Teivksbury,  of  Brooklyn  township,  and 
resided  there  until  her  death.  Susannah,  the 
third  daughter,  died  unmarried.  Caleb  Bush 
and  his  wife  were  Baptists  and  were  buried  at 
Montrose.  Adrian  Bush,  the  eldest  son,  re- 
ceived a part  of  this  tract  of  land  from  his 
father,  consisting  of  one  hundred  acres.  The 
second  residence  erected  by  him  in  1842  is  the 
present  residence  of  his  son,  Marvin  K.  Bush. 


348 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


He  cleared  off  the  original  forest  from  a large 
part  of  his  land  and  brought  it  into  a good  state 
of  cultivation  and  added  other  real  estate 
thereto.  He  was  an  industrious  farmer,  a quiet 
and  Lino.stentatious  citizen,  took  little  interest  in 
political  matters  except  to  exercise  the  right  of 
suffrage  for  his  choice,  but  was  a consistent 
member  of  the  Baptist  Church  at  Montrose, 
where  both  himself  and  wife  worshipped  and 
where  they  are  buried.  She  was  Amy  Kallam 


farmer  on  part  of  the  original  tract ; and  Au- 
gustus P.,  born  in  1828,  a farmer  on  a part  of 
the  same  tract  until  his  settlement  at  Montrose, 
where  he  now  resides. 

Marvin  Kallam  Bush  succeeded  his  father  on 
his  part  of  the  original  tract  of  land  bought  by 
his  grandfather  in  1809.  His  boyhood  was 
spent  in  farm-work  and  attending  school,  but 
his  time  being  valuable  in  assisting  his  father 
to  clear  the  farm  and  cultivate  it,  he  only  at- 


(1789-1882),  a daughter  of  Luther  Kallam, 
who  was  a Revolutionary  soldier,  and  settled  in 
Forest  Lake  township  from  Connecticut,  where 
he  died  at  the  age  of  eighty-six.  Their  children 
are^Amy  Ann,  born  in  1813,  died  at  the  age  of 
nineteen;  Temperance  Adaline  (1815-70), 
was  the  wife  of  Hiram  Allen,  of  Candor,  N.  Y., 
where  she  died,  leaving  a family  of  children  ; 
Marvin  Kallam  Bush,  born  where  he  now  re- 
sides Dec.  14,  1817  ; Susannah  M.,  born  in 
1820,  is  the  wife  of  William  L.  Beebe,  a farmer 
in  Bridgewater;  Caleb  8.,  born  in  1823,  a 


tended  school  winters  after  reaching  the  age  ot 
ten.  Upon  reaching  his  majority,  however,  he 
further  added  to  his  knowledge  of  books  by  at- 
tending a term  at  the  Mannington  Academy. 
In  the  spring  of  1 822  he  bought  one  hundred 
acres  of  timber  land  near  the  home  farm,  cleared 
a large  part  of  it,  and  for  eleven  years  resided 
upon  it.  He  ran  in  debt  four  hundred  dollars 
in  its  purchase,  which  he  paid  in  due  time  by 
raising  grain,  mostly  oats,  which  he  marketed 
at  Honesdale,  a distance  of  forty  miles  away. 
He  purchased  the  home  farm  of  his  father  in 


BRIDGEWATER. 


349 


1861,  which  he  has  managed  since,  and  cared 
for  both  his  father  and  mother  in  their  declin- 
ing years.  Mr.  Bush  has  given  his  active  life 
to  farm  work,  and  quietly  endeavored  to  per- 
form the  full  duties  of  a citizen.  He  has  served 
his  township  two  terms  as  supervisor  and  has 
acted  as  auditor  and  inspector.  His  wife, 
Nancy,  born  January  20,  1821,  whom  he  mar- 
ried in  1849,  is  a native  of  Merryall,  Bradford 
County. 

Their  children  are  Calista,  born  in  1850,  wife 
of  Coleman  Harrow,  a farmer  in  Bridgewater  ; 
Randall  L.,  born  in  1854,  owns  and  occupies 
the  farm  on  the  Wyalusing  Creek  originally 
owned  by  Robert  Day,  who  married  Lucy  Bush, 
the  great-aunt  of  Randall  L.  Bush  ; Judson 
A.,  born  in  1856;  and  Hattie  E.  Bush,  at  home. 

Mrs.  Bush’s  father.  Dr.  Ebenezer  Beeman 
(1757-1840),  a native  of  Connecticut,  married 
Hannah  Lum  (1778-1822),  a native  of  Newton, 
N.  J.,  and  settled  at  IMerryall,  where  he  prac- 
ticed medicine  during  his  active  life.  Their 
children  are  Matilda,  Euphemia,  Diana,  Har- 
riet, Joseph,  Cynthia,  Almira  and  Almeda 
(twins),  Emily,  Rodolphia,  Calista,  Nelson  and 
Nancy,  wife  of  Marvin  K.  Bush.  Only  four 
are  living  in  1886. 

Spencer  Watrous.  — Benjamin  Watrous 
(1772-1820),  a native  of  Chester,  Middle.sex 
County,  Conn.,  married,  in  1791,  Lucy  Spen- 
cer (1770-1839),  of  the  same  place,  who  bore 
him  the  following  children  : Ansel  (1792-1865), 
a farmer  of  Conklin,  Broome  County,  N.  Y., 
died  there;  Joseph  (1794-1875)  settled  in 
Bridgewater,  this  county,  from  Schoharie 
County,  N.  Y.,  in  1817,  where  he  resided  until 
his  death,  leaving  a family  ; Linus  (1796-1865) 
was  a farni6r  in  Conklin;  Sally  (1798-1863) 
was  first  a Mrs.  Nickerson,  whose  husband  was 
accidentally  killed,  and  who  subsequently  mar- 
ried Benjamin  Ru.ssell  and  resided  in  Jessup,  this 
county,  where  she  died  ; Margaret  M.,  born  in 
1800,  died  at  the  age  of  six ; Benjamin,  Jr. 
(1802-83),  died  at  Carbondale,  Pa.;  Hannah, 
born  in  1804,  died  at  the  age  of  five;  James 
and  Maria  (twins),  born  in  1807 — the  former,  a 
farmer  in  Conklin  died  there  in  1868 — the 
latter  is  the  widow  of  the  late  Hiram  Guernsey, 
who  resided  in  Bridgewater  for  many  years,  and 


removed  to  Brooklyn  township,  where  he  died  ; 
Spencer,  born  March  26,  1810;  Ann  (1812-72), 
wife  of  George  Brewster,  a farmer  of  Tioga 
County,  Pa.;  and  Lucy,  born  in  1815,  residing 
at  Pittston,  the  widow  of  the  late  Peter  Reese. 

Benjamin  Watrous  removed  with  his  family 
from  Connecticut  in  1797  and  settled  in  the 
town  of  Middleburg,  Schoharie  County,  N.  Y., 
where  he  carried  on  farming  until  1818,  when 
he  removed  to  Southeast  Bridgewater,  this 
county.  His  two  eldest  sons,  Ansel  and 
Joseph,  had  settled  here  the  previous  year. 
Here  he  purchased  one  hundred  acres  of  laud 
situate  on  the  Milford  and  Owego  turnpike, 
now  the  property  of  his  son  Spencer,  to  which 
he  added  one  hundred  acres  more  adjoining  the 
following  year.  He  did  not  live  to  make 
many  improvements,  however,  on  his  property, 
for  two  years  after  his  settlement  here  he  died. 
The  last  purchase  was  divided  among  his 
eldest  children.  The  widowed  mother  man- 
aged the  balance  until  1832,  when  it  was  pur- 
chase by  Spencer  Watrous,  her  youngest  son. 
She  married  Isaac  Hubbard  for  her  second 
husband — a carpenter  by  trade — ^aud  in  1833 
settled  at  Battle  Creek,  Michigan,  where  she 
died  six  years  afterwards.  Joseph,  upon  com- 
ing to  Bridgewater  in  1817,  had  settled  where 
Mott’s  woolen-mill  now  is,  but  he  subse- 
quently located  on  contiguous  land  to  the 
purchase  of  his  father  in  East  Bridgewater,  and 
for  many  years  kept  a hotel  there  on  the  Mil- 
ford and  Owego  turnpike.  The  religious 
pei’suasion  of  the  family  at  this  time  was  Bap- 
tist and  the  mother  was  a member  of  the  church  at 
Montrose.  Benjamin  Watrous  was  a man  of 
correct  habits,  high  moral  character,  and  reared 
his  family  under  a strict  discipline  of  justice 
and  honor.  He  sought  to  fulfil  the  full  duties 
of  the  citizen  and  to  be  an  example  of  honesty  in 
all  his  business  relations,  which  left  his  impress 
on  the  lives  of  his  children. 

Spencer  Watrous  (youngest  son),  born  in 
Schoharie  County,  was  only  ten  years  old 
when  his  father  died,  and  sjient  most  of  his 
time  after  the  marriage  of  his  mother  to  Mr. 
Hubbard,  before  reaching  his  majority,  learn- 
ing the  trade  of  a carpenter.  This  proved 
useful  to  him  afterwards,  and  in  1849  he  erected 


350 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


his  pre.sent  residence,  and  at  different  times  all  his 
out-buildings.  He  has  built  many  houses  and 
barns  for  his  neighbors,  besides  carrying  on  his 
farm.  He  has  taken  little  interest  in  politi- 
cal matters ; has  never  .sought  any  political 
place  in  the  township,  but  has  served  as  super- 
visor and  portmaster  when  those  offices  were 
given  him  by  the  voters  of  the  township  without 
his  solicitation.  He  has  been  satisfied  to  move 
along^with  the  even  tenor  of  his  mind,  devoting 


Wolf  in  old  militia  times.  He  married,  in 
1839,  Louisa  (1817-86),  a daughter  of  James 
(1781-1863)  and  Lucy  Hemming  (1783-1861), 
Giddings,  who  came  from  Groton,  Conn.,  and 
settled  in  Herrick  township  and  reared  a large 
family  of  children,  one  of  whom,  Clinton  He  Witt 
Giddings,  has  served  in  the  Congress  of  the 
United  States.  James  Giddings’  parents  were 
Solomon,  who  died  in  1827,  and  Sarah  (Water- 
man) Giddings,  who  died  in  1784.  The  child- 


himself  to  his  home  duties ; honorable  in  his 
business  and  devoted  to  his  family.  In  boy- 
hood he  had  little  opportunity  for  obtaining  a 
knowledge  of  books,  and  belongs  to  the  class  of 
sturdy  men  who  cleared  off  the  forests  of 
Bridgewater,  prepared  its  soil  for  crops,  built 
its  roads,  fences,  school-houses,  churches,  and 
placed  within  ea.sy  reach  of  the  generation  fol- 
lowing good  facilities  for  obtaining  an  educa- 
tion and  a sustenance  without  indefatigable 
toil.  He  served  as  captain  under  Governor 


ren  of  James  Giddings  were  Sarah  W.;  Fanny  D.; 
Andrew ; Charles  W.,  a presiding  elder  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  for  many  years ; 
Giles  A.;  Jabez  D.;  Louisa;  Mariah;  John 
James;  George  Henry;  Francis  Marion; 
DeWitt  Clinton  and  Mary  Ann  Giddings. 
The  children  of  Spencer  and  Louisa  Watrous 
are  Giles  A.,  born  May  15,  1840,  married 
Celia  E.,  a daughter  of  Spencer  and  Electa 
(Watrous)  Bead,  of  Saybrook,  Conn.;  George 
G.,  born  June  24,  1847,  a lawyer  at  Montrose, 


BRIDGEWATER. 


351 


read  law  witli  Fitch  & Watson,  and  was 
admitted  to  the  Susquehanna  bar  in  1879  (his 
wife  is  Lucretia  Davis,  daughter  of  William 
and  Elizabeth  Martin  Davis,  who  died  at 
Harbor  Grace,  N.  F.) ; S.  Ann,  born  August 
10,  1844,  widow  of  H.  E.  Tiffany,  resides  at 
IMoutrose  ; and  James  G.  Watrous,  who  died 
at  the  age  of  four  years.  Mrs.  Watrous  was  a 
member  of  the  Methodist  Church,  and  after- 
wards of  the  Presbyterian  Church.  Air.  Wat- 
rous was  formerly  a member  of  the  Baptist 
Church.  Giles  W.  Watrous,  loyal  to  his 
country’s  call  for  men  to  put  down  the  Rebel- 
lion, enlisted  in  November,  1861,  in  an  inde- 
pendent company  raised  at  Carlisle,  under 
Captain  W.  J.  Palmer,  to  act  as  body-guard 
of  General  Anderson.  The  company  went  to 
Louisville,  Ky.,  where  it  afterwards  served  as 
the  body-guai’d  of  General  Buell  in  the  battle 
at  Pittsburgh  Landing,  and  as  the  body-guard 
of  General  Rosecrans  at  the  battles  of  Crab 
Orchard  and  Stone  River.  Giles  was  sent 
with  a message  by  General  Rosecrans  to 
General  AIcCook,  where  he  was  captured  on  the 
Salem  pike,  near  Murfreesboro’,  and  taken  to 
Libby  Prison.  After  one  month’s  imprison- 
ment he  was  paroled  and  sent  to  Camp  Chase, 
Ohio,  from  which  place  he  returned  home  in 
March,  1863,  his  discharge  papers  having  been 
previously  made  out  with  the  rest  of  his  com- 
pany while  he  was  in  prison. 

On  August  31,  1864,  he  again  entered  the 
.service  and  enlisted  in  the  Marine  Corps  at 
Philadelphia.  He  went  to  Washington,  when, 
with  seventy-five  picked  men,  he  served  as  the 
body-guard  of  President  Lincoln  until  the  early 
part  of  1865,  when  he  was  sent  with  the  ship’s 
guard  to  Noi’folk,  Va.,  where  he  was  detailed 
to  do  duty  in  the  navy-yard.  After  four 
months  he  went  on  board  the  “Powhatan,”  the 
admiral-ship  of  the  South  Pacific  Squadron, 
which  sailed  to  southern  seas  and  cruised  on  the 
coa.st  of  Panama  and  South  America  until  1868, 
when  his  time  expired  and  he  returned  home. 
He  now  farms  the  homstead,  which  has  been  in 
the  family  since  its  purchase,  in  1818.  The 
brothers  and  sisters  of  Benjamin  Watrous,  the 
first  settler  here,  are  Gideon,  Joseph,  Harris, 
Sally,  Aaron,  Russell,  Ephraim,  Lyman.  The 


last  is  the  father  of  Electa  (Brooks)  Watrous, 
herein  mentioned.  Three  of  the  above — 
Ephraim,  Harris  and  Russell — were  sea  cap- 
tains. 

Kirby  Bunnell. — His  paternal  grand- 
father, Janies  (1768-1841),  a native  of  Litch- 
field County,  Conn.,  married  Azuba  Carter 
(1768-1816),  was  a blacksmith  by  trade,  and 
died  in  Southeast  Bridgewater  township,  this 
county.  Their  children  were  Ephraim  K. 
(1798-1881),  died  in  Bridgewater;  Avis 
(1800-82),  married  Daniel  Landon,  and  resided 
in  Susquehanna  County;  Elijah  (1803-72); 
Dotha,  born  in  1810,  married  a Mr.  Tooley 
and  resided  in  Tennessee,  where  she  has  a large 
family;  James  A.  (1813-86), settled  in  Dimock 
in  1849,  where  he  died  thirty -seven  years  after- 
wards ; Lucy,  born  in  1805,  the  wife  of  Charles 
Farnham,  resided  in  Massachusetts;  Matilda 
(1807-53),  wife  of  Harry  Stone,  resided  and 
died  in  Litchfield  County,  Conn.,  where  also 
Samuel  Bunnell  (1816-84),  the  youngest  child, 
lived  and  died.  Elijah  Bunnell  married  Lucy 
(1804-64),  a daughter  of  Apollos  and  Eunice 
(Throop)  Stone,  of  Litchfield  County,  who 
were  of  Scotch  origin.  Their  children  are 
Kirby,  born  Feb.  15,  1827 ; William,  born 
1829,  a retired  business  man  and  farmer  in 
Dimock;  Dotha  Ann  (1831-38)  and  Truman 
S.  (1834-38)  both  died  of  an  epidemic,  scarlet 
fever,  the  same  year;  Lucy  J.,  born  1836, 
married  Henry  Rogers,  now  of  Lawrence,  Kan- 
sas ; and  Harry,  who  died  young. 

Elijah  Bunnell  came  to  Susquehanna  County 
in  May,  1833,  driving  through  by  the  New- 
burg  turnpike,  and  settled  on  the  farm  where 
his  eldest  son,  Kirby,  now  resides.  He  was 
known  as  a great  hunter,  and  supplied  his  table 
largely  with  choice  wild  game,  besides  disposing 
of  his  surplus  meats  to  his  neighbors.  He  ran 
in  debt  for  his  farm,  from  which  he  was  only 
released  after  twenty  years  of  industry  and  toil 
and  the  hearty  assistance  of  his  sons.  Kirby 
Bunnell,  the  eldest  son  of  Elijah,  was  six  yeai’s 
old  when  his  parents  removed  from  Connecti- 
cut. He  received  meagre  opportunities  for  ob- 
taining an  education  in  boyhood,  because  his 
services  in  assisting  his  father  on  the  farm  were 
necessary,  in  order  that  all  might  be  realized 


352 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


that  was  possible  to  relieve  the  family  of  debt. 
Being  the  eldest  son,  he  was  placed  at  hard 
work  at  an  early  age,  bnt  by  study  at  odd  times 
and  reading  after  reaching  mature  years,  he  so 
added  to  his  early  book  knowledge  as  to  vie 
with  many  who  had  superior  opportunities  in 
youth.  This  farm  consisted  of  ninety-six  acres, 
a part  of  which  was  cleared  when  the  family 
settled  there.  His  father  built  a part  of  the 
present  home  residence  in  1840,  to  which  Kirby 
made  an  addition  sixteen  years  afterwards.  He 
succeeded  his  father  in  the  management  of  this 
property  in  1855.  Mr.  Bunnell  is  interested  in 
the  various  enterprises  of  his  township  and 
county,  favorable  to  the  development  of  agri- 
cultural matters,  and  his  advanced  practical 
ideas,  as  expressed  at  the  Grange  meetings,  show 
his  consideration  of  the  subject  under  discussion 
worthy  the  favorable  criticism  of  his  fellow- 
citizens.  He  was  one  of  the  organizers  of  the 
Farmers’  Institute  in  May,  1886,  at  Montrose, 
and  was  one  of  the  charter  members  of  Susque- 
hanna Grange,  No.  74.  His  paper,  “Will 
Farming  Fay?”  read  at  the  Jackson  Grange 
meeting  in  December,  1886,  was  well  received 
and  favorably  noticed.  He  was  elected  on  the 
Democratic  ticket  and  served  six  years  as  super- 
visor of  his  township.  He  is  a man  of  quick 
perception  and  original  thought.  In  1851  he 
married  Sarah  A.,  daughter  of  Truman  and 
Rachael  (Stoddard)  Stone,  who  settled  in  Bridge- 
water  about  1850,  on  the  middle  branch  of  the 
Meshoppen  Creek,  both  being  natives  of  Litch- 
field County ; the  former  died  in  1885,  the  lat- 
ter in  1884.  Their  children  were  Apollos,  of 
Montrose;  Sarah  A.,  born  in  1829;  Emeline, 
wife  of  Augustus  Gregory,  of  Bridgewater; 
Lucy,  wife  of  L.  Carter  Smith,  of  Bridgewater ; 
and  Jessie  and  Julia,  twins,  both  of  whom  died 
young.  The  Stone  children  all  settled  near 
each  other  and  near  their  father’s  homestead. 
Kirby  and  Sarah  A.  Bunnell  have  no  children 
of  their  own,  but  reared  an  adopted  daughter, 
Alzina  Oakley,  whom  they  educated,  and  who 
married  Jesse  Stone,  a brother  of  Mrs.  Bunnell, 
both  of  whom  died  in  Bridgewater  at  about  the 
same  time  of  small-pox. 


CHAPTER  XXII. 

JESSUP  TOWNSHIP. 

This  township  is  south  of  Forest  Lake,  west 
of  Bridgewater,  north  of  Dimock  and  Rush,, 
and  east  of  Rush  and  a small  part  of  Forest 
Lake.  The  latter  territory  belonged  to  Middle- 
town  at  the  time  Jessup  was  erected,  in  April,. 
1846.  The  other  parts  of  the  new  township 
were  taken  from  Bridgewater  and  Rush,  and 
the  name  given  it  was  in  compliment  to  Judge 
Jessup.  The  bounds  of  the  township  were  sub- 
sequently modified,  January,  1854,  by  adciiug 
a strip  from  Rush,  north  of  the  Wyalusing,. 
about  eighty  rods  wide,  to  Jessup ; and  by 
taking  off  a small  part  of  the  northeast  corner 
and  adding  it  to  Bridgewater.  At  a later  period 
the  Chapman  Independent  School  District  was 
here  formed,  comprising  parts  of  the  three  con- 
tiguous townships.  Jessup  is  now,  with  the 
exceptions  named,  about  four  and  a half  miles 
square. 

Wyalusing  Creek  bisects  the  township  a little 
south  of  the  centre,  entering  from  Bridgewater 
and  having  a slightly  southwesterly  course. 
The  valley  through  which  it  flows  lies  low,  and 
as  it  takes  the  waters  of  a number  of  tributary 
streams,  the  surface,  consequently,  is  broken 
into  a succession  of  high  ridges  and  deep  hol- 
lows. Through  the  latter  flow  from  the  north, 
in  the  order  named  from  the  east.  Forest  Lake, 
Birchard  and  Stuart  Creeks,  the  former  being 
the  largest  stream,  and  affording  several  small 
mill-sites.  Flowing  into  the  Wyalusing  from 
the  opposite  side,  and  emptying  into  it  a little 
below  the  latter  stream,  is  South  Creek,  the 
main  tributary  on  that  side.  Near  its  head- 
waters are  several  water-powers  which  have 
been  improved.  West  of  it,  and  extending  into 
Rush,  is  the  long,  high  ridge,  commonly  called 
“ Fire  Hill,”  on  which  are  several  elevations  of 
unusual  beauty ; and  the  diversified  views  ob- 
tainable from  their  summits  are  not  surpassed 
in  the  county.  Directly  north,  on  the  opposite 
side  of  the  Wyalusing,  and  trending  north  and 
south,  is  “ Porter  Ridge,”  containing  some  of 
the  best  upland  farms  in  Jessup.  East,  and 


6 


JESSUP. 


353 


parallel  with  it,  are  McKeelcy  and  “ Dutch  ” 
Hill.s,  the  latter  in  the  northeastern  part,  and 
.so  called  because  the  settlers  of  that  part  of  the 
township  were  of  Dutch  origin,  coming  from 
New  York.  Here  are  also  some  fine  lands 
which  were  originally  well  timbered,  much  of 
the  growth  being  hard  wood  ; and  large  quanti- 
ties of  maple  sugar  were  here  made  before  the 
country  was  cleared  up.  At  the  confluence  of 
the  larger  streams  the  lands  are  low,  fertile  and 
of  the  nature  of  flats,  the  most  extensive  being 
“ Bolles’  Flat,”  at  the  mouth  of  Birchard  Creek. 
The.se  were  tempting  spots  in  the  eyes  of  the 
land-hunter.s,  coming  from  the  hilly  regions  of 
the  East,  and  here  the  first  settlements  were 
made. 

The  pioneers  of  Jessup  came  in  small  colo- 
nies, with  the  expectation  of  taking  lands  under 
the  Connecticut  title.  To  them  it  was  known 
as  “Manor”  in  the  eastern,  and  “Usher”  in 
the  western  part ; and  they,  in  common  with 
most  of  the  other  settlers  along  the  Wyalusing, 
were  tenacious  in  the  belief  that  this  title  should 
secure  to  them  the  right  to  the  lands  upon  which 
they  had  located.  Being  disappointed  in  this 
opinion,  .some  of  them  became  disgusted  with 
the  situation,  and  their  stay  was  of  short  dura- 
tion. It  is  said  that  as  early  as  1800  fifty 
persons  lived  along  the  creek,  between  what  is 
now  Fairdale  and  the  Rash  line.  Their  settle- 
ment and  consequent  history,  being  so  much 
blended  with  this  locality,  is  not  easy  to  trace 
in  other  parts  of  the  township.  The  Honorable 
Charles  Miner  is  authority  for  the  statement 
that  Samuel  Maine  was  here  with  his  family  of 
seven  as  early  as  1798;  but  Miss  Blackman 
inclines  to  the  opinion  that  he  did  not  come  till 
the  year  following,  and  that  Ebenezer  Whipple 
and  his  associates  were  the  first  settlers  on  the 
Wyalusing,  within  the  pre.sent  bounds  of  Je.ssup. 
They  located  on  “Bolles’  Flat”  on  the  lOth  of 
IMarch,  1799,  and  the  Maines  may  have  came 
soon  after.  The  Whipple  .settlement  was  com- 
posed of  Ebenezer  Whipple,  his  stepson,  Ezra 
.Lathrop,  Abner  Griffis,  William  Lathrop  and 
Nathan  Tapper,  all  coming  from  near  Unadilla, 
in  Otsego  County,  New  York. 

The  two  la.st-named  lived  so  far  down  the 
creek  that  it  is  now  in  Rush  township.  Eben- 
23 


ezer  Whipple  lived  in  the  centre  of  the  Flat 
until  180(),  when  he  .‘^old  to  Peter  Stevens,  and 
the  latter,  four  years  later,  disposed  of  his  inter- 
ests to  Robinson  Bolles,  for  whom  the  “Flat” 
was  named.  AVhipple  afterwards  lived  on  the 
Carrier  place,  w'hcre  he  died,  in  1826,  aged  sev- 
enty-two years.  He  was  very  skillful  in  the 
use  of  the  rifle  and  killed,  besides  other  game, 
as  many  as  a hundred  deer  in  a year.  He  had 
a son  named  Cyrus,  who  moved  to  Iowa  and 
who  recounted  his  experience  in  Jessup  as  fol- 
lows : 

“I  w'as  five  years  old  when  my  father  emi- 
grated from  Otsego  County,  N.  Y.,  to  the  l)anks 
of  the  Wyalusing.  Soon  after  there  came  a 
freshet,  the  creek  overflowed  its  banks,  and  a 
portion  of  its  current  swept  through  our  cabin, 
running  near  our  fireplace  a foot  deep  or  more. 
I remember  my  mother’s  washing  and  di[)ping 
up  the  water  by  the  side  of  her  kettle.  This 
was  our  introduction  to  pioneer  life.” 

The  .sister  of  Cyrus  Whipple,  at  that  time  a 
young  girl,  was  al.so  skilled  in  the  arts  of  the 
woodmen  and  could  use  a rifle  with  deadly 
effect.  It  is  said  that  “she  one  day  saw  a deer 
in  the  creek  as  she  w'as  passing  by,  and  called 
at  a house  for  a man  to  shoot  it.  As  it  hap- 
pened, only  the  lady  of  the  house  was  in  ; she 
took  the  gun  and  accompanied  the  girl  within 
shooting  distance,  but  then  her  courage  failed. 
The  girl  herself  now  ro.se  to  the  occasion.  Seiz- 
ing the  gun,  she  fired,  and  instantly  a famous 
buck  lay  splashing  in  the  W’ater.” 

Mrs.  Cyrus  Whipple,  also,  was  a courageous 
woman.  “ One  day,  in  the  absence  of  her  has- 
band,  she  .saw  a ferocious  wild-cat  within  a few 
rods  of  the  house.  It  caught  a goose  and  began 
to  eat  it.  The  thought  that  it  might,  at  another 
time,  make  a meal  of  one  of  her  children 
nerved  her,  though  naturally  a timid  woman, 
to  sally  forth  w'ith  a rifle  to  shoot  it.  When 
she  came  near,  it  jJaced  its  paws  upon  a log 
and  gave  a growl  of  defiance  ; then  she  brought 
the  rifle  to  bear  upon  it,  and  the  next  moment 
it  lay  lifeless.”  ^ 

Of  Ebenezer  Whipple’s  skill  as  a hunter,  Mr. 
J.  W.  Chapman  related  the  follow'ing : 


^ Miss  IRackman. 


254 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


“ Mr. 'WTiipple  h:ii)pened  along  one  day  with  his 
rille,  where  iny  father  and  Mr.  Jeremiah  Gere  were 
chopping  trees,  and  stopped  to  talk  a few  minutes  of 
his  exploits  in  shooting  partridges.  ‘What!’  inquired 
one  of  them,  ‘you  don’t  shoot  them  with  a rifle  ball, 
do  you  ?’  ‘ Of  course,’  re[)lied  he.  ‘ I always  take 

their  heads  off  with  a ball,  rather  tliau  mangle  their 
bodies  with  shot,’  continued  he.  They  looked  at  each 
other  with  a somewhat  incredulous  glance,  as  if  sus- 
pecting  it  to  he  rather  a tough  yarn,  when  one  of  them 
hap|)ened  to  espy  a coiqile  of  those  birds  a few  rods 
off,  hoj>ping  up  at  each  other  in  play  or  fight.  ‘ There’s 
a chance  for  you,  Mr.  Whipple,’  said  he;  ‘if  you  can 
shoot  off  a pheasant’s  head  with  a ball,  let’s  see  it.’ 
The  old  man  deliberately  drew  u})  his  rifle,  and  quiet- 
ly said,  ‘|Wait  till  they  get  in  range;’  and  the  next 
moment  ]>oj)  w’ent  the  rifle,  and  sure  enough  both 
their  heads  were  taken  off  by  the  ball ! Their  incred- 
ulity vanished,  while  the  old  hunter  walked  off  with 
his  game  in  triumph.’’ 

Charles  Miner  was  in  Jessup  in  1799  and 
1800,  and  had  his  home  at  Ebenezer  Whipple’s, 
while  he  worked  on  his  clearings.  He  took  up 
two  lots,  one  on  the  farm  where  afterwards  lived 
Buckingham  Stewart,  where  he  cleared  four 
acres  and  sowed  it  with  wheat.  After  this  was 
harvested  and  stacked  it  was  de.stroyed  by  bears. 
This  locality  is  still  sometimes  called  “ Miner 
Hill.”  The  other  lot  was  .several  miles  northeast 
from  the  above,  and  about  a mile  from  Whip- 
ple’s, where  later  lived  Lyman  Picket.  Here 
he  had  a bark  cabin,  and,  with  the  assistance 
of  a man,  commenced  chopping,  l)ut  made  slow 
progress.  His  own  account  of  his  experience, 
about  that  time,  was  given  in  a letter  read  at 
the  Pioneer  Festival,  Alontrose,  June  2,  1858, 
in  which,  after  mentioning  that  he  and  a Mr. 
Chase  went  to  the  forks  of  the  Wyalusing 
from  Mr.  Parkes’,  he  says, — 

“ Mr.  Bronson  piloted  us  to  lot  thirty -nine  in  Usher. 
The  vocabulary  of  us  intruding  Yankees  spoke  of 
Usher,  Ruby,  Locke,  Manor,  Dandolo  and  Bidwell 
as  our  recognized  localities.  A hill,  descending  gently 
to  the  south  for  half  a mile;  a spring  gushing  from 
its  side,  running  through  groves  of  sugar  majjle,  beech, 
cherry,  whitewood,  and  here  and  there  a monster  of  a 
hemlock,  through  swales  now  green  with  springing 
grass  ; we  made  a bark  cabin,  open  in  front  to  a huge 
log  against  which  our  fire  was  kindled ; a bed  of 
hemlock-boughs;  each  a blanket ; a six-quart  camp- 
kettle  to  boil  our  chocolate ; plates  and  dishes 
made  from  the  soft  whitewood  or  maple.  Here 
we  took  up  our  quarters  for  the  summer  (1799). 
Chopped  awkwardly,  slept  soundly,  except  being 


awakened  too  early  from  our  town  habits  by  the 
stamping  deer,  for  we  had  taken  possession  of  a fa- 
vorite runway.  This,  if  my  memory  is  correct,  was 
about  two  ^ miles  west  from  where  Montrose  was  after- 
wards located.  That  summer  and  the  next,  popula- 
tion poured  in  rapidly  under  the  aus|)ices  of  Col. 
Ezekiel  Hyde,  our  Yankee  leader.  His  headquarters 
were  at  Riudaw.  From  Wilson’s,  down  the  east 
branch  of  the  Wyalusing  to  the  Forks,  were  Maine, 
Lathrop,  Whipple,  Sweet,  Griffis,  Tupper,  Picket  (the 
famous  ‘painter’  killer)  and  Beaumont;  on  the 
middle  branch,  at  the  large  salt  spring,  tbe  Birchards, 

I think  the  first  and  only  inhabitants  of  Ruby  ; on 
the  north  Branch,  in  Locke,  the  Canfields  and  Bristcr, 
the  renowned  wolf-slayer.  The  Parkes  were  the  only 
settlers  in  Bidwell,  as  Wilson  was  in  the  Manor.  Was 
it  a time  of  suffering?  No  1 no  1 of  pleasurable  ex- 
citement [Mr.  M.  was  then  but  nineteen  years  of  age], 
of  hope,  health'  and  mutual  kindness.  Novelty  gild- 
ed the  scene.  There  was  just  enough  of  danger,  toil 
and  privation  to  give  life  a relish.  My  Sunday  borne 
was  at  Mr.  Whipple’s,  whose  residence  was  on  the 
Wyalusing,  a mile  south  of  us.  He  was  a capital 
hunter.  An  anecdote  will  give  you  his  character. 
Just  at  dusk,  he  returned  from  the  woods  in  high 
spirits.  ‘ I have  him — a large  bear — we  will  go  out 
in  the  morning  and  fetch  him  ini’  Behold!  as  he 
had  shot  in  the  twilight,  he  had  killed  Nathan  Tup- 
per’s  only  cow.  Mr.  Whipple,  the  most  fore-handed 
settler,  had  three.  ‘ Neighbor  Tupper,’  said  he,  ‘ I am 
sorry — it  was  an  accident.  Now  choose  of  mine 
which  you  please.’  ‘ I won’t  take  your  best ; let  me 
have  old  Brindle;  she  is  worth  more  than  mine,’  said 
Mr.  Tupper ; and  the  matter  was  settled  by  that 
higher  law,  ‘ Do  as  you  would  be  done  by.’  Not  an 
instance  of  dishonesty,  or  even  of  unkindness,  do  I 
remember.  Grain  was  scarce,  mills  distant;  a maple 
stump  was  burned  hollow  for  a mortar,  early  corn 
pounded  ; the  good  Mrs.  Whipple  stewed  pumpkins, 
and  of  the  mixture  made  capital  bread. 

“The  rifle  of  Mr.  Whipple  furnished  abundance  of 
venison.  Deer  was  plenty — a few  elk  remained — on 
the  river  hills  that  encircled  us  there  were  the  pilot 
and  rattlesnake,  where  annual  fires  prevailed.  In  the 
deep  shade  of  the  dense  forest  they  had  not  yet  pene- 
trated.” 

In  the  course  of  the  summer  of  1800  Mr. 
Miner  cut  his  foot  and  was  taken  to  Mr.  Whip- 
ple’s, where  he  was  cared  for  several  weeks. 
“ When  he  got  well,”  said  Cyrus  Whipple,  “ his 
taste  for  farming  subsided,  and  he  began  to  think 
that  he  mistook  his  calling.”  He  removed- 
to  Wilkes-Barre,  where  he  engaged  in  teaching, 


1 In  his  “ History  of  Wyoming,”  he  gives  it  miles  west,  which  is 
nearer  correct.  He  probably  supposed  Montrose  located  on  the  old 
road  to  Great  Bend,  which  ran  farther  west  than  the  present  one. 


JESSUP. 


355 


uiul  later  became  editor  of  the  Luzerne  Federal- 
id.  In  1804  he  married  Letitia  Wright,  of 
Wilkes-Barre,  but  afterwards  made  .several 
visits  to  his  pioneer  friends  in  Jessup,  who  held 
him  in  high  esteem. 

Cyrus  Whipple  wrote  that  on  the  occasion 
of  one  of  these  visits  to  his  father,  Mr.  Miner 
said, — 

“ ‘ I tell  uiy  wife,  sometimes,  I never  enjoyed  life  so 
well  as  I did  when  I lived  away  up  in  the  woods  with 
Uncle  Whipple  ; and  she’ll  box  my  ears  for  it.’  On 
another  occasion  my  father  related  to  him  a wolf-story, 
which  Mr.  Miner  published  fifteen  or  twenty  years 
after  my  father’s  decease,  adding:  ‘The  noble  old 

hunter  now  sleeps  in  the  bosom  of  that  soil  of  which 
he  was  one  of  the  jjioneers,  after  having  filled  up  and 
rounded  off  an  amiable,  useful  and  blameless 
life.’  ” 

In  later  years  Mr.  Miner  became  one  of  the 
best-known  writers  in  the  State,  and  his  “His- 
tory of  Wyoming  ” is  replete  with  the  most 
valuable  information  in  regard  to  the  Con- 
necticut claims,  making  it  a standard  book. 

Abner  Griffis  settled  on  a farm  adjoining 
Ebenezer  Whipple.  In  1801  he  took  posses- 
sion of  the  grist-mill  which  Holden  Sweet  had 
built  on  the  Wyalusing,  above  the  Flat, 
Sweet,  cultivating  his  farm  meantime.  The  lat- 
ter had  endeavored  for  more  than  a year  to  get 
the  mill  in  operation,  vainly  spending  most  of 
his  property  in  the  endeavor  to  bring  the  water 
in  troughs  for  a quarter  of  a mile.  In  a few 
months  Griffis  succeeded  in  starting  the  mill, 
but  for  more  than  a year  it  was ’without  a bolt, 
and  he  had  to  sell  a cow  to  procure  one.  Up 
to  this  time  the  settlers  had  been  obliged  to  go 
to  the  mouth  of  the  Wyalusing  to  get  their 
grinding  done,  and  the  mill  proved  a great  ac- 
commodation to  the  community.  He  remained 
hei’e  until  1804,  when  he  returned  to  his  farm. 

B Y Rf )N  Griffis. — Th e fi rst  permau eu t settlers 
within  the  pre,sent  limits  of  Je.ssup  township 
were  Abner  Griffis,  Ebenezer  Whipple  and  his 
stepson,  Ezra  Lathrop,  who  came,  with  their 
families,  from  near  Unadilla,  New  York,  down 
the  Susquehanna  Biver  to  the  mouth  of  the 
Wyalusing  Creek  in  canoes,  thence  on  ox-sleds 
up  that  creek,  and  located  on  and  near  Bolles’ 
Flats,  between  Eairdale  and  Grangerville,  on 
the  Creek  road,  during  the  early  spring  of  1799. 


Family  tradition  states  that  Abner  Griffis  had 
been  on  the  gi-ound  the  previous  summer  and 
determined  upon  a location,  then  returned  for 
his  family  and  friends.  He  had  been  engaged 
as  a “ minute-man  ” in  the  Revolutionary  War, 
and  received  a pension  until  his  death,  at  the 
age  of  over  eighty  years,  at  Unadilla,  to  which 
place  he  returned  after  the  death  of  his  wife,  at 
the  home  of  their  .son  Elisha,  in  Fore-st  Lake 
township.  He  owned  and  operated  the  first 
grist-mill  in  the  township  for  several  years. 
The  children  of  this  couple  were  Solomon, 
died  at  Unadilla  ; Hezekiah,  deceased  ; John,  a 
farmer,  died  in  Jackson  township,  whose  son, 
Leander  Griffis,  ex-county  commissioner,  re- 
sides on  the  homestead  there ; Ezekiel,  a lum- 
berman, died  in  Bradford  County ; Rebecca, 
married  a Mr.  Leonard,  and  is  now  dead ; 
Elisha,  a farmer  and  hotel-keeper  in  Forest 
Lake  township,  died  in  1870,  aged  eighty-one 
years;  Patty,  married  Pliny  Birchard,  a farmer 
of  this  township,  and  upon  his  decease,  moved 
to  the  West  and  died  there;  and  Robert,  born 
April  9,  1791,  who,  in  18 1C,  married  Lydia 
Robinson  (1795-1857),  of  Je.ssup,  and  had 
children — Amanda,  married  Madison  Bostwick, 
of  Montrose;  Bartlet,  born  1816,  now  a painter 
at  Tama  City,  Iowa;  Harriet,  1819,  married 
Tracy  Frink,  a farmer  of  New  Alilford  town- 
ship; Mahlon,  1821,  a retired  farmer  living  at 
Vestal,  N.  Y. ; Byron,  born  January  18,  1824  ; 
Laura  D.,  1827,  the  wife  of  Joseph  Simpson,  a 
surveyor,  living  in  California ; Lsaac,  died  in 
infancy.  Squire  Griffis  took  Mrs.  Comfort 
(Kellum)  Sherman  (the  widow  of  Squire  Jon- 
athan Sherman,  of  this  township)  as  his  second 
wife  in  1858.  The  Kellum  family  were  early 
settlers  in  Forest  Lake  township.  Robert 
Griffis  .settled  in  1814  on  Porter  Ridge,  on  the 
farm  now  owned  and  occupied  by  his  youngest 
son,  Byron,  where  he  remained  until  his  death, 
in  1884,  at  the  ripe  old  age  of  ninety-three 
years.  He  was  a man  of  marked  ability  and 
.strength  of  character.  In  1825  he  was  a[>- 
pointed  by  the  Governor  justice  of  the  jieace, 
and  served  in  such  capacity  fifteen' years.  In 
1840  the  fir.st  election  for  township  officers  oc- 
curred, and  he  was  elected  by  the  pcojJe  and 
continued  in  such  office  for  ten  years  thereafter. 


356 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


In  1830  he  was  elected  one  of  the  county  com- 
missioners, and  served  in  ditferent  offices  until 
1850,  a continuous  period  of  thirty-one  years,  in 
addition  to  acting  as  postmaster  for  ten  years  at 
Porter  Hidge,  an  office  now  discontinued.  He 
was  an  accommodating  and  obliging  neighbor,  an 
influential  and  moral  citizen,  a devoted  member 
of  the  Middletown  Baptist  Clmrch,  with  which 
he  united  in  1821),  and  regularly  attended  until 
ago  and  inflrmities  jirevented.  His  voice  and 


him  until  their  deaths,  that  of  Mrs.  Griffis  oc- 
curring January  31,  1872.  He  has  been  quite 
a factor  in  politics,  but  has  not  sought  office, 
though  he  has  acted  in  various  township  capa- 
cities, amongst  others  as  .school  director  tliree 
terms.  He  has  been  proffered  nomination  as 
justice  of  the  peace,  but  declined.  On  Septem- 
ber 2,  1849,  he  married  Adelia  C.,  daughter  of 
William  and  Mary  (Bowman)  McGill,  who  was 
born  November  10,  1824.  William  McGill 


exani|)le  were  ever  given  to  good  works,  and 
his  influence  lives  after  him.  Byron  Griffis 
enjoyed  the  advantages  of  the  district  .school  dur- 
ing winters  until  twenty-one  years  of  age,  and 
then  worked  out  a couple  of  years  until  called 
liome  and  given  half  of  his  fatlier’s  intere.st  in 
the  farm.  Upon  this  place  he  has  spent  his  life. 
In  1850  lie  bought  his  brother’s  intere.st,  and  in 
1854  made  the  final  payment  to  the  original 
owners  of  the  land.  His  parents  remained  with 


was  a mason-builder  at  Towanda,  and  the  sou 
of  Dennis  McGill,  who  came  with  his  parents 
from  Ireland  when  twelve  years  of  age,  and 
settled  near  Towanda,  Pa.  Their  children 
were  Denni.s,  a farmer,  died  in  Bradford  County; 
William,  also  a farmer,  went  to  Illinois  and 
died  there  of  cliolera  ; Jacob,  a shoemaker,  died 
in  Bradford  County ; James,  a farmer,  has 
recently  gone  to  Michigan  ; Hiram  W.,  a car- 
penter, living  in  Towanda ; Mariuda,  married 


JESSUP. 


357 


first  Edward  Patterson,  and  second  John  Gor- 
ham, and  is  a widow  now  living  in  Bradford 
County ; Eliza,  wife  of  Benjamin  Smith,  a 
farmer  of  Bradford  County;  Polly,  married 
Martin  Moore,  of  Rome,  Pa.,  and  died  nearly 
forty  years  ago;  Adelia  C.,  wife  of  Byron 
Griffis ; and  Rebecca,  married  Mallory  Wolf,  a 
Luzerne  County  farmer. 

The  Bowmans  were  among  the  earliest  set- 
tlers in  Ih'adford  County,  Jacob  Bowman, 
grandfather  of  Mrs.  Griffis,  having  been  a sol- 
dier in  the  Revolution.  The  children  of  Byron 
and  Adelia  Griffis  are  Laura  A.,  died  in  infancy; 
Leroy  H.,  born  April  17,  1853,  married  Eliza 
Ellsworth,  and  is  a business  man  in  Montrose ; 
Oscar  F.,  born  April  17,  1855,  married  Emma 
Allen,  has  one  child,  Frank  Byron,  and  lives 
near  the  homestead;  Estella  Adelia,  born  June 
20, 1857,  married  Elmer  Tewksbury,  a farmer  of 
Auburn  township  ; Eugene  B.,  born  November 
9, 1859,  married  Hattie  Deuel,  has  two  children, 
Arthur  L.  and  Bessie  A.,  and  is  a farmer  of 
Rush  township;  and  Perry  E.,  born  August  1, 
1866.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Griffis  are  consistent 
members  of  the  Middletown  Baptist  Church, 
he  having  joined  nearly  fifty  years  ago,  and  is 
now  acting  as  deacon,  having  been  elected  to 
succeed  L.  Minor  Turrell,  Orange  Mott,  Jr.,  and 
Levi  Tupper,  all  of  whom  died  within  a few 
months  of  each  other. 

The  Griffis  family  is  about  the  only  one 
which  has  remained  continuously  in  the  town- 
ship since  its  first  settlement.  Abner  Griffis 
died  at  the  residence  of  his  son  Solomon,  in 
New  York.  Of  him  Mr.  Miner  said  : “ He  was 
the  beau  of  the  Wyalusing  ; he  had  a fine  form, 
a ruddy  cheek,  bright  eye,  pleasant  smile,  manly 
expression,  and  with  the  rifle  no  superior.” 

In  1799  the  four  Maine  brothers — Samuel, 
Nehemiah,  Ezekiel  and  Meacham — came  and 
located  in  the  valley  of  the  Wyalusing  a mile 
above  Bolles’  Flat,  and  along  South  Creek. 
Samuel  lived  ou  the  flat  at  the  mouth  of  the 
latter  creek  and  made  some  improvements, 
which  he  sold  to  his  brother-in-law,  Samuel 
Lewis,  in  1800,  and  began  improving  another 
farm,  which  was  later  known  as  Butterfield’s. 
Meacham  Maine  was  south  of  him,  on  the 
ridge,  and  both  he  and  Samuel  moved  to  Indi- 


ana before  1813.  Ezekiel  Maine  lived  on  the 
present  Shay  farm,  where  afterwards  lived 
David  Turrell,  and  Nehemiah  Maine  lived  in 
what  is  now  Dimock. 

Ezekiel  Maine,  Jr.,  was  born  while  his  fatlier 
lived  on  “Maine  Hill,”  on  the  Shay  farm.  In 
the  same  year,  1799,  at  least  six  more  tracts  of 
land  were  located  in  Jessup,  by  Holden  Sweet, 
Zebdiah  Lathrop,  Eben  Ingram,  Jex'emiah 
Meacham,  John  Reynolds  and  Daniel  Foster. 
The  three  first  named  remained,  but  Meacham 
and  Foster  returned  to  Ijong  Island  for  their 
families,  after  having  put  up  log  cabins. 

Holden  Sweet  located  on  the  creek,  where  is 
now  the  mill,  making  the  first  im[)rovement  of 
that  nature  the  same  year;  but  in  1800 
exchanged  places  with  Abner  Griffis,  moving 
farther  down  the  creek,  near  El)enezer  Whip- 
ple’s. A little  more  than  a mile  north  Zelxdiah 
Lathrop  located  and  died  in  the  towmship.  His 
son,  Zebdiah,  removed  to  Rush  and  afterwards 
to  Iowa.  Two  of  his  daughters  married  Ros- 
well Morse  and  John  Hancock.  The  road  by 
his  house  was  petitioned  for  in  1801,  to  begin 
between  the  houses  of  Ebenezer  Whipple  and 
Ezra  Lathrop,  on  the  Wyalusing, and  to  extend 
to  Ellicott’s  road,  near  the  thirty-fourth  mile- 
tree. 

Jeremiah  Meacham  selected  the  farm  adjoin- 
ing Ezekiel  Maine’s  on  the  east.  He  tlxen 
returned  to  Connecticut  for  his  family,  and 
arrived  here — nine  in  all — on  the  1st  of  March, 
1800.  They  came  rm  Great  Bend  to  II.  Tiff- 
any’s, in  “ Nine  Partners,”  and  from  thence  to 
Stephen  W’^ilson’s,  and  found  but  one  house 
between — that  of  Joseph  Chapman,  in  what  is 
now  Brooklyn.  Upon  reaching  Ezekiel  Maine’s 
and  finding  no  path  beyond,  the  family  halted 
until  a road  was  cut.  There  was  not  a nail  in 
Mr.  Meacham’s  house,  the  shingles  being  held  on 
with  poles. 

The  east  line  of  Jessup  passes  through  the 
house  occupied  by  his  .son  Sheldon  until  his 
recent  decease,  on  the  farm  cleared  by  Mr. 
Meacham,  and  where  he  died.  A part  of  the 
estate  pa.ssed  to  the  late  Jeremiah  Mcacliam,  Jr., 
who  resided  on  it  until  a few  years  since.  In 
early  life  he  united  witli  the  Baptist  Church,  in 
which  he  was  deacon  for  many  years.  As  an 


358 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


upriglit,  honest,  Christian  man,  his  name  and 
cliaracter  are  without  blemish.  He  died  in 
Montrose,  Febrnary  24,  1871,  aged  seventy - 
eight  years. 

In  the  spring  of  1807,  on  the  1st  day  of 
April,  there  was  four  feet  of  snow  on  the 
ground.  Jeremiah  Meaeham’s  wife  and  three 
dauo-hters  were  then  all  confined  to  their  beds 

o 

with  sickness.  Dr.  Fraser  came  from  Great 
Bend  to  attend  them.  Their  fire-wood  being 
exhausted,  they  were  obliged  to  burn  the  fence, 
as  the  woods,  though  only  eight  or  ten  rods  oft’, 
were  inaccessible  by  the  ox-team.  There  were 
no  drifts  on  account  of  the  woods.  For  seven 
days  it  was  cold,  blowing  weather ; then  the  sun 
shone  out,  and  in  the  little  clearings  the  snow 
melted  so  rapidly  that,  with  the  large  amount 
in  the  woods,  it  caused  what  is  known  as  “ the 
great  flood.” 

John  Reynolds  and  Daniel  Foster  came,  the 
second  time,  from  Long  Island,  in  company 
with  Bartlet  Hinds,  of  Bridgewater,  in  May, 

1 800.  They  lived  in  the  ^ cabin  that  Mr. 
Reynolds  had  built  the  previous  year,  and  to 
this,  in  the  next  fall,  Mr.  Foster  and  his  family 
came.  His  son  Walter  was  then  in  his  eighth 
year. 

The  saw-mill  spoken  of  was  built  as  early  as 

1801,  and  was  the  first  improvement  of  that 
kind  in  Jessup.  That  year  a road  was  petitioned 
for  by  Ichabod  Halsey,  who  had  come  with 
Foster  and  who  located  on  what  is  now  the  Roy 
place,  “ to  cross  the  Wyalusing  at  Foster’s  saw- 
mill.” Daniel  Foster  died  in  1829,  and  the 
place  passed  into  the  hands  of  his  son  Walter, 
who  deceased  in  1872,  at  the  residence  of  his 
son,  near  Scranton.^ 

As  early  as  1 801  David  Doud  was  on  the 


^ “ The  cabin  ]iad  no  floor,  except  tliat  niothor  had  a short  board  to 
keep  her  feet  warm.  Wlien  Mr.  Reynolds  brought  his  family  in  the 
spring  of  1801,  father  moved  into  his  own  house  across  the  creek,  Mr. 
Reynolds  being  on  the  left  bank,  on  a knoll  still  marked  by  the  remains 
of  the  old  chimney  and  foundation  of  the  house.  He  had  the  first  full- 
ing-mill in. Jessup.  Its  site  is  marked  l>y  the  stone  chimney  left  stand- 
ing when  the  building  was  burned.  For  someyeftrs,  his  family  occupied 
a part  of  it.  My  father  built,  in  1812,  a framed  house,  also  on  the  right 
l>ank,  but  a few  rods  farther  west.  lie  paid  for  his  land  twice — first  to 
his  friend,  Mr.  Reynolds,  who  held  a Oounecticut  title  only,  and  after- 
wards to  the  Wallace  estate,  or  rather  to  Peter  Graham,  to  whom  the 
obligation  was  transferred.  After  giving  to  the  latter  one  hundred 
and  thirty  acres  and  the  saw-mill,  he  had  two  hundred  and  fifty  acres 
left.” 

- Miss  Blackman. 


place  where  Charles  Miner  made  his  first  clear- 
ing aud  where,  later,  settled  Buckingham  Stuart. 
About  the  same  time  Samuel  Lewis  and  his 
family  were  living  on  the  Maine  place,  at  the 
mouth  of  South  Creek.  West  of  him  David 
Olmstead  located  as  early  as  1802,  coming  from 
Norwalk,  Conn.  He  was  a soldier  in  the  Rev- 
olution, in  the  northern  campaign  under  General 
Gates,  and  was  also  with  Washington  in  his 
retreat  from  New  York.  He  died  in  Jessup 
November  29, 1829,  but  some  of  his  descendants 
have  resided  in  the  township  to  the  present 
time.  Asa  Olmstead  was  on  the  farm  next  east, 
and  higher  up  the  stream  was  Matthias  Smith 
as  early  as  1808.  AVhen  he  located  here  he 
was  a son-in-law  of  Ebenezer  Whipple. 

The  adjoining  farm  was  owned  by  Colonel 
William  C.  Turrell,  his  log  house  standing  on 
the  present  Dr.  N.  P.  Cornwell  place,  but  lower 
down,  on  the  low  lands.  For  a long  time  the 
place  was  called  “ Turrell's  Flat.”  He  received 
his  title  from  being  chosen  lieutenant-colonel  of 
the  One  Hundred  and  Twenty-ninth  Regiment 
Pennsylvania  Militia,  in  1811.  He  was  an 
active,  influential  man,  butremoved  to  the  West 
about  1840.  Higher  up  the  creek  was  the  farm 
of  Lyman  Cook,  and  beyond  that  was  David 
Turrell,  who  removed  to  Michigan,  where  he 
died  in  1849,  aged  sixty-six  years.  Where 
William  Robertson  now  lives  was  the  third  of 
the  Turrell  brothers,  bearing  the  Christian  name 
of  Doctor.  His  improvements  were  among  the 
first  on  that  hill,  and  this  lot  of  land  was  the 
southern  limit  of  the  Rose  tract,  in  this  part 
of  the  county. 

The  first  settlers  on  the  hill  but  higher  up, 
were  Lemuel  Wallbridge,  and  his  son  Henry, 
also  natives  of  Connecticut,  who  located  near 
the  summit  about  1812.  They  also  bought  the 
Doctor  Turrell  farm,  below  them,  and  Henry 
Wallbridge  first  im])roved  the  dagger  farm. 
About  the  same  time  Christian  Shelp,  a Mo- 
hawk Dutchman,  came  from  New  Milford, 
where  he  had  settled  after  moving  from  New 
A"ork,  and  bought  four  hundred  acres  of  the 
Rose  lands  between  the  above  two  jJaces.  His 
father-in-law,  Henry  Pruyne,  who  had  settled 
in  Great  Bend  in  1810,  came  with  him.  The 
latter  was  a Revolutionary  soldier  and  a pen- 


JESSUP. 


359 


sioiier.  He  died  in  1843,  and  Ids  widow, 
Kaeliel,  the  following  year,  aged  eighty-one 
years.  Chri.stian  Shelp  had  .sons  named  John, 
Nathaniel,  Henry,  Christian,  Jr.,  and  Stephen. 
Henry  afterwards  lived  on  the  farm  which  his 
father  had  occupied  many  years.  Charles  Davis, 
a son-in-law  of  Shelp,  located  in  the  .same 
neighborhood,  and  as  these  settlers  were  perma- 
nent, the  locality  took  the  name  of  “ Dutch 
Hill,”  which  it  has  retained  to  the  present. 

Another  family,  whose  settlement  wais  per- 
manent, was  that  of  liobinson  Holies.  ' He  came 
from  Groton,  New  London  County,  Conn.,  in 
the  autumn  of  1810,  with  his  wife  and  nine 
children.  They  were  twenty  days  on  their 
journey — their  wagon  drawm  by  horses — two 
days  being  required  from  New  Milford  to  the 
former  location  of  Ebenezer  Whipple.  This 
had  been  sold  to  Peter  Stevens,  from  whom  Mr. 
Bolles  purchased.  The  house  stood  in  the 
centre  of  the  flat,  but  the  latter  afterwards 
built,  on  the  north  side  of  the  road,  the  large 
house  now  owned  by  his  grandson,  Amos,  a .son 
of  Simeon  A.  Bolles.  He  died  in  1842,  aged 
seventy-six  years,  highly  respected,  having 
reared  a large  family,  most  of  whom  remained 
in  Jessup.  The  .sons  were  as  follows  : Simeon 
A.,  who  lived  north  of  the  “ Flat,”  on  the  farm 
now  owned  by  one  of  his  sons,  Robinson.  He 
died  in  1877,  aged  eighty-five  years.  He  was 
also  the  father  of  Charles  B.,  Wilson,  Amos, 
An.son,  Henry  and  Hannah  Bolles.  Abel, 
the  .second  son  of  Robinson  Bolles,  after  living 
a while  on  the  Peter  Rone  place,  moved  to 
Bradford  County ; Nelson,  the  third  son,  died 
in  1825  ; Elkanah  S.,  the  fourth  sou,  lived  on 
the  farm  which  is  now  occupied  by  his  son, 
Edgar;  John,  the  fifth  son,  moved  to  Bradford 
County  ; James,  the  sixth  son,  lived  on  part  of 
the  homestead  and  was  the  father  of  James, 
Isaac,  Daniel  and  George  Bolles  ; Lyman,  the 
seventh  and  youngest  son,  moved  to  Texas. 
The  daughters  of  Robin.son  Bolles  married, — 
M aria,  John  C.  Stevens,  of  Bradford  County  ; 
Hannah,  Daniel  Pickett;  Nancy  L.,  Silas 
Baldwin  ; and  Prudence,  Almon  Pickett.  But 
one  of  these,  Mrs.  Silas  Baldwin,  born  in  1809, 
survived  until  December,  188(1. 

1 MiF58  Blackman. 


In  the  northeastern  part,  of  the  township^ 
above  “ Dutch  Hill,”  the  first  settlement  was 
made  in  1812  by  Zephaniah  Cornell.  A jiartof 
his  farm  of  two  hundred  acres  extended  into 
what  is  now  Forest  Lake.  In  1828  he  sold  the 
lower  part  to  Marvin  Hall,  and  moved  to  what 
is  now  called  “ Cornell  Hill,”  but  returned  to 
the  old  homestead,  where  he  died  December  8, 
1871,  at  the  ripe  age  of  nearly  eighty-nine 
years.  His  son,  S.  D.  Cornell,  occupied  the 
Forest  Lake  place  until  his  death,  in  1881, 
aged  seventy-four  years.  Lower  down  the  road, 
David  Sherer  and  his  son-in-law,  John  Robert- 
son, located  before  the  close  of  1815,  coming 
from  New  Hampshire.  Sherer  bought  the 
Henry  Wallbridge  farm,  on  which  he  lived 
until  1837,  when  he  sold  out  to  E.  dagger  and 
moved  to  Dimock,  where  he  died  in  1846,  aged 
eighty-.seven  years.  He  left  Ireland  when  a 
lad  five  years  of  age,  and  coming  to  America, 
entered  the  Revolutionary  army  at  the  age  of 
eighteen  years.  He  was  at  the  battle  of  Still- 
water, the  surrender  of  Burgoyue  and  at  Valky 
Forge.  In  his  religious  professions  he  was  a 
Presbyterian,  and  the  last  fifty- five  years  of  his 
life  was  a consistent  member  of  that  church. 
His  son  John  became  a Presbyterian  minister. 
William  was  a physician,  who  died  in  Ken- 
tucky. James  and  Samuel  became  residents  of 
Dimock.  His  daughter,  Mary,  became  a IMrs. 
Baldwin  and  was  a pioneer  teacher.  John 
Robertson  lived  first  on  the  Steiger  farm,  west 
of  his  last  location,  the  homestead  of  his  sou 
W^illiam,  where  he  died  in  1877.  Of  his  nine 
children, — David  became  a resident  of  Spring- 
ville ; Warner  moved  to  Bradford  County  ; 
\Villiam  is  on  the  homestead ; Milton  is  a citizen 
of  Montrose  and  Samuel  of  Elmira.  Hannah 
married  Jason  Arnold  ; Mary,  David  Patterson  ; 
Helen,  Dr.  P.  A.  Bissell,  of  Mahanoy,  and 
Rhoda  died  a maiden. 

Among  other  settlers  along  the  Wyalusing, 
in  1813,  were  Buckingham  Stuart  and  I.saac 
Hart,  who  came  all  the  way  from  Vermont  on 
foot.  The  former  was  a millwright  and  fol- 
lowed his  trade  a number  of  years,  locating,  in 
1819,  on  the  place  on  which  David  Doud  had 
lived  after  18U1,  being  the  first  Miner  improve- 
ment, made  in  1799.  The  previous  occupant 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


:ir>o 


was  Levi  S.  ^Vgaixl,  whose  sistei’  Stuart  had 
married.  Both  have  deeeased,  the  husband 
havino-  been  more  than  ninety  years  old.  In 
LSld  Nathaniel  Stuart,  the  father  of‘  Bucking- 
ham, located  on  the  ^Yyalusing,  below  Fo.ster’s. 
His  son,  Nathan,  returned  to  Vermont  and  there 
lost  his  wife  and  four  daughters,  by  drowning 
in  a freshet.  One  of  the  daughters  of  Na- 
thaniel Stuart  became  tlie  wife  of  Cyrus  Whip- 
ple His  son,  Abraham,  died  in  Auburn,  and 
Isaac  in  Iowa. 

Prior  to  1813  Jolin  Blaisdell,  from  Alassa- 
ehusetts,  located  on  Porter  Ridge,  where  he 
reared  .sons,  named  John,  James,  William  and 
Idmothy,  all  of  whom  have  deceased.  James 
C\)ok  located  lower  dt)wn  the  Ridge,  on  the 
C-yrus  Sheets  farm,  and  Israel  Birchard  was 
above,  coming  from  Forest  liake,  where  he  had 
.settled  in  1801.  He  died  in  1818,  aged  fifty- 
three  years.  Of  his  eight  sons,  Horace  lived 
in  Forest  Lake;  Lucins  lived  in  Montrose; 
Pliny,  Harry  A.,  Je.sse,  Upson,  Ralph  and 
Lyman  lived  in  Jessup  many  years.  The 
de.scendauts  became  very  numerous. 

Jonas  Fuller,  a millwright,  came  from 
Vermont  in  1813,  but  did  not  locate  his  lands 
until  the  following  year,  when  he  purchased 
one  hundred  acres  on  the  line  between  Jessup 
and  Dimock.  He  subsequently  removed  to 
Auburn,  where  he  became  an  octogenarian. 
One  time,  in  passing  between  Elk  Lake  and 
the  Wyalusing,  he  met  a wolf  and  neither  was 
aware  of  the  other’s  jn-esence  until  they  were 
only  a few  feet  apart,  when  Fuller  raised  his 
arms  and  gave  a loud  yell,  wliich  so  frightened 
the  wolf  that  it  turned  and  ran  away.  At  that 
time  Champlin  Harris  was  boarding  at  Fuller’s, 
and  spent  much  of  his  time  hunting  and  trap- 
ping, catching  at  least  a dozen  bears  and  wolves. 
He  was  later  a settler  in  Jessup,  on  the  Samuel 
Warner  place. 

Oruanixj  W.  Stoxe. — Benajah  Stone  was  a 
captain  in  the  Revolutionary  War,  and  lived 
and  died  in  Ijitchfield  County,  Conn.  One 
son,  Benajah,  died  in  Michigan,  where  he  had 
.settled;  I.saac  died  in  Indiana;  and  Lorry 
Stone,  born  on  the  homestead  in  Connecticut, 
.settled  in  Je,ssuj)  township  on  a wilderness  tract 
of  land  in  the  year  1814,  where  he  .spent  the  re- 


mainder of  his  lifeand  died  in  1871,  in  hiseighty- 
third  year.  His  wife,  Permelia  Alallory,  died 
in  1846,  aged  fifty-four  years.  Pier  father, 
Truman  Mallory,  of  Litchfield  County,  was 
also  in  the  Revolutionary  IVar.  Lorry  Stone 
took  up  one  hundred  and  seventy-seven  acres, 
the  present  farm  of  his  son,  Orlando  W.  He 
rented  the  old  Turrell  mill  on  South  Ch’eek 
and  carried  on  the  lumbering  business  for 
.several  years,  cutting  timber  from  his  own  land 
and  buying  quantities  elsewhere.  He  also 
rented  Foster’s  mill  on  Wyalusing  Creek, 
where  he  conducted  a large  lumber  busine.ss  for 
that  early  day.  He  was  very  industrious,  paid 
for  his  farm  and  settled  a home, stead  for  his 
children.  He  paid  little  attention  to  politics, 
but  held  several  township  offices.  His  eldest 
daughter,  Adaline,  wife  of  Asbury  AVoolsey, 
died  in  Bradford  County  in  1863.  Lorenzo  is 
a resident  of  Silver  Lake  township.  Orlando 
W.  was  born  May  19,  1820.  George  L. 
commanded  a company  in  the  late  Rebellion, 
was  in  the  battle  of  Chancellorsville  under 
General  Hooker,  and  was  wounded  at  Gettys- 
burg. Returning  home,  he  was  commissioned 
postmaster  at  Montrose,  which  office  he  held 
over  four  years,  when  he  settled  at  New  Mil- 
ford, where  he  has  served  as  justice  of  the  peace 
for  several  years.  Caroline  A.  is  the  wife  of 
Mervin  Barber,  of  Chautauqua  County,  N.  Y., 
who  was  also  a .soldier  in  the  late  Rebellion. 
Charles  H.  served  as  corporal  in  his  brother’s 
company,  was  wounded  at  Gettysburg  and  is  a 
filmier  in  Nebraska.  Stanley  ivas  a cavalryman 
under  Generals  Sheridan  and  Kilpatrick,  and 
was  in  the  service  three  years.  He  was  also 
wounded  during  the  preliminary  fighting  before 
Gettysburg  ; was  captured  near  Richmond  and 
sent  to  Libby  Prison,  where  he  remained  until 
so  reduced  in  flesh  that  he  was  unable  to  stand 
upon  his  feet.  He  was  then  sent  to  the  rebel 
hospital,  ivhere  he  remained  until  exchanged, 
just  before  the  close  of  the  war.  He  is  a farmer 
and  carpenter  in  Franklin  township. 

Orlando  W.  Stone  in  boyhood  learned  ivhat 
he  could  from  books  at  the  school  then  located 
on  his  father’s  farm,  and  was  a teacher.  He 
married,  in  1846,  Lucretia  H.  (1824-83), 
daughter  of  Levi  Wells,  of  Dimock.  The 


d)  7^. 


JESSUP. 


361 


Wells  family  came  from  Connecticut.  Levi 
Wells’  mother  escaped  with  her  mother  and 
children  to  the  Delaware  at  the  time  of  the 
Wyoming  massacre,  where  her  father  and  oldest 
brother  were  killed  by  the  Indians.  The  only 
surviving  child  of  Orlando  W.  and  Lucretia  H. 
Stone  is  George  A.,  born  November  19,  1871. 
For  his  second  wife  he  married,  in  1884,  Mrs. 
Hannah  (Devine)  Hibbard,  of  Rush  towmship, 
who  was  born  in  1831.  Her  children  are  Wil- 
liam Elbert,  of  Montrose  ; Amelia  J.,  Etna  J. 
and  Simon  A.  Hibbard.  Her  parents  were 
John  (1801-40)  and  Jemima  (Shoemaker) 
(1799-1871)  Devine,  who  settled  in  Rush 
township  in  1830,  on  Devine  Ridge.  For  one 
year  after  his  first  marriage  Mr.  Stone  resided 
at  Dimock,  and  then  returned  and  bought  the 
farm  just  south  of  his  present  homestead.  After 
ten  years  he  purchased  the  homestead  farm, 
where  he  has  since  resided.  He  was  assessor 
of  the  township  for  seven  years  and  has  held 
several  township  offices.  He  is  one  of  the 
stockholders  of  the  Montrose  Railway,  and  is  a 
thoroughly  practical  and  successful  farmer  and 
business  man.  He  is  a liberal  giver  to  all  reli- 
gious and  charitable  enterprises. 

South  of  this  place  Nathan  Eastman  made 
some  improvements,  which  became  the  property 
of  Truman  Walker  in  later  years.  He  was 
the  father  of  James  R.  Walker,  who  died  in  the 
army,  and  of  William  R.,  now  occupying  the 
homestead.  The  first  settler  on  that  road  was 
James  Young,  a native  of  Scotland,  who  came 
in  1819,  with  the  intention  of  settling  in  Silver 
Lake,  having  heard  flattering  accounts  of  the 
lands  of  Dr.  Rose,  but  upon  reaching  the  place 
of  J.  W.  Robinson,  in  what  is  now  Dimock,  he 
was  induced  to  purchase  land  belonging  to  the 
Wallace  estate  (now  in  Jessup),  about  three- 
fourths  of  a mile  west  of  B.  McKenzie.  Here 
his  family  occupied  a log  house,  without  a door, 
as  many  had  done  before  them.  Such  hardships, 
however,  seem  not  to  have  shortened  the  lives 
of  the  pioneers ; Mr.  Young  lived  to  be  seventy- 
three,  and  his  wife,  who  died  in  1862,  nineteen 
years  later,  was  over  ninety  years  of  age. 

In  this  part  of  the  township  a colony  of 
people  from  New  Jersey  settled  about  1883. 
Among  them  was  Benjamin  Shay,  of  Sussex 
231 


County,  w'ho  bought  the  David  Turrell  farm, 
which  was,  at  that  time,  one  of  the  best  improved 
in  this  part  of  the  country.  He  died  here  in 
187 6,  more  than  seventy-six  years  old.  His  child- 
ren were  Dennis,  living  in  New  Milford  ; John, 
died  in  Je.ssup  ; David  and  A.  W.,  living  on 
the  homestead  ; George  T.,  in  Nebraska ; Betsey 
E.,  married  H.  C.  Bertholf,  of  Jessup  ; Han- 
nah E.,  the  wife  of  Hiram  Whitney  : Sarah  E., 
wife  of  J.  B.  McKeeby  and  Mary,  wife  of  D. 
S.  McKeeby,  also  from  New  Jersey.  On  “Fire 
Hill,”  in  the  southwestern  part  of  the  township, 
settlements  were  also  made  by  natives  of  New 
Jersey  and  New  York.  The  improvements 
made  by  the  Hart  brothers,  in  1812,  were 
purchased  by  Samuel  Bertholf,  the  father  of  II. 
C.  Bertholf,  now  occupying  the  place,  which, 
from  its  location,  is  not  inappropriately  called 
“ Lightly  Home.  ” Southwest  lived  William 
Cronk,  the  father  of  John  Cronk,  residing  on 
the  Samuel  Roberts  place.  Other  sons  live  in 
Rush  township.  John  Bedell,  another  native  of 
New  Jersey,  settled  here  in  1842,  remaining 
until  his  death,  in  1877,  at  the  age  of  seventy- 
seven  years.  Several  of  his  sons  still  live  in 
that  locality. 

In  1814  Benajah  Chatfield  came  from  Ver- 
mont and  settled  on  the  second  clearing  of  Charles 
Miner,  now  occupied  by  Lyman  Pickett,  where 
he  died  in  1835,  aged  seventy- three  years.  His 
widow  died  in  December,  1843,  aged  seventy- 
eight  years.  His  son  Abel  lived  on  the  homestead 
until  his  death,  not  quite  forty  years  ago.  He  was 
married  to  Sophronia  Tupper,and  one  of  their 
daughters,  Adelia  C.,  is  the  wife  of  Charles 
Bolles  ; Victoria  married  L.  B.  Pickett.  Nath- 
an Tupper  lived  in  the  upper  part  of  the  town- 
ship, and  was  killed  by  the  falling  of  a limb 
from  a tree.  He  had  nine  children  besides  the 
youngest  daughter,  Sophronia,  who  married 
Abel  Chatfield.  Among  the  sons  were  Lorain, 
Jehiel  and  Harry.  On  the  Matthew  McKeeby 
farm  Salmon  Bradshaw  settled  in  1814,  but 
removed  to  Dryden,  New  York.  Christopher 
Sherman,  a Revolutionary  soldier,  came  to  the 
same  neighborhood  the  same  time  and  died 
here  in  1835.  His  sons  wei’e  Jonathan  C., 
Jesse  and  Abel. 

In  the  neigliborhood  east,  John  A.  Patch 


362 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


settled  in  1816  and  died  in  the  township  in 
March,  1840.  His  son,  Joseph  H.,  moved  to 
Forest  Lake,  and  Benjamin  L.,  the  youngest, 
moved  to  Carroll  County,  111.,  where  he  was 
elected  president  judge.  Farther  south  lived 
Jacob  and  John  Bump,  but  they  removed  at  an 
early  day. 

* George  Clagget  made  the  first  improvement 
on  the  corner  where  Dr.  N.  P.  Cornwell  has 
been  located  since  1837.  It  was  a part  of  Col. 
Turrell’s  farm  ; Curtis  Bliss  owned  it  in  1820. 
The  latter  and  John  Shelp  went  through  West- 
ern New  York  on  a tour  of  exploration  about 
this  time,  and,  in  a letter  soou  after  published 
in  Waldie’s  (at  Montrose),  he  says, — 

“ As  to  the  soil  we  are  satisfied  from  what  we  saw, 
and  from  the  information  we  received  of  the  amount 
of  crops  raised  where  we  have  been,  that  if  we  and 
our  neighbors  will  cultivate  our  soil  as  it  ought  to  be 
cultivated,  there  are  few  places  which  we  have  seen 
on  our  route  that  will  be  able  to  claim  a superiority 
over  us  as  to  quantity  of  produce,  and  certainly  none 
as  to  value.” 

Two  of  his  neighbors  took  nearly  the  same 
route,  soon  after,  to  judge  for  themselves  of  the 
correctness  of  Mr.  Bliss’  statements,  and  add, — 

“ Though  our  soil  generally  is  not  equal  to  some 
that  may  be  found  westward,  yet,  independent  of  the 
sickness  interrupting  the  labors  of  a farmer  on  the 
flats,  our  crops,  acre  for  acre,  are  worth  much  more 
here  than  there.  There  is  one  thing  well  known  to 
all  the  settlers  in  our  country — that  the  soil  here  is 
very  lasting — for  the  oldest  farms,  when  ploughed  and 
properly  cultivated,  produce  the  best  crops,  better 
than  new  lands.” 

Mr.  Bliss  states, — 

“I  have  been  in  thirteen  States  in  the  Union,  and 
in  comparison  with  all  the  parts  that  I have  seen 
(taking  into  view  the  price  of  land  and  the  uncommon 
healthiness  of  this  county),  I can  truly  say  I think 
there  is  every  reason  for  the  inhabitants  of  Susque- 
hanna County  to  be  satisfied  with  it.” 

On  Porter  Ridge  and  in  the  northwestern  part 
of  the  township  a new  class  of  settlers  came  in 
after  1835,  generally  purchasing  the  improve- 
ments made  by  the  first  settlers.  Among  these 
were  Wakernan  C.  Handrick  and  his  wife, 
Urania  Stone,  who  had  been  reared  in  Forest 
Lake.  They  bought  the  Rufus  Robbins 
place  in  1837,  and  still  live  there.  They 

1 Miss  Blackman. 


reared  the  following  children  : George  J.,  living 
in  the  southern  part  of  Forest  Lake ; Edgar 
L.,  a physician  at  Friendsville ; Oscar  S.,  of 
Scranton  ; Elmina  J.,  married  William  Clark, 
and  lives  on  the  homestead  ; and  Sophronia 
L.,  the  wife  of  Lester  Turrell,  of  Forest  Lake. 

On  the  farm  next  below,  Joseph  Marsh 
lived  a long  time,  but  moved  to  Bradford 
County,  and  the  place  passed  into  the  hands  of 
Frederick  Dayton,  who  was  married  to  So- 
phronia Stone,  also  of  Forest  Lake.  Their 
sons  were  Watson  (living  south  of  the  home- 
stead), Canfield  and  Clark.  Eastward  was  the 
Henry  Deweps  place ; and  on  the  late  V an 
Dyke  farm  was  Jonathan  Caswell.  Farther 
south,  on  the  ridge.  Elder  William  Brand,  a 
Baptist  minister,  settled  in  1832,  and  lived 
there  until  his  removal  to  the  West.  One 
of  his  daughters  became  the  wife  of  the  Rev. 
Justin  A.  Smith,  D.D.,  a distinguished  divine 
of  Chicago,  in  which  city  she  died,  in  1871. 
The  Elder  Brand  farm  passed  into  the  hands  of 
Dr.  William  Bissell,  and  is  now  owned  by  his 
family.  He  came  to  the  county  in  1827,  and 
studied  medicine  with  Dr.  Samuel  Bissell,  of 
Brooklyn.  In  November,  1831,  he  read  with 
Dr.  Fraser ; then  was  in  practice  two  years 
with  Dr.  Leet,  of  Friendsville.  In  1834  he 
married  Parthenia,  a daughter  of  Adonijah 
Webster,  of  Choconut,  and  settled  in  the  south- 
ern part  of  Forest  Lake ; but  in  1838  located 
on  Porter  Ridge,  where  he  lived  until  his 
death,  September,  1863,  at  the  age  of  eighty 
years.  Three  years  prior  to  this  he  had  re- 
tired from  active  practice.  Mrs.  Bissell,  born 
in  1817,  still  survives,  and,  with  her  daughter 
Jessie,  are  the  only  members  of  the  family  liv- 
ing. The  latter  married  Myron  B.  Helms, 
and  lives  opposite  the  homestead.  A son, 
Alanson,  lost  his  wife  in  the  late  Civil  War. 

Albert  Leonard  came  to  Jessup  in  1808, 
being  brought  here  from  New  York,  by  John 
Griffis,  when  he  was  but  three  years  of  age. 
He  improved  a farm  in  the  township,  but  in 
1874  became  blind,  and  has  so  continued,  liv- 
ing at  present  with  his  daughter,  Mrs.  W.  V. 
Bedell. 

The  population  of  the  township  fluctuated 
somewhat  as  the  land  was  taken  up,  and  im- 


JESSUP. 


363 


misrration  to  the  West  received  attention.  The 

o 

followiua:  were  the  taxables  in  1847  : 

o 


James  D.  Allen. 

Bartlett  Griffis. 

Chas.  Avery. 

Mahlon  Griffis. 

John  Bedell. 

John  G»rry. 

Granville  Bailey. 

Martin  Granger. 

Philander  Barber. 

George  Henry. 

Marvin  Barber. 

Wm,  Holbrook. 

\Vm.  E.  Burrows. 

John  Hancock. 

Pliny  Birchard. 

Marvin  Hall. 

Israel  C.  Birchard. 

Daniel  Hoff. 

Elias  L.  Birchard. 

Bartlett  Hoff. 

Ralph  S.  Birchard. 

John  Hoff. 

Jesse  A.  Birchard^ 

Harmon  Hinds. 

L.  W.  Birchard. 

Champion  Harris. 

Harry  A.  Birchard. 

Richard  D.  Harris. 

Orrin  S.  Beebe. 

Wakeman  C.  Handrick. 

Jos.  Backus. 

Austin  Howell. 

Jeremiah  Baldwin. 

John  A.  Howell. 

Silas  Baldwin. 

Philemon  Harsh,  Jr. 

Anthony  Blackman. 

John  Johnson. 

Samuel  Bertholf. 

Benj.  A.  Johnson. 

Elkanah  Bolles. 

Luke  Jagger. 

Abel  Bolles. 

Elias  Jagger. 

Simon  A.  Bolles. 

Ltither  Jagger. 

Nelson  Bolles. 

Daniel  Jagger. 

James  S.  Bolles. 

Albert  Kelsey. 

John  Blaisdell, 

James  Lewis. 

Jas.  S.  Blaisdell. 

Ebenezer  Lathrop. 

Wm.  Bissell. 

Nicholas  Lowly. 

Andrew  Bissell. 

Jeremiah  Meachem. 

John  Bissell. 

Sheldon  Meachem. 

Minor  Brooks. 

Jeremiah  Martin. 

Madison  Bostwick. 

Robt.  Martin. 

Clark  Burr. 

Thos.  Martin. 

Geo.  Bowman. 

Harry  Mills. 

Caleb  Cook. 

Clark  Mills. 

Roswell  Cook. 

Joseph  S.  Mitchel. 

John  Cook. 

Elijah  Mott. 

Lewis  Card. 

George  M inkier. 

Chas.  Crandall. 

Matthew  McKeeby. 

Joel  Cogswell. 

Matthew  McKeeby  (2d). 

N.  P.  Cornwell. 

Solomon  McKeeby. 

Abel  Chatfield. 

D.  P.  Miller. 

John  0.  Clark. 

Ezekiel  Maine. 

Isaac  L.  Camp. 

B.  C.  Newcomb. 

Samuel  A.  Caswell. 

W.  P.  Newcomb. 

Robt.  M.  Caswell. 

Samuel  Newcomb. 

Corydon  Caswell. 

Parthena  C.  Newcomb. 

Jonathan  Caswell. 

George  Otis. 

Wm.  Covert. 

Erastus  Otis. 

Chapman  Carrier. 

Benj.  P.  Otis. 

Austen  W.  Carrier. 

Richard  Otis. 

Erastus  Cook. 

Walter  Olmstead. 

Richard  B.  Downer. 

Asa  Olmstead. 

John  Dority. 

Jos.  Parmeter. 

Fred.  Dayton. 

David  Patterson. 

Henry  Dewees. 

Wm.  L.  Post. 

Stoddard  Dewitt. 

Henry  Prime. 

Levi  Dewitt. 

Eben  Pickett. 

Chas.  Davis. 

Jared  Pickett. 

Henry  Davis. 

Daniel  Pickett, 

Benj.  Depue. 

Samuel  Roberts. 

Geo.  K.  Kastman. 

Nelson  H.  Roberts. 

Nathan  Eastman. 

David  S.  Robertson. 

Walter  Foster. 

John  Robertson. 

E.  G.  Fessenden. 

Wm.  Robertson. 

Thos.  Fessenden. 

John  W.  Robertson. 

Isaac  B.  Fessenden. 

John  Reynolds. 

John  Fessenden. 

Alpha  Reynolds. 

n.  C.  Fairchild. 

John  Reynolds  (2d). 

David  Green. 

Wm.  Smith. 

Jacob  Green. 

Zenos  Smith. 

Robt.  Griffis. 

Benj.  Sayre. 

Henry  Shelp. 

Benj.  Shay. 

Christian  Shelp. 

Theodore  Shay. 

Henry  C.  Shelp. 

Dennis  Shay. 

John  Shelp. 

Lora  Stone. 

Thos.  Shelp. 

Geo.  L.  Stone. 

John  Shelp,  Jr. 

0.  W.  Stone. 

Lucius  Steiger. 

Edward  Torpin. 

David  C.  Sherman. 

Benj.  Van  Ess, 

Christopher  Sherman. 

James  Vail, 

Lemon  Sherman. 

Russell  Verry, 

Jonathan  C.  Sherman. 

Albert  Woodcock, 

Abel  Sherman. 

Jas.  Waldie. 

Harvey  Sherman. 

Stephen  Wolsey, 

Andrew  V.  Stout. 

Joseph  B.  Wolsey. 

Jos.  W.  Smith, 

Henry  Walbridge. 

Horace  Smith. 

Samuel  Walbridge. 

Mathias  Smith. 

Samuel  Walker. 

Henry  E.  Smith. 

James  Young, 

Zenos  Smith, 

John  Young. 

Lucius  Smith. 

Henry  Young, 

Business  Interests. 

— The  oldest  interests 

in  the  township,  aside  from  the  ordinary  agri- 
cultural pursuits,  are  the  grist  and  saw-mills  on 
the  Wyalusing,  above  Bolles’  Flat.  The  first 
mill  was  built  in  1799’  by  Holden  Sweet,  but 
before  it  was  set  in  operation  he  exchanged 
property  with  Abner  Griffis,  who  had  the  mill 
till  1804,  when  he  sold  out  to  Jacob  Cooley. 
The  latter  had  settled  on  the  creek  half  a mile 
above  the  mill,  and  in  1803  built  a distillery  at 
that  point,  which  he  carried  on  about  seven 
yeai’s.  In  this  period  one  of  his  children  was 
drowned  in  the  creek,  and  another  was  scalded 
to  death  in  the  still.  After  having  bought  the 
mill  he  built  a dam  of  poles  and  took  up  his 
residence  in  the  mill  building,  operating  the 
mill  until  1811.  He  then  rented  the  place  two 
years  to  D.  Lampson,  and  went  to  Canada.  At 
the  end  of  that  time  he  returned  and  built  a 
house  on  the  site  of  the  Edgar  Bolles  residence, 
and  again  left.  This  house,  it  is  said,  was 
destroyed  by  the  neighbors,  who  suspected  that 
Cooley  was  guilty  of  passing  spurious  money, 
and  who  wanted  to  free  themselves  of  his 
presence  in  the  community.  After  his  family 
had  left  it  was  reported  that  Cooley  had  met 
with  a violent  death  for  an  offence  similar  to 
the  one  he  was  accused  of  in  Jessup.  From 
him  the  mill  passed  into  the  hands  of  Jesse 
Ross,  thence  to  his  son,  Isaac  H.,  and  from 
him  to  his  brother  Perrin.  Since  that  time 
the  owners  have  been  in  the  order  named  : Asa 
and  Adolphus  Olmstead,  Mason  Dennison, 
Samuel  Bcrtholf,  Benjamin  Depue,  Timothy 
Depue,  T.  J.  Depue,  Alanson  H.  Bolles,  and 
since  1882,  J.  G.  Snow.  The  property  consists 


364 


HISTOEY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


of  eight  acres  of  land,  grist-mill  with  three 
runs  of  stones,  saw-mills  with  circular  saws, 
and  a cider-mill.  The  mill  is  one  of  the  oldest 
land-marks  in  the  township. 

In  1817  Thomas  H.  Doyle  was  a cloth- 
dresser,  six  miles  from  Montrose,  on  the  Wyalu- 
sing  road,  and  in  1818  Isaac  H.  Ross  and 
Jonathan  C.  Sherman  took  the  same  stand — 
the  house  is  now  a part  of  the  above  mills. 

Later,  wool-fulling  machinery  was  operated 
near  here  by  Alonzo  P.  Kinney,  Joseph  W. 
Smith,  and  last,  by  John  S.  Ward.  The  build- 
ing which  .stood  on  the  S.  McKeeby  place  has 
been  removed.  Robinson  Bolles,  the  elder,  had 
a small  tannery  on  his  farm,  and  also  carried 
on  boot  and  shoe-making.  The  business  was 
clo.sed  up  after  his  death,  in  1842.  In  the 
southwestern  part  of  the  township  W.  V. 
Bedell  has  for  many  years  carried  on  an  under- 
taker shop  and  also  manufactured  wagons. 
Lower  down  the  Wyalusing  John  Bennett  had 
mechanic  shops  fifteen  years,  which  have  not 
been  occupied  continuously  to  carry  on  wagon- 
making and  blacksmithing. 

Near  the  Bridgewater  line  were  the  woolen- 
mills  of  John  Reynolds,^  which  passed  away 
many  years  ago;  then  came  a saw-mill  which, 
wlien  operated  by  a man  named  Gregory,  caused 
his  death  by  his  being  caught  by  the  machinery. 
The  death  of  Ethan  Russell  was  also  caused 
by  this  mill.  It  is  now  the  property  of  W. 
Barron.  The  Foster  saw-mill,  lower  down 
the  stream,  has  passed  away.  It  was  last 
used  as  a wagon- shop  by  Ralph  Birch- 
ard. Small  saw-mills  on  South  Creek,  and  the 
Smith  mill,  on  Forest  Lake  Ci’eek,  have  also 
been  abandoned.  High  up  the  latter  stream  a 
small  saw-mill,  with  feed-grinder  attached,  is 
operated  by  N.  Andrews. 

Porter  Ridge  post-office  was  established  at 
the  house  of  Pliny  Birchard,  who  was  the  post- 

ma.ster  in . Thence  it  was  moved  to 

the  house  of  Austin  Lathrop,  farther  down  the 
road,  Robert  Griffis  being  the  postmaster.  It 
was  discontinued  in . 

Fairdale,  the  only  hamlet  in  the  township, 
is  pleasantly  located  on  the  left  bank  of  the 


iSee  account  of  his  settlement- 


Wyalusing,  on  “Turrell’s  Flat,”  a little  above 
the  mouth  of  South  Creek.  It  contains  a 
church,  two  stores,  post-office,  .shops,  and  had 
in  1880  .seventy-five  inhabitants.  Matthias 
Smith  was  one  of  the  settlers  whose  continuous 
residence  was  longest  at  this  place.  He  lived 
on  the  Dimon  farm,  and  for  a time  had  a small 
distillery.  His  sons,  Zenas  and  Lucius,  also 
now  aged  men,  are  .still  citizens  of  Fair- 
dale.  David  Olmstead  and  Richard  Otis  are 
also  old  citizens  near  the  hamlet. 

Dr.  Nathaniel  P.  Cornwell  was  the  first 
located  physician,  coming  here  more  than  forty 
years  ago.  He  lived  on  the  corner  of  the  old 
Colonel  Turrell  farm  until  his  death,  in  August, 
1883.  In  the  last  years  of  his  life  he  was  in- 
firm and  not  in  active  practice.  Other  practi- 
tioners have  been  Drs.  G.  M.  Harrison  and  A.  B. 
Sherman. 

Fairdale  post-office  was  established  in  1829, 
with  Asa  Olmstead  as  postmaster,  who  kept  it 
at  his  public-house,  half  a mile  below  the 
present  hamlet.  In  1842  it  was  re-established, 
and  Daniel  Hoff  was  the  postmaster,  keeping  it 
at  his  public-house,  higher  up  the  road.  Next 
it  was  at  the  store  of  John  Jackson,  who  was  suc- 
ceeded by  Jacob  H.  Rosencrans,  the  office 
having  been  kept  in  that  building  about  twenty 
years.  Since  October,  1885,  the  postmaster  has 
been  Oscar  C.  Downer,  merchant  and  public- 
house  keeper.  The  building  he  occupies  was 
erected  for  tavern  purposes,  after  the  Civil  War, 
by  Jacob  Decker,  and  was  kept  by  him  until 
his  death.  It  was  then  changed  to  a store  by 
John  and  Edward  Granger,  who  traded  a few 
years.  Among  other  merchants  was  James 
Martin,  who  was  in  business  a long  .time,  and 
also  traded  at  Snow’s  Mills.  The  buildinj;  oc- 
cupied  there  was  burned  down  while  owned  by 
J.  W.  Throckmorton.  After  the  Hoff  tavern 
was  discontinued,  before  1860,  the  building  was 
used  as  a chair-factory,  and  at  present  a cooper- 
shop  is  carried  on  near  this  place.  Henry 
Slawson,  James  Vail  and  L.  E.  White  have 
had  mechanic  shops. 

Religious. — The  Rush  Baptist  Church  was 
organized  in  Jes.sup  in  1831,  and  for  a time 
the  meetings  were  held  in  Bolles’  school  house. 
This  building  stood  opposite  the  present  school- 


JESSUP. 


365 


house,  near  the  grave-yard,  which  is  one  of  the 
oldest  in  this  part  of  the  county.  It  is  said 
that  Nelson  Bolles  was  the  first  person  interred 
there,  when  one  acre  of  ground  was  set  aside 
for  burial  purposes,  and  placed  in  care  of 
trustees  Simeon  A.  Bolles  and  Daniel  Pickett. 
The  grounds  have  been  enlarged  by  the  addi- 
tion of  half  an  acre,  and  the  cemetery  is  well 
kept.  In  1886  the  trustees  were  Charles  B. 
Bolles,  Peter  D.  Roe  and  E.  W.  Bolles. 

The  first  church  building  in  the  township 
was  a small  frame  meeting-house,  which  was 
built  about  1841  on  the  Hall  farm,  in  the 
northern  part  of  the  township,  and  was  used  by 
the  Wesleyan  Methodists  and  other  denomina- 
tions. Owing  to  the  changes  in  the  ownership 
of  lands,  which  brought  in  a new  class  of 
people,  the  use  of  the  building  as  a place  of 
worship  was  soon  abandoned,  but  the  house 
stood  until  after  1857,  and  was  sometimes  used 
to  hold  secular  meetings. 

In  the  neighborhood  of  Fairdale  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  Church  had  a number  of  ad- 
herents many  years  before  a regular  organiza- 
tion was  effected.  After  a class  was  formed, 
among  the  members  were  Marvin  Hall,  Benja- 
min Shay,  Truman  Walker,  Diadame  Walker, 
Charity  Hall,  David  Olmstead  and  wife,  Doras 
Shay  and  wife.  A small  meeting-house  was 
built  in  the  hamlet,  which  was  replaced  by  the 
present  edifice  in  1868.  It  is  an  attractive 
.structure,  with  about  three  hundred  sittings,  and 
cost  three  thousand  four  hundred  dollars.  The 
committee  under  whose  direction  it  was  erected 
was  composed  of  Truman  Walker,  David  Olm- 
stead, Zenas  Smith,  Marvin  Hall  and  Benjamin 
Shay.  It  was  formally  dedicated  in  November, 
1868,  and  has  since  been  repaired.  The  lot 
has  also  been  supplied  with  a number  of  good 
sheds.  In  1886  the  trustees  of  the  property 
were  David  Olmstead,  William  R.  Walker, 
Thomas  Beaumont  and  Marvin  Hall.  In  the 
fall  of  1886  a new  parsonage  was  erected  oppo- 
site the  church,  at  a cost  of  one  thousand  dol- 
lars, which  is  the  property  of  the  Fairfield 
Circuit,  formed  in  1868,  to  which  these  Meth- 
odists belong.  Rev.  J.  S.  Lewis  is  the  present 
pastor.  The  membership  of  the  church  at 
Fairdale  is  one  hundred,  constituting  a class 


led  by  P.  S.  Shelp.  A large  Sunday-school 
has  Win.  Robertson  as  its  superintendent. 

Frederick  Dayton.  — Eli  and  Hannah 
(Baldwin)  Dayton  were  natives  of  Litchfield 
County,  Conn.,  where  both  died.  He  was  a 
farmer  and  a hero  of  the  Revolutionary  AVar. 
Enlisting  soon  after  the  beginning  of  that 
eventful  struggle,  he  .served  for  three  years  in 
the  army  and  took  part  in  the  campaign  with 
General  Montgomery  in  Canada.  Discharged 
through  a severe  illness,  he  returned  to  his 
home.  He  had  children, — Lucinda,  Daniel, 
Isaac,  all  born  there.  Daniel  Dayton  (1788- 
1870),  in  1811,  married  Mary  Ann,  daughter 
of  Canfield  and  Mary  Ann  Stone,  also  of  Litch- 
field County.  She  died  at  the  age  of  twenty- 
six,  after  bearing  Mary  Ann,  born  1813  (Mrs. 
Ahira  AVickham,  now  of  Towauda,  Pa.) ; Han- 
nah (1815-47)  was  the  wife  of  N.  C.  AVick- 
wire,  and  died  in  Illinois;  and  Daniel  C.,  born 
181 6,  a retired  merchant  in  Towanda,  Pa.  For 
his  second  wife,  in  1818,  he  married  Catharine 
(1799-1857),  daughter  of  AA^illiam  Clark,  of 
Cornwall,  Conn.  Their  children  are  Fred- 
erick, born  1819;  AVilliam,  born  1821,  a 
farmer  in  Litchfield  County ; and  Isaac,  born 
1828,  also  a farmer  there.  In  his  eighty-second 
year  Mr.  Dayton  came  to  Susquehanna  County 
to  visit  his  son  Frederick,  with  whom  he  re- 
mained six  mouths.  Returning  to  his  home  in 
the  fall,  he  lived  until  the  following  May,  and 
died  on  the  old  homestead. 

Frederick  Dayton,  born  at  New  Preston, 
Conn.,  spent  his  boyhood  upon  the  farm  of  his 
father  and  obtained  his  education  at  the  district 
schools  and  at  the  Warren  Academy.  During 
the  succeeding  eight  years  he  taught  school,  the 
first  three  being  at  Fishkill,  N.  Y.,  the  remain- 
ing five  in  his  native  State,  excepting  one  term 
in  Pennsylvania.  In  1845  he  came  to  this 
county  and  bought  the  present  homestead,  then 
comprising  one  hundred  and  twenty-five  acres, 
and  since  increased  to  one  hundred  and  forty- 
three  acres,  upon  which  he  erected  commodious 
farm  buildings.  In  1845  he  married  Sophrouia, 
daughter  of  Judson  and  Polly  (Turrell)  Stone, 
of  Forest  Lake  township.  She  was  born  in 
1827,  and  her  children  are  as  follows:  AVat.son, 
born  1846,  a farmer  of  Jessup,  who  married 


366 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


Betsey  Ann  Wliite,  of  Le  Raysville,  Pa. ; Can- 
field  S.,  born  1850,  an  artist-painter,  located  at 
Cincinnati,  Ohio,  who  married  Jessie  Rockwell, 
of  Towanda,  Pa. ; Urania  E.,  born  1856,  mar- 
ried Charles  B.  McKean,  a tanner  at  Irvonia, 
Clearfield  County,  Pa. ; Clark  D.,  born  1858, 
a farmer  in  Forest  Lake,  who  married  Sarah 
M.  Tilden  ; and  Zaidee  Catharine,  born  1860, 
the  wife  of  Milton  E.  Birchard,  residing  on  the 
homestead. 


In  all  good  works  he  found  a ready  and  valuable 
aid  in  Mrs.  Dayton,  who  was  in  all  things  a 
true  and  loving  wife  and  devoted  mother. 
Upon  family  and  friends  her  example  has  been 
stamped  and  long  will  be  remembered.  A 
sulferer  for  many  months  from  creeping  palsy, 
she  bore  all  with  resignation  and  fortitude,  and 
died,  surrounded  by  family  and  friends,  Sep- 
tember 22, 1886.  For  years  she  had  belonged 
to  the  Middletown  Baptist  Church,  which  her 


Mr.  Dayton  has  never  been  a politician, 
though  his  services  have  been  freely  given  to 
the  township  in  various  offices,  among  them  be- 
ing school  director,  supervisor  and  poormaster. 
During  the  Rebellion  he  was  an  ardent  and 
outspoken  supporter  of  the  National  Govern- 
ment, and  his  voice  and  purse  were  frequently 
called  upon  during  that  troublous  period.  He 
has  always  attended  closely  to  his  farm  interests 
and  may  safely  be  called  a representative  farmer. 


husband  also  attends ; and  the  membership  of 
that  church  bear  many  happy  thoughts  of  her 
friendship  and  comfort  during  the  various  trials 
of  life. 

CHAPTER  XXIII. 

DIMOCK  TOWNSHIP. 

Dimock  was  erected  December,  1832,  as  the 
nineteenth  township  in  the  county,  with  the  fol- 


DIMOCK. 


367 


lowing  bounds : North,  Bridgewater,  from  which 
nearly  one-fourth  of  the  area  was  taken  ; south, 
Springfield,  from  which  the  remainder  of  what 
is  now  Dimock  was  taken ; east,  Brooklyn  ; 
west.  Auburn  and  Rush,  After  Jessup  was 
erected,  in  1846,  that  township  became  the 
northwestern  boundary,  and  a slight  change  in 
that  line  was  subsequently  made.  The  town- 
ship was  named  in  honor  of  Davis  Dimock, 
associate  judge  of  the  county  at  the  time  the 
township  was  formed.  Its  dimensions  are  not 
quite  seven  miles  from  west  to  east,  and  a little 
less  than  four  and  a half  miles  from  north  to 
south.  Under  the  Connecticut  surveys  this 
area  comprised  parts  of  the  towns  of  Cheleur, 
Bidwell,  Dandolo  and  Manor,  and  settlers  were, 
therefore,  first  attracted  to  ditferent  localities,  as 
they  had  purchased  lands  before  immigrating. 

The  general  surface  is  elevated,  and  nearly  the 
entire  slope  is  towards  the  south.  In  the  north- 
western part,  beyond  the  ridge,  which  trends 
west,  near  the  north  line  of  the  township,  are 
two  sheets  of  water,  of  symmetrical  appearance 
and  closely  united,  which  bear  the  name  of  Elk 
Lakes.  The  outlet  is  a small  stream  called 
Lake  Creek,  which  flows  northwest,  through 
Rush,  into  the  Wyalusing.  The  lakes  cover 
about  one  hundred  and  fifty  acres,  and  have,  in 
late  years,  been  regarded  as  one,  and  called  Elk 
Lake.  On  account  of  some  of  the  early  settlers 
in  this  locality,  this  body  of  water  was  also  long 
known  by  the  name  of  Lathrop  Lake.  The 
surrounding  country  is  very  attractive.  About 
a mile  south  is  Young’s  Pond,  a small  body  of 
water,  which  is  the  source  of  a branch  of  White 
Creek,  which  drains  that  part  of  the  township. 
East  of  the  centre  the  drainage  is  into  Meshop- 
pen  Creek,  whose  main  stream  is  for  several 
miles  parallel  with  the  Brooklyn  line,  thence 
bends  southwest,  passing  into  Springville  below 
Parkvale.  Its  principal  branch  in  the  township 
is  the  outlet  of  Cape’s  Ponds,  small  sheets  of 
water  north  of  the  centre.  Numerous  springs 
abound,  forming  brooks,  which  afford  living 
water  for  most  of  the  farms.  In  some  sections 
the  presence  of  mineral  springs  has  been  noted. 

“ A mineral  spring  was  discovered  in  1871  on  tlie 
farm  of  Widow  John  Rosencrants,  in  Dimock  town- 
ship, near  the  Meshoppen  Creek,  half  a mile  above 


the  State  road.  The  water  of  this  spring  has  not  yet 
been  analyzed;  but,  judging  from  the  smell,  taste  and 
appearances,  the  ingredients  are  sulphur  and  iron. 
On  confining  the  water  in  a jug,  the  presence  of  sul- 
phur is  acknowledged  by  all ; and  a portion  of  the  iron 
precipitates  itself  from  the  water  in  a few  days’  time, 
and  the  smell  and  taste  soon  disappear.  Allowing  the 
air  to  come  in  contact  with  the  water  in  an  open 
bottle,  it  turns  to  a dark  color ; but  if  the  bottle  is 
kept  corked,  the  water  seems  to  remain  good  any 
length  of  time.” 

The  township  had  much  valuable  timber,  and 
several  fine  belts  of  the  original  growth  still 
remain  ; but  the  greater  part  of  the  surface  has 
been  cleared  up.  A large  quantity  of  the  trees 
on  the  lower  lands  were  elms  and  lindens,  from 
which  circumstance  Dimock  has  been  called  the 
“Bass  Wood”  township.  On  the  higher  ridges 
were  groves  of  fine  trees ; and  a considerable 
quantity  of  hemlock  also  abounded. 

The  soil  does  not  vary  from  that  found  in  the 
central  part  of  the  county,  and  the  farm  pro- 
ducts are,  like  those  of  the  surrounding  town- 
ships, mainly  those  of  the  dairy.  Attention  has 
been  paid  to  the  breeding  of  fine  cattle,  and  good 
herds  are  owned  by  P.  C.  Conklin,  E.  Tifiany 
and  others. 

The  Early  Settlers  of  Dimock  were 
not  as  numerous  as  those  of  other  sections  of  the 
county,  where  richness  of  soil  and  proximity  to 
markets  induced  them  to  locate.  But  they  be- 
longed to  the  same  hardy,  self-reliant  and  de- 
termined class  of  people  as  formed  the  nucleus 
of  other  prosperous  settlements,  and  despite 
adverse  conditions,  attracted  desirable  neighbors. 
Among  those  coming  first  were,  according  to 
Miss  Blackman,  Thomas  and  Henry  Parke, 
in  1796 ; Joseph  Chapman  and  son,  Joseph  (in 
Cheleur),  temporarily,  in  1798  ; George  Mowry, 
and  sons,  Charles  and  Ezekiel  (in  Manor),  in 
1799;  Martin  Myers  and  Thomas  Giles,  the 
same  year ; A.sa  and  Ezekiel  Lathrop  and 
Asahel  Avery  soon  after  1800. 

Thonias  Parke,  commonly  called  Col.  Parke, 
came  from  Charleston,  Rhode  Island,  in  June, 
1796,  to  occupy  a tract  of  ten  thousand  acres 
of  land,  which  he  had  purchased  under  the  Con- 
necticut title.  These  lands  constituted  nearly 
half  the  area  of  the  town  of  Bidwell,  along  the 
waters  of  the  Meshoppen,  in  what  is  now 
Dimock  and  Springville.  He  fixed  his  residence 


368 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


in  the  southeastern  part  of  Diraock,  at  a place 
which  became  known  as  Parkvale,  where  he 
and  his  younger  brother,  Henry,  commenced  to 
make  a clearing.  They  were  the  sons  of 
Capt.  Benjamin  Parke,  who  commanded  a com- 
pany at  the  battle  of  Bunker  Hill,  and  who 
lost  his  life  in  that  engagement.  Thomas  and 
Henry  being  the  younger  of  four  sons,  were 
placed  under  the  care  of  their  grandfather,  a 
Puritan  clergyman,  who  gave  them  a good  edu- 
cation, Thomas  was  a good  practical  surveyor, 
and  occasionally  contributed  to  the  newspapers 
of  that  period.  When  he  came  here  there  were 
but  two  settlers  west  of  the  “ Nine  Partners,” 
and  west  to  the  Wyalusing,  a distance  of  twenty- 
five  miles,  was  an  unbroken  forest.  With  the 
aid  of  his  compass  he  explored  and  marked  a 
path  to  the  forks  of  the  Wyalusing,  the  nearest 
point  where  he  could  obtain  bread-stulfs,  which 
he  carried  to  his  home  on  his  back.  In  the 
winter  of  1797  he  walked  home  to  Charleston, 
R.  I.,  and  returned  the  same  way  the  following 
spring. 

He  busied  himself  preparing  a home,  and  in 
1800  he  returned  to  Rhode  Island,  and  was 
married  to  Eunice  Champlin,  of  New  York. 
In  the  spring  of  1802  he  brought  her,  with 
their  infant  son,  Benjamin,  to  this  home  in  the 
wild  woods,  where  she  acquitted  herself  in  a 
manner  worthy  of  a pioneer  and  proved  her- 
self a true  helpmeet.  On  the  5th  of  December, 
1802,  their  daughter,  Sarah  C.,  was  born  to 
them,  and  this  was  the  first  birth  in  the  township. 
Of  this  pioneer  home,  and  the  life  the  occupants 
led,  the  Hon.  Benjamin  Parke  said,  October  5, 
1885,— 

“That  dwelling  stood  in  a beautiful  valley,  nearly 
surrounded  by  hills,  beside  a brook  of  pure  water 
w'hich  ran  through  and  gave  name  to  the  valley. 
Though  of  unhewn  logs,  it  was  of  ample  size  and 
comfortable.  It  appeared,  however,  as  a home  far 
different  to  those  who  then  saw  it  for  the  tirst  time, 
than  it  did  to  the  one  who  had  toiled  six  years  to  pre- 
pare it.  Col.  Parke  brought  with  him  his  sister,  a 
young  and|  accomplished  girl,  besides  his  wife  and 
infant  son.  They,  as  most  of  the  women  who  emi- 
grated-early to  Susquehanna  County,  had  been  reared 
in  the  bosom  of  New  England  families,  and  left  the 
society  of  dear  friends  and  relations.  They  had  en- 
joyed, too,  from  chlldhood'j  a frequent  intercourse 
with  the  city  of  Newport,  the  then  emporium  of  New 


England  fashion  and  style.  What  a change  and 
contrast ! A small  clearing  in  the  midst  of  a dense 
forest;  few  neighbors  within  five  miles,  and  none 
nearer  than  a mile  and  a half  of  their  dwelling. 
Their  house,  being  of  larger  size  than  most  others 
near,  and  upon  the  only  traveled  road  leading  eastward, 
in  that  section,  was  the  general  stopping-place  of  most 
of  those  coming  from  the  Eastern  States,  to  look  for 
or  settle  upon  farms  in  that  part  of  the  country. 
Here  they  were  most  cheerfully  received,  and  enter- 
tained without  charge,  though  beds  and  floors  were 
frequently  filled  and  covered  with  lodgers. 

“ No  one  then  thought  of  receiving  pay  from  such 
transient  guests.  Their  company  and  the  news  they 
brought  from  the  outer  world  was  more  than  an 
equivalent  for  their  entertaimeut.” 

A liome  of  greater  comfort  and  beauty  was 
afterwards  erected  near  the  site  of  the  old  cabin, 
and  under  its  hospitable  roof  eight  children 
were  reared.  It  was  also  a place  where  the 
old  pioneers  delighted  to  gather  and  recount 
their  experiences  when  this  country  was  but 
sparsely  settled.  Here,  too,  temporarily  lived 
Henry  Parke,  of  whom  an  old  citizen  said : 

“An  uncle  of  the  Hon.  Benjamin  Parke  was  occa- 
sionally a resident  there  for  some  days  together.  He 
was  a very  sociable,  intelligent  gentleman,  and  I was 
often  entertained  with  his  acjcount  of  the  first  settle- 
ment of  that  region.  Among  other  things,  he  told  of 
backing  provision  from  Black  Walnut  Bottom,  on  the 
river,  following  a line  of  marked  trees;  and  once, 
being  belated,  he  failed  to  find  the  clearing,  and 
camped  by  the  side  of  a log  till  morning.  Starting 
again,  in  a few  moments  he  discovered  the  elearing, 
and  was  much  vexed  that  he  had  lain  out  so  near 
home.” 

It  is  said  that  this  exposure  permanently  in- 
jured his  constitution  and  hastened  his  death, 
which  occurred  in  New  York  City  in  1831. 
Henry  Parke  was  never  married,  but  resided 
with  his  sister  on  the  farm  which  afterwards 
became  known  as  “ Woodburne.”  Here  Asahel 
Avery  and  others  had  cleared  up  five  acres  of 
land  for  Charles  Miner,  who  never  occupied  it. 
In  the  house  which  Henry  Parke  built  on  this 
place  he  taught  school  about  1810,  and  children 
from  the  families  of  Avery,  West  and  Fuller 
attended.  The  two  last-named  lived  in  the 
township  of  Bridgewater. 

A short  time  prior  to  his  death,  the  Hon. 
Charles  Miner  wrote  concerning  this  section,  as 
he  recollected  it  in  1800, — 


DIMOCK. 


369 


“ Thomas  Parke  and  his  brother,  Henry — active, 
intelligent  men — with  a black  boy,  were  alone  in  Bid- 
well.  Charles  Mowry  was  one  of  my  fellow-students 
in  Nature’s  beechwoods  academy.  After  I became  a 
printer,  he  wrote  an  article  for  my  paper.  I said  to 
him,  ‘ Mr.  Mowry,  you  are  capable  of  better  things 
than  rolling  logs.  Come  to  my  office,  and  in  two 
years  you  will  be  fitted  for  a printer  and  editor.’ 
Brother  Asher,  at  Doylestown,  needing  help,  he  en- 
tered his  office,  i:>roved  a good  writer,  clear,  nervous; 
became  preceptor  in  the  academy ; established  a pa- 
per at  Downingtown,  Chester  County,  which  he  sus- 
tained with  profit  and  reputation  many  years.  He 
was  invited  by  Governor  Findlay’s  friends  to  remove  to 
Harrisburg,  and  he  afterwards  became  canal  commis- 
sioner. As  honest  and  clever  a fellow  as  ever  breathed, 
but  as  thorough  a Democrat  as  I was  Federalist.” 

Colonel  Thomas  Parke  firmly  believed  in  the 
validity  of  his  Connecticut  titles,  and  defended 
them  by  argument  and  with  his  pen  until  the 
decree  at  Trenton  was  promulgated,  which  he 
never  believed  was  just  or  right.  He  was  loyal 
to  his  own  convictions  and  to  the  interests  of 
his  neighbors,  “refusing  to  give  up  the  agency 
of  the  Connecticut  claimants,  and  to  accept  an 
agency  on  the  other  side,  together  with  a lease 
for  all  the  lands  he  claimed,  which  would  have 
made  his  title  indisputable.  He  thought  that 
in  so  doing  he  would  show  a distrust  of  the 
title  under  which  he  and  others  claimed  lands, 
give  his  opponents  an  advantage  over  others  for 
whom  he  acted,  and  thereby  injure  those  who, 
relying  upon  his  iutegi’ity,  had  intrusted  their 
interests  to  his  care,  and  who  were  not  present  to 
accept  a surrender  of  his  agency,  and  act  for 
themselves.  By  this  decision  he  lost  all  the 
worldly  estate  he  possessed,  and  was  afterwards 
obliged  to  purchase  upon  credit  from  his  suc- 
cessful opponents,  paying,  by  surveying,  about 
six  hundred  acres,  including  the  farm  upon 
which  he  resided  and  died,  in  1842.  ^ 

Most  of  the  early  years  of  his  residence  in 
Dimock  Col.  Parke  devoted  to  surveying  the 
county  into  townships  and  lots,  and  was  for 
three  years  one  of  the  commissioners  of  Luzerne 
County,  and  one  of  the  three  trustees  appointed 
by  the  Governor,  in  1811,  to  run  the  lines,  lay 
off  and  organize  Susquehanna  County.  He 
took  a great  interest  in  military  matters,  and 
Jesse  Bagley  said,  in  1871, — 

1 Miss  Blackman. 


“ In  1806  I worked  for  Colonel  Parke  when  the  first 
militia  training  was  held  there ; Thomas  Parke,  Cap- 
tain ; Myron  Kasson,  Lieutenant;  Joseph  Chapman, 
Ensign,  and  myself  Sergeant  or  Corporal.  Abiathar 
Tuttle  is  the  only  man  now  living  who  trained  with 
me.  Captain  (afterwards  Colonel)  Parke  proposed 
that  to  every  one  who  would  the  next  time  appear  in 
uniform — blue  coat  and  white  pantaloons — he  would 
give  a dinner.  About  twenty  so  appeared,  and  were 
treated  to  an  excellent  dinner.” 

Mrs.  Parke  survived  her  husband  sixteen 
years,  departing  this  life  November  10,  1858, 
in  the  ninetieth  year  of  her  age.  Their  eldest 
son,  the  Hon.  Benjamin  Parke,  LL.D.,  re- 
turned to  the  ancestral  home  in  1860,  after  an 
absence  of  thirty  years,  and  soon  after  engaged 
in  an  extensive  milling  enterprise  which 
wrecked  his  fortune.  He  removed  to  Harris- 
burg, where  he  died,  and  the  homestead  at 
Dimock  passed  into  other  hands,  none  of  the 
Parke  family  remaining. 

Captain  Joseph  Chapman  held  a Connecticut 
title  for  four  hundred  acres  of  land  in  “ Che- 
leur,”  which  shared  the  same  fate  as  Colonel 
Parke’s.  He  and  his  son,  Joseph,  came  to  this 
tract  in  1798,  cleared  up  a site  for  a house  south 
of  Dimock  village,  which  was  built  the  follow- 
iug  year.  They  named  their  place  “ Mont- 
calm,’’ and  returned  to  Brooklyn  to  spend  the 
winter.  In  the  fall  of  1799  Martin  Myers  oc- 
cupied this  house  until  he  could  build  his  own, 
in  the  same  neighborhood,  farther  south.  In 
the  spring  of  1800  Captain  Chapman  brought 
his  family  from  Dandolo  (Brooklyn)  to 
“ Montcalm,”  but  Joseph  Chapman,  Jr.,  re- 
mained in  Brooklyn,  occupying  a farm  which 
has  remained  in  possession  of  their  family. 

“Isaac  A.  and  Edward,  sons  of  Captain  .loseph 
Chapman,  were  boys  who  spent  their  days  in  the  la- 
borious occupation  of  felling  and  clearing  the  forest, 
and  assisting  to  provide  for  the  wants  of  the  family  ; 
and  their  evenings  by  the  light  of  a huge  blazing  fire, 
studying  whatever  books  could  be  obtained  from  the 
few  ‘settlers,’  who  lived  within  a circle  of  from  ten  to 
twenty  miles  around,  and  who  were  all  neighbors 
warmly  interested  in  each  other’s  welfare  and  happi- 
ness. In  this  manner,  aided  by  a very  intelligent 
elder  sister,  and  the  occasional  assistance  of  the  more 
educated  of  the  settlers,  did  these  two  brothers  edu- 
cate and  improve  themselves  to  such  a degree,  that  to 
human  appreliension,  only  an  early  death  prevented 
them  from  being  the  very  first  men  in  our  State. 


24 


370 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


They  were  both  excellent  mathematicians,  practical 
surveyors  and  draughtsmen.  Poetry  and  landscape 
painting  were  occasionally  resorted  to  as  an  amuse- 
ment, and  many  of  the  singular  events  and  rude 
scenes  of  that  new  and  wild  country  were  the  subjects 
of  their  pen  and  pencil.  Edward  afterwards  studied 
law,  and  commenced  the  practice  at  Sunbury,  where 
he  died  deeply  lamented  by  all  who  ever  had  the 
pleasure  of  his  acquaintance.'’  (From  Harrisburg 
Keystone,  1839.  B.  Parke,  Esq.,  Editor). 

“ In  reference  to  the  sister  to  whom  they  were  so 
much  indebted,  the  Hon.  Charles  Miner  said  : ‘ Miss 
Lydia  Chapman,  a lady  of  high  intelligence  and 
great  merit,  became  an  inhabitant  of  Wilkes-Barre 
and  an  instructress  of  a school.  Married  with  Dr.  G. 
W.  Trott ; their  accomplished  daughter  intermarried 
with  the  Hon.  G.  W.  Woodward.’ 

“ He  added : ‘ Edward  and  Isaac  Abel  Chapman 
open  upon  the  world  first-rate  men.  The  fine  poem 
by  Edward  commencing  — 

“ Columbia’s  shores  are  wild  aud  wide, 

Columbia’s  hills  are  high, 

And  rudely  planted  side  by  side, 

Her  forests  meet  the  eye  ” — 

justly  challenges  the  critic’s  praise. 

“ ‘ Isaac  became  an  editor ; proved  an  excellent 
writer,  but  was  too  independent  to  be  a party  printer 
in  ancient  times.  For  many  years  he  was  engineer  in 
the  employ  of  the  Mauch  Chunk  Company,  whose 
confidence  and  favor  attest  the  scientific  accuracy  and 
social  merit.’ 

“In  1826  Isaac  A.  Chapman  invented  the  sy|)hon 
canal-lock.  His  death  occurred  December,  1827,  at 
Mauch  Chunk.  Two  years  later  proposals  were  issued 
for  the  publication  of  his  ‘ History  of  Wyoming,’ 
which  eventually  appeared.  The  preface,  by  himself, 
bears  date  July  11,  1818.  He  took  the  census  of  Sus- 
quehanna County  in  1810.” 

In  about  1813  “ Montcalm  ” became  the 
home  of  John  Bolles,  who  came  from  Wilkes- 
Barre  with  hi.s  family  to  occupy  it,  and  lived 
there  several  years.  Later  he  lived  at  Dimock 
Corners,  on  the  farm  where  afterwards  resided 
Lewis  Brush,  but  died  in  Bridgewater,  ninety 
years  old.  “Montcalm”  became  the  property 
of  Nathan  Tingley,  who  was  a later  settler,  but 
who  became  very  prominently  identified  with 
the  affairs  of  Dimock. 

“Martin  Myers  was  a Hessian  soldier  in  the  British 
army  during  the  Revolution.  He  came  to  Pennsyl- 
vania from  one  of  the  New  England  States,  having 
left  the  service  before  the  close  of  the  war,  and  set- 
tled down  as  a peaceable  citizen  of  the  country 
against  which  he  had  been  sent  to  fight.  By  the  con- 
tract between  the  Government  of  Great  Britain  and 
the  Prince  of  Hesse-Cassel,  a sum  of  money  was  to  be 


paid  to  the  latter  for  all  the  Hessians  not  returned, 
and  they  were,  at  the  end  of  the  war,  carefully  sought 
for  to  be  taken  back.  Myers,  not  wishing  to  return, 
sought  concealment,  and  was  aided  by  a young  woman 
with  whom  he  had  become  acquainted.  He  was  not 
found,  and  after  the  troops  had  left  the  country  this 
woman  became  his  wife.  In  the  fall  of  1799  he  is 
said  to  have  carried  the  following  load  upon  his  back 
from  Black’s  mill,  on  the  Wyalusing,  up  to  the  forks 
of  the  creek,  a distance  of  ten  miles,  the  Hour  of  one 
bushel  of  wheat,  one  bushel  of  rye,  fourteen  shad  and 
a gun.  At  the  Forks  he  added  to  his  load  one  gal- 
lon and  a pint  of  whiskey,  a large  bake-kettle  weigh- 
ing twenty-five  pounds,  and  a common-sized  cross-cut 
saw,  all  of  which  he  carried  without  assistance  thir- 
teen miles  farther  tohis  own  residence.  These  thirteen 
miles  were  entitely  in  the  woods,  and  he  was  guided 
only  by  a line  of  marked  trees.  This  iSamson-like 
feat  was  performed  by  no  ‘ Samson  in  size,’  as  we 
are  told  by  his  daughter,  Mrs.  Button,  who  also  in- 
forms us  that  his  grave  is  one-half  mile  east  of  Dimock 
Corners.  He  has  a son,  Alvin,  now  living  in  Rush. 
Another  son,  Surzardis,  formerly  resided  in 
Dimock.”  ^ 

“ In  1799,  Thomas  Giles,  from  Connecticut,  moved 
in  between  Colonel  Parke’s  place  and  Brooklyn. 
Soon  after,  his  daughter  Fanny,  aged  four  years, 
while  gathering  chestnuts  in  the  woods  near  the 
house,  was  lost.  Many  peoj)le  joined  in  the  search 
for  her.  ‘ On  the  third  day  there  were  persons  there 
who  lived  thirty  miles  away.  No  trace  of  her  was 
ever  found.’  ” 

The  Lathrops  came  from  Connecticut  and 
located  south  of  tiie  lakes  near  the  Auburn  line. 
Asa  Lathrop  began  making  a clearing  on  the 
hill  south  of  the  Corners  in  1800,  but  did  not 
bring  his  family  until  the  following  year. 
After  living  there  a short  time  he  removed  to 
the  outlet  of  the  lakes  and  built  there  one  of  the 
pioneer  mills  of  the  county.  From  this  fact  his 
name  became  fixed  upon  the  locality  and  was 
also  applied  to  the  lakes.  These  mills,  though 
several  times  rebuilt  and  owned  by  other  parties, 
are  still  frequently  spoken  of  as  Lathrop’s.  He 
died  in  1827,  aged  seventy-two  years,  and  was 
the  father  of  sons  named  James,  Walter  and 
Asa.  The  former  was  the  father  of  sons 
named  Israel  B.,  William  F.,  Austin  B.  aud 
Charles  J.,  most  of  whom  remained  identified 
with  the  interests  of  this  part  of  the  county. 

In  the  early  period  of  their  residence  at  this 
place  wild  animals  were  numerous  and  bold. 


1 Blackman. 


DIMOCK. 


371 


and  it  is  related  of  Jame.s  Lathrop  that,  hearing 
the  squealing  of  pig.s,  one  bright  moonlight 
night,  about  1810,  he  rose,  went  out,  and 
found  a bear  had  scaled  the  log  fence — five  feet 
high — with  a porker  weighing  two  hundred 
pounds  ; and  had  walked  off  hugging  it,  and 
was  then  in  the  act  of  getting  over  another 
fence,  when,  seeing  Mr.  Lathrop  coming  and 
brandishing  a bush-hook,  he  dropped  the 
porker  and  took  to  the  woods  on  all-fours. 

It  is  probable  that  Ezekiel  Lathrop  came 
about  the  same  time,  or  a little  earlier  than  the 
family  of  Asa  Lathrop,  and  that  his  settlement 
here  was  induced  by  the  improvements  made  by 
Asa  the  previous  year.  His  location  was 
nearer  the  Auburn  line,  on  the  farm  which  was 
later  known  as  the  Dyer  Lathrop  place,  who 
was  one  of  the  sons.  Oth.er  .sons  wei’e  named 
Spencer,  Nehemiah,  Ezekiel  and  John.  Sev- 
eral of  these  -became  octogenarians.  At  the 
house  of  Ezekiel  Lathrop  were  held  the  finst 
religious  meetings  in  Dimock,  the  services  being 
those  of  the  Baptist  Church,  Elder  Davis 
Dimock  and  other  missionaries  being  the 
preachers. 

Samuel  Bobinson,  father  of  John  W.  Rob- 
inson, who  was  a large  land-owner  in  the  town- 
ship, and  lived  west  of  Ezekiel  Avery,  also  came 
from  Connecticut  at  an  early  day.  John  W. 
Robinson  had  been  in  the  county  as  early  as 
1798,  assisting  Colonel  Ezekiel  Hyde  as  a sur- 
veyor. He  probably  accompanied  him  to 
Wilkes-Barre,  where  he  engaged  in  mercantile 
business,  and  was  married  to  a daughter  of  the 
revolutionary  .soldier.  Colonel  Zeb.  Butler. 
Later"  he  purchased  the  Wallace  intere.st  in 
lands  in  Susquehanna  County — about  eight 
thousand  acres  unsold,  and  all  the  contracts 
previously  made — and  took  up  his  residence  in 
Dimock,  to  look  after  his  interests.  For  a 
home,  he  bought  the  house  of  John  Willianrs, 
about  1811.  The  latter  had  bought  it  a few 
years  previously  of  Asahel  Avery^  one  of  the 
first  settlers  of  the  township.  Robinson  found 
himself  unable  to  raise  the  mortgages  which  he 
had  given  Wallace  for  the  lands  he  had  pur- 
chased, and  became  financially  embarrassed. 
This  was  due,  doubtless,  to  the  long  time  he 
allowed  the  settlers  to  make  their  payments. 


In  the  mean  time,  as  lie  could  give  no  valid 
deed,  there  was  distrust  among  the  settlers, 
some  of  whom  were  threatened  with  ejectment 
by  Robinson  ; but  one  morning,”  it  is  .said, 
“ he  found  a pail  of  tar  and  feathers,  and  a 
bag  of  powder  and  shot  suspended  from  his 
door-latch,  giving  too  strong  a hint  to  be  disre- 
garded, and  within  twenty-four  hours  he  left 
the  township.” 

Nearly  all  those  who  had  made  ])ayraents 
to  Robinson  were  afterwards  again  obliged  to 
make  the  same  payments  to  the  Wallace  estate. 
Robinson  left  about  1824,  and  William  D. 
Cope  became  the  owner  of  the  property  first 
here  improved.  He  was  a .son  of  Thomas  P. 
Cope,  the  land-owner. 

Asahel  Avery,  wife  and  six  children,  had 
come  in  1801,  from  London  County,  Conn., 
and  occupied  a log  cabin  when  it  was  but  two- 
thirds  roofed.  The  centre  only  had  a floor, 
made  of  split  bass-wood  logs — “ The  hor.se 
and  calf  on  one  side  of  .this,  and  the  fire-place 
on  the  other.”  It  was  necessary  to  protect  the 
animals,  as  bears  were  numerous  on  the  ridge 
of  pines  north  of  this  place,  and  often  alarming 
people  by  their  presence.  Mr.  Avery  was  a 
carpenter  by  trade,  and  was  building  a good 
frame  house  opposite  his  cabin,  in  1809,  when 
he  sold  out  to  John  Williams,  and  moved  to 
Great  Bend,  where  he  died  in  February,  1813. 

Some  years  later  Nehemiah  Maine  made  a 
clearing  on  the  Baker  farm,  in  this  locality, 
but  removed.  Isaiah  Maine  did  not  come  until 
1819,  when  he  began  improving  the  farm  now 
occupied  by  one  of  his  sons,  F.  A.  Maine. 
Another  .son,  A.  W.,  resides  at  Dimock  village. 
A daughter,  Mary  Jane,  married  William  Bun- 
nell, of  Dimock. 

In  1808  George  W.  Lane  came  from  Wind- 
ham County,  Vt.,  and  improved  a place  which 
was  sold  to  Philander  Stephens.  Near  by  he 
improved  another  farm,  but  moved  to  Mont- 
rose, where  he  died.  He  was  the  father  of  F. 
S.  Lane,  the  attorney.  Philander  Stephens 
settled  first  in  Bridgewater,  but  spent  the  latter 
years  of  his  life  in  Dimock,  his  death  occurring 
in  July,  1842. 

Frederick  Fargo. — About  the  year  1810 
two  brothers,  Elisha  and  Jason  Fargo,  left  their 


372 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


native  State,  Connecticut,  and,  with  all  their 
worldly  possessions  in  a bundle  strung  on  the 
end  of  a stick,  walked  the  entire  distance  to 
Susquehanna  County,  and  bought  sixty-five 
acres  of  land  near  the  Elk  Lakes,  Diiuock 
township,  from  the  Drinker  estate,  from  which 
they  at  once  commenced  to  clear  the  heavy 
timber.  Elisha  (1790-1870)  married  Alice 
(1794-1874),  youngest  daughter  of  Asa  (1745- 


and  wife  died  in  their  eighty-first  year.  Fred- 
erick Fargo,  born  November  12, 1824,  obtained 
but  limited  education  owing  to  his  strength  be- 
ing required  on  the  farm,  where  he  assisted  his 
father  until  twenty-four  years  old,  when  he 
married  Nancy  (1828-84),  daughter  of  Ger- 
shom  and  Sally  Bunnell,  and  took  up  a piece  of 
laud  about  one  mile  west  of  Elk  Lake.  Their 
children  are  Sarah  H.,  married  Robert  Leebody, 


1872)  and  Abigail  Lathrop,  who  bore  James 
L.,  now  living  at  East  Rush  ; Norris,  living  in 
Bradford  County  ; Asa  B.,  residing  in  Mary- 
land ; Orrin  F.,  a resident  of  Binghamton ; 
George,  making  a home  at  East  Rush  ; Freder- 
ick ; Charlotte,  married  Jonathan  Bunnell,  and 
resides  at  Auburn  ; and  Elisha  M.,  now  living 
at  Montrose. 

Asa  Lathrop  built  the  first  grist-mill  in  all 
this  section,  located  at  the  outlet  of  Elk  Lake, 
and  carried  on  that  business  until  he  died. 
Elisha  Fargo  was  a farmer,  and  both  himself 


of  Elk  Lake ; A.  M^ilson,  married  Anna 
(Broad head)  Porter,  and  resides  at  Elk  Lake  ; 
and  Charlotte  Francesca,  married  John  Q. 
Adams,  of  Auburn  Four  Corners.  The  Bun- 
nell family  came  to  the  county  at  an  early  day, 
and  settled  in  what  is  known  as  the  “ Beach 
Woods,”  Auburn  township.  One  of  the  first 
in  Rush  township  to  answer  the  call  for  troops, 
made  when  the  government  was  in  jeopardy, 
was  Frederick  Fargo,  who  enlisted  August 
12th,  and  was  appointed  corporal  of  Company 
H,  One  Hundred  and  Forty-first  Pennsylvania 


DIMOCK. 


373 


Volunteers,  and  joined  the  Army  of  the  Poto- 
mac, then  commanded  by  General  McClellan. 
'With  this  army  he  took  part  in  the  battles  of 
Fredericksburg  and  Chancellorsville,  and  was 
severely  wounded  on  the  latter  field,  where  he 
was  left  for  dead.  He  was  captured  by  the 
rebels,  and  shortly  afterwards  exchanged  and 
sent  home,  where  his  friends  had  mourned  on 
account  of  his  supposed  decease.  On  recovering 
sufficiently  he  joined  the  Invalid  Corps,  and  was 
thence  transferred  to  a company  of  detached 
cavalry,  placed  upon  scouting  duties,  with  head- 
quarters at  Washington,  D.  C.,  in  which  service 
he  remained  until  honorably  discharged,  in 
June,  1865.  While  engaged  in  this  department 
he  was  on  picket  duty  at  one  of  the  forts  be- 
yond the  East  River  Bridge  the  night  President 
Lincoln  was  assassinated,  and  for  the  next  four- 
teen days  and  nights  was  in  the  saddle  the  most 
of  the  time,  hunting  in  and  around  Washing- 
ton for  the  assassins.  On  leaving  the  army  he 
returned  home,  and  the  same  season  sold  his 
farm  and  bought  a half-interest  in  the  Elk 
Lake  Grist-Mills,  wherein,  with  three  run  of 
stones,  he  made  large  quantities  of  buckwheat 
flour  for  the  New  York  and  Philadelphia  mar- 
kets, in  addition  to  the  regular  custom  work. 
In  1869  the  internal  arrangements  of  the  mill 
were  dverhauled  and  mateidal  improvements 
admitted,  taking  out  two  overshot  wheels  and 
putting  in  a Leffel’s  double  turbine  wheel ; also 
throwing  out  a rock  run  and  putting  in  French 
buhr  stones,  at  a total  expense  of  some  two 
thousand  dollars.  In  this  business  he  continued 
sixteen  years,  selling  out  in  1881  to  his  partner, 
ex-Sheriff  John  Young,  and  has  since  engaged 
in  general  farming,  having  purchased  the  A.sa 
Lathrop  farm  and,  in  1871,  a tract  of  his 
mother.  Interested  in  political  affairs,  he  has 
served  with  satisfaction  in  various  township 
offices.  Mrs.  Fargo  was  a devoted  member  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  until  her 
death,  and  her  husband  was  also  connected 
there.  He  is  a member  of  H.  C.  Titman  Post, 
No.  93,  of  Auburn  Four  Corners,  also  of 
Montrose  Lodge,  No.  151,  I.  O.  O.  F. 

On  Pine  Hill  was  Avery  Bolles,  a .son  of  John 
Bolles,  who  settled  on  Montcalm  in  1813. 
Here  he  made  .some  improvements,  but  took  up 


his  permanent  abode  on  another  farm.  At  an 
earlier  day,  about  1808,  Samuel  Davis  and 
family,  from  Windham  County,  Vt.,  settled 
in  the  same  neighborhood.  In  this  locality  was 
also  Elhanan  Smith. 

On  the  steam  road  between  the  Corners  and 
Elk  Lake,  Joshua  Smith,  from  Groton,  Conn., 
settled  in  1812,  remaining  there  until  his  death, 
December  3,  1840,  aged  seventy-six.  The 
homestead  became  the  property  of  Urban,  the 
youngest  of  eleven  children.  A few  years  after 
their  .settlement  at  this  place,  Silas,  one  of  the 
sons,  at  that  time  about  ten  years  of  age,  was 
followed  by  a pack  of  wolves  to  within  a short 
distance  of  his  father’s  house,  barely  reaching 
it  in  safety. 

North,  on  this  ridge,  on  the  Samuel  Sherer 
farm,  Jacob  Perkins  made  some  good  improve- 
ments, but  later  lived  farther  east,  on  the  turn- 
pike. South,  on  the  same  road,  was  Frazier 
Eaton,  whose  farm  became  the  property  of  Ben- 
jamin Blakeslee,  who  lived  and  died  there. 

Samuel  Sherer. — His  paternal  ancester, 
John  Sherer,  a native  of  Scotland,  after  many 
years  of  persecution  of  the  family  on  account  of 
their  religious  faith — Presbyterian — crossed  the 
Channel,  as  thou.sands  of  others  did,  and  settled 
in  the  North  of  Ireland.  David  Sherer  (1759- 
1846),  born  near  Londonderry,  Ireland,  a son  of 
John  and  Martha  (Patton)  Sherer,  came  to 
America  in  1770,  and  settled  in  Derry,  N.  H. 
In  his  eighteenth  year  he  enlisted  in  the  Conti- 
nental army,  and  for  a year  and  a half  bore 
arms  for  his  adopted  country,  participating  in 
the  battle  of  Stillwater  and  the  capture  of 
Burgoyne.  In  1789  he  married  Hannah  Young- 
man  (1771-1851),  and  had  the  following  chil- 
dren : John,  who  became  a Presbyterian  mini.s- 
ter ; David;  Hannah  (Mrs.  John  Robertson); 
William,  who  practiced  medicine  in  the  West ; 
Mary  (Mrs.  Nehemiah  Baldwin) ; James  and 
Samuel.  Late  in  1815  the  family  left  New 
Hampshire  and  located  in  what  is  now  Jessup 
township,  this  county.  David  Sherer  was  a 
farmer  and  an  active,  influential  man,  an  advo- 
cate of  religion  and  education,  and  for  fifty-five 
years  a member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  to 
which  society  also  his  family  belonged,  hold- 
ing membership  at  Montrose.  The  Youngman 


374 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


family  are  of  English  ancestry,  their  presence 
in  this  country  dating  back  to  1684,  when 
Francis  Youngman  settled  in  Massachusetts 
and  became  a member  of  Rev.  John  Eliot’s 
church  at  Roxbury.  Several  of  his  descend- 
ants took  up  arms  for  the  infant  colonies  and 
rendered  most  excellent  and  loyal  service  dur- 
ing the  Revolution,  receiving  public  recognition 
therefor.  This  family  name  is  rapidly  dying  out, 
and  but  few  remain  to  bear  and  perpetuate  the 
English  branch.  Hannah  was  the  daughter  of 
Nicholas  (1723-1814)  and  Mary  (Wright)  (1724 
-1802)  Youngman.  Nicholas  was  the  son  of 
Ebenezer  (1690  -1754)  and  Mercy  Jones  Young- 
man. Ebenezer  was  the  son  of  Francis  Young- 
man,  who  died  in  1712. 

Samuel  Sherer  was  born  June  22,  1813,  and 
obtained  his  education  in  the  district  schools, 
where  he  afterwards  taught  for  nine  or  ten  win- 
ters, spending  the  summers  upon  his  father’s 
farm.  An  earnest  and  painstaking  man,  his 
influence  and  strength  of  character  were  recog- 
nized by  his  townsmen,  and  his  services  called 
into  use  in  v^arious  public  offices.  In  1867  he 
was  elected  commissioner  of  the  county  and 
served  satisfactorily  for  three  years.  He  strenu- 
ously advocated  the  building  of  the  Montrose 
Railway,  and  offered  the  right  of  way  for  the 
western  route  of  the  road,  which,  however,  was 
not  adopted.  From  early  youth  to  the  time  of 
his  death  he  took  an  active  interest  in  edu- 
cational and  religious  mattei’s,  and  liberally 
contributed  to  these  interests  as  well  as  to  all 
charitable  works  demanding  his  attention.  He 
was  especially  anxious  in  the  matter  of 
giving  his  own  children  superior  educational 
advantages,  and  three  of  them  have  been 
teachers  for  several  years.  He  was  a inember 
of  the  Presbyterian  Church  at  Montrose,  with 
which  his  family  is  also  identified,  and  for  three 
years  served  as  a member  of  its  board  of  trus- 
tees. He  met  his  death  accidentally  while  per- 
forming his  farm  duties,  and  died  August  26, 
1886.  On  June  22,  1837,  he  married  Lucena, 
daughter  of  Eldad  and  Hannah  Brewster,  who 
was  born  in  1816.  Their  children  are  Augusta  L 
(1838-1862)  was  the  wife  of  Edward  Dicker- 
son  ; Olive  T.  (1840-70)  was  the  wife  of 
Frank  J.  Smith  ; David,  resides  adjoining  the 


homestead ; Sarah  A.,  a teacher  in  Brooklyn, 
N.  Y. ; Mary  and  Hannah  have  also  been 
teachers. 

Mrs.  Sherer’s  father,  Eldad  Brewster  (1779- 
1831),  came  from  Long  Island  to  what  is  now 
Montrose,  in  company  with  Captain  Bartlet 
Hinds,  in  1800,  and  his  farm  and  that  of  Dan- 
iel Brewster  were  those  since  occupied  by 
Thomas  Johnson  and  Horace  Brewster  in 
Bridgewater  township.  In  1813  Eldad  Brew- 
ster married  Hannah  (1796-1881),  a daughter 
of  Deacon  Moses  Tyler.  At  his  death  he  left 
a widow  and  nine  children,  as  follows  : Tyler 
(1815-85)  was  a farmer  in  Harford  town- 
ship ; Lucena,  widow  of  Samuel  Sherer  ; Hor- 
ace, born  in  1818,  a farmer  in  Bridgewater 
township,  has  one  son,  D.  Truman,  a lawyer 
at  Montrose,  and  another  .son.  Dr.  Fred.  D. 
Brewster,  a practicing  physician  at  Tunkhan- 
nock ; Daniel,  born  in  1820,  a business  man  at 
Montrose;  Warren  (1822-75)  was  a wagon 
manufacturer  at  Tunkhannock  ; Andrew  Jack- 
son,  born  in  1824,  a business  man  at  Montro.se; 
Sarah,  born  in  1826,  is  the  wife  of  Salmon  A. 
Hempstead,  of  Meadville,  Pa.  ; M.  Coleman 
(1828  57)  was  a carpenter  at  Montrose;  Ann 
M.,  born  in  1830,  wife  of  Ansel  J.  Stearns,  of 
Harford,  this  county. 

Jonathan  A.  Atherton  came  originally  from 
Massachusetts  to  Wyoming,  thence  to  Hyde 
Park,  thence  to  Dimock,  where  he  purchased 
the  old  Samuel  Bard  farm,  on  which  he  now 
resides.  Of  his  children,  Henry  has  been  pay- 
master on  the  Delaware  and  Hudson  Canal 
Company’s  Railroad  for  twenty-three  years ; 
Jerry  L.  and  Bicknel  B.  have  been  employed 
by  the  same  company  as  foremen  of  coal  break- 
ers ; Ro.sa  is  the  wife  of  T.  H.  B.  Lewis,  of 
Kingston,  Pa. ; Florence  is  the  wife  of  David 
Sherer,  of  Dimock,  and  Sophia  is  the  wife  of 
H.  T.  Lake. 

On  the  slope  south  of  Elk  Lake,  Erastus  and 
William  Rathbuu  made  a settlement  before 
1813.  The  latter  was  a clothier  by  trade.  In 
1817  they  sold  out  to  Simon  Stevens,  who  came 
from  Braintrim.  He  lived  here  until  his  death, 
in  1841,  aged  nearly  sixty-five  years.  He  had 
I fourteen  children,  some  of  whom  still  reside  at 
! Elk  Lake.  Mr.  Stevens  held  important  county 


DIMOCK. 


375 


offices  and  was  noted  for  his  strong  opposition 
to  Masonry. 

In  the  same  locality  George  Young  settled  in 

1814,  moving  on  a place  which  had  been  im- 
proved somewhat  by  Dennison  Gere.  He  died 
in  1831,  aged  seventy-two  years,  and  the  home- 
stead afterwards  became  the  property  of  his 
son  John,  at  one  time  sheriff  of  the  county. 
The  adjoining  farms  were  owned  by  Joseph  and 
James  Camp,  who  sold  out  to  David  Young, 
Sr.  (a  brother  of  George),  in  1815  and  left  the 
country.  David  Young,  Sr.,  died  about  1830, 
but  his  descendants  still  live  in  this  part  of  the 
township.  A few  years  later  James  Service 
settled  near  Elk  Lake. 

One-half  mile  east  of  Dimock  Corners  Israel 
Hewitt  settled  in  1814,  and  reared  sons  named 
Latham  and  Israel.  They  were  great  hunters 
and  skilled  in  the  use  of  the  rifle.  On  the 
Chapman  farm,  west,  Samuel  Kellum  settled  in 

1815,  but,  in  1819,  sold  out  to  some  Englishmen 
who  were  interested  in  the  prospective  village 
of  New  Birmingham  (now  Dimock),  and  who 
disposed  of  their  interests  soon  after.  At  this 
time,  it  appears,  there  were  four  hundred  and 
fifty  thrifty  apple  trees  on  the  Chapman  ]>lace. 

About  this  time  John  Austin  located  in  this 
neighborhood,  but  later  settled  on  the  I.  B. 
Woodhouse  farm,  on  the  Elk  Lake  road.  He 
was  the  father  of  fifteen  children.  Oliver  Scott 
was  on  a farm  farther  east,  which  was  later  the 
home  of  Samuel  A.  Brown. 

In  1816  Elisha  Gates  and  his  son-in-law, 
John  Lewis,  from  Groton,  Conn.,  settled  on  the 
farm  north  of  Col.  Parke,  on  lands  still  owned 
by  his  family.  He  had  sous  named  John  and 
George.  In  December,  1886,  the  latter  was 
living  in  the  township,  aged  eighty-eight  years. 
In  the  late  Civil  War  his  six  sons  were  in  the 
service  and  John  had  three  sons  in  the  Union 
army. 

Elisha  Gates  had  the  reputation  of  being 
the  best  mathematician  in  Dimock,  and  was 
frequently  called  on  to  solve  puzzling  questions 
for  persons  from  other  counties. 

On  the  Meshoppen,  east  from  this  place,  set- 
tled the  Tiffany  family,  Preston  Tiffany  locat- 
ing on  the  present  O.  Tiffany  farm.  Other  mem- 
bers were  Elisha,  Joseph  and  Horace  Tiffanv. 


In  1819  Alexander  Smith,  a native  of  Scot- 
land, came  to  Dimock  and  located  on  eighty 
aci’es  of  land  one  mile  east  from  the  Corners, 
but  did  not  reside  permanently  there.  While 
living  in  Dimock  the  first  twins  in  the  town- 
ship were  born  in  this  family,  which  received 
the  names  of  William  W.  and  Christiana. 

In  1820  Royal  Tyler  came  from  Rhode 
Island  and  .settled  on  White  Creek,  in  the 
southwestern  part  of  the  township,  where  he 
died  in  1842.  He  had  sons  named  Sylvanus, 
who  lived  on  the  homestead  until  recently ; 
Moses,  who  moved  to  Bridgewater  ; Royal,  im- 
migrating to  Kansas ; and  James  became  a resi- 
dent of  California, 

At  a later  day  the  Burdick  family  opened  a 
farm  east  from  Tyler’s,  and  of  the  sons  reared 
by  Amos  Burdick,  John  remained  on  the  home- 
stead, Nathan  settled  on  an  adjoining  farm, 
Matthew  on  a farm  north,  and  Alphens  on  the 
old  Lewis  place,  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  town- 
ship, where  he  still  resides. 

In  the  southwestern  part  also  settled  George 
Risley,  the  father  of  sons  named  Dwight, 
Thomas,  Aaron  and  Frank,  mo.st  of  whom  im- 
proved farms  in  that  locality  or  in  the  north- 
western part  of  Springville. 

John  Woodhouse  immigrated  from  Otsego 
County,  N.  Y.,  and  after  living  in  Bridgewater 
two  years,  settled  on  the  farm  now  owned  by  one 
of  his  sons,  F.  M.  Woodhouse.  This  was  all 
woods  except  about  three  acres,  which  had  been 
cleared  up  by  a man  named  Fisk.  He  died  in 
August,  1864,  aged  seventy-eight  years.  Be- 
sides the  son  on  the  homestead,  there  were  other 
sons, — A.  D.,  living  in  Springville ; John  G.,  a 
physician  who  died  in  Lacey  ville  ; Isaac  B.,  liv- 
ing on  the  State  road  in  Dirnock ; and  Edwax’d 
W.,  of  Bi’adford  County. 

North  of  this  farnx  lived  Thomas  Miles,  the 
father  of  Wm.  C.  Miles,  of  Dimock,  and  Dr. 
Jonathan  Miles,  of  Lackawanna  County.  On  the 
Dolan  farm  lived  Levi  Wells,  the  father  of 
William  Wells,  of  Pottsville. 

In  1820  Adam  Waldie  and  his  two  gifted 
sisters  lived  one  mile  northeast  from  Dimock, 
on  what  became  the  Murray  fax’m,  but  after  a 
short  residence  they  moved  to  Forest  Lake. 

In  the  fall  of  1821  Joseph  Baker,  of  Chester 


376 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


County,  came  to  prosj^ect  lands,  and  after  look- 
ing at  a number  of  locations  in  Susquehanna 
County,  he  bought  nearly  three  hundred  acres  of 
improved  laud  at  Dimock  Corners,  to  which  he 
moved  his  family  in  the  spring  of  1822.  A part 
of  this  farm  is  still  the  property  of  his  son. 
Judge  I.  P.  Baker,  residing  at  Dimock  village. 

The  same  year  Enoch  Walker  and  his  son, 
George,  came  from  Choconut  to  the  farm  called 

Woodbourne,”  and  which  under  their  owner- 
ship became  one  of  the  best-known  places  in 
the  county.  A part  of  the  mansion  was  built 
by  Henry  Parke  when  he  occupied  this  land. 
In  1822  George  Walker  had  a small  store  in 
the  room  of  this  house,  which  afterwards  be- 
came his  library.  Enoch  Walker  came  from 
Chester  County  with  his  children,  in  April, 
1820,  to  the  farm,  late  the  residence  of  Caleb 
Carmalt,  Lakeside,  Choconut,  where  he  re- 
mained two  years,  before  removing  to  Wood- 
bourne.  One  who  spent  many  months,  at  dif- 
ferent times,  under  his  roof,  says, — 

“His  earliest  training  was  under  the  judicious  care 
of  an  excellent  Christian  mother,  whose  precepts  aud 
example  were  the  abiding  rule  of  his  life,  and  enabled 
him  to  endure  with  great  fortitude,  many  and  various 
trials.  When  young,  he  appeared  as  a minister  among 
Friends;  and  in  1796  spent  some  time  as  a mission- 
ary to  the  Oneida  Indians,  under  the  auspices  of  the 
Yearly  Meeting  of  Friends;  and  traveled  much  in 
the  service  of  the  Gospel,  and  on  business,  until  the 
close  of  a long  and  active  life. 

“ He  was  ever  a pattern  of  true  hospitality,  in  word 
and  deed;  careful  in  training  his  children  in  strict 
morality  and  religion,  and  ever  kind  and  considerate 
for  the  happiness  of  all  under  his  care  and  influence. 
He  was  active  in  promoting  the  settlement  of  the 
county  with  worthy  and  industrious  persons,  and  al- 
ways evinced  a liberal  and  forbearing  spirit  towards 
every  sect  and  denomination,  in  the  fullest  sense  of  a 
true  ‘ Universal  Christian  Benevolence.’ 

“ He  was  returning,  11th  mo.  8th,  1853,  in  his  83d 
year,  from  one  of  his  accustomed  visits  of  love  and 
duty,  to  relatives  and  friends  in  and  near  Philadel- 
phia, and  had  reached  the  house  of  Noah  Rogers, 
Waymart,  Wayne  Co.,  in  expectation  of  being  at 
Woodbourne  the  following  day.  He  spent  a cheerful 
evening,  and  retired  to  rest — and  to  sleep  the  sleep 
that  knows  no  waking  here.”  He  was  buried  at 
Friendsville. 

George  Walker. — During  the  year, s next 
succeeding  the  first  landing  of  William  Penn  at 
Ujtland,  now  the  city  of  Chester,  Pa.,  in  August, 


1682,  large  numbers  of  the  members  of  the  So- 
ciety of  Friends,  anxious  to  leave  England  on 
account  of  the  restrictions  placed  upon  religious 
liberty  by  King  Charles  II,  sought  the  hospit- 
able shores  of  the  New  World  and  made  homes 
within  the  borders  of  the  Keystone  State. 
Among  this  number,  Lewis  Walker,  a native  of 
Yorkshire,  came,  in  1686,  and  bought  from  the 
proprietor,  William  Penn,  a large  tract  of  land 
near  that  section  of  our  State  since  the  Revolu- 
tion known  as  “Valley  Forge,”  in  the  beautiful 
Great  Valley,  Chester  County.  This  land  has 
since  remained  in  possession  of  the  family,  and 
it  was  at  one  time  strongly  desired  by  certain 
members  to  hold  a bi-centennial  reunion  of  the 
Walker  family  at  that  place;  this,  however, 
was  not  carried  out,  owing  to  the  wide  scattering 
of  the  descendants.  Enoch  Walker,  the  son  of 
Joseph  and  Sarah  Walker,  a direct  descendant 
of  Lewis,  was  there  born  on  April  13,  1771,  be- 
came a leader  among  the  members  of  the  So- 
ciety and  officiated  as  a minister  until  coming  to 
Susquehanna  County  with  his  children,  in  1820. 
He  married  Phebe  Miller,  who  was  born  in 
1770,  [and  bore  George,  born  February  16, 
1798;  Sarah  M.  (1799-1874),  Priscilla  (1802- 
1832),  Phebe  (1803-1832),  Enoch  (1806-1828). 
Lewis,  born  1807,  died  in  infancy,  followed  the 
next  month  by  the  mother. 

Robert  C.  Walker,  at  one  time  Secretary  of 
the  United  States  Treasury,  was  a cousin  of 
Enoch  Walker.  George  Walker  spent  his  early 
years  on  the  farm  of  his  father  in  the  Great  Val- 
ley, and  was  educated  at  the  Westtown  Boarding- 
School,  a noted  place  in  early  days.  His  mind 
inclined  to  surveying  and  kindred  subjects,  and, 
after  leaving  school  he  was  placed  with  John 
Thomson,  the  father  of  Edgar  Thomson,  the 
late  president  Pennsylvania  Railroad  Company 
and  Joseph  Warner,  of  Philadelphia,  to  assist  in 
making  the  preparatory  survey  for  the  construc- 
tion of  the  Schuylkill  Canal,  thereby  acquiring 
a practical  acquaintance  with  the  profession  he 
has  since  so  successfully  followed.  In  1820, 
with  his  father,  three  sisters  and  one  brother, 
he  came  North  and  bought  land  at  Lakeside 
(now  the  home  of  James  Edward  Carmalt, 
Esq.),  eleven  miles  beyond  Montrose,  where  he 
entered  mercantile  business.  Two  years  after. 


r-  - 


DIMOCK. 


377 


tlie  family  removed  to  a farm  some  five  miles 
south  of  Montrose  and  also  engaged  in  general 
trade,  continuing  the  two  stores  for  several 
years.  This  place  they  named  “ Woodbonrne,” 
and  about  1824  Enoch  Walker  was  appointed 
postmaster,  his  son  George  transacting  the  du- 
ties of  the  office  as  deputy. 

From  this  time  until  his  death,  in  1853, 
Enoch  Walker  gave  much  attention  to  the  tem- 
perance cause,  and  advocated  leaving  off,  not 
only  all  intoxicating  drinks,  but  tea,  coffee  and 
tobacco,  on  the  part  of  all  those  professing 
Christianity. 

In  1836  George  Walker  was  appointed  by 
Governor  Ritner  pi’othonotary  and  clerk 
of  the  courts  in  Susquehanna  County,  which 
position  he  filled  until  the  passage  of  the  law  by 
the  Legislature  in  1839,  requiring  direct  elec- 
tion for  such  offices.  During  his  term  of  office 
he  was  frequently  called  upon  to  act  as  surveyor 
and  civil  engineer,  and,  in  1838,  was  chosen  as 
arbitration  surveyor  to  survey  certain  lands  on 
the  Wyalusing  Creek,  in  Bradford  County, 
which  had  been  taken  possession  of  by  non-pur- 
chasers,  the  title  to  which  was  claimed  by  Janies 
Le  Ray  de  Chamont,  a French  nobleman,  who 
had  been  compelled  to  leave  France  during  a 
revolution,  and  settled  at  Le  Raysville,  Jeffer- 
son County,  N.  Y. 

While  engaged  in  this  work  he  was  fired 
upon  by  the  squatters  and  forced  to  leave  the 
field.  When  the  matter  was  submitted  to  the 
courts,  Le  Ray’s  title  was  confirmed.  From 
that  time  he  devoted  himself  to  farming  and  to 
surveying  in  Susquehanna,  Wayne,  Bradford, 
Luzerne,  Wyoming,  Lackawanna  and  Sullivan 
Counties,  and  during  one  summer  surveyed 
thirty-five  thousand  acres  at  the  head-waters  of 
-the  Loyalsock  and  Muncey  Creeks,  in  Lycom- 
ing (now  Sullivan)  County,  for  Joseph  P.  Morris, 
Philadelphia,  formerly  president  of  the  Bank 
•of  Pennsylvania,  and  the  grandfather  of  Dr. 
W.  F.  Morris.  As  surveyor  and  civil  engineer 
he  was  engaged  in  the  preliminary  work  upon 
the  Delaware,  Lackawanna  and  Western  Rail- 
road and  New  York,  Lake  Erie  and  Western 
Railroad,  and,  on  request  of  Judge  Asa  Packer, 
made  the  first  survey  for  the  Montrose  Rail- 
way. 


George  Walker  has  never  been  a politician. 
He  first  voted  for  John  Adams  for  President, 
and  since  that  the  Whig  and  Republican  tickets. 
Born  a F riend,  though  not  able  of  late  years  to 
associate  with  the  society,  he  has  been  a friend 
to  all  denominations  without  regard  to  sect — a 
true  follower  of  William  Penn  in  granting 
liberty  of  conscience  to  all  professing  Christians. 
In  1876  he  sold  his  farm,  “ Woodbourne,”  to 
Dr.  W.  F.  Norris,  of  Philadelphia,  who  had 
visited  him  the  previous  summer.  For  over 
forty  years  he  acted  as  agent  for  Philadelphia 
parties,  for  several  thousand  acres  of  land,  lo- 
cated in  Susquehanna,  Wayne  and  Bradford 
Counties,  and  through  his  judicious  sales  of 
land,  brought  many  families  to  settle  upon 
those  tracts. 

In  1832  Dimock  became  a separate  civil 
body.  Two  years  later,  in  1834,  the  taxables 
wers  as  follows  : 


Jacob  Ainey. 

Nehemiah  Lathrop. 

Jolm  Ainey. 

Dyer  Lathrop. 

Walter  Allen. 

Solomon  Lathrop. 

Rufus  Allen. 

John  Lathrop. 

Benjamin  Blakeslee. 

James  Lathrop. 

Lucius  Blakeslee. 

Wm.  F.  Lathrop. 

Merick  Blakeslee. 

William  Lawrence. 

Luke  Blakeslee. 

George  W.  Lane. 

Leland  Blakeslee. 

Hannah  Lane. 

Avery  Bolles. 

John  Lewis. 

George  Blakeslee. 

Amherst  Lindsley. 

Samuel  A.  Brown. 

John  McCarey. 

Lake  Bronson. 

Isaiah  Maine. 

John  Brunson. 

Henry  Mack. 

Isaac  Babcock. 

Nathan  Morgan. 

Garret  Berry. 

Albion  Moody. 

Samuel  Berry. 

Thomas  Miles. 

Henry  Barkley. 

Hugh  McCollum. 

Samuel  Barkley. 

Adonijah  Moody. 

Joseph  Baker. 

Thomas  Northrop. 

John  Baker. 

Jason  Newton. 

William  Baker. 

Loren  Newton. 

William  Baker  (2d). 

Thomas  Parke. 

Stephen  Bolles. 

John  Pneuman. 

Andrew  Bolles. 

John  Reynolds. 

John  Bolles. 

Israel  Reynolds. 

Julius  Beach. 

John  Rosencrants. 

George  Bagley. 

Philemon  Robinson. 

Francis  M.  Babcock. 

Perrin  Ross. 

William  Burhight. 

Mark  Raymond. 

Amos  Burdick. 

Joseph  Raymond. 

Levi  Burdick. 

Horatio  Roberts. 

Theron  Beak. 

Thomas  J.  Risley. 

Will.  D.  Cope. 

Proctor  Risley. 

Thomas  Carrier. 

George  Risley. 

Samuel  Curling. 

Joseph  Reese,  Jr. 

John  Carmichael. 

Philander  Stephens. 

William  Ely. 

Milton  Stephens. 

Simeon  Evans. 

Simon  Stephens. 

Charles  Eddy. 

Hubbard  Smith. 

Robert  Eldredge. 

William  Smith. 

.James  Eldredge. 

Joshua  Smith. 

Orlando  A.  Eldredge. 

E.  W.  Smith. 

Elisha  Fargo. 

Richard  Stone. 

378 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY",  PENNSYLVANIA. 


Jason  Fargo. 

Reuben  Spencer. 

Jabez  Giles. 

David  Stout. 

Thomas  Giles. 

George  Stout. 

Daniel  Giles. 

Preston  Tiffany. 

Elisha  Gates. 

Dalton  Tiffany. 

John  Gates. 

William  Tucker. 

Nehemiah  Gregory. 

Sylvanus  Tyler. 

George  Gates. 

Moses  Tyler. 

Richard  Gerritson. 

Royal  Tyler. 

Libbeus  Gavett. 

Mason  Tingley. 

Richmond  Gavett. 

.Tacob  Vosburg. 

Abisha  W.  Gray. 

.John  Woodhouse. 

Abijah  Gregory. 

Enoch  Walker. 

Levi  B.  Gnrnse^c 

George  Walker. 

John  Goss. 

Randall  Wilmot. 

Latham  Hewitt. 

Cyrus  Whipple. 

William  Harkins. 

Stephen  Woolsey. 

Israel  Hewet. 

Gordon  Williams. 

John  Howard. 

David  Young. 

William  Hoar. 

George  Young. 

Oliver  Heald. 

Andrew  Young. 

Stephen  Hazleton. 

John  N.  Y’oung. 

Elisha  Hazleton. 

William  Young. 

Gideon  Hempstead. 
A.sa  Lathrop. 

Davidson  Y’oiuig. 

Saw-mills  were 

owned  at  this  period  by 

James  Lathrop,  Amos  Burdick  and  Elisha 

Fargo.  Asa  Lath 

rop  had  a grist-mill.  The 

blacksmiths  were 

Gideon  Hempstead,  Jacob 

Ainey  and  Rufus  . 

Allen.  William  Smith  was 

the  wagon-maker. 

and  William  Young  the 

tanner.  .lohn  Baker  was  the  inn-keeper. 

In  1836  the  Register  mentions  Julius  Beach 

as  an  enterprising 

farmer  who  has  done  much 

for  the  introduction  of  the  mulberry  into 
the  county.  He  presented  to  the  cabinet  of  the 

Montrose  Lyceum 

a skein  of  beautiful  silk 

(white)  — the  first 

silk  manufactured  in  the 

county. 

(The  morus  multicaulis  fever  was  at  its 
height  in  the  county  three  years  later.) 

From  a newspaper  of  the  period  we  take  the 

following : 

“ Mr.  Avery  Bolles,  of  Dimock,  in  the  fall  of  1835, 
procured  a kernel  of  a superior  kind  of  seed  wheat, 
sowed  it  separately,  and  in  August,  1836,  gathered  the 
product  and  laid  it  aside.  A few  days  ago  he  shelled 
it,  counted  the  kernels,  and  found  them  to  number 
one  thousand  one  hundred  and  ninety-eight.” 

Dimock  Village,  the  most  important  busi- 
ness point  in  the  township,  is  on  the  corner  of  the 
old  State  road,  runniitg  east  and  west,  where  it 
crosses  the  Wilkes-Bari-e  turnpike.  From  this 
circumstance  it  is  sometimes  called  “Dimock’s 
Four  Corners.”  It  is  also  a station  on  the  narrow- 
gauge  railroad.  The  location  is  pleasant,  but  its 
nearness  to  Montrose  has  acted  against  its  be- 
coming a place  of  great  size  or  business  activity. 


It  contains  Baptist  and  Presbyterian  Churches, 
a public-house,  three  stores,  a good  school-house 
and  more  than  one  hundred  inhabitants. 

“ About  1819  a number  of  emigrants,  mostly'  from 
England,  settled  at  what  is  now  Dimock  Corners, 
which  they  called  New  Birmingham.  Among  them 
was  Thomas  Bedford,  said  to  have  been  wealthy,  and 
to  have  furnished  his  reputed  brother-in-law,  Thomas 
Emerson,  the  funds  to  erect  the  hotel  now  standing 
on  the  corner.  A Mr.  Hicks  opened  a store,  and  a 
Frenchman  by  the  name  of  Major,  a cabinet-maker 
and  a local  j^reacher,  also  erected  a house,  and  carried 
on  business.  After  a few  years  most  of  them  sold  out 
and  left.”  ^ 

The  hotel  had  a large  sigu  giving  its  name 
as  the  “ Birmingham  House,”  and  was  for  many 
years  preserved  as  a curiosity.  The  hotel  was 
sold  to  Joseph  Baker,  who  was  succeeded  by 
his  sou  John,  who  kept  it  until  about  1860. 
On  the  breaking  out  of  the  war  Captain  Elijah 
B.  Gates  left  the  tavern  to  (Uiter  the  service,  and 
was  succeeded  by  Philander  S.  Babcock.  The 
house  became  the  property  of  T.  B.  Williams 
and  was  placed  in  good  repair  by  him.  Among 
the  later  landlords  have  been  N.  H.  Sherman 
and  Thomas  Dolan.  A second  public-house 
was  opened  in  an  old  building  remodeled  for 
this  purpose,  before  1837,  by  Caleb  Barnes,  and 
was  kept  by  him  a few  years.  F.  M.  Babcock, 
G.  W.  Lewis,  John  Foster,  Lyman  Sherman 
and  J.  J.  Thompson  followed,  when  it  was 
given  over  to  private  use,  remodeled  and  is  now 
the  residence  of  T,  B.  AVilliams.  Before  the 
building  of  the  Delaware  and  Lackawana  Rail- 
road both  those  houses  enjoyed  a large  patron- 
age. April  13,  1818,  a post-office  was  es- 
tablished, called  Springville  Four  Corners, 
though  the  office  itself  was  kept,  nearly  a mile 
froim  the  Corners,  on  the  next  hill  north,  by 
John  W.  Robinson,  who  afterwards  sold  to  Wm. 
D.  Cope.  The  house  was  the  one  for  which 
Asahel  Avery  had  made  jireparation  ; it  was 
burned  in  1830,  when  Mr.  Cope  lost  with  it  the 
most  of  his  furniture. 

“ Woodbourne’’'  post-office  was  a continuance 
of  this,  Enoch  Walker,  postmaster  from  1824 
until  1830,  when  it  was  removed  to  the  Corners, 
receiving  the  old  name,  and  Perrin  Ross  was 


^ Miss  Blackman. 


DIMOCK. 


379 


appointed  postmaster.  He  kept  the  office  in 
his  residence  in  the  Major  house,  opposite  the 
hotel,  where  later  lived  Dr.  Dennison.  January 
14,  1833,  the  name  was  changed  to  Dimock,  and 
December  28, 1833,  John  Baker  was  appointed 
postmaster,  and  kept  the  office  at  his  hotel.  In 
1854  he  was  succeeded  by  George  W.  Lewis, 
who  removed  the  office  to  the  place  kept  by  him, 
the  lower  hotel.  Since  that  time  the  appointees 
have  been,  in  1861,  Elisha  B.  Gates;  October, 
1861,  A.  N.  Moody;  1862,  Philander  S.  Bab- 
cock ; 1863,  J.W.  Carrier  ; 1864,  Alfred  Miles  ; 
1874,  Daniel  T.  Handrick  ; 1885,  Harvey  T. 
Allen.  The  office  has  daily  mails. 

In  addition  to  those  already  mentioned  as 
merchants,  Richard  Stone  had  a good  store  in  a 
large  double  house,  where  S.  A.  Crocker  now 
lives,  about  1 830-36.  He  built  the  store-house 
which  was  occupied  by  L.  H.  Woodruff  after 
the  latter  period.  The  latter  came  from  Brad- 
ford County,  but  had  previously  been  a teacher 
in  Binghamton.  After  trading  here  about 
thirty  years,  he  removed  to  Wilkes-Barre. 
That  building  was  afterward  occupied  by  G. 
W.  Struppler,  who  traded  several  years.  Next 
came  Harvey  Allen.  The  building  was  burned 
down  January  1,  1884,  and  the  present  building 
was  erected  on  its  site  by  the  occupant  of  the 
store,  Harv'ey  Allen.  George  Stevens  opened  a 
store  in  the  opposite  corner  about  1840,  aud 
sold  to  Benjamin  Thompson,  who  built  the  resi- 
dence adjoining.  Here  have  traded  a large 
number  of  persons,  the  last  occupant  being  N. 
F.  Hines,  in  1886. 

A third  stand  was  established  by  Hiram 
Blakeslee,  who  is  still  there  in  trade.  For  a 
time  he  also  manufactured  clothing.  Henry 
Babc(jck  was  in  trade  in  the  house  now  occupied 
by  Charles  M.  Tiugley,  and  M.  G.  Shoemaker 
was  at  the  Wilber  shop. 

As  practitioners  of  medicine,  there  have  been 
at  this  place  Dr.  Ben  Adam  Dennison,  about 
1830,  who  died  in  Dimock  ; Dr.  A.  C.  Blakes- 
lee, a number  of  years,  and  with  him  for  a time 
Dr.  P.  L.  Brush  ; Dr.  J.  E.  Barnes  was  in  prac- 
tice at  a more  recent  period,  remaining  about 
five  years  ; and  Dr.  N.  C.  Mackey,  Dr.  Foot, 
Dr.  Freeman  and  Dr.  Gulick  remained  shorter 
periods. 


Joseph  Ainey  was  an  old-time  blacksmith, 
and  in  moi’e  recent  years  C.  C.  Mills  carried  on 
wagon-making  quite  extensively.  The  spacious 
shops  he  erected  are  not  fully  occupied  at 
present. 

East  Dimock  post-office  was  established 
June  9,  1862,  and  George  L.  Williams  was  the 
postmaster.  He  was  succeeded  by  George  C. 
Giles.  The  office  was  intended  to  .serve  the 
Parkvale  section  of  Dimock,  and  was  kept  part 
of  the  time  in  Brooklyn  township,  near  that 
locality.  It  was  dLscontinued  July  16,  1883. 

Elk  Lake  is  a post  hamlet  in  the  north- 
western part  of  the  township,  seven  miles  from 
Montrose,  and  has  a fine  location  south  and 
west  of  the  lakes.  It  contains  several  mills, 
shops,  a store,  a good  school-house  and  about  a 
dozen  residences.  The  post-office  was  established 
Augu.st  31,  1842,  with  the  name  of  Elk  Lake, 
and  Charles  J.  Lathrop  was  the  first  postmaster, 
who  kept  it  in  his  store,  near  the  mills.  He 
was  succeeded  by  Orrin  F.  Fargo,  November 
13,  1850.  Ou  the  15th  of  December,  1855,  the 
name  was  changed  to  Lathrop  Lake,  and 
William  F.  Lathrop  had  the  office  until  April 
19,  1861,  when  Philander  A.  Stephens  was 
appointed,  and  the  post-office  again  took  the 
name  of  Elk  Lake,  which  it  has  since  retained. 
Stephens  kept  the  office  at  his  house  several 
years;  then  it  was  removed  to  the  store,  at  the 
Corners,  where  it  yet  remains.  He  was  suc- 
ceeded as  follows  : in  1866,  by  William  A.  Kel- 
logg ; 1867,  William  M.  Crane;  1874,  George 
Stephens  ; and  since  the  fall  of  1885,  Marion  E. 
Griffis.  The  office  has  a daily  mail,  on  the 
Auburn  route  to  Montrose. 

C.  J.  Lathrop  was  an  early  merchant,  selling 
goods  several  years  prior  to  his  having  the  post- 
office  near  the  mills.  In  1847  Wilson  Bard 
started  a store  in  a building  which  was  changed 
into  a residence  for  the  miller.  J.  H.  Hall  and 
Justus  Hickox  also  traded  in  a small  way. 
Justus  Smith,  in  1856,  removed  to  Springville, 
and  was  the  last  at  the  mills.  About  1865  W. 
A.  Kellogg  opened  a new  stand  near  the  Corners, 
south  of  the  lakes,  but,  two  years  later,  sold  to 
I^eabody  & Crane.  John  Leabody  followed, 
and  was  succeeded  by  the  firm  of  Leabody  & 
Stephens.  Ou  the  death  of  Leabody,  George 


380 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


Stephens  became  the  sole  owner  and  traded  until 
1884,  when  he  sold  out  to  Marion  E.  Griffis, 
the  present  merchant. 

On  the  outlet  of  the  lakes  is  the  site  of  the 
old  Lathrop  Mills,  which  have  been  operative 
the  past  eighty  years.  The  j^resent  mill  was 
built  soon  after  1830,  and  has  had  many  owners, 
among  them  being  Searle  & Lathrop,  W.  A. 
Kellogg,  Fargo  & Lathrop,  AVells  & Bard,  E. 
ct  F.  Fargo,  John  V'oung,  Young  & Woodruff, 
and  the  present,  J.  G.  Cart.  It  is  still  quite  a 
good  custom  mill.  The  saw-mills  on  the  stream, 
above  and  below  the  mill,  are  not  now  in  opera- 
tion. The  upper  mill,  last  owned  by  E.  Fargo, 
was  moved  to  Bush,  where  it  was  carried  on  by 
George  Fargo.  The  lower,  or  Lathrop  mill,  has 
been  abandoned. 

South  of  the  Corners,  on  the  Auburn  road,  a 
steam  lumber-mill  was  erected,  half  a dozen 
years  ago,  by  J.  Estes,  who  sold  one-half  interest 
to  Edgar  Burdick.  Soon  after,  the  latter  dis- 
posed of  his  interest  to  Byron  Allen,  and  the 
establishment  is  now  carried  on  by  Estes  & 
Allen.  It  contains  machinery  to  cut  lumber, 
shingles,  to  plane,  and  to  grind  feed.  Five  men 
are  employed. 

Near  the  head-waters  of  White  Creek,  in  the 
southwestern  part  of  the  township,  Sylvanus 
Tyler  put  up  a saw-mill,  which  was  operative 
until  1856,  when  it  was  removed  to  make  place 
for  one  of  the  best  flouring-mills  in  the  county. 
Both  saw  and  grist-mills  were  now  operated  by 
water  and  steam-power,  and  much  business  was 
done.  In  October,  1883,  the  property  passed 
into  the  hands  of  Jefferson  and  Francis  Dough- 
erty; but  the  mills  were  burned  down  in  1884, 
and  a small  feed-mill  only  now  occupies  the 
site.  Small  saw-mills  in  this  locality  have  been 
abandoned. 

On  the  Meshoppen,  in  the  southeastern  part 
of  the  township,  the  water-power  was  improved 
in  the  early  part  of  the  century  to  operate  saw- 
mills, which  were  owned  by  the  Parke  family. 
The  country  in  this  section  remaining  heavily 
timbered,  the  water-power  was  constant,  and 
the  place  was  deemed  a good  site  for  more 
extensive  mills.  The  prospect  of  having  the 
narrow-gauge  railroad  built  up  this  valley  added 
to  this  view  and  encouraged  the  Honorable  Ben 


Parke  to  build  the  finest  flouriug-mill  in  this 
part  of  the  State.  The  mills  were  completed  in 
1868,  at  a cost  of  $30,000,  and  included  first- 
class  milling  machinery,  saw  and  lath-mills. 
The  water  was  carried  to  the  mills  through  a 
trunk  four  feet  in  diameter  and  six  hundred 
feet  long.  The  enterprise  appears  to  have  been 
fated  to  ill-luck  from  the  beginning.  Soon  after 
the  trunk  was  completed,  part  of  it  was  swept 
away  by  a freshet.  The  railroad  was  built  to 
the  west  of  the  mills  ; the  patronage  was  not 
large  enough  to  make  the  investment  a paying 
enterprise,  and  other  circumstances  prevented 
the  proprietor  from  realizing  his  anticipations. 
He  sold  the  Parkevale  property,  including  the 
mills  and  a large  tract  of  land,  to  George  Keiser. 
In  April,  1882,  the  mills  were  destroyed  by 
fire,  and  the  dam  was  afterwards  torn  away. 
In  1886  there  was  nothing  to  distinguish  Parke- 
vale from  ordinary  farm  property.  The  locality 
has  romantic  surroundings,  and  while  the  resi- 
dence of  the  Parke  family,  was  one  of  the  best- 
known- spots  in  the  county. 

On  the  Meshoppen,  near  the  Brooklyn  line, 
mills  are  operated  by  Eugene  Lathrop;  and 
other  mills  on  this  stream  have  passed  away. 
On  the  outlet  of  Cope’s  Pond,  whose  power  had 
been  increased  by  dams,  two  saw-mills  were 
operated  as  the  property  of  John  W.  Kobinson, 
and  were  located  but  a short  distance  apart. 
Lower  down  the  stream  was  a saw-mill  owned 
by  B.  Gavitt  and  Samuel  A.  Brown,  which  was 
later  the  property  of  Marcus  Hinkley.  An 
earlier  mill  had  been  carried  on  by  Preston 
Tiffany.  Soon  after  1810  a man  named  Ely 
had  a carding-mill  on  this  stream,  taking  the 
water  directly  from  the  falls.  The  machinery 
was  removed,  but  the  building  still  stands  on  the 
E.  T.  Tiffany  farm.  The  Hinkley  mill,  on 
this  stream,  was  first  gotten  in  operation  about 
1820. 

Educational,  AND  Beligious.-  Aside  from 
the  interest  manifested  in  common  schools. 
Dimock  has  had  several  schools  of  a higher 
order,  which  were  well  attended  and  deservedly 
popular.  The  oldest  of  these  was  Woodruff’s 
Academy,  established  at  Dimock,  prior  to  1850, 
by  L.  H.  Woodruff,  and  conducted  by  him  as  a 
private  enterprise.  He  was  himself  a success- 


DIMOCK. 


381 


ful  educator,  and  taught  a few  years,  occupying 
a building  which  had  been  erected  for  this 
purpose.  Subsequently  young  men  from  college 
taught,  the  last  instructor  being  his  son,  Clar- 
ence Woodruff.  After  this  the  building  was 
used  as  a public  hall,  but  it  has  recently  been 
changed  into  a tenement. 

Prior  to  the  late  Civil  War  the  Literary 
Society  of  Dimock  erected  an  academy  building 
twenty-two  by  forty  feet  and  two  stories  high, 
in  which  select  schools  were  taught  l)y  B.  M. 
Stone,  William  H,  Baker,  H.  V.  Thompson 
and  others.  By  arrangement  with  the  trustees 
of  the  building,  one  room  was  used  for  public 
schools,  which  have  been  continuously  taught 
in  that  building  since  1860.  The  Literary 
Society  consisted  of  fifty-six  members,  each 
owning  one  or  more  of  the  five-dollar  shares, 
which  created  a fund  to  erect  the  building  and 
maintain  the  school.  I.  P.  Baker,  B.  M.  Stone 
and  others  were  elected  trustees,  and  the  prop- 
erty is  now  held  in  trust  by  Judge  Baker,  the 
society  for  many  years  having  only  a nominal 
existence.  There  were,  in  addition  to  the 
schools  in  this  building,  lectures  and  literary 
meetings,  which  moulded  and  educated  jjublic 
opinion.  The  upper  room  of  the  building  forms 
a hall,  in  which  religious  meetings  are  now  held. 

It  is  probable  that  these  schools  were  at 
least  the  indirect  means  which  led  many  of  the 
young  men  of  the  township  to  engage  in  pro- 
fessional occupations  ; and,  as  a result.  Dimock 
has  furnished  a larger  number  of  lawyers  and 
doctors,  in  proportion  to  its  population,  than 
any  other  township  of  the  county.  Among 
those  claimed  either  as  natives  or  as  citizens, 
who  engaged  in  these  avocations,  are  the 
following : 

Physiaians : I.  B.  Lathrop,  of  Springville ; E. 
L.  Blakeslee,  of  Montrose ; Riley  Blakeslee,  of 
Harford ; Riley  Blakeslee,  of  Philadelphia ; 
John  G.  Woodhouse,  died  at  Laceyville;  Thos. 
Harkins,  of  Iona ; A.  C.  Blakeslee,  of  Nichol- 
son ; Albert  Ainey,  of  Brooklyn  Centre ; David 
Ainey,  of  New  Milford ; Addison  Newton,  of 
Illinois  ; Jonathan  Miles,  of  Lackawanna  Coun- 
ty ; Edward  L.  Brush,  of  Springville ; William 
Dolan,  of  Scranton;  John  Dennison, of  Wilkes- 
Barre;  Frederick  Dennison,  of  Mehoopany. 


Attorneys:  William  Ainey,  of  Allentown; 
William  Wells,  of  Pottsville ; E.  L.  Blakeslee, 
of  Montrose  ; Nahum  Newton,  deceased  ; Miller 
Allen,  of  Montrose ; Elhanan  Smith,  of  To- 
wanda;  Clarence  Woodruff,  of  Scranton;  and 
William  M.  Main,  who  had  finished  his  studies 
as  a law  student,  but  died  before  being  admitted 
to  the  bar.  The  township  also  claims  Judge 
Wilmot,  on  account  of  his  residence  in  Dimock 
for  a short  period. 

The  Dimock  Baptist  Church  was  organ- 
ized June  3,  1834,  by  a council  composed  of 
delegates  from  the  neighboring  Baptist  Churches. 
Eight  males  and  seventeen  females  entered  into 
membership,  nearly  all  having  letters  of  dismis- 
sion from  the  Bridgewater  and  Auburn  churches. 
Jonathan  Miles  was  chosen  deacon  and  Elijah  B. 
Slade  clerk.  Five  days  later,  June  8th,  the 
church  received  its  first  addition  of  membership, 
when  Elder  J.  W.  Parker  baptized  a number 
of  persons,  among  them  being  Mason  Tingley, 
later  and  for  many  years  a deacon.  Then  came 
as  preachers  at  occasional  periods  Elders  Davis 
Dimock,  J.  W.  Parker,  J.  D.  Jones,  J.  B.  Wor- 
den, Elijah  Sturdevaut  and  others.  Elder  Jon- 
athan Melvin  was  the  first  settled  pastor,  com- 
ing in  June,  1841.  Successive  ministers  of  the 
church  have  been  Elders  P.  Frink,  James  D. 
Webster,  Isaac  Gray,  J.  W.  Parker,  J.  M. 
Barns,  H.  H.  Gray,  W^m.  Tower,  Harvey 
Kingsbury,  John  E.  Barns,  T.  F.  Clancy.  In 
March,  1867,  Elder  A.  L.  Post  commenced  his 
ministry,  giving  the  church  full  time,  and  con- 
tinued his  service  until  his  death,  in  1879.  On 
the  1st  of  April,  1880,  Elder  J.  A.  Eldred 
entered  upon  a pastorate  which  continued  a little 
more  than  two  years.  In  1884-85  the  pulpit 
was  vacant,  but  there  was  occasional  preaching 
by  supplies.  Since  May  1,  1886,  Elder  S.  W. 
Cole  has  been  the  pastor  on  part  time,  serving 
also  the  church  of  Auburn. 

Though  there  have  been  so  many  ministerial 
changes,  the  church  has  had  quite  a large  aggre- 
gate membership,  about  one  hundred  and  fifty 
persons  in  all  having  belonged.  The  present 
membership  is  seventy-three,  and  the  affairs  of 
the  church  appear  to  be  in  good  condition. 

Besides  Jonathan  Miles,  the  deacons  of  the 
church  have  been  William  Baker,  Mason  Ting- 


382 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


ley,  E.  G.  Baker  and  Alpheus  Burdick.  The 
latter  is  the  present  deacon,  and  has  served  the 
church  twenty-two  years,  being  for  a long  time 
a contemporary  of  the  venerable  Deacon  Tingley, 
who,  being  incapacitated  by  age,  was  succeeded 
in  1875  by  E.  G.  Baker. 

The  clerks  of  the  church  have  been,  in  the 
order  of  their  election,  Elijah  B.  Slade,  Adoni- 
jah  Taylor,  Mason  Tingley,  D.  B.  Smith,  E. 
M.  Tingley,  Alonzo  Woodhouse,  Urban  Smith, 
M.  K.  Tingley,  and  Philip  D.  Burdick  since 
Nov.  14,  1863. 

Tlie  church  edifice  at  Dimock  was  begun  by 
the  people  of  tlmt  community  without  reference 
to  denominational  distinctions,  each  contributor 
receiving  stock  in  the  building.  In  1851 
members  of  the  church  secured  the  unfinished 
building,  and  through  the  efforts  of  Deacon 
Tingley  it  was  completed  for  the  use  of  the 
Baptists,  though  open  to  all  sects  for  funeral 
purposes.  It  is  a plain,  almost  square,  two- 
story  building,  and,  having  galleries  in  the 
sides,  has  ample  .seating  capacity.  In  1886  it 
was  in  a fair  state  of  preservation.  The  early 
Baptist  meetings  of  the  township  were  held  in 
the  vicinity  of  Elk  Lake,  and  embraced  a num- 
ber of  attendants  who  did  not  become  a part  of 
the  membership  of  the  present  church. 

The  Presbyterian  Church  of  Dimock. 
— A preliminary  meeting  having  in  view  the 
organization  of  a Presbyterian  congregation  at 
Dimock  was  held  Aug.  19,  1854,  when  it  w^as 
decided  to  form  a church  Sept.  16,  1854.  At 
the  designated  time  the  following  persons  were 
enrolled  as  members,  most  of  them  having 
withdrawn  from  the  Montro.se  Chureh  for  this 
purpose : L.  H.  Woodruff,  Jacob  Wallace, 

Wra.  B.  Dean,  Robert  Foster,  Charlotte  Beach, 
Caroline  Thompson,  Eunice  Bolles,  Helen  Bolles, 
Eliza  Scott,  Catherine  Wallace  and  Nancy  G. 
Maine. 

Meetings  were  held  in  the  academy  building, 
and  April  16,  1855,  nine  trustees  were  elected, 
when  the  congregation  became  an  incorporated 
body,  with  a view  of  building  a house  of  wor- 
ship. Various  causes  acted  to  i)revent,  and  the 
congregation  became  so  weak  in  the  course  of  a 
few  years  that,  at  a meeting  held  Aug.  10, 1865, 
but  six  members  attended.  Jacob  Wallace  was 


elected  treasurer  and  L.  H.  Woodruff  secretary. 
In  1868  there  were  ten  members  in  good  stand- 
ing, and  E.  W.  Woodhouse  and  wife  joined  at 
a meeting  held  this  year,  wlien  L.  H.  Woodruff 
w'as  elected  a ruling  elder.  The  Rev.  Harrison 
preached  occasionally  and  was  followed  by  the 
Rev.  George  Spaulding.  The  organization  of 
the  congregation  not  having  been  kept  up,  it 
was  again  incorporated,  with  the  present  name, 
Nov.  17,  1870,  to  erect  a church  edifice  on  one 
acre  of  land,  which  had  been  donated  for  this 
purpose  by  L.  H.  Woodruff.  Tlie  trustees  se- 
lected were  E.  W.  Woodhouse,  A.  W.  Maine 
and  J.  M.  Wallace.  In  1871  the  present  edi- 
fice was  erected,  and  was  thereafter  used  as  the 
regular  place  of  worship.  It  is  a neat  frame 
structure  with  a shapely  spire,  and  in  1886  was 
under  tlie  control  of  Trustees  T.  B.  Williams 
and  Jacob  Wallace.  In  1873  the  Rev.  Arthur 
Eolsom  became  the  stated  supply  and  continued 
several  years.  Edward  W.  Woodhouse  and 
Asa  Dewey  were  elected  elders,  but  removed, 
and  in  1886  the  congregation  had  no  elders  and 
but  half  a dozen  members.  The  affairs  of  the 
church  sadly  need  reviving. 

Methodist  meetings  have  been  held  in  Dimock 
almost  since  the  period  of  its  settlement,  but  no 
house  of  worship  has  been  provided  nor  a per- 
manent organization  established.  Near  the  cen- 
tre of  the  township  .several  classes  have  existed 
for  a period  of  years  ; but,  yielding  to  the  in- 
fluences produced  by  the  changes  of  population, 
they  have  gone  down,  to  be  revived  at  some  fu- 
ture period.  The  present  class  was  organized 
in  1875  by  the  Rev.  H.  G.  Harued,  preacher 
in  charge  of  the  Springville  Circuit,  with 
twenty-five  members,  and  H.  F.  Newton  class- 
leader.  Meetings  were  held  in  the  Presbyterian 
Church  at  Dimock  until  the  spring  of  1886, 
since  which  time  they  are  held  in  the  Literary 
Academy  building.  Norman  E.  Travers  is  the 
present  leader  of  the  class,  which  has  twenty 
members.  The  members  continue  to  be  a part 
of  Springville  Circuit. 

At  Elk  Lake  an  appointment  was  taken  up 
during  the  pastorate  of  William  Shelp,  and 
while  the  Rev.  F.  A.  Doney  was  the  preacher 
in  charge,  in  1876,  a great  revival  occurred, 
continuing  for  a period  of  six  weeks,  and  re- 


DIMOCK. 


383 


suiting  in  eighty  conversions.  In  July,  1876, 
a large  number  were  baptized  and  added  to  the 
church,  and  meetings  have  since  been  regularly 
held.  The  school-house  has  been  supplied  with 
a pulpit  and  an  organ,  which  are  the 
property  of  the  class,  which  meets  there  for 
preaching  services  every  two  weeks.  The  mem- 
bers number  twenty-four,  and  belong  to  Rush 
Circuit.  A Sabbath-school  of  fifty  members  is 
maintained. 

I'fear  Dimock  Station  are  the  camp-meeting 
grounds  of  the  Wyalusing  Camp-Meeting  Asso- 
ciation of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church — 
a body  which  became  incorporated  August  15, 
1877,  on  the  petition  of  the  following  persons  : 
I.  P.  Baker,  C.  S.  Gates,  H.  Crocker,  Jr.,  G. 
W.  Sterling  and  A.  W.  Tiffany.  The  a.ssociation 
has  thirteen  directors  who  control  its  affairs.  The 
capital  stock  is  limited  to  twenty  thousand  dol- 
lars, divided  into  shares  of  ten  dollars  each. 
The  grounds  were  located  in  1875,  and  consisted 
of  twenty-three  acres,  about  twenty  acres  being 
shaded  by  young  and  thrifty  trees,  on  a gentle 
hillside.  Here  is  an  unfailing  spring  of  pure 
water,  and  other  natural  advantages  make  it  a 
desirable  location.  The  grounds  have  been 
improved  by  the  erection  of  two  hundred  and 
forty  cottages,  a chapel  thirty  by  fifty-eight  feet, 
and  a new  boarding  tent.  The  meetings  are 
held  annually  for  a period  of  eight  days  and 
are  occasions  of  great  interest. 

The  cemeteries  of  Dimock  are  located  with 
reference  to  the  convenience  of  the  different 
sections  of  the  township,  and  are  small  plots  of 
ground,  preserved  and  improved  by  the  people 
living  in  their  neighborhood.  The  land  for  the 
one  at  Dimock  was  donated  by  Mason  Tingley. 
Other  burial-grounds  are  in  the  northeastern 
part  of  the  township,  at  Elk  Lake,  and  in  the 
southwestern  part,  in  the  Tyler  neighborhood. 

John  L.  Lake. — His  grandfather,  John 
Lake,  of  Hunterdon  County,  N.  J.,  had  an  ex- 
tensive business  as  auctioneer,  was  a farmer  and 
a prominent  politician  and  served  as  sheriff  of 
the  county.  His  father,  Abraham  (1796-1874), 
married  Susan  Garrison  (1793-1861),  was  a 
farmer  and  a large  dealer  in  horses  and  stock. 
He  was  reputed  to  be  a good  judge  of  horses, 
and  his  opinion  was  sought  in  their  sale  by  men 


far  and  near.  He  removed  with  his  family  to 
Knowlton  township,  Warren  County,  N.  J., 
where  he  purchased  a farm,  which,  with  the  as- 
sistance of  his  sons,  he  cleared  of  debt.  Sub- 
sequent to  the  removal  of  his  son,  John  L. 
Lake,  to  Dimock  township,  this  county,  he  also 
settled  here,  where  he  died.  The  Garrison 
family  were  settled  near  Phillipsburg,  N.  J. 
The  children  of  Abraham  and  Susan  Lake  are 
Elizabeth,  born  in  1819,  wife  of  Jacob  J.  Beck, 
resides  at  Hainesburg,  N.  J. ; John  L.,  born  in 
Hunterdon  County,  September  20,  1828  ; Wil- 
liam G.  (1822-60)  was  a farmer  in  Auburn 
township,  this  county,  where  he  died ; Mary 
Jane,  born  1825,  is  the  wife  of  E.  L.  Cool,  a 
farmer  in  Bridgewater;  Rachel,  boim  in  1827, 
the  wife  of  Ira  K.  Raub,  a farmer  in  Spring- 
ville ; Dian  (1830-54.);  Abraham  (1832— 
48);  Isaac  G.  (1834-82)  was  a farmer  and 
stock  dealer  in  Bridgewater,  and  was  acciden- 
tally killed.  One  of  his  sons  is  of  the  firm  of 
E.  C.  & M.  L.  Lake,  merchants  at  South 
Montrose. 

John  L.  Lake  rendered  great  assistance  to  his 
father  in  paying  for  his  farm  in  Warren  County, 
and  in  early  life  learned  the  necessity  of  indus- 
try and  economy,  the  sure  road  to  a successful 
business  career.  He  had  limited  opportunities 
for  obtaining  an  education  from  books  in  boy- 
hood, but  became  inured  to  hard  work  and 
gained  practical  les.sons  therefrom.  In  1856  he 
came  to  Susquehanna  County,  and  purchased 
one  hundred  and  six  acres  of  land  in  the  south- 
west corner  of  Dimock  township,  to  which  he 
has  added  until  he  is  the  owner  of  four  hun- 
dred and  twelve  acres,  nearly  all  in  one  tract. 
He  bought  the  Newton  saw-mill,  on  White 
Creek,  in  1878,  which  he  has  conducted  since. 
Naturally  taking  to  the  stock  business,  he  began 
in  1876  buying  stock,  and  marketing  in  the 
coal  regions,  and  subsequently  in  New  York, 
Scranton  and  Newark.  He  has  been  succeeded 
in  this  business  by  his  son,  William  L.  Lake, 
who  buys  and  ships  large  herds  of  stock  from 
this  county,  Buffalo  and  other  places,  to  New 
York  and  other  Eastern  markets.  Mr.  Lake, 
with  the  assistance  of  his  sons,  manages  this 
large  farm  successfully.  He  has  been  active  in 
local  politics,  and  has  served  as  supervisor  and 


384 


HISTORY  OF  SUSUQEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


path-master  for  over  twenty  years.  He  is  tem- 
perate in  his  habits  and  never  tasted  either 
liquor  or  tobacco.  He  is  prompt  in  business 
matters,  and  known  for  his  integrity  in  all  the 
relations  of  life.  He  married  Joanna  Hay  in 
1861,  who  died  ten  years  afterward,  leaving 
three  children — William  L.,  George  M.  and 
Charles  H.  Lake.  His  wife  was  a daughter 


one  child,  Jacob  B.  Stephens,  and  for  her  second 
husband,  she  married  Alfred  L.  Risley,  and  re- 
sides at  Springville. 

B.  L.  Brush. — The  first  representatives  of 
this  family  in  Susquehanna  County  settled  in 
Oakland  township  in  1820,  came  from  Connec- 
ticut and  founded  the  settlement  known  as 
Brushville.  Lewis  Brush,  one  of  the  sons,. 


of  Peter  and  Susan  Hay,  of  Warren 
County,  N.  J.,  who  settled  at  Auburn  Corners, 
this  county,  about  thirty-five  years  ago,  and 
were  farmers.  His  second  wife,  whom  he  mar- 
ried in  1873,  is  Mrs.  Mary  C.  (Raub)  Vough, 
who  was  born  October  5,  1829.  She  is  a 
daughter  of  Michael  (1792-1869)  and  Mary 
(1796-1863)  (Read)  Raub,  who  were  farmers 
near  Blairstown,  N.  J.,  where  the  family  of 
Raub  have  resided  for  several  generations. 
Her  grandfather,  Michael  Raub,  was  a soldier 
in  the  Revolution.  Mrs.  Lake  had  one  child 
by  her  first  husband,  Mary,  whose  first  hus- 
band was  Minor  Stephens,  by  whom  she  had 


located  for  a time  in  Bridgewater  township,  in 
the  Watrous  district,  and  thence  removed  to 
Hi  mock  in  1838.  He  was  a Representative  to 
the  Legislature  during  1843-44  for  the  district 
composed  of  Susquehanna  and  Wyoming  Coun- 
ties, and  received  his  nomination  from  the 
Democratic  party.  He  subsequently  served  as 
justice  of  the  peace  for  many  years,  and  his 
judgment  and  counsel  were  accepted  and  relied 
upon.  Hon.  Lewis  Brush  married  Lucy  Ann 
Williams,  also  from  Connecticut  stock,  who 
bore  the  following  living  children : Dr.  Platt 
E.,  who  studied  medicine  and  practiced  several 
years  successfully ; was  a surgeon  during  the 


DIMOCK. 


385 


Rebellion,  and  now  resides  at  Springville; 
Bruce  L.,  born  1 838,  subject  of  this  sketch ; 
Helen  M.,  married  T.  B.  Williams,  Esq.,  of 
this  township  ; Eugenia,  married  Theodore 
Baker,  of  Dimock  township  ; Moselle,  married, 
first,  James  Rymer,  and,  second,  a Mr.  Will- 
man,  now  living  at  Jermyn,  Pa.  Mr.  Brush 
died  in  this  township  in  1866.  Bruce  L. 
Brush  obtained  a good  education  from  books  in 
the  district  schools,  the  Montrose  Academy, 


account  of  physical  disability.  In  1860  he 
bought  the  farm  beautifully  located  between 
the  two  Elk  Lakes,  and  in  1878  erected  the 
present  home.  A farmer,  he  has  given  but 
little  attention  to  other  matters  than  the  science 
of  farming,  though  he  has  been  somewhat  ac- 
tive in  the  laudable  Grange  movement  and 
Odd-Fellowship.  His  fellow-townsmen  have 
recognized  his  stanch  and  honorable  character 
by  election  to  various  offices,  and  he  has  accept- 


the  Harford  Academy  and  the  Woodruff  Acad- 
emy, in  his  native  town,  under  the  tuition  of 
Hon.  William  H.  Ainey,  now  of  Allentown. 
He  afterwards  taught  in  the  district  schools 
several  winters  and  worked  upon  his  father’s 
farm  during  the  summer  seasons.  When  the 
first  draft  of  men  for  the  war  was  made  he  was 
one  of  those  upon  whom  the  lot  fell,  and  ex- 
pected to  be  engaged  for  the  next  nine  months, 
but,  on  reaching  Harrisburg,  was  exempted  on 
25 


ably  served  as  school  director,  constable,  assessor 
and  supervisor.  When  the  Montrose  Railway 
project  was  under  way  he  gave  the  right  of  way 
to  the  company  through  his  portion  of  his  de- 
ceased father’s  home  farm,  and  has  always  exhib- 
ited an  interest  in  mattersof  publicimprovement. 
He  married,  January  7,  1863,  Sabra  A.,  the 
adopted  daughter  of  David  and  Sabra  (Smith) 
Young,  born  1840,  and  has  children, — Viola 
A.,  the  wife  of  C.  W.  Stedman,  a farmer  of 


386 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


Rush ; and  Lizzie  P.  The  other  children  of 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Young  were  Edward,  Mary  and 
Henry,  the  latter  of  whom  is  now  a resident  of 
Washington  Territory.  The  Young  family  is 
of  Scotch-Irish  descent,  and  settled  in  what  is 
now  Dauphin  County,  Pa.,  at  an  early  date, 
and  came  to  Susquehanna  County  in  1815. 
The  late  ex-Sheriif  John  Young  was  a cousin 
to  David  Young. 

Judge  I.  P.  Baker. — His  grandparents, 
John  and  Hannah  Baker,  were  natives  of  and 
resided  in  Chester  County,  Pa.  Their  son 
Joseph  (1768-1837)  married  Elizabeth  (1769- 
1843),  a daughter  of  William  and  Deborah 
Baldwin,  who  bore  him  the  following  children  : 
John,  born  in  1788,  married  Emily  Johnson, 
who  resides  in  Dimock  township,  being  now  in 
her  eighty-fifth  year;  Deborah,  born  in  1790, 
mari’ied  Amos  Baldwin,  of  Chester  County ; 
Hannah,  born  in  1791,  wife  of  Abraham  Bailey, 
of  Di mock  township ; William,  born  in  1793; 
Mary,  1794,  became  the  wife  of  Lewis  Bailey, 
of  Chester  County;  Joseph,  1797;  Eli,  1799; 
Eliza,  1801,  married  Samuel  Woodward,  of 
Brooklyn  township ; Margaret,  1802,  wife  of 
Ezekiel  W.  Harlan,  of  Mauch  Chunk,  Pa. ; 
Julia,  1804;  Elizabeth,  1806;  married  George 
Gates,  of  Dimock,  now  in  his  eighty-ninth 
year;  Abeline,  1810,  is  the  wife  of  Urbane 
Smith,  a justice  of  the  peace  in  Dimock ; and 
Judge  Isaac  P.  Baker,  who  was  also  born  in 
Chester  County,  February  7,  1812.  Joseph 
Baker  was  a thorough-going  and  enterprising 
business  man,  and  while  a resident  of  Chester 
County  carried  on  a grist-mill,  saw-mill  and 
nail-factory  on  Brandywine  River,  until  the 
great  flood  came  and  destroyed  his  entire 
property,  even  washing  away  his  books  and 
papers.  In  1821  he  purchased  some  three 
hundred  acres  of  land  at  Dimock  Four  Corners, 
this  county,  and  the  following  spring  removed 
thence  with  his  family,  excepting  his  eldest 
daughter,  Deborah,  who  remained  in  Chester 
County.  He  largely  improved  this  property 
while  good  health  lasted,  but  a stroke  of  paraly- 
sis made  him  an  invalid  for  several  years  before 
his  death.  His  mother  was  a niece  of  Daniel 
Boone,  and  the  family  is  of  Quaker  origin. 
Isaac  P.  Baker,  the  youngest  child,  remembers 


attending  school  at  the  old  log  school-house 
several  miles  distant  from  their  home,  to  which 
he  walked  through  woods  and  over  streams. 
Upon  reaching  his  majority  he  spent  one  year 
in  boating  coal  from  Mauch  Chunk  to  Philadel- 
phia, and  was  often  brought  in  company  with 
the  lat^  Judge  Asa  Packer,  who  began  the  same 
busine.ss  at  the  same  time.  Returning  home,  he 
managed  his  father’s  farm  for  two  years,  and  in 
1837  he  began  buying  cattle  in  various  parts  of 
the  State  and  driving  them  to  Eastern  Pennsyl- 
vania markets  for  sale.  This  business  proved 
to  be  his  principal  life-work.  He  continued  to 
buy  stock  in  Pennsylvania,  New  York  and 
Ohio  for  market  in  the  eastern  part  of  this 
State,  and  for  about  five  y^ars  was  associated 
with  Squire  Urbane  Smith,  and  during  the  last 
few  years  shipped  them  by  carloads  from 
Buflalo  and  central  points  in  Ohio  until  1872, 
when  he  retired  from  the  business  and  located 
on  the  farm  which  he  had  all  the.se  years 
heretofore  carried  on  hinrself.  Here  he  resided 
until  1884,  when,  being  succeeded  on  the  home 
property  by  his  son,  Theodore  H.,  he  settled  at 
Dimock  Four  Corners,  where  he  has  since  re- 
sided. Judge  Baker  has  been  an  active  busi- 
ness man,  and,  together  with  his  other  affairs, 
was  a promoter  of  the  Montrose  Railway.  He 
early  took  an  interest  in  political  circles,  was  a 
member  of  the  old  Whig  party,  and  upon  the 
organization  of  the  Republican  party,  in  1856, 
was  one  of  the  first  to  advocate  its  principles 
and  assist  in  its  formation.  Notwithstaudins: 
his  large  business  operations  in  the  West,  he 
has  invariably  exercised  the  right  of  suffrage  at 
home,  and  strenuously  upheld  as  a leader,  by 
every  honest  measure  and  reasonable  effort,  the 
principles  of  reform  in  the  Republican  party. 
In  1861  he  accepted  the  nomination  of  his 
party  for  associate  judge,  was  elected  and,  with 
the  late  Judge  Charles  F.  Read,  served  for  a 
term  of  five  years.  He  sat  on  the  bench  with 
Judge  Mercur  for  four  years,  and  with  the  late 
Judge  Farris  B.  Streeter  for  one  year.  Together 
with  his  wife  and  many  others,  he  became  a 
member  of  the  Baptist  Church  at  Dimock  dur- 
ing a series  of  revival  meetings  held  there  in 
1841,  by  Elder  A.  L.  Post.  He  married,  in 
1839,  Anuis  H.,  a daughter  of  William  G.  and 


DIMOCK. 


387 


Elizabeth  (Carrington)  Handrick^  of  Middle- 
town,  this  county,  who  was  born  August  15, 
1814,  a woman  well  known  for  her  intelligence, 
hospitality  and  womanly  virtues.  Their  chil- 
dren are  Elizabeth  M.  (1842-68),  was  the  wife 
of  L.  W.  Hamlin,  of  Salem,  Wayne  County, 
Pa. ; Theodore  H.,  born  in  1844,  married 
Eugenia  B.,  a daughter  of  the  late  Hon.  Lewis 
Brush  ; Lillie  A.,  born  in  1847,  is  the  wife  of 
Dr.  Lee  Hollister,  of  Wilkes-Barre ; Isabella  E., 
(1851-64);  William  J.,  born  in  1853,  married 
Ida,  a daughter  of  Friend  and  Hannah  Hol- 
lister. 

William  Bunnell. — His  paternal  grand- 
father, James  (1768-1841),  a native  of  Litch- 
field County,  Conn.,  married  Azuba  Carter 
(1768-1816) ; was  a blacksmith  by  trade  and 
died  in  Southeast  Bridgewater,  this  county. 
Their  children  were  Ephraim  K.  (1798-1881) 
died  in  Bridgewater ; Avis  (1800-82)  married 
Daniel  Landon  and  resided  in  Susquehanna 
County  at  one  time  and  died  in  New  York 
State;  Elijah  (1803-72);  Dotha,  born  in  1810, 
married  a Mr.  Tooley  and  resided  in  Tennessee, 
where  she  has  a large  family  ; James  A.  (1813- 
86)  settled  in  Dimock  in  1849,  where  he  died 
thirty-seven  years  afterwards  ; Lucy,  born  in 
1 805,  the  wife  of  Charles  Farnham,  resided  in 
Massachusetts ; Matilda  (1807-53),  wife  of 
Harry  Stone,  resided  and  died  in  Litchfield 
County,  Conn.,  where  also  Samuel  Bunnell 
(1816-84),  the  youngest  child,  lived  and  died. 
Elijah  Bunnell  married  Lucy  (1804-64),  a 
daughter  of  Apollos  and  Eunice  (Throop) 
Stone,  of  Litchfield  County,  who  were  of  Scotch* 
origin.  Their  children  are  Kirby,  born  1827, 
a farmer  in  Bridgewater  township ; William, 
born  February  27, 1 829;  Dotha  Ann  (1831-38) 
and  Truman  S.  (1834-38) — both  died  of  an 
epidemic,  scarlet  fever,  the  same  year ; Lucy  J., 
born  1836,  married  Henry  Rogers,  now  of 
Lawrence,  Kan. ; and  Harry,  who  died  young. 
Elijah  Bunnell  came  to  Susquehanna  County 
in  May,  1833,  driving  through  by  the  New- 
burg  turnpike,  and  settled  on  the  farm  where 
his  son  Kirby  now  resides.  He  was  known  as 
a great  hunter,  and  supplied  his  table  largely 
with  choice  wild  game,  besides  disposing  of 
his  surplus  meats  to  his  neighbors.  He  ran  in 


debt  for  his  farm,  from  which  he  was  only  re- 
leased after  twenty  years  of  industry  and  toil 
and  the  hearty  assrstance  of  his  sons. 

William  Bunnell  was  four  years  old  when 
his  parents  settled  in  Bridgewater.  In  youth 
he  was  a close  student  of  books  and  completed 
his  education  under  Dr.  Lyman  Richardson,  at 
Harford,  and  under  Elder  Gray,  at  Montrose 
Academy.  He  was  a teacher  for  two  winter 
terms,  but  from  1854  to  1858,  as  a traveling 
salesman,  made  a series  of  tours  through  Mis- 
sissippi and  other  Southern  States.  On  Decem- 
ber 21,  1858,  he  married  Mary  J.,  a daughter 
of  Isaiah  (1785-1858)  and  Polly  (Williams) 
Maine  (1792-1878).  Her  father  was  in  the  War 
of  1 81 2,  and  came  to  Dimock  from  Groton,  Conn., 
in  1818,  settling  where  his  son,  I.  A.  Maine,  now 
resides.  His  purchase  being  made  under  the 
Connecticut  title,  he  was  compelled  to  pay  for 
a second  time.  The  children  of  Isaiah  Maine 
are  Alanson,  a retired  farmer  at  Diniock  Cor- 
ners ; Isaiah  A.,  a farmer  in  Dimock ; William 
(1820-41)  read  law  at  Montro.se,  but  died  be- 
fore being  admitted  to  the  bar;  Thomas,  a 
farmer  in  Dimock,  died  in  1 883 ; Mary  J., 
wife  of  William  Bunnell,  whose  children  are 
Alice  (1860-86);  Lucy  Jane,  a graduate  of 
Mansfield  Normal  School,  is  a teacher  in 
Bridgewater  ; Fanny  L.  and  Willard  M. 
Bunnell.  Mr.  Bunnell  has  been  a farmer 
and  a merchant ; he  has  been  prominent 
in  local  politics  ; was  a War  Democrat  and  has 
served  his  township  in  various  capacities  offici- 
ally. In  1880  he  espoused  the  principles  of 
the  Greenback  party,  and  advocated  measures 
adopted  by  both  branches  of  Congress  in  1862, 
whereby  all  money  furnished  by  the  govern- 
ment should  be  a legal  tender  for  all  debts, 
both  public  and  private.  In  the  fall  of  1881, 
in  company  with  T.  B.  Williams  and  S.  J. 
Northrop,  he  established  the  National  Record 
at  Montrose,  which  was  devoted  to  the  Green- 
back sentiment.  He  took  charge  of  the  outside 
work  until  the  patronage  of  the  paper  reached 
eighteen  hundred  subscribers.  Mr.  Bunnell 
sold  out  his  interest  in  the  newspaper  in  the  fall 
of  the  same  year. 

He  was  one  of  the  early  promoters  of  the 
Grange  movement  in  the  county,  one  of  the  men 


388 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


to  bring  about  its  resuscitation,  and  is  an  active 
member  of  Susquehanna  Grange,  No.  74.  He 
was  one  of  the  promoters  of  the  Montrose 
Railway  and  was  active  in  the  establishment  of 
the  Farmers’  Institute,  in  1886.  Mr.  Bunnell 
has  been  frequently  invited  to  deliver  addresses 
upon  various  topics,  and  his  earnest  advocacy  of 
the  principles  of  his  theme,  his  wide  range  of 
thought  and  common-sense  ideas  have  won  for 
him  no  little  consideration  among  his  fellow- 
men. 

James  A.  Bunnell,  son  of  James  and  Azuba 
Bunnell,  owned  the  Hoar  farm,  and  spent  the 
remainder  of  his  life  there  after  settling  in 
Dimock  from  Connecticut.  He  was  born  in 
Litchfield  County,  and  his  wife,  Mary  Ann 
Hall,  born  in  New  Haven  County  in  1815,  sur- 
vives, in  1886,  residing  with  her  children.  The 
eldest,  Frederick  Hall  Bunnell,  was  born  in 
Waterbury,  Conn.,  January  12,  1840;  Robert 
O.  is  a farmer  and  carpenter  in  Dimock  ; Ly- 
man W.,  also  a farmer  in  Diraock ; and  Wel- 
come L.,  a farmer  in  Springville. 

Frederick  H.  Bunnell  was  nine  years  old 
when  his  parents  came  to  Susquehanna  County. 
He  was  raised  on  the  home  farm,  and  obtained 
his  education  at  the  district  school  and  at  the 
Dimock  Academy.  For  three  terms  he  was  a 
teacher.  In  1863  he  went  to  Chicago,  and  on 
September  1,  1884,  enlisted  at  Grand  Rapids,  in 
Company  A.,  Twenty-first  Michigan  Regiment  of 
Infantry.  He  was  first  employed  in  an  Engineer 
Corps  on  the  hospital  buildings  at  Lookout 
Mountain,  and  subsequently  sent  to  Alabama 
under  General  Rosseau.  Returning  to  Chatta- 
nooga, his  regiment  (Twenty- first  Michigan)  was 
ordered  to  Dalton  on  guard.  After  one  week 
there  they  marched  to  Atlanta,  Ga.,  where  they 
arrived  in  November,  and  found  the  city  on 
fire.  Here  they  were  assigned  to  the  Second 
Brigade,  First  Division,  Fourteenth  Army 
Corps,  under  General  Sherman.  The  next  day 
they  started  through  Georgia,  went  to  Savan- 
nah, and  threw  up  breastworks,  but  the  city 
having  been  taken  by  the  navy,  and  Fort 
McAllister  surrendered,  they  marched  into  the 
city  without  fighting,  on  December  21st.  In 
January  they  left  and  marched  through  Lexing- 
ton and  Columbia,  then  on  fire,  and  were  en- 


gaged in  the  battles  of  Adairsville  and  Benton- 
ville  in  March,  where  they  lost  seventy  men. 
On  March  24th  Mr.  Bunnell  was  detailed  to 
serve  as  hospital  guard  at  division  headquar- 
ters, which  position  he  filled  until  the  war  ended. 
He  was  discharged  at  Washington,  June  8, 1865, 
and  went  to  Detroit,  where  the  regiment  was 
disbanded.  Returning  home,  he  married,  the 
same  year,  Harriet,  a daughter  of  Jacob  B.  and 
Catherine  (Sherman)  Wallace,  by  whom  he  has 
children, — James  Wallace,  Francis  Elmer,  Let- 
tie  Mary,  Irene  Estella,  Byron  Bruce  and  John 
M.  Bunnell.  The  fourth  child,  Kirby,  died 
young. 

Since  the  close  of  the  war  Mr.  Bunnell  has  been 
a farmer  in  Dimock.  He  was  one  of  the  char- 
ter members  of  Susquehanna  Grange,  P.  of  H., 
and  its  first  regularly  initiated  member,  and  has 
been  identified  with  the  Grange  movement 
since.  He  was  elected  Overseer  of  the  Pomona 
Grange  in  December,  1885,  the  same  month 
elected  Master  of  Susquehanna  Grange,  and  on 
June  1,  1886,  he  was  appointed  by  the  State 
Grange  Deputy  of  the  south  part  of  Susque- 
hanna County.  Since  holding  the  office  he  has 
organized  Elk  Lake  Grange,  No.  806,  with 
twenty-nine  charter  members,  and  in  December, 
1886,  reorganized  Union  Grange,  No.  152,  with 
thirteen  members.  By  virtue  of  the  last  two 
offices  he  is  a member  of  the  State  Grange. 


CHAPTER  XXIV. 

SPRINGVILLE  TOWNSHIP. 

This  township  was  erected  in  April,  1814, 
out  of  the  southwestern  part  of  the  old  township 
of  Bridgewater.  At  the  same  time  the  south- 
eastern part  of  that  township  was  erected  into 
the  old  township  of  Waterford  (including  La- 
throp  and  Brooklyn),  which  became  the  eastern 
boundary  of  Springville.  The  northern  limits 
of  the  new  township  extended  within  five  miles 
of  Montrose,  including  the  greater  part  of  what 
became  Dimock  in  1832.  Wyoming  County 
lies  south,  and  west  were  Auburn  and  about 
one  mile  of  Rush,  until  after  Dimock  was 


SPKINGVILLE. 


389 


erected,  when  that  township  became  the  northern 
boundary  of  Springville,  whose  area  was  now 
reduced  to  about  thirty  square  miles — six  miles 
along  the  Wyoming  line  and  five  miles  north 
and  south. 

“ At  different  periods  since  the  erection  of  Susque- 
hanna County  there  has  been  more  or  less  disquiet 
among  the  residents  remote  from  the  seat  of  justice, 
and  those  of  Springville  have  been  of  the  number. 
As  early  as  1839  the  matter  of  annexing  Springville 
and  Auburn  to  portions  of  Luzerne  and  Bradford,  to 
form  a new  county,  with  Skinner’s  Eddy  for  a county- 
seat,  was  openly  agitated.  Again,  in  1842,  it  was 
only  vigilance  on  the  part  of  some  that  prevented 
their  loss  to  Susquehanna,  when  Wyoming  County 
was  organized.  To  this  day  there  are  those  who  con- 
tend that  the  township,  for  half  a mile  within  its 
southern  border,  belongs  of  right  to  Wyoming,  since 
the  line  dividing  them  is  the  unrectified  one  of  1810- 
12.  This  should  have  been  due  east  from  Wyalusing 
Falls,  and  was  so  run  by  the  surveyors  going  east; 
but  the  party  from  the  east  line  of  the  county,  on 
account  of  some  variation  understood  by  surveyors, 
failed  to  meet  those  from  the  west,  being  considerably 
south  of  them.  The  matter  was  finally  compromised 
by  making  the  line  not  “due  east  and  west,”  as 
directed.  This  had  so  long  been  acquiesced  in,  and 
farms  and  town  arrangements  were  so  well  established 
in  1842,  it  was  concluded  best  to  make  no  changes.”^ 

The  lands  of  the  township  are  elevated  and 
slope  well  towards  the  south,  the  general  level 
being  broken  by  high  ridges  along  the  water- 
courses. Most  of  the  streams  drain  southward, 
the  principal  one  being  Meshoppen  Creek.  It 
enters  the  township  at  the  northeastern  part, 
and,  after  taking  the  waters  of  Pond  Brook, 
passes  out  of  it  east  of  the  centre.  In  the 
southwestern  corner  White  Creek  passes  into 
Auburn,  drawing  that  part  of  the  township. 
In  all  parts  of  Springville  good  springs  abound, 
and  in  the  eastern  section  there  are  several  small 
lakes  or  ponds.  The  streams  have  enough  fall 
to  afford  mill-sites,  but  lack  the  volume  to  make 
the  operation  of  machinery  profitable.  The 
low  lands  are  limited,  but  in  several  sections  the 
uplands  are  handsomely  located,  and,  having  a 
soil  naturally  fertile,  some  of  the  finest  farms 
in  the  county  have  there  been  made  since  the 
timber  growth  has  been  removed.  The  higher 
parts  were  once  covered  with  beech,  maple  and 


1 Miss  Blackman. 


hickory,  and  the  hillsides  and  lower  lauds  with 
elms,  basswood  and  hemlock.  But  few  pines 
and  scarcely  any  oak  were  found  in  the  town- 
ship. The  cereals  do  well,  but  dairying  has 
become  the  principal  occupation  of  the  people. 

The  Pioneers. — Not  possessing  so  many 
inviting  natural  features  as  some  otlier  town- 
ships in  the  county,  settlements  in  Springville 
did  not  antedate  the  century.  The  first  clearing 
was  made  in  the  fall  of  1800,  near  where  the 
Presbyterian  Church  was  afterwards  built,  by 
Captain  Jeremiah  Spencer  and  his  sons,  who 
put  in  six  acres  of  wheat.  He  was  a native  of 
New  Hampshire,  and  had  served  in  the  Revo- 
lutionary War,  but  lived  in  Rensselaer  County, 
N.  Y.,  prior  to  his  coming  here.  Captain 
Spencer  and  his  brother  Samuel  had  come  to 
this  section  to  survey  a township  six  miles 
square,  for  Oliver  Ashley,  of  Connecticut,  who 
had  bought  such  a tract  of  land  of  the  State,  for 
a half-bushel  of  silver  dollars,  and  to  which  he 
gave  the  name  of  “ Victory.”  On  an  old  map 
such  a township  appears,  having  an  irregular 
shape,  whose  southern  line  ran  near  where  is 
now  the  hamlet  of  Lynn.  It  embraced  in  the 
main  what  is  now  Springville  township  and  a 
part  of  Auburn.  The  family  of  Captain  Spencer 
came  in  1801,  and  consisted  of  his  wife  (who 
was  a sister  of  Judge  Ashley),  sons  named  Daniel 
and  Francis  B.,  and  five  daughters.  Captain 
Spencer  died  in  1825,  aged  seventy-five  years. 
He  was  interred  in  the  cemetery  for  which  he 
donated  the  land,  as  were  also  some  of  the 
members  of  his  family.  Francis  B.  Spencer 
lived  at  Springville,  being  the  first  postmaster 
at  that  place,  in  1815,  and  was  well  educated 
for  those  times.  He  died  at  Factoryville,  Jan- 
uary 1,  1869.  Daniel  Spencer  was  widely 
known  as  a great  hunter,  and  some  remarkable 
stories  of  his  skill  are  related. 

“Hazard’s  Register  contained  a notice  of  Daniel 
Spencer’s  wonderful  pound  of  gunpowder,  entitled, 
‘Susquehanna  County  against  the  world!’  ‘In  the 
early  settlement  of  this  county,  Mr.  Spencer,  of 
Springville  township,  killed,  with  one  pound  of  pow- 
der, one  hundred  and  five  deer,  nine  bears,  three 
foxes,  one  wolf,  three  owls  and  a number  of  partridges 
and  quails.  Mr.  Spencer  has  killed  upwards  of  fif- 
teen hundred  deer  since  he  came  to  reside  in  this 
county.’ 


390 


HISTOKY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


“ The  following  is  the  testimony  of  one  of  his  former 
neighbors : ‘ He  was  out  one  day  in  the  fall  of  the 
year,  when  the  bucks  frequently  get  into  a family 
quarrel,  as  in  this  case.  He  found  two  lusty  bucks 
that  had  been  fighting,  and  in  the  battle  their  horns, 
being  long  and  prongy,  became  locked  together  so 
firmly  that  they  could  not  be  separated  by  any  effort 
they  could  make,  and  one  of  them  died  either  in  the 
battle  or  by  starvation,  and  the  other  had  dragged  his 
dead  comrade  around  until  he  was  just  alive  and  had 
become  a mere  skeleton.’ 

“ The  road  from  Colonel  Parke’s  to  Springville 
Hollow  was  opened  in  1803  or  1804  by  the  Spencers. 
Previous  to  that,  only  marked  trees  and  a bridle-path 
had  guided  the  traveler  to  the  Susquehanna  Eiver  at 
the  mouth  of  the  Meshoppen.” 

Samuel  Spencer,  the  brother  of  Captain 
Spencer,  bought  five  hundred  acres  of  land  in 
the  present  Lymanville  neighborhood,  south  of 
the  Connecticut  township  of  Victory,  for  which 
he  paid  Colonel  Jenkins,  of  Wyoming,  a horse 
and  saddle.  Returning  to  New  Hampshire, 
Spencer  sold  this  land  to  his.  brother-in-law, 
Gideon  Lyman,  of  Wethersfield,  Conn.,  for  five 
hundred  dollars,  but  who  did  not  occupy  it 
until  1803.  In  March  of  that  year  he  came, 
with  his  wife  and  eleven  children,  and  made  a 
temporary  home  on  the  place  which  afterwards 
became  the  farm  of  Justus  Knapp,  on  account 
of  its  nearness  to  Captain  Spencer,  who  re- 
turned with  them  from  the  East,  where  he  had 
been  on  a visit.  As  soon  as  he  could  prej>are  a 
house,  Gideon  Lyman  moved  his  family  to  the 
land  he  had  bought  of  Samuel  Spencer — to  the 
locality  which  has  ever  since  been  known  by 
his  name. 

Owing  to  his  generosity  while  on  the  way 
hither,  in  relieving  a friend  pressed  by  a 
creditor,  Mr.  Lyman  had  only  fifty  cents  in  his 
pocket  when  he  reached  his  destination.  The 
house  he  occupied  was  built  by  felling  basswood 
trees,  splitting  them  open,  and  laying  them  up 
with  the  flat  side  inward.  It  was  probably 
eighteen  by  fourteen  feet,  and  had  to  accommo- 
date thirteen  persons  through  the  summer. 
The  roof  was  made  of  white  ash  bark,  but  the 
floor  was  of  the  same  material  as  the  sides  of 
the  building.  Two  barrels  of  pork  constituted 
the  stock  of  provisions,  and  Mr.  Lyman  was 
obliged  to  go  to  Exeter,  near  Wilkes-Barre, 
and  sell  a horse  to  get  grain  for  bread.  This 


left  him  only  one  horse.  He  sold  a bed  to  buy 
a cow.  To  crown  his  discouragement,  he  found 
he  held  a worthless  title,  and  had  eventually  to 
buy  of  Mr.  Drinker,  recovering  nothing  of 
what  he  had  paid  in  good  faith  to  the  claimant 
under  the  Connecticut  title.  But  he  had  been 
a soldier  in  the  Revolutionary  army,  and  was 
not  easily  daunted.  His  first  house  was  built 
about  ten  or  twelve  rods  from  one  of  the  most 
bountiful  springs  in  our  country ; but  this  was 
so  concealed  by  laurels  that  he  had  lived  upon 
the  place  several  years  before  it  was  discovered. 
Subsequently  he  built  nearer  it,  and  the  house 
is  now  occupied  by  his  grandson,  James  H. 
Lyman.  The  spring  supplied  him,  and  many 
of  the  neighbors,  with  an  unfailing  stream  of 
pure,  cold  water  during  protracted  drouths. 
Here  he  lived  until  his  death,  in  May,  1824. 
His  children  all  lived  to  old  age,  and  all  but 
one  were  present  at  his  funei’al.  His  sons  were 
Elijah,  Gideon,  Joseph  Arvin,  Samuel,  John 
and  Prentiss.  Elijah  is  still  living  (September, 
1869),  in  Allegany  County,  N.  Y.,  aged 
eighty-seven.  His  sister,  Dolly  Oakley,  is 
eighty-five.  Gideon,  a twin  with  the  latter, 
died  when  fifty-five  years  old.  Naomi  Spencer 
died  when  sixty-nine ; Samuel  when  seventy- 
one  ; Joseph  Arvin  in  his  sixty-second  year. 
The  five  others  are  living,  the  youngest  being 
seventy-one.” 

Having  such  a large  family,  and  being  so 
far  removed  from  the  sourees  of  supplies,  with 
few  means  to  procure  what  was  obtainable,  the 
Lymans  suffered  many  hardships,  which  were 
shared  by  other  families  in  this  locality. 

“ One  summer  there  was  a scarcity  of  bread.  A 
crop  of  rye  was  growing,  and  as  soon  as  it  was  full  in 
the  head  it  was  cut  in  small  quantities,  and  when  dry, 
was  taken  out  of  the  straw,  cleaned,  and  set  before 
what  was  called  a Dutch  fireplace,  and  kiln-dried  ; 
it  was  then  ground  in  a coffee-mill,  the  hopper  of 
which  would  not  hold  more  than  a pint,  then  sifted 
and  made  into  something  called  bread. 

“Gideon  Lyman  one  Sabbath  morning,  searching 
for  his  cow,  found  some  raspberries;  anything  so 
gratifying  and  exciting  he  did  not  think  it  right  to 
tell  his  wife  during  holy  time,  and  so  waited  until 
evening,  when  custom  closed  its  observance.  His 
wife  was  then  unable  to  sleep  for  joy.  In  the  morn- 
ing, pails  of  berries  were  secured. 

“ A few  years  later  Mrs.  L.  and  a young  woman 


SPRINGVILLE. 


391 


set  out  with  a lantern  one  evening,  to  go  about  a 
mile  and  a half  to  watch  with  a sick  neighbor. 
Starting  from  a house  where  they  had  been  visiting 
in  the  afternoon,  they  lost  their  way,  and  spent  the 
night  in  the  woods.  A brisk  snow-storm  added  to 
the  unpleasantness  of  the  situation,  but  they  made  a 
fire,  and  as  they  had  a hymn-book,  they  passed  the 
time  in  singing  hymns.  In  the  morning  they  pro- 
ceeded on  their  way  and  crossed  a wolf’s  track  in  the 
snow  before  they  reached  the  small  stream  which 
they  followed  to  their  destination.”^ 

In  1801  Ezra  Tuttle,  a neighbor  of  Gideon 
Lyman,  came  and  settled  on  what  afterwards 
became  known  as  the  Packer  farm,  north 
of  Captain  Spencer.  He  had  bought  three 
hundred  acres  of  land  under  the  Connec- 
ticut title,  paying  one  dollar  an  acre  therefor 
to  Colonel  Ezekiel  Hyde,  of  Rush  ; but  to  per- 
fect the  title  he  was  obliged,  afterwards,  to 
pay  the  Pennsylvania  claimant,  Henry  Drinker, 
an  additional  five  hundred  dollars.  He  built 
the  first  frame  house  in  the  township,  and  he 
and  his  sons  cleared  up  two  hundred  and  fifty 
acres  of  laud.  They  also  constructed  a large 
part  of  the  turnpike  from  Montrose  to  Tunk- 
haunock, in  1815,  and  opened  other  roads  in 
the  township.  Some  of  his  other  early  im- 
provements are  also  well  remembered.  His 
death  occurred  in  1826,  and  he  was  interred  in 
the  cemetery  near  the  homestead.  His  son 
Myron  was  the  first  child  born  in  Springville. 
and  after  residing  here  many  years  he  removed 
to  the  West  in  1846.  Of  the  other  six  children 
composing  the  family,  two  were  sons  and  four 
daughters.  The  latter  married, — Sylvia,  Wells 
Carrier ; Sabina,  Benajah  McKenzie ; Betsey, 
Samuel  Sutton ; Achsa,  George  Strickland. 
Benoni  Tuttle,  one  of  the  sons,  died  in  the 
township  many  years  ago.  Abiathar  Tuttle, 
the  other  son,  and  the  oldest  of  the  family,  was 
thirteen  years  old  when  his  parents  came  to 
reside  in  Springville.  He  became  a carpenter, 
and  helped  to  put  up  many  of  the  buildings 
occupied  by  the  early  settlers.  In  later  life  he 
resided  on  the  farm  now  occupied  by  John  Tut- 
tle, north  of  Springville  village.  For  more 
than  sixty  years  he  was  an  exemplary  member 
of  the  Methodist  Church,  and  also  became  a 
Free  and  Accepted  Mason  at  an  early  day.  He 

1 Bluckmau. 


died  March  7,  1879,  at  the  advanced  age  of 
ninety-one  years,  having  retained  his  physical 
and  mental  powers  to  the  last.  He  was  interred 
at  White  Haven,  Pa. 

In  1800  Salmon  Thomas  came  from  New 
Hampshire,  made  a small  clearing,  sowed  wheat 
and  returned  to  his  home.  In  1801  he  came 
back,  accompanied  by  his  father  and  brother 
Charles.  Both  of  the  former  took  up  one 
hundred  acres  of  land  on  the  hill  southwest  of 
Spring  Hollow.  The  sons  being  single,  lived 
with  their  father,  Samuel  Thomas.  In  1805 
Salmon  married  Rosalinda,  daughter  of  Ezekiel 
Lathrop.  They  reared  sons  named  Reuben, 
Benjamin,  Dennison,  Salmon,  Davis  (still  living 
on  the  homestead)  and  Edwin.  Charles  Thomas 
married  Phoebe  Sutton  and  settled  on  a farm 
adjoining  the  homestead.  Their  children  were 
seven  sous  and  one  daughter,  namely : Eri, 
Francis,  John,  George,  Charles,  Daniel,  Almeda, 
and  Samuel  S.  The  latter  is  a resident  near 
Lynn  Station,  and  is  a teacher  of  more  than 
thirty  years’  standing.  Samuel  Thomas,  Jr.,  a 
brother  of  Salmon  and  Charles,  came  at  a later 
day,  and  after  living  near  the  north  line  of  the 
township  some  years,  removed  to  Connecticut. 

Hon.  A.sa  Packer,  son  of  Elisha  Packer,  of 
Groton,  New  London  County,  Conn.,  was 
born  in  that  town  on  the  29th  day  of 
December,  1805.  As  soon  as  he  was  old 
enough  to  do  for  himself,  a situation  was  pro- 
cured for  him  in  the  tannery  of  Mr.  Elias 
Smith,  of  North  Stonington.  In  the  year  1822, 
when  but  seventeen  years  of  age,  he  set  out  on 
foot,  with  a few  dollars  in  his  pocket  and  his 
worldly  goods  comprised  in  a knapsack,  for 
Susquehanna  County,  Pa.  Here  he  appren- 
ticed himself  to  the  trade  of  carpenter  and 
joiner  in  Hopbottom,  (now  Brooklyn).  While 
so  engaged,  he  went  with  his  employer  to 
Springville,  to  build  the  mansion  of  the  late 
William  Drinker,  Esq.  on  the  place  recently  occu- 
pied by  Thomas  Nicholson,  Esq.,  and  since  pur- 
chased by  Mr.  Packer  himself.  It  was  here  also 
that  he  first  met  the  daughter  of  Zophar  Blake- 
slee,  Sarah  Minerva,  who  afterwards  became  his 
wife.  He  heard  of  the  Lehigh  Valley  as 
affording  greater  remuneration  for  labor,  and 
superior  opportunities  for  advancement.  Ho 


392 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


was  induced,  therefore,  to  remove  thither,  and 
in  the  spring  of  1833  located  at  Mauch  Chunk. 
He  brought  to  his  new  home  but  a few  hundred 
dollars,  his  capital  consisting  rather  of  his 
active  mind,  strong  arms  and  industrious 
habits.  His  first  and  second  summers  were 
spent  in  boating  coal  from  Mauch  Chunk  to 
Philadelphia,  himself  acting  as  master  of  his 
own  boat.  The  energy  and  capacity  which 
he  displayed  while  thus  employed  commended 
him  to  the  favorable  notice  of  the  Lehigh  Coal 
and  Navigation  Company,  with  whom  he  after- 
wards formed  a profitable  connection,  which 
lasted  a number  of  years. 

He  subsequently  formed  a partnership  with 
his  brother  under  the  firm-name  of  A.  & R. 
W.  Packer.  They  did  a large  business  at  Mauch 
Chunk,  took  contracts  for  the  Lehigh  Coal 
and  Navigation  Company,  and  were  the  first 
through  transporters  of  coal  to  New  York 
market.  In  1851  Judge  Packer  purchased 
nearly  all  the  stock  of  the  Lehigh  Valley  Rail- 
road, and  afterwards  became  its  president. 
Under  his  management  the  road,  in  connection 
with  vast  coal  interests,  became  a great  success, 
and  Mr.  Packer  became  the  wealthiest  man  in 
the  State.  He  was  twice  a member  of  Con- 
gress, Democratic  candidate  for  governor  in 
1859  and  undoubtedly  elected,  but  counted  out 
in  Philadelphia.  He  founded  the  Lehigh  Uni- 
versity in  1865,  assisted  very  materially  in 
building  the  Montrose  Railway  in  1871.  He 
died  May  17,  1879.  (For  further  account  see 
Lehigh  and  Carbon  history.) 

Blakslee. — Zophar,  Benjamin  and  Aaron 
Blakslee  came  from  Connecticut  in  1801  and 
settled  in  Springville.  Aaron,^  the  youngest 
(1784-1859),  settled  where  H.  K.  Sherman 
resides,  north  of  Springville,  which  was  his 
home  until  his  death.  He  married  a sister  of 
Freeman  Lane.  He  was  a leading  member  of 
the  Methodist  Church,  and  contributed  largely 
to  the  erection  of  the  church  edifice  at  Spriug- 
ville.  His  house  was  the  welcome  stopping-' 
place  for  itinerant  clergymen.  He  had  two 
sons — Erasmus  Darwin  (1818-47)  and  Rev. 
Geo.  H.  Blakeslee  (1817-76),  the  latter  a Meth- 


' This  branch  of  the  family  spell  the  name  Blakeslee. 


odist  minister,  thirty-five  years  a member  of 
Wyoming  Conference,  married  the  daughter 
of  James  Cargill,  of  Jackson.  His  daughters 
were  Mariah,  1812,  widow  of  Dwight  Risley, 
now  residing  in  Springville;  Angel ine  (1813- 
70),  married  Charles  Keeney,  of  Braintrim ; 
Eleanor,  1822,  married  A.  D.  Woodhouse,  of 
Springville  ; Miranda  (1828-81),  married  Oscar 
Marsh,  and  after  his  death  became  the  wife  of 
Stephen  Clark,  of  Carbondale.  Benjamin 
lived  and  died  in  Dimock.  One  son  of  his, 
Lyman,  resides  at  Lynn,  whose  daughter  is  the 
wife  of  James  M.  Jeffers,  a merchant  of  that 
place.  Another  son  is  Hiram,  of  Dimock. 
Zophar  Blakslee  (1776-1836)  occupied  the  hol- 
low now  covered  by  the  village  of  Springville 
until  1829,  when  he  subsequently  removed 
to  near  the  Auburn  line  and  settled  on  a 
farm,  where  he  died.  His  widow  remained  on 
this  homestead  for  nearly  thirty  years  after  his 
death.  His  first  wife  was  Clarinda  Whitmore, 
who  died  prior  to  1810,  leaving  children — 
Lucius,  a merchant  and  contractor,  who  lived 
and  died  in  White  Haven,  Pa.;  Sarah  Minerva 
became  the  wife  of  Judge  Asa  Packer,  of 
Mauch  Chunk;  Hannah  was  the  wife  of  Charles 
Ashley,  of  Springville,  and  died  on  her  way  to 
California;  Clarinda  married  William  Baker; 
and  Fanny  was  first  the  wife  of  Caleb  Barnes, 
of  Springville,  and  after  his  death  married 
William  Cooley,  of  Auburn.  His  second  wife, 
Abigail  Taylor  (1777-1864),  bore  him  children 
— James  I.,  born  in  1815,  president  of  the 
Montrose  Railway,  trustee  of  the  Packer  estate, 
and  a prominent  railroad  and  coal  man,  resides 
at  Mauch  Chunk  ; Benjamin  Franklin,  March 
3,  1820  ; William  W.,  a merchant  at  Wetherly, 
Pa.;  Lucinda,  the  wife  of  Abram  Luce,  resides 
at  Lynn;  Eunice,  wife  of  John  Crellin,  of 
White  Haven,  Pa.;  Gibson  lived  and  died  on 
the  homestead ; Eliza,  first  the  wife  of  Franklin 
Griswold  and  second  of  Lafayette  Safford,  of 
Auburn ; Marion  is  the  wife  of  Charles  O. 
Skeer,  of  Mauch  Chunk;  Lemuel,  born  May 
3,  1831  ; and  Betsey  Mariah,  married  Lyman 
G.  Cogswell,  of  Lynn. 

Ben.iamin  F.  Blakslee  was  sixteen  years 
old  at  the  death  of  his  father,  and  took  charge 
of  the  home  farm  until  he  reached  his  majority. 


SPRINGVILLE. 


393 


Avhen  he  purchased  a part  of  it,  and  there  car- 
ried on  general  farming  until  1874.  At  this 
date  he  settled  at  Lynn,  where  he  has  since  re- 
sided and  continued  the  management  of  his 
farm.  Although  his  opportunities  for  book- 
knowledge  were  limited  in  boyhood,  yet  his 
home  training  and  early  farm  experience  gave 
him  practical  ideas  of  a business  life.  In  com- 
mon with  other  citizens,  his  desire  for  an  outlet 
by  railroad  to  the  county-seat,  connecting  with 
lines  reaching  to  the  sea-board,  whereby  the 
products  of  this  section  of  the  county  might  be 


placed  in  the  best  markets,  led  him  to  be  one  of 
the  first  to  agitate  the  subject  of  a railroad  con- 
necting Montrose  with  the  Ivehigh  system. 
When  the  matter  assumed  practical  shape,  he 
was  made  one  of  the  executive  committee  at  the 
first  meeting  held  at  Montrose  for  the  organiza- 
tion of  the  Montrose  Railway,  and  was  one  of 
the  board  of  commissioners  prior  to  the  election 
of  directors.  He  was  sole  solicitor  for  stock  for 
the  new  road  along  the  route  and  elsewhere,  col- 
lected the  same,  and  to  his  persevering  efforts 
in  both  of  these  departments  may  be  largely 
attributed  the  success  of  the  enterprise.  He  has 
26 


been  a director  of  the  road  since  its  organization. 
Mr.  Blakslee  has  taken  little  interest  in  politics, 
save  to  exei'cise  the  right  of  suffrage,  yet  has 
served  his  township  as  supervisor  and  collector. 
He  married,  in  1840,  Eliza  Mack  (1818-75)  a 
daughter  of  Elijah  Mack,  an  early  settler  of 
Brooklyn.  Their  children  are  Edward  M.,  a 
farmer  and  merchant  at  Lynn,  the  mercantile 
business  being  a partnership  under  the  firm- 
name  of  Greenwood  & Blakslee ; Sarah  A.,  first 
married  Samuel  Tyler,  of  Dimock,  and  after  his 
death  married  William  Low,  of  Auburn  ; Mary 
L.  is  the  widow  of  the  Rev.  Wm.  H.  Gavitt,  a 
IMethodist  clergyman  and  now  residing  in 
Springville;  Lucy  M.,  wife  of  J.  Cokely,  of 
Springville  ; and  Dore  and  Lizzie,  dressmakers, 
residing  at  Lynn.  For  his  second  wife,  Mr. 
Blakslee  mairied,  in  1878,  the  widow  of  Charles 
H.  Silkman,  a lawyer  of  Scranton,  formerly 
Mary  E.  Rogers,  the  daughter  of  Noah  (1794- 
1855)  and  Lucy  Bidwell  (1805-74)  Rogers, 
who  were  early  settlers  of  Way  mart.  Pa.  This 
Noah  Rogers  was  a prominent  and  influential  cit- 
izen of  Wayne  County,  and  one  of  the  projectors 
of  the  Delaware  and  Hudson  Railroad.  Mrs. 
Blakslee  has  been  an  earnest  worker  in  the  church 
and  Sunday-school  since  the  age  of  fourteen,  has 
written  religious  articles  for  publication,  and 
essays  to  read  in  public.  She  has  fine  musical 
talent,  having  composed  several  pieces  of  music, 
and  for  many  years  was  a successful  teacher  of 
instrumental  music.  In  1857  she  was  organist 
at  the  Adams  Avenue  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  and  twenty  years  after  at  the  Park 
Place  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  both  of 
Scranton,  Pa.  She  has  three  sons — Warren  D. 
and  Lewis  P.  Silkman,  and  Franklin  A.  Blaks- 
lee. One  of  her  brothers,  A.  N.  Rogers,  since 
1865,  has  been  superintendent  and  general 
agent  of  the  Bobtail  Gold-Mining  Co.,  of  Cen- 
tral City,  Colorado.  Another  brother,  William 
E.  Rogers,  M.D.,  w^as  a practicing  physician  in 
Scranton  (1856-(i0),  but  most  of  his  time  since 
1861  w'as  spent  in  the  Eastern  States.  He  died 
in  Concord,  N.  H.,  in  1886. 

Lemuel  Blakslee,  youngest  son  of  Zoj)har 
Blakslee,  was  five  years  old  when  his  father 
died,  and  at  the  tender  age  of  eleven  years  left 
the  parental  roof  and  went  out  into  the  world 


394 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


to  carve  out  a home  and  competence  for  him- 
self. From  that  time  until  seventeen  years  of 
age  he  worked  out  by  the  month.  He  then  took 
his  first  trip  from  home,  visited  Manch  Chunk, 
and  saw  for  the  first  time  the  operations  of 
coal-mining.  The  next  year  he  returned  to 
that  place,  and  for  two  years  worked  for  his 
l)rother-in-law,  Asa  Packer.  For  one  year  fol- 
lowing he  farmed  it  in  Jessup,  when,  upon 
reaching  his  majority,  he  began  working  at  the 
carpenter’s  trade,  which  he  continued  until  six 
years  after  his  luarriage.  In  1856  he  built  a 
house  on  his  own  account,  on  the  homestead. 


for  his  mother,  and  there  himself  resided  also 
until  1862.  For  two  years  following  he  farmed 
it  in  Auburn  township.  For  six  years  there- 
after he  resided  on  the  Packer  place,  in  Dimock  ; 
owned  a farm  at  Kasson  Corners  for  one  year, 
and  then  purchased  one  on  the  Montrose  and 
Tunkhannock  turnpike,  known  as  the  “ Porter 
place,”  which  he  still  owns,  adjoining  the  vil- 
lage. Mr.  Blakslee  has  always  exhibited  a 
commendable  enterprise,  and  he  has  evidenced 
his  public  spirit  in  several  instances  to  the 
benefit  of  his  fellow-townsmen.  The  depot 


building  at  Springville  is  owned  by  him,  which 
he  erected  in  1876,  and  his  present  residence, 
on  the  west  part  of  the  Porter  farm,  near  the 
depot,  he  built  the  year  following.  He  also 
laid  out  and  opened  the  street  known  as  Depot 
Street,  and  donated  the  land  upon  which  the 
graded  school  building  is  erected,  situate  on 
that  street.  He  has  been  station  agent  at 
Springville  since  1877,  and  during  the  con- 
struction of  the  road  assisted  in  building  its 
water-tanks.  Depending  upon  his  own  re- 
sources from  boyhood,  by  self-reliance  and 
a laudable  ambition,  he  has,  by  honorable 
methods,  made  a competence  for  himself  and 
family ; and  besides  his  present  property,  is  a 
half-owner  with  his  brother,  James  I.,  of  the 
Asa  Packer  place,  one  mile  northwest  of 
Springville.  He  married,  in  1855,  Charlotte 
Lane,  who  was  born  in  Springville  March  15, 
1837.  She  is  a daughter  of  Thomas  (1791- 
1852)  and  Sarah  Harkins  (1794-1880)  Lane, 
who  resided  one  mile  northwest  of  Springville 
village.  Sarah  Harkins  was  the  daughter  of 
Jeremiah  Harkins,  who  was  an  early  settler 
in  Springville.  Thomas  Lane  was  the  son  of 
Gershom  Lane,  who  settled  in  Springville  about 
1808.  The  children  of  Thomas  Lane  are  Rou- 
etta,  1820,  wife  of  Joseph  Bramhall,  of 
Wyoming  County  ; Hannah,  1824,  married 
Jackson  Lewis,  of  Bradford  County  ; Clemen- 
tine, 1829,  wife  of  Aaron  Bunnell,  of  Wyom- 
ing County ; Anna  Maria,  1833,  wife  of  Lucius 
Williams,  of  Newark  Valley,  N.  Y. ; and 
Charlotte  Lane  (Mrs.  Blakslee).  Lemuel  and 
Charlotte  Blakslee’s  children  are  Jessie  M.  ; 
Louise  E. ; Robert  L.;  Sarah  M.,  who  died 
young;  James  A.;  Lottie  C. ; Marion  C. ; and 
Kate  H.  Blakslee. 

Harvey  K.  Sherman. — His  grandfather, 
Christopher  Sherman  (1758-1835),  was  a native 
of  the  island  of  Rhode  Island,  where  he  mar- 
ried Patience  Childs.  He  was  by  occupation  a 
farmer,  and  served  as  a soldier  in  the  Revolu- 
tionary War.  Their  children  were  Jonathan 
Childs,  Hiram,  Jesse  and  Abel.  Of  these, 
Jesse  settled  in  what  is  now  Jessup,  and  raised 
a large  family.  He  afterwards  removed  to  the 
State  of  Indiana,  where  he  died.  Abel  also 
came  and  settled  in  Jessup,  reared  a large  family. 


SPRINGVILLE. 


395 


and  resided  there  until  his  death.  Jonathan 
Childs  Sherman  was  born  in  Portsmouth,  E.  I., 
October  30, 1785.  When  about  twelve  years  old 
his  parents  moved  to  Washington  County,  Vt. 
Here  he  learned  the  trade  of  a cloth-dresser,  at 
which  he  worked  until  1809,  when  he  came  to 
Bridgewater  (now  J essup),  and  purchased  a tract 
of  two  hundred  acres  of  land,  upon  which  a 
small  clearing  had  been  made  by  Elisha  Griffis. 


drick,  late  of  Springville;  Lillis  (1816-40); 
Avilda  (1818-52),  was  the  wife  of  Ealph  S. 
Birchard,  late  of  Jessup.  In  1823  he  married, 
for  his  second  wife.  Comfort  (1795-1872), 
daughter  of  Luther  and  Amy  Kallum,  born  in 
New  London,Conn.,  from  which  place  her  parents 
removed  to  Bridgewater  (now  Forest  Lake), 
where  she  married  Mr.  Sherman.  Luther  Kal- 
lum was  a soldier  of  the  Eevolution.  Their 


Here  he  remained  until  tall,  cleared  up  a piece 
of  land,  put  in  a crop,  erected  a log  house,  and 
then  returned  to  Vermont,  where  he  worked  at 
his  trade  during  the  winter.  In  the  spring  of 
the  following  year  he  married  Abigail  Cornell 
(1792-1822),  and  with  his  bride  came  to  their 
wilderness  home  in  Jessup,  and  commenced 
housekeeping  amid  the  discomforts  and  priva- 
: tions  of  pioneer  life.  They  had  children, — 

I David  C.  (1811-85),  who  for  a number  of  years 
resided  in  Jessup,  but  afterwards  removed  to 
Bradford  County,  Pa.,  where  he  died ; Eebecca 
I S.  (1814-78),  was  the  wife  of  William  B.  Han- 

i 


children  are  Harvey  K.,  1826  ; Amy  A.  (1827- 
70),  was  the  wife  of  Andrew  Blaisdell,  late  of 
Montrose;  Comfort  C.,  1829,  widow  of  Nelson 
Bolles,  late  of  Jessup;  Samuel  H.  (1830-64), 
resided  in  St.  Louis,  and  enlisted  under  the  first 
call  of  President  Lincoln  for  troops;  Euth, 
1832,  wife  of  Chester  Wright,  of  Forest  Lake; 
Perry  C.  (1834-62),  was  a member  of  Com- 
pany H,  Fourth  Pennsylvania  Eeserves,  and 
was  killed  at  the  battle  of  Charles  City  Cross- 
Eoads  June  28,  1862;  Mortimore  O.,  1836, 
now  residing  in  Colorado.  In  1811  Mr.  Sher- 
man was  commissioned  by  Governor  Simon 


396 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


Snyder  a lieutenant  of  the  Seventh  Company, 
One  Hundred  and  Twenty-ninth  Regiment  of 
State  Militia,  for  four  years.  In  1828  he  was 
appointed,  by  Governor  Andrew  Schultz,  a jus- 
tice of  the  peace  for  the  township  of  Bridge- 
water,  which  office  he  held  for  a long  term  of 
years.  He  was  known  and  designated  for  many 
years  only  as  “Esquire”  Sherman.  In  politics 
he  was  a Jacksonian  Democrat,  held  the  office 
of  collector,  and  was  elected  one  of  the  commis- 
sioners of  the  county.  He  was  a prominent 
Mason,  and  for  one  or  two  years  Lodge  No.  206, 
of  which  he  was  a member,  met  at  his  hou.se  in 
Jessup.  He  left  among  his  papers  a certificate 
and  traveling  card  from  the  Grand  Lodge,  at 
Philadelphia.  He  died  esteemed  and  respected 
by  his  neighbors  and  all  who  knew  him. 

Harvey  K.  Sherman  was  born  in  Bridge- 
water  (now  Jessup)  March  5,  1826.  His  boy- 
hood was  spent  on  his  father’s  farm,  and  he 
had  the  usual  advantages  of  the  district  schools. 
He  remained  with  his  father  until  lie  was  twenty- 
one,  and  then  worked  out  for  a year  for  B.  H. 
Mills.  The  following  year  he  worked  the 
homestead  farm  on  shares.  In  1848  he  mar- 
ried Eunice  (1823-51),  daughter  of  Samuel  aud 
Eunice  Backus,  of  Bridgewater,  Pa.  The  same 
year  he  purchased  seventy-five  acres  of  the 
home  farm,  and  the  following  year  commenced 
farming  for  himself,  built  a barn  and  made 
other  improvements.  In  1853  he  married,  for 
his  second  wife,  Amy,  1828,  daughter  of  Asa- 
hel  B.  and  Melinda  Prichard,  who  came  from 
Connecticut  and  settled  in  Spriugville  in  1817. 
(For  history  of  Prichard  family,  see  sketch  of 
Orrin  Prichard.)  After  his  marriage  he  re- 
turned to  his  farm  in  Jessup,  where  he  remained 
until  1856  (the  year  his  father  died),  when  he 
removed  to  the  homestead.  After  his  father’s 
death  he  purchased  it  of  the  heirs  and  remained 
on  it  until  1864,  when  he  sold  it  to  Jasper  Run- 
dell,  and  came  to  Springville.  Here  he  pur- 
chased a farm  of  one  hundred  acres,  known  as 
the  Aaron  Blakeslee  farm,  upon  which  is  still 
standing  the  house  in  which  Judge  Asa  Packer 
and  wife  first  went  to  housekeeping.  To  this 
farm  Mr.  Sherman  has  added  sixty-eight  acres, 
erected  new  barn  and  commodious  out-buildines, 
and  all  the  appointments  of  his  farm  evidence 


the  handiwork  of  a practical  and  intelligent 
farmer.  Their  children  are  Earnest  P.  (1858- 
63);  Morton  R.  (1859-63);  Edward  H.,  1865, 
educated  at  the  district  and  graded  schools,  and 
is  now  a student  at  the  Mansfield  Normal 
school,  in  the  graduating  course.  Mr.  Sherman 
has  been  identified  with  the  Republican  party 
since  its  organization,  and  has  been  active  in 
support  of  its  principles  and  in  aid  of  its  suc- 
cess. He  was  a stanch  Unionist  during  the 
Rebellion,  aud  from  his  home  three  young  men 
enlisted  and  gave  their  lives  to  their  country — 
his  brother.  Perry  C.,  Albert  P.  Birchard  and 
George  Eckhart,  while  another,  Samuel  Tarbot, 
was  seriously  wounded.  He  served  the  town- 
ship of  Jessup  as  constable  and  collector  and 
school  director  for  five  years,  and  has  served 
three  terms  as  assessor  since  coming  to  Spring- 
ville. In  1849  Governor  Johnson  commissioned 
him  a captain  in  the  Susquehanna  Troop  of  the 
Third  Cavalry  Regiment  of  Pennsylvania  Mili- 
tia. Himself  and  wife  are  members  of  the 
Methodist  Church  of  Springville.  When  the 
Montrose  Railroad  w'as  first  talked  of,  Mr. 
Sherman  took  much  interest  in  the  enterprise, 
and,  with  others,  was  instrumental  in  securing 
its  successful  accomplishment.  He  is  a stock- 
holder in  the  road,  and  has  been  a member  of  its 
board  of  directors  since  the  company  organized. 

In  1802  Myron  Kasson,  a native  of  Litchfield 
County,  Conn.,  came  from  Auburn,  where  he 
had  begun  to  make  a clearing  in  1799,  but 
which  he  exchanged  for  a tract  of  land  in 
Springville,  which  had  been  purchased  by 
Chester  Adams,  but  not  improved  by  him. 
This  place,  located  in  the  northwestern  part  of 
the  township,  Kasson  cleared  up,  aud  lived 
there  until  his  death,  in  1859,  three  months 
after  the  decease  of  his  wife.  He  was  the 
father  of  George  and  Jabez  Kasson,  who  moved 
to  the  West,  aud  of  James  Kasson,  residing  on 
the  homestead.  The  latter  is  the  father  of 
Myron  Kasson,  of  Montrose.  Daughters  of 
Myron  Kasson  the  elder  married  John  B. 
Beardsley,  of  Auburn,  and  Lyman  Blakeslee,  of 
Lynn.  Myron  Kasson  was  one  of  the  most 
prominent  men  of  the  township  in  his  time  and 
also  figured  in  the  atfairs  of  the  county  with 
credit  to  his  townsmen  and  honor  to  himself. 


SPRINGVILLE. 


397 


In  1802  or  1803  Reuben  Spencer,  a brother 
of  Jeremiah  and  Samuel,  came  to  Springville, 
but  died  in  1804.  The  same  year  Eunice  Spen- 
cer became  the  wife  of  Abel  Marcy,  of  Tunk- 
hannock,  which  was  the  first  marriage  in  the 
township.  With  Reuben  Spencer  came  Daniel 
Brewster  and  Aaron  Avery,  who  became  dis- 
couraged in  the  course  of  a few  years,  and  fear- 
ing starvation,  removed  to  New  York.  Avery 
afterwards  came  back  and  remained  in  the 
township  many  years. 

In  1803  Frazier  Eaton  and  family  came,  set- 
tling in  the  northern  part  of  Springville,  and 
the  following  year  Thomas  Cassedy,  wife  and 
two  children  settled  in  the  neighborhood  of 
Capt.  Spencer’s  place. 

In  1806  Pardon  Fish,  Ebenezer  Fish  and 
John  Bullock,  with  their  families,  came  from 
Saratoga  County,  N.  Y.,  and  found  a temporary 
home  in  the  house  which  Gideon  Lyman  had 
occupied  just  below  Capt.  Spencer’s,  in  the  sum- 
mer of  1803.  They  soon  after  secured  more 
comfortable  homes,  and  most  of  them  became 
permanent  settlers.  Pardon  Fish,  Sr.,  died  in 
the  township,  after  1850,  in  his  ninety-ninth 
year.  Descendants  of  the  family  are  still  in 
Springville.  With  this  company  came  Justus 
Knapp,  at  that  time  in  his  seventh  year,  who 
remained  in  the  township  continuously  until  his 
death,  in  December,  1870.  He  had  a family  of 
nine  children, — five  sons  and  four  daughters, — 
most  of  whom  died  before  their  father.  The  last 
son  was  killed  at  Gettysburg  July  2, 1863.  Jus- 
tus Knapp  was  for  many  years  a justice  of  the 
peace,  taking  that  office  in  1846.  When  he 
came  to  Springville  the  improvements  at  Mon- 
trose consisted  of  two  log  houses,  and  of  the  set- 
tlements south,  to  where  he  located,  he  said,  in 
1870,— 

“ There  was  a log  house  near  where  the  Widow  Is- 
bell now  lives,  accupied  by  Dr.  James  Cook ; the  next 
house  south  was  Roberts’ ; the  next  what  is  called 
the  Raynsford  house;  the  next  Deacon  Wells’  and 
Deans’ ; the  next  was  where  Friend  Hollister  now 
lives,  near  the  north  line  of  Ditnock  township,  that 
being  the  last  place  where  we  stayed  overnight  till 
we  arrived  at  our  place  of  destination. 

“ Near  Dimock  Corners  Captain  Joseph  Chapman 
lived ; the  next  house  was  occupied  by  Martin  Myers  ; 
the  next  by  Benjamin  Blakeslee  ; the  next  by  Frazier 


Eaton  ; the  next  by  Samuel  Thomas ; the  next  by 
Ezra  Tuttle ; the  next  by  Cai^tain  Jeremiah  Spencer.’’ 

Aaron  Taylor,  a native  of  Connecticut,  set- 
tled on  the  Susquehanna  in  1796,  but,  in  1806, 
came  to  the  southwestern  part  of  Springville, 
having  a farm  on  the  turnpike.  He  was  the 
father  of  Aaron  Taylor,  Jr.,  wlio  afterwards 
settled  in  the  Kasson  neighborhood.  The  same 
year  Wells  Carrier  came  to  the  township. 

In  1807  Jeremiah  Rosencrants  came  from 
tlie  low’er  part  of  the  State  and  made  a clearing 
in  the  township  northeast  of  Spring  Hollow. 
He  was  married  to  Sally  Strickland,  whose 
family  came  a few  years  later.  They  had  sons 
named  Jeremiah  and  Samuel,  and  daughters 
who  married  Abiathar  Tuttle,  Beuoni  Tuttle 
and  Oliver  Gray. 

Stricklands.  — Jonathan  Strickland,  Sr., 
came  from  Waterbury,  Conn.,  in  1808,  and 
settled  on  the  Meshoppen  Creek,  in  the  eastern 
part  of  Springville,  the  present  residence  of  his 
grandson  Theron,  where  he  died  in  1816,  his 
wife,  Susanna,  having  died  the  year  previous. 
Two  of  his  sons  stopped  at  Easton,  Pa. ; 
another  son,  Jonathan,  Jr.  (1773-1853),  mar- 
ried Polly  Sutton  (1772-1866),  sister  of  Samuel 
Sutton,  Sr.,  an  early  settler  of  Springville,  and 
in  1812  came  from  Russell  Hill,  Wyoming 
County,  and  settled  on  the  farm  where  Samuel 
Shook  now  resides,  with  a family  of  eight  chil- 
dren. Two  of  his  daughters  also  resided  in 
Springville ; one  married  Samuel  Sutton,  Sr., 
and  the  other  was  the  wife  of  Jeremiah  Rosen- 
crant.  His  youngest  son,  Sylvester,  came  with 
the  parents  to  this  homestead.^ 

Sylvester  Strickland  (1791-1876)  married,  in 
1811,  Rachel  Taylor  (1792-1868),  daughter  of 
Obediah  and  Rhoda  Taylor,  the  former  of  whom 
died  in  1830,  and  the  latter  in  1855.  Sylvester 
was  pleasant  and  genial  in  his  manner,  social  in 
his  disposition,  rather  easy-going  in  business 
matters,  but  po.ssessing  sound  judgment  and 
discretion.  His  wife  was  a wmman  of  great 
strength  of  character,  sterling  sense  and  strong 
mind,  yet  possessing  the  kindest  of  hearts  and 
an  affectionate  disposition.  She  was  a great 
worker,  and  the  trials  and  discomforts  of  a 


1 Tbo  political  atttliatious  of  the  Strickland  family  to  the  present  gen- 
emtion  have  been  with  the  Whig  and  Republican  pvties* , 


398 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


pioneei’  life  were  met  with  an  energy  and  zeal 
that  have  left  their  lasting  impress  upon  her 
children.  She  was  the  counselor  of  the  family 
and  neighborhood,  and  “Aunt  Rachel,”  as  she 
was  called,  died  resjiected  and  beloved  by  all 
who  knew  her,  and  her  wise  counsel  and  ad- 
vice was  remembered  and  followed  long  after 
her  decease.  Their  children  were  Harriet  C. 
(1812-79)  married  Calvin  Rogers,  of  Spring- 
ville;  Ezra,  born  July  19, 1814;  Isaac  (1816) 


children);  John,  1822,  married  Mary  C.  Kiut- 
ner,  has  a family  and  is  a farmer,  residing  in 
Springville;  Alfred,  1824,  now  residing  in 
Kansas  ; Philander,  born  March  3,  1826  ; Ruth 
Ann,  1827,  wife  of  Elder  P.  T.  Maryott,  a re- 
tired Baptist  clergyman,  residing  in  Spring- 
ville, and  their  children  are  Calvin,  Hattie, 
Clifford,  Frederick,  Philander,  Rachel,  Vernie 
and  Florence  Maryott;  Theron,  1830,  married 
Susan  Shook,  1843,  a daughter  of  John  and 


married  Rachel  Jayne,  a daughter  of  Judge 
Jayne,  of  Wyoming  County  (he  was  a 
soldier  in  the  late  war,  was  a member  of  Com- 
pany E,  Ninth  Regiment  Pennsylvania  Cavalry, 
and  died  in  the  service,  leaving  a family  of 
children)  ; Susanna  A.  (1819),  the  widow  of 
Theron  Marcey,  of  Tunkhannock ; Rhoda  E. 
(1820-87)  was  the  wife  of  Joseph  W.  Fisk,  a 
native  of  Springville,  where  he  kept  a hotel  for 
a time,  and  afterwards  removed  to  Whiteside 
County,  Ilk,  where  she  died  (they  had  seven 


Lydia  (Albert)  Shook,  of  Northampton  County, 
Pa.  (he  succeeded  to  the  homestead  farm, 
where  he  now  resides  ; they  have  children, — 
Allie,  Jennie,  Clark  and  Jesse);  Clarissa  (1831- 
83)  was  the  wife  of  Martin  Park,  and  resided 
near  Niviu,  in  Springville  township 

The  old  house  erected  by  Sylvester  is  still 
standing,  although  a commodious  farm-house 
was  some  years  ago  erected  by  his  son  Theron. 
He  and  his  sons  mainly  cleared  up  the  farm, 
and  the  family  circle  of  the  children  remained 


SPRINGVILLE. 


399 


unbroken  by  death  for  a period  of  thirty-three 
years. 

Ezra  Strickland,  the  eldest  son  of  Sylves- 
ter and  Rachel  Strickland,  was  born  in  Spring- 
ville,  and,  when  old  enough,  attended  the  pri- 
vate school  taught  by  Hannah  Parke  in  the  log 
house  of  her  brother.  Colonel  Thomas  Parke, 
situated  at  what  is  now  called  Parke  Vale,  to 
reach  which  he  had  to  travel  two  miles  through 
the  woods.  He  next  attended  a school  taught  by 
Esther  Prichard  in  his  father’s  log  house.  He 
was  a hardy  young  man,  of  robust  constitution. 
As  soon  as  old  enough  to  wield  an  axe  he 
assisted  his  father  in  felling  the  forest  and 
clearing  the  land.  Thus  he  was  early  inured 
to  hard  work,  and  life  at  this  time  presented 
only  its  practical  side  ; but  the  lessons  of  in- 
dustry, perseverance  and  economy  that  he 
then  learned  were  most  valuable  to  him  in  after 
life.  At  the  age  of  seventeen  he  purchased  his 
“ time  ” of  his  father  for  forty  dollars,  and 
afterwards  took  large  contracts  of  wood-chop- 
ping and  clearing  of  land.  Though  his  educa- 
tional advantages  were  limited,  he  made  good 
use  of  his  time  while  at  school,  and  afterwards 
added  to  his  book-knowledge  by  home  study. 
After  leaving  home  he  taught  school  several 
winters,  and  for  a time  was  engaged  in  lumber- 
ing on  the  Lehigh  River.  In  1834  he  bought 
a woodland  tract  of  fifty  acres  of  Colonel 
Parke,  which  he  cleared  up  and  which  he  now 
resides  upon,  although  he  has  added  to  his 
original  purchase  considerable  real  e.state.  In 
1839  he  married  Eliza  Ann  Parke  (1806-81), 
daughter  of  Colonel  Thomas  Parke  (1769- 
1842)  and  Eunice  (Champlin)  Parke  (1768- 
1857),  who  came  from  Newport,  R.  I.,  in  1796, 
and  were  the  first  settlers  in  Dimock.  Mr. 
Strickland,  although  past  his  three-score  and 
ten,  is  still  the  active  manager  of  his  farm,  and 
during  the  years  of  his  busy  life  has  cleared 
nearly  three  hundred  acres  of  the  native  forest, 
and  his  home-farm  attests  his  industry  and 
farmer-like  care.  His  business  methods  and 
business  transactions  evince  good  judgment  and 
sound  financial  views.  He  has  not  sought 
office,  but  has  served  his  toAvnship  as  auditor 
and  supervisor.  His  wife,  although  of  delicate 
health,  was  a lady  of  rare  intelligence  and 


Christian  excellence,  and  was  a member  of  the 
Episcopal  Church  at  Springville.  No  children 
blessed  their  marriage,  but  Mr.  Strickland  is 
assisted  in  the  care  of  his  home  by  his  niece. 
Miss  Florence  Maryott. 

Philander  Strickland  was  born  at  the 
homestead  in  Springville,  and  with  the  other 
sons  assisted  his  father  in  clearing  up  the  farm 
and  improving  the  home  until  he  was  twenty 
years  of  age.  His  early  educational  advantages 
were  limited  and  meagre,  but  what  book-knowl- 
edge he  gained  he  afterwards  added  to  by  ob- 
servation and  experience.  He  early  learned 
that  life’s  duties  were  practical,  and  to  success- 
fully meet  them  required  perseverance  and 
pluck.  He  worked  out  by  the  month  the  year 
before  coming  of  age,  and  upon  attaining  his 
majority,  in  1847,  he  purchased  one  hundred 
and  ten  acres  (part  of  Drinker’s  Meshoppen 
tract)  and  began  life  for  himself.  This  farm, 
which  is  his  present  homestead,  was  at  that 
time  only  a farm  in  name.  There  was  only 
about  four  acres  cleared,  and  the  purchase 
money  (five  and  a half  dollars  per  acre)  was 
mainly  in  his  own  two  Avilling  hands.  But 
energy,  perseverance,  industry  and  economy  are 
bound  to  succeed,  and  with  these  he  was  well 
stocked.  To  get  money  to  pay  for  his  farm 
he  worked  out  during  the  farming  season,  and 
in  the  winter  he  made  from  the  white  ash, 
which  here  abounded,  boat  oars,  and  in  the 
spring  following  would  market  them  in  Balti- 
more. He  erected  a house  the  year  he  bought 
the  farm,  which  he  occupied  until  1868,  when 
he  built  his  pre.sent  pleasant  and  commodious 
residence.  In  1852  he  married  Susannah  John- 
son (1831-75),  daughter  of  Benjamin  A.  and 
Zeluma  (Lindsley)  Johnson,  who  first  settled 
in  Bridgewater,  but  subsequently  removed  to 
Springville,  Avhere  they  died.  Their  children 
Avere  John  II.,  1855,  a farmer  of  Lathrop,  Avho 
married  Nancy  Parmenter,  of  Springville ; 
Phebe  A.,  1862,  Avife  of  D.  T.  Eastman,  of 
Lathrop.  In  1877  he  married  his  present  Avife, 
Celia  B.  Pierpont,  born  in  1834,  a daughter  of 
Rufus  Pierpont,  of  Lathrop.  After  the  decease 
of  her  father  her  mother  married  Levi  Linds- 
ley, of  Easton,  Pa.  Miss  Pieiqiont’s  sisters  are 
Mrs.  Elizabeth  Williams,  of  Waterbury,  Conn.; 


400 


HISTOIIY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


Abigail,  wife  of  William  Shelp;  and  Mary,  who 
was  the  wife  of  John  H.  Ainey,  of  Springville. 
Her  half-brothers  and  sisters  are  Rachel,  wife  of 
Dennis  Johnson,  of  Springville;  Levi,  a mer- 
chant of  Scranton ; Rufus,  who  farms  the 
homestead  in  Lathrop ; and  Fanny,  wife  of 
Wm.  L.  Beardsley,  of  Kansas.  IMr.  Strickland 
is  one  of  the  representative  farmers  of  this 
county,  and  his  buildings  and  all  the  appoint- 
ments of  his  farm  give  evidence  of  industry 


in  1876;  Amanda,  married  Hiram  Osterhout, 
and  moved  to  Missouri ; Mahala,  married  for 
her  first  husband  James  Ball,  of  Springville 
(her  second  husband  was  a Mr.  Rhinevault,  of 
Forest  Lake,  and  after  his  death  she  married 
Jeremiah  Rosencrant,  whose  first  wife  was  her 
sister  Eliza — she  died  at  New  Milford,  nearly 
ninety  years  of  age) ; Rebecca  was  the  wife  of 
Leonard  Prichard,  of  Springville ; Elisha,  now 
seventy-five  years  of  age,  a farmer  of  Spring- 


and  thrift  and  intelligent  management.  He  has 
served  his  township  for  two  terms  as  assessor 
and  also  as  auditor,  supervisor  and  school  di- 
rector. Both  himself  and  -wife  are  members  of 
the  Springville  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 

Ira  a.  Strickland  is  the  grandson  of 
Jonathan  Strickland,  Jr.,  whose  children,  be- 
sides Edward  (1808-78),  the  father  of  Ira  A., 
w'ere  A.sa,  who  resided  in  Lathrop,  where  he 
died  at  the  age  of  seventy ; George,  resided  on 
a part  of  the  homestead  in  Springville  and  died  i 


ville;  Jonathan,  died  in  Iowa;  and  Seth,  re- 
siding in  Bradford  County,  Pa.  Edward 
Strickland  married,  in  1835,  Mary  Knights 
(1810-77),  daughter  of  Amasa  Knights,  who 
married  a Quaker  lady  named  Aldrich,  and 
came  to  Lathrop  in  1816.  Her  parents  after- 
wards removed  to  Illinois,  where  they  both 
died — the  father  of  cholera  and  the  mother  of 
small-pox.  Their  children  are  Ira  A.,  born 
January  13,  1838;  Orrin,  1840,  resides  at 
i Maynard,  Iowa;  Emma,  1845,  widow’  of  Wil- 


SPRINGVILLE. 


401 


lard  Root,  of  Waterville,  Conn.;  Eliza,  wife  of 
M.  F.  Button,  of  New  Milford.  Before  his 
marriage  he  purchased  a woodland  tract  of 
ninety  acres,  adjoining  the  Strickland  home- 
stead, erected  a house  and  moved  into  it  the 
spring  following  his  marriage.  This  he  cleared 
up,  improved,  and  in  1859  erected  the  present 
dwelling-house.  He  was  a careful,  industrious 
farmer  and  a man  of  sterling  integrity  in  his 


acres  to  the  original  farm,  and  he  manages  his 
extensive  farming  interests  in  a practical  busi- 
ness way,  that  indicates  that  he  has  not  mistaken 
his  calling.  In  1861  he  married  Elizabeth  Mc- 
Cracken, born  in  Lemon,  Wyoming  County, 
Pa.,  in  1842,  and  was  the  daughter  of  Peter 
McCracken,  a native  of  Scotland,  who  married 
Useba  Avery  (1815-1879),  and  died  at  Wes!: 
Nicholson  in  1846.  Their  children  were  Henry, 


business  relations ; his  wife  was  a member  of 
the  Christian  Church  of  Springville. 

Ira  A.  was  born  at  the  homestead,  where  his 
boyhood  was  s]oent  in  attending  the  district 
school  and  assisting  on  the  farm.  He  taught 
school  one  term,  but  his  natural  inclinations 
and  tastes  were  for  agricultural  pursuits,  and 
he  afterwards  remained  on  the  farm.  After  his 
father’s  death  he  purchased  of  the  other  heirs 
their  interest  in  his  estate  and  succeeded  to  the 
homestead,  which  is  now,  and  always  has  been, 
his  home.  He  has  added,  by  purchase,  135 


Otis,  Charles,  Elizabeth,  Daniel  and  Volney 
McCracken.  These  five  brothers  were  all  sol- 
diers in  the  late  war,  and  it  is  said  that  Daniel 
McCracken  was  the  first  soldier  to  enlist  from 
this  county.  Elisha  Strickland  had  two  sons  in 
the  army, — Peter  B.  and  William  ; the  former 
was  wounded  and  died  before  Richmond.  Ira 
A.  has  two  children,  Daniel  M.  and  Walter,  the 
former  born  in  1865,  and  the  latter  in  1869. 
Mr.  Strickland  has  served  his  township  as  aud- 
itor for  two  terms,  has  been  deeply  interested 
in  educational  matters,  is  serving  his  third  term 


402 


HISTOEY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


as  school  director  and  has  satisfactorily  dis- 
charged the  duties  of  treasurer  of  the  School 
Board  for  six  years. 

The  Taxables  in  1815,  when  what  is  now 
Diraock  was  still  a part  of  Springville,  were  as 
follows  : 


Geo.  Lagro. 

Chas.  IMcClosky. 

Jas.  Meacham. 
Augustus  Meacham. 
Edward  II.  Meacham. 
Edward  Milnor. 

Abel  Marcy. 

Isaiah  Main. 

James  Major. 


Geo.  Young. 
Daniel  Yeoman. 
Edward  Goodwin. 
Samuel  Quick. 
Martin  Park. 

Wm.  B.  Welsh. 
Robt.  Smales. 
David  Rogers. 


John  Austin. 

F.  Nickerson. 

Elijah  Avery. 

Israel  S.  Otis. 

Aaron  Avery. 

Chas.  Otis. 

Chas.  Ashley. 

John  Oakley. 

Chas.  Butterfield. 

Seeley  Oaks. 

Zophar  Blakeslee. 

Jos.  Passmore. 

Merritt  Blakeslee. 

Henry  Park. 

Benj.  Blakeslee. 

Thos.  Park. 

Aaron  Blakeslee. 

Isaac  W.  Palmer. 

Leonard  Blakeslee. 

Isaac  Porter. 

John  Bolles. 

Benj.  Prichard. 

Andrew  Bolles. 

Asahel  B.  Prichard. 

John  Bullock. 

Samuel  Platt. 

Samuel  A.  Brown. 

James  Russell. 

Thos.  Brown. 

Jeremiah  Rosencrants. 

Amos  Bronson. 

Jeremiah  Rosencrants,  Jr. 

John  Bronson. 

John  W.  Robinson. 

Joel  Brooks. 

Daniel  W.  Robinson. 

Leonard  Baldwin. 

Wm.  Reynolds. 

Dennison  A.  Baboock. 

Albert  Rusco. 

Isaac  Babcock. 

Geo.  Risley. 

Ezekiel  Babcock. 

Edward  L.  Randall. 

Gideon  Bailey. 

Wm.  Smith 

Henry  Barkley. 

Joshua  Smith. 

John  W.  Camp. 

Joshua  Smith,  Jr. 

Samuel  Curling. 

Thos.  Smith. 

Thos.  Cassedy. 

Thos.  A.  Smith. 

Josiah  Crumpton. 

Elkanah  Smith. 

Aug.  W.  Carrier. 

Simon  Stephens. 

Joseph  Cooper. 

Sylvester  Strickland. 

James  Cotton. 

Jonathan  Strickland. 

Wm.  Drinker,  Jr. 

Jeremiah  Spencer. 

Mason  Dennison. 

Daniel  Spencer. 

Thos.  Emerson. 

Francis  Spencer. 

Joseph  M.  Ely. 

Samuel  Sutton. 

Asa  Fisk. 

Samuel  Sutton,  Jr, 

Pardon  Fish. 

Archibald  Sheldon. 

Caleb  Fish. 

Jesse  Scott. 

Neheiniah  Fox. 

Titus  Scott. 

Elisha  Gates. 

Walter  Scott. 

Spencer  Hickcox, 

James  Service. 

James  Hickcox. 

Abigail  Thomas. 

Levi  Hodges. 

Chas.  Thomas. 

Hiram  Hudson. 

Salmon  Thomas. 

Latham  Hewitt. 

Samuel  Thomas. 

Israel  Hewitt. 

AVni.  Taylor. 

Israel  Hewitt,  Jr. 

Ezra  Tuttle. 

Thos.  Johnson. 

Abiather  Tuttle. 

Myron  Kasson. 

Benoni  Tuttle. 

Samuel  Kellam. 

Wm.  Tucker. 

Wm.  Lawrence. 

Royal  Tyler. 

Allen  Lawrence. 

Jonathan  Taft. 

Walter  Lathrop. 

Aaron  Taylor. 

Asa  Lathrop. 

Preston  Tiffany. 

James  Lathrop. 

Lewis  Tiffany. 

Spencer  Lathrop. 

Joseph  Wheeler. 

Ezekiel  Lathrop. 

Allen  Watson. 

Dwyer  Lathrop. 

Wm.  B.  Welch. 

John  Lewis. 

Salmon  Whitcomb. 

Geo.  W.  Lane. 

Polly  Walter, 

Thos.  Lane. 

Wm.  White. 

John  Lyman. 

W.  Wilson. 

Gideon  Lyman. 

A.  R.  Tyler. 

Samuel  Lyman. 

Arad  Wakelee. 

Jos.  A.  Lyman. 

David  Young. 

Benj.  Lull. 

David  Young,  Jr, 

Samuel  Sutton  lived  east  of  Spring  Hollow, 
and  died  on  the  plaee  which  was  afterwards  oc- 
cupied by  Samuel  Sutton,  Jr.  The  latter  died 
in  1876,  aged  eighty  years  ; his  wife,  Betsey, 
1885,  aged  eighty-eight.  His  brother,  Silvester, 
moved  to  the  West.  His  sisters  married, — 
Phoebe,  Charles  Thomas ; and  Sally,  George 
Watson.  The  rifle  of  Samuel  Sutton,  Jr.,  is 
now  the  property  of  his  grandson,  William  W. 
Prichard.  It  is  an  heirloom  more  than  one 
hundred  and  fifty  years  old. 

Amos  Prichard  came  from  Connecticut  and 
settled  on  the  hill  northwest  from  Springville. 
He  had  sons  named  Asahel  B.,  Marshall, 
Erastus  and  Isaac.  The  first-named  was  a car- 
penter at  Springville  village,  living  in  the 
Henry  Williams  house.  He  was  the  father  of 
sons  named  Miles  and  Orrin,  and  daughters 
who  married, — Amy,  H.  K.  Sherman,  and  Rox- 
auna,  Fred.  Muzzy. 

Benjamin  Prichard,  also  from  Connecticut, 
but  not  relative  to  the  above,  was  a pioneer 
blacksmith  at  Spring  Hollow,  living  on  the  M. 
Riley  place. 

In  1815  Titus  Scott  came  from  Waterbury, 
Conn.,  and  located  on  the  hill  east  of  Spring 
Hollow.  In  May,  1816,  he  brought  his  family 
and  lived  at  this  place  until  he  was  more  than 
ninety-five  years  old.-  In  1817  Jesse  Scott,  a 
brother  of  Titus,  came,  settling  in  the  village, 
where  he  carried  on  his  trade  as  blacksmith. 
He  also  became  more  than  an  octogenarian. 
Mark  Scott,  a third  brother,  came  in  1822,  and 
lived  on  the  farm  now  occupied  by  his  son, 
Lucius.  He  died  in  1860,  aged  seventy- 
seven  years. 

In  1814  Arad  AVakelee  came  from  Water- 
bury, Conn.,  to  the  Barnum  place,  in  Franklin, 
but  three  years  later  came  to  Springville  and 
purchased  a farm  which  had  been  improved,  to 
some  extent,  by  Samuel  Pierpont.  He  was  a 
public-spirited  man  and  became  very  aged,  dy- 
ing June  6,  1879,  in  the  ninetieth  year  of  his 


SPRINGVILLE. 


403 


age.  The  homestead  is  now  occupied  by  David 
Wakelee,  his  son.  His  daughter  Mary  mar- 
ried Henry  J.  Webb;  and  Sarah  M.,  the  flev. 
Luther  Wolcott.  On  an  adjoining  farm  lived 
David  Wakelee,  the  father  of  Arad,  and  of 
daughters  who  married, — Miranda,  Philander 
Stevens  ; Esther,  Horace  SpalFord ; and  Eliza, 
A.  Smith. 

“^Augustine  Meacham  and  wife  came  from 
Claremont,  N.  H.,  in  1818  or  1819,  and  resided 
here  until  both  died  in  old  age.  William 
Drinker,  agent  of  the  Drinker  estate,  and  an 
older  brother  of  Henry  Drinker,  of  Montrose, 
located  in  Springville  some  time  between  the 
years  1817  and  1820.  He  built  the  house 
where  Thomas  Nicholson  lived  many  years, 
Hon.  Asa  Packer  being  one  of  the  workmen. 
He  had  previously  been  married  to  Eliza  G. 
Rodman,  of  Philadelphia.  Upon  leaving 
Springville  he  came  to  reside  in  Montrose,  and 
occupied  the  house  built  by  Charles  Catlin,  the 
present  residence  of  H.  J.  Webb,  Esq.  He 
lived  for  a time  in  Union,  N.  Y.,  and  after- 
wards in  the  ' Bowes  Mansion  ’ at  Great  Bend. 
He  died  at  the  West,  about  the  year  1836. 
William  Drinker,  a bachelor  uncle  of  William, 
the  agent,  came  and  resided  with  the  latter  in 
Springville.  He  had  a fondness  for  literature, 
a good  knowledge  of  conveyancing,  and  was  a 
skillful  draughtsman  ; many  of  the  maps  of  the 
Drinker  estate  were  prepared  and  drawn  by 
him.  He  died  while  on  a visit  to  Philadelphia 
in  1822.” 

In  1835,  after  Dimock  had  been  set  off  and 
numerous  changes  had  taken  place.  The  Taxa- 
bles  were  as  follows  : 


Aaron  Avory. 

John  Oakley, 

Ira  Avery. 

Selah  Oaks. 

Edward  S.  Avery. 

Joshua  Odle. 

Volney  Avery. 

John  Potter. 

Daniel  B.  Avery. 

Isaac  W.  Palmer. 

William  Avery 

Martin  Parks. 

Willis  Aldrich. 

Tliomas  Parks. 

Isaac  G.  Aldrich. 

Asahel  B.  Prichard. 

Alva  P.  Aldrich. 

Hector  Prichard. 

Charles  Ashley. 

Benjamin  Prichard. 

Nathaniel  G.  Ashley. 

Joseph  B.  Prichard. 

Holmes  Atwood. 

Leonard  Prichard. 

Harvey  Buck. 

Isaac  Prichard. 

John  Bullock. 

Asa  Packer. 

Elijah  Burdick. 

Isaac  Porter. 

Aaron  Burdick. 

Jonas  Philips. 

Zophar  Blakeslee. 

William  W.  Pride. 

Aaron  Blakeslee. 

Lyman  Prosser. 

Blackman. 

Orrin  Baldwin. 

Ichabod  Prosser. 

Thomas  Bagley. 

Samuel  Quick. 

Albert  Beardsley. 

David  H.  Quick. 

Daniel  B.  Brooks. 

Enos  P.  Root. 

Peter  Brownal. 

Artemus  Rosencrans. 

Daniel  Brownal. 

Jeremiah  Rosencrans. 

Erastus  Brown. 

Jeremiah  Rosencrans,  Jr. 

Sidney  Bullock. 

David  Rogers, 

Ziba  Bullock. 

Calvin  Rogers. 

Caleb  Barnes. 

Silas  Rogers. 

Archibald  Blandtine.  | 

E.  G Risley. 

Robert  Blandtine. 

Thomas  P.  Risley, 

James  Button. 

George  Risley. 

Amariah  Bartholomew. 

James  Russel. 

Thomas  Cassedy. 

Francis  Spencer. 

John  Cassedy. 

Benjamin  Sheldon. 

Abel  Cassedy. 

Cyrus  Smalling, 

Thomas  Cassedy,  Jr. 

Arnold  Smith. 

Joseph  Cooper. 

Justus  Smith. 

Joseph  Cooper,  Jr. 

•Justus  Smith,  Jr. 

Samuel  Carlin. 

Titus  Scott. 

Philip  Conrad. 

Henry  Scott. 

Enoch  Davis. 

Jesse  Scott. 

Jonathan  Edwards. 

Frederick  Stephens. 

Pardon  Fish. 

Lawrence  Stephens. 

Pardon  Fish  (2d.) 

Daniel  Spencer. 

Caleb  Fish. 

Jeremiah  Spencer. 

Ezekiel  Fritz. 

Archibald  Sheldon. 

Benajah  Fowler. 

Nathaniel  Sheldon. 

Ansel  Gay. 

Milton  Sheldon 

George  H.  Giles. 

Asahel  Strickland. 

George  H.  Gardner. 

Jonathan  Strickland. 

George  Gardner. 

Sylvester  Strickland. 

Peter  Hollenback. 

Edward  Strickland. 

James  W.  Hickox. 

Elisha  Strickland. 

Spencer  Hickox. 

Ezra  Strickland. 

Hiram  Hudson. 

Samuel  Sutton,  Jr. 

Nathaniel  V.  Hobbs. 

Sylvester  Sutton. 

Amos  Hall. 

Samuel  Sutton. 

Jacob  Hollenback. 

Elijah  B.  Slade. 

Comfort  Hubbell. 

Jacob  Shibley. 

Peleg  Hoadley. 

Samuel  Stark. 

William  Harkins. 

Seth  Stark. 

John  Harkins. 

Myron  Tuttle, 

John  Hudders. 

Ezra  Tuttle. 

Hiram  Jones. 

Jonathan  H.  Taylor. 

Minor  Kelley. 

Edmund  Taylor. 

Myron  Kasson. 

Halsey  Taylor. 

George  T.  Kasson. 

William  Taylor. 

Stephen  Lott. 

Aaron  Taylor. 

Spencer  Lathrop. 

David  Taylor. 

Samuel  Lyman. 

Gideon  L.  Taylor. 

John  Lyman. 

Abiathar  Tuttle. 

Prentice  Lyman. 

John  Tuttle. 

Gideon  Lyman. 

Salmon  Thomas. 

Joseph  A.  Lyman. 

Charles  Thomas, 

Charles  F.  Loomis. 

Benjamin  Thomas. 

Porter  Loomis. 

Dennison  Thomas. 

John  McLaughlin. 

Reuben  Thomas. 

Sylvester  Mayo. 

George  Watson. 

Joseph  L.  Meeker. 

Amos  Williams. 

James  Meacham. 

Bradley  Williams. 

Augustine  Meacham. 

William  B.  Welch. 

Samuel  IMonroe. 

William  White. 

Anson  Monroe. 

Arad  Wakelee. 

Lewis  Moody. 

David  Wakelee. 

Abraham  K.  Miller. 

Amos  Wheeler. 

Jonathan  Nutt. 

Williams  & Stephens. 

Thomas  Nicholson. 

Albert  Beardsley. — His  paternal  grand- 
father, Ephraim  Beardsley,  lived  and  died  in 
Kent,  Litchfield  County,  Conn.,  where  for  many 
years  he  was  the  hospitalde  landlord  of  the 


404 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


“ iuu  of  olden  time.”  Philonns,  sou  of  Eph- 
raim, left  Kent  in  1816  and  came  to  the  new 
country  of  Susquehanna  County,  then  almost 
wholly  a wilderness,  and  bought  of  John  Pass- 
more,  in  Auburn  township,  the  fiirm  now  occu- 
pied by  his  son,  John  B.  Beardsley,  which  he 
greatly  improved  before  his  death  and  made  his 
homestead  the  remainder  of  his  life.  His  wife 
was  Mary  Beach,  whom  he  brought  to  their 
new  home  in  1817,  with  their  family  of  four 
children.  They  were  early  identified  with  St. 
Andrew’s  Episcopal  Church  at  Spriugville,  and 
attendants  there  with  their  family.  Their  chil- 
dren are:  Albert,  born  May  8,  1800;  Susan 
married  Andrew  Bolles,  of  Dimock,  and  is  now 
his  widow ; Charles  resided  in  Montrose  for  a 
time,  and  later  established  an  extensive  carriage 
manufactory  in  New  York  City,  and  John  B. 
Beardsley  succeeded  to  the  homestead.  The 
father  died  in  1833,  aged  sixty- four.  Albert 
Beardsley,  eldest  son,  was  born  in  Kent,  and 
was  seventeen  years  old  when  his  parents  came 
to  Pennsylvania.  He  was  educated  in  the  home 
di.strict  school  at  Rush,  and  at  Montrose  Acad- 
emy. He  was  a teacher  in  Springville,  Tunk- 
hanuock,  and  for  four  terms  he  taught  school  in 
the  vicinity  of  his  birth  in  Connecticut.  It  was 
during  these  years  that  he  formed  the  acquaint- 
ance of  Eliza  Gere,  a native  of  an  adjoining 
town  to  Kent,  a woman  of  refined  tastes,  hos- 
pitable and  genial,  who  has  been  the  faithful 
wife  and  partner  of  his  life  now  for  over  sixty 
years.  She  received  an  academical  education 
and  was  a teacher  for  several  terms  prior  to  her 
marriage.  She  was  born  in  Washington,  Litch- 
field County,  Conn.,  March  10,  1803,  and  they 
were  married  in  1826. 

Some  time  after  their  marriage,  in  1827,  this 
couple  settled  in  Springville,  and  the  same  year 
built  their  present  residence,  in  which,  in  1876, 
many  friends  met  to  celebrate  the  fiftieth  anni- 
versary of  their  marriage,  and  made  them  ha))py 
with  kindly  greetings  and  tokens  of  esteem.  In 
1827  he  taught  a winter  term  of  school  in  Con- 
necticut, and  in  1828  he  was  the  teacher  at 
Spriugville. 

In  1830  Mr.  Beardsley  was  appointed  a 
justice  of  the  peace  by  the  Governor,  and  by 
appointment  and  election  held  the  office  for 


some  twenty  years  in  succession.  Now,  at  the 
age  of  eighty-seven  years,  Esquire  Beardsley 
narrates  that  in  his  entire  time  as  Justice,  judg- 
ment was  affirmed  by  the  higher  courts  in  every 
instance,  save  one,  when  appeal  was  made — a 
high  compliment  to  his  ability,  discrimination 
and  sound  judgment  as  a jurist.  He  was  a 
warm  admirer  of  Henry  Clay,  was  formerly  a 
Whig,  and  upon  the  organization  of  the  Repub- 
lican party  in  18o5-’56,  he  was  one  of  the  first 
to  endorse  its  principles  and  advocate  its  meas- 
ures. He  has  been  identified  further,  officially, 
in  the  public  affairs  of  Springville  in  serving  as 
town  clerk  and  treasurer  for  the  township  and 
schools.  In  business  matters,  by  judicious 
management  and  economy,  he  has  made  a fair 
competence,  and  many  years  of  his  life  have 
been  spent  in  the  capacity  of  a private  broker. 

Their  only  surviving  child  is  Ellen,  born  in 
1840,  married  in  1864  George  A.  Jessup,  born 
in  1838,  the  son  of  the  late  Judge  William  Jes- 
sup of  Montrose,  who  was  educated  at  Montrose 
Academy  and  at  Homer  Academy,  N.  Y.,  now 
vice-president  and  cashier  of  the  Scranton  City 
Bank.  Their  children  are  : Eliza  B.,  Albert  B., 
Amanda  Harris  and  George  Maxwell  Jessup. 
Mrs.  Beardsley’s  parents  were  Deacon  David 
(1767-1857)  and  Cynthia  (Park)  Gere,  the  lat- 
ter dying  before  her  husband  at  about  eighty, 
and  both  natives  of  Litchfield  County,  Conn. 
David  Gere  was  for  twenty  years  a deacon  in 
the  Presbyterian  Church  at  Kent,  Conn.,  and 
settled  at  Montrose  about  1829,  where  himself 
and  wife  spent  the  remainder  of  their  lives. 
Their  children  were:  Sally,  wife  of  Orrin 

Clemens,  resided  in  Bridgewater  and  Great 
Bend,  died  at  the  laiter  place,  leaving  eleven 
children ; Welcome,  married  and  resided  in 
Kent,  where  he  died,  leaving  seven  children ; 
Pamelia,  wife  of  Benjamin  Hitchcock,  a mer- 
chant at  Montrose,  removed  to  New  York, 
where  both  died,  leaving  two  sons ; Eliza  (Mrs. 
Beardsley)  ; Cynthia,  1806,  the  widow  of  Hold- 
ridge  Dewey  of  New  York,  resides  in  Jersey 
City  and  is  now  eighty-one  years  of  age;  Arma- 
luna  married  a Mr.  Park,  and  is  now  his  widow, 
residing  at  Montrose,  having  one  daughter, 
Janette ; Azuba,  married  James  Helm  of 
Wilkes-Barre,  where  both  died,  leaving  two 


•f  iP 


SPRINGVILLE. 


405 


daughters ; Phebe  Ann  was  the  wife  of  O.  P. 
Townsend,  a book-keeper  in  the  Evangelist 
office,  New  York,  for  forty  years,  and  died  leav- 
ing a large  family. 

Business  Interests. — The  people  of  the 
township  are  mainly  agriculturalists,  but  soon 
after  its  settlement  small  business  centres  were 
established,  which  hav’e  increased  in  importance 
as  the  surrounding  resources  have  been  devel- 
oped. The  oldest  and  largest  of  these  places  is 

The  Village  of  Springville,  now  located 
in  Spring  Hollow,  in  the  most  northern  part 
of  the  township,  west  of  the  centre.  It  is  one 
of  the  best-known  places  on  the  old  Wilkes- 
Barre  turnpike,  south  of  Montrose,  and  is  also 
an  important  station  on  the  Narrow-Gauge 
Railroad.  Since  the  completion  of  the  latter 
thoroughfare  the  village  has  had  its  business 
life  quickened,  and  its  general  appearance  has 
been  much  beautified.  In  1886  it  had  Meth- 
odist and  Episcopal  Churches,  a fine  school 
building,  four  stores,  a large  public-house, 
shops,  post-office,  and  one  hundred  and  seventy- 
five  inhabitants. 

The  Blakeslees,  Scotts,  Prichards,  Pierponts, 
Wakelees,  Hickoxs  and  Baldwins  were  the  early 
settlers  of  the  hollow,  as  is  elsewhere  related. 
In  1827  Samuel  Beardsley  came  from  Auburn 
to  identify  himself  with  the  interests  of  the  vil- 
lage, and  has  remained  ever  since.  For  many 
years  he  followed  the  business  of  money  broker 
and  was  also  the  notary  public.  When  he  be- 
came a resident  F.  A.  Burrows  was  the  mer- 
chant, Spencer  Hickox  the  tavern-keeper,  Ben- 
jamin Prichard  the  blacksmith,  Ezekiel  Fritz 
the  tailor.  Dr.  Miner  Kelley  the  physician, 
Marshall  Prichard  the  carpenter,  and  some  of 
the  above-named  farmers  around  the  village. 
Some  of  the  first  good  buildings  were  put  up  by 
Jesse  and  Emory  Scott,  Marshall  Prichard,  Dr. 
Elijah  B.  Slade  and  Spencer  Hickox.  The  lat- 
ter was  the  inn-keeper.  On  the  site  of  his  tav- 
ern was  a small  house  of  entertainment,  opened 
in  1818  by  Leonard  Baldwin,  which  was  en- 
larged and  improved  from  time  to  time  by 
Hickox,  who  was  a popular  landlord.  He  was 
succeeded  by  J.  W.  Rhoads,  Samuel  Loomis, 
and,  in  the  fall  of  1868,  by  Dr.  P.  E.  Brush, 
who  became  the  owner  of  the  building.  It  is 


still  his  property,  and  was  kept,  in  1886,  by  N. 
H.  Sherman.  The  hotel  was  entirely  remod- 
eled by  Dr.  Brush.  In  the  lower  part  of  the 
village  David  Lathrop  opened  another  public- 
house,  which  was  continued,  after  his  death,  by 
his  widow  until  1868.  The  building  was  de- 
stroyed by  fire  a few  years  ago.  Many  years 
ago  the  traveling  public  was  entertained  at  the  old 
Spencer  House,  below  the  village,  and  the  stage- 
horses  were  changed  at  Myron  Tuttle’s. 

On  the  authority  of  Miss  Blackman,  it  is 
stated  that  Francis  Morris  & Brother  sold  the 
first  goods  in  Springville,  the  year  being  uncer- 
tain. In  1816  Samuel  Pierpont  had  a small 
store  on  his  farm,  now  the  David  Wakelee 
place.  In  1826  F.  A.  & E.  Burrows  opened 
the  first  regular  store  in  a small  building  which 
stood  on  the  McCain  stand.  They  were  suc- 
ceeded, in  1830,  by  Noble  & Day,  and,  later, 
by  James  Noble,  who  sold  out  to  Sherman  D. 
Phelps,  later  of  Binghamton,  N.  A".  About 
1840  Fred,  \yilliams  put  up  a new  building  on 
this  site  and  envaged  in  trade,  closing-  out  in 
1844.  He  was  succeeded  by  Azur  Lathrop  and, 
after  him,  came  S.  S.  Grover,  James  McMillan 
and  Asa  Park,  Minot  Riley  and  J.  R.  Lathrop, 

M.  Riley,  R.  T.  Handrick,  Thomas  Irving,  Minot 
Riley  and  the  present  W.  W.  McCain. 

Opposite  this  stand  another  store  was  opened 
by  A.  Beardsley  about  1840,  in  which  he  and 
Thomas  Jackson  traded.  Later  came  Ira  Scott, 
followed  by  Scott  and  various  partners — John 
R.  Hungerford,  Hungerford  & Meserole,  and 
the  present  C.  A.  Hungerford.  A third  stand 
was  opened  by  Spencer  Hickox,  opposite  his 
hotel,  in  which  Thomas  Jackson  traded  about 
1842.  Various  merchants  occupied  it  later, 
among  them  being  Justus  Smith,  Henry 
Williams  and  Thomas  D.  Hoxie,  of  Paterson, 

N.  J.,  the  store  being  in  charge  of  M.  Prichard. 
It  is  now  occupied  by  Isaac  Meserole  as  a tin- 
shop. 

After  removing  from  the  above  place,  Thom- 
as Jack.son  built  the  house  later  converted  into 
the  M.  E.  Church,  in  which  he  traded  a short 
time,  then  removed  to  Joliet,  111.,  where  he  be- 
came very  wealthy. 

The  furniture  and  undertaking  establishment 
of  Tuttle  Bros,  occupies  a three-story  frame 


406 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


building,  erected  a few  years  ago.  Since  Janu- 
ary, 1886,  I.  B.  & H.  Lathrop  have  had  a 
drug-store  in  Spriugville,  the  first  iu  the  vil- 
lage, where  is  kept  the  Springville  post-office. 

Spi’ingville  post-office  was  established  Sep- 
tember 19,  1815,  and  Francis  B.  Spencer  was 
the  first  postmaster.  The  successive  appointees 
have  been,  in  1828,  Spencer  Hickox ; 1845, 
Azur  Lathrop;  1849;  Ira  Scott ; 1849,  Thos. 
Jackson;  1850,  Ira  Scott;  1853,  Israel  B. 
Lathrop;  1861,  Amos  Williams;  1862,  Ira 
Scott ; 1866,  John  B.  Hungerford  ; 1874, 
Charles  A,  Hungerford;  1880,  William  R. 
Meserole ; 1885,  Homer  B.  Lathrop. 

There  are  two  mails  daily  from  the  north  and 
the  sonth  and  a tri-weekly  mail  from  Hop 
Bottom.  Since  July  1,  1884,  Springville  has 
been  a money-order  office. 

In  1824  John  J.  Whitcomb  was  a tanner  and 
currier  at  Springville.  Later,  William  Young 
was  a tanner,  and  was  succeeded  in  that  business 
by  Frederick  Stevens.  After  1840  William  B. 
Handrick  became  the  owner  of  the  tannery,  which 
was  rebuilt  four  years  later.  In  the  course  of  years 
steam  power  was  added  and  the  capacity  of  the 
tannery  much  increased.  It  was  burned  down 
January  30,  1879,  and  rebuilt  the  same  year. 
It  was  again  destroyed  by  fire  April  10,  1882, 
while  operated  by  Byron  C.  Handrick,  and  has 
not  since  been  rebuilt.  Machine-shops  are  car- 
ried on  by  M.  Prichard  & Son  (William  W.), 
and  Theron  Strickland.  A large  shop  belong- 
ing to  E.  H.  Culver  is  vacant. 

“ In  1828  Dr.  Miner  Kelly  wasappointed  jus- 
tice of  the  peace  for  Springville.  Either  in  that 
year  or  the  one  following.  Dr.  Jethro  Hatch, 
from  Connecticut,  settled  in  the  place.  Previous 
to  their  coming  Dr.  Jackson,  of  Tunkhannock, 
was  the  physician  for  all  this  region.  About 
1835  Dr.  William  Wells  Pride  bought  out  Dr. 
Hatch,  and  remained  nearly  twenty-five  years. 
Upon  giving  up  the  practice  of  his  profession 
he  removed  to  Middletown,  Conn.,  where  he 
passed  the  evening  of  his  days  with  his  daugh- 
ter, Mrs.  Re\'.  Dr.  J.  Taylor.  One  cannot  cor- 
rectly estimate  the  value  to  the  community  of 
two  such  Christian  lives  as  those  of  Dr.  and 
Mrs.  Pride.  Both  had  gone  in  their  early  prime 
as  missionaries  of  the  American  Board  of  Com- 


missioners for  Foreign  Missions  (1819-26)  to 
the  Choctaws  in  Mississippi ; the  former  from 
Cambridge,  N.  Y.,  and  the  latter  as  Miss  Han- 
nah Thatcher,  from  Harford,  Susquehanna 
County.  Two  of  their  children  were  born  at  the 
South.  On  account  of  the  doctor’s  failing  health, 
the  family  were  obliged  to  come  to  the  North, 
the  parents  most  regretfully  leaving  the  work  to 
which  they  had  hoped  to  give  the  remainder  of 
their  days.  Dr.  Pride  had  been  established  in 
Gibson  a short  time  before  coming  to  Spring- 
ville. In  the  latter  place  he  was  a ruling  elder 
in  the  Presbyterian  Church,  and  an  active  anti- 
slavery advocate.  Mrs.  Pride  died  at  Middle- 
town,  Conn.,  August  8,  1861,  aged  sixty-three 
years  ; Dr.  Pride,  March  24, 1865,  aged  sixty- 
nine  years.  His  house  in  Springville  is  now 
owned  and  occupied  by  Thomas  Nelson,  Esq.”' 

Dr.  Israel  B.  Lathrop  has  been  a practicing 
physician  in  Springville  since  1844,  and  is  one 
of  the  oldest  practitioners  in  the  southern  part 
of  the  county.  For  some  years  he  was  con- 
temporary with  Dr.  Pride  and  succeeded  Dr.  J. 

R.  Hall.  Prior  to  1860  Dr.  P.  E.  Brush  fol- 
lowed his  profession  three  years,  served  in  the 
army  and  practiced  a short  time  after  his  return. 
He  is  still  a resident  of  the  place,  though  not  in 
practice.  In  1878  Dr.  Homer  B.  Lathrop 
engaged  in  practice  actively  for  six  years,  and 
is  also  a resident  of  the  village.  Dr.  F.  G. 
Grattan  is  in  active  practice.  Other  practitioners 
at  this  point  were  Drs.  John  G.  Woodhouse,  A. 
C.  Blakeslee,  N.  C.  Mackey,  C.  D.  Mackey  and 
E.  B.  Slade. 

Maple  Lodge,  No.  902,  I.  0.  0.  F.,  was 
instituted  at  Springville  July  17,  1883,  with 
twenty  charter  members  and  the  following  prin- 
cipal officers : H.  B.  Lathrop,  N.  G.  ; Z.  N. 
Smith,  V.  G.  ; W.  W.  Prichard,  Secretary  ; C. 
A.  Hungerford,  Treasurer.  In  1886  there  were 
sixty-five  members  and  the  following  officers  : 

S.  A.  Shook,  N.  G. ; Lemuel  Blakeslee,  V.  G. 
W.  W.  Prichard,  Secretary ; and  I.  A.  Strick- 
land, Treasurer.  The  lodge  owns  a large,  well- 
furnished  hall  in  the  third  story  of  the  Tuttle 
building. 

Minot  Riley.  — His  grandfather,  John 


1 Blackman. 


SPEINGVILLE. 


407 


Riley,  came  from  Dublin  when  he  was  eighteen 
years  old,  with  a merchant  of  that  city  who  was 
emigrating  to  America,  intending  to  establish  a 
mercantile  business  in  New  York  City.  Young 
Riley  was  accompanying  him,  expecting  to  enter 
his  employ  after  their  arrival.  The  merchant 
died  during  the  passage  over,  and  the  young 
man  landed  in  New  York  with  little  money  and 
no  friends.  Having  received  a liberal  educa- 
tion in  the  old  country,  he  turned  this,  his  only 


he  had  superior  educational  advantages.  But 
a student’s  life  had  no  charms  for  him  and  his 
half-brother,  Lloyd  Goodsell,  having  settled  in 
Braintrim  (now  Auburn)  in  1799,  he  deter- 
mined to  seek  his  fortune  in  that  new  country, 
and  in  1807  came  all  the  way  on  foot  from 
Connecticut. 

He  first  found  employment  at  lumbering 
down  on  the  Susquehanna  River,  near  Meshop- 
pen.  About  1811  he  settled  in  Auburn  and 


“ stock  in  trade,”  to  good  account  and  went 
to  teaching  school.  He  was  in  Connecticut 
engaged  in  this  avocation  when  the  War  of  the 
Revolution  broke  out,  and  leaving  his  school- 
room,-j|^e  enlisted  as  a soldier.  After  the  Revo- 
lutionary War  he  married  a Mrs.  Goodsell, 
whose  maiden-name  was  Davis,  and  settled  in 
Connecticut.  They  had  children, — Henry  and 
John,  John  Riley,  Jr.,  was  born  in  Connecti- 
cut, October  31,  1788.  His  early  boyhood  was 
spent  at  home,  and,  his  father  being  a teacher. 


took  up  a woodland  tract  of  one  hundred  acres. 
He  lived  with  his  half-brother  while  making  a 
clearing  and  putting  up  a log  house.  In  1812 
he  married  Polly  Miles,  a daughter  of  Jona- 
than Kellogg,  and  a native  of  Connecticut. 
After  his  marriage  he  took  his  bride  on  horse- 
back to  their  log  house  home  and  immediately 
commenced  housekeeping.  He  erected  a saw- 
mill on  the  west  branch  of  the  Meshoppen 
Creek,  which  passed  through  his  farm,  and  was 
afterwards  known  as  Riley  Creek. 


408 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


He  was  recognized  as  a shrewd  and  enter- 
prising farmer  and  business  man,  possessing  much 
wit  and  sound  sense  and  was  a good  financier, 
never  owing  mox’e  than  he  could  pay.  He  died 
in  1880,  at  the  age  of  ninety-two,  and  his  wife 
survived  liim  until  she  reached  the  same 
ripe  age.  They  had  lived  together  as  man  and 
wife  nearly  the  full  term  of  man’s  allotted 
years.  Their  children  were  Kellogg  (1813- 
40),  was  for  a number  of  years  a merchant  of 
Tunkhannock,  in  company  with  Sherman  D. 
Phelps;  Harriet,  1816,  died  young;  Minot; 
Harriet  (2d),  1821,  widow  of  the  late  Dr.  J.  P. 
Lambert,  now  residing  in  Illinois ; Eliza  (1823- 
72),  was  the  wife  of  John  M.  Bushnell,  of 
Auburn.  Minot  Riley  was  born  Nov.  15,  1818, 
in  Auburn,  Pa.,  where  he  spent  his  boyhood  on 
his  father’s  farm.  He  had  the  advantages  of 
the  district  schools,  and  later  attended  select 
school.  After  attaining  his  majority  he  spent  a 
part  of  his  time  on  his  father’s  farm,  and  part 
of  the  time  lumbering  for  a year  or  two.  About 
this  time  he  went  to  Tunkhannock  and  assisted 
his  elder  brother  in  the  store,  and  there  received 
his  first  lessons  in  the  mercantile  business.  Af- 
ter his  brother’s  death,  in  1840,  he  remained  to 
settle  up  his  estate  and  then  came  back  to 
Auburn  and  assumed  charge  of  the  home  farm. 
In  1842  he  married  Emily  C.,  daughter  of  Oren 
(1796-1885)  and  Eleanor  V.  Avery  (1797- 
1852)  Baldwin.  Her  father  came  from  New 
Hampshire  and  settled  in  Springville,  where  she 
was  born  January  6, 1821.  In  1835  her  parents 
removed  to  Tunkhannock,  at  which  place  she 
was  married.  Mr.  Riley  brought  his  bride  to 
the  home  farm,  where  he  remained  until  1844, 
when  he  went  to  Tunkhannock  (now  Lemon) 
and  purchased  a grist-mill  situated  on  the  main 
branch  of  the  IMeshoppen  Creek.  This  he 
overhauled  and  repaired,  and  in  March  of  that 
year,  after  he  had  his  mill  in  running  order,  a 
big  freshet  came,  demolished  the  bulkhead  and 
carried  the  mill  down  the  stream  a half-mile 
and  completely  ruined  it.  Nothing  daunted  by 
this  serious  misfortune,  he  immediately  com- 
menced the  work  of  rebuilding,  and,  although 
he  had  to  take  his  lumber  from  the  “ stump  ” 
and  erect  the  mill  on  a new  site,  he  had  it  com- 
pleted and  was  ready  to  commence  grinding  in 


July  following.  About  1848  he  sold  the  grist- 
mill and  purchased  a saw-mill  about  one  and 
one-half  miles  farther  down  the  stream,  and 
turned  his  attention  to  lumbering  for  two  or 
three  years.  He  then  returned  to  Auburn  and 
farmed  the  home  farm,  under  an  arrangement 
with  his  father,  until  1857,  when  he  came  to 
Springville  and  purchased  a half-interest  in  a 
store  and  stock  of  goods  and  entered  into  part- 
nership with  Ira  Scott.  This  was  the  com- 
mencement of  a mercantile  career  that,  with 
slight  interruptions,  he  continued  for  nearly 
thirty  years.  The  partnership  with  Scott  was 
dissolved  in  1858  and  shortly  afterwards  Dr. 
I.  B.  Lathrop  became  associated  with  him  in  the 
business,  and  the  firm  of  Riley  & Lathrop  con- 
tinued until  1861,  when  Dr.  Lathrop  retired, 
and  he  continued  the  business  alone.  In  1872, 
shortly  after  he  sold  his  stock  and  business  to 
Roscoe  Handrick,  he  became  a partner  with 
Albert  Alger  in  the  mercantile  business  at  Lynn, 
which  terminated  with  his  death  in  1874.  He 
resumed  business  again  at  Springville  after- 
wards, and  in  1885  he  again  sold  out  his  mer- 
cantile business  to  VV.  W.  McCain.  Since 
retiring  from  business  Mr.  Riley  devotes  most 
of  his  time  to  his  farm,  which  he  purchased  in 
1878.  He  has  also  recently  purchased  what  was 
known  as  the  “ Vanness  ” farm,  and  it  would 
seem  to  be  his  desire  that  his  latter  years  should 
be  spent  as  his  earlier  years  were — in  agricul- 
tural pursuits. 

His  pleasant  home  in  the  village  he  erected 
in  1869,  and  here  he  resides  suiTounded  by  the 
comforts  that  a life  of  business  activity  has 
garnered.  Diligent  in  business,  honorable  in 
his  dealings,  he  represents  the  best  type  of  the 
successful  country  merchant  and  careful  financier. 
Of  the  four  children  born  to  them  but  one  sur- 
vives. Their  names  are  Morton  Wilmot  (1843— 
44),  George  Clinton  (1852-64),  Mary  Ursula 
(1855-64).  Their  surviving  son,  Stuart,  1860, 
was  educated  at  the  disti’ict  and  select  schools  of 
his  native  town.  He  also  received  a business 
training  in  his  father’s  store,  and  was  in  part- 
nership in  the  business,  under  the  firm-name  of 
Riley  & Son,  when  his  father  sold  out  and  re- 
tired. He  is  now  engaged  at  farming  with  his 
father  and  resides  at  home. 


SPRINGVILLE. 


409 


Lynn  is  a pleasantly  located  village  on  the 
turnpike,  several  miles  below  Springville  vil- 
lage. It  contains  a fine  church,  three  stores, 
several  shops  and  fourteen  residences.  A little 
more  than  a mile  east  is  Lynn  Station,  on  the 
narrow-gauge  railroad,  which  is  the  shipping- 
point  for  this  part  of  the  township.  In  1816 
A.  Luce  came  from  Pittston  and  opened  a 
wagon-maker’s  shop,  in  which  were  built  the 
first  platform  wagons  in  the  county.  Several 
hands  were  employed  and  business  was  carried 
on  quite  extensively  about  a dozen  years.  Near 
this  time,  in  1868,  he  built  his  large  brick  resi- 
dence and,  about  the  same  time.  Miner  K.  Wil- 
liams built  another  fine  brick  house  on  the  op- 
posite corner.  Soon  after  the  place  assumed  a 
substantial  growth,  but  has  become  more  im- 
portant as  a business  point  only  in  recent  years. 
It  is  said  that  James  Piatt  sold  the  first  goods, 
occupying  a small  building  which  has  been 
burned  up.  The  first  store-house  of  noteworthy 
size  was  erected  by  Dean  & Johnson,  who  occu- 
pied it  for  trading  purposes  several  years.  A 
large  number  of  firms  have  merchandised  at 
Lynn,  some  remaining  in  trade  but  a short 
time.  In  1883  A.  B.  Sheldon  put  up  a store 
building  on  the  corner  opposite  the  old  stand  in 
which  George  & Irwin  Luce  have  traded  since 
1884.  Near  by  is  the  new  store  of  Greenwood 
& Blakeslee,  and  on  the  old  site  is  the  store 
of  James  M.  Jeffres,  which  was  remodeled  in 
1886.^  The  old  building  had  a dozen  different 
occupants.  Miner  K.  Williams  being  one  of 
those  who  there  merchandised.  In  this  build- 
ing is  kept  the  Lynn  post-office,  which  was  es- 
tablished April  21,  1836,  with  John  Cassedy  as 
the  first  postmaster.  His  successors  were,  in 
1840,  Thomas  Cassedy;  1845,  Stephen  Lott; 
1849,  Thomas  Cassedy;  1851,  Andrew  John- 
son ; 1853,  David  G.  Sherman  ; 1859,  Henry 
N.  Sherman  ; 1861,  Edward  M.  Phillips;  1866, 
Eugene  S.  Haudrick  ; 1869,  Orville  T.  Spencer; 
1876,  Charles  W.  Smith  ; 1878,  James  W.  Os- 
terhout;  1882,  F.  S.  Greenwood  and  Arthur 

L.  Titus  ; 1883,  F.  S.  Greenwood  ; 1885,  James 

M.  Jeffres.  Two  mails  per  day  are  supplied. 
Dr.  A.  L.  Boughner  is  the  resident  physician  at 
Lynn.  Other  practitioners  have  been  Dr. 


Miner  Kelley,  Dr.  D.  N.  Camp,  Dr.  C.  D. 
Mackey  and  Dr.  D.  W.  Sturdevant. 

Springville  Lodge,  No.  181,  I.  0.  0.  F.,  was 
instituted  at  Lynn  July  21,  1876,  with  twenty- 
one  members  and  H.  A.  Mack  as  the  first  No- 
ble Grand,  and  A.  R.  Safford,  Secretary.  Since 
that  time  the  Noble  Grands  have  been  A.  B. 
Sheldon,  A.  R.  Safford,  M.  K.  Williams,  C.  A. 
Hungerford,  W.  W.  Prichard,  F.  L.  Fish,  G. 
L.  Coggswell,  M.  B.  Lyman,  J.  M.  Jeffres,  . 
E.  Taylor,  Herbert  Fish,  Edgar  Ely,  S.  O. 
Crawford,  Thomas  Ellsworth,  William  Smales, 

N.  C.  Mackey,  B.  C.  Handrick  and  S.  L.  Gar- 
rison. The  lodge  has  sixty-two  members,  meets 
in  a fine  hall  in  the  Jeffres  building,  and  is  in  a 
prosperous  condition. 

Niven  is  a post-office  and  hamlet  in  the 
southeastern  part  of  the  twnship.  The  locality 
was  first  known  as  “ Fisk’s  Corners,”  and  most 
of  those  residing  here  at  an  early  day  embraced 
the  Mormon  faith  and  left  the  country  about 
1836,  to  connect  themselves  with  Mormon 
settlements  in  the  West.  Jo.seph  Fisk  owned 
one  of  the  farms  at  the  Corners,  and  died  at  that 
place.  Other  settlers  here  were  people  natned 
Monroe,  Winters,  Hall,  Oakes  and  Shibley,  the 
latter  living  across  the  line,  in  Wyoming 
County  ; and  Joseph  Shibley  was  a preacher  of 
this  sect.  In  their  profession  they  were  not 
polygamous,  and  were  reputed  good  citizens. 
After  their  removal  another  class  of  settlers 
came,  and  a number  of  them  made  way  for  the 
present  occupants  of  the  many  fine  farms  of  this 
section.  Among  those  coming  in  last  were  the 
Parke,  Stark,  Squiei’s  and  Stephens  families. 

Dr.  J.  P.  Lambert  opened  a small  store  on 
the  A.  Parke  place  and  also  followed  his  profes- 
sion, but  did  not  remain  long.  Others  sold 
goods  here,  the  last  one  being  Justus  Hickox, 
after  the  late  Civil  War.  Not  long  after  the 
store  was  opened  J.  W.  Fisk  built  a public- 
house,  which  he  sold  in  1865  to  Jeremiah 
Stephens,  who  kept  a licensed  place  till  1877. 
Upon  his  removal  here  he  became  the  post- 
master, serving  until  1881,  when  Rosetta  A. 
Stephens  was  appointed,  and  the  office  held  at 
the  same  place.  Three  mails  per  week  are  sup- 
plied. Niven  post-office  was  established  Augirst 
14,  1855,  and  was  named  for  the  Hon.  Niven, 


26} 


1 Burned  March  6,  1887. 


410 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


through  whose  influence  it  was  secured,  and 
Seth  B.  Stark  was  the  first  postmaster.  He 
was  succeeded,  in  1861,  by  Joseph  W.  Fiske, 
and  the  latter  four  years  later  by  J.  Stephens. 

The  hamlet  has  had  mechanic  shops,  and  in 
1880  had  thirty-seven  inhabitants. 

The  first  saw-mill  in  the  eastern  part  of  the 
township  was  built  in  1824  by  Samuel  Rosen- 
graut,  and  quite  an  extensive  business  was  done 
in  sawing  lumber  and  hauling  it  down  the  creek 
about  ten  miles,  where  it  was  formed  into  rafts 
and  run  down  the  river.  Nathaniel  Hobbs  had 
another  mill  at  the  outlet  of  Schooley  Pond, 
about  the  same  time  ; and  other  mills,  some  of 
them  portable,  were  built,  but  as  a rule  they 
proved  poor  investments  to  the  owners,  and 
hastened  the  destruction  of  much  timber  which 
would  now  be  valuable.  One  of  the  best  sites 
on  the  Meshoppen  has  become  known  as  States 
Mills.  In  1826  a saw-mill  on  this  site  was 
owned  by  Ezra  Tuttle,  who  died  that  year  from 
injuries  received  in  the  mill.  A grist-mill  was 
built  later,  and,  in  1835,  the  Odell  family 
owned  it.  In  time  J.  States  became  the  propri- 
etor and  still  owns  the  saw-mill.  The  grist- 
mill was  burned  down  early  in  1886,  but  has 
been  rebuilt  by  N.  M.  Seeley.  In  the  lower 
part  of  the  township  a steam-mill,  owned  by 
H.  A.  Mack,  was  burned,  and,  being  rebuilt, 
was  again  destroyed  by  fire  in  1882.  Northeast 
from  Springville  village  R.  Squires  had  a good 
steam  saw-mill,  which  has  lately  been  inoperative. 
Near  the  Dimock  line  was  a water-power  saw- 
mill, and,  farther  down  the  same  stream,  other 
small  mills  have  outlived  their  usefulness. 

Asa  Packer  purchased  a number  of  farms  in 
the  township,  which  he  improved  for  dairying, 
and  established  a creamery  near  the  village  of 
Springville,  where  the  milk  from  these  farms 
was  consumed.  This  creamery  is  still  carried 
on  by  Lemuel  Blakeslee. 

Benjamin  Stephens,  son  of  Ellphalet  and 
Elizabeth  Felteu  Stephens,  was  born  in  Nichol- 
son township, Wyoming  County,  June  26,  1817. 
His  grandfather,  Eliphalet  L.  Stephens,  came 
from  Connecticut  with  his  family  and  settled 
on  the  east  side  of  Tuiikhannock  Creek,  about 
three  miles  below  the  present  site  of  Nicholson, 
having  children — Jessie  settled  in  Nicholson 


township  and  died  there  at  ninety-three,  leaving  a 
family  of  children  ; and  Eliphalet.  By  a second 
marriage  he  had  a son  Lord,  who  died  in  Car- 
bondale ; and  by  his  fourth  marriage  he  had 
children — Katy,  wife  of  Hiram  Stark,  of 
Lemon  township,  Wyoming  County;  Sally, 
widow  of  Ziba  Smith,  resides  in  Nicholson  bor- 
ough ; Betsey,  wife  of  Gordon  Hewett,  died  in 
Lemon  township  ; Polly  and  Peggy,  died  young 
women  ; Ward,  in  Lathrop  ; William  lived  in 
Nicholson,  was  drowned  in  the  Tunkhannock 
and  left  a family;  Elsie,  wife  of  William  Felten, 
died  in  Lathrop. 

Eliphalet  (son  of  Eliphalet  L.)  Stephens’  chil- 
dren are  Jessie,  resides  in  Kansas;  William, 
married,  died  and  left  a family  in  Hyde  Park  ; 
Rachel  is  the  wife  of  Lewis  Billings,  of  Lemon 
township ; Benjamin ; Joseph,  a farmer  in 
Nicholson,  on  the  homestead,  resides  in  the 
stone  house,  where  his  father  lived,  on  the  west 
side  of  the  Tunkhannock;  Heister  resides  in 
Nevada  ; George,  a farmer  in  Wisconsin  ; Hal- 
loway, drowned  in  the  Mississippi  at  the  age  of 
twenty-three;  Elizabeth,  married  John  Schooley 
and  resides  in  Nevada  with  Heister;  Abagail, 
died  in  Wisconsin,  leaving  a family ; Ritner,  a 
farmer  in  Wisconsin ; and  Eliphalet,  the 
youngest,  last  heard  of  in  Missouri.  All  of  the 
above  married,  and  eleven  of  them  reared  fami- 
lies. I 

Benjamin  Stephens  spent  his  boyhood  at 
home  until  he  was  sixteen,  when  he  was  placed 
in  charge  of  a farm  by  his  father,  which  he  and 
his  sister  Rachel  successfully  managed  for  one 
year.  The  balance  of  his  minority  was  spent 
in  farming  and  lumbering  with  his  father,  re- 
ceiving very  meagre  opportunities  for  any  edu- 
cation from  books ; yet  he  got  practical  ideas  of 
business,  which  formed  the  basis  of  his  success- 
ful career  afterwards. 

The  year  he  became  of  age  he  paid  for  his 
first  yoke  of  oxen  by  getting  in  lumber  donated 
him  by  his  father.  In  1840  he  cut  logs  on  his 
father’s  property  for  a raft,  manufactured  the 
lumber  at  his  father’s  mill,  and  in  the  spring  of 
1841  his  brother  Joseph  rafted  the  same  to 
Columbia,  realizing  therefor  five  dollars  per 
thousand.  This  gave  him  money,  which  he  ap- 
plied in  payment  for  the  improvements  on  one 


SPRING  VILLE. 


411 


hundred  and  four  acres  which  he  had  bought 
of  his  father  in  1840,  formerly  the  property  of 
Erastus  Brown.  He  had  to  pay  for  the  right 
of  soil  to  the  Drinker  estate,  and  afterwards 
added  forty-six  acres  to  his  purchase.  In  August, 
1840,  he  married  Delilah  (1823-52),  a daughter 
of  Jeremiah  and  Sophia  Rosengrant,  of  Spring- 
ville,  whose  family  are  elsewhere  mentioned  in 
this  history.  In  October  following  he  went  to 
house-keeping  on  his  farm,  but  soon  removed  to 


He  was  early  a Whig,  later  a Republican,  and 
held  the  offices  of  supervisor  and  poor-master  for 
twelve  years.  The  children  by  this  marriage 
are  Jeremiah,  born  1841,  resides  at  Niven,  is 
serving  his  second  terra  as  justice  of  the  peace, 
married  Rosetta  Stark,  of  Springville ; Henry, 
1843,  farmer  in  Nevada;  (Reno),  married  first 
Lydia  Brown,  of  Nicholson,  and  after  her  death, 
Emily  Quick,  of  the  same  place  ; Miner,  1849, 
a farmer  adjoining  the  homestead  in  Springville, 


East  Nicholson  and  worked  for  his  father  to 
complete  the  payment  of  his  improvements. 
This  couple  met  the  obstacles  then  incident 
to  house-keeping  with  fortitude  and  patience. 
Their  first  house  was  a plank  one,  twenty-four 
by  sixteen.  Mr.  Stephens  built  the  present  one 
in  1853,  at  various  times  spacious  ont-buildings, 
and  the  farm  is  well-fenced  with  substantial 
stone  wall.  He  was  an  industrious  farmer,  a 
man  of  good  judgment,  and  reared  his  children 
to  habits  of  industry  and  honesty  of  purpose. 


married  first  Mary  Vaugh,  and  second,  Emma 
Felton.  Benjamin  Stephens,  in  1852,  married 
Caroline  (1821-85),  daughter  of  Peter  and  Re- 
becca Bond,  a native  of  Northampton  County, 
Pa.,  who  bore  him  children,  Otto  Silsman  and 
Newton  H.,  died  young ; Appleton  Bryant, 
born  1858,  resides  on  the  homestead,  married 
Emily,  daughter  of  Washington  and  Mary 
Waterman,  of  Nicholson  township.  * Benjamin 
Stephens’  third  wife,  whom  he  married  in  1885, 
is  Mary  E.  Shibley,  born  in  1824,  a daughter 


412 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


of  John  and  Sarah  Shibley,  wdio  was  the  widow 
of  Henry  Stark,  of  Nicholson  township,  and 
her  surviving  children  are,  Augusta,  Loren  L., 
Sarah  E.  and  Daniel  Stark. 

Mr.  Stevens  built  his  present  residence  in 
Nicholson  borough  in  1874,  where  he  has  re- 
sided since.  He  keeps  the  management  of  his 
farm  in  his  own  hands,  and  has  placed  his  four 
sons  on  farms  which  he  has  purchased. 

Albert  Squier. — His  paternal  great-grand- 


the  family  settled  in  Nicholson.  He  married 
Fanny  (1797-1841),  the  daughter  of  Col.  Levi 
Phelps,  who  settled  in  Lathrop,  at  the  junction 
of  Tarbell’s  Pond  and  Horton’s  Creek,  in  1812, 
and  for  a time  was  a farmer  on  the  Phelps 
place,  and  he  was  also  a lumberman.  Their 
children  are  Ira,  born  in  1813,  married  Erne- 
line  Lovee  and  resides  at  Nicholson  ; Fanny, 
1815,  the  wife  of  Seth  B.  Stark,  of  Springville  ; 
Albert,  born  November  27,  1817,  in  Nicholson 


father,  with  his  oldest  son,  residents  of  New 
Jersey,  served  in  the  Revolutionary  War,  and 
his  father,  Arab  Squier,  was  drafted  in  the 
War  of  1812.  His  grandfather,  Stephen 
Squier,  removed  from  New  Jersey,  and  settled 
with  his  family  in  Nicholson  in  1793,  where  he 
died.  He  was  a shoemaker  by  trade,  but  on 
coming  to  Pennsylvania  bought  some  four  him 
dred  acres  of  land,  upon  which  he  made  con- 
siderable improvement  during  his  life.  Arab 
Squier  (1789-1870;  was  four  years  old  when 


I township,  then  Luzerne  County ; Nathaniel 
(1819-76)  married  Nancy  Robinson,  was  a 
farmer  in  Nicholson,  where  his  widow  resides; 
Arab  (1821-75)  was  three  times  married, — first 
to  Perlina  Place,  second  to  Adelia  Ball,  third 
to  Hannah  Robinson,  and  resided  and  died  at 
Tunkhannock ; Amanda,  1823,  widow  of  Dens- 
more  Stark,  of  Springville,  resides  at  Scranton  ; 
Wealthy  Ann,  1825,  wife  of  Ziba  Billings, 
proprietor  of  the  Packer  House,  Tunkhannock ; 
Mary  (1827-75)  was  the  wife  of  Lewis  Billings, 


SPRINGVILLE. 


413 


of  Nicholson  ; Daniel  T.  died  at  six ; Rebecca 
(1831-76)  was  the  wife  of  Jedediah  Hewett,  of 
Brooklyn  ; William,  1834,  married  Frances, 
daughter  of  Dr  Samuel  Wright,  of  Lathrop, 
and  resides  on  the  Wright  homestead;  Eliza, 
1841,  wife  of  Alonzo  Foot,  of  Scranton, 

Of  these  children,  Albert  Squier  has  spent 
most  of  his  activ'e  business  life  in  Springville, 
where  he  is  known  as  a man  of  sterling  integ- 
rity, of  correct  habits  and  an  honorable  citizen. 
He  was  reared  on  the  farm,  and  early  learned 
■what  hard  work  meant.  His  first  venture  for 
himself  was  just  before  becoming  of  age,  when 
he  hewed  oars  enough  to  buy  himself  a colt 
with  the  proceeds.  In  1837  he  bought  one 
hundred  and  eighteen  acres,  a woodland  tract 
in  the  southeast  corner  of  Springville  township, 
erected  his  log  house,  in  which  he  kept  bache- 
lor’s hall,  while  he  was  making  improvements 
on  his  laud,  which  had  cost  him  three  dollars 
per  acre.  In  1841  he  married  Elizabeth  Phelps, 
who  was  born  in  Nicholson  December  21,  1823, 
who  has  been  a help-mate  worthy  in  every 
way,  and  has  done  her  part  well  from  the  be- 
ginning of  their  married  life  in  poverty  to 
their  present  comfortable  competence,  both  her- 
self and  husband  having  been  members  of  the 
Methodist  Church  at  W est  Nicholson  for  the  past 
forty-four  years,  and  supporters  of  the  various 
charities  in  their  vicinity.  In  1848  Mr.  Squier 
built  his  first  frame  house,  and  in  1864  he 
erected  his  present  residence.  His  life  work 
has  been  general  farming  and  dairying,  and  all 
the  appointments  of  his  place,  with  its  commo- 
dious out-buildings  and  from  four  to  five  miles 
of  stone  wall,  show  his  persevering  industry,  and 
are  a monument  to  his  ambition  and  thrift  to 
those  who  succeed  him  in  the  ownership  of  this 
property.  Although  not  blessed  with  any 
living  offspring  of  their  own,  their  nephew, 
Elijah  Harris  Phelps,  has  resided  with  them 
from  his  boyhood,  and  is  now  the  main  manager 
of  the  farm.  Their  only  child,  Luman  Squier, 
died  in  1860  at  the  age  of  seventeen.  Mr. 
Squier  has  never  been  an  aspirant  for  office, 
but  has  been  interested  in  local  matters,  has 
acted  with  the  Democratic  party,  and  has 
served  his  township  as  school  director.  Eliza-  I 
beth  Phelps’  parents  were  David  (1795-1852)  | 


and  Roxanna  Sackett  (1795-1869)  Phelps, 
married  in  1813,  who  resided  at  Nicholson,  and 
whose  children  were  Mary,  born  1815,  wife  of 
Alvah  Aldrich,  of  Plymouth,  N.  Y. ; Almira, 
1817,  wife  of  Sanders  Ward,  of  Cicero,  N.  Y., 
died  at  Nicholson  ; David  C.,  1821,  married 
Altheda  Sheffield,  and  resided  at  Nicholson, 
moved  to  Illinois,  and  died  in  Kansas ; Eliza- 
beth, 1823  (Mrs.  Squier) ; Levi,  1829,  mar- 
ried Cynthia  Camp,  of  Maryland,  and  has  chil- 
dren ; Otis  (1833-63)  enlisted  in  1862,  Com- 
pany A,  Sixteenth  Pennsylvania  Cavalry,  and 
was  killed  the  following  year,  near  Falmouth, 
Va.  (married  Serepta  Harris,  daughter  of  Elijah 
Harris,  of  Lemon,  and  left  children, — Sarah, 
Roxanna  and  Elijah  Harris  Phelps) ; Homer, 
1836,  married  Lydia  JBeebe,  and  resides  in 
Springville,  and  has  children,  — Henry  D., 
Jesse  E , William  H.,  Tempia  A.,  Mary  A.  and 
Ida  M.  Phelps. 

One  son  of  Sanders  Ward,  above  noticed, 
James  H.  Ward,  enlisted  also  in  Company  A, 
Sixteenth  Pennsylvania  Cavalry,  and  served 
three  years,  being  mustered  out  at  Richmond 
in  August,  1865.  He  was  a resident  of  Spring- 
ville, but  enlisted  from  Wyoming  County.  This 
David  Phelps  was  the  son  of  Col.  Levi  Phelps, 
before  mentioned,  whose  other  children  were 
Alvah,  Curtis,  Ira  (drafted  and  went  as  far  as 
Danville  in  1814),  Griswold,  Millie,  Polly, 
Phebe  and  Fanny  Phelps  (Mrs.  Arey  Squier). 

Educational  and  Religious. — An  account 
of  the  early  schools  is  elsewhere  given,  and 
mention  of  a few  select  schools  only  is  here  made. 

“In  the  fall  of  1843  or  ’44  William  Belcher  pro- 
posed teaching  a select  school  in  Lyman  settlement, 
providing  he  could  get  a room.  John  and  Joseph  A. 
Lyman  built  a small  house  on  the  old  homestead, 
near  the  Junction,  or  corners  of  five  roads,  where  the 
school  was  kept  for  several  years,  and  which  became 
known  as  the  Lyman ville  Select  School,  giving  name 
Lymanville,  as  it  has  been  called  ever  since,  though 
there  is  no  village.  The  Methodist  Episcopal  Church 
parsonage  and  school-house  is  all  there  is  to  distin- 
guish it  from  other  farming  communities.”  ' 

About  1845  J.  Lorenzo  Lyons  established  a 
select  school  in  a private  residence,  which  was 
successfully  taught  a nutnber  of  years,  and 


1 Miss  Blackman. 


414 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


whicli  was  attended  by  about  thirty  pupils.  He 
subsequently  became  a missionary  to  Syria,  but 
is  at  pi’csent  a colporteur  in  Florida.  From 
1849  to  1851  Miss  Caroline  Skinner,  a sister  of 
the  Rev.  G.  M.  Skinner,  at  that  time  rector  of 
St.  Andrew’s  Church,  taught  a select  school  of 
much  the  same  nature  as  Rector  Freeman  Lane 
had  taught,  at  an  earlier  day,  in  the  village  of 
Springville.  She  was  an  accomplished  teacher, 
very  exemplary  in  her  life,  and  her  memory  is 
still  highly  cherished. 

Miss  Dora  Scott  and  Miss  A.  Etheridge  had 
a well-attended  school.  In  the  same  period 
the  Rev.  A.  H.  Sloat  had  another  select  school, 
and  the  aggregate  attendance  of  the  two  was 
more  than  one  hundred. 

Professor  S.  S.  Thomas,  a native  of  the 
township,  is  a very  successful  public  school 
teacher  and  has  taught  twenty  sessions  of  select 
schools  in  Springville,  much  of  the  instruction 
being  devoted  to  the  preparation  for  teaching. 

In  the  summer  of  1882  the  citizens  of 
Springville  village  raised  nearly  one  thousand 
dollars,  which,  with  the  sixteen  hundred  dollars 
appropriated  by  the  township,  was  used  in  build- 
ing a fine  school  edifice  in  that  village.  It  has 
a good  location,  on  one  acre  of  ground,  and  has 
an  attractive  exterior.  It  is  thirty  by  fifty-two 
feet,  two  stories  high  and  substantially  finished. 

In  this  building  a graded  school  of  three 
departments  was  opened  in  the  fall  of  1882, 
under  the  principalship  of  C.  O.  Bramhall.  He 
was  succeeded  by  Harry  James,  who  was  princi- 
pal until  the  close  of  the  schools,  in  1886.  In 
the  fall  of  that  year  C.  O.  Bramhall  again  as- 
sumed charge  and  is  the  present  principal. 
More  than  one  hundred  and  twenty-five  pupils 
are  in  attendance,  many  of  them  being  residents 
of  other  townships.  The  school  is  maintained  at 
a yearly  expen.se  of  nearly  $1,000  per  year. 

Soon  after  the  settlement  of  the  county 
Methodist  nieetings  were  held  in  the  southern 
part  of  Springville,  where  afterwards  was  or- 
ganized the  Lyman  Class.  This  was  composed 
mostly  of  members  of  the  Lyman  family, 
Joseph  Earl,  George  Atkinson,  William  Belcher, 
Nathaniel  Sheldon,  John  Oakley,  William  Tay- 
lor and  some  others  living  in  Wyoming  County. 
Meetings  were  held  at  private  houses,  in  the 


woods,  and  in  the  school-house,  as  soon  as  it 
was  built,  and  the  preachers  came  at  long  in- 
tervals only.  The  Rev.  Silas  Comfort  was  one 
of  the  first  presiding  elders,  and  in  1812  the 
Rev.  George  Harmon  held  that  position  in  this 
section  of  the  country  ; in  1815  the  Rev.  Mar- 
maduke  Pearce;  and  in  1819  the  Rev.  George 
Lane.  After  1830  preaching  was  held  stat- 
edly by  ministers  assigned  to  what  became  the 
Springville  Circuit,  which  extended  over  a large 
area  of  country,  but  which  had  this  section  as 
a centre,  so  that  the  work  became  more  perma- 
nent and  led  to  the  demand  for  a house  of  wor- 
ship consecrated  to  the  services  of  the  Method- 
ist Church.  Accordingly  was  built,  in  1842, 
a plain  frame  meeting-house,  thirty-six  by  forty- 
eight  feet,  which  became  known  as  ‘‘The  Ly- 
man ville  Church,”’  but  which  was  incorporated 
September  2, 1848,  as  the  First  Methodist  Episco- 
pal Church  of  Springville,  on  the  petition  of  the 
following  persons,  at  that  time  members  of  the 
church : Joseph  Whitham,  Samuel  Lyman, 
Timothy  D.  Walker,  George  Atkinson,  Joseph 
A.  Lyman,  N.  Sheldon,  Prentiss  Lyman,  Lan- 
dis Lyman,  Elihu  H.  Lyman,  William  Belcher, 
Whitman  Earl  and  William  Taylor.  Previous 
to  the  building  of  the  church,  a home  for  the 
preacher  had  been  built  on  the  land  of  Gideon 
Lyman,  but  in  1861  the  old  buildings  were  re- 
moved and  a new  parsonage  was  erected,  which 
is  still  the  home  of  the  ministers  of  Spring- 
ville Circuit.  The  church  was  repaired  in 
1878,  and  the  property  is  at  present  in  a fair 
condition.  In  1886  the  trustees  were  N.  B. 
Sheldon,  U.  A.  Church,  Willis  Walker,  H.  A. 
Spencer,  L.  S.  Taylor  and  G.  G,  Rogers.  Two 
of  the  former  members  of  this  church  have  be- 
come foreign  missionaries,  leaving  this  country 
in  August,  1883,  for  Tokio,  Japan,  where  they 
became  teachers  in  the  Anglo-Japan  College. 
They  are  David  S.  and  John  O.  Spencer,  sons 
of  H.  A.  Spencer,  for  many  years  one  of  the 
principal  members  of  this  church.  The  former 
was  born  in  1854,  and  the  latter  in  1857,  and 
were  educated  in  the  Wyoming  Seminary. 
Francis  Spencer,  Jr.  (of  another  family)  also 
became  a minister  of  the  Gospel  from  this 
church,  as  also  did  George  H.  Blakeslee,  of  the 
same  township. 


SPRINGVILLE. 


415 


The  bounds  of  Springville  Circuit  have  been 
frequently  changed,  several  other  circuits  hav- 
ing been  formed  out  of  it.  In  1886  it  em- 
braced the  appointments  at  Lymanville,  Lynn, 
Springville  and  Dimock,  and  there  were  nearly 
two  hundred  members  on  the  circuit.  Prior  to 
1 830  the  preachers  of  the  old  circuit  were  the 
Revs.  Thomas  Wright,  Joshua  Dawson,  Caleb 
Kendall,  Joshua  Rogers,  Mark  Preston,  Wil- 
liam Lull  and  Philetus  Parkiss. 

In  1830  the  Methodist  Churches  of  this  sec- 
tion were  served  by  the  ministers  of  Bridge- 
water  Circuit,  Susquehanna  District  of  the 
Oneida  Conference.  In  1841  the  name  of  the 
circuit  was  changed  to  Springville,  and  the  dis- 
trict to  Wyoming.  In  1855  Wyalusing  Dis- 
trict, in  the  Wyoming  Conference,  took  its 
place,  and  so  continued  until  1877,  when  this 
county  was  classed  in  the  Binghamton  District, 
where  it  still  remains. 

In  1816  a class  of  Methodists  was  formed  at 
Springville  which  had  seven  members,  and  of 
whieh  Abiathar  Tuttle  was  the  leader.  Thomas 
Lane  was  a later  leader.  Betsey  Sutton  and 
Sarah  Harkins  were  active  members.  Samuel 
Sutton  became  the  leader  at  a still  later  day. 
The  first  preaching  services  were  held  in  pri- 
vate houses,  and  in  an  old  log  school-house  near 
Ezra  Tuttle’s.  For  a time  no  meetings  were 
held  in  this  locality,  and  the  few  surviving 
members  had  to  attend  meetings  at  Dimock 
Four  Corners.  The  membership  being  aug- 
mented, services  were  again  regularly  held  in 
the  village  of  Springville,  and  in  1861  The 
Second  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  of  Spring- 
ville was  established  in  its  own  house  of  wor- 
ship. For  this  purpose  a building  which  had 
been  erected  by  Thomas  Jackson  for  a store- 
house was  remodeled  and  converted  into  an 
attractive  edifice,  which  is  still  used.  Novem- 
ber 22, 1865,  the  church  became  an  incorporated 
body,  with  the  following  trustees : Abiathar 
Tuttle,  John  Compton,  Jacob  N.  Vought, 
Loren  Newton,  J.  W.  Rhodes,  Joseph  S.  Ris- 
ley.  The  elass  is  at  present  under  the  leadership 
of  Professor  C.  O.  Bramhall,  and  is  in  a flour- 
ishing condition. 

The  Lynn  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  is  the 
youngest  organization  of  that  denomination  in 


the  township,  and  may  justly  be  called  a mem- 
orial to  the  enterprise  and  devotion  of  a few 
ladies  residing  in  the  hamlet  where  the  church 
stands.  On  the  6th  of  October,  1880,  a La- 
dies’ Aid  Society,  of  eight  Methodist  members, 
was  formed,  whose  general  object  was  to  pro- 
mote the  interests  of  the  church.  A fund  of 
one  dollar  was  secured  at  this  meeting.  At 
the  second  meeting  it  was  decided  to  build  a 
church,  and  a fund  of  two  dollars  was  secured 
towards  that  object.  A series  of  entertainments 
were  now  held,  which  materially  augmented 
the  building-fund,  and  in  1881  subscriptions 
were  solicited  with  a view  of  commencing  to 
build.  The  operations  were  placed  in  charge 
of  a committee  composed  of  A.  Luce  and  Lu- 
cinda Luce,  James  Jeftres  and  Edith  Jetfres,  B. 
F.  Blakeslee  and  Mary  Blakeslee.  An  eligible 
lot  was  donated  by  Mrs.  A.  Luce,  upon  which 
was  begun  a building  in  the  Gothic  style,  thirty 
by  fifty  feet,  with  a corner  tower  for  a vestibule 
and  belfry,  the  latter  being  thirty  feet  high. 
In  the  corner-stone  were  placed  the  names  of 
the  follovviug  persons,  at  that  time  members  of 
the  Ladies’  Aid  Society ; Mrs.  Lydia  Blakeslee, 
president ; Mrs.  Alvina  Hemstead,  secretary  ; 
Mrs.  Lucinda  Luce,  treasurer ; Mrs.  Hattie 
Fish,  Mrs.  Mary  Sheldon,  Mrs.  Mary  White, 
Mrs.  Edith  Jetfres,  Mrs.  Jennie  Spence,  Miss 
Laura  Fish,  Mrs.  Hattie  Osterhout,  Mrs.  Betsey 
Coggswell,  Miss  Lillie  Blakeslee,  Mrs.  Eliza 
Satford,  Mrs.  Mary  Blakeslee,  Mrs.  Hiram 
Fish  and  Lyman  Coggswell.  The  society,  as  a 
body,  raised  $549.61,  and  $904.38  was  raised 
by  subscriptions  through  their  efforts,  a number 
of  the  ladies  contributing  generous  amounts 
themselves.  In  addition,  much  labor  was  do- 
nated, so  that  the  actual  cost  of  the  edifice  was 
not  far  from  eighteen  hundred  dollars.  It  was 
formally  dedicated  November  24,  1883,  when 
the  ladies  transferred  the  property  to  the  Meth- 
odist Church.  In  December,  1886,  the  belfry 
was  supplied  with  a clear-toned  bell  weighing 
five  hundred  pounds,  and  the  building  is  now 
one  of  the  most  complete  in  this  part  of  the 
county.  Mrs.  Lucinda  Luce  was  especially 
prominent  in  the  erection  of  this  fine  building. 
Franklin  Brooks  is  the  leader  of  the  class, 
which  has  twenty-two  members,  and  Emory 


41G 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


Taylor  superintends  a flourishing  Sabbath- 
school. 

Presbyterian  Church  of  Springville  is  on 
the  turnpike  less  than  a mile  above  Lynn.  It 
stands  on  an  elevated  lot  of  ground  opposite 
the  cemetery,  which  was  opened  as  early  as 
1804.  Although  the  congi’egation  was  organ- 
ized in  1819,  the  church  edifice  was  not  com- 
pleted for  dedication  until  February  9,  1837, 
when  the  Rev.  Sylvester  Cooke  was  the  pastor. 
The  church  had  been  built  the  preceding  year 
by  Justus  Smith,  Sr.,  Justus  Smith,  Jr.,  Lyman 
Avery  and  Dr.  William  Pride,  as  a committee, 
acting  with  the  pastor.  It  was  repaired  in 
1871,  and  is  still  in  good  condition.  The 
structure  is  a frame,  surmounted  by  a spire, 
which  can  be  seen  many  miles  around. 

When  the  congregation  was  organized  the 
Rev.  Enoch  Conger  was  the  minister,  preaching, 
before  the  church  was  built,  in  the  school-house 
in  this  neighborhood.  The  next  regular  minis- 
ter was  the  Rev.  Sylvester  Cooke,  prior  to 
1 836,  and  after  him  came  the  Rev.  Archibald 
B.  Sloat,  B.  Baldwin  and  James  W.  Raynor. 
The  latter  was  the  last  installed  pastor  the 
church  has  had,  the  ministers  since  his  leaving 
being  supplies,  preaching  at  irregular  periods. 
The  church  never  had  a strong  membership, 
and  many  of  its  members  withdrew  to  connect 
themselves  with  congregations  in  the  adjoining 
townships,  leaving  but  v^ery  few  belonging. 
Orrin  Fish,  the  last  ruling  elder’,  removed, 
leaving  Deacon  H.  G.  Ely  as  the  only  surviv- 
ing officer,  and,  as  he  is  more  than  eighty-four 
years  old,  age  has  incapacitated  him  from  active 
service.  The  church  is  mainly  used  for  funeral 
services  by  those  who  inter  in  the  cemetery  op- 
posite. This  is  inclosed  with  a substantial 
stone  wail,  and  contains  some  neat  monuments. 
A parsonage  was  formerly  a part  of  the  church 
property.  It  was  secured  through  the  efforts 
of  the  ladies  of  the  neighborhood,  but  it  has 
been  sold,  and  the  proceeds  have  been  applied 
for  the  benefit  of  the  church. 

St.  Andrew’s  Church,  Protestant  Episcopal, 
is  the  successor  of  an  earlier  oro-anization  of 

o 

this  faith,  whose  history  was  given  by  Miss 
Blackman  as  follows  : 

“St.  Jude’s  Church. — Some  time  previous  to 


1815  several  families  from  Waterbury  and  its  vicinity, 
in  Connecticut,  removed  to  and  settled  in  Springville 
Being  mostly  Episcopalians,  they  established  a stated 
Sabbath  meeting,  some  one  reading  the  service  from 
the  prayer-book  and  a sermon  from  some  published 
volume.  They  were  visited  by  the  Rev.  George  Boyd, 
of  Philadelphia,  during  whose  stay  a church  was  or- 
ganized, a vestry  elected,  and  application  made  for  a 
charter  of  incorporation.  The  charter  was  granted 
by  the  Governor  7th  October,  1817,  and  Joel  Hickcox, 
Amos  Bronson,  Thomas  Parke,  John  Camp,  Titus 
Scott,  Randall  Hickcox,  Benjamin  Welton,  Spencer 
Hickcox,  John  Bronson  and  Leonard  Baldwin  were 
appointed  the  first  vestry.  The  Society  for  the  Ad- 
vancement of  Christianity  in  Pennsylvania  sent  the 
Rev.  Wanning  B.  Roche,  who  alternated  for  some 
months  between  Springville  and  Pike,  occasionally 
preaching  in  other  places.  About  1825  the  Rev. 
Samuel  Marks  was  sent  to  Springville,  where  he  re- 
sided several  years,  officiating  occasionally  through- 
out the  county.  He  was  a man  of  popular  manners, 
made  many  friends  and  did  much  good.” 

The  meetings  were  held  at  the  house  of  Titus 
Scott  and  in  the  school-house,  in  the  village,  and 
there  were  but  few  communicants.  In  1829  it 
was  proposed  to  erect  a church  edifice,  and  a 
difficulty  arising  in  relation  to  the  election  of 
the  vestry,  which  was  not  settled  for  several 
years.  Bishop  Henry  N.  Onderdonk  advised 
that  a new  charter  be  procured  and  a new  or- 
ganization be  made  under  it.  Accordingly,  a 
new  charter  was  obtained  in  May,  1832,  with 
the  name  of  “ St.  Andrew’s  Church,”  and  a 
vestry  was  chosen  as  follows : Thomas  Cassidy, 
Arad  Wakelee,  Myron  Kasson,  A.  B.  Prichard, 
Philonus  Beardsley,  Asa  Packer  and  Amos 
Williams.  A lot  of  ground  was  donated  by  A. 
B.  Prichard,  in  the  village  of  Springville,  upon 
which  a plain  frame  church  with  a belfry  was 
built,  mainly  by  the  above-named  vestrymen. 

Arad  Wakelee  secured  aid  from  friends  in 
Philadelphia,  and  Asa  Packer  himself  worked 
on  the  church  as  a journeyman  carpenter.  In 
the  course  of  years  a pipe-organ  was  supplied, 
and  for  thirty-five  years  Miss  S.  M.  Wakelee 
was  the  organist.  In  1851  a bell  was  placed  in 
the  belfry,  and  subsequent!}^  the  church  was 
repaired.  It  was  destroyed  by  fire  February 
14,  1879.  A movement  was  at  once  set  on  foot 
to  rebuild  the  following  spring,  and  the  present 
neat  chapel  was  erected  by  an  executive  com- 
mittee compo.sed  of  Dr.  I.  B.  Lathrop,  I.saac 


AUBURN. 


417 


Meserole  and  Albert  A.  Root.  The  Rev. 
George  D.  Stroud,  who  served  the  churcli  at 
tliat  time,  was  untiring  in  his  efforts  to  complete 
it — a task  not  easily  accomplished,  since  the 
membership  of  the  church  had  become  very 
small.  He  served  St.  Peter’s  Church  at  Tunk- 
hannock  at  the  same  time,  and  preached  at 
Springville  until  1885.  Since  that  time  there 
have  been  only  occasional  lay  services,  the 
parish  having  but  twenty  members  and  no 
regular  vestry.  Of  the  early  ministers  of  the 
church,  the  Rev.  Samuel  Marks  preached  al- 
ternately at  Montrose  and  Springville,  and  some 
time  after  1830,  removed  to  Garbondale.  He 
was  succeeded,  at  Springville,  by  the  Rev. 
Willis  Peck,  who  was  pastor  two  years.  In 
Deceinber,  1835,  the  Rev.  Freeman  Lane  suc- 
ceeded him,  officiating  in  Springville  and  Pike, 
in  Bradford  County.  In  1836  he  taught  a 
select  school  in  the  village,  and  during  his  rec- 
torship a parsonage  was  built,  in  which  he  later 
taught  a select  school.  This  building  is  still 
church  property,  but  for  many  years  has  not 
been  used  as  a rectory.  In  1842  he  resigned, 
and  the  Rev.  Richard  Smith  took  charge  of  the 
intei’ests  of  the  parish,  giving  Springville  two- 
thirds  of  his  time  and  Montrose  the  remaining 
third.  In  1846  the  Rev.  John  Long  came  to 
the  church  for  one-third  of  his  time,  giving 
Montrose  and  New  Milford  each  the  other  two- 
thirds.  He  also  organized  the  parish  at  Tunk- 
hannock,  with  which  the  Springville  Church 
was  afterwards  served.  In  September,  1848, 
the  Rev.  H.  H.  Bean  became  the  rector,  preach- 
ing with  great  acceptance  the  two  years  he 
remained  with  the  parish.  Then  came  as  rectors 
the  Rev.  G.  M.  Skinner,  about  two  years ; the 
Rev.  J.  G.  Furey,  about  seven  years;  the  Rev. 
W.  S.  Heaton,  about  five  years ; the  Rev.  W. 
Kennedy  until  1872;  the  Rev.  Luther  Wolcott 
until  after  the  burning  of  the  church,  in  1879 ; 
the  Rev.  Horatio  Howard  a short  time ; and 
the  Rev.  George  D.  Stroud  being  the  last  minis- 
ter in  charge  of  the  parish.  The  Rev.  Luther 
Walcott  still  retains  his  residence  near  the 
church,  but  not  in  a ministerial  capacity.  While 
rector  he  served  the  parish  six  years,  holding 
two  services  each  Sabbath.  The  affairs  of  the 
church  are  not  as  prosperous  as  they  have  been, 
27 


but  there  are  prospects  that  its  work  will  be 
revived  so  that  it  will  again  become  a power  in 
the  community. 

The  cemetery  at  Springville  village  is  lo- 
cated on  the  old  Arad  Wakelee  farm,  and  is 
cared  for  by  the  community.  It  is  in  fair  con- 
dition. The  oldest  cemetery  in  the  township  is 
on  the  right-hand  side  of  the  turnpike,  opposite 
the  Presbyterian  Church,  and  was  located  on 
land  donated  by  Jeremiah  Spencer.  Prior  to 
1804  there  were  already  interred  there  Reuben 
Spencer,  Ebenezer  Carrier,  Ashley  Spencer  and 
John  Tuttle,  son  of  Ezra,  who  died  September 
20,  1804.  The  death  and  interment  of  others 
occurred  as  follows  : before  1810,  Clarinda,  first 
wife  of  Zophar  Blakeslee.  From  1810-20, 
Alfred  and  Thomas  Brownson,  John  Taylor, 
the  first  Mrs.  Elijah  Avery,  James  Roseucrants, 
Mrs.  Timothy  Mix,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jonathan 
Strickland,  Sr.,  and  Ebenezer  Fish.  Joel  Hick- 
cox  came  in  1814  and  died  1817.  His  widow 
survived  him  nearly  thirty  years,  and  saw  a 
descendant  of  the  fifth  generation.  From 
1820-30,  Gideon  Lyman,  Sr.,  J.  Bullock’s 
wife.  Captain  J.  Spencer,  Ezra  Tuttle,  Samuel 
Thomas,  Sr.,  and  wife,  and  Aaron  Taylor,  aged 
seventy-five  years.  From  1830-40,  Rhoda 
Fish,  Keziah  Lyman,  Daniel  Spencer  and  Zo- 
phar Blakeslee. 

The  interments  in  subsequent  years  were 
proportionately  more  numerous,  and  several 
hundred  persons  have  been  there  inhumed.  On 
Strickland  Hill  a school-house,  built  by  sub- 
scription in  1856,  having  been  abandoned  by 
the  directors,  has  been  fitted  up  as  a place  for 
public  worship  and  funeral  occasions  when  in- 
terments are  made  in  the  cemetery  near  by. 
Jacob,  a son  of  John  Strickland,  was  the  first 
person  interred  here,  some  time  in  1859.  A 
number  of  fine  monuments  mark  the  places  of 
the  dead,  and  the  cemetery  appears  to  be  well 
kept.  It  has  a fine  location. 


CHAPTER  XXV. 

AUBURN  TOWNSHIP. 

This  township  occupies  the  southwestern 
corner  of  the  county,  and,  prior  to  1811,  was 


418 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


known  l>y  the  name  of‘ Ikaintn'm.  When  Siis- 
(juehanna  County  was  formed  its  southern  line 
bi.sected  old  Braintrim  township,  and  the  lower 
part  retained  the  old  name,  while  the  upper  part 
received  the  name  of  Auburn.  This  title  had 
already  been  applied  to  a part  of  this  territory 
in  the  Connecticut  surveys,  Braintrim  being  the 
Penn,sylvania  name.  Auburn  lias  retained  its 
original  dimensions,  it  being  about  eight  miles 
from  the  Bradford  County  line  on  the  west  to 
Dimock  and  Springville  on  the  east,  and  six 
miles  from  the  Wyoming  County  line  on  the 
south  to  Rush  township  on  the  north.  Its 
area  is  thus  forty-eight  square  miles. 

The  Susquehanna  River  comes  at  one  point 
within  two  and  a half  miles  of  the  southern 
border  of  Auburn.  The  surface  of  the  town- 
ship, consequently,  is  broken  by  a series  of  hills, 
trending  north  and  south,  many  of  them  ele- 
vated, but  nearly  all  susceptible  of  cultivation. 
Some  of  them  bear  local  names  which  distinguish 
them  from  other  localities  in  the  township,  the 
principal  ones  being  Taylor,  -Jersey,  Craig, 
Frink  and  Shannon  Hills.  A few  of  them  are 
covered  with  huge  boulders,  which  give  the 
country  a .somewhat  rough  appearance  where 
these  outcroppings  are  found.  Others  contain 
strata  of  excellent  flag-stones,  varying  from  half 
an  inch  to  sevei’al  inches  in  thickness.  In  a 
quarry  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  township  the 
layers  have  a horizontal  position,  showing  that 
the  deposit  was  not  subject  to  any  upheaval 
after  having  been  formed  in  quiet  waters. 
Marine  shells  and  vegetable  remains  are  some- 
times found  imbedded  between  these  layers.  In 
the  central  part  of  the  township  are  slight  sur- 
face indications  of  coal  and  other  minerals,  and 
in  the  summer  of  1886  a shaft  w'as  sunk  to  the 
depth  of  two  hundred  feet,  on  the  farm  of  John 
W.  liOtt,  in  quest  of  this  wealth,  without  ob- 
taining satisfactory  results.  Near  West  Auburn 
were  found  surface  indications  of  oil,  which 
were  prospected,  as  is  elsewhere  related,  and  a 
temporary  interest  in  petroleum  .sprang  up, 
which  subsided  in  the  absence  of  encouraging 
returns. 

All  the  streams  of  the  township  drain  south 
or  southwest.  The  principal  one,  having  the 
latter  course,  is  Tuscarora  Creek,  in  the  north- 


western part  of  the  township.  One  of  its 
branches  is  the  outlet  of  Kinney’s  Pond,  the 
only  body  of  water  in  the  township  having  the 
appearance  of  a lake.  Its  head  is  in  Rush,  and 
the  pond  is  nearly  a mile  long  and  has  an 
average  width  of  more  than  a (piarter  of  a mile. 
The  creek,  having  a ».;onstant  How,  affords  more 
water-power  than  any  other  stream  in  the  town- 
shij),  and  has  been  utilized  to  better  advantage. 
South  of  the  western  border  is  Pochuck  Creek, 
and  farther  south  is  an  affluent  of  that  siream. 
Flowing  south,  a little  west  of  the  centre,  and 
rising  in  the  northern  part  of  the  township,  is 
the  Little  Mcshoppen  Creek;  and  east,  beyond 
-Jersey  and  Shannon  Hills,  is  Riley  Creek,  with 
its  tributary  brooks,  draining  a larger  section 
than  any  other  .stream  in  the  township.  In  the 
southeastern  part  of  the  township  is  White 
Creek,  a small  stream  draining  the  section  be- 
tween Craig  Hill  and  the  Springville  line. 

Along  Riley  Creek  have  been  found  several 
mineral  springs  of  reputed  medicinal  virtues. 
One,  di.scovered  in  1871,  attracted  much  atten- 
tion on  account  of  its  supposed  curative  prop- 
erties, and  which  appear  to  have  been  known 
by  the  early  settlers: 

“ All  trace  of  the  spring  for  the  last  twenty  years 
was  lost,  until  very  recently.  It  hasjust  been  cleared 
and  a barrel  sunk  in  it,  so  that  the  water  can  he  easily 
obtained.  Many  people  are  visiting  the  spring,  and 
bringing  away  jugs  and  bottles  of  water  to  test  its 
reported  wonderful  curative  effects.” 

In  later  years  the  spring  fell  into  disuse, 
though  undoubtedly  possessing  efficacious 
waters,  which  would  be  better  appreciated  at  a 
more  accessible  point. 

Most  of  the  soil  of  Auburn  is  a clayey  loam, 
which  yields  generous  returns  when  carefully 
tilled  ; and  the  township,  taken  as  a body,  is  the 
richest  agricultural  section  in  the  county.  It 
is,  also,  pre-eminently  a section  of  small  or 
medium-sized  farms,  which  are  cultivated 
mainly  by  those  owning  them,  hence  prove 
more  profitable  than  under  a sy.stem  of  tenantry. 
The  virgin  soil  was  especially  fertile,  and  adapted 
to  growing  winter  wheat,  and  in  .some  sections 
fields  of  more  than  fifty  acres  were  cultivated  ; 
and  in  a large  field  at  Cartertown,  the  grain  grew 
so  tall  that  the  head  of  a man  walking  in  it 


AUBURN. 


419 


could  hardly  be  seen.  In  the  .same  section 
“ John  Tewksbury  raised  a stalk  of  buckwheat, 
in  1869,  which  measured  six  feet  and  three- 
fourths  of  an  inch  in  length;  he  also  had  several 
specimens  of  oats  grown  on  his  farm  which 
had  heads  two  and  a half  feet  long.”  In  more 
recent  years,  greater  attention  has  been  paid  to 
stock  raising  and  the  dairy  busiue.ss,  and  several 
public  creameries  are  maintained  with  benefit 
to  the  people  of  the  township.  Most  of  the 
marketable  products  of  the  township  are  readily 
shipped  from  stations  on  the  Lehigh  Valley 
Railroad,  within  half  a dozen  miles  from  the 
lower  part  of  Auburn,  and  the  roads,  though 
not  as  good  as  in  some  parts  of  the  county, 
are  being  steadily  improved. 

In  a primitive  condition,  heavy  forests 
covered  the  surface  of  Auburn,  making  the 
work  of  clearing  farms  laborious,  especially  on 
the  lowlands,  where  the  ground  was  rich,  and 
not  so  quick  to  respond  to  tillage  as  on  the  hills, 
where  the  soil  was  warmer,  and  the  timber 
growth  lighter.  Hence,  some  of  the  first  farms 
were  located  and  opened  on  the  hills,  and,  in 
consequence,  the  roads  were  also  opened  over 
them,  instead  of  around  them,  or  along  their 
sides,  as  a view  of  the  country  would  now  sug- 
gest. The  courses  of  some  of  the  early  roads 
have  been  much  modified,  and  owing  to  the 
many  changes  which  have  taken  place,  ade.scrip- 
tion  of  their  original  location  would  be  of  little 
benefit,  excejJ  to  show  that  the  change  had 
been  made,  and  that  in  the  later  locations  some 
of  the  hills  have  been  actually  avoided  by 
following  Nature’s  course  along  the  streams. 

The  Pioneer  Settj.ers  of  Auburn  pur- 
chased their  lands  under  the  Connecticut  title, 
and  many  paid  their  money  in  good  faith  to  the 
agents  of  the  Connecticut  claims.  After  the 
final  legal  deci.sion,  made  in  favor  of  the 
Penn.sylvania  title,  .some  who  had  paid  their 
money  and  toiled  hard  to  secure  a home,  gave 
up  in  despair  and  left  the  country.^  Most  of 
those  who  remained  had  but  limited  means, 
and  were  heavily  in  debt  to  Cope  and  Drinker 
(who  became  the  principal  land-holders  in 
Auburn)  for  the  lands  they  had  to  buy  again 
or  for  the  improvements  they  made.  The 

I Mi3s  Blackmail. 


township,  consequently,  did  not  settle  up  very 
rapidly,  nor  did  the  early  improvements  keep 
apace  with  those  in  other  sections  of  the  county. 
For  nearly  half  a century  after  the  first  settler 
(iame  some  tracts  of  laud  were  still  in  the  hands 
of  the  original  land-holders. 

‘‘The  present  wealth  of  Auburn  is  largely  due  to 
men  who,  though  they  came  to  the  township  within 
the  last  thirty-five  years,  might  well  be  termed  pio- 
neers, since  they  cleared  the  farms  they  occupy,  and 
reared  log  cabins  too  remote  from  others  for  neigh- 
borly comfort.  Some  of  the  late  settlers  are  from 
New  Jersey  ; but  a larger  number  are  of  foreign  birth. 
The  names  of  Logan  and  Rooney  are  mentioned 
among  the  first  Irish  settlers  here,  in  1838.  There 
are  five  hundred  taxables  in  Auburn,  about  two  hun- 
dred of  whom  are  Irish.  From  being  one  of  the 
poorest  townships  in  the  county,  and  one  of  the  least 
in  inhabitants.  Auburn  has'  become  one  of  the  richest 
and  most  populous.”^ 

Lyman  Kinney,  from  Litchfield,  Conn., 
made  the  first  clearing  in  1797,  in  the  noi’th- 
western  part  of  the  township,  on  a farm  which 
was  afterwards  owned  by  Hamlet  Hill.  His 
land  was  a part  of  the  three  hundred  acre  tract 
which  his  father,  Daniel  Kinney,  had  bought 
under  a Connecticut  title.  The  Penn.sylvania 
title  for  the  same  lands  was  held  by  Henry 
Drinker,  of  Philadelphia,  who  transferred  it 
to  Thomas  P.  Cope,  also  of  that  city.  After 
the  validity  of  the  latter  title  was  established, 
Lyman  Kinney  sold  out  his  improvements  to 
Thomas  and  Ambrose  Morley,  and  left  the 
county  prior  to  1814.  Ambrose  Morley  was 
the  oldest  son  of  Thomas,  who  was  not  a taxa- 
ble in  1816.  Other  sons  were  John,  Thomas 
and  Eben  P. 

In  the  ea.stern  part  of  the  township  Lloyd 
Goodsell  made  the  fir.st  clearing,  in  1799.  He 
lived  on  a farm  which  became  the  property  of 
Curtis  T.  Ru.ssell  in  1818,  and  where  Frederick 
T.  Russell  now  lives.  Goodsell  was  married 
to  a daughter  of  I.saac  Brownson,  of  Rush,  and 
afterwards  moved  to  that  township.  Of  the 
improvements  he  made,  a few  a])j)le-trees  re- 
main in  an  orchard  of  trees  he  planted,  after 
carrying  them  all  the  way  on  his  back  from 
the  mouth  of  the  Wyal using.  A frame  barn 
he  built  also  remains  on  the  Russell  place. 


-Miss  Blndvimiii,  in 


420 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


Eleazer  Russell  settled  in  the  same  neighbor- 
hood, and  both  he  and  Curtis  T.  were 
permanent  settlers.  They  were  natives  of  Con- 
necticut. 

On  the  farm  north,  Myron  Kasson  began  a 
clearing,  perhaps  a few  months  later,  in  1799, 
than  Goodsell,  and  both  left  for  Litchfield, 
Conn.,  in  the  fall  of  that  year.  The  following 
season  they  returned,,  and  Kasson  had  his  home 
with  Goodsell.  In  1802  he  exchanged  prop- 
erty with  Chester  Adams,  the  latter  having 
bought  a tract  of  land  in  Springville,  to  which 
he  had  never  brought  his  family ; and  the  fol- 
lowing year  Kasson  may  have  taken  up  his 
abode  in  that  township,  on  that  tract  of  land. 

Early  in  1800  Ezekiel  Avery  and  Beuajah 
Frink,  a single  man,  came  from  Connecticut, 
and  were  the  first  to  spend  a part  of  the  winter 
in  Eastern  Auburn.  The  next  spring  the  wife 
of  Avery  brought  in  the  family.  “ On  the 
journey  one  of  the  horses  was  lost,  and  they 
had  to  diminish  their  means  of  support  by  the 
purcha.se  of  another.”  Avery  built  a frame 
house  near  the  forks  of  the  road,  northwest  of 
Auburn  Four  Corners,  which  still  stands, 
though  unoccupied.  He  had  two  sons — David 
and  George — and  a daughter  who  married 
Jonathan  Vaughn.  The  family  adhered  to 
the  Baptist  Church,  and  the  oldest  son,  David, 
and  the  daughter  used  to  go  to  the  “ Middle 
School-house,”  a mile  below  the  .south  line  of 
IMontrose,  twelve  miles  from  their  home,  to 
hear  Elder  Dimock  preach.  She  rode  on 
horseback  and  he  walked  beside  her.  Later, 
meetings  were  held  at  Ezekiel  Lathrop’s,  in 
Dimock,  a mile  south  of  the  lakes.  The 
Ijathrops,  in  that  part  of  Dimock,  and  Cyril 
Reck,  in  Ru.sh,  were  looked  upon  as  neighbors. 
The  surviving  members  of  the  Avery  family 
moved  to  the  West. 

Benajah  Frink  began  his  clearing  on  the 
hill  near  Auburn  Four  Corners,  and,  it  is  said, 
built  the  first  frame  house  in  the  township, 
which  stood  on  the  site  of  the  residence  after- 
wards built  by  Jacob  Titman.  The  clap-boards 
were  made  of  pine  logs,  split  and  shaved  by 
hand  into  boards.  He  is  also  credited  with 
havinv  built  the  first  cider-mill.  In  Febru- 

o 

ary,  1805,  he  married  the  youngest  daughter 


of  Isaac  Hancock,  of  Rush,  and  it  is  said  that 
their  son  Orrin  was  the  first  male  child  born 
in  Auburn.  Other  sons  were  Tracy,  Isaac  and 
William.  Benajah  Frink  died  in  August, 
1851,  but  his  widow  survived  him  a number 
of  years,  having  spent  sixty-one  years  of  her 
life  in  Auburn.  In  the  latter  part  of  1800 
William  Frink,  the  father  of  Benajah,  began 
clearing  up  a farm  on  the  hill  between  his  son 
and  Ezekiel  Avery,  and  afterwards  brought  on 
his  family,  his  son  William  being  at  that 
time  a lad.  He  died  in  1829  and  was  buried 
in  the  Frink  graveyard,  on  the  hill  which  bears 
the  same  name.  But  few  of  the  descendants 
remain  in  Auburn. 

Eldad  Bronson,  and  his  son  Amos  came  to 
the  township  in  1801,  but  removed  after  1814 
and  before  1816.  They  were  also  natives  of 
Connecticut. 

“ According-  to  the  recollection  of  Mr.  Paul  Over- 
field, of  Braintrim,  Solomon  Kinney  came,  in  1800, 
to  the  farm  now  occupied  by  J.  Benscoter,  two  and  a- 
half  miles  northwest  of  Auburn  Centre.  He  was  the 
first  in  that  vicinity.  It  is  said  that,  after  harvesting 
a fine  crop  of  wheat,  he  lost  the  whole  by  fire  com- 
municated to  it  from  a fallow  which  he  was  burning, 
and  from  that  to  his  house.  He  saved  a few  effects, 
and  with  his  wife  left  the  country,  never  to  return.' 

In  1801  John  Passmore,  at  that  time  a minor, 
came  from  Rhode  Island,  and  took  up  lands 
near  the  Corners,  under  a Connecticut  title,  but 
did  not  locate  permanently  until  1806,  when  he 
returned  and  built  the  first  house  at  what  is  now 
Auburn  Four  Corners.  The  following  year  he 
married  Elizabeth  Overfield,  of  Braintrim. 
They  reared  four  sons,  named  Norman,  John, 
Nicholas,  and  Joseph,  and  had  also  seven 
daughters.  In  1816  he  was  commi,ssioned  the 

c5 

first  justice  of  the  peace  for  Auburn,  Rush  and 
Middletown.  He  sold  his  place  to  Tread- 
way Kellogg,  and  died  March  12,  1835,  aged 
fifty-three  years.  In  April,  1841,  David  Bush- 
nell,  who  came  from  Bridgewater,  became  the 
owner  of  the  Passmore  farm,  and  resided  on  it 
until  his  death,  April  5,  1872,  aged  eighty -six 
years.  Tirzah  Bushnell,  his  wife,  survived 
him,  and  in  December,  1886,  was  in  her  ninet}^- 
second  year.  Joseph  Passmore  also  came  to 
Auburn  before  1815. 

I Miss  Blackman. 


AUBURN. 


421 


In  1805  the  first  settlers  came  to  South 
Auburn,  Thomas  Wheeler  locating  on  the 
Dunlop  farm,  south  of  the  hamlet,  and  Hiram 
Carter  settling  on  the  farm  just  below  the 
main  part  of  the  hamlet.  Both  came  in 
June,  that  year,  from  Black  Walnut,  in 
AVyoming  County.  The  latter  made  some  sub- 
stantial improvements  and  lived  on  his  place 
until  his  death.  He  had  sons  named  John, 
Jonas,  Theron  B.,  Samuel,  David,  Daniel  and 
Harry.  The  three  last-named  were  pioneers  in 
the  locality  called  Cartertown  or  Retta,  and 
their  descendants  still  live  in  that  locality. 

Soon  after  the  settlement  of  Wheeler  and 
Carter,  William  Cooley,  a son-in-law  of  Jo.shua 
Keeney,  a pioneer  at  Black  Walnut,  came  and 
settled  on  the  Little  Meshoppen,  near  where 
Carlin’s  mills  were  afterwards  built.  Some  of 
his  brothers — Robert,  Stephen  and  Daniel — came 
to  the  township  at  a later  day.  The  Carlin 
improvements  were  made  by  Joseph  Carlin, 
who  bought  his  land  from  the  Cooley  tract. 
In  1819  Edward  Dawson,  an  Englishman, 
located  near  the  hamlet,  living  on  the  farm 
where  now  resides  G.  F.  Dawson.  Francis 
Pepper  came  later  from  Rush,  and  cleared  up 
a farm  nearer  the  creek. 

About  1805,  or  po.ssibly  a little  later,  Chester 
Adams,  a native  of  Connecticut,  came  from 
Wyoming  County,  to  occupy  the  place  he  had 
received  from  Myron  Kasson  in  exchange  for 
land  he  had  purchased  in  Springville.  In  1829 
he  had  a farm-hou§e  built  on  this  farm,  on 
which  Asa  Packer  worked  as  a journeyman  car- 
penter. This  building  is  still  standing,  and  is 
now  the  property  of  E.  L.  Adams.  The  chil- 
dren of  Chester  Adams  were  five  daughters  and 
four  sons,  viz. : Cyrus,  who  moved  to  Iowa ; 
Chester,  Jr.,  who  lived  and  died  at  Pittston ; 
Thoma.s,  who  died  at  Binghamton;  and  Elijah, 
born  in  1824,  living  on  part  of  the  homestead. 

In  1807  John  Riley  located  on  the  creek 
which  bears  his  name,  southwest  of  the  Corners, 
and  that  year  a road  was  laid  out  from  his  place 
to  (’ooley’s  farm,  on  the  Little  Meshoppen. 
The  following  year  it  was  extended  to  Elk 
Lake.  Riley  was  a native  of  Connecticut,  and 
came  from  that  State  on  foot.  The  last  years 
of  his  life  were  spent  on  part  of  the  land  he 


cleared  up,  the  farm  of  John  M.  Bushnell,  who 
was  married  to  one  of  the  daughters.  A son, 
Minot  Riley,  is  a well-known  citizen  of  Spring- 
ville. 

John  Riley  died  March  10,  1880,  aged 
ninety-two  years. 

“ Eli  Billings  settled  about  1805,  on  the  Tus- 
carora  Creek,  at  what  is  called  New  Laceyville. 
He  had  a son  Eli,  who  made  the  first  cleaj'ing 
where  Elisha  Cogswell  now  lives,  and  who 
died  in  1815.  Eli  Billings,  Sr.,  in  1839, 
sold  to  David  Lacey.  When  he  came  to  the 
place  there  was  a man  named  Sesson  on  the 
farm  now  owned  by  Rev.  Bela  Cogswell  (over 
the  line  in  Bradford  County)  and  one  George 
Gamble  where  Oliver  Warner  now  lives;  and 
these  were  the  only  families  between  him  and 
Abiel  Keeney’s  saw-mill  on  the  Tuscarora,  two 
miles  above  Skinner’s  Eddy.  The  site  of  this 
saw-mill,  some  time  between  1790  and  1800, 
was  occupied  by  a saw  and  grist-mill,  built  by 
Elihu  Hall.  Nathaniel,  second  son  of  Eli 
Billings,  made  the  first  clearing  and  put  up  a log 
house  on  what  is  known  as  ' the  James  farm.’ 
Hosea,  the  third  son,  had  two  sons,  Eli  and 
Nathaniel.  Joseph  and  Henry  Billings  were 
sons  of  Eli,  Sr.  Most  of  the  family  moved 
to  the  West,  and  none  are  now  in  Auburn.” 

When  Eli  Billings  settled  at  what  is  now 
West  Auburn  there  were  no  roads  in  that  sec- 
tion whatever.  Black’s  mill,  on  the  Wyalusing, 
was  the  nearest  place  where  grinding  could  be 
done,  and  a path  was  the  only  way  which  led 
to  the  mill,  the  traveler  being  guided  by  marked 
trees.  Said  Hosea  Billings : “ Well  do  I 
remember,  when  a lad,  my  father  sent  me  to 
mill,  and  as  it  was  late  when  I got  my  grist 
and  started  for  home,  night  overtook  me  on  my 
way.  When  about  one  mile  from  home  my 
horse  stopped,  and  then  I saw  before  me  what 
looked  like  balls  of  fire — -probably  the  eyes  of 
a wolf.  It  would  not  give  the  path,  so  I had 
to  turn  out  and  go  around  through  the  woods. 
I lost  my  hat  getting  through  the  brush  aud 
went  home  bareheaded.” 

The  clearing  made  by  Nathaniel  Billings 
became  the  property  of  Thomas  W.  James  after 
1816.  He  was  a native  of  New  Jersey,  and 
had  immigrated  to  this  country  with  his  wife, 


422 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


Hannah  Smith,  a few  years  earlier.  He  was  a 
man  of  positive  convictions  and  exerted  a strong 
local  influence.  He  donated  the  laml  for  tlie 
first  school-house  in  that  locality,  and  at  his 
house  the  early  Methodist  meetings  were  often 
held.  AVhen  he  first  lived  here  he  sometimes 
walked  to  'Wilkes-Barre  to  mail  and  get  his 
letters,  again  returning  on  foot  the  next  day. 
In  the  privations  and  hardships  of  their  pioneer 
life  Mrs.  James  was  a worthy  helpmate.  They 
reared  ten  children,  among  them  being  David 
M.,  who  became  a physician  at  Laceyville,  in 
M^yoming  County  ; Thomas  Smith,  who 
moved  to  East  Rush,  where  he  reared  a large 
family  ; Abijah  Smith,  of  Huron,  Dak.,  who 
was  a teacher  for  more  than  thirty  years,  and  is 
the  father  of  B.  E.  James,  of  Auburn  Four 
Corners;  and  Thomas  C.,  another  son,  who 
lives  on  the  homestead.  The  elder  James  died 
in  the  fall  of  1860,  aged  seventy-one  years. 

Before  1813  Abraham  Lott  settled  on  the 
road  below  the  Centre,  near  where  some  of  his 
descendants  still  live;  and  in  the  same  locality 
lived  Phili])  Haverly  and  his  son  George,  all  of 
whom  remained  in  the  township  for  a period  of 
years.  Near  the  same  time  John  Oakley,  Com- 
fort Penney  and  John  Ro.ss  came  to  Auburn, 
but  remained  only  a few  years. 

In  1814,  James  Hines  appears  fo  have  had 
the  farm  of  John  Ross,  and  Daniel  Sterling 
that  of  Comfort  Penny,  who  had  removed. 
Robert  Dunlap,  Simeon  Green,  Larry  Dun- 
more,  Jesse  and  Josiah  Wakefield  were  among 
the  new-comers,  as  also,  in  1815,  were  Elias 
and  Amos  Bennett,  Lawrence  Meacham,  Pal- 
mer Guile  and  James  B.  Turrell.  The  la.st- 
named  bought  of  Lloyd  Goodsell.  The  as,sess 
meut  roll  of  1816  contained  the  names  of  the 
following:  ta.vahles  in  Auburn  : 


Cheater  Adams. 

Palmer  Guiles. 

Ezekiel  Atery. 

Simeon  Green. 

Davi<l  Avery. 

George  Haverly. 

George  Avery. 

Philip  Haverly. 

Eli  liillings. 

James  Hines. 

Elias  Bennett. 

Abram  Lott. 

Amos  Bennett. 

Ambrose  Morley. 

Nancy  Billings. 

John  Passmore. 

Hiram  Carter. 

Joseph  Passmore. 

Stephen  Cooly. 

John  Riley. 

William  Cooly. 

Daniel  Sterling, 

Daniel  Cooly. 

James  B.  Turrell. 

Larry  Dunmore. 

Josiali  Wakefield. 

Robert  Dunlap. 
Benajah  Frink. 

Thomas  Wheeler. 

Later,  in  1816,  Philonius  Beardsley  came 
from  Litchfield  County,  Conn.,  and  bought  a 
tract  of  land  of  John  Passmore,  south  of  the 
Corners.  The  following  year  he  brought  in 
his  family  and  resided  here  until  his  death,  in 
1833.  The  home.stead  is  still  owned  by  one  of 
his  sons,  John  B.  Beardsley.  A.  Beardsley, 
the  eldest  son,  remained  in  Auburn  until  1827, 
when  he  moved  to  Springville  village,  where 
he  still  resides,  at  an  advanced  age.  Charles, 
the  second  son,  removed  to  Montrose,  and  later 
to  New  York  City,  where  he  established  an 
extensive  carriage  manufactory.  A daughter 
married  Andrew  Bolle.s,  of  Lathrop. 

In  the  latter  part  of  1816,  or  the  early  part 
of  1817,  came  Charles  Ashley,  Julius  Coggswell, 
Thomas  W.  James,  Hiram  Whipple,  Solomon 
Diraock  and  Jabez  Sumner  ; and  within  the 
next  few  years  Curtis  T.  Russell,  Edward  Daw- 
son, John  Love  and  AValtrin  Love. 

“ In  1 820  there  were  thirty  voters  in  the  town- 
ship. During  the  next  five  years  Francis 
Pepper  (from  Rush),  David  Taylor,  Daniel 
Gregory,  George  and  Simeon  Evans,  Samuel 
Tewksbury  and  Milton  Harris  had  arrived. 
T1  le  last-named  and  S.  Evans  had  saw-mills. 
In  1826,  and  for  five  or  six  years  following, 
Jonathan  Kellogg,  a cabinet-maker,  Joseph  Car- 
lin (where  he  and  his  sons  now  live),  Robert 
Manning,  Thomas  Risley,  Caldwell  McMicken, 
Richard  Stone,  AVilliam  Sherwood,  Elisha 
Coggswell,  Jacob  I^ow,  Alden  H.  Seeley  and 
Oliver  C.  Roberts,  besides  the  sons  of  several 
early  settlers  and  many  temporary  residents,  ap- 
pear among  the  taxables.  William  Overfield 
made  the  first  clearing  on  Shannon  Hill,  in  1 831 .” 
Pie  was  twice  married,  and  reared  a large  familv, 
some  of  whom  still  own  the  improvements  he 
made.  In  the  same  locality  Benjamin  C.  Craw- 
ford began  clearing  a farm  in  April,  1832,  and 
it  is  claimed  that  he  had  the  first  cabin  in  this 
part  of  Auburn.  His  nearest  neighbors  were 
George  Mowiy  on  the  south  and  Abraham  Lott 
on  the  north.  The  first  night  he  slept  on  his 
land  his  bed  was  made  of  hemlock  boughs, 
and  his  slumbers  were  very  much  disturbed  by 
the  hooting  of  owls  and  the  yelping  of  wolves. 
The  latter  ventured  so  near  him  that  his  life 
was  endangered.  He  prepared  the  logs  for  his 


AUBURN. 


423 


cabin  in  one  day,  and  witli  the  assistance  of  a 
few  neighbors,  rolled  up  the  walls  of  his  pio- 
neer home.  The  following  day,  with  the  helj) 
of  a neiirhbor,  he  made  the  shingles  for  the 
roof,  and  boards  becoming  scarce,  he  took  the 
hoards  belonging  to  his  sled  to  make  a door. 
Benjamin  C.  (Irawford  died  on  his  homestead, 
March  18,  1885,  in  the  ninety-secoiKl  year  ol 
his  age.  For  nearly  seventy-six  years  of  his 
life  he  was  a professed  Christian,  and  helped  to 
advance  the  religions  interests  of  the  township 
by  his  consistent  life  and  praiseworthy  con- 
duct. 

A dozen  years  later,  Lawrence  Meacham 
settled  in  the  southeastern  part  of  Anbnrn,  com- 
ing from  New  Hampshire.  His  daughter  in- 
formed Mrs  Blackman  that  “The  first  night 
he  stayed  on  his  place  was  in  Jannary,  and  the 
snow  was  two  or  three  feet  deej).  He  slept  on 
hemlock  boughs  beside  a tire,  which  ke[)t  him- 
self and  a colored  man  from  freezing.  In  the 
morning  they  began  chopping,  but  the  timber 
was  so  frozen  that  it  broke  their  axes.  They  left, 
and  father  did  not  return  till  the  next  spring. 
In  two  or  three  years  he  moved  his  family  to 
the  little  clearing  remote  from  the  roads  and 
neighbors,  and  into  a log  cabin  with  a blanket 
for  the  door.  Thick  woods,  howling  wolves, 
deer,  wildcats  and  wild  turkeys  were  at  that 
time  in  abundance.  I have  heard  my  mother 
say,  ‘ I was  so  lonesome  I was  glad  to  see  even 
a hunter’s  dog  come  along.’ 

“ My  father  had  often  to  be  out  late  at  night, 
when  on  his  journeys  for  provisions,  and 
mother  was  alone  in  the  cabin  with  only  a little 
boy;  while  from  an  hour  before  sunset  until 
sunrise  the  next  morning  the  wolves  kept  up  a 
constant  howling  up  and  down  the  creek,  which 
passes  within  half  a mile  of  the  door,  and  many 
a time  was  this  so  distinct  as  to  seem  within  the 
clearing.  Twice  father  had  his  little  tiock  of 
sheep  killed  by  them.” 

Julius  Coggswell  settled  in  the  eastern  part 
of  the  township,  where  he  lived  until  his  death, 
when  his  family  removed.  South  of  him  lived 
Cyrus  Avery,  who  was  one  of  the  early  jus- 
tices of  the  peace,  and  near  by  Dyer  Bennett 
improved  a farm,  living  on  it  until  his  death. 

In  1833  Gershom  Bunnell  settled  on  a tract 


of  land  which  had  been  contracted  for  by  Wm. 
Kellogg,  and  upon  which  some  slight  improve- 
ments had  been  made.  Plere  he  lived  until  his 
death,  in  1855.  His  oidy  son  was  Jonathan 
Bunnell,  still  living  on  the  homestead. 

“ Elisha  Coggswell  first  settled  on  Tuscarora  Creek, 
two  and  a half  miles  below  New  Laceyville,  in  1815,  was 
married  in  181(5,  remained  there  until  the  s))ring  of 
1833,  when  he  removed  to  Auburn,  where  he  and  his 
wife  still  reside. 

“He  caught  in  one  season  seven  hears  and  five 
wolves.  Another  time,  while  on  a hill  near  by,  two 
cubs  were  discovered;  one  was  shot.  With  the  first 
cry  of  2>ain  the  dam  sprang  from  some  hushes  to  iis 
side.  Hastily  smelling  the  wound  and  divining  the 
cause,  she  rushed  with  headlong  fury  on  the  aggressor, 
who,  meanwhile,  was  hastily  reloading  his  gun,  an  I 
when  she  had  nearly  reached  him,  a bullet  stopped 
her.  Mr.  C.  completed  his  eightieth  year  Ajiril  18, 
1872.  He  has  been  class-leader  in  the  Methodist 
E[)iscopal  Church  nearly  half  a century,  and  still 
walks  to  church  nearly,  a mile,  almost  always  atten- 
ding evening  meetings.” 

In  South  Anbnrn  Samuel  Tewk.sbnry  settled 
before  1830,  and  made  good  improvement.s  on 
the  farm,  where  he  still  lives,  in  his  eighty-  fifth 
year.  Below  him  lived  Daniel  Gregory,  who 
was  killed  many  years  ago  by  the  kick  of  a 
horse  on  his  temple.  Nathan  Osborn  improved 
the  la.st  farm  in  the  county,  on  that  road.  Na- 
than Green  has  been  a resident  of  this  part  of 
the  township  since  1832,  improving  the  farm  on 
which  he  lives,  and  William  Green  cleared  up 
the  one  next  west.  Ansel  Gay  began  clearing 
np  the  farm  where  his  son  W^illiam  now  lives, 
about  1830,  all  the  tract  being  den.se  woods ; 
and  Caldwell  Alickens  began  work  on  tvhat 
afterwards  became  one  of  the  finest  farms  in  the 
township,  in  1831. 

The  locality  called  Jersey  Hill,  north  of  the 
Centre,  was  but  slightly  improved  prior  to  1835, 
when  a number  of  energetic  farmers  came  from 
Warren  County,  N.  J.,  and  settled  in  the  neigh- 
borhood of  the  Protestant  Church.  Among 
these  were  Thomas  R.  White,  the  father  of 
William,  George,  Joseph  and  Abraham  White; 
Andrew  S.  Low,  the  father  of  I.  R.  and  Cor- 
nelius Low  ; Joseph  Pierson,  the  father  of  Ben- 
jamin and  Charles  Pierson.  The  Rev.  Joshua 
Harris  came  somewliat  later.  Prosperity  has 
rewarded  the  industry  of  these  people,  some  of 


424 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


whom  still  reside  in  this  part  ot‘  the  township, 
upon  very  superior  farms. 

Thwkshurys. — During  one  of  those  terri- 
ble convulsions  of  religions  persecution  and  fer- 
vor which  swept  over  the  British  Isles  from 
John  O’Groat’s  to  the  Land’s  End  at  frequent 
intervals  during  the  sixteenth  and  seventeenth 
centuries,  one  John  Tewksbury  gave  np  his  life 
for  reliirion’s  sake  and  was  burned  at  the  stake 
in  the  market-])lace  of  his  native  town,  Tewks- 
Itnry,  England.  His  ancestors  had  given  their 
name  to  that  town  and  his  de.scendants  were 
among  the  earlier  .settlers  in  New  England.^ 

In  1800  Jacob  Tewksbury,  a native  of  Brat- 
tleboro’,  Y’^ermont,  with  his  second  wife,  Polly 
Reed,  and  four  children  also  born  there,  re- 
moved to  this  county  and  bought  the  land 
whereon  Brooklyn  Centre  is  now  located.  They 
had  seven  children  born  in  Brooklyn  after  their 
arrival.  Some  eight  years  after  this  he  sold 
that  property  and  took  the  farm  where  now  the 
creamery  is  located.  In  1803  his  father,  Isaac 
Tewksbury,  came  in  from  Vermont  prospecting 
for  a location  and  returned  there  the  same  fall. 
The  following  spring  he  brought  his  family  into 
the  county  and  located  on  McIntyre  Hill,  Brook- 
lyn township,  on  a farm  with  his  son  Jacob.  In 
1805  Isaac  Tewksbury  and  his  son  Jacob  built 
the  first  saw-mill  in  the  township.  The  chil- 
dren of  Isaac  and  Judith  (Sergeant)  Tewksbury 
were  Jacob,  Isaac,  Sergeant  (who  came  to  the 
county  in  1802  and  settled  where  John  Bolles 
now  lives),  Ephraim,  Jonathan,  Huldah  (Mrs. 
Samuel  Yeomans),  Hannah  (Mrs.  Bloomfield 
Millbourne),  Abigail  (Mrs.  Thomas  Saunders) 
and  Judith  (Mrs.  John  Wood).  Isaac  Tewks- 
bury was  an  honest,  hard-working  man,  and  en- 
joyed the  respect  of  all  who  knew  him.  Both 
he  and  his  wife  now  sleep  in  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Churchyard  at  Brooklyn.  Jacob 
Te^vksbury’s  first  wife  was  Betsey  Hoadley,  of 
Vermont,  by  whom  he  had  one  son,  who,  how- 
ever, remained  in  that  State  after  the  death  of 
his  mother  and  the  removal  West  of  his  father. 
The  latter  became  a prominent  citizen  in  his 

1 Charles  II.  of  Englaml  granted  to  \diniral  Tewksbury  a township 
of  land  in  the  Colony  of  Massachusetts  for  individual  loyalty  and  effi- 
ciency as  an  officer.  Subsequently  two  sons  of  Admiral  Tewksbury  set- 
tled on  this  grant  of  iand,  and  froni  these  two  descendants  came  the 
family  here. 


adopted  home  and  was  a representative  neigh- 
borhood business  man.  His  advice  was  sought 
by  many  and  he  was  a friend  to  all.  He  was  a 
consistent  member  of  the  Methodist  Ejii.scopal 
Church  until  his  death,  in  1842,  aged  seventy- 
four  years.  His  second  wife  lived  to  attain  her 
eighty-seventh  year.  Their  children  were 
Nancy,  married  Alden  Seeley,  a farmer  of 
Brooklyn  township,  both  deceased  ; Betsey 
married  Win.  Sterling,  also  a Brooklyn  town- 
ship farmer,  and  both  deceased;  Judith  was  the 
wife  of  Thomas  Garland,  a tailor  of  Brooklyn 
township,  both  deceased ; Ijovina  was  Mrs. 
Stephen  Smith,  of  Brooklyn,  and  both  subse- 
quently removed  to  Franklin  township  ; Daniel 
married  Prudence  Fish,  were  both  prominent 
members  of  the  church,  and  settled  in  Brooklyn 
township;  Samuel ; Maria  was  the  wife  of  Nel- 
son Williams,  a carpenter  at  Carbondale,  both 
of  whom  have  deceased  ; Alpha  was  married  to 
Beach  Earl,  a dealer,  who  went  West  and  died  ; 
she  now  lives  at  Dunkirk,  N.  Y.,  and  is  the 
wife  of  Joseph  Rider  ; Jacob,  a highly  respected 
farmer  of  Bridgewater  township  ; Mary,  mar- 
ried Fitch  Re.sseguie,  a Gibson  township 
farmer,  and  died  a few  years  ago;  and  John. 

Samuel  Tewksbury,  the  sixth  child  of  the 
above,  was  born  at  Brooklyn  Centre  August  25, 
1803.  His  early  educational  advantages  were 
very  limited,  but  a studious  habit  was  developed 
with  the  passing  years,  which,  strengthened  by 
a keen  observation  and  an  intelligent  judgment, 
caused  the  remark  to  be  made  at  a later  date, 
“ He  would  be  an  honor  to  the  bench  of  the 
State.”  During  his  early  manhood  he  learned 
the  carpenter’s  trade  and  in  1824  came  to  Au- 
burn township  upon  such  work  intent.  He  fol- 
lowed that  pursuit  for  ten  years  and  built  a 
good  many  houses  and  barns,  several  of  which 
are  yet  standing,  monuments  of  his  honesty 
and  fidelity  to  trusts.  In  1834,  finding  his  en- 
tire inclination  lay  towards  farming,  he  em- 
barked in  that  industry,  in  which,  by  energy 
and  economy,  he  accumulated  a large  landed 
estate.  Elected  justice  of  the  peace  in  1840,  he 
served  in  that  office  for  fifteen  years  to  the  ben- 
efit and  satisfaction  of  the  people ; so  much  so 
that  not  one  of  his  numerous  decisions  was  ever 
appealed  to  a higher  court.  For  seven  years  he 


AUBURN. 


425 


was  iutoi’ested  with  his  eldest  son  in  the  butch- 
ering business  at  Scranton,  wliere  he  owned  a 
large  donble  brick  building,  in  which  troops 
were  (pmrtercd  during  the  war,  who  destroyed 
the  interior  and  failed  to  pay  the  rental  and 
damages,  claim  for  which  is  pending  against 
the  United  States  government. 

’Squire  Tewksbury  has  for  many  years  been 
prominently  identified  with  the  township  and 


and  haveall  three  deceased,  and  second  to  Joseph- 
ine Kinney,  by  whom  he  had  Eva  and  Warren 
Tewksbury,  both  now  at  home  ; Laura  died  in 
youth  ; Mary  is  the  wife  of  H.  N.  Loomis,  now 
a farmer  in  Clare  County,  Mich.;  and  Samuel 
Tewksbury,  now  farming  in  Holt  County,  Neb. 
The  third  child.  Smith  Tewksbury,  married  for 
his  third  wife  Minnie  Snower,  carries  on  the 
home  farms  and  has  opened  up  several  quarries 


county  affairs,  and  has  been  known  as  a strong 
political  worker.  He  held  membership  in  the 
Methodist  Church  for  some  years,  though  his 
wife  is  a member  of  the  South  Auburn  Baptist 
Church.  He  married,  on  Dec.  25,  1823,  Eliza 
Miller,  who  was  born  Oct.  8,  1804,  in  Litch- 
field County,  Conn.,  and  has  had  six  children, 
viz.  : Warren,  a farmer  on  the  home  farm  ; 
Amanda  was  the  wife  of  Mark  Kinney,  a 
Wyoming  County  farmer,  and  died  in  18G1  ; 
Smith,  born  in  1832,  married  first  to  Phoebe 
Ann  Dunlap,  who  bore  him  Ella  and  Amanda, 
2U 


upon  their  Bradford  County  property,  which 
are  of  considerable  promise.  Three  of  these  arc 
leased  to  other  parties,  and  one  is  in  course  of 
operation  by  him. 

’Squire  Samuel  Tewksbury  is  respected  as  a 
kind-hearted,  upright  man,  earne.st  in  his  convic- 
tions of  right  and  wrong,  and  never  drawing 
back  when  a course  has  been  fully  marked. 

John  Tewk.sbuhy,  the  youngest  child  of 
Jacob  and  Polly  Reed  Tewksbury,  was  born  in 
Brooklyn  township  April  14,  1816.  After 
obtaining  the  ordinary  schooling  he  worked 


426 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


upon  tlie  farm  for  some  years  and  gained  such 
valuable  knowledge  that,  when,  having  reached 
his  nineteenth  year,  he  rented  a large  cleared 
farm  of  Nicholas  Overfield,  on  the  Susquehanna 
River,  near  Meshoppen,  he  made  a success  from 
the  start,  and  developed  a strong,  self-reliant 
and  energetic  manhood.  For  three  years 

he  had  this  farm,  and  each  year  raised 
one  hundred  acres  of  grain.  He  then  bought 
a tract  of  two  hundred  and  thirty-seven 
acres  (which  was  afterwards  increased  to  nearly 
four  hundred  acres)  aI)ont  two  miles  west  from 
the  Centre,  in  Auburn  township,  from  Thomas 
P.  Cope,  and  entered  upon  his  highly  gratifying 
career.  He  cleared  two  hundred  and  fift^'  acres 
in  twelve  years,  and  raised  large  (][uantities  of 
grain  and  gathered  round  him  quite  a settlement 
of  persons  attracted  by  his  successful  farming, 
which  became  in  time  known  as  “ Cartertowu,” 
and  now  bears  the  name  of  “ Retta.”  In  1868 
he  formed  a })artnership  in  general  merchan- 
dising at  Auburn  Centre  before  leaving  the 
farm,  but  in  1872  he  sold  part  of  that  property 
and  built  the  present  home,  in  addition  to  buy- 
ing out  Abraham  Waltman's  store,  which,  in 
company  with  his  son  Charles  L.,  he  carried  on 
during  the  following  seven  years,  at  the  expira- 
tion of  which  period  he  sold  out  his  interest 
and  retired  from  active  business.  Those  years 
were  busy  ones,  and  an  extensive  shipping  trade 
was  built  np  in  wool,  potatoes,  buckwheat,  flour, 
oats,  etc.,  with  Philadelphia  and  other  markets. 
In  pcjlitical  work  he  has  always  been  a leader, 
and  for  five  years  served  the  people  as  justice  of 
the  peace,  besides  filling  other  township  offices. 
During  the  Rebellion  he  was  an  active  Union 
man,  and  was  authorized  by  the  township  au- 
thorities to  fill  the  quota  and  put  in  eighty  sol- 
diers for  Auburn  township,  in  doing  which  he 
handled  thirty-one  thousand  eight  hundred  dol- 
lars for  such  purposes,  and  when  the  final  set- 
tlement was  effected,  the  entire  matter  was 
found  clear  and  satisfactory — not  one  cent  had 
been  misplaced. 

Coming  from  God-fearing  parents, he  embraced 
Christianity  over  forty  years  ago  and  joined  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  at  Cartertowu. 
In  the  spring  of  1886,  to  meet  a long-felt  want, 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Tewksbury,  with  others,  began  to 


agitate  the  question  of  building  a church  for 
that  society  at  Auburn  Centre,  and  such  was 
the  ability  and  energy  displayed  that  within  two 
months  work  was  commenced  upon  the  handsome 
edifice  now  seen  upon  the  hill-top,  just  above 
the  home  of  its  originators  and  warm  support- 
ers. ’Squire  Tewksbury  has  been  for  many 
years  interested  in  Sunday  school  work,  and  for 
over  twenty  years  was  teacher  and  superintend- 
ent. His  home  is  the  headquarters  for  visiting 
ministers  and  he  is  liberal  in  all  kindred  mat- 
ters, and  a good  citizen.  His  strongly-marked 
character  is  the  accompaniment  of  great  physi- 
cal power.  When  thirty  years  old  he  and  his 
brother  Samuel,  above  mentioned,  run  rafts 
down  the  river,  and  in  one  spring  succeeded  in 
safely  rafting  one  and  a half  million  feet  of 
lumber  from  Rocky  Forest  to  Port  Deposit. 

When  in  his  twentieth  year  he  married  Lucia 
Whitcomb  (1817-77),  daughter  of  Ahira  L. 
and  Amelia  (Dana)  Whitcomb.  Mr.  W.  was  a 
farmer  and  lumberman  living  near  Meshoppen. 
The  children  resulting  from  this  marriage  were 
as  follows:  George,  born  1836,  a farmer  in 
Auburn,  married  Leah  Lott  and  has  Elmer  and 
Dana  Tewksbury;  Anderson  D.,  born  1838, 
studied  medicine  with  Dr.  Dana,  of  Wilkes- 
Barre,  and  was  graduated  from  the  University 
of  Michigan.  He  practiced  his  profession  six 
years  in  Auburn  before  going  to  Nebraska, 
where  he  remained  one  year  and  entered  the 
United  States  army  as  assistant  surgeon,  in 
which  he  served  until  the  close  of  the  war. 
He  then  practiced  medicine  at  the  Centre  and 
at  Ashley,  Pa.,  for  some  years,  and,  determining 
upon  a special  practice,  studied  at  New  York, 
Edinburgh,  Paris,  etc.,  to  such  purpose,  and 
returned  to  the  United  States  fully  equipped. 
He  is  now  engaged  in  successful  and  growing 
practice  as  an  oculist  and  aurist  at  Elmira, 
N.  Y.  He  married  Mary  Beardsley  and  had  two 
children — Walter  ; Lucy,  died  young.  Amelia 
(1841-70),  married  C.  L.  Low,  and  had  Ella 
A.,  now  a teacher  and  living  with  her  grand- 
parents, and  Charles  L.,  who  died  in  infancy  ; 
Emmett,  born  1843,  served  his  country  during 
and  after  the  Rebellion  (was  in  the  Marine 
Corps  and  took  part  in  the  capture  of  Fort 
Fisher  and  other  battles.  He  is  a farmer  of 


AUBURN 


427 


Auburn  and  married  Margaret  Stevens,  who  has 
borne  him  Cora,  Eva,  Lucia  and  Arden);  Floyd 
J.,  born  1846,  married  Anna  West,  and  has 
children — Laverne,  Olin,  John  and  Mabel  (he 
is  also  engaged  in  farming  in  Auburn  township); 
Charles  L.,  born  1848,  is  engaged  in  business 
at  Elmira,  N.  Y.  (his  wife  was  Sarah  Raub — 
they  have  no  issue);  Judson,  born  1851,  died  in 
childhood  ; Mary  E.,  born  1852,  is  the  wife  of 
Dr.  C.  N.  Vanness,  a successful  practitioner  at 
Hallstead,  this  county ; and  John  M.,  born 
1854,  died  in  childhood. 

On  Dec.  11,  1877,  ’Squire  Tewksbury  mar- 
ried Mrs.  Mary  Sterling,  of  Brooklyn  town- 
ship, who  was  the  daughter  of  Hiram  and  Eliza 
(Justin)  Hibbard,  of  New  Milford  township, 
and  was  born  in  Springville  township. 

Both  the  brothers,  Samuel  and  John  Tewks- 
bury, are  respected  as  kind-hearted,  upright 
men,  earnest  in  their  convictions  of  right  and 
wrong,  and  not  liable  to  withdraw  from  a course 
which  has  been  fully  decided  upon  ; hence  their 
influence  is  strong  and  always  felt. 

The  apparent  richness  of  the  soil  in  Tewks- 
bury’s locality  soon  attracted  other  settlers, 
among  them  being  Harry,  David  and  Daniel 
Carter,  brothers,  who  came  from  the  southern 
part  of  the  township.  It  was  from  their 
residence  here  that  the  locality  became  known 
as  Cartertown.  Other  pioneers  here  were 
Henry  L.  Whitcomb,  Daniel  Seeley  and  J.  K. 
Reed.  Seeley  afterward  cleared  up  a farm 
nearer  We.st  Auburn,  on  which  he  still  lives. 
He  came  from  Brooklyn  when  he  was  but 
eighteen  years  of  age,  and  has  spent  the  greater 
part  of  his  life  in  subduing  the  wilderness. 

East  of  the  central  part  of  the  township 
were  tracts  of  land  somewhat  rough  in  their 
nature,  which  had  but  few  occupants  before 
1835.  After  that  period  Irish  settlers  were  in- 
duced to  locate  upon  them  and  in  other  ])arts  of 
the  township,  until  nearly  one-third  of  the  in- 
habitants were  of  Irish  nativity  or  descent. 
Many  of  those  coming  first  had  been  employed 
on  the  North  Branch  Canal,  and  when  work 
was  unexpectedly  suspended,  they  were  left  in 
an  almost  destitute  condition.  They  were  obliged 
to  seek  a new  occupation,  or  starve,  and,  though 
not  reared  as  farmers,  they  eagerly  came  to  make 


the  effort  to  secure  homes  of  their  own  which 
would  give  them  a greater  sense  of  independ- 
ence than  they  could  possibly  enjoy  while  en- 
gaged on  public  works.  Some  brought  what 
few  effects  they  had  on  wheelbarrows,  and  others 
carried  goods  on  their  backs,  the  pack  often 
consisting  of  nothing  more  than  a little  bedding 
and  a few  cooking  utensils.  Naturally,  there 
were  privations  and  some  suffering,  but  the 
sanguine  temperament  of  the  race  enabled  them 
to  overcome  these  obstacles,  and,  by  helping  one 
another,  they  were  placed  above  want  in  a few 
years,  and  thereafter  continued  to  improve  their 
condition  until  they  had  become  among  the 
most  prosperous  farmers  in  the  township;  and 
some  of  their  descendants  removing  from  the 
township  have  distinguished  themselves  in  the 
professions. 

With  few  exceptions,  these  Irish  citizens  were 
also  Roman  Catholics,  and  a list  of  them  would, 
therefore,  embrace  the  names  of  those  who  con- 
stituted the  early  membership  of  St.  Bonaventure 
Among  the  leading  families  were  James  Logan, 
Andrew  Rooney,  Thomas  Rafferty,  James  Fitz- 
simmons, Thomas  Boyan,  Bernard  McGee,  Peter 
Thane,  Patrick  Galvin,  Patrick  Donlin,  James 
Sherridan,  Felix,  James  and  Charles  Reynolds, 
Edward  Cavanaugh,  Patrick  McGavin,  Edward 
Flannagan,  Joseph  Farley,  Joseph  Matthews, 
Cornelius  Degnan,  Michael  Hade,  John  Bridget, 
James  Dougherty,  Patrick  Dougherty,  John  Mc- 
Gee, Janies  McGee,  Michael  Kerrigan,  Michael 
Riley,  Philip  Farley,  Peter  Farrell,  John  Kear- 
ney, John  Moran  and  O.  O’Neal.  A few  of  the 
above  lived  in  Rush,  but  were  properly  a part 
of  the  Irish  settlement  in  Auburn. 

William  White,  born  in  Warren  County, 
N.  J.,  June  25,  1833,  came  to  Susquehanna 
County  with  his  parents  and  brother,  George  R., 
when  but  two  years  old.  He  was  the  second 
child  of  Thomas  R.  (1806-76)  and  Margaret 
Ann  (1809-74)  White,  botb  natives  of  Warren 
Comity,  whose  children  were  George  R.,  born 
1831,  a farmer  living  north  of  Auliurn  Centre; 
Joseph  T.,  born  1835,  a fanner  on  Jersey  Hill; 
Matilda  H.,  married  Ij.  C.  Swislier,  a farmer  of 
Auburn  townshij),  and  died  in  1878  ; and  Abra- 
ham White  also  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits 
in  this  township.  Tlionias  R.  White  was  a 


428 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


practical  and  successful  farmer.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  Methodist  Protestant  Church  at 
Jersey  Hill,  and  for  about  twenty-five  years 
was  one  of  the  trustees.  Both  the  church  and 
cemetery  near  by  received  his  hearty  assistance. 
The  farm  whereon  the  family  located,  one  mile 
north  of  the  Centre,  is  owned  by  ex-Sheri£f 
'William  'White,  and  is  one  of  the  finest  in  the 
township.  Mr.  White  took  an  active  part  in 
the  politics  of  his  day.  He  was  one  of  the 
seven  children  of  William  and  Amy  White, 
also  of  Warren  County,  all  of  whom,  excepting 
John,  came  to  Pennsylvania  and  settled  in  Au- 
burn. These,  however,  with  their  descendants, 
are  now  widely  scattered  over  the  country. 
William  White  obtained  a liberal  education  at 
the  district  school,  at  Harford  University  and 
subsequently  at  the  Montrose  Academy.  In 
his  twenty-third  year  he  entered  lousiness  as  a 
partner  with  J.  H.  McCain  at  Auburn  Centre, 
and  after  two  years  formed  a partnership  with 

L.  C.  Swisher  in  similar  business  a couple  of 
years.  Engaged  in  undertaking  alone  about 
five  years,  when,  having  been  elected  sheriff  as 
the  candidate  of  the  Democratic  party,  he  found 
it  incumbent  upon  him  to  reside  at  Montrose 
for  the  succeeding  three  years  from  1876.  He 
has  since  carried  on  farming,  though  lately  re- 
siding at  the  Centre.  He  is  an  energetic  and 
enterprising  man  and  enjoys  the  confidence  and 
esteem  of  the  people  of  the  county.  He  was 
made  a Mason  at  Montro.se  when  just  past  his 
majority,  and  also  holds  membership  in  the 
Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows.  In  1860 
he  married  Anna,  the  daughter  of  Harry  and 
Lovina  Carter,  of  Auburn,  where  she  was  born 
in  1840.  Their  children  are  Euphrasia,  born 
1862,  the  wife  of  E.  C.  Lake,  a merchant  at 
South  Montrose  ; and  Ulysses  G.,  born  1864, 
now  in  Morrison,  111. 

Mrs.  White  died  in  1876,  and  on  May  20, 
1870,  the  sheriff  married  Delilah  Smith,  who 
was  born  in  September,  1853,  in  Warren 
County,  N.  J.  She  is  the  daughter  of  James 

M.  and  Mary  Smith,  of  that  county,  farmers, 
l)oth  of  whom  are  deceased. 

'The  Taxables  in  1839  were  the  following: 

Chester  Adams,  Chester  Adams,  Jr,  Ezekiel  Avery,  George  Avery, 
Gei-shom  Bunnell,  Joseph  Baker,  David  W.  Bennett,  Charles  Butterfield, 
Wm.  N.  Bennett,  Thonias  Bayley,  Franklin  Babcock,  Hiram  Blakeslee, 


Elias  Bennett,  Amos  Bennett,  John  Benscoter,  John  B.  Beardsley, 
James  Bert,  Bildad  Bennett,  Daniel  F.  Bennett,  Henry  Brown,  Jonas 
Carter,  David  Carter,  Harry  Carter,  Samuel  Carter,  Hiram  Curtei-, 
Theron  B.  Carter,  Daniel  Carter,  Joseph  Curling,  Samuel  Curling,  Jr., 
David  Curling,  Elisha  Coggswell,  Philip  Conrad,  Theron  Clink,  Stephen 
Clink,  William  Clink,  James  Clink,  John  Clink,  Jr.,  Adam  Clink,  Dan- 
iel Cooley,  William  Cooley,  Julius  Cogswell,  David  Crawford,  William 
Craig,  Edward  Dawson,  Ellis  Dunlap,  Samuel  Devine,  Patrick  Donlin, 
Mary  Davis,  Hiram  Dennison,  Daniel  Dornblazer,  Ralph  Fowler,  Ben- 
ajah  Frink,  Tracy  Frink,  Isaac  Frink,  Michael  Fryer,  Wm.  S.  Green, 
Nathan  Green,  Jos.  T.  Gregory,  Phineas  Gage,  Ansil  Gay,  William 
Green,  James  Green,  Huldah  Gregory,  Palmer  Guyle,  Horace  Guyle, 
Henry  Gould,  Elias  Gilson,  George  Havens,  George  Haverly,  Philip 
Haverly,  Milton  Harris,  John  Harris,  Andrew  Hibbord,  Ephraim  Hol- 
^enback,  Jesse  Hines,  Thos.  W.  James,  William  Johnson,  Jacob  B, 
Jackson,  Anone  Johnson,  Jonathan  Kellogg,  Treadway  Kellogg,  Wil- 
liam Kellogg,  Abiel  Keeney,  Henry  Kinne,  Lyman  Kinne,  Jacob  Low, 
Cornelius  E.  Low,  Andrew  S.  Low,  James  Logan,  William  Lafronce, 
Watrin  Love,  Andrew  Love,  Jasper  Loomis,  Abraham  Lott,  James 
Lott,  .John  Lawrence,  Lathrop  Lyon,  David  Lyon,  Harmon  Lyon,  Rich- 
ard Miner,  William  Major,  Thomas  Marshall,  John  McLean,  Robert 
Manning,  John  Morley,  Thomas  Morley,  Caldwell  McMicken,  Lawrence 
Meacham,  Benjamin  Meacham,  C.  N.  Miner,  John  Meacham,  Gillian 
Marshman,  Ebenezer  Millard,  William  McCarty,  Samuel  Neal,  Matthew 
Newton,  Paul  Overfield,  Ezekiel  Oaks,  Nathan  Osborn,  Elisha  Osborn, 
Samuel  Pickett,  Juniheth  Peters,  Theron  Parmer,  Francis  Pepper,  Wil- 
liam Pepper,  Gilbert  Palmer,  Nathan  Philips,  Isaac  Russell,  Curtis  Rus- 
sell, Eleazer  Russell,  John  Riley,  Philemon  Robinson,  Oliver  C.  Rob- 
erts, James  Rifenburg,  Richard  Robbins,  Daniel  Ross,  Levi  Redfield, 
William  Rogers,  Phalex  Reynolds,  Nelson  Ratbburn,  Benjamin  Shel- 
don, Jeremiah  Smith,  John  Smith,  Luther  Seeley,  John  Sterling,  Curtis 
Sheffield,  Elnathan  Spaulding,  Richard  Stone,  John  Skinner,  Jefferson 
Sherwood,  Albert  Sterling,  Daniel  Sterling,  James  Sherridan,  David 
Sharp,  Orrin  W.  Taylor,  John  Tewksbury,  Samuel  Tewksbury,  Edward 
Wilson,  Collins  Wood,  Josiah  Wakefield,  Hiram  Whipple,  George  Wil- 
son, Philemon  Way,  Thompson  S.  Warner,  Thomas  Wyley,  Thomas 
White,  Jesse  Wells,  Palmer  Way,  Bradley  Williams,  Matthew  Winans, 
Cyrus  Whippier,  John  Vangorder,  Stephen  Vosburg. 

John  M.  France. — This  family  is  probably 
of  French  descent.  The  first  of  the  name  in 
this  country  of  whom  we  have  any  trace  was  a 
soldier  of  the  Revolution,  who  died  in  the 
service  of  the  colonies,  leaving  two  children, 
Jacob  and  a sister.  Jacob  France  was  a young 
lad  when  the  battle  of  Bunker  Hill  was  fought, 
and  long  retained  a vivid  recollection  of  the 
booming  of  the  cannon  and  terrible  noises  of 
battle  which  he  heard  upon  that  eventful  day, 
and  which  he  delighted  to  speak  about  to  his 
interested  auditors  even  to  his  latest  days.  In 
early  manhood  he  located  near  Blairstown, 

N.  J.,  and  made  a fine  farm  of  nearly  three  hun- 
dred acres.  He  married  Elizabeth  Y^aughn,  a 
lady  of  English  descent,  born  near  Newton, 
N.  J.,  and  by  her  had  Isaac,  a farmer  and  busi- 
ness man,  died  about  1852;  John,  a farmer, 
died  abont  1850  ; Abraham,  a shoemaker,  died 
when  nearly  eighty  years  old  ; Jacob,  a farmer, 
lived  and  died  adjoining  the  homestead  ; Rich- 
ard David,  a stonemason,  enli.sted  for  the 
Union  in  1862  and  lost  his  life  about  the  time 
of  the  battle  of  Antietam  ; Dinah  married 


.1 


I 


W'-  w 


AUBURN. 


429 


Josepli  Ogden,  of  Tioga  County,  Pa. ; and 
after  he  died  she  beeame  the  wife  of  Dr.  Kel- 
sey, of  Wellsborough,  and  died  in  1879,  in  her 
ninetieth  year  ; Rachel  married  William  Bowl- 
by,  a tanner,  and  died  in  1859  ; all  not  other- 
wise stated  were  born,  lived  and  died  near 
Blairstown,  N.  J.  The  sister  of  Jacob  France 
married  a Mr.  Kimball,  and  removed  to  the 
lake  country  of  New  York  State  at  an  early 
day.  Thither  Jacob  France  made  several  jour- 
neys, sometimes  riding  horseback  the  entire 
distance,  and  frequently  passing  through  what 
is  now  the  beautiful  county-seat,  Montrose. 
Richard  France  (1806-66)  learned  the  trade 
of  plasterer  and  bricklayer,  which  he  followed 
until  a severe  accident  closed  the  active  busi- 
ness part  of  his  life.  During  the  spring  of 
1858  he  moved  to  Susquehanna  County  and 
bought  a farm  in  Auburn  township,  where  he 
died.  His  wife  was  Isabella  Miller,  of  Wash- 
ington, N.  J.,  and  they  had  John  M. ; Wil- 
liam, educated  for  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  ministry,  was  forced  by  ill  health  to 
resign  the  charge,  and  entered  upon  the  prac- 
tice of  dentistry,  which  he  still  continues,  at 
Milford,  Del.;  Daniel  V.,  a farmer  and  mill- 
owner,  in  Auburn  township  ; Wesley  L.,  for 
ten  years  past  a butcher  at  Meshoppen ; Isa- 
bella and  Catharine  both  died  in  early  woman- 
hood, during  an  epidemic  of  diphtheria,  in 

1864.  Mrs.  France  still  resides  in  the  town- 
ship, aged  seventy-eight  years. 

John  M.  France,  born  near  Blairstown,  N.  J., 
October  16,  1828,  obtained  a good  common- 
school  education,  and,  when  fifteen  years  old, 
began,  under  his  father’s  supervision,  the  trade 
of  a mason.  He  became  connected  with  Hon. 
John  I.  Blair,  and  for  three  years  had  charge 
of  that  gentleman’s  extensive  building  opera- 
tions in  the  borough  of  Blairstown.  Determin- 
ing upon  an  agricultural  career,  in  1851  he 
came  to  Susquehanna  County  and  bought  one 
hundred  and  eighty  acres  of  land  located  in 
Auburn  and  Rush  townships,  to  which  he  has 
since  added,  and  now  has  a solid  tract  of  three 
hundred  and  sixty  acres,  the  home  farm.  In 

1865,  just  prior  to  the  death  of  his  father,  he 
purchased  his  farm  of  over  one  hundred  and 
nine  acres ; and  this  large  farm,  comprising 


about  four  hundred  and  seventy  acres,  he  car- 
ried on  for  nearly  twenty  years,  often  winter- 
ing between  seventy  and  eighty  cattle,  forty 
sheep  and  ten  or  twelve  horses.  In  1856  Mr. 
France  began  to  give  attention  to  bee  culture. 
Making  a careful  study  of  varieties,  their  care 
and  production,  he  has  become  an  authority 
upon  the  subject,  and  yearly  produces  about 
two  tons  of  honey  from  his  large  apiary  of  one 
hundred  and  fifty-seven  hives.  He  is  a ])ro- 
gressive,  upright  and  warm-hearted  man,  and 
may  be  classed  among  the  successful  farmers  of 
Northern  Pennsylvania.  Reared  in  habits  of 
industry  and  economy,  he  has  acquired  a fair 
competence ; and  his  influence  has  naturally 
been  strong  for  the  best  interests  of  an  agricul- 
tural community.  He . is  a liberal  giver  to 
educational,  religious  and  kindred  associations, 
and  helps  the  needy.  In  1883  he  sold  the 
homestead  of  his  father  to  Henry  E.  Y’^oung, 
his  son-in-law,  and  moved  to  Montrose,  where 
he  had  bought  a home.  In  1886  he  returned 
thence  to  the  farm,  and  still  remains  thereon. 
He  married,  in  1850,  Margaret,  daughter  of 
Joel  Crane,  of  Sussex  County,  N.  J.,  who  bore 
children  as  follows : Mary  Isabella  married 
John  KirkhufF,  a native  of  Auburn,  then  liv- 
ing near  Binghamton,  and  died  February  2, 
1884,  aged  thirty-two  years;  Harriet;  Thomas 
R.,  a farmer;  Macrina,  the  wife  of  H.  E. 
Young,  a farmer,  before  mentioned ; and  Mag- 
gie, died  in  infancy.  Mrs.  France  died  March 
19,  1860;  and  in  1861,  for  his  second  wife, 
Mr.  France  married  Mary  Overfield,  who  bore 
Lillie  M.  now  Mrs.  Henry  Decker,  of  South 
Montrose.  On  May  24,  1883,  he  married 
Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Cyrenius  and  Norah 
Emma  (Folk)  Bomboy,  of  Montour  County, 
Pa.  Mr.  Bomboy,  a native  of  Bucks  County, 
left  there  a young  man,  and  for  some  time 
lived  in  Nm’thumberland  County,  where  he 
kept  the  hotel  at  Turbottsville.  He  was  mar- 
ried in  Columbia  County,  and  has  nine  living 
children.  Shortly  after  the  war  they  removed 
to  their  present  fine  farm,  near  Dansville,  Pa. 

Business  Interests  and  Hami.ets. — Agri- 
culture  is  the  principal  occupation  of  the  peo- 
ple of  Auburn,  but  other  business  interests 
exist,  and  no  large  villages,  in  consequence. 


430 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


havfi  sprung  up.  None  of  the  business  centres 
in  the  township  have  outgrown  the  proportions 
of  a hamlet.  Of  these  cross-road  places, 

Auburn  Four  Corners  is  the  most  impor- 
tant. It  is  at  the  intersection  of  two  old  high- 
ways, in  the  northeastern  part  of  the  township, 
and  has  a pleasant  location  on  well-drained 
ground.  In  December,  1886,  it  had  two  good 
stores,  tavern,  church  and  about  ninety  inhabit- 
ants. Some  of  the  residences  are  new  and  of 
neat  design. 

Kellogg  Riley  and  Orrin  Frink  were  the  first 
to  engage  in  trade  at  this  point,  and  Thomas 
Adams  came  next,  also  before  1850.  Later, 
Palmer  Way  was  in  trade  and  was  also  a doc- 
tor and  preacher,  moving  to  the  State  of  New 
Y'ork.  Doctor  Jonathan  P.  Lambert  opened  a 
store  near  Riley’s  corner  about  this  time,  and 
also  practiced  medicine.  The  building  he  occu- 
pied has  been  devoted  to  other  uses. 

Doctor  Elijah  Snell  was  the  last  practitioner 
here,  having  his  home  at  Auburn  Corners. 

In  1859  E.  L.  Adams  put  up  the  first  store 
of  any  size,  on  the  site  of  the  Titman  stand,  and 
traded  eleven  years.  That  building  was  burned 
down  in  1881,  while  occupied  by  B.  E.  James 
and  E.  C.  Titman.  The  latter  rebuilt  the  same 
year  and  has  since  merchandised  there.  A 
second  good  stand  was  opened  in  1869  by  P.  C. 
Bushnell  and  has  been  occupied  by  him  since. 

Auburn  Four  Corners  post-office  was  estab- 
lished December  12,  1832,  with  John  Pass- 
more  as  the  first  ^jostmaster.  Since  that  time 
the  appointees  have  been,  1834,  Treadway 
Kellogg;  1838,  Chester  Adams ; 1849,  J.  P. 
Lambert;  1850,  Charles  W.  Coggswell  and 
David  Bushnell ; 1859,  Elijah  L.  Adams  ; 1874, 
P.  C.  Bushnell ; 1886,  W.  J.  McDermott.  A 
daily  mail  from  Montrose  is  supplied. 

The  first  public-house  was  opened  in  1850  by 
E.  L.  A dams  and  kept  by  him  as  the  “ Traveler’s 
Home.  ” John  Allen  succeeded  him  and  Pat- 
rick Riley  is  the  present  keeper.  Mechanic 
shops  have  usually  been  carried  on. 

Lieutenant  H.  C.  Titman  Post,  No.  93,  G.  A. 
R.,  was  iirstituted  at  Auburn  Four  Corners 
with  fifteen  members,  November  22,  1878. 
M.  H.  VanScoten  was  the  first  Commander. 
The  records  were  destroyed  by  fire  when  the 


Titman  building  was  burned.  But  the  Post 
has  flourished,  having  forty-nine  members  in 
November  1886.  D.  C.  Titman  was  the  Com- 
mander and  D.  D.  Layton  the  Adjutant. 

Auburn  Four  Corners. — Lodge,  No.  377, 

K.  of  P.,  was  organized  in  1881,  and  met 
statedly  until  the  spring  of  1886,  when  it  dis- 
banded. The  lodge  had  at  one  time  about 
thirty  members. 

West  of  the  hamlet,  on  Riley  Creek,  Milton 
Harris  put  up  a saw-mill  after  1816,  and  a grist- 
mill in  1828.  These  were  replaced  by  new 
mills  in  the  course  of  years  by  Milton  Harris, 
whose  family  operated  them  until  1885.  Since 
that  time  William  Edwards  has  been  the 
owner.  Lower  down  the  stream,  John  Riley 
had  a saw-mill,  which  has  been  abandoned. 

Auburn  Centre,  as  its  name  implies,  is 
located  in  the  centre  of  the  township.  It  con- 
tains about  a dozen  buildings,  two  store.s,  a fine, 
new  church,  and  has  sixty  inhabitants.  Abra- 
ham Waltman  is  credited  with  having  the  first 
store,  after  1840,  in  a building  put  up  by  Abra- 
ham Lott,  and  which  burned  down  in  1861. 
Among  those  in  trade  in  that  building  were 
John  Tewksbury,  C.  L.  Lowe,  A.  D.  Charles 
and  E.  Tewksbury.  The  next  store  was  opened 
by  Wm.  White,  who  traded  some  time.  Pier- 
son & Kinney  are  the  pre.sent  occupants.  H. 

L.  Lott  also  merchandises  in  the  place.  Au- 
burn Centre  post-office  was  established  Novem- 
ber 5,  1852,  with  Cornelius  L.  Lowe  as  the  post- 
master. His  succe.s.sors  have  been,  1856, 
Abram  Waltman;  1860,  Gideon  L.  Swisher; 
1861,  Henry  L.  Lowe;  1866,  Cornelius  L. 
Lowe;  1867,  Lewis  C.  Swisher;  1869,  Milton 
Harrison,  Jr. ; 1871,  A.  D.  Tewksbury  and  C. 
L.  Tewksbury;  1880,  Andrew  L.  Pierson; 
1885,  H.  L.  Lott.  The  mail  supply  is  daily 
from  Montrose  and  Skinner’s  Eddy.  James 
Lott  had  the  first  public-house  in  the  building  on 
the  corner  still  occupied  by  his  family.  Another 
public-house  was  kept  by  William  N.  Bennett, 
in  a building  which  was  destroyed  by  fire,  leav- 
ing the  place  without  a tavern.  Dr.  G.  M. 
Harrison  is  the  resident  physician.  Previous 
practitioners  were  Doctors  Van  Ness,  A.  D. 
Tewksbury  (now  an  eminent  physician  at  El- 
mira, N.  A^.),  Dr.  Lowe  and  Dr.  Elijah  Snell. 


AUBUEN. 


. 431 


Auhuni  Centre  Lodge,  Xo.  S)()b,  I.O.O.F., 
had,  in  1886,  forty  inembery.  The  aggregate 
mimher  belonging  has  been  more  than  fifty. 
The  meetings  are  held  in  a neatly-fnrnished 
hall  in  the  White  building. 

A Grange  of  Patrons  of  Husbandry  also  held 
its  meetings  in  the  hamlet.  The  membership 
is  not  large,  but  the  grange  is  reported  prosper- 
ous. 

Near  the  hamlet  a creamery  was  built,  in 
1882,  by  C.  L.  Tewksbury,  which  has  been 
operated  by  a company  since  the  season  of  1883. 
The  factory  is  supplied  with  good  apparatus, 
and  consumes  the  milk  of  several  hundred  cows. 

South  Auburn  hamlet  is  three  and  a hal  f m i les 
from  the  centre,  in  the  southwestern  part  of  the 
township.  It  has  one  store,  two  churches,  shops 
and  half  a dozen  residences.  On  account  of  its 
nearness  to  points  on  the  Lehigh  Valley  E.ail- 
road  in  Wyoniing  County,  its  business  is 
limited.  The  tirst  goods  were  sold  ont  of  a 
box-car  by  a man  named  Baker.  About  1855 
Thomas  and  Edward  Dawson  built  a business 
house,  in  whieh  Smith  & James  engaged  in 
trade.  This  stand  is  now  occupied  by  J.  11. 
Carter  and  Harrison  Place.  Another  stand 
was  opened  by  P.  D.  Shannon,  bnt  he  traded 
only  a short  time,  when  the  building  became  a 
residence. 

South  Auburn  post-office  was  established 
December  12,  1832,  at  the  house  of  Edward 
Dawson,  who  was  the  first  postmaster.  In 
1840  Samuel  Carter  succeeded  him.  January 
4,  1844,  it  was  discontinued.  April  6,  1848,  it 
was  re-established,  and  Samuel  Carter  was 
again  the  postmaster.  His  successors  have 
been,  1850,  Ansel  Gay  ; 1853,  Abram  Carter; 
1855,  Rufus  J.  Carter;  1861,  Thomas  A.  Daw- 
son ; 1863,  Edward  Daw.son  ; 1869,  Phineas  D. 
Shannon;  1871,  R.  J.  Carter.  The  office  is 
on  the  Skinner’s  Eddy  route,  and  has  a daily 
mail. 

North  of  the  hamlet  a public-house  was  kept 
for  a number  of  years  by  Jo.seph  Carlin,  who 
also  operated  saw  and  feed-mills.  The  tavern 
has  been  discontinued,  but  the  mills  are  still 
operated  on  a limited  scale. 

West  Auisurn  hamlet  is  on  the  Tuscarora 
Creek,  in  the  northwestern  past  of“  the  township. 


and  formerly  bore  the  name  of  New  Lacey  ville. 
This  title  was  given  on  account  of  the  principal 
settlers  here  being  members  of  the  Lacey 
family.  W est  Auburn  is  the  proper  name 
since  the  post-office  was  established  at  this 
point.  The  place  has  been  growing  the  past 
few  years,  and  is  assuming  the  proportions  of  a 
village.  In  1886  there  were  two  stores,  shops, 
a fine  church  edifice  and  twenty-five  residences. 
In  1880  the  population  was  a little  more  than 
a hundred.  The  first  house  built  in  the  main 
part  of  the  hamlet  was  the  residence  of  Eli 
Billings,  which  became  the  home  of  Edwin  J. 
Lacey,  who  has  resided  here  since  1844.  On 
this  farm  David  and  E.  J.  Lacy  built  a shop  in 
which  they  carried  on  their  trades,  the  latter 
being  a chair-maker.  Dn  this  site  a larger 
shop  was  built,  in  1862,  in  which  E.  J.  Lacey 
still  carries  on  his  business,  and  L.  B.  Lacey  is 
a furniture-maker  and  undertaker.  The  motive- 
power  is  water.  From  1867  to  1869  T.  J.  and 
A.  F Lacey  had  in  operation  a steam  ])laning- 
mill,  whose  machinery  was  removed  to  Wya- 
Insing.  The  hamlet  has  the  usual  mechanic 
shoj)S.  In  years  gone  by  John  Lacey  was 
here  as  a skillful  blacksmith,  being  especially 
expert  as  a butcher-knife  maker. 

L.  I.  Dunmore  enfiag:ed  in  merchandisintj  in 
1861,  having  a store  on  the  west  side  of  the 
ereek.  G.  L.  Swishler  was  a later  merchant, 
and  Andrew  Herlinger  had  been  in  trade  the 
past  four  years.  In  1872  A.  F.  Lacey  opened 
the  second  place  of  business,  where  he  has  since 
merchandised.  Here  was  kept  the  West  Auburn 
post-office  from  1873  to  1885,  when  Andrew 
Herlinger  succeeded  him  as  the  postmaster. 
The  office  was  established  March  25,  1840,  and 
James  Morley  was  the  postmaster,  keeping  the 
office  higher  up  the  creek,  at  his  farm-hon.se. 
January  4,  1844,  the  office  was  discontinued, 
but  was  re-established  August  26th  of  that  year, 
and  Ebenezer  P.  Morley  became  postmaster. 
His  .successors  were,  1845,  Jes.se  Hines;  1849, 
Miles  C.  Lacey ; 1853,  Jesse  Hines ; 1857, 
Hamlet  Hill;  1861,  John  C.  Lacey;  18ti4, 
Justus  Hickok  ; 1866,  James  A.  Lacey;  1868, 
Abram  White  ; 1870,  Wesley  L.  France  ; 1873, 
Alonzo  F.  Lacey.  There  is  a daily  mail  .service 
from  the  Lehigh  Valley  Railroad. 


432 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


Dr.  A.  A.  Liiiahiiry  is  the  resident  ))liysiciau. 
Other  practitioners  have  l)een  Drs.  D.  W. 
Camp  and  F.  M.  Gross. 

Above  the  liamlet  is  the  fine  creamery  of 
tlie  Union  Dairy  Association  of  West  Anburn, 
wliich  was  organized  in  1882,  of  twelve  mem- 
l)ers.  The  building  is  very  complete,  and  it 
cost  to  get  in  operation  three  thousand  two 
hundred  dollars.  Both  butter  and  cheese  are 
made  from  the  milk  of  the  three  hundred  cows 
contributing  to  its  su[)port. 

Higher  up  the  creek,  near  the  Rush  line,  E. 
J.  and  H.  C.  Lacey  built  mills  in  1866,  which 
pas.sed  into  the  hands  of  other  parties.  In  1881 
D.  V.  France  demolished  the  saw-mill  and 
erected  a first-i’ate  grist-mill,  to  which  steam- 
j)ower  was  supplied  at  a later  day,  and  the  mill 
jiroperty  is  now  one  of  the  most  complete  in  the 
western  part  of  the  county. 

On  the  Tuscarora  Falls,  near  the  Bradford 
County  line,  a saw-mill  has  been  operated  many 
years,  the  present  owner  being  O.  C.  Roberts. 
Other  water  and  steam-power  mills  in  this  sec- 
tion and  in  other  parts  of  the  township  were 
discontinued  after  the  timber  supply  became 
scarce. 

In  1865  West  Auburn  was  the  scene  of  con- 
siderable excitement  on  account  of  the  oil-well 
being  sunk  on  the  Tuscarora  above  the  hamlet. 
It  was  on  a small  tract  of  land  belonging  to  A. 
F.  and  L.  B.  Lacey,  and  concerning  these  opera- 
tions M.  L.  Lacey  said, — 

“ The  Petroleum  Company  here  sunk  their  first  well,  along  with  about 
$9000  of  their  capital.  The  fact  that  upon  one  corner  of  the  old  Billings 
lot  there  was  a deer  lick  in  old  times — a great  resoit  for  wild  game — in- 
duced the  early  settlers  to  dig  for  salt.  Men  are  yet  living  along  the 
Susquehanna  who  used  to  come  here,  when  boys,  with  their  kettles,  and 
manufacture  enough  for  their  own  use.  This  fact,  in  connection  with 
the  large  quantity  of  inflammable  gas  that  could  be  seen  coming  up 
from  the  bed  of  the  creek  at  different  places,  induced  the  projectors  of 
the  company  to  believe  that  there  might  he  treasure  under  ground,  even 
herCj  that  would  pay  for  seeking.  A few  energetic  men  took  the  matter 
in  hand  and  succeeded  in  organizing  the  company  and  raising  sufficient 
capihil  to  put  down  a well.  The  17th  of  November,  1865,  witnessed  the 
first  blow  towards  driving  the  pipe,  which  struck  the  rock  at  a depth  of 
sixty  feet  from  the  surface  By  the  1st  of  January,  1866,  the  boring  had 
reached  a depth  of  five  hundred  and  twenty-five  feet,  passing  through  a 
crevice  at  the  depth  of  three  hundred  and  fortj'  feet,  and  striking  a vein 
of  salt  water  strongly  impregnated  with  sulphur,  which  commenced 
flowing  from  the  well,  accompanied  by  inflammable  gas,  at  the  rate  of 
two  to  three  gallons  per  minute.  At  the  depth  of  four  hundred  and 
ninety-three  feet,  after  passing  through  red  shale,  white  quartz,  gray 
wacke,  and  light,  hard  sand  rock,  a crevice  was  struck  which  sent  up  a 
large  quantity  of  what  oil  men  call  ‘black  gas.’  By  the  last  day  of 
January  a depth  of  seven  hundred  and  eighty  feet  was  reached,  during 
the  last  twenty  feet  of  which  the  shows  of  oil  were  so  abundant,  after 
passing  the  second  sand-rock,  that  the  company  determined  to  cease 
boring  for  the  purpose  of  testing  the  well.  Owing  to  a delay  in  the  ship- 


ment of  the  tubing,  the  test  was  not  made  for  some  two  weeks,  by  which 
time  the  show  of  oil  had  almost  entirely  ceased.  The  test  proving  un- 
successful, the  boritjg  was  resumed  about  the  liOth  of  February,  and  con- 
tinued until  about  tlie  middle  of  March,  at  which  time  a deptli  of  ten 
Imridred  and  four  feet  had  been  reached.  After  giving  the  well  as 
thorough  a test  as  was  practicable,  with  the  means  at  the  company’s 
command,  it  w'as  abandoned,  and  the  engine  and  machinery  removed  to 
Little  Meadows  for  the  purpose  of  testing  that  section.  Thus  ended  the 
most  thorough  attempt  ever  made  to  develop  tlio  mineral  or  olea(jinoufi 
resources  of  Auburn.  The  experiment  was  watched  with  considerable 
curiosity,  and  many  were  disappointed  that  it  did  not  prove  an  exception 
to  nine  out  of  every  ten  wells  put  down  in  the  oil  regions.” 

The  Tuscarora  Petroleum  and  Mining  Com- 
pany, which  carried  on  the  above  operations, 
was  a New  York  company,  having  its  office  at 
Owego.  The  efforts  at  Little  Meadows  and  iil 
Apolacon  township  were  also  fruitless.  After 
boring  a few  hundred  feet  the  rock  became 
“too  shelly”  to  warrant  expectations  of  petro- 
leum. 

Retta  post-office,  in  the  Cartertown  neigh- 
borhood, was  established,  in  1880,  at  the  house 
of  Alexander  Stevens,  where  it  is  still  kept.  It 
has  a tri- weekly  mail  from  West  Auburn  and 
Rush. 

Religious  mention  is  elsewhere  made  of  the 
missionary  preaching  of  Elder  Davis  Dimock, 
of  the  Baptist  Church,  and  of  the  interest  he 
awakened  in  religious  matters.  A more  direct 
result  of  his  labors  were  the  number  of  per- 
sons who  accepted  baptism  as  their  expression 
of  faith.  Among  those  baptized  in  Auburn 
and  Western  Springville,  including  what  is  now 
Dimock,  in  1810,  were  John  Passmore, 
Susanna  Lathrop,  Lydia  Avery,  David  Avery, 
Lucinda  Avery,  Joanna  Passmore,  Asa  Smith  ; 
1813,  Amasa  Bronson;  1816,  Lydia  Lathrop, 
Polly  Turrell,  Joseph  Passmore,  P.  Palmer,  W. 
Lathrop  and  Joel  Haverley.  When 

Auburn  Baptist  Church  was  organized,  August 
2,  1817,  not  all  the  above  became  connected, 
but  most  of  them  were  among  the  constituent 
members,  which  consisted  of  six  males  and 
eleven  females.  Dyer  Lathrop  was  elected  one 
of  the  deacons  and  was  one  of  the  main-stays 
of  the  church  many  years,  also  serving  as  the 
first  clerk.  In  1831  he  was  succeeded  in  the 
latter  office  by  Elijah  B.  Slade  ; and  the  clerks 
since  that  time  have  been,  1834,  E.  M.  Ells- 
worth; 1836,  John  F.  Dunmore;  1839,  Jotham 
H.  Taylor;  and  since  May,  1875,  John  W. 
Smith.  The  latter  is  also  one  of  the  deacons, 
having  as  an  associate  Samuel  Brundage.  The 


AUBURN. 


. 433 


office  of  deacon  has  also  been  filled  by  John 
Passmore,  David  Avery  and  Samuel  Wood- 
ward. 

Elders  Davis  and  Solomon  Dimock  preached 
for  the  church  in  the  first  few  years  of  its  his- 
tory, and  from  1822  to  1826  the  Rev.  Isaac 
Van  Brunt  was  the  preacher.  After  this  Elder 
J.  B.  Worden,  who  came  on  a missionary  trip 
from  New  York,  preached  in  Auburn,  and 
about  the  same  time  Elder  James  Clark,  an- 
other missionary,  visited  this  section,  preach- 
ing repeatedly.  In  1830—31  Elder  Charles 
G.  Swan  was  reported  as  a supply,  who  preach- 
ed. In  1832  Eider  Joseph  W.  Parker  was  the 
minister  of  the  church,  which  has,  at  this  time, 
seventv  members,  though  scattered  over  a large 
area  of  country.  Two  years  later,  twenty-four 
were  dismissed  to  form  the  church  in  Dimock, 
and  later  others  connected  themselves  with  the 
South  Auburn  Church,  in  1848. 

The  later  pastors  have  generally  served  the 
church  in  connection  with  the  church  at  Di- 
mock. In  1852,  and  again  in  1858,  the  church 
w’as  much  strengthened  by  revivals,  and  during 
the  pastorate  of  Elder  H.  J.  Millard  the  church 
enjoyed  a revival  of  eight  weeks’  duration,  from 
January,  1877,  which  resulted  in  forty  conver- 
sions. The  membership  in  December,  1886, 
was  fifty. 

The  meeting-house  was  built  in  1855,  at 
Beardsley’s  Corners,  not  quite  a mile  below  the 
hamlet  of  Auburn.  It  is  a plain  frame  building 
which  has  been  made  comfortable  by  recent 
repairs.  On  the  church  lot  are  also  thirteen 
good  sheds  to  house  the  teams  of  the  attendants. 

South  Auburn  Baptist  Church. — This  body 
is  a member  of  the  Wyoming  Association,  the 
foregoing  church  belonging  to  the  Bridgewater 
Association.  It  was  organized  in  1848,  and 
the  meeting-house  built  in  1859.  The  building 
has  a fine  location,  and  is  very  attractive.  It 
is  a frame  with  three  hundred  and  eighty  sit- 
tings, and  was  repaired  in  the  summer  of  1885. 
The  entire  property  is  valued  at  $2200.  For 
a number  of  years  the  Rev.  Elijah  Sturdevant 
was  the  pastor,  and  in  1868,  under  his  ministry, 
there  were  thirty-six  members.  In  1873  the 
Rev.  D.  E.  Bowen  was  the  pastor,  a position 
which  has  been  filled  since  1881  by  the  Rev. 

28 


G.  M.  Righter.  The  members,  in  1886,  num- 
bered forty-one,  and  A.  J.  Baldwin  was  the 
church  clerk.  Many  of  the  attendants  of  the 
church  live  in  Bradford  and  Wyoming  Counties. 

The  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  of  South 
Auburn  became  an  incorporated  body  April  16, 
1850,  with  the  following  trustees  : Daniel  Cooley, 
Edward  Dawson,  Thomas  Marshall,  Robert 
Manning,  Gregory  Sterling,  John  Cooley  and 
Minor  Tubbs.  In  1848  a plain  frame  meeting- 
house was  built  at  the  hamlet  of  South  Auburn, 
whose  interior  was  repaired  in  1883.  It  has 
sittings  for  several  hundred  people,  and  though 
modest  in  its  appearance  well  accommodates  its 
numerous  attendants.  In  1886  the  members 
numbered  more  than  one  hundred,  many  having 
connected  themselves  as  the  fruits  of  a great 
revival  in  the  winter  of  1885,  when  eighty  per- 
sons were  converted.  At  this  time  the  pastor 
was  the  Rev.  G.  M.  Chamberlain.  The  Rev. 
W.  W.  Smith  at  present  fills  that  position. 
The  church  is  connected  with  the  Skinner’s 
Eddy  Circuit,  to  which  she  also  belongs 

The  West  Auburn  Methodist  Episcopal  Church, 
which  is  located  in  the  hamlet  formerly  called 
New  Lacey  ville.  The  early  Methodists  of  this  sec- 
tion belonged  to  the  Coggswell,  Miles,  James, 
Lacey  and  Eddy  families,  and  for  quite  a num- 
ber of  years  the  meetings  were  held  at  the 
school-houses  or  at  the  homes  of  the  members. 
Elisha  Coggswell  was  the  leader  of  the  class, 
and  in  1886,  L.  B.  Lacey  sustained  that  rela- 
tion, the  class  having  twenty-five  members. 
Mrs.  T.  C.  James  superintended  a Sunday- 
school  which  had  forty-five  members.  The 
church  edifice  is  a frame  basement  and  super- 
structure, thirty-four  by  forty-eight  feet,  and  there 
is  a tower  eighty  feet  high.  In  the  lecture 
room  select  schools  have  been  taught.  The 

o 

building  cost  $2500,  and  was  embellished  in 
the  fall  of  1886  at  considerable  expense.  In 
1868  it  passed  under  the  control  of  a board 
of  tru.stees,  composed  of  Elisha  Coggswell, 
D.  V.  France,  Theodore  C.  James,  Miles  C. 
Lacey  and  Asa  Brooks,  who  became  an  incor- 
porated body  on  the  24th  of  January  that 
year.  Their  succes.sors  in  1886  were  John  G. 
Taylor,  Abraham  Brotzmau,  D.  V.  Fi-ance, 
Michael  Devine,  T.  C.  James  and  H.  C.  Lacey. 


434 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


Auburn  Circuit  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  was  formed  February  27,  1858,  out  of 
Springville  Circuit,  which  had  become  too  large 
to  be  well  served  ; and  the  following  appoint- 
ments were  included  in  the  new  circuit : Over- 
field, White’s  Corners,  Auburn  Four  Corners, 
Cartertown,  Eddy’s  and  Dun  more’s.  The  Rev. 
John  Mulkey  was  appointed  preacher  in  charge. 
In  1886  the  circuit  had  two  hundred  and  eleven 
members,  churches  at  Auburn  Four  Corners, 
Auburn  Centre,  East  Rush,  and  preaching  ap- 
pointments at  Shannon  Hill  and  Retta.  The  two 
latter  had  an  aggregation  of  eighty-eight  mem- 
bers. For  a time  the  appointment  at  Jersey 
Hill  was  also  a part  of  this  circuit ; but  most  of 
the  members  have  now  connected  themselves 
with  the  church  at  the  Centre.  On  the  24th  of 
August,  1864,  the  official  members  of  the  circuit 
became  an  incorporated  body,  the  trustees 
named  being  James  Kasson,  A.  W.  Gray, 
Charles  Fessenden,  Lyman  Coggswell,  James 
Moore,  Samuel  Bertholf,  Thomas  S.  James, 
Daniel  Carter  and  Daniel  Sterling.  These  and 
their  successors  have  control  of  the  property  of 
the  circuit.  In  the  spring  of  1885  they  secured 
an  order  from  Conference  authorizing  them  to 
sell  the  old  parsonage,  a mile  south  of  Auburn 
Four  Corners,  and  to  build  a new  one  in  that 
hamlet.  This  was  done  under  the  direction  of 
B.  E.  James,  Griswold  Carter,  Elias  Titman 
and  J.  H.  Taylor,  as  a building  committee,  and, 
in  the  fall  of  that  year,  a fine  residence,  valued 
at  one  thousand  three  hundred  dollars,  was 
ready  for  occupancy.  In  1886  the  trustees  of 
Auburn  Circuit  were  James  Kasson,  J.  B. 
Beardsley,  B.  E.  James,  I.  R.  Low,  C.  W.  Pier- 
son, Griswold  Carter  and  Elias  Titman.  After 
the  completion  of  the  church  at  Auburn  Centre 
three  additional  local  trustees  were  selected  for 
that  church,  namely,  John  Tewksbury,  Dr.  G. 
M.  Harrison  and  Leander  Lott. 

The  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  at  Auburn 
Eour  Corners  was  erected  in  1880-81.  Early 
in  the  spring  of  the  first-named  year  steps  were 
taken  to  erect  a creditable  house  of  worship  in 
the  hamlet,  which  had  not  yet  been  supplied 
with  a building  of  that  nature.  To  this  end  E. 
L.  Adams  donated  a lot  of  ground,  and  one 
thousand  five  hundred  dollars  havinsr  been 

o 


1 

raised  by  subscription,  the  building  was  com- 
menced by  a committee  composed  of  James  Kas- 
son, D.  C.  Titman  and  the  Rev.  H.  C.  McDer- 
mott. The  corner-stone  was  laid  September  28, 
1880,  and  the  following  year  the  church  was 
completed  and  dedicated.  It  is  an  attractive 
frame  edifice,  thirty-two  by  fifty  feet,  and  is  sur- 
mounted by  a spire,  which  has  not  yet  been 
supplied  with  a bell.  The  church  has  a modern 
appearance,  and  its  erection  reflects  credit  upon 
the  membership  of  this  place.  In  1886  the 
class  numbered  forty-eight  persons. 

The  Auburn  Centre  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  was  dedicated  November  10,  1886.  The 
work  of  building  was  begun  in  the  spring  of 
that  year  by  a committee  composed  of  Dr.  G. 
M.  Harrison,  A.  L.  Pierson,  Leander  Lott, 
William  Stevens  and  Elias  Titman  ; and  the 
corner-stone  was  laid  July  3,  1886.  The  church 
stands  on  one  of  the  most  elevated  spots  in  the 
township,  and,  being  very  attractive  in  its  ap- 
pearance, is  a pleasing  object  for  many  miles 
around.  It  is  a frame,  in  the  Gothic  style  of 
architecture,  thirty  by  forty-four  feet,  and  has  a 
spire,  in  which  is  a church-bell,  the  only  one  in 
Auburn.  The  church  cost  to  build  and  furnish 
not  far  from  eighteen  hundred  dollars,  most  of 
which  was  contributed  by  one  of  the  members — 
John  Tewksbury — who  was  one  of  the  pioneer 
Methodists  in  Cartertown.  Most  of  the  other 
members  at  the  Centre  formerly  worshipped  in 
the  church  on  Jersey  Hill,  in  the  building 
owned  by 

The  Methodist  Protestant  Church.  This 
house  was  erected,  before  1849,  by  a few 
members  of  that  faith,  among  them  being 
Thomas  R.  White,  Andrew  S.  Low  and  Joseph 
Pierson,  on  a lot  secured  from  the  farm  of  Elijah 
Crane.  For  a period  of  more  than  twenty 
years  a large  congregation  occupied  the  church, 
but  deaths  and  removals  had  made  such  inroads 
on  the  membership  that,  after  the  war,  no  regu- 
lar Protestant  worship  was  maintained.  This 
decline  of  interest  caused  the  building  to  be  used 
as  a place  in  which  to  hold  Methodist  Episcopal 
meetings,  in  1870,  and  for  several  years  such 
services  were  there  regularly  maintained.  In 
1880,  under  the  preaching  of  the  Rev.  A.  G. 
Bloomfield,  a considerable  membership  of 


AUBURN. 


435 


Methodist  Protestants  was  again  gathered,  and 
August  5th,  that  year,  the  church  became  an  in- 
corporated body,  on  the  petition  of  twenty  mem- 
bers. Most  of  these  belonged  to  the  White, 
Hay,  Crane,  Bensinger,  Pierson  and  McClain 
families.  In  1886  the  church  had  about  thirty 
members,  and  was  in  a fair  way  to  obtain  a per- 
manent position  among  the  religious  bodies  of 
the  township. 

The  First  Presbyterian  Church  in  Auburn, 
was  incorporated  April  24, 1854,  with  a board  of 
trustees  comprised  of  Miner  Riley,  John  Beard- 
sley, Lewis  Lemon,  Charles  Fessenden,  John 
M.  Bushnell,  Frederick  Russell  and  David 
Bushnell.  Some  of  these  and  a few  others 
constituted  a congregation,  which  was  formed  of 
members  who  had  belonged  to  the  church  in 
Springville.  An  effort  was  made  to  establish  a 
place  of  worship,  which  was  not  successful,  and 
after  a short  period  of  occasional  preaching  in 
school-houses,  the  congregation  disbanded. 

St.  Bonaventure  Church  [Roman  Catholic). — 
Soon  after  the  settlement  of  the  Roman  Catholic 
Irish  in  the  township,  about  1840,  Father  John 
V.  O’Reilley  began  his  missionary  labors  among 
them,  and  the  following  year  said  Mass  at  the 
house  of  Cornelius  Degnan,  a short  distance 
west  from  where  the  church  was  afterwards 
built.  These  meetings  were  attended  by  the 
Donlin,  Reynolds,  Reiley,  Sheridans,  Kehoe^ 
Degnan,  Cavenaugh,  Flannagan,  Farley  and 
other  families  at  that  time  resident  in  the  town- 
ship, and  soon  a regular  mission  was  established. 
A small  church  was  built  on  a centrally  located 
lot,  which  was  enlarged  about  twelve  years  ago, 
until  it  has  seating  accommodations  for  three  hun- 
dred persons.  Near  the  church  is  a commodious 
priest’s  house,  and,  including  the  grave-yard, 
the  property  embraces  several  acres  of  land. 
Father  Fitz  Simmons  came  as  the  next  mission- 
ary priest,  and  was  followed  by  Fathers  Whee- 
ler and  Lochran,  from  Frieudsville.  Fathers 
Hugh  and  John  Monnegan,  from  St.  Joseph, 
also  visited  this  section  ; and  later  came  Fathers 
Mattingly  and  Brachony  from  Friendsville. 

In  1870  Father  Patrick  Murphy  became  the 
first  resident  priest,  occupying  the  priest’s  house, 
which  had  already  been  built.  In  April,  1875, 
Father  McGuckin  became  the  priest  and  was 


succeeded  August  13,  1878,  by  Father  Thomas 
Rea.  Since  August  11,1879,  the  resident  priest 
has  been  Father  Edward  Joseph  Lafferty,  from 
St.  Mary’s  Church  of  Wilkes-Barre.  Under 
his  watchful  care  the  church  has  become  strong, 
there  being,  in  1886,  seventy-five  families  con- 
nected with  it ; and  it  is  purposed  to  erect  a 
large  church  edifice  in  the  near  future.  Auburn 
is  near  the  centre  of  a parish  which  includes,  be- 
sides the  Church  of  St.  Bonaventure,  the  Catho- 
lic churches  at  Montrose,  Meshoppen  and 
Tunkhannock.  At  each  of  these  places  Cathol- 
icism is  becoming  more  firmly  established  each 
year.  Since  its  settlement  a praiseworthy  senti- 
ment in  favor  of  temperance  principles  and 
practice,  has  been  created  in  Auburn,  which 
has  become  strongly  defined  in  late  years.  This 
is  quite  in  contrast  with  the  opposition  which 
was  manifested  when  some,  more  courageous 
than  others,  took  a stand  against  the  use  of 
liquor  as  a beverage.  In  1886  there  was 
but  one  place  in  the  township  where  liquor  was 
sold,  where  formerly,  with  a smaller  population, 
three  licensed  taverns  were  supported. 

“ ^ The  first  temperance  movement  at  Shannon 
Hill  was  attended  with  some  opposition.  Wm. 
Overfield  gave  notice  to  those  whom  he  had  in- 
invited  to  a barn-raising  (in  1837)  that  he 
should  have  no  liquor ; whereupon  several  pro- 
fessedly temperance  men  refused  to  assist  him. 
One  man,  in  particular,  had  declined,  after  hear- 
ing Mr.  O.  say  he  could  not  have  liquor,  ‘ even 
if  the  timbers  had  to  remain  on  the  ground  till 
they  rotted.’  ‘Very  well,’  said  Mr.  O.  ‘I 
should  like  your  help  very  much,  but  I can’t 
have  liquor.’’  Then  Mr. , with  a strong  ex- 

pletive, declared  he  would  come  anyhow;  and 
he  did,  bringing  his  two  sous  with  him.  Fif- 
teen persons  raised  the  barn — which  was  as 
large  as  any  in  Auburn  at  that  time.” 

Cemeteries.  — A little  north  of  Auburn 
Four  Corners,  on  Frink’s  Hill,  a grave-yard 
was  opened  soon  after  the  settlement  of  the 
township,  and  quite  a large  number  of  inter- 
ments were  there  made.  In  later  years  the 
ground  lost  favor,  and,  though  still  in  exist- 
ence, the  yard  is  neglected.  In  the  neighbor- 


Blackman. 


436 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


hood  south  the  Bunnell  Cemetery  was  opened 
on  about  three-quarters  of  an  acre  of  land, 
secured  from  the  farm  of  Jonathan  Bunnell. 
The  first  person  interred  was  Elizabeth,  the 
wife  of  Jonathan  Kellogg,  who  died  when  the 
snow  Avas  too  deep  to  make  the  burial  on 
Frink’s  Hill.  Dyer  Bennett  was  the  next  per- 
son buried,  the  following  June.  Subsequently 
many  interments  were  made,  and  it  was  found 
necessary  to  enlarge  the  cemetery  by  the  addi- 
tion of  an  acre  of  laud,  and  to  plat  the  same. 
The  cemetery  is  substantially  inclosed  with 
stone  and  iron  fences,  and  is  neatly  kept.  It  is 
controlled  by  the  ‘‘Bunnell  Cemetery  Society,” 
which  was  incorporated,  under  the  act  of  1874, 
January  16,  1884,  and  has  the  following  trus- 
tees ; G.  W.  Bunnell,  P.  C.  Bushnell,  J.  L. 
Guile,  Jonathan  Bushnell  and  B.  E.  James. 

The  Protestant  Church  Cemetery,  on  Jersey 
Hill,  is  one  of  the  largest  and  best-kept  country 
burial-grounds  in  the  county.  It  embraces 
three  acres  of  land,  inclosed  by  a stone  wall, 
and  the  surroundings  are  in  good  condition. 
For  a number  of  years  it  was  controlled  by 
John  B.  Hay,  Joseph  White  and  William  White, 
Jr.  On  the  death  of  the  latter,  in  the  summer 
of  1885,  he  devised  the  use  of  two  thousand 
dollars  to  the  church  and  cemetery  for  their 
care  and  improvement.  This  generous  act  has 
created  an  interest  in  this  spot  which  will  lead 
to  its  further  improvement.  It  said  that  more 
than  five  hundred  persons  are  there  interred. 
At  West  Auburn  is  a burial-ground  of  half  an 
acre,  which  is  under  the  care  of  the  community, 
as  are  also  the  cemeteries  at  South  Auburn  and 
in  the  southern  part  of  the  township.  The 
cemetery  at  St.  Bonaventure  is  consecrated 
ground  to  a large  number  of  Roman  Catholics, 
Avhose  kindred  lie  buried  at  that  place.  It  is 
more  and  more  used  each  year. 


CHAPTER  XXVI. 

RUSH  TOAVNSHIP. 

The  township  of  Rush  is  on  the  western  bor- 
der of  the  county,  south  of  Middletown,  Forest 
I.<ake  and  Jessup,  and  north  of  Auburn.  Its 


extreme  north  line  is  about  five  and  a half 
miles  long,  while  its  southern  line  is  eight 
miles  long.  The  area  is  about  thirty-five 
square  miles.  When  erected,  in  1801,  as  the 
fifth  township,  in  old  Luzerne  County,  of  the 
territory  now  in  Susquehanna  County,  its  area 
was  more  than  two  hundred  and  thirty-five 
square  miles,  which  has  been  divided  into  ten 
townships.  A part  of  this  territory  was  in 
Bradford  County,  as  will  be  seen  by  reference 
to  the  petition  on  which  the  township  was 
erected,  and  Avhich  was  favorably  passed  on  by 
the  viewers  in  November,  1801,  to  extend — 

“From  the  fortieth  to  the  twenty-seventh 
milestone,  on  the  State  line  — the  northwest 
corner  of  old  Lawsville — thence  south  eighteen 
miles,  thence  west  eighteen  miles  to  a corner  in 
the  line,  north  of  old  Wyal using  township, 
south  of  Wysox,  to  a point  due  east  from 
Standing  Stone,  thence  north  five  miles  to  a 
corner,  thence  east  five  miles,  thence  to  the 
place  of  beginning. 

“ Practically,  the  township  extended  east  to 
the  line  of  old  Nicholson  ; and  south,  at  least, 
to  the  line  of  Susquehanna  County,  as  after- 
wards run.  A portion  of  Braintrim  (now 
Auburn)  may  be  excepted ; but  the  taxables  of 
Rush,  or  Rindaw,  for  the  year  1801,  included 
residents  of  Spriugville  and  Brooklyn  or  those 
who,  without  change  of  locality,  were  after- 
wards included  in  the  latter  township.”  ^ 

After  Bridgewater  was  erected,  in  November, 
1806,  the  limits  of  Rush  were  placed  in  more 
definite  shape.  They  then  extended  eight  miles 
along  the  State  line  by  eighteen  miles  north 
and  south.  These  proportions  were  retained 
until  January,  1814,  when  the  townships  of 
Middletown  and  Choconut  were  shorn  ofiP  from 
its  territory,  which  was  now  reduced  to  an  area 
eight  miles  from  west  to  east,  by  six  miles 
from  north  to  south.  By  the  formation 
of  Jessup,  in  1846,  and  the  extension  of  its 
northwest  bounds,  eighty  rods  farther  west,  in 
1854,  Rush  was  reduced  to  the  limits  above 
given.  It  Avas  named  in  honor  of  Judge  Jacob 
Rush,  at  that  time  president  judge  of  the 
Courts  of  Common  Pleas  of  Luzerne  County. 


1 Blackman. 


RUSH. 


431 


The  township  is  very  hilly,  in  consequence  of 
being  traversed  by  the  Wyalusing  and  its 
branches,  all  flowing  through  deep  valleys. 
The  main  stream  enters  from  the  east,  north  of 
the  centre,  and  has  an  almost  westerly  course, 
after  sweeping  to  the  south,  a mile  below  the 
east  line  of  the  township.  It  is  a stream  of 
considerable  volume,  but  it  is  not  well  adapted 
for  improvement  for  manufacturing  purposes. 
The  derivation  of  its  name  is  somewhat  obscure, 
but  is  undoubtedly  an  Iroquois  Indian  term, 
Machwihilusing  signifiying  “ the  beautiful 
hunting  grounds.”  In  its  primitive  condition 
the  stream  and  its  environments  must  have  de- 
lighted the  dusky  hunters,  especially  since  it 
is  well  known  that  the  valley  was  the  favorite 
haunt  of  all  kinds  of  game,  which  was  attracted 
by  the  salt  licks  along  the  branches.  The 
principal  affluent  is  the  North  Branch,  rising  in 
Apolacon  and  flowing  south  through  Middle- 
town  and  emptying  in  the  Wyalusing  a mile 
above  the  point  where  the  latter  stream  passes 
out  of  the  township  into  Bradford  County. 
Several  miles  above  this  confluence  the  creek 
takes  the  waters  of  the  Middle  Branch,  flow- 
ing southwest  from  Forest  Lake  township. 
It  is  also  the  outlet  of  Bixby’s  Pond,  the  only 
body  of  water  having  the  characteristics  of  a 
lake.  It  is  located  on  the  Middletown  line, 
and  partially  in  that  township.  Several  other 
brooks  flow  from  the  north,  and  from  the  south 
flow  Lake  Creek,  the  outlet  of  Elk  Lake  in 
Diraock,  having  a northwesterly  course ; Deer 
Lick  Creek,  in  the  centre,  flowing  north  ; and 
Wolf  Creek,  in  the  western  part,  flowing  north- 
west. Numerous  rivulets  drain  into  these 
streams,  and  the  township  throughout  is  well 
watered,  springs  abounding  in  every  section. 
Some  of  these  possess  mineral  properties,  and 
one  of  them  has  become  noted  as  an  excellent 
remedial  agent.  Near  by,  on  the  same  stream 
— Deer  Lick  Creek — are  small  salt  springs  or 
licks,  which  attracted  large  numbers  of  deer  in 
early  times,  but  whose  flow  has  been  very  feeble 
in  recent  years. 

On  the  summits,  where  these  streams  rise,  the 
land  lies  comparatively  level,  and  good  farms 
have  been  made;  and  most  of  the  hill-sides  also 
admit  of  cultivation,  although  some  of  them  are 


too  steep  to  be  profitably  tilled.  The  roads  over 
these  summits  are  very  hilly  and  are  frequently 
avoided ; but  once  on  their  tops,  one  is  amply 
repaid  by  the  views  he  obtains.  This  is  par- 
ticularly true  of  Mount  Zacharias,  just  west  of 
the  Mineral  Spring,  from  which  one  looks  up 
the  valley  of  the  Wyalusing  to  Cemetery  Hill, 
at  Montrose;  but  the  stream  itself  is  hidden  by 
the  overlapping  hills  that  border  its  winding 
course.  Devine  Ridge,  in  the  eastern  part  of 
the  township,  was  so  named  from  a large  family 
which  settled  there  after  1819  and  made  some 
of  the  notable  improvements.^  Along  the  Wya- 
lusing, particularly  at  the  forks  of  the  larger 
streams,  are  belts  of  fine,  fertile  lands,  which 
have  been  well  improved.  To  these  places  were 
attracted 

The  Fiest  Settlers,  who  had  pushed  up 
the  Susquehanna  to  the  mouth  of  the  Wyalusing, 
then  followed  up  that  stream,  occupying  the 
choice  locations.  Some  of  them  were  of  a roving 
disposition  or  felt  most  contented  when  living 
in  comparative  seclusion ; hence  sold  out  and  left 
as  soon  as  the  permanent  settlers  began  to  arrive. 
Others,  claiming  their  lands  under  Connecticut 
titles,  removed  when  it  became  apparent  that 
they  would  not  protect  them  in  their  rights. 
Very  few  of  the  descendants  of  the  first  settlers 
remain,  most  of  the  survivors  having  passed 
away  within  recent  years ; hence  no  new  account 
of  many  families  is  possible. 

From  all  accounts,  Isaac  Brownson  and  wife, 
with  their  six  children,  were  the  first  white 
settlers  of  the  township.  As  early  as  1794  they 
lived  at  the  forks  of  the  North  Branch,  on  what 
was  so  long  known  as  the  Champion  Farm. 
His  son  Elisha  settled  in  Bradford  County, 
and  John  a mile  west,  on  the  road  coming  from 
the  north  and  joining  the  Wyalusing  road  at 
Rushville.  Henry  J.  Champion  was  a native 
of  Greene  County,  N.  Y.,  and  had  settled 
first  in  Bridgewater.  He  died  on  the  old 
Brownson  farm,  and  is  buried  in  the  Presby- 
terian graveyard  at  Rushville.  This  is  now  the 
N.  Hillis  farm.  Below  lived  Daniel  Ross,  and 
on  his  farm  the  fir.st  saw-mill  was  built,  about 
1810.  He  was  also  the  first  postmaster  in  1824. 


5 Blackman. 


438 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


This  became  the  Sherwood  place  at  a later  day. 
Nathan  J.  Sherwood  moved  from  Sullivan 
County,  N.  Y.,  to  Wayne  County,  Pa.,  and  then 
to  this  place,  where  he  died  in  1870.  He  was 
interred  in  the  cemetery  near  Vaughn’s  school- 
house,  on  the  Middle  Branch.  His  son,  W.  H. 
Sherwood,  still  occupies  the  homestead. 

In  1795  Dan  Metcalf  was  on  the  farm  next 
below,  which  has  since  been  known  as  the  old 
Hancock  place.  At  this  time  (we  are  told  by 
Mrs.  Ichabod  Terry,  one  of  Mr.  Metcalf’s 
daughters)  the  settlers  below  her  father’s  place 
were  in  the  following  order:  Thomas Tillotson 
(Andrew  Canfield  with  him),  Salmon  Bosworth, 

Preston,  Benajah  Bostwick,  Ephraim  Fair- 

child,  Ezekiel  Brown,  Samuel  and  Aden  Stevens, 

liockwell,  Elisha  Keeler,  John  Bradshaw, 

Abraham  Taylor,  Jonas  Ingham  and  Job  Camp. 
These,  though  below  the  present  county  line, 
were  then  considered  neighbors  of  settlers  above 
the  forks.  The  graves  of  some  of  these  early 
settlers  may  be  seen  in  the  cemetery  near  the 
Stevensville  Church,  four  miles  below  the  Sus- 
quehanna County  line.  Benajah  Bostwick  died 
in  1864 — he  was  born  in  1776;  Isaac  Hancock 
in  1820,  in  his  eightieth  year;  his  wife  died 
two  years  later;  Deacon  Aden  Stevens  in  1858, 
aged  eighty-eight;  John  Bradshaw  in  1814; 
Daniel  Ross  in  1837,  aged  sixty-eight.  Mr.  Met- 
calf removed,  in  1798,  to  a location  about  one  and 
a half  miles  above  the  forks,  on  the  Ea.st  Branch. 

Andrew  Canfield  moved  from  Litchfield 
County,  Conn.,  about  the  20th  of  January, 
1797,  with  his  wife  and  six  children,  and 
reached  the  forks,  or  rather  a point  a little 
below,  on  the  5th  of  February,  1797.  Thei’e 
was  then  no  road  from  Great  Bend  to  the 
Wyalusing.  They  crossed  the  Delaware  River 
near  Port  Jervis,  and  struck  the  Susquehanna 
at  Skinner’s  Eddy ; thence  came  up  the  river 
and  creek  to  the  place  mentioned  above  (outside 
of  Susquehanna  County),  to  the  house  of  Thomas 
Tillison  (or  Tillotson),  where  they  lived  two 
years  before  moving  to  Middletown.  They 
drove  what  was  then  called  a spike  team — a 
yoke  of  cattle  with  a horse  as  leader — hitched 
to  a wood-shod  sled.  His  sou  Amos,  then 
fifteen  years  old,  now  (1870)  in  his  eighty-fifth 
year,  says : — 


We  drove  one  cow,  which  we  milked  night  and  morning  for  the 
children  ; ” and  adds,  respecting  the  settlement:  “A  family  of  the  name 
of  Rossell,  two  brothers  and  a sister,  lived  three-fourths  of  a mile  up  the 
East  Branch,  on  what  has  since  been  called  the  Captain  Howell  place  ; 
and  all  were  deaf  and  dumb.  They  afterwards  removed  to  the  ‘Lake 
Country.’  There  was  no  clearing  between  them  and  Great  Bend.  This 
was  just  prior  to  the  settlement  of  Lawsville. 

“ The  next  summer  after  we  came,  Joab  Picket,  from  Connecticut, 
cut  a fallow  on  the  place  now  owned  by  N.  D.  Snyder,  which  was  not 
burned  till  the  summer  of  1799.  [Mr.  Minor  mentions  him  and  family 
at  the  latter  date.]  Trees  were  marked  from  the  Forks  to  Great  Bend, 
but  the  route  was  west  of  Montrose  some  three  miles. 

“ I recollect  two  brothers  named  Bennett,  who  came  in  the  next  win- 
ter after  we  did.  They  drove  an  ox-team,  and  crossed  the  Susquehanna 
at  the  Bend,  and  made  their  way  to  the  Forks.  The  snow  was  nigh 
three  feet  deep.  They  drove  their  oxen  until  their  team  was  tired  out, 
when  they  left  their  load  and  drove  them  as  far  as  Picket’s  fallow,  where 
they  left  them  to  browse  in  the  yoke,  while  they  made  their  way  to  the 
Forks,  with  their  feet  badly  frozen.  The  next  day  they  got  my  father 
to  go  after  the  cattle  and  sled.  He  took  me  with  him.  We  took  a 
knapsack  of  corn  for  the  oxen,  and  victuals  for  ourselves.  The  oxen 
had  taken  their  track  and  gone  back.  We  followed  some  three  or  four 
miles,  and  found  them  feeding  on  the  top  of  a hill  west  of  Montrose.  We 
then  drove  on  until  we  found  the  sled.  As  it  was  night,  we  fed  the  oxen 
some  eorn,  and  cut  down  a bass-wood  tree,  to  which  we  chained  them. 
We  prepared  for  the  night  by  building  a fire  and  getting  some  hemlock 
boughs  to  make  a bed  of.  It  snowed  all  night.  The  next  day  we  re- 
turned. 

“One  of  the  oxen  with  which  my  father  moved  in  died  the  next 
spring ; and  he  made  a short  yoke,  in  which  he  worked  the  remaining 
ox  by  his  side  of  his  horse.  He  drove  them  the  same  as  he  did  the  oxen , 
without  reins.  For  two  years  it  was  the  fancy  team  in  that  region. 

“There  was  plenty  of  game  in  the  woods  and  trout  in  the  creeks. 
We  could  kill  a deer  or  catch  a mess  of  fish  any  day.  Bears,  wolves  and 
panthers  were  often  killed.” 

Silas  Beardsley  also  came  from  Connecticut 
and  lived  at  the  “ Forks,”  a short  time  before 
moving  to  a farm  on  the  North  Branch  (in 
Middletown),  a short  distance  above  where  An- 
drew Canfield  settled. 

In  1798  Colonel  Ezekiel  Hyde  was  at  this 
point,  and  was  engaged  in  surveying  and  selling 
lots  under  the  Connecticut  title  in  “Rindaw” 
and  “Usher,”  the  west  line  of  the  latter  town 
being  between  the  farms  of  Metcalf  and  Hyde. 
He  was  styled  tlie  Yankee  leader,  and  through 
his  influence  many  Eastern  people  bought  lands 
whose  title  was  afterwards  pronounced  invalid. 
Before  1803  he  removed  to  Wilkes-Barre,  where 
he  was  the  postmaster  in  1804,  and  the  fol- 
lowing year  died.  Captain  Jabez  Hyde,  a near 
relative  of  the  foregoing,  began  improving  the 
farm  east  of  Isaac  Brownson  in  1799,  although 
his  son,  Jabez,  Jr.,  may  have  been  here  a little 
earlier.  Stephen  Hyde,  another  son,  was  acci- 
dentally and  fatally  shot  while  hunting,  by 
Horace  Dimock,  in  the  summer  of  1811  or 
1812.  The  elections  were  held  at  this  place  in 
1804  and  for  many  years,  when  the  property  of 
Jabez  Hyde,  Jr.,  commonly  called  Judge  Hyde, 
it  was  one  of  the  best  known  land-marks  along 
the  creek. 


RUSH. 


439 


In  1811,  Jabez  Hyde,  Jr.,  was  elected  sheriff 
of  Luzerne,  under  circumstances  which  showed 
the  strong  hold  he  had  on  the  public  confidence. 
In  1814  he  was  in  the  Legislature;  and  two 
years  later,  on  the  election  of  Dr.  Charles  Fraser 
to  the  Senate,  he  was  appointed  by  Governor 
Snyder  to  take  his  place  as  prothonotary, 
register,  recorder  and  clerk  of  Susquehanna 
County.  These  offices  he  held  until  1820.  The 
next  year  he  was  again  elected  to  the  Legisla- 
ture, and  in  1823  was  appointed  one  of  the 
three  commissioners  for  expending  fifty  thousand 
dollars  in  improving  the  navigation  of  the  Sus- 
quehanna River.  He  was  a delegate  to  the 
State  Convention  for  altering  the  Constitution. 
After  the  revision  he  was  appointed  by  Gover- 
nor Porter  to  the  bench  of  Susquehanna  County. 
Perseverance  was  strongly  characteristic  of 
Judge  Hyde.  Few  men  have,  in  times  of 
political  excitement,  held  so  many  important 
trusts,  and  had  so  universally  the  esteem  of 
their  fellow-citizens  for  strict  high-minded  in- 
tegrity. He  died  at  his  residence,  in  Rush, 
October  8,  1841,  aged  sixty-six  years,  and  was 
buried  on  his  farm  ; all  of  his  descendants  have 
removed  from  the  county.  Since  that  time  the 
farm  has  had  many  owners,  and  not  one  of  the 
Hyde  buildings  remain.  Here  lived  for  a 
number  of  years  Chandler  Bixby,  who  removed 
to  Delhi,  N.  Y.  John  Bradshaw  was  a later 
owner,  and  the  present  occupant  is  Lafayette 
Palmer. 

Joab  Pickett  first  settled  in  Rush.  He  built 
alog  cabin  containing  one  room  on  the  Wyalusing 
flat,  just  north  of  the  present  Wyalusing  bridge. 
He  was  a man  of  considerable  prominence  in  the 
pioneer  days  of  the  township.  He  resisted  the 
Pennsylvania  title  so  stoutly,  and  stirred  up 
such  a feeling  against  Bartlet  Hinds  for  hav- 
ing abandoned  the  Connecticut  claimants,  that 
it  led  to  a use  of  fire-arms  and  a mob  assault 
upon  Hinds,  sometimes  called  Pickett’s  war, 
for  which  opposition  he  was  arrested  and  tried 
in  1808.  The  court  fined  him  thirty  dollars  and 
cost  of  prosecution.  The  decision  in  this  case 
and  Dr.  Rose’s  judicious  conduct  quieted  the 
people,  but  it  did  not  convince  them  ; and  even 
to  this  day  there  are  residents  here  who  believe 
that  the  Connecticut  claimants  should  have  re- 


sisted more  stoutly  than  they  did.  He  held 
several  town  offices,  and  resided  at  the  time  of  his 
death  in  what  is  now  Jessup  township.  His  chil- 
dren by  his  first  wife  were  Samuel,  who  lived  in 
Rush,  and  Shelden,  who  never  came  here.  His 
second  wife  was  Mary,  daughter  of  Captain 
James  Turrell,  of  New  Milford,  Conn.  They 
both  died  the  same  morning.  May,  1832,  both 
aged  sixty-one,  and  were  buried  in  the  same 
grave  in  the  cemetery  near  Bolles’  school-hou.se. 
Their  children  were  Daniel,  Charles  Miner, 
Orrin,  Anson,  Almon  and  Polly.  Daniel  mar- 
ried Hannah  Bolles,  daughter  of  Robinson 
Bolles,  the  man  that  shot  a rifle  ball  near  the 
Pennsylvania  surveyor’s  hand.  He  cleared  up 
the  place  now  owned  by  William  Hart,  in  Jes- 
sup. He  was  justice  of  the  peace  many  years, 
and  one  of  the  early  members  of  the  Rush 
Baptist  Church.  He  died  December  9,  1876, 
aged  seventy-two.  His  children  were  Julia, 
wife  of  L.  C.  Day,  a farmer  in  Bridgewater  ; 
Maria,  wife  of  John  Kurcuff,  of  Rush  ; Lyman 
B.,  millwright,  recently  moved  to  Montrose. 
Charles  M.  Pickett  was  the  first  white  child 
born  in  Rush.  He  made  his  first  clearing  and 
built  a cabin  on  the  farm  now  owned  by  L.  B. 
Pickett,  in  Jessup.  Orrin  became  blind,  but 
could  make  as  good  shingles  and  baskets  as 
any  one  that  ever  lived  in  the  tovvnship.  Anson 
was  a carpenter  and  died  in  Carbondale. 
Almon  was  a merchant  in  Rush  for  many 
years;  his  wife  was  a sister  of  H.  H.  Gray.  He 
afterwards  removed  to  Laceyville  and  engaged 
in  mercantile  business  there ; two  of  his  chil- 
dren are  there  now.  Polly,  the  only  daughter 
of  Captain  Pickett,  married  Alanson  Lung, 
a farmer  in  Rush.  Augustus  H.  Lung,  one  of 
their  sons,  has  a remarkable  history.  He  took 
his  first  lessons  on  a flat  rock  for  a school- 
house.  On  this  solid  foundation  he,  with  five 
or  six  others  sitting  around  on  the  edge  of  the 
rock,  with  their  feet  hanging  off  the  sides,  and 
the  teacher  in  the  centre, — here  young  Lung 
learned  his  A B C’s,  and  had  his  interest  so 
aroused  that  he  thought  he  must  know  more  of 
books.  He  began  to  urge  his  father  to  send 
him  to  school,  but  his  father  had  no  proper  ap- 
preciation of  his  yearnings  and  finally  became 
so  vexed  with  his  importunities  that  he  took 


440 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


him  by  the  coat  collar  one  day,  led  him  to  the 
door  and  kicked  him  out  of  the  house,  and  told 
him  never  to  darken  his  doors  again.  Augus- 
tus was  thirteen  years  old  at  that  time  and  had 
just  thirteen  cents  in  his  pocket.  He  followed 
up  the  Wyalusing  Creek  until  he  came  to  Dea- 
con Meacham’s.  The  deacon  was  a close  man, 
but  had  a heart  that  beat  in  sympathy  for  any 
human  being  in  distress,  and  as  the  boy  looked 
up  into  the  deacon’s  face  and  asked  him  to 
lend  him  twenty  dollars,  he  won  his  confidence 
so  that  he  lent  him  the  money  and  took  his 
note.  He  went  to  Harford  school  and  chopped 
wood,  studying  with  the  book  on  one  end  ot 
the  log  and  keeping  well  up  with  his  classes. 
At  the  end  of  the  term  he  had  twenty  dollars  in 
his  pocket.  The  next  year  he  bought  the  wood 
there  was  on  an  acre  of  ground  near  the  school 
and  hired  other  boys  to  assist  him  in  chopping 
wood.  They  all  made  something,  but  young 
Lung  saved  one  hundred  dollars.  He  had 
been  converted  when  eleven  years  old,  and 
baptized  by  Elder  Dimock.  He  taught  school 
two  years,  entered  Lewisburg  College,  and  was 
graduated  in  1853,  Deacon  Meacham  still  con- 
tinuing his  patron,  supplying  him  with  money, 
which  he  afterwards  repaid.  He  entered  the 
Theological  Seminary  at  Rochester  and  was 
graduated  in  1855.  In  1857  he  became  pastor 
of  the  Canandaigua  Baptist  Church,  and  was 
ordained  in  August.  He  was  chaplain  of  the 
Thirty-third  Regiment  New  York  Volunteers 
from  1862  until  the  regiment  was  mustered  out. 
He  subsequently  preached  at  Germantown,  Pa., 
and  Camden,  N.  J.,  with  success,  having  bap- 
tized seven  hundred  and  twelve  persons.  He  was 
a trustee  of  Lewisburg  University  and  the 
South  Jei’sey  Institute,  also  a member  of  the 
board  of  managers  of  the  New  Jersey  Baptist 
Education  Society  and  the  American  Baptist 
Historical  Society.  While  he  was  prospering 
his  father  failed,  and  his  property  was  sold  by 
the  sheritf.  He  went  to  Towanda  and  saw  C. 
L.  Ward,  Esq.,  who  had  charge  of  the  matter, 
and  redeemed  the  property,  saving  the  home 
from  which  he  had  been  expelled,  to  his  parents 
as  long  as  they  lived.  Rev.  Mr.  Lung  mar- 
ried an  estimable  lady  and  left  a family.  He 
died  recently. 


Captain  Joab  Pickett  built  the  first  saw-mill 
in  the  township,  at  his  place  on  the  Wyalusing, 
and  varied  his  work  on  the  mill  and  farm  by 
hunting,  being  very  skillful  in  the  use  of  the 
rifle.  Charles  Miner  styled  him  the  famous 
“painter”  hunter.  In  1818  his  Rush  farm 
passed  into  the  hands  of  William  Ross,  and 
later  became  widely  known  as  the  Snyder  place. 
On  the  next  “ flat  ” above,  where  is  now  Rush 
village,  Nathan  Tupper  and  William  Lathrop^ 
settled  in  1799.  They  came  with  Ebenezer 
Whipple  and  other  settlers  in  Jessup  from 
Unadilla,  N.  Y.,  and,  being  the  first  in  this 
part  of  the  township,  had  to  cut  their  roads 
quite  a distance.  Lathrop  located  at  the  mouth 
of  Lake  Creek,  where  he  built  a cabin  which 
had  for  some  time  no  other  door  than  a blanket 
hung  across  the  opening,  and  at  night  he  had 
to  pile  up  wood  to  keep  the  wolves  out.  He 
subsequently  made  a good  farm  at  that  point, 
and  lived  here  until  his  death,  in  1865,  almost 
ninety  years  old.  He  was  one  of  the  first  dea- 
cons of  the  Rush  Baptist  Church,  and  his  son 
William,  who  was  the  first  clerk,  afterwards 
became  a minister  in  that  denomination.  Wil- 
liam’s son  Daniel  D.  was  the  first  court  stenog- 
rapher at  Montrose,  and  held  the  position  four 
years.  He  is  also  a surveyor.  Another  son  of 
the  original  family.  Nelson,  remained  in  the 
county,  but  eight  of  the  ten  children  removed. 
A daughter  married  Ebenezer  Pickett,  Jr.,  a 
brother  of  Joab,  and  settled  in  Jessup.  He 
came  to  the  county  in  1806  with  his  father, 
Ebenezer,  and  died  on  the  farm  next  below  the 
Bolles  School-house  in  1867,  in  his  eighty-first 
year. 

I Rev.  John  Lathrop  was  the  first  of  the  Lathrop  family  in  this  coun- 
try from  whom  the  Lathrops  in  Susquehanna  County  are  descended. 
He  was  graduated  at  Oxford,  and  became  a clergyman  in  the  Episcopal 
Church,  aud  was  located  at  Egerton,  Kent  County,  England.  It  was  at 
a time  in  the  history  of  the  English  Church  when  Bishop  Laud  and 
others  were  preaching  the  divine  right  of  kings,  and  persecuting  all 
who  did  not  accept  of  their  view's.  Mr.  Lathrop  was  too  independent  to 
submit  to  such  teachings,  and  he  renounced  his  Episcopal  orders  in  1624 
and  succeeded  Henry  Jacob  as  pastor  of  the  First  Independent  Church 
at  Southwark,  London,  established  in  1G16.  This  church  was  discovered 
April  29,  1632,  and,  with  the  exception  of  eighteen  who  escaped,  all  were 
imprisoned  for  non-conformity.  After  two  years’  imprisonment,  they 
were  all  released  on  bail,  excepting  their  pastor.  Bishop  Laud  refused 
all  liberty  to  him,  except  to  pray  at  the  bedside  of  his  dying  wife.  He 
finally  petitioned  Charles  I.  for  liberty  to  leave  the  kingdom,  which  was 
granted  him  on  condition  “ that  he  would  betake  himself  to  the  ends  of 
the  earth,  never  more  to  lift  his  voice  for  his  master  within  the  realms 
of  England.”  He  came  to  America  in  1634  with  his  family,  two  brothers 
or  cousins,  and  about  thirty  of  his  congregation. 


RUSH. 


441 


Nathan  Tapper  first  lived  on  a farm  above 
William  Lathrop’s,  in  what  is  now  the  upper 
part  of  the  village  of  Rush.  This  place  was 
occupied  in  1 806  by  Ebenezer  Pickett,  father  of 
Captain  Joab  Pickett,  whose  wife  died  here  in 
1808.  The  elder  Pickett  died  in  1826,  aged 
eighty  years,  and  the  farm  was  afterwards  oc- 
cupied by  Warren  Lung,  who  was  here  as  a 
carpenter  as  early  as  1813.  “ One  of  the  sons 

of  Nathan  Tiipper,  Kiel,  settled  on  the  Middle 
Branch,  two  miles  from  any  inhabitants  in  one 
direction  and  three  miles  in  another.  While 
preparing  his  log  house  in  the  woods,  he  was 
accustomed  on  Monday  morning  to  take  a load 
of  provisions  and  stay  until  Saturday  night, 
often  not  seeing  a human  being  during  the  en- 
tire week.  He  was  once  hired  to  go  to  Great 
Bend  to  look  for  some  cattle  that  had  sti-ayed 
away.  He  found  them  at  Snake  Creek,  where 
night  overtook  him,  and,  as  it  was  cold,  he  was 
obliged  to  pass  the  hours  in  running  around  a 
tree  to  keep  warm.  He  did  not  see  a person 
while  away  from  home.”  ^ He  married  Phalla 
Downer  February  5,  1807,  and  lived  on  this 
place  until  his  death,  January  19,  1865.  Other 
sons  of  Nathan  Tupper  were  Harry  and  Loren, 
and  five  of  the  daughters  married  Spencer 
Lathrop,  Nehemiah  Lathroj),  Merritt  Mott, 
Willard  Mott  and  Abel  Chatfield,  most  of  them 
living  in  the  western  part  of  the  county.  In 
1799  Enoch  Reynolds  came  from  Norwich, 
Conn.,  and  opened  a small  store  in  a building 
which  Colonel  Ezekiel  Hyde  had  put  up  on  his 
place  at  Rushville,  but  the  venture  does  not 
appear  to  have  been  successful,  and  it  was  soon 
closed  up.  Reynolds  drifted  to  Washington, 
where  he  became  one  of  the  comptrollers  of 
the  treasury.  He  was  a learned  gentleman, 
and  the  change  from  the  wilds  of  the  Wyalus- 
ing  to  a home  among  people  of  like  tastes  must 
have  been  very  pleasing.  Of  him  Charles  Mi- 
ner said  ; “ He  would  relieve  the  tedium  of  a 
journey  through  an  uninhabited  tract  of  road 
by  a story  from  Shakespeare  as  perhaps  no 
other  settler  could.”  The  same  year  Seril  Peck 
made  the  first  settlement  in  the  lower  part  of 
the  township,  where  he  died  in  1811.  His 


farm  later  became  known  as  the  Williams 
place.  The  following  year  Walter  Lathrop, 
father  of  Judge  Benjamin  Lathrop,  came  from 
New  London  County,  Conn.,  and  located  a 
farm,  but  moved  to  Bridgewater  in  1803,  where 
he  died  in  1818.  The  condition  of  the  settle- 
ments in  1801  was  given  as  follows  by  the  Rev. 
D.  Craft,  in  his  “ Wyalusing  : ” 

“The  farms  on  the  Wyalusing  below  the  present 
western  line  of  Jessup  were  occupied  by  the  first  set- 
tlers in  the  following  order ; I^evi  Leonard,  Elijah 
Adams,  Nathan  Tupper,  William  Lathrop,  Salmon 
Brown,  John  Jay,  Joab  Pickett,  Daniel  Metcalf,  Ja- 
bez  Plyde,  Isaac  Brownson  and  Daniel  Ross.  In 
1801,  when  Isaac  Hancock  was  appointed  justice  of 
the  peace  for  Rush,  he  was  located  where  Daniel 
Metcalf  began  in  1795,  on  the  farm  adjoining  that  of 
Daniel  Ross.  When  Susquehanna  Count-y  was 
erected,  its  west  line  was  run  between  them,  and  the 
name  of  the  part  set  off  with  Bradford  County  was 
changed  to  Pike  township.  Esquire  Hancock  was 
born  near  West  Chester,  Pa.  Before  the  Revolution- 
ary War  he  was  at  Wyalusing  for  a time  and  returned 
there  about  1786.  He  is  mentioned  on  the  records  of 
Luzerne  County  as  a ‘taverner’  for  Springfield  town- 
ship in  1788.  At  this  time  he  was  also  one  of  the 
overseers  of  the  poor  for  the  district  composed  of  the 
whole  extent  of  Luzern^  County  from  the  mouth 
of  the  Meshoppen  north  to  the  State  line.  His  sons 
were  John  and  Jesse.  Of  his  seven  daughters,  Mrs. 
Daniel  Ross,  Mrs.  Jesse  Ross  and  Mrs.  Benajah  Frink 
were  residents  of  this  county.  The  last  named  was 
twin  with  Jesse  H.,  and  is  the  only  one  of  v.he  family 
now  living.  Mrs.  Frink  states  that  Polly  Canfield, 
of  the  Middletown  family,  taught  school  on  a rock 
somewhere  on  the  farm  of  Daniel  Ross  about  1798, 
and  had  six  scholars.  Huldah  Fairchild,  daughter 
of  Ephraim,  also  taught  school  early  in  this  neighbor- 
hood. Elders  Sturdevant  and  Thomas  Smiley  were 
among  the  first  preachers  here.  There  was  in  1801 
no  settlor  on  the  east  and  west  road  between  Elk 
Lake,  in  the  present  township  of  Dimock,  and  the 
mouth  of  its  outlet,  in  Rush.” 

A number  of  changes  were  now  made  in  the 
ownership  of  lands.  Roads  had  been  located 
and  opened,  making  it  possible  to  live  off  from 
the  highway  along  the  creek,  which  was  for- 
mally recognized  on  the  report  of  the  viewers 
August,  1801,  as  follows  : 

“ Beginning  at  the  southeast  corner  of  E.  Hyde’s 
store,  thence  running  to  Captain  Picket’s,  thence  to 
the  creek  by  S.  Maine’s,  thence  to  Mr.  John  Rey- 
nolds’, thence  to  Ozem  Cook’s,  thence  to  Captain 
Hinds’,  thence  to  Snake  Creek,  thence  to  the  Barnum 
north  and  south  road  running  through  Kirby  and 


28i 


1 Blackman, 


442 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


Law’s  settlement,  to  a tree  by  D.  Barnum’s,  thence 
on  to  intersect  the  road  running  from  the  Great  Bend 
to  Tunkhannock  near  the  bank  of  Wyley’s  Creek, 
about  one  hundred  and  twenty  chains  south  of  Great 
Bend.”  Report  approved. 

The  same  year  Ezekiel  Hyde  and  others  pe- 
titioned for  a road  along  the  North  Branch  to 
the  State  line,  and  for  another  one  to  Tioga 
Point,  both  to  start  from  the  “ forks,”  which, 
by  reason  of  its  location  in  the  most  populous 
part  of  the  valley,  had  become  the  centre  for 
the  transaction  of  business.  In  1802  the  road 
from  Joab  Pickett’s,  south,  along  the  Deer  Lick, 
was  laid  out,  the  viewers  having  been  appointed 
the  previous  year.  At  this  time  the  principal 
officers  of  the  old  township  of  Rush  were  Ja- 
bez  Hyde,  Jr.,  assessor;  Joab  Pickett  and  Ste- 
phen Willson,  road  supervisors ; and  Aden 
Stevens,  collector.  The  two  last  named  lived 
in  the  extreme  parts  of  the  township,  about 
eighteen  miles  apart.  The  former  lived  in 
what  is  novv  Bridgewater,  and  the  latter  at 
Steveusville,  in  Bradford  County.  The  county- 
seat  of  Luzerne  County  was  seventy  miles  dis- 
tant, “ to  which  the  scanty  taxes — only  one 
hundred  and  thirty  dollars — gathered  by  a 
thousand  miles  travel  through  trackless  swamp 
and  forests,  were  conveyed.  Few,  if  any,  re- 
main, whose  names  were  then  on  the  list.” 
Colonel  Aden  Stevens  died  July  28, 1858,  aged 
eighty-eight. 

Most  of  the  cabins  of  the  first  settlers  were 
near  the  creek  and  across  the  road,  as  it  was 
located,  from  the  houses  at  present.  Nearly  all 
these  old  land-marks  have  been  obliterated,  so 
that  the  site  of  most  of  them  cannot  be  located 
by  the  present  inhabitants.  The  Leonard  farm, 
in  the  upper  part  of  the  township,  passed  into 
the  hands  of  Colonel  Ephraim  Knowlton,  in 
1806,  who  occupied  it  until  his  death,  in  1838. 
John  Hancock  moved  to  the  Elijah  Adams 
farm,  and  built  a hou.se  which  is  still  standing. 
Subsequently  the  farms  became  the  property  of 
Robert  Reynolds.  John  Jay  located  on  the 
clearing  made  by  Walter  Lathrop,  where  Levi 
Shore  lived,  after  1814.  Alanson  Lung  settled 
on  the  Salmon  Brown  place,  which  in  later 
years  has  been  known  as  the  Elder  H.  H.  Gray 
farm.  Ichabod  Terry,  a son-in-law  of  Dan 


Metcalf,  settled  on  the  latter’s  farm,  remaining 
until  his  death,  in  1849.  Dennis  and  William  ' 
Granger  came  from  Vermont  in  1812,  and  | 
located  at  Rush  village.  The  former  lived 
until  recent  years ; the  latter  was  killed  while  j 
assisting  to  raise  the  barn  on  the  old  Warren  ; 
Lung  farm.  Their  descendants  remained  in  this  j 
locality,  which  from  this  circumstance  has 
sometimes  been  called  Graugerville.  A number 
of  other  settlers  came  within  the  next  few  years, 
some  of  whom  were  not  permanent.  Hezekiah 
Law  and  Daniel  Roots  are  remembered  as  be- 
longing to  this  class.  Jabez  Sumner  came  and 
opened  a farm  on  Deer  Lick  Creek. 

Francis  Pepper  came  to  Rush  township,  from 
Litchfield  County,  Conn.,  in  1812,  and  com- 
menced in  the  wilderness,  on  a ridge  north  of 
the  Wyalusing  Creek,  since  known  as  Devine 
Ridge,  on  the  place  now  owned  by  William 
Wilcox.  He  preceded  his  family,  and  returned 
as  far  as  the  Delware,  where  he  met  his  wife 
and  two  children  coming  on  horseback.  Two 
years  later,  in  1814,  his  brother  Philander,  who 
had  just  returned  from  service  in  the  War  of 
1812,  joined  him,  and  commenced  clearing  the 
farm  adjoining,  now  owned  by  Bela  Griffin. 
The  two  brothers  suffered  many  hardships  in- 
cident to  pioneer  life.  They  often  carried  their 
grain  on  their  backs,  sixteen  miles  down  the 
Wyalusing,  to  get  it  ground.  Francis  was  a 
good  carpenter,  and  in  going  to  and  from  his 
work,  at  what  is  now  Skinner’s  Eddy,  he  carried 
a lighted  torch  to  keep  off  the  wolves,  and 
found  his  way  by  marked  trees.  They  lost  one 
child  by  sickness,  and  another  by  a falling  tree. 
Mrs.  Pepper  became  so  lonely  that  they  moved 
to  Skinner’s  Eddy.  He  afterwards  removed  to 
Auburn  township,  where  he  had  a good  farm. 
Subsequently  he  removed  to  Brush vi  lie,  near 
the  line  in  Bradford  County,  and  finally  died 
with  his  son  William,  in  Cameron  County,  aged 
eighty-five.  His  wife  was  Ann  Starr,  a step- 
daughter of  Thaddeus  Peet,  a Revolutionary 
soldier,  who  came  to  Susquehanna  County,  and 
lived  with  his  son-in-law.  His  wife  died  in 
Auburn  about  1835,  and  he  died  a few  years 
later.  Francis  Pepper’s  children  were  Phebe 
Ann,  wife  of  Surrel  P.  Maxfield,  a farmer  who 
lived  in  Auburn  first,  and  finally  in  Tuscarora 


\ 


[ 

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I 

J 


i 


RUSH. 


443 


township,  Bradford  County.  Their  children 
were  Ann  E.,  wife  of  Luraan  Dickasou,  by 
whom  she  had  three  children ; Alfred  Estes  is 
her  second  husband.  They  lived  in  Rush,  near 
Elk  Lake,  until  recently.  Hannah  M.,  wife 
of  Samuel  Griffin.  Almira  E.,  wife  of  S.  B. 
Stevens,  of  Stevensville,  Bradford  County. 
Francis  A.  Maxfield  lives  in  Illinois.  William 
Pepper,  of  the  original  family,  removed  to  Em- 
porium, Cameron  County ; Almou  resides  there 
also,  and  Harry  is  living  at  Rockford,  111. 
Philander  H.  Pepper,  brother  of  Francis,  sold 
his  place  on  Devine  Ridge,  and  first  purchased 
one  hundred  acres  of  Thomas  B.  Cope,  and 
cleared  most  of  it.  He  then  purchased  one 
hundred  and  thirty  acres  of  land  adjoining,  of 
Henry  Drinker,  and  cleared  up  the  farm,  where 
he  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life.  He  cleared 
more  than  three  hundred  acres  of  land  for  him- 
self and  others,  besides  working  at  the  carpen- 
ter’s trade  and  farming.  He  also  did  his  full 
share  of  hunting  and  fishing.  Deer  and  trout 
were  plenty  then.  He  killed  two  deer  at  one 
shot,  two  different  times.  He  lived  to  be  ninety- 
one  years  old,  and  was  as  .straight  as  an  arrow, 
and  active  in  the  field  with  a scythe,  or  in  the 
woods  with  an  axe,  almost  up  to  the  day  of  his 
death.  He  had  a fair  education  for  his  day, 
and  taught  school  a number  of  terms  when 
he  lived  on  Devine  Ridge.  His  fir.st  wife  was 
Polly  Mead,  and  they  raised  a large  family  of 
children.  John  Pepper  resided  on  the  farm  now 
owned  by  Albert  Butterfield,  who  has  erected  a 
large  summer  hotel  near  the  mineral  spring. 
John  was  treed  by  the  wolves  while  hunting 
several  miles  from  home  in  the  dense  forest, 
and  was  compelled  to  stay  there  all  night.  He 
was  killed  by  a horse  kicking  him  in  1878. 
His  only  daughter  is  the  wife  of  William  Deuel 
of  Binghamton.  Mary  Ann  was  the  wife  of 
David  Hilli.s,  a farmer  in  Rush  ; Melissa  is  the 
wife  of  Jos.  White,  a farmer  in  Rush,  and  has 
six  girls.  Orlo  Palmer  was  her  only  son  by 
her  first  husband,  William  Palmer.  Elizabeth 
was  the  wife  of  Henry  Devine.  Two  of  her  boys, 
Alden  and  Henry,  reside  in  Rush.  Hannah  was 
the  wife  of  Hamilton  Banner,  of  Lenox  ; Orinda, 
wife  of  Isaac  Deuel,  farmer  near  Birchard- 
ville ; Marantha  Caroline,  wife  of  Nathaniel 


Pickering,  who  resided  in  Lenox;  Anna,  wife 
of  Chandler  Edwards,  a jeweler;  Andrew 
Jackson  Pepper,  has  the  homestead ; Seymour 
L.  and  Hamilton  L.,  reside  in  Boone  County, 
Iowa ; Philander  J.,  married  Ellen  Bullard,  and 
resides  in  Williamsport;  Sally  Frink,  second 
wife,  resides  on  the  homestead  with  her  stepson, 
Andrew  J.  Pepper. 

In  1813  the  whole  number  of  residents  pay- 
ing taxes  in  the  township  of  Rush  as  it  then 
was — extending  from  Auburn  to  the  State  line, 
and  being  eight  miles  wide — did  not  exceed  one 
hundred  and  eighty.  In  1814,  after  Choconut 
and  Middletown  were  taken  off,  but  with  the 
western  half  of  Jessup  remaining,  the  following 
were  the  taxables  ; 

James  Agard,  Benjamiu  Abbott,  John  Abbott,  Salmon  Brown,  Wil- 
liam A.  Burnham,  Salmon  Bradshaw*  John  Blaisdell,  Pliny  Birchard, 
Robinson  Bolles,  Jacob  Bump,  George  Brink,  Isaac  Brownson,  William 
Cook,  James  Cook,  Jacob  Cooley,  Benjamin  Chase,  Horace  Dimock, 
David  Doiid,  Abner  Griffis,  John  Griffis,  William  Granger,  Dennis 
Granger,  Frederick  Gibson,  James  Hinds,  Jesse  Hancock,  Jabez  Hyde, 
Ephraim  Knowlton,  Walter  Lathrop,  William  Lathrop,  Alfred  Lathrup, 
Hezekiah  Lee,  Daniel  Lampson,  Warren  Lung,  Joseph  Marsh,  Ebenezer 
Pickett,  Jr.,  Joab  Pickett,  Francis  Pepper,  Philan  der  Pepper,  Daniel 
Root,  Herman  Robinson,  Daniel  Ross,  John  B.  Rodman,  Clement  Sum- 
ner, Alanson  Sibley,  Ichabod  Terry,  Henry  Tupper. 

William  H.  Sherwood. — Fanton  (1771- 
1843)  and  Eunice  (Lyon)  Sherwood,  his 
grandparents,  natives  of  Connecticut,  where 
they  were  married,  moved  to  Sullivan  County, 
New  York,  and  settled  on  a farm  near  Liberty. 
Their  children  were  Elizabeth,  born  1790; 
Nathan  J.  (1793-1870) ; J.  Munson,  born 
1795;  Polly,  1797  ; Amos  O.,  1799,  was  the 
father  of  J.  Lewis  Sherwood,  of  Preston 
Spring,  Wayne  County,  an  influential  citizen 
and  one  of  the  commissioners  of  that  county  ; 
John  F.,  born  1802;  Roseville  R.,  1804,  is  a 
farmer  residing  at  liiberty,  N.  Y.;L.  Hanford, 
1806  ; Emily,  1808,  is  the  wife  of  Samuel 
Bradley  and  lives  near  New  York  ; Bradley  B., 
born  1813,  recently  celebrated  his  golden  wed- 
ding in  Nebraska. 

Nathan  J.  Sherwood,  born  in  Connecticut, 
removed  with  his  parents  to  Sidlivan  County, 
and  was  engaged  in  mercantile  busine,ss  at 
White  Lake  for  a number  of  years.  In  1812 
he  married  Sally  W.,  the  daughter  of  Wake- 
man  Thorp,  who  bore  him  Philo  (1814-82), 
was  a miller  in  Rush,  afterwards  kept  a hotel 
at  Frieudville,  then  at  Ceder  Rapids,  Iowa, 


444 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


and  moved  to  Montana,  where  he  died  a year 
or  so  after ; Fanton,  born  1816,  is  a physician  in 
Sullivan  County,  N.  Y.;  Wakeman  E.  (1818-47), 
a mercliant  in  Georgia  at  the  time  of  his  death  ; 
and  Thomas,  born  1819,  liveryman  at  Inde- 
pendence, Iowa.  Mrs.  Sally  Sherwood  died 
in  1821,  and  the  following  year  Mr.  Sherwood 
married  Hannah  Thorp  (1802-57),  cousin  of 
Ids  first  wife,  and  by  her  had  children, — Lyman 
M.  (1823-40);  Amos  (1825-80),  was  a farmer 
in  Harford  ; William  H.;  Sally  W.,  born  1830, 
resides  in  Rush ; Elizabeth  (183.3-76),  married 
Zcnas  L.  Cooley,  a miller  in  this  township, 
who  died  in  1874,  aged  forty-three  yeans; 
Abigail,  born  183.5,  married,  first,  Daniel  Moore 
of  Bradford  County,  and  second,  John  Fesler, 
and  is  now  living  at  Batavia,  111.;  and  Nathan  H- 
(1839-40) — all  born  at  Pleasant  Mount,  Wayne 
County,  whither  they  had  removed  just  after 
their  marriage.  Nathan  J.  Sherwood  entered 
the  hotel  and  store  busine.ss  at  this  latter  point 
and  was  a popular  landlord  until  the  spring  of 
1840,  when  he  came  to  Susquehanna  County 
and  bought  the  farm  upon  which  his  sou, 
William  H.,  still  resides  ; also  the  grist-mill  on 
that  property  and  saw-mill  one  mile  northeast. 
His  son,  Philo,  managed  the  grist-mill  a num- 
ber of  years,  while  he  attended  the  saw-mill 
business  himself  for  a few  years  and  then  sold, 
proposing  to  devote  himself  to  his  farm  and 
grist-mill  intei-ests.  Finally,  disposing  of  the 
latter  to  his  son-in-law,  he  retired  from  active 
work.  Mr.  Sherwood  was  a stirring  man  of 
affairs ; upright  in  his  every  transaction.  He 
was  a man  of  good  influence,  and  largely  bene- 
fited its  circle.  He  was  justice  of  the  peace 
for  four  terms,  and  was  a general  arbitrator 
for  the  neighborhood.  William  H.  Sherwood, 
born  August  9.  1827,  acquired  that  self- 
reliance,  individual  thought,  promptness  and 
integrity  which  are  so  noticeably  his  charac- 
teristics. Privileged  to  enjoy  but  limited 
school  facilities,  in  later  years  he  became  a 
student  of  men  and  affairs,  and  obtained  a 
valuable  and  wide  range  of  practical  knowledge 
suited  to  his  chosen  life-work,  that  of  a farmer, 
in  which  he  has  made  a marked  succe.ss.  Dur- 
ing the  late  Rebellion  he  was  a warm  supporter 
of  the  National  Government,  and  as  school 


director  was  active  in  filling  the  township 
quota,  besides  giving  of  his  own  means.  He 
early  became  a Republican  in  politics  and  has 
retained  an  ardent  devotion  to  the  principles  of 
that  party.  He  has  been  auditor  of  the  town- 
ship for  several  terms.  He  was  elected  county 
commissioner  in  1878  and  served  satisfactorily 
one  term.  During  this  time  he  introduced  cer- 
tain measures  of  reform  which  have  since 
remained  therein.  He  was  candidate  for  lea:- 

o 

islative  honors  before  the  uomiuatina:  conven- 
tion  of  1874,  by  which  body  Hons.  S. 
Falkenbury  and  W.  W.  Williams  were  nom- 
inated. For  about  thirty-two  years  Mr.  Sher- 
wood accommodated  travelers  in  his  large  and 
comfortable  home.  In  1 853  he  married 
Martha  Jane  (1830-62),  only  daughter  of  Joel 
and  Martha  (Griffis)  Turrell,  one  of  the  oldest 
families  of  Forest  Lake  township.  Her 
brothers  are  Wilson  J.,  now  supervisor  on  a 
railroad  in  Washington  Territory  ; and  Morris, 
a farmer  at  Garnett,  Anderson  County,  Kansas, 
who  has  been  one  of  the  commissioners  of  that 
county.  The  children  of  William  H.  and 
Martha  (Turrell)  Sherwood  are  Mary  E.,  born 
1853,  the  wife  of  Hon.  H.  H.  Hinds,  of  Stan- 
ton, Mich.  Henry  H.  Hinds  is  a son  of  Pre- 
served Hinds,  of  Little  Meadows,  this  county. 
He  enlisted  for  the  Rebellion  in  the  Fifty-seventh 
Regiment,  rose  from  the  ranks  to  be  colonel  of  a 
regiment,  was  shot  through  the  lungs,  and 
captured  by  the  rebels  and  confined  in  Libby 
Prison,  whence  he  escaped,  being  one  of  that 
well-remembered  band  who  dug  their  way  out. 
Recaptured  by  the  enemy,  he  was  again  placed 
in  Libby  Prison  and  retained  there  until  the 
close  of  the  war.  He  then  removed  to  Stanton, 
Mich.,  and  is  a prominent  stock-raiser,  influ- 
ential in  politics  and  has  been  State  Senator  ; 
Eva  Sherwood,  died  in  infancy;  Jennie  E., 
born  1862,  at  home.  In  1863  Mr.  Sherwood 
married  Jerusha  (born  1828),  a daughter  of 
Henry  J.  (1797-1867),  native  of  Broome 
County,  N.  Y.,  and  Julia  (Gates)  Champion 
(1808-70),  native  of  Massachusetts.  Mr. 
Champion  settled  in  Rush  in  1839,  was  a 
farmer  and  had  children,  Adelia, — residing  with 
Mr.  Sherwood ; Jernsha  (Mrs.  W.  H.  Sher- 
wood); Johnson  D.,  a farmer  in  Bradford 


t 

f 

(I 


I 


RUSH. 


445 


County;  Julia  R.,  married  first  Dudley  Bailey, 
of  Le  Raysville,  aud  is  now  the  wife  of  L.  M. 
Sherwood,  a pension  attorney,  of  Binghamton  ; 
and  Henry  R.  Champion,  who  served  in  the 
Rebellion  as  sergeant  of  Company  C,  Thirty- 
fifth  Pennsylvania  Militia,  and  died  Septem- 
ber 18,  1863,  of  army  typhoid  fever  shortly 
after  being  honorably  discharged  upon  the 
disbanding  of  his  regiment. 

Other  settlers  followed,  in  1816,  Lloyd 
Goodsell,  Robert  Estes  and  John  M.  Brownson  ; 
in  1819,  Larry  Dun  more,  Jacob  Eaton,  William 
Lathrop,  Jr.,  and  John  Hancock.  The  latter 
lived  on  the  present  J.  H.  Hall  place,  on  Lake 
Creek,  near  the  Dimock  line.  Here  Samuel 
Hall  settled  in  1838  and  lived  until  his  death, 
in  1864.  George  Devine  also  came  in  1819 
and  settled  on  the  ridge  of  land,  in  the  north- 
eastern part  of  the  township,  which  still  bears 
his  name.  West  of  them  were  the  improve- 
ments of  the  Tappers.  On  the  North  Branch, 
Fairfield  Canfield  began  making  improvements, 
which  soon  attracted  other  settlers  to  that  lo- 
cality. Within  the  next  five  years  Russell 
Very,  I.saac  Deuel,  David  Shove  and  Thomas 
Dewees  were  among  the  settlers.  Soon  after  a 
number  of  Irish  families  were  added  to  the 
population,  David  Hillis  being  the  first  and 
coming  in  1836.  Patrick  Carroll  came  three 
years  later,  and  Patrick  Redding  in  1839. 
James  Logan  came  in  1841,  and  his  family 
and  the  Fitzpatricks  and  the  Rooneys  have 
opened  some  of  the  best  farms  in  the  township. 
Since  1845  the  influx  of  Irish  immigrants  has 
been  steady,  until  a large  propoi’tion  of  the 
inhabitants,  at  the  present  time,  are  foreign 
or  native-born  Irish.  They  have  become  use- 
ful, active  citizen.s,  and  through  their  energy 
and  perseverance  the  township  has  been  placed 
among  the  leading  agricultural  sections  of  the 
county. 

In  1847,  after  a part  of  Rush  had  been  taken 
off  to  form  Jessup,  and  the  township  had  nearly 
the  same  limits  it  now  has,  the  following  were 
taxables  : 

Beiij.  Abbott,  Philemon  Abbott,  Selah  Abbott,  Augustus  Bixby,  Rich- 
ard Bixby,  George  Bramble,  B.  S.  Bently,  George  Birch,  Harry  Birch, 
David  Baker,  Amos  Bunnell,  John  Bolles,  John  Birge,  John  Burke, 
Stephen  Burke,  Arnold  Balch,  Seth  Blakeslee,  Naomi  Biakeslee,  Morris 
Blakeslee,  J.  Bishop,  I.  Brownson,  Myron  T.  Brownson,  Hosea  Billings, 
Lyman  Brown,  Lyman  Burrows,  Sherman  Bradley,  John  Caldwell, 


Philip  Hoyle,  John  Coddington,  Amos  Canfield,  Benj.  Canfield,  North- 
rop Canfield,  Lyman  Canfield,  Harris  Carter,  Lyman  Carter,  Wm.  Cronk, 
Hiram  Cogswell,  Jacob  Cipher,  Henry  L.  Champion,  B.  T.  Case,  John 
Cotterell,  Thomas  Cotterell,  Benj.  Coates,  Beuj.  Coates,  Jr.,  Charles 
Conner,  P.  Carroll,  Isaac  Deuel,  John  Deuel,  Ira  Deuel,  Hiram  Dewees, 
Matthew  Dunmore,  Larry  I.  Dunmore,  Daniel  H.  Devine,  George  De- 
vine,  Michael  Devine,  John  Derkin,  John  T.  Dunmore,  Calvin  Daniel, 
Henry  B.  Ellis,  John  Estes,  Alfred  Estes,  Henry  Estes,  Miles  Estes,  Uriah 
Estes,  Josiah  Ellis,  Samuel  H.  Edsell,  Gilsey  Edsell,  Charles  Eddy, 
Michael  Friar,  Jabez  Frink,  Rufus  Frink,  James  L.  Fargo,  Willis  Fow- 
ler, Amasa  Fowler,  David  Fowler,  Charles  Granger,  John  W.  Granger, 
Henry  Granger,  Dennis  Granger,  Lafayette  Granger,  Norman  Granger, 
Michael  Grinnell,  Miles  B.  Grlnnell,  B.  G Grover,  Wm.  Golden,  David 
Godwin,  Wm.  Godwin,  Daniel  Geary,  Stephen  Goodrich,  Rial  Gaylord, 
John  Hillis,  Robt.  Hillis,  David  Hillis,  Nathaniel  Hillis,  Samuel  Horton, 
Elisha  Horton,  Daniel  H.  Hickock,  David  II.  Hickock,  Henry  I.  Hall, 
Nelson  Hawley,  Isiuic  Hancock,  Lorin  Hewin,  Asa  llewin.  Orange  Hewin, 
John  Hermance,  Daniel  G.  Hollis,  Wm.  Hyde,  Stephen  A.  Hyde,  John  S. 
Hawley,  Sherman  H.  Hill,  Smith  L.  James,  D.  M.  James,  Thos.  Johnson, 
Wm.  Keck,  Stephen  Keck,  Mervin  Lathrop,  Perrin  Lathrop,  Zebediah 
Lathrop,  Gilbert  Lathrop,  Wm.  Lathrop,  Ezek.  Lathrop,  Chas.  Lathrop, 
Elisha  Lathrop,  Alansori  B.  Lung,  Alauson  Lung,  George  W.  Lung, 
Cynthia  Lung,  Silas  Light,  Levi  Light,  David  Light,  Wni.  McGee, 
Ebenezer  McGee,  Owen  McGinn,  Geo  W.  Maynard,  Jas.  Moore,  John 
L.  Moore,  Win.  Moore,  James  Moon,  John  Moon,  Simeon  Myers,  Alvin 
Myers,  John  Macauly,  Erastus  Maynard,  Joseph  Merhaker,  Edward 
Merbaker,  Ensign  Miller,  Henry  McCracken,  Jesse  Mory,  Samuel  Owens, 
John  D.  Pepper,  Philander  H.  Pepper,  Henry  Pepper,  Gideon  W.  Pep- 
per, Hiram  Pepper,  Charles  M.  Pickett,  Orriii  Pickett,  Gilead  Pickett, 
Alinon  Pickett,  Patrick  Redding,  James  Redding,  Hugh  Redding,  Law- 
rence Redding,  Rowland  Robinson,  Rowland  Robinson,  Jr.,  John  Rob- 
inson, Sabin  Robinson,  Henry  C.  Robinson,  Wm.  0 Ross,  John  Ross, 
Otis  Ross,  Hiram  Ross,  Wm.  Rowley,  J.  B.  Shaddock,  John  W.  Simpson, 
Wm.  Shoemaker,  Richard  S.  Shoemaker,  Buckingham  Stuart,  Eugene 
Stuart,  Noble  B.  Stuart,  Nathan  Sutton,  Spencer  Sweet,  Wm.  I.  Slater, 
Jesse  Stephen,  George  Slocum,  Egbert  Slocum,  Peleg  Slocum,  Judson 
Slocum,  Levi  Shove,  Ed.  Shove,  Nathan  J.  Sherwood,  G.  B.  Smith,  Hiel 
Tupper,  Levi  C.  Tupper,  John  Tapper,  Geo.  K.  Tapper,  James  S.  Tap- 
per, Perrin  Tui)per,  Lorin  Tupper,  Uriah  Terry,  Ichabod  Terry,  Dan 
Terry,  Charles  Terry,  Ralph  Tarbox,  Levi  Van  Gorder,  Beebe  Wells, 
David  P.  West,  Hubbard  T.West,  Hezekiah  N.  West,  Rebecca  White, 
Joseph  R.  White,  Lorenzo  Williams,  David  Williams,  Aaron  Wood, 
David  Wood,  Joseph  Wheeler,  Wm.  Wylie. 

Joseph  S.  Hillis  was  born  in  Rush  town- 
ship  April  30,  1846,  the  second  child  of  Na- 
thaniel (born  1812)  and  Mary  Anne  (Crawford) 
(born  1821)  Hillis.  The  Hillis  family  were 
for  many  generations  comfortable  farmers  in 
the  parish  of  Clontibret,  County  Monaghan, 
Ireland,  owning  and  tilling  what  is  there  consid- 
ered a fairly  large  tract  of  land.  The  parents 
of  Nathaniel  Hillis  were  James  and  Nancy 
(McCrea)  Hillis,  aud  his  grandparents  were 
Nathaniel  and  Catharine  (Bell)  Hillis,  all  of 
whom  were  born  and  raised  in  County  Mona- 
ghan, and  died  upon  the  home  farm  at  Cornish. 
This  property  was  inherited  by  Nathaniel 
Hillis,  who  was  married  January  26,  1843,  and 
the  next  spring,  having  determined  to  cast  his 
lot  in  the  New  World,  he  sold  it  and  came  to 
America,  settling  in  Rush  township.  He  is  a 
warm-hearted,  earnest  man,  and  early  associated 
himself  with  the  religiously  inclined  persons  of 
the  township,  and  has  remained  an  active  snp- 


446 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


porter  of  church  work  since.  He  was  one  of 
the  organizers  of  the  Rushville  Presbyterian 
Church,  and  one  of  its  building  committee,  and 
for  about  twenty-five  years  has  acted  as  a dea- 
con. He  moved  to  the  present  home  in  1871. 
The  children  of  Nathaniel  and  Mary  (Crawford) 
Hillis  are  James,  born  in  Ireland  in  1843,  en- 
listed for  the  suppression  of  the  Rebellion  in 
Company  K,  Two  Hundred  and  Third  Regi- 
ment Pennsylvania  Volunteers,  and  was  cap- 
tured before  Petersburg,  Va.,  the  first  night  he 
was  on  picket  duty.  He  was  incarcerated  in 
the  Pemberton  building  at  Richmond,  and 
there  died  in  December,  1864.  Joseph  S.; 
Jennie  W.,  born  1847,  married  W.  T.  Haney, 
a farmer  of  Rush  ; Mary  A.,  born  1850,  the 
wife  of  Samuel  Horton,  Jr.,  a Jessup  farmer; 
William  M.,  born  1854,  now  clerking  for  his 
brother,  Joseph  S.;  Jesse  C.,  born  1860,  an 
Orwell,  Bradford  County,  farmer ; and  Olive, 
born  1864,  who  married  John  A.  Haney,  a 
farmer  in  the  latter  county. 

Joseph  S.  Hillis  obtained  a liberal  education 
from  books  at  the  district  school  and  Montrose 
Academy,  supplemented  by  a full  course  at  the 
Lowell  Commercial  College  at  Binghamton, 
whence  he  was  graduated  March  15,  1867.  Un- 
til the  spring  of  1873  he  worked  at  farming, 
and  then,  having  a very  small  cash  capital,  but 
a large  stock  of  energy,  he  bought  out  the  small 
general  store  of  M.  H.  Edsell,  at  Rushville. 
This  business  was  a success  from  the  commence- 
ment, and  it  was  not  long  before  customers  from 
a distance  were  drawn  to  his  store.  In  1877  he 
moved  into  the  present  commodious  building, 
which  he  had  found  it  necessary  to  erect,  the 
main  part  being  u,sed  for  store  purposes  and  the 
upper  reserved  for  his  residence.  He  has  given 
some  attention  to  politics,  and  for  several  years 
has  been  a leader  of  the  township  Republicans. 
For  nine  consecutive  years  he  was  a school  di- 
rector, and  he  is  one  of  the  auditors.  At  the 
late  nominating  convention  his  name  was  favor- 
ably mentioned  as  a candidate  for  member  of 
the  Legislature,  but  was  withdrawn  after  the 
first  ballot  had  been  taken.  He  has  recently 
been  appointed  po.stmaster  at  Rushville,  and 
atfords  the  somewhat  unusual  instance  of  a Re- 
publican appointed  by  a Democratic  adminis- 


tration. He  was  initiated  into  the  I.  O.  O.  F. 
during  the  fall  of  1875,  becoming  a member  ot 
Rush  Lodge,  No.  471.  In  1865  he  was  accepted 
to  membership  in  the  Rushville  Presbyterian 
Church,  of  which  he  has  been  a trustee  about 
twelve  years.  Mrs.  Hillis  also  joined  that 
church  in  1873,  she  having  previously  belonged 
to  the  Le  Raysville  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church.  On  March  13,  1872,  he  married 
Stella  Gaylord  who  has  borne  him  Nellie,  born 
1874;  Arthur  J.,  died  iii  infancy;  and  Laura, 
born  1876.  She  was  the  daughter  of  Merwin, 
born  1803,  and  Eunice  (Ellsworth)  (1816-86) 
Gaylord,  whose  children  were  Mary,  married 
Sylve.ster  Camp  and  died  1886 ; Stella  (Mrs.  J. 
S.  Hilli.s),  born  1850  ; Augusta,  married  Edgar 
Folk;  and  Ettie  Gaylord,  the  wife  of  John  Ru- 
tan,  all  of  Bradford  County.  Both  Merwin  and 
Eunice  Gaylord  were  natives  of  Middletown, 
Susquehanna  County,  and  early  removed  to 
Pike,  Bradford  County.  By  a previous  mar- 
riage Mr.  Gaylord  had  Weyman,  formerly  a 
blacksmith  of  Wyal using,  now  of  Dakota  Ter- 
ritory, and  Ruth,  the  wife  of  Thomas  Myers, 
an  architect  of  Marshalltown,  Iowa. 

Eunice  Gaylord  was  the  child  of  Jonathan 
and  Deborah  (Canfield)  Ellsworth,  and  her 
mother  was  a daughter  of  Andrew  Canfield, 
one  of  the  oldest  settlers  in  the  western  part  of 
Susquehanna  County,  whose  descendants  num- 
ber considerably  over  a thousand  and  hold  an 
annual  family  re-union  in  the  Stewart  Canfield 
Grove,  near  Le  Raysville. 

A.  W.  Geay. — The  Gray  family  is  of 
Scotch  descent,  the  first  of  this  branch  of  the 
name  having  located  in  Connecticut  during 
the  early  days  of  the  colonies.  Jonas  Gray 
(1763-1833),  born  in  Connecticut,  was  the  son 
of  Philip  Gray,  and  learned  the  trade  of  a 
cooper.  He  took  part  in  the  Revolutionary 
War,  and  afterwards  sailed  upon  the  high  seas 
to  and  from  the  West  Indian  Islands,  for  several 
years.  On  January  1,  1819,  in  company  with 
his  second  wife,  Mrs.  Polly  Gardner,  he  came 
to  Susquehanna  County,  aud  settled  in  Dimock 
township,  one  mile  southeast  of  the  Corners, 
where  he  engaged  in  farming  until  his  death. 
His  first  wife  was  Lucy  Spicer,  who  died  in 
1813,  and  their  children  were  Philip,  Hannah, 


RUSH. 


447 


Polly,  John,  Alathea,  Oliver  and  Abisha  W. 
Gray.  Of  these,  only  John,  Oliver  and  Abisha 
W.  came  to  this  county,  the  others  remaining 
in  their  native  State,  where  many  of  their  de- 
scendants now  reside. 

Abisha  W.  Gray  was  born  in  New  London 
County,  Conn.,  September  21,  1809,  and  was 
ten  years  old  when  the  family  removed  to  the 
county.  He  attended  the  early  schools,  but 


and  upon  this  place  he  passed  the  remainder  of 
his  days,  active  in  well-doing  and  a friend  to 
all.  For  sixteen  years  he  filled  the  difficult 
office  of  poormaster,  and  he  was  one  of  the 
school  directors  for  several  terms.  His  judg- 
ment was  sound  and  his  views  correct,  and  the 
people  far  and  near  largely  relied  upon  him. 
His  assistance  in  the  settlement  of  estates  was 
said  to  be  a guarantee  of  satisfaction. 


his  chances  for  an  education  were  limited  to  tlie 
near  neighborhood.  He  learned  habits  of  in- 
dustry and  economy,  and  his  later  years  were 
spent  in  the  comforts  of  a far-sighted  man’s  re- 
ward. He  spent  three  years  in  Bradford 
County  in  his  youth,  and  while  there  learned 
the  carpenter’s  trade,  which  he  followed  dur- 
ing the  succeeding  fifteen  years,  working  in 
this  county  and  at  Mauch  Chunk,  Pa.  After 
living  four  years  in  Auburn,  he  exchanged  his 
property,  in  February,  1849,  for  the  farm  in 
Rush  now  occupied  by  his  son,  F.  M.  Gray, 


Decision  of  character  was  very  marked  in 
him,  and  his  prudence  and  zeal  were  also  note- 
worthy. He  built  the  Eddy  Methodist  Church, 
and  was  one  of  its  trustees  for  a long:  time. 
He  was  a member  of  Warren  Lodse,  F. 
and  A.  M,,  at  Montrose,  about  twenty-five 
years,  and  may  be  properly  summed  up  as  a 
good  neighbor  and  friend — a man  of  sound, 
Christian  principles. 

He  died  April  27,  1882. 

On  August  21,  1831,  he  married  Mary,  the 
daughter  of  Abel  (1787-1868)  and  Polly 


448 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


(Whitforcl)  Green.  Mr.  Green  was  a native  of 
Rhode  Island,  and  moved  to  Pennsylvania  in 
1817,  first  locating  at  Tunkhannock,  whence, 
the  following  spring,  he  removed  to  the  present, 
Brooklyn  township,  this  county,  where  he  car- 
ried on  farming  until  his  death.  His  children 
were  Phoebe,  Mary,  Wanton  and  James.  Mrs. 
Gray  was  horn  August  19,  1812,  and  her  chil- 
dren were  Jonas,  born  1832;  Emily,  1834; 
John  W.,  May  29,  1838;  Francis  H.,  1841; 
Amy  E.,  1844,  the  wife  of  Dyer  Williams,  of 
Ijathrop;  Alice  IX,  born  1848,  is  the  wife  of 
Lodoi’e  Bullard,  a merchant,  at  Meshoppeu, 
and  has  two  children,  Anna  L.  and  Albert  C. ; 
Francis  M.,  born  August  20,  1850;  Percilla 
M.  (1853-81),  was  the  wife  of  Cyrus  Rob- 
erts, a farmer  of  this  township.  Of  these 
children,  Jonas,  Emily  and  Francis  H.,  died  in 
their  childhood,  and  John  W.  and  Francis  M. 
Gray  are  farmers  of  Rush.  John  W.  Gray  has 
been  thrice  married, — first,  in  1859,  to  Mary 
Sebring,  who  bore  Emily  M.  and  Ellen  M. ; 
second,  in  1870,  to  Roby  Harrington,  who  had 
Eva  J.  and  George  A.  ; and  third,  in  1878,  to 
Sarah  Wesler,  whose  children  are  Hattie  M. 
and  Hannah  M.  Gray.  Francis  M.  Gray  was 
married,  in  1872,  to  Mary  La  Rue,  of  Rush, 
who  has  borne  him  Gertie  M.,  Homer  A.  and 
Lulu  Blanche.  He  is  considerably  interested 
in  the  dairy  (juestion,  and  is  a strong  political 
worker  in  county  and  township  affairs.  He 
holds  membership  in  the  I.  O.  O.  F.  and 
Knights  of  Pythias. 

Busbiess  Interests. — Agilculture  has  been  the 
chief  occupation  of  the  people  from  the  time  of 
the  settlement  of  the  township,  except  the  oper- 
ating of  a few  mills,  which  supplied  the  home 
demand  for  lumber  and  flour.  The  first  improve- 
ment of  this  nature  was  the  saw-mill  of  Joab 
Pickett,  on  the  Wyalusing,  below  the  mouth  of 
the  Middle  Branch.  Later,  the  Ross  family  had 
this  mill,  and  for  a short  time  John  Ross  had 
also  a fulling-mill  at  this  point.  The  power 
remains,  but  is  not  utilized  at  present.  Lower 
down  the  stream  Jabez  Hyde  had  a saw-mill  as 
early  as  1812,  and  the  power  has  since  be£u 
used  to  operate  a saw-mill,  though  not  as  ex- 
tensivel}'  as  in  earlier  days.  At  what  is  now 
Rushville,  below  the  Forks,  Daniel  Ross  had  a 


grist-mill  as  early  as  1810,  and  a few  years 
later  carried  on  a distillery  and  saw-mill  at  the 
same  place.  This  property  was  sold  to  Nathan 
J.  Sherwood  in  1840;  and  subsequent  owners 
have  been  Zenas  L.  Cooley  and  Wm.  E.  Jone.=!. 
A part  of  the  old  building  remains,  but  new 
machinery  has  been  supplied. 

On  the  North  Branch  Shaddock’s  saw-mill  has 
proven  a great  convenience  to  the  people  in  that 
])art  of  the  township,  and  is  still  used  to  some 
extent.  Below  this  place  was  the  tannery  of 
George  Little,  operated  on  an  extensive  scale  a 
few  years,  but  abandoned  about  1845.  This 
Mr.  Little  was  the  father  of  Ralph  Little,  the 
celebrated  Susquehanna  County  lawyer.  Some 
of  his  brothers  also  became  noted  attorneys. 
At  a later  period  this  power  was  used  to  operate 
a saw-mill  on  the  farm  below. 

In  1818  Wm.  Lathrop  got  in  operation  a 
saw-mill  on  Lake  Creek,  a short  distance  above 
its  mouth,  and  in  1831  Samuel  Shoemaker 
erected  a grist-mill  near  the  same  place.  In 
1838  this  became  the  property  of  his  brother, 
Richard  S.  Shoemaker.  In  1853  new  grist 
and  .saw-mills  were  erected,  and  the  water- 
power of  both  the  Wyalusing  and  Lake  Creek 
used  to  operate  them.  In  1886  the  mills  were 
operated  by  M.  G.  aad  G.  S.  Shoemaker,  the  old 
process  being  employed  in  grinding.  At  this 
place  was  erected,  in  1884,  the  “Rush 
Creamery,”  by  N.  Granger,  A.  Carter  and  H. 
J.  Millard,  operating  under  the  firm-name  of 
Granger,  Carter  & Co.  A frame  building, 
twenty-two  by  fifty  feet,  is  occupied,  and  the 
milk  from  two  hundred  to  four  hundred  cows 
is  used,  the  factory  being  carried  on  under  the 
cream-gathering  system.  The  motive-power  is 
steam. 

On  Lake  Creek  a number  of  small  mills 
were  kept  in  operation  while  the  timber  supply 
lasted,  and  a few  are  still  kept  running  for  a 
short  period  each  year.  The  most  of  the  saw- 
mills on  the  other  minor  streams  have  also 
passed  away. 

The  township  takes  care  of  its  own  poor, 
owning  an  asylum  of  its  own,  in  connection 
with  Auburn  and  other  town.ships.  The  farm 
at  present  contains  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres, 
most  of  which  had  been  embraced  in  the  farm 


KUSH. 


449 


improved  by  Larry  Dun  more.  The  buildings 
atFord  accommodations  for  thirty  inmates,  and 
about  half  that  number  usually  find  a com- 
fortable home  at  this  place.  The  asylum  is,  to 
a large  extent,  self-supporting,  from  the  pro- 
ducts of  the  farm  and  dairy,  which  work  is 
done,  to  a large  extent,  by  the  inmates. 

Rushville  is  the  oldest  hamlet  in  the  town- 
ship. It  has  one  hundred  and  twenty-five  in- 
habitants, mills,  store,  post-office  and  a church 
in  the  near  neighborhood.  The  location  is 
mainly  on  the  right-hand  side  of  the  Wyalusing, 
below  the  mouth  of  the  North  Branch,  and  cor- 
responds with  the  locality  called  the  “ Forks  ” 
in  the  preceding  pages.  Enoch  Reynolds  was 
in  trade  here  a short  time  as  early  as  1799,  hav- 
ing his  store  in  a bnilding  put  up  by  Colonel  E. 
Hyde.  In  1829  Tarbox,  Burrows  & Co.  were 
merchants  at  Rushville,  occupying  the  ba.sement 
of  a building  which  was  used  as  a residence. 
In  1840  a new  store-house  was  put  up,  the  sec- 
ond story  of  which  was  used  by  Nelson  P.  Bos- 
worth  as  a harness-shop.  Later  the  same  room 
was  used  as  a tailor-shop.  Among  others  who 
traded  there  after  the  above  firm  went  out  of 
business  were  Wm.  Case,  S.  H.  Canfield,  Chas. 
A.  Atwater,  Eliab  Durga,  W.  H.  Sherwood  & Co. 
and  Myron  H.  Edsall,  when  the  building  was 
destroyed  by  fire  Oct.  29,  1871.  Another  store 
building  was  erected  on  the  site  of  the  Dr.  War- 
ner’s residence,  where  J.  S.  Hillis  traded  in  a 
small  way.  In  June,  1877,  he  engaged  in  trade 
at  his  present  place  of  business,  where  is  also 
kept  the  Rushville  post-office.  This  was  estab- 
lished Dec.  29,  1824,  and  Daniel  Ross  was  the 
first  postmaster.  The  successive  appointees  have 
been, — 1837,  Leonard  Burrows  ; 1844,  Henry 
J.  Champion  ; 1845,  Ralph  Tarbox  ; 1847,  H. 
J.  Champion  ; 1851,  William  P.  Place  ; 1853, 
Philo  Sherwood.  In  1 856  it  was  discontinued, 
but  was  re-established  April  19,  1861,  with 
Charles  A.  Atwater  postmaster  ; 1866,  R.  Ed- 
ward, and  Lyman  M.  Sherwood  in  1868,  Myron 
H.  Edsall  in  1871,  Vasie  L.  Atwater  in  1872, 
and  J.  S.  Hillis  in  January,  1887.  There  is  a 
daily  mail  from  Montrose  and  a tri-weekly 
from  Friendsville. 

Near  the  iron  bridge  Henry  J.  Champion 
had  a public-house  half  a dozen  years  after 
2d 


1840,  and  in  the  hamlet  proper,  Nathan  J.  Sher- 
wood opened  a hotel  in  1850,  in  the  building 
which  is  now  the  residence  of  W.  H.  Sherwood, 
who  was  the  landlord  from  1860  till  the  spring 
of  1886,  when  the  house  became  a residence. 
In  the  early  history  of  this  house  as  many  as  a 
dozen  guests  sojourned  there  at  a time,  and  for 
many  years  it  was  one  of  the  most  popular 
country  inns  in  the  county. 

Among  the  physicians  who  have  practiced  in 
Rush,  the  first  on  record  is  Dr.  Reuben  Baker, 
who  married  a daughter  of  Isaac  Hancock.  He 
lived  just  below  the  latter,  and  consequently 
outside  the  county ; but  was  generally  to  be 
found,  it  is  said,  at  the  Deer  Lick — his  leisure 
being  spent  in  hunting.  He  practiced  exten- 
sively over  the  western  half  of  the  county  be- 
fore 1820.  Dr.  C.  H.  Warner  is  the  present 
physician,  having  his  residence  at  Rushville. 

Rush  Village  is  on  the  right  hand  side  of 
the  Wyalusing,  above  the  mouth  of  Lake  Creek. 
The  early  settlers  at  this  point  were  Wm. 
Lathrop,  at  the  mills  ; Ezekiel  Lathrop,  a black- 
smith, near  the  upper  part  of  the  present  vil- 
lage; and  Warren  Lung,  a carpenter  and  pub- 
lic-hou.se  keeper,  just  above  where  the  Baptist 
Church  now  is.  Later  came  the  Granger  fam- 
ily, some  of  whose  members  have  since  resided 
here  continuously,  and  from  this  fact  the  place 
was  formerly  called  Grangerville — a name 
which  should  not  be  perpetuated,  since  the  post- 
office  bears  the  name  of  Rush.  The  village 
was,  in  1886,  one  of  the  best  business  points  in 
the  county  for  its  size.  It  had  four  stores,  one 
hotel,  three  mechanic  shops,  a church,  school- 
house  and  twenty-six  residences.  Abraham  and 
David  Patterson  were  pioneer  blacksmiths,  the 
latter  losing  his  life  in  the  late  Civil  War.  J. 
W.  Granger  was  the  wheelwright,  having  a shop 
until  1875.  For  a number  of  years  J.  B.  Over- 
ton  has  carried  on  a harness  manufactory,  keeping 
a store  in  connection.  In  early  times  Warren 
Lung  had  a small  tannery.  His  public-house 
was  kept  open  until  after  1837.  Sixteen  years 
later  J.  W.  Granger  built  the  present  public- 
house  and  kept  it  several  years.  He  sold  to  Z. 
L.  Cooley,  who  was  succeeded  by  E.  M.  D.iy, 
who  was  the  landlord  from  1858  to  1868.  Next 
came  Charles  Morse,  who  was  succeeded,  in 


450 


HISTOEY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


1882,  by  the  present,  Canfield  Stone.  It  is  one 
of  the  most  popular  stands  in  the  county. 

Near  by  was  kept  the  first  store,  some  time 
after  1840,  by  Almon  Pickett  and  others,  a 
small  building  being  occupied,  which  stood  on 
the  site  of  the  present  Odd  Fellows’  Hall.  In 
1848  a larger  building  was  put  up  by  N. 
Granger,  who  was  in  trade  until  1873,  when  he 
sold  to  the  present  firm,  W.  W.  & S.  B.  Mc- 
Cain. The  second  store  was  opened  in  1875 
by  T.  S.  Wheatcroft,  in  a building  which 
burned  down  in  1877.  The  following  year  the 
present  store  was  erected  and  has  since  been  oc- 
cupied by  him.  In  the  summer  of  1886  a drug- 
store was  opened  by  W.  L.  Keeney  and  Dr.  G. 
W.  Durga,  which  was  occupied  by  them  in 
November  of  the  same  year.  Here  is  kept  the 
Kush  post-office,  of  which  W.  L.  Keeney  has 
been  the  postmaster  since  the  fall  of  1885.  The 
first  post-office  in  this  locality  was  established 
with  the  name  of  Rush  Centre  June  30,  1834, 
and  David  B.  Shove  was  the  postmaster.  It  was 
discontinued  Oct.  26,  1836,  and  Bruce's  Valley 
post-office  took  its  place,  the  office  being  kept  in 
the  Elder  Gray  residence,  and  Alanson  Lung 
was  the  postmaster.  The  present  post-office  was 
established  Jan.  30,  1843,  with  Almon  Pickett 
as  the  postmaster,  having  it  at  his  store.  In 
1850  Norman  Granger  succeeded  him.  In  1857 
George  Snyder  was  appointed  and  kept  it  at 
their  hotel  until  1860,  when  it  was  again  moved 
back  to  the  village  and  the  appointees  have 
been,  since  that  period, — 1860,  John  W. 
Granger;  1861,  Miles  G.  Shoemaker;  Decem- 
ber, 1861,  Jesse  B.  Lung;  1862,  Henry 
Granger;  1865,  Irwin  Wheelock  ; 1870,  Nor- 
man Granger;  1874,  Joseph  H.  McCain  ; and 

1885,  the  present  incumbent.  Two  mails  per 
day  are  supplied,  and  on  the  15th  of  November, 

1886,  Rush  became  a money-order  office. 

Before  the  village  assumed  the  importance  it 

now  obtains.  Doctors  N.  P.  Cornwell  and  Wm. 
Bissell,  both  residing  in  Jessup,  were  the  medi- 
cal practitioners  in  this  locality.  Before  1850 
Dr.  A.  Dunham  was  in  practice,  but  removed 
to  New  York.  In  1859  Dr.  Elijah  Snell  came 
from  Le  Raysville  and  practiced  in  Rush.  In 
later  years  he  took  up  his  residence  in  Jessup, 
two  miles  above  Rush  village,  and  is  still  a 


practitioner  there.  At  Rush,  Dr.  Norman 
Granger  has  been  in  practice  since  1876,  and  ' 
Dr.  G.  W.  Durga  since  1882.  Intermediate 
physicians  were  Doctors  C.  W.  Carpenter  and  J. 
M.  Callendar.  At  Snyder’s  Hotel,  one  and  one- 
half  miles  below  the  village,  a Dr.  Coggswell,  a 
Thompsonian,  lived,  and  had  a big  ride.  Later,  j 
Dr.  H.  T.  Ruttan  was  at  the  same  place.  Since 
1879,  W.  T.  Barnes  has  been  located  at  Rush  i 
as  an  attorney-at-law. 

Rush  Lodge,  No.  471,  I.  0.  0.  F.,  was  iu.sti- 
tuted  in  the  village  July  10,  1875,  with  eleven 
charter  members.  Wm.  G.  Small  became  the 
first  Noble  Grand  and  E.  P.  Howe  Secretary. 
The  lodge  is  working  under  the  revised  charter 
of  Friendship  Lodge,  having  taken  the  same 
number  that  belonged  to  that  organization. 

That  body  surrendered  its  charter  iu  the  fall 
of  1862  and  for  thirteen  years  it  was  unclaimed. 
At  Rush  the  lodge  has  prospered,  having  fifty 
members  iu  1886.  For  the  past  six  years  J. 
W.  Granger  has  been  the  secretary.  The 
meetings  are  held  in  a neatly-furnished  and 
commodious  hall,  which  was  erected  in  1877  by 
the  “ Odd  Fellows’  Hall  As.sociation,  ” chartered 
March  14,  1877.  It  is  valued  at  twenty- two 
huudi’ed  dollars.  The  first  board  of  trustees  of 
the  association  were  E.  Granger,  F.  H.  Grang- 
er, H.  W.  Terry,  P.  D.  Roe,  C.  Flummerfelt 
and  C.  J.  Haight. 

Bissell  Post,  No.  466,  G.  A.  R.,  also  meets 
in  this  hall.  It  was  instituted  November  24, 
.1884,  with  thirteen  members  and  D.  D.  Very 
Commander,  E.  P.  Howe  being  the  Adjutant. 
In  November,  1886,  there  were  thirty  members, 
and  S.  Smith  Commander  and  O.  W.  Baxter 
Adjutant,  its  affairs  being  in  a flourishing  con- 
dition 

Snyder's  Tavern,  at  the  mouth  of  the  Middle 
Branch,  where  Captain  Joab  Pickett  first  settled, 
is  one  of  the  most  widely-known  country  hostel- 
ries  in  the  county.  While  the  place  was  owned 
by  William  Ross  he  entertained  the  public  at  his 
farm-house,  which  became  a favorite  stopping- 
place  for  drovers.  In  the  spring  of  1847 
Nathan  J.  Sherwood  opened  a regular  hotel, 
which  he  sold  five  years  later  to  Nicholas  D. 
Snyder.  He  enlarged  the  house  to  very  nearly 
its  present  condition.  After  his  death  it  had 


RUSH. 


451 


other  keepers.  The  present  landloi’d  is  Isaiah 
Haire.  Here  was  kept  Hush  post-office,  a few 
years  after  1856,  and  for  a short  time  M.  K. 
Edsall  had  a stoi’e.  On  the  road  southeast 
from  this  place,  near  the  south  line  of  the  town- 
ship, the  Angle  family  has  maintained  mechanic 
shops  and  here  was  established,  May  19,  1857 
Hush  Four  Corners  post-office,  with  David 
Angle,  postmaster.  His  successors  have  been, 
1874,  A.  Pickett;  1879,  P.  W.  Riley;  1879, 
T.F.  Young;  1881,  David  Bromley;  1883, 
James  W.  Angle.  Several  miles  east,  in  the 
pan  handle  of  the  township.  East  Hush  post- 
office  was  established  June  13,  1840,  with  John 
F.  Dunmore,  postmaster.  It  was  discontinued 
in  1841.  It  was  re-established  November  19, 
1862,  Asa  L.  Eddy  being  the  postmaster.  He 
was  succeeded  in  1864  by  Seth  W.  Eddy;  by 
B.  O.  Bertholf  in  1866  ; and  by  T.  A.  Roberts 
in  1877.  The  office  has  a tri-weekly  mail  and 
the  same  route  as  Rush  Four  Corners. 

The  Mineral  Spring. — “This  remarkable  spring,  situated  about  ten 
miles  west  of  Montrose,  and  about  three-quarters  of  a mile  from  Snyder’s 
Hotel,  near  the  Wyalusing  Creek,  in  Rush,  for  some  time  has  had  more 
than  a local  reputation.  Invalids,  not  only  from  this  county,  Bingham- 
ton, Owego,  and  other  surrounding  towns,  but  also  from  New  York  and 
Philadelphia,  have  visited  the  spring,  and  used  its  waters,  which  have 
been  used  for  medicinal  purposes  by  the  inhabitants  in  the  immediate 
vicinity  for  more  than  half  a century.  It  belonged  to  the  Drinker  es- 
tate, but  for  many  years  the  title  of  the  laud  was  vested  in  William  D. 
Cope,  Esq.,  of  Philadelphia,  a large  land-owner  in  this  county.  He  had, 
until  recently,  refused  to  part  with  his  title. 

“A  number  of  years  ago  rude  shower-baths  were  put  up  at  the 
spring,  free  to  the  public  use— or  at  most  a slight  compensation  was 
charged,  to  assist  in  keeping  up  repairs.  At  times  no  less  than  seven 
hundred  persons  visited  the  baths  in  a single  day.  But  the  water  was 
very  cold,  and  there  being  no  means  of  warming  it,  the  baths  fell  into 
disuse,  and  went  into  decay.  J.  D.  Pepper  has  occupied  the  land  upon 
which  the  spring  is  situated,  under  a lease  from  Mr.  Cope,  for  more 
than  twenty  years.  Mr.  Pepper  has  given  away  the  water  freely  to  all 
who  came  for  it.  He  informs  us  that  hundreds  of  people  from  the  sur- 
rounding country  visited  this  spring  at  all  times  of  the  year,  and  carried 
^way  its  water  in  bottles,  jugs,  bari'els  and  other  vessels  in  large  <iuan- 
tities.  The  spring  and  farm  upon  which  it  is  situated  were  purchased 
in  1869  by  E.  S.  Butterfield,  Esq.,  of  Syracuse,  N.  Y.,  in  company  with 
his  brother,  A.  D.  Butterfield,  of  Montrose,  wlio  have  made  preparations 
for  bottling  and  selling  its  watei's,  and  have  erected  a commodious  house 
for  the  accommodation  of  invalids  and  others  who  desire  to  visit  the 
spring,  and  use  its  waters.  The  water  of  this  spring,  we  are  informed, 
has  been  found  beneficial  for  most  diseases  of  the  kidneys,  rheumatic 
and  cutaneous  affections,  scrofula,  and  impurities  of  the  blood.  The 
character  of  the  water  is  clear,  sparkling  and  almost  tasteless  ; a fish 
will  live  in  it  but  two  or  three  hours.  The  following  is  a qualitative 
analysis  made  by  Dr.  A.  B.  Prescott,  professor  of  chemistry  in  Michigan 
University  ; his  quantitative  analysis  being  withheld  to  prevent  the  im 
position  of  chemicals  upon  the  public,  pretending  to  contain  the  .same 
constituents  and  properties  as  the  water  itself : Chlorides  of  magnesium, 
■potassium  and  lime;  carbonates  of  magnesia,  soda  and  lithia;  phos- 
phoric, sililic  and  carbonic  acids ; chlorine  ; protoxide  of  iron.’* 

The  Butterfield  Brothers  erected  a hotel, 
having  accommodations  for  forty  guests,  and 
for  a number  of  years  the  spring  was  well  pat- 


ronized by  patients  from  all  parts  of  the  coun- 
try, many  of  whom  experienced  beneficial  re- 
sults. But  the  remoteness  of  the  spring  from 
the  great  lines  of  travel  and  the  opening  of  other 
places  of  resort,  more  easily  reached,  has  dimin- 
ished the  patronage.  There  is  no  doubt,  though, 
that  under  more  favorable  conditions  this  spring 
would  have  a patronage  which  would  justify  all 
its  proprietors  claim  for  it. 

Religious. — To  the  Baptists  belongs  the 
credit  of  organizing  the  first  religious  body  in 
the  township,  which  became  known  as 

The  Baptist  Church  in  Hush. — The  prelimi- 
nary meeting  which  led  to  its  organization  was 
held  March  26,  1831,  by  members  of  the  Mid- 
dletown Baptist  Church,  at  the  school-house 
near  William  Ross’,  when  William  Lathrop 
was  chosen  moderator  and  Simeon  A.  Bolles 
clerk.  The  need  of  a church  on  the  Wyalusing 
was  set  forth  and  a committee  was  appointed  to 
ask  the  Middletown  Church  to  dismiss  them  for 
the  purpose  of  forming  a new  society.  Such  a 
request  was  granted  April  26,  1831,  and  on  the 
18th  of  June  following,  articles  of  faith  were 
adopted  and  the  church  constituted  of  the  fol- 
lowing members  : William  Lathrop  and  Dennis 
Granger,  deacons;  William  Lathrop,  Jr.,  clerk; 
Sarah  Lathrop,  Simeon  A.  Bolles,  Abigail 
Granger,  Ruth  Bolles,  Alonzo  Kinne,  Mary 
Kinne,  Daniel  Pickett,  Hannah  Pickett,  Sybel 
Lathrop,  Catherine  Pickett,  Solomon  Lathrop, 
Perrin  Lathrop,  Sarah  Lathrop  and  Nancy 
Bolles. 

Some  of  the  meetings  were  held  in  the  Ross 
school-house  and  others  in  the  Bolles  school- 
house,  in  what  is  now  Jessup,  the  church  hav- 
ing only  occasional  preaching  by  Elder  Davis 
Dimock  and  others  until  1834.  In  1832  Wil- 
liam Lathrop,  Jr.,  began  to  preach  and  Simeon 
W.  Bolles  became  the  clerk.  The  same  year 
the  first  member  by  baptism  was  received.  Elder 
G.  W.  Leonard  performing  the  ceremonv.  In 
1833  fifteen  persons  were  added  by  baptism. 
In  1834  the  church  had  its  first  settled  pastor, 
Elder  William  Brand,  who  served  until  1838, 
also  ministering  to  neighboring  churches.  In 
1839-40  Elder  Davis  Dimock  preached  and  the 
meetings  were  held  in  the  new  school-house  at 
Warren  Lung’s,  now  Rush  village.  The  fol- 


452 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


lowing  year  there  was  no  pastor,  but  in  1842 
the  Hev.  Jonathan  IMelville  preached  ; in  1843 
Elder  Prentiss  Franck  ; from  1844  to  1846  the 
pastor  was  Elder  AVilliain  Lathrop.  In  Sep- 
tember, 1843,  Harvey  H.  Gray  united  with  the 
church  and  was  licensed  to  improve  the  “gift  of 
preaching”  in  July,  1847.  The  chui’ch  had 
no  pastor  that  year,  nor  a regular  minister  until 
1858.  Before  the  close  of  the  latter  year  Elder 
J.  W.  Parker  became  the  pastor  and  the  church 
Avas  greatly  blessed  with  revivals,  in  which 
Elders  D.  D.  Gray  and  E.  A.  Francis  assisted. 
From  1862  to  1870  Elder  H.  H.  Gray  was  the 
pastor  for  one-half  his  time. 

In  1872  Elder  W.  C.  Tilden  began  to  preach 
for  the  church  and  three  years  later  Elder  H. 
J.  Millard  was  the  pastor.  In  1878  Elder 
Tilden  again  preached,  and  the  following  year 
the  church  was  without  a pastor.  In  1880 
Elder  J.  A.  Aldred  became  the  pastor,  and 
since  1883  the  Rev.  T.  Pros.ser  Morgan  has 
served  this  church  in  connection  with  the  Mid- 
dletown Church  at  Birchardsville. 

The  members  in  1886  numbered  seventy-five, 
and  included,  as  a resident  minister.  Elder  H. 
J.  Millard. 

The  church  edifice  in  Rush  village  was  com- 
menced in  the  spring  of  1866,  and  was  dedi- 
icated,  free  from  debt,  February  21,  1867.  It 
is  a neat  frame  building,  with  spire,  but  no 
bell,  and  cost  twenty-five  hundred  dollars.  It 
has  since  been  repaired,  and  twelve  sheds  were 
built  at  a cost  of  twenty-five  dollars  each, 
making  the  whole  a creditable  church  property. 

The  Presbyterian  Church  at  Rush  was  organ- 
ized May  11,  1848,  in  the  old  school-house, 
near  the  present  residence  of  W.  L.  A^aughn,  by 
a committee  composed  of  the  Revs.  S.  E.  Colt 
F.  D.  Ladd  and  T.  Thomas,  appointed  by  the 
Presbyteiy  of  Susquehanna.  The  constituent 
members  were  David  Hillis  and  wife,  Mary 
Ann,  Margaret  (Avife  of  John  Hillis),  all  by 
certificate  from  the  Presbyterian  Church  of 
Wyalusing;  and  by  certificate  from  the  Presby- 
terian Church  of  Bally  Bay,  Ireland,  Nathaniel 
Hillis  and  Avife,  Mary  Ann,  Robert  Hillis  and 
wife,  Margaret,  William  CaldAvell  and  Avife, 
Catherine,  Mrs.  Susan  Hill  and  her  daughter 
Margaret. 


David  Hillis  Avas  ordained  as  elder,  and  the 
Rev.  T.  Thomas  became  the  monthly  supply. 
The  meetings  were  first  held  in  the  school- 
house,  AA'here  the  congregation  was  organized, 
but  after  a time  the  morning  service  Avas  held 
in  the  old  school-house  at  Rushville.  The 
ministry  of  the  Rev.  Thomas  continued  three 
years,  Avhen  only  occasional  preaching  was  had 
until  January,  1854,  when  the  Rev.  D.  Cook, 
of  Rome,  Pa.,  supplied  the  pulpit  once  a month 
for  a year.  Then  came  the  Rev.  C.  Huntington 
for  about  the  same  period  ; but  much  of  the 
time  in  the  ensuing  years  there  Avas  no  regular 
preaching. 

The  congregation  having  become  weak  and  in  a 
measure  disorganized  by:  the  removal  of  some  of 
its  members,  a petition  was  presented  to  the  Pres- 
bytery in  the  spring  of  1861,  asking  lor  a new 
organization.  Accordingly,  a committee,  com- 
posed of  the  Revs.  Julius  Foster,^  Thomas  S. 
Dewing  and  T.  Thomas,  visited  Rush,  and  held 
a meeting  at  the  house  of  C.  Bixby  to  consider 
the  matter.  Having  listened  to  the  desire  and 
reasons  for  a neAV  congregation,  and  approving 
the  same,  they  organized  it  Avith  the  name  of 

The  Presbyterian  Church  of  Rushville  on  the 
6th  of  June,  1861.  Those  constituting  the 
membership  AA^ere  David  Hillis  and  his  wife, 
Mary  Ann ; Nathaniel  Hillis  and  his  wife, 
Mary  Ann  ; Robert  Hillis  and  his  Avife,  Mar- 
garet; John  Wood  and  Nancy,  his  Avife ; Mrs. 
Margaret  Hillis,  Miss  Margaret  Hillis,  Alanson 
Lung,  Catherine  CaldAvell ; and  by  examina- 
tion, Chandler  Bixby  and  his  wife,  Urania. 
But  four  of  these  survi\"ed  in  December,  1886, 
and  tAvo  only  sustained  an  active  relation. 
David  Hillis  and  Chandler  Bixby  were  chosen 
elders,  and  Nathaniel  Hillis  deacon,  and  entered 
upon  the  duties  of  their  offices.  • Tavo  days 
later,  June  8,  1861,  at  a preparatory  meeting, 
Henry  J.  Champion  and  his  Avife,  Julia,  united 
Avith  the  church. 

Soon  after  the  church  building  at  Rushville 
was  begun,  and  completed  in  1862,  chiefly 
through  the  energy  and  means  of  the  building 
committee — Chandler  Bixby,  Henry  J.  Cham- 
pion and  David  Hillis.  It  is  a neat  edifice,  and 
stands  as  a worthy  memorial  to  those  who  ex- 
erted themselves  so  much  to  erect  it.  Con- 


MIDDLETOWN. 


453 


nected  with  it  is  a well-kept  cemetery.  In 
1886  the  property  was  in  charge  of  trustees 
W.  H.  Sherwood,  M.  A.  Wood  and  J.  S.  Hillis. 

The  congregation  has  never  had  a settled 
pastor,  nor  has  the  stated  supply  ever  lived 
among  this  people.  In  1863  the  Rev.  T. 
Thomas  commenced  to  serve  the  church  half  the 
time,  in  connection  with  churches  in  Brad- 
ford County,  and  has  since  so  continued.  In 
December,  1886,  there  were  twenty -three  mem- 
bers, and  William  T.  Haney  was  the  ruling 
elder.  He  was  the  sole  survivor  of  the  four 
members  ordained  to  this  office,  David  Hillis, 
Chandler  Bixby  and  Henry  J.  Champion  hav- 
ing deceased.^ 

The  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  has  three 
houses  of  worship  in  the  township — on  Devine 
Ridge,  near  Rush  village,  and  at  East  Rush. 
The  latter  is  a small  frame  building,  having  a 
very  plain  exterior  and  with  not  quite  two 
hundred  sittings.  Formerly  a large  class  wor- 
shipped there,  but  the  number  has  diminished 
to  thirty-five.  These  are  a part  of  the  Auburn 
Circuit,  and  have  had  the  same  ministry  as  the 
churches  of  that  denomination  in  the  eastern 
part  of  that  township. 

The  church  on  Devine  Ridge  is  also  a plain 
frame  building,  but  well  accommodates  the 
people  of  that  section.  It  was  completed  in 
1868,  mainly  by  George  Devine  and  his  five 
sons,  who  lived  in  the  immediate  locality.  The 
church  is  a part  of  the  Fairdale  Circuit,  and 
the  names  of  the  ministers  who  served  it  can  be 
seen  in  an  account  of  that  circuit  in  the  annals 
of  Forest  Lake. 

The  Rush  Centre  Methodist  Episcopal  Church 
is  a little  more  than  a mile  from  the  village  of 
Rush,  and  was  built  in  1871,  during  the  pastor- 
ate of  the  Rev.  Miner  Swallow.  It  is  a frame 
building  with  a few  hundred  sittings,  and  had 
as  its  first  tru.stees  Justus  Hickock,  Dr.  Elijah 
Snell,  J.  D.  Baker,  S.  Smith  and  J.  T.  Birch- 
ard. The  work  of  the  church  was  begun  in 
1865,  when  the  Rev.  G.  S.  Transue  came  to  this 
section  as  a missionary.  The  following  year 
Rush  Circuit  was  formed. 

Prior  to  this  the  ministers  who  preached  here 


1 From  data  furnished  by  Rev.  T.  Thomas. 


belonged  to  the  Springfield  Circuit,  the  appoint- 
ments being  along  the  Wyalusing  Creek,  and 
among  those  preaching  the  Word  was  the  Rev. 
Elijah  Snell,  now  living  in  the  western  part  of 
Jessup,  and  who  sustains  a local  relation  to 
Ru.sh  Circuit.  In  1876  a comfortable  parson- 
age was  provided  in  Rush  village  at  a cost  of 
about  eight  hundred  dollars.  The  church  at 
Rush  Centre  had,  in  1886,  twenty-eight  mem- 
bers, and  also  maintained  a Sabbath-school.  The 
circuit  embraces,  among  other  appointments, 
the  class  at  Elk  Lake,  in  Dimock,  which  is  in  a 
flourishing  condition,  and  has  lately  had  a large 
increase  of  membership. 

The  Roman  Catholic  Chapel,  near  Bixby’s 
Pond,  on  the  northern  township  line,  was  built 
about  1859,  under  the.  direction  of  Father 
O’Reilley,  at  that  time  the  priest  at  St.  Joseph. 
It  is  a frame  building,  surmounted  by  a cross, 
and  stands  on  one  and  a half  acres  of  land,  for- 
merly belonging  to  the  William  Golden  farm. 
Its  location  in  this  section  makes  it  a convenient 
place  of  worship  for  the  Catholics  of  the  north- 
ern part  of  Rush  and  the  southern  part  of  Mid- 
dletown. A part  of  the  church  lot  is  set  aside 
for  burial  purposes.  The  chapel  is  at  present 
a part  of  the  Friendsville  parish. 

The  Cemetery  at  East  Rush  has  a beautiful 
location  on  the  top  of  the  hill  north  of  the  Cor- 
ners. It  embraces  half  an  acre  of  ground,  and 
is  inclosed  by  a substantial  iron  fence.  The 
neighbors  of  this  part  of  the  township  control 
it,  and  one  of  the  old  committees  having  it  in 
charge  was  composed  of  A.  AY.  Gray,  B.  A. 
Jones,  Sr.,  and  James  Moore.  Those  controlling 
it  in  1886  were  T.  A.  Roberts,  F.  M.  Gray  and 
B.  A.  Jones.  It  contains  some  neat  memoilals 
to  the  dead.  The  cemetery  at  Vaughn’s  school- 
house  is  small,  but  contains  the  graves  of  the 
members  of  a number  of  early  families. 


CHAPTER  XX  AH  I. 

]\riDDLETOWN  TOWNSHIP. 

AA’^hen  Rush  was  finally  divided,  in  1814,  in- 
to three  townships,  the  one  occujiying  the  middle 
position  appropriately  received  the  name  of 


454 


HISTOEY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


Middletown.  As  originally  erected,  it  was  six 
miles  from  north  to  south,  and  extended  eight 
miles  from  west  to  east.  This  area  was  reduced 
by  the  formation  of  Forest  Lake  in  1836,  when 
some  of  its  territory  on  the  east  was  shorn  off, 
and  in  1848,  when  Friendsville  was  incorporat- 
ed as  a borough.  In  moi’e  recent  years  Forest 
Lake  again  demanded  a part  of  the  territory 
along  the  eastern  border,  which,  being  annexed 
to  that  township,  has  left  Middletown  with  its 
original  limits  north  and  south,  and  but  little 
more  than  five  miles  from  west  to  east.  On 
the  north  are  Apolacon  and  Friendsville,  on 
the  east  Forest  Lake,  on  the  south  the  mother 
township,  Rush,  and  on  the  west  Bradford 
County. 

The  surface  is  very  much  broken  by  high 
hills  along  the  water-courses,  and  there  are  few 
level  lands  except  in  the  northwestern  part  and 
near  the  eastern  border.  The  soil  is  fairly  fer- 
tile, but  the  improvements  throughout  the 
township  ai’e  not  as  fine  as  in  some  other  parts 
of  the  county.  In  some  localities  excellent 
farms  may  be  seen,  and  in  the  past  ten  years 
the  chai’acter  of  farm  property  has  been  much 
advanced.  The  drainage  of  Middletown  is 
afforded  by  the  North  Branch  of  the  Wyalusing 
and  its  affluent  streams.  The  creek  rises  in 
Apolacon,  and  flowing  south  through  the  town- 
ship, takes  the  waters  of  many  small  brooks. 
In  the  vicinity  of  Middletown  Centre  small 
salt  marshes  are  found  on  this  stream,  where 
are  saline  springs  of  good  quality,  and  evidences 
of  other  minerals  also  appear.  The  creek 
affords  water-power,  which  was  improved  to  cut 
up  the  heavy  timber,  which  once  covered  the 
greater  part  of  the  surface  of  the  township. 
Its  main  branch  is  the  outlet  of  Wyalusing 
Lake,  in  Apolacon  township,  which,  after  flow- 
ing southwest  in  Middletown,  pa.sses  out  of  the 
township  into  Bradford  County;  thence,  after  a 
course  of  a few  miles,  re-enters  the  township, 
flows  southeast  and  into  the  North  Branch,  in 
Rush  township. 

It  was  upon  this  stream  that  the  first  mill- 
sites  were  improved.  The  only  lake  in  the 
township  is  Bixby’s  Pond,  on  the  southern 
line  and  lying  partly  in  Rush.  Its  outlet  flows 
through  that  township.  It  is  a small  but 


pretty  sheet  of  water,  and  received  its  name 
from  Darius  Bixby,  who  owned  lands  bordering 
on  it. 

The  Settlement  of  Middletown  is  detailed  with 
difficulty  on  account  of  the  boundary  changes 
and  the  almost  complete  change  of  its  popula- 
tion. With  few  exceptions,  the  native  element 
has  been  displaced  by  the  sturdy  yeomanry  of 
Welsh  or  Irish  descent,  or  foreign  born  of  these 
nationalities.  Even  among  these,  many  changes 
in  the  ownership  of  lands  have  occurred,  so 
that  the  story  of  pioneer  life  is  divested  of  that 
interest  which  attaches  to  a locality  called  home 
by  four  or  five  consecutive  generations.  The 
first  settlers  were  New  Englanders,  who  were 
attracted  to  this  section  by  the  expectation  that 
they  could  obtain  lands  under  the  Connecticut 
title,  in  the  township  known  to  them  as  Locke. 
It  need  not  be  said  that  this  hope  was  illusive  ; 
nor  did  they  find  the  national  advantages  as  at- 
tractive as  they  had  been  led  to  expect.  Roads 
were  made  with  difficulty,  and  the  first  neces- 
saries of  even  their  simple  lives  had  to  be  carried 
many  miles  on  the  backs  of  thestronger  men,  who 
had  to  cross  and  recross  the  Wyalusing  on  foot- 
logs  a dozen  times  in  the  course  of  a few  miles. 
Some  less  fortunate  had  to  eke  out  a living 
which  seems  impossible  in  those  times  of  plenty. 
When  the  Canfields  came  here,  in  1799,  they 
had,  for  some  days,  only  the  milk  of  a cow  as 
their  sustenance.  The  men  would  go  into  the 
woods  to  chop  until  they  were  faint,  when  they 
would  eat  the  inside  of  bark,  and,  at  the  close  of 
their  day’s  work,  have  milk  alone  for  supper. 
The  same  year  a family  moved  upon  the  head- 
waters of  Wyalusing  Creek,  one  of  the  surviv- 
ors of  which  states,  that  one  winter  they  kept 
their  cows  alive  by  cutting  down  trees  for  them 
to  browse  upon  the  buds,  sprouts  and  tender 
limbs ; yet,  when  spring  eame,  some  had  to  be 
drawn  on  sleds  to  the  pasture-fields.  He  also 
states  that  the  people,  to  eke  out  their  meal, 
in  some  cases  mixed  the  inner,  pulp-like  part  of 
hemlock  bark  with  it. 

For  a few  years  there  were  no  mills  nearer 
than  at  the  mouth  of  the  Wyalusing  or  at 
Camjjtown,  and  the  settlers  were  obliged  to  use 
a mortar  and  pestle  to  crush  their  corn.  To 
facilitate  this  work  a spring  pestle  was  used. 


MIDDLETOWN. 


455 


A large  hard-wood  tree  was  cut  down  and  a 
hole  burned  in  the  top  of  the  stump.  The 
pestle,  or  pounder,  was  made  of  a sapling,  five 
or  six  inches  in  diameter,  and  about  five  feet 
long,  with  a stick  run  through  for  handles. 
This  was  attached  to  a spring  pole,  so  adjusted 
that  the  pestle  could  work  iu  the  wooden  mor- 
tar, and  the  grinding  apparatus  was  complete. 
Such  a mill  was  early  provided  on  the  Joseph 
Ross  place,  which  was  used  not  only  by  his 
family,  but  by  his  neighbors. 

To  Riel  Brister  and  Benjamin  Abbott  must 
be  given  credit  for  making  the  first  settlement 
in  the  township.  They  came  in  the  spring  of 

1799,  and  located  on  the  North  Branch,  south 
of  the  Centre.  In  the  fall  of  the  same  year 
Andrew  Canfield  and  Silas  Beardslee  came  ; and 
Albert  Camp  and  Joseph  Ross  in  the  spring  of 

1800.  These  six  families  aggregated  forty-five 
persons,  all  located  on  the  North  Branch ; and 
the  next  year  Joshua  Grant  was  added  to  them. 
Riel  Brister  had  six  children,  among  them  being 
a son,  named  Ira.  He  was  a great  hunter, 
having  an  especial  reputation  as  a wolf-slayer. 
He  died  prior  to  1815,  but  members  of  his 
family  remained  in  the  township  many  years 
later,  the  names  of  Ira,  Linas  and  Riel  Brister 
appearing  among  the  taxables  of  1838. 

Benjamin  Abbott  finally  located  north  of 
Middletown  Centre,  but  removed  to  Rush,  and, 
in  1856,  to  Bradford  County,  where  he  died  two 
years  later.  He  was  at  the  Wyoming  massacre, 
and  used  to  delight  in  relating  incidents  con- 
nected with  that  event. 

Silas  Beardslee  had  a family  of  eight  chil- 
dren, and  lived  near  Abbott.  In  1820  he  met 
an  accidental  death,  his  neck  being  broken  by 
falling  from  a load  of  hay.  Two  years  later 
the  widow  and  her  children  removed  to  the 
southwestern  part  of  Apolacon,  but  since  1856 
the  descendants  have  lived  in  Little  Meadows. 

Andrew  Canfield  left  Connecticut  in  1797, 
and,  coming  to  this  county,  lived  first  at  the 
forks  of  the  Wyalusing,  afterwards  locating  on 
the  North  Branch,  just  above  Riel  Brister.  His 
family  consisted  of  six  children,  his  son  Amos 
being  at  that  time  seventeen  years  of  age.  He 
was  a devoted  Methodist,  and  the  itinerant 
found  a home  at  his  place,  often  preaching 


there.  The  first  graveyard  in  the  township  was 
also  located  on  his  farm  He  died  in  June, 
1843,  aged  eighty-five  years,  and  is  buried  iu 
that  cemetery.  The  son,  Amos,  cleared  up  a 
farm,  north  of  the  Centre,  and  was  a prominent 
citizen  iu  the  township,  becoming  very  aged  be- 
fore his  death.  Jeremiah  Canfield,  a brother 
of  Austin,  was  an  early  settler  in  the  northern 
part  of  the  town.ship. 

Albert  Camp  lived  above  Andrew  Canfield 
and  below  Middletown  Centre.  He  was  a son  of 
Job  Camp,  who  was  a pioneer  at  Camptowu, 
on  the  Wyalusing,  iu  Bradford  County,  in 
1793.  He  was  an  aged  man  when  he  came, 
and  died  in  1822.  His  daughter,  Polly,  was 
the  wife  of  Joseph  Ross,  who  lived  on  the  farm 
next  above,  on  the  North  Branch.  Of  his 
sons,  Isaac  moved  to  Bradford  County,  Levi 
and  Jonathan  to  Illinois,  and  Nelson  remained 
on  the  homestead  many  years.  Nearly  all  of 
this  once  numerous  family  have  removed  from 
this  part  of  the  county. 

Joseph  Ross  was  a native  of  Connecticut, 
and  one  of  three  brothers  who  settled  on 
Wyalusing.  His  father.  Lieutenant  Perrin  Ross, 
was  a soldier  in  the  Revolution,  and  hearing 
of  the  threatened  attack  on  the  settlers  of  the 
Wyoming  Valley,  where  he  lived,  rode  down 
three  horses  to  reach  home  the  day  before.  He 
lost  his  life  in  that  massacre,  after  having 
started  his  wife  and  six  children,  with  one  pack- 
horse,  across  the  mountain  to  their  eastern 
home.  Mrs.  Ross  returned  to  the  Wyoming 
Valley  and  married  a man  named  Allen.  Joseph 
having  become  a young  man,  followed  the  tide 
of  immigration  up  the  Wyalusing,  living  for 
a short  time  below  Rushville,  and  then  on  the 
Jabez  Hyde  place.  At  the  former  place  he  set 
out  an  orchard,  some  of  whose  trees  still  re- 
main. Coming  to  Middletown  in  the  spring 
of  1800,  he  soon  after  built  a barn,  which  yet 
stands,  on  the  fiirm  he  cleared  up,  and  other 
improvements,  in  a repaired  condition,  remain. 
Among  his  early  occupations  were  those  of 
surveying  and  tanning.  He  had  a small  tan- 
nery on  his  farm,  where  he  })repared  leather  for 
himself  and  neighbors.  His  place  being  a sort 
of  a centre,  he  was  often  called  on  to  assist 
those  le.ss  fortunate  than  himself,  and  neither 


456 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


he  nor  his  wife  turned  a deaf  ear  to  these  ap- 
peals, though  often  having  but  a scant  subsist- 
ence themselves.  Joseph  Ross  died  May  10, 
1855,  aged  eighty-one  years;  but  his  widow, 
Polly,  survived  him  until  Api’il  27,  1864,  in 
her  eighty-fifth  year.  Of  their  ten  children, — 
Otis,  born  in  1804,  is  still  living  on  the  home- 
stead, and  is  the  father  of  Joseph  and  Perrin 
S,  Ro.ss;  Norman  moved  to  Michigan  ; Orrin 
J.  to  Bradford  County ; Anna  married  Nathan 
Taylor ; Betsey  married  James  Lewis ; Amanda 
married  Dexter  AVilson  ; Mary  married  Alfred 
Wilson,  of  Apolacon  ; Auxilla  became  the  wife 
of  Charles  R.  Hoadley,  of  Rush. 

In  the  latter  township,  at  the  forks  of  the 
Wyaliising,  lived  Daniel  Ross,  a brother  of 
Joseph  and  the  father  of  sons  named  John, 
AVilliam,  Daniel  and  Hiram.  The  youngest  of 
thethree  brothers  spoken  of  above  (sons  of  Perrin 
Ross),  Jesse,  did  not  live  in  the  county,  but 
two  of  his  sons,  Perrin  and  Isaac  H.,  were 
citizens  of  Susquehanna. 

In  1801,  or  possibly  the  year  before,  Darius 
Coleman  joined  the  settlers  on  the  North 
Branch,  locating  on  the  farm  below  Riel  Bris- 
ter.  Like  mo.st  of  his  neighbors,  he  was  a great 
hunter,  and  scores  of  animals  killed  each  year 
attested  to  his  skill  in  this  occupation.  His 
old  house  was  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  road 
from  his  later  residence,  and  his  land  extended 
to  the  Rush  line.  He  was  diligent  in  business 
and  prospered  as  have  also  his  sons.  Alonzo 
occupied  the  homestead,  and  Amos  and  Darius 
lived  in  the  same  neighborhood.  The  former’s 
residence  is  one  of  the  best  improvements  in  the 
township.  West  from  this  place,  near  the  Brad- 
ford line,  Isaac  Pratt  settled  in  1801,  and  lived 
there  many  years,  as  also  did  his  son,  Rus.sell 
Pratt.  The  former’s  farm  was  afterwards 
occupied  by  Jeremiah  Canfield,  Jr.,  and  other 
members  of  that  family  still  live  in  that  part  of 
Middletown. 

In  the  northern  part  of  the  township  Henry 
Ellsworth  located  prior  to  1807.  Other  mem- 
bers of  the  family  were  Joseph,  John  and 
Jonathan.  The  latter  was  a fearle.ss  hunter,  and 
many  stories  of  his  boldness  are  told.  It  is 
said  that  he  once  crawled  into  a large  hollow  log 
thinking  that  it  might  be  the  lair  of  some  wild 


beast,  and  was  rewarded  by  finding  three  young 
panthers,  which  he  bore  home  in  triumph,  un- 
disturbed by  the  mother  animal.  Joseph  Ells- 
worth made  the  first  improvements  on  the  N. 
Billings  place.  Near  the  same  time  Darius 
Bixby  came  to  the  township,  and  finally  settled 
in  the  southern  part,  on  the  pond  which 
bears  his  name.  His  sons,  Asa  and  Richard 
lived  near  him,  the  latter  being  across  the  line 
in  Rush  township. 

“ 'Samuel  Wilson,  a native  of  Massachusetts,  and 
a soldier  of  1812,  came  from  St.  Lawrence  County, 
N.  Y.,  in  1813,  with  his  wife  and  seven  children. 
Three  children  were  added  to  the  family  here.  He 
had  six  sons,  the  oldest  two  being  now  dead.  The 
four  living,  in  their  best  days,  weighed  not  less  than 
seven  hundred  and  eighty  pounds  altogether;  all, 
like  their  father,  light  in  flesh  and  heavy  in  bone  and 
muscle.  As  a pioneer,  he  acted  well  his  part,  having 
chopped  and  cleared  more  than  two  hundred  acres  of 
heavily-timbered  land  in  this  county,  and  had  chop- 
ped three  hundred  acres  before  he  came  here.  He 
was  a man  of  powerful  frame  and  iron  will,  and  gen- 
erally succeeded  in  everything  he  undertook.  He 
was  as  skillful  with  the  rifle  as  powerful  with  the 
axe.  He  was  for  flfty-one  years  a taxable  citizen  of 
Middletown,  and  died  on  the  farm  on  which  he  first 
settled,  in  1864,  in  the  eighty-fifth  year  of  his  age. 
All  his  sons  and  daughters  were  strong  and  healthy, 
the  youngest  being  thirty-seven  before  death  made 
an  inroad  among  their  number.  Of  grandchildren 
he  had  seventy-five  born  during  his  lifetime.” 

His  children  were  Roswell,  Harry,  Abner, 
Hebei-,  Alexis  C.  and  John  B.,the  latter  still  liv- 
ing and  occupying  the  homestead.  The  daughters 
married  into  well-known  families  as  follows  : 
Hannah,  for  her  first  husband,  Gilbert  Dimon, 
and  for  her  second,  John  Barnum  ; Jane,  John 
Barnum ; Hari-iet,  Lewis  Beebe ; Katharine, 
Robert  Addison.  Nearly  the  entire  family  has 
deceased,  but  many  descendants  remain  in  the 
county. 

In  1816  the  principal  settlers  on  the  North 
Branch  were  Samuel  Wilson,  where  the  Apola- 
con line  crosses  it,  and  then  downward  were,  in 
the  order  of  their  names : Henry  Ellsworth, 
Jeremiah  Canfield,  Silas  Beardslee,  Amos  Can- 
field,  Joseph  Ross,  Albert  Camp,  Joseph  Ells- 
worth, Andrew  Canfield,  Riel  Brister  and 
Darius  Coleman.  East  from  Wilson’s  was 


^ Miss  Blackman  in  1872, 


MIDDLETOWN. 


457 


Samuel  Spalford,  a native  of  Xew  Hampshire, 
and  the  stream  in  that  locality  was  called  Spaf- 
ford’s  Creeek,  from  his  residence.  A daughter 
married  Daniel  Baxter,  and  for  her  second 
husband,  Michael  Callahan,  an  early  Irish  set- 
tler on  Wolf  road.  Another  daughter  married 
Miles  Baldwin. 

In  1815  the  following  were  reported  as  the 
taxables  of  Middletown,  including  a large  part 
of  the  present  township  of  Forest  Lake  : 

Benjamin  Abbott,  Darius  Benby,  Linus  Blister,  Ira  Blister,  Jacob 
Bumps,  Isaac  Bumps,  Daniel  Bumps,  John  Bumps,  David  Bumps,  Asa 
Brown,  Jesse  Birchard,  Philo  Bostwick,  Philip  Blair,  William  Beards- 
iee,  Silas  Beardslee,  Perry  Ball,  James  Baker,  Jabez  A.  Birchard,  George 
Bumps,  Erastus  Bliss,  Isaac  Benjamin,  Jonathan  Caswell,  Samuel  Coggs- 
%vell,  Wilson  Canfield,  Amos  Canfield,  Albert  Camp,  Richard  Chatman, 
Darius  Coleman,  Jeremiah  Canfield,  Samuel  Clark,  Ira  Deuel,  Peter 
Deuel,  Saul  Dimock,  Timothy  Dimock,  John  Ellsworth,  Henry  Ells- 
worth, Jonathan  Ellsworth,  Joseph  Ellsworth,  John  W.  Fishback,  Wil- 
liam Ladd,  Philo  Moorhouse,  Loami  Mott,  Orange  Mott,  Elisha  Mott, 
Joseph  Marsh,  Isaac  Pratt,  Joseph  Ross,  B.  Scofield,  Asahel  South, 
Jonathan  Steenburgh,  Alba  Stone,  Garrard  Stone,  Judson  Stone,  Nathan 
Tupper,  Henry  Tupper,  Seth  Taylor,  Lemon  Taylor,  Abiathar  Thatcher, 
William  Thatcher,  Warner  Turner,  Ira  Thoniius,  Samuel  Wilson,  Jehiel 
Warner,  Jonathan  Wbarton. 

In  1817  improvements  were  begun  in  Jack- 
son  Valley  by  Samuel  and  Abner  Taggart, 
natives  of  Xew  HamjDsbire,  and  the  farm  the 
former  improved  is  still  called  the  Taggart 
place.  He  was  a person  of  some  distinction, 
serving  in  the  Legislature  in  1848.  Charles  S. 
Campbell  came  to  that  locality  the  same  year, 
but  removed  to  Frieudsville,  where  he  died  in 
1852.  His  son,  Charles,  was  the  fir.st  merchant 
in  the  township,  outside  of  that  village,  having 
a Store  in  Jackson  Valley.  Peter  Sauuderson 
came  to  the  .same  locality  in  1818,  having  lived 
a few  years  in  Choconut  after  his  removal  from 
Xew  Hampshire.  He  died  on  this  place, 
which  was  afterwards  the  home  of  his  son 
James.  The  other  sons  deceased  or  I’emoved. 
Some  five  years  later  John  Buxton  came  to  the 
valley  from  the  State  of  Xew  Hampshire  and 
cleared  up  one  hundred  acres  of  land,  which 
passed  into  the  bauds  of  Eliab  Buxton,  and 
after  his  death  became  known  as  the  Darling 
place.  Another  son,  John  Buxton,  Jr.,  im- 
proved fifty-six  aci’es  of  land,  a part  of  which  is 
now  occupied  by  John  T.  Buxton. 

A mile  east  was  Corentine  Galutia,  from 
Litchfield,  Conn.,  who  cleared  up  a large  farm 
and  lived  on  the  place  until  his  death.  Otis 
Ross  began  opening  a farm  in  the  same  locality 
in  1829,  clearing  upwards  of  fifty  acres,  which 


is  now  known  as  the  Samuel  F.  William  place. 
In  the  fall  of  1829  Sumner  Holman  began 
boarding  with  him,  while  he  cleared  up  a farm 
in  this  neighborhood,  and  took  occasional  days 
off  hunting.  In  the  coarse  of  nine  months  he 
killed  eighty-two  deer,  one  wolf,  several  wild- 
cats and  innumerable  wild  pigeons.  That  year 
the  pigeons  had  a roost  near  Snyder’s  Hotel,  in 
Rush,  and  were  so  plentiful  that  they  destroyed 
some  crops.  Holman  removed  to  the  West. 
Caleb  C.  True  was  also  in  this  locality,  but 
farther  west,  and  later  lived  in  Bradford  County. 
He  was  the  father  of  Hiram  R.  True,  who 
lived  on  the  Xorth  Branch. 

In  the  northeastern  part  of  the  township 
settlements  were  made  by  a number  of  Friends, 
in  1819  and  the  next,  few  years  following, 
among  them  being  William  Salter,  Samuel 
Savage,  John  Buxton  and  Henry  M,  Pierce. 
The  latter  was  an  Englishman  and,  it  is  said, 
held  a peerage  in  the  old  country.  He  lived  on 
the  present  Morris  place,  where  he  educated  his 
family  well.  One  of  his  sons,  Henry  AI.,  be- 
came an  LL.D.,  and  was  for  some  years  the 
president  of  Rutgers  College,  in  Xew  AVrk. 
Another  son,  immigrating  to  California,  became 
one  of  the  most  wealthy  men  of  that  State.  Dr. 
Levi  Roberts  lived  in  the  Middletown  part  of 
Frieudsville  from  about  1820  until  his  death,  in 
1825.  The  Pierce  farm  afterwards  passed  into 
the  hands  of  Caleb  Carina  It,  whose  real  estate 
holdings  in  the  township  were  at  one  time  more 
than  one  thousand  acres,  a small  proportion  of 
it  only  being  improved.  A part  of  this  estate 
is  now  owned  by  the  oldest  daughter  of  Carmalt, 
the  widow  of  Cajitaiu  J.  C.  Alorris,  and  is  one 
of  the  finest  places  in  that  part  of  the  township. 
While  living  on  this  farm  Captain  Alorris  was 
enlisted  in  the  advancement  of  the  agricultural 
interests  of  the  county,  and  also  served  as  presi- 
dent of  the  State  Agricultural  Society.  His 
gallant  services  in  the  late  war  are  still  re- 
membered by  those  who  served  under  him  from 
this  section. 

Among  other  later  settlers  who  may  be  noted, 
on  account  of  their  nationality,  were  two  Ger- 
man brothers,  Jacob  and  Alichael  Andree,  who 
had  come  to  assist  in  boring  for  salt,  near 
Middletown  Centre,  in  1829.  After  work  was 


458 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


suspended  Jacob  remained  a few  years,  but 
Micliael  married  and  cleared  up  a farm  about 
two  miles  west  of  the  Centre,  remaining  there 
until  his  death. 

During  the  third  decade  of  the  century  a new 
and  important  element  was  introduced  in  Mid- 
dletown in  the  persons  of  The  Welsh  Settlers. 
Their  history  and  character  has  been  so  well 
portrayed  by  Miss  Blackman,  that  her  account 
is  here  given  entire  : 

“June,  1825,  marks  the  arrival  of  David  Thomas, 
the  first  Welshman, and  family  in  Middletown,  as  also 
the  first  in  the  county.  He  was  smitten  down  by  a 
sunstroke  six  weeks  after  he  arrived,  and  before  he 
had  completed  his  house.  His  was  the  third  family 
in  ‘the  Welsh  settlement,’  which  has  always  been 
mostly  over  the  line  in  Bradford  County ; so  the 
widow  and  her  six  children  had  sympathy  and  care 
from  those  of  their  own  tongue.  David  Thomas,  Jr., 
now  on  the  old  place,  was  then  but  seventeen ; and 
his  brother,  the  present  Rev.  Thomas  Thomas,  was 
but  twelve  years  of  age.  Joseph  (or  David)  Jenkins, 
the  first  Welshman  of  the  settlement,  came  May,  1824, 
to  the  Bradford  side;  but,  several  years  later,  he  came 
into  Middletown,  and  remained  some  years;  then  re- 
turned to  Le  Raysville,  where  he  died.  Edward  Jones, 
Sr.,  the  second  person  in  the  order  of  settlement, 
came  in  the  fall  of  1824,  and  located  just  over  the 
line.  He  had  a brother,  Thomas  Jones,  first.  Thomas 
Jones,  second,  is  a son  of  Edward,  and  is  on  the  Sus- 
quehanna County  side,  as  is  also  his  brother  James, 
IMessrs.  Jenkins  and  Jones  were  induced  to  look  at 
land  in  this  vicinity  by  a Welshman  in  Philadelphia 
(Simmons),  who  was  a friend  of  Thomas  Mitchell,  the 
land-owner.  The  tract  was  then  a wilderness,  lying 
principally  upon  the  hills.  David  Thomas  landed  at 
New  York,  went  to  Philadelphia,  where  he  also  fell 
in  with  Simmons,  who  recommended  this  locality. 
It  is  but  three  miles  from  Le  Raysville.  At  that  time 
Esquire  Seymour  had  a small  store  at  that  point,  and 
accommodated  the  incomers  by  selling  them  axes 
and  a few  common  articles  of  daily  use.  To  examine 
a more  extended  assortment,  though  sufficiently 
limited,  the  daughter  of  the  piorveer  would  walk  seven 
miles  by  a path  through  the  woods  to  Friendsville, 
after  the  morning’s  work  ; would  do  her  shopping  and 
visit,  then  walk  back,  and  finish  the  evening’s  work. 

“Samuel  Davis  joined  the  settlement  in  1831,  and 
is  now  living  with  his  son,  John  S.,  on  a high  hill 
this  side  of  the  county  line.  This  year  the  first 
Welsh  church  and  school-house  were  erected  on  the 
opposite  side  of  the  line,  on  the  hill  facing  the  creek. 
Daniel  D.  Jones  was  the  founder  of  the  church,  and 
its  pastor  nineteen  years.  He  died  in  1849,  the  year 
after  the  present  edifice  was  built. 

“ Rev.  Thomas  Thomas,  pastor  of  the  Rushville  and 


Stevensville  Churches,  formerly  preached  in  the  Welsh 
settlement.  His  brother,  Griffith,  after  making  an 
improvement  on  the  farm  now  occupied  by  J.  D. 
Thomas,  removed  into  Bradford  County. 

“The  Welsh  families  were  mostly  from  Cardigan- 
shire and  Glamorganshire — the  latter  in  the  southern 
part,  and  the  former  about  the  centre  of  Y^ales.  They 
had  little  sympathy  with  monarchical  institutions, 
and  one  motive  which  induced  them  to  leave  the 
mother-country  was  to  rid  themselves  of  the  obnox- 
ious tax  for  the  support  of  the  established  church  of 
England.  This  amounted  to  one-tenth  of  their  in- 
come ; and,  in  addition,  as  all  are  Presbyterian  or  Con- 
gregational in  sentiment,  they  had  to  support  their  own 
churches.  There  was  never  a Roman  Catholic  among 
them.  A majority  of  all  the  community  are  members 
of  the  Protestant  Church.  A oneness  of  interest  and 
feeling  pervades  the  entire  settlement.  In  all,  it  con- 
tains from  forty-five  to  fifty  families,  only  fifteen  of 
which  are  in  Susquehanna  County  ; these  are  Evan 
Evans  and  David  Jones  (son  of  John)  in  Apolacon; 
Thomas  Williams,  Thomas  Owens,  John  D.  and  David 
Thomas,  and  Samuel  Davis,  with  his  son,  John  S.,  on 
farms  adjoining  Bradford  County  ; next,  east  of  these, 
are  Thomas  J.  Jones,  Samuel  F.  Williams,  James 
Jones  (son  of  Edwin),  Thomas  Thomas,  Henry  and 
David  E.  Davis,  brothers  and  sons  of  Evan  Davis 
(brother  of  Samuel),  who  died  on  the  passage  from 
Wales  ; and  near  the  North  Branch  of  Wyalusing  are 
Thomas  Jones,  second,  Jenkin  Jones  (with  his  son 
John),  John  M.  Davis  (son  of  David,  now  dead)  and 
Riiger  Philips. 

“They  are  principally  farmers,  thrmgh  a few  are 
mechanics,  and  all  are  readers.  A large  number  are 
school-teachers — several  being  college  graduates. 
First  among  the  latter  is  Evan  W.  Evans,  at  present 
Professor  of  Mathematics  in  Cornell  University.  He 
is  a son  of  Wm.  Evans,  whose  residence  is  across  the 
line  of  Bradford  County  ; while  his  daughter,  the  wife 
of  Rev.  Thomas  Thomas,  is  near  him  on  this  side. 
We  are  told,  that  when  Professor  Evans  was  a lad,  his 
thirst  for  knowledge  was  so  great  that  his  father  de- 
termined to  send  him  to  Yale  College.  Whilst  there, 
he  was  said  to  be  the  most  retiring,  diffident  and  in- 
dustrious young  man  in  the  college.  He  was  chief 
of  the  editors  of  the  Yale  Literary  Magazine,  and 
graduated  with  special  distinction  in  literature.  His 
knowledge  of  geology  was  such,  that  in  a sojouim  in 
Western  Virginia  a few  years  ago,  he  was  induced  to 
enter  into  some  speculations  in  petroleum,  and  ac- 
quired a large  fortune. 

“He  is  the  highest  authority  among  the  scholars 
of  our  country  on  the  Celtic  language  and.  literature, 
and  has  contributed  articles  to  the  journal  of  the 
American  Philological  Society  on  this  subject.  He 
was  Professor  of  Mathematics  in  Marietta  College, 
Ohio,  but  when  the  faculty  of  Cornell  University  was 
organized,  he  was  offered  the  distinguished  jjosition 
he  now  fills.” 


MIDDLETOWN. 


459 


“A  characteristic  of  Welsh  names  is  that  the 
omission  of  the  final  s changes  a surname  into  a 
given  name  ; thus,  Evan  Evans,  Jenkin  Jen- 
kins, Griffith  Griffiths,  etc.,  are  common  in- 
stances of  alliteration  among  them.  Politically, 
the  Welsh  are  Republicans.  On  this  side  of 
the  church  and  creek,  which  here  crosses  the 
county  line,  the  settlement  has  recently  been  ac- 
commodated by  the  establishment  of  Neath 
post-office,  Bradford  County.  The  first  inter- 
ment in  the  burying-ground  was  that  of  a child 
of  David  Thomas;  its  grandfather,  John 
Howell,  was  the  first  adult  buried  here  in  1834. 
The  grave  of  one  Union  soldier  is  found  even 
in  this  small  inclosure — that  of  Theron  H. 
Jones,  who  died  in  the  service.  Alas  ! that  the 
graves  of  others  of  Middletown,  whose  lives 
were  sacrificed,  should  be  remote  and  un 
known.” 

The  Irish  sustain  a relation  to  the  settlement 
of  the  township  even  more  important  than  the 
Welsh.  It  is  owing  to  their  energy  and  thrift 
that  many  parts  of  Middletown  have  been  re- 
deemed from  a primeval  condition  and  changed 
into  fruitful  farms.  Coming  with  little  or  no 
means,  unaccustomed  as  some  of  them  were  to 
agricultural  pursuits,  and  disappointed  in  losing 
their  regular  occupations  on  public  works,  they 
had  but  few  expectations,  which  their  industry 
and  frugality  could  not  realize,  and  after  having 
accepted  the  conditions  of  a pioneer’s  life,  and 
learned  how  to  adapt  the  means  to  the  end, 
whereby  they  could  obtain  homes  of  their  own, 
they  soon  became  a most  desirable  class  of 
citizens — cheerful,  contented  and  progressive. 
Their  success  encouraged  others  to  come,  and, 
in  the  course  of  years  this  people  demanded 
not  only  the  wilderness  for  their  homes,  but 
purchased  some  of  the  choicest  improvements  in 
the  township,  and  from  being  a small  settle- 
ment, in  the  eastern  part,  are  now  found  in  all 
sections  of  Middletown.  In  their  first  efforts  to 
secure  homes  they  were  much  encouraged  by 
Edward  White,  and  his  princij>al.  Dr.  R.  H. 
Rose,  who  owned  large  tracts  of  land  in  this 
section.  The  former,  as  agent,  lived  in  the 
northeastern  part  of  the  township,  where  he 
carried  on  a farm  himself,  and  he  exertetl  his 
influence  to  attract  his  countrymen  to  this  place. 


Dr.  Rose  gave  them  most  favorable  terms,  be- 
sides often  supplying  stock  for  their  farms  and 
food  until  a crop  could  be  grown ; nor  was  he  ex- 
tortionate in  his  demands  upon  them.  The 
older  settlers  on  his  lands  always  remembered 
his  uniform  kindness  in  this  respect.  According 
to  their  statement,  “ he  never  pushed  a man  for 
pay.”  The  Irish  are  the  opposite  of  the  Welsh 
in  politics  and  religion,  nearly  all  being  Roman 
Catholics.  Their  prosperity  has  made  it  pos- 
sible to  create  and  maintain  several  ])arishes  in 
the  northwestern  part  of  the  county,  each  sup- 
plied with  several  churches.  They  have  no 
house  of  worship  in  Middletown,  but  a chapel 
has  been  erected  at  Bixby’s  Pond,  just  across 
the  line,  in  Rush,  which  is  connected  with  the 
Friendsville  parish. 

The  first  Irish  settlers,  James  Ferris  and 
Philip  Finnelly,  came  in  1829.  The  following 
year  came  Patrick  Magee,  Walter  O’Flanlin, 
John  Murphy,  Thomas  Colford  and  Bernard 
Keenan.  The  latter  had  been  a mason  on 
canal  locks,  but  settled  on  a tract  of  land 
in  the  Wilson  neighborhood,  which  he  cleared 
up.  This  is  now  the  farm  of  John  O’Donnell. 
Later  he  bought  lands  of  Samuel  Spafford  and 
the  Elijah  Baxter  place,  and  an  improved  tract 
from  Dr.  Rose,  cultivating  the  whole  as  one 
farm.  This  is  now  occupied  by  one  of  his  sons, 
Peter.  Another  son,  James,  lives  on  an  ad- 
joining farm,  which  had  once  been  occupied  by 
Edward  White  and  John  Burke.  On  the  for- 
mer place  IMrs.  Keenan  is  still  living,  at  the  age 
of  eighty-two  years. 

Many  of  the  Iri.sh  settled  on  the  Wolf  road, 
the  highway  north  and  south  on  the  ridge  of 
land  near  the  Fore.st  Lake  line.  This  is  so 
called  because  after  the  road  was  staked  out  and 
partially  cleared,  the  wolves  used  it  as  a path, 
and  frequently  traveled  it  in  large  packs.  Even 
after  the  country  was  settled,  an  occasional  wolf 
might  be  seen  traveling  to  his  former  haunts. 
Here  were  the  Michael  Cunningham  and  Joseph 
Tierney  improvements,  and  later  those  of  John 
Fitzgerald.  In  other  parts  of  the  township 
were,  at  an  earlier  day,  Dennis  McMahan,  John 
Dougherty,  Wm.  Fennell,  Edward  Grimes, 
Michael  Whalen,  James  Melhuish  and  Michael 
Madden.  These  began  clearing  up  farms,  some 


460 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


changing  their  location  and  clearing  up  several 
farms  in  their  life-time.  Among  those  who 
came  in  1840  were  James  Cooney,  Michael 
Connanghton,  Hugh  IMcDonald,  Daniel  Farrell, 
Dennis  Lane,  Charles  Heary,  William  Monni- 
han,  Edward  Reilley  and  James  Quigley. 

In  1841  James  Curley  .settled  in  the  forest, 
on  the  road  from  the  North  Branch  to  the 
Wolf  road,  which  was  at  that  time  unbroken, 
and  here  he  and  his  five  sous  each  cleared  up 
farms.  One  of  these  sons  was  thoroughly  ed- 
ucated in  Ireland,  and  taught  the  first  school  in 
that  neighborhood.  John  Conboy  came  to  the 
farm  begun  by  J.  Quigley  ; John  Flynn  to  the 
John  Dougherty  farm,  where,  later,  lived  his 
son,  James  Flynn  ; John  Horrigan  and  Patrick 
Smith  to  the  North  Branch;  Patrick  Mc- 
Donough on  a place  opposite  Hugh  McDonald; 
and  Thomas  Lnly  was  first  on  the  Farrell  Mill- 
mon  place.  Later  Irish  settlers  were  the  Mo- 
rans, Degnaus,  Brennans,  Learys,  Keoghs,  Mc- 
Cormicks and  Gillans,  all  before  1850.  A son 
of  Edward  Gillan  became  noted  as  a teacher  in 
the  county,  and  others  of  the  Irish  settlers  gave 
their  children  the  benefit  of  a higher  education 
at  St.  Joseph  College. 

The  general  condition  of  the  settlements  in 
the  township  can  be  seen  in  the  following  list  of 
taxables  in  1 838,  after  Forest  Lake  had  been 
set  off : 

Michael  Andree,  John  Burke,  Asa  Bixby,  Cyrus  Babcock,  Jesse  Birch- 
ard, John  S.  Birchard,  Jesse  T.  Birchard,  Jabez  A.  Birchard,  George 
Birchard,  James  M.  Bragg,  James B.  Ball,  John  Bradshaw,  Robert  Ber- 
beck,  Ira  Brister,  John  Bailey,  Lewis  Bailey,  Abel  H.  Bailey,  John 
Bennett,  Linus  Brister,  Rial  Brister,  John  Buxton,  Eliab  Buxton,  John 
Buxton,  Jr.,  Elijah  Baxter,  Daniel  Baxter,  James  Brink,  Miles  Baldwin, 
Peleg  Baldwin,  Richard  Bixby,  Sarah  Coleman,  Amos  Coleman,  Charles 
S.  Campbell,  Sherman  Canfield,  Andrew  Camp,  Jr.,  Jeremiah  Camp, 
Amos  Camp,  Andrew  Camp,  Isaac  Camp,  Levi  Camp,  Albert  Camp,  Nel- 
son Camp,  Amos  Chapman,  Phoebe  Coffgshall,  S.  B.  Coggshall,  Calvin  D. 
Cobb,  Thomas  Colford,  Michael  Costigan,  Ira  Deuel,  Samuel  Davis, 
Stephen  H.  Darrow,  Amos  Darrow,  Royal  P.  Darrow,  John  Dougherty, 
E.  L.  De  Wolf,  Anson  Elsworth,  Jonathan  Elsworth,  Hezekiah  Esmund, 
James  Ferry,  William  Farrell,  Corentine  Galutia,  B.  F.  Glidden,  Michael 
Graham,  Joshua  Gurney,  William  Grady.  Servin  J.  Gage,  Abraham  Hol- 
lis, William  G.  HandricP,  William  B.  Handrick.  Henry  F.  Handrick, 
John  Holeman,  John  Holeman,  Jr.,  John  Hale,  Gardner  Hagar,  Jonas 
Hagar,  Joseph  Hyde,  Charles  R.  Hoadley,  Samuel  Horton,  Thomas 
Jones,  Addison  Ketchem,  Malatiah  Kinsman,  Bernard  Keenan,  Clinton 
Kenny,  Janies  Lewis,  Calvin  Leet,  James  3Iiles,  John  Melhuish  James 
MacCarty,  John  McGovern,  Michael  Madden,  Russell  Pratt,  Henry  M. 
Pierce,  Pliilip  Peat,  Samuel  Richards,  Otis  Ross,  Joseph  Ross,  Grin  Ross, 
David  Robbe,  Samuel  Spafferd,  Silas  Spafferd,  Milton  R.  Spafferd,  Sam- 
uel H.  Spafferd,  Judson  Stone,  Garrad  Stone.  Almira  Stone,  Peter  San 
dersun.  David  Shelden,  Daniel  Shelden,  Thomas  Thomas,  David  Thomas, 
Samuel  Taggart,  Levi  C.  Tapper,  Hial  Tapper,  Caleb  Tru^,  Charles  Wells, 
Samuel  Wilson,  Roswell  Wilson,  Rebecca  White. 

Business  Interests. — Middletown  has  no 


village  within  its  bounds,  and  but  few  business 
interests,  except  those  intimately  connected  with  f 
agricultural  pursuits.  The  water-power  was  ' 
used,  soon  after  tlie  settlements  were  begun,  to 
operate  saw-mills,  Josiah  Grant  having  one  in 
1801.  The  first  gi’ist-mill  was  on  the  outlet  of 
Wyalusing  Lake,  at  what  is  now  called  Pratt- 
ville, and  Henry  Gaylord  was  the  miller.  The 
mill  was  small,  having  but  one  run  of  stones, 
and  part  of  the  building  was  u.sed  to  house  the 
family  of  the  miller.  Linus  Brister  became  the 
owner  of  the  mill  and  operated  it  in  1815.  The 
water  privilege  was  sold  and  Russell  Pratt  put 
up  a factory  for  making  chairs  and  other  furni- 
ture. M^ork  of  this  nature  is  still  carried  on,  in 
a small  way,  by  George  Hardy.  E.  Billings 
had  a saw-mill  lower  down  this  stream,  where 
is  now  a saw-mill  operated  by  Henry  Wilson. 

On  the  North  Branch  Joseph  Ross  put  up  a 
saw-mill  about  1809,  and  some  years  later  put 
up  a grist-mill  at  the  other  end  of  the  dam, 
which  had  at  first  only  one  run  of  stones. 
Another  was  added  and  the  mills  were  operated 
by  Ross  until  1843,  when  the  property,  includ-  | 
ing  thirty  acres  of  land,  was  sold  to  Otis  J.  | 
Frost.  The  saw-mill  having  gone  down,  he 
built  a new  mill  on  its  site  and  operated  it  some 
years;  then  the  property  had  as  subsequent 
owners,  Norman  Ross,  Nathan  J.  Sherwood, 
Philo  Sherwood  and  Charles  Tripp.  The  pres- 
ent owner  is  L.  A.  Howard,  who  added  steam- 
power  and  also  operates  a steam  saw-mill,  doing 
a good  business, 

In  1816  Andrew  Canfield  and  his  son,  Amos, 
put  up  a saw-mill  on  what  became  known  as 
the  Stedwell  place,  which  was  not  long  con- 
tinued. On  his  farm  Samuel  Spafford  had  a 
saw-mill,  and  for  a short  period  a feed-mill  was 
also  operated.  Above  the  Centre,  on  the  North 
Branch,  Amos  Canfield  had  a mill,  on  the  Don- 
ley place,  which  did  good  service  a few  years; 
and  on  the  Apolaeon  township  line  John  Bar- 
num  put  up  a mill,  which  was  afterwards 
operated  by  Newell  Barnum,  but  which  is  idle 
at  present.  In  the  western  part  of  the  township 
Eliab  Buxton  and  others  had  small  saw-mills, 
which,  like  most  of  the  above,  have  disappeared. 

Salt  Wells. — Along  the  North  Branch  were 
a numberof  deer-licks,  which  led  the  early  settlers 


MIDDLETOWN. 


461 


to  believe  that  salt  in  paying  quantities  could 
be  found.  This  belief  was  strengthened  by  the 
traditions  current  at  that  time  tiiat  the  Indians 
had  been  accustomed  to  procure  their  supply  of 
salt  from  some  spring  along  the  creek.  By 
many  it  was  suppo.sed  that  the  principal  spring 
was  in  the  lower  part  of  the  township,  and  sub- 
sequent investigations  gave  color  to  this  opinion, 
as  may  be  learned  from  the  pages  of  the 
Gleaner  in  1815: 

“Three  persons  had  come  to  Middletown  from  the 
State  of  New  York,  and  told  Mr.  Brister  they  had 
reason  to  believe  there  was  a salt-spring  on  his  farm, 
and  if  he  would  let  them  come  in  on  equal  shares  with 
him  they  would  endeavor  to  find  it.  ‘ He  agreed;  and 
they  dug  in  the  place  directed  (by  the  Indians,  who 
formerly  lived  there,  it  is  supposed),  and  were  so  for- 
tunate as  to  hit  upon  the  right  spot.  On  digging 
through  three  feet  they  came  to  a well  five  or  six  feet 
deep,  laid  up  with  logs  and  covered,  by  a large  flat 
stone.  It  had  evidently  been  worked  by  the  abo- 
rigines.” 

It  does  not  appear  that  any  benefits  were  de- 
rived from  this  discovery,  anti  the  spring  appears 
to  have  been  forgotten  until  boring  for  salt  was 
again  began  farther  up  the  creek.  The  effort 
there  caused  the  matter  to  be  agitated  among 
the  neighbors,  and  it  was  decided  to  form  a 
stock  company  to  prosecute  the  search  for  salt 
in  the  Brister  neighborhood.  For  this  purpose 
an  act  was  passed  in  1831  by  the  Legislature 
to  authorize  the  formation  of  the  “ Wyalusiug 
Salt  Manufacturing  Company.”  Salmon  Bos- 
worth,  Ira  Brister,  Jabez  Hyde,  Jr.,  Daniel 
Ross  and  Dimon  Boswick  were  named  as  com- 
missioners, and  in  October,  1831,  they  gave 
notice  that  the  company  would  elect  its  officers. 
Ira  Brister  was  chosen  president  and  Norman 
Ross  was  selected  as  a proper  person  to  super- 
intend the  sinking  of  a shaft.  Instead  of  boring 
near  the  spring  above  mentioned,  operations 
were  begun  on  the  Andrew  Canfield  farm,  as 
the  nature  of  the  country  in  that  locality  was 
deemed  more  favorable  for  such  work.  A depth 
of  neai'ly  five  hundred  feet  was  reached,  but  no 
brine  of  any  great  strengtli  was  found,  and 
work  was  discontinued  under  such  discouraging 
circumstances  that  “ the  drill  was  left  sticking 
in  the  well.”  At  this  time  the  people  along  the 
creek  were  greatly  excited,  and  visions  of  rapidly- 


accumulated  wealth  from  that  source  passed 
away,  not  again  to  appear. 

But,  prior  to  this  action,  digging  operations 
had  been  carried  on  above  Middletown  Centre, 
on  the  present  Cahill  farm.  Here  were  large 
deer-licks  and  unmistakable  signs  of  strong 
brine.  The  neighbors  along  the  creek,  at  dif- 
ferent periods,  had  dug  wells  near  the  creek, 
but  were  always  obliged  to  stop  on  reaching  a 
strata  of  quicksand,  which  clo.sed  in  on  their 
work.  In  1825  Dr.  R.  H.  Rose  and  Samuel 
Milligan  determined  to  sink  a test  well,  and 
succeeded  in  forcing  a tube  through  the  sand  to 
the  solid  rock,  twenty -six  feet  below  the  surface, 
when  it  was  comparatively  easy  to  drill.  A 
depth  of  more  than  four  hundred  feet  was 
reached,  but  the  prospects  not  being  sufficient 
to  encourage  further  work,  operations  were  sus- 
pended for  several  years.  In  1828-29  work  was 
resumed  under  the  direction  of  the  Andrees,  who 
were  skilled  in  this  business  and  who  had  been 
brought  here  by  Milligan  and  Rose  for  this 
purpose.  The  shaft  was  sunk  from  fifty  to  a 
hundred  feet  deeper,  when  a vein  of  strong  brine 
was  struck.  Enough  of  the  water  was  evapo- 
rated to  show  that  it  yielded  salt  at  the  rate  of 
oue  bushel  to  every  fifty  gallons  of  water,  and 
at  different  times  about  twenty  bushels  of  salt 
were  made.  After  au  interval  of  a few  years 
the  evaporation  was  carried  on  more  extensively 
by  John  Darrow  and  David  Green,  who  had 
nine  patent  kettles,  and  made  enough  salt  to 
supply  the  country  for  many  miles  around. 

At  the  end  of  two  years  they  were  obliged  to 
give  up  this  work,  not  having  sufficient  patron- 
age to  pay  them  to  continue.  Many  who  had 
used  the  salt  believed  that  it  was  too  impure  to 
be  wholesome,  and  others  claimed  that  it  con- 
tained a poisonous  ingredient  which  fatally 
affected  some  animals,  especially  dogs  and  cats. 

Nothing  more  was  now  doue  until  the  oil 
excitement  of  1865  again  directed  attention  to 
this  locality,  when  a new  well  was  sunk,  about 
four  rods  from  the  old  oue,  which  had  become 
partly  filled  up.  This  is  known  as  the  Coryell 
well  and  was  drilled  to  the  depth  of  a little  more 
than  six  hundred  feet.  A small  engine  only 
being  used,  the  power  was  insufficient  to  go  to 
a greater  depth  ; nor  were  the  signs  of  oil  strong 


462 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


enough  to  warrant  further  work,  though  there 
was  gas  enough  to  burn  hours  at  a time.  The 
well  was  tubed  and  the  water  having  strong 
saline  properties,  several  kettles  were  procured 
and  a limited  quantity  of  salt  was  made.  Un- 
like that  of  the  old  well,  it  was  remarkable  for 
its  fineness  and  purity,  comparing  with  the  best 
salt  made  at  Syracuse.  Owing  to  the  situation 
of  the  well,  it  was  not  deemed  a paying  enter- 
prise to  make  .salt  at  this  point,  and  the  well  has 
since  been  idle. 

Prattvilt^e  is  a small  hamlet  in  the  south- 
western part  of  the  township,  named  for  the 
Pratt  family,  who  had  shops  at  this  place.  For 
a short  time  a store  was  also  here  kept  by  E.  L. 
De  Wolf,  who  was  returned  as  an  attorney  and 
merchant  in  the  tax-list  of  1838.  A few  me- 
chanic shops  are  still  carried  on.  East  from 
this  place,  on  the  main  road,  along  the  North 
Branch  Creek,  the  Kortlt  Branch  post-office  was 
established  July  9,  1878,  with  E.  A.  Jenner  as 
postmaster.  He  was  succeeded  in  1886  by 
Clark  W.  Coleman,  who  keeps  it  at  the  house 
of  Alonzo  Coleman. 

Middletown  Centre  is  the  name  applied 
to  the  hamlet  at  the  Howard  (Ro.ss)  Mills.  The 
first  merchandising  at  this  place  was  done  at 
the  house  of  Otis  Ross,  in  1874,  by  the  Patrons 
of  Husbandry.  Later,  Luther  A.  Howard  built 
a hall  near  his  mill,  in  which  this  trade  was 
continued  a short  time.  Here  the  first  regular 
•Store  was  opened  by  Charles  Stevens,  who 
traded  a few  years.  Since  March,  1884,  Joseph 
P.  Curley  has  sold  goods  in  a building  erected 
by  him  for  this  purpose,  and  has  kept  the  Mid- 
dletown Centre  post-office  since  1885.  This 
office  was  established  February  13,  1853,  with 
Perrin  S.  Ross  as  postmaster.  In  August,  1855, 
it  was  discontinued,  but  was  re-established  in 
1860,  with  Mary  A.  Ross  as  postmi.stress,  who 
served  in  this  capacity  until  1881.  J.  P.  Donley 
was  the  next  postmaster  and  was  succeeded  by 
J.  P.  Curley. 

Jackson  Valley  post-office  was  established 
at  the  house  of  Charles  Campbell,  August  19, 
1843,  and  kept  there  until  1851.  It  was  then 
moved  to  the  farm  below,  and  Frederick  Tag- 
gart was  the  postmaster.  Charles  Campbell 
returned  to  the  Valley  and  opened  a store  in 


1854,  when  the  office  was  removed  to  his  place 
of  business,  where  he  traded  three  years.  He 
then  sold  out  to  Joseph  Ross,  and  he  to  Samuel 
Means.  The  last  merchants  at  this  place  were 
John  Baldwin  and  Spencer  Stevens.  John  T. 
Buxton  has  been  the  postmaster  since  1855,  and 
also  carries  on  the  vehicle  and  harness  business. 
A tri-weekly  mail  from  Le  Raysville  is  sup- 
plied. In  the  southeastern  part  of  the  town- 
ship, on  the  Wolf  road,  Patrick  White  has  been 
merchandising  in  a small  way  a number  of 
years,  this  being  the  only  interest  besides  farms 
in  that  locality. 

The  Religious  Interests  of  the  township 
are  to  a large  extent  connected  with  those  of 
Friendsville,  and  other  organizations  outside  of 
its  bounds.  Near  the  Howard  mill,  at  Mid- 
dletown Centre,  a building  was  put  up  in  early 
times  by  the  citizens  of  this  part  of  the  town- 
ship for  school  and  church  purposes,  in  which 
meetings  were  quite  regularly  held  by  the 
Methodists,  and  that  body  had  a promising 
membership.  Among  those  who  adhered  to 
that  faith,  in  early  days,  were  Riel  Brister,  An- 
drew Canfield  and  wife,  Joseph  and  Polly  Ross, 
Nathaniel  Billings,  Silas  Beard.slee  and  wife, 
William  Beardslee,  Samuel  Wilson  and  wife, 
Mrs.  Jonathan  Ellsworth,  Russell  Pratt,  and 
children  of  Andrew  Canfield’s  family.  Some 
of  the  Quarterly  Meetings  were  held  at  the  house 
of  Joseph  Ross,  and  all  the  appointments  were 
in  connection  with  other  charges.  In  the  course 
of  years  time  wrought  great  changes  in  the 
central  part  of  the  township,  leaving  but  a few 
Methodi.sts  resident  there,  so  that  meetings  were 
not  well  maintained.  It  was  then  deemed  ad- 
visable to  transfer  the  interest  to  another  part 
of  the  township,  and  a meeting-house  was  built 
on  the  county  line,  near  Prattville,  where  meet- 
ings are  now  held. 

In  Jackson  Valley  the  Wesleyan  Methodists 
erected  a small  meeting-house,  about  ten  years 
ago,  in  which  services  are  statedly  held. 

The  first  burial-ground  in  the  township  was 
opened  on  the  North  Branch,  on  the  farm  of 
Andrew  Canfield.  It  contains  some  head- 
stones as  old  as  1804,  and  one  of  the  first 
interred  there  was  a member  of  the  Joseph  Ross 
family.  In  more  recent  years  the  grounds  were 


APOLACON. 


463 


enlarged,  about  one-half  an  acre  being  now  in- 
cluded, which  is  inclosed  with  a substantial 
stone-wall.  The  title  to  the  property  was  vested 
in  John  Barnura,  Otis  Ross,  Jeremiah  Canfield 
and  their  successors.  The  cemetery  contains 
many  graves  and  is  moderately  well  kept. 

Near  Prattville,  but  within  the  bounds  of 
Middletown  township,  a burial-ground  has  been 
opened,  in  which  a number  of  interments  have 
been  made,  chiefly  by  people  residing  in  that 
part  of  the  township. 


CHAPTER  XXVIII. 

APOLACON’  TOWNSHIP. 

Apolacon  was  the  twenty-fifth  township 
erected,  and  was  formed  in  pursuance  of  an  or- 
der of  the  court,  bearing  date  November  27, 
1 846,  to  embrace  nine-sixteenths  of  the  area  of 
Choconut.  Its  eastern  line  was  thus  located 
four  and  a half  miles  from  the  Bradford 
County  line,  and  extending  from  noi’th  to  south 
six  miles,  giving  the  new  township  the  ex- 
treme northwestern  corner  of  the  county.  It 
derived  its  name  from  the  creek  which  cuts 
diagonally  through  the  township,  in  a north- 
western course,  and  which  is,  also,  its  principal 
stream.  The  Indian  term  for  this  was  Appela- 
Gunck,  signifying  “From  whence  the  messenger 
comes,”  and  it  has  also  been  written  as  Apala- 
chin,  that  form  of  the  name  being  still  retained 
in  New  York  to  designate  a village  at  the 
juouth  of  the  stream,  where  it  empties  into  the 
Susquehanna  River.  The  general  surface  of 
the  township  is  very  hilly,  varied  only  by  the 
small  vales  along  the  streams  and  the  marshy 
plateau  in  the  southwestern  part  of  the  town- 
ship, known  in  early  times  as  the  Big  Meadow. 
The  waters  here  drain  into  a small  lake,  ex- 
tending into  Bradford  County,  which  has  for 
its  outlet  the  Wappasening  Creek,  flowing 
southwest.  On  the  same  plateau,  less  than  two 
miles  directly  east,  is  Carmalt  or  Wyalusing 
Lake,  a fine  sheet  of  water,  whose  drainage  is 
southward  through  Wyalusing  Creek.  Below 
this  level,  still  farther  eastward,  is  the  small 
divide  separating  the  sources  of  the  North 


Branch  of  the  Wyalusing  and  the  Apolacon, 
which  are  but  a few  rods  apart,  the  waters  flow- 
ing in  almost  opposite  directions.  One  of  the 
sources  of  the  Apolacon  is  in  Bear  Swamp,  in 
the  same  locality,  which  is  a marshy  piece  of 
land,  covered  with  a dense  growth  of  timber, 
which  causes  it  to  differ  from  the  lakes  of  this 
section,  a small  part  only  being  wholly  covered 
with  water.  Before  passing  out  of  the  town- 
ship the  Apolacon  passes  through  a low  piece 
of  land,  from  which  the  timber  had  been  cut 
by  beavers  in  constructing  a dam  across  the 
creek.  These  openings  in  the  woods,  and  the 
flat  nature  of  the  land  caused  this  locality  to 
be  called  Little  Meadows,  a term  which  has 
been  applied  to  the  borough  on  this  tract.  It 
was  here  that  the  first  improvements  were  made 
by  the  white  settlers.  Almost  environing  this 
place  are  a number  of  symmetrical  hills,  which 
do  not  have  any  of  the  marked  features  of 
Briar  Hill,  the  highest  elevation  in  the  town- 
ship. Along  Apolacon  Creek  are  small  salt 
springs ; and  on  the  hillsides  evidences  of  coal 
and  other  minerals  have  been  discovered,  but 
have  not  been  prospected  enough  to  determine 
whether  they  abound  in  paying  quantities.  An 
attempt  to  find  petroleum  at  Bear  Swamp  was 
abandoned,  after  drilling  several  hundred  feet, 
without  satisfying  those  engaged  in  the  enter- 
prise that  no  oil  abounds.  These  conditions, 
and  the  consequent  abundance  of  game  in 
primeval  times,  caused  the  township  to  be  a 
favorite  resort  of  the  Indians,  and  many  of 
their  relics  have  been  found. 

“ Relics  of  Indians  were  found  near  where  the 
beavers  built  tlieir  dam.  Arrow-heads,  of  various 
sizes,  made  of  flint-stone,  were  found  in  considerable 
quantities ; also,  stones  of  exquisite  workmanship, 
the  use  of  which  is  not  known.  One  was  shown  to 
some  Indians  a few  years  ago,  but  they  could  not  tell 
certainly  its  use,  but  suggested  that  it  might  have 
been  used  on  their  war-clubs.  The  stone  itself  was 
peculiar — of  a kind  not  found  in  this  section  of 
country.  One  end  was  worked  to  a very  fine  edge, 
and  flat ; the  other  was  round,  and  very  nicely 
polished.  These  stones  were  of  various  sizes,  ranging 
from  three  to  six  inches  in  length,  and  from  two  to 
three  inches  wide  on  the  edge.  A few  pieces  of  pot- 
tery, made  apparently  of  coarse  sand,  were  also  found 
in  the  vicinity,  generally  five  or  six  inches  under 
ground. 

“ In  cutting  down  maple  trees,  the  early  settlers  dis- 


4G4 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


covered  indications  of  their  having  been  tapped  manj'^ 
times  in  former  years.  Evidently  the  locality  had 
been  a resort  of  the  Indians  in  the  spring  for  making 
sugar,  and  in  the  winter  for  killing  beaver.”^ 

While  a part  of  Luzerne  County,  this  section 
was  included  in  Tioga  township,  in  that  county, 
and  so  continued  until  it  became  a part  of 
Rush,  in  1801.  The  latter  relation  was  sustained 
until  Choconut  was  formed,  in  1814.  In  the 
first  assessment  roll  of  Tioga  township,  in  1796, 
Francis  Johnson  was  taxed  for  lands  on  the 
Appalacunck  Creek,  joining  the  boundary  line  ; 
but  as  only  unseated  lauds  were  mentioned  in 
1799,  it  is  probable  that  no  settlement  was  made 
prior  to  that  period. 

The  Settlers. — No  settlement  appears  to 
have  been  made  until  1800.  That  year  David 
Barney  came  from  Broome  County,  N.  Y.,  and 
located  on  a tract  of  land  at  what  is  now  Little 
Meadows,  purchasing  the  same  of  Tench 
Francis.  He  was  a native  of  New  Hampshire, 
but  had  left  that  State  for  New  York  in  1784. 
For  at  least  four  years  he  was  the  only  white 
settler  in  the  northwestern  part  of  the  county. 
The  Indians  had  removed  from  this  section, 
but  occasionally  returned  to  hunt  along  the 
creek.  One  of  these,  named  Nicholas,  sustained 
friendly  relations  towards  Mr.  Barney,  and 
sometimes  accompanied  him  in  his  hunting  expe- 
ditions. This  dusky  warrior  subsequently  met  a 
tragic  death,  as  related  by  Harry  Barnes, — 

“ It  was  the  rule  or  law  among  the  Indians,  that  if 
an  Indian  married  a second  squaw,  the  children  of  the 
latter  inherited  all  his  property.  Nicholas  moved 
from  the  river,  about  the  time  my  father  settled 
here,  to  the  home  of  the  Oneidas.  Not  long  after,  his 
squaw,  finding  she  must  die  soon  from  consumption, 
poisoned  him  to  death,  that  her  children  might  in- 
herit his  property.  Thus  ended  the  life  of  the  last 
Indian  known  to  have  inhabited  this  part  of  the 
country.” 

Of  the  children  of  David  Barney,  Darius, 
the  oldest,  was  born  in  1801  ; Jonathan  in 
1809;  and  Harry  in  1811.  The  latter  lived 
for  many  years  on  part  of  the  homestead,  keep- 
ing a public-house.  In  later  years  David, 
another  son,  was  born,  and  there  were  five 
daughters.  Three  of  these  married  Richard 


1 Miss  Blackman. 


Collins,  Jotham  Rounds  and  Levi  Jones. 
David  Barney,  the  elder,  was  a great  hunter, 
and  it  was  his  skill  which  relieved  the  suffering 
of  many  families  in  the  pinching  times  of  1816, 
when  he  supplied  them  with  game.  His  neigh- 
bors frequently  worked  for  him  on  his  farm 
while  he  hunted  venison  and  kept  them  from 
starvation.  He  died  March  27,  1852,  in  his 
seventy-seventh  year,  his  wife,  February  20, 
1843,  in  her  sixty-second  year. 

Benaiah  Barney,  a brother  of  David,  came 
about  1806.  Five  years  later  he  erected  the 
first  grist-mill  in  the  township,  while  David 
Barney  had  a saw-mill  near  his  house  a few 
year  after.  Benaiah  Barney  removed  to  In- 
diana with  his  family,  and  but  few  of  the  de- 
scendants of  David  remained  until  recent  years 
outside  of  Little  Meadows. 

In  1805  Joseph  Beebe  came  from  Dutchess 
County,  N.  Y.,  and  settled  on  the  farm  now 
owned  by  M.  Heffron,  below  Bear  Swamp. 
The  improvements  he  made  were  three  miles 
from  any  other  settlement.  His  first  house 
stood  on  the  hillside,  at  the  forks  of  the  road, 
and  after  the  completion  of  the  Owego  turn- 
pike served  as  a place  for  changing  stage-horses. 
Here  travelers  were  also  entertained.  Later  he 
built  the  red  house  by  the  creek,  which  is  one 
of  the  oldest  laud-marks  in  the  township.  On 
the  19th  of  October,  1809,  he  married  Eunice 
Beardslee,  which  was  the  first  marriage  in  the 
township.  Thirteen  of  their  children  attained 
mature  years.  Of  these,  Reuben,  a son,  after- 
wards occupied  the  homestead,  but  moved  to 
New  York,  where  both  he  and  his  father  died. 
Another  son,  Lewis,  moved  to  Middletown. 

Reuben  Beebe,  the  father  of  Joseph,  who  had 
been  a Revolutionary  soldier,  settled  at  Little 
Meadows  in  the  early  part  of  1807.  The  same 
year  Xenia,  his  wife,  died, — the  first  death  in 
the  place.  Joel  Beebe,  a son,  came  to  the  vil- 
lage about  the  same  time. 

Belden  Read  came  to  Little  Meadows  about 
the  same  year,  and  engaged  in  operating  a saw- 
mill until  his  removal,  in  1821.  John  Ander- 
son was  also  here  prior  to  1813,  his  place  pass- 
ing to  James  Hou.se. 

In  1812  the  Barton  family  came  from 
Dutchess  County  and  settled  in  the  vicinity  of 


APOLACON. 


465 


Little  Meadows.  William  Bai  ton  improved  a 
j)laoe  about  a mile  above  Barney’s,  where  lie 
died  in  1856,  and  the  homestead  is  still  occu- 
pied by  his  sou,  Lewis  W.  Barton.  A brother 
of  William,  Lewis,  lived  on  the  farm  next  be- 
low, where  he  died  in  1852.  His  sons  were 
Jacob  and  Edward  Barton,  both  deceased. 
David  Barton  made  an  improvement  on  the 
creek  at  a later  period  ; and  John  Brown  lo- 
cated on  the  Hickey  place  above  Barton’s, 
about  1813.  In  the  same  period  came  Calvin 
Drake,  John  Smith,  Charles  Nichols  and  the 
BulFums, — Benjamin  and  Robert, — locating 
along  the  creek,  some  removing  before  many 
years. 

In  1814  Asahel  Groves,  a blacksmith,  came 
and  occupied  the  place  on  which  had  been  Cal- 
vin Drake,  who  moved  to  New  York;  and 
Caleb  Brainerd  came  the  same  year,  remaining 
a citizen  of  the  township  until  his  death,  in 
1849. 

In  1815  J.  Clifford,  David  Pulcipher  and 
Winthrop  Collins,  Sr.,  were  added  to  the  set- 
tlers. The  latter’s  son,  Winthrop  Collins,  Jr., 
removed  in  1826,  but  the  father  remained  in  the 
township  until  his  death,  in  1828. 

In  1816  a number  of  settlers  took  up  lands 
in  the  township,  among  them  David  Carrier, 
John  Fessenden,  Sr.,  Noah  and  William  Hough- 
ton, Hugh  and  Abraham  Whittaker.  The  lat- 
ter two  finally  lived  just  across  the  line,  in 
Bradford  County. 

James  House  came  the  same  year  and  lived 
at  Little  Meadows.  He  had  three  sons, — 
Ezekiel,  William  and  Royal  E.  William 
House  removed  to  New  Jersey,  and  he  was  the 
father  of  Hon.  William  A.  House,  of  that  State. 
Royal  E.,  the  youngest,  was  but  six  months  old 
when  his  father  moved  from  Vermont,  and 
early  displayed  the  inventive  genius  which,  in 
later  life,  gave  him  so  much  distinction.  “ He 
was  accustomed  to  experiment  in  childhood. 
Once  having  caught  a toad,  he  skinned  it,  placed 
a set  of  springs  in  the  skin  and  made  it  hop.” 
He  is  best  known  as  the  inventor  of  the  “ print- 
ing telegraph.”  From  Little  Meadows  he  re- 
moved to  the  vicinity  of  Binghamton,  having 
a residence  high  up  the  side  of  House’s  Hill. 

In  1817  came  John  Ayer,  Abiel  Bailey,  the 
29^ 


Healds,  Stephen  I.  Jewitt,  Nathaniel  and  Silas 
Balcom  and  Moses  Buffum.  The  latter  re- 
moved to  Bradford  County,  after  a residence 
here  of  seven  years,  and,  in  1824,  his  farm 
passed  into  the  hands  of  O.  B.  Haight,  who 
came  that  year.  While  living  in  Apolacon, 
Buffum  was  taxed  with  “ one  negro  slave.” 
Alfred  Heald  lived  on  the  turnpike,  near 
Frieudsville,  where  he  died  in  December,  1835, 
aged  forty-one  years. 

Silas  Beardslee  settled  in  Middletown,  but 
after  his  death  his  widow  and  her  son,  Silas, 
came  to  Apolacon,  about  1822,  and  located  on 
a farm  two  and  a half  miles  south  of  Little 
Meadows.  Silas  Beardslee  has  lived  in  Little 
Meadows  since  1853,  and  is  the  father  of  E.  B. 
Beardslee,  of  that  village. . 

“The  first  thoroughly  educated  man  who  settled  in 
Apolacon  was  Samuel  Milligan.  In  1820  he  was 
taxed  for  three  thousand  acres.  He  was  born  in 
Philadelphia  April  18, 1789  ; graduated  at  Princeton 
College,  New  Jersey,  at  the  age  of  seventeen ; studied 
law  in  compliance  with  the  wishes  of  his  family,  and 
practiced  at  the  Philadelphia  bar,  acting  for  some 
years  as  the  attorney  for  the  Bingham  estate.  He 
was  persuaded  to  buy  lands  in  Susquehanna  County, 
thus  relinquishing  the  law,  which  was  never  the  pro- 
fession of  his  choice.  He  bought  a large  tract  in  the 
then  township  of  Choconut,  and  entered  largely  into 
farming. 

“ He  moved  to  Ellerslie  in  the  summer  of  1821,  and 
became  heartily  devoted  to  the  interests  of  his  new 
home.  Ellerslie  was  on  a ridge  dividing  the  town- 
ships of  Choconut  and  Apolacon,  when  the  latter  was 
erected.  The  house  was  built  in  the  English  style, 
with  arched  windows,  and  occupied  considerable 
ground  ; it  has  since  been  divided,  and  a part  moved 
away. 

“Mr.  Milligan  was  appointed  justice  of  the  peace 
(of  Choconut,  inclusive  of  Apolacon)  at  the  earnest 
solicitation  of  his  neighbors,  and  afterwards  town 
clerk,  which  latter  office  he  held  again  and  again,  to 
the  great  accommodation  of  the  township. 

“ In  1830,  Ellerslie  post-office  was  established,'  S. 
Milligan,  postmaster ; and  although  it  paid  expenses, 
his  own  mail  was  often  all  the  bag  contained. 

“He  was  an  ardent  Whig,  and  by  his  personal  in- 
fluence and  writings  he  contributed  much  to  the 
cause,  particularly  in  the  fall  of  1832,  when  by  his 
writings  he  was  said  to  have  caused  a great  change 
in  sentiment  throughout  the  country.  Although  all 
his  life  interested  in  politics,  he  never  wished  to 
enter  into  the  excitement  of  political  life  or  to  accept 
office  save  in  the  service  of  the  county,  for  whose 
benefit  he  labored. 


466 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


“ In  1832  he  actively  advocated  the  construction  of 
a railroad  to  connect  Owego  with  the  Lackawanna 
coal-field  hy  the  way  of  Apolacon  Creek,  etc.  [See 
Roads.] 

‘‘  In  1842  Mr.  Milligan  was  again  urged  to  accept  a 
nomination  as  justice  of  the  peace,  which  he  re- 
peatedly refused,  but  finally  accepted  on  the  grounds, 
as  his  friends  insisted,  that  no  other  Whig  could  gain 
the  election  (the  township  being  Democratic),  and  he 
was  elected.  He  was  a man  of  strict  integrity,  of  fine 
talents  and  extensive  reading.  He  was  one  of  the 
first  promoters  and  directors  of  public  schools ; and 
so  earnest  was  he  that  all  should  be  benefited,  that 
when,  by  his  entreaties,  he  failed  to  get  the  consent 
of  the  people  to  send  their  children  to  school,  he  ap- 
pealed to  their  priest  to  require  it  of  them.  His  zeal 
was  equally  great  for  good  roads  throughout  the  town- 
ship. At  one  time,  losing  all  patience  on  account  of 
a bad  piece  of  road  near  his  house,  he  requested  his 
friends  to  make  him  supervisor,  which  they  did,  and 
thus  the  roads  were  jJut  in  order. 

“ He  was  largely  instrumental  in  building  the 
Presbyterian  Church  at  Friendsville,  of  which  he  was 
an  elder  and  trustee. 

“ In  1847,  at  the  earnest  wish  of  his  family  to  re- 
turn to  the  old  homestead,  he  removed  to  Phoenix- 
ville,  Chester  County.  In  the  latter  place  he  was 
again  active  in  building  a Presbyterian  Church,  in 
which  he  served  as  elder  and  ti’ustee  until  his  death, 
April  24,  1854."  ^ 

In  1825  a man  named  Hugh  Bois  settled  in 
the  northeastern  part  of  the  township,  building 
a shanty  and  making  some  other  slight  im- 
provements, but  did  not  remain  long.  From 
his  residence  the  swamp  at  that  place  was 
named,  though  often  incorrectly  written  as  one 
word,  Hubois. 

In  1828  Caleb  Carmalt  purchased  nearly  all 
of  Dr.  Rose’s  unseated  lands  in  the  present 
township  of  Apolacon,  and  large  tracts  are  still 
owned  by  the  heirs  of  that  family.  On  a farm 
at  Wyalusing  Lake  lived  his  eldest  son,  Samuel 
Fisher  Carmalt,  who  had  greatly  interested 
himself  in  the  affairs  of  the  township,  and 
whose  early  death  was  felt  to  be  a serious  loss 
to  the  agriculturists  of  the  county.  West 
from  this  lake  is  the  Welsh  settlement,  and 
Evan  Evans  and  John  Jones,  of  that  nationality, 
were  early  settlers  in  that  part  extending  into 
Apolacon  township. 

Miss  Blackman  states  that  Edward  and 
Patrick  O’Shaughnessy  were  the  first  Irishmen 

1 Miss  Blackman’s  “ History.” 


to  settle  in  Apolacon,  coming  about  1831. 
Since  that  time  large  numbers  have  come  in, 
and  the  present  inhabitants  of  the  township  are 
nearly  all  Irish  or  of  Irish  descent.  They  own 
the  best  improved  farms,  and  have  manifested  a 
commendable  interest  in  the  affairs  of  the 
township.  The  names  of  these  later  settlers 
(some  of  whom  hewed  out  their  own  farms, 
while  many  others  occupy  the  lands  which  had 
been  improved  by  the  settlers  above  noted,  or 
their  descendants)  appear  in  the  following  list 
of  taxables,  after  the  township  was  set  off  from 
Choconut.  It  will  be  seen  that  the  li.st  contains 
the  names  of  a considerable  number  of  original 
settlers,  but  in  the  list  of  1886  only  a few  of 
these  names  can  be  found. 

Taxables  of  1847. — Isaac  Ayer,  Walter  B.  Arnold,  David  Buffum, 
Charles  Buffum,  Avery  Beebe,  Lewis  Beebe,  Joseph  Beebe,  David  Bar* 
nej',  Jonathan  Barney,  Harry  Barney,  Lewis  Barton,  William  Barton, 
Edward  Barton,  H.  Barton,  John  Bruff,  Rowland  Baxton,  Caleb 
Brainerd,  Erastus  Brainerd,  Silas  Beardslee,  Henry  Cox,  John  Cum- 
mins, Richard  Collins,  M.  Collins,  Jeremiah  Cornelia,  Timothy  Croning, 
Plant  Clifford,  John  Clifford,  Richard  Clifford,  Peter  Clifford,  Dennis 
Conklin,  Michael  Conklin,  Jeremiah  Conklin,  John  Cain,  David  Carrier, 
Thomas  Clavy,  Edward  Cransie,  John  Curley,  John  H.  Curley,  Cornelius 
Curley,  Bridget  Cary,  Michael  Cunningham,  Patrick  Cunningham, 
Canfield  Dayton,  Timothy  Daley,  Thomas  Daude,  James  Donnelly, 
Ezekiel  Daniel,  John  Dugan,  Geo.  W.  Dickerson,  Israel  Evans,  Ansel 
Fox,  Terrence  Fehan,  Johnson  Foster,  John  Foster,  Orlando  Foster, 
Win.  W.  Fooks,  John  Fessenden,  Chester  Fessenden,  Thomas  Fallohe, 
Thomas  Greeban,  Thomas  Greeban,  Jr.,  John  Gardner,  Timothy  Griffin, 
Patrick  Green,  James  Goff,  Patrick  Garvey,  Asahel  Graves,  Edward 
Heald,  John  Hardin,  John  Hickey,  James  Hickey,  John  Halpin,  Daniel 
Heal,  John  Hand,  Wm.  Hand,  Wm.  Haughton,  Wm.  House,  Ezekiel 
House,  James  House,  0.  B.  Haight,  John  Jones,  Edward  Kimball, 
Howard  Kimball,  Martin  Lahan,  James  Lahan,  John  Laban,  John 
Matthews,  Samuel  Milligan,  James  McMann,  Patrick  Moi'an,  Stephen 
B.  Mead,  Barney  MeSherrer,  John  McGrath,  Abraham  Northrop,  Pat- 
rick Neville,  Michael  Nolan,  Patrick  O’Shaughnessy,  Perry  Pierce, 
Susan  Peironnet,  David  Robbe,  Wm.  Robbe,  Peter  Rearden,  Thomas 
Bearden,  Cornelius  Ragan,  William  Ragan,  John  Ragan,  Levi  Ring, 
Jesse  Ring,  Daniel  Ring,  Richard  Ring,  Patrick  Ryan,  Jeremiah  Ryan, 
Thomas  Rooney,  Michael  Rooney,  Garrard  Shaughussy,  Michael  Sliaug- 
hussy,  Patrick  Shaughussy,  Win.  Steamburgh,  Patrick  Skelley,  Timothy 
Sullivan,  Joseph  Siddels,  Charles  Tooker,  James  Tucker,  Simeon  Wil- 
liams, Nathan  West,  Alfred  T.  Wilson,  Henry  Whittaker,  Patrick 
Welsh. 

Little  Meadows  Borough. — This  borough 
has  a pleasant  location  on  both  sides  of  the 
Apolacon  Creek,  in  the  extreme  northwest  of 
Apolacou  township.  It  is  seven  miles  distant 
from  Friendsville  and  about  the  same  distance 
from  Campville,  the  nearest  shipping  point  on 
the  Erie  Railroad,  in  the  State  of  New  York. 
It  has  two  churches,  a school-house,  two  taverns, 
three  stores,  half  a dozen  manufacturing  estab- 
lishments and  several  dozen  residences.  Many 
of  the  latter  are  new  and  have  attractive  archi- 
tecture. The  village  is  a good  business  point, 


APOLACON. 


467 


and  the  thrift  and  enterprise  of  its  inhabitants 
is  apparent  in  the  well-kept  appearance  of  the 
place.  At  this  point  were  some  of  the  earliest 
settlements  in  this  part  of  the  county,  as  is 
related  in  the  annals  of  Apolacon  township,  and 
the  locality  was  early  called  Little  Meadows 
from  the  small  openings  along  the  creek.  Though 
a village  for  more  than  half  a century,  its 
principal  growth  has  taken  place  within  the 
past  ten  years,  being  stimulated  by  the  promise 
of  a railroad  which  has  not  yet  been  built. 

General  Interests. — The  ordinary  agri- 

cultural pursuits  engage  the  attention  of  the 
people  of  Apolacon  almost  exclusively.  What- 
ever business  interests  in  the  way  of  trade  and 
manufacturing  have  been  created  have  been  con- 
centrated in  the  borough  of  Friendsville  and 
Little  Meadows,  where  they  are  separately 
detailed.  For  a short  time  only  was  a store 
kept  about  two  miles  above  the  latter  village  by 
William  Buffum,  Cornelius  Donnelly  and  others, 
and  in  1857  the  Little  Meadows  post-office 
was  kept  there  a few  months.  On  the  Owego 
turnpike,  where  it  crosses  Bear  Swamp,  George 
Dickerson  had  a public-house,  which  was  a 
noted  landmark  in  those  days.  In  1850  it 
became  the  property  of  Hiram  Cook  and  after 
having  had  many  owners  was  burned  down 
On  the  hill  towards  Friendsville  was  the  stage- 
house  kept  by  Widow  Lucy  Hale.  Here 
horses  were  changed  both  going  and  coming 
from  Owego,  a stable  of  eight  horses  being 
usually  kept. 

Some  parts  of  the  township  appear  to  be 
especially  well  adapted  for  fruit  culture,  and 
fine  orchards  may  be  found.  In  1869  Patrick 
Harding  raised  an  apple  of  the  ox-heart  species 
which  measured  fourteen  and  seven-eighth  inches 
in  circumference,  and  weighed  one  pound  and 
seven  ounces. 

John  Ragan,  an  Irishman  of  the  township, 
retained  his  vigor  until  he  was  more  than  one 
hundred  and  four  years  old. 

The  Incorporation. — As  early  as  1856  an 
effort  was  made  to  secure  corporate  privileges 
for  the  village,  and  in  November  of  that  year 
the  County  Court  was  petitioned  to  erect  the 
borough  of  Little  Meadows,  one  and  three- 
quarters  miles  square.  Its  decision  in  favor  of 


the  petitioners  was  reversed  by  the  Supreme 
Court  the  following  year,  on  account  of  the 
extensive  area.  In  August,  1859,  a decree  of 
incorporation  was  again  allowed  by  the  lower 
court,  which  was  passed  on  adversely  by  the 
Supreme  Court.  It  was  not  until  the  Legis- 
lature passed  a special  act,  March  27,  1862,  that 
Little  Meadows  was  privileged  to  become  a 
borough.  Its  bounds  as  fixed  by  the  act  have 
been  unchanged  and  are  as  follows  : Eastward, 
along  the  State  line,  five  hundred  and  sixty 
rods,  thence  south  four  hundred  rods,  thence 
west  to  a point  on  the  Bradford  County  line, 
four  hundred  and  thirty  rods  south  of  the  place 
of  beginning. 

At  the  first  election,  in  May,  1862,  the  follow- 
ing were  elected  ; 

Burgess,  Wm.  A.  House  ; Councilmen,  E.  B.  Bearclslee,  Darius  Barney, 
H.  P.  Kimball,  John  Kimball;  Street  Commissioner,  Avery  Beebe  ; 
Clerk,  H.  P.  Kimball. 

Since  that  period  the  following  have  been  the 
burgesses  and  the  clerks  : 

1863,  D.  R.  Garfield,  Harry  Barney  ; 1864,  Wm.  A.  House,  Harry 
Barney;  1865-67,  Harry  Barney,  E.  B.  Beardslee ; 1868,  Harry  Barney, 
James  H.  Fox  ; 1869,  Silas  Beardslee,  D.  R.  Garfield  ; 1870-71,  Harry 
Barney,  J.  T.  Woolhiser  ; 1872,  Martin  Newman,  J.  M.  Newman  ; 1873- 
75,  Oliver  James,  Martin  Newman  ; 1875,  Oliver  James,  S.  A.  Pitcher  ; 
1876,  P.  Hinds,  L.  W.  Borton  ; 1877,  J.  Barney,  L.  W.  Borton  ; 1878,  S. 
A.  Pitcher,  I.  R.  Beardslee  ; 1879,  Bela  Fairchild,  I.  R.  Beardslee  ; 
1880-82,  T.  W.  Tinker,  I.  R.  Beardslee  ; 1883,  Oliver  James,  0.  E.  May- 
hew  ; 1884,  John  Beardslee,  0.  E.  Mayhew  ; 1885,  Oliver  James,  I.  R 
Beardslee  ; 1886,  T.  W.  Tinker,  I.  R.  Beardslee. 

The  borough  polls  about  fifty  votes  and  has 
been  materially  benefited  by  exercising  its 
privileges,  its  streets  being  much  improv^ed  and 
the  standard  of  the  school  elevated. 

Business  Interests. — Wm.  Dobson  had  one  of 
the  first,  if  not  the  first,  stores  in  the  village, 
near  where  E.  B.  Beardslee  built  the  first  regu- 
lar store,  in  1857,  and  where  he  has  since  traded. 
Ten  years  later  D.  R.  Garfield  opened  a shoe- 
store,  and  other  branches  of  the  trade  were  ad- 
ded, the  store  being  kept  at  present  by  C.  M. 
Garfield.  A third  good  store  was  opened  in 
1882  by  T.  W.  Tinker.  Before  1860,  Harry 
Barney  sold  goods  in  a small  way  at  his  temper- 
ance hotel,  which  has  been  opened  for  the  enter- 
tainment of  the  public  the  past  twenty-five  years, 
the  present  proprietor  being  J.  A.  Bangs.  In 
1870  a second  public-house  was  built  by  Mar- 
tin Newman,  where  P.  F.  Boland  has  served  as 
a landlord  since  November,  1886. 


468 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


Little  Mixidoivs  post-office  was  establislied  Feb- 
ruary 22,  1834,  William  Dobson  first  post 
master.  Pie  was  succeeded.  May  17,  1834,  by 
Darius  Barney,  followed  by  Harry  Barney, 
1840;  Jonathan  Barney,  1843;  Mary  Barney, 
1848  ; Isaac  Ayer,  1849  ; Harry  Barney,  1853  ; 
William  Buffnm,  1856 ; Patrick  Smullan, 
1857  ; Edward  B.  Beardslee,  1861  ; Irwin  R. 
Beaixlslee,  1870;  Patrick  R.  Brennan,  1885. 

Dr.  P.  R.  Brennan  is  the  only  resident  phy- 
sician, having  been  in  practice  since  August, 
1882.  Other  practitioners  in  the  village  have 
been  Doctors  Ezekiel  Daniels,  W.  L.  Claggett, 
Jonathan  Barney,  A.  H.  Bolles,  J.  M.  Harding, 
Geo.  AV.  Beach,  Jr.,  M.  Newman  and  Geo.  Hast- 
ings. 

In  1811  Benaiah  Barney  erected  a grist-mill 
at  Little  Meadows,  the  first  improvement  of  the 
kind  in  these  parts.  Its  capacity  was  quite 
small,  but  the  mill  was  used  many  years,  having 
as  later  owners  Edward  Hazzard  and  William 
House.  While  owned  by  the  latter.  Royal  House 
used  some  of  the  water-power  to  operate  wood- 
working machinery,  to  make  wash-tubs  and 
pails.  Later  he  had  a small  shop  farther  up  the 
village.  George  Palmer  became  the  owner  of 
the  mill,  but  sold  out,  in  1877,  to  Frank  O.  Pal- 
mer, the  present  proprietor.  He  supplied  new 
machinery  and,  in  1880,  added  steam-power  to 
operate  both  saw  and  grist-mills.  In  1884  he 
put  in  planing  machinery,  and  has  since  oper- 
ated on  an  extensive  scale,  employing  twelve  men. 

In  the  lower  part  of  the  village  David  Bar- 
ney and  Belden  Read  got  a saw-mill  in  opera- 
tion in  1816,  but  five  years  later  the  latter  re- 
moved to  Indiana  and  Barney  alone  carried  on 
the  mill.  After  1845  Nathaniel  Deuel  was 
the  owner  of  the  property,  which  has  been  aban- 
doned. Near  by  was  a carding-mill,  which  has 
been  removed,  and  a part  of  the  site  was  used, 
in  1883,  by  AYard  Deuel  for  a large  creamery. 
It  is  a three-story  structure,  forty  by  forty-eight 
feet,  and  is  supplied  with  power  from  a large 
engine,  located  between  that  building  and  a saw- 
mill, twenty-four  by  sixty  feet,  which  has  a cut- 
ting capacity  of  ten  thousand  feet  per  day. 
Both  the  mill  and  the  creamery  are  the  proper- 
ty of  Ward  Deuel,  and  are  supplied  with  fine 
machinery,  the  creamery  using  the  milk  of  nine  : 


hundred  cows.  On  the  opposite  side  of  the 
creek  a planing-mill  and  shingle-mill  was  erec- 
ted in  1879  by  J.  M.  Gould,  which  was  carried 
on  in  1886  by  E.  B.  Williams  and  Clark  Mc- 
Millan. The  manufacture  of  clothes-pins  has 
lately  been  here  begun.  This  mill  and  a neigh- 
boring one,  establi,shed  by  J.  M.  Gould,  in  the 
fall  of  1844,  are  also  operated  by  steam-power. 
At  the  latter  place  boxes  and  shingles  are  made. 
The  ordinary  mechanic  trades  have  been  carried 
on  since  the  village  was  started.  Asabel  Graves, 
Noah  Houghton  and  Patrick  Smullen  were 
early  blacksmiths  ; and  William  House,  Ezekiel 
House,  Royal  A.  House,  George  Palmer  and 
G.  A,  Rice  have  been  workers  in  wood. 

Religious  meetings  were  held  a number  of 
years  before  any  regular  organization  was  per- 
fected. Soon  after  1814  Asahel  Graves,  Sr.,  a 
layman  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  collected 
the  few  scattered  inhabitants  about  what  is  now 
Little  Meadows,  and  conducted  religious  ser- 
vices, often  reading  a sermon.  Not  long  after. 
Elder  Davis  Dimock  visited  this  section,  and 
about  1816  organized  a Baptist  Church  here. 
The  membership  in  Apolacon  was  small,  and 
meetings  were  not  long  held  in  this  State  ; but 
the  interests  were  concentrated  in  New  York, 
about  two  miles  north  from  Little  Meadows, 
where  a house  of  worship  was  built  in  1845, 
and  where  the  congregation  has  since  maintained 
a flourishing  existence.  This  organization  ante- 
dates all  others  that  have  been  in  the  extreme 
northwestern  part  of  the  county,  and  supplied  a 
number  of  members  for  a Free-Will  Baptist 
Society,  organized  about  1818  by  Elder  John 
Gould,  who  later  embraced  the  Mormon  doc- 
trine and  became  a follower  of  Joe  Smith. 
Others  of  the  members  connected  themselves  in 
a similar  manner  and  mo.st  of  the  remainder 
removed,  leaving  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  the  only  organized  body  in  the  village. 
The  doctrines  of  this  sect  were  proclaimed  as 
early  as  1809  by  Missionaries  Loring  Grant 
and  others ; but  it  was  not  until  some  ten  years 
later  that  a class  was  formed  by  John  Griffin, 
of  which  John  Clifford  became  the  leader  soon 
after,  and  served  in  that  relation  many  years. 
The  first  members  of  the  class  were  John  Brown 
and  wife,  Charles  Nichols  and  wife,  Benjamin 


APOLACON. 


469 


Buffiim  and  wife,  Wiiithrop  Collins  and  wife 
and  Mrs.  John  Clifford.  Among  the  pioneer 
ministers  who  visited  Little  Meadows  and 
preached  after  this  were  the  Revs.  Solon  Stock- 
ing, Joseph  Towner,  Erastus  Smith,  Thomas 
Davy,  John  Griffin  and  Morgan  Rugar.  The 
first  named  was  the  presiding  elder,  and  the 
quarterly  meetings  were  held  in  a carding-mill, 
which  stood  near  the  present  creamery,  the  ordi- 
nary meetings  being  held  in  the  school-honse  or 
at  the  homes  of  the  members. 

On  the  16th  of  July,  1844,  the  church  became 
a corporate  body,  with  John  Clifford,  Obadiah 
B.  Haight,  Howard  Kimball,  Jacob  Barton, 
Abel  Merrill,  Stephen  Burton  and  Asahel 
Graves  as  trustees.  The  following  year  a plain 
meeting-house  was  built  in  the  village,  which 
was  used  until  1865,  when  it  was  enlarged,  a 
spire  with  a bell  provided,  and  other  improve- 
ments made,  at  an  outlay  of  twenty- two  hundred 
dollars.  In  1884  the  church  was  modernized 
and  made  more  attractive,  and  the  value  of  the 
property  was  placed  at  three  thousand  dollars. 
The  parsonage  was  estimated  worth  eight  hun- 
dred dollars.  In  1886  the  board  of  trustees 
controlling  it  was  composed  of  Ansel  Fox, 
Lewis  Barton,  Asahel  Graves,  James  Fox  and 
Irwin  Beardslee. 

The  congregation  at  Little  Meadows  has  been 
served  in  connection  with  other  charges  usually 
in  Bradford  County,  and  had  in  1886  about 
seventy  members.  The  ministers  in  charge  of 
the  circuit  since  1855  have  been  the  Revs. 
Joseph  Witham,  Isaac  P.  Towner,  Edgar  Sib- 
ley, N.  B.  Marcy,  A.  C.  Sherrer,  Asa  Brooks, 
Ira  D.  Warren,  C.  E.  Taylor,  G.  W.  Reynolds, 
W.  Keatley,  IST.  S.  De  Witt,  M.  E.  Bramhall, 
W.  R.  Cochrane  and,  since  1884,  D.  C.  Barnes. 
An  interesting  Sunday-school  is  maintained  by 
the  church. 

“ An  effort  was  made  in  1823  by  Elder  Edward 
Dodge  (Baptist)  to  establish  a Sunday-school,  but  it 
proved  a failure,  possibly  because  the  Sunday-school 
hymns  were  not  then  attractive.  A verse  of  one  is 
here  given  as  a specimen  (No.  102,  Watts) : 

“ ‘ No,  I’ll  repine  at  death  no  more, 

But,  with  a cheerful  gasp  resign 
To  the  cold  dungeon  of  the  grave 
These  dying,  withering  limbs  of  mine.’ 

“ In  1824  Miss  Polly  Graves  collected  the  children 
together,  and  spent  an  hour  each  Sabbath  morning 


and  afternoon  in  explaining  to  them  the  word  of  God, 
but  it  was  not  until  the  following  year  that  a regular 
organization  was  effected  by  William  Dobson.  This 
Sunday-school  has  been  continued  to  the  present 
time,  being  the  one  now  kept  in  the  Methodist 
Church.  Its  first  officers  were  William  Dobson,  su- 
perintendent; Benajab  Barney,  president;  Lewis 
Barton,  treasurer;  William  House,  librarian;  and 
Jacob  Barton,  secretary. 

“ In  the  summer  of  1828  there  was  a great  Sunday- 
school  celebration  at  Owego,  N.  Y.,  when  seventy- 
eight  scholars  from  this  vicinity,  under  the  superin- 
tendence of  William  Dobson,  were  present.  Each 
scholar  wore  around  the  neck  a blue  ribbon,  having 
a Testament  suspended  from  it.  There  were  fourteen 
wagons  in  the  procession,  while  some  persons  went  on 
horseback  and  other  on  foot.  Many  were  barefoot, 
and  all  were  dressed  in  homespun.  A Bible  had 
been  offered  by  Charles  B.  Pixley,  of  Owego,  to  the 
school  best  represented  at  this  celebration,  and  Super- 
intendent Dobson,  in  behalf  of  his  scholars,  had  the 
honor  of  bearing  off  the  prize,  which,  by  a vote  of  the 
school,  was  afterwards  presented  to  him  as  a token  of 
kind  regard.”  ^ 

The  First  Pre.sbyterian  Church  of  Little 
Meadows  became  an  incorporated  body  Septem- 
ber 2,  1878,  on  the  petition  of  Howard  Kimball, 
John  Beardslee,  Thomas  W.  Tinker,  D.  O. 
Minkler,  R.  V.  Beardslee  and  S.  A.  Pitcher, 
who  were  also  elected  as  the  first  ruling  elders 
and  trustees  of  the  congregation,  which  had 
been  organized  in  the  early  part  of  the  year 
with  eighteen  members.  Soon  thereafter  the 
building  of  a chapel  was  begun,  which  was  com- 
pleted for  dedication  in  June,  1878.  It  is  a 
plain  frame  structure,  and  cost  fifteen  hundred 
dollars.  The  congregation  has  increased  its 
membership  to  fifty,  but  has  never  had  a regu- 
lar pastor.  The  stated  supplies  have  been  the 
Rev.  James  M.  Wilson,  six  years;  the  Rev. 
C.  J.  Forsyth,  one  year ; and  the  Rev.  J.  A. 
Rosser,  in  the  fall  of  1886,  preaching  every 
Sabbath  afternoon. 

A Sabbath-school  has  been  continuously 
maintained  under  the  superintendence  of  T.  W. 
Tinker  and  R.  L.  Beardslee. 

A movement  was  made  in  the  fall  of  1886 
to  erect  a Roman  Catholic  Church  at  Little 
Meadows  at  an  early  day,  and  at  this  time  (De- 
cember 1,  1886)  more  than  three  thousand  dol- 
lar’s has  been  secured  for  that  purpose,  assuring 
the  success  of  the  undertaking. 

1 Mias  Blackman. 


470 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


Maplewood  Cemetery,  in  the  western  portion 
of  the  borongli,  contains  about  one  acre  of 
ground,  plotted  into  seventy -two  lots.  It  is 
controlled  by  an  incorporated  body,  chartered 
April  5,  18(35,  and  having  as  corporators  E.  B. 
Beardslee,  Harry  Barney,  L.  W.  Barton  and 
Silas  Beardslee.  The  place  was  consecrated  to 
the  dead  in  October,  1864,  when  William 
House  was  the  first  interred  in  the  cemetery. 
Since  that  time  many  burials  have  taken  place, 
and  it  now  holds  nearly  all  those  formerly 
buried  in  the  small  grave-yard  in  the  central 
part  of  the  village,  which  was  ordered  to  be 
vacated  in  the  fall  of  1884.  Nearly  two  hun- 
dred remains  were  taken  up  the  following  win- 
ter, and  this  old  burial-place  was  devoted  to 
other  uses. 


CHAPTER  XXIX. 

CHOCONUT  TOWNSHIP. 

At  the  first  term  of  court  held  in  Susque- 
hanna County,  in  January,  1813,  a petition  was 
presented  for  the  erection  of  a new  township, 
eight  miles  square,  from  the  northern  part  of 
Rush  township,  at  that  time  extending  to  the 
State  line,  and  that  the  same  be  called  Choco- 
nut.  A remonstrance  being  presented,  it  was 
not  allowed  that  term  ; but  a petition  to  divide 
Rush  into  three  townships  met  with  greater 
favor,  and  a decree  was  entered,  finally,  January 
1814,  whereby  Choconut  was  erected  to  em- 
brace all  that  part  of  Rush  extending  six  miles 
south  of  the  State  line  and  eight  miles  from 
east  to  west.  This  area  was  retained  until  1846, 
when  more  than  half  of  the  western  part  was 
shorn  off  to  form  Apolacon.  Two  years  later 
the  southwestern  corner  was  included  in  the 
borough  of  Eriendsville ; but  since  that  time 
the  bounds  have  remained  unchanged.  On  the 
east  Choconut  borders  on  Silver  Lake  and  south 
is  Forest  Lake  township. 

Choconut  derives  its  name  from  the  creek 
which  traverses  its  entire  length  from  south  to 
north,  and  along  which  is  a small  valley  of  sin- 
gular beauty,  bearing  the  same  name.  It  is  an 
Indian  term  whose  meaning  is  not  clear,  and  its 


spelling  is  also  varied,  appearing  as  Chuohnut 
in  some  of  the  early  records.  The  stream  rises 
in  Forest  Lake  township,  on  the  divide  which 
separates  it  from  the  valley  of  the  middle  branch 
of  Wyalusing  Creek,  but  it  is  soon  fed  by  afflu- 
ents from  the  west  and  the  east,  some  of  them 
rising  in  small  lakes.  The  largest  of  them, 
called  Choconut  Lake,  is  a beautiful  sheet  of 
water  and  partakes  of  the  general  characteristics 
of  a lake,  while  the  others  are  more  of  the  na- 
ture of  ponds.  Their  outlets  afford  small  mill- 
sites,  which  were  improved  at  an  early  day,  but 
the  water-power  failing,  they  are  not  so  much 
utilized  at  present.  Formerly  these  ponds  were 
well  filled  with  fish,  usually  of  the  genus  salmo, 
and,  in  the  fall  of  the  year,  they  were  visited  by 
large  numbers  of  wild  geese  and  ducks.  The 
surrounding  country  being  broken,  and  origi- 
nally well-timbered,  wild  animals  and  game 
abound.  Deer  were  especially  plenty  and  pan- 
thers and  wild-cats  were  quite  frequently  seen. 
As  the  country  became  cleared  up  these  disap- 
peared, and  but  little  game  is  now  found. 
Much  the  greater  part  of  the  surface  of  the 
township  is  hilly,  about  one-fourth  only,  along 
the  Choconut,  being  level.  Here  the  soil  is  fer- 
tile, and  .some  fine  farms  have  been  made.  The 
hill  country  is  not  as  rich,  but  gives  good  re- 
turns under  skillful  cultivation.  What  was 
thought  of  this  country  by  a visitor  to  this  sec- 
tion, in  1821,  may  be  learned  from  the  letter 
below,  written  by  Samuel  Baldwin,  of  Chester 
County,  and  printed  in  the  Village  Record,  of 
that  county  : 

“The  county  is,  as  respects  the  surface,  what  is  gen- 
erally called  a ridgy  or  rolling  surface — very  few  of 
the  hills  too  steep  for  cultivation,  and  their  summits 
appear  equally  fertile  with  any  other  part.  In  the 
hollows  or  valleys  there  are  delightful  clear  streams, 
a proportion  of  which  are  large  enough  for  any  kind 
of  water-works,  and  they  abound  with  trout  and 
other  kind  of  fish.  I think  it  the  best  watered  coun- 
try in  my  knowledge.  From  a free  conversation  with 
the  inhabitants,  I was  assured  that  the  air  was  gener- 
ally serene  and  clear,  the  climate  very  healthy — sel- 
dom, if  ever,  any  fog — clear  of  fever  and  ague,  or  fall 
fever.  The  Friends’  settlement  is  called  Friendsville, 
and  is  situated  on  the  great  western  turnpike  leading 
to  the  Lake  Country.  There  are  divers  turnpikes 
passing  through  said  county  from  Philadelphia  and 
New  York,  and  our  navigable  waters  furnish  an  easy 


CHOCONUT. 


471 


mode  for  the  conveyance  of  produce  to  those  mar- 
kets— say  one  hundred  and  sixty  to  one  hundred  and 
eighty  miles  distant — and  there  is  a prospect  of 
having  the  distance  considerably  shortened.” 

The  settlement  of  the  township  was  begun  in 
1806,  along  Chocouut  Creek,  by  Janies  Rose, 
James  Thayer,  David  Owen,  John  Lozier  and 
James  Wiuchell.  The  latter  remained  but  a 
short  time,  and  Lozier,  too,  left  after  a few 
years.  Owen  came  from  Connecticut,  and  was 
reputed  a good  farmer.  Thayer  was  from  New 
York,  and  besides  improving  a farm,  was  also 
a milhvright.  His  sons,  Hiram  and  Thomas, 
were  reputed  great  deer-hunters. 

James  Rose  located  on  the  flat  known  as  the 
farm  of  Michael  Donnelly  (2d) — as  fine  a piece 
of  land  as  there  is  in  the  township.  He  was 
well  educated,  by  profession  a surveyor,  and 
was  an  agent  for  lands  in  this  section.  His  wife 
died  in  1816,  and  of  his  family  of  eleven  chil- 
dren, but  one,  Mrs.  Horace  Bliss,  remained 
long  in  the  county.  Mr.  Rose  removed  to 
Silver  Lake,  where  he  lived  near  the  residence 
of  his  brother.  Dr.  Robert  H.  Rose.  Below 
Rose’s  place  on  the  Choconut,  and  near  the 
State  line,  Joseph  Addison,  a Protestant  Scotch- 
Irishman,  settled  in  1808.  He  came  to  this 
country  in  1798,  but  lived  first  in  Ulster  Co., 
N.  Y.,  where  he  married  Sarah  Chambers, 
daughter  of  Cornelius  Chambers,  of  Revolu- 
tionary fame.  He  died  in  April,  1849,  aged 
seventy-two  years,  and  his  wife  a few  months 
earlier.  Their  son  Isaac  was  the  first  white 
child  born  in  Choconut.  Of  their  ten  children, 
the  only  one  resident  in  the  county  is  the  wife 
of  John  B.  Wilson,  of  Middletown.  Edward 
Cox  had  been  in  Lawsville  as  early  as  1805,  but 
came  to  this  locality  about  the  same  time  as 
Addison,  clearing  up  a farm  farther  up  the 
creek,  and  lived  there  until  his  death,  in  1821. 
He  was  the  father  of  sons  named  Edward  and 
Thomas,  and  a daughter  Sabra,  who  taught  the 
first  school  in  Choconut,  in  the  Cox  house.  In 
the  lower  part  of  the  township  were  the  three 
Chalker  brothers — Daniel,  Joseph  and  Charles 
— some  of  whose  descendants  still  remain  in  the 
township,  while  others  removed  to  Liberty.  This 
is  one  of  the  few  early  family  names  which  has 
been  perpetuated  in  Choconut,  most  of  the  pres- 


ent inhabitants  being  of  Irish  descent,  while 
the  first  settlers  were  of  New  England  origin. 

Bela  Moore  lived  on  the  creek  where  the  out- 
let of  the  lake  joins  in,  and  was,  in  his  time, 
one  of  the  most  prominent  citizens  of  the 
township. 

In  1810  Adam  Carman,  a great  hunter,  be- 
came a settler  of  Chocouut,  purchasing  a tract 
of  land  near  the  lake  from  Dr.  Rose.  From 
this  circumstance  the  lake  was  first  called  Car- 
man’s Lake.  Later  these  lands  passed  into  the 
hands  of  the  Carmalt  family,  who  still  own 
them. 

William  Price  owned  the  farm  next  below 
J.  Addison,  and  near  the  State  line  ; Joshua 
Griswold,  from  Vermont,  was  in  the  western 
part  of  the  township,  and,  a few  years  later,  he 
and  his  sons,  Clark  and  George,  built  the  first 
saw-mill  in  Chocouut;  and  he  was  appointed 
the  first  justice  of  the  peace.  Captain  Ezra 
Doty,  a blacksmith  and  a soldier  of  the  Revo- 
lution, was,  with  his  sons,  William,  Nathan  and 
Zura,  at  the  place  since  known  as  ‘ Manning- 
ton,’  and  later  ‘ St.  Joseph’s.’  E.  Doty  was 
afterwards  in  Forest  Lake.  Amos  Webster,  a 
native  of  Connecticut,  came  from  near  the  Mo- 
hawk, September,  1810,  and  located  on  the 
creek  north  of  E.  Doty,  where  he  remained  un- 
til his  death,  in  1841,  aged  seventy-seven.  He 
was  a shoemaker.  His  sons  were  Abel,  Alex- 
ander, Asahel,  Alvah,  Sylvester,  Elias  and  Rus- 
sell. None  of  the  family  are  now  residents  of 
Choconut.  Adonijah  Webster,  brother  of  Amos, 
first  took  up  land  here — about  two  hundred 
acres,  dividing  with  the  latter — but  did  not  set- 
tle until  years  afterwards,  and  somewhat  later 
than  his  only  son,  Elias.  The  latter  died  in 
Choconut,  May,  1832,  and  his  father  in  July 
following.  Prior  to  1813  Horace  Bliss,  who 
married  Isabella,  daughter  of  James  Rose,  was 
located  near  the  latter ; Levi  Smith,  a potter, 
from  Vermont,  settled  where  Cornelius  Hickey 
lives ; Jedediah  Tallraau,  a Quaker,  and  son 
Stephen  J.,  a carpenter,  were  here,  and  the  lat- 
ter taught  the  first  public  school  ; also,  Reuben 
Faxon,  a hatter,  and  many  years  later  a justice 
of  the  peace.  Jesse  Truesdell  was  a taxable,  at 
least,  as  early  as  these.” 

1 Blackman. 


472 


HISTOEY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


Lewis  Chamberlain,  of  Rhode  Island,  moved 
to  Vermont  in  1800,  where  he  married  eleven 
years  later,  and  in  September,  1813,  came,  with 
his  wife  and  child  (Albert),  to  Choconut,  settling 
on  the  tarm  still  occupied,  in  part,  by  his  fam- 
ily. He  was  a blacksmith  by  trade,  and  fol- 
lowed that  occupation  many  years,  also  keeping 
the  post-office  forty-two  years.  He  died  March 
20,  1871,  nearly  eighty-seven  years  old.  The 
oldest  child,  Albert,  became  an  attorney,  and 
died  in  Scranton  ; Otis  moved  to  Ohio;  Benja- 
min went  to  Texas,  where  he  was  murdered  ; 
Lewis  still  resides  on  jiart  of  the  home  place ; 
and  there  were  also  six  daughters,  some  remaiu- 
iug  in  the  township  and  being  favorably  known 
as  teachers.  Benjamin  Cdiarabcrlain,  the  father 
of  Lewis,  came  the  same  year  and  settled  on  an 
adjoining  place,  where  he  carried  on  his  trade 
as  scythe-maker.  AVhile  a soldier  in  the  Revo- 
lution he  was  taken  prisoner  and  contined  on 
board  a prison-ship  in  New  York  for  the  space 
of  three  months.  He  died  in  1822,  aged  si.xty 
years,  but  his  widow,  Olive,  survived  him  till 
1843,  when  she  died,  aged  eighty-two.  A son 
of  Benjamin,  Joab,  by  trade  a wheelwright,  lo- 
cated in  the  same  neighborhood  in  1817,  but 
removed  to  Michigan  in  the  course  of  years, 
where  he  died.  May  4,  1869,  in  the  seventy- 
fourth  year  of  his  age. 

In  1813  a number  of  new  settlers  were  added, 
among  them  being  Jesse  Taylor,  a cabinet- 
maker; Gordon  Bliss,  joiner  and  house  carpen- 
ter ; Lark  Moore,  cooper  and  farmer ; Paul 
Taber,  Jonathan  Green,  Paul  Jones,  Ezra  Cong- 
don  and  Jirah  Bryan,  farmers.  The  latter 
lived  near  St.  Joseph  and  was,  also,  a Baptist 
minister.  He  was  the  author  of  a small  treatise 
on  the  atonement,  called  the  “ Seven  Links,’’ 
and  died  in  1844,  aged  sixty-four  years.  His 
widow,  who  subsequently  became  Mrs.  Horace 
Birchard,  survived  him  many  years  and  related 
many  incidents  of  pioneer  life,  remembering 
distinctly  the  time  when  she  could  count  seven 
deer,  all  large,  feeding  in  their  wheat-field  near 
the  house.  About  this  time  Adam  Carman  sold 
out  his  lands  to  Jacob  Goodsell,  and  the  lake  was 
called  for  some  years  “ Goodsell’s  Pond.”  He 
was  the  father  of  sons  named  Isaac,  Daniel, 
Samuel,  Harry,  Ira  and  Truman. 


In  1814  Matthew  Stanley  located  at  what 
was  later  called  “ Ellerslie,”  making  some  im- 
provements there,  but  soon  after  came  to  what 
is  now  known  as  Stanley’s  Pond,  where  he 
died  in  1838,  aged  seventy-two  years.  His 
sons,  who  came  with  him,  were  Calvin,  Luther, 
Jasper,  Captain  Stephen  Heriman,  Archy, 
Horace,  Jason  and  Matthew.  Luther  Stanley 
was  in  the  War  of  1812.  Jasper  Stanley  re- 
mained on  the  homestead  until  his  death,  in 
1884,  and  his  sons  Matthew  and  David  still 
remain  as  representatives  of  this  once  numerons 
family. 

Adjoining  the  farm  of  Jirah  Bryan,  on  the 
south  line  of  the  township,  was  Capt.  John 
Locke,  one  of  the  Boston  tea  party  of  1773, 
and  later  a soldier  at  Bunker  Hill  and  Sara- 
toga, who  came  in  May,  1814.  He  lived  here 
until  his  death,  in  the  spring  of  1834,  aged 
eighty-three  years.  His  sons,  John  Edmund 
and  Nathaniel  R.,  were  stone-cutters  and 
masons. 

“Nathaniel  R.  Locke  came  to  Choconut  a single 
man.  He  married  Hetty  Ross  and  lived  on  the  jjlace 
now  occupied  by  John  Gorman.  Their  son,  David 
Ross  Locke,  is  the  author  of  the  ‘Petroleum  V.  Nasby’ 
papers — a series  of  political  letters  which  have  had 
an  influence  on  the  politics  of  the  country.  They 
very  early  attracted,  by  their  ability  and  humor,  the 
attention  of  President  Lincoln.  ‘Nasby’  was  born 
on  Choconut  Creek,  it  is  said,  but  a little  beyond  the 
State  line,  in  Vestal,  Broome  County,  N.  Y.  N.  R. 
Locke,  now  nearly  or  quite  eighty  years  old,  writes 
from  the  West,  that,  on  his  arrival  in  Choconut,  May, 
1814,  there  was  no  military  organization  ; but  that  in 
October  of  that  year  an  election  of  officers  was  held, 
and  Isaac  Goodsell  was  chosen  captain,  Joseph  Whip- 
ple (Silver  Lake)  first  lieutenant,  — =-  Jewett,  second 
lieutenant,  and  N.  R.  Locke,  first  sei'geant. 

“A  family  of  Lockes,  not  related  to  the  above,  con- 
sisting of  Molly,  widow  of  Ebeuezer  Locke,  and  her 
sons,  Reuben  T.  and  Charles,  were  located  on  the 
creek  below  Gordon  Bliss,  and  on  the  place  now  occu- 
pied by  Peter  Clarke.  Mrs.  Locke  died  in  1844,  in 
her  seventy-sixth  year.  Reuben  T.  Locke  was  after- 
wards a tailor  in  Montrose,  and  built  what  was  long 
known  as  the  Loeke  mansion,  now  Odd  Fellows’  hall. 

‘ He  was  of  Lambertine  proportions,’  says  a news- 
paper correspondent,  ‘ whom  I well  knew  as  an  origi- 
nal Abolitionist  and  a wit  of  tbe  first  water,  in  the 
days  when  the  fun  of  the  controversy,  as  brought  out 
in  that  tailor’s  shop,  found  precious  few  who  had  the 
capacity  to  enjoy  it.” 


CHOCONUT. 


473 


The  following  were  the  taxables  in  the  old 
township  of  Clioconut  in  1815,  including 
which  are  now  Choconut,  Apolacou  and  part  of 
Friendsville  ; 

Joseph  Addison,  Jonathan  Anderson,  Jira  Brian,  Joseph  Beebe,  Jolm 
Brown,  Peter  Brown,  William  Bartlow,  Beriah  Barney,  Lewis  Bart- 
low,  J.  Beebe,  Benjamin  Bviffuin,  Robert  Buffum,  Gordon  Bliss,  Horace 
Bliss,  Caleb  Brainard,  David  Barney,  Joseph  Chalker,  Daniel  Chalker, 
Charles  Chalker,  Lewis  Chamberlain,  Benjamin  Chamberlain,  Edward 
Cox,  Ezra  Congdon,  Charles  Campbell,  Thomas  S.  Cox,  Ezra  Doty, 
Timothy  Eaton,  Reuben  Eaxon,  Erastus  Fitch,  Asahel  Graves,  Jeremiah 
Glover,  Andrew  Gardner,  Charles  Griswold,  Daniel  W.  Goodsell,  Daniel 
Houk,  Bildad  Hubbell,  Erastas  Jones,  M.  Locke,  Reuben  Locke,  John 
Locke,  N.  R.  Locke,  Lark  Moore,  Charles  Nichols,  Nathan  Nelson,  David 
Owen,  Lydia  Owen,  William  Price,  James  Rose,  Robert  H.  Rose,  James 
C.  Rice,  Ezra  Rice,  Levi  Smith.  John  Smith,  Matthew  Stanley,  Calvin 
Stanley,  Stephen  I.  Tallman,  James  Thayer,  Hiram  Thayer,  Jesse  Tay- 
lor, Saul  Tabor,  Amos  Webster,  Adonijah  Webster,  Alexander  Webster. 

In  1815  and  in  the  few  years  following  the 
township  received  a number  of  settlers,  among 
them  being  Captain  Westol  Scoville,  a Revolu- 
tionary soldier  and  father  of  sons  named  Bnel 
and  Orlen,  who  were  wagon-makers ; Peter 
Brown,  the  first  merchant  in  the  township  j 
Chauncey  Wright,  a clothier,  from  Otsego  Co., 
N.  Y.,  who  built  the  first  fulling-mill,  and 
lived  here  until  1842,  when  he  removed  to 
Forest  Lake ; John  Sherrer,  a miller,  who  was 
the  father  of  sons  named  John,  James,  William, 
Barrett  and  David ; Robert  Giffen  and  his 
sons,  Isaac  and  Robert,  who  improved  a farm 
near  James  Rose’s,  and  where  he  died,  in  1821 ; 
Hiram  Bates,  a tanner  and  currier,  who  lived 
near  Chauncy  Wright,  on  the  present  Mulford 
farm,  until  his  removal  to  the  West,  forty  years 
ago;  Ezra  Couant,  a cooper;  John  Clark,  a 
great  hunter  ; William  Elliott,  a blacksmith  ; 
John  Eairbrother ; David  Robbe,  a farmer; 
Daniel  Wheeler,  a teacher;  Jehiel  Griswold 
and  sous,  Judson,  Ebeu  and  Levi,  the  latter 
afterward  a Presbyterian  minister;  John  El- 
dred  and  Zephaniah,  his  son,  who  was  in  the 
War  of  1812,  while  his  father  had  assisted  in 
the  struggle  for  independence.  It  is  said  of 
Mrs.  Eldred  that  she  once  lost  her  way  in  the 
woods  and  wandered  about  till  midnight,  when 
she  climbed  a tree  for  safety  from  the  wolves, 
which  howled  about  her.  She  was  found  there 
in  the  morning  and  put  on  the  path  for  home. 
Dr.  Calvin  Leet  was  at  Wright’s  fulling-mill 
about  the  same  time,  but  later  removed  to 
Friendsville.  Other  settlers  came  in  1816, 
and  remained  for  short  periods,  and,  as  the 
crops  had  failed,  there  was  much  destitution. 
30 


Hogs  could  not  be  fattened  enough  to  make 
pork,  and  deer  were  very  poor  ; but  with  rye 
bread  and  a few  potatoes,  the  pioneer  managed 
to  subsist.  A marked  feature  of  this  period 
was  the  small  amount  of  snow  in  the  winters, 
there  not  being  enough  for  sleighing,  and  the 
weather  so  cold  in  the  spring  that  maple  sugar 
could  be  made  as  late  as  the  12th  of  May. 

In  1818-19  tliere  were  among  the  arrivals 
Jacob  and  Amos  Heath,  who  settled  in  the 
northeast  corner  of  the  township  ; Samuel  Bar- 
nard, Thomas  Ijaycock,  Samuel  and  Isaac  Mar- 
shall and  Thomas  Christian,  most  of  whom 
settled  in  the  vicinity  of  Choconut  Lake.  A 
new  element  was  introduced  in  1819,  when  a 
settlement  of  Quakers  was  made  in  the  south- 
ern part  of  Choconut  and  the  northern  part  of 
Middletown,  the  locality  becoming  known  as 
Friendsville.  Here  the  Peironnets  and  other 
Englishmen  settled  in  1820,  most  of  tliera  be- 
ing Friends.  Among  the  earliest  Friends  here 
were  William  Salter,  Samuel  Savage,  William 
and  John  King,  John  and  Thomas  Nicholson, 
Thomas  Barrington  and  Samuel  Barrington. 
The  latter  soon  after  died  and  was  buried  in 
the  Friends’  Cemetery,  one  of  the  first  interred 
there.  His  wife,  Elizabeth,  is  mentioned  as  a 
woman  “ whose  mild  and  courteous  demeanor 
was  happily  blended  with  the  unobtrusive 
graces  of  the  Christian.”  She  removed  to 
Springville,  where  she  died  at  the  house  of  her 
son-in-law,  Thomas  Nicholson.  Enoch  and 
George  Walker  were  Friends  from  Chester 
County.  The  latter  lived  at  Lakeside,  but 
soon  removed  to  Woodbourne,  in  Diraock  town- 
ship. The  Nicholsons  were  located  east  of  the 
lake  until  the  removal  of  John  to  New  York 
and  Thomas  to  Springville.  Daniel  Richards 
lived  at  Friendsville,  and,  dying  there,  was 
buried  in  the  Friends’  Cemetery.  His  wife, 
Lydia,  was  a minister  among  the  Friends,  hut 
removed  to  the  West,  where  she  died  in  1840. 
Their  sons  were  Abel,  Roland,  Daniel,  Samuel 
and  Joseph,  and  their  only  daughter  was  Eliza- 
beth W.,  the  gentle  teacher.  Dr.  Levi  Roberts 
came  in  with  this  class  of  people.  John  Hud- 
son and  his  son  John  were  also  at  Friendsville. 
Thomas  Darlington  and  Nathan  Hallowell 
were  north  of  Ijakeside,  but  left  in  the  course 


474 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


of  a few  years.  Joliu  aud  Jehu  Lord  were  on 
Choconut  Creek.  The  former  was  a minister 
among  tlie  Friends,  and  his  three  daughters 
were  the  wives  of  Dr.  Jolin  L.  Kite,  Seth  Pen- 
nock  and  John  Mann,  who  lived  in  the  present 
St.  Joseph  neighborhood.  M"illiam  Thatcher 
came  from  Chester  County  about  1825, • aud 
settled  on  the  lauds  which  had  been  improved 
by  James  Thayer  aud  David  Owen.  Other 
Friends  came  from  Chester  and  purchased 
lands  which,  in  the  course  of  a few  years,  re- 
verted to  Dr.  Rose.  Granger  Watson,  an  Eng- 
lish Friend,  lived  near  the  Spatford  place,  in 
Middletown,  but  removed  to  Canada,  where 
one  of  his  sons  became  eminent  as  a minister. 
Many  others  became  dissatisfied  on  account  of 
the  isolated  situation  of  the  settlement.  The 
Engrlish  and  New  York  Friends  removed  to 
the  Lake  I’egion  of  the  latter  State  and  formed 
a new  settlement,  while  most  of  those  who  had 
come  from  Chester  County  moved  to  Ohio. 
I.saac  Carmalt  came  about  1829,  and  resided 
five  years  at  Wright’s  fulling-mill,  when  he  re- 
moved to  Punxsutawney,  where  he  lived  to  be 
more  than  ninety  years  old.  About  this  time 
came  a colony  of  Friends  from  Saratoga,  N.  Y., 
and  occupied  some  of  the  lands  vacated  by 
those  who  had  removed.  Among  them  were 
Stephen  Brown  and  his  sons,  Charles  and  Da- 
vid, Benjamin  Beatty,  Joshua  Gurney,  Justice 
Brown  aud  Gershom  Griffis.  But  few  of  these 
remained  permanently,  and,  in  the  course  of 
years,  the  Caleb  Carmalt  family  was  the  sole 
repi'esentative  of  this  once  numerous  class  of 
people  in  this  section,  whose  places  had  gener- 
ally passed  into  the  hands  of  the  Irish. 

Caleb  and  Sarah  Carmalt  joined  the  Friends’ 
settlement  in  1829,  locating  at  Lakeside,  which 
he  had  bought  of  Thomas  Williamson,  of  Phila- 
delphia, who  had  secured  this  tract  from  Jacob 
Goodsell  in  1819.  Carmalt  had  also  purchased 
one-half  of  Dr.  Rose’s  estate  in  Susquehanna, 
and  had  thus  become  one  of  the  largest  land- 
owners  in  the  county.  He  was  a native  of 
Chester  County,  where  he  was  born  in  1792. 
After  learning  the  printer’s  business,  he  studied 
conveyancing  in  Philadelphia,  and  mastered  it 
thoroughly  in  all  its  details.  Reared  a Friend, 
he  became  more  attached  to  the  principles  of 


the  society  as  he  grew  in  years,  and  was  ever 
an  exemplary  member  of  that  sect.  His  influ- 
ence upon  the  settlers  of  Choconut  is  yet  re- 
membered, and  he  helped  to  a marked  degree 
to  elevate  the  moral  tone  of  this  part  of  the 
county.  The  division  among  the  Friends,  soon 
after  his  settlement  in  Choconut,  caused  the 
x’cmoval  of  many  of  his  former  associates,  thus 
inducing  the  latter  years  of  his  life  to  be  spent 
in  seclusion,  attending  to  the  interests  of  his 
large  estate.  He  died  at  Lakeside,  March  10, 
1862;  but  his  widow,  Sarah  Price,  survived 
him  until  December,  1873,  when  she  departed 
this  life,  aged  seventy-eight  years.  The  children 
of  this  worthy  couple  were  Sibylla,  who  married 
Captain  J.  C.  Morris,  and  who  now  resides,  as 
his  widow,  on  the  old  Pierce  farm,  south  of 
Friendsville ; Samuel  Fisher,  who  lived  aud  died 
at  Wyalusing  Lake,  on  the  old  James  Carmalt 
place ; Rachel,  who  became  the  wife  of  the 
Rev.  Elisha  Mulford  ; Dr.  William  H .,  a citizen 
of  New  Haven  ; and  James  E.,  the  youngest, 
an  attorney,  but  now  a resident  of  “ Lakeside,” 
the  old  country  home  of  Caleb  Carmalt. 

After  the  experiment  of  founding  a perma- 
nent settlement  of  Friends  had  failed,  many 
lands  reverted  to  Dr.  Rose  and  Caleb  Carmalt, 
which  were  offered  upon  such  favorable  terms 
that  many  Irishmen  were  induced  to  locate 
here  about  1830  and  the  next  twenty  years 
following,  and  almost  the  entire  section  is  now 
inhabited  by  citizens  of  that  nationality.  This  re- 
sult was  brought  about  largely  by  the  influence  of 
Edward  White,  the  first  Catholic  Irishman  in 
the  vicinity  of  Friendsville.  He  Avas  well 
educated  aud  an  energetic  business  man,  in 
which  capacity  he  served  Dr.  Rose  faithfully. 
His  wife  was  a sister  of  Gerald  Griffin,  the 
Irish  novelist,  whose  parents  had  their  home 
witli  White.  He  liv^ed  for  a number  of  years 
on  the  James  Keenan  place,  in  Middletown, 
and  owned  lands  a mile  in  extent,  upon  which 
roamed  large  flocks  of  sheep.  Through  his 
efforts  the  Catholic  Church  at  Friendsville  was 
established,  and  Catholicism  given  a permanent 
place  in  the  Choconut  Valley.  A further 
account  of  this  family  appears  in  the  annals  of 
Silver  Lake,  where  it  also  resided. 

“ The  first  Irishmen  in  the  township  were  Thomas 


CHOCONUT. 


475 


and  Michael  Donnelly,  brothers-in-law,  and  Michael 
Donnelly,  second  and  third,  uncle  and  nephew,  dis- 
tantly related  to  Michael  Donnelly,  first.  All  came 
as  early  as  1827.  Michael  Donnelly,  who  lives  on  the 
flat  where  his  father,  M.  Donnelly  (1st),  located,  was 
then  a little  boy.  Michael  D.,  first  and  second,  are 
dead.  Michael  Kane,  Sr.,  Jeremiah  O’Keefe,  Dennis 
O’Day  and  Michael  Ryan  were  among  the  first  twelve 
families.  Within  five  years  from  this  time  a large 
number  of  Irishmen  were  here,  and,  among  them, 
Edward  Burke,  who  is  still  a resident  of  Choconut. 
His  son  John,  who  studied  at  Harford,  and  graduated 
at  Hamilton  College,  is  now  prosecuting  attorney  for 
eight  counties  in  Iowa.  Edward  Clark  came  in  1832, 
has  served  five  years  as  justice  of  the  peace  ; Michael, 
son  of  Cornelius  Hickey,  who  came  in  1837,  has  also 
served  five  years,  and  is  now  postmaster  and  merchant 
at  St.  Joseph’s.”  ^ 

lu  1836  John  Foran  settled  on  the  A. 
Stoudy  place,  but  removed  to  the  northwest- 
ern part  of  the  township,  where  one  of  his 
sons,  James  Foran,  now  lives.  He  died  in  1865, 
a centenarian.  James  Foran  is  the  father 
of  Richard  Foran,  Esq.,  of  Friendsville,  and 
Martin  A.,  for  a number  of  years  Congressman 
from  the  Cleveland,  O.,  Di.strict.  Like  other 
members  of  his  family,  the  latter  was  a cooper, 
but  strove  to  educate  himself  and  to  attain  a 
higher  position  in  life.  He  was  a school- 
teacher for  a number  of  years  in  the  Wilson 
District,  in  Middletown,  and  in  other  parts  of 
the  county. 

From  1832  on,  the  matter  of  communication 
with  outside  points  was  much  discussed  in  the 
township.  Several  turnpikes  were  projected, 
but  were  never  built ; nor  was  the  effort  to 
secure  the  construction  of  the  Delaware,  Lack- 
awanna and  Western  Railroad  through  the 
valley  attended  with  any  better  results ; but  it 
is  not  improbable  that  a railway,  projected  from 
Williamsport  to  Binghamton,  may  yet  be  built 
through  the  valley.  The  common  highways 
hav^e  been  fairly  well  improved,  and  railways  in 
New  York  have  diminished  the  expense  of 
marketing  the  products  of  the  township,  which 
retarded  its  prosperity  in  earlier  days.  After 
Apolacon  was  set  off  the  following  iaxables  were 
in  the  township  in  1848  : 

Patrick  Ahern,  Joseph  Addison,  John  Addison,  Henry  Addison,  Rob- 
ert Addison,  Isaac  Addison,  Charles  L.  Brown,  Christopher  Brown,  Jus- 
tice Brown,  David  Brown,  Stephen  Brown,  lliram  Bates,  Dennis  Bray, 

^ Miss  Blackman  in  1872. 


Benj.  Batty,  Michael  Bahan,  John  Bahan,  N.  Byan,  Nathan  Barton, 
Horace  Bliss,  John  Beecher,  Bartholomew  Beecher,  Isaac  Burrow,  Ed- 
ward Burke,  John  Clarke,  Edw'ard  Clarke,  Edward  Clarke  (second), 
Peter  Clarke,  Patrick  Clark,  Orlin  Chamberlain,  Daniel  B.  Cham- 
berlain, Daniel  Chamberlain,  Lewis  Chamberlain,  Lewis  Chamber- 
lain,  Jr.,  D.  Chalker,  W.  Chalker,  Caleb  Carmalt,  John  Deuel,  John 
Devitt,  Patrick  Donnelly,  Dennis  Donnelly,  James  Donnelly,  Martin 
Donnelly,  Michael  Donnelly,  Michael  Donnelly  (third),  Patrick  Don- 
nelly, John  Donnelly,  Andrew  Donnelly,  Michael  Dongan,  Joshua 
Duran,  Patrick  Downer,  Michael  Downer,  Patrick  Doyle,  Timothy 
Dovens,  Zephaniah  Eldred,  .lolin  Eldred,  Ahum  Fordham,  Jeremiah 
Fordham,  Thomas  Fiarity,  Patrick  Fitzmorton,  John  Foley,  Patrick 
Flannagan,  John  Foran,  James  Foran,  Francis  Foran,  Eugene  Farley, 
Ben.].  Glidden,  William  Gogan,  John  Gorman,  Michael  Glennon, 
Michael  Gallagher,  Robert  Griffin,  John  A.  Gurney,  Joseph  Hyde, 
Elijah  Howe,  William  Hurley,  Cornelius  Hickey,  Michael  Hickey, 
Abner  Heath,  Nicholas  Harny,  John  Hill,  Edmund  Irish,  Michael 
Kain,  Jeremiah  O’Klippe,  Calvin  Leet,  James  Lance,  Samuel  T.  Lee,  Ab- 
ner B.  Mott,  Timothy  Mullin,  Lark  Moore,  Thomas  Malone,  John  Mul- 
lihan,  Patrick  McManus,  Franklin  Merch,  Patrick  Maddis,  Michael 
Neugent,  James  Neugent,  John  O’Donnell,  John  O’Reiley,  Jlichael 
O’Neal,  James  P.  Pierce,  John  Pieronnet,  Robert  D.  Pieronnet,  Edwin 
Parks,  A.  Platte,  Francis  Quinn,  Robert  Ruiinells,  Thomas  Runnells, 
Archy  Stanley,  John  Stanley,  Luther  Stanley,  Orville  Stanley,  David 
Shearer,  Asa  Sprout,  John  Sheridan,  S.  Stevenson,  Cornelius  Shanna- 
han,  Henry  Slade,  James  Sullivan,  James  Toon,  James  Trodden,  Wil- 
liam Taylor,  Margaret  Tierney,  Chai'les  Tliomas,  Ahira  Wilkham, 
Chariot  Webster. 

Business  Interests. — The  water  power  of 
the  township  was  employed,  soon  after  its  set- 
tlement, to  operate  small  mills  and  other  ma- 
chinery to  supply  the  people  of  this  section  with 
the  necessaries  of  life.  Miss  Blackman  credits 
the  Griswold  family  with  building  the  first  saw- 
mill in  Choconut,  in  the  western  part  of  the 
township,  some  time  about  1810.  Another 
early  mill  was  put  up  at  the  outlet  of  Stanley 
Pond.  Ou  the  same  stream,  Chauncey  Wright 
put  up  a fulling-mill  and  clothing-works,  after 
1815,  which  were  carried  on  until  his  removal, 
in  1842.  He  was  an  excellent  workman,  and 
the  old  settlers  still  praise  the  quality  of  the 
goods  he  made.  The  building  was  subsequently 
used  for  a cider-mill.  Later,  Hiram  Bates  put 
up  a tannery  near  this  place,  and  also  had  shops 
to  make  shoes  and  harness,  employing,  in  all, 
half  a dozen  men.  After  the  tannery  had  gone 
down,  Caleb  Carmalt  put  up  a new  tannery, 
which  was  carried  on  but  a short  time.  Saw- 
mills were  on  the  same  stream,  by  the  Stanley 
family,  from  which  circumstance  the  locality 
was  called  “ Slab  City.”  All  these  interests 
have  been  abandoned,  except  a saw-mill  by 
Thomas  Neugent.  In  this  part  of  the  town- 
ship Jacob  Goodsell  juit  up  a mill,  which  be- 
came the  property  of  Caleb  Carmalt,  who  later 
put  up  new  mills,  were  also  burned  down 
after  a few  years.  On  the  Choconut,  near  the 


476 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


southern  part  of  the  township,  John  Mann 
had  a good  saw-mill,  and  after  that  had  gone 
down,  Terrence  O’Reilly  put  up  a small  grist- 
mill, which  served  the  neighborhood  well.  In 
1834  Lewis  Chamberlain  put  up  a saw-mill 
on  Choconnt  Creek,  to  which  were  added,  in 
later  years,  machinery  for  turning  chair  timber. 
These  have  gone,  as  well  as  another  saw-mill, 
by  water-power,  owned  by  Daniel  Chamberlain. 
Stephen  Tallman  and  Edward  Cox  also  had 
small  mills  in  this  locality,  and  lower  down, 
E.  Chalker  and  Joseph  Addison  were  mill 
owners.  Steam  saw-mills  have  been  erected  in 
various  parts  of  the  township,  one  by  Daniel 
\Vestfall,  in  the  fall  of  1884,  at  Choconnt,  which 
has  a cutting  capacity  of  a million  feet  per 
year. 

The  people  are  almost  exclusively  occupied 
with  agriculture,  and  but  few  business  stands 
have  ever  existed  in  the  township  outside  of 
Friendsville.  Peter  Brown  sold  the  first  goods 
in  Choconnt,  havinga  store  in  1815,  or  soon  after. 
Other  stores  were  afterwards  kept  for  short  peri- 
ods; about  1839  Wright,  Wilson  & Co.  opened 
a store  in  the  Chamberlain  neighborhood,  doing 
a good  business  for  six  or  seven  years.  Thomas 
O’Donnell  also  traded,  and  in  the  same  build- 
ing C.  Clark  was  last  in  trade  before  it  was 
destroyed  by  fire.  Fifty  years  ago  Capt. 
Westol  Scoville,  kept  a public-house  on  his 
farm,  and  when  Daniel  Chamberlain  purchased 
the  property  he  kept  both  store  and  tavern. 
Jacob  Kimball  succeeded,  and  was  the  last  in 
that  place.  Lower  down  the  valley  Patrick 
Casey  entertained  the  public,  and  also  sold  goods, 
about  a dozen  years  ; but  this  stand  has  gone  to 
decay.  At  Choconut  post-office  Lawrence 
McEnery  erected  a building  for  hotel  purposes 
only,  and  which  has  had  many  tenants,  some 
of  them  also  selling  merchandise.  In  that  way 
it  is  now  occupied  by  Patrick  Mooney.  In  the 
hamlet  which  has  clustered  around  this  place 
are  some  mechanic  shops,  and  here  has  been 
kept  the  Choconut  post-office  ever  since  its 
establishment,  March  5,  1829.  Lewis  Cham- 
berlain was  postmaster  until  his  death,  in  1871, 
when  the  office  was  placed  in  charge  of  his 
daughter,  Mary  M.,  who  has  since  been  the 
postmistress.  Higher  up  the  valley,  on  the 


present  James  Donnelly  place,  Edward  Clark 
had  a public-house  a few  years,  when  it  was 
again  used  as  a farm-hou.se.  After  1825  John 
Mann  succeeded  in  making  his  mills  a business 
point,  calling  the  place  Mannington.  June  26, 
1839,  a post-office  with  this  name  was  here 
established,  John  Mann  being  the  postmaster. 
He  was  succeeded.  May  23,  1843,  by  Jireh 
Bryan,  but  in  January,  1845,  the  office  was  dis- 
continued. The  property  at  this  place  having 
passed  into  the  hands  of  the  Catholics,  the  ham- 
let became  known  as  St.  Joseph,  and  with  this 
name  a new  post-office  was  established,  March  2, 
1852,  Francis  Quinn,  postmaster.  February 
17,  1857,  he  was  succeeded  by  Terrence 
O’Reilly,  and  he,  February  5, 1884,  by  Patrick 
O’Reilly.  Michael  Hickey  here  opened  a 
store,  but,  after  trading  some  time,  moved  to 
Binghamton.  The  present  merchant  is  John 
Hickey. 

On  the  Apolacon  township  line  Ellerslie  post- 
office  was  established  March  5, 1829,  with  Sam- 
uel Milligan  postmaster.  In  1844,  Anne  F. 
Milligan  was  appointed,  in  1847  Jasper  Stan- 
ley, and  in  1855  Jane  A.  Stanley.  The  office 
was  discontinued  Dec.  24,  1856.^ 

Schools  and  Churches. — It  has  already 
been  stated  that  Sabra  Cox  taught  the  first 
school  in  the  township,  at  the  house  of  her 
father,  Edward  Cox,  but  beyond  this  fact,  no 
more  can  be  said  of  that  school.  After  the  set- 
tlement of  the  Friends,  schools  were  taught  for 
short  periods  in  various  parts  of  the  township 
and  a general  interest  awakened  in  education. 
This  found  expression  in  January,  1833,  in  the 
establishment  of  the  Friendsville  and  Choconut 
Lyceum,  which  served  to  arouse  a great  deal  of 
latent  local  talent,  and  created  a desire  for  a 
school  of  a higher  grade  than  the  township  had 
before  possessed.  Accordingly,  in  the  fall  of 
1833,  John  Mann,  an  educated  Friend,  who  had 
up  to  this  time  been  in  the  lumber  business  at 
Mannington,  relinquished  that  vocation  and 
opened  a boarding-school  in  his  residence.  The 
undertaking  was  so  successful  that  he  was  en- 
couraged to  erect  suitable  buildings  the  follow- 
ing year,  in  which  flourishing  schools  were 


I For  other  business  interests,  see  Friendsville. 


CHOCONUT. 


477 


taught,  and  where  attended  many  of  the  young 
men  of  the  northwestern  part  of  the  county. 
In  1839  the  school  was  incorporated  as  “ Mau- 
nington  Academy,”  and  as  such  was  continued 
until  1842,  when  John  Mann  removed  to  Great 
Bend,  where  he  taught  a short  time,  but  soon 
after  left  the  country. 

John  Mann  was  born  at  West  Marlborough, 
Chester  County,  Pa.,  Aug.  21,  1784.  His  op- 
portunities for  obtaining  an  education  were  very 
limited  ; but  he  had  a mathematical  mind,  which 
made  the  attainment  of  knowledge  in  that 
branch  of  science  easy  to  him,  and  a tendency 
to  study  and  investigate,  which  led  him  to  sci- 
entific pursuits  almost  entirely.  He  taught  in 
his  native  place  with  success  and  also  fitted 
himself  for  surveying.  He  learned  grammar 
from  his  assistant,  she  teaching  the  pupils  and 
he  supervising  her  with  book  in  hand.  By  quiet 
study  he  continued  to  progress  and  became  an 
independent  thinker,  an  occasional  writer  for 
the  press  and  in  his  more  advanced  years  a lec- 
turer on  educational,  scientific  and  humanitarian 
subjects.  He  was  a Friend  and  an  earnest  anti- 
slavery man,  and  it  came  in  his  way  to  help  and 
shelter  many  fugitives  fleeing  from  bondage, 
bravely  taking  all  the  ilsks  upon  himself  and 
his  family.  In  1823  John  Mann,  with  his  fam- 
ily of  four  children, — Joseph,  Lewis,  John  S. 
and  Parvin, — removed  to  Susquehanna  County 
and  bought  a farm  about  two  miles  from  Rob- 
ert H.  Rose,  at  Silver  Lake.  He  assisted  Dr. 
Rose  for  a time  as  land  surveyor  and  made  the 
original  warrantee  map  of  Susquehanna  County, 
from  which  the  map  published  in  this  volume 
was  prepared  by  E.  A.  Weston.  Surveving  in 
connection  with  clearing  up  a farm,  erecting 
farm  buildings  and  building  a saw-mill  occu- 
pied his  time  until  he  again  resumed  his  favor- 
ite occupation  of  teaching,  when  he  established 
what  was  known  as  the  “ Mannington  School.” 
A commodious  house  was  erected,  in  which  he 
gathered  from  fifty  to  one  hundred  pupils  from 
the  vicinity  and  surrounding  section.  Here  the 
widest  course  of  study  then  pursued  in  such 
schools  was  adopted  and  effectually  carried  out. 
Mr.  Mann  continued  this  school  until  1842, 
when,  owing  to  pecuniary  embarrassments,  it 
was  closed.  This  school  accomplished  great 


good  while  in  operation  and  many  persons  of 
subsequent  prominence  received  their  training 
here.  In  1844  he  removed  to  Potter  County, 
where  he  and  his  sons  became  prominent  in  the 
movement  which  resulted  in  the  prohibition  of 
the  liquor  traffic  in  Potter  County.  As  a re- 
sult of  this  prohibition.  Potter  County  jail  is 
usually  empty.  One  year  the  only  charge  to  the 
county  for  criminals  was  two  dollars  paid  to  a 
woman  to  sweep  the  cobwebs  out  of  the  jail. 
After  serving  his  generation  faithfully,  he  died 
Oct.  21,  1855,  and  is  buried  at  Cere.s,  McKean 
County,  Pa. 

The  property  subsequently  passed  into  the 
hands  of  the  Catholic  Church,  as  is  related 
further  on,  and  here  was,  later,  St.  Joseph’s 
College,  an  ecclesiastical  school  of  extended 
reputation. 

In  October,  1877,  the  Misses  Lydia  A., 
Mary  M.  and  Caroline  E.  Chamberlain  opened 
a select  school  in  the  homestead  at  Choconut, 
which  has  since  been  continued  with  gratifying 
success.  Two  terms  per  year  are  taught,  and 
the  attendance  is  from  forty  to  fifty  per  term. 
Much  of  this  ])atronage  is  local,  though  a 
number  come  each  year  from  abroad  to  avail 
themselves  of  the  superior  instruction  here 
imparted ; and  tlie  demand  for  admission  is 
often  greater  than  the  capacity.  The  common 
and  higher  English  branches  are  taught,  and 
attention  is  also  paid  to  normal  instruction. 

The  Pennsylvania  Choconut  Baptist  Church 
was  the  first  organized  religious  body  in  the 
township.  It  was  coirstituted,  January  29, 
1814,  at  the  house  of  David  Owen,  by  Elder 
Dimock,  of  the  following  nine  persons : Bela 
and  Lucy  Moore  ; Stephen,  Daniel  and  Keziah 
Platt ; Silas  P.  and  Amy  Truesdell ; Aurilla  and 
Lydia  R.  Owen  ; and  Achsah  Doty.  Samuel 
A.  Cox  was  received  by  baptism  the  following 
Sunday,  and  during  the  year  there  were  added 
to  the  membership  Lucy  and  Paul  Taber, 
David  Owen,  Jirah  Biyan,  Betsey  Beebe,  Sabra 
Cox,  John  Lozier  and  Ezra  Congdon.  Not 
a single  one  of  these  remained  in  1855, 
when  the  church  ceased  to  exist.  Meetings 
were  held  at  the  house  of  Bela  More  and 
David  Owen  until  1817,  when  a school-house 
was  occupied.  Then  for  a few  years  the  mem- 


478 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


bei’S  assembled  at  the  liouse  of  Edward  Cox, 
until  the  school-house  at  his  place  was  built, 
after  which  meetings  were  held  there  and  at 
the  school-house  known  as  the  “ Upper,”  or 
Scoville  school-hou.se.  After  1827  the  society 
worshipped  in  the  “ Baptist  meeting-house,”  an 
unpainted  Hame  building  erected  on  the  farm 
of  Edward  Cox,  on  the  east  side  of  the  Choco- 
nut  and  below  Chamberlain’s  cross-roads.  A 
small  debt  remained  on  this  building,  which 
embarrassed  the  work  of  the  church  and 
crippled  its  usefnlness.  But  it  continued  to  be 
the  spiritual  home  of  the  society  until  it  dis- 
banded. This  was  done  at  a meeting  held 
May  10,  1855,  at  the  house  of  Hiram  Bates, 
when  it  was  decided  to  dismiss  those  in  good 
standing  to  other  churches,  to  sell  the  house  and 
after  paying  all  debts,  divide  the  residue  among 
the  disbanding  members. 

The  causes  of  this  decline,  as  given  by  Dea- 
con Horace  Bli.ss,  were  these  ; “ That  though 
there  had  been  nearly  two  hundred  members 
since  the  organization,  they  were  reduced  to 
about  thirty,  of  whom  seven  or  eight  only  were 
males;  about  thirty  have  taken  letters  to 
Vestal,  N.  Y.,  and  a number  of  others,  having 
sold  their  lands,  removed ; Presbyterian  and 
Methodist  Churches  have  grown  up  around 
them ; and  the  remnant  left  possessed  small 
means  and  moderate  talent,  and  were  in  the 
midst  of  a people  to  whom  they  could  have  no 
access  in  a religious  point  of  view.” 

The  church  had  the  pastoral  service  of 
Elder  Dimock  until  1822,  when  Elder  Jo.seph 
Bingham  came.  In  1825  Elder  Worden  was 
the  pastor.  In  December,  1826,  a written 
covenant  was  adopted,  and  Elder  James  Clarke 
became  the  pastor,  living  near  the  church  five 
years.  His  son  Aaron  B.  was  for  many  years 
a principal  in  the  public  schools  of  New  York 
and  Brooklyn.  Elder  Curtis  was  pastor  in 
1831 ; Elder  Brand  in  1833 ; Elder  C.  G.  Swan 
in  1834,  again  in  1838  and  in  the  spring  of 
1843,  when  there  was  a large  accession  of 
members.  In  1845  Elder  Webster  preached, 
and  at  that  time  forty  members  were  reported. 
Bela  Moore  and  Jirah  Bryan  were  the  first 
deacons,  and  Thomas  A.  Cox  and  Horace 
Bliss  also  served  in  that  capacity.  The  first 


and  the  last  named  also  were  clerks.  Before  the 
Baptists  abandoned  their  church,  the  Methodists 
worshipped  in  a school-house  which  stood  on 
the  site  of  the  present  store  in  Choconut  hamlet. 
Later  they  held  their  meetings  in  the  Baptist 
Church,  which,  after  some  repairs,  was  again 
made  to  serve  in  that  way.  Again  it  fell  into 
decay,  and  the  ruins  were  burned  up  about 
five  years  ago.  At  one  time  the  Methodists 
had  quite  a large  membership,  which  was 
diminished  by  the  same  causes  as  affected  the 
Ba{)tist  congregation,  and  the  remaining  mem- 
bers connected  themselves  with  Vestal  Center 
Church,  about  four  miles  lower  down  the 
valley. 

The  Friends’  Meeting. — Soon  after  the  settle- 
ment of  the  Friends  a Meeting  was  established 
near  Friendsville,  under  the  care  of  a committee 
of  the  Monthly  Meeting  of  Stroudsburg.  Meet- 
ings were  regularly  held  twice  per  week,  and 
Mrs.  Lydia  Richards,  John  Lord  and  others 
were  ministers.  A frame  meeting-house  was 
built  south  of  Choconut  Lake,  and  a part  of 
the  lot  on  which  it  stands  was  consecrated  to 
the  dead.  In  this  peaceful  ground  reposed 
many  of  those  who  left  homes  of  comfort  in 
older  countries  to  battle  with  the  hardships 
of  the  lives  which  awaited  the  pioneers  of  this 
section.  In  1830  the  meeting  consisted  of  only 
about  ten  families,  and,  in  consequence  of  a divi- 
sion occurring  between  the  Orthodox  and  Hicksite 
members,  it  was  broken  up.  Most  of  the  Or- 
thodox members  left  soon  after,  and  it  was  not 
until  the  arrival  of  new  members  that  the  meet- 
ings were  again  resumed.  In  1839  the  Monthly 
Meeting  had  sixty-two  members,  but  many  re- 
movals took  place  in  the  course  of  a few  years, 
and,  in  1849,  the  Meeting  was  again  discon- 
tinued, not  again  to  be  revived.  The  “ Prepa- 
rative ” was  attached  to  the  Monthly  Meeting 
at  Scipio,  N.  Y.,  and  not  a single  Friend  now 
remains  in  all  this  section.  The  names  of  for- 
mer members  may  be  ascertained  by  referring 
to  the  list  of  settlers  in  the  foregoing  pages  of 
these  annals. 

Some  of  the  younger  members  of  Quaker 
families,  remaining  in  this  part  of  the  country, 
connected  themselves  with  the  Protestant  Epis- 
copal Church,  and  services  were  held  at  the 


FOREST  LAKE. 


479 


liouse  of  Janies  E.  Carinalt,  as  early  as  1861, 
with  an  occasional  meeting  in  the  old  Presbyte- 
rian Church  at  Friendsville,  by  Rev".  George 
P.  Hopkins  and  other  missionaries.  These 
meetings  resulted  in  a purpose  to  build  a 
chapel  where  worship  might  be  statedly  held, 
which  was  built,  in  1876-77. 

J7o’  Church  of  the  Holy  Spirit. — It  is  a small 
frame  chapel,  which  has  never  been  consecrated, 
standing  on  the  lot  of  the  old  Friends’  Meeting- 
house. In  this  house  services  have  been  held 
by  the  Rev.  Hopkins  and  his  successor,  the 
Rev.  John  Scott,  who  also  taught  a select 
school  in  the  Hosford  building,  about  1878-79. 
Since  1880  the  Rev.  Elisha  Mulford  has  been 
the  only  minister  to  occupy  the  pulpit,  preach- 
ing when  spending  his  vacation  at'  his  country 
home.  Previous  to  the  building  of  the  chapel 
he  held  services  at  the  homes  of  some  of  the 
members,  who  belong  to  the  Carraalt,  Morris, 
Mulford  and  Handrick  families.  There  are 
but  few  regular  communicants,  and  no  effort 
has  lately  been  made  to  extend  the  usefulness 
of  the  church,  since  most  of  the  present  inhabit- 
ants are  adherents  of  the  Catholic  Church. 

The  Silver  Lake  Presbyterian  Church,  when 
first  organized,  had  its  house  of  worship  on 
Choconut  Creek,  in  1831-33,  when  it  was  con- 
verted into  a residence  and  became  the  home  of 
Horace  Bliss.  The  meetings  were  thereafter 
held  in  Silver  Creek. 

St.  Joseph’s  College  and  Church  (R.  C.), 
“ on  the  Choconut  Creek,  was  opened  in  the 
autumn  of  1852,  and  was  destroyed  by  fire  on 
the  night  of  January  1,  1864.  ‘The  building 
was  insured,  and  cost  about  five  thousand  dol- 
lars. The  chapel  was  elegantly  fitted  up,  and 
the  college  was  in  a most  flourishing  condition, 
there  being  nearly  a hundred  students  in  attend- 
ance. There  were  four  regular  professors  en- 
gaged, assisted  by  four  clergymen  and  a corps 
of  subordinate  teachers.  The  libraries  were  all 
destroyed,  and  were  very  valuable.  Fortunately, 
there  were  no  lives  lost,  although  a portion  of 
the  pupils  lost  their  clothing.’  The  convent  in 
the  same  vicinity  was  built  about  1858,  and 
was  discontinued  (removed  to  Susquehanna  De- 
pot) October,  1866.  The  corner-stone  of  the 
cathedral,  situated  at  the  head  of  the  valley, 


was  laid  in  November,  1859.  The  cost  of  the 
building  has  been  estimated  at  about  twenty-five 
thousand  dollars ; but  this  is  thought  too  low. 
The  church  records  were  burned  with  the  col- 
lege. Fathers  O’Reilly  and  Fitzsimmons  were 
influential  in  establishing  the  college ; but  the 
cathedral  was  built  by  the  efforts  of  tlie  former. 
Father  Fitzsimmons  being  then  in  Wilkes- 
Barre.” 

The  cathedral  was  rebuilt  in  subsequent 
years,  on  account  of  having  defective  walls,  and 
its  present  capacity  is  not  as  large  as  originally 
built.  Nevertheless,  the  edifice  is  attractive, 
and  the  care  with  which  it  is  kept  reflects  credit 
upon  those  connected  with  the  parish.  This 
includes,  also,  the  Church  of  St.  Augustine,  in 
Silver  Lake — a fine  frame  edifice — which  was 
first  occupied  for  public  worship  on  Christmas 
day,  1871.  The  first  chapel  was  built  about  1830, 
at  the  head  of  Ranney  Creek,  on  the  Fitzgerald 
land,  and  was  the  first  Catholic  house  of  wor- 
ship in  the  county.  It  was  destroyed  by  fire 
April  3,  1870,  when  the  present  St.  Augustine 
Church  took  its  place.  The  Rev.  Father  Mc- 
Nally is  the  priest  at  present  in  chai’ge  of  the 
parish,  which  is  in  a flourishing  condition. 


CHAPTER  XXX. 

FOREST  LAKE  TOWNSHIP. 

The  township  of  Forest  Lake  was  formed 
under  a decree  of  the  court  in  May,  1836,  out 
of  parts  of  Middletown,  Silver  Lake  and  Bridge- 
water.  Previous  to  this  division  the  west  line 
of  the  latter  township  was  at  the  lake  in  the 
centre  of  the  new  township,  and  from  which  it 
derived  its  name.  Silver  Lake  extended  as  far 
south  as  the  present  southeast  corner  of  that 
township,  and  Middletown  joined  on  Bridge- 
water.  The  township,  as  erected  in  1836,  upon 
the  report  of  viewers,  appointed  by  the  court 
the  previous  year,  was  about  five  miles  from 
north  to  south,  and  four  miles  from  east  to  west. 
The  west  line  of  Forest  Lake  has  since  been 
twice  set  over  on  the  territory  of  Middletown,  so 
that  it  is  now  more  than  five  and  a ludf  miles 
from  west  to  east,  and  the  southwest  corner 


480 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


borders  on  Rush.  East  of  thi.s,  and  forming  the  re- 
mainder of  the  southern  boundary,  is  Jessup  township. 
The  surface  of  Forest  Lake  is  broken  by  a series  of 
high  hills,  trending  through  it  from  northeast  to 
southwest,  some  of  them  having  their  summits  cov- 
ered with  sterile  soil.  Ou  others  the  tops  are  level, 
and,  afi'ording  tine  farming  lands,  have  been  well  im- 
proved. The  timber  growth  was  heavy,  and  some  of 
the  small  valleys  are  still  in  a primitive  condition, 
containing  dense  forests  of  hemlock  and  the  common 
deciduo.us  trees.  There  were  many  ma2>le  trees  in  the 
larger  valleys,  and  several  tine  “sugar  bushes  ” have 
been  preserved.  The  drainage  of  the  township  is  af- 
forded mainly  by  the  Middle  Branch  of  the  Wyalus- 
ing  Creek,  and  the  outlet  of  Forest  Lake.  The 
former  rises  in  the  northwestern  part,  in  the  neighbor- 
hood of  Friendsville,  and,  taking  the  waters  of  affluent 
brooks  from  the  east,  rising  north  of  the  centre,  and 
from  the  west,  near  the  Middletown  line,  becomes  a 
stream  of  considerable  volume  before  it  ]>asses  out  of 
the  township,  near  the  southwest  corner.  Numerous 
smaller  brooks  swell  its  power,  which  was  well  utilized 
before  the  country  was  so  well  cleared  uj).  Forest 
Lake  is  a jnetty  sheet  of  water,  lying  low  among  the 
surrounding  hills,  and  its  outlet  flows  south  through 
Jessu})  into  the  East  Branch  of  the  Wyalusing.  Its 
volume  is  not  strong,  hut  it  has  good  mill-sites.  In 
the  northern  jjart  of  the  townshiji  are  the  head-waters 
of  Choconut  and  Silver  Creek,  both  being  very  small 
streams  in  Forest  Lake.  Numerous  springs  abound, 
which,  with  the  hilly  nature  of  the  country,  adapt  it 
well  for  the  principal  pursuit  of  the  inhabitants — 
dairying. 

Most  of  the  highways  of  the  towtiship  run  ]iarallel 
with  the  hills,  or  on  the  ridges,  the  Owego  turnpike 
being  the  notable  excejhion.  Its  course  through 
Forest  Lake  is  almost  diagonally  from  northwest  to 
southeast,  and  consequently  over-topping  some  of  the 
highest  hills,  jrassing  up  and  down  the  numerous 
ridges  with  j)ainful  monotony,  but  accommodating 
some  of  the  early  settlers  who  made  their  first  im- 
provements on  the  hill-tops,  over  which  the  pike  was 
completed  in  December,  1821.  As  soon  as  the  valleys 
were  cleared  up,  new  roads  afforded  easier  communi- 
cation, and  this  old  highway  is  now  almost  unused  in 
certain  parts.  It  has  received  much  adverse  criticism, 
and  has  been  the  butt  of  many  good-natured  jokes. 
Said  a foreigner,  who  located  in  the  townshij) : “If  I 
believed  in  the  transmigration  of  souls,  I should  hope 
the  soul  of  the  surveyor  of  the  Owego  turnj)ike  might 
be  given  to  an  old  horse  and  doomed  to  go  before  the 
stages  between  Montrose  and  Owego.” 

The  Pioi^eer  Settlers. — The  first  permanent  set- 
tlers of  what  is  now  Forest  Lake  appear  to  have  been 
Jabez  A.  and  Jesse  Birchard.  In  1799  they  came  to 
the  Middle  Branch  of  the  Wyalusing,  to  what  is  now 
Birchard ville,  and  improved  lands  under  the  Connec- 
ticut title,  being  the  only  inhabitants  within  the 
bounds  of  “Ruby  ” that  year,  and  knowing  nothing 


of  the  claims  of  Pennsylvania  on  this  section.  One 
of  their  nearest  neighbors  was  Charles  Miner,  who 
was  at  that  time  living  in  the  township  of  “ Usher” 
(now  Jessup) ; and  in  a letter  to  the  pioneer  festival, 
held  at  Montrose,  June,  1858,  he  says  : “ I used  to 
run  over  by  the  lot  lines,  to  the  settlement  of  my  good 
friends,  the  Birchards,  and  spend  a day  of  pleasure 
with  them.  It  was  at  the  deer-lick,  at  their  door, 
that  I shot  my  first  buck.”  The  Birchards  were  the 
descendants  of  one  of  the  old  families  of  Hartford, 
Conn.,  whose  English  ancestor  had  settled  at  Martha’s 
Vineyard,  in  Puritan  times.  Other  members  of  this 
family  settled  in  New  York,  and  spelled  their  name 
Burchard, 

’ “ In  March,  1800,  Jabez  A.  brought  his  wife,  the 
first  woman  in  the  place;  and  until  May  or  June  fol- 
lowing she  did  not  see  a woman,  when  two  girls — 
Betsey  Brownson  and  Betsey  Hale — walked  through 
the  woods,  from  the  forks  of  the  Wyalusing,  to  make 
her  a visit,  and  stayed  two  nights  ; the  distance,  going 
and  returning,  being  about  fifteen  miles.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  B.  had  six  children  : Mary  M.,  wife  of  Lewis 
Chamberlin,  formerly  of  Silver  Lake;  and  Fanny 
H.,  wife  of  Amos  Bixby,  are  dead  ; Charles  D.,  Backus 
and  George,  now  live  in  Iowa.  Jabez  A.,  Jr.,  also 
resided  there  from  1836  until  his  death,  October  20, 
1871,  aged  sixty-seven.  He  was  a member  of  the  first 
Legislature  of  Iowa,  and  held  many  offices  in  Scott 
County.  In  1846  the  father  also  removed  to  Iowa, 
where  he  died,  December  18, 1848,  agedseventy-three, 
and  the  farm  he  owned  in  Forest  Lake  became  known 
as  the  Edward  Slauson  place.” 

Jesse  Birchard  brought  his  family  in  the  spring  of 
1801,  and  located  on  the  farm  where  now  lives  his 
grandson,  L.  T.  Birchard,  whose  father,  John  S.,  had 
been  the  occupant  of  the  place  until  1870.  On  the 
occasion  of  his  moving  here  he  suffered  a serious  loss. 
They  had  but  partly  unloaded  their  goods,  when,  upon 
leaving  them  to  go  to  Jabez’s  to  dinner,  sparks  from  a 
fire  which  Mr.  Birchard  had  kindled  fell  upon  them,  and 
communicated  to  the  house,  which,  together  with  their 
goods,  was  totally  consumed.  An  earthen  platter,  an 
heirloom  in  the  family  from  the  time  it  was  brought 
from  England  in  the  “ Mayflower,”  was  broken  to 
pieces  in  saving  their  effects.  This  relic  and  a china 
bowl,  more  than  a hundred  years  old,  are  still  pre- 
served by  Mrs.  L.  T.  Birchard.  In  1818  Jesse  Birch- 
ard built  the  house  which  is  still  standing  on  the 
homestead,  where  he  died,  May  20,  1840,  in  his 
■seventieth  year.  His  wife,  Harriet,  born  November 
15,  1773,  died  May  13,  1859.  She  was  a granddaugh- 
ter of  Winslow  Tracy,  whose  wife  was  a relative  of 
William  Bradford,  the  second  Governor  of  Plymouth 
Colony,  and  one  of  the  original  Pilgrim  fathers.  She 
was  a true  pioneer  woman,  and  was  well  adapted  to 
bear  the  burdens  incident  to  the  opening  of  a new 
home  in  a wilderness.  It  is  said  of  her  that  on  one 


1 Blackman. 


FOREST  LAKE. 


481 


occiision,  hearing  a pig  squeal  in  its  pen,  she  discov- 
ered a bear  about  to  carry  it  away,  when  she  did  not 
hesitate  to  give  chase  to  bruin,  who  beat  a precipitate 
retreat  before  the  determined  woman. 

The  family  of  Jesse  Birchard  was  comjiosedof  three 
sons — Asahel,  W.,  Jesse  T.  and  John  S.  The  former 
lived  at  Birchardville,  and  all  his  family  has  deceased. 
Jesse  T.  lived  on  a farm  a mile  below  Birchardville, 
but  died  at  Montrose.  He  was  the  father  of  Charles 
H.  Birchard,  of  Philadelphia,  and  of  Caroline  B., 
who  became  the  wife  of  Homer  Frazier,  of  the  Mont- 
rose Republican.  John  S.  Birchard  married  Mary 
Griswold,  of  Choconut,  and  lived  on  the  homestead. 
He  was  the  father  of  Levi  T.  Birchard,  of  Birchard- 
ville, and  of  two  daughters,  Mrs.  Bowen  and  Mrs. 
Stevens,  of  Bradford  County.  The  wife  of  L.  T. 
Birchard  was  Jerusha  E.  Tracy,  a lineal  descendant 
of  the  Winslow  Tracy  family  above  noted.  In  the 
fall  of  1801  Israel  Birchard,  a cousin  of  the  forego- 
ing, came  with  his  wife  and  six  children  and  settled 
about  a mile  above  Birchardville,  on  the  farm  where 
William  Gordon  lived  at  a later  day.  He  moved  to 
Jessup,  where  he  died  December  11, 1818,  and  was  the 
father  of  the  numerous  Birchards  of  that  township. 
In  the  fall  of  1801  also  came  Jehiel  Warner  and 
wife,  Eli  Warner  and  Joseph  Butterfield  (the  latter 
young  men),  from  Granby,  Mass.,  and  settled  on  the 
Middle  Branch,  above  Eli  Birchard.  The  former 
had  been  here  the  year  before  and  built  a log  house, 
covered  with  bark,  on  the  farm  now  occupied  by  his 
grandson,  Asa  Warner.  Not  many  years  after  he 
built  the  large  farm-house  still  standing.  Besides 
having  a farm,  he  also  had  a saw-mill  and  burned 
charcoal.  He  died  1847.  His  wife,  Phinis  Moody, 
survived  him  till  November  2,  1867,  when  she  died 
aged  ninety-one  years.  Their  children  were  Elisha 
H.,  Azor  M.,  Rachel,,  Seth  and  Eli.  The  latter  was 
married  to  Sally  A.  Cole  and  lived  in  the  township 
until  his  death,  in  1879.  His  children — Phinis  N. 
and  Jerub  A. — removed  to  Iowa.  Azor  M.,  the  second 
son,  married  Bertha  Baldwin,  and  lived  on  the  home- 
stead until  his  death,  in  1868.  His  widow  survives 
him,  aged  seventy-three  years.  Their  children  were 
Ruth  E.,  Stanley  B.,  Suel,  Asa,  Miriam,  Eva  and 
Justus  F.  The  third  son  of  Jehiel  Warner,  Seth, 
married  Minerva  K.  Taylor,  and  they  were  the  parents 
of  Adelbert,  Byron  S.,  Lura  and  Orpha  M.,  all  living 
on  the  Middle  Branch,  above  the  original  homestead. 
Rachel,  the  daughter,  was  the  wife  of  John  S.  Town. 
Eli  Warner  located  on  the  outlet  of  Forest  Lake,  but, 
in  1802  sold  the  log  house  he  had  built  to  Samuel 
Newcomb,  who  made  it  double  and  occupied  it  until 
1819,  when  he  sold  to  William  Turner,  an  English- 
man, and  removed  to  Fire  Hill,  in  Jessup,  where  he 
lived  about  twenty-five  years,  then  removed  to  New 
York.  It  was  for  him  that  Forest  Lake  was  known 
many  years  as  Newcomb’s  Pond.  His  wife  was  the 
daughter  of  .Jonathan  West. 

Jonathan  West  and  family  came  from  Connecticut 

m 


in  1800.  Chester  Wright  is  now  on  his  I'arm,  where 
the  Milford  and  Owego  turnpike  crosses  Pond  Creek, 
or  the  outlet  of  Forest  Lake.  Here  Mr.  Wright 
brought  up  a large  family  ; all  now  scattered.  Two 
houses  built  by  him  are  still  standing  near  “ the  cor- 
ners.” He  was  an  upright  man  and  efficient  in  the 
promotion  of  good.  He  died  May,  1832,  aged  seventy- 
one  years.  One  of  his  sons,  Joshua,  lived  on  the  farm 
at  the  head  of  the  lake,  and  built  the  house  which  is 
still  standing. 

In  1801  Benjamin  Babcock  settled  on  what  was 
later  known  as  the  Brock  farm.  He  was  a Revo- 
lutionary soldier  and  lived  to  be  eighty-two  years  old, 
dying  in  1832  from  the  effects  of  an  injury  on  his 
head,  received  while  attending  his  cattle. 

Luther  Kellum  came  from  Stonington,  Conn.,  in 
1803,  and  settled  two  miles  south  of  Forest  Lake, 
where  he  lived  until  his  death,  June  5,  1846,  in  the 
eighty-sixth  year  of  his  age.  He  was  born  in  1760, 
and,  when  but  sixteen  years  of  age,  entered  the  Rev- 
olutionary army,  serving  at  different  times  about  three 
years,  and  was  at  the  battle  of  White  Plains,  N.  Y. 
His  reputation  was  unblemished  and  he  was  highly 
respected  for  his  integrity.  He  raised  a large  family, 
and  after  his  death  one  of  the  sons  occupied  the 
homestead,  which  is  still  sometimes  called  the  Kellum 
place,  but  is  now  the  property  of  J.  Green.  On  this 
farm  the  veteran  soldier  was  buried,  having  been  a 
pensioner  some  years. 

In  the  eastern  part  of  the  township  Ezekiel  and 
Elisha  Griffis  (brothers)  located  in  1810,  coming  from 
the  “ flats,”  in  Jessup  township,  where  they  had  lived 
since  1799.  The  former  built  a house  on  the  present 
Abner  Griffis  place,  where  he  lived  until  1820,  when 
he  moved  to  Bradford  County,  and  his  place  passed 
into  the  hands  of  Adam  Waldie,  who  lived  thereabout 
two  years.  Elisha  Griffis  lived  first  on  the  road  op- 
posite from  his  brother,  but,  in  1832,  moved  into  the 
house  vacated  by  Adam  Waldie.  In  1837  he  built 
the  Abner  Griffis  house  and  lived  there  many  years. 
Before  his  death  he  again  lived  in  his  old  home, where 
he  departed  this  life  May  17, 1870,  aged  eighty-one 
years.  His  wife,  who  had  been  a daughter  of  John 
Blaisdell,  died  in  1861.  They  reared  a family  of  eight 
children,  viz.,  Abner,  Calvin  B.,  Milton,  Austin  B., 
Elisha,  John  and  Jefferson,  and  a daughter,  Mrs.  E. 
B.  Cobb,  of  Rush  township.  It  is  said  of  Elisha 
Griffis  that  while  clearing  his  farm,  in  Forest  Lake, 
he  had  no  team  for  seven  years,  and  that  as  late  as 
1810  he  was  often  in  the  woods  a whole  week  without 
seeing  a human  being,  and  it  is  somewhat  significant 
of  the  progress  which  has  been  made  here,  when  it  is 
recalled  that  where  the  wilderness  so  slowly  disap- 
peared is  now  a dairy  farm  which  has  supported  one 
hundred  cows,  owned  by  Abner  Griffis. 

On  the  Middle  Branch  Loami  Mott  settled  in  1810. 
He  came  from  Stockbridge,  Mass.,  and  bought  the 
place  which  Joseph  Butterfield  had  been  improving 
since  1801,  and  who  now  moved  to  Bridgewater  town- 


482 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


ship.  Mott  was  a son-in-law  of  Samuel  Clark,  who 
came  with  him  and  moved  into  the  house  which  But- 
terfield had  built,  and  where  he  died  in  1822,  at  the 
age  of  seventy-six  years.  He  also  served  in  the  Rev- 
olution, having  been  an  armorer.  The  farm  that 
Loami  Mott  cleared  became  the  property  of  Isaac  and 
Simon  E.  Fessenden.  He  died  in  1857,  aged  eighty- 
two  years,  and  was  buried  in  the  graveyard  of  the 
Baptist  Church  at  Birchardville,  of  which  he  had  long 
been  a deacon.  He  was  the  father  of  Mrs.  H.  F. 
Handrick,  of  Forest  Lake,  and  of  sons  named  Wil- 
lard, Merritt  and  Elijah. 

Orange  Mott,  a brother  of  Loami,  settled  at  the 
lower  end  of  Stone  Street,  and  became  one  of  the 
oldest  men  in  the  county.  He  died  Jan.  23,  1871, 
aged  ninety-eight  years,  three  months  and  six  days. 
For  more  than  fifty  years  he  was  one  of  the  leading 
members  of  the  Baptist  Church.  His  sons  were 
Orange,  Rev.  Wm.  H.,  Linus,  Chester  and  Amasa, 
most  of  whom  removed  from  the  township. 

In  April,  1810,  Leman  Turrell,with  his  wife,  Lucy, 
and  four  children,  came  from  Litchfield  County, 
Conn.,  to  a home  which  he  had  made  on  the  headwa- 
ters of  the  Middle  Branch  the  previous  year.  He  was 
born  July  6,  1776,  and  had  first  visited  Pennsylvania 
in  1793,  in  the  company  of  his  mother,  who  came  to 
see  her  sister,  living  at  the  mouth  of  the  Wyalusing. 
His  mother  rode  on  horseback,  but  he  walked  the  en- 
tire distance,  about  two  hundred  and  fifty  miles.  He 
came  again  in  the  spring  of  1794,  to  assist  his  uncle. 
Job  Turrell,  in  surveying  lands  under  the  Connecticut 
title,  but  returned  in  the  fall  and  did  not  again  come 
to  this  county  until  the  summer  of  1809,  when  he 
purchased  the  woodland,  on  which  he  made  the  above 
improvements.  His  log  house  was  at  that  time  three 
miles  from  any  other,  and  he  had  to  make  his  own 
roads  to  reach  it.  He  was  a hard-working,  persever- 
ing man,  whose  industry  was  rewarded,  in  the  later 
years  of  his  life,  by  the  ownership  of  a fine  farm  and 
comfortable  residence.  His  occupation  as  a farmer 
was  varied  by  work  as  a surveyor  of  lands  and  roads, 
and  he  and  his  two  elder  sons,  Stanley  and  Joel,  built 
more  than  a mile  of  the  Owego  turnpike  themselves. 
Being  well  educated,  he  instructed  his  children  at 
home,  at  a time  when  there  were  no  schools  in  this 
country,  so  that  “ they  obtained  a better  education 
than  many  persons  do  with  all  their  present  advan- 
tages.” Leman  Tnrrell  had  seven  children, — Bri- 
tannia, Stanley,  Joel,  Leman  Miner,  Abel,  Lucy  Ann 
and  James.  Most  of  these  located  on  adjoining  farms 
and  became  known  as  leading  citizens.  Joel  died  in 
1872,  and  Stanley  in  1879.  Leman  Turrell  died  Dec. 
28,  1848,  aged  nearly  seventy-three  years,  but  his 
wife  survived  him  until  December,  1864,  dying  in  her 
eighty-ninth  year. 

Edward  G.  Ball  was  born  May  17,  1831,  in  For- 
est Lake  township,  where  he  now  resides.  His  grand- 
parents, Perry  (1780-1856)  and  Olive  (Churchill)  Ball 
(1780-1847),  came  to  Forest  Lake  from  Stockbridge, 


Mass.,  and  settled  on  about  two  hundred  acres  of  land 
one  mile  northeast  of  Birchardville  about  1811.  He 
cleared  up  a farm,  and  took  a prominent  part  in  the 
early  development  of  the  place.  He  and  his  family  were 
among  the  founders  of  the  Baptist  Church  at  Birch- 
ardville. Their  children  were  Lucy  R.  (1801-48), 
wife  of  Horace  Birchard,  whose  farm  adjoined  the 
homestead  on  the  east;  Emeline  (1804-48),  wife  of 
Orange  Mott,  whose  farm  lies  adjoining  the  homestead 
on  the  west;  George  W.  (1809-59),  married  Marietta 
Stone,  who  still  resides  on  the  homestead  with  her  son, 
Edward  G.  Ball.  The  other  children  of  Geo.  W.  Ball 
were  Marshall  L.,  a merchant  at  Forest  Lake ; Levi 
W.,  who  lives  in  Oregon  ; Merwin  S.,  who  died  young; 
Nancy  E.,  wife  of  W.  H.  Leach,  of  Owego ; and 
Maria  J.,  wife  of  W.  J.  Mawhiney,  of  Owego.  Ed- 
ward G.  Ball  succeeded  to  the  homestead  in  1858. 
The  fine  farm  residence  was  erected  by  his  father. 
He  has  improved  the  farm  and  erected  commodious 
barns.  About  eight  years  ago  he  began  to  improve 
his  dairy  by  the  introduction  of  Jersey  stock.  The 
products  of  his  dairy  find  a ready  market  in  Wilkes- 
Barre  and  Scranton.  He  served  five  years  as  county 
commissioner  from  1873,  and  is  now  serving  his  ninth 
year  as  commissioners’  clerk.  In  1851  he  married 
Ruth  A.,  daughter  of  Lyman  and  Isabella  (Sanderson) 
Baldwin.  Their  only  son,  Charles  P.,  married  a 
daughter  of  Elder  W.  C.  Tilden,  and  resides  on  the 
homestead. 

James  Ball,  of  another  family,  settled  on  Stone 
Street.  He  was  the  father  of  Hiram  L.  Ball,  of  For- 
est Lake,  and  E.  J.  Ball,  of  Brooklyn. 

Seth  Taylor,  a native  of  Litchfield  County,  Conn.^ 
located  first,  in  1810,  on  the  farm  next  below  Garrad 
Stone.  He  settled  afterwards  on  the  road  leading 
from  the  Middle  Branch  to  the  Choconut,  where  he 
remained  until  1861,  when,  in  company  with  his  son 
Edwin,  he  removed  to  California,  and  while  there 
made  his  home  with  his  sou.  Job  T.  Taylor,  Esq.,  one 
of  the  earliest  settlers  of  Plumas  County.  There  he 
died  June  26,  1869,  aged  nearly  eighty-eight  years. 
He  was  a justice  of  the  peace  for  Forest  Lake  at  the 
time  of  its  erection.  In  1810  Darius  Bixby  and 
Philo  Morehouse,  from  Vermont,  settled  one  mile  east 
of  what  is  now  Friendsville.  The  former  afterwards 
moved  to  the  shore  of  the  pond,  in  Middletown, 
which  bears  his  name.  Philo  Bostwick  came  in  about 
the  same  time,  and,  for  nearly  a quarter  of  a cen- 
tury, was  a leading  man  in  the  community.  The 
elections  were  held  at  his  house,  at  the  foot  of  the 
hill  on  Stone  Street.  He  was  a justice  of  the  peace 
for  Middletown  ; his  death  occurring  in  1824,  two 
years  before  the  erection  of  Forest  Lake,  and  long 
before  Stone  Street  became  a part  of  it.  He  was  kill- 
ed, while  chopping,  by  the  fall  of  a tree ; his  age 
was  fifty-one  years. 

Stone  Street  is  the  name  of  the  highway  from 
Birchardville  to  Friendsville,  running  parallel  with  a 
brook  emptying  into  the  Middle  Branch,  below  the 


FOREST  LAKE. 


483 


first-named  village.  It  was  so  called  because  the  prin- 
cipal land-owners  along  the  street  were  members  of 
the  Stone  family,  whose  descendants  at  one  time  con- 
stituted a considerable  portion  of  the  population  of  the 
township. 

Garrad  Stone,  one  of  the  three  brothers  who  set- 
tled on  this  street,  came  with  his  wife  from  Litch- 
field County,  Conn.,  in  1810,  and  located  on  a fiirm 
of  three  hundred  acres,  where  later  lived  his  brother 
,Tud.son.  He  was  twice  married,  his  first  wife  dying 
November  6,  1848.  He,  himself,  departed  this  life 
September  21,  1855,  aged  sixty-seven  years.  In 
August,  1813,  his  brother  Judson,  who  had  just  at- 
tained his  age,  bought  two  hundred  and  eighty  acres 
of  land  adjoining,  and  commenced  clearing  up.  Re- 
turning to  Connecticut,  he  was  married,  in  January, 
1815,  to  Polly  Turrell,  and  soon  after  he  set  out  with 
his  young  bride  for  Susquehanna  County,  making  the 
journey  with  an  ox-team,  the  usual  mode  in  those  days 
of  emigrating  westward.  They  were  sixteen  days 
upon  the  road.  He  lived  upon  the  place  first  selected 
as  his  home  until  the  death  of  his  wife,  July  17,  1855, 
when  he  purchased  his  brother’s  farm  adjoining 
where  he  lived  until  his  death.  His  wife  had  a 
cheerful  temperament.  A log  cabin  in  the  wilder- 
ness, with  only  a chest  for  a table,  could  not  check 
her  vivacity.  Privations  gave  but  a keener  zest  to 
pleasures. 

In  addition  to  being  a very  successful  farmer,  he 
carried  on  the  tannery  business  from  1840  to  1845^ 
and  afterwards  merchandised  at  Friendsville,  in 
which  enterprises  he  was  also  successful.  He  built 
the  large  house  on  Stone  Street,  which  is  the  resi- 
dence of  George  B.  Johnson,  and  made  other  im- 
provements which  are  remembered  to  his  credit.  He 
died  June  22,  1871,  aged  seventy-eight  years  and  ten 
months,  his  second  wife,  the  former  widow  of  his 
brother  Garrad,  surviving  him,  as  also  did  six 
daughters,  all  children  of  his  first  wife. 

In  1829  the  widow  of  Walker  Stone,  with  her  five 
children,  came  and  located  on  the  farm  below  where 
Garrad  Stone  lived,  which  is  now  the  home  of  S. 
Bradshaw,  who  married  into  the  Stone  family.  Jud- 
son Stone,  living  north  of  Forest  Lake,  is  a son  of 
Mrs.  Walker  Stone,  and  is  one  of  the  few  male  mem- 
bers of  the  family  of  elderly  age  left  in  the  township. 
His  home  is  the  Otis  Smith  place,  of  whom  he  was  a 
son-in-law.  Smith  had  first  settled  in'Choconut, 
where  he  married  adaughter  of  Bela  Moore.  He  was 
a pioneer  teacher  and  also  transacted  considerable 
public  business. 

James  E.  Stone. — The  Stone  brothers,  Garrad, 
Judson,  the  widow  of  Walker  Stone,  and  Clearfield 
Stone  were  among  the  earliest  settlers  in  the  western 
part  of  Forest  Lake  township,  and  located  there  on 
“ Stone  ” Street,  named  for  them,  on  lands  bought  by 
their  father,  Canfield  Stone,  who  lived  and  died  in 
Litchfield  County,  Conn.  A further  account  of  the 
first  three  will  be  found  in  the  early  history  of  the 


township,  beginning  as  early  as  1810,  when  Garrad 
came  to  the  place.  Canfield  Stone  was  a wealthy 
man  and  a large  land-owner  in  Litchfield  County. 
Canfield  Stone,  Jr.,  the  youngest  of  the  brothers,  who 
settled  in  Forest  Lake,  came  to  his  property  on  Stone 
Street  in  1821,  then  consisting  of  one  hundred  and 
6fty  acres,  a woodland  tract,  where  he  spent  the  re- 
mainder of  his  life,  clearing  off  the  forest  and  pre- 
paring its  fields  for  crops.  His  wife  was  Almira,  a 
daughter  of  Dimon  and  Mary  (Olmstead)  Bostwick, 
of  Wyalusing,  where  she  was  raised,  but  her  parents 
were  natives  of  Connecticut.  Canfield  and  Almira 
Stone  had  three  children — James  E.,  (1819-60)  ; 
Eliza,  born  in  1822,  wife  of  Robert  Cooley,  a mechanic 
of  Binghamton  ; and  Arabella,  born  in  1824,  widow 
of  the  late  Calvin  Leet,  resides  in  Iowa.  Calvin 
Leet,  was  a son  of  Dr.  Calvin  Leet,  who  practiced 
medicine  at  Friendsville. 

James  E.  Stone,  being  the  only  son,  succeeded  his 
father  on  the  homestead  farm,  and  added  to  the  real 
estate  sixty-four  acres.  He  made  nearly  all  the  pres- 
ent improvements  of  buildings,  and  erected  the  farm 
residence  now  to  be  seen  in  1857.  He  was  a man  of 
untiring  industry,  a thorough-going  business  man 
and  an  intelligent  farmer.  Pie  did  not  seek  political 
preferment,  or  covet  official  place,  but  contented  him- 
self with  agricultural  pursuits,  and  the  enjoyment  of 
his  family  and  friends.  None  knew  him  but  to  testify 
to  his  moral  worth,  his  high  regard  for  the  just  rights 
of  others,  and  for  his  integrity  and  honesty  of  pur- 
pose in  life’s  work.  He  married,  in  1843,  Amorillis 
Beebe,  of  Choconut,  this  county,  who  was  born  May 
18,  1822.  She  was  a teacher  in  her  early  days,  is  a 
woman  of  genial  and  social  ways,  and  known  among 
her  manj"  friends  for  her  courtesy  and  hospitality, 
always  making  the  circle  in  which  she  moves  cheerful 
and  pleasant.  She  survives  in  1886. 

Their  children  are  Adallne,  wife  of  Henry  Spafford, 
on  the  Stone  homestead  ; Dimon,  a farmer  at  Illia,  in 
Garfield  County,  Washington  Territory  ; Elmira,  wife 
of  Chauncey  Peckins  (nephew  of  Isaac  Peckins,  who 
settled  in  Bridgewater  in  1802),  of  Muncy,  Lycom- 
ing County ; Canfield,  a hotel  proprietor  at  Rush  ; 
Horatio  B.,  a farmer  in  Rush  ; Joseph,  a farmer  in 
Forest  Lake  ; and  Charlotte  A.  Stone,  a teacher,  who, 
after  attending  a preparatory  course  at  Factoryville, 
entered  the  Mansfield  State  Normal  School,  from 
which  she  was  graduated  in  the  class  of ’84. 

Mrs.  Stone’s  parents  were  Joseph  (1785-1861)  and 
Eunice  (1795-1864)  (Beardsley)  Beebe,  who  resided 
most  of  their  lives  in  Apolacon  township,  the  former 
dying  in  South  Apolacon,  N.  Y.  Eunice  Beardsley 
was  the  daughter  of  Silas  (1761-1820)  and  Catharine 
(1770-1820)  (Treadwell)  Beardsley,  natives  of  Con- 
necticut, who  settled  in  Middletown,  and  reared  a 
family  of  nine  children.  Joseph  Beebe’s  father  was 
Reuben,  who  came  to  Apolacon  township  from  Orange 
County.  The  children  of  Joseph  and  Eunice  Beebe 
are  Marinda,  born  in  1810,  wife  of  Bela  Fairchild, 


484 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


died  at  Warren,  Bradford  County ; Lyman,  1812, 
after  a residence  in  Forest  Lake  for  several  years, 
settled  in  Calcaska,  Michigan ; Avery  (1813-81) 
died  in  Apolacon  township,  at  Little  Meadows,  where 
he  resided ; Lewis,  1815,  a farmer  in  Aj^olacon  town- 
ship; Allen,  1817,  was  accidentally  injured,  and  died 
at  the  age  of  nineteen  ; Reuben,  1820,  a farmer  in 
South  Apolacon,  N.  Y. ; Amorillis,  widow  of  James 
E.  Stone;  Caroline  and  Catherine  (twins),  born  in 
1824,  the  former  the  wife  of  Samuel  Treadwell,  who 
settled  in  Forest  Lake,  some  ten  years  ago,  from 
Croton,  N.  Y.  (the  latter  the  wife  of  Guy  Wells,  of 
Bridgewater) ; Andrew  died  at  the  age  of  seven  ; 
Juliett,  1828,  wife  of  Cullen  Darling,  at  Freeville, 
N.  Y.  ; Almira,  1830,  wife  of  James  F.  Whalen,  of 
Warren,  Bradford  County,  was  formerly  a teacher  ; 
and  the  youngest,  Burrace,  born  in  1833,  also  of 
Freeville. 

In  1813-15  among  other  settlers  who  located  on  the 
Middle  Branch,  were  Philip  Blair,  on  a farm  below 
Birchardville,  and  Abiathar,  William  and  Samuel 
Thatcher,  on  lands  near  Leman  Turrell.  Near  here, 
Ezra  Rice,  from  Vestal,  N.  Y.,  settled  fifteen  years 
later,  improving  a farm  which  was  long  occupied  by 
him.  He  was  the  father  of  sons  named  Samuel, 
living  in  Apolacon ; James  M.,  of  Friendsville ; and 
George  W.,  of  Franklin  township.  His  daughter, 
Eliza  J.,  became  the  wife  of  Wm.  Buffum,  of  Friends- 
ville; and  Helen  F.,  of  S.  B.  Loomis,  of  Montrose. 
James  C.  Rice,  a brother  of  Ezra,  also  lived  in  this 
locality,  and,  after  some  removals,  died  in  the  town- 
ship, aged  ninety-six  years.  He  had  no  family. 

In  1815  Stephen  Bentley,  a native  of  Rhode  Island, 
came  from  Greene  County,  N.  Y.,  and  bought  a farm 
in  the  eastern  part  of  the  township,  on  the  Owego 
pike,  where  he  afterwards  kept  an  inn  a number  of 
years.  He  died  in  1831  and  his  wife  seventeen  years 
later,  aged  about  seventy-five  years.  None  of  the 
family  remained  in  Forest  Lake. 

Henky  Frederick  Hakdrick. — William  Gaylord 
Handrick  (1785-1866)  and  wife,  Betsey  Carrington 
(1790-1837),  the  former  a native  of 'New  Milford,  the 
latter  of  Woodbridge,  Conn.,  settled  with  their  six 
children  in  what  is  now  Forest  Lake  township,  on 
the  old  Stone  road,  in  1817,  where,  a year  or  two  after- 
ward, he  built  the  old  red  house  near  the  tannery. 
He  was  a tanner  and  shoemaker  by  trade,  and  built 
the  Eagle  Tannery,  on  Stone  Street,  near  his  house. 
Here  he  carried  on  the  tanning  business  in  summer 
and  worked  at  the  shoemaker’s  trade  during  the  winter 
months.  His  first  residence  was  about  two  miles 
southwest  from  Birchardville,  his  second  some  two 
miles  north  on  the  same  road  leading  to  Friendsville, 
and  his  last — where  he  spent  the  majority  of  his  active 
business  life — was  on  the  farm  now  owned  by  John 
Delaney.  He  was  a soldier  in  the  War  of  1812.  He 
was  an  influential  citizen  of  the  township,  was  one  of 
the  county  commissioners  for  a term,  and  served  as 
justice  of  the  peace  for  twenty-two  years.  Both  him- 


self and  wife  were  members  of  the  old  Presbyterian 
Church  at  Birchardville,  and  were  buried  in  the 
Stone  Street  Cemetery.  He  was  thrice  married,  but 
all  his  large  family  of  thirteen  children  were  by  his 
first  wife,  herein  mentioned.  The  eldest,  Fanny 
(1806-70),  was  first  the  wife  of  AVilliam  Small,  of 
Chemung  County,  N.  Y.,  who,  after  his  death,  mar- 
ried Daniel  Lincoln,  of  Forest  Lake.  William  B. 
(1808-84)  assisted  his  father  in  building  the  Eagle 
Tannery,  where  he  worked  for  many  years;  then 
removed  to  Springville,  where  he  died  two  years  ago. 
Aurelia  (1810-49),  wife  of  Charles  Birchard,  resided 
in  Forest  Lake,  and  subsequently  in  Covington,  near 
Mansfield,  where  she  died.  Wakeman  C.,  born  in 
1812,  is  a farmer  in  Jessup.  Annis,  born  in  1814, 
wife  of  Judge  I.  P.  Baker,  of  Dimock.  Henry  Fred- 
erick, born  September  19,  1816.  Daniel  T.,  born  in 
1818,  is  a shoemaker  in  Dimock.  Eliza  C.,  born  in 
1820,  is  the  wife  of  William  C.  Miles,  of  Dimock. 
Murwin  S.,  born  in  1824,  has  spent  his  life  as  a tanner, 
and  is  superintendent  of  a tannery  at  Wellsville,  N.  Y. 
Mary  Lucinda  (1826-47),  wife  of  Hubbard  Miles, 
died  at  Honesdale,  Pa.,  and  was  buried  in  the  ceme- 
tery on  Stone  Street.  David  T.,  born  in  1822,  a car- 
penter and  joiner  at  Montrose.  Andrew  Vanness  was 
accidentally  killed  when  a boy  attending  the  district 
school,  taught  by  his  sister.  Annis  and  Elizabeth 
died  young.  Dr.  Richardson,  of  Montrose,  was  a son 
of  his  second  wife,  Mrs.  Lois,  by  her  first  husband. 
She  died  in  1843,  aged  fifty-one  years. 

Henry  F.  Handrick  attended  the  district  school  in 
boyhood,  learned  tanning  and  shoemaking  with  his 
father,  and  for  the  last  seven  years  before  attaining 
his  majority  worked  at  this  business  at  home.  He 
further  improved  his  education  by  six  months’  attend- 
ance at  Mannington  Academy,  St.  Joseph.  In  1838 
he  purchased  one  hundred  and  eleven  acres  of  wood- 
land of  Robert  H.  Rose,  which  has  been  his  homestead 
since.  All  of  the  improvements  on  this  property 
have  been  made  by  him,  and  he  erected  his  present 
residence  in  1866.  With  untiring  industry  he  made 
the  jiresent  clearings  on  this  farm  with  his  own  hands, 
and  in  time  made  its  fields  yield  plentiful  crops.  In 
1848  he  went  to  Port  Jervis,  where,  for  four  years,  he 
was  superintendent  of  the  wood  department  for  the 
Erie  Railroad  Company ; for  two  years  following  he 
superintended  large  lumber  interests  at  Hancock, 
N.  Y.,  for  C.  B.  Griffis. 

In  1856  he  went  to  Saginaw  City,  Michigan,  where 
he  superintended  the  salt-works,  and  the  construction 
of  a plank-road  three  miles  from  the  river.  After  one 
year  he  returned  home  and  in  1859  went  to  Sullivan 
County,  N.  Y.,  where  he  took  charge  of  lumbering  in- 
terests for  two  years,  when,  the  war  having  begun,  he 
returned  home  and  hassincebeen  engaged  on  his  farm 
in  agricultural  pursuits.  He  has  been  identified  with 
the  Grange  movement  of  the  county,  and  was  one  of 
the  charter  members  of  Rising  Sun  Grange,  of  which 
he  was  Master  for  two  terms.  He  is  also  a member 


I 


liiL 


FOREST  LAKE. 


485 


of  Pomona  Grange,  of  which  he  has  been  Master  for 
three  terms.  In  connection  with  the  Grange  move- 
ment, he  has  served  as  District  Deputy  for  two  years. 
For  thirty  years  he  has  been  a member  of  the  Warren 
Lodge,  No.  240,  F.  and  A.  M.,  Montrose;  for  twenty- 
five  years  a member  of  the  Odd  Fellows’  Lodge,  No. 
417,  Friendsville,  which  was  afterwards  removed  to 
Rush,  of  which  order  he  was  District  Deputy  Grand 
Master  for  the  county  for  three  years.  Both  himself 
and  wife  are  members  of  the  Middletown  Baptist 
Church,  the  former  since  twenty-one  years  of  age,  the 
latter  since  she  was  eighteen. 

Mr.  Handrick  married,  in  1840,  Abiah  Mott,  a native 
of  the  township,  who  was  born  February  13,  1820. 
Her  father,  Loami  Mott  (1775-1857),  came  from  Stock- 
bridge,  Massachusetts,  in  the  spring  of  1810,  and  set- 
tled on  the  farm  of  one  hundred  and  fifty  acres,  part 
of  which  is  now  occupied  by  Gordonville,  in  Forest 
Lake  township.  He  was  a native  of  Winchester,  Con- 
necticut, and  died  at  Montrose.  He  was  a carpenter 
and  joiner  by  trade,  built  the  Middletown  Bapist 
Church  and  the  old  land-marks,  the  Warner  house 
and  the  Birchard  house,  and  a wool-carding  establish- 
ment and  saw-mill,  as  early  as  1815.  He  was  a deacon 
in  the  Middletown  Baptist  Church,  of  which  the  fam- 
ily of  Mott  have  been  members  since  their  settlement. 
Her  mother,  Polly,  who  died  in  1845,  was  a daughter 
of  Samuel  (1746-1822)  and  Mary  Clark,  who  came 
from  Stockbridge  along  with  Loami  Mott,  and  lived 
and  died  at  his  house.  He  was  a gunsmith  by  trade, 
and  had  been  an  armorer  in  the  Revolution.  The 
Mott  children  are  Merrit  (born  in  1796),  a woolen 
manufacturer,  died  in  Bridgewater,  where  his  factory 
was,  near  Jones’  Lake  ; Willard,  bom  in  1800,  resides 
in  Jackson  township  ; Lodema,  born  in  1803,  first  the 
wife  of  Darius  Bixby,  of  Silver  Lake,  and  after  his 
death  the  wife  of  John  Stevens,  of  Frenchtown,  Brad- 
ford County,  both  of  whom  died  in  Kansas,  whither 
they  had  removed ; Mary  (1807-68),  wife  of  Richard 
Ford,  of  Palmyra,  N.  Y. ; Elijah,  born  in  1817,  resides 
in  Dimock,  whence  he  removed  from  Slatington,  Pa; 
and  Abiah,  wife  of  Henry  F.  Handrick.  The  fiimily 
of  Clark  were  also  members  of  the  Middletown  Bap- 
tist Church.  Orange  Mott,  a brother  of  Loami,  set- 
tled on  the  lower  end  of  Stone  Street;  his  sons  were 
Orange,  Rev.  Wm.  K.  Linus,  Chester  and  Amasa.  He 
died  January  23,  1871,  at  over  ninety-eight  years  of 
age,  and  had  been  a member  of  the  Baptist  Church 
for  over  a half-century.  Orange  Mott,  Jr.  (1800-83), 
a cousin  of  Mrs.  Handrick,  resided  just  above  Gordon- 
ville, near  the  Mott  homestead.  He  was  a deacon  of 
the  Middletown  Baptist  Church  for  thirty  years,  a jus- 
tice of  the  peace  for  a long  time,  and  served  for  three 
years  as  a county  commissioner.  His  first  wife  was 
Emeline  Ball ; his  second  wife.  Ruby  (1820-68),  was  a 
daughter  of  Joseph  Cole,  of  Forest  Lake,  by  whom  he 
had  children, — Emma,  wife  of  E.  H.  Fessenden,  of 
Forest  Lake , Ella  L.,  and  Villa  S.  Mott. 

In  1819  William  Turner  and  his  accomplished  wife 


emigrated  from  England  to  join  the  British  settle- 
ment in  Silver  Lake,  but,  on  looking  around,  con- 
cluded to  purchase  the  farm  of  Samuel  Newcomb,  at 
the  foot  of  the  lake,  which  was  called  at  that  time 
“ Newcomb’s  Pond.”  Mrs.  Turner  very  appropriately 
named  this  body  of  water  “ Forest  Lake,”  a title 
which  it  has  since  borne,  and  which  gave  name  to  the 
township  in  later  years. 

“Under  the  transforming  hand  of  taste,  the  log 
cabin  became  a charming  home.  The  rustic  gate  of 
laurel  boughs  and  the  trellised  porch  lent  an  outward 
grace  to  the  rude  fence  and  the  rough  walls,  while  the 
spirit  and  intelligence  of  the  occupants  made  the  spot 
‘ the  retreat  of  the  social,  the  gay  and  refined.’”' 
Years  after  she  had  left  the  place  the  marks  of  the 
care  she  had  given  it  could  be  seen,  and  were  in 
strong  contrast  with  the  surroundings  of  other  pio- 
neers, whose  life  was  wholly  devoted  to  making 
farms. 

In  1822  Mrs.  Turner  issued  a volume  of  her  poems, 
entitled  the  “ Harp  of  the  Beech-Woods.” 

Five  years  later  her  harp  was  mute  in  forest  halls ; 
her  husband  finding  himself  unequal  to  the  task  of 
subduing  the  wilderness  and  making  a living,  aban- 
doned his  enterprise  in  Susquehanna  County  and  went 
to  New  York  City,  where  Mrs.  Turner  engaged  in 
teaching  music. 

The  same  year  John  Brown,  also  an  Englishman, 
located  near  the  lake.  He  was  a man  of  scholarly 
attainments,  but  was  no  better  adapted  to  clear  up  a 
new  country  than  Mr.  Turner,  and  he  remained  only 
a few  years,  when  he  returned  to  England. 

About  this  time  Frederick  Brock,  the  first  German 
in  the  township,  located  on  the  place  formerly  occu- 
pied by  Benjamin  Babcock,  the  locality  becoming 
known  as  “ Brockville.”  Mrs.  Brock  was  from  Phila- 
delphia, and  in  that  city  their  son,  Frederick,  died  in 
1841,  in  his  thirty-third  year.  He  was  known  in  this 
vicinity  as  a young  man  of  excellent  talents  and  ac- 
quirements. He  left  a widow  (who  died  a year  later) 
and  two  children,  since  dead.  Frederick  Brock,  Sr., 
died  Nov.  5,  1843,  and  his  widow  has  since  deceased. 
Michael  Flynn,  one  of  the  first  Irishmen  in  Forest 
Lake,  occupies  the  Brock  farm.  Adam  Waldie  came 
with  his  wife  and  sisters,  from  Scotland,  to  the  pres- 
ent town  of  Dimock  in  1819  ; two  years  later  he  re- 
moved to  the  farm  formerly  occupied  by  Ezekiel 
Griffis,  for  which  he  paid  two  thousand  one  hundred 
dollars.  He  grew  weary  of  his  situation,  and  as  this 
was  but  part  payment,  the  land  reverted  to  Dr.  Rose. 
In  December,  1882,  he  went  to  Philadelphia  and  pub- 
lished “Waldie’s  Circulating  Library,’’  a valuable 
literary  paper.  Mr.  Waldie  was  better  adapted  for 
literary  work  than  farming,  and  though  many  things 
in  the  country  commended  themselves  to  him,  he  very 
wisely  left  it  when  he  did. 

C.  F.  A.  Volz,  a native  of  Wfirtemberg,  Germany, 


^ Miss  Blackiiiau. 


486 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


came  to  Forest  Lake  soon  after  the  Brock  family,  and 
built  the  house  on  the  top  of  the  hill,  east  of  the  lake, 
about  1824.  He  is  spoken  of  as  a highly  accomplished 
gentleman.  His  farming  was  like  that  of  many  am- 
ateurs— better  in  theory  than  in  practice.  He  named 
his  place  “Hope.”  It  was  near  the  sixth  mile-stone 
on  the  Milford  and  Owego  turnpike.  His  death  oc- 
curred in  1839,  after  having  lived  a few  years  with 
Dr.  Rose,  of  Silver  Lake.  His  farm  became  known 
as  the  Case  j)lace. 

Thomas  Brown  (1786-1863)  and  Mary  Hill  (1783- 
1864),  his  wife,  natives  of  Nottinghamshire,  England, 
came  to  America  in  1819,  and  settled  at  Dimock  Cor- 
ners, this  county.  In  1821  they  removed  to  Forest 
Lake,  where  he  superintended  the  h^rge  farm  of  C. 
F.  A.  Voltz  for  eleven  years,  and  After  that  leased 
and  worked  it  for  four  years  more.  Both  himself  and 
wife  spent  the  remainder  of  their  lives  in  the  vicinity, 
and  were  buried  in  the  little  cemetery  at  Forest  Lake, 
on  the  present  farm  of  their  eldest  son.  Their  chil- 
dren are  John,  born  in  1817,  settled  on  his  present 
farm  in  1850,  married,  in  1844,  Louisa,  born  in  1822,  a 
daughter  of  the  late  James  Hill,  Esq.,  of  Bridgewater; 
Thomas,  resides  on  the  Owego  turnpike,  in  Forest 
Lake;  Eliza,  first  the  wife  of  Ethan  Russell,  and,  after 
his  accidental  death  in  a saw-mill,  married  Russell 
Southward,  who  died  in  Liberty.  John  and  Louisa 
Brown’s  children  are  eight  sons, — Charles  Albert, 
Frank  Thomas,  Frederick  James,  Chester  W.,  John 
Edson,  George  Ellsworth,  Chauncey  Rockwell  and 
Lewis  Hill  Brown. 

Dyer  Taylor  (1790-1850),  a native  of  Conn- 
ecticut, came  to  Forest  Lake  with  Hewitt  Kellum 
about  1810,  married,  in  1813,  Lucinda  (1792-1885),  a 
daughter  of  Luther  Kellum,  who  removed  from  the 
same  State  and  settled  in  Forest  Lake  in  1803,  with 
his  family.  In  1815  Taylor  bought  four  hundred  acres 
of  land  for  four  hundred  dollars  on  Forest  Lake  Creek, 
in  the  southeast  corner  of  the  township,  which  was 
his  homestead  until  his  death.  Both  himself  and 
wife  were  buried  in  the  family  grave-j^ard  on  the  farm. 
Two  of  his  sons  now  own  and  reside  on  parts  of  the 
original  purchase.  Their  children  are  Comfort 
Salinda  (1814-75),  was  the  wife  of  Aral  Clark,  who 
settled  on  a part  of  the  property;  Betsey  A.,  born  in 
1817,  widow  of  Benjamin  Clark,  resides  at  Forest  Lake; 
Fanny;  Lucinda  Eveline  (1822-56),  was  the  wife  of 
Solomon  McKeeby,  of  Jessup  ; George  W.,  1826,  on 
the  homestead ; Jonathan  Dyer,  born  in  1829,  mar- 
ried Amelia,  daughter  of  Lorenzo  Stone,  of  Jessup,  and 
resides  on  a part  of  the  original  purchase  of  his 
father. 

Near  the  centre  of  the  township  John  S.  Town,  a 
blacksmith,  settled  after  1820,  and  near  the  same 
locality  lived  David  Baldwin,  from  Connecticut,  who 
was  born  March  23,  1779,  and  died  September  10, 
1859.  He  raised  a large  family,  the  sons  being 
Alonzo,  Stanley,  William  C.  and  Henry  I.,  the  latter 
still  living  in  the  township.  His  daughters  were 


married  as  follows  : Elvira  to  Luther  Kellum ; Bertha 
to  Azor  Warner;  Lavinia  to  Frederick  Brock;  Ruth 
to  James  Wiley ; Adah  to  Thomas  Peat;  and  Cor- 
delia to  Nelson  R.  Cole. 

John  Bradshaw. — His  paternal  grandfather,  John 
Bradshaw,  a native  of  Connecticut,  born  in  .1750, 
emigrated  to  the  then  far  West,  and,  with  his  wife, 
Abigail  Keeler,  whom  he  married  in  1775,  and  two 
children,  Salmon  and  William,  settled  on  a farm  near 
Stevensville,  Bradford  County,  Pa.,  in  the  latter  part 
of  the  last  century.  William,  born  in  1784,  married 
in  1808,  Polly  (born  in  1786),  a daughter  of  Abram 
Taylor,  who  had  also  settled  in  the  same  vicinity  from 
Connecticut,  who  bore  him  five  children,  as  follows  : 
John,  b >rn  March  28,  1809,  on  the  homestead  near 
Stevensville,  died  on  his  own  homestead,  in  the 
southwestern  part  of  Forest  Lake  township,  June 
15,  1884;  Daniel  died  in  Owego,  where  he  resided; 
Betsey  is  the  wife  of  Stephen  Whittaker,  a steamer 
coaster  on  the  Atlantic  sea-board;  Clarinda,  wife 
of  Leonard  Whittaker,  of  Rome,  Bradford  County; 
and  Miner  Bradshaw,  deceased. 

The  eldest  of  these,  John,  was  reared  with  the  rest 
of  the  children  on  the  home  farm  and  became  inured  to 
labor,  and  besides  learned  the  practical  lessons  of 
industry,  economy  and  self-reliance  necessary  to 
success  in  a new  country.  He  so  improved  his 
school  opportunities  that  before  and  after  his  mar- 
riage he  taught  several  terms  in  the  district  schools. 
He  had  no  financial  assistance  in  starting  out  in 
life  for  himself,  but,  self-reliant,  ambitious  and  judi- 
cious, he  ventured  his  first  purchase  of  land  of  one 
hundred  acres  in  Forest  Lake,  herein  heretofore 
located,  upon  which  he  settled  about  1835,  the  date  of 
his  marriage  to  Amy  Stone,  the  eldest  daughter  of 
Judson  (1792-1871)  and  Polly  Turrell  (1795-1855) 
Stone,  of  Forest  Lake.  Judson  Stone  had  left  his 
native  county,  Litchfield,  Conn.,  to  avoid  the  draft 
in  the  War  of  1812,  and  coming  sooner  than  he 
intended,  upon  reaching  his  majority,  in  1813,  had 
settled  on  Stone  Street,  in  Forest  Lake,  where  he 
purchased  two  hundred  and  eighty  acres  of  land, 
contiguous  to  his  brother  Garrad’s.  Polly  Turrell 
was  also  a native  of  Litchfield  County,  and  the 
daughter  of  Abel  Turrell,  the  cousin  of  Leman  Tur- 
rell, who  married  Lucy,  the  sister  of  Polly,  and 
settled  in  the  same  township  on  the  Owego  turn- 
pike, in  1810.  The  children  of  Judson  and  Polly 
(Turrell)  Stone  are  Amy,  born  December  29,  1815, 
the  widow  of  John  Bradshaw,  and  residing  on  the 
homestead,  where  she  settled  after  her  marriage,  a 
woman  of  great  moral  worth,  a loving  mother  and 
an  honored  wife,  who  reared  her  children  in  all  that 
makes  true  womanhood  and  manhood;  Urania, 
born  in  1818,  wife  of  Wakeman  C.  Handrick,  of 
Jessup ; Julia,  1820,  wife  of  Alanson  Butterfield,  of 
Bridgewater;  Lunia  (1823-54),  never  married ; Soph- 
ronia,  1827,  wife  of  Frederick  Dayton,  a farmer  in 
Jessup;  Amarillus,  1829,  wife  of  G.  B.  Johnson, 


I 


r 


FOREST  LAKE. 


487 


residing  on  Stone  Street,  in  the  township  ; Canfield^ 
1832-3(5;  and  Ellen,  born  in  1837,  wife  of  Jeremiah 
Hosford,  of  Friendsville.  When  Mr.  Bradshaw 
settled  on  his  farm  there  were  poor  buildings  and 
small  clearings.  In  due  time  commodious  out-huild- 
ings  were  erected,  well-cultivated  and  well -fenced 
fields  yielded  plentiful  crops,  and  the  handiwork 
of  a thorough-going  farmer  could  he  seen.  Prosper- 
ity crowned  his  industry,  and  he  subsecpiently  added 
one  hundred  acres  to  his  original  purchase,  and  in 
1846  built  the  present  substantial  farm  residence. 
Here  he  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life,  reared  his 
family  and  died,  respected  by  all  who  knew  him. 
He  cherished  a high  moral  sentiment,  a cordial 
hospitality  to  his  friends,  and  was  a man  of  correct 
habits.  His  every  act  was  stamped  with  integrity 
and  a pure  motive.  He  was  sought  by  his  lellow- 
townsmen  for  responsible  places  in  township  affairs, 
and  served  as  assessor,  school  director  and  in  other 
official  positions. 

The  children  are  Flora,  wife  of  Carr  Watson, 
of  Bethlehem,  Conn. ; Salmon,  a farmer  on  Stone 
Street;  Myron,  a farmer  and  miller  in  Rush  ; Judson, 
a large  land-owner  in  Florida;  Amarillus,  wife  of 
Byron  C.  Handrick,  of  Great  Bend;  Vesta  A.,  wife 
of  Wellington  E.  Ball,  on  the  homestead;  John 
Miner,  died  at  home  at  the  age  of  thirty  years  ; and 
Amy  Polly,  died  at  the  age  of  four  years. 

In  1838  the  following  were  the  taxahles  of  the 
township,  which  at  that  time  did  not  embrace  Birch- 
ardville,  nor  the  territory  along  Stone  Street,  which 
had  not  yet  been  set  off  from  Middletown.  Accounts 
of  some  of  the  leading  families  living  there  and  in 
other  parts  of  the  township  appear  in  special  sketches 
added  to  these  annals  : 

Benoni  Aiistiu,  Joshua  Allen,  Hiram  Allen,  Perry  Ball,  George  Ball, 
John  Bump,  Horace  Birchard,  Charles  I).  Birchard,  Wm.  D.  Birdsell, 
Judson  Burr,  Clark  Burr,  James  Blaisdell,  David  Baldwin,  George 
Brown,  Thomas  Brown,  Horatio  N.  Brewster,  Stephen  T.  Bentley,  Fred. 
Brock,  Fred.  Brock,  Jr.,  Amos  Ball,  Jirah  Bryan,  Luke  Bolles,  Madison 
Bostwick,  Jesse  Birchard,  John  S.  Birchard,  Jabez  A.  Birchard,  Corne- 
lius Brink,  Brown  & Knapp,  Benj.  T.  Case,  Ebenezer  Cole,  Nelson  Cole, 
Samuel  Cornell,  Wm.  N.  Cornell,  David  Dewees,  Allen  Deuel,  L}'8ander 
C.  Day,  Thomas  Doe,  Benj.  B.  Fox,  Thomas  Fisher,  David  Green, 
Elisha  Griffis,  Abner  Griffis,  James  Glidden,  Patrick  Griffin,  James 
Griffin,  George  Griffin,  Samuel  Howe,  Thomas  R.  Howe,  Ephraim  K. 
Howe,  David  H.  Hickock,  William  Harvey,  A.  Hines,  Solomon  Hamlin, 
Polly  Horton,  Austin  Howell,  Charles  Jenks,  Andrew  B.  Jones,  Luther 
Kelluni,  Luther  Kellum,  Jr.,  Michael  Kain  (2d),  John  Kain,  Thomas 
Kain,  Freeman  Loomis,  John  Ladd,  David  F.  Lincoln,  William  Lowry, 
Chester  Lincoln,  Roswell  Morse,  Loami  Mott,  Orange  Mott,  Jr.,  Thomas 
Mehan,  John  A.  Patch,  James  C.  Rice,  Ezra  Rice,  Alfred  Reed,  John 
Rhinevault,  Asahel  Southwell,  James  Slatter,  Morris  Sullivan,  Moaes 
Stafford,  William  Small,  Otis  Smith,  Lyman  Slyter,  Francis  Smith, 
David  Sherman,  Jacob  Shay,  Leman  Turrell.  Stanley  Turrcll,  JotdTur- 
rell.  Miner  L.  Turrell,  Abel  Turrell,  Abiather  Thatcher,  Hiram 
Thatcher,  Orson  Thatcher,  Samuel  Thatcher,  Seth  Taylor,  David  Taylor, 
Dyer  Taylor,  William  Tomkins,  John  S.  Town,  Joseph  Tildon,  Augustus 
Tilden,  Patrick  Tate,  Jehiel  Warner,  Azor  M.  Warner,  Elisha  H.  War- 
ner, Seth  Warner,  Elias  Warner,  Samuel  West,  Joshua  West,  Jonathan 
West,  Daniel  Wood,  Stephen  Whitaker,  Lewis  Whitaker. 

Wright  Family. — Seth  Wright  was  the  son  of 
Seth  B.  and  Lydia  Wright,  of  Lebanon,  Conn.  He 
was  three  times  married,  his  first  wife  being  Miriam, 


daughter  of  Ephraim  and  Miriam  Wright,  of  North- 
ampton, Mass.,  whom  he  married  in  1777.  They  had 
children,  Erastus,  Sally,  Lucina,  Merilla  (died  in 
infancy),  Chester,  Merilla  (2d),  Chauncy,  Moses,  Mil- 
ton,  Henry,  Clark  and  Miles.  His  first  wife  died  in 
1803.  The  children  by  the  second  marriage  were 
Miriam,  Lydia  and  Polly.  His  third  wife  was  a 
widow.  Bates,  who  survived  him;  he  died  in  1822. 
Chauncy,  the  third  son  of  Seth  and  Miriam  Wright, 
was  born  in  1791,  at  Sharon,  Conn.,  from  which  place 
his  parents  removed,  when  he  was  ten  years  old,  to 
Hartwick,  Otsego  County,  N.  Y.,  where  they  resided 
until  their  death.  In  1815  Chauncy  Wright  came  to 
Choconut,  purchased  some  land,  and  established  a 
fulling-mill  on  a branch  of  the  Choconut  Creek,  near 
the  present  centre  of  the  township,  and  engaged  in 
cloth-dressing  and  carpenter  work.  The  following 
year  he  returned  to  Otsego  County,  N.  Y.,  and  mar- 
ried Jerusha  Rockwell,  daughter  of  Timothy  aud 
Lydia  (Kingsley)  Rockwell,  born  in  Lisbon,  Otsego 
County,  N.  Y.,  in  1798.  Immediately  after  his  mar- 
riage he  brought  his  wife  to  Choconut,  where  he  at 
once  resumed  work  on  his  farm,  and  also  continued 
the  business  of  cloth-dressing.  This  he  successfully 
carried  on  until  1839,  when  he  was  succeeded  in  the 
business  by  his  son  Chester.  In  1842  Chauncy 
Wright  removed,  with  his  family,  to  Forest  Lake,  and 
settled  on  a farm  of  one  hundred  and  fifty  acres,  near 
the  lake  and  adjoining  the  village.  He  was  induced 
to  purchase  this  land  on  account  of  its  fine  water 
privilege.  As  early  as  1829  a mill  had  been  erected 
there,  which,  at  the  time  Mr.  Wright  came,  was 
owned  by  Brown  & Knapp,  of  whom  he  purchased  it. 
He  at  once  commenced  making  extensive  improve- 
ments to  his  farm,  erected  a new  dwelling-house  in 
1843,  and  in  1846  rebuilt  the  grist-mill  known  as 
Huddle.stone’s  Mill,  and  which  had  been  erected  in 
1829.  The  grist-mill  he  carried  on  in  his  own  name  un- 
til 1868,  when  the  property  jiassed  into  the  possession 
of  his  sons, — ^Chester  and  Seth  R.  Himself  and  wife 
were  members  of  the  Congregational  Church  in 
Choconut,  and,  after  removal  to  Forest  Lake,  he  was  an 
attendant  and  supporter  of  the  Baptist  Church,  and 
contributed  liberally  to  the  erection  of  their  new 
church  edifice,  as  he  did  to  all  worthy  and  charitable 
enterprises.  Early  a Whig  in  politics,  he  afterwards 
became  a strong  anti-slavery  man,  voting  alone  as  an 
Abolitionist.  In  1844  he  was  one  of  four  in  the 
township  who  voted  for  James  G.  Birney,  at  the  time 
Polk  was  elected.  Upon  the  organization  of  the  Re- 
publican party  he  became  one  of  its  active  supporters. 
He  was  a strong  temperance  man,  and  advocated  it 
by  precept  and  example  from  his  youth  up.  He  was 
a justice  of  the  peace  in  Choconut  for  twelve  years, 
and  was  a candidate  on  the  Abolition  ticket  for  the 
Legislature  and  other  offices.  He  died  with  the 
esteem  and  respect  of  all  who  knew  him,  and  his  ac- 
tive, busy  life  has  left  its  imprint  on  the  town  where 
he  lived  so  long.  The  children  of  Chauncy  and 


488 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


Jerusha  Wright  are  Chester,  1818;  Lydia,  1820,  mar- 
ried Philip  Peckins,  who  was  a member  of  Gom])any 
F,  One  Hundred  and  Forty-first  Regiment  Pennsyl- 
vania Volunteers,  and  was  killed  at  the  battle  of 
Gettysburg  (she  subsequently  married  Ralph  S. 
Birchard,  of  Jessup,  who  died  in  1880) ; Lucina 
(1823-50),  was  the  wife  of  Thomas  D.  Wright,  and 
resided  in  Hartwick,  Otsego  County,  N.  Y. ; Matilda 
(1827-84),  never  married;  Helen  Mar  (1829-01), 
never  married;  Seth  Rockwell,  1835,  married,  in 
1804,  Emma  A.,  daughter  of  Deacon  L.  M.  Turrell,  of 
Forest  Lake,  where  he  now  resides ; Sarah  M.,  1837, 
unmarried;  Miriam  J.,  1841,  wife  of  George  A. 
Guernsey,  who  is  cashier  of  a bank  at  Canton,  Brad- 
ford County,  Pa.,  at  which  place  he  resides.  Chester 
Wright,  the  eldest  son,  was  boin  in  Choconut,  August 
25,  1818.  His  school  advantages  were  confined  to 
the  district  school,  and  when  old  enough  he  assisted 
his  father  in  the  business  of  cloth-dressing.  Upon 
reaching  his  majority,  having  mastered  the  business 
of  cloth-dressing,  he  purchased  the  establishment  and 
successfully  carried  it  on  until  1842,  when  he  removed 
to  Forest  Lake,  and  erected  a fulling-mill  on  the  site 
of  the  woolen-mill,  and  there  continued  the  business 
of  cloth-dressing.  A few  years  later  he  added  ma- 
chinery for  wool-carding,  and  in  1868  himself  and 
brother,  Seth  R.  and  W.  A.  Southwell,  formed  a co- 
partnership, under  the  firm-name  of  Wright  Bros. 
& Southwell,  and  put  in  machinery  and  looms  for  the 
manufacture  of  cloth.  This  proved  a successful  en- 
terprise, and  the  original  firm  continued  it  until 
1876,  when  Seth  R.  retired,  and  Chester  & Southwell, 
under  the  firm-name  of  Wright  & Southwell,  contin- 
ued the  business  successfully  until  1884,  when  the 
factory  was  destroyed  by  fire  and  the  firm  dissolved. 
In  addition  to  the  woolen  factory,  Chester  Wright 
owned  a farm,  which  he  has  cultivated  for  more  than 
forty  years,  and  on  which  he  still  resides.  The  grist- 
mill, which  came  into  the  possession  of  himself  and 
brother,  Seth  R.,  in  1868,  they  conducted  several 
years,  and  then  sold  it  to  his  sons,  M.  B.  and  C.  F. 
Wright.  In  1843  he  married  Julia  Ann  Nickerson 
(1821-83),  of  Forest  Lake.  Their  children  are  Ellen 
E.,  1845,  wife  of  Captain  W.  A.  Southwell,  who  was  a 
member  of  Company  H,  One  Hundred  and  Forty- 
third  Regiment  Pennsylvania  Volunteers  (afterwards 
commanded  a company  in  the  Twenty-ninth  Regi- 
ment United  States  Colored  Troops;  he  was  elec- 
ted, in  1884,  treasurer  of  Susquehanna  County  for 
three  years;  he  resides  in  Forest  Lake);  Myron  B., 
1847 ; Henrietta  L.,  1851,  wife  of  Benjamin  T.  Glid- 
den,  a merchant,  residing  in  Forest  Lake;  Charles 
Frederick,  1856,  was  clerk  and  teller  in  the  First 
National  Bank  of  Montrose,  from  1875  to  1881,  when 
he  removed  to  Susquehanna,  and  became  a stock- 
holder and  the  general  manager  of  the  Jefferson 
Chemical  Company  and  the  Lackawanna  Chemical 
Company,  both  companies’  factories  being  located 
in  Ararat  township.  He  is  also  one  of  the  owners  ^ 


and  the  general  manager  of  the  Wayne  Chemical 
Company,  with  the  works  at  or  near  Equinunk,  in  I 
Wayne  County,  Pa.  In  1884  Chester  Wright  mar-  i 
ried,  for  his  second  wife,  Ruth  S.  Birchard. 

His  political  affiliations  have  been  with  the  Repub- 
lican party,  and  he  has  served  his  town  as  school  di- 
rector and  justice  of  the  peace.  He  is  a deacon  in 
the  Forest  Lake  Baptist  Church. 

William  S.  Harvey. — In  1830  there  might  have  I 
been  seen  on  the  streets  of  New  York  City  three  young  i 
men,  who  had  just  landed  from  Staffordshire,  Eng-  I 
land,  after  a sea  voyage  of  eight  weeks,  and  had  come 
here  to  try  their  fortunes  among  strangers,  in  a strange 
land,  with  barely  enough  money  to  pay  their  passage,  ^ 
and  only  known  among  themselves.  They  crossed  the  I 
city,  the  Hudson,  and  reached  Jersey.  There  they 
met  one  George  Walker,  now  a well-known  resident  of 
Diniock  township,  who  kindly  offered  them  a ride  to 
Montrose,  whither  he  was  coming.  The  journey  took 
one  week,  and  the  reader  may  well  imagine  the 
thoughts  of  these  brawny  young  Englishmen  as  hill 
succeeded  hill,  valley  followed  valley,  and  as  stream 
after  stream  was  crossed;  finally,  after  a tedious  jour- 
ney to  reach  Susquehanna  County,  then  largely  a 
wilderness.  One  was  William  Archer,  now  a resi- 
dent of  Ararat.  A second  was  George  Brown,  who 
settled  in  Forest  Lake  and  gained  a good  competence. 
The  third  was  William  S.  Harvey,  who  was  born  in 
Staffordshire,  England,  July  12,  1812.  Upon  reach- 
ing here  he  hired  to  Hiram  Allen,  of  Forest  Lake,  by 
the  month,  and  for  two  years  worked  at  farming.  In 
1832  he  married  Mary  B.  Patch,  who  was  born  in 
Rutland,  Vt.,  February  14,  1809,  a woman  of  marked 
intelligence  and  Christian  character,  whose  parents, 
John  A.  Patch  (1784-1840)  and  Polly  (Brown)  Patch, 
had  settled  in  Middletown,  now  Forest  Lake,  from 
Vermont,  in  1817,  the  latter  of  whom  was  a devoted 
member  of  the  Middletown  Baptist  Church.  The 
same  year  of  his  marriage  William  Harvey  bought 
fifty  acres  of  woodland,  a part  of  his  present  farm, 
for  five  dollars  per  acre,  of  Caleb  Carmalt,  for  whom 
he  superintended  farm  work  for  three  years,  and  with 
his  earnings  paid  for  his  land.  This  couple  occupied 
the  log  shanty  then  on  the  place  until  1840,  when 
they  built  their  present  residence.  A bill  of  their 
dishes  and  house  goods  was  purchased  that  year  of 
G.  G.  Mulford,  then  a merchant  at  Montrose,  and  the 
full  amount  of  the  same,  as  shown  by  Mrs.  Harvey  in 
1886,  is  $7.02.  Thus  they  began  life.  Mr.  Harvey  cleared 
off  the  forest  trees  from  his  farm  and  brought  its  fields 
into  a good  state  of  cultivation,  and  has  since  added 
contiguous  land  by  purchase,  and  owns  one  hundred 
and  seventy-six  acres,  of  which  he  has  cleared  one 
hundred  and  twenty-five  acres,  besides  clearing  con- 
siderable for  others.  His  friend,  George  Brown,  set- 
tled on  a farm  near  him,  and  lived  until  1886.  Mr. 
Harvey  has  been  a man  of  great  industry,  and  has 
been  known  all  his  life  as  a man  of  strict  integrity 
in  all  business  matters.  He  has  served  as  supervisor 


FOREST  LAKE. 


489 


and  postmaster  of  his  township,  and  was  elected  on 
the  Democratic  ticket.  Both  himself  and  wife  are 
members  of  the  Middletown  Baptist  Church.  Before 
railroads  were  built  himself  and  wife  made  a trip  to 
Vermont,  with  team  and  lumber  wagon,  and 
were  absent  two  months,  taking  one  week  each 
way  to  make  the  journey,  where  they  visited 
her  relations  and  old  friends.  They  relate  this 
as  among  their  happiest  experiences.  In  1858 
Mr.  Harvey  crossed  the  ocean  and  visited  his  mother, 
Anna  (Simms)  Harvey,  then  seventy-six  years  old, 
who  died  in  1869.  His  father,  George,  died  when 


farmer  in  Bradford  County;  Joseph,  1822;  Malvina 
M.,  resides  in  Forest  Lake  ; Judge  Benjamin  L.  read 
law  with  Benjamin  S.  Bentley,  at  Montrose,  practiced 
in  Chicago,  but  afterwards  settled  at  Mount  Carroll, 
111.,  where  he  has  been  judge  of  Carroll  County  for 
twenty  years ; Jesse  (1831-56).  ■ John  Patch  resided 
most  of  the  time  near  Fairdale,  in  Forest  Lake,  but 
died  on  the  farm  owned  by  Abner  Griffis,  and  both 
himself  and  wife  were  buried  at  Forest  Lake. 

William  Booth. — The  Booth  homestead  in  Pen- 
trich,  Derbyshire,  England,  on  the  estate  of  the  Duke 
of  Devonshire,  is  now  occupied  by  a member  of  the 


WILLIAM  S.  HARVEY. 


William  was  a small  boy.  One  brother,  George, 
a farmer  in  Rash,  came  here  in  1853.  Upon 
returning  from  England  he  brought  back  with 
him  his  brother’s  son,  William  (1845-73),  who 
married  Ella  Pickett,  who  bore  him  two  chil- 
dren,— Cyril  W.,  now  residing  with  his  great-uncle, 
William  S.  Harvey;  and  Leland,  who  lives  with  her 
mother,  who,  after  her  husband’s  death,  married  Al. 
Stocker,  and  resides  in  Jamestown,  N.  Y. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Harvey  have  also  reared  Caroline 
Horton,  now  Mrs.  Patrick  Dailey,  residing  near 
them.  They  have  no  children  of  their  own.  The  chil- 
dren of  John  A.  Patch  are,  Mary  B.  (Mrs.  Harvey) ; 
Marsena  J.,  born  in  1811,  resides  in  Illinois ; Lorinda, 
1812,  widow  of  George  W.  Roberts,  of  Auburn  town- 
ship; Isaac  C.,  1818,  of  California;  James  E.,  1820, 
31 


fourth  generation  of  this  family.  William  was  suc- 
ceeded by  his  son  William,  and  this  William  suc- 
ceeded by  his  son  Hugh  Booth,  whose  son  Ferdinand 
is  now  in  possession.  Hugh  Booth  married  Ann 
Wagstaff,  a native  of  the  same  place,  and  both  died 
on  this  homestead  after  rearing  a large  family  of  chil- 
dren, as  follows ; Ferdinand,  the  eldest,  succeeded 
to  the  homestead ; George,  died  young ; William, 
born  September  14,  1811 ; Isaac,  deceased;  Abraham 
and  Selathael,  stockmen  in  Australia ; Robert,  a ser- 
geant in  the  British  army,  served  his  time,  went  to 
Australia,  but  returned  and  died  at  home  ; and  Gerry 
Booth,  an  engineer  on  a railroad  in  Australia.  Of 
these,  William  Booth  remained  at  school  until  he  was 
fourteen  years  of  age,  which  was  followed  by  three 
years  at  farm  work.  At  the  age  of  seventeen  he 


490 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


was  apprenticed  to  learn  the  milling  business,  and 
served  until  he  reached  his  majority.  He  then 
worked  as  a journeyman  at  his  trade  for  the  following 
ten  years,  and  laid  aside  a snug  little  sum  of  money 
during  this  time  In  1837  he  married  Hannah  (1812- 
78),  a daughter  of  Thomas  and  Mary  (Grundy)  Wheat- 
croft,  a native  of  Crich,  Derbyshire.  In  1842,  with 
his  wife  and  two  children,  Thomas  and  Robert,  he 
crossed  the  ocean,  taking  six  weeks  and  two  days  for 
the  passage,  and  landed  in  New  York  June  2d,  of  that 
summer.  Of  his  ten  years’ earnings  since  becoming 
of  age,  he  had  then_twenty  pounds  left.  Mr.  Booth 


homes  for  their  children.  His  life  has  been  one  of 
constant  activity  and,  usefulness,  and,  although  sev- 
enty-five years  of  age,  he  possesses  a strong  physique, 
quick  perception  of  mind  and  sound  judgment.  His 
sterling  integrity  and  honesty  of  purpose  in  life  have 
won  the  confidence  of  all  who  know  him,  and  the 
practical  ideas  imparted  to  his  sons,  while  in  their 
minority,  have  made  them  among  the  active  business 
men  of  the  township.  His  wife,  a woman  of  great 
moral  worth  and  Christian  excellence,  was  a member 
of  the  Methodist  Church.  Mr.  Booth  allied  himself 
to  the  Republican  party,  and  stands  firmly  intrenched 


at  once  came  to  Forest  Lake  township  and  settled  at 
the  corners,  in  the  old  “ West  ” house.  The  first  sea- 
son he  worked  for  Joel  Turrell  on  a farm,  and  for 
fourteen  years  following  as  a journeyman  miller  at 
Wysox,  Sugar  Creek,  and  in  Wright’s  mill  at  Forest 
Lake.  In  1856  he  purchased  ninety-nine  acres  of 
land,  his  present  homestead,  at  Forest  Lake,  to  which 
he  subsequently  added  ninety-two  acres  more,  and  he 
has  erected  most  of  the  buildings  on  his  place.  Mr. 
Booth  belongs  to  that  class  of  sturdy  men  who,  by 
self-reliance,  industry  and  judicious  management, 
carve  out  a competence  for  themselves  and  make 


in  its  principles.  His  eldest  son,  Thomas,  born  in 
1839,  married  Almira  Harvey,  and  has  a family.  He 
rebuilt  the  old  saw-mill  once  owned  by  the  late  Au- 
gustus Tilden,  a little  south  of  Forest  Lake,  and, 
with  his  brother  William,  is  managing  it.  Robert, 
born  in  1840,  married  Matilda  McFall.  He  bought 
the  saw-mill  property  formerly  owned  by  Jonathan 
Weston,  and  manages  it  and  a planing-mill  attached 
thereto.  Abraham,  born  in  1843,  resides  with  his 
father  on  the  homestead  ; William,  a twin  brother  of 
Abraham,  is  a partner  with  Thomas;  Elizabeth,  born 
in  1844,  wife  of  Seneca  L.  Arnold,  of  Towanda,  Pa.; 


FOREST  LAKE. 


491 


Mary  A.,  1848,  wife  of  Edwin  Baldwin,  a farmer  in 
Bridgewater ; Hugh  Booth,  born  in  1850,  married 
Emma  IVightman,  and  resides  in  Nebraska,  near  the 
Dakota  line ; and  Hannah,  born  in  1853,  resides  with 
her  father.  Thomas  and  Mary  (Grundy)  Wheatcroft 
came  to  America  in  1846,  and  settled  in  Forest  Lake, 
where  both  died. 

Business  Interests  and  Hamlets. — The  water- 
power of  the  Middle  Branch  was  formerly  much 
stronger  than  at  present,  and  was,  in  pioneer  times,  a 
valuable  factor  in  turning  the  products  of  the  town- 
ship into  marketable  commodities.  As  early  as  1815 
Jabez  A.  Birchard  had  a small  grist-mill  and  distil- 
lery on  the  creek,  in  the  rear  of  the  present  Baptist 
Church,  at  Birchardville,  which  was  abandoned  half 
a century  ago,  the  water-power  becoming  too  weak. 
In  later  years  Jesse  Burroughs  had  a saw-mill  lower 
down  the  stream,  which  has  also  passed  aw'ay.  Above 
Birchardville  was  a water-power,  which  was  used  by 
Loami  Mott  to  operate  carding-machines  and  a saw- 
mill, about  1815,  and  traces  of  the  long  raceway  may 
yet  be  seen,  but  the  machinery  has  long  since  been 
removed.  Naturally  a few  houses  and  mechanic  shops 
clustered  around  this  place,  which  became  known  as 
Gordonville,  from  a family  by  that  name  living  there. 
It  is  now  sometimes  called  Fessenden’s  Corners,  for 
a similar  reason.  Higher  up  the  stream  was  the  old 
Towm  saw-mill,  which  is  now  operated  by  L.  Lincoln. 
Near  here  John  S.  Town  has  his  well-known  black- 
smith-shop,  and  in  this  neighborhood  was  kept  the 
Chase  post-office,  which  took  the  name  of  Forest  Lake 
Centre,  January  7,  1862,  and  Phinis  N.  Deuel  was 
postmistress  until  it  was  discontinued,  April  24,  1873- 
It  was  kept  on  the  site  of  the  W.  C.  Tilden  residence 
and  at  the  Asa  Warner  place,  having  but  one  mail 
per  week  when  established  with  the  name  of  Chase. 

Passing  up  the  Middle  Branch,  no  trace  of  the 
Warner  mill  remains,  but  near  the  head  of  the 
stream,  on  the  lower  part  of  the  Turrell  farm,  a saw- 
mill is  still  kept  in  operation  by  Randolph  Turrell, 
to  which  planing  machinery  has  been  added  in  recent 
years.  On  this  farm  is  also  a “sugar  camp,”  whose 
equal  is  not  found  in  this  part  of  the  county. 

On  the  stream  flowing  parallel  with  Stone  Street, 
William  Gaylord  Handrick  established  a tannery  in 
1819,  which  he  carried  on  a number  of  years.  He 
was  succeeded  by  his  son,  William  B.,  who  enlarged 
the  tannery  and  also  put  up  shops  to  make  boots  and 
shoes.  Later  a store  was  opened  and  much  business 
was  here  done,  the  locality  being  called  “Eagle  Fac- 
tory.” C.  C.  Wright  succeeded  as  the  owner  of  the 
property  and  introduced  steam-power.  The  tannery 
is  still  carried  on,  the  present  owner  being  Edward 
Gilfoy,  but  the  other  interests  have  been  abandoned. 

On  the  outlet  of  Forest  Lake,  near  that  body  of 
water,  Robert  W.  Huddlestone  built  a small  grist- 
mill about  1830,  which  he  sold  some  six  years  later 
to  Brown  & Knapp.  These  disposed  of  their  interest 
in  1841  to  Chauncey  Wright,  who  used  some  of  the 


power  the  following  year  to  operate  woolen  machin- 
ery. In  1845  he  rebuilt  the  grist-mill,  and  owned  it 
until  1868,  when  his  sons,  C.  and  S.  B.,  became  the 
proprietors  and  so  continued  until  1878,  when  M.  B. 
and  C.  F.  Wright  became  the  owners.  In  1881  it 
passed  into  the  hands  of  W.  A.  Southwell.  In  1861 
Wright  Brothers  & Southwell  erected  a three-story 
factory  building,  thirty -two  by  eighty  feet,  which  was 
supplied  with  machinery  for  making  all  kinds  of  com- 
mon cloths.  Six  men  were  employed  and  it  was  sue. 
cessfully  carried  on  until  its  destruction  by  fire,  De- 
cember 20,  1884.  Since  that  time  carding  only  has 
been  carried  on,  in  a small  way,  by  W.  A.  Southwell. 
Lower  down  the  stream  Isaac  West  had  a saw-mill, 
which  is  now  operated,  in  connection  with  a planer, 
by  Robert  Booth ; and  several  miles  down  Forest 
Lake  Creek  Luther  Kallum  had  a , saw-mill,  which 
passed  into  the  hands  of  Jefferson  Green  and  which  is 
now  carried  on  by  E.  L.  Green.  In  later  years  a feed- 
mill  was  operated  in  connection,  and  the  power  was 
increased,  in  1886,  by  the  addition  of  a steam-engine. 
Other  small  mills  on  this  stream  have  been  aban- 
doned. 

The  dairy  interests  transcend  all  others  in  the  town- 
ship. Nearly  every  farm  is  devoted  to  the  production 
of  butter  or  milk,  and  there  are  a number  of  private 
dairies  whose  products  are  eagerly  sought  in  the  best 
markets  of  the  country.  One  of  these,  that  of  Abner 
Griffis,  had  at  one  time  one  hundred  cows.  The  dairy 
of  C.  P.  & E.  G.  Ball,  at  their  “ Mountain  Home  ” 
farm,  is  noted  for  its  gilt-edge  Jersey  butter.  Nearly 
all  their  cows,  usually  twenty-five  in  number,  are 
blooded  strains  of  the  best  milk-jiroducers.  The  barns 
on  this  farm  are  especially  fine.  Good  dairies  are 
also  kept  by  L.  T.  Birchard,  Lester  Turrell,  Jefferson 
Green  and  H.  F.  Handrick.  . The  former  has  also 
paid  attention  to  raising  sheep  of  superior  breeds  and 
Angora  goats. 

At  the  time  of  the  “morus  multicaulis”  fever,  in 
1839,  Horace  Birchard,  a resident  of  Forest  Lake, 
manufactured  a superior  quality  of  silk ; he  had  sev- 
eral species  of  the  mulberry. 

Forest  Lake  Creamery,  on  the  lake  above  the  ham- 
let with  the  same  name,  was  erected  in  the  winter  of 
1880-81  by  the  American  Dairy  Company,  B.  de 
Schweinitz,  general  manager.  The  building  is  three 
stories  high,  and  its  dimensions  are  fifty  by  eighty 
feet.  The  motive-power  is  steam,  and  among  the 
machinery  are  three  centrifugal  milk  separators, 
whose  capacity  is  fifteen  thousand  pounds  of  milk  per 
day.  Pure  water  is  supplied  from  a well  seventy- 
seven  feet  deep.  The  value  of  the  plant  is  seven 
thousand  dollars.  The  creamery  has  been  liberally 
patronized,  and  its  products  bear  a good  reputation 
in  the  markets  in  which  the  company  sells  its  goods. 

Birchardville  is  the  largest  hamlet  in  the  town- 
ship. It  has  a pretty  location  on  the  Middle  Branch, 
and  contains  several  stores,  a church,  public  hall  and 
about  a score  of  houses  in  the  immediate  locality. 


492 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


It  takes  its  name  from  the  Birchard  family,  which 
first  settled  here,  and  some  of  whose  members  have 
ever  been  a part  of  the  jiopulation  of  the  place.  The 
Birchardville  post-office  was  established  in  1826,  and 
was  kept  many  years  at  the  house  of  Jabez  A.  Birch- 
ard. In  1847  the  present  post-office  was  established, 
with  John  S.  Birchard,  postmaster.  In  1859  Calvin 
D.  Cobb  succeeded  him,  and,  since  1861,  Marshall  L. 
Ball  has  held  the  office  at  his  store,  and  the  place  of 
business  of  his  successor.  This  office,  like  the  one  at 
Forest  Lake,  is  supplied  with  a daily  mail  from  Mont- 
rose. 

Dr.  Plant  sold  the  first  goods  in  the  hamlet,  also 
practised  medicine.  A later  practitioner  was  Dr.  C. 
Decker.  In  1859  M.  L.  Ball  engaged  in  trade,  and 
continued  until  February  10,  1886,  when  J.  D.  Kin- 
ney & Co.  succeeded  him.  The  present  business- 
house  was  erected  in  1882.  The  second  good  store 
was  opened  in  the  Grange  building,  in  1876,  by  P.  K. 
Lyons  & Bro.  There  have  been  numerous  successors. 
Geo.  Buffum  being  the  present  occupant  of  the  room. 
Near  by  was  a public-house,  which  was  destroyed  by 
fire,  August  10,  1883,  while  occupied  by  A.  McLeod. 
Previous  landlords  were  Albert  Perigo  and  Ezra 
Eheinvault.  The  house  was  first  opened  some  time 
after  the  war.  In  pioneer  times  Jehiel  Warner  en- 
tertained the  public,  but  did  not  keep  a licensed 
house,  his  place  being  several  miles  above  the  village. 

The  Evening  Star  Lodge,  No.  206,  F.  A,  and  AT.,  was 
chartered  September  5,  1825,  with  Wm.  C.  Turrell, 
W.  M. ; Seth  Taylor,  S.  W. ; and  Jonathan  C.  Sher- 
man, J.  W.  Its  meetings  were  held  at  the  house  of 
Philo  Bostwick,  on  Stone  Street,  and  were  continued 
about  two  years,  when  the  lodge  surrendered  its  char- 
ter. A prosperous  lodge  of  Good  Templars  held  its 
meetings  a number  of  years  at  Azor  Warner’s,  but 
could  not  successfully  maintain  its  organization  on 
account  of  removal  of  members. 

Forest  Lake  hamlet  is  on  the  south  and  west 
sides  of  the  lake,  whose  name  it  bears,  and  has  a 
mill,  store,  church  and  about  one  hundred  and  fifty 
inhabitants.  Some  of  the  early  permanent  settlers 
here  were  several  families  bearing  the  name  of  West. 
Knapp  and  Brown  did  the  first  merchandising,  before 
1840,  in  a small  building  near  the  mill,  which  after- 
wards became  the  Baptist  meeting-house.  After  its 
discontinuance  David  L.  Meeker  sold  goods  on  a small 
scale.  Since  1876  B.  T.  Glidden  has  been  the  mer- 
chant of  the  place.  Here  is  kept  the  Forest  Lake 
post-office,  which  was  established  June  11,  1831,  with 
the  name  of  West  Bridgewater,  Zura  L.  Doty,  post- 
master. He  was  succeeded,  April  21,  1836,  by  Eben- 
ezer  Cole,  and  September  1st,  that  year,  the  name 
was  changed  to  the  present  title.  The  successive 
postmasters  have  been : 1837,  Joseph  G.  Tibbetts ; 
1840,  Elisha  Griffis;  1841,  Preserved  Hinds;  1843, 
Abner  Griffis;  1850,  Elisha  Griffis;  1861,  Seth  R. 
Wright ; 1876,  B.  T.  Glidden  ; 1885,  Geo.  J.  Hand- 
rick,  with  Glidden  as  deputy. 


Southeast  of  this  place  Stephen  Bentley  has  a pub- 
lic-house, after  1815,  and  at  a later  day,  Elisha  Griffis 
entertained  travelers  on  the  Owego  turnpike.  Sub- 
sequently, Benjamin  Clark  had  an  inn  where  now 
lives  W.  Booth,  which  was  kept  after  his  death  by  his 
widow.  Before  the  late  war  Judson  Stone  opened  a 
public-house  a mile  north  of  Forest  Lake,  which  has 
since  been  kept  by  him.  He  also  followed  black- 
smithing  and  wagon-making,  and  these  trades  are 
still  carried  on  in  his  shops.  In  1880  Charles  L. 
Stone  and  Charles  C.  Wells  began  merchandising  in 
part  of  the  hotel  building,  but,  since  1883,  have  occu- 
pied a fine  business  building  on  the  opposite  corner 
of  the  roads,  which  here  diverge,  having  the  largest 
store  in  the  township.  This  locality  is  sometimes 
called  Stone’s  Corners. 

Educational. — Some  account  of  the  early  schools 
of  this  township  is  given  in  the  general  chapter  on 
education.  Miss  Blackman  says:  “Joseph  Backus, 
of  Bridgewater,  now  over  eighty  years  of  age,  taught 
a common  school  thirty  winters  in  different  localities, 
closing  his  services  thirty  years  ago  in  what  is  known 
as  the  Griffis  District  in  Forest  Lake.”  At  different 
periods  select  schools  were  taught  by  W.  C.  Tilden, 
Charles  Wright,  Lottie  Stone,  Edith  Tyler  and  others. 
•No  permanent  academy  was  ever  established. 

Forest  Lake  Library  Company. — Realizing  the  im- 
portance of  providing  good  reading-matter  for  the 
youth  of  the  township,  a meeting  was  held  February 
7,  1831,  at  the  house  of  Jehiel  Warner,  to  consider  the 
propriety  of  establishing  a public  library.  David  Bald- 
win was  appointed  moderator  and  John  S.  Birchard 
clerk.  It  was  decided  to  form  the  Library  Company 
of  Middletown  by  offering  membershij)  rights  at  two 
dollars  and  annual  dues  of  twenty-five  cents.  It  was 
also  voted  that  the  library  be  kept  at  the  house  of 
Jehiel  Warner,  on  account  of  its  central  location  for 
those  who  were  expected  to  patronize  it.  Some  of 
these  lived  seven  miles  distant,  but  were  regular  in 
their  demands  upon  the  library  for  books  until  the 
era  of  newspapers  provided  other  reading-matter. 
Among  the  early  members  of  the  library  company 
were : 

David  Baldwin,  Jehiel  Warner,  James  E.  Kice,  Seth  Tajdor,  John  S. 
Birchard,  Ira  Deuel,  Daniel  F,  Lincoln,  Elisha  H.  Warner,  Jesse  T. 
Birehard,  William  Small,  Joel  Turrell,  Stanley  Turrell,  Leman  M.  Tur- 
rell, Judson  Stone,  Garrad  Stone,  Philo  Bostwick,  Joshua  B.  Baker,  John 
N.  W’hite,  Jirah  Bryan,  Rufus  Robbins,  John  S.  Town,  Amos  Bixby, 
Edmund  T.  Locke,  Jabez  A.  Birchard,  Samuel  West,  Asahel  W.  Birch- 
ard, Ezra  Rice,  Ebenezer  Cole,  Alfred  Heald,  Jesse  A.  Birchard,  Stephen 
Smith  and  Orange  Mott. 

The  society  purchased  fifty  dollars’  worth  of  books, 
most  of  them  being  of  a historical  nature,  and  ap- 
pointed Jehiel  Warner  librarian.  He  filled  this  po- 
sition until  his  death,  January  14,  1847,  when  his 
son,  Azor  M.,  became  the  librarian,  also  serving  until 
his  death,  May  26,  1868.  Since  that  time  Asa  War- 
ner, the  latter's  son,  has  been  the  custodian  of  the 
library,  which  has  been  continuously  kept  in  this 
house  since  its  formation.  On  the  26th  of  April, 


FOREST  LAKE. 


493 


1848,  the  company  became  an  incorporate  body  with 
the  present  name  on  the  petition  of  eight  members, 
all  of  whom  gave  the  library  active  support  at  this 
period.  In  1886  the  library  contained  about  four 
hundred  volumes  of  standard  books,  which  are  yet 
read  to  a limited  extent,  but  nearly  all  the  member- 
ship rights  have  been  forfeited.  The  library  has, 
however,  been  a most  valuable  agent  in  promoting 
the  intelligence  of  the  community,  which,  notwith- 
standing its  isolated  condition,  ranks  with  those  in 
more  central  points. 

The  First  Congregational  Church  of  Christ  in  Rush, 
later  Middletown  and  now  Forest  Lake,  was  the  first 
organized  religious  body  in  the  township,  notwith- 
standing the  Baptists  held  regular  meetings  at  an  ear- 
lier period.  It  was  constituted  at  the  house  of  Jehiel 
Warner  December  12, 1811,  of  the  following  persons  : 
Jesse  Birchard,  Israel  Birchard,  Jonathan  West,  Ze- 
nas  Bliss,  Harriet  Birchard,  Lydia  Birchard,  Polly 
Bliss,  Maria  Fishback,  Phinis  Warner,  Anna  Stone, 
Laura  Stone  and  Minerva  Taylor.  Jesse  Birchard 
was  appointed  clerk  and  Jonathan  West  was  selected 
as  a delegate  to  the  Luzerne  Association,  of  which 
the  church  became  a member  June  13,  1812.  Meet- 
ings were  held  at  the  house  of  Jehiel  Warner  until 
1822,  when  they  were  held  at  the  house  of  Jesse 
Birchard,  and  five  years  later  at  the  school-house  by 
Jabez  A.  Birchard’s.  In  1817  Charles  Lincoln,  Eliza 
Bentley  and  Elizabeth  Pardy  joined  the  church,  and 
those  joining  the  next  few  years  were : 1819,  Ruth 
Baldwin  ; 1821,  William  Pardy,  Betsy  Handrick  and 
William  G.  Handrick ; 1822,  Asahel  Birchard,  Mary 
Ann  Griswold,  Jacob  Eaton,  Lucy  Hyde,  Lyman 
Birchard  and  Sally  Bradshaw;  1823,  Fanny  Hand- 
rick ; 1824,  Sally  Birchard  and  Polly  West ; 1829, 
Norman  Rowe  and  Esther  Stone.  Five  more  were 
added  at  a later  period,  making  the  aggregate  mem- 
bership of  the  church  thirty-five.  In  1837  the  con- 
gregation ceased  to  meet  on  account  of  the  weakened 
membership,  caused  by  removals  and  the  distance 
which  separated  those  remaining  from  the  place  of 
worship,  many  having  connected  themselves  with 
neighboring  churches.  Among  others  who  ministered 
to  the  church  were  the  Revs.  Joseph  Wood,  Oliver 
Hill,  Ebenezer  Kingsbury  and  Solomon  King,  who 
also  preached  for  the  congregations  in  Silver  Lake 
and  Franklin,  at  that  time  called  Lawsville. 

The  Middletown  Baptist  Church,  of  Birchardsville, 
became  an  organized  body  through  the  efforts  of  El- 
der Davis  Dimock  February  29,  1812.  At  that  time 
six  males  and  four  females  assumed  the  relations  of 
members,  the  last  survivor  of  the  number  being  Mrs. 
Naomi  Birchard,  who  deceased  in  1870.  But  prior  to 
this.  Elder  Dimock  had  preached  in  the  Washington 
School  house,'  and  in  the  one  near  Jesse  Birchard’s, 
where  the  meetings  were  attended  by  people  coming 
from  far  and  near,  and  iti  1810  “some  in  each  place 

1 In  what  is  now  Jessup  township. 


believed  and  were  baptized.”  “ In  1811  those  who 
lived  in  Rush,  at  that  time  eighteen  miles  from  north 
to  south  and  eight  miles  from  east  to  west,  agreed  to 
meet  on  the  Lord’s  Day  for  prayer  and  reading  of  the 
word  of  God.”  These  meetings  were  sometimes  at- 
tended by  Elder  Dimock,  who  preached,  and  the  fol- 
lowing year  he  organized  the  church.  His  labors, 
though  interrupted,  were  continued  thirteen  years, 
preaching  for  this  people  when  his  work  elsewhere 
would  permit.  In  this  period,  closing  in  1825,  sev- 
enty-one persons  were  added  to  the  church  member- 
ship. Since  Elder  Dimock’s  time,  those  serving  the 
church  in  a ministerial  relation  have  been  Elders 
Jesse  B.  Worden,  William  W.  Powers  and  James 
Clark.  From  1828  to  1833  Elder  Joseph  W.  Parker 
was  the  pastor,  and  in  this  period  eighty  persons  be- 
came members.  For  the  next  seven  years  the  church 
had,  as  its  pastor.  Elder  William  Brand,  and  in  this 
period  the  meeting-house  was  built.  In  1840,  and  for 
four  years.  Elder  J.  W.  Parker  was  again  the  pastor, 
being  succeeded  in  1844  by  Elder  Prentiss  Frink, 
who  remained  till  1851.  February,  1853,  Elder  Har- 
vey H.  Gray  became  the  pastor,  serving  four  years. 
The  same  year  Elder  W.  C.  Tilden  began  an  eventful 
pastorate,  which  continued  until  April  12,  1879,  an 
unbroken  ministry  of  twenty-two  years.  For  a 
time  the  pulpit  was  supplied,  but,  March  12,  1880, 
the  Rev.  H.  J.  Millard  became  the  pastor  for  one- 
half  his  time,  and  so  continued  several  years.  Since 
August  11,  1883,  the  pastor  has  been  the  Rev.  T. 
Prosser  Morgan.  From  the  membership  of  the 
church  have  gone  as  ministers  Elder  Solomon  Dim- 
ock, in  1816,  and  Elders  William  K.  Mott  and  Smith 
Bixby,  in  1832. 

Upon  the  organization  of  the  church,  Philo  More- 
house became  the  first  clerk  and  deacon.  Since  that 
time  the  successive  deacons  have  been  : 

Loanii  Mott,  Orange  Mott,  Jr.,  Asa  Bixby,  Ebenezer  Potter,  William 
Lathrop,  Dennis  Granger,  Charles  B.  Perigo,  L.  M,  Turrell,  J.  P.  Ham- 
lin, T.  J.  Baker,  Byron  Griffis  and  J.  J.  Ely.  In  the  same  period  the 
church  clerks  have  been  Perry  Ball,  Merritt  Mott,  Orange  Mott,  Jr., 
Horace  Birchard,  L.  M.  Turrell,  I.  L.  Camp,  J.  J.  Ely  and  C.  P.  Ball 
since  September  30,  1880. 

The  membership  of  the  church  has  been  large,  but 
a number  of  churches  having  been  oi-ganized  out  of 
it,  the  number  belonging  in  1886  was  only  eighty- 
four. 

The  first  meeting-house  at  Birchardville  was  built 
in  1837,  on  half  an  acre  of  ground,  secured  from  Dr. 
R.H.  Rose,  but  for  which  the  church  received  no  deed 
until  1853.  The  building  was  a square  frame,  two 
stories  high,  so  as  to  afford  a gallery,  and  was  repaired 
in  1855.  Eleven  years  later  a basement  was  added, 
and  in  1873  the  property  was  again  improved.  It  is 
still  comfortable,  but  will  not  compare  with  modern 
edifices.  The  property  passed  under  the  control  of 
a board  of  trustees,  July  20,  1853,  which  was  com- 
prised of  Orange  Mott,  Jr.,  Perry  Ball,  L.  M.  Turrell, 
G.  W.  Ball  and  John  S.  Birchard.  Connected  with 


494 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


the  church  property  is  a cemetery,  which  is  well 
fenced  and  contains  a number  of  neat  head- stones.  It 
has  been  several  times  enlarged,  the  last  time  in  1884, 
and  has  now  an  area  of  one  and  a half  acres.  The 
entire  property  was  controlled  in  1886  by  Trustees 
L.  T.  Birchard,  H.  F.  Handrick,  J.  P.  Hamlin,  G.  B 
Johnson  and  Henry  Spalford, 

The  Forest  Lake  Baptist  Church  was  constituted  at 
the  hamlet  of  Forest  Lake,  May  4,  1842,  of  sixteen 
members,  most  of  whom  had  previously  been  connec- 
ted with  the  Bridgewater  and  Middletown  Churches ; 
and  before  this  period  the  meetings  here,  held  by 
Elder  A.  L.  Post,  sustained  the  relation  of  branch 
services  to  the  former  church.  Some  interest  had  been 
awakened  and  several  persons  had  been  baptized. 
The  church,  from  the  time  of  its  organization,  became 
a decided  aggressive  body,  denouncing  slavery  and  in- 
temperance in  emphatic  terms ; and  since  that  time  it 
has  not  occupied  an  equivocal  position  on  the  great 
moral  questions  of  the  day.  Hiram  Allen  and  Augus- 
tus Tilden  were  chosen  the  first  deacons,  and  Benja- 
min Russell  clerk.  On  the  1st  of  May,  1880,  Ches- 
ter Wright  was  chosen  deacon  in  place  of  Deacon 
Tilden,  who  had  deceased  in  1875,  and  has  since  filled 
that  otfice,  also  serving  as  church  clerk.  This  posi- 
tion has  also  been  filled  by  W.  C.  Tilden  and  H.  Til- 
den. Since  the  organization  of  the  church  the 
pastors  have  been  the  Revs.  Chas.  G.  Swan,  J.  W. 
Parker,  Sr.,  J.  S.  Baldwin,  James  D.  Webster,  Prentiss 
Frink,  W.  C.  Tilden  (from  1857  until  the  fall  of  1879), 
H.  J.  Millard  and  Wm.  Clapham.  Since  the  fall  of 
1882  Elder  W.  C.  Tilden  has  again  been  the  pastor  of 
the  church,  which  had  in  1886  forty-five  members. 
Elder  Tilden  and  Elder  J.  S.  Baldwin  were  both  or- 
dained to  the  ministry  from  the  membership  of  this 
church.  The  latter  removed  to  the  West  a number  of 
years  ago.  The  first  meetings  of  the  church  were 
held  in  the  school-house,  but  a plain  frame  building 
was  purchased  soon  after  1842,  and  fitted  up  as  a place 
of  worship,  which  was  used  until  1880,  when  the  pres- 
ent church  edifice  was  erected  on  a site  nearly  oppo- 
site the  old  building,  which  has  since  stood  abandoned. 
It  is  a neat  structure  with  a spire,  giving  the  building 
an  inviting  appearance,  and  was  put  up  by  a com- 
mittee composed  of  Chester  Wright,  W.  C.  Tilden, 
Robert  Booth,  S.  R.  Wright  and  John  Brown.  It  was 
formally  dedicated  November  4,  1880,  and  soon  there- 
after eight  new  members  were  received  into  the  folds 
of  the  church.  A prosperous  Sabbath-school  of  forty 
members  has  Chester  Wright  as  its  superintendent. 

Elder  William  Clark  Tildex. — The  Tilden 
family  from  which  our  subject  is  descended  were  early 
settlers  in  New  England  and  of  English  origin.  His 
grandfather,  Ebenezer  Tilden,  resided  on  the  old  Til- 
den homestead,  at  Lebanon,  New  London  County, 
Conn.,  w’hich  had  been  in  the  family  for  over  one 
hundred  years.  By  his  v;ife,  Elizabeth,  he  had  five 
sons  and  three  daughters, — Elder  Chester  Tilden, 
who  served  in  the  War  of  1812,  was  a Baptist  minis- 


ter in  Connecticut,  Joseph,  Augustus,  Ebenezer, 
Thomas,  Lucretia,  Chloe  and  Eliza.  All  settled  in 
the  vicinity  of  their  native  place  except  Thomas  B., 
who  resided  in  Buffalo,  and  Augustus  (1798-1875), 
who  married  Melinda  (1797-1882),  a daughter  of  Dea- 
con Nathan  and  Anna  (Goodwin)  Clark,  of  the  same 
county  in  Connecticut,  and  in  April,  1833,  with  their 
three  children, — George  A.  (1826-70),  William  C., 
and  Henry  (1831-64), — settled  on  a farm  on  the 
Chestnut  Ridge  road,  a little  southeast  of  the  centre 
of  Forest  Lake  township,  this  county.  Here  this 
worthy  couple  spent  the  remainder  of  their  lives  on 
their  farm.  They  had  been  members  of  the  Lebanon 
Baptist  Church  and  brought  their  letters  with  them. 
Upon  their  arrival  here  they  united  with  the  Middle- 
town  Baptist  Church,  where  they  worshipped  until 
1842,  when  they,  with  others,  organized  the  Forest 
Lake  Baptist  Church,  of  which  he  was  chosen  deacon, 
and  honored  that  oflice  in  the  church  as  long  as  he 
lived. 

Deacon  Tilden  was  among  the  first  to  accept  the 
new  school  law  when  passed  by  the  State  Legislature, 
and  ardently  favored  and  advocated  the  education  of 
the  entire  youth  of  the  land  by  means  of  the  public- 
school  system.  He  was  a Whig  in  politics,  one  of  the 
early  advocates  of  the  abolition  of  slavery,  and  iden- 
tified himself  with  the  Temperance  cause  and  Total 
Abstinence  party  as  early  as  1842.  He  was  a man  of 
pure  motives,  correct  habits  and  strong  individual 
characteristics,  and  left  his  impress  upon  the  lives  of 
his  children.  His  only  daughter,  born  in  1836,  after 
settling  in  Forest  Lake,  is  Lucy  Ann,  wife  of  Hiram 
Cogswell,  a farmer  in  the  same  township.  George  A. 
died  on  the  homestead,  and  Henry  died  on  the  farm 
adjoining,  where  he  resided. 

Elder  William  Clark  Tilden  was  born  in  Lebanon, 
Conn.,  May  1,  1829.  He  was  four  years  old  when  his 
parents  settled  in  Pennsylvania.  His  boyhood  w’as 
spent  at  their  new  home,  where  he  early  learned  les- 
sons of  industry,  economy  and  became  inured  to  farm 
work.  In  early  life  he  was  religiously  inclined,  and 
at  the  age  of  fourteen  united  with  the  Forest  Lake 
Baptist  Church,  of  which  he  has  been  a member  since, 
a period  of  forty-three  years.  After  receiving  the 
usual  opportunities  afforded  by  the  district  school  and 
for  a time  attending  the  Montrose  Academy,  then 
conducted  by  Dr.  Halsey,  he  taught  school  for  five 
terms  here  and  one  at  Candor,  N.  Y.  He  received 
his  preparatory  education  at  New  York  Central  Col- 
lege and  in  1853  entered  Madison  University,  from 
which  he  was  graduated  in  the  class  of  ’57.  The  same 
year  he  was  settled  as  pastor  of  the  Forest  Lake  and 
Middletown  Baptist  Churches,  and  the  following  year 
as  pastor  of  the  Liberty  Baptist  Church.  For  thirteen 
years  he  labored  faithfully  and  earnestly  in  these 
churches  and  the  societies  connected  therewith,  and 
continued  as  pastor  of  the  first  two  until  1879.  For 
one  and  a half  years  following  he  was  the  pastor  of 
the  Baptist  Church  at  Great  Bend.  Returning  in  the 


FOREST  LAKE. 


495 


spring  of  1883  he  resumed  the  pastorate  of  the  Forest 
Lake  Church,  in  which  he  has  continued  his  labors 
since.  Through  the  pressure  and  solicitation  of 
friends  he  opened  a select  school  at  Forest  Lake  in 
1864,  which  he  conducted  until  1867  and  in  which  he 
prepared  his  pupils  in  the  higher  branches  of  an  Eng- 
lish education.  In  the  winter  of  1868  and  ’69  he  was 
principal  of  the  graded  school  at  Montrose.  His 
proficiency  as  a teacher  and  his  executive  ability  as  a 
manager  in  school  work  gained  him  much  credit 
among  the  friends  of  education,  and  in  May,  1869,  he 
was  elected  county  superintendent  of  schools,  which 
office,  by  re-election,  he  held  for  three  consecutive 
terms, — a period  of  nine  years.  During  his  incumbency 
of  the  office  of  superintendent  of  schools  he  per- 
formed his  pastoral  duties  regularly,  and  the  compe- 
tent discharge  of  the  duties  of  his  school  work  assisted 
largely  in  placing  the  public  schools  of  Susquehanna 
County  upon  a higher  plane  of  efficiency  than  they 
had  before  enjoyed.  He  has  been  a scholar,  teacher 
or  superintendent  of  the  Sunday-school  from  boy- 
hood. His  life-work,  whether  in  connection  with  the 
church  or  schools,  has  been  one  of  great  activity, 
earnestness  and  faithfulness  in  the  discharge  of  his 
duties.  During  his  continued  service  to  the  church 
he  has  preached  four  thousand  two  hundred  and 
sixty-two  sermons,  of  which  five  hundred  and  six  were 
at  funerals,  and  he  has  been  called  upon  to  unite  in 
the  bonds  of  matrimony  two  hundred  and  fifty-eight 
couples.  In  the  accomplishment  of  his  work  since 
1857  he  has  traveled  by  private  conveyance  nearly 
eighty  thousand  miles.  Upon  uniting  with  the 
church,  in  1843,  he  also  took  another  important  step 
and  signed  the  total  abstinence  pledge,  since  which 
time  he  has  been  a temperance  man  both  in  his  teach- 
ings and  practice.  He  never  united  with  any  secret 
society,  but  has  strenuously  advocated  in  the  church, 
in  the  society,  and  in  whatever  position  he  has  been 
called  to  fill,  the  principles  of  temperance.  He  has 
been  closely  identified  with  school  work  at  home  and 
has  served  as  president  of  the  School  Board.  In  the 
fall  of  1886  he  was  the  candidate  of  the  Prohibition 
party  for  legislative  honors,  and  received  nine  hun- 
dred and  thirty-two  votes,  an  increase  of  some  four 
hundred  over  any  previous  election. 

He  married, in  1850,  Amelia  Russell,  who  was  born 
in  Bridgewater  May  13,  1829.  Mrs.  Tilden  has  been 
a valuable  helper  in  the  life-work  of  her  husband  by 
her  patience,  faithfulness  and  unswerving  integrity. 
She  is  a daughter  of  Benjamin  and  Sally  (Watrous) 
(1798-1863)  Russell,  who  were  married  in  1824,  the 
former  a native  of  England,  who  settled  in  Bridge- 
water  about  1818,  the  latter  a native  of  Middlebury, 
Schoharie  County,  N.  Y.,  who  came  with  her  parents, 
Benjamin  (1772-1820)  and  Lucy  (Spencer)  (1770-1839) 
Watrous,  from  that  place  to  Bridgewater  in  1818  and 
settled  where  her  brother,  Spencer  Watrou.s,  now  re- 
sides. Benjamin  Watrous  was  a native  of  Chester, 
Middlesex  County,  Conn.,  and  settled  with  his  fam- 


ily in  Middlebury,  N.  Y.,  in  1797.  The  children  of 
Elder  William  C.  and  Amelia  (Russell)  Tilden  are 
Emma  Augusta,  wife  of  Charles  P.  Ball,  a farmer  in 
Forest  Lake,  and  Sarah  Melinda,  wife  of  Clark  D. 
Dayton,  residing  on  the  Tilden  homestead  in  Forest 
Lake. 

Forest  Lake  Centre  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. — 
What  was  known  as  the  Town  class  of  Methodists  was 
organized  as  early  as  1834,  and  had  Jonathan  West  as 
its  leader.  The  first  meetings  were  held  at  his  house, 
near  Forest  Lake,  but  soon  after  they  were  transferred 
to  the  house  of  John  S.  Town,  in  the  neighborhood 
of  the  present  church.  Besides  the  Town  and  West 
families,  Rosanna  Deuel,  Lorain  Peat  and  Mary 
Austin  also  belonged  to  the  first  class.  In  1841  there 
were  thirty-two  members,  including,  among  other  ad- 
ditions, Bertha  Warner,  Francis  and  Sarah  Southwell 
and  Elmer  Cobb.  The  preachers  were  supplied  by 
Vestal  Circuit,  embracing  at  that  time  a large  number 
of  appointments.  In  1846,  during  the  pastorate  of 
the  Revs.  G.  H.  Blakeslee  and  George  W.  Leach,  a 
meeting-house  was  built  on  the  farm  of  John  S. 
Town.  This  was  enlarged  in  1871  by  the  addition  of 
twelve  feet  to  its  length  and  a tower  in  front,  thirty 
feet  high,  by  a ljuilding  committee  composed  of  Levi 
Lincoln,  Wm.  Booth  and  Suel  Warner.  In  1886  a 
fund  was  raised  to  paint  the  building,  which  was  un- 
der the  trusteeship  of  F.  H.  Southworth,  Suel  War- 
ner and  Willis  Treadwell.  In  the  winter  of  1861-62 
a revival  of  marked  interest  occurred  in  the  church, 
during  the  ministry  of  the  Rev.  Richard  Van  Valken- 
burg,  which  resulted  in  sixty  conversions  and  forty- 
five  additions  to  the  church.  The  membership  in 
1886  was  not  so  large,  there  being  only  forty  persons 
in  the  class,  which  had  the  Rev.  Asa  Warner  as  its 
leader  and  local  preacher  located  here.  The  local  re- 
lation was  also  sustained  by  Charles  Decker,  and 
Justus  F.  Warner,  a son  of  Azor  M.  Warner,  entered 
the  ministry  from  this  church  in  1871.  Until  1866 
the  church  was  connected  with  Vestal  Circuit,  N.  Y., 
but  that  year  Fairdale  Circuit  was  established,  with  the 
appointments  at  Fairdale,  Forest  Lake  Centre,  Fair 
Hill  and  Devine  Ridge,  the  latter  in  Rush  township, 
and  the  Rev.  Wm.  Shelp  was  appointed  preacher  in 
charge. 

Fair  Hill  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. — Prior  to  the 
erection  of  this  church,  in  1877,  a class  of  Methodists 
held  meetings  in  Taylor  Hollow,  at  the  school-house 
in  the  Chapman  District,  and  at  the  house  of  Samuel 
D.  Cornell.  The  latter  may  be  said  to  have  been  the 
father  of  Methodism  in  this  section,  having  at  the 
time  of  his  death,  in  1881,  been  a consistent  member 
for  fifty-seven  years.  Other  pioneer  members  here 
were  Zephanlah,  Ella  and  Alice  Cornell,  the  Orlando 
Green  family,  the  dagger  family,  the  Lewis  family, 
and  members  of  the  Shelp  family.  After  the  forma- 
tion of  Fairdale  Circuit,  preaching  was  maintained 
with  greater  regularity,  and  consequent  permanence 
of  work  followed,  which  made  the  erection  of  a church 


496 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


possible.  It  was  built  in  1877,  on  a lot  secured  from 
the  old  Cornell  farm  (now  Conklin)  by  a committee 
composed  of  G.  T.  Lewis,  H.  S.  Conklin  and  0.  E. 
Green,  at  a cost  of  about  fifteen  hundred  dollars,  all 
of  which  was  fully  paid  up  before  the  day  of  dedica- 
tion, Nov.  26th  of  that  year. 

On  the  26th  of  June,  1879,  the  church  became  an 
incorporated  body  on  the  petition  of  G.  T.  Lewis,  E. 
dagger,  H.  S.  Conklin,  R.  L.  Baxter,  F.  D.  Terwilli- 
ger  (named  as  trustees),  0.  E.  Green,  J.  R.  Fox,  O. 
A.  Maynard  and  Rev.  John  F.  Jones,  and  the  church 
property  was  placed  in  their  care.  The  church  is  a 
neat  frame  building,  with  a spire,  and  has  several 
hundred  sittings.  The  class  has  a score  of  members, 
and  is  under  the  leadership  of  G.  T.  Lewis. 

Forest  Lake  Temperance  Society. — As  show- 
ing the  interest  in  temperance  nearly  forty  years  ago, 
it  is  a matter  of  record  that  the  above  society  was  or- 
ganized Dec.  28,  1849,  in  consequence  of  an  address 
on  this  subject  by  Elder  P.  Frink,  of  the  Baptist 
Church.  The  elder  was  chosen  president  of  the  soci- 
ety and^John  S.  Birchard  was  the  secretary.  L.  M. 
Turrell,  John  S.  Town  and  John  Strange  were  the 
vice-presidents.  The  meetings  of  the  society  were 
kept  up  about  three  years,  and  in  that  period  the 
pledge  was  signed  by  one  hundred  and  eighty  persons, 
and  the  sentiment  created  has  continued  with  bene- 
ficial results  to  the  present  time. 

Cemeteries. — There  are  five  cemeteries — the  old- 
est at  Birchardville,  donated  by  Jesse  Birchard ; one 
near  J.  Stone’s ; one  on  the  farm  of  L.  M.  Turrell, 
land  donated  to  the  public  by  his  father;  one  near 
the  lake,  and  another  near  S.  D.  Cornell’s.  Jabez  A. 
Birchard’s  oldest  child,  Mary,  was  born  in  1801 — the 
first  birth  in  the  township.  Hubbard  Warner  was 
the  next,  and  there  was  not  a death  in  the  neighbor- 
hood “ until  those  children  were  old  enough  to  sit  up 
with  the  corpse.”  This  death  was  that  of  Miss  Betsey 
Rice,  who  died  at  Loami  Mott’s,  and  was  the  fii’st 
person  buried  near  the  Baptist  Church  at  Birchard- 
ville. 


CHAPTER  XXXI. 

FRIENDSVILLE  BOROUGH. 

The  borough  of  Friendsville  is  twelve  miles  from 
Montrose,  on  the  old  New  Milford  and  Owego  turn- 
pike, which  forms  the  principal  street  of  the  village. 
Its  early  history  is  blended  with  the  townships  of 
Apolacon,  Choconut,  Forest  Lake  and  Middletown, 
from  which  the  area  of  the  borough  was  taken.  It 
owes  its  origin  and  name  to  the  purpose  of  Dr.  R.  H. 
Rose  to  found  a village  for  the  members  of  the  Society 
of  Friends,  whom  he  had  induced  to  settle  on  his  lands 
in  this  locality.  In  1819  he  set  aside  a tract  of  land, 
three-quarters  of  a mile  long  and  half  as  wide,  along 


the  above  highway,  which  was  laid  into  village  lots 
and  called  Friendsville.  A few  of  the  Friends  coming 
at  that  period  settled  within  these  bounds,  but  most 
of  them  lived  in  the  surrounding  country  and  had 
this  place  as  their  business  centre.  In  consequence 
of  the  removal  of  many  of  the  early  settlers  the  growth 
of  the  village  was  slow,  and,  though  it  has  a pleasant 
location,  in  a rich  country,  it  has  not  attained  the  im- 
portance of  younger  villages  in  the  county  which 
enjoy  the  advantages  connected  with  railway  commu- 
nication. There  were,  in  1886,  not  quite  two  hundred 
inhabitants,  a good  Catholic  Church,  three  stores,  two 
public-houses  and  several  large  mechanic  shops. 
Three  lines  of  stages  bring  the  place  in  easy  commu- 
nication with  Binghamton,  Montrose  and  Apolacon, 
the  latter  being  at  the  mouth  of  Apolacon  Creek,  in 
the  State  of  New  York. 

Samuel  Savage  was  one  of  the  first  Friends  in  the 
place,  reinaining  but  a few  years.  William  Salter, 
another  Friend,  opened  the  first  store  about  1820  and 
Dr.  Levi  Roberts  came  about  this  time,  remaining 
until  his  death,  in  1825,  after  which  his  lands  passed 
into  the  hands  of  Joshua  Gurney.  In  1820  Thomas 
Peironnet,  an  Englishman,  came  to  Friendsville,  but 
died  soon  after.  His  lands  were  transferred  to  his 
brother,  James  S.  Peironnet,  a native  of  Dorchester, 
England.  He  was  a cultured  gentleman,  of  whom  it 
was  said  he  exchanged  for  a home  in  a then  unculti- 
vated wild  the  shaven  lawn  and  rose- wreathed  cottages 
that  lend  such  charms  to  English  scenery.  He  often 
reminded  me  of  those  virtues  that  grace  the  character 
of  an  English  country  squire  as  shadowed  forth  by 
the  felicitous  pen  of  Irving.  He  retained  a love  of 
letters  to  the  last,  and  when  in  the  mood,  touched  his 
violin  as  a master.  He  had  a thorough  knowledge  of 
music  as  a science,  and  composed  with  readiness.  He 
died,  in  1843,  in  his  seventy -first  year,  leaving  a large 
family.  His  sons  Robert  D.  and  John  S.,  were  mer- 
chants in  Friendsville  from  1835  on,  and  Frederick 
was  a physician.  Two  of  his  daughters  married 
Henry  and  Sackville  Cox.  The  family  removed  to 
the  West  after  1860.  Thomas  Christian,  a merchant, 
was  a later  settler.  Dr.  Calvin  Leet,  after  living  in 
the  central  part  of  Choconut  a few  years,  came  to 
Friendsville,  where  he  owned  a tract  of  three  hundred 
acres  of  land,  on  which  he  lived  to  be  more  than 
eighty  years  of  age.  For  some  time  his  father,  Cap- 
tain Luther  Leet,  abode  with  him.  Of  the  children 
of  Dr.  Calvin  Leet,  Elizabeth  married  Judson  Wat- 
kins, and  moved  to  Connecticut;  Susan  became  the 
wife  of  Andrew  Keyes  ; Martha  D.  is  the  wife  of  Dr. 
E.  L.  Handrick.  The  sons,  Calvin  L.  and  Nathan  Y., 
both  became  physicians.  The  former  died  in  the 
village  in  1872,  and  the  latter  removed  to  Scranton. 

Lark  Moore,  a cooper,  was  a valuable  addition  to 
the  settlement  at  Friendsville,  removing  before  his 
death.  His  daughter,  Susan,  became  an  artist  of  dis- 
tinguished reputation. 

Benjamin  T.  Glidden,  a native  of  New  Hampshire, 


FRIENDSVILLE. 


497 


settled  in  Friendsville  about  1825,  but  removed  and 
did  not  permanently  locate  here  until  1833.  He  was 
a blacksmith  by  trade,  and  lived  here  until  his  death, 
in  1852,  at  the  age  of  sixty-eight  years.  He  was  the 
father  of  Benjamin  Glidden,  Esq.,  of  this  borough,  and 
D.  W.  Glidden,  of  Montrose. 

About  1835  a large  number  of  Friends  removed 
from  the  village,  and  their  places  were  taken  by  other 
citizens,  many  of  Irish  descent ; and  in  late  years  the 
population  has  been  composed  almost  wholly  of 
that  nationality. 

In  1848  the  following  lived  in  the  newly-organized 
borough. 

Edward  Andree,  chairmaker ; Hallock  Armstrong,  school-teaclier ; 
X^lharles  L»  Brown,  house  and  lot ; Benjamin  Brey,  farmer  ; S.  P.  Buel 
merchant ; Samuel  Baldwin,  farmer;  Henry  Cox,  farmer  ; Dayton  Can- 
field,  farmer ; Erastus  M.  Day,  wagonmaker  ; James  Ferry,  farmer ; 
Abraham  Fordham,  cooper  ; Benj.  Glidden,  blacksmith  ; Joshua  Gur- 
ney, farmer;  Thomas  Glennon,  tailor;  Nelson  Griffiths,  painter  ; Joseph 
Hyde,  inn-keeper ; Andrew  J.  Keyes,  blacksmith ; Thomas  Leary, 
laborer;  Calvin  Leet,  physician  ; Calvin  L.  Leet,  student ; S.  D.  Lyons, 
tailor  ; Lark  Moore,  farmer  ; John  S.  Peironnet,  storehouse  ; Robert  D. 
Peironnet,  tanner  ; Henry  M.  Pierce,  farmer ; John  H.  Pierce,  physi- 
•cian  ; William  Robbe,  chairmaker;  David  Robbe,  fanner;  Robert  Rey- 
nolds, farmer;  Henry  Slade,  house  and  lot;  James  Tallon,  shoemaker; 
James  Taggart,  wagonmaker ; Benjamin  Virgil,  clerk ; Ahira  Wick- 
ham, merchant ; J.  R.  Wood,  tailor. 

Incorporated. — The  village  was  incorporated  by  an 
act  of  the  Legislature  in  1848,  with  the  following 
limits : 

“ Beginning  at  a stake  and  stones  on  the  lands  of  Joshua  Gurney,  in 
the  township  of  Middletown  ; thence  south  37^^  W.  320  rods  across  lands 
of  said  Gurney  and  those  of  William  Carloii,  deceased,  to  a stake  and 
atones  ; thence  north  53®  W.  480  rods  to  a stake  and  stones  on  lands  of 
Canfield  Dayton,  in  the  township  of  Apalachian  ; thence  noith  37®  east 
320  rods  to  a stake  and  stones  on  lands  of  the  estate  of  James  Peironnet, 
•deceased  ; thence  south  53®  east  480  rods  across  the  corner  of  Choconut 
to  the  place  of  beginning just  twice  the  original  limits,  and  remain 
unchanged. 

The  first  election  was  held  on  the  third  Friday 
of  March,  1848,  when  the  following  were  chosen: 

Burgess,  Amos  B.  Mott  ; Councilnien,  Charles  L.  Brown,  Joseph 
Hyde,  Ahira  Wickham,  John  S.  Peironnet ; Clerk,  Jeremiah  Fordham  ; 
Justice  of  the  Peace,  Benjamin  Glidden;  Assessor,  Robert  D.  Peironnet; 
Street  Commissioner,  Joshua  Gurney. 

Since  that  time  the  lollowing  have  been  the 
burgesses  and  c^rks : 

1849,  Dr.  C.  Leet,  William  Robbe  ; 1850-5i,  Ahira  Wickham,  William 
Robbe  ; 1852,  James  Taggart,  M.  W.  Bliss;  1853,  John  S.  Peiionuet,  M. 
W.  Bliss;  1854,  Ahira  Wickham,  M.  W.  Bliss;  1855,  John  H.  Pierce, 
Henry  Slade;  18513,  D,  W.  Glidden,  James  Mead ; 1857,  D.  W.  Glidden, 
William  Robbe  ; 1858-59,  Dr.  Calvin  Leet,  James  Mead  ; 18130,  James 
Mead,  James  M.  Rice;  18G1,  Thomas  Blatthews,  James  Mead;  1862,  D. 
W.  Glidden,  B,  Glidden  ; 1803,  J.  J.  Rooney,  James  Mead  ; 1804,  J.  W. 
Flynn,  James  Mead;  1865,  E.  L.  Handrick,  James  Mead;  18(36,  E.  L. 
Handrick,  D.  W.  Glidden;  1807,  Michael  McManus,  D.W.  Glidden; 
1868-09,  James  W.  Flynn,  James  Mead  ; 1870,  Janies  Mead,  R.  Foraii; 
1871,  C.  McCarthy,  Janies  Mead;  1872,  Philip  Miilan,  E.  L.  Handrick; 
1873,  Hugh  Duffy,  E.  L.  Handrick  ; 1874,  R.  Winters,  James  Mead; 
1875-76,  Dr.  E.  P.  Hines,  John  W.  Hagan  ; 1877,  James  Trodden,  John 
W.  Hagan  ; 1878,  James  Trodden,  R.  Foran  ; 1879,  E.  L.  Handrick, 
R.  Foran  ; 1880,  Dennis  O’Day,  R.  Foran  ; 1881,  R.  Winter,  R. 

Foran  ; 1882,  Thomas  Matthews,  J.  M.  Price ; 1883,  Thomas  Hagan, 
Thomas  Matthews;  1884,  J.  W.  Hagan,  Thomas  Matthews;  1885-86, 
M.  Dow,  R.  Foran. 

Ill  this  period  Benjamin  Glidden  has  served  five 
terms  as  justice  of  the  peace  ; R.  Foran,  three  times  ; 


and  that  office  has  also  been  held  by  William  Buffum, 
Thomas  Matthews  and  Miles  W.  Bliss.  In  1886 
forty-three  votes  were  polled  in  the  borough,  and  the 
bounds  remained  as  established. 

Business  Interests. — It  is  generally  conceded 
that  William  Salter,  a Friend,  sold  the  first  goods  in 
the  village  about  1820,  having  a store  on  the  hill 
where  is  now  the  hotel.  About  1827  he  sold  out  to 
Thomas  Christian  ; and  the  latter  had  also  a public- 
house  at  the  same  place.  Later  the  site  was  given 
up  wholly  to  use  for  tavern  purposes,  and  Joseph 
Hyde  was  for  many  years  the  inn-keeper.  Then 
came  Miles  Bliss,  C.  B.  Jackson  and  Philo  Sherwood, 
each  in  turn  keeping  a popular  house.  From  1868 
to  1879  John  Foster  was  the  landlord,  and  the  latter 
year  the  house  was  burned.  On  its  site  the  present 
three-story  building  was  erected  in  1880  by  Stephen 
D.  Sawyer  and  kept  by  him  some  time.  Since  the 
summer  of  1886  the  host  has  been  A.  M.  O’Donnell. 
In  the  same  locality  an  old  business-stand  was  con- 
verted into  a hotel  by  Edwin  Bliss,  which  is  now 
kept  by  Philip  Ryan.  As  merchants  there  were  at 
this  place  the  Peironnets,  the  Pierces,  and  last,  James 
Patch. 

Nearly  opposite  is  the  old  business-stand  of  Mott 
& Stone,  and  where  later  merchants  were  Wickham 
& Stone,  Wickham  & Hosford,  J.  Hosford,  and,  for 
the  past  fifteen  years,  Robert  Winters.  At  the  other 
end  of  the  village,  in  a building  which  has  been 
destroyed  by  fire,  Robert  D.  Peironnet  traded ; and 
farther  up  the  street  was  John  S.  Peironnet.  At 
the  tannery  was  a small  grocery  by  William  Gart- 
ley.  Nearer  the  centre  of  the  village  Frank  Gorman 
was  in  trade,  and  was  killed  by  lightning  August  15, 
1871,  while  sitting  in  the  store.  Later  John  Gor- 
man had  this  stand,  and  while  owned  by  him  the 
store  was  burned  down.  On  this  site  is  a store  in 
which  E.  E.  Lee  has  traded  since  November,  1877. 
Opposite  was  a store  by  the  Pierce  Bros.,  Charles 
Campbell,  William  Buffum,  J.  J.  Rooney,  M.  Hickey, 
and  was  also  burned  down.  In  an  adjoining  build- 
ing, which  was  also  burned,  was  S.  P.  Buel,  James 
Donley  and  others.  In  the  same  locality  Benjamin 
Glidden  and  M.  S.  Marsh  had  the  largest  store  in 
the  place,  and  in  the  fall  of  1856  this  building  was 
destroyed  by  fire.  William  Buffum  has  merchan- 
dised in  the  borough  since  1857,  occuiiying  his  pres- 
ent stand  since  the  late  Civil  War. 

At  the  Lee  store  is  kept  the  Friendsville  post-office» 
in  charge  of  E.  E.  Lee  since  October,  1885.  The 
office  was  established  January  3,  1820,  with  William 
Salter  as  the  first  postmaster.  The  intermediate 
appointees  were,  1827,  Thomas  Christian ; 1834, 

Robert  D.  Peironnet;  1842,  Joseph  Hyde;  1844, 
Charles  L.  Brown;  1848,  John  S.  Peironnet;  1849, 
Edwin  Bliss;  1851,  William  C.  Waters;  1854,  Miles 
W.  Bliss;  1856,  James  Mead;  1861,  Janies  M.  Rice ; 
1862,  Jeremiah  Hosford;  1868,  William  Buffum; 
1869,  J.  Hosford;  1882,  J.  M.  Rice.  The  office  has 


498 


HISTOEY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


several  mails  per  day,  and  receives  matter  for  a large 
scope  of  country. 

Dr.  Levi  Eoberts  appears  to  have  been  one  of  the  first 
medical  practitioners  in  this  place,  from  1821  to  1825. 
The  veteran  Dr.  Calvin  Leet  and  his  sons,  Calvin  L. 
and  Nathan  Y.,  were  conspicuous  in  the  medical 
history  of  the  place.  The  former  was  the  first  doctor 
in  the  northwestern  part  of  the  county,  and  lived  at 
Friendsville  until  his  death,  January  1,  1874.  Dr. 
Alfred  Peironnet  and  Dr.  Charles  Gissey,  the  latter  a 
Frenchman,  also  practiced  in  this  place.  Dr.  John 
Pierce,  son  of  Henry  M.  Pierce,  an  Englishman,  said 
to  have  been  of  noble  descent,  after  practicing  a 
number  of  years,  moved  to  Waverly ; and  Dr.  E.  P. 
Hines,  who  was  here  from  1866  to  1879,  moved  to 
Great  Bend.  When  Doctors  Lathrop  and  William 
Bissell  were  here  they  were  associated  with  the 
elder  Dr.  Leet.  Since  July,  1863,  Dr.  E.  L.  Han- 
drick  has  practiced  at  Friendsville,  and  since  the 
fall  of  1881  has  had  a drug-store,  the  first  in  the 
place. 

But  little  manufacturing  has  been  done  at  Friends- 
ville. The  Hosfords  had  a tannery  in  operation  be- 
fore the  Civil  War,  which  was  burned  in  1866.  J.  S. 
Hosford  put  up  a steam  saw  and  shingle-mill  in  the 
same  locality,  which  is  at  present  owned  by  W.  S. 
Treadwell.  The  ordinary  mechanic  trades  have  been 
carried  on  since  the  village  has  had  an  existence, 
James  Palmer  being  a pioneer  blacksmith,  and  B.  T. 
Glidden  following  later.  E.  M.  Day,  P.  Matthews 
and  Michael  Welsh  have  been  wagon-makers,  the  last 
two  continuing  ships.  Lark  Moore,  Abraham  Foran 
and  R.  Gillan  have  been  coopers,  a trade  which  has 
been  carried  on  since  1866  by  R.  Foran.  Among 
those  who  carried  on  shoe-shops  have  been  James 
Bliss,  Philip  Millan,  E.  Guglan,  Michael  Dow  and 
Martin  McWade.  Benj.,  Glidden  has  for  many  years 
maintained  a justice’s  otfice  in  the  village,  and  the 
legal  profession  has  a representative  in  A.  M. 
O’Donnel. 

Educational  and  Religious. — From  1832  to 
1840  Miss  Elizabeth  W.  Richards  successfully  taught 
a select  school  for  young  ladies  and  small  boys  in  the 
John  Hudson  house.  She  was  the  only  daughter  of 
Daniel  and  Lydia  Richards,  Friends,  who  came  from 
Chester  County  about  1820.  Her  mother  was  a 
woman  of  marked  ability  and  a public  speaker  in  the 
Friends’  Meeting.  The  daughter  inherited  her 
mother’s  good  qualities,  and  had,  in  addition,  a strong 
character  of  her  own.  A grateful  pujiil  said  of  her, — 

“ Many  were  anxious  to  avail  themselves  of  Miss  Richards’  success  in 
imjiarting  instruction  ; but  her  instinctive  modesty  and  desire  for  a re- 
tired life  prevented  her  becoming  as  widely  known  as  her  attainments  de- 
served. Her  mission  to  California  in  attendance  on  her  youngest 
brother — the  late  Joseph  T.  Richards,  Esq,  of  Montrose — was  as  heroic 
as  it  was  sad. 

“ The  journey  at  that  time  (in  1852)  was  but  rarely  attempted  by  women, 
and  almost  only  by  those  impelled  by  love  and  duty.  Yet  the  privations 
were  nothing  compared  to  the  changes  of  climate  ; their  peril  on  the 
rainy  night,  when  their  hotel  at  Sacramento  was  consumed  by  fire  ; their 
flight  and  exposure,  only  escaping  with  the  bedclothes  wrapped  around 


them  ; their  journey  to  a more  genial  southern  clime  ; then  the  last  sad 
scenes,  and  the  lonely  grave  in  which  now  rest  the  mortal  remains  of 
her  only  treasure  in  that  far  off  El  Dorado  I Her  reliance  on  the  All- 
sustaining  arm  alone  carried  her  through  all,  and  brought  her  home  a 
composed,  though  sorrowing,  woman.  She  now  turned  her  attention  to 
her  brother’s  orphan  children.  This  duty  occupied  her  time  for  several 
years. 

^‘On  the  breaking  out  of  the  Rebellion  she  offered  her  services  to  the 
Governor  of  Ohio  (where  she  was  then  residing)  as  hospital  nurse.  She 
was  assigned  to  duty  at  Camp  Dennison  ; but  the  effects  of  the  Panama 
fever  had  never  been  wholly  eradicated  from  her  system,  and  the  expo- 
sure and  hardships  of  camp  life,  together  with  her  new  duties,  soon 
induced  typhoid  fever,  which  terminated  her  life  while  yet  in  its  prime 
in  the  autumn  of  1861.” 

About  1843  Joseph  Hyde  and  others  employed  the 
Rev.  Richard  B.  Thurston,  a native  of  Maine,  and  who 
was  a son-in-law  of  Henry  M.  Pierce,  to  teach  in  the 
academy  established  by  them  in  the  building  next  to 
Hyde’s  hotel.  He  taught  three  or  four  years,  when 
the  house  was  converted  to  private  uses  by  Joseph 
Hyde,  and  a select  school  was  opened  in  another 
building,  erected  by  subscription  for  this  purpose. 
This  house  soon  after  passed  into  the  hands  of  the 
directors  of  the  free  schools,  and  has  since  been 
used  by  them  as  the  school-house  of  the  borough. 

Opposite  this  was  the  church  erected  by  the  Pres- 
byterian congregation  of  Friendsville  in  1841.  It  was, 
in  its  day,  a serviceable  building,  but  being  long  un- 
used, fell  into  decay  before  its  removal,  in  1874,  when 
it  was  converted  into  a barn  on  the  R.  P.  Mulford 
farm.  The  church  was  erected  through  the  instru- 
mentality of  Samuel  Milligan,  of  Ellerslie,  who  was 
one  of  the  ruling  elders  of  the  congregation,  which 
quickly  declined  after  his  removal  from  the  country, 
in  1847.  The  congregation  became  a corporate  body 
on  the  petition  of  twenty-one  members.  August  19, 
1841,  with  the  following  as  trustees  : John  S.  Peiron- 
net, Garrad  Stone,  H.  M.  Pierce,  Ahira  Wickham, 
Joseph  Hyde  and  Judson  Watkins.  There  was  no 
settled  pastor,  though  preaching  was  for  some  time 
regularly  maintained.  The  ministers  usually  taught 
the  select  schools  above  noted.  An  account  of  the 
Friends’  Meeting,  with  which  many  of  the  former 
people  of  Friendsville  were  connected,  and  of  the 
Episcopal  chapel  now  on  the  same  site,  is  given  in 
Choconut  township,  in  which  it  is  located. 

In  the  eastern  part  of  the  borough  the  Odd  Fellows 
of  Lodge  No.  471  had  erected  a small  hall,  in  which 
their  meetings  were  held  a number  of  years.  The  re- 
moval of  many  members  caused  the  surrender  of  the 
charter;  but  a new  lodge,  with  this  number,  has  lately 
been  established  in  Rush.  The  hall  is  now  used  for 
farm  purposes. 

St.  Francis  Xavier’s  Church  (R.C.) — This  church, 
as  originally  built,  was  small  and  plain,  and  was  put 
up  in  1831  by  Edward  White  and  others  of  the  early 
Catholics  in  this  part  of  the  county,  embracing  mem- 
bers from  the  Keenan,  Flynn,  Ryan,  Tierney,  Reilly, 
Hickey,  Lee  and  other  families.  Through  the  efforts 
of  Father  Mattingly,  the  church  was  improved  and 
supplied  with  a fine-toned  bell.  The  parish  has  again 
outgrown  the  Church,  and  a new  edifice  will  he  erected 


SILVER  LAKE. 


499 


in  the  near  future.  A good  priest’s-house  has  also 
been  secured  in  the  village  for  the  benefit  of  the  parish, 
which  includes  the  church  in  Rush.  A library  at 
Friendsville  has  been  a valuable  adjunct  in  the  work 
of  the  church,  greatly  promoting  the  intelligence  of 
the  younger  members.  It  is  kept  in  a substantial 
building,  a part  of  which  has  been  fitted  up  for  a hall 
for  literary  and  other  meetings.  Here,  also,  was 
maintained,  several  years  ago,  a Catholic  Temperance 
Society.  The  parish  has  a very  large  and  growing 
membership,  the  communicants  numbering  several 
hundred.  Under  the  watchful  care  of  the  present 
priest,  the  Rev.  Father  J.  J.  Lalley,  it  promises  to 
become  among  the  strongest  churches  of  the  denomi- 
nation in  the  county. 

The  grave-yard  connected  with  the  church  is  large 
and  well  kept.  Here  repose  some  of  the  early  Catho- 
lic pioneers,  including  members  of  the  White  family, 
and  Patrick  Griffin  and  his  wife,  Ellen.  They  were 
the  parents  of  the  gifted  Gerald  Griffin,  the  Irish 
novelist,  and  of  Mrs.  Edward  White.  The  following 
epitaphs  mark  their  places  of  rest : 

I.  H.  s. 

Sacred  to  the 
memory  of 

PATRICK  GRIFFIN, 

The  first  Catholic  settler 
in  this  country, 

Born  in  Limerick,  Ireland. 

DIED 

January  20th, 

1836, 

Aged  72  years. 

May  the  Lord  have  mercy  on  his  soul. 

Through  the  merits  of  our  Savior.  Amen. 

SACRED 

To  the  memory  of 
ELLEN. 

Wife  of  Patrick  Griffin, 
of  Susquehanna  Co., 

Born  in  the  city  of 
Limerick,  Ireland, 

May,  1776, 

Died  Oct.  14th,  1831. 

Aged  65  years. 

Revered  and  beloved  by  her  own  fam- 
ily, respected  and  esteemed  by  all  who 
knew  her,  she  presented  in  her  life  the 
model  of  a tender  mother,  an  affectionate 
wife  and  a sincere  Christian.  May  she 
rest  in  peace. 

This  stone  is  erected  as  a tribute  of  affection  by  one  who  loved  her  as 
a son,  her  nephew.  Doctor  Robert  Hogan,  of  New  York. 

Patrick  and  Ellen  Griffin  settled,  in  the  year  1820, 
on  a tract  of  land  bordering  on  Quaker  Lake,  in  Sil- 
ver Lake  township,  Susquehanna  County,  one  of  the 
prettiest  and  most  beautiful  spots  in  this  portion  of 
the  State,  which  they  christened  “Fairy  Lawn,”  in 
memory  of  their  forsaken  home  in  the  old  land. 

They  were  thus  the  pioneers  of  Catholicism,  not 
only  in  Susquehanna  County,  but  in  Northern  Penn- 
sylvania, introducing  a faith  which  has  since  been 
embraced  by  thousands  of  those  who  came  after  them 
to  this  section. 


CHAPTER  XXXII. 

SILVER  LAKE  TOWNSHIP. 

The  township  of  Silver  Lake  was  the  first  one  added 
to  the  ten  original  townships  of  the  county,  and  was 
erected  in  pursuance  of  a decree  of  the  first  court,  in 
August,  1813.  Originally  it  extended  five  miles  along 
the  State  line  and  seven  miles  south,  giving  it  an  area 
of  thirty-five  square  miles.  This  was  reduced  in  1836, 
when  about  four  square  miles  were  taken  from  the 
southwestern  part  and  added  to  Forest  Lake.  The 
present  bounds  are  as  follows:  North,  the  State  of 
New  York ; east.  Liberty  and  Franklin ; south,  Bridge- 
water  and  Forest  Lake;  west,  Choconut.  The  title 
of  the  township  was  suggested  by  the  beautiful  little 
lake  whose  silvery  waters  have  ever  been  one  of  the 
principal  attractions  of  this  section,  and  which  early 
received  the  name  of  Silver  Lake.  The  outlet  of  this 
body  of  water  is  Silver  Creek,  which  drains  the  south- 
ern part  of  the  township,  also  taking  the  waters  of 
Cranberry  Lake,  a small  sheet  of  water  east  of  Silver 
Lake,  and  flowing  eastw’ard,  empties  into  Snake  Creek 
at  Franklin  Forks.  Mud  Lake,  formerly  called  Ten- 
buryLake,  is  southeast  of  the  centre  of  the  township, 
and  takes  its  name  from  the  color  of  its  waters,  when 
agitated  by  the  winds.  Unlike  Silver  Lake,  it  has  no 
attractive  surroundings  or  picturesque  borders.  It 
drains  southward  into  Silver  Creek.  About  two  miles 
north  of  this  is  Quaker  Lake — called  Derwent  in  early 
times — which  is  the  largest  in  the  township,  being 
one  mile  long  by  half  a mile  wide.  It  isa  very  pretty 
sheet  of  water,  and,  on  account  of  its  fine  surround- 
ings, has  obtained  favor  as  a summer  resort.  One  of 
its  inlets  is  called  Sucker  Brook,  from  the  abundance 
of  that  species  of  fish  found  in  it.  The  lake  drains 
northward  and  its  outlet  also  takes  the  waters  of 
Meeker’s  Pond,  a small  lake  near  the  State  line.  All 
these  streams  are  small  and  were  formerly  heavily 
fringed  with  laurel  bushes.  The  lakes  were  well 
stocked  with  fish  and  the  surrounding  forests  were 
filled  with  game,  which  caused  this  section  to  be  a 
favorite  resort  of  the  Indians,  as  the  many  relics  found 
by  the  early  settlers  attested.  On  the  divide  between 
Mud  and  Quaker  Lakes  is  Ranney  Creek,  a small 
stream  having  a general  northeasterly  course  into 
Liberty  township.  In  other  sections  are  small  brooks, 
and  numerous  springs  abound,  making  this  one  of  the 
best-watered  townships  in  the  county.  The  surface 
of  Silver  Lake  is  hilly,  but  not  broken  as  much  as  the 
townships  east  and  west;  and  most  of  the  land  is 
tillable.  The  ridges  were  formerly  well  covered  with 
beech,  maple  or  chestnut,  and  the  lowlands  with  pine 
or  hemlock ; but  the  greater  part  of  the  country  has 
been  cleared  up  and  turned  into  fruitful  farms. 

The  whole  of  the  present  township  of  Silver  Lake 
was  included  in  the  lands  purchased  by  Dr.  R.  H. 
Rose,  February  18,  1809,  of  Anne,  widow  of  Tench 


500 


HISTOKY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


Francis,  who  had  bought  of  Elizabeth  Jervis  and  John 
Peters,  to  whom  it  had  been  patented  by  the  State  in 
1784.  It  extended  at  least  thirteen  miles  along  the 
State  line  and  embraced  two  hundred  and  forty-eight 
tracts  of  four  hundred  acres  each,  or  ninety-nine 
thousand  two  hundred  acres  in  all.  In  the  early  sur- 
veys most  of  this  country  was  known  by  the  name  of 
Hibernia,  a term  especially  appropriate  when  the 
character  of  the  present  population  is  considered. 

Dr.  Rose  and  His  Home. — Soon  after  the  pur- 
chase of  his  lands  Dr.  Rose  applied  himself  to  their 
development  and  labored  assiduously  in  this  direction 
until  his  death.  He  directed  all  the  early  improve- 
ments and,  during  1809,  gathered  around  him  a force 
of  workmen  to  fell  trees  near  his  future  home,  at 
Silver  Lake,  and  to  construct  a saw-mill  preparatory 
to  the  erection  of  his  dwelliug-house.  For  these  ser- 
vices he  paid  cash,  a rare  return  for  labor  in  that 
period.  In  all  the  early  enterprises  of  the  township 
he  was  such  an  important  factor  that  a sketch  of  his 
life  is  an  essential  part  of  the  most  interesting  history 
of  this  section. 

“ Robert  Hutchinson  Rose  was  born  in  Chester 
County,  Pa.,  in  1776.  His  father  was  a Scotch  gentle- 
man, and  his  mother  a native  of  Dublin ; hence  the 
son  belonged  to  that  sturdy  race  known  as  Scotch - 
Irish.  They  emigrated  to  America  before  the  Revo- 
lutionary War,  and  being  persons  of  intelligence  and 
means,  gave  their  son  a liberal  and  accomplished 
education.  He  was  a writer  of  force  and  an  author, 
which  distinguished  him  in  his  day.^  He  was  the 
largest  land-holder  and  most  w'ealthy  citizen  among 
the  pioneers  of  Susquehanna  County.  Of  his  large 
tract  of  land  in  Silver  Lake  and  adjoining  townships, 
he  sold  fifty  thousand  acres  to  Caleb  Carmalt.  He 
cleared  land  and  erected  a fine  residence  not  far  from 
the  most  beautiful  sheet  of  water  in  the  county,  called 
Silver  Lake.  He  had  beautiful  and  well-laid-out 
grounds,  and  Jived  like  an  old  English  baron,  while  all 
around  him  was  a howling  wildernesss.  His  residence 
and  grounds  were  so  much  finer  than  anything  else  for 
miles  around,  that  the  chance  traveler  gazed  with  as- 
tonishment on  his  improvements.  He  was  active  in  pro- 
moting the  building  of  turnpikes  through  Susquehan- 
na, and  especially  the  Milford  and  Owego.  He  was 
influential  in  having  Montrose  made  the  county-seat, 
giving  lands  towards  the  erection  of  public  buildings. 
He  spent  some  of  his  time  in  Philadelphia,  and  was 
considered  a good  hunter  in  the  wilderness.  He  was 
passionately  fond  of  nature,  and  his  wife,  a daughter 
of  Andrew  Hodge,  Esq.,  whom  he  married  in  1810, 
being  in  delicate  health,  he  determined  to  locate  on 
the  banks  of  the  lovely  mountain  lake  ever  after  asso- 
ciated with  his  name.  He  studied  medicine  and 
graduated  at  the  University  of  Pennsylvania,  and  was 
a man  of  musical  ability  and  literary  taste.  In  1811 
he  brought  his  bride  to  Susquehanna  County;  here 


^ See  chapter  on  authors. 


they  transformed  their  wilderness  home  into  a fairy- 
land, laying  out  the  grounds  with  walks  and  orna- 
menting them  with  statuary.  Dr.  Rose  died  February 
24,  1842,  in  the  sixty-sixth  year  of  his  age,  leaving  a 
widow,  three  sons  and  four  daughters.  One  of  the 
daughters  became  the  wife  of  Wm.  Main,  of  New 
York,  another  the  wife  of  Rev.  Francis  D.  Ladd,  and 
another  the  wife  of  H.  K.  Sheldon,  of  New  York,  who 
has  improved  a portion  of  the  Rose  estate  for  a summer 
residence.  One  of  the  sons.  Major  R.  H.  Rose,  died 
in  Mankato,  Minn.,  in  1865.  The  Mankato  Review 
says : ‘ His  character  had  so  many  attractive  points, 
and  his  life  was  so  winning,  that  the  ties  which  bound 
us  to  him  were  something  more  than  the  common  ties 
of  friendship.’  ” 

Mrs.  Rose  died  in  Philadelphia  in  1866.  The 
oldest  son,  Edward  W.,  resides  upon  the  estate, 
having  a fine  house  south  of  the  lake,  and  at  the  op- 
posite end  of  the  lake  lived  the  other  son,  Andrew, 
deceased,  also  in  a comfortable  house.  But  neither 
residence  is  modeled  in  any  respect  after  the  paternal 
home,  which,  to  the  great  loss  of  the  community,  as 
well  as  the  family  (absent  at  that  time),  was  con- 
sumed by  fire,  with  all  its  contents,  April  30,  1849. 
The  Rose  family  still  own  large  tracts  of  land  in  the 
township,  and  for  nearly  eighty  years  the  name  has 
been  synonymous  with  any  important  interest  in 
connection  with  the  affairs  of  Silver  Lake. 

The  Pioneers. — Most  of  the  early  settlers  were  at- 
tracted by  the  inducements  held  out  by  Dr.  Rose, 
who  advertised  his  lands  extensively  and  offered  easy 
terms.  Zenas  Bliss  was  one  of  the  first  to  open  a 
farm.  He  came  from  Tolland  County,  Conn.,  in 
1809,  and  located  in  the  Choconut  Valley,  but  within 
the  bounds  of  Silver  Lake.  He  was  appointed  the 
first  justice  of  the  peace,  in  which  office  he  “ exhibited 
an  enlightened  sense  of  his  duty  as  a guardian  of  the 
public  peace.  He  believed  that  peace  was  as  effectu- 
ally promoted  by  discouraging  unnecessary  litigation 
as  by  inflicting  the  salutary  penalty  of  the  law  when 
circumstances  made  that  necessary.”  As  a Christian, 
he  was  unobtrusive  and  exemplary,  always  being  con- 
sistent. In  1841  he  moved  to  Leroy,  Bradford  County, 
where  he  died,  January  26,  1861,  in  the  ninety-fourth 
year  of  his  age.  His  first  vote  was  cast  for  Washing- 
ton, his  last  for  Lincoln.  Zenas  Bliss  had  six  sons — 
Gordon,  Horace,  Edwin,  Beza  H.,  Clark  W.  and 
Chester.  The  two  last-named  became  physicians  in 
the  State  of  New  York.  Horace  died  in  the  town- 
ship May  15,1868,  aged  seventy-six  years.  But  a few 
of  the  descendants  of  the  family,  belonging  to  the 
third  and  fourth  generations,  remain  in  Silver  Lake. 

The  next  lot  of  settlers  located  in  the  neighborhood 
of  Quaker  Lake,  which  received  its  name  from  the 
fact  that  those  first  living  there  adhered  to  the  Quaker 
faith.  On  the  10th  of  June,  1809,  Alpheus  and  Syl- 
vanus  Finch,  Jacob  Hoag,  Isaac  Higgins,  Charles 
Wooster,  Peter  Soule  and  Philip  Griffith  arrived  at 
Binghamton  from  Duanesburg,  New  York,  and 


SILVER  LAKE. 


501 


from  thence  proceeded  by  marked  trees  to  Silver 
Lake,  passing  but  one  clearing  on  the  way.  Most  of 
them  were  pleased  with  the  country  and  selected 
lands,  to  which  they  brought  their  families  the  fol- 
lowing year,  and,  in  moving,  were  two  days  on  the 
road  from  Binghamton.  Alpheus  Finch  built  the 
first  house  on  the  east  side  of  Quaker  Lake,  and  the 
second  was  built  on  the  south  side  by  Philip  Griffith. 
As  there  was  no  saw-mill  convenient,  logs  were  split 
for  floors,  gable-ends  and  roofs.  Griffith  retained  his 
home  in  the  township  until  his  death,  November  21, 
1868,  a period  of  fifty-nine  years,  when  he  w'as 
seventy-nine  years  old.  His  wife  was  a daughter  of 
Jonathan  Soule,  and  died  in  1857.  They  reared  ten 
children,  all  of  whom  were  married  before  the  death 
of  their  mother.  One  of  the  daughters  became  the 
wife  of  Joseph  S.  Gage,  of  Brackney.  The  sons  were 
David,  Jonathan,  Benjamin,  Isaac,  Philip,  Ezekiel, 
Absalom  and  Charles,  none  remaining  in  the  town- 
ship. Jonathan  Soule  came  a few  years  later  than 
his  son  Peter,  who  came  with  Griffith.  He  had 
seven  sons  and  four  daughters,  one  of  whom  was  the 
W'ife  of  Charles  Wooster.  He  died  in  June,  1842,  aged 
eighty-one  years.  A little  earlier  came  Jabez  Griffith, 
the  father  of  Philip,  an  old  man,  who  died  March, 
1819,  aged  eighty-two  years. 

Within  the  next  three  years  a number  of  other 
settlers  came  to  Silver  Lake  from  Duanesburg,  N.  Y. 
Among  these,  Philo  Briggs,  who  came  in  1810,  lo- 
cated on  Sucker  Brook,  where  he  died  in  1859.  Two 
of  his  daughters  married  Ansel  B.  Hill  and  Michael 
Hill.  The  same  year  came  John  and  Joseph  Whip- 
ple. The  latter  first  cleared  up  a farm  where  part  of 
Brackney  now  is,  but  nearer  to  the  Charles  Wooster 
farm,  on  Quaker  Lake.  Having  made  some  more 
improvements  at  that  place,  he  sold  out  to  Dr.  Rose 
and  bought  a farm  on  Ranney  Creek,  on  which  was  a 
saw-mill.  This  he  left  again  to  clear  up  another  new 
place,  on  which  he  lived  until  his  death,  in  1872.  It 
is  said  that  he  reared  twelve  children,  for  whom  he 
never  spent  a dollar  for  medicine.  As  showing  the 
fertility  of  the  virgin  soil,  he  said  that  he  had  raised 
sixty  bushels  of  wheat  from  two  bushels  of  seed ; and 
other  crops  yielded  equally  bountiful  returns. 

In  1811  Mortimer  Gage  came  from  Duanesburg, 
and  two  or  three  years  later  Henry  Hoag  and  Wm. 
Miller.  Gage  (formerly  spelled  Gaige)  was  the  first 
of  the  many  families  of  that  name  who  lived  in  Sil- 
ver Lake,  numbering  eighteen  at  one  time.  They  all 
descended  from  four  brothers  at  Duanesburg,  N.  Y., 
— Simeon,  Moses,  Benjamin  and  Joseph,  the  latter 
being  the  only  one  who  ever  came  to  live  in  Silver 
Lake. 

The  Gages  have  been  very  numerous  in  the  town- 
ship, and  still  constitute  a large  proportion  of  the 
native  population. 

The  rapid  influx  of  population  within  the  next 
three  or  four  years  can  best  be  shown  by  an  advertise- 
ment of  Dr.  Rose’s  which  appeared  August  26,  1814, 


in  The  Union,  the  first  paper  printed  in  Union  Coun- 
ty, Pa.,  and  issued  at  Mifflinburg: 

“ To  Settlers. — The  subscriber  offers  for  sale  a large  body  of  lands  on 
the  waters  of  the  Wyalusing,  Choconut,  Apolacon  and  Wappasuning 
Creeks,  in  the  townships  of  Silver  Lake,  Bridgewater,  Choconut,  !Mid- 
dletown  and  Rush,  county  of  Susquehanna  (lately  part  of  Luzerne 
County),  and  State  of  Pennsylvania.  The  timber  is  principally  beech, 
mixed  with  sugar  maple,  hemlock,  ash,  birch,  basswood,  chestnut,  cher- 
ry and  white-pine.  The  soil  is  in  general  of  a good  quality,  and  the 
country  remarkably  healthy  and  well  watered.  There  are  several  mills 
built,  two  post-offices  established,  and  a considerable  settlement  formed 
which  is  rapidly  increasing.  Montrose,  the  seat  of  justice  for  the  coun- 
ty, is  placed  on  the  southeastern  part  of  the  tract.  It  is  about  one  hun- 
dred and  thirty  miles  from  the  city  of  New  York,  and  one  hundred  and 
sixty  miles  from  Philadelphia.  A turnpike  is  now  making  to  the  city 
of  New  York,  which  passes  for  twenty  miles  through  the  tract;  and  an- 
other is  granted  to  Wilkes-Barre,  on  the  way  to  Philadelphia,  which 
passes  twelve  miles  through  it.  The  purchaser  is  suffered  to  take  his 
choice  of  all  the  laud  unsettled.  The  price  is  three  dollars  per  acre,  ex- 
cept for  the  lots  on  the  turnpikes,  which  are  four  dollars  per  acre.  A 
reasonable  credit  will  be  allowed,  an  indisputable  title,  and  deed  of  gen- 
eral warrantee  will  be  given.  For  further  particulars  inquire  of  the 
subscriber,  at  the  Silver  Lake,  on  the  premises. 

“Robert  H.  Rose, 

“ We,  the  subscribers,  ha  ve  purchased  farms  on  the  lands  of  Robert  H, 
Rose.  The  soil  is  in  general  of  a good  quality,  deep  and  lasting  ; and 
the  situation  very  favorable  on  account  of  market  for  our  produce  : — 

“ Daniel  Gaige,  Peter  Soule,  Alpheus  Finch,  Oliver C.  Smith,  Isaac 
Howard,  Mortiraore  Gaige,  Abraham  Gaige,  Joseph  Whipple,  Philip 
Griffith,  Peleg  Butts,  Charles  Davi«,  Christian  Shelp,  Nathan  Brewster, 
Geo.  John  Griffis,  Jonathan  Ellsworth,  Henry  Ellsworth,  Jacob  Bump, 
John  Lozier,  William  Price,  Lark  Moore,  Bela  Moore,  Joseph 
Addison,  Chas.  Chalker,  Daniel  Chalker,  Scott  Baldwin,  Rich.  Daniels, 
Zenas  Bryant,  Ephraim  Fancher,  Zephaniah  Cornell,  Moses  Chamber- 
lin, Benjamin  Fancher,  Caleb  Bush,  Asa  Baldwin,  Samuel  Baldwin, 
Philip  Blair,  Thurston  Carr,  Elisha  Cole,  Isaac  Soule,  Kiel  Tnpper,  Ja- 
bez A.  Birchard,  David  Owen,  Jeremiah  Glover,  Albert  Camp,  Daniel 
Heman,  Ebenezer  Coburn,  H.  P.  Corbin,  D.  Taylor,  Lemuel  Walbridge, 
Leman  Turrell,  Canfield  Stone,  Philo  Bostwick,  Salmon  Bradshaw,  Bil- 
lings Babcock,  Robinson  Bolles,  Zenas  Bliss,  John  C.  Sherman,  Philo 
Morehouse,  Reuben  Faxon,  Darius  Bixby,  Asahel  Southwell,  Asa  Brown, 
Edward  Cox,  Peter  Brown,  Amory  Nelson,  William  Chamberlin,  Daniel 
Chamberlin,  Moses  W.  Chamberlin,  Luther  Dean. 

“ From  Northumberland  the  distance  is  about  one  hundred  and  twen- 
ty miles  ; the  road  is  up  the  river,  by  Wilkes-Barre  and  Tunkhannock, 
at  which  places  it  leaves  the  river  and  i)afises  by  Montrose  to  Silver  Lake. 
To  Tunkhannock,  ninety  miles,  the  road  is  very  good  ; the  greater  part 
of  the  rest  is  bad,  but  is  rapidly  improving.” 

In  1818  the  above  was  repeated  with  additional 
statements  intended  to  induce  immigration.  The 
price  of  lands  on  the  turnpikes  was  given  at  six 
dollars  per  acre,  and  for  those  off  them  at  five  dollars 
per  acre.  The  terms  were  “ the  interest  commencing 
at  the  time  of  the  contract,  to  be  paid  at  the  end  of 
three  years,  and  one-fifth  of  the  principal  annually 
afterwards,  making  in  all  eight  years.” 

Easy  as  these  terms  appear,  many  of  the  settlers 
could  not  make  their  payments  when  they  fell  due, 
and  between  April,  18l3,  and  September,  1815,  more 
than  one  hundred  suits  were  entered  against  debtors 
by  Dr.  Rose.  Nevertheless,  his  leniency  is  still 
remembered.  A contemporary  said  of  him  : “ It 

reflects  no  little  honor  on  his  memory  that,  notwith- 
standing the  large  amount  owing  him  from  a 
thousand  different  hands,  yet  from  first  to  last  he 
was  never  known  to  sell  by  process  of  law  the  per- 
sonal property  of  any  one  for  the  purpose  of  enforc- 
ing the  collection  of  a debt.” 


502 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


Prior  to  1813  John  L.  Minkler,  Isaac  Howard, 
John  Howard  and  Oliver  C.  Smith  lived  north  of 
Quaker  Lake.  The  latter  was  the  architect  of  the 
first  court-house,  at  Montrose,  and  built  a grist-mill 
at  where  is  now  Brackney.  Peleg  Butts  and  his 
son  Isaac  also  lived  in  Silver  Lake  at  this  period, 
but  moved  to  Liberty,  where  he  died.  In  1814  Eli 
Meeker  and  his  family  came  from  Columbia  County, 
N.  Y.,  and  settled  north  of  Quaker  Lake.  He  was 
a blacksmith,  and  put  up  the  first  shop  in  the  town- 
ship, on  the  road  along  the  lake-shore,  where  he 
carried  on  his  trade  many  years.  The  sons  of  Eli 
Meeker  were  William,  Samuel,  Nelson,  Eli,  Joshua 
and  Andrew,  who  have  had  numerous  descendants, 
making  this  name  as  common  in  the  township  as 
that  of  Gage.  Aaron  Meeker,  a brother  of  Eli,  the 
elder,  was  the  father  of  Reuben  Meeker.  They 
lived  at  Meeker’s  Pond,  the  most  northern  lake  in 
the  township. 

About  1815  Ephraim  Strong  built  a house  in  the 
southern  part  of  the  township,  on  what  was  later 
called  by  the  English  settlers  “ Richmond  Hill,” 
after  a certain  locality  in  England.  This  name  has 
been  perpetuated  by  the  post-office,  established  in 
that  part  of  the  township.  Strong  kept  a small  store 
and  sold  the  first  goods  in  Silver  Lake.  Through 
his  efforts  the  first  Presbyterian  congregation  was 
organized,  which  very  much  missed  his  wise  counsels 
when  he  removed,  in  1819,  to  Athens,  Pa.  Here  he 
with  his  numerous  sons,  made  an  opening  in  the 
pines,  planted  corn  and  potatoes,  sowed  buckwheat, 
built  a snug  frame  house,  dug  a well  and  set  out  an 
orchard.  Here  this  godly,  intelligent  and  well-edu- 
cated household,  the  father  a graduate  of  Yale  Col- 
lege and  the  mother  a superior  woman,  lived  several 
years.  They  removed  to  Hudson,  Ohio.  The  same 
year,  (1815)  Zina  Bushnell  and  Ansel  Hill  came  from 
Middlesex  County,  Conn.,  and  made  improvements 
south  of  Mud  Lake,  the  former  remaining  but  a short 
time,  when  an  Englishman  by  the  name  of  Walley 
took  his  place.  Near  this  place  Hill  first  lived,  but 
in  1817  moved  to  the  Corners,  which  afterwards  bore 
his  name  and  where  he  kept  a public-house  for  ten 
years,  probably  the  first  in  the  township.  He  died 
in  1866.  This  place  had  been  first  improved  by 
Joseph  Macomber,  who  removed  to  another  farm. 

After  the  erection  of  Silver  Lake  as  a separate 
township,  those  who  occupied  lands  appear  in  the 
following  list  of  taxables  in  1816: 

Daniel  Austin,  Thomas  Buswell,  David  Briggs,  Philo  Briggs,  Abra- 
ham Briggs,  Zenas  Bliss,  Peleg  Butts,  William  Chamberlain,  Thurston 
Carr,  Reuben  Carr,  Robert  Curtis,  Jesse  Coon,  Henry  Dennison,  Daniel 
Davidson,  Charles  Eddy,  John  Eddy,  Peter  Ferdon,  Zachariah  Ferdon, 
Martin  Ferdon,  Stephen  Finch,  Abraham  Gaige,  Ebenezer  Gaige,  Isaac 
V.  Gaige,  Daniel  Gaige,  Mortimer  Gaige,  Jabez  Griffith,  Philip  Griffith, 
Ansel  Hill,  Isaac  Howard,  John  Howard,  Henry  Hoag,  Jared  Hunting- 
ton,  John  Kelsey,  John  Lake,  John  L.  Minkler,  Aaron  Meeker  Eli 
Meeker,  William  Mean,  Joseph  Macomber,  Isaac  Nash,  John  Palmer, 
Abraham  Palmer,  Robert  H.  Rose,  W.  P.  Rowly,  Richards  Roderick, 
Peter  Soule,  Ephraim  Strong,  A,  Shipman,  Oliver  C.  Smith,  John  Smith, 
Suel  Spaulding,  Ezekiel  Tripp,  Joseph  Taber,  Alrnerin  Turner,  John 


Van  Deck,  John  Whipple,  Daniel  Whipple,  Larry  Wilbur,  Hezekiah 
Winchell,  Elias  Wilcox,  Samuel  Wheelock,  Wm.  Young. 

In  the  succeeding  two  years  at  least  twenty-five 
taxables  were  added  to  the  list,  among  them  being 
two  Irishmen,  Thomas  Watters  and  Charles  McCarty. 
The  former  was  a brush-maker,  and  lived  south  of 
Mud  Lake.  Neither  of  them  appears  to  have  been  a 
Roman  Catholic.  In  1819  there  were  nearly  forty 
new  taxables,  many  of  them  being  members  of  the 
British  settlement,  which  was  founded  in  1818  and 
1819  through  the  efforts  of  Dr.  Rose,  north  and  east 
of  Mud  Lake,  and  extending  up  toward  Quaker  Lake. 
The  movement  was  set  on  foot  in  Philadelphia,  in 
1818,  by  a number  of  Englishmen  who  sought  an 
eligible  spot  which  would  combine  advantages  for 
both  farmers  and  mechanics ; or,  as  a member  of 
the  society  expressed  it,  “ * A place  on  the  eastern 
side  of  the  mountains,  and  within  a reasonable  dis- 
tance from  some  of  the  seaports,  in  which  all  the 
surplus  produce  of  the  mechanic’s  labor  might  be 
vended  ; where  the  toil  of  the  farmer  would  be  re- 
warded by  a good  price  for  his  produce,  and  where, 
in  consequence  of  the  country  not  being  filled  with 
settlers,  land  might  yet  be  had  at  a low  price.” 

As  Dr.  Rose’s  lands  appeared  to  possess  all  these 
advantages,  he  was  asked  on  what  terms  he  would 
sell  to  a society  of  British  emigrants ; and,  as  these 
new  settlers  promised  to  be  a valuable  acquisition 
to  the  township,  in  case  they  should  locate  in  it,  he 
gave  the  matter  most  favorable  consideration.  The 
subsequent  history  of  this  enterprise  is  well  given  by 
Miss  Blackman,  as  follows; 

“ On  the  receipt  of  a reply  from  the  Doctor,  a meeting  of  the  emigrants 
vv^as  convened,  and  it  was  determined  that  a committee  of  five  should  pro- 
ceed to  Susquehanna  County  to  examine  the  lands  carefully,  and  to  make 
a report  of  their  situation,  soil,  water,  etc.  The  result  was  a unanimous 
opinion  in  favor  of  the  place ; and  a contract  was  made  November  15, 
1818.  Dr.  Charles  B.  Johnson,  from  Shropshire,  England,  one  of  the 
committee,  was  among  the  first  company.  He  located  at  the  northeast 
corner  of  Quaker  Lake,  and  occupied  the  house  previously  mentioned  as 
built  by  Charles  Wooster,  on  what  has  since  been  known  as  the  Main 
place.  It  was  removed  some  years  later,  and  is  now  an  out-house  on 
William  Meeker  s farm. 

“ Dr.  Johnson  appears  as  the  author  of  a book,  whose  statements  led 
many  other  Englishmen  into  this  section,  and  who  remained  no  longer 
than  he — three  or  four  years.  He  removed  to  Binghamton,  where  he 
died,  in  1835,  aged  forty-seven  years.  He  is  said  to  have  been  a skillful 
surgeon  ; his  family  possessed  considerable  talent  in  the  use  of  the  brush 
and  pencil. 

Gazette,  April  24,  1819,  says  : ‘The  tide  of  emigration  is  fast 
setting  into  this  country.  The  British  settlement  bids  fair  to  advance 
the  agricultural  interest  in  this  part  of  the  State.  Large  purchases  are 
making  by  the  hardy  cultivators  of  the  soil  from  England.  We  trust 
those  who  purchase  here,  in  preference  to  traveling  to  the  Western  wilds, 
will  enhance  their  own  interests  and  those  of  our  county  generally.  In- 
deed, we  know  of  no  part  of  the  country  better  calculated  for  the  English 
farmer  than  this ; our  lands  are  cheap,  our  soil  is  good,  our  waters  pure, 
our  markets  quick  and  our  climate  healthy.  Nothing  is  wanting  but 
industry  to  make  Susquehanna  County  rich  and  flourishing.’ 

“A  gentleman  who  visited  Silver  Lake  in  1821  published  in  the  Village 
Record,  of  Chester  County,  Pa.,  the  following  item  : ‘ From  four  and  a 
half  acres  of  land  that  I was  on  in  the  neighborhood  of  Silver  Lake, 
which  was  farmed  with  potatoes  on  shares,  were  raised  sixteen  hundred 
bushels.  The  owner  gave  the  laborer  three  hundred  dollars  as  his  part 


1 Letters  of  C.  B.  Johnson,  M.D. 


SILVER  LAKE. 


503 


of  said  crop.  It  (Susquehanna  County)  is  famous  for  all  kinds  of  roots 
and  garden  stuft'.’ 

“Anthony  North,  John  Deakio,  William  Lawson,  John  Caslake, 
Thomas  Rodgers,  Charles  Innes,  James  Resseguie,  Thomas  Rich  and 
Samuel  Hill  were  among  the  English  settlei*s  of  this  period.  They  were 
generally  located  in  the  vicinity  of  Quaker  and  Mud  Lakes,  which  they 
called  Derwent  and  Tenbury  Lakes — rellectiug  credit  upon  their  taste. 
Here  they  began  a cfty,  which  they  named  Britannia.  It  was  laid  out  in 
lots,  which  were  quite  narrow  on  the  road,  but  were  one  mile  in  extent. 
Nearly  all  the  common  trades  were  represented  by  the  skill  of  the  settlers 
of  1819,  and  for  a few  years  following, 

“ The  British  Emigrant  Society,  established  here,  offered  to  give  a 
half-acre  lot  on  the  turnpike,  cleared,  to  each  of  the  first  fifty  mechanics 
who  should  build  a house  on  the  same,  and  commence  his  trade. 

“Every  plan  contemplated  by  the  society  seems  to  have  been  feasible  ; 
but  it  is  probably  true  that  the  English  mechanic,  or  farmer  even,  was 
unfitted  by  his  previous  experience  to  be  a pioneer  in  a country  whose 
forests  and  hills  were  sufticieiitly  appalling  to  New  Englanders.  The 
improvements  of  the  latter  were  purchased  by  Dr.  Rose  and  sold  to  the 
society,  or  to  its  individual  members  ; but,  as  in  all  cases,  the  farms  were 
but  partially  cleared,  and  the  two  or  three  turnpikes  of  the  county  hardly 
counterbalanced  the  discomforts  of  the  common  roads,  the  high  hopes  of 
the  incoinei*s  were  gradually  dissipated,  if  not  siuldenly  crushed,  and 
there  were  few  who  remained,  or  whose  descendants  are  still  in  the 
township.  Anthony  North  remained,  though  his  discouragements  were 
equal  to  any.  He  built  a frame  house,  but  soon  after  he  moved  into  it  a 
whirlwind  lifted  the  roof  and  carried  it  off  so  suddenly  that  bis  family 
were  not  aware  of  their  loss  until  they  retired  for  the  night,  when  they 
found  the  bricks  or  stones  of  the  chimney  had  fallen  on  the  bed  where  a 
sleeping  infant  was  lying  ; but,  strange  to  say,  although  they  were  all 
around  it,  not  one  had  struck  it.  The  roof  being  painted,  the  shingles 
were  recognized  when  picked  up  in  the  vicinity  of  New  Milford.  A pair 
of  Mr.  North’s  ‘ short  breeches  ’ were  found  on  the  limb  of  a tree  in 
Liberty.  Mrs.  North  is  still  living;  her  husband  died  within  a few 
years.  Their  residence  was  at  the  head  of  Mud  Lake.  John  Caslake,  a 
mau  of  considerable  information,  and  a bachelor  well  advanced  in  life, 
built  the  house  near  the  bridge  at  Mud  Lake,  in  which  Thomas  Rodgers, 
1st,  lived  and  died  ; and  which  Thomas  Rodgers  3d,  (grand-nephew  of  the 
latter),  now  owns  and  occupies.  Here  Mr.  C.  died,  prior  to  1830.  Ad- 
joining his  place  on  the  north  was  the  earliest  location  of  James  Spratt ; 
and  above  the  latter  was  that  of  Thomas  Rodgers,  1st ; both  built  later 
near  the  top  of  the  hill,  east  of  the  lake.  The  farm  of  Thomas  Rodgers, 
2d  (a  nephew  of  the  latter),  partly  covei*s  the  estate  formerly  owned  by 
James  Resseguie,  as  also  one  of  two  lots  owned  then  by  John  Craik  and 
Waiter  Scott.  Ths  last  named  died  here.  He  was  the  father-in-law  of 
A.  Waldie.  John  Craik  was  an  intelligent  Scotchman,  whose  disappoint- 
ment in  the  supposed  attractions  of  the  township  did  not  drive  him  from 
it.  He  also  died  here  ; and  some  of  his  family  are  still  in  the  vicinity. 
North  of  these  settlers  was  Dr.  Charles  W.  Bankson,  who  came  from  Phil- 
adelphia. The  house  built  by  his  widow  was  afterwards  occupied  as  a 
dwelling  and  store  by  William  Hewson,  who  had  previously  lived  in 
‘ Richmond  Castle  ; ’ and  after  he  left  it  was  occupied  as  a store  by  .Joseph 
Stanley.  Dr.  Bankson  practiced  in  Silver  Lake  a number  of  years.  Dr. 
Emerson,  also  from  Philadelphia,  was  probably  the  first  physician  here 
He  was  located  on  the  west  side  of  the  road.  M’illiam  Armstrong  settled 
just  below  T.  Rogers,  1st.  On  the  site  of  the  present  residence  of  A.  B.  Hil 
one  Riimley,  a tailor,  lived  ; the  house  was  afterwards  burned.  Samue 
Hill  lived  near  the  corners,  and  had  a fine  flower  garden  a little  farther 
north,  which  gained  a notoriety  from  its  being  a rare  instance  in  which 
a busy  farmer  gave  attention  to  anything  but  essentials.” 

After  most  of  the  English  settlers  had  gone,  Doctor 
Rose  tried  the  experiment  of  filling  their  places  with 
colored  farmers.  As  most  of  them  were  in  indigent 
circumstances,  he  advanced  means  for  their  support 
and  encouraged  them  to  cheerfully  accept  their  new 
conditions  and  to  become  industrious  citizens.  His 
confidence  in  them  was  abused  to  such  an  extent 
that  he  was  forced  to  vacate  the  places  they  occupied 
and  to  seek  a new  class  of  settlers.  These  were  read- 
ily found  in  The  IrUh  who  had  been  thrown  out  of 
employment  by  the  suspension  of  work  on  the  Chen- 
ango Canal.  They  were  easily  induced  to  purchase 


lands  and  settle  down  as  farmers,  and  most  of  them 
succeeded  in  earning  homes  of  their  own  in  a short 
time.  A few  of  them  arrived  at  competency  in  the 
course  of  years,  and  being  imbued  with  a public  spirit, 
proved  valuable  factors  in  advancing  the  interests  of 
the  township.  Some  of  the  younger  people  became 
well  educated  and  distinguished  themselves  in  the 
professions  in  other  jjarts  of  the  country,  one  of  the 
most  prominent  being  the  late  Reverend  Bishop 
Shannahan,  of  Harrisburg,  whose  father  lived  a num- 
ber of  years  on  the  main  road  north  of  Mud  Lake. 
Many  of  the  Irish  settlers  were  induced  to  locate 
here  by  the  Grifiin  and  White  families,  who  had  made 
the  township  their  home  at  an  earlier  period.  Patrick 
Griffin  and  his  family  were  here  as  early  as  1821, 
living  on  the  northeast  corner  of  Quaker  Lake,  on 
what  was  afterwards  the  Main  place.  The  family 
possessed  true  gentility,  and  Mrs.  Griffin  especially 
had  great  loveliness  of  character.  One  of  their  sons, 
Captain  Gerald  Griffin,  was  a retired  British  officer, 
in  England  and  contributed  to  the  support  of  the 
family.  He  was  an  author  whose  works  were  well  re- 
ceived and  one  of  his  novels  has  been  dramatized.  An- 
other son,  Patrick  Jr.,  removed  to  California,  where  he 
died  in  the  fall  of  1872.  The  oldest  daughter  became  the 
wife  of  Edward  White,  “ on  which  occasion  the  joy- 
bells  of  Limerick  were  rung  to  honor  the  young  bride 
and  groom.”  They  came  to  Silver  Lake  in  1822,  and 
“ this  eminently  worthy  couple  were  the  first  apostles 
of  the  Catholic  Church  in  Susquehanna  County  and 
the  adjacent  parts  of  New  York  State.”  The  oldest 
son,  James  W.,  became  a distinguished  jurist  in  New 
York  City,  where  he  was  styled  “ one  of  the  noblest 
Irish  Americans  of  our  times.”  He  was  the  father  of 
the  authoress,  Lucy  C.  Lillie  ; John,  another  son  of 
Edward  White,  also  moved  to  New  York;  and 
William  went  to  California,  where  he  amassed  great 
\vealth.  The  daughters  of  Edward  White  were  high- 
ly educated,  and  in  the  course  of  years  the  family 
moved  from  Middletown,  (where  it  had  lived  some- 
time) to  Binghamton  and  established  a successful 
boarding-school  for  young  ladies,  w'hich  they  conduct- 
ed until  the  death  of  Mrs.  White,  in  1851.  Mr.  White 
died  in  1863,  and  both  are  interred  at  Friendsville,  as 
are  also  some  members  of  the  Griffin  family.  Several 
of  the  daughters  of  Edward  White  became  nuns  after 
the  death  of  their  mother. 

The  first  Roman  Catholic  priest  in  the  county  was 
Father  Francis  O’Flynn,  of  the  order  of  La  Trappe, 
and  of  “ noble  descent.”  His  sister,  Mrs.  Fitzgerald, 
a true  lady,  was,  with  himself,  the  centre  of  a large 
circle  of  the  cultivated  and  refined.  Indeed,  at  no 
later  period  has  a larger  number  of  such  persons  re- 
sided in  Silver  Lake  and  vicinity.  Among  the  Irish 
who  came  at  a later  day  and  made  good  improvements 
in  the  township  were  Michael  Ward,  James  McCor- 
mick, J.  D.  Murphy,  James  Foster,  Timothy  Sweeney 
and  the  Sullivan  family.  By  degrees  the  descendants 
of  the  New  England  settlers  left,  and  those  of  the 


504 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


Irish  rapidly  filled  their  places,  until  the  latter  are 
now  a large  jnajority  of  the  population. 

The  taxables  in  1837,  after  the  township  ivas  reduced  to  its  present 
limits.— Danie\  Austin,  Nicholas  Austin,  Indiana  Allen,  Edwin  Bliss, 
Zenas  Bliss,  Silas  Balcom,  Philo  Briggs,  Benjamin  Britton,  Patrick 
Buckley,  Zina  Bushnell,  Jirah  Bryan,  Henriette  Bankerson,  John 
Craig,  Cornelius  Crawley,  Michael  Cain,  William  Cunningham,  Timo- 
thy Corbit,  Frederick  Casley,  Thomas  Campbell,  Patrick  Donnelly, 
Thomas  Donnelly,  Ebenezer  Gage,  Benjamin  E.  Gage,  Benjamin  M. 
Gage,  James  Gage,  Benoni  T.  Gage,  Joseph  Gage,  Joseph  M.  Gage,  Mor- 
timer Gage,  Asa  Gage,  William  Gage,  Abraham  Gage,  Perry  Gage,  Dan- 
iel Gage,  Ezekiel  Gage,  Benj.  S.  Gage,  Philip  Griffith,  Samuel  Green, 
Michael  Genan,  David  Griffith,  James  Ganon,  Edward  Ganon,  Henry 
Hoag,  Ansel  Hill,  Michael  Hill,  Ansel  Hill,  Jr.,  Wilber  Hillard,  Isaac 
Howard,  Enos  Howard,  Samuel  Howard,  Jonathan  Horton,  Patrick 
Hawley,  Patrick  Hays,  Michael  Hays,  John  Jaycox,  Thomas  Kean,  John 
L.  Kite,  Patrick  Kelley,  Michael  Locklin,  Samuel  T.  Lee,  Philip  Leon- 
ard, Thomas  Mahan,  Stephen  Malone,  William  Meeker,  Aaron  Meeker, 
Ebenezer  Miller,  Henry  Miller,  Janies  McCormick,  Michael  McCormick, 
John  Minkler,  Michael  Murphy,  John  Murphy,  Thomas  Mahan,  An- 
thony North,  John  Oday,  Timothy  Oday,  Patrick  Oday,  George  W. 
Parker,  Lawrence  Powers,  Janies  S.  Palmer,  George  Pratt,  John  Quig- 
ley, Edward  Quigley,  Edwin  Quinn,  Thomas  Rogers,  James  Resseguie, 
James  Rose,  Robert  H.  Rose,  John  Smith,  Primrose  Scott,  Timothy  Sul- 
livan, John  Shanuahau,  Dunnivan  Shannahan,  Abraham  Steamburgh, 
Thode  & Brock,  Almeron  Turner,  John  Tierney,  C.  F.  Voltz,  Elias  Wil- 
cox, Joseph  Whipple,  Samuel  Whipple,  Stutely  Wescot,  Christopher 
Ward,  Elias  Webster,  Patrick  Whalen,  Michael  Ward,  Chauncey 
Wright. 

Roads  and  Agricultural  Interests.’ — “Previ- 
ous to  the  organization  of  Susquehanna  County  (1810) 
only  one  road  had  been  regularly  cut  out  within  the 
present  township  of  Silver  Lake.  This  was  a State 
road  from  the  twenty-ninth  mile-stone  to  what  is  now 
Montrose.  It  was  but  two  rods  wide.  In  1813  a road 
from  Silver  to  Choconut  Creek,  near  Edward  Fox’s, 
is  reported  ; and  in  August  of  the  same  year,  upon  the 
petition  of  Dr.  Rose,  the  court  appointed  viewers  to 
lay  out  a road  from  his  house  to  Joseph  Ross’  on  the 
North  Branch  of  the  Wyalusing.  November  15th  and 
16th  following,  Leman  Turrell,  Philo  Bostwick,  Bela 
Moore,  Joseph  Ross  and  Isaac  Stone  viewed  the 
route  the  second  time.  It  passed  through  the  improve- 
ments of  Zenas  Bliss  and  Bela  Moore,  beginning 
near  Silver  Lake  and  running  west  to  the  line  between 
that  township  and  Rush  (now  Choconut),  thence  to 
Choconut  Creek  road  and  down  it  eighty  rods,  then 
northwest  and  afterwards  southwest  to  the  Milford 
and  Owego  turnpike  (past  Nathan  Nelson’s),  then  on 
the  turnpike  southeast  forty- eight  rods,  then  south- 
west to  the  road  leading  to  Ross’,  half  a mile  east  of 
his  saw-mill  bridge.  This  was  ‘confirmed  finally,’ 
January,  1814.  Still,  the  facilities  for  travel  were 
limited  until  Dr.  Rose  cut  a road  through  to  Snake 
Creek,  at  his  own  expense,  it  is  said.  This  connected 
with  ‘ the  old  Brunson  road  ’ in  Lawsville,  which 
reached  Wiley  Creek  just  within  the  limits  of  Great 
Bend,  and  followed  it  to  its  mouth.  This  was  the 
first  mail-route  to  Great  Bend  from  Montrose  via 
Silver  Lake. 

“An  agricultural  society  was  formed  in  1820. 
From  the  diary  of  Philip  Griffith,  now  in  the  posses- 


sion of  his  daughter,  Mrs.  J.  S.  Gage,  we  have  a few 
items  relative  to  affairs  in  the  township  at  this  early 
day,  and  among  them  mention  of  the  introduction,  by 
Dr.  Rose,  of  large  numbers  of  sheep  into  the  town- 
ship. On  the  4th  of  July,  1832,  Edward  White  and 
Philip  Griffith  brought  to  him  one  thousand  three 
hundred  and  fifty-two  sheep,  in  August  of  that  year 
he  had  nearly  two  thousand — eleven  of  the  number 
having  that  month  been  killed  by  wolves.  At  a later 
period  he  had  five  thousand  sheep  and  numerous 
cattle.” 

Although  sheep  raising  is  not  so  important  an  in- 
terest as  formerly,  there  are  still  large  flocks  in  the 
township,  and  it  is  a profitable  interest.  The  Roses 
and  others  have  fine  herds  of  cattle,  and  dairying  is 
an  important  industry.  About  1870  a cheese  factory 
was  put  up  by  Mortimer  Gage,  which  has  been  dis- 
continued. 

Business  Interests  and  Villages. — Dr.  R.  H. 
Rose  erected  the  first  mills  in  the  township,  having  a 
saw-mill  below  Silver  Lake  as  early  as  1 810,  and  a grist- 
mill three  years  later.  The  latter  has  passed  away, 
but  - a saw-mill  has  been  continuously  maintained  at 
this  place.  The  present  mill  of  Edward  W.  Rose  is 
near  the  site  of  the  old  mills.  Lower  down  Silver 
Creek,  where  the  Chenango  pike  crosses  it.  Dr.  Rose 
established  a woolen  factory  in  1829,  building  a stone 
dam  across  the  stream.  This  was  last  operated  by 
Captain  D.  H.  Keeler  and  Anson  Williams.  The 
latter  returned  to  Connecticut,  but  Keeler  got  in 
operation  a small  factory  at  the  Salt  Spring,  in  Frank- 
lin township,  removing  thither  some  of  the  machinery 
from  the  Rose  factory.  The  building  was  then  al- 
lowed to  go  to  decay.  In  its  best  days  it  was  the 
scene  of  busy  activity,  and  the  factory  was  a great 
accommodation  to  the  people,  making  some  good 
cloths  and  common-wear. 

On  the  outlet  of  Mud  Lake  the  Hill  family  have 
had  saw-mills  in  operation  many  years.  Near  this 
Chauncy  Wright  & Sons  operated  a fulling-mill 
from  1830  to  1842,  when  they  concentrated  their 
interests  at  Forest  Lake. 

On  the  outlet  of  Quaker  Lake,  below  the  village  of 
Brackney,  Oliver  C.  Smith  put  up  a . saw-mill  about 
1813,  and  later  a small  grist-mill  which  accom- 
modated the  people  of  that  section.  In  1817  Rod- 
erick Richards  owned  the  mill,  and  also  had  a small 
distillery,  the  first  in  the  township.  Soon  after  a 
stone  building  was  here  put  up  for  a still  by  Rogers, 
Brown  & Clarke,  but  both  were  abandoned  before 
1821.  On  the  site  of  the  tannery  at  Brackney 
Joseph  Gage  had  saw  and  grist-mills,  which  were 
later  operated  by  Benoni  T.  Gage.  These  became 
the  property  of  Gilbert  Tompkins,  who  sold  to  J. 
W.  Brackney  in  1848.  The  latter  caused  the  old 
mill  to  be  torn  down  and  a tannery  to  be  erected  on 
its  site  in  1849.  The  following  year  a good  grist-mill 
was  erected  higher  up  the  stream,  and  both  indus- 
tries are  still  carried  on.  The  creation  of  these  en- 


1 Blackman. 


SILVER  LAKE. 


505 


terprises  called  into  existence  the  village  of  Brackney, 
one  of  the  pleasantest  little  places  in  the  county. 
Brackney  was  an  enterprising  man,  and  soon  made 
this  the  most  important  business  point  in  the  town- 
ship. He  erected  a fine  mansion  and  made  other 
noteworthy  improvements.  He  continued  to  carry 
on  business  here  until  after  the  war,  when  the  prop- 
erty passed  into  other  hands,  being  owned  in  1886  by 
H.  F.  Inderleid  & Co.  The  former  is  the  manager  of 
the  property,  which  consists  of  the  tannery, 
grist-mill,  store-houses,  mansion,  ten  tenements, 
one  hundred  acres  of  land  and  the  water  right  of 
Quaker  Lake.  The  grist-mill  was  supplied  with  im- 
proved machinery  in  1883.  The  tannery  is  operated 
by  steam-power  and  is  carried  on  extensively.  There 
are  one  hundred  and  fifty-six  vats,  giving  a tanning 
capacity  of  thirty-two  thousand  sides  of  sole  leather 
per  year,  finished  by  the  acid  process.  Binghamton, 
ten  miles  distant,  is  the  shipping  point.  At  Brack- 
ney merchandising  was  done  in  a building  near  the 
present  church  before  1849  by  William  Montford. 
The  following  year  J.  W.  Brackney  opened  a store^ 
which  was  carried  on  with  Reuben  Chichester  as 
clerk.  In  the  same  locality  is  a store  carried  on  bj’ 
J.  J.  Inderleid.  The  second  store  in  the  village  was 
opened  in  1886  by  Philip  Gage. 

The  Brackney  post-office,  established  May  1,  1850, 
with  J.  W.  Brackney  as  postmaster,  was  first  known  as 
the  Harewood  post-office  at  Mud  Lake.  Mary  C. 
Franks  has  been  the  postmistress  since  1869.  A daily 
mail  is  supplied  from  Binghamton,  N.  Y.  The  pub- 
lic-house at  Brackney  was  first  kept  by  Benoni  Gage, 
and  after  his  death  by  his  son  Robert,  The  present 
proprietor  is  L.  Macinery. 

Dr.  Charles  Tiffany  is  the  resident  physician. 
Other  practitioners  in  this  locality  not  already  named 
have  been  Doctors  Plant,  Philetus  Boardman,  Isaac 
Lewis,  James  Lewis,  Alexander  Lewis  and  John 
Vail,  the  latter  now  of  Montrose.  Brackney  has  had 
a Good  Templar  Lodge  and  a flourishing  Grange  of 
Patrons  of  Husbandry,  whose  business  was  transacted 
in  the  present  Gage  store.  Quaker  Lake,  above  the 
village,  has  lately  become  a popular  summer  resort, 
its  attractions  being  appreciated  by  large  numbers  of 
visitors  each  year.  In  1886  Messrs.  Furman,  Babcock 
& Kent,  from  Binghamton,  purchased  a tract  of  fifty 
acres  of  land  on  the  south  side  of  the  lake,  and  im- 
proved a part  of  the  same  by  putting  up  a number  of 
summer  cottages,  grading  streets  and  laying  out  a 
park,  in  which  many  improvements  are  contemplated. 
The  erection  of  a hotel  is  also  projected.  The  waters 
of  the  lake  are  clear,  cool,  and,  it  is  said,  no  storm 
ever  roils  them.  It  is  well  stocked  with  fish. 

Mud  Lake  is  a small  hamlet  on  the  turnpike,  where 
that  highway  crosses  the  outlet  of  the  lake.  This 
was  the  site  of  the  ephemeral  city  of  Britannia,  an 
account  of  which  is  given  in  the  British  settlement, 
and  some  of  the  first  permanent  settlers  here  were 
the  North  and  Rogers  families.  Tommy  Rogers  and 
32 


Dr.  Bankson  had  the  first  frame  houses  in  the  place. 
John  Craik,  the  Scotchman,  was  also  long  a settler 
here.  Near  the  mouth  of  the  lake  Tommy  Rogers 
put  up  the  first  permanent  store,  an  earlier  store  hav- 
ing been  kept  in  a building  which  was  burned  down, 
which  stood  on  the  site  of  the  John  Murphy  house. 
Rogers  was  in  trade  a number  of  years,  and  others 
have  merchandised  in  the  same  building,  which  is 
now  vacant.  For  many  years  Timothy  Sullivan  has  been 
the  merchant  of  the  place,  having  a good  store  near 
the  church.  Opposite  is  the  public-house  built  by 
Daniel  Phelan,  in  which  he  also  sold  goods.  Later 
keepers  of  the  inn  have  been  Daniel  Sullivan,  J.  B. 
Atwater  and  Lawrence  McCabe,  the  present  occupant. 
The  first  public-house  was  kept  at  Hill’s  Corners, 
south  of  the  hamlet,  by  Ansel  B.  Hill,  Coggshell, 
Griffith,  Parker  and  others. 

In  March,  1829,  a post-office  was  here  established, 
with  the  name  of  Harewood,  and  Joseph  Macomber 
was  the  postmaster.  On  the  18th  of  October,  1831,  it 
was  discontinued,  but  was  re-established  January  26, 
1835,  with  P.  Griffith  postmaster.  Jonathan  Parker 
succeeded  him  in  1836,  and  William  Main  became 
the  postmaster  in  1840,  the  office  being  then  kept  near 
Quaker  Lake.  In  1850  the  name  was  changed  to 
Brackney,  and  the  office  moved  to  that  village.  Since 
1849  the  post-office  at  Mud  Lake  has  been  the  old  Sil- 
ver Lake  post-office,  Thomas  Rogers  being  the  first 
postmaster  after  its  removal  from  the  Rose  place,  and 
keeping  the  office  at  his  store.  In  1853  David  L. 
Meeker  became  the  postmaster ; Edward  Kernan  in 
1854,  Timothy  Sullivan  in  1858,  Ansil  B.  Hill  in  1861 
and,  since  1866,  Timothy  Sullivan,  keeping  it  at  his 
store. 

Silver  Lake  jiost-office  was  established  June  29, 
1810,  with  Robert  H.  Rose  postmaster,  who  held  the 
appointment  until  his  death,  in  1842,  when  E.  W. 
Rose  succeeded  him. 

In  1834  Philip  Griffith  removed  to  the  vicinity  of 
Dr.  Rose’s  residence,  and  kept  the  post-office  accounts, 
and  also  those  of  the  estate.  A farm-hand  was  then 
paid  but  fifty  cents  a day.  In  1836  oak  plank  was 
worth  one  cent  per  foot;  shingles  three  dollars  per 
one  and  a half  thousand.  John  Nicholson  was  the 
postmaster  in  1848,  and  the  following  year  it  was  re- 
moved to  its  present  locality — Mud  Lake.  Since 
May  16,  1872,  a new  post-office  has  been  maintained 
at  Silver  Lake,  with  the  name  of  Sheldon,  and  Anna 
Rose,  postmistress. 

Richmond  Hill  post-office  was  established  June 
6,  1867,  with  Thomas  Hartnet  postmaster.  Septem- 
ber 13,  1872,  it  was  discontinued,  but  re-established 
two  weeks  later.  Since  1878  .lane  Lannan  has  been 
the  postmistress.  All  the  offices  in  the  township  are 
on  the  Montrose  and  Binghamton  routes,  and  have 
daily  mails.  Silver  Lake  being  unusually  well  fa- 
vored in  this  respect  for  an  agricultural  section. 

Religious. — The  early  settlers  of  Silver  Lake  ad- 
hered to  the  Congregational  or  Presbyterian  faith, 


506 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


and  that  form  of  worship  was  the  first  established  with- 
in its  bounds.  The  Chureh  of  Christ  in  Silver  Lake 
and  Choconut  was  organized  February  16,  1816,  by  a 
council  composed  of  the  Rev.  E.  Kingsbury,  Rev.  Ol- 
iver Hill  and  John  Thatcher.  The  meeting  was  held 
at  the  house  of  Dr.  Rose,  and  the  following  day  the 
Lord’s  Supper  was  administered  to  the  communicants 
in  Dr.  Rose’s  office.  Seven  persons  entered  into  mem- 
bership and  four  more  applied  for  admission  condi- 
tioned upon  receiving  letters  of  dismission  from  other 
churches.  Ephraim  Strong,  Daniel  Chamberlain, 
Samuel  Wheelock  and  Henry  Dennison  were  selected 
to  conduct  the  religious  meetings  of  the  church,  and 
the  first-named  was  chosen  clerk.  On  the  6th  of  Oc- 
tober, 1816,  Mary  Strong  and  Mary  Elizabeth  Whee- 
lock were  baptized.  Ephraim  Strong  removed,  in  1819, 
and  John  Peters  was  chosen  in  his  stead,  and  that 
year  the  meetings  were  held  in  the  school-house.  The 
following  year  preaching  was  held  at  the  house  of 
Joshua  Griswold,  in  Choconut,  and  later,  meetings  at 
the  houses  of  Jehiel  Griswold  and  Zenas  Bliss.  The 
ministers  rendered  missionary  service  mainly,  and, 
prior  to  1823,  those  who  preached  were  Revs.  E. 
Kingsbury,  O.  Hill,  M.  M.  York,  G.  N.  Judd,  Solomon 
King  and  Enoch  Conger.  The  last-named  may  have 
been  a stated  supply,  and  his  labors  increased  the 
membership  of  the  church.  On  the  22d  of  June, 
1822,  he  received  twenty-one  persons  into  the  church 
on  profession  of  faith ; but  as  many  of  the  former 
members  had  removed,  the  whole  number  of  commu- 
nicants, in  1823,  was  but  thirty-one,  and  the  following 
year  two  less  than  that  number.  Most  of  these  re- 
sided in  Choconut,  and  the  first  house  of  worship  was 
built  in  the  valley  of  that  creek.  It  was  a plain  frame 
building  and  soon  after  was  converted  into  a residence. 
In  February,  1828,  the  county  prayer-meeting  was 
held  at  the  house  of  Zenas  Bliss,  but  two  years  later 
the  Rev.  Todd  preached  twelve  sermons  in  Silver 
Lake  and  Choconut.  In  1833  the  Rev.  Smith  preached 
in  the  Presbyterian  meeting-house  and,  on  the  13th 
of  July,  that  year,  received  five  persons  into  church 
membership.  Six  days  later  he  preached  at  the  house 
of  Squire  Wright  and  seven  persons  more  were  ad- 
mitted. The  forms  of  the  church  were  strictly  ob- 
served and  special  attention  was  paid  against  the  des- 
ecration of  the  Sabbath.  On  the  7th  of  January, 
1833,  Deaeon  Daniel  Chamberlain  was  constrained  to 
bring  charges  against  Gordon  Bliss  for  traveling  on 
the  Sabbath  day,  but  it  does  not  appear  that  action 
was  taken  in  the  matter  to  investigate  the  charge. 
After  this  period  preaching  was  held  with  less  regu- 
larity by  the  Revs.  Burr  Baldwin,  Daniel  Deruelle 
and  John  Sherer,  and  the  interest  began  to  wane  on 
aceount  of  the  removal  of  many  of  the  members.  In 
1836  the  church  lost,  among  other  members,  by  re- 
moval, Daniel  Chamberlain  and  wife,  Gordon  Bliss 
and  wife,  Charles  Tubbs  and  wife,  all  of  whom  had 
taken  a prominent  part  in  keeping  up  the  organiza- 
tion. The  last  record  concerning  the  old  church  was 


made  March  20,  1837,  when  the  fact  was  recorded 
“that  of  the  seventy-one  persons  who  had  joined 
since  the  organization  of  the  church,  but  twenty  re- 
mained, living  over  a large  area  of  territory,  and 
nearly  all  of  them  were  females.” 

Although  the  church  had  ceased  to  exist,  the  spirit 
of  Presbyterianism  had  not  wholly  departed  from  this 
section.  With  the  coming  of  new  settlers  came  a 
purpose  to  revive  the  work,  and,  in  the  course  of  a 
few  years,  meetings  were  again  held,  which  developed 
so  much  Interest  that  a new  organization  was  effected 
March  21,  1847,  with  the  following  members  ; Mrs. 
Jane  Rose  and  four  daughters,  John  Simpson  and 
wife,  Henrietta  Craik,  W.  Coon  and  wife  and  Eliza 
North.  About  this  time  the  meeting-house,  which  had 
been  begun  the  preceding  fall,  was  ready  for  occu- 
pancy and  has  since  been  the  place  of  worship.  It 
was  erected  on  the  west  bank  of  Mud  Lake,  on  a 
very  pleasant  site,  through  the  liberality  of  Mrs.  Rose 
and  her  family,  under  the  superintendence  of  John 
Simpson,  at  that  time  the  manager  of  the  Dr.  Rose 
estate.  He  was  an  exemplary  man  and  up  to  the  time 
of  his  death,  November  8,  1848,  was  a very  pillar  of 
the  church.  The  church  having  been  organized,  it  be- 
came an  incorporate  body  November  27,  1847,  with 
the  name  of  the  Presbyterian  Congregation  of  Silver 
Lake,  and  the  following  trustees:  John  Simpson, 
William  Maine,  Ansel  Hill,  Thomas  Rogers,  John 
Craik  and  Edwin  Bliss.  Their  successors  have  cared 
for  the  church  property,  which,  in  1886,  was  a neat 
frame  edifice,  relieved  by  a spire,  which  had  been 
improved  in  1883.  On  the  church  lot  of  one  acre  of 
land,  including  the  graveyard,  are  a number  of  good 
sheds.  The  controlling  trustees  were  Thomas  Rogers, 
Sr.,  Wm.  Meeker,  Thomas  Patton,  H.  K.  Sheldon, 
George  Holmes  and  George  L.  Tracy. 

The  congregation  has  never  been  strong  numeri- 
cally, having,  in  1886,  less  than  a dozen  active  mem- 
bers, from  the  Wakeley,  Patton,  Rogers,  Meeker,  Hill 
and  Rose  families.  The  minister  was  the  Rev.  D.  L. 
Burrett,  who  supplied  the  pulpit.  The  Rev.  Francis 
D.  Ladd  was  the  first  pastor  of  the  church  and  served 
several  years.  Then  the  pulpit  was  supplied  by  the 
Rev.  Thomas  Thomas,  the  Revs.  Palmer,  Frame, 
Alexander,  Boyd,  Calnon,  Kilmer  and  others.  For 
many  years  Nathaniel  H.  Wakeley  and  Thomas  Pat- 
ton have  been  the  elders  of  the  church. 

The  Brackney  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. — As  early 
as  1818  an  effort  was  made  to  form  a Methodist  class 
in  the  township,  which  was  not  successful  on  account 
of  the  unsettled  condition  of  the  people.  But,  about 
1831,  meetings  began  to  be  held  regularly  by  Elder 
Solon  Stocking  and  others,  at  the  school-houses  and 
the  homes  of  the  members.  These  belonged  to  the 
Heath,.  Jaycox,  Minkler,  Miller  and  other  families. 
In  1839  the  Revs.  Charles  Perkins  and  J.  R.  Boswell 
were  appointed  preachers  for  this  section  and  on  New 
Year’s  day,  1840,  began  a series  of  meetings,  contin- 
uing a month,  which  resulted  in  forty  conversions. 


LIBERTY. 


507 


and  which  is  yet  spoken  of  as  the  “ great  reformation.” 
Most  of  the  converts  connected  themselves  with  the 
Methodist  Church,  which  from  this  time  on  became  an 
active,  aggressive  body.  Among  these  later  additions 
were  persons  belonging  to  the  Gage,  Meeker,  Hoag, 
Griffith,  Wilber  and  Finch  families,  and  have  ever 
since  been  conspicuous  in  its  history.  In  1846  a plain 
frame  meeting-house  was  built,  on  the  northeast  cor- 
ner of  the  cross-roads,  south  of  Brackney  and  opposite 
from  the  school-house,  where  the  meetings  were  then 
held,  which  was  dedicated  in  February,  1847.  This 
was  the  house  of  worship  until  after  the  Civil  War, 
when  the  building  was  moved  to  a more  eligible  site, 
on  the  same  road,  farther  north,  where  it  was  greatly 
enlarged  and  improved.  Since  that  time  a bell  has 
been  supplied  and  other  improvements  added  so  as  to 
make  it  a very  attractive  country  church.  The  society 
became  an  incorporated  body  Jan.  24,  1868,  with  the 
following  trustees  : J.  S.  Gage,  R.  B.  Meeker,  Wm. 
Meeker,  Benjamin  S.  Gage,  M irtimer  Gage,  Aaron 
Meeker  and  John  W.  Brackney.  These  offices  were 
filled,  in  1886,  by  J.  S.  Gage,  Lewis  Jaycox,  Mortimer 
Gage,  Aaron  Meeker,  Asahel  Roberts,  George  Mink- 
ler  and  H.  F.  Inderleid.  The  first-named  was  the 
leader  of  the  class  at  this  place,  which  had  about 
twenty-five  members.  For  many  years  the  church 
has  been  a part  of  the  Hawleyton  charge,  and  had,  in 
1886,  Rev.  P.  Holbrook  as  the  pastor.  Adjoining  the 
church  is  a burial-plat,  where  some  of  the  former 
members  are  interred.  But,  in  1880,  Henry  Meeker 
opened  a cemetery,  containing  one  and  one-half  acres, 
south  of  this,  which  is  finely  located  and  which  has 
become  the  principal  place  for  interment  in  this  part 
of  the  township.  South  of  this  place,  near  Quaker 
Lake,  on  the  old  Meeker  farm,  is  one  of  the  oldest 
burial-places  in  Silver  Lake,  but  which  is  now  seldom 
used. 

The  Chapel  of  St.  Augustine  ( Roman  Catholic)  is  the 
third  house  of  worship  in  the  township,  and  is,  in  its 
external  appearance,  the  most  attractive.  It  was 
erected  in  1871  and  first  occupied  for  service  on 
Christmas  day  of  that  year.  This  is  the  second  chapel 
the  Catholics  have  had  in  this  township.  The  first 
was  built  on  the  head-waters  of  Ranney  Creek,  on 
lands  owned  by  P.  Fitzgerald,  a nephew  of  Father 
O’Flynn.  It  was  also  the  first  Roman  Catholic  Church 
in  the  county,  and  was  used  until  its  destruction  by 
fire,  April  3, 1870.  The  location  of  the  present  church 
is  very  fine  and  the  building  is  a credit  to  those  wor- 
shipping in  it.  St.  Augustine  belongs  to  the  parish  of 
St.  Joseph,  in  Choconut  township,  and  their  history, 
aside  from  what  has  been  here  given,  is  essentially 
the  same. 


CHAPTER— XXXIII. 

LIBERTY  TOWNSHIP. 

Liberty  is  on  the  State  line  and  occupies  an  inter- 
mediate position  among  the  townships  on  the  northern 


border.  It  is  bounded  on  the  east  by  Great  Bend 
township ; on  the  south,  by  Franklin  ; and  on  the 
west  by  Silver  Lake.  It  extends  six  miles  along  the 
State  line,  and  nearly  four  miles  from  north  to  south, 
having  had  this  area  since  the  erection  of  Franklin, 
in  December,  1835,  most  of  its  territory  having  been 
taken  off  from  old  Lawsville  township.  ^ The  present 
township  retained  the  name  of  Lawsville  until  Septem- 
ber, 1836,  when  the  title  of  Liberty  was  adopted,  as 
being  more  expressive  of  the  feelings  of  the  citizens 
of  this  section,  and  the  time-honored  name  passed  out 
of  use  in  this  county.  The  surface  is  very  much  broken, 
steep  hills  skirting  the  water-courses,  some  of  them 
being  unfit  for  cultivation  ; their  sides  and  tops  are 
covered  with  huge  boulders ; and  the  soil, where  tillable^ 
is  not  remarkable  for  its  fertility.  On  the  moi’e  level 
lands  and  in  the  valleys  the  lands  are  good,  and  the 
cereals  grow  to  perfection,  while  the  grasses  pro- 
duced are  exceedingly  nutritious.  Hence  dairying 
and  sheep-growing  are  profitable  employments. 

The  principal  stream  of  'the  township  is  Snake 
Creek,  which  enters  the  southern  border,  west  of  the 
centre,  and  flowing  northeast,  passes  into  New  York, 
about  a mile  from  the  northeast  corner.  It  is  here  a 
stream  of  considerable  volume,  and  affords  several 
good  mill-sites.  The  principal  tributary,  Ranney 
Creek,  enters  it  from  the  west,  near  Brookdale.  Bai- 
ley Brook  is  next  above  it,  rising  in  the  hills  which 
separate  it  from  Ranney  Creek.  The  outlet  of  Tripp 
Lake,  a small  body  of  water  in  the  western  central 
part,  falls  into  Snake  Creek  at  Stanfordville ; and  flow- 
ing from  Mud  Lake,  in  Silver  Lake  township,  is  a 
small  brook,  whose  waters  are  taken  above  Lawsville 
Centre.  In  the  southeastern  part  of  the  township  is 
a small  brook  emptying  into  Wylie  Creek,  which 
here  bends  into  Liberty,  thence  passes  again  into 
Great  Bend,  within  the  space  of  a mile.  In  all  parts 
of  the  township  springs  of  pure  water  abound,  which 
served  as  one  of  the  attractions  of  the  country  when 
first  opened  for  settlement. 

The  Pioneers  of  Liberty  were  persons  of  limited 
means,  many  having  no  other  capital  than  their  good 
health,  energy  and  a purpose  to  succeed.  These  re- 
quisites stood  them  well  in  need,  for  the  country  was 
hard  to  clear,  and  the  advantages  of  location  not  the 
most  favorable,  since  settlements  W'ere  generally  of  an 
individual  nature  and  slowly  made.  The  Hon.  Tim- 
othy Bickering,  of  Revolutionary  fame,  is  credited 
with  having  been  the  first  resident  of  the  township. 
Near  1800  he  built  a cabin  on  the  Garry  Law  place, 
above  the  village  of  Lawsville  Centre,  and  made  a 
small  clearing,  but  after  a few  years’  residence  left.  He 
afterwards  continued  to,  own  large  tracts  of  land  in  the 
county,  much  of  it  being  in  the  township.  On  the 
next  stream  of  importance  a temporary  settlement 
was  made,  about  the  same  time,  by  Stephen  Ranney, 
of  Litchfield,  Connecticut,  for  whom  the  creek  in  the 


1 See  Franklin  Township. 


508 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


northwestern  part  of  the  township  was  named.  He 
may  have  lived  here  a few  years,  and  cleared  a piece 
of  land  which  was  afterwards  a part  of  the  Butts 
farm.  Several  other  persons  came  in  as  temporary 
settlers,  but  no  authentic  account  of  them  is  available. 

The  first  actual  settler  with  his  family  was  Samuel 
Woodcock,  of  Litchfield,  Connecticut,  who  came  in 
1800,  and  located  on  a tract  of  land  half  a mile  from 
the  State  line,  near  where  was  afterwards  the  saw-mill 
of  Alanson  Chalker.  He  appears  to  have  been  a mill- 
wright, and  superintended  the  putting  up  of  mills  for 
Robert  Bound  in  1802,  in  what  is  now  Franklin  town- 
ship. It  is  possible  that  he  removed  when  that  work 
was  accomplished.  The  same  year,  1800,  two  single 
men  by  the  name  of  Joseph  and  Ira  Bishop  settled  on 
the  lower  part  of  Snake  Creek,  the  former  at  Brook- 
dale  and  the  latter  at  what,  five  years  later,  became 
the  Hance  farm.  Neither  of  them  appears  to  have 
remained  in  the  township. 

Tn  1805  Waples  Hance  purchased  the  Ira  Bishop 
farm,  now  owned  by  J.  Sullivan,  where  he  lived  until 
his  death,  in  1843,  at  the  age  of  ninety  years.  He 
reared  two  sons  and  three  daughters,  who  married, 
Lydia  N.  Durke,  of  Binghamton ; Rachel,  A.  A. 
Beman  ; and  Hannah,  Zebulon  Blakeslee  ; both  the 
latter  were  merchants  in  Liberty.  Isaac,  the  oldest 
son,  lived  on  the  farm  now  occupied  by  his  only  son, 
George.  His  daughter,  Gertrude,  was  for  sixteen 
years  a missionary  in  the  Zulu  country,  in  Africa,  re- 
turning to  this  country  in  September,  1886.  Another 
of  Isaac’s  daughters,  Frances,  is  a teacher  at  Bing- 
hamton, N.  Y. 

Within  the  next  half  a dozen  years  lands  were  -im- 
proved by  Peleg  Butts,  Jonathan  and  Jesse  Ross, 
Caswell  and  Nathaniel  Ives,  John  Holmes  and  Edward 
Hazard. 

Peleg  Butts  had  been  in  Silver  Lake  at  an  earlier 
day.  He  settled  on  the  State  line,  where  he  lived  to 
be  more  than  eighty  years  old.  His  son  Isaac  died 
on  the  homestead  a few  years  ago ; Abraham  lived  on 
an  adjoining  farm ; Perry  lived  at  Brookdale,  but 
moved  to  Binghamton.  He  had  also  three  daughters. 

Jesse  Ross  was  the  father-in-law  of  Dr.  Stanford, 
and  lived  north  of  him.  His  death  occurred  at  an 
early  day,  and  he  was  the  first  person  interred  in  the 
Ives  burial-ground,  at  the  Centre.  His  sons  Jesse, 
David  and  William,  moved  to  Western  Pennsylvania ; 
Alfred  and  Timothy  died  in  Liberty,  the  latter  having 
been  the  father  of  Jonathan  Ross,  of  Lavvsville 
Centre. 

Caswell  Ives  came  from  Litchfield,  Conn,  about  1810, 
and  finally  settled  on  the  farm  now  owned  by  his  son 
William,  at  Lawsville  Centre.  At  that  time  there 
were  no  roads  or  any  public^improvements.  William 
H.,  the  oldest  son,  was  born  on  the  homestead,  where 
he  was  born  in  1813.  Of  the  other  sons,  Reuben 
moved  to  Maryland;  John  lives  at  New  Milford; 
Ansel,  at  Oshkosh,  Wis. ; George,  at  Falls  Church, 
Va. 


Nathaniel  Ives,  a brother  of  Caswell,  came  the 
same  time,  and  after  living  some  years  in  the  town- 
ship, married  and  moved  to  Great  Bend.  Reuben,  a 
younger  brother,  not  of  age  when  he  came,  after  at- 
taining manhood  improved  a farm  on  the  cross-roads 
at  Lawsville  Centre,  which  is  now  owned  by  Michael 
Dawley.  He  moved  to  Virginia,  as  also  did  Ayner, 
another  brother,  who  had  lived  for  some  time  on  the 
place  improved  by  Nathaniel. 

Of  Edward  Hazard,  his  son,  the  Rev.  H.  C.  Hazard, 
at  that  time  sixty-five  years  of  age,  gave  Miss  Black- 
man the  following  account  in  1870  : 

“ Fifty-eight  years  ago  last  March,  my  father,  with  his  family,  moved 
from  Otsego  County,  N.  Y.,  down  the  Susquehanna  River  to  where 
Windsor  Village  now  stands,  and  over  the  Oghquago  Mountains  to 
Great  Bend,  via  Taylortown  ; crossed  the  river  in  a scow,  thence  down 
the  south  side  of  the  river  to  the  mouth  of  Snake  Creek,  and  up  the 
creek  two  miles,  where  he  located  in  an  almost  unbroken  wilderness. 
The  wolves  were  our  nearest  neighbors,  especially  at  night.  I saw'  one 
in  the  daytime  within  ten  rods  of  the  house,  where  a beef  had  been 
dressed  the  day  before.  My  father  used  to  kill  as  many  as  forty  deer  in 
a year ; the  hides  furnished  clothing  and  the  carcasses  meat. 

“ There  was  not  a school-house  from  Binghamton  to  Montrose,  and  a 
meeting-house  I had  never  seen.  The  first  school-house  was  built  where 
is  now  Brookdale,  on  Snake  Creek,  at  my  father’s  instigation : and  he, 
being  a carpenter  and  joiner,  built  the  house,  and  afterwards  taught  the 
first  school.  I w'ent  to  Binghamton  to  the  grist-mill  with  my  father  in 
a canoe,  some  fifty  years  ago,  when  it  was  a wilderness  where  half  or 
two-thirds  of  the  city  now  stands  ; however,  we  usually  got  our  grinding 
done  at  Josiah  Stew'art’s,  where  McKinney’s  mill  now  stands.  Great 
Bend  was  our  point  of  trade.” 

Samuel  Truesdell  and  his  sons,  who  came  in  1811, 
located  several  miles  southeast  from  Ives,  on  what  is 
now  the  Javan  Beebe  place,  where  he  died.  His  son 
James  settled  on  an  adjoining  farm,  which  is  now  oc- 
cupied by  his  son,  Henry  A.  Other  sons  of  James 
were  Willard,  living  in  Scranton,  and  Samuel  at 
Franklin  Forks.  Samuel  Wheaton  Truesdell,  a 
brother  of  James,  lived  on  the  homestead  until  his 
death,  in  October,  1872,  aged  seventy-three  years.  He 
was  the  father  of  Calvin  Truesdell,  who  became  a 
noted  criminal  lawyer  in  Wisconsin. 

In  the  same  neighborhood  settled  Arch.  Marsh,  who 
came  from  Connecticut  in  1817,  walking  most  of  the 
way,  and  accompanying  S-  W.  Truesdell,  who  had 
been  to  his  native  State  on  a visit.  He  married  Lois 
Merriman,  and  both  died  on  the  farm  they  improved 
and  which  is  now  owned  by  a son,  Kirby  Marsh. 
Another  son,  Jarod,  lives  in  the  same  locality. 

Jedediah  Adams  came  from  the  township  of  Great 
Bend  soon  after  1812,  settling  on  the  farm  which  had 
been  improved  by  Ebenezer  Allen,  a year  or  so  pre- 
viously. He  reared  sous  named  Asahel,  who  settled 
on  Ranney  Creek,  where  his  widow,  Anna  Roe,  still 
resides.  He  served  in  the  War  of  1812.  Eli,  the 
second  son,  moved  to  New  York.  Dr.  Daniel  Adams, 
another  son,  lived  on  the  homestead  until  his  death, 
when  he  was  more  than  ninety  years  old.  His  family 
still  occupy  this  place,  below  Brookdale.  Of  the 
daughters  of  Jedediah  Adams,  Lucy  married  Israel 
Richardson,  the  surveyor,  spoken  of  farther  on,  and 
Polly  became  the  wife  of  Nathan  Marvin. 


LIBERTY. 


509 


Below  the  Adams  place,  on  the  creek,  Peter  Gun- 
salus,  a carpenter,  lived.  He  was  of  Spanish  descent. 
His  wife,  Mary  Salmon,  survived  him  many  years, 
becoming  more  than  ninety  years  old.  The  two  sons, 
Virgil  and  Wallace,  remain  in  the  township. 

Benajah  Howard  settled  on  the  creek  near  the 
present  Comstock  place,  coming  from  Schoharie 
County,  N.  Y.  He  next  moved  to  Ranney  Creek,  but 
died  in  Bridgewater.  He  reared  the  following  sons  ; 
Moses,  who  died  on  Ranney  Creek,  on  the  place  he 
had  cleared ; Otis,  still  living,  south  of  the  creek, 
at  the  age  of  eighty-seven  years ; Salem,  who  died  in 
Binghamton ; Cheney,  who  cleared  up  a farm  near 
the  old  homestead ; Grovener,  who  lived  near  Laws- 
ville  Centre,  and  who  was  killed  by  the  falling  of  a 
tree  while  clearing  up  his  land. 

Dr.  Daniel  Stanford  came  from  New  Hampshire  in 
1814,  and  bought  three  hundred  and  thirty  acres  of 
land  on  the  Snake  Creek,  at  what  is  now  Sanford- 
ville.  He  died  in  1829,  at  the  age  of  forty  years. 
His  son,  D.  D.  Stanford,  still  resides  on  part  of  the 
homestead,  where  also  lived  other  sons,  Charles, 
Calvin  and  Williston.  Mrs.  Ruth  Stanford,  at  the 
time  of  her  death,  was  eighty-six  years  old — an  age 
attained  by  but  few  persons  in  the  township  in  late 
years. 

Below  him  settled  David  Bailey,  who  came  from 
Bucks  County,  Pa.,  about  1812.  Here  he  died  in 
1844,  but  his  widow  survived  him  until  1868,  aged 
eighty  years.  Of  their  thirteen  children,  two — William 
Bailey,  of  Ranney  Creek,  and  Mrs.  Green — are  still 
living  in  the  township.  Other  sons  were  Watson, 
David,  Richard,  Joseph  and  Edward  L.  The  latter 
became  a well-known  Baptist  minister,  was  chaplain 
of  the  Senate  at  Harrisburg  three  years,  and  died  while 
pastor  of  the  church  at  Carbondale,  in  1870.  The 
descendants  of  the  Bailey  family  number  more  than  a 
hundred,  but  they  are  not  so  numerous  in  Liberty  as 
in  former  years. 

In  1815  Daniel  Marvin  settled  on  a place  where 
Joseph  Hutchinson  had  previously  been;  and  two 
years  later  Jonathan  Howard,  who  had  been  a soldier 
in  the  War  of  1812,  came  to  Liberty,  remaining  until 
his  death,  in  1869,  at  the  age  of  eighty-eight  years. 
The  following  year  Stephen  Dawley  located  in  the 
northern  part  of  the  township,  coming  from  Connecti- 
cut with  an  ox-team,  the  journey  consuming  sixteen 
days,  and  the  weather  being  very  cold. 

In  the  southern  part  of  Liberty,  Chauncey  North 
settled  before  1820,  occupying  the  farm  next  south  of 
Ives.  Here  also  lived  John  Morse,  and  both  places 
afterwards  passed  into  the  hands  of  Newton  Hawley 
and  Garry  Law.  The  latter  came  in  1826,  and  died 
on  this  place,  which  is  now  occupied  by  his  son, 
Hiram. 

In  1820  David  0.  Turrell  settled  on  part  of  the 
present  Ross  farm  near  Lawsville  Centre.  He  after- 
wards moved  to  the  western  part  of  the  township,  but 
died  in  Franklin.  His  son  Daniel  was  killed  by  the 


falling  of  a tree,  and  was  the  second  person  interred 
in  the  Ives  Cemetery.  Other  sons  were  Samuel  and 
Dimock  Turrell. 

Roger  Kenyon,  from  Rhode  Island,  lived  near  the 
south  line  of  the  township,  coming  in  1822.  His  son 
James  died  on  the  homestead,  Othmal  lives  farther 
down  the  valley,  and  Roger  in  Montrose.  Constan- 
tine Choate  lived  in  this  locality  a few  years,  about 
1820,  but  returned  to  New  Hampshire.  In  this  part 
of  the  township  also  lived  several  members  of  the 
Webster  family,  their  father,  Joseph  Webster,  being 
an  early  settler  in  the  northern  part  of  Franklin. 
Alexander,  James  and  Joseph  Webster,  Jr.,  lived  in 
Liberty.  Elder  John  Webster  lived  in  Franklin,  not 
far  from  the  township  line. 

In  1819  Dr.  Rufus  Fish  settled  on  the  clearing  made 
by  Stephen  Ranney,  but  returned  to  Great  Bend. 
Some  time  after  this  he  again  moved  to  Liberty,  buy- 
ing a place  onSnakeCreek,belowStanfordville, which 
he  sold  out  and  moved  to  the  Salt  Spring,  in  Franklin, 
where  he  died.  His  farm  in  Liberty  passed  into  the 
hands  of  Philo  Luce  and  Henry  Warner.  The  latter 
was  a native  of  Connecticut,  and  in  1834  bought  out 
the  improvement  made  by  Dr.  Fish,  living  on  this 
place  until  his  death,  November  12,  1871,  aged 
seventy-two  years.  He  was  the  father  of  Benjamin 
Warner,  of  New  Milford,  Simon  E.,  on  the  homestead, 
and  Andrew,  living  in  Liberty.  The  father  of  Mrs. 
S.  E.  Warner,  Benjamin  Wilson,  an  Englishman, 
living  here  with  his  daughter,  is  more  than  ninety 
years  old. 

Lower  down  the  valley  Isaac  Comstock,  from 
Great  Barrington,  Mass.,  settled  in  1826,  and  died 
there  fifty  years  later,  at  the  age  of  eighty-three 
years.  His  wife,  Belinda  Markham,  became  eighty- 
five  years  old,  dying  in  1882.  Their  son,  Isaac,  still 
occupies  the  homestead,  and  their  daughter,  Mary  A., 
was  for  thirteen  years  a teacher  in  the  public  schools 
of  the  township. 

In  this  neighborhood  lived  Samuel  Chalker,  whose 
family  settled  in  Choconut,  but  who  improved  a farm 
in  Liberty,  and  died  near  Brookdale.  His  sou,  Joseph 
W.,  still  lives  on  Ranney  Creek  ; Jacob  B.,  on  Snake 
Creek;  Samuel  died  in  Silver  Lake  township;  and 
Alanson  resides  in  Conkling,  N.  Y. 

The  lands  west  of  Snake  Creek  were  settled  up 
slowly,  and  but  few  clearings  were  made  prior  to 
1820.  Besides  those  mentioned,  Nathaniel  Knapp,  a 
native  of  New  York,  was  an  early  settler,  living  on 
the  present  Ansel  Roe  farm.  He  was  the  father  of 
sons  named  Simeon  and  Harlow.  Descendants  of 
this  family  still  reside  in  that  part  of  the  township,  as 
also  do  those  of  the  Roe  family,  which  cleared  up 
some  of  the  best  farms  in  this  seetion. 

West  from  Lawsville  Centre  the  country  was  long 
an  unbroken  forest.  Gideon  Southworth  and  his  sons 
settled  there,  and  after  clearing  up  some  lands,  se- 
cured the  road  leading  to  Silver  Lake.  Of  these  sous, 
John  was  killed  by  the  falling  of  a tree  soon  after  they 


510 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


had  moved  to  this  place.  Russell  lived  at  the  Centre, 
where  he  carried  on  a cooperage,  but  died  in  the  fall  of 
1886,  aged  more  than  eighty-three  years.  Benjamin 
died  on  the  homestead  and  Arthur  lived  south  of 
Ijawsville  Centre. 

Kirby  Marsh. — In  the  year  1802  James  Marsh 
(2d),  a prosperous  farmer  living  in  Connecticut, 
bought  three  hundred  acres  of  land,  in  Susquehanna 
County,  of  Colonel  Ephraim  Kirby,  of  Litchfield, 
Conn.  It  was  part  of  the  large  tract  known  as  the 
“Kirby  and  Law  Survey,”  which  had  been  bought  by 
them  in  1797,  and  now  comprises  parts  of  Liberty  and 
Franklin  townships.  James  Marsh  had  married 
Sarah  McNeal,  a native  of  Connecticut,  in  which 
State  both  died  — James  when  in  his  eighty-third 
year,  1845.  Of  their  eight  children,  but  one, 
Archi  Marsh,  born  in  Litchfield  County  in  1794, 
came  to  Pennsylvania;  the  others  remained  East.  In 
the  spring  of  1816  he  located  upon  a farm  of  one 
hundred  acres  which  had  been  given  him  by  his 
father  out  of  the  tract  above  mentioned,  in  consider- 
ation of  faithful  work  upon  the  home  farm  in  New 
England.  In  1820  he  married  Lois  Merriman,  a 
native  of  Cheshire,  Conn.,  whose  parents  came  into 
the  county  in  1800.  The  children  of  Archi  and  Lois 
Marsh  were  Jerod,  born  1821,  a farmer  of  Liberty 
township  : Almira,  1823,  the  widow  of  B.  W.  South- 
worth,  a farmer  and  carpenter  of  the  township ; 
Elizabeth,  1825,  died  in  infancy  ; Kirby  ; Elizabeth 
(1828-31);  James  (1830-45) ; David  (1833-82)  was  a 
farmer  in  this  township ; and  Emily  (1839-45). 
Archi  Marsh  was  a very  honest  and  industrious  man, 
and  an  earnest  Christian  of  old  Lawsville ; his  prin- 
cipal aim  and  effort  being  for  the  conversion  of  souls 
to  Christ.  Both  himself  and  wife  were  charter  mem- 
bers of  the  Liberty  Presbyterian  Church,  and  he  was 
an  elder  therein  until  1848,  when  they  joined  the 
Franklin  Church,  of  which  he  became  elder,  and  re- 
mained so  until  his  death,  in  1852.  Kirby  Marsh 
was  born  in  Liberty  township  September  1, 1826,  and 
has  always  retained  his  affection  for  the  old  home 
farm,  upon  which  he  still  resides,  and  which  now 
comprises  some  two  hundred  acres  of  land.  He  has 
combined  with  his  agricultural  pursuits  the  sale  of 
farm  implements,  and  through  that  connection  has  a 
wide  circle  of  friends  and  acquaintances.  The  town- 
ship has  had  the  benefit  of  his  services  as  supervisor, 
arid  for  a number  of  years  as  school  director,  in  which 
latter  work  he  has  always  been  warmly  interested. 
He  bec.ame  a member  of  the  Liberty  Presbyterian 
Church  when  in  his  fifteenth  year,  and  acted  as 
ruling  elder  between  twenty-five  and  thirty  years,  and 
until  he  was  transferred  by  letter  to  the  Franklin 
Church,  in  1885.  In  Sunday-school  work  he  has 
been  equally  zealous,  and  has  been  teacher  or  super- 
intendent since  about  1855.  Mrs.  Marsh  has  been 
a true  help-meet,  and  has  borne  her  share  in  moral 
and  religious  effort.  She  joined  the  church  in  1847, 
and  has  ever  been  a consistent  member.  She  was  born 


June  22,  1827.  She  was  Olive  Baker,  daughter  of 
Samuel  (1795-1876)  and  Clarissa  Churchell  (1802-85) 
Baker.  Samuel  Baker  learned  the  shoemaker’s  trade 
in  Vermont,  and  came  to  Susquehanna  County  as  a 
young  man,  settling  in  ivhat  is  now  Franklin  town- 
ship, on  the  farm  at  present  occupied  by  his  son,  J. 
M.  Baker.  Clarissa  Churchell  was  the  daughter  of 
Josiah  Churchell,  a native  of  Connecticut,  and  one  of 
the  earlier  settlers  in  Lawsville.  Samuel  had  the  fol- 
lowing children  : Olive,  now  the  wife  of  Elder  Kirby 
Marsh ; Sarah  E.,  born  1830,  is  the  widow  of  Conrad 
Berg,  a farmer  of  Liberty  ; B.  Josiah,  born  1832,  and 
J.  Martin,  born  1837,  are  both  farmers  in  Franklin ; 
Clarissa,  born  1839,  is  the  wife  of  Isaac  McKeeby,  a 
resident  at  Montrose;  and  Phoebe  S.,  born  1845,  the 
wife  of  W.  W.  Hey  wood,  a farmer  in  Bradford  County. 
Samuel  Baker,  who  was  a prominent  politician  in  his 
day,  was  the  son  of  Benjamin  Baker,  a farmer  near 
Brattleboro’,  Vt.  Kirby  Marsh  and  Oliver  Baker 
were  married  September  7,  1848,  and  their  children 
were  James  K.  (1851-71) ; Mary  E.,  born  1854,  is  the 
wife  of  J.  D.  Beebe,  a farmer  of  Liberty  township, 
whose  children  are  Edward  K.  and  Stanley  J. ; Rosa 
E.,  born  1858,  married  H.  V.  Townsend,  a farmer  of 
Franklin,  and  has  one  child.  Flora  A.;  and  Frank 
A.  Marsh,  born  1864,  married  to  Mary  H.  Lowe,  of 
Franklin,  in  1883,  now  living  bn  the  family  home- 
stead. 

Mention  has  already  been  made  of  Israel  Richard- 
son, the  surveyor,  who  came  from  Windsor,  Vt.,  to 
Great  Bend.  After  teaching  school  there  several 
years,  he  married  Lucy  Adams,  then  settled  in  Lib- 
erty. His  connection  with  the  affairs  of  the  town- 
ship is  so  well  related  by  Miss  Blackman,  that  we 
produce  her  account  here  complete : 

“He  kept  a diary,  from  which  some  extracts  are  taken,  as  illustrative 
of  the  necessities  and  customs  of  the  times.  He  raised  his  log  house, 
near  Snake  Creek,  on  the  23d  of  March,  1812,  and  soon  after  brought  to 
it  ‘ a back-load  of  goods.’  On  the  1st  of  April  he  occupied  the  house,  ‘ on 
the  13th  put  up  the  east  gable  end,  laid  some  chamber-floor,  and  brought 
the  table  home  on  his  back.’  On  the  30th  he  ‘leveled  the  ground  in  the 
house.’  ‘ Trainings  ’ were  important  affairs  in  those  troublous  times  ; on 
the  20th  of  May,  the  second  of  the  kind  for  that  month,  he  ‘went  to 
training  out  to  Post’s.’  (He  does  not  speak  of  Montrose  until  eighteen 
months  later.)  On  the  1st  of  June,  ‘ went  to  mill  to  Chenango  Point — 
Bevier’s— absent  three  days.’  In  November  of. the  same  year  he  was 
engaged  in  clearing  out  ‘ the  old  Bronson  road’ — a road  of  no  small  con- 
sequence to  the  early  settlers  ; over  it  the  mail  was  carried  to  Silver 
Lake,  to  Great  Bend,  thence  to  Lawsville,  and  back  to  Montrose  once  a 
week.  Late  in  November  ‘ split  sticks  for  chimney.  Made  a paper  win- 
dow in  north  side  of  the  house.’  The  first  season  he  raised  only  one 
acre  of  green  oats,  and  one  hundred  and  seventy  bushels  of  potatoes^ 
In  December  he  hired  out  at  twelve  dollars  per  month,  the  usual  rate 
when  board  was  given.  Early  in  1813,  while  farm-work  permitted,  he, 
like  most  of  the  pioneers,  ‘could  turn  his  hand  ’ to  various  occupations: 
‘Made  a pair  of  shoes  in  the  evening.’  ‘Made  swifts,  warping-bars, 
and  spool  frame  ; ’ for  the  wife  of  the  pioneer  could  always  spin  and  gen- 
erally weave.  ‘Made  twenty-four  bass-wood  sap-troughs  in  a day.’  A 
little  later  he  adds : ‘ Bass-wood  troughs  did  leak — put  ash-wood  in  their 
place.’  In  the  spring  he  was  frequently  engaged  in  surveying,  in  which 
he  was  quite  often  the  companion  of  James  De  Haert,  the  brother  of 
Balthasar,  so  long  and  favorably  known  in  Susquehanna  County.  The 
brothers  were  long  engaged  in  the  effort  to  develop  the  resources  of  the 
salt  spring  on  Silver  Creek.  Balthasar  De  Haert  came  to  Chenango 
Point,  or  vicinity,  about  1801.  Had  received  the  title  of  judge  in  New 
Jersey.  James  De  Haert  had  also  some  knowledge  of  law.  Judge  De 


LIBERTY. 


511 


Haert  was  considered  by  Dr.  Fn\ser,  for  whom  lie  wrote  many  years 
while  Dr.  Fraser  held  county  offices,  as  one  of  the  most  honorable  and 
upright  of  men.  Occasionally  Mr.  R.  visited  the  fish-ground,  Susque- 
hanna River,  and  in  May  he  mentions  bringing  home  forty  shad.  He 
also  found  a ‘bee-tree,’  which  was  then  a fortunate  occurrence,  both  on 
account  of  its  ready  store  for  honey,  and  because,  with  proper  care,  the 
bees  could  be  hived  for  future  service.  In  November  of  this  year 
‘gathered  thorn-apples  at  Samuel  Symmond’s.’  Early  in  December  the 
entry  runs,  ‘I  and  wife  finished  the  chimney.’  From  various  narrators 
we  learn  that  it  was  no  uncommon  thing  to  pass  months  without  amj 
chimney — a hole  in  the  roof  serving  as  vent  for  the  smoke  of  a fire  built 
within  a circle  of  large  stones  placed  against  the  wall,  or  in  the  centre 
of  the  cabin.  It  appears  the  culture  of  tobacco  was  attempted  here  as 
early  as  1814,  as  Mr.  R.  mentions  his  tobacco  plants  in  July  ; under  date 
of  October  IGth,  writes:  ‘ I stript  tobacco.’  The  war  then  in  progress 
between  England  and  the  United  States  made  demands  on  the  new  settle, 
ments  as  well  as  the  old,  and,  November  4th,  Mr.  R.  was  ‘ notifyed  to 
march  a soldiering.’  A substitute  was  engaged  for  fifty  dollars,  but  his 
own  services  were  soon  rendered,  the  famous  Danville  expedition  start- 
ing and  returning  within  the  same  month.  During  the  year  1815  refer- 
ence is  made  to  the  meeting  lield  at  Joseph  Bishop’s  and  in  other  private 
houses  by  “Priest  Hill,”  and  by  the  Baptist  missionary.  Elder  Peter  P. 
Roots.  ‘Logging  btes’  occasioned  not  only  opportunities  for  mutual 
service  among  neighbors  in  clearing  up  their  farms,  but  were  merry- 
makings besides.  All  lieaTy  work  was  done  by  ‘bees.’  There  was,  of 
course,  little  market  for  wood ; consequently,  to  free  the  land  of  it,  it  was 
rolled  up  in  heaps,  after  being  felled,  and  cliopped  into  convenient 
lengths  and  then  burned.  In  January,  ISIG,  Mr.  R.  ‘ follow'ed  otiers’ 
tracks  down  as  far  as  Simmons’.’  (Samuel  Simmons  settled  where 
Charles  Adams  now  resides.)  The  terrible  cold  summer  of  1816  finds  a 
comment  in  ‘The  chestnut -trees  are  full  in  the  blow  the  loth  day  of 
August!’  One  Sabbath,  in  1817,  ‘All  go  to  hear  Priest  Gilbert  at  the 
old  Bennett  house.’  Every  horse  was  then  considered  able  to  ‘carry 
double,’  and  the  ‘pilion’  was  the  appendage  of  every  saddle,  wheu 
wheeled  carriages  were  not  to  be  thought  of  for  family  church-going- 
111  July  he  ‘ laid  out  the  road  from  Vance’s  to  Southworth’s  ’ (then  near 
Jones’  Lake).  Not  far  from  this  time  the  streams  were  suddenly  swollen 
by  heavy  rains,  and  the  bridge  over  the  Snake  Creek  (near  Bailey 
Brook  ?)  was  carried  off,  a serious  calamity  to  the  then  straitened  re- 
sources of  the  township,  and  which  was  repaired  only  by  help  from  the 
county.  Very  little  cash  found  its  way  to  the  pockets  of  a people  so  far 
from  markets  for  their  produce ; once  in  a while  ‘a  paper  dollar’  is 
seen,  but  spoken  of  as  a curiosity.  ‘ S.  B.  Welton  agrees  to  make  eighty 
rods  of  good  rail  fence  for  a shilling  a rod,  of  posts  and  rails  five  feet 
high,  hog  lite.''  At  this  rate  the  workmen  made  about  a dollar  a day  ; 
but  it  was  common  for  a man  to  accept  fifty  cents  for  chopping  or  log- 
ging, ‘and  found.’  Venison  was  from  two  to  three  cents  per  lb.,  pork 
ten  cents,  and  milk  one  cent  per  qt.  A note  is  made  of  the  purchase  of 
a partridge  ‘for  ten  cents  in  money  down,’  but  twelve  and  a half  cents 
were  demanded  for  an  orange.  March  20th,  1818,  ‘ Town  meeting  held 
at  Esq.  Line’s.’)  The  months  of  July  and  August  found  Mr.  R.  chiefiy 
engaged  in  surveying,  and  from  his  notes  one  must  conclude  no  one  was 
more  familiar  than  he  with  the  lands  in  Lawsville  and  on  the  ‘ Wharton 
track  ’ beyond  (?)  and  with  all  the  roads  in  the  vicinity.  ‘ September  24th 
I go  to  the  Bend  and  see  the  elephant.  Later,  ‘ Carry  some  cloth  to 
Summers’  fulling-mill  to  be  dressed  for  me  a coat  and  pantaloons.’ 
(Broad-cloth  coats  were  not  often  seen  in  farm-houses  in  1818.)  Thanks- 
giving-day was  observed  the  19th  day  of  November.  A great  wolf  hunt 
is  mentioned  about  this  time.  In  June,  1819,  the  arrival  of  ‘ English- 
men just  from  England  ’ is  noted — probably  the  founders  of  ‘ Britannia,’ 
in  Silver^Lake.  ‘Shot  a deer  just  below  the  bridge,  ’ ‘ shot  a fox,  ’ ‘shot 
a doe,’  and  similar  expressions  occur  occasionally  in  the  memoranda. 
The  following  item  is  truly  worthy  of  preservation  : ‘I  let  the  post  have 
two  dollars  to  pay  the  printer  for  a year’s  paper.  An  exchange  of  home 
productions  accommodated  the  people ; thus  a bushel  of  apples  was  some- 
times procured  by  a quantity  of  sage.” 

January  1,  1820,  Mr.  Richardson  began  teaching  a 
school  near  Alfred  Ross’  for  six  weeks,  at  the  rate  of 
ten  dollars  per  month.  But,  at  that  time,  board  for  a 
man  (without  liquors)  could  be  obtained  for  about 
twenty-five  dollars  per  year. 

The  early  settlers  of  Liberty  and  other  townships 
in  the  northern  part  of  the  county  were  much  an- 
noyed by  wild  animals,  especially  wolves,  which  were 


numerous,  in  spite  of  the  bounty  for  their  destruc- 
tion. They  were  often  very  bold,  going  into  even 
well-protected  sheep  folds  and  killing  many  sheep  in 
a single  night. 

After  1830  numerous  new  settlers  were  added  to 
the  population  of  the  northern  part  of  Lawsville,  and 
when  the  first  assessment  roll  was  made  up,  in  1836, 
the  following  were  the  taxables : 

Daniel  Adams,  Isaac  Ackerman,  Benjamin  Andrew’s,  Asahel  Adams, 
Eli  Adams,  Amzi  Allen,  Zebulon  Blakeslee,  Daniel  Bailey,  Benjamin  W. 
Bailey,  Richard  Bailey,  A.  A.  Benian,  George  Banker,  Nathaniel 
Banker,  Ichabod  Buck,  Peleg  Butts,  Isaac  Butts,  Perry  P.  Butts,  Samuel 
Chalkef,  Joseph  \V.  Chalker,  Isaac  Comstock,  Thomas  Cobbitt,  Amos 
Crandall,  Michael  Callahan,  Abram  Davis,  Josiah  Davis,  Stephen  Daw- 
ley,  Asa  A.  Fish,  Benjamin  Gage,  Peter  Gunsalus,  Seth  Hall,  Sylvester 
Hall,  Harry  Hall,  Warren  Hall,  N.  HathawayJ  Isaac  Hance,  W. 
Hance,  Phoebe  Harris,  Benajah  Howard,  Moses  Howard,  Otis  L.  How- 
ard, Jonathan  Howard,  Chillon  How’ard,  Salem  Howard,  Jothani  C. 
Howard,  Newton  Hawley, t Benjamin  Hatch,  Caswell  Ives,  Reuben  Ives, 
Harry  Ives,  William  H.  Ives,  Mary  Jones,  Roger  Kenyon,  .Tames  Ken- 
yon, Samuel  A.  Law,  Garry  Law^,  Nathaniel  Lockwood,  Elkanah  Lock- 
wood,  Daniel  Landon,  Nathan  Marvin,  Archi  Marsh,  Nathan  N.  Martin, 
James  Owens,  Luther  Platt,  Samuel  Platt,  Isaac  Robins,  Uzza  Robins, 
Israel  Richardson,  John  Ryan,  Edmund  Ryan,  Timothy  Ross,  Ansel 
Roe,  David  Roe,  Jason  Roe,  Charles  Stanford,  Daniel  D.  Stanford, Wil- 
liam Salmon,  Gideon  Southworth,  Russell  Southworth,  Arthur  South- 
worth,  James  Travis,  Thomas  E.  Travis,  David  0 Turrell,  James  Truos- 
dell,  Samuel  W.  Tniesdell,  Samuel  Truesdell,  Thomas  C.  Vance,  James 
Vance,  Robert  P.  Vance,  Elias  Van  Houton,  James  Watrous,  A.  Wool- 
sey,  Albert  Woodcock,  John  Watson,  James  K.  Webster,  Alexander 
Webster,  Joseph  Webster,  Harry  Wilbur,  Larry  Wilbur,  Jeremiah  Wil- 
bur, Joseph.  Whipple,  Benjamin  Young. 

The  villages  of  the  township  are  small  and  all  are 
located  on  the  turnpike,  along  Snake  Creek,  where 
they  serve  as  convenient  business  centres. 

Lawsville  Centre,  so  called  before  the  division 
of  the  township,  is  about  half  a mile  north  of  the 
Franklin  township  line,  and  contains  two  churches,  a 
school-house,  store,  mills  and  eight  or  ten  residences 
in  the  immediate  neighborhood.  The  Ives  family 
were  among  the  earliest  settlers  at  this  place.  The 
first  improvement  of  the  water-power  was  made  by 
Milo  Saxton,  who  put  up  a saw-mill.  This  be- 
came the  property  of  Newton  Hawley,  who  caused  a 
grist-mill  to  be  operated  by  the  same  power.  Later 
he  built  a better  mill,  which  was  burned  down,  while 
owned  by  Lewis  A.  Tomkins.  A new  and  better  mill 
was  then  built  by  Fernando  Tomkins,  who  now  oper- 
ates both  grist  and  saw-mills,  having  the  only  grist- 
mill in  the  township. 

Newton  Hawley  did  the  first  merchandising  at  his 
mill,  but  A.  A.  Beman  afterwards  engaged  in  trade  in 
the  Reuben  Ives  house,  where  he  continued  about  ten 
years,  also  entertaining  the  public.  After  this  the 
building  became  a farm-house.  The  next  store  was 
opened  at  the  present  stand  by  Roger  Kenyon,  and 
his  successors  have  been  numerous,  the  present  mer- 
chants being  Tiffany  & Co.  Here  is  kept  the  post- 
office,  which  was  established  April  23,  1830,  with  the 
name  of  Snake  Greek,  and  Reuben  Ives  postmaster. 
June  30,  1830,  the  name  was  changed  to  Lawsville 
Centre,  which  is  still  retained.  The  successive  post- 


I Owned  saw-mills. 


512 


HISTOEY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


masters  have  been,— 1846,  Lambert  Smith  • 1850, 
Bela  Jones  ; 1852,  L.  Smith  ; 1855,  E.  B.  Sherman  ; 
1857,  Eoger  Kenyon,  Jr. ; 1860,  D.  O.  Turrell ; 1861, 
E.  Southworth,  A.  Truesdell  ; 1862,  Amos  Crandall, 
Sr.  ; 1864,  James  E.  Webster;  1865,  A.  Southworth  ; 
1871,  E.  B.  Sherman  ; 1873,  O.  M.  Crane ; 1875,  E.  T. 
Handrick;  1878,  E.  C.  Potter;  1882,  Wm.  A.  Cran- 
dall. 

Stanpordville  is  a straggling  village  of  a dozen 
houses,  one  mile  below  Lawsville  Centre.  Here  are  a 
public-house,  shops  and  a Free-Will  Baptist  Church. 
The  Methodist  Church  formerly  at  this  place  was  de- 
stroyed by  a cyclone  July  2,  1883.  At  the  same  time 
half  a dozen  other  buildings  were  more  or  less  dam- 
aged. The  place  was  settled  by  the  Stanford  family, 
and  most  of  the  inhabitants  yet  bear  that  name.  On 
the  creek  was  formerly  a saw-mill,  by  Daniel  Stan- 
ford and  Casswell  Ives,  which  has  long  since  been 
abandoned.  In  the  past  year  a steam  cider-mill  was 
erected  by  George  Fisk,  which  is  now  the  only  ma- 
chinery operated.  Calvin  Stanford  had  a shoemaker- 
shop  at  this  place  forty  years,  in  which  is  now  a small 
store  by  F.  & A.  Stanford.  From  1870,  for  ten  years, 
D.  D,  Stanford  had  a small  store  opposite  his  resi- 
dence, but  the  first  goods  were  sold  by  A.  A.  Beman 
in  part  of  the  building  now  known  as  the  “ Pleasant 
Valley  House,”  where  he  also  kept  tavern.  Later 
Ira  Comstock  traded  there.  Bela  Jones  succeeded 
Beman  as  the  owner  of  the  property  and  kept  this 
well-known  house  a number  of  years.  On  the  death 
of  himself  and  family  numerous  changes  occurred,  but 
since  the  spring  of  1886  the  proprietor  has  been  W.  G. 
Small.  It  is  the  only  licensed  hotel  between  the 
State  line  and  Montrose,  and  has  been  a great  con- 
venience to  the  traveling  public. 

Several  miles  below  this  place  was  a water-power 
which  was  improved  to  operate  a saw-mill  for  Lorenzo 
Vance.  In  1856  it  became  the  property  of  Jacob  B. 
Chalker,  and  was  carried  on  by  him  until  1878,  when 
it  was  abandoned. 

Brookdale  is  the  next  village  below,  and  the  last 
one  in  the  township.  The  upper  part  was  formerly 
called  Butts’  Corners,  from  the  fact  that  J.  P.  Butts 
had  a farm  at  that  place,  which  had  as  a previous 
owner  Moses  Howard.  Near  here  Cooper  Corbett, 
who  owned  large  tracts  of  land  along  the  creek,  put 
up  a saw-mill,  which  did  a large  business  until  the 
timber  supply  was  exhausted.  The  power  is  now 
used  to  work  machinery  in  a feed  and  cider-mill, 
owned  by  Joseph  Lindsey. 

Below  this,  Brookdale  Tannery  was  erected,  about 
1851,  by  Tompkins,  Campbell  & Co.,  but  was  much 
enlarged  in  subsequent  periods.  It  was  afterwards 
owned  by  J.  W.  Brackney,  and  Jehiel  Snow  was  the 
manager,  doing  a large  business.  Later  owners  were 
Knight  & Burt,  the  Munsons,  H.  C.  Knight  and 
Daniel  Munson,  the  latter  firm  operating  it 
last  in  1885,  when  it  was  discontinued.  When  in 
operation  twenty-five  men  were  employed,  and  this 


occupation  gave  the  place  a busy  appearance.  Many 
of  the  workmen  have  removed,  and  the  machinery  has 
been  taken  to  other  localities.  In  later  years  the 
water-power  had  been  supplemented  by  steam,  but 
the  former  is  also  now  unemployed. 

Another  industry  at  this  place  are  the  acid  works, 
established  a number  of  years  ago  by  Emmons,  Man- 
deville  & Saxon.  The  buildings  were  put  up  under 
the  direction  of  John  Emmons,  and  for  some  years  the 
business  was  managed  by  him.  Originally  there  were 
but  four  retorts,  but  this  number  was  increased  by 
the  addition  of  four  more,  and  large  quantities  of 
acetate  of  lime  were  made,  as  well  as  sugar  of  lead, 
for  a short  period.  The  material  consumed  is  hard 
wood  only — several  thousand  cords  annually.  Some 
soft  wood  is  also  converted  into  charcoal,  though  not 
for  the  purpose  of  distillation.  In  1878  the  “Scotch 
Works,”  as  they  were  first  called,  were  sold  to  Mun- 
son & Knight,  the  tannery  owners,  who  carried  on 
both  establishments.  The  present  owner  is  Julius 
Corbett,  of  New  York,  and  the  “ works  ” are  success- 
fully carried  on,  giving  employment  to  seven  men, 
and  affording  a ready  market  for  the  surplus  timber 
of  this  part  of  Liberty. 

The  first  merchandising  at  Brookdale  was  done  at 
the  tannery,  where  a small  store  was  kept.  Zebulon 
Blakeslee  was  a later  merchant,  and  also  kept  the 
Brookdale  post-office.  From  1870  on,  A.  A.  Beman 
was  in  trade  and  served  as  postmaster.  Since  1881 
J.  J.  Tingley  has  traded  at  Brookdale,  and  has  the 
post-office,  which  is  supplied  with  a daily  mail. 

Brookdale  post-office  was  established  April  7, 
1854,  with  William  Montford  first  postmaster.  He 
was  succeeded  by  Zebulon  Blakeslee  in  1855.  This 
office  was  discontinued  December  17,  1863,  and  re- 
established January  29,  1864,  with  Henry  C.  Knight 
postmaster.  His  successors  have  been  Anson  A. 
Beeman,  Mary  J.  Beeman,  Edith  A.  Knight,  Judson 
J.  Tingley. 

Near  the  State  line  Isaac  Hance  and  others  had  a 
saw-mill,  which  did  good  service,  and  is  now  the 
property  of  W.  W.  Gunsalus.  The  Hathaway  mill, 
lower  down  the  stream,  has  been  abandoned.  On 
Eanney  Creek  a number  of  saw-mills  had  been  built, 
and  were  operated  by  the  Howards,  Eoes,  Knapps 
and  others  but  nearly  all  have  gone  down,  as  well  as 
other  small  mills  in  other  localities. 

Among  those  who  practiced  medicine  in  the  town- 
ship, were  Dr.  Daniel  Adams,  near  the  State  line,  be- 
low Brookdale ; Dr.  Eufus  Fish,  on  Eanney  Creek, 
about  1819,  and  near  the  central  part  of  the  township 
later  ; Dr.  Daniel  Stanford,  on  his  farm,  at  Stanford- 
ville,  from  1814  till  his  death,  in  1829  ; Dr.  Edwin 
Brundage,  farther  up  the  valley  ; Dr.  Sanford  at  the 
same  place,  followed  by  Dr.  Brewster,  in  that  locality, 
and  Dr.  Francis  Newton  at  Brookdale.  Below  this 
village  Dr.  D.  D.  Harris  has  been  a practitioner  sev- 
eral years,  and  has  lately  erected  a building  for  put- 
ting up  proprietary  medicines.  Other  physicians  have 


LIBERTY. 


513 


been  in  the  township  for  short  periods,  but  no  authen- 
tic account  can  here  be  given  of  them. 

Religious. — The  early  religious  interests  of  the 
township  were  closely  connected  with  those  of  Frank- 
lin, but  as  the  northern  part  of  old  Lawsville  became 
more  thickly  settled,  the  question  of  having  places  of 
worship  in  that  section,  instead  of  going  many  miles, 
was  soon  decided  by  organizing  separate  societies. 
The  oldest  of  these  now  in  existence  is 

The  Liberty  Strict  Baptist  Church,  which  was  or- 
ganized hy  a council  called  for  this  purpose,  at  Laws- 
ville Centre,  December  24, 1837.  Elder  J.  B.  Worden 
moderated,  and  Isaac  Post  served  as  clerk. 

Twenty-one  persons  united  in  church  fellowship, 
fourteen  of  whom  had  formerly  been  connected  with 
the  old  Lawsville  Free-Will  Baptist  Church,  and 
seven  joined  by  letter  from  the  Baptist  Church  of 
Bridgewater.  Prior  to  1843  the  following  persons 
were  members:  James  Kenyon,  Gideon  South  worth, 
Daniel  Dawley,  Nathan  Fish,  Edward  L.  Bailey, 
Henry  W.  Howard,  Jonathan  Ross,  Mary  Bailey, 
Deborah  Green,  Phoebe  Sherman,  Mercy  Bailey, 
Joseph  Webster  (2d),  Othneal  Kenyon,  Joseph  Bailey, 
Rogers  Kenyon,  Oliver  Clark,  Benjamin  W.  Bailey, 
Sybil  Howard,  Ann  Stanford,  Hannah  Marsh,  Free- 
love  Kenyon,  Susan  Allard,  Freelove  Bailey,  Eunice 
Van  Houton,  Ann  Bailey. 

The  aggregate  membership  of  the  church  has  been 
nearly  one  hundred  and  fifty,  the  additions  being  the 
results  of  revivals  at  different  periods,  notable  ones 
being  those  of  1841  and  1862.  The  first  took  place 
soon  after  the  meeting-house  had  been  occupied.  It 
had  been  erected  the  previous  year,  at  a cost  of  about 
seven  hundred  dollars.  This  building  is  still  stand- 
ing, on  a new  site,  as  the  school-house  of  Lawsville 
Centre.  It  was  used  as  a place  of  worship  until  the 
summer  of  1868,  *when  the  present  fine  edifice,  at 
Lawsville  Centre,  became  the  spiritual  home  of  the 
church.  It  is  an  attractive  structure,  erected  at  a 
cost  of  five  thousand  five  hundred  dollars,  about  one- 
half  of  which  was  contributed  by  Joseph  Bailey, 
Watson  Bailey,  Stephen  Dawley  and  Roger  Kenyon, 
sons  of  some  of  the  first  members  of  the  church.  It 
was  formally  dedicated  August  13,  1868,  by  Elder  W. 
C.  Tilden,  at  that  time  the  pastor.  In  the  fall  of 
1869  a number  of  sheds  were  built,  and,  in  the  spring 
of  1886,  the  external  appearance  of  the  church  was 
beautified  by  paint,  so  that  it  is  now  surpassed  by  but 
few  churches  in  the  county.  From  the  organization 
of  the  church  until  1852  the  ministers  were  Elders 
William  Brand,  C.  G.  Swan,  A.  Virgil,  John  Bald- 
win, James  D.  Webster,  J.  K.  Webster,  0.  L.  Hall 
and  E.  L.  Bailey.  In  the  spring  of  1852  Elder  J.  W. 
Park  became  the  pastor,  and  served  until  1858,  when 
Elder  W.  C.  Tilden  became  his  successor,  and  minis- 
tered to  the  church  until  1870.  Elder  Jacob  Smith 
next  preached  a year,  and  since  that  time  there  have 
been  many  supplies,  among  them  being  Elders  A.  H. 
Fish,  Gates,  Bliss,  Tilden,  Burroughs,  Spencer,  Davis 


and  Simpkins.  In  1877  Elder  P.  S.  Brewster  was  the 
pastor;  in  1880,  A.  O.  Stearns;  and  in  1881,  Elder 
William  Clapham,  the  latter  serving  until  March  28, 
1886.  Since  that  time  the  pulpit  has  been  supplied 
by  Elders  Fish,  0.  W.  Cook  and  others.  There 
were  fifty  members  in  good  standing,  and  H.  W. 
Howard  was  the  church  clerk. 

The  Liberty  Free-  Will  Baptist  Church  was  organized 
on  Ranney  Creek,  by  Elders  John  Webster  and  C. 
L.  Vail,  July  25,  1847.  There  were  thirteen  consti- 
tuent members,  and  Stillman  Fuller  was  chosen  dea- 
con, and  Henry  Roe  clerk.  The  latter  was  soon 
afterwards  succeeded  by  Simeon  Knapp.  On  the 
10th  of  May,  1856,  Joseph  Chalker  became  deacon,  in 
place  of  S.  Fuller.  In  1866  Elias  Northrop  and 
Simeon  Knapp  became  deacons ; but,  the  following 
spring,  the  former  resigned,  and  D.  C.  Marvin  was 
elected  in  his  stead.  At  the  same  time  S.  E.  Warner 
was  elected  church  clerk,  and  has  since  served  in  that 
capacity.  In  1876  he  was  elected  deacon,  and  has 
since  also  performed  the  duties  of  that  office,  his  as- 
sociate being  Deacon  L.  W.  Howard. 

Until  1866  the  meetings  were  held  in  the  Chalker 
School-house,  on  Ranney  Creek;  but,  in  November 
that  year,  the  place  of  holding  them  was  changed  to 
the  school-house  in  Stanfordville.  Here  worship  was 
held  twelve  years,  when  it  was  deemed  best  to  erect, 
at  this  place,  an  edifice  which  the  church  might  call 
its  own. 

In  November,  1876,  the  foundation  for  a church 
was  laid  at  Stanfordville,  but  the  superstructure  was 
not  fully  completed  until  December,  1878.  The 
building  has  since  been  supplied  with  blinds  and 
painted,  so  that  the  property  has  an  attractive  ap- 
pearance. There  are  sittings  for  a few  hundred  peo- 
ple, and  the  building  is  valued  at  one  thousand  two 
hundred  dollars.  It  was  erected  mainly  through  the 
efforts  of  Deacons  Warner  and  Howard,  and  is  a 
worthy  memorial  of  their  zeal  and  energy.  The 
trustees  in  1886  were  L.  W.  Howard,  Erwin  Marvin 
and  Spencer  Luce. 

The  ministers  of  the  church  have  been  Elders  C. 
L.  Vail,  John  Webster,  R.  Carpenter,  L.  D.  Howe, 
Stillman  Fuller,  A.  H.  Fish,  0.  Phelps,  B.  Coggs- 
well.  Elder  Prescott,  Elder  John  Green  and  a few 
others.  Seventy-eight  persons  have  been  connected 
as  members ; but,  in  December,  1886,  the  number 
belonging  did  not  exceed  thirty. 

The  Liberty  Presbyterian  Church. — The  first  records 
of  this  church  pertain  to  a meeting  over  which 
Chauncy  Turner  moderated,  and  A.  Southworth  was 
secretary.  Caswell  Ives,  Garry  Law  and  A.  South- 
worth  were  appointed  a standing  church  committee 
at  the  same  meeting,  held  October  10,  1836.  Other 
members  present  were  Archi  Marsh,  Newton  Hawley, 
James  W.  Truesdell,  David  Rockefeller  and  S.  W. 
Truesdell.  The  Rev.  Barlow,  of  the  Franklin  Church 
(where  most  of  these  persons  formerly  belonged),  was 
secured  to  preach  at  the  Ives  School-house  (Laws- 


514 


HISTOEY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


ville  Centre)  one-fourth  of  his  time,  and  meetings 
were  thereafter  statedly  held.  In  1842  the  Eev. 
John  G.  Lowe  became  the  minister.  Six  years  later 
the  people  of  Lawsville  Centre  and  surrounding 
country  united  in  a call  for  building  a church  near 
the  old  preaching-place,  in  which  the  Presbyterians 
should  be  given  the  preference  in  the  house  of  ser- 
vice, but  when  not  occupied  by  them,  should  be  at  the 
disposal  of  other  denominations. 

Those  signing  the  call  were  Chauncy  Turner,  H.  N. 
North.  W.  W.  Pierson,  N.  P.  Wheaton,  Kirby 
Marsh,  Philo  C.  Luce,  Garry  Law,  Turner  South- 
worth,  Joseph  Bell,  George  H.  Hamlin,  A.  South- 
worth,  H.  A.  Truesdell,  Lorenzo  Vance,  B.  W. 
Soutbworth,  Amos  Barnes,  Willard  Truesdell,  Lam- 
bert Smith,  S.  V.  Barns,  Samuel  Truesdell,  Jesse  C. 
Disbrow  and  Edwin  Summers. 

The  meeting-house,  a plain  frame  building,  was 
soon  thereafter  built,  and  placed  in  charge  of  Benja- 
min South  worth,  N.  P.  Wheaton  and  Jarod  Marsh, 
as  a society  committee,  and  is  now  cared  for  by  their 
successors.  In  1857  a number  of  horse-sheds  were 
built  on  the  church  lot,  and  three  years  previously 
the  cemetery,  near  Ives,  had  been  fenced  by  a com- 
mittee appointed  at  a church-meeting. 

In  1865  the  Eev.  J.  N.  Diament  is  recorded  as  the 
pastor,  and  1867  the  Eev.  I.  W.  Smith  sustained  the 
same  relation.  In  October,  1872,  the  Eev.  Doremus 
became  the  pastor  for  a short  period. 

After  this  Presbyterian  meetings  were  here  only 
occasionally  held,  most  of  the  remaining  members 
preferring  to  worship  at  Franklin  Forks,  and,  in  1883, 
the  remaining  interests  were  transferred  to  that 
place.  The  church  at  Lawsville  Centre  is  now  occu- 
pied by  the  Methodists. 

The  Liberty  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. — In  the 
northern  part  of  the  township  Methodist  meetings 
were  held  soon  after  its  settlement,  but  no  permanent 
organization  was  effected.  A local  minister.  Father 
Davy,  and  others  preached  at  Brookdale,  and  among 
the  members  were  Peter  Gunsalus  and  family,  James 
Travis  and  family,  Euth  Stanford  and  a few  others. 
Later  meetings  were  held  at  the  Bailey  School-house 
(now  removed)  by  the  Eev.  John  Carver  and  others, 
in  1851,  when  many  persons  were  converted  and  a 
class  was  formed,  which  had  among  its  members 
Daniel  Brown  and  wife,  D.  D.  Stanford  and  wife, 
Charles  Stanford  and  wife,  Harry  Northrup  and  wife, 
William  Stanford  and  wife.  In  the  course  of  the 
year  many  others  joined,  so  that  a meeting-house  was 
erected  for  their  accommodation  in  1852.  This  build- 
ing was  of  brick,  thirty-six  by  forty  feet,  and  stood  on 
turnpike  in  the  hamlet  of  Stanfordville.  It  was  used 
as  a place  of  worship  uutil  its  destruction  by  a cy- 
clone, July  2,  1883,  and,  being  almost  a total  wreck, 
it  was  not  rebuilt.  A short  time  before  the  storm  the 
building  had  been  repaired  and  supplied  with  new 
furniture,  which  was  much  damaged.  After  this  the 
meetings  were  held  in  the  Presbyterian  meeting-house 


at  Lawsville  Centre,  one  mile  above  the  old  church, 
which  has  since  been  the  regular  place  of  worship, 
and  is  now  practically  the  Methodist  Church  of  the 
township. 

At  one  time  the  Methodists  numbered  eighty  mem- 
bers, but  their  ranks  have  been  decimated  by  re- 
movals and  by  connections  with  other  churches  in  the 
township.  In  December,  1886,  there  was  but  one 
class  of  thirty-four  members,  under  the  leadership  of 
D.  D.  Stanford.  These  were  associated  with  the 
members  in  the  adjoining  township  in  forming  the 
Franklin  Forks  Circuit.  Former  circuit  relations 
were  with  Hawleytown,  N.  Y.  Several  former  mem- 
bers of  the  church  have  become  ministers  of  the 
Gospel,  among  them  being  D.  D.  Brown  and  John 
Green,  the  latter  afterwards  of  the  Free-Will  Baptist 
Church.  In  all  the  above-noted  churches  Sabbath- 
schools  have  been  conducted,  which  have  been  valu- 
able instruments  in  elevating  the  moral  tone  of  the 
community. 

On  Eanney  Creek  the  Old  School  Baptists  have  an 
organization  numbering  about  twenty-five  members, 
who  hold  meetings  in  the  Chalker  School-house  every 
fifth  Sabbath,  and  statedly  at  the  houses  of  the  mem- 
bers, composed  of  the  Chalker,  Eoe,  Bailey,  Luce  and 
other  families  of  that  locality.  They  have  the  same 
ministry  as  the  members  of  this  sect  in  Osborne  Hol- 
low, N.  Y.  Elders  Bundy  and  Durand  are  among  the 
preachers  at  this  place. 

In  the  southeastern  part  of  the  township  the  Free 
Methodists  made  an  effort  to  erect  a house  of  worship 
on  a lot  secured  from  the  Chitister  place.  A frame 
was  raised  and  the  building  partly  inclosed,  but  the 
house  was  never  finished  on  account  of  the  removal 
of  most  of  those  who  were  interested  in  building  it. 

The  cemetery  at  Lawsville  Centre  is  under  the  care 
of  the  meeting-house  society  of  that  place,  and  is 
usually  well  kept.  It  contains  the  graves  of  the  pio- 
neers of  that  part  of  the  township.  Lower  down  the 
creek,  in  the  Bailey  neighborhood,  and  on  the  left- 
hand  side  of  the  turnpike,  is  a well-located  burial- 
ground,  which  is  controlled  by  the  Liberty  Cemetery 
Association,  which  was  incorporated  August  28, 1865, 
on  the  petition  of  0.  W.  Stanford,  D.  D.  Stanford, 
Charles  Stanford,  Z.  A.  Lindsey,  E.  Bailey,  David 
Bailey,  Newell  Bailey,  B.  F.  Bailey  and  Albert  Bailey. 
Here  are  interred  many  members  of  the  Bailey  fam- 
ily and  others  of  the  deceased  early  settlers  in  the 
central  and  northern  parts  of  the  township. 


CHAPTEE  XXXIV. 

FRANKLIN  TOWNSHIP. 

Franklin  occupies  a central  position  among  the 
townships  of  the  county,  in  the  second  tier  from  the 


FRANKLIN. 


515 


north.  It  was  erected  by  a decree  of  the  court  in 
December,  1835,  its  territory  being  taken  from  the  old 
township  of  Lawsville,  and  a part  from  the  northern 
end  of  Bridgewater.  On  the  east  are  the  townships 
of  Great  Bend  and  New  Milford,  and  on  the  west  are 
the  townships  of  Silver  Lake  and  Forest  Lake.  Its 
southeastern  boundary  is  irregular.  New  Milford  ex- 
tending into  the  township  and  taking  off  from  its 
rectangular  shape  about  a square  mile.  For  thirty- 
seven  years  the  principal  part  of  Franklin  was  em- 
braced in  the  old  township  of  Lawsville,  the  remain- 
ing part  being  what  is  now  Liberty  township,  which 
title  was  assumed  in  September,  1836,  after  the  new 
township  of  Lawsville  had  an  existence  of  less  than 
a year.  The  name  of  Lawsville  had  been  bestowed 
in  honor  of  the  Hon.  S.  A.  Law,  of  Cheshire,  Conn., 
when  the  original  township  was  erected,  in  January, 
i 1798.  Law  was  one  of  the  largest  land-owners  in 
' this  section,  and  through  his  influence  many  of  his 
i fellow-citizens  became  residents  here  prior  to  1805. 

He  frequently  visited  this  region,  and  took  a deep 
"I  interest  in  its  improvement,  but  was  never  a resident 
here,  as  was  Timothy  Pickering,  another  of  the  orig- 
inal land-owners.^  The  latter  received  a patent  for 
his  lands,  lying  along  Snake  Creek  and  west  to  the 
present  township  line  of  Silver  Lake,  as  early  as  1788, 
but  did  not  occupy  them  within  the  next  ten  years. 
The  lands  east  of  him  were  patented  to  Henry  Drink- 
er at  a later  period,  and  embraced  a tract  of  twenty 
thousand  seven  hundred  and  fifty  acres.  This  was 
conveyed  about  1796  to  Ephraim  Kirby,  Samuel  A. 
Law,  David  Welch,  Jacob  Tallman,  Robert  Bound, 
Rufus  Lines  (five  hundred  acres)  and  others,  and  the 
whole  was  soon  after  resurveyed  into  one-hundred- 
acre  lots.  A few  only  of  the  above  made  actual  im- 
provements on  their  lands  ; but  it  was  through  the 
influence  of  these  non-resident  land-owners  that  the 
township  was  first  erected.  As  early  as  August,  1796, 
the  court  of  Luzerne  County,  then  in  session  at 
Wilkes-Barre,  was  petitioned  by  Ephraim  Kirby  and 
others  to  set  off  a new  township,  six  miles  square, 
extending  from  the  twenty-first  to  the  twenty-seventh 
mile-stone  on  the  State  line.  This  petition  was  not 
finally  confirmed  until  January,  1798,  when  the  court 
decreed  that  such  a township  be  made  with  the  name 
of  Lawsville.  In  1805  the  limits  from  north  to  south 
were  extended  by  the  annexation  of  one  and  a half 
miles  of  territory  on  the  south,  the  same  being  taken 
from  Bridgewater.  In  the  southern  part  of  the  town- 
ship the  population  was  for  many  years  the  most 
numerous,  and  hence  controlled  its  affairs.  But  after 
the  northern  part  was  settled  and  developed,  mainly 
after  1825,  this  rule  was  disputed,  and  when,  in  1828, 
it  was  decided  to  hold  the  elections  and  other  meet- 
ings in  what  is  now  Liberty,  the  discontent  of  the 
vanquished  became  so  great  that  the  (jiiestion  of 
forming  a new  township  was  agitated.  But  no  deci- 


1  See  Liberty  township. 


sive  action  was  then  taken,  nor  for  several  years  to 
come.  The  separation  finally  took  place  in  1835, 
when  it  was  found  no  longer  practicable  to  sustain 
the  former  relations  on  account  of  disagreements  in 
regard  to  churches  and  schools,  as  well  as  the  incon- 
venience attending  the  transaction  of  the  public  bus- 
iness. 

There  is  but  little  table-land  in  the  township  of 
Eranklin.  The  surface  is  made  up  of  small  valleys 
and  hills,  sloping  so  that  most  of  them  are  tillable 
except  those  immediately  bordering  on  the  larger 
streams.  Some  of  the  latter  are  still  in  a primeval 
condition,  though  most  of  them  have  the  larger  tim- 
ber cut  out,  and  on  their  surface  large  boulders  may 
be  found.  The  soil  ranks  in  fertility  with  that  of  ad- 
joining townships. 

The  principal  streams  of  Franklin  are  Wylie 
Creek,  Snake  Creek  and  its  chief  tributary.  Silver 
Creek.  The  first-named  rises  in  the  eastern  part  of 
the  township,  and,  after  taking  the  waters  of  many 
small  brooks  in  a general  northeasterly  course,  passes 
into  Great  Bend;  thence,  after  coursing  several  miles, 
bends  over  into  Liberty  township  to  again  pass  into 
Great  Bend  and  to  empty  into  the  Susquehanna  near 
the  former  home  of  Simeon  Wylie,  in  honor  of  whom 
the  creek  was  named.  Its  volume  in  Franklin  is 
small,  but  upon  its  southern  branch  there  were  sev- 
eral mill  privileges  before  the  country  was  cleared 
up. 

Snake  Creek  has  its  sources  in  Jones’  Lake  and 
Williams’  Pond,  both  in  Bridgewater  and  nearly  two 
miles  apart.  They  fall  rapidly  into  the  lower  valley, 
and,  as  long  as  the  water  supply  was  abundant, 
afforded  a number  of  good  powers  in  the  southern 
part  of  Franklin  and  west  of  its  centre.  The  course 
of  the  stream  is  almost  due  north,  the  two  branches 
uniting  about  two  miles  north  of  the  Bridgewater 
line.  Near  the  north  line  of  Franklin  it  takes  the 
waters  of  Silver  Creek,  flowing  from  the  west  as  the 
outlet  of  Silver  Lake,  in  the  township  of  that  name. 
Its  distinguishing  features  are  the  saline  or  mineral 
springs  found  along  its  south  banks,  a mile  above  its 
confluence.  These  have  been  invested  with  legendary 
interest,^  and  the  springs  possess  undoubted  qualities 
which  have  made  them  interesting  objects  ever  since 
they  were  known  by  the  whites.  Excellent  salt  was 
here  made,  as  is  related  further  on.  In  early  times 
this  place  was  a favorite  haunt  for  wild  animals,  and 
the  efforts  of  sportsmen  to  capture  them  were  usually 
bountifully  rewarded.  Hunting-  parties  frequently 
made  the  springs  a common  centre,  and  sometimes  a 
chase  of  unusual  importance  took  place  near  the 
springs.  “ In  December,  1818,  a great  hunt  was 
started  of  five  hundred  men,  including  a circle  of 
forty-seven  miles.  The  hunters  were  divided  into 
squads  of  tens  and  twenties,  and,  properly  officered, 
moved  towards  the  centre.  Droves  of  deer  were  thus 


2Soe  Indian  History. 


516 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


hedged  in,  but  no  wolves  and  but  one  bear  and  one 
fox  were  captured.”  ^ The  scenery  at  the  spring  is  ro- 
mantic, on  account  of  the  cascades  on  Cold  Brook, 
whose  waters  fall  into  Silver  Creek  a short  distance 
from  them.  The  little  stream  plunges  through  a nar- 
row defile,  nearly  a hundred  feet  deep,  and,  leaping 
over  rugged  rocks,  delights  the  visitor  with  its  beauty. 
For  a number  of  years  it  was  a favorite  resort  for 
pleasure-parties,  and  large  excursions  frequently 
visited  this  locality  to  drink  the  waters  of  the  springs 
and  to  enjoy  the  scenery.^  The  efforts  to  utilize  this 
spot  for  manufacturing  purposes  has  marred  its  beauty 
to  such  an  extent  that  but  few  of  its  former  attrac- 
tions remain. 

The  greater  portion  of  Franklin  has  been  cleared 
up,  and,  in  the  better  parts,  fine  farms  have  been 
made,  the  buildings  giving  unmistakable  evidence  of 
the  prosperity  and  contentment  of  their  owners.  How 
great  has  been  the  change  from  the  primeval  con- 
dition can  readily  be  seen  by  the  contrast  afforded  by 
reading  the  sketch  of  the  country  before  its  im- 
provement, as  given  so  well  by  Mrs.  N.  Park : 

**  Three-quarters  of  a century  ago  the  forest  that  covered  the  land  of 
both  townships  was  unbroken,  except  wljere  the  beavers  had  destroyed 
the  timber  to  build  a dam  across  a branch  of  Wylie  Creek.  One  or  two 
small  lakes,  fringed  with  pond-lilies,  reflected  from  their  still  depths 
the  varied  aspects  of  the  sky.  These  and  the  busy  brooklets  were 
breathing-places  within  the  great  mass  of  vegetable  life.  The  princi- 
pal timber  consisted  of  hemlock,  beech,  sugar  and  soft  maple,  birch, 
ash,  chestnut,  pine,  poplar,  basswood,  ironwood,  elm  and  cherry ; 
these  ■were  found  proportionally  much  as  in  the  order  here  given. 
Interspersed  through  the  forest,  in  many  places,  was  an  underwood 
of  smaller  growth,  such  as  the  blue  beech,  whistlewood  or  black  maple, 
shad  or  June-berry,  several  varieties  of  alder  and  elder,  witch-hazel, 
sassafras,  spice  or  fever  bush,  sumach,  thorns,  willows  by  water- 
courses, and  occasionally  on  high  lands,  box  and  leather  wood.  Among 
the  many  plants  and  roots  now  abounding  in  the  forests  of  Franklin, 
and  reputed  to  possess  healing  virtues,  are  spikenard,  sarsaparilla, 
several  kinds  of  cohosh,  wild  turnip,  ginseng,  Solomon’s  seal,  valerian, 
prince’s  pine,  gold  thread,  snake  root,  brook-liverwort,  low  centaury, 
golden  rod,  and  balmony. 

“Only  one  or  two  eagles  are  known  to  have  been  seen  here.  The  Vir- 
ginia horned  and  the  little  screech  owl ; hen,  night  and  sparrow-hawks ; 
ravens,  black  birds,  crows,  cat  birds,  king  birds,  bobolinks,  pigeons, 
partridges,  quails,  meadow  larks,  blue  birds,  song  sparrows,  robins, 
yellow  birds,  chipping  birds,  thrushes,  Phoebe  birds,  snow  birds,  hum- 
ming birds,  wrens,  swallows,  cuckoos,  blue  jays,  the  whip-poor-will, 
and  several  varieties  of  woodpeckers  are  well  known  in  the  vicinity. 
A red  bird  about  the  size  of  a robin,  with  black  wings,  is  sometimes 
seen,  and  also  another  variety  of  the  red  bird,  which  is  smaller. 

“Wolves,  bears,  panthers  and  wild  cats  were  formidable  foes  to  the 
early  settlers.  Foxes,  skunks,  minks,  weasels  and  muskrats,  found  or 
made  them  ‘holes’  in  Franklin, and  all  are  not  yet  ousted.  The  ani- 
mals subsisaing  on  the  bark  of  trees,  on  browse,  seeds,  plants,  roots, 
nuts  and  fruit,  were  deer,  woodchucks,  raccoons,  rabbits,  squirrels, 
rats,  mice  and  moles.  It  is  not  known  that  any  beavers  were  seen 
by  the  first  settlers  ; certainly  not  by  their  descendants.  There  was  no 
lack  of  striped  snakes  and  water  snakes.  Rattlesnakes  infested  only  the 
eastern  part  of  the  township  ; many  have  been  destroyed,  but  the  race 
is  not  extinct.  The  milk  snake  has  occasionally  been  found  in  the 
dairy  coiled  in  a pan  of  milk.  Frogs  in  great  numbei's  inhabit  all  the 
swamps  and  ponds.  Toads  abound.  A species  of  turtle  or  land  tortoise 
is  sometimes  found  in  Franklin,  but  so  rarely  as  to  be  of  but  little  inter' 
est.  The  bat  is  also  seen,  and  Innumerable  species  of  insects.” 


t Montrose  Bepuhlican. 

2 The  medicinal  qualities  of  these  springs  are  very  highly  regarded  by 
those  who  have  tested  them.  They  are  said  to  be  an  infallible  specific 
for  humors  of  the  blood  and  kindred  diseases. 


It  has  already  been  stated  that  the  first  settlers  were 
natives  of  Connecticut,  and  coming  at  the  early 
period  they  did,  much  of  the  two  hundred  and  fifty 
miles  they  had  to  traverse  was  a wilderness.  They 
usually  crossed  the  Hudson  at  the  Catskill  Moun- 
tains, thence  passed  to  the  head-waters  of  the  Dela- 
ware and  from  there  to  the  valley  of  the  Susque- 
hanna and  down  to  Great  Bend.  From  the  latter 
place  marked  trees  were  followed  to  the  localities 
which  had  been  opened  for  settlement.  The  roads 
being  very  rough,  many  of  the  settlers  preferred  to 
come  in  winter,  when  the  ground  was  covered  with 
snow,  as  it  was  easier  to  carry  their  goods  on  sleds, 
which  were  generally  drawn  by  oxen.  It  is  easy  to 
conceive  of  the  suffering  and  privations  which  attended 
such  an  immigration,  and  some  of  the  settlers  actu- 
ally lived  in  the  shelter  afforded  by  an  upturned  wagon- 
box  until  a cabin  could  be  erected.  Before  enough 
grain  could  be  raised  to  supply  the  wants  of  the  set- 
tlers, actual  suffering  for  bread  often  took  place.  “ It 
is  said  that  such  was  the  scarcity  of  provisions  in 
the  spring  of  1799  that  the  new  settlers  had  to  dig 
up  and  eat  the  potatoes  they  had  planted.  The  few 
inhabitants  of  the  surrounding  towns  could  do  but 
little  more  than  supply  their  own  wants.  Great 
efforts  were  made  to  procure  even  very  limited  sup- 
plies. At  one  time  Mrs.  Merriman  went  twenty 
miles  to  get  as  many  potatoes  as  she  could  bring  on 
the  back  of  the  horse  she  rode,  crossing  the  Susque- 
hanna River  by  fording  it.” 

The  first  clearing  in  Franklin  was  made  in  the 
spring  of  1797,  by  James  Clark,  on  a tract  of  land 
which  is  now  included  in  the  Fred.  A.  Smith  farm. 
He  was  induced  to  settle  here  by  S.  A.  Law,  the  land- 
owner,  as  were  also  three  other  natives  of  Connecti- 
cut, bearing  the  names  of  Bronson,  Clemons  and 
Buell,  all  of  whom  were  here  at  work  in  the  fall  of 
that  year,  clearing  up  roads.  Buell  made  his  clear- 
ing on  Wylie  Creek,  near  the  township  line;  but,  like 
Clark,  soon  moved  from  Franklin,  leaving  to  Rufus 
Lines  the  credit  of  being  the  first  real  permanent  set- 
tler. Having  purchased  a tract  of  five  hundred  acres 
of  land  in  the  projected  new  township.  Lines  left 
Cheshire,  Conn.,  in  September,  1797,  for  his  new 
home  in  the  wilderness,  being  accompanied  by  Titus 
Smith,  at  that  time  in  the  eighteenth  year  of  his  age. 
Rufus  Lines  selected  his  farm  south  of  the  cross-roads 
at  Upsonville,  and  young  Smith  fixed  upon  a lot  west 
from  him,  where  he  began  his  chopping.  All  the 
above  settlers  spent  the  succeeding  winter  in  Con- 
necticut. 

The  following  spring  Rufus  Lines  returned  to  his 
new  home,  in  Franklin,  where  he  remained  until  his 
death,  except  for  short  periods,  when  he  went  to  his 
native  State.  The  large  frame  house  he  built,  in  later 
years,  still  stands  as  one  of  the  few  remaining  land- 
marks of  that  early  period.  His  family  consisted  of 
five  sons  and  four  daughters,  as  follows  : Schubel,  a 
sea  captain;  William,  who  moved  to  New  York; 


FRANKLIN. 


517 


Rufus,  who  moved  to  Illinois;  Joseph  died  in  Brook- 
lyn ; and  Frederick  moved  to  Great  Bend.  His 
daughter  Laura  became  the  wife  of  Billosty  Smith. 
The  elder  Lines  was  a blacksmith  as  well  as  a farmer, 
and  had  the  first  mechanic-shop  in  Franklin.  He  was 
appointed  justice  of  the  peace  by  the  Governor  in 
1814,  and  held  the  office  many  years. 

About  the  same  time  as  Lines  returned  from  Con- 
necticut came  David  Barnum  and  his  wife  and  his 
brother,  an  unmarried  man,  also  from  that  State. 
David  Barnum  bought  the  lot  on  which  young  Smith 
had  done  some  chopping  the  preceding  fall,  and  put 
up  a house,  in  which  the  public  was  entertained  after 
1798.  He  removed,  prior  to  1805,  going  to  Baltimore, 
Md.,  where  he  established  the  celebrated  Barnum’s 
Hotel.  Of  his  wife  the  Hon.  Charles  Miner  said,  June 
2,  1858 : 

“Barnum,  of  Lawsville,  had  married  a sister  of  Colonel  Kirby  (about 
that  time  one  of  the  candidates  for  Governor  of  Connecticut),  a very  su- 
perior-woman  independent  of  her  relationship.  The  Yankee  girls  of 
the  best  families  readily  accepted  the  invitations  of  clever,  enterprising 
young  men,  though  poor,  to  try  their  fortunes  in  subduing  the  wilder- 
ness.” 

After  his  removal  Richard  Barnum  took  his  place. 
Stephen  Barnum  cleared  up  a farm  about  one  and  a 
half  miles  west  from  his  brother  David,  where  he  re- 
mained many  years.  The  farm  later  became  known 
as  the  Asa  Townsend  place.  He  moved  to  New  Mil- 
ford, where  he  died  in  January,  1859,  aged  eighty-two 
and  a half  years.  His  sons  were  Pharon,  of  St.  Louis ; 
Elijah  and  Hiram,  of  Great  Bend ; Allen,  of  Bos- 
ton ; and  Horace,  of  New  Milford. 

In  February,  1798,  Titus  Smith  and  his  brother 
Ephraim,  two  of  the  seven  brothers  who  settled  in  the 
township  and  became  such  important  factors  in  its 
history,  arrived  with  an  ox-sled  laden  with  provisions 
and  a few  farming  tools.  Titus  Smith  having  sold 
out  his  place,  began  a new  farm  about  one  and  a half 
miles  distant,  where  a few  years  later  he  became  a 
permanent  settler  and  reared  a large  family.  Before 
his  death  he  was  disabled  by  a paralytic  shock.  One 
of  his  sons,  Lambert,  resided  at  Lawsville  Centre,  and 
Titus  became  a merchant  in  Binghamton,  N.  Y. 

Ephraim  Smith  was  older  than  Titus,  having  a 
family,  which,  however,  he  did  not  bring  into  Frank- 
lin until  1799,  having  returned  to  Connecticut  in  the 
winter  of  1798,  so  that  Mrs.  Clark  and  Mrs.  Barnum 
were  the  only  women  in  the  township  until  the  spring 
of  1799.  He  settled  on  the  lot  south  of  Rufus  Lines, 
where  later  lived  R.  Seaman,  and  resided  there  until 
his  death.  He  was  the  father  of  three  daughters  and 
four  sons,  the  latter  being  William,  Ephraim,  Jr., 
Henry  B.  and  James.  He  died  November  4,  1856, 
aged  eighty  years. 

In  a year  or  so  later  Roswell  Smith  and  another 
unmarried  brother,  Raymond,  joined  their  brothers. 
The  latter  began  a clearing  in  the  eastern  part  of  the 
township,  but  afterwards  sold  out  to  his  brother  Ros- 
well, and  began  improving  a farm  larther  north. 
These  two  brothers  married  sisters  (step  daughters  of 


John  Hawley),  and  all  four  lived  to  be  more  than 
eighty  years  old.  The  wife  of  Raymond  Smith, 
widely  known  as  Aunt  Roxy,  died  in  1868,  but  he 
survived  until  1870,  when  he  departed  this  life  in  his 
eighty-ninth  year — the  last  of  the  old  pioneers.  Of 
him  it  was  said,  “ He  was  endowed  with  a fine  con- 
stitution, a well-balanced  mind,  a cheerful  disposition, 
which  he  maintained  by  temperate  habits  and  pure 
morals.”  He  reared  one  son — Andrew  L. — and  three 
daughters,  one  of  whom  married  Garry  Law,  of  Lib- 
erty. 

Rufus  W.  Smith. — The  Smith  family  were  early 
identified  with  the  settlement  of  Franklin  (then  Laws- 
ville) township,  seven  brothers  having  come  in  the 
latter  part  of  the  eighteenth  century  and  in  the  early 
part  of  the  nineteenth  century  from  Cheshire,  Conn. 
One  of  these  brothers  was  Captain  Roswell  Smith, 
whose  wife,  Lucy  Ann  Norton,  died  in  Connecticut 
in  1803,  who  settled  in  Lawsville  in  1804,  where  he 
spent  the  remainder  of  his  life  and  died  in  1855,  about 
eighty  years  of  age.  Colonel  Rufus  Smith  (1800-77), 
a son  of  Captain  Roswell -Smith,  married  Sabrina 
(Wakelee)  (1799-1861),  who  bore  him  the  following 
children  : Hannah  Frances,  died  at  the  age  of  seven ; 

Lucius  N.,  who  held  the  rank  of  major  in  the  old 
State  Militia,  enlisted  in  the  late  Rebellion  and  was 
never  heard  from  since ; Henry  M.,  who  held  the  rank 
of  drum  major  in  old  State  Militia,  a farmer  near 
Binghamton;  Lucy  Ann,  first  the  wife  of  Isaac  N. 
Applin,  after  his  death  married  Charles  G.  Park,  a 
machinist  of  Susquehanna,  where  she  died  in  1884; 
Frances  Mary  was  the  wife  of  Charles  Brundage,  a 
blacksmith  of  Campville,  N.  Y.,  supposed  to  be  dead ; 
Julia  Eveline  is  the  wife  of  George  Kirk,  a machinist 
of  Susquehanna;  Emeroy  Janet  died  in  early  woman- 
hood; Rufus  W.,  born  January  21,  1833;  Margaret 
Jane  died  in  early  womanhood;  Winfield  S.,  formerly 
Rev.  Dr.  Winfield  S.  Smyth,  a publisher  in  Chicago, 
Albert  R.;  Rhamanthus  A.,  died  young;  and  Eliza 
died  aged  twenty.  Colonel  Smith  settled  where  his 
son  Rufus  W.  now  resides.  He  was  lieutenant-colonel 
of  a regiment  of  militia  of  this  county;  was  a man 
interested  in  every  worthy  enterprise;  was  identified 
with  church  and  school  interests;  believed  in  a high 
moral  sentiment  and  entertained  progressive  ideas. 
Those  who  knew  him  remember  his  hospitality,  his 
courte.-iy  and  large-heartedness.  He  was  ever  ready 
to  assist  those  less  fortunate  than  himself,  and  liberal 
commensurate  with  his  means.  He  was  the  pioneer 
in  buying,  selling  and  breeding  pure  Devon  stock  in 
Susquehanna  County.  His  resolution  and  determined 
perseverance  to  accomplish  whatever  he  undertook 
was  practically  illustrated  when,  at  the  age  of  nine- 
teen, he  twice  made  a journey  on  foot  and  back  to 
Connecticut  from  his  home  here  while  courting  his 
wife,  a native  of  that  State.  hYr  his  second  wife  he 
married,  in  1865,  Mrs.  Diantha  Keeler,  of  Montrose, 
who  died  in  May,  1876,  followed  by  the  death  of  her 
husband  the  year  alter. 


518 


HISTOEY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


Rufus  W.  Smith,  son  of  Colonel  Smith,  was  educated 
at  the  district  school  and  at  Harford  Academy,  under 
Dr.  Lyman  Richardson.  His  life-work  has  heen 
farming  on  the  old  homestead  where  he  was  born,  on 
which  he  has  rebuilt  the  old  farm  residence,  com- 
manding an  extensive  view  of  the  surrounding  coun- 
try. He  has  filled  the  offices  of  assessor,  school 
director  and  school  treasurer  in  his  township,  and 
been  warmly  interested  in  the  progress  and  develop- 
ment of  agricultural  and  kindred  interests  in  the 
community.  Both  himself  and  wife  have  been  mem- 
bers of  the  Presbyterian  Church  at  Upsonville  for 


tended  the  construction  of  a section  of  the  Erie  Canal 
while  building,  and  died  in  1848.  His  wife  died  in 
1842.  Her  paternal  grandfather  was  Asher  Fairchild, 
of  Vernon  Centre,  N.  Y.,  a farmer. 

The  only  child  of  Rufus  W.  and  Lucy  J.  Smith 
was  Chauncey  Turner  Smith,  who  was  born  April 
30,  1868,  and  died  July  31,  1882,  of  Bright’s  disease 
of  the  kidneys. 

Sylvester  Smith,  the  fifth  of  the  seven  brothers,  lived 
on  a farm  adjoining  that  of  Titus  Smith.  His  children 
were  Thomas  Bates,  Benjamin,  Erastus,  Angelina, 
Louisa  and  Mary.  Lyman  Smith,  the  youngest  of  the 


over  thirty  years,  of  which  he  has  been  a ruling  elder 
for  six  years,  chorister  for  over  a quarter  of  a century 
and  a teacher  in  the  Sunday-school,  and  his  delight 
is  in  work  for  the  “ Master.” 

His  wife,  born  July  10,  1841,  is  Lucy  J.,  only 
daughter  of  Almon  and  Lucinda  (Turner)  Fairchild, 
of  Lockport,  N.  Y.,  and  granddaughter  of  Deacon 
Chauncey  Turner  (with  whom  she  spent  most  of  her 
time  until  marriage),  whom  he  married  in  1862. 
Before  marriage  she  was  a member  of  the  Lawsville 
Church,  afterward  of  the  Upsonville  Church.  Almon 
Fairchild  was  a merchant  at  Lockport  and  superin- 


seven brothers,  was  under  the  guardianship  of  Ros- 
well when  he  came  into  the  township,  being  a minor, 
but  on  attaining  his  majority,  married  and  settled  on 
a farm  near  the  eastern  line  of  the  township.  His  wife 
was  a daughter  of  Capt.  Ichabod  Buck,  of  Great  Bend, 
and  a sister  of  his  brother  Ephram’s  second  wife 
In  1849  he  moved  to  Binghamton,  where  he  died, 
aged  seventy-five  years,  the  only  one  of  the  six 
brothers  who  died  a natural  death,  who  was  less  than 
eighty  years  old  when  he  deceased. 

“ Anson  Smith,  one  of  the  seven  brothers  who  set- 
tled in  Franklin,  was  at  work  in  1805  on  the  farm 


FRANKLIN. 


519 


where  Charles  Lawson  now  lives,  when,  by  the  fall 
of  a limb  of  a tree  into  which  he  was  chopping,  as  is 
supposed,  his  skull  was  fractured.  Miss  Polly  Lord 
(afterwards  Mrs.  Dr.  Fraser)  found  him  lying  help- 
less by  the  road,  procured  assistance,  and  he  was 
taken  to  the  house  of  his  brother  Titus,  near  by.  A 
skillful  physician  was  indispensable,  and  his  brother 
Raymond  set  out  at  once  by  a bridle-path  and  marked 
trees  for  Dr.  Baker,  at  the  Forks  of  the  Wyalusing. 
On  hearing  the  case.  Dr.  Baker  advised  him  to  consult 
Dr.  Hopkins,  of  Tioga  Point.  He  then  retraced  his 
steps,  went  down  the  valley  of  the  Susquehanna 
forty  or  fifty  miles,  and  returned  with  Dr.  Hopkins. 
It  was  then  at  least  three  days  after  the  injury  was 
received ; the  case  was  considered  hopeless,  and  the 
doctor  would  not  repeat  his  visit  unless  sent  for.  The 
sufferer  lived  nine  weeks,  and  his  brother  went  three 
times  for  the  doctor,  each  trip  required  three  days. 
Anson  was  twenty-two  years  of  age  and  unmarried. 
The  Rev.  Seth  Williston,  a missionary,  visited  him. 
The  presence  of  a minister  was  then  a rare  event  and 
highly  prized.  Upon  the  death  of  Mr.  Smith,  the 
ground  for  a cemetery  was  selected,  and  his  burial 
was  the  first  in  the  cemetery,  as  well  as  in  the  town- 
ship. The  purchase  was  made  from  the  adjoining  farms 
of  Rufus  Lines  and  Ephraim  Smith.  In  that  sacred 
inclosure  nearly  all  the  first  settlers  of  the  place,  now 
rest.” 

The  Smiths  were  all  tall,  well-formed  men,  with 
vigorous  constitutions,  and  were  characterized  by  a 
spirit  of  independence  which  would  be  truly  refresh- 
ing in  these  times.  Moreover,  they  w’ere  stanch 
Presbyterians,  and  brought  up  their  families  in  that 
faith.  Four  members — Anson,  Winfield  Scott,  Iram 
and  Norton — entered  the  ministry  and  others  be- 
came teachers.  The  descendants  of  the  seven  brothers 
were  very  numerous,  and  having  inherited  the  vir- 
tues of  their  fathers,  became  very  useful  citizens. 
They  still  constitute  a large  proportion  of  the  popu- 
lation of  eastern  Franklin. 

J.  L.  Merriman. — In  the  year  of  1800  Theophilus 
Merriman  came  from  Cheshire,  Conn.,  and  settled  in 
Lawsville  (now  Franklin)  township,  about  one  mile 
south  and  a half-mile  east  of  Upsonville.  His  wife, 
Sarah  (1768-1835),  whom  he  married  in  Connecticut, 
was  a sister  of  ’Squire  Rufus  Lines,  one  of  the  most 
prominent  of  the  early  settlers  of  Franklin.  Herself 
and  Mrs.  Tamar  Lines  (her  brother’s  wife)  were  the 
first,  and  for  five  years  the  only,  professors  of  religion 
in  the  township.  Theophilus  Merriman  died  in 
1852,  aged  eighty-eight.  His  children  were  Titus  L. 
(1792-1876) ; Julia  died  in  the  township  in  1880,  and 
was  the  wife  of  Harrison  Warner;  Lois  was  the  wife 
of  Archi  Marsh,  of  Liberty  (they  subsequently  re- 
moved to  Franklin,  where  both  died) ; Sally,  the 
widow  of  J.  A.  Pestana,  resides  in  Chicago;  and 
Alfred,  a farmer,  died  in  Clifford.  The  eldest  son. 


\ Blackman. 


Titus  L.  Merriman,  born  in  Connecticut,  married 
Susan,  a daughter  of  Captain  Roswell  and  Lucy  Ann 
(Norton)  Smith.  The  latter  died  in  Connecticut  in 
1803;  the  former  settled  in  Franklin  about  1804,  and 
was  the  first  male  professing  religion  in  the  township. 
The  Smith  brothers  were  all  prominently  identified 
with  the  early  settlement  of  Franklin.  Roswell 
Smith  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life  in  the  township, 
and  died  in  1855,  past  eighty  years  of  age.  Titus  L. 
Merriman  spent  his  life  as  a farmer,  and  interested 
himself  in  the  welfare  of  the  community  in  which 
he  lived,  and  was  a bright  and  safe  example  in  all 
that  pertains  to  moral  sentiment  and  devoted  Chris- 
tianity. He  was  a member  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church  at  Upsonville,  of  which  he  was  an  elder  for 
many  years.  His  children  were  Joseph  L.,  born  Sep- 
tember 1,  1817 ; Herman  N.,  a carriage-maker,  en- 
listed and  commanded  a company  in  a New  York 
regiment,  was  wounded  at  the  battle  of  Port  Hudson, 
died  on  the  steamer  on  his  way  home  and  was  buried 
at  sea;  James  E.,  a carriage-maker,  died  in  Franklin 
in  1849 ; Ann  M.,  wife  of  Nathaniel  Newton,  of  Liv- 
ingston County,  N.  Y.,  resides  in  Chicago.  The 
mother  of  these  children  died  in  1874,  in  her  sev- 
enty-seventh year.  Joseph  L.  Merriman  was  early  in 
life  inclined  to  study,  and  became  proficient  in  book 
education  while  in  his  boyhood.  For  some  time  after 
attaining  the  age  of  seventeen  years  he  was  a clerk  in 
a store  in  Franklin,  and  also  at  Ithaca,  N.  Y.  Re- 
turning to  the  home  farm,  he  married,  in  1837.  Mercy, 
daughter  of  Artemas  and  Huldah  Baker,  of  Green- 
field, Pa.,  who  bore  him  children, — Everington  P., 
born  in  1840,  entered  the  law-office  of  Judge  Hand, 
of  Scranton,  after  his  graduation  at  the  Albany  Law 
School ; Ellingford  H.,  born  in  1841,  a clerk  for  his 
father;  Edgar  Leroy  (1844^76)  read  law  with  Mr.  Denni- 
son, of  Wilkes-Barre,  after  graduating  from  the  Wyo- 
ming Seminary,  Kingston,  was  admitted  to  the  har  be- 
fore reaching  his  majority,  was  district  attorney  of  Lu- 
zerne County  for  three  years,  and  received  the  nomina- 
tion of  the  Democratic  party  for  Congress  in  1876,  but 
died  before  election ; Franklin  (1853-69).  Mrs.  Merri- 
man died  in  the  spring  of  1866,  and  two  years  afterwards 
Mr.  Merriman  married  Frances  E.,  a daughter  of 
Ephraim  (1806-73)  and  Mary  (Barnum)  (1810-81) 
Smith,  who  was  born  March  3,  1833.  Ephraim  Smith 
was  a son  of  Ephraim  and  Sarah  (Tuttle)  Smith,  who 
settled  in  Franklin  from  Cheshire,  Conn.,  in  1798. 
Her  maternal  grandfather  was  Stephen  Barnum,  a 
brother  of  David  Barnum,  one  of  the  early  settlers  of 
Franklin,  left  in  1805,  and  established  Barnum’s  Ho- 
tel, Baltimore,  Md. 

The  children  of  Ephraim  and  Sarah  Smith  were 
William,  Merab,  Ephraim,  Sally ; and  by  his  second 
wife,  Sarah  B.  Buck  (who  died  in  1849,  at  the  age  of 
sixty-one),  Henry  Boardman,  James  P.  and  Julia 
Smith.  The  children  of  Ephraim  and  Mary  (Bar- 
num) Smith  are  Frances  E.,  the  present  wife  of  J.  L. 
Merriman  ; Sarah  E.  (1836-84)  was  the  wife  of  O.  M. 


520 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


Hall,  of  Franklin  ; Stephen  A.,  born  1838,  a farmer 
residing  at  Upsonville ; Lavina  M.,  born  in  1843, 
married  Edson  H.  Pickering,  a farmer  of  Bridge- 
water;  Elijah  B.,  born  1845,  a farmer  in  Salem, 
Wayne  County;  William  H.,  born  1846,  a manufac- 
turer of  Birmingham,  Conn. ; and  Hiram  B\,  born  in 
1848,  a farmer  in  Franklin. 

The  children  of  Artemas  and  Huldah  Baker  are 
John,  a merchant,  died  in  Michigan  in  1883;  Lucy, 
the  wife  of  Alfred  Merriman,  resides  in  Cliflbrd  town- 
ship, this  county  ; Mercy,  the  first  wife  of  J.  L.  Merri- 
man; Nash,  a merchant  and  farmer  in  Clifford ; Ann 
married  Wm.  R.  Gardner,  and  died  in  Lenox  in  1884; 
Susan,  wife  of  John  Halstead,  died  in  1883 ; Eliza 
married  a Mr.  Decker,  and  also  resides  in  Clifford. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Merriman  settled  on  his 
farm  at  Upsonville,  to  which  he  made  an  addition  of 
a timber  tract  in  1843  on  Bald  Hill.  For  several 
years  he  bought  butter,  eggs  and  other  farm  produce, 
which  he  marketed  at  Carbondale,  and  returned 
loaded  with  coal  for  merchants  at  New  Milford  and 
elsewhere ; and  after  his  last  purchase  of  land  men- 
tioned, he  cut  large  quantities  of  timber  during  the 
winter  season,  which  he  hauled  and  sold  on  the  Sus- 
quehanna River.  In  1846  he  established  mercantile 
business  in  his  own  house,  and  there  conducted  busi- 
ness until  1856,  when  he  built  the  brick  block  since 
known  as  the  “ Upsonville  Exchange,”  in  which  he 
has  carried  on  a successful  general  mercantile  busi- 
ness since.  His  father  had  been  postmaster  at  Up- 
sonville for  many  years,  and  his  son  has  also  been 
postmaster  for  some  twelve  years.  Mr.  Merriman 
had  the  contract  for  carrying  the  mails  for  ten  years 
from  Lawsville  Centre,  and  lor  thirty  years  from 
Great  Bend  to  Upsonville,  during  which  long  period 
he  has  never  missed  carrying  them  but  one  day.  He 
has  been  identified  with  the  Presbyterian  Church  of 
Upsonville  as  a member  for  fifty  years,  has  served  as 
elder,  and  has  been  superintendent  of  the  Sunday- 
school  for  the  past  thirteen  years.  His  wife  has  been 
a member  of  this  church  from  early  girlhood.  He 
has  been  a liberal  patron  to  the  cause  of  education, 
influential  in  politics,  and  has  held  all  of  the  town- 
ship offices,  including  justice  of  the  peace  ten  years, 
and  is  the  present  treasurer  of  the  township,  besides 
which  he  was  county  auditor  for  one  term  of  three 
years. 

David  and  Friend  Tuttle,  young  unmarried  men, 
came  in  1800,  and  four  years  later.  May  21,  1804,  the 
latter  married  Eunice,  a daughter  of  Rufus  and 
Tamar  Lines,  which  was  the  first  wedding  in  the 
township.  He  settled  on  a farm  south  of  the  present 
church,  where  he  died,  December  19,  1820,  aged 
thirty-nine  years,  leaving  eight  children.  Of  these, 
four  were  sons, — Rufus,  who  lived  on  the  homestead ; 
Reuben,  deceased  ; Andrew,  moved  to  the  West;  and 
Friend,  moved  to  the  South.  Mrs.  Tuttle  died  Aug- 
ust 13, 1869,  in  her  eighty-fifth  year. 

From  1800  to  1805  a number  of  settlers  came  into 


Franklin,  most  of  them  remaining  for  short  periods 
only,  then  removing  to  other  localities.  Among  these 
were  the  families  of  Josiah  Churchell,  Ralph  Lines, 
Enos  Tuttle,  Asa  Cornwell,  Edward  Cox,  Samuel  and 
Daniel  Chalker.  The  two  last  finally  settled  in  the 
nothern  part  of  Liberty,  but  Cox  remained  in  Choco- 
nut,  where  he  was  one  of  the  first  settlers. 

Simon  Park  settled  south  of  Tuttle’s  in  1809.  He 
was  a native  of  Plainfield,  Connecticut,  but  had 
settled  in  the  Wyoming  Valley  in  his  youth.  In 
1804  he  moved  to  Windsor,  New  York,  carrying  his 
effects  up  the  river  in  a flat-boat,  and  from  that  place 
came  to  Franklin.  He  built  a saw-mill  on  Wylie 
Creek,  a short  distance  below  the  later  Tingley 
mill,  but  it  was  not  a- profitable  venture  and  was  soon 
abandoned.  Of  his  family,  Covell  and  Nehemiah  died 
in  this  township,  and  Simon  in  New  Milford;  Char- 
lotta  became  the  wife  of  James  Dean. 

Wright  Green  came  to  the  same  neighborhood,  about 
the  same  time,  and  died  on  the  place  he  cleared  up. 
His  son  John  moved  to  California,  and  William  to 
New  York.  About  the  same  time  Calvin  and  Luther 
Peck  began  improving  farms  in  the  township.  A 
son  of  the  former,  Munson,  is  still  a resident  of  Frank- 
lin. Andrew  Leighton,  a Scotchman,  settled  north 
of  Lines,  on  the  present  Dearborn  place  at  Upson- 
ville, where  he  opened  a small  store  in  his  log  house. 
He  reared  a large  family,  and  died  at  this  place.  East 
from  him  was  Aaron  Van  Voorst,  on  the  Clark  farm, 
which  later  passed  into  the  hands  of  Billosty  Smith. 
Near  this  time  James  Watson,  an  Irishman,  settled 
on  a tract  of  land  northwest.  He  raised  sons — David, 
John,  Jeremiah  and  James.  His  daughter  Betsey 
married  David  Banker,  and  Mary  became  the  wife  of 
J.  C.  Wheaton,  both  citizens  of  the  township. 

David  Banker. — His  grandfather,  George  Banker 
(1768-1851),  a native  of  Tarrytown,  Westchester 
County,  N.  Y.,  married  Mary  Tillottson,  of  the  same 
place,  who  died  in  1856,  aged  about  ninety  years. 
Their  children  were  Phoebe  (1791-1869),  Benjamin 
(1793-1861),  Hannah  (born  in  1796),  David  (1799- 
1883),  Sophia  (1802-72),  Charlotte  (1804-78),  Nathan- 
iel (1807-84),  Maria  (1810,  died  young).  George 
Banker  removed  with  his  family, . and  settled  in 
Lawsville  township,  (now  Franklin),  in  1810,  near 
where  Upsonville  is  located,  where  himself  and  wife 
died.  David,  second  son,  married  for  his  first  wife, 
in  1820,  Elizabeth  Watson,  who  bore  him  children, — 
Julia  Ann,  widow  of  J.  E.  Gunn,  of  New  Milford ; 
Andrew,  an  insurance  agent  at  Binghamton  ; Mary 
E.  wife  of  J.  A.  Cornwell,  died  at  New  Milford; 
Seeley,  a farmer  at  Afton,  Iowa;  Esther,  wife  of 
George  W.  Barton,  of  Binghamton ; David,  born 
March  27,  1840 ; Jeremiah,  born  March  7,  1843, 
married  Mary  E.,  a daughter  of  William  and  Lucina 
(Howard)  Lawson,  an  English  family  who  settled  in 
Silver  Lake  in  1816,  and  resided  on  the  home  farm. 
Mrs.  Banker  died  in  1851,  and  in  1853  David  Banker 
married  Esther  Watson,  a sister  of  his  first  wife,  who 


FRANKLIN. 


521 


bore  him  one  child,  Charles  S.,  residing  near  Great 
Bend. 

David  Banker,  third  son  of  David  and  Elizabeth 
Banker,  married  Adelia,  a daughter  of  Justin  and 
Lydia  Ann  (Camp)  Dewey,  formerly  of  this  county, 
and  resides  also  on  the  home  farm. 

In  the  spring  of  1869  David  and  Jeremiah  Banker 
formed  a co-partnership  for  the  purpose  of  carrying 
on  the  stock  business,  under  the  firm-name  of  D.  & 
J.  Banker,  since  which  time  they  have  been  giving 
their  entire  attention  to  the  pure  breed  of  Devons. 
They  have  brought,  bred  and  sold  many  noted  cattle, 
having  purchased  seventeen  thoroughbreds,  includ- 
ing “ Prince  of  Wales,  15th  and  19th  ‘‘  Rose  of 
Baltimore,  1st  and  3d “ Belle,  8th  and  “ Edith, 
5th all  of  which  have  taken  important  prizes. 
Among  the  number  raised  by  them  may  properly  be 
mentioned  the  following  winners  of  important  prizes, 
viz. : “ Bright  Promise,”  which  took  the  first  prize 
national  milk  and  butter  test,  1882,  with  milk  record 
of  three  hundred  and  seventy-one  pounds  in  seven 
days,  and  butter  record  of  twenty  and  five-sixteenths 
pounds  for  the  same  time  (also  first  prize  New  York 
State  Fairs  in  1884,  ’85,  ’86  ; first  prize  Pennsylvania 
State  Fair,  1885 ; and  sweepstakes  at  the  same  fair  as 
best  cow  on  exhibition) ; “ Emily  “ Bright  Promise, 
3d  and  4th “ Lady  Hilton  ‘‘  Rose  of  Baltimore, 
7th  and  8th  “ EfBe  Rose “ Effie “ Take  Prize 
“ Mary  Anne “ Captain  Morris  “ Emily  Quarto 
and  “Albert  Banker.”  Their  stock  has  gained 
renown,  and  their  manner  of  doing  business  has 
gained  the  firm  such  a high  reputation  as  to  cause 
demands  from  many  parts  of  the  Union;  and  repre- 
sentatives from  their  farm  have  been  sold  in  almost 
every  State  and  Territory,  which  stock,  wherever 
shown,  have  taken  premiums.  In  their  herd  of 
twenty-two  pure-breed  Devons  is  “ Prince  of  Wales, 
19th,”  which  has  taken  the  first  prize  wherever 
shown,  and  is  acknowledged  by  competent  judges  to 
be  one  of  the  best  Devon  bulls  in  the  United  States. 
Since  entering  the  prize  area  with  their  cattle,  Messrs. 
D.  & J.  Banker  have  taken  thirty-eight  first  pre- 
miums at  the  New  York  and  Pennsylvania  State  Fairs 
(including  four  sweepstakes  for  best  on  exhibition, 
and  nine  first  herd  prizes),  and  eighteen  second 
premiums.  Their  home,  “ Fairview  Stock  Farm,” 
is  located  near  Upsonville,  Franklin  township,  about 
five  miles  southwest  of  Great  Bend,  and  is  comprised 
of  one  hundred  and  sixteen  acres  of  land,  with  good 
buildings  and  accommodations  for  their  large  and 
growing  business. 

Among  the  settlers  in  1811  were  James  Vance, 
Leman  Churchell  and  Chauncey  Turner.  The  latter 
first  lived  on  the  present  McKinney  place,  and  taught  a 
small  school  soon  after  he  came.  One  of  the  daughters 
became  the  wife  of  Arthur  Southworth.  Churchell 
settled  on  the  N.  T.  Buck  place,  where  he  died.  He 
was  a hard  worker.  His  son  Jonathan,  by  trade  a 
blacksmith,  removed  to  the  West.  Freeborn  lives  at 


Great  Bend,  and  Sarah  became  the  wife  of  Henry 
Beebe,  of  Franklin  Forks.  James  Vance  lived  north 
of  the  latter  place,  at  the  “Half-Way  House,”  a place 
midway  between  Montrose  and  Corbettsville.  Here 
he  built  a large  frame  house,  which  has  but  lately 
been  demolished.  Of  his  family,  Robert  lived  at  the 
Forks,  where  he  built  the  Summers  house ; Benja- 
min 0.  resides  on  the  homestead.  Other  sons  were 
Brewster  and  Lorenzo. 

Charles  Blowers  became  a resident  of  Franklin  the 
following  year,  settling  in  the  Stephen  Barnuin 
neighborhood.  He  died  in  1851,  aged  ninety-one 
years,  having  been  twice  married  and  the  father  of 
nineteen  children,  most  of  whom  attained  mature 
years.  His  oldest  son,  John,  settled  in  the  southern 
part  of  the  township,  now  occupied  by  his  son,  Henry 
G.  Another  son,  Daniel,  lived  near  Franklin  Forks. 
The  family  was  remarkable  for  its  vigor  and  longevity. 
On  one  occasion,  August  1846,  four  generations 
mowed  together, — Charles  Blowers,  eighty-six  years 
old ; John,  sixty-three  years ; Daniel  C.,  thirty-eight 
years;  and  Albert,  fourteen' years.  This  family  and 
others  of  the  later  settlers  came  from  Dutchess 
County,  N.  Y.  . 

The  same  year,  1812,  Harrison  Warner,  from  Con- 
necticut, settled  on  the  present  David  and  Jeremiah 
Banker  farm.  He  was  the  father  of  Mrs.  Edwin 
fcsummers,  of  the  Forks.  David  Summers,  a son  of 
David  Summers,  an  early  settler  in  New  Milford, 
located  on  a farm  still  owned  by  one  of  his  descend- 
ants, his  son  Levi  having  remained  on  the  home- 
stead. He  was  the  father  of  Harvey  Summers.  An- 
other son,  Ely,  removed  to  Binghamton,  N.  Y.,  and 
Edwin  resides  at  Franklin  Forks. 

West  from  the  Forks,  on  the  township  line,  lived 
Harry  Beebe,  who  died  in  June,  1875,  but  whose 
wife,  Orilla  Waller,  survived  him  until  November  1 
1886,  when  she  departed  this  life,  aged  ninety-three 
years  and  six  months.  They  were  the  parents  of  the 
Beebes  of  this  part  of  the  township.  In  the  same 
neighborhood,  at  a later  period,  settled  William 
Stockholm,  coming  from  Orange  County,  N.  Y. 
He  bought  what  was  known  as  the  Samuel  Risley 
place,  and  reared  a large  family,  among  the  sons, 
being  F.  A.  Stockholm,  on  the  homestead.  Other 
sons  are  George,  Aaron  and  John  J.  William  Bur- 
rows, an  Englishman,  came  to  this  neighborhood  at  a 
still  later  period,  and  has  since  been  identified  with 
this  locality.  His  son,  S.  A.  Burrows,  became  a dis- 
tinguished educator.  ) 

Of  the  settlers  who  came  to  Franklin  about  1820, 
but  a brief  account  can  here  be  given  : Jacob  Allard 
lived  on  tbe  A.  I.  Welsh  place,  his  daughter  having 
married  John  Welsh.  The  sons  were  John  and 
Henry.  The  Websters  lived  farther  north,  some  of 
their  farms  being  in  Liberty.  Joseph  Webster,  Sr., 
was  a Free-Will  Baptist  preacher,  as  was  also  his  son, 
John.  The  latter  was  the  father  of  Henry  and  John 
C.  Webster,  and  of  a daughter  who  married  Andrew 


522 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


Watson.  Others  of  this  period  were  Joel  Morse,  Ira 
Cole,  Joseph  H.  Holley,  AVm.  Salmon,  Allen  Upson 
and  Calvin  Wheaton.  Of  this  number  Calvin  Whea- 
ton lived  on  the  place  where  afterwards  settled 
John  Pierson,  who  came  from  Morris  County, 
N.  Y.,  with  his  seven  children,  in  June,  1841.  He 
reared  four  sons,  one  of  whom,  John  R.,  now  lives  on 
the  homestead.  A daughter,  Elizabeth,  married  John 
Cromwell,  of  Salt  Springs,  in  this  township.  John 
Pierson  died  in  1873,  aged  seventy-five  years,  and 
his  wife,  Betsey  (Talmadge),  in  1885,  aged  eighty- 
seven  years. 

Nathan  P.  Wheaton. — The  progenitor  of  the 
family  in  New  England  was  Caleb  Wheaton 
(1664-1770),  who  came  from  Wales  and  settled  in 
New  Hampshire,  where  he  died  at  the  great  age  of 
one  hundred  and  six  years.  Roswell  Wheaton,  a de- 
scendant of  Caleb,  remembered  returning  with  his 
father  to  New  Hampshire  from  Connecticut,  where 
his  parents  had  settled,  when  only  ten  years  of  age, 
to  visit  their  relatives  there.  He  was  an  ingenious 
man,  handy  with  tools,  and  followed  the  cabinet- 
making business  in  Litchfield  County.  He  was  a na- 
tive of  Branford,  Conn.,  and  died  in  Roxbury,  aged 
near  ninety  years.  He  served  in  the  Revolutionary 
War,  and  enlisted  when  only  fifteen  years  old.  His 
children  were  Calvin  (1788-1843),  was  a farmer  and 
married  Mrs.  Julia  (Phillips)  Hurd,  widow  of  Asel 
Hurd.  Her  father,  Nathan  Phillips,  was  a soldier 
also  of  the  Revolution,  was  wounded  and  was  present 
at  the  surrender  of  Cornwallis  at  Yorktown,  in  1781. 
He  lived  and  died  at  Port  Jefferson,  Long  Island. 
The  other  children  were  Warren,  Isaac,  Lester,  Cyn- 
thia, wife  of  Wm.  Elliott,  died  in  Connecticut;  Avis, 
wife  of  Ahijah  Dascom,  died  at  Athens,  Pa.;  and 
Phidelia,  wife  of  Homer  Bronson,  who  also  died  near 
the  latter  place.  One  sister  of  Julia  Phillips,  Eliza- 
beth, married  Captain  Apollos  Dayton,  whose  son. 
Captain  William  Dayton,  received  a gold  medal  from 
the  French  government,  presented  by  their  minister 
at  Washington  (Mr.  Outrey),  in  1879,  for  his  assistance 
in  rescuing  the  crew  of  the  French  vessel,  “Minerve,” 
in  a great  storm  at  sea.  He  was  notified  of  this  valu- 
able reward  by  Hon.  Wm.  H.  Seward,  then  Secretary 
of  State. 

The  children  of  Calvin  and  Julia  (Phillips) 
(1783-1850)  Wheaton  were  as  follows:  Nathan  Phil- 
lips, born  Nov.  17,  1810,  at  Washington,  Litchfield 
County,  Conn.;  Laura  (1813-42),  wife  of  Abner 
Deming,  then  of  Binghamton  (A.bner  Deming’s  son, 
Ferdinand,  is  a machinist  of  Waterbury,  Conn.,  and 
had  a contract  from  the  Spanish  government  for 
making  cartridges) ; Roswell,  born  in  1818,  was  an 
extensive  brick  manufacturer — was  at  one  time  a 
member  of  the  Connecticut  Legislature  and  influen- 
tial in  politics,  and  resides  at  Middlebury,  Conn.; 
Julia  (1819-42),  died  unmarried;  Albert  (1821-40) 
was  a teacher  and  died  of  consumption  ; Mary,  born 
in  1823,  was  the  second  wife  of  Abner  Deming,  before 


mentioned,  and  died  suddenly  some  twenty  years  ago. 
Calvin  Wheaton  removed  from  Litchfield  County  in 
1814,  and  settled  in  Lawsville,  this  county,  near  Great 
Bend,  where  he  took  up  a piece  of  timber  land  and 
carried  on  the  lumbering  business  about  seven  years, 
when  they  were  obliged  to  yield  the  property  to 
others  under  a previous  title.  They  returned  to  Con- 
necticut and  settled  on  the  old  Hurd  place.  In  1831 
Nathan  P,  and  Roswell  Wheaton  came  to  Franklin 
township  and  purchased  the  property  where  D.  B. 
Townsend  now  resides,  upon  which  their  parents,  re- 
turning, settled  the  following  year.  Nathan  spent 
several  years  manufacturing  brick,  by  which  means 
he  accumulated  sufficient  means,  and  returned  to 
Franklin  in  1838,  and  paid  the  balance  due  upon  his 
purchase.  In  the  fall  of  that  year  he  married  Mary 
Watson,  who  was  born  Sept.  8,  1814,  and  for  ten 
years  carried  on  his  farm,  sold  it  and  purchased  his 
present  property,  the  salt  spring  lot,  on  Silver  Creek, 
about  one  mile  west  of  Franklin  Forks.  His  parents 
removed  to  the  farm  now  occupied  by  J.  R.  Pierson, 
where  both  died.  His  farm  consisted  of  some  five 
hundred  acres,  a few  acres  of  which  he  disposed  of  to 
a company  who  drilled  for  oil  and  afterwards  for  salt, 
boring  to  the  depth  of  eight  hundred  feet  without, 
however,  reaching  either  in  paying  quantities.  Mr. 
Wheaton  has  given  considerable  attention  to  stock- 
raising,  and  his  herd  of  Devons  have  been  awarded 
premiums  both  at  the  County  and  State  Fairs.  Upon 
the  erection  of  the  present  court-house,  he  took 
charge  of  a yard  for  the  county  and  manufactured 
the  brick  for  its  construction  and  also  for  the  Des- 
sauer  block  at  Montrose.  He  has  been  school 
director  and  otherwise  officially  identified  with  the 
township,  and  served  for  many  years  as  justice  of  the 
peace  until  he  was  succeeded  by  his  son,  James  C., 
who  was  elected  to  that  office  upon  reaching  his  ma- 
jority. Both  himself  and  wife  are  members  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church  at  Franklin  Forks,  of  which  he 
has  been  an  elder  for  over  twenty-five  years. 

The  children  of  Nathan  P,  and  Mary  (Watson) 
Wheaton  are  Laura  Martha,  born  in  1839,  wife  of 
Roger  Kenyon,  now  of  Montrose ; James  Calvin, 
born  in  1844,  married  Carrie  L.  Southworth,  and  re- 
sides opposite  the  homestead  (their  children  are  Mary 
M.,  Julia  Laura  and  Nathan  P.  Wheaton);  and  John 
R.  Wheaton  (1848-69),  who  died  suddenly  on  his  re- 
turn from  a business  trip  to  the  South. 

James  C.  Wheaton  was  educated  at  Wyoming 
Seminary  at  Kingston,  Pa.,  where  he  became  pro- 
ficient in  surveying  and  civil  engineering,  and  which 
he  has  made  his  life-work  since.  He  received  the 
nomination  from  the  Democratic  party  for  member  of 
the  State  I^egislature  in  1882  and  for  county  surveyor 
in  1884  and  again  in  1886 ; but  his  party  being  largely 
in  the  minority,  he  was  defeated.  He  was  elected 
justice  of  the  peace,  and  by  re-election  is  serving  his 
fourth  term  of  five  years  each.  James  Watson,  the 
father  of  Mrs.  Wheaton,  came  from  County  Armagh, 


FRANKLIN. 


523 


Ireland,  to  New  York  in  1800,  and  subsequently  set- 
tled in  Westchester  County,  where  he  married  Sarah 
Lounsbury,  who  bore  him  the  following  children : 
Elizabeth,  wife  of  David  Banker,  of  Franklin;  David 
and  John  (twins),  the  former  a resident  of  Franklin, 
the  lattei’,  a farmer,  died  in  the  same  township  at  the 
age  of  eighty,  in  1885;  Andrew,  a farmer  in  Frank- 
lin; Jeremiah,  died  in  Windsor,  N.  Y.;  Mary,  wife  of 
’Squire  Nathan  P.  Wheaton  ; Esther,  the  second  wife 
of  David  Banker  ; James,  a farmer,  died  in  Franklin; 
William,  died  a young  man.  The  Watson  family 
settled  where  Upsonville  now  is  about  1807,  and  after- 
wards sold  the  property  to  Allen  Upson,  who  estab- 
lished a post-office  and  was  the  founder  of  the  place. 
James  Watson  died  in  1850,  aged  eighty,  and  was 
survived  by  his  wife  ten  years.  He  was  a great  Bible 
student  and  had  a remarkable  memory. 

In  1813  a list  of  taxables  in  the  old  township  of 
Lawsville  embraced  the  following  names: 

Jedediah  Adams,  Joseph  Bishop,  George  Banker,  Stephen  Barnum, 
Zenas  Barnum,  Charles  Blowers,  Henry  Blowers,  Lemon  Churchill, 
Josiah  Churchill,  Josiah  Davis,  Josiah  Davis,  Jr.,  Levi  Griffin,  Waples 
Hance,  John  Holmes,  Joseph  Hutchinson,  Julius  Jones,  Norman  Kil- 
horn,  Andrew  Leighton,  Ralph  Lines,  Belisle  Lines,  Rufus  Lines. 
Theophilus  Merriman,  John  McFall,  Luther  Peck,  Calvin  Peck,  Simon 
Park,  Jesse  Ross,  Israel  Richardson,  Thomas  W.  Rich,  Jehiel  Saxton, 
Daniel  Stanford,  Roswell  Smith,  Lyman  Smith,  Sylvester  Smith,  Titus 
Smith,  Ephraim  Smith,  Samuel  Simmons,  David  Summers,  Jr. , Come, 
lius  Scott,  Tlieo.  Tabor,  Friend  Tuttle,  Ephraim  Tuttle,  Daniel  Tuttle, 
Samuel  Truesdell,  James  Truesdell,  Chauncey  Turner,  Aaron  Van 
Voorst,  James  Watson,  Harrison  Warner. 

It  will  be  seen  that  a number  of  the  above  lived 
in  that  part  of  the  township  which  is  now  Liberty, 
but  by  far  the  greater  portion  were  in  Franklin. 
The  relative  increase  of  population  in  the  two  town- 
ships may  be  seen  by  reference  to  lists  after  the  divi- 
sion took  place.  The  list  of  Franklin  will  also  show 
what  families  remained  after  the  lapse  of  these 
years. 

Taxables  1836. — Jedediah  Adams,  Jacob  Allard.  Jacob  Allard,  Jr., 
Amos  Barns,  Hiram  Barnum,  Stephen  Barnum,  Cliarlee  Blowers,  John 
Blowers,  David  Banker,  Benjamin  Banker,  Edwin  L.  Brundage,  Free- 
man Badger,  Anthony  Blackman,  Samuel  Baker,  Alexander  Barron, 
Amos  Churchill,  Ira  Cole,  Eli  Crofut,  Isaiah  Depue,  Samuel  Doug- 
lass, Samuel  S.  Fisk,  Asa  Fisk,  John  Green,  Wright  Green,  C.  G.  Han- 
drick,  P.  H.  Hawley,  Joel  Ives,  Rufus  Lines,  Jr.,  Rufus  Lines,  Andrew 
Leighton,  Ebenezer  Leighton,  Nathaniel  Leighton,  Theophilus  Merri- 
man, Alfred  Merriman,  Titus  L.  Merriman,  Timothy  C.  McKinney, 
Benjamin  Merritt,  Joel  Morris,  Cyrus  Messenger,  Cyrus  P.  Messenger, 
Luther  Peck,  Calvin  Peck,  Covel  Park,  John  A.  Pestana,  Neheiniah 
Park,  Simon  Park,  Simon  Park,  Jr.,  Levi  Summers,  Edwin  Summers, 
Isaiah  Smith,  Lambert  Smith,  Lyman  Smith,  Sylvester  Smith,  Thomas 
B.  Smith,  Titus  Smith,  Ephraim  Smith,  Jr.,  William  Smith,  Ephraim 
Smith,  Henry  B.  Smith,  Rufus  Smith,  Norton  Smith,  Roswell  Smith, 
Raymond  Smith,  Harry  Smith,  Andrew  Smith,  Billosby  Smith,  James 
Stephens,  Josiah  Stevens,  Morgan  Sherwood,  Eunice  Tuttle,  Chauncey 
Turner,  Allen  Upson,  James  Vance,  Thomas  C.  Vance,  Aaron  Van 
Voorst,  Nathan  Wheaton,  Roswell  Wheaton,  Andrew  Watson,  David 
Watson,  James  Webster,  John  Webster,  Joseph  Webster,  Harrison 
Warner,  Isaac  Willson,  Philip  Willson,  John  A.  Welsh,  Alonzo  Wil- 
iams, Orlando  Williams,  William  Young. 

Business  Interests. — The  township  had  no  vil- 
lage within  its  bounds  until  nearly  fifty  years  after 
its  settlement.  But,  in  the  eastern  part,  was  a sort  of 
business  centre,  about  1800,  which  has  been  continued 


ever  since.  The  first  of  this  nature  was  the  public 
house  of  David  Barnum,  on  the  hill  near  the  church, 
which  was  kept  by  him  from  about  1799  to  1804,  and 
afterward  a short  time  by  Richard  Barnum,  when  the 
place  became  an  ordinary  farm.  David  Barnum 
moved  to  Baltimore  and  there  established  the  hotel 
so  favorably  known  by  his  name.  The  building  in 
Franklin  burned  down  in  course  of  years,  and  no 
tavern  has  since  been  kept  in  this  part  of  the  town- 
ship. 

About  1810  Andrew  Leighton  opened  a small  store 
in  his  residence,  at  the  present  Dearborn  place,  which 
he  kept  some  time,  and  this  was  the  first  store  in  the 
township.  Later  a store  was  opened,  a little  more 
than  a mile  from  this  place,  by  a man  named  Chap- 
man, who  sold  out  to  John  A.  Pestana.  The  latter 
traded  only  a few  years,  when  the  place  became  farm 
property.  At  what  is  now  the  hamlet  of  Upsonville 
Henry  B.  Smith  engaged  in  trade,  in  the  yellow  build- 
ing still  standing  there,  being  succeeded  by  Eliab 
Farrar  and  later  by  Titus  Smith.  In  1846  J.  L.  Mer- 
riman began  trading  there,  and  continued  until  he  had 
built  his  new  brick  store  iu  1856,  which  he  called  the 
“Upsonville  Exchange,”  and  where  he  has  traded 
ever  since.  The  name  exchange  was  adopted  because 
at  that  time  cash  was  so  scarce  a commodity  that 
most  of  the  trading  was  done  by  barter. 

In  this  locality  Lawsville  post-office  was  established, 
December  1,  1814,  with  Arad  Wakelee  as  postmaster, 
who  kept  it  until  1821,  when  Ira  Cole  was  appointed. 
Allen  Upson  became  the  postmaster  in  1824,  and  it 
was  in  honor  of  him  that  the  name  of  the  office  was 
changed  to  Upsonville  in  1836.  The  nextyear  Fred- 
erick Lines  became  postmaster,  and,  in  1838,  Titus. 
L.  Merriman.  In  all  this  period  it  was  kept  on  the 
same  lot  of  ground,  on  the  hill  opposite  the  church 
Since  that  time  the  postmasters  have  been  Ephraim 
Smith,  in  1849;  T.  L.  Merriman,  in  1853  ; James  P. 
Smith,  in  1861 ; Ephraim  Smith,  in  1863 ; E.  H. 
Merriman,  in  1866  ; F.  Lines,  in  1872 ; Stephen  A. 
Smith,  in  1873 ; F.  Lines,  in  1875 ; J.  K.  Reid,  in 
1876  ; and  Peter  S.  Dearborn  since  1879.  The  mail 
service  is  daily  from  Great  Bend,  and  the  mails  have 
been  carried  the  past  thirty-five  years  by  J.  L.  Merri- 
man, who  has  missed  but  a few  trips  in  all  that  time. 

Upsonville  was,  in  1886,  a straggling  hamlet  of 
half  a dozen  residences,  a post-office,  store,  Presby- 
terian Church  and  parsonage,  and  a good  school- 
house.  The  surrounding  country  is  fertile,  and  has 
well-cultivated  farms.  There  have  been  mechanic 
shops  iu  the  neighborhood,  Rufus  Lines  being  the 
blacksmith  and  Raymond  Smith  the  pioneer  shoe- 
maker. 

One  mile  south  of  the  corners,  at  Upsonville,  Sam- 
uel Douglas  had  a small  tannery  and  also  carried  on 
a shoe-shop.  Here  is  now  the  Franklin  Creamery, 
owned  by  the  American  Dairy  Company,  of  which 
B.  de  Schweinitz  is  the  county  manager.  The  building 
is  a two-story  frame,  which  was  put  up  iu  1882,  and  is 


52i 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


well  supplied  with  apparatus.  It  has  a capacity  to 
work  up  eight  thousand  pounds  of  milk  per  day. 

N ear  here  was  the  saw-mill  of  Simon  Park,  oper^ 
ated  from  1809  to  1812,  when  it  was  abandoned  on 
account  of  the  weak  power.  Lower  down  the  stream, 
near  the  township  line,  Robert  Bound,  one  of  the 
land-owners,  caused  mills  to  be  built  in  1802,  which 
were  carried  on  a short  time  by  Obed  Doolittle,  when 
they  were  abandoned  as  a failure.  In  the  intervening 
period  the  settlers  patronized  the  mill  of  Captain 
David  Summers,  which  was  put  up  about  this  time, 
in  New  Milford,  but  which  also  went  down  after  a 
few  years’  operation.  In  more  recent  years  J.  P. 
Tingley  erected  a saw-mill,  in  the  neighborhood  of 
the  old  Park  mill,  which  was  kept  running  about 
fifteen  years,  and  a small  feed-mill  was  also  carried 
on ; but  both  have  been  abandoned,  on  account  of  the 
insufliciency  of  the  water-power,  and  no  manufactur- 
ing is  now  done  in  this  part  of  the  township. 

Franklin  Forks  is  a thriving  village  in  the  valley 
of  the  Snake  Creek,  where  the  waters  of  Silver 
Creek  fall  into  that  stream.  It  is  seven  miles  from 
Montrose,  and  having  fine  and  easy  roads  leading  to  it 
from  all  parts  of  the  township,  it  has  beeome  an  im- 
portant business  place.  There  are  the  interests  noted 
below,  two  churches,  a number  of  fine  residences 
and  about  one  hundred  and  fifty  inhabitants.  The 
main  part  of  the  village  is  on  Turnpike  Street,  which 
is  crossed  at  right  angles,  in  the  centre  of  the  place, 
by  Silver  Lake  Street.  Near  this  point  was  a com- 
mon corner  of  four  hundred  acres  of  land,  owned, 
before  the  village  was  begun,  by  Joseph  Smith,  Robert 
Vance,  Benjamin  Merritt  and  Harry  Beebe.  The 
Vance  place  passed  into  the  hands  of  Edwin  Sum- 
mers, who  has  occupied  it  since  1846,  his  house  being 
the  oldest  in  the  village.  Merritt  lived  on  the  north- 
west lot  and  died  in  this  place,  in  1881,  aged  eighty- 
six  years.  In  his  lifetime  he  was  considerable  of  a 
wanderer,  making  three  trips  to  the  Pacific  coast. 

John  Snow  first  utilized  the  water  power  and  laid 
the  foundation  for  a business  place.  In  1836  he  used 
the  waters  of  Silver  Creek  to  operate  a small  lathe  to 
turn  chair  stuff,  and  other  material  for  making  furni- 
ture, carrying  on  such  a shop  several  years.  In  the 
meantime  Joseph  E.  Webster  and  Daniel  H.  Blowers 
began  clearing  up  small  farms  on  the  village  site;  and 
in  1840  the  school-house  was  built  in  which  Blowers 
taught.  Lower  down  the  creek  James  Vance  began 
making  bricks  about  this  time,  and  also  had  a small 
saw-mill  ; but  neither  interest  was  long  continued. 

In  April,  1844,  Joseph  Smith  and  his  son,  Eli  B., 
came  from  Roxbury,  N.  Y.,  and  the  former  purchased 
the  mill-seat  on  Silver  Creek,  with  forty-three  acres  of 
land,  on  which  he  built  a sole-leather-tannery.  He 
used  the  water-power  to  grind  his  bark  and  carried  on 
business  quite  extensively  those  times,  having  sixty 
vats.  At  the  end  of  six  years  Eli  B.  took  charge  of  the 
property,  but  in  the  course  of  a year  it  burned  down, 
and  was  not  rebuilt. 


In  1853  the  mill-site  was  sold  to  Asa  Fisk,  who  erect- 
ed a saw-mill  and  operated  the  same  by  water-power. 
This  subsequently  had  many  owners,  and,  in  1878,  a 
small  buckwheat-mill  was  added  to  the  property  by 
A.  Y.  Smith.  While  owned  by  E.  E.  Tuttle  steam- 
power  was  supplied,  in  1882.  Since  April,  1884,  the 
owner  of  the  mill  has  been  Silas  B.  Knapp.  The 
power  is  forty  horse  and  the  cutting  capacity  is  eight 
thousand  feet  per  day.  Employment  is  given  to  five 
men. 

Higher  up  the  Silver  Creek  are  the  “ Acid  Works,” 
erected  in  1881  by  Tarbell,  Lindsley  & Co.  The  main 
building  is  fifty-eight  by  one  hundred  and  sixty-five 
feet,  and  there  are  six  retorts  and  two  stills  and  conden- 
sing apparatus,  making  crude  alcohol  and  acetate  of 
lime.  It  is  operated  ten  months  per  year,  consuming 
thirteen  hundred  cords  of  hard  wood,  and  gives  occupa- 
tion to  seven  men.  Since  July  1, 1886,  the  owners  have 
been  G.  W.  Lindsey  & Son.  On  the  turnpike  road  a 
cigar  factory  was  built,  in  the  fall  of  1886,  by  Potter^ 
Crandall  & Co.,  which  had  a half-dozen  men  at  work 
in  December  of  that  year.  The  building  is  eighteen  by 
twenty-four  feet,  three  stories  high,  and  has  table-room 
for  twenty  men.  Eight  grades  of  eigars  are  made. 

The  village  is  supplied  with  the  ordinary  mechanic 
shops,  and,  since  1867,  B.  B.  Todd  has  had  a shoe- 
maker’s shop  and  store  combined.  The  first  merchan- 
dise in  the  place  was  sold,  about  1845,  by  Joseph 
Smith,  a small  room  in  his  residence  being  set  aside 
for  this  purpose.  In  1850  Stillman  Fuller  built  the 
first  regular  store,  using  part  of  the  building  for  a 
residenee,  and  traded  several  years,  when  he  was  suc- 
ceeded by  H.  L.  Blowers ; and  later  caihe  Charles 
Tinker,  Roger  Kenyon  and  D.  C.  & F.  H.  Fordham. 
The  latter  when  succeeded  by  Joshua  Boyd,  who  traded 
seven  years  in  the  old  store,  when  the  building  was 
removed  and  the  present  building  erected  in  1878,  in 
which  Boyd  is  still  in  trade.  The  old  building  was 
converted  into  a barn  and  burned  down,  having  a span 
of  horses  in  it  at  the  time.  In  1871  the  Fordhams 
built  a store  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  street,  but  in 
1876,  sold  out  to  G.  H.  & P.  H.  Smith,  who  occupied  it 
until  the  Smith  stand  was  completed,  in  the  fall  of 
the  year.  Since  1883  the  firm  has  been  G.  H.  Smith. 

In  1881  F.  H.  Fordham  again  occupied  his  old  build- 
ing, and  traded  two  years,  when  he  sold  to  M.  A.  Blair, 
who  oecupied  it  as  a drug-store,  on  the  old  site,  one 
year,  when  it  was  moved  to  its  present  site,  where  it 
has  been  occupied  as  a drug-store,  since  the  fall  of 
1886,  by  Dr.  A.  S.  Blair,  and  is,  also,  the  post-ofl3ceof 
the  village.  A fourth  store  was  opened  in  the  place, 
in  1883,  by  Ed.  Conklin,  in  which  he  has  since  mer- 
chandised. 

In  1871  the  Lawsville  Centre  post-office  was  kept 
a short  time,  but  in  the  same  year  Franklin  Forks 
post-office  was  established  with  Joshua  Boyd,  postmas- 
ter. He  filled  this  position  until  the  fall  of  1885, 
when  M.  A.  Blair  succeeded  him.  It  has  a daily 
mail.  As  physicians  there  have  been,  at  Franklin 


FEANKLIN. 


525 


Forks,  Doctors  G.  A.  Westfall,  Charles  Tiffany,  and 
the  present.  Dr.  A.  S.  Blair. 

Southworth  Post,  No.  222,  G.  A.  R.,  was  instituted 
at  Franklin  Forks,  October  17,  1880,  with  twenty-two 
charter  members,  J.  J.  Stockholm  as  the  first  Com- 
mander and  J.  H.  Hunger  Adjutant,  a position  he 
has  since  filled.  Other  Commanders  have  been  E.  L. 
Beebe,  B.  C.  Vance,  T.  L.  Smith  and  S.  B.  Knapp. 
In  all  its  history  the  Post  never  missed  a stated  meet- 
ing, notwithstanding  its  first  hall  was  destroyed  by 
fire.  Death  has  taken  away  two  members,  but,  in 
December,  1886,  there  were  thirty-five  working  mem- 
bers, and  the  affairs  of  the  Post  were  in  a flourishing 
condition. 

The  Franklin  Salt  Springs  are  a mile  above 
the  village,  on  the  south  side  of  Silver  Creek,  and 
below  the  mouth  of  Cold  Brook  or  Falls  Creek.  From 
the  earliest  settlement  of  the  country  there  have  been 
traditions  regarding  this  spring,  and  interesting 
legends  have  also  been  associated  with  this  spot.  It 
is  stated  that  the  Indians,  on  leaving  this  country, 
sought  to  hide  all  traces  of  the  spring  by  turning 
the  channel  of  Cold  Brook  over  it,  and  that  for 
many  years  the  exact  spot  from  whence  issued  saline 
waters  was  unknown  to  the  whites.  In  the  course  of 
years  some  Indians  who  visited  this  section  offered 
to  reveal  the  spot  to  Wajjles  Hance,  of  Liberty, 
and,  on  receiving  the  twenty-five  dollars  demanded, 
exposed  the  place  in  the  stream,  a small  basin 
pounded  out  of  the  rock,  in  which  was  a large 
wooden  spoon,  with  a stone  laid  over  it.  When 
the  waters  of  the  brook  were  returned  to  the 
natural  channel  saline  water  slowly  gathered  in 
the  basin,  which  was  dipped  up  with  the  spoon 
and,  upon  being  boiled,  produced  good  salt.  The 
existence  of  a salt  or  mineral  spring  having  been 
established  beyond  doubt,  various  means  were  em- 
ployed to  develop  it,  the  first  work  of  this  nature 
being  done  by  Judge  ^Balthaser  De  Haert  and  his 
brother,  who  came  from  New  York  for  this  purpose, 
about  1810. 

Colonel  Nicholas  Biddle,  the  owner  of  large  tracts 
of  land  in  the  county,  had  reserved  the  spring  and 
five  hundred  acres  of  land  connected  with  it,  but 
despairing  of  realizing  on  its  minerals,  if  the  land 
contained  any,  sold  this  tract  to  N.  P.  Wheaton,  who 
improved  it  for  farm  purposes.  The  following  year 
Daniel  H.  Keeler,  who  had  been  operating  Dr.  Kose’s 
woolen  factory  in  Silver  Lake,  secured  a mill-site 
below  the  falls  of  Cold  Brook,  where  he  erected  a 
two-story  building,  twenty-four  by  fifty  feet,  for  factory 
purposes,  and  equipped  the  same  with  machinery. 
Here  he  carried  on  the  business  of  carding,  fulling 
and  the  making  of  coarse  cloths  for  about  ten  years, 
when  work  was  suspended  and  the  machinery  re- 
moved to  Corbettsville,  N.  Y.  The  building,  being 
unused,  soon  went  to  decay  and  added  to  the  pictur- 


esqueness of  this  romantic  spot.  The  power  was 
derived  directly  from  the  falls  by  means  of  a fiume, 
and  the  water  passed  over  a sixteen-foot  wheel.  For 
many  years  the  springs  were  the  resort  of  pleasure- 
parties,  and  the  waters  gained  considerable  celebrity 
on  account  of  their  curative  properties. 

Montrose  Tannery. — In  the  valley  of  Snake  Creek, 
in  the  southern  part  of  the  township,  is  a hamlet, 
locally  known  as  Mungerville  and  Stumpville,  the 
latter  name  being  applied  when  the  forests  at  this 
place  were  first  removed.  Its  principal  feature  is  the 
above-named  tannery  and  the  tenements — twelve  in 
number — connected  with  it.  The  first  improvement 
was  here  made  about  1840,  when  Grover  & Mitchell 
put  up  a small  tannery,  which  was  burned  down  after 
several  years’  operation.  The  site  then  passed  into 
the  hands  of  J.  W.  Biackney  & Co.,  who  put  up  a 
larger  tannery  and  carried  on  the  same  for  ten  years. 
Azur  Lathrop  became  the  owner  before  1853,  and  en- 
larged the  capacity  by  introducing  steam-power,  and 
tanned  sole-leather  by  the  new  process.  He  had  one  hun- 
dred vats  and  employed  twenty-five  hands  in  tanning 
thirty  thousand  sides  of  leather,  about  three  thousand 
cords  of  hemlock  bark  being  used  per  year.  In  1871 
the  tannery  was  sold  to  J.  H.  & E.  P.  Hunger,  who 
controlled  it  until  1884,  when  they  sold  out  to  A. 
Healy  & Sons,  but  remained  as  managers.  In  their 
ownership  they  added  sixteen  vats,  but  have  not 
lately  worked  the  tannery  to  its  full  cai^acity.  In 
1886  twenty  men  were  employed.  In  1882  the  brand 
of  the  leather  here  made  was  changed  from  Franklin 
to  Montrose  Tannery,  and  as  such  has  a good  reputa- 
tion in  the  markets.  With  the  tannery  are  also 
twenty-five  acres  of  land,  on  which  is  a good  man- 
sion. 

On  the  creek,  south  of  Mungerville,  Azur  Lathrop 
had  a saw-mill,  which  became  the  property  of  L.  Foot 
in  1871,  who  operated  it  with  steam-power  until  it 
was  removed.  A small  mill  on  the  east  branch  of 
Snake  Creek,  owned  by  Isaac  Harris,  has  also  been 
abandoned.  A small  store  was  kept  a short  time  at 
Mungerville ; but  being  only  three  miles  from  Mont- 
rose, was  closed  up  as  unprofitable. 

Educational  and  Eeligious.^ — The  first  school- 
house — a log  structure — was  erected  in  1806,  on  the 
farm  Titus  Smith  formerly  owned,  and  near  where 
Stiles  Jacobus  lives.  The  first  teacher  was  Esther 
Buck  (afterwards  Mrs.  James  Newman,  of  Great 
Bend) ; the  second  was  Polly  Bates  (Mrs.  Sylvester 
Smith) ; the  third,  Penila  Bates  (Mrs.  Seth  Hall), 
both  daughters  of  Thomas  Bates,  of  Great  Bend. 
Anna  Buck  and  Selina  Badger  were  later  teachers.  It 
is  not  known  that  there  was  any  winter  school  till 
about  180y,  when  Dr.  Gray,  a transient  settler,  was 
employed  to  teach — he  and  his  wife  living  in  the 
school-house  at  the  same  time.  James  De  Haert 
taught  there  the  next  winter.  (He  died  at  the  house 


1 See  chapter  on  Geology. 


2 Adapted  from  Mitjs  Blackman’s  sketches. 


526 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTS,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


of  Rufus  Lines  in  1813.)  It  is  thought  Lehman 
Churchell  taught,  during  the  winter  of  1810-11,  the 
last  school  in  the  building.  Mr.  Churchell  was  a 
Methodist  exhorter,  and  held  regular  meetings  in 
school-houses  at  an  early  day. 

The  old  school-house  was  biiilt  in  1811  or  1812.  It 
stood  nearly  forty  years,  and  was  then  accidentally 
burned.  A better  one  was  soon  built  near  its  site. 
The  first  building,  called  the  East  school-house,  was 
erected  in  1818  ; but  a better  one  has  for  many  years 
stood  in  its  place.  In  1819  the  North  school-house 
was  set  a little  north  of  Upsonville.  At  a later  day  a 
brick  school-house  was  erected  in  its  stead  on  a lot 
adjoining  the  Upsonville  Exchange,  which  was  used 
until  1875,  when  the  new  school-house,  on  the  hill, 
ojjposite  the  church,  was  occupied.  This  is  a good 
two-story  building,  and  was  erected  with  a view  of 
maintaining  a graded  school  in  it;  and  several  terms 
of  such  a school  were  taught  with  encouraging  siic- 
cess,  when  the  project  had  to  be  abandoned  on  ac- 
count of  opposition  from  other  parts  of  the  township. 
The  same  feeling  prevented  the  formation  of  an  inde- 
pendent district  in  1878.  Since  that  time  the  lower 
room  only  of  this  building  has  been  used  for  school 
purposes,  the  upper  story  forming  a public  hall.  The 
first  school-house  at  Franklin  Forks  was  built  in  1840. 
In  1886  there  were  seven  schools  in  the  township,  at- 
tended by  one  hundred  and  eighty-seven  pupils. 

“ It  is  said  that  in  the  ‘Lawsville  settlement’  the  Sabbath  was  ob- 
served from  the  first.  With  Saturday  night  secular  labor  ceased,  and 
quiet  reigned  throughout  the  forest-lioines. 

The  influence  of  early  training,  example  and  habit  preserved  the 
people  from  open  desecration  of  a day  which  they  had  been  taught  to 
regard  as  sacred,  though  they  were  far  removed  from  those  religious 
privileges  and  associations  which  had  attended  their  childhood  and 
youth. 

“ Most  of  them  were  from  Cheshire,  New  Haven  County,  Conn.,  where 
no  deep  religious  interest  is  known  to  have  been  felt  until  many  years 
after  the  period  under  consideration.  This  may  in  a measure  account 
for  the  fact  that,  notwithstanding  these  privileges,  few  of  them  had  made 
an  experimental  acquaintance  with  religion  at  the  time  of  their  emigra- 
tion ; but  they  erected  and  maintained  a high  standard  of  public  morals. 
Mrs.  Tamar  Lines  and  Mrs.  Sarah  Merriman  were  the  first,  aud  for  five 
years  the  only,  professors  of  religion  in  the  place.  Their  piety,  though 
unobtrusive,  was  decided,  and  in  after-years  they  were  referred  to  as 
almost  faultless  examples  of  Christian  character.  Mrs.  Merriman  died 
in  1835,  aged  sixty-six;  Mrs.  Lines  in  1843,  aged  eighty.  But  their 
memory  has  not  perished,  nor  has  their  influence  ceased  to  be  felt.  Of 
their  children,  grandchildren  and  great-grandchildren,  it  may  be  said 
that  some  of  them,  we  have  good  reason  to  believe,  have  ‘fallen  asleep 
in  Jesus;’  some  are  useful  citizens  and  active  Christians  of  Franklin 
and  other  townships  of  this  and  a neighboring  county ; and  others  of 
them,  sustaining  the  same  character,  are  scattered  in  several  distant 
States.  Captain  Roswell  Smith  was  the  first  male  professor  of  religion, 
who  settled  here  in  1805. 

“ Religious  woi*ship  commenced  soon  after  the  first  settlement  of 
the  town.  As  early  as  1801  or  1802  missionaries  came  here  from  Con- 
necticut and  Massachusetts,  and  meetings  were  held  at  Mr.  Theophilus 
Merriman’s  and  other  private  houses,  until  the  old  South  school-house 
was  built,  and  then  meetings  were  held  there.  About  1809  meetings 
were  held  on  alternate  Sabbaths  by  Beacon  Ward,  at  the  houses  of  Ben- 
jamin Doolittle,  in  New  Milford,  and  Titus  Smith,  in  Franklin,  and 
soon  thereafter  regular  services  were  established  through  the  efforts  of 
the  missionaries  and  these  local  workers.  Of  their  labors  and  their  re- 
ception by  the  pioneers,  Mi's.  Hannah  Bark  i has  written  : 


1 She  was  the  daughter  of  Captain  Roswell  Smith,  and  became  the 


“ They  hailed  with  joy  the  cming  of  missionaries,  entertained  them 
at  their  houses,  sent  notices  through  the  settlement  where  they  would 
preach,  and  always  attended  religious  worship  with  as  many  of  the  fam- 
ily as  circumstances  would  permit.  When  meetings  were  within  two 
miles  all  could  go.  The  older  children  could  walk;  father  rode  on  one 
horse  with  a child  before  him  ; mother  on  another,  with  a babe  in  her 
lap.  In  addition,  when  necessary,  they  could  take  one  of  the  older 
daughters  upon  a pillion  behind  them  on  the  same  horse.  From  the 
place  now  called  Brookdale,  in  Liberty,  to  New  Milford  Valley,  there 
were  persons  who  were  habituated  to  public  worship,  and  many  log 
dwellings  between  these  points  were,  at  different  times,  crowded  for  that 
purpose.  People  sometimes  went  to  Harford  and  to  Great  Bend  to  hear 
missionaries,  and  it  was  not  uncommon  when  we  had  preaching  to  see 
people  from  those  places  in  our  congregation. 

“ There  were  two  services  on  each  Sabbath,  with  an  intermission  of  an 
hour,  or  (in  winter)  of  half  an  hour.  During  this  time  the  people  re- 
mained in  and  around  the  house  where  the  meeting  was  held,  separately 
eating  a lunch  brought  from  home,  or  engaging  in  such  conversation  as 
was  thought  to  befit  the  occasion.  All  common  secular  talk  was  consid- 
ered a desecration  of  the  day,  and  children  of  religious  families  were 
strictly  charged  to  be  very  circumspect  in  this  particular.  When  no 
minister  was  present  our  public  worship  was  conducted  by  Deacon  Ward, 
of  New  Milford,  who  was  a good  singer  and  reader  ; but  Mr.  John  Foot 
usually  led  the  singing,  and  sometimes  he  or  Mr.  B.  Doolittle  read  the 
sermon.” 

The  organization  of  a congregation  follows,  and  on 
the  28th  day  of  September,  1813,  was  constituted  the 
Lawsville  and  New  Milford  Union  Congregational 
Church.  The  meeting  took  place  at  the  house  of 
John  Hawley,  in  New  Milford,  and  was  under  the 
direction  of  the  Rev.  Ebenezer  Kingsbury,  missionary 
from  Connecticut,  and  the  Rev.  Joseph  Wood,  pastor 
of  the  first  church  in  Bridgewater,  when  the  follow- 
ing persons  united  in  membership;  Ichabod  and 
Mary  Ward,  Roswell  and  Hannah  Smith,  Titus 
Smith,  Sally  Smith, Friend  Tuttle,  Lucretia  Trues- 
dell,  Hannah  Doolittle,  Sybil  Dayton,  Phebe  and 
Merab  Hawley.  Circumstances  deferred  Mrs.  Tamar 
Lines’  and  Mrs.  Sarah  Merriman’s  connection  until 
February,  1814,  but  they  were  essentially  a part  of  the 
original  membership. 

The  Rev.  Ebenezer  Kingsbury  was  chosen  standing 
moderator  of  the  church  ; Ichabod  Ward,  deacon  ; 
and  Friend  Tuttle,  scribe.  Meetings  were  regularly 
kept  up  as  stated  above,  and  soon  after  the  Rev. 
Oliver  Hill,  a missionary  from  Connecticut,  was 
unanimously  called  to  be  the  first  pastor.  Having 
accepted  the  call,  the  Luzerne  Association  met  at  the 
house  of  Ephraim  Smith,  February  15,  1814,  to  exam- 
ine him,  and  the  next  day  he  was  ordained  at  a meet- 
ing held  in  Mr.  Smith’s  barn.  He  entered  upon  his 
ministry,  dividing  his  time  between  Lawsville,  New 
Milford  and  work  as  an  evangelist  in  missionary  ser- 
vice, retaining  his  pastoral  connection  until  May  25, 


wife  of  Nehemiah  Park.  She  died  in  Franklin,  April  1,  1883,  in  the 
seventy-eiKhth  year  of  her  age.  Of  her  it  was  said:  “She  was  a woman 
of  remarkable  energy  and  perseverance,  and  expected  to  accomplish 
whatever  she  planned.  In  early  life  she  was  a successful  teacher,  and 
always  greatly  interested  in  Sunday-school  and  missionary  work.  Her 
giving,  was  it  mucli  or  little,  was  regulated  by  the  Bible  rule  of  one-tenth, 
which  always  kept  something  in  the  Lord’s  treasury  awaiting  His  order. 
A long  drive  to  church  was  no  hindrance  to  her.  ‘ Summer’s  heat  or 
winter’s  cold  ’ afforded  no  excuse  for  absence.  Quiet  and  gentle  in  her 
nature,  of  refined  taste  aud  culture,  slie  might  in  truth  be  called  a Chris- 
tian lady.” 

2 Wife  of  Ephraim  Smith,  a most  exemplary  woman. 


FRANKLIN. 


627 


1819.  He  subsequently  moved  to  Michigan,  where  he 
died  in  1844,  in  the  sixty-fifth  year  of  his  age.  Dur- 
ing his  connection  with  the  church  the  South  school- 
house  was  the  stated  place  of  worship,  but  in  seasons 
of  unusual  interest  that  place  was  too  small,  and  the 
meetings  were  held  in  Ephraim  Smith’s  barn.  On 
these  occasions  a number  of  conversions  took  place,  a 
meeting  in  1818  being  the  means  of  adding  fouiteen 
persons  to  the  membership  of  the  church. 

In  the  summer  of  1820  there  was  another  period  of 
religious  awakening,  when  many  families  in  this  and 
the  adjoining  townships  were  brought  under  the  in- 
fluence of  Christianity. 

About  this  time  the  Rev.  Lyman  Richardson,  of 
Harford,  was  licensed  to  preach,  and,  entering  upon 
his  ministry  in  Lawsville,  labored  faithfully  and  with 
great  success.  In  September,  1830,  nearly  thirty  per- 
sons, old  and  young,  were  added  to  the  church  as  the 
result  of  his  work  in  the  Master’s  cause.  He  left 
soon  after  to  labor  in  Wysox,  and  in  1821,  tbe  Rev. 
Enoch  Conger  visited  the  church  a number  of  times 
as  a missionary  and  established  the  first  Sabbath- 
school.  But  previous  to  this,  during  the  ministry  of 
Mr.  Hill,  he  had  taken  pains  to  instruct  the  young 
in  the  precepts  of  the  Bible,  and  had  given  them 
lessons  to  commit  and  heard  their  recitations.  In 
1822-23  Mr.  Conger  preached  in  Lawsville  one-half 
his  time,  holding  his  meetings  in  the  three  school- 
houses  known  as  the  North,  East  and  South  houses. 
But  the  Sabbath-school  met  every  Sunday  and  helped 
to  keep  up  the  religious  interest  in  the  community. 
In  the  fall  of  1824  Mr.  Conger  moved  to  Ohio,  and 
died  in  the  West  in  the  spring  of  1872.  He  was  the 
father  of  the  Lieutenant  Conger  whose  company  ar- 
rested the  assassin  Wilkes  Booth. 

In  1836  the  church  became  Presbyterian  in  form  of 
government,  and  five  elders  were  chosen,  two  of  them 
being  Roswell  and  Titus  Smith.  The  same  year  the 
Liberty  Presbyterian  Church  was  formed,  and,  as  its 
membership  was  mainly  from  the  old  Lawsville 
Church,  which  had  also  contributed  to  the  organiza- 
tion of  the  New  Milford  Church,  the  new  body  was  left 
in  a weakened  condition.  They  united  with  the  Lib- 
erty Church  in  the  support  of  the  Rev.  Joseph 
Barlow  as  pastor,  and  he  served  them  until  his  unfor- 
tunate death  by  fire.  May  22,  1858.  This  sad  event 
was  brought  about  by  the  burning  of  the  parsonage  late 
on  Saturday  night,  the  family  being  soundly  asleep. 
Under  the  bewildering  excitement  of  the  moment 
Mr.  Barlow  entered  the  room  where  the  fire  was  rag- 
ing, and  the  flames  bursting  upon  him  suffocated 
him,  and  his  body  was  nearly  consumed  before  it 
could  be  recovered.  Mr.  Barlow  was  born  near 
Manchester,  England,  in  April  1787,  and  having 
been  converted  in  early  youth,  became  a Methodist 
minister  before  be  was  twenty-one  years  old.  He 
came  to  this  country  in  1819  and  united  with  the 
Presbyterian  Church  in  1835,  and  the  Montrose  Pres- 
bytery the  same  year. 


But  prior  to  this  date  the  church  became  an  incor- 
porated body,  being  duly  chartered  as  the  “ First 
Presbyterian  Church  and  Congregation  of  Franklin,” 
January  28,  1850.  The  trustees  named  at  that  time 
were  Archie  Marsh,  M.  C.  Smith,  J.  L.  Merriman, 
James  Leighton  and  Frederick  Lines ; and  the  elders 
of  the  church  a few  years  later  were  Titus  Smith, 
Billosty  Smith,  Nehemiah  Park  and  James  Leighton. 

After  the  death  of  Mr.  Barlow  the  Rev.  Burr  Bald- 
win became  the  stated  supply  ; but  in  1860  tbe  Rev. 
J.  N.  Diament  was  installed  pastor  and  served  about 
five  years,  when  the  Rev.  I.  W.  Smith  became  the 
supply,  followed  by  Rev.  J.  C.  Judson  as  a supply. 
October  31,  1872,  the  Rev.  J.  H.  Doremus  was  in- 
stalled pastor  of  both  this  and  the  Liberty  Church, 
and  continued  his  pastorate  about  five  years.  In  1878 
the  Rev.  John  C.  Calnon  began  his  labors  as  a stated 
supply,  which  was  continued  several  years.  Since 
May  1,  1881,  the  Rev.  J.  W.  Raynor  has  been  the 
regular  stated  supply. 

In  1865  Elder  Leighton  removed,  when  two  new 
elders  were  elected  in  the  persons  of  W.  C.  Smith  and 
J.  S.  Jacobus,  and  the  former  has  served  ever  since, 
having  as  associate  elders  J.  L.  Merriman  and  R.  W. 
Smith,  both  elected  in  1881.  The  present  trustees 
(1886)  are  F.  A.  Smith,  H.  L.  Hitchcock,  J.  O.  Mc- 
Kinney, L.  T.  Seaman,  David  Banker  and  B.  B. 
Handrick.  They  control  not  only  the  church  prop- 
erty, consisting  of  the  church  and  the  parsonage,  but 
also  the  cemetery,  which  embraces  about  one  and  a 
half  acres  of  land,  and  in  which  nearly  four  hundred 
interments  have  taken  place. 

The  first  church  edifice  was  erected  on  Cemetery 
Hill,  in  1824,  at  a cost  of  one  thousand  four  hundred 
dollars.  In  1846  it  was  repaired  and  greatly  improved, 
and  in  that  condition  was  used  twenty  years.  In  1866 
it  was  removed,  and  the  present  edifice  erected  in  its 
place,  by  a building  committee  composed  of  J.  L. 
Merriman,  Fred.  Lines  and  W.  C.  Smith.  It  is  an 
attractive  frame  structure,  thirty-two  by  fifty  feet,  with 
a steeple,  in  which  is  a clear-toned  bell,  and  cost  to 
erect  nearly  four  thousand  dollars.  It  was  formally 
dedicated  November  8, 1866,  by  the  Rev.  A.  Miller,  of 
Harford. 

On  the  shed-lot,  which  has  recently  been  enlarged, 
are  twenty-two  sheds,  put  up  at  a cost  of  thirty-two 
dollars  each.  Near  by  is  the  parsonage  built,  in  1860, 
on  the  site  of  the  one  burned  May  22, 1858,  when  the 
Rev.  Joseph  Barlow  met  such  a tragic  fate.  That 
building  was  erected  in  1849,  and  was  the  first  real 
parsonage  of  the  church.  The  former  one  was  more 
of  the  nature  of  a private  home.  It  was  put  up  prior 
to  1820  by  the  Rev.  Hill,  on  several  acres  of  ground 
near  the  Upsonville  store,  and  stood  until  after  1867. 
All  the  church  property  appears  to  be  in  a good  con- 
dition. 

The  congregation  had,  in  1886,  a harmonious  mem- 
bership of  seventy-five  persons,  and  was  in  a good 
condition  financially.  The  Sabbath-school  had  ninety 


528 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


members,  and  had  for  many  years  as  its  superintendent 
Elder  J.  L.  Merriman. 

The  Free-Will  Baptists  held  meetings  in  Franklin 
within  twenty  years  after  its  settlement,  the  preaching 
being  done  by  Elders  Joseph  and  John  Webster. 
Through  the  efforts  of  the  latter  a congregation  was 
formed,  which  had  among  its  members  the  Websters, 
the  Watsons,  Amos  Crandall,  Benj.  Merritt,  Stephen 
Dawley,  Eobert  Vance,  Lorenzo  Vance,  Mrs.  Owen 
and  others.  After  the  school-house  was  built  at 
Franklin  Forks,  in  1840,  that  became  the  established 
place  of  worship,  and  there  was  an  encouraging  in- 
crease of  membership.  In  1854  Elder  L.  D.  Howe 
held  a series  of  revival  meetings  of  great  interest,  when 
it  was  determined  to  build  a house  of  worship.  Still- 
man Fuller,  William  Pierson  and  Joseph  Merritt  were 
appointed  a building  committee,  and  a lot  was  secured 
from  Harry  Beebe  on  which  to  erect  the  edifice.  All 
classes  of  people  united  in  helping  along  the  move- 
ment for  the  sake  of  having  a house  of  worship  in  the 
new  village,  and  in  1856  was  completed  a neat  little 
church,  thirty  by  forty  feet,  with  a small  spire.  This 
passed  under  the  control  of  the  “ Free-Will  Baptist 
Society  of  Franklin,”  which  was  incorporated  .January 
29,  1860,  and  had  as  its  first  trustees  Lyman  Beebe, 
Andrew  Watson  and  Edwin  Summers.  The  charter 
gave  the  Free-Will  Baptists  the  preference  to  use  the 
church,  but  also  extended  the  privilege  of  worshipping 
to  other  denominations,  so  that  other  meetings  were 
held  in  the  house  during  the  same  period  as  those  of 
the  Free-Will  Baptists.  The  latter  held  their  meet- 
ings regularly  until  after  1866,  Elder  John  Tilling- 
hast  being  the  last  minister,  when  so  many  members 
removed  that  they  could  no  longer  be  maintained. 
Thence  the  Methodists  occupied  the  house  for  a short 
period,  the  Baptist  Society  retaining  control.  Its  last 
oflicei's  were  Daniel  Blowers,  John  R.  Pierson,  Samuel 
Truesdell,  John  Barron  and  Eli  B.  Smith.  After  1870 
the  building  was  used  for  temperance  and  secular 
meetings  only  for  several  years,  when  the  Presbyte- 
rians began  to  hold  occasional  services  in  it,  which 
developed  so  much  interest  that  measures  were  taken 
to  make  the  worship  regular.  To  this  end  was  incor- 
porated the  First  Presbyterian  Church  of  Franklin 
Forks  on  the  25th  of  August,  1875.  The  first  trustees 
were  N.  P.  Wheaton,  Edwin  Summers,  J.  R.  Pierson, 
William  Stockholm,  Joshua  Boyd,  John  Cromwell  and 
Andrew  Watson,  not  all  of  whom  belonged  to  the 
congregation.  The  church  was  repaired  and  used  in 
connection  with  the  church  at  Lawsville  Centre  as  a 
place  of  worship  for  the  Presbyterian  congregation 
existing  in  the  Snake  Creek  Valley  until  May,  1883, 
since  Which  time  meetings  have  been  held  at  Frank- 
lin Forks  only.  This  congregation  is  the  successor 
of  the  one  organized  in  Liberty  in  1836,  and  sustained 
a pastoral  relation  with  the  old  Franklin  Church  un- 
til 1884.  Since  that  time  the  Rev.  E.  L.  Burnett  has 
been  the  minister,  and  meetings  have  been  held  every 
Sabbath.  In  1886  there  were  forty  members,  and  the 


elders  were  N.  P.  Wheaton  and  Alfred  Blair ; trustees, 
John  R.  Pierson  and  Edwin  Summers ; Sunday-school 
superintendent,  J.  C.  Wheaton. 

Methodist  Episcopal  Church  of  Franklin  Forks. — In 
1804  half  a dozen  persons  residing  at  this  place 
formed  themselves  into  a class,  which  had  among  its 
members  Daniel  Blowers,  William  Burrows,  Eliza- 
beth Burrows  and  Isaac  Apsbey,  and  held  meetings 
once  per  month  to  listen  to  the  preaching  of  Father 
Davy  and  other  pioneer  ministers.  These  meetings 
were  usually  held  on  week-days,  and  the  class,  conse- 
quently, did  not  increase  its  members  very  fast ; but 
those  comprising  it  were  zealous  and  determined  to 
win  a place  for  the  church  of  their  choice.  After  the 
war  it  was  deemed  best  to  erect  a house  of  worship, 
and,  in  1867,  a lot  was  purchased  and  the  work  of 
building  commenced.  The  church  was  built  by  con- 
tract, by  John  Ives  and  Samuel  Truesdell,  under  the 
direction  of  B.  C.  Vance,  Lewis  Tompkins,  D.  D. 
Lindsley,  William  Burrows  and  A.  S.  Burrows,  and 
cost  about  four  thousand  dollars.  It  is  a shapely 
building,  thirty-two  by  fifty  feet,  and  sixteen  feet 
high,  and  passed  into  the  hands  of  a body  incorpor- 
ated with  the  above  title,  November  19,  1869.  Soon 
after  it  was  dedicated  by  the  Rev.  Olin,  free  of  debt, 
more  than  one  thousand  dollars  being  raised  on  dedi- 
cation day.  The  church  was  valued  at  two  thousand 
five  hundred  dollars  in  1886,  and  the  parsonage  at 
one  thousand  dollars ; and  the  trustees  were  B.  J. 
Baker,  Samuel  Truesdell,  Asa  Rhinvault,  James  Bar- 
ron, J.  W.  Palmer  and  A.  E.  Stockholm. 

Until  1872  the  church  at  Franklin  Forks  was  a 
part  of  the  Hawley  ton  Circuit,  and  had  its  ministerial 
service  from  that  source. 

The  class  at  Franklin  Forks  has  seventy  members, 
and  Simeon  Stillwell  is  the  leader.  A flourishing  Sun- 
day-school, whose  enrollment  is  one  hundred  mem- 
bers, has  B.  C.  Vance  as  its  superintendent. 

The  cemetery  at  Franklin  Forks,  located  on  the 
Beebe  farm,  is  kept  up  by  the  community,  without 
special  organization. 


CHAPTER  XXXV. 

GREAT  BEND  TOWNSHIP. 

In  November,  1814,  the  township  previously  known 
as  Willingborough  received  from  the  court  the  name 
of  Great  Bend,  on  the  petition  of  a number  of  its  in- 
habitants. The  original  township  of  Willingborough, 
comprising  what  is  now  Harmony,  Oakland  and  Great 
Bend,  was  erected  in  the  northeastern  part  of  old 
Tioga,  in  Luzerne  County,  in  1791.  It  was  so  far 
from  Wilkes-Barre,  the  county-seat,  that  for  two  years 
the  records  only  show  the  appointment  of  road-view- 
ers. The  township  limits  were  defined  in  April,  1793, 


GREAT  BEND. 


529 


and  the  line  was  ordered  thus  : — “ From  the  twenty- 
first  mile-stone  on  the  north  line  of  the  State,  south 
six  miles;  thence  east  until  it  shall  intersect  the  line 
to  be  run  between  Luzerne  and  Northampton  Coun- 
ties; thence  north  to  the  State  line;  thence  west  to 
the  place  of  beginning.”  This  made  the  township  six 
miles  north  and  south  by  sixteen  miles  east  and  west; 
but  as  an  election  district  it  comprised  the  northeast- 
ern quarter  of  the  county.  Great  Bend  township  is 
so  named  from  the  fact  that  the  Susquehanna  River 
here  takes  a northerly  course,  and  again  enters  the 
State  of  New  York,  thereby  making  a great  bend. 
The  township  is  bounded  by  New  York  on  the  north, 
Oakland  on  the  east.  New  Milford  on  the  south  and 
Franklin  and  Liberty  on  the  west.  The  scenery  about 
Great  Bend  is  the  finest  in  the  county. 

View  from  Manotonome. — After  winding  our 
way, up  an  ascent  about  six  hundred  feet  above  the 
valley,  we  found  ourselves  on  the  top  of  a flat  rock 
which  stands  out  prominently,  so  that  from  this  point 
an  extended  view  of  the  Susquehanna  Valley,  with 
its  mountain  scenery,  can  be  had.  This  mountain  has 
been  named  Manotonome.  The  mountain  southeast 
from  here  is  named  Miantonomah,  for  the  famous  In- 
dian chieftain  of  that  name ; and  these  are  not  alto- 
gether arbitrary  names,  for  the  Indians  once  occupied 
this  beautiful  sequestered  valley,  pursued  the  deer  and 
elk  on  these  mountains  and  fished  in  the  deep  waters 
of  the  beautiful  Susquehanna  that  winds  leisurely 
along,  a meandering  stream,  through  the  flat  lands 
below  us.  The  Lenni  Lenape  once  claimed  all  this 
region,  but  long  ere  the  white  man  ever  beheld  this 
lovely  vale  the  proud  Six  Nations  had  conquered  the 
Lenape  and  occupied  these  grounds.  The  fugitive 
Tuscaroras  that  joined  the  Five  Nations,  having 
wandered  from  the  Carolinas,  their  ancient  seat,  found 
a home  and  had  a little  village  in  this  valley  at  Lanes- 
boro’,  and  the  pioneer  settlers  well  remember  that 
hundreds  of  Indians  formerly  wandered  up  and  down 
this  valley.  There  was  an  Indian  burying-ground  on 
the  Dimon  farm,  now  owned  by  Mr.  Carl,  and  Indian 
relics  have  been  found  there.  The  hill  just  beyond 
this  farm  is  called  Mt.  Tuscarora,  in  remembrance  of 
this  tribe.  As  the  eye  sweeps  farther  west,  we  have 
Trowbridge  Hill,  abeautifully  rounded  spur  that  stands 
out  towards  the  river,  while  directly  in  front  of  us  is 
Du  Bois  Hill  and  Round  Top.  The  latter  is  very  sym- 
metrical and  beautifully  rounded,  hence  its  name. 
James  Du  Bois  has  recently  constructed  a carriage-way 
up  to  the  top  of  Manotonome,  and  the  prospect  is 
certainly  worth  the  labor  of  the  ascent.  The  view 
down  the  Susquehanna  extends  as  far  as  Binghamton 
and  takes  in  Kirkwood  and  other  intervening  towns. 
The  river  not  only  makes  a great  bend  northward  here, 
but  it  flows  first  in  one  direction  and  then  in  another, 
down  the  valley,  in  such  a manner  that  the  silver 
sheen  of  its  waters  can  be  seen  as  it  is  reflected  by  the 
sun,  at  intervals,  a long  distance  down  the  valley,  re- 
sembling a chain  of  lakes.  The  deep,  still  waters  of 

33 


this  river  reflect  the  beautiful  mountain  scenery 
through  which  it  flows.  The  mountains  are  beautiful 
rather  than  bold  or  sublime;  every  corner  seems  to 
have  been  smoothed  and  rounded  by  the  Divine  Artist, 
until  every  outline  is  a line  of  beauty.  The  rounded 
spurs  and  hills,  following  the  sinuosities  of  the  river, 
present  a varying  aspect  from  different  standpoints,  so 
that  the  traveler’s  eye  never  wearies,  but  is  constantly 
refreshed  by  an  ever-changing  landscape,  at  once 
pleasing  in  form  and  restive  in  its  quiet  repose.  But 
nature  is  not  alone  here ; art  has  added  to  the  scene 
the  two  boroughs  of  Great  Bend  and  Hallstead,  which 
are  enlivened  by  the  hundreds  of  trains  that  are  pass- 
ing up  and  down  the  valley,  on  the  Erie,  and  Dela- 
ware, Lackawanna  and  Western  Railroads.  No  In- 
dian war-whoop  ever  sounded  so  shrill  as  their  loco- 
motive whistles,  and  no  deer  ever  was  so  fleet  as  their 
through  express  trains.  It  is  just  one  hundred  years 
ago  at  this  writing  (1887)  since  the  white  man  first 
made  a permanent  settlement  at  Great  Bend,  the  first 
in  Susquehanna  County,  and  who  can  stand  on  this 
point  of  observation,  as  he  beholds  all  the  evidences 
of  modern  improvement  and  a century’s  progress  and 
contrasts  it  with  a vast  untamed  wilderness,  a dense 
pine  swamp  inhabited  by  wild  animals  and  men  as 
savage  as  they,  without  being  confounded  with  the 
great  wonders  God  hath  wrought  for  his  people  ? And 
who  can  drink  this  pure  crystal  water  and  breathe  this 
pure  mountain  air,  without  feeling  that  liberty  has  its 
home  in  the  mountains,  and  here  it  shall  ever  abide  ? 

The  view  from  Fine  Grove  Spur  is  one  of  exquisite 
and  rare  loveliness.  The  dead  level  flat  land  below, 
carpeted  with  living  green  closely  shaven  as  a lawn, 
with  the  extended  chain  of  mountains  up  both  sides 
of  Salt  Lick  Creek,  as  it  breaks  into  and  widens  the 
valley  of  the  Susquehanna  at  the  Bend,  making  an 
extended  flat  which  is  inclosed  by  mountains  so  as  to 
make  an  amphitheatre-like  valley,  is  truly  beautiful. 
George  Catlin,  with  his  keen,  artistic  eye,  saw  more 
beauty  in  this  scenery  than  anywhere  else  in  his  ex- 
tended travels.  Ascending  still  higher  above  the  pine 
grove,  a more  extended  view  can  be  obtained,  taking 
in  both  boroughs  and  the  river,  together  with  the  sur- 
rounding mountains.  The  Indians,  with  an  intuitive 
perception  of  the  beautiful,  made  Great  Bend  a camp- 
ing-place and  built  a little  village  here.  “ The  Three 
Indian  Apple  Trees  ” and  “Red  Rock”  were  land- 
marks of  Indian  occupancy  for  many  years  after  the 
white  man  had  taken  possession  of  the  lovely  vale 
whose  surrounding  hills  and  wild  forests  had  sheltered 
and  protected  their  rude  wigwams. 

Settlement. — 'The  Strongs  at  the  West  Bend, 
the  Comstocks  at  the  East  Bend,  and  the  Bucks  be- 
tween them  at  Red  Rock  were  here  about  1787.  It  is 
known  that  the  first  two  families  preceded  the  last 
named,  though  it  is  not  positively  stated  which  one  of 
the  two  was  first  in  the  vicinity. 


^ Miss  Bhickinan. 


530 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


Ozias  Strong,  formerly  of  Lee,  Mass.,  was  the  first 
settler,  so  far  as  known,  within  the  limits  of  the  pres- 
ent town  of  Great  Bend,  and  the  first  purchaser  of 
land  under  Pennsylvania  title.  Besides  him,  the  only 
settlers  now  known  to  have  been  here  in  1788  were 
Enoch  Merriman  and  wife  and  their  son  Bishop  and 
his  wife  (Enoch  Bishop  Merriman,  or  Meriam,  was 
the  first  white  child  born  on  the  Susquehanna ; he 
died  in  1850,  aged  sixty-three);  Nathaniel  Gates  and 
wife,  with  five  children  and  three  sons-in-law, — Jede- 
diah  Adams,  David  Lilley  and  Wm.  Coggswell, — with 
their  wives ; Jonathan  Bennett  (in  Oakland  first),  with 
his  sons,  Jonathan  and  James,  and  his  sons-in-law, 
Asa  Adams  and  Stej)hen  Murch,  with  Thomas  Bates 
and  Simeon  Wylie,  sons-in-law  of  Rev.  Daniel  Buck. 
All  had  families.  In  1789,  John  Baker,  a native  of 
Hatfield,  Mass.,  came  to  Great  Bend,  at  the  age  of 
twenty-four,  and  soon  after  married  Susanna,  a 
daughter  of  Ozias  Strong. 

“ The  public  records  of  Luzerne  County  show  that 
Ozias  Strong,  June  9,  1790,  bought  of  Tench  Francis, 
for  one  hundred  and  thirty  pounds  sterling,  four  hun- 
dred and  fifty-three  acres  of  land  north  of  the  river, 
in  the  vicinity  of  the  present  Great  Bend  bridge. 
Two  days  later,  Benjamin  Strong  (possibly  a brother 
of  Ozias)  bought,  of  the  same  landholder,  six  hundred 
and  one  acres  south  of  the  river,  on  both  sides  of  the 
mouth  of  the  Salt  Lick.  This  tract  was  sold  by  B. 
Strong,  September,  21,  1791,  to  Minna  Du  Bois  and 
Seth  Putnam,  for  seven  hundred  pounds  sterling. 
Minna  Du  Bois  was  made  attorney  for  his  brother 
Abraham,  of  Philadelphia,  June  23,  1791.  On  the 
same  day  of  Ozias  Strong’s  purchase.  Tench  Francis 
gave  deeds  to  other  parties.  Ichabod,  Enoch  and 
Benjamin  Buck  bought  of  him  one  hundred  acres  for 
one  hundred  and  twenty-five  pounds. 

“ Elisha  Leonard  had  lands  adjoining  Ozias  Strong’s 
(which  adjoined  S.  Murch’s),  and  Edwai'd  Davis’  also 
adjoined  lands  of  E.  Leonard’s.  But  few  items  have 
been  preserved  of  the  families  who  came  to  Great 
Bend  before  1790.  The  Merrymans  were  here  when 
Nathaniel  Gates  came.  The  latter  had  lived,  previ- 
ous to  1778,  at  Wyoming,  though  he  was  from  home, 
engaged  in  his  country’s  service,  when  the  massacre 
took  place.  Mrs.  Gates  fled  with  others  to  the  moun- 
tains, and  finally  reached  Connecticut,  with  her  seven 
children,  where  she  was  afterwards  joined  by  her 
husband.  One  child  being  sick  during  her  flight,  was 
carried  by  a neighbor,  while  Mrs.  Gates  carried  an- 
other in  her  arms  and  one  on  her  back.  The  rest 
were  able  to  walk.  The  family  had  lived  in  Wayne 
(now  Pike)  County  before  coming  to  Great  Bend. 
Three  children  of  N.  Gates  were  drowned  in  the  Sus- 
quehanna, but  their  bodies  were  recovered  and  buried 
at  Great  Bend,  February  16,  1791.” 

Nathaniel  Gates  was  one  of  the  thirty-one  Yankees 
that  settled  on  Wallenpaupack  manor,  in  Pike  County, 
in  defiance  of  the  proprietaries,  in  1774,  and  it  was 
his  daughter  Mary  who  discovered  a band  of  Tories 


lurking  near  the  settlement  in  1777,  while  looking 
for  the  cows.  She  gave  the  alarm  and  the  Tories 
were  captured  by  the  settlers  and  taken  to  Connec- 
ticut. 

The  following  is  a list  of  taxable  inhabitants  in 
Willingborough  in  the  year  1796,  together  with  their 
assessed  valuation  in  pounds,  shillings  and  pence  : 


£ 

8. 

£ 

8. 

Jonathan  Newman 

92 

8 

Simeon  Wiley 

....  43 

4 

Ichabod  Buck 

55 

8 

James  Abbey  Swift 

....  10 

8 

Benjamin  Buck 

51 

8 

Asa  Adams 

....  53 

0 

Jonathan  Dimon 

96 

0 

Jonathan  Bennett,  Jr.. 

...  47 

16 

James  Parmeter 

59 

8 

Enoch  D.  Buck 

....  24 

8 

Ephraim  Ames 

7 

0 

Jedediah  Adams 

....  22 

18 

Samuel  Hayden 

77 

16 

Stephen  Murch 

....  22 

16 

Samuel  Hayden,  Jr 

20 

0 

Jonathan  Bennett 

....  89 

0 

Elias  Van  Winkle 

24 

8 

James  Bennett 

....  28 

0 

Otis  Beed  {or  Reed) 

51 

4 

Enoch  Merriman 

...  24 

12 

Elisha  Babcock 

48 

8 

Gershom  Smith 

...  29 

9 

John  Ililborn 

100 

8 

Nathaniel  Gates 

....  6 

0 

Q 

g 

170 

8 

Isaac  Hale 

10 

8 

2 Orasha  Strong 

...  67 

8 

Marmaduke  D.  Salsbury. 

31 

8 

Henry  Smith 

...  76 

8 

8 

...  45 

4 

James  Westfall 

4 

0 

Thomas  Williams 

....  46 

4 

Abner  Comstock 

16 

0 

— 

— 

Joseph  Strong 

168 

8 

Total 

Major  Oliver  Trowbridge  came  from  Connecticut 
in  1796.  Horatio  Strong  had  received  a license  to 
keep  a tavern  that  year.  Oliver  Trowbridge  bought 
his  log  house  and  built  on  a framed  part,  an  upper 
room  of  which  was  used  by  the  Masons  as  a lodge- 
room.  The  walls  of  this  room  were  papered,  it  being 
the  first  instance  of  the  kind  in  the  county.  This 
tavern  stood  just  below  where  the  branch  railroad  for- 
merly crossed  the  river.  He  had  four  sons  and  four 
daughters.  The  sons  were  Noble,  Augustus,  Lyman 
and  Harry.  Noble  Trowbridge  in  1810  built  the 
wing  of  a house  years  afterwards  occupied  by  his  son 
Oliver.  The  old  bar-room,  kitchen  and  dining-room 
of  this  once  famous  tavern  were  well  preserved  for 
many  years,  long  after  the  old  sign  of  the  Indian  and 
his  arrows  had  ceased  to  invite  the  traveler  to  rest. 
The  building  has  recently  been  remodeled  and  con- 
verted into  a farm-house.  He  had  six  daughters  and 
three  sons — Oliver,  who  has  removed  to  Chicago ; 
Grant,  a wagon-maker  at  Great  Bend,  and  Henry 
(dead).  Lyman  Trowbridge  settled  in  the  south  part 
of  the  township,  near  Salt  Lick  Creek,  in  1810.  He 
kept  the  toll-gate  on  the  Great  Bend  and  Cochecton 
turnpike  for  fourteen  years,  at  the  rate  of  one  hun- 
dred and  twenty-four  dollars  per  year.  He  was  also 
justice  of  the  peace.  Amasa,  his  eldest  son,  resides 
on  the  Dexter  Parmeter  farm,  and  he  says  that  Da- 
vid Thomas,  at  Great  Bend,  Orra  Storrs,  on  Mott  Hill, 
and  himself  are  the  three  oldest  settlers  now  living  on 
the  Great  Bend  and  Cochecton  turnpike  from  the 
State  line  to  Wayne  County  line.  Mr.  Thomas  is 
eighty -three  and  Mr.  Trowbridge,  is  eighty  years  old. 
Daniel  and  Seelye  Trowbridge,  who  lived  on  the 


1 Probably  Asaph  Corbet  or  Asahel  Gregory. 

* Probably  Horatio  Strong,  a son  of  Ozias  Strong. 


GREAT  BEND. 


531 


southwest  side  of  the  river,  were  sons  of  David,  a 
brother  of  Major  Trowbridge.  Commencing  up  Salt 
Lick  Creek  at  the  New  Milford  line,  Eli  Summers 
was  the  first  settler.  His  sons  were  Calvin,  who  kept 
a hotel  at  Summersville  ; David  and  James,  farmers; 
and  Ira,  a clothier.  Mr.  Summers  also  had  a grist 
and  saw-mill.  Dexter  Parmeter  built  a shanty  and 
made  a small  clearing  on  the  next  farm,  going  down- 
stream towards  Hallstead.  Lemuel  Smedley  after- 
wards enlarged  the  clearing  until  he  had  about  fifty 
acres  cleared.  He  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life  on 
the  farm,  and  in  1839  Amasa  Trowbridge  purchased 
it  and  made  further  improvements,  and  is  the  present 
owner.  Lyman  Trowbridge  bought  about  four  hun- 
dred acres  adjoining  and  cleared  land  which  has  since 
been  divided  into  three  farms.  Jacob  Carson  and 
John  Humphrey  own  most  of  the  old  place.  Jona- 
than Hawks  commenced  on  the  river  flats  adjoining. 
Eleazer  Brown  and  Elijah  Skinner  were  successive 
owners  of  this  property.  The  Erie  Railway  runs  di- 
rectly through  the  best  part  of  the  flats,  and  they  be- 
came owners  of  this  farm,  and  have  sold  it  to  H.  N. 
Holt.  Ebenezer  Brown  commenced  on  the  next  farm, 
where  he  died.  His  family  of  eight  sons  and  one 
daughter  are  all  dead. 

Honorius  Preston  afterwards  became  owner  in  1867. 
C.  H.  Warner  is  the  present  occupant.  Jacob  Clark 
kept  a tavern  on  the  next  farm.  His  sons,  John,  Ja- 
cob and  Moses,  removed  from  the  place.  Sewell  Cor- 
bett then  owned  the  farm  which  is  now  owned  by 
James  Johnson.  Josiah  Stewart  owned  the  next 
farm,  including  a saw-mill  and  grist-mill  on  Salt 
Lick  Creek.  John  Strong,  a carpenter  by  trade,  af- 
terwards owned  the  projoerty.  John  McKinney  next 
purchased  the  property  and  run  the  mills ; he  also 
started  a carding  and  cloth-dressing  works.  His  son. 
Comet  McKinney,  now  owns  the  property,  but  the 
grist-mill  has  ceased  to  grind,  and  the  saw-mill  does 
but  little  work.  Henry  McKinney,  another  son,  is  a 
resident  of  Great  Bend.  Gerritt  Johnson  lived  and 
died  on  the  next  farm.  Luther  Mason,  Seelye  Trow- 
bridge and  Paul  Barriger  have  successively  occupied 
the  next  farm.  James  Clark,  the  hatter,  lived  and 
died  on  the  next  farm.  He  had  a large  family.  Jane, 
one  of  the  daughters,  is  the  wife  of  David  Thomas, 
of  Great  Bend.  Mr.  Low  purchased  the  property 
now  owned  by  his  son. 

Deacon  Daniel  Lyon,  a cabinet-maker  and  farmer, 
owned  the  next  farm.  He  built  the  Baptist  Church 
at  Hallstead  alone.  His  large  family  all  moved  else- 
where. Truman  Youngs  subsequently  owned  the 
property.  The  Minna  Dubois  estate  was  next.  Mr. 
Dubois  was  a large  holder  of  real  estate  within  the 
present  limits  of  Hallstead  Borough.  Asahel  Avery 
owned  a property  afterwards  owned  by  Col.  Jeremiah 
Baker,  who  had  a store  in  part  of  the  house  where 
Rev.  James  McCreary  resides.  This  property  was 
afterwards  owned  by  the  Dayton  brothers.  Follow- 
ing down  the  river  were  Simeon  Wylie,  Thomas 


Bates, Hall,  Asa  Adams  and  John  L.  Travis,  who 

resided  up  by  the  State  line.  Samuel  Blair  resided 
across  the  Susquehanna  from  Travis,  next  to  the 
State  line.  Joseph  Thomas  bought  this  property  in 
1814  and  died  in  1831,  leaving  a family  of  eleven 
children.  David  Thomas,  one  of  the  sons,  bought  out 
the  heirs  and  resided  there  many  years.  Frederick 
Hen  lived  on  the  farm  afterwards  owned  by  John 
Gillespie.  The  Noble  Trowbridge  farm  and  hotel  was 
next ; it  is  now  owned  by  Richard  Gillespie.  The 
next  place  was  the  Sylvenus  Hatch  farm,  then  fol- 
lowed the  Judge  William  Thomson  farm,  which  ex- 
tended down  to  the  bridge,  and  is  within  the  borough 
of  Great  Bend.  Lowery  Green  owned  this  farm 
when  the  railroad  was  built.  Jonathan  Dimon  came 
to  Great  Bend  in  1791  and  purchased  the  next  farm 
of  Ozias  Strong. 

He  had  seen  service  in  the  Revolutionary  army. 
His  son,  Charles  Dimon,  was  justice  of  the  peace  for 
many  years  and  postmaster  at  Great  Bend.  He  had  a 
controlling  influence  in  the  community,  and  being  op- 
posed to  vice  and  immorality  in  every  shape,  his  influ- 
ence was  exerted  for  the  best  interests  of  the  place. 
He  acquired  sufficient  legal  knowledge  to  enable  him  to 
discharge  the  duties  of  his  office  with  ability,  and  his 
decisions  were  respected.  He  died  unmarried  August 
22,  1864,  aged  seventy-nine  years.  James  and  Jona- 
than Newman  lived  on  the  next  two  farms  beyond 
Dimon’s  toward  Harmony.  Jonathan  was  here  as 
early  as  1795,  and  bought  land  lying  up  the  river, 
above  the  ferry,  of  Minna  Du  Bois.  Isaac  Reckhow 
lived  next  above  Newman’s.  His  sons,  Vincent  and 
Adelbert,  are  cabinet-makers  in  Great  Bend.  Daniel 
Buck  settled  at  Red  Rock,  so  called  because  the  figure 
of  an  Indian  had  been  painted  there  on  a rock,  which 
could  be  plainly  seen  many  years  after  the  settlers 
came  here.  Almon  Munson,  who  came  in  1800,  had 
a hotel  on  the  next  farm  above,  and  William  Taylor 
resided  on  the  next  farm.  Dr.  Skinner  and  his 
brother  lived  near  the  line.  Jason  Treadwell  was 
raised  ujj  by  the  township  line,  where  his  father  died. 
The  family  have  all  removed  from  the  neighborhood. 
John  Maynard  was  a pioneer  blacksmith  on  the  farm 
owned  by  W.  D.  Lusk.  Isaac  Snedaker  lived  up 
Trowbridge  Creek  near  the  State  line.  James  Vance, 
Rufus  and  John  Fish  lived  on  Snake  Creek.  John  I. 
Way  lived  below  Noble  Trowbridge.  Jason  Wilson 
was  a tailor  by  trade  and  had  the  hotel  by  the  bridge 
and  the  post-office  a number  of  years.  Dr.  Fobes,  the 
first  regular  physician  of  the  place,  was  here  in  1791. 
About  this  time  the  settlers  in  Mt.  Pleasant  began  to 
open  a road  from  Mr.  Stanton’s  house  westward  to 
Great  Bend;  it  went  about  one-half  mile  south  of  the 
Great  Bend  and  Cochecton  turnpike,  which  afterwards 
took  its  place. 

Before  November,  1792,  the  settlement  must  have 
largely  increased,  as  a road  which  had  been  laid  out 
on  petition  of  Lewis  Maffet  and  others — William  For- 
syth among  the  viewers — was  Disposed  by  a remon- 


532 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


strance  sent  to  the  court  and  signed  by  “ Orasha  ” 
Strong  and  fifteen  others.  The  first  report  made  the 
road  “ begin  at  a stake  about  three  rods  above  a place 
called  the  Three  Apple  Trees,  and  run  northwesterly 
to  the  State  line.”  The  court  granted  a review  of  the 
road  by  different  men,  among  whom  Asaph  Corbett, 
then  in  New  Milford,  and  Asahel  Gregory,  in  what 
is  now  Herrick,  must  have  been  disinterested  parties. 
They  made  the  road  begin  opposite  JamesParmeter’s, 
at  a stake  in  the  north  bank  of  the  river.  Messrs. 
Bennett,  Parmeter,  Strong,  Leonard,  Asa  Adams  and 
Isaac  Hale  (the  last  in  what  is  now  Oakland)  viewed 
and  laid  out  two  other  roads  that  season,  the  first 
” beginning  at  a hemlock  stump,  opposite  Seth  Put- 
nam’s saw-mill,  northerly  ( W.  E.  W.)  to  the  south  bank 
of  the  Susquehanna  River,  then  northeast  to  the  north 
bank  of  said  river,  then  up  said  river,  intersecting  the 
road  first  laid  out ; ” the  other  appears  to  have  con- 
nected these  with  the  house  of  Benjamin  Buck,  one 
mile  above  Ozias  Strong’s.  In  1793  the  court  ap- 
pointed Ichabod  Buck,  constable  ; Horatio  Strong  and 
Jonathan  Bennet,  supervisors ; and  Elisha  Leonard 
and  Ichabod  Buck,  overseers  of  the  poor.  From  this 
time  the  town  rapidly  increased  in  prosperity  and  in- 
fluence. 

Willingborough  assessment  for  1813  contained  the 
following  names  : 


Asa  Adams. 

Nathaniel  Lewis. 

Asa  Adams,  Jr, 

Almon  Munson. 

Clarissa  Avery. 

Ashbel  Munson. 

William  Abels. 

Almon  Munson,  Sr. 

Daniel  Buck. 

Luther  Mason. 

Samuel  Blarr. 

John  Maynard. 

£than  Buck. 

Jonathan  Newman. 

Ichabod  Buck. 

James  Newman. 

William  Buck. 

Abner  Newel. 

Joseph  Bens. 

Jonathan  B.  Newman. 

Ebeoezer  Brown. 

Anna  Newman. 

Silas  Buck. 

James  Parminter. 

Jeremiah  Baker. 

Dexter  Parminter. 

Bachet  Bates. 

Moses  Rowley. 

David  Buck. 

Andrew  Richards. 

James  Clark. 

Josialt  Stewart. 

Samuel  Chalker. 

Thomas  Smith. 

Emery  Cary. 

Caret  Snedaker. 

David  Crocker. 

Eli  Summers. 

Jonathan  Dimon. 

Isaac  Snidker. 

Charles  Dimon. 

James  Snidker. 

Meany  Du  Bois. 

David  Snidker. 

Abraham  Du  Bob. 

Jacob  Seiner. 

Kufus  Fish. 

Israel  Seiner. 

John  Fish. 

William  Thompson. 

Moses  Foster. 

Lyman  Trowbridge. 

Dudley  Holdridge. 

Noble  Trowbridge. 

Sylvenus  Hatch. 

Abel  Trowbridge. 

Frederick  Hen. 

James  Vance. 

Jonathan  Hawks. 

Simeon  Wylie. 

William  Johnson. 

John  I.  Way. 

Richard  Lewis. 

Edward  White. 

Daniel  Lyon. 

— Wilson. 

Samuel  Loomis  was  born  in  Broome  County, 
N.  Y.,  October  6,  1840,  the  son  of  C.  E.  and  Betsey 
(Lyons)  Loomis.  The  Loomis  family  are  of  the  old 
New  England  stock.  Three  brothers,  Englishmen, 
emigrated  about  the  middle  of  the  seventeenth  cen- 
tury, and  settled  at  Agawam,  Massachusets.  Thomas 


Loomis,  one  of  the  brothers,  moved  to  Hartford  Coun- 
ty, Connecticut,  where  he  died  in  1689,  leaving  two 
sons  and  one  daughter.  One  of  his  descendants,  Ger- 
shom  Loomis  (1777-1851),  was  a native  of  that  State, 
and  in  1819,  with  his  wife,  Clarissa  Stoughton  (1783- 
1854),  and  children,  he  moved  west  and  located  in 
Broome  County,  N . Y.,  where  he  was  a farmer,  and 
for  twelve  or  fifteen  years  was  justice  of  the  peace 
in  Sanford  township.  He  subsequently  died  in  Illi- 
nois. His  son,  Confucius  F.  Loomis  (1809-85),  was 
born  in  Connecticut  also.  He  was  a farmer  and 
lumberman,  and  in  1855,  coming  to  Susquehanna 
County,  he  established  a steam  saw-mill  on  the  Wiley 
Creek,  at  the  point  since  known  as  Steam  Hollow. 
Here  he  carried  on  quite  an  extensive  business,  and 
gained  a high  reputation  as  an  honorable,  energetic 
and  moral  man.  He  possessed  great  physical  strength 
and  was  an  athlete.  His  wife,  Betsey  Lyons,  born 
1815,  is  a sister  of  David  Lyons  of  Lanesboro’.  Their 
children  were  Harriet  T.  (1836-58),  was  the  wife  of 
J.  D.  Fisk,  of  Lyndon,  Illinois ; Rebecca  B.,  born 
1838,  married,  first,  Abraham  Carpenter,  and  after  his 
decease  was  united  to  Samuel  Crouch,  who  was  con- 
nected with  the  Erie  Railroad  over  twenty  years,  and 
is  now  living,  retired,  at  Chattanooga,  Tennessee; 
Samuel  P. ; Julius  F.,  born  1842,  an  extensive  business 
man  at  Chattanooga  ; and  John  S.  Loomis,  born  1846, 
a prominent  railroad  official  in  Kentucky.  The  early 
days  of  their  son,  Samuel  P.  Loomis,  were  spent  on  the 
home  farm,  in  Broome  County,  N.  Y.,  and  his  book- 
knowledge  was  obtained  at  the  common  schools  and 
at  the  academy  at  Windsor,  New  York.  During  the 
six  years  his  father  operated  the  saw-mill  in  Great 
Bend  township  he  aided  him  in  the  work  and  ac- 
quired habits  of  industry  and  self-reliance.  The  suc- 
ceeding four  years  found  him  in  the  train  service  on 
the  Delaware,  Lackawanna  and  Western  and  the  Erie 
Railroads,  and  in  1864  he  went  South,  and  engaged  in 
running  an  engine  for  the  United  States  government 
between  Nashville  and  Chattanooga,  in  which  posi- 
tion he  remained  until  the  close  of  the  war  released 
him.  Returning  northward,  he  accepted  employment 
as  engineer  on  the  Cincinnati,  Hamilton  and  Dayton 
Railroad,  at  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  and  continued  with 
that  company  until  appointed  master-mechanic  and 
train-despatclier  upon  the  Cincinnati,  Richmond  and 
Chicago  Railroad.  In  this  position  he  brought  out 
several  valuable  mechanical  improvements,  which 
were  adopted  by  the  railroad  and  gave  him  a reputa- 
tion of  no  mean  extent.'  He  continued  in  this  em- 
ployment for  some  years,  then  resigned  and  came 
back  to  the  home  of  his  parents.  Here  he  soon  took 
a leading  place  in  the  township  affairs  and  served  as 
school  director  for  six  years,  assessor  two  years  and 
constable  and  collector  for  a like  term.  He  carries  on 
lumbering  in  winters,  agricultural  implement  business 
in  spring  and  fall,  and  the  ice  business  (which  he 
originated  in  this  locality)  in  summer  and  winter,  be- 
sides running  his  farm,  which  is  adjacent  to  the  Hall- 


It- 


GREAT  BEND. 


533 


stead  borough  limits.  He  is  a stanch  citizen,  and 
commands  general  respect  and  esteem,  as  did  his  fa- 
ther before  him.  In  1881  he  married  Hattie  E.,  the 
daughter  of  Harvey  Holdridge,  the  miller  of  Oakland 
borough,  and  has  two  children, — Harvey  C.  and  Fred. 
Lyons.  He  is  an  officer  in  Great  Bend  Lodge,  No. 
338,  F.  and  A.  M.  Harvey  Holdridge,  born  in  1828, 
in  Schoharie  County,  New  York,  the  son  of  Zebulon 
Holdridge  (who  died  in  1882,  aged  eighty-four  years) 
and  Jerusha  Durant,  his  wife,  was  for  many  years  in- 
terested in  building  at  Susquehanna,  and  erected  a 
large  number  of  stores  and  dwellings  there,  besides 
the  school-house  at  Lanesboro’,  and  that  formerly  at 
Susquehanna,  also  the  Episcopal  Church  at  Oakland. 
He  married  Fanny  S.  Hull,  who  was  born  in  Vermont 
in  1833,  and  has  two  children — Hattie  (Mr.  Samuel 
Loomis)  and  Jessie  F. 

Red  Rock  and  Vicinity.  — Daniel  Buck  and 
family  first  located  in  the  vicinity  of  Red  Rock. 
Wright  and  Samuel  Chamberlain  came  from  Gibson, 
and  engaged  in  lumbering  and  farming  opposite  Red 
Rock.  The  country  back  of  them  is  a highland  re- 
gion at  the  time  they  erected  their  mills,  covered 
with  pine-forests  and  known  as  Egypt.  The  timber 
has  been  removed  to  a great  extent,  but  this  mountain- 
ous region  is  still  unpopulated.  Being  sterile,  stony 
land,  the  home  of  the  rattle-snake,  it  is  almost  worth- 
less for  farming  purposes  ; but  the  lands  along  the 
Susquehanna  River  are  productive,  and  the  Chamber- 
lain  and  other  farms  across  the  river  are  cultivated 
with  profit.  D.  McKinney  afterwards  owned  the 
Chamberlain  mills,  which  are  now  owned  and  oper- 
ated by  Charles  De  Haert.  Stephen  Keech  resided 
just  below  the  Chamberlains.  The  steep  rock  bluff  at 
the  river-bank  is  said  to  have  presented  an  even  sur- 
face years  ago,  on  which  the  Indians  had  painted,  in 
red  colors,  figures  of  Indians  and  animals  ; but  this 
surface  has  crumbled  away,  and  the  rock  now  presents 
a rough  and  uneven  surface. 

Hickory  Grove  or  Taylortown. — Almon  Mun- 
son, in  1800,  settled  at  this  place.  It  was  at  his  hotel 
that  Jason  Treadwell  was  arrested  after  having  been 
identified  by  Joel  Welton  as  the  man  he  saw  in  the 
woods  with  a gun,  of  whom  he  was  afraid.  The  whole 
neighborhood  were  assembled,  and  Welton  selected 
Treadwell  from  the  crowd.  William  Taylor  came 
here  in  1815,  and  erected  saw-mills,  and  carried  on 
lumbering  and  farming.  He  died  in  1851.  He  was 
succeeded  in  the  lumbering  business  by  the  Daytons, 
and  ex-Sheriff  McKune  has  the  mill  now.  Samuel 
Wright  bought  the  farm  in  1867,  and  their  son, 
Samuel  S.  Wright,  has  the  farm,  and  is  station  agent 
on  the  Erie  Railroad  at  Hickory  Grove.  Robert 
Colwell  bought  the  Almon  Munson  farm  of  Jonathan 
Taylor  in  1844.  Almon  Munson,  Jr.,  and  William 
Taylor  were  his  neighbors  at  that  time.  About  1848 
Nathan  Skinner  erected  a store  here,  and  has  been 
succeeded  in  business  by  L.  Tiel,  Burton  Fox,  Daniel 
W.  Van  Antwerp,  who  sold  to  Charles  D.  Smith  in 


1879.  Irwin  Hawkins  built  the  store  that  Charles 
Stockholm  occupies. 

Almon  Munson’s  children  were  Ashbel,  who  moved 
to  Lenox  and  died  there ; Almon,  who  lived  and  died 
here  (his  sons  are  Chester,  Levi,  Thomas,  Daniel  and 
Edward  and  daughter  Mercy  Ann,  wife  of  Elias  Mc- 
Coy) ; Phila,  of  the  old  family,  was  the  wife  of  Silas 
Buck ; Sheldon  resided  on  the  homestead  for  many 
years  and  finally  removed  to  Michigan,  where  he 
died;  Benajah  removed  to  Wisconsin. 

Hickory  Grove  is  so  named  because  the  school- 
house  is  beautifully  located  (something  unusual)  on  a 
little  hillock  that  is  covered  with  a growth  of  hickory- 
trees.  Samuel  Wright,  who  taught  in  the  common 
schools  of  New  York  and  Pennsylvania  for  forty- 
seven  years,  taught  here  seventeen  years  and  really 
died  in  the  harness  ; for  he  had  a stroke  of  paralysis 
one  night  after  he  had  taught  school,  from  which  he 
never  recovered.  He  possessed  great  enthusiasm  as  a 
teacher,  and  was  a very  successful  instructor. 

Hickory  Grove  post-office  was  established  Novem- 
ber 22, 1872,  with  James  F.' Blessing,  first  postmaster. 
His  successors  have  been  Albert  0.  Fox,  1875;  Chas. 
N.  Van  Antwerp,  1876;  John  Lane,  1879;  Chas.  D. 
Smith,  1881;  Edwin  R.  Waterman,  1886. 

Locust  Hill  and  Vicinity. — Jonas  Brush, 
formerly  of  Litchfield,  Connecticut,  settled  one  mile 
south  of  Great  Bend,  born  in  1810,  on  the  farm  located 
by  Henry  Lord  in  1797,  subsequently  owned  by 
Asahel  Avery.  His  oldest  son,  Jonas  Brush,  Jr.,  was 
the  first  settler  on  Locust  Hill,  in  Great  Bend  town- 
ship, about  1812,  where  he  spent  his  life  and  reared  a 
large  family  of  children.  Mrs.  Doctor  Charles  F'raser 
and  Mrs.  Charles  Avery,  of  Montrose,  were  all  of 
Henry  Lord’s  family  that  remained  in  the  county. 

Isaac  Stoddard  and  wife  from  Litchfield  County, 
Connecticut,  in  1816  came  to  Locust  Hill.  He  died 
in  1853,  aged  eighty-two,  and  she  died  in  1856,  aged 
eighty.  Michael  Downs  now  owns  the  Stoddard 
farm. 

William  Fox  came  to  Locust  Hill,  from  Litchfield 
County,  in  1833,  and  bought  the  Ethel  Stoddard  im- 
provement, consisting  of  a log  house,  frame  barn  and 
about  twenty-five  acres  cleared,  of  Carmalt.  He  made 
further  improvements,  and  at  his  death  was  succeeded 
in  the  ownership  by  his  son  Orlo,  the  present  occu- 
pant. Daniel  Fox  settled  in  Wayne  County,  and 
Ezra  in  Jackson  township.  Thomas  Wilmot  com- 
menced on  the  farm  adjoining,  afterwards  owned  by 
Thomas  Dickson,  and  now  owned  by  John  Lane. 
Seth  Hall  first  settled  where  Cicero  Dickson  lives, 
followed  by  Heman  Stoddard.  Myron  Mayo  came 
about  1820,  and  commenced  where  his  son  Charles 
now  lives.  Orrin  Mayo  commenced  where  D.  A. 
Brown  lives.  Almon  Munson,  Jr.,  settled  on  the  next 
place  below,  where  John  Tiel  now  lives.  William  and 
Orlo  Fox  commenced  where  Andrew  Kent  lives. 
Calvin  Brush,  Enoch  Hawkins  and  Washington 
Hawkins  reside  in  East  Hollow. 


534 


HISTOKY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


The  Methodists,  in  the  vicinity  of  Locust  Hill  held 
meetings  in  their  school-house  for  many  years,  and 
in  1875  erected  a neat  little  church.  It  belongs  to 
Randolph  charge.  Ethel  Stoddard,  John  Lockwood 
and  Captain  Wilmot,  in  earlier  days,  and  Calvin 
Brush,  Alexander  Brown  and  Stephen  Bevins,  have 
been  prominent  members. 

Cicero  B.  Dixo^r.— Thomas  Dixon  (1800-61),  a 
native  of  the  lake  country,  N.  Y.,  settled  at  Windsor, 
N.  Y.,  about  1823,  and  for  seventeen  years  thereafter 
was  a partner  with  Jesse  Lane,  of  Lanesboro’,  in  the 
lumber  business.  The  products  of  their  mills  were 
hauled  to  the  Delaware  and  rafted  to  Philadelphia 
markets,  Mr.  Dixon’s  part  of  the  business  being  to 
raft  and  market  the  lumber.  He  also  for  a few  years 
carried  on  a distillery  at  Windsor.  In  1840  he  bought 
the  present  farm  of  John  Lane,  on  Locust  Hill,  Great 
Bend  township,  where  he  continued  farming  and 
lumbering  until  1849,  when  he  exchanged  his  prop- 
erty for  the  present  farm  of  his  son  Cicero  B.  Dixon, 
where  he  resided  till  death.  He  was  an  ardent  student, 
and  gathered  together  a library  of  much  value,  with 
which  he  was  familiar.  He  was  an  earnest  advocate 
of  the  abolition  of  slavery,  and  gave  freely  of  his 
means  for  the  purpose  of  freeing  those  in  bondage. 
He  was  frequently  dubbed  “ Daniel  Webster”  by  his 
fellow-citizens  for  his  recognized  culture  and  superior 
ability  as  a debater  and  advocate  of  whatever  princi- 
ples he  thought  right  and  just.  His  charity  was  pro- 
verbial, and  his  sound  judgment  and  counsel  invalu- 
able in  the  community  in  which  he  resided.  In  1827 
he  married  Matilda  D.  Sumner  (1802-72),  the  daugh- 
ter of  George  Sumner  and  second  cousin  of  the  late 
Hon.  Charles  Sumner.  She  came  to  Windsor  with 
her  brother  Charles  after  their  father’s  death,  about 
1825.  She  used  to  relate  that  during  the  War  of 
1812  she  saw  the  troops  pa.ss  the  family  homestead, 
at  Hill,  N.  H.,  on  their  way  to  battle.  Thomas 
Dixon’s  mother  was  a Hotchkiss,  of  Broome  County, 
whose  cousin,  Giles  Hotchkiss,  was  a prominent  law- 
yer and  Congressman.  The  children  of  Thomas  and 
Matilda  Dixon  were  Ann  E.  (1830-42) ; Susan  E., 
born  in  1832,  married  George  Fairchild,  a farmer  and 
lumberman  of  Broome  County,  and  now  resides  at 
Susquehanna,  Pa  ; Mary  H.,  Victoria  and  Rush,  all 
died  young;  Zemira  (1841-74),  was  the  wife  of  Alex- 
ander Brown,  a farmer  of  Great  Bend  ; Smolensko 
(1843-45) ; Cicero  Brush  Dixon,  born  July  4,  1846, 
married,  in  1868,  A.  Marilla  Ford,  a native  of  Ots- 
dawa,  Otsego  County,  N.  Y.,  born  July  25,  1847,  a 
daughter  of  John  (1813-74)  and  Eliza  Grace  Smith 
(1815-51)  Ford,  whose  family  were  from  Herkimer 
County.  John  Ford  was  the  son  of  Abijah  and  Sally 
Russell  Ford,  and  both  the  Dixons  and  the  Fords  are 
of  English  descent.  The  Russells  were  among  the 
early  settlers  in  Broome  County,  and  Sally’s  father. 
Captain  Russell,  served  in  the  War  of  1812.  For 
many  terms,  before  her  marriage,  Mrs.  Dixon  was  a 
teacher  in  Broome  County,  and  generally  interested 


in  educational  matters.  The  children  of  Cicero  t 
Dixon  by  his  marriage  to  Miss  Ford  are  Ross  Vl 
born  1869;  Llewellyn  B.  and  Lucius  W.  (twins|i 
born  1872,  died  in  infancy;  and  John  Ford,  boil 
1875.  Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dixon  are  members  of  tljj 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  at  Great  Bend,  andb|i 
has  been  a member  of  the  Great  Bend  Masoni  | 
Lodge  since  1885.  His  early  education  was  obtained 
at  the  district  school  and  at  Professor  Rogers’  Seleci 
School,  at  Susquehanna.  His  main  business  has  bee:| 
farming,  but  since  1883  the  firm  of  Dixon,  Rose  d| 
Co.  have  been  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  lumbe  ii 
and  railroad  ties  at  the  old  Dayton  Mill.  Mr.  Dixoi  | 
is  a Republican  in  political  affiliations,  has  served  siil 
years  as  school  director,  and  is  now  serving  his  sec , 
ond  term  as  assessor  of  his  township.  He  is  a prac  '/ 
tical  and  intelligent  farmer  and  a prudent  business:i 
man. 

Dutch  Settlement.— Ezekiel  Mayo  came  to  i 
Great  Bend  in  1832,  and  cleared  up  the  farm  andl 
erected  the  stone  house  where  his  son  Le  Roy  lives.  !i 
Eliza,  one  of  his  daughters,  is  the  wife  of  Albert  | 
Judd,  a farmer  in  the  vicinity.  The  Dutch  settle- 
ment is  up  a little  creek  that  rises  in  New  York  and 
falls  into  the  Susquehanna  near  Great  Bend.  Isaac 
H.  P.  Roosa  came  up  this  creek  in  1828-29  and  pur- 
chased two  hundred  acres  of  land  of  Judge  Thomson 
and  made  the  improvements  on  the  place  now 
occupied  by  his  widow.  His  sons,  David,  Robert, 
Hiram  and  Herman,  located  near  by.  When  Mr. 
Roosa  came,  in  1828,  there  were  three  other  families 
in  the  neighborhood.  Peter  Wilsey  lived  on  the 
farm  now  owned  by  Mrs.  Monell.  Silas  Buck  was  on 
the  opposite  side  of  the  creek,  on  the  place  now 
owned  by  Luke  Smith.  Mr.  Buck  afterwards 
removed  to  Great  Bend  borough  and  carried  on  the 
grocery  business  there.  Lute,  Sandy  and  Mrs.  Eme- 
line  Griggs,  three  of  his  children,  reside  in  the  village. 
Jonas  Smith  lived  where  Charles  Brant  now  resides. 
Olive,  one  of  his  daughters,  became  the  wife  of 
William  McIntosh,  a resident  of  the  borough.  Rufus 
Isbell  began  on  the  next  farm  north  of  Roosa’s,  where 
David  Roosa  afterwards  died.  James  Carlisle  took 
up  the  farm  where  Herman  Roosa  lives.  Peter 
Calder  lived  on  the  last  farm  next  the  State  line, 
now  occupied  by  his  son  Cornelius.  Henry  Hendrix 
purchased  about  fifty  acres  of  Isaac  Roosa  and  made 
a commencement ; Robert  Roosa  purchased  this 
property,  and  by  subsequent  purchases  made  his 
present  farm.  William  Reynolds  lived  up  the  creek 
next  to  the  State  line.  Francis  Gray  and  Isaac 
Reckhow  built  the  saw-mill  that  is  now  the  proiierty 
of  Herman  Roosa,  about  1852.  Henry  Gunn  built 
his  saw-mill  in  1866-67.  A man  by  the  name  of  Rouse 
began  where  B.  B.  Tuthill  lived.  Clement  Wilmot 
formerly  lived  on  the  farm  now  owned  by  Addison 
Brush.  Ira  Odell  commenced  on  what  is  now  part  of 
the  Henry  Hendrickson  estate.  Heman  Stoddard 
began  on  the  next  farm  and  sold  it  to  his  brother 


k 

I 


) 


i 


f 


GREAT  BEND. 


535 


! David,  the  present  owner.  Jonas  Smith  first  took 
j up  the  next  farm  ; John  Gray  lived  there  many  years 
! and  Marcus  Colwell  is  the  present  owner.  Hiram 
Gifford  came  from  Litchfield  in  1849.  His  children 
are  Eunice,  wife  of  Henry  Gunn  Sheldon,  of  Massa- 
chusetts ; Orlando,  who  lived  and  died  here;  Harriet, 
wife  of  Henry  Hendrickson ; and  Rachel,  wife  of 
Almiron  Foote,  reside  adjoining  the  homestead  near 
the  State  line  ; and  Frank  Gifford  resides  at  Riverside. 

Daniel  Buck,  son  of  Eben  Buck,  an  Englishman 
who  lived  in  Connecticut,  was  born  in  1730.  He  was 
ordained  as  a Presbyterian  minister  in  his  native 
State.  In  early  life  he  was  engaged  in  the  old 
French  and  Indian  War,  in  which  he  distinguished 
himself.  He  wms  a self-made  man  and  a doctor  as 
well  as  a minister.  In  1786  he  left  the  valley  of  the 
Mohawk,  near  Albany,  where  he  had  resided  some 
years,  brought  his  family  with  teams  to  Otsego  Lake, 
crossed  it  and  came  down  the  river  in  canoes  seventy 
miles  to  near  where  Windsor  village  now  stands. 
Here  he  remained  nearly  two  years  and  then  moved 
down  to  Red  Rock.  Ichabod  and  Benjamin,  two  of 
his  sons,  were  there  married  and  had  families.  Icha- 
bod built  a house  just  north  of  where  the  Erie  Railroad 
passes  through  the  tunnel ; Benjamin  located  just 
south  of  this  place,  and  their  father  located  between 
them,  on  the  line  of  the  track  over  the  tunnel.  The 
high  rocks  on  the  river  were  painted  red  ; that  gave 
the  location  the  name  of  Red  Rock,  a name  which  it 
still  retains.  On  the  island  adjacent  the  foundation 
of  a house  was  found.  There,  for  five  years,  be  had 
to  pound  grain  in  a mortar  to  make  bread.  There 
John  B.  Buck,  the  narrator  of  these  facts,  was  born 
in  1795,  and  is  still  living  with  his  daughter,  Mrs. 
Grimes,  aged  ninety-two  years.  There  were  nothing 
but  paths  through  the  woods  at  that  time.  Hundreds 
of  Indians  passed  up  and  down  the  stream  then. 
Daniel  Buck  removed  to  the  Bend  bridge  and  resided 
on  the  farm  afterwards  owned  by  Jonathan  and 
Charles  Dimon.  He  died  in  1814,  and  is  buried  in 
the  Episcopal  burying-ground.  Benjamin  moved 
down  the  river  and  occupied  the  farm  since  known 
as  the  Newman  place.  Enoch  Denton  Buck  came 
later  and  located  at  Taylortown,  Of  Daniel  Buck’s 
large  family,  Ichabod  and  Silas  lived  and  died  here. 
Ichabod  Buck  was  a Christian  to  whom  the  pioneers 
of  Great  Bend  were  indebted  for  religious  teaching, 
influence  and  example.  He  had  five  sons, — William, 
who  died  at  Great  Bend,  whose  daughter  Eliza  is  the 
w’ife  of  T.  D.  Estabrook,  of  Great  Bend,  and  whose 
son  Noble  T.  is  a resident  of  Hallstead.  John  B.,  of 
Ichabod’s  family,  is  probably  the  oldest  citizen  born 
in  Susquehanna  now  living  or  that  ever  has  lived  up 
to  this  time  (1887). 

“Lute”  Buck,  son  of  Silas  Buck,  was  constable  for 
nine  years,  and  has  been  auctioneer  for  thirty-five 
years,  and  has  had  as  high  as  twenty-nine  sales  in 
thirty  working  days,  and  is  employed  all  up  and  down 
the  Susquehanna  Valley  from  Bainbridge  to  Plym- 


outh, a distance  of  one  hundred  miles.  He  has 
probably  sold  more  goods  at  auction  than  any  other 
man  in  the  county.  His  gift  of  language,  usually 
deemed  appropriate  in  an  auctioneer,  is  something  re- 
markable, and  he  is  not  wholly  divorced  from  the 
habit  of  speech  on  other  occasions. 

Captain  Jonathan  Newman,  a soldier  of  the  Revo- 
lution, came  from  Connecticut  to  Pittston,  and  from 
there,  in  1795,  to  Great  Bend,  where  he  bought,  of 
Mina  Du  Bois,  land  lying  north  of  the  river,  above  the 
ferry.  He  was  a man  of  considerable  prominence  in 
local  affairs.  Late  in  life  he  removed  to  Bridgewater, 
near  Heart  Lake,  and  died  there.  Two  of  his 
daughters  lived  on  this  latter  place.  His  son  James 
remained  on  the  Great'  Bend  homestead  and  married 
Esther  Buck.  He  lived  to  be  eighty-four  years  of 
age.  His  children  were  David,  who  lived  on  part  of 
the  homestead  ; Adelia,  wife  of  Jacob  Hasbrouck 
Nancy ; Betsey,  the  only  one  now  living,  wife  of 
Thos.  D.  Hayes,  a farmer  of  Great  Bend ; and  Galon, 
who  succeeded  to  the  homestead  and  became  a man 
of  prominence  in  the  community.  His  widow  resides 
there  now,  and  his  son  William  is  a merchant  in 
Great  Bend.  Jonathan  Newman’s  second  son.  Brown, 
raised  a family,  but  they  are  all  gone  now. 

Asa  Bennett  came  to  Great  Bend  as  early  as  1807, 
and  he  was  a blacksmith  in  the  village  when  it  was 
called  Lodersville.  He  died  on  a farm  near  McKin- 
ney’s mills,  aged  seventy-six.  His  son  Asa  moved 
west.  Of  his  seven  daughters,  three  married  and 
resided  in  the  vicinity.  William  C.  Carl,  who  mar- 
ried Mary,  purchased  the  Dimon  farm  in  1865.  His 
son,  James  F.  Carl,  owns  the  property  now.  Ange- 
line  Bennett  was  the  wife  of  Horace  E.  Townsend,  of 
Franklin  ; Ann  Eliza  was  the  wife  of  Harvey  Keech, 
who  resided  near  the  McKinney  mills,  and  raised  a 
family  of  four  boys  and  two  girls ; Sylvia  was  the 
wife  of  Frederick  Aldrich,  who  resided  near  the 
McKinney  mills  for  many  years,  and  finally  removed 
to  Apolacon. 

Sheldon  M.  Bronson  came  from  Connecticut  and 
bought  a farm,  and  lived  here  about  fifteen  years  and 
then  returned.  Truman  Baldwin  came  in  1844,  and 
bought  the  Truman  Hatch  farm ; George  and  William 
resided  here.  George  is  a lawyer  and  William  is  a 
preacher.  Hermon  lives  in  New  York.  John  Ham- 
lin came  in  1845,  and  purchased  a lot  and  started  a 
blacksmith  and  wagon-shop.  He  died  in  1882, 
aged  eighty-five.  His  sons,  Philo  P.  and  George, 
reside  on  the  homestead  lot,  and  continue  the  black- 
smith business.  Christopher  C.  resides  here,  and 
Charles  S.  runs  a bus  and  keeps  a livery  stable. 

Asa  Eddy  was  appointed  justice  of  the  peace  by  the 
Governor  when  this  county  was  a part  of  Luzerne. 
He  held  office  until  one  of  his  brother-infidels  quar- 
reled with  him  and  reported  him  to  the  Governor 
who  took  away  his  commission.  Asahel  Avery  was 
appointed  justice  in  1812,  and  died  shortly  after. 
Charles  Dimon  was  appointed  March  2, 1813,  and  vol- 


536 


HISTOEY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


untarily  resigned  April  23,  1823.  About  nine  years 
afterward  the  people,  without  his  knowledge,  sent  a 
petition  to  the  Governor  to  have  him  reappointed, 
which  was  done;  his  second  commission  bearing  date 
December  3, 1832.  He  held  the  office  until  it  became 
elective,  in  1840,  and  was  twice  elected  under  tbe 
amended  constitution.  His  old  dockets  show  that 
the  people  were  more  given  to  litigation  about  small 
matters  at  that  time  than  they  are  now.  Some  of  the 
most  prominent  men  had  suits  brought  against  them 
for  as  small  amounts  as  ten  and  fifteen  dollars. 

Isaac  Eeckhow,  son  of  John  Eeckhow,  who  settled 
here  in  1814,  became  justice  of  the  peace  after  Dimon, 
and  held  the  office  in  the  township  for  some  time,  and 
after  the  borough  of  Great  Bend  was  incorporated  he 
removed  into  the  borough  and  held  the  office  there. 
Lyman  Trowbridge  and  others  held  the  office  in  the 
township.  Isaac  Eeckhow  and  William  A.  Snow 
were  justices  when  the  borough  was  first  organized. 
Since  then  J.  H.  Dusenbury,  Freeborn  Churchill, 
Chas.  E.  Baldwin,  Chas.  S.  Gilbert;  since  1878,  Messrs. 
Pile,  McNamara  and  J.  W.  Dusenbury  have  held  the 
office.  C.  M.  Simmons  has  been  the  principal  justice 
across  the  river  at  Hallstead. 

Physicians. — Eev.  Daniel  Buck  may  have  prac- 
tised medicine  at  Great  Bend,  but  Dr.  Fobes  was 
here  in  1791,  or  before,  and  was  probably  the  first  re- 
gular physician  in  Susquehanna  County.  Noah  Kin- 
caid and  Charles  Frazer,  who  afterwards  removed  to 
Montrose,  were  here  prior  to  1807.  Dr.  Jonathan 
Gray  advertised  his  services  “ for  twenty-five  cents 
for  every  mile,  and  under ; one  dollar  for  every  six 
hours’  continuance  with  a patient  sick  of  a fever; 
all  shall  be  done  gratis  for  any  person  who  is  less 
capable  to  pay  than  the  practitioner  is  to  do  without 
it.”  In  August,  1807,  Dr.  Eleazer  Parker,  of  Con- 
necticut, came  to  Grand  Bend  and  practiced  success- 
fully two  and  one-half  years ; he  was  also  appointed 
postmaster,  Eebruary  1,  1808.  Dr.  McFall,  an  Irish- 
man, practiced  from  1813-14  till  he  died,  about  1884. 
After  Dr.  Eleazer  Lyman  was  accidentally  killed  by  his 
horse,  in  1845,  Dr.  James  Brooks  came  and  practiced 
medicine  at  Great  Bend  many  years.  Dr.  Janies 
Griffin,  father  of  Dr.  Lansing  Griffin,  was  here  also 
when  Dr.  E.  F.  Wilmot  came,  in  1854.  Brooks  was 
on  the  Hallstead  side.  Drs.  Vail,  Charles  Bigelow 
and  Merrifield  practiced  here  more  or  less.  Dr.  E. 
P.  Hines  came  in  1879.  Dr.  Dayton  practiced  medi- 
cine and  resided  in  Hallstead,  where  he  died.  Dr.  F. 
D.  Lamb  and  Dr.  Van  Ness  are  the  present  physicians 
in  Hallstead.  Dr.  Skinner  practiced  medicine  to  some 
extent.  He  resided  in  the  vicinity  of  Hickory 
Grove,  and  wrote  a history  of  the  United  States  in 
poetry.  He  tried  to  write  in  the  style  of  Homer’s 
Iliad. 

Burial-Places. — There  is  an  old  burying-ground 
near  the  Episcopal  Church,  in  which  there  are  many 
old  graves,  some  of  which  are  unmarked  hy  anything 
save  a small  native  head  and  foot-stone,  without  in- 


scription. Some  of  the  native  stones  have  inscriptions, 
and  are  in  a good  state  of  preservation,  as  the  follow- 
ing; “Here  lies  Eev.  Daniel  Buck,  died  April  13, 
1814,  aged  seventy-seven.”  Among  others  we  noticed 
Jonathan  Dimon  (1761-1821);  Charles  Dimon  (1785- 
1864);  William  Thomson,  died  1842,  aged  seventy- 
seven  ; Lyman  Trowbridge,  died  1848,  aged  sixty-five ; 
Dr.  EleazerLyman  died  1845,  aged  forty -three.  “ Here 
lies  Mabel  Seelye,  who  died  April  12,  1813,  aet. 
eighty- seven  years — Virtue  and  Piety.”  Silas  Buck 
(1788-1832);  Lewis  Tompkin.s,  (1801-80);  Charles 
M.  Brown,  died  1873,  aged  forty-six;  Elijah 
Barnum,  died  1868,  aged  sixty-three;  Daniel  Lyon 
(1778-1850) ; Asahel  Avery,  died  1813,  aged  forty- 
seven ; C.  C.  Monk,  died  1848,  aged  forty-eight; 
Daniel  Chase,  died  1828,  aged  twenty-five;  Jacob 
Barnes,  died  1852,  aged  seventy-eight ; Sylvester 
Barnes  (1808-76);  B.  Whiting,  died  1875,  aged  forty- 
seven  ; John  Colsten,  died  1868,  aged  seventy  ; James 
Clark,  died  1864,  aged  sixty  ; Norman  M.  Vance,  died 
1875,  aged  thirty-six.  In  Woodlavm  Cemetery,  which 
is  beautifully  located  on  a hill-side,  in  a maple  grove, 
we  find  Truman  Baldwin,  died  1866,  aged  seventy- 
seven  ; John  Baldwin,  died  1872,  aged  forty  ; Daniel 
Baldwin,  died  1867,  aged  thirty-eight;  “David  C. 
Bronson,  born  in  Eoxbury,  Conn.,  September  30, 1827, 
passed  away  October  7,  1885.”  Selah  E.  Mapes, 
died  1881,  aged  seventy-six ; Selah  Belden,  died  1875, 
aged  sixty-one  ; Dr.  B.  A.  Denison,  died  1837,  aged 
sixty-three ; Gilead  Wilmot,  died  1829,  aged  thirty- 
eight.  The  Catholic  cemetery  is  near  by,  in  which 
Eev.  James  Loughran  lies  buried,  born  in  Armagh 
County,  Ireland,  in  1842,  ordained  priest  in  1868, 
died  in  1883. 

Newman  Cemetery. — James  Newman  gave  land 
on  a beautiful  ridge,  which  overlooks  a small  stream 
that  flows  into  the  Susquehanna  Eiver.  Here,  among 
others,  are  head-stones  erected  to  the  memory  of 
David  S.  Eoosa,  died  1867,  aged  forty ; Isaac  H.  Eoosa, 
died  1863,  aged  sixty ; Ethel  Stoddard,  1873,  aged 
seventy-five;  Harriet  Stoddard,  died  1876,  aged 
seventy-one ; John  S.  Gray,  died  1875,  aged  fifty-five ; 
Galon  Newman,  died  1885,  aged  sixty ; Hiram  S. 
Gifford,  died  1873,  aged  seventy -three;  John  Smith, 
died  1868,  aged  sixty-eight ; Charles  Jenks,  died  1869, 
aged  seventy-seven ; Jacobus  Barley,  died  1860, 
aged  eighty-three;  John  Eeckhow,  died  1834,  aged 
seventy-eight ; Martha  Eeckhow,  died  1854,  aged 
eighty ; James  Newman,  died  1854,  aged  seventy- 
eight ; David  Newman,  died  1853,  aged  forty-six; 
Charles  L.  Monell,  died  1860,  aged  forty-four; 
Almon  Munson,  died  1864,  aged  seventy-four ; 
Thomas  Somerton,  died  1865,  aged  fifty-nine; 
Ebenezer  Jackson,  died  1865,  aged  sixty-six ; “Abijah 
Wilmot,  one  of  the  pioneers,  horn  at  Litchfield,  De- 
cember 1, 1797,  died  October  30, 1871.”  Isaac  Stoddard 
(1771-1853) ; Luke  D.  Eoosa,  died  1873,  aged  sixty- 
one;  Myron  Mayo,  died  1864,  aged  seventy;  Orin  E. 
Mayo,  died  1868,  aged  fifty-two ; Enos  B.  Stoddard,  died 


GREAT  BEND. 


537 


' 1874,  aged  sixty-  two  ; Jonas  Bush, Jr.,  died  1863,  aged 

1 seventy-seven  ; Dr.  Abraham  Soule  (1802-78)  ; 

‘ I Thomas  Nigol,  died  1869,  aged  sixty-two ; Isaac  A- 
Hasbrouck,  died  1882,  aged  eighty-three ; “ William 
Prince,  died  1884,  aged  forty-six.  In  memory  of  a 
j colored  volunteer,  who  fought  four  years  in  defence 
{■|  of  his  country.” 

! Pkesbyterian  Yard. — The  Presbyterian  yard  ad- 
Ki  joins  the  Presbyterian  Church  at  Hallstead,  and  is 

t{  not  much  used  as  a burial-place  any  more.  It  is 

within  the  village  limits,  and  contains  the  bodies  of 
’ t many  of  the  settlers.  Among  them  Solomon  Jones, 
died  1855,  aged  seventy-eight;  Elijah  Skinner  (1804- 
52);  Hugh  I.  Benn,  died  1843,  aged  seventy-one; 
Joseph  Hendrickson  (1792-1881) ; Wright  Chamber- 
lain,  died  1869,  aged  eighty-one;  William  Buck,  died 
1861,  aged  seven ty -eight ; Freeman  Snow,  died  1872, 
aged  eighty-eight;  Thomas  T.  Gale,  died  1868,  aged 
fifty-two;  Ebenezer  Brown,  died  1871,  aged  seventy- 
five;  Henry  Langley,  died  1861,  aged  fifty-three; 
James  W.  Mcllwee,  died  1856,  aged  thirty-six ; John 
McKinney  (1791-1856);  George  W.  Stephens,  died 
1853,  aged  thiity-four ; Jeremiah  Baker,  died  1839, 
aged  sixty-six ; Nancy,  his  wife,  died  1858,  aged  seven- 
ty-six; Asa  Bennett  (1777-1856);  Anna  Bennett  (1783- 
1860) ; Peter  Decker,  died  1862,  aged  fifty-seven  ; Rev. 
Samuel  Chamberlain,  died  1850,  aged  fifty-five ; John 
Scotten,  died  1853,  aged  seventy.  “ In  memory  of 
John  Gillespie,  a native  of  Scotland,  who  died  at 
Great  Bend,  April  17, 1841,  aged  sixty-eight.”  Jannet 
; Hume,  his  wife,  died  1844,  aged  eighty-three  ; John 
Gillespie,  died  1876,  aged  seventy-two;  Jahiel  Dayton 
; (1804-72);  S.  W.  Dayton  M.D.,  died  1883,  aged  forty- 

' two  ; William  Dayton,  son  of  Elias  Dayton  (1801-55) ; 

' Samuel  H.  Dayton,  died  1876,  aged  sixty-six;  Abra- 
' ham  Du  Bois  (1786-1867) ; Juliet  Bowes,  wife  of  Abra- 

) ham  Du  Bois,  born  in  Edinburgh  1794,  died  at  Great 

Bend  1855 ; Minna  Du  Bois,  died  1824,  aged  seventy ; 
Elizabeth  Scudder,  his  wife,  died  1848,  aged  eighty  ; 
Franklin  Lusk,  died  1853,  aged  fifty;  Jane  A.,  his 
wife,  died  1863,  aged  fifty-three;  Henry  K.  Niven, 
died  1826,  aged  twenty-six. 

Rose  Hill  Cemetery,  so  named  in  honor  of  Ben- 
jamin H.  Rose,  who  gave  the  land,  is  handsomely 
located  on  a little  eminence  west  of  Hallstead, 
having  the  old  burial-place  in  the  Presbyterian  yard, 
the  winding  Susquehanna,  the  two  villages  of  Hall- 
stead and  Great  Bend  and  thesurrounding  mountain, 
all  in  view.  The  ponderous  trains  of  the  Delaware, 
Lackawanna  and  Western  Railroad  rush  heedlessly 
past  at  the  base  of  the  eminence,  in  strange  contrast 
with  the  last  sad  repose  of  the  village  dead  on  the 
hill  above.  Among  those  buried  here  we  notice 
Joseph  J.  Adam.s,  died  1886,  aged  seventy-four;  James 
H.  Simrell,  died  1875,  aged  forty-five;  William  H. 
Norton,  died  1881,  aged  thirty;  Thomas Gilliens,  died 
1881,  aged  seventy-six  ; Garrett  Johnston  (1800-83) ; 

Nicholas  Du  Bois  (1823-79) ; Joseph  Du  Bois  ( ) ; 

George  W.  Bailey,  died  1877,  aged  sixty-seven  ; Henry 

33^ 


V.  Colsten,  died  1881,  aged  thirty-eight;  Samuel 
Wright  (1816-83);  Ralpha  Mesick,  died  1883,  aged 
fifty-seven;  Wm.  Lawson  (1813-83);  John  L.  Ward 
(1799-1885);  William  C.  McIntosh,  died  1878,  aged 
fifty-one;  Orren  Hall,  died  1880,  aged  seventy-three; 
Oliver  Scranton,  Company  F,  Fifteenth  Regiment 
New  York  Volunteers,  died  June  23,  1885,  aged  sev- 
enty-four ; T.  J.  Barnes,  died  1881,  aged  sixty -two ; 
Joseph  S.  Hallstead,  died  1865,  aged  thirty-four; 
Henry  Van  Sickler,  died  1883,  aged  sixty-two;  Sibyl, 
wife  of  Ichabod  Buck,  died  1855,  aged  eighty-nine ; 
Thomas  Bates,  died  1813,  aged  fifty-six;  Deacon  Na- 
thaniel Ives,  died  1867,  aged  seventy-six.  “ Here  lies 
Marion,  wife  of  B.  Marquissee,  died  April  10,  1813, 
aged  fifty-three ; ” John  McDonald,  died  1862,  aged 
eighty-two ; Daniel  B.  Wylie,  died  1828,  aged  thirty- 
four  ; Jacob  Mayne,  died  1881,  aged  eighty-one;  Ar- 
temus  Hall,  died  1848,  aged  forty-six  ; Richard  Pres- 
ton, died  1853,  aged  twenty-three.  Many  of  the  graves 
in  the  old  quarter  of  the  ground  are  unmarked,  save 
by  a small  native  head  and  foot-stone. 

Keystone  Agricultural  Society. — At  a meeting  held 
in  J.  W.  Dusenbury’s  office,  July  23,  1881,  The  Key- 
stone Agricultural  Society  was  organized  by  the  elec- 
tion of  T.  T.  Estabrook,  president;  W.  S.  Barnes, 
vice-president ; J.  H.  Dusenbury,  secretary  and  treas- 
urer, an  office  which  the  latter  resigned  at  the  next 
meeting,  July  31st,  and  J.  W.  Dusenbury  was  elected 
secretary,  a position  which  he  has  held  ever  since, 
and  William  Newman  was  elected  treasurer.  Rufus 
Kistler  was  elected  vice-president  in  place  of  W.  S. 
Barnes,  resigned.  A constitution  and  by-laws  were 
adopted  at  this  meeting.  A piece  of  flat  land,  beauti- 
fully located  on  the  Susquehanna,  was  rented  of  James 
F.  Carl,  and  the  sale  of  intoxicating  liquors  on  the 
ground  was  forbidden  at  that  meeting ; also  the  ex- 
ecutive committee  was  empowered  to  take  full 
charge  of  the  affairs  of  the  association.  At  the  an- 
nual meeting  of  the  stockholders  the  old  officers  were 
re-elected,  with  the  exception  of  vice-president.  B. 
B.  Tuthill  was  elected  to  that  position,  and  Galon 
Newman,  W.  S.  Barnes,  Charles  Summers,  Thomas 
Conklin  and  Calvin  Brush  were  elected  as  an  execu- 
tive committee.  J.-  H.  Dusenbury  was  appointed  to 
have  full  control  of  the  grounds,  excepting  during 
fair  time.  In  1883  P.  H.  Lines  was  elected  treasurer  ; 
Galon  Newman,  L.  D.  Judd,  Jeremiah  Banker,  W.  T. 
Estabrook  and  W.  S.  Barnes,  executive  committee. 
In  1883  the  stock  subscription  amounted  to  $937.60  ; 
receipts  from  fair,  $1166.40;  ground- rents,  $48. 
There  was  paid  in  premiums  $475,  racing ; and 
$326,  agricultural,  — total,  $801.  For  labor  on 
buildings,  $310.24;  rent,  $100.  There  were  sundry 
other  items  of  expense,  leaving  a balance  in  the 
treasurer’s  hands  of  $209.55.  The  association  have 
erected  suitable  buildings  and  stalls  for  exhibition  pur- 
poses, and  they  have  one  of  the  finest  half-mile  race- 
tracks in  the  State.  The  exhibition  of  stock  and 
horse-racing  are  prominent  features  of  the  exhil)ition. 


538 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


Common  Schools. — The  following  is  J.  Du  Bois’ 
account  of 

“ The  First  School-house. — The  early  settlers  in  the  valley,  to  their 
honor  let  it  ever  be  remembered,  felt  it  their  duty,  at  a very  early  day  of 
its  settlement,  to  build  a respectable  edifice  in  which  they  could  educate 
the  rising  generation,  in  which  they  could  meet  to  worship  God.  They 
not  only  felt  it  their  duty,  but  they  at  once  acted  in  the  matter  by  call- 
ing a meeting,  at  which  a committee  was  appointed  to  circulate  subscrip- 
tions to  raise  funds  for  the  purpose  of  building  a house,  not  only  large 
enough  to  hold  all  the  children  in  the  township,  but  large  enough  to 
accommodate  all  the  people  of  the  valley  who  wanted  to  meet  for  worship. 
A subscription  was  drawn  up,  signed  and  circulated,  and  another  meet- 
ing was  held  to  hear  the  report  of  the  subscrii)tion  committee.  The 
amount  of  subscriptions  was  reported.  Many  of  the  subscribers  were 
then  living  in  log  houses,  with  roofs  made  by  slabs  split  out  of  logs  by 
band,  and  others  with  roofs  made  of  the  boughs  of  the  hemlock.  Yet, 
at  this  meeting,  it  was  resolved  that  this  first  house,  which  they  were 
about  to  build  and  dedicate  to  these  noble  purposes,  should  be  a frame 
building,  sided  with  sawed  pine  siding,  and  shingled  with  good  pine 
sliingles,  to  be  fourteen  feet  between  joists,  and  twenty  by  forty  feet  on 
the  ground,  and  to  be  finished  in  a workmanlike  manner.  One  of  the 
settlers  proposed  that  a belfry  and  steeple  should  adorn  the  building. 
This  proposition  was  objected  to,  on  the  ground  that  the  amount  sub- 
scribed would  not  warrant  this  additional  expense.  The  individual  pro- 
posing this  then  arose  and  said  that,  as  he  was  desirous  of  seeing  at  least 
one  thing  in  this  valley  pointing  heavenward,  if  they  would  build  a 
spire  he  would  add  ten  dollars  to  his  subscription  ; a lady  present  then 
arose  and  said  that  she  would  add  ten  dollars  ; others  followed  suit,  and 
the  matter  was  soon  decided  in  favor  of  asteeple.  The  wiudowswere  to  be 
large,  and  Gothic  in  style,  and  a pulpit  was  to  be  built  in  the  north  end 
of  the  building;  a porch  was  to  cover  the  entrance,  and  as  the  house 
was  to  face  the  street,  the  spire  was  to  be  on  the  centre  of  the  building. 
Large  swinging  partitions  divided  the  interior  of  the  house  in  the  mid- 
dle, w'hen  used  for  school  purposes,  but  were  hoisted  and  kept  in  position 
by  supports,  when  used  for  church  purposes.  This  house  was  to  be  free 
to  all  denominations  of  worshippers.  After  the  above  plan  this  house 
was  built.  The  steeple  on  this  first  house  of  worship,  built  at  Great 
Bend,  displayed  good  architectural  design  and  ornamental  finish,  and 
was  painted  white ; but  I am  sorry  to  have  to  record  the  fact  that 
neither  the  fathers  nor  their  degenerate  sons  ever  painted  the  body  of 
this  otherwise  fine  building.  But  in  it  many  youth  were  educated,  and 
many  a sinner,  convicted  of  his  great  ingratitude  to  a kind  and  ever- 
merciful  God,  was  pointed  heavenward  for  relief,  by  the  faithful  teacher 
and  preacher.  As  the  roads  were  very  rough  in  those  days,  most  of  the 
worshippers  came  to  meeting  on  horseback,  often  two  riding  on  one 
horse.  As  we  had  no  settled  ministers  of  that  time.  Captain  Ichabod 
Buck,  a soldier  of  the  Bevolution,  of  the  Presbyterian  faith,  when  there 
was  no  preacher  present,  always  opened  the  meeting  by  reading  a por- 
tion of  God’s  Word,  and  by  prayer.  William  Buck,  his  son,  led  the 
choir  in  singing,  after  which  Captain  Buck  read  a selected  sermon,  and 
invariably  closed  the  meeting  by  calling  on  Deacon  Asa  Adams,  another 
soldier  of  the  Revolution,  for  the  closing  prayer.” 

In  this  school-house  the  first  Sabbath-school  was 
started,  June  1,  1817  or  T8,  at  the  suggestion  of 
Elijah,  son  of  Captain  I.  Buck.  The  first  teachers 
were  Miss  Jane  Du  Bois  (Mrs.  Lusk)  and  a Miss 
Stewart. 

Mr.  J.  B.  Buck  states : 

“ The  school-houses  of  those  early  days  were  extremely  primitive. 
They  were  built  of  logs;  the  seats  made  of  slabs,  with  legs  inserted  in 
two-inch  auger-holes  for  supports,  and  without  backs.  The  desks  for 
writing  were  along  the  wall,  and  when  the  lads  and  lasses  practiced  at 
writing  they  sat  with  their  backs  to  the  school.  The  rooms  were  W'armed 
by  a fire-place  ; and  in  these  nide  shelters  the  religious  meetings  were 
held,  and  the  early  churches  established.  A school-house  was  after- 
wards built  upon  the  ground  now  occupied  by  Mr.  McKinney’s  store. 
It  was  used,  for  a long  time,  for  a meeting-house.  Previously,  we  had 
used  Mr.  Strong’s  dwelling-house,  which  stoQd  a few  rods  north  of  the 
water-tank.” 

The  first  district  school  was  taught  in  1800  by  Alba 
Dinion.  Abijah  Barnes  taught  in  1801,  in  a room  of 


a log  dwelling,  vacated  for  the  purpose.  The  first 
singing-school  was  taught  by  Almon  Munson  in  the 
chamber  of  Judge  Thomson’s  house,  or  what  was 
afterwards  his.  Religious  meetings  were  sometimes 
held  in  Esq.  Dimon’s  barn. 

There  are  eight  school  districts  besides  the  two 
boroughs,  which  have  graded  schools.  Besides  the 
common  schools,  there  have  been  academies  and 
private  schools  in  the  days  gone  by,  and  Mrs.  S.  B. 
Chase,  a lady  well  capable  of  judging,  says  that  some 
of  those  schools  were  well  conducted,  particularly  Mr. 
Mann’s  school.  Early  in  1831  a man  by  the  name 
of  Strails  had  a select  school  in  the  Bowes  mansion, 
or  female  seminary.  The  principal  afterwards  re- 
moved to  Binghamton  and  disgraced  himself.  In  the 
fall  of  1832  James  Catlin  and  Miss  Lucretia  Loomis 
had  charge  of  the  institution.  When  the  latter  went 
to  Montrose  it  was  changed  to  an  academy,  and  only 
male  students  were  invited — Rev.  .Tason  Corwin, 
principal. 


CHAPTER  XXXVI. 

GREAT  BEND  BOROUGH. 

A PETITION  of  sundry  citizens  of  Great  Bend,  asking 
to  be  incorporated  as  a borough,  was  presented  at  the 
August  term  of  court,  1860,  and  said  borough  was  in- 
corporated by  the  court  at  November  term,  1861. 
The  boundaries  are  as  follows : “ Beginning  at  an  elm 
tree  on  the  banks  of  the  Susquehanna  River,  the  cor- 
ner of  lands  owned  by  the  D.  L.  & W.  R.  R.  Co.  and 
lands  owned  by  S.  H.  Dayton ; thence  S.  70°  E. 
77J  rds.  to  the  east  side  of  the  Great  Bend  and 
Cochecton  turnpike ; thence  S.  79°  E.  53  8-10  rds.  to 
the  centre  of  the  Erie  Railway  track  at  the  line  of 
the  Dimon  farm ; thence  N.  28j°  W.  60  rds.  to  the 
line  between  the  lands  of  Henry  McKinney  and  L. 
Green  : thence  along  said  line  S.  85°  W.  42  rds.  to  the 
corner  of  lots  owned  by  Colstein  and  Doran  ; thence 
N.  27°  W.  87 i rds.  to  the  line  between  the  lands  of 
L.  Green  and  T.  Baldwin ; thence  along  said  line  N. 
25°  E.  47  rds.  to  a stake  and  stones;  thence  N.  28^° 
W.  67  rds.  to  the  line  of  T.  D.  Hays’  farm  and  the 
corner  of  W.  S.  Wolcott’s  lot;  thence  along  said  line 
S.  59°  W.  125  rds.  to  the  east  bank  of  the  Susque- 
hanna River;  thence  along  said  river  as  it  winds  and 
turns  170  rds.  to  the  place  of  beginning — containing 
115  acres  and  16  rods.” 

At  the  first  election,  held  Jan.  14,  1862,  R.  T.  Ste- 
phens was  elected  burgess,  and  Lansing  Griffin,  L.  S. 
Lenheim,  A.  P.  Stephen,  Morgan  Wood  and  Wm. 
Wolcott  were  elected  Councilmen  and  N.  V.  Carpenter 
high  constable.  At  their  first  meeting,  Jan.  22,  1862, 
L.  S.  Lenheim  was  chosen  president  and  treasurer 
and  D.  A.  Baldwin  secretary  for  the  ensuing  year. 
Messrs.  Griffin,  Lenheim  and  Stephens  were  appointed 


GREAT  BEND. 


539 


a committee  to  draft  by-laws  for  the  government  of 
the  borough.  Subsequently  the  Council  passed  a 
series  of  ordinances  relative  to  animals  running  on 
the  streets,  obstructions  placed  in  the  streets,  injury 
to  shade-trees,  defining  the  duties  of  the  high  consta- 
ble, street  commissioners,  etc. 

In  1863  David  Thomas  was  elected  burgess  and  Dr. 
J.  Merrifield,  J.  D.  Thomas,  H.  P.  Doran,  J.  H.  Du- 
senbury  and  Chas.  S.  Gilbert,  Councilmen ; J.  D.  Mc- 
Kinney, high  constable ; G.  W.  Brown  and  J.  D.  Mc- 
Kinney, poormasters. 

Isaac  Reckhow  was  elected  burgess  in  1864.  The 
newly-elected  Council  refused  to  qualify,  and  Isaac 
Reckhow,  R.  T.  Stephens,  J.  H.  Dusenbury  and  A. 
P.  Stephens  appear  to  have  transacted  all  the  business 
for  some  time.  Oct.  27,  1866,  on  petition  of  H.  P. 
Doran,  J.  H.  Dusenbury,  Geo.  McNamara,  Geo.  H. 
White,  Vincent  Reckhow,  E.  F.  Wilmot,  Wm.  M. 
Clark,  John  O’Brien,  Mathew  Blake,  Amos  Sanders, 
Daniel  Sullivan,  Patrick  Leonard,  W.  A.  Colstein,  C. 
C.  Hamlin,  W.  H.  Murray,  W.  H.  Wilmot,  Isaac 
Reckhow,  W.  S.  Wolcutt,  W.  Paintin  and  Wm.  W. 
Ellicott,  an  addition  was  made  to  the  borough  on  the 
west  end. 

Dr.  John  Merrifield  was  elected  burgess  in  1867; 
Wm.  Tooker,  George  McNamara,  F.  Churchill,  T.  D. 
Estabrook  and  A.  P.  Stephens,  Councilmen.  J.  H. 
Dusenbury  was  elected  burgess  in  1869;  R.  T.  Ste- 
phens, 1870 ; T.  D.  Estabrook,  1876.  The  following 
persons  were  appointed  police  in  1877 : Henry  Van 
Sickle,  chief ; Edwin  Colstein,  Jackson  Weldon,  L. 
Churchill,  R.  O.  Bedell  and  Asa  Blatchley,  assistants. 

“ 1 Josiah  Stewart,  a son  of  Lieutenant  Lazarus 
Stewart,  Jr.,  and  a grandson  of  Captain  Lazarus 
Stewart,  too  young  to  engage  in  the  terrible  strife  at 
Wyoming,  where  his  father  and  grandfather  were 
killed,  escaped  the  slaughter  that  followed,  and  after- 
wards settled  on  the  Susquehanna  River,  at  Great 
Bend,  and  at  one  time  owned  and  occupied  what  was 
afterwards  known  as  the  ‘ Thomson  Farm,’  upon 
which  Great  Bend  Borough  is  now  located.  Josiah 
Stewart  came  here  at  an  early  day,  and  although  not 
wealthy,  was  an  enterprising  citizen,  had  something 
to  do  in  building,  and  at  one  time  owned  our  first 
grist-mill,  and  built  one  of  the  first  saw-mills  in  the 
neighborhood.  His  family  consisted  of  his  wife  and 
three  sons — Lazarus,  the  eldest  (named  after  his 
grandfather,  Captain  Lazarus  Stewart,  who  fell  in  the 
Wyoming  massacre),  Charles  and  Espy.  His  daugh- 
ters were  Hannah,  Pattie,  Betsey  and  Frances.  Mr. 
Stewart  believed  in  the  education  of  the  youth  of  our 
country,  especially  females.  On  them  (he  used  to 
say),  as  teachers  and  mothers,  the  future  welfare  of 
our  country  depended;  and,  acting  upon  this  belief, 
he  gave  his  daughters  as  good  an  education  as  his 
means  would  warrant,  and  some  of  your  readers  will 
remember  the  days  of  log  school-houses  and  slab- 


Bu  Bois,  in  Blackman’s  “ History.” 


benches,  and  with  what  fidelity  and  perseverance,  as 
school-teachers,  Hannah,  Pattie,  Betsey  and  Frances 
Stewart  labored  to  educate  the  children  of  the  early 
settlers.  As  to  his  sons,  Mr.  Stewart  used  to  say  that 
they  must  get  along  through  the  world  with  less  edu- 
cation, as  they,  in  all  probability,  as  pioneers,  would 
have  to  rough  it,  as  he  and  his  father  had  done. 
This  saying,  as  to  his  sons,  proved  prophetic.  Laz- 
arus, the  eldest,  not  finding  a place  on  this  continent 
that  suited  him  to  settle  upon,  took  to  the  sea.  Charles, 
after  living  in  the  neighborhood  several  years,  moved 
to  the  West  as  a pioneer.  Espy,  the  youngest  son, 
following  the  tide  of  emigration  westward,  never 
rested  until,  from  the  western  slope  of  the  Rocky 
Mountains,  he  saw  before  him  that  great  barrier  to 
further  western  progress,  the  Pacific  Ocean.  He  set- 
tled in  California. 

“ Mr.  Stewart  lived  to  a good  old  age.  His  life 
was  a life  of  usefulness  as  a citizen,  and  as  a pioneer 
he  labored  hard  to  smooth  the  way  for  those  who 
should  come  after  him.  He  died  in  the  adioining 
town  of  Windsor,  N.  Y.,  at  the  residence  of  his  son, 
Charles  Stewart.” 

In  1807  William  Thomson,  afterwards  an  associate 
judge  of  Susquehanna  County  for  many  years,  came 
to  Great  Bend  and  purchased  the  farm  advertised  by 
Josiah  Stewart,  the  oldest  cultivated  farm  in  the 
township.  He  was  a native  of  Scotland.  He  filled 
several  important  offices,  the  duties  of  which  he  per- 
formed with  ability  and  fidelity.  He  had  a large 
estate,  which  he  had  accumulated  by  industry  and 
economy,  and  which  he  bequeathed  to  needy  friends. 
He  died  January  30,  1842,  in  his  seventy- eighth  year. 
His  house  formed  a wing  of  the  National  Hotel, 
which  was  burned  December  13,  1869. 

In  1830  Benjamin  Taylor  had  a log  tavern  by  the 
“ Indian  Apple  Trees,”  where  the  bridge  crosses. 
The  next  building  was  the  Thomson  house,  which 
stood  just  back  of  where  J.  W.  Larrabee’s  barber-shop 
now  stands,  and  the  Hatch  tavern,  which  stood  on  the 
farm  afterwards  owned  by  Truman  Baldwin,  com- 
prised the  buildings  within  the  borough  limits  of 
Great  Bend  at  that  time.  As  soon  as  the  Erie,  and 
Delaware,  Lackawanna  and  Western  Raili'oads  passed 
through  here,  it  became  evident  that  the  beautiful 
flat  land  lying  on  both  sides  of  the  Susquehanna  at 
Great  Bend  was  a favorable  location  for  a town. 
Lowery  Green  owned  the  Thomson  farm  at  the 
time  when  the  railroads  were  built,  and  he  over- 
reached the  mark  by  charging  so  much  for  building- 
lots  that  he  retarded  the  growth  of  the  place,  and 
eventually  died  a poor  man.  Messrs.  Braton  & 
Gondor,  contractors  and  builders  on  the  Erie  road, 
put  a stock  of  goods  in  the  old  Thomson  farm-house, 
to  supply  their  men  while  working  on  the  road. 
When  their  contract  work  was  completed,  they  sold 
these  goods  to  .lohn  McKinney,  who  had  been  a suc- 
cessful merchant  on  the  other  side  of  the  river  for 
many  years.  Mr.  McKinney  built  a store  east  of 


540 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


where  the  Susquehanna  Valley  House  stands,  in  1848, 
and  continued  in  business  there  until  he  died,  in 
1856.  His  son  Henry  then  took  charge  of  the  store ; 
meanwhile  other  stores  had  been  built  up  west  of  the 
railroad  track,  and  McKinney  moved  his  stock  of 
goods  west  of  the  track  and  closed  them  out  at  auc- 
tion in  1866.  Isaac  Reckhow  next  built  a store, 
which  was  destroyed  by  fire  in  1875.  T.  D.  Esta- 
brook  commenced  the  grocery  business  in  1860,  in  the 
Reckhow  building.  E.  F.  Simons  was  in  partnership 
with  him  for  a few  years;  and  in  1866  he  was  in  part- 
nership with  R.  S.  Clark  until  the  latter  died.  They 
carried  a general  assortment,  including  dry-goods, 
groceries,  boots  and  shoes  and  drugs.  David  Thomas 
built  a store  on  the  lot  adjoining,  which  he  occupied 
as  a store  for  a time.  J.  H.  Dusenbury  also  had  a 
store  there,  and  at  the  time  of  the  fire  it  was  occupied 
by  T.  D.  Estabrook  and  Mrs.  R.  S Clark.  After  the 
fire  of  1875  Mr.  Estabrook  immediately  built  the  store 
across  the  street,  now  occupied  by  his  son,  AVilliam 
T.  Estabrook,  as  a hardware-store ; and  in  1876  Mr. 
Estabrook  and  Mrs.  Clark  purchased  the  Thomas  lot 
and  erected  the  present  brick  block.  Mr.  Estabrook 
carries  on  business  in  the  western  division,  and  P.  H. 
& 0.  A.  Lines  have  the  eastern  division  of  this 
double  store  building,  and  carry  a large  stock  of  dry- 
goods.  Mr.  Montgomery  built  a store,  which  was 
subsequently  occupied  by  H.  P.  Doran,  where  Dan- 
hier  now  has  a store,  Emory  Simons  built  a store 
near  where  the  post-office  building  stands,  L.  S. 
Lenheim  rented  a store  on  the  corner  opposite  Esta- 
brook’s  and  John  Colsten  had  a tin-shop  on  the  next 
block,  all  of  which  were  destroyed  in  the  great  con- 
flagration of  1875,  which  destroyed  a large  part  of  the 
business  houses  in  the  village ; but  better  buildings 
were  erected  in  the  place  of  those  that  had  been 
burned.  The  Estabrook  and  Clark  block,  and  L.  S. 
Lenheim’s  brick  block  were  erected  in  1876.  The 
Lenheim  block  consisted  of  a bank-room,  now  occu- 
pied by  J.  W.  Dusenbury  as  an  insurance  office,  and 
two  store-rooms.  Lenheim  had  a private  hank  and 
run  a store  some  time,  until  his  son  George  took  the 
store.  The  Lenheim  block  now  belongs  to  the  Kistler 
estate.  Henry  Ackert,  a grocery  man,  occupies  one  of 
the  stores,  and  Riatt  & Smythe,  dry-goods  men,  the 
other. 

John  Colsten  came  here  in  1833,  and  was  toll 
gatherer  for  the  bridge.  He  put  stoves  and  tinware 
into  the  toll-house,  and  engaged  in  the  hardware 
business.  About  1834  he  built  a store  on  Main 
Street,  which  was  burned  in  1875,  when  he  erected 
the  present  brick  building.  His  son  William  has 
carried  on  the  hardware  business  there  since,  and  has 
the  reputation  of  being  at  his  place  of  business  regu- 
larly and  always.  George  McNamara  erected  a brick 
building  in  1876,  one  side  of  which  he  occupies  as  a 
store,  and  the  other  as  the  post-office. 

A.  E.  Benedict  built  the  double  store  brick  building 
now  owned  by  J.  H.  Bundy  in  1882.  James  Danhier, 


groceryman,  has  one  part  and  F.  D.  Claus,  a tailor, 
has  the  other  part.  S.  T.  Kistler  erected  a brick  block 
in  1880  and  occupies  one  part  as  a boot  and  shoe- 
store.  Wm.  M.  Kistler,  cigar  manufacturer,  has  the 
other  part.  Richard  Stack  commenced  the  grocery 
business  in  1864  and  was  burned  out  in  1875.  He 
then  rented  of  A.  G.  Preston,  who  erected  a wooden 
building,  the  upper  part  of  which  is  occupied  by  the 
Great  Bend  Plaindealer  newspaper  office.  C.  J.  Wal- 
dron has  a flour  and  feed-store.  William  Newman, 
Addison  Mesick  and  Hezekiah  Skinner  are  all  engaged 
in  the  grocery  business.  Wm.  Day  has  a meat  market 
and  M.  Holdrich  is  baker.  Miss  Bertha  AVilbur  and 
Mrs.  Chas.  Stevens  supply  the  ladies  with  hats.  C. 
B.  Woodward  and  T.  D.  Estabrook  & Co.  supply 
drugs.  C.  H.  Johnson  and  A.  Reckhow  are  under- 
takers, and  Lyman,  Hamlin  & Co.  are  blacksmiths, 
L.  W.  Chichester  is  jeweler.  J.  W.  Larrabee  is  barber 
and  S.  B.  Van  Ness  is  photographer. 

Hotels. — Allred  Allen  had  the  first  hotel  after  the 
village  began  to  grow.  It  stood  west  of  where  the 
Susquehanna  Valley  House  stands,  and  was  built  about 
1847. 

The  Susquehanna  Valley  House  is  near  the  Erie 
Railroad  track  and  was  built  by  William  Dayton 
about  1851.  It  is  the  largest  hotel  in  the  place,  and 
is  closed  at  present. 

The  National  Hotel  occupied  the  site  of  Larrahee’s 
barber-shop  and  the  millinery  store.  The  Thomson 
residence,  which  stood  back  of  this,  near  where  Frank 
Kane’s  hotel  stands,  was  used  as  a part  of  the  National. 
It  was  burned  down  in  1869,  while  it  was  owned  by 
the  Grigg  brothers.  Isaac  Grigg  erected  a wooden 
building  for  a hotel,  which  has  since  been  converted 
into  store-rooms. 

Central  Hotel. — Simons  & Hyer  had  a store  where 
the  Central  Hotel  stands,  and  R.  O.  Bedell  run  a 
saloon  under  it.  Bradley  Wakeman  and  S.  B.  Chase 
had  their  bank  on  the  first  floor.  They  were  private 
bankers.  This  house  was  destroyed  by  the  fire  of 
1875.  R.  0.  Bedell  had  made  some  money  in  the 
saloon  business  and,  by  borrowing  some  more,  he 
erected  the  brick  house  known  as  the  Central  Hotel 
in  1876.  The  hotel  was  run  by  Messrs.  Bedell,  God- 
frey, Mitchell  and  Sawyer.  Mr.  Wakeman  finally  had 
to  take  the  property  in  payment  for  money  loaned 
and  it  fell  into  the  hands  of  Mrs.  J.  H.  Dusenbury,  a 
daughter  and  heir  of  his  estate.  The  hotel  has  been 
under  the  management  of  Mr.  Dusenbury  and  his 
wife  since  April,  1887,  and  no  better  accommodations 
are  provided  for  the  guests  anywhere  in  the  county 
than  here.  The  hotel  will  accommodate  about  forty 
persons. 

Crandall  House. — David  Depue  built  a brick  house 
recently  which  he  rented  to  AVilliam  Crandall,  who 
keeps  a comfortable  house.  It  will  accommodate 
thirty  persons. 

Kilrow  House.— V.  B.  Buell  commenced  the  Kilrow 
House  and  it  was  completed  by  Edwards,  in  1851-52, 


GllEAT  BEND. 


541 


and  who  was  also  its  landlord  for  about  ten  years.  It 
fell  into  the  hands  of  Jos.  Slocum,  of  Scranton,  and 
he  sold  it  to  Michael  Kilrow  in  1862,  and  he  has  run 
it  ever  since. 

Great  Bend  borough  contains  about  one  thousand 
two  hundred  inhabitants,  eleven  stores,  two  tanneries 
operated  by  the  Kistlers,  a factory  for  sawing  head- 
ing for  flour  barrels  and  kegs,  a harness-shop,  two 
jewelry  stores,  two  cabinet-shops,  a meat-market,  two 
millinery  stores,  three  churches  (Methodist,  Catholic 
and  Episcopal),  a graded  school,  two  physicians  and 
one  dentist,  and  the  Plaindealer,  a weekly  newspaper. 
The  borough  has  better  sidewalks  than  any  other 
town  in  the  county.  It  has  five  streets  running 
nearly  parallel  with  the  river,  viz.,  Church,  Main, 
Franklin,  Washington,  Grant.  Cross  Street  inter- 
sects these  streets  at  right  angles,  making  a well-laid- 
out  town.  The  Susquehanna  River  flows  between  the 
two  boroughs  of  Great  Bend  and  Hallstead.  A few 
years  ago  there  was  a good  depot  and  a railroad 
bridge,  across  which  the  Delaware,  Lackawanna  and 
Western  Railroad  ran  trains;  but  the  bridge  and  de- 
pot have  burned  down,  and  the  Delaware,  Lacka- 
wanna and  Western  does  not  now  cross  the  river- 
Their  depot  is  an  old  passenger  car.  The  two  vil- 
lages are  connected  by  a bridge,  however,  for  general 
travel. 

Tanneries. — S.  B.  June  and  Delos  L.  Taylor  built 
a tannery  at  Red  Rock,  and  subsequently  one  at 
Great  Bend.  June  & Taylor  dissolved,  Taylor  re- 
maining at  Red  Rock,  and  was  succeeded  by  H.  A. 
Clarke  & Co.,  and  it  is  now  operated  by  S.  T.  Clark  & 
Co.  This  tannery  is  noted  for  the  excellence  of  its 
sole  leather.  A store  is  run  in  connection  with  the 
tannery.  R.  T.  Stephens  purchased  an  interest  in 
1858,  and  in  June,  1860,  became  sole  owner  of  the 
tannery  at  Great  Bend.  He  tanned  about  eight  thou- 
sand hides  per  year  at  that  time.  George  Fulmer 
built  another  tannery  at  Great  Bend,  which  soon 
burned  down. 

Stephen  Kistler  bought  out  R.  T.  Stephens,  and 
built,  a new  tannery  on  the  site  of  the  one  that  was 
destroyed  by  fire,  and  his  sons  have  them  both, 
although  they  are  only  operating  one  at  present. 
They  receive  bark  by  the  railroad,  as  it  is  nearly  ex- 
hausted in  this  vicinity.  Some  excellent  flagging- 
stone  has  been  found  in  the  mountains  about  Great 
Bend,  and  quarries  have  recently  been  opened  in  the 
vicinity  of  Hickory  Grove. 

Great  Bend  Post-office. — Dr.  Eleazer  Parker 
was  appointed  postmaster  of  Willingborough  in  1808. 
April  17,  1823,  Sylvenus  Hatch  was  appointed  post- 
master of  Great  Bend.  His  successors  have  been 
Jason  Wilson,  1826;  John  Colston,  1834;  Thos.  J. 
Conklin,  1837;  Joseph  Du  Bois,  1841;  George  Bald- 
win, 1846;  Joseph  Du  Bois,  1849 ; Reuben  T.  Stephens, 
1855;  Chas.  S.  Gilbert,  1858;  Thaddeus  D.  Esta- 
brook,  1861;  Almon  P.  Stephens,  1873;  discontinued 
June  30, 1880 ; re-established  July  1, 1880,  with  Almon 


P.  Stephens  postmaster.  William  Newman  was  ap- 
pointed in  1882  and  George  McNamara  in  1885. 

The  Great  Fire  of  1875. — The  Great  Bend  Re- 
porter of  June  4,  1875,  a half-sheet  of  which  was  pub- 
lished in  Binghamton,  says, — “ Our  village  was  visited 
on  Saturday,  May  29th,  by  a terribly  destructive  fire, 
which  laid  the  principal  business  portion  of  the  place 
in  ashes,  destroying  sixteen  buildings,  turning  four- 
teen families  into  the  street,  and  prostrating,  or  se- 
riously crippling,  the  business  of  twenty-one  mer- 
chants, grocers,  mechanics,  etc.  The  alarm  was 
sounded  at  two  o’clock  Saturday  morning,  arousing 
our  citizens  from  slumber,  the  flames  having  gained 
such  headway  when  first  discovered  as  to  make  all 
efforts  to  stay  their  course  useless.  The  fire  originated 
under  a flight  of  steps  in  the  rear  of  L.  S.  Lenheim’s 
building,  and  was  believed  to  be  the  work  of  an  in- 
cendiary. Within  fifteen  minutes  after  the  alarm  was 
given,  Lenheim’s  building  was  filled  with  flame;  the 
fire  next  spread  to  the  store  of  T.  D.  Estabrook,  and 
the  hardware  establishment  of  Wm.  A.  Colsten  on 
the  north,  enveloping  the  carriage-factory  of  G.  B. 
Trowbridge,  situated  directly  in  the  rear.  Between 
Lenheim’s  store-house  south  and  the  Susquehanna 
Valley  Hotel  stood  a row  of  wooden  structures, 
crowded  close  together,  and  occupied  both  as  stores, 
shops  and  tenements ; first  came  the  large  double 
store  occupied  by  T.  D.  Estabrook,  drug-store,  gro- 
cery and  provision-store,  and  P.  H.  Lines  & Co.,  dry- 
goods  and  clothing.  From  thence  the  flames'  swept 
everything  to  the  Susquehanna  Valley  House,  which 
was  saved.  Next  to  Estabrook’s  stood  Reckhow’s 
building.  The  first  floor  on  one  side  was  occupied  by 
Stephens  & Reckhow,  grocers,  the  post-office  being  in 
the  same  building.  H.  Van  Seckler,  jeweler,  and  W. 
Chichester,  watchmaker,  occupied  the  other  side. 
The  families  of  P.  Lines  and  H.  Phillips  occupied  the 
second  floor,  R.  Stack’s  grocery-store,  T.  Cuisack’s 
grocery  and  dwelling.  D.  Thomas  and  G.  B.  Trow- 
bridge’s residences  stood  back  of  Estabrook’s  and  were 
saved,  but  the  barn,  carriage-shop  and  Miss  Trow- 
bridge’s building  were  destroyed.  Geo.  McNamara’s 
store,  R.  0.  Bedell’s  saloon,  W”akeman  & Dusenbury’s 
bank  buildings  all  destroyed.  On  the  opposite  side 
of  the  street  A.  G.  Preston’s  building,  including  his 
boot  and  shoe-store  and  Miss  Phillips’  millinery- 
store  and  D.  Depue’s  billiard  parlors,  were  destroyed. 

Hon.  David  Thomas,  son  of  Joseph  Thomas,  who 
settled  on  what  is  known  as  the  State  line  farm  in 
1814,  was  born  in  1805.  He  obtained  his  education 
in  the  common  schools  and  went  two  miles  into  the 
woods  and  worked  for  eight  dollars  per  month  at 
lumbering,  and  ate  frozen  pan-cakes  for  dinner.  He 
gave  this  money  to  his  father,  who,  in  turn,  gave  him 
a yoke  of  steers;  these  he  traded  for  a yoke  of  oxen, 
and  w'ent  to  lumbering  for  himself ; this  he  con- 
tinued, with  the  exception  of  a short  time  at  school, 
until  he  was  able  to  purchase  his  father’s  farm.  He 
then  married  Jane  Ann  Clark,  and  they  have  lived 


542 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


together  fifty-eight  years  now.  He  remained  on  the 
farm  about  twenty-five  years,  and  then  bought  the  lot 
where  Estabrook’s  store  stands  for  three  hundred 
dollars  and  erected  a store  and  engaged  in  merchan- 
dising some  six  years,  when  he  sold  out  to  J.  H.  Du- 
seubury.  William  Dayton  built  the  Susquehanna 
Valley  House,  and  Mr.  Thomas  kept  it  for  six  or 
eight  years.  During  all  these  years  he  has  lumbered 
more  or  less.  Prior  to  the  building  of  the  railroads 
he  drew  lumber  to  the  Delaware  River,  where  it  was 
rafted  and  floated  down  to  Philadelphia  to  market, 
and  after  the  railroad  was  built  he  loaded  the  first 
car  with  lumber  at  Great  Bend  station.  He  was  an 
elder  in  the  Presbyterian  Church  at  Hallstead  a 
number  of  years,  and  a member  of  the  Legislature 
in  1846-47,  where  he  did  efficient  service  in  securing 
the  passage  of  the  act  authorizing  the  Erie  Railway 
to  pass  through  Pennsylvania  for  the  sum  of  $10,000 
per  year,  which  the  Erie  pays  into  the  State  treasury, 
which  exempts  them  from  all  further  taxation.  Mr. 
Thomas  had  a hard  fight  to  convince  the  Pennsyl- 
vania Dutch  and  Quaker  members  that  the  State 
would  not  be  ruined  if  a railroad  was  allowed  to  pass 
through  its  territory.  Of  his  children,  Emma  J.  is 
the  wife  of  A.  B.  Whiting ; Ellen  M.,  wife  of  Lewis 
Sears;  and  Cora  A.,  wife  of  Charles  C.  Simmons. 

Thaddeus  D.  Estabrook  was  born  in  Paxton,  Wor- 
cester County,  Mass.,  May  17,  1820.  His  father; 
Ross  W.  Estabrook,  moved  into  New  York  in  1823, 
and  Thaddeus  obtained  his  education  in  Bingham- 
ton. His  father  was  a contractor  and  built  two  sec- 
tions of  the  Croton  Aqueduct  and  dug  a portion  of 
the  Genesee  Canal.  Thaddeus  kept  the  books,  run 
the  store  and  paid  the  men.  After  the  death  of  his 
father,  in  1840,  he  resided  on  a farm  in  Conklin  five 
years.  In  1846  he  was  an  employe  of  Braton  & 
Gonder  in  building  four  miles  of  the  Erie  road 
through  the  rocks  in  the  vicinity  of  Great  Bend.  He 
took  a number  of  railroad  and  canal  contracts,  and 
has  built  many  miles  of  both  ; he  also  was  interested 
in  building  the  Brooklyn  water-works.  In  1860  he 
came  to  Great  Bend  and  has  been  engaged  in  the 
mercantile  and  lumbering  business  since.  He  mar- 
ried Eliza  Buck  in  1846,  and  has  three  children  living, 
— William  T.,  a merchant  at  Great  Bend;  IdaL. ; 
and  Clara  M.,  wife  of  Watts  C.  Van  Blarcom. 

Stephen  Kistler. — The  main  factor  in  the  pros- 
perity of  Great  Bend  is  doubtless  the  tannery  busi- 
ness, employing  and  supporting  as  it  does  about  one- 
fourth  the  population  of  the  borough.  After  the 
destruction  of  the  Fulmer  Tannery  the  land  and 
wreck  thereon  were  purchased  by  Stephen  Kistler,  of 
Monroe  Co.,  Pa.,  who  proceeded  to  erect  buildings  in 
the  fall  of  1876.  Having  at  the  same  time  bought  the 
Stephens’  Tannery  property,  adjacent,  he  combined 
the  two  into  what  has  since  been  known  as  the  Eaton 
Tannery,  having  a capacity  of  two  hundred  hides  per 
day,  and  manufacturing  union  sole  leather,  both  oak 
and  hemlock  tanned.  During  the  first  two  years 


Rufus  Kistler,  his  second  son,  had  charge  of  the  busi- 
ness, though  living  in  Monroe  County;  but  in  May, 
1878,  he  moved  his  family  to  Great  Bend  and  has 
remained  here  since.  On  the  death  of  Stephen  Kist- 
ler, in  1880,  the  business  was  undertaken  by  his  six 
children,  under  the  firm-title  of  Stephen  Kistler’s 
Sons,  and  when,  five  years  later,  the  estate  was  settled, 
the  Great  Bend  Tannery  was  assumed  by  Messrs. 
Rufus,  Milo  and  Michael  D.  Kistler,  who  also  con- 
tinued the  New  York  store  business.  Having  decided 
upon  a radical  change  in  the  management  of  their 
important  enterprise,  the  same  year  (1885)  they  estab- 
lished a branch  house  at  Lynn,  Mass.,  where  the  firm 
is  styled  Hilliard,  Kistler  & Co.,  and  to  this  place  the 
entire  product  of  their  tannery  is  shipped,  there  cut 
up  into  soles  and  heels  for  manufacturers  of  boots  and 
shoes,  and  thence  forwarded  to  the  sales-houses  at 
New  York  and  Chicago,  the  latter  point  having  been 
adopted  for  purposes  similar  to  the  New  York  house, 
in  1886,  and  being  operated  under  firm-name  of  Kist- 
ler Brothers  & Co. 

The  Kistler  family  have  for  several  generations 
past  been  largely  identified  with  the  production  of 
leather,  and  have  long  held  a very  prominent  position 
in  that  industry,  having  tanneries  located  in  quite  a 
number  of  Pennsylvania  towns.  Between  1735  and 
1745  George  Kistler  was  one  of  a number  of  Palati- 
nates, or  Swiss,  who  moved  from  Falkner  Swamp  and 
Goshenhoppen  (present  Montgomery  Co.,  Pa.)  up  into 
Lehigh  County,  and  settled  down  upon  a large  tract  of 
land  in  the  vicinity  of  what  is  now  called  the  Jerusalem 
Church.  He  acted  as  elder  of  that  church  from  about 
1755  to  1768.  The  names  of  his  children  were  George, 
Jacob,  John,  Samuel,  Philip,  Michael,  Barbara,  Doro- 
tea  and  Elizabeth.  Of  them,  Jacob  Kistler,  settled  on 
the  homestead,  and  had  Philip,  Michael,  Daniel, 
Jacob,  Solomon,  Catharine,  Magdalena  and  one  other. 
Michael,  the  second  child  (1796-1880),  was  the  tanner 
in  Kistler  Valley,  Lehigh  County,  and  lived  there 
many  years.  He  married  Magdalena  Brobst  (1801-81), 
and  had  a large  family, — Stephen,  born  October  31, 
1815 ; Parry,  a farmer  in  Lehigh  County ; Sarah,  the 
wife  of  Stephen  Snyder,  of  Perryville,  Carbon  County ; 
Jacob,  a retired  farmer  of  Lehigh  County;  Joel,  a 
tanner  and  farmer  in  Lehigh  and  Schuylkill  Counties, 
died  in  1884;  Polly,  married  Eli  Sechler,  of  Lehigh 
County,  and  died  about  1856 ; Mary,  Mrs.  Charles 
Foust,  of  Berks  County ; Daniel,  of  Schuylkill  County, 
a tanner  and  farmer;  William,  a grocer  of  Strouds- 
burg ; Michael  M.,  a retired  tanner  and  business 
man,  also  of  Stroudsburg ; Angeline,  wife  of  Peter 
Seip,  of  Lehigh  County ; and  Catharine,  who  married 
a Mr.  Brobst,  and  died  in  1858. 

The  eldest  child,  Stephen  Kistler,  born  in  the 
Kistler  Valley,  at  an  early  age  entered  his  father’s 
tannery  and  acquired  valuable  knowledge  of  its  de- 
tails. Following  this  course  for  a term  of  seven 
years  in  a tannery  at  Catawissa,  he  became  a thor- 
oughly practical  tanner,  and,  returning  home,  worked 


GREAT  BEND. 


543 


the  tannerj"  with  his  father  for  a few  years  before  buy- 
ing an  upper-leather  tannery  at  Lehighton,  Carbon 
County,  which  he  carried  on  for  ten  years.  He  then 
moved  to  Tannersville,  Monroe  County,  having  pur- 
chased the  Jacob  Singmaster  tannery,  and  this  re- 
mained in  the  possession  of  the  family  until  its 
destruction  by  fire  in  1884.  From  this  time  forward 
he  continued  to  prosper  and  enlarge  his  business,  ob- 
taining tanneries,  either  by  purchase  or  erection,  at 
Stroudsburg,  Bartonsville  and  Great  Bend,  which 
necessitated  the  establishment  of  a salesroom  and 
warehouse  at  New  York  City.  In  partnership  with 
his  brother,  Michael  M.  Kistler,  he  carried  on  mer- 
cantile business  at  Tannersville  and  Bartonsville, 
Monroe  County,  and  added  to  the  already  extensive 
industries  the  manufacture  of  shoe-pegs,  clothes-pins 
and  chair  stock,  at  Tompkinsville,  which  were  car- 
ried on  successfully  for  a number  of  years.  Mr. 
Kistler  was  a man  of  large  business  capacity  and  un- 
tiring energy, — exact  and  conscientious  in  all  his 
dealings.  He  married,  in  1838,  Esther,  the  daughter 
of  David  (1767-1832)  and  Catharine  (Oswald)  (1776- 
1857)  Mosser,  whose  ancestors  had  also  settled  in  Lynn 
township,  Lehigh  Co.,  coming  up  from  Goshenhoppen 
about  1740,  and  whose  family-name  is  still  identified 
with  the  tannery  interests  there.  Their  children  were 
Charles  E.  (1839-80),  an  extensive  tanner,  etc.,  of 
Monroe  County,  married  Ann  E.  Woodling,  who 
now,  with  her  two  surviving  children,  Mary  and  An- 
drew M.  Kistler,  live  at  Sciota,  Pa. ; Rufus,  born 
1840,  married  Mary  J.  Edinger,  who  has  borne  him 
Emma  Augusta  (Mrs.  J.  W.  Hopkins,  of  Catasauqua, 
Pa.),  Elmer  E.,  Edward  U.  and  Arthur  S.,  also  Alice 
May,  who  died  in  childhood  (the  family  residence 
is  at  Great  Bend) ; Wilson,  born  1845,  the  proprietor 
of  a large  tannery  at  Lock  Haven,  Pa.,  married  Hen- 
rietta Stauffer,  whose  children  are  Gertrude  and 
Sedgwick ; Mary,  married  John  H.  Lesh  and  lives  at 
Clearfield,  N.  J., — their  children  are  Hattie,  Fred- 
erick and  Maud  K. ; Milo,  born  1854,  one  of  the 
firm,  manages  the  New  York  department  of  the  busi- 
ness interests,  married  Alice  Clader  and  resides  in 
Brooklyn,  N.  Y. ; and  Michael  D.  Kistler,  born  1858, 
partner  with  Rufus  and  Milo,  married  Massena  M. 
Siebert,  and  is  also  resident  at  Great  Bend,  Pa. ; and 
Almira,  Angeline  and  Alfred,  all  of  whom  died 
young.  Having  a proper  appreciation  of  the  advan- 
tages of  a liberal  and  practical  education,  Mr.  Kist- 
ler gave  his  children  excellent  opportunity  to  acquire 
book-learning,  and  also  impressed  upon  them  habits 
of  industry  and  rectitude.  Some  time  after  the 
death  of  Mrs.  Esther  Kistler,  in  April,  1877,  her  hus- 
band married  Mrs.  Eliza  A.  Grim.  This  marriage 
was  without  issue,  and  the  widow  survives  her  hus- 
band, whose  death  occurred  at  Stroudsburg,  Pa.,  on 
March  16,  1880. 

Hon.  Orrin  A.  Lines,  son  of  Philander  Lines,  was 
born  at  Montrose  in  1843,  and  was  educated  at  Mont- 
rose Academy.  He  learned  the  harness-maker  trade 


at  Montrose,  and  worked  at  that  business  in  Brook- 
lyn and  Gibson.  In  1877  he  came  to  Great  Bend  and 
engaged  in  the  mercantile  business,  and  is  one  of  the 
firm  of  P.  H.  Lines  & Co.  He  is  something  of  a 
politician,  and  was  elected  State  Senator  in  1886. 

Elihu  Norton  was  born  at  Guilford,  Chemung 
County,  and  resided  in  Binghamton  thirty-nine  years, 
and  nine  years  ago  he  came  to  Great  Bend.  Mr. 
Norton  has  been  a drover  and  horse  dealer  nearly  all 
of  his  life.  He  drove  cattle  before  they  thought  of 
transporting  them  by  railroad,  and  went  into  the 
backwoods  of  Ohio,  Indiana  and  Kentucky,  where 
large  fat  steers  could  be  bought  for  twelve  dollars 
apiece.  They  drove  them  on  the  turnpike  roads,  and 
were  sometimes  forty-four  days  on  the  journey  east- 
ward to  New  York  market.  He  has  owned  a great 
many  horses,  and  is  always  ready  for  a deal.  He  is 
an  original  character,  and  is  known  far  and  near  as 
“ Black  Hawk.”  Whosoever  dealeth  with  this  man 
and  hath  eyes  to  see,  let  him  see. 

Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  — • Elder  Nathaniel 
Lewis  resided  down  the  river,  in  the  edge  of  Oakland 
township,  and  held  meetings  there  at  an  early  day  in 
the  history  of  the  settlement.  He  was  ordained 
deacon  by  Bishop  Asbury  in  1807,  and  it  is  probable 
that  he  immediately  commenced  preaching.  John 
B.  Buck  in  1869  wrote  as  follows : 

“1  Seventy -five  years  ago,  there  was  a log  dwelling-house  north  of 
where  the  Erie  Dej»ot  now  stands,  at  Great  Bend,  used  as  a place  of 
worship.  The  congregation  was  scattered  up  and  down  the  river,  in 
cabins.  The  only  means  of  getting  from  here  was  by  canoes.  They 
went  as  far  as  the  rift  or  rapids,  where  they  left  their  canoes,  and 
walked  past  the  rapids,  then  took  passage  in  a large  canoe  around  by 
niy  father’s.  For  dinner,  they  carried  milk  in  bottles,  and  mush. 
They  listened  to  one  sermon  in  the  forenoon,  and  then  came  back  to  tho 
canoe  and  ate  dinner,  then  went  back  to  second  service;  Daniel  Buck 
was  minister.  In  summer  this  was  their  means  of  travel. 

“With  increase  of  families  the  means  of  communication  increased. 
In  winter  there  was  no  other  way  save  by  foot-paths.  For  many  years 
there  were  no  denominations  save  Presbyterians.  About  seventy  years 
ago  the  Methodists  began  an  influence  about  two  miles  from  here. 
Everybody  espoused  Methodism, — men,  women  and  children.  They 
frequently  walked  from  five  to  six  miles  to  be  present  at  prayer-meet- 
ings. 

“My  sisters  were  at  one  of  the  prayer-meetings,  and,  as  an  evidence 
of  the  change  in  the  spirit,  understanding  and  manners  of  the  people 
I give  language  used  in  two  of  the  prayers  on  that  occasion.  The 
reader  will  bear  in  mind  tliat  this  was  seventy  years  ago,  and  that  the  peo- 
ple were  poor,  and  had  little  of  the  means  or  knowledge  of  the  present 
day.  I do  not  conceive  that  either  of  the  individuals  mentioned  cher- 
ished a wrong  spirit  towards  their  fellows,  but  their  language  gives  an 
illustration  of  the  strength  of  party  spirit  at  that  time. 

“ Elder  Lewis  said,  ‘ Send  the  mind  of  the  people  up  the  river  down  to 
me,  and  the  people  down  tho  river  (the  Presbyterians)  may  go  to  hell, 
and  I care  not.’ 

“Mrs.  Stid,  at  the  same  meeting,  said:  ‘0  Lord,  take  Capt.  Buck  by 
the  nape  of  the  neck  and  shake  him  over  hell  until  his  teeth  chatter 
like  a raccoon.’  ” 

The  Methodist  congregation  was  small  at  Great 
Bend  for  many  years,  and  in  1850,  when  Riley  Case 
removed  here  from  South  Gibson,  the  leading  mem- 
bers were  Dr.  James  Brooks  (class-leader),  John  Mc- 
Kinney, Mrs.  Summerton,  Mrs.  Painting,  Mrs.  Trow- 


1 Miss  Blackman. 


544 


HISTOKY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


an  average  attendance  of  one  hundred  and  twenty- 
five. 

Grace  Episcopal  Chwc^.  — The  first  preaching  by  an 
Episcopal  clergyman  in  this  place  was  by  the  minis- 
ters from  New  Milford.  Rev.  Messrs.  Long  and 
Skinner  occasionally  held  services  in  Mrs.  Jane 
Lusk’s  house,  and  an  organization  was  effected  about 
1852.  Mrs.  Chas.  Stowe, Mrs.  Steele  and  Mrs.  Jane  Lusk 
were  the  first  members.  Charles  Stowe  and  Lucien 
Scott  were  the  first  wardens  ; Mr?  Mow,  Dr.  Griffin, 
Isaac  Reckhow  and  G.  D.  Hays  were  vestrymen. 
Rev.  G.  B.  Reese  came  in  1855 ; Dr.  Ebenezer  Gill 
and  Oliver  Trowbridge  were  wardens  then.  In  1859 
Isaac  Reckhow,  Delos  L.  Taylor,  Ebenezer  Gill, 
Daniel  Baldwin,  Oliver  Trowbridge,  James  Clark, 
William  Eager  and  Joseph  Bowes  petitioned  for  a 
charter,  which  was  granted  by  the  court.  Messrs. 
Gill,  Taylor,  Colsten  and  Griffin  constituted  the  vestry 
in  1856,  and  E.  F.  Wilmot,  Oliver  Trowbridge  and 
David  Baldwin  were  elected  to  fill  vacancies.  Rev. 
Uriah  Scott,  Rev.  Mr.  Hickman,  Rev.  V.  Bowers, 
Rev.  Messrs.  John  A.  Jerome,  Baker,  Geo.  C.  Hall 
and  L.  R.  Dickiiison  have  been  rectors. 

Messrs.  Oliver  Trowbridge,  G.  B.  Trowbridge,  D. 
L.  Taylor,  B.  F.  Hanness,  Ebenezer  Gill,  Geo.  Gill, 
James  Clark,  William  Eager  and  T.  D.  Estabrook 
were  vestrymen  in  1863.  T.  D.  Estabrook  and  P.  H. 
Lines  have  been  wardens  for  several  years.  The 
church  edifice  was  erected  soon  after  the  church  was 
organized. 

' St.  Lawrence  Roman  Catholic  Church,  Great  Bend. — 
The  work  of  forming  and  centralizing  this  parish 
dates  back  to  1847.  Rev.  Father  O’Reilly,  the  pio- 
neer priest  of  the  north  tier  of  counties  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, had  already  established  a college  and  convent 
schools  at  St.  Joseph’s,  this  county,  and  attended  with 
zeal  and  care  the  spiritual  wants  of  the  few  Catholic 
families  in  this  locality  at  that  early  date.  At  first 
they  assembled  in  private  houses.  Mr.  Edward  Carlisle, 
lately  deceased,  generously  furnished  an  apartment 
where  the  faithful  assembled  to  worship  God,  when 
the  missionary  came  from  his  distant  home  to  break 
for  them  and  their  little  ones  the  “ Bread  of  Life.” 
In  time,  services  were  also  held  at  the  house  of  Mr. 
Richard  Stack,  one  of  the  prominent  Catholics  of  the 
community.  As  the  congregation  increased,  a build- 
ing was  secured  through  the  efforts  of  Mr.  George 
McNamara,  our  present  efficient  postmaster,  and 
fitted  as  a temporary  place  of  worship.  In  1866  the 
present  church  was  commenced.  The  following  year 
it  was  completed,  and  soon  freed  from  all  encum- 
brances through  the  generous  and  voluntary  contri- 
butions of  individuals  and  of  the  people  at  large. 
Mr.  H.  P.  Doran,  now  a dry-goods  merchant  at  Sus- 
quehanna, was  most  active  and  energetic  in  forward- 
ing the  completion  of  the  building.  As  a mark  of 
his  generosity,  he  donated  all  the  stained  glass  win- 


Data  furniBhed  by  Rev.  M.  H.  Dunn. 


bridge,  Mrs.  Goble  and  Nathaniel  Banker.  Mr.  Case 
joined  the  class,  and  is  the  oldest  member  now  living. 
New  Milford  and  Great  Bend  were  supplied  by  one 
minister.  Meetings  were  held  in  the  Baptist  Church 
until  1854,  when  a small  church  was  erected  on  the 
site  of  the  present  edifice.  This  church  increased  in 
prosperity  until  the  church  was  rebuilt  at  a cost  of 
about  fifteen  thousand  dollars.  This  church  burned 
down  about  1870,  and  the  present  handsome  church 
was  erected  at  about  the  same  cost  as  the  former 
church.  Eli  Wilcox  was  class-leader  during  the 


METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH. 

years  of  church-building.  Bradley  Wakeman,  Dr. 

E.  F.  Wilmot,  D.  C.  Bronson,  Seely  Belding  and 
Walter  Painting  have  been  prominent  men  in  the 
church  work  in  later  years.  The  present  church 
membership  is  one  hundred  and  fifteen.  The  church 
has  been  served  by  Rodney  S.  Rose  in  1847-48 ; 
Horatio  R.  Clarke,  1855-56;  Imther  Peck,  1858; 
Geo.  A.  Severson,  1862 ; and  following  in  regular 
order  since  then,  Philip  Bartlett,  Stephen  Elwell,  A. 

F.  Harding,  Ira  N.  Pardee,  E.  P.  Eldridge,  Charles 
S.  Alexander,  W.  B.  Kinney,  Chas.  H.  Jewell,  J.  W. 
Mevis,  Oscar  L.  Severson  and  Edwin  B.  Olmstead. 
A Sunday-school  was  organized  by  Dr.  Brooks,  who 
acted  as  superintendent  for  a number  of  years,  and 
was  succeeded  by  Dr.  E.  F.  Wilmot.  D.  C.  Bronson 
also  was  superintendent  and  chorister  for  a number  of 
years.  The  school  is  in  a prosperous  condition,  with 


GREAT  BEND. 


545 


dows  which  are  in  the  church.  In  1872  Rt.  Rev. 
Bishop  O’Hara  appointed  Rev.  J.  A.  Mullen  as  first 
resident  rector,  who  devoted  his  attention  to  the 
erection  of  a pastoral  residence  and  making  many 
needed  improvements.  The  work  was  carried  on  by 
his  successor,  Rev.  James  Loughran,  until  failing 
health  brought  to  him  an  early  death.  His  body  re- 
poses at  St.  Lawrence’s  Cemetery.  A neat  mai'ble  mon- 
ument has  been  erected  to  his  memory  by  members 
of  his  faithful  flock. 

Rev.  J.  P.  McManus  was  appointed  to  the  rector- 
ship in  1883.  Of  a studious,  quiet  and  amiable  dis- 
position, he  began  in  his  own  quiet  way  the  work  of 
renovating  and  beautifying  the  interior  of  the  church 
intrusted  to  his  charge.  His  knowledge  of  the  fine 
arts  and  his  exceptional  taste  in  the  blending  of  col- 
or, enabled  him  to  embellish  in  rich  bright  fresco 
and  arabesque  tracery  the  interior  of  the  sacred 
edifice.  He  could  truly  say  with  the  Psalmist : “ 1 

have  loved,  0 Lord,  the  beauty  of  Thy  house  and  the 
place  where  Thy  glory  dwelleth.”  Reverend  M.  H. 
Dunn,  the  present  rector,  was  appointed  to  the 
charge  in  January,  1887,  and  is  devoting  his  attention 
to  the  wants  of  the  outside  missions  of  New  Milford 
and  Nicholson.  Mr.  Michael  Hays,  of  Hallstead,  is 
the  able  financial  secretary.  The  church  edifice  is 
located  on  Franklin  Avenue.  It  is  a neat  brick 
structure,  with  beautiful  interior  decorations.  The 
congregation  is  large  and  influential,  and  is]composed 
of  the  Catholics  of  Great  Bend  and  the  neighboring 
borough  of  Hallstead, 

Masonic. — Great  Bend  Lodge,  No.  338,  F.andA.  M., 
was  instituted  May  29,  1860,  with  the  following 
officers : J.  H.  Dusenbury,  W.  M.  ; G.  W.  Orange,  S. 
W. ; R.  T.  Stephens,  J.  W. ; A.  B.  Stephens,  Treasurer. 

Great  Bend  Chapter  of  Royal  Arch  Masons,  No.  110, 
was  instituted  May  26,  1866,  with  the  following 
officers ; J.  H.  Dusenbury,  H.  P. ; C,  P.  Bigelow,  K ; 
Thomas  D.  Hays,  S. ; W.  H.  Powell,  Secretary ; 
Charles  Simpson,  Treasurer. 

Great  Bend  Commandery,  No.  27,  Masonic  Knights 
Templar  and  appendant  orders,  was  instituted  June  11, 
1867, — -J.  H.  Dusenbury,  Commander  ; Thomas  D. 
Hays,  Generalissimo;  George  F.  Thompson, Captain- 
General  ; R.  T.  Stephens,  Treasurer ; W.  H.  Powell, 
Recorder. 

Great  Bend  Consistory,  No.  32,  S.  P.  P.  S.,  32°  of  A. 
A.  S.  P.,  was  organized  May  11,  1887,  with  twenty- 
eight  charter  members,  including  the  following 
officers  : Commander-in-Chief,  J.  H.  Dusenbury ; 
1st  Lieutenant  Commander,  Charles  C.  Simmons ; 
2d  Lieutenant  Commander,  John  R.  Raynsford; 
M.  S.,  William  J.  Day;  G.  C.,  David  C.  Ainey ; G. 
S.,  Calvin  B.  Cook;  G.  T.,  Henry  Ackert;  G.  M.  C., 
John  W.  Dusenbury  ; G.  E.  and  A.,  Freeman  I.  Lott ; 
G.  H.,  Charles  M.  Shelp ; G.  C.  G.,  O.  T.  Smith ; 
G.  S.  B.,  Clarence  E,  Swartz  ; G.  S.,  Ebenezer  Gill ; 
G.  O.,  F.  D.  Clauss.  The  other  charter  members 
were  C.  A.  Miller,  George  N.  Brown,  A.  B.  Bird, 
34 


Samuel  T.  Kistler,  T.  C.  Manzer,  John  S.  Tarbell, 
D.  A.  Chandler,  Joel  S.  Bound,  C.  H.  Tuthill,  Rufus 
Kistler,  L.  G.  Simmons,  E.  P.  Hines,  W.  E.  Ash,  P. 
J.  Niland. 

John  H.  Dusenbury  was  born  in  Windsor, 
Broome  County,  N.  Y.,  June  27,  1835.  His  grand- 
father, John  Dusenbury,  raised  his  family  on  the 
Delaware  near  Cochectou  ; his  wife  was  a Sands,  and 
their  son  George  married  Ruth  Whitmore,  daughter 
of  Elias  Whitmore,  who  built  the  first  framed  house 
at  Windsor.  George  Dusenbury  had  a family  of 
thirteen  children,  seven  of  whom  are  living.  John 
H.  was  educated  at  the  Windsor  Academy  and  com- 
menced to  clerk  in  his  father’s  store  at  Laceyville, 
Wyoming  County,  when  he  was  seventeen  years  old, 
and  when  he  was  nineteen  he  engaged  in  the  mercan- 
tile business  at  Laceyville  for  himself.  He  remained 
there  five  or  six  years,  and  came  to  Great  Bend  in 
1869,  where  he  purchased  a stock  of  goods  of  Thomas 
& Whiting  and  in  about  five  years  he  formed  a part- 
nership with  L.  S.  Lenheim  in  the  mercantile  busi- 
ness. In  1867  he  sold  to  Lenheim  and  engaged  in 
the  tanning  business  with  R.  T.  Stephens  until  1873 
or  1874,  when  they  sold  to  S.  Kistler.  Next  he  en- 
gaged in  private  banking  at  Great  Bend  with 
his  father-in-law,  under  the  name  of  B.  Wakeman  & 
Co.  This  continued  until  the  fire  of  1875  burned  the 
bank  building.  He  continued  in  the  banking  busi- 
ness under  the  name  of  Geo.  Dusenbury  & Son  from 
1876  to  1884,  when  they  paid  their  creditors  and  dis- 
continued. In  1856  he  married  Caroline  E.  Wake- 
man,  daughter  of  Bradley  and  Maria  (Edwards) 
Wakeman,  an  active  merchant  and  banker,  and  one 
of  the  first  settlers  of  Skinner’s  Eddy.  They  have  one 
son,  John  W.  Dusenbury,  an  insurance  agent  at  Great 
Bend. 

Great  Bend  Graded  School. — Pursuant  to  an 
order  of  the  court,  creating  the  new  school  district  of 
Great  Bend  Borough,  an  election  was  held  at  the 
“ Dayton  House,”  in  said  borough,  Feb.  21,  1862,  re- 
sulting in  the  election  of  the  following  school  direc- 
tors : T.  D.  Estabrook,  Richard  Stack,  E.  S.  Funnell, 
D.  L.  Taylor,  John  T.  Carlisle  and  Daniel  Baldwin. 
This  board  hired  Edwin  P.  Gardner  as  the  first  prin- 
cipal in  1862.  They  occupied  a township  school- 
house,  which  was  subsequently  raised  up  and  a ground 
story  placed  underueath,  making  a two-story  build- 
ing ; this,  together  with  additions,  constitutes  the 
present  building.  The  principals  since  1862  have 
been, — Riley  D.  Thomas,  1863  ; George  W.  Crane, 
1864;  Charles  M.  Wells,  1866;  Alfred  W.  Larrabee, 
1867  ; James  M.  Barrett,  1868  ; Charles  E.  Harris, 
1870  ; 0.  A.  Kilmer,  1872  ; E.  J.  Ayers,  1872  ; E.  K. 
Richardson,  1873 ; S.  D.  Wilbur,  1881  ; J.  D.  Meese, 
1882  ; C.  B.  Cook,  1883.  The  following  have  been  as- 
sistant teachers  : Louisa  J.  Trowbridge,  Salome  R. 
Warner,  Carrie  W.  Dean,  Lucinda  M.  Sheldon,  Miss 
Frank  Newell,  Susie  E.  Bancroft,  Ellen  N.  Beardsley, 
Martha  M.  Millspaugh,  Ella  Rood,  Mrs.  E.  M.  Wil- 


546 


HISTOEY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


son,  Helen  Hartley,  Bertha  E.  Wilbur,  Myra  Wilson, 
Mrs.  L.  Kinner,  Carrie  Harding,  Georgiana  Porter, 
Edith  Schouten,  Mary  Filter,  Nina  Gillespie,  Emma 
L.  Close,  Mattie  A.  Baldwin,  Nettie  Brush,  Sara  Mc- 
Namara, Lucy  M.  Morse.  Calvin  B.  Cook,  who  has 
been  principal  for  the  last  four  years,  was  born  at 
Wellersburg,  Somerset  County,  Pa.,  in  1852.  He  was 
educated  in  the  common  schools  and  was  graduated 
from  Mount  Union  College,  in  Ohio,  in  1876.  He 
first  began  to  teach  in  1869,  and  has  followed  teach- 
ing since  that  time.  The  Great  Bend  school  contains 
five  departments,  ten  grades  and  junior  and  senior 
year,  making  twelve  grades.  It  usually  takes  a pupil 
from  ten  to  twelve  years  to  complete  the  course.  The 
course  of  study  comprises  the  common-school 
branches,  algebra,  English  literature,  history  of  the 
■United  States,  rhetoric,  Latin,  astronomy,  geometry. 
Among  the  directors  who  have  served  since  the  first 
hoard  are  A.  P.  Stephens,  J.  H.  Dusenbury,  C.  S. 
Gilbert,  E.  F.  Wilmot,  A.  B.  Whiting,  George  McNa- 
mara, E.  T.  Stephens,  George  Buck,  L.  S.  Lenheim, 
Stephen  Waldron,  V.  Eeckhow,  Eufus  Kistler,  O.  A. 
Lines,  Wilson  Kistler,  S.  P.  Moore,  J.  W.  Larrabee, 
Michael  Daniher,  Chas.  Skinner,  Michael  Barry. 


CHAPTEE  XXXVII. 

HALLSTEAD  BOROUGH. 

Hallstead  Borough.  — Great  Bend  village 
borough  was  incorporated  in  1874,  and  December  29, 
1874,  at  an  election  held  in  the  Barnura  House,  in 
Great  Bend  village,  for  the  purpose  of  selecting 
borough  officers  to  act  until  next  regular  township 
election,  the  following  persons  were  elected  : Burgess, 
W.  W.  Simrell ; Town  Council,  William  K.  Hatch, 
Charles  Simpson,  S.  B.  Chase,  J.  B.  Brown,  Theodore 
Conley  ; High  Constable,  H.  S-  Hanna.  At  a meeting 
of  the  Council  held  in  S.  B.  Chase’s  office,  Mr.  Chase 
was  elected  president  of  the  Council,  Anna  Chase 
secretary  and  Charles  Simpson  treasurer.  A com- 
mittee on  ordinances  was  appointed,  consisting  of 
Messrs.  Simrell,  Chase  and  Hatch.  The  Council  re- 
mained the  same,  with  the  exception  of  W.  C. 
McIntosh  in  place  of  T.  Conley  for  the  next  year. 
Joseph  Du  Bois  was  burgess  in  1876,  followed  by 
Messrs.  Simmons,  Brown,  Wood,  Millard  and  Crook. 
The  name  of  the  borough  has  been  changed  recently 
to  Hallstead  in  order  to  avoid  confusion  in  the  mails. 
The  borough  is  about  one  mile  by  three-fourths  of  a 
mile  in  extent. 

Hallstead  is  situated  south  of  the  Susquehanna 
Eiver.  The  main  business  street  extends  from  the 
bridge  up  the  New  Milford  Valley,  and  is  a part  of 
the  Great  Bend  and  Cochecton  turnpike.  The 
Mitchell  Hotel  occupies  the  site  of  the  old  Strong 
residence  and  hotel,  subsequently  the  Du  Bois  resi- 


dence and  hotel,  and  is  one  of  the  oldest  hotel-sites 
in  Susquehanna  County.  The  corner  is  still  a desira- 
ble one;  and  Susquehanna  Avenue,  which  extends 
along  the  Susquehanna  from  this  point,  is  the  most 
desirable  location  for  private  residences  in  either 
borough.  Eev.  James  B.  McCreary  occupies  the  old- 
fashioned,  long  house  which  Jeremiah  Baker  occu- 
pied for  a store  and  dwelling  as  early  as  1822,  and 
Simeon  B.  Chase  has  the  house  on  the  corner  of  Sus- 
quehanna Avenue  and  Pine  Street.  The  view  from 
the  lawn,  under  the  shade  of  the  fine  old  trees  that 
grow  in  this  yard,  is  restful  and  pleasing.  Henry 
Catlin  built  this  house,  and  George  Catlin,  the 
artist,  knew  these  grounds  and  admired  the  beauty  of 
the  scenery  hereabout. 

Hallstead  has  grown  gradually  along  the  turnpike 
and  river,  at  first  as  a small  turnpike  village  and 
more  recently,  since  the  Delaware,  Lackawanna  and 
Western  Eailroad  has  passed  through  the  place,  it 
has  developed  into  a borough  with  some  eight  hun- 
dred inhabitants.  The  old  road  and  Susquehanna 
Avenue  do  not  intersect  at  right-angles  and  the  other 
streets  partially  conform  to  these  original  streets,  so 
that  the  town  is  not  very  regularly  laid  out.  There 
are  Pine  and  Williams  Streets  extending  southward 
from  Susquehanna  Avenue  to  Franklin  Avenue, 
thence  Lackawanna  and  Dayton  Streets,  intersected 
by  Wellington  Street.  The  Delaware,  Lackawanna 
and  Western  Eailroad  Company  have  a dozen  or 
more  lateral  tracks  for  making  uy>  trains  south  of 
Lackawanna  Street,  also  a depot  and  large  “ round- 
house” that  will  hold  thirty-eight  engines,  and  leave 
a section  for  repair  machinery.  The  borough  con- 
tains one  hotel,  a number  of  stores,  a graded  school 
aud  two  churches — Presbyterian  and  Baptist. 

Ferry  and  Bridge. — The  inn-keepers  in  1801  were 
David  Summers,  Eobert  Corbett,  James  Parmeter 
and  Sylvanus  Hatch.  Each  of  the  latter  two  owned 
half  a ferry.  Jonathan  Cunningham  had  a ferry  op- 
posite the  present  Trowbridge  farm.  It  was  called 
“the  lower  ferry.”  Mr.  J.  Du  Bois  says  of  this, — 

“ James  Parmeter’s  feiry  having  become  very  profitable,  another  pio- 
neer built  a house  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  river,  and  he,  too,  built  a 
ferry-boat,  and  opened  an  opposition  ferry.  As  the  road  through  here 
was  fast  becoming  a great  thoroughfare,  both  of  these  ferrymen  made 
money.  In  the  winter  season  they  found  it  difficult  to  cross  with  boats, 
owing  to  the  floating  ice  in  the  middle  of  the  river.  As  the  country 
along  the  Susquehanna  was  mostly  a wilderness,  our  river  did  not  freeze 
entirely  over  as  readily  as  now.  Strong  ice  would  form  along  each  shore 
for  four  or  five  rods  in  width,  the  middle  of  the  stream  remaining  for  a 
long  time  open.  These  ferrymen  would  then  proceed  to  build  an  ice- 
bridge  after  this  manner  : After  measuring  the  distance  from  the  solid 
ice  on  each  side  of  the  river,  they  would  commence  immediately  above, 
and  laying  out  the  width  and  length,  they  would  saw  out  of  the  solid 
shore-ice  abridge,  and,  holding  fast  one  end,  would  swing  the  other  end 
across  the  open  chasm  till  it  rested  against  the  solid  ice  on  the  other  side ; 
then,  by  dipping  water  from  the  river,  in  freezing  weather  they  soon 
formed  a strong  and  safe  bridge  for  teams  to  pass,  the  ti*avelers  freely 
paying  toll  for  crossing  this  ice-bridge.  This  ferry  was  kept  up  until 
the  fall  of  1814,  when  the  first  Great  Bend  Bridge  was  completed. 

^ Organization  of  the  First  Great  Bend  Bridge  Company. — In  the  year 
1812  the  citizens  of  Great  Bend  petitioned  our  Legislature  for  a charter 
to  build  a bridge.  An  act  was  passed  in  February,  1812,  and  approved 
by  Simon  Snyder,  then  Governor  of  our  State.  Under  this  act  Samuel 


HALLSTEAD. 


547 


Ilodgdun  ami  John  B.  Wallace,  of  Philadelphia,  and  William  Thomson, 
Sylvanus  Hatch,  Robert  II.  Rose,  Minna  I)i\  Bois  and  Richard  Barnum, 
of  the  county  of  Susquehanna,  were  appointed  commissioners  to  open 
books  of  subscription  for  the  stock  of  said  company,  in  pursuance  of  the 
act  to  authorize  the  Governor  to  incorporate  a company  for  erecting  a 
bridge  over  the  Susquehanna  River  at  Great  Bend,  where  the  ferry  was 
then  kept,  opposite  the  houses  of  Abraham  Du  Bois  and  Sylvanus  Hatch, 
in  the  district  of  Willingboro’,  and  county  and  district  of  Susquehanna. 
These  commissioners  did  not  get  sufficient  stock  taken  and  paid  in  to 
warrant  building  until  the  spring  of  1814.  The  first  meeting  of  stock- 
holders was  held  February  10,  1814.  William  Thomson  was  chosen 
chairman  and  James  Newman  secretary,  and  Samuel  Blair,  Joseph 
Bowes  and  David  Summers  were  chosen  as  judges  of  the  election  of 
managers.  The  following  were  elected  : Samuel  Blair,  James  Newman, 
Noble  Trowbridge,  John  Maynard,  Minna  Du  Bois  and  Daniel  Lyon. 
Joseph  Bowes  was  chosen  treasurer  and  James  Newman  secretary.  At 
this  meeting  proposals  were  received  for  building  the  fii'st  Great  Bend 
Bridge.  The  contract  was  awarded  to  Peter  Burgot,  of  Oxford,  N.  Y. 
September  14, 1814,  the  following  persons  were  appointed  to  inspect  the 
new  bridge,  to  see  if  it  was  completed  according  to  contract:  Joseph 
Bowes,  David  Buck  and  Haynes  Johnson.  Bridge  accepted.  At  the 
same  meeting  Christopher  Longstreet  was  appointed  to  and  accepted  the 
office  of  toll-gatherer  and  gate-keeper.  On  the  3d  day  of  March,  1822, 
this  first  bridge  was  destroyed  by  an  ice-freshet,  and  was  rebu  It  the  same 
summer  by  the  brothers,  Charles  and  Zedic  Chamberlin.  On  the  19th 
of  January,  1832,  this  second  bridge  was  destroyed  by  an  ice-freshet, 
and  was  rebuilt  the  following  summer  by  Abraham  Du  Bois.  In  the 
spring  of  1846  this  third  bridge  was  destroyed  by  an  ice-freshet,  and  in 
the  summer  following  the  present  covered  bridge  was  completed  by 
Reuben  C.  Brock  and  Joseph  Du  Bois,  to  whom  this  contract  was 
awarded.”  ^ 

The  projectors  and  patrons  of  an  enterprise  of  such 
lasting  henefit  to  the  people  of  Great  Bend,  and 
scarcely  less  to  those  living  at  great  distances  from  it, 
should  not  be  forgotten. 

Subscribers  to  the  Stock  of  the  Great  Bend  Bridge^  September  7,  1812, — 


William  Thomson. 

Alriion  Munson. 

Minna  Du  Bois. 

David  Crocker. 

Samuel  Blair. 

Peter  Burgot. 

Abraham  Du  Bois. 

Isaac  Rosa. 

Asahel  Avery. 

Sylvanus  Hatch. 

John  Maynard. 

N Trowbridge 

Jeremiah  Baker. 

Hezekiah  Leach. 

Isaac  D.  Luce, 

Daniel  Lyon. 

Sophia  Luce. 

John  J.  Storm. 

William  Luce. 

Storm  Rosa. 

Thaddeus  Mason. 

Abraham  Storm. 

Adam  Burwell. 

James  Newman. 

Daniel  Sneden. 

Emery  Carey. 

David  Summers. 

John  Hilborn, 

Rufus  Fish. 

Joseph  Bowes. 

John  Fish. 

Frederick  Henn. 

Amount  subscribed  by  the  above,  si.\  thousand  dollars.  All  of  the 
aboved  named  have  passed  away. 

Ebenezer  Brown,  a carpenter,  came  from  Orange 
County,  N.  Y.,  and  assisted  in  building  the  bridge 
three  times.  James  E.  Howe,  a resident  of  Great 
Bend,  rebuilt  the  bridge  in  1871.  He  is  also  a rail- 
road contractor,  and  built  five  miles  of  the  Delaware, 
Lackawanna  and  Western  road,  eleven  miles  of  the 
Nineveh  Branch  and  the  Hackensack  Bridge. 

Hallstead  Post-office. — Great  Bend  village  post-office 
was  established  in  1861,  with  James  B.  McCreary,  Jr., 
postmaster.  His  successors  have  been  William  Mc- 
Intosh, 1862  ; James  B.  Ogden,  1866  ; Orrin  F.  Fargo, 
1869;  James  T.  Du  Bois,  1851 ; Ella  Du  Bois,  1876  ; 
William  S.  Barnes,  August  25,  1887 ; when  the  name 
was  changed  to  Hallstead. 

1 Blackman. 


The  merchants  on  the  tax-list  for  1801  were  D.  Bar- 
num and  S.  Hatch.  Joseph  Bowes,  an  Englishman, 
came  here  from  New  Orleans  and  first  built  a store  on 
the  Great  Bend  side  of  the  river,  just  at  the  end  of 
the  bridge.  This  was  one  of  the  first  stores  in  all  this 
region  of  country.  He  next  built  a large  square  Eng- 
lish-style  house  on  the  bank  of  the  Susquehanna, 
nearly  opposite  the  present  residence  of  S.  B.  Chase. 
He  brought  marble  mantels  from  Philadelphia  and 
had  an  elegant  house  for  those  days.  He  kept  goods 
in  this  house  and  his  customers  came  for  great  dis- 
tances around  to  trade  with  him,  and  he  extended  the 
hospitalities  of  his  house  and  kept  them  overnight. 
This  house  was  afterwards  used  for  a church  and  a 
seminary.  Mr.  Bowes  moved  to  Canada  about  1815, 
and  the  building,  for  a long  time  the  residence  of 
Mrs.  Jane  Lusk,  afterwards  became  the  residence  of 
Dr.  E.  Patrick  and  burned  down  December  9,  1869. 
Colonel  Jeremiah  Baker  came  to  Great  Bend  in  1812, 
and  started  a tannery  in  the  swamp  on  land  since 
owned  by  Isaac  Van  Nosdale.  He  kept  a store  in  the 
house  now  occupied  by  Eev.  James  B.  McCreary.  He 
died  at  McKinney’s  Mills.  A young  watchmaker  by 
the  name  of  Harrison  started  a grocery -store  about 
this  time,  where  the  National  Hotel  afterwards  stood. 
In  1821  John  McKinney  lived  where  Allen  McIntosh 
afterwards  resided,  it  being  the  only  house  on  Main 
Street  south  of  Minna  Du  Bois’  hotel.  McKinney 
afterwards  built  what  became  a part  of  the  Mansion 
House.  This  store  was  separate  near  the  bridge.  Col- 
onel Baker  owned  the  McCreary  place  and  Putnam 
Catlin,  Esq.,  resided  immediately  west  of  it.  Joseph 
Bowes  had  then  left  the  house  next  below.  Sylvanus 
Hatch  kept  the  block  or  log  tavern  near  the  bridge, 
and  Judge  Thomson’s  house  was  the  only  house  be- 
tween that  and  Noble  Trowbridge’s.  Abraham  Du 
Bois  built  a saw-mill  on  Wiley  Creek  in  1815,  which 
afterwards  became  the  property  of  James  B.  McCreary, 
and  has  now  come  back  into  the  Du  Bois  family’s 
hands,  James  Du  Bois  having  recently  purchased  the 
mill,  which  is  still  kept  busy  as  of  old,  sawing  pine 
lumber.  Putnam  Catlin  bought  the  Bowes  property, 
and  was  a public-spirited  man  in  the  place  for  some 
years.  His  son,  Henry,  built  the  house  now  occupied 
by  Simeon  B.  Chase,  Esq. 

The  Du  Bois  Family. — During  the  middle  of  the 
seventeenth  century  Louis  and  Jacques  Du  Bois, 
members  of  a well-known  family  of  Huguenots  re- 
siding at  thattime  in  the  province  of  Artois,  France, 
sought  an  asylum  in  the  New  World  where  they  could 
worship  God  after  the  dictates  of  their  own  consciences. 
Louis  at  first  went  to  Mannheim,  in  the  borders  of  the 
Rhine,  in  the  Palatinate,  and  Jacques  settled  for  a 
short  time  in  Leyden,  Holland.  Subsequently  the 
two  brothers,  finding  that  to  return  to  France  would 
bring  upon  them  the  miseries  of  further  religious 
persecutions,  left  the  Old  World  and  all  of  its  home 
and  hallowed  associations,  and,  sailing  westward, 
planted  their  rude  homes  in  the  region  now  known  as 


548 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


Ulster  County,  in  the  State  of  New  York,  and  became 
the  leaders  of  the  little  Huguenot  colony,  Louis 
being  chosen  the  first  elder  of  the  first  church  estab- 
lished in  that  county.  From  this  sturdy  race  came 
the  members  bearing  that  name,  who,  for  a full  cen- 
tury, have  resided  in  Susquehanna  County. 

Abraham  Du  Bois,  who  was  a direct  descendant  of 
Jacques,  after  a settlement  was  made  of  his  father’s 
estate,  removed  to  New  Jersey  and  was  married  there. 
He  had  three  sons,  named  Abraham,  Nicholas  and 
Minna.  Abraham  learned  the  jeweler’s  trade  and  made 
a large  fortune  in  the  city  of  Philadelphia,  and  be- 
came an  extensive  land-owner  in  the  northeastern  part 
of  this  State,  several  of  his  tracts  bearing  the  war- 
rantee name  of  Nicholas  Du  Bois,  his  son.  He  sent 
his  brother  Minna  to  Great  Bend,  to  take  charge  of 
these  landed  interests,  atwhich  place  he  soon  became 
a prominent  citizen  and  was  interested  in  many  en- 
terprises. Minna  had  two  children — Abraham  Du  Bois 
by  his  first  marriage,  and  Jane  A.  (Mrs.  Lusk)  by  his 
second  marriage. 

Abraham  became  a large  land-owner,  and,  in  1815, 
built  the  well-known  saw-mill  which  exists  to-day 
and  still  remains  in  the  possession  of  the  family.  He 
was  active  in  all  enterprises  looking  to  the  advance- 
ment and  interest  of  the  town.  In  company  with  John 
McKinney,  he  built  upon  a picturesque  and  sightly 
hillock  the  present  Presbyterian  Church,  and  was  al- 
ways one  of  its  most  earnest  and  devout  supporters. 
He  was  one  of  the  largest  stock-owners  in  the  Great 
Bend  Bridge  Company.  In  1811  he  married  Juliet, 
the  accomplished  daughter  of  Joseph  Bowes.  Thir- 
teen children  were  the  result  of  this  union,  nine  of 
whom  lived  to  manhood  and  womanhood.  The  sons 
were  Joseph,  Nicholas,  William  and  James.  The 
daughters  were  Catherine,  Elizabeth,  Lydia  Jane, 
Fannie  and  Juliet. 

Joseph  Du  Bois,  the  eldest  of  the  children,  held, 
during  his  lifetime,  many  positions  of  trust  in  his 
native  town,  and  was  always  recognized  as  a consci- 
entions  and  faithful  officer.  He  was  noted  for  his 
public  spirit,  and  did  much  to  add  to  the  attractive- 
ness and  beauty  of  his  native  place.  He  furnished 
much  of  the  interesting  matter  published  in  the 
Blackman  “ History  of  Susquehanna  County  ” rela- 
ting to  the  earlier  days  of  Great  Bend  township. 

He  was  born  in  1812,  and  was  married,  in  1840,  to 
Emroy,  the  only  daughter  of  Benjamin  Taylor.  Nine 
children  were  born  to  them, — Richard,  Ellen,  Juliet, 
Harriet,  James,  William,  Frances,  Addison  and  Abra- 
ham. Richard,  who  is  a captain  in  the  regular  army 
of  the  United  States,  married  Ella,  daughter  of  C.  F. 
E.  Richardson,  Esq.,  of  Washington,  D.  G.  Juliet 
married  S.  S.  Wright,  of  Hickory  Grove.  Harriet 
married  Commander  George  M.  Bache,  of  the  United 
States  navy.  Frances  married  M.  B.  Moore,  of  Sen- 
eca, N.  Y.  James  married  Emma,  daughter  of  Henry 
Paster,  Esq.,  of  Aix-la-Chapelle,  Germany,  William 
married  Fannie,  daughter  of  Dr.  Motram,  of  Kansas. 


Addison  is  an  attorney  in  Washington,  and  Abraham 
married  Abbie,  daughter  of  Henry  McKinney,  Esq., 
of  Great  Bend.  There  are  twelve  grandchildren 
living.  Joseph  Du  Bois  died  March  22,  1885,  and 
was  buried  in  Rose  Hill  Cemetery. 

2.  Catharine,  the  eldest  daughter  of  Abraham  Du 
Bois,  became  the  wife  of  Rev.  J.  B.  McCreary.  Their 
children  were  Robert,  a civil  engineer;  James  B.,  a 
merchant  at  Hallstead ; William  H.,  Edwin  P., 
Gregory,  Charles,  Alfred  R.  and  Catharine,  who  re- 
mains with  and  cares  for  her  aged  father.  3.  Eliza- 
beth A.  was  the  wife  of  Francis  P.  Catlin,  who  be- 
came a resident  of  Wisconsin.  Charles  L.,  their  son, 
is  a lawyer  and  a prominent  railroad  man.  4.  Lydia, 
wife  of  Dr.  James  Brooks,  who  practiced  medicine  at 
Great  Bend  and  subsequently  at  Binghamton.  5. 
Nicholas  attended  school  at  Mannington  and  Gettys- 
burg, and  became  a civil  engineer,  and  was  employed 
on  a section  of  the  Erie  road;  afterwards  went  to 
Oregon  with  Surveyor-General  Preston.  In  1859  he 
removed  to  AVashington,  and  was  killed  in  1879  by 
being  thrown  from  the  open  car  of  a construction 
train.  He  is  buried  in  Rose  Hill  Cemetery.  Dr. 
Sunderland,  in  a memorial  address,  said : “We  shall 
not  soon  forget  him,  for  though  he  was  a man  of  no 
pretensions,  yet  in  his  quiet  way  he  was  always  doing 
good.”  7.  William  was  killed  by  a gun-shot  wound 
from  a detachment  of  Nicaraguan  soldiers,  who  fired 
upon  the  passengers  while  securing  tickets  at  the 
transit  company’s  office.  Fanny,  the  ninth  child,  is 
the  wife  of  Simeon  B.  Chase.  She  is  a lady  of  culture 
and  Christian  refinement,  and  has  been  prominently 
engaged  in  Sunday-school,  missionary  and  temperance 
work  all  her  life.  Juliet,  the  eleventh  child  of  Abra- 
ham Du  Bois,  is  the  wife  of  R.  E.  Curtis.  James  C. 
is  a resident  of  Binghamton.  Jane  Du  Bois  Lusk, 
like  her  brother,  became  a large  land-holder,  and  was 
widely  known  for  her  hospitality  and  liberality.  She 
helped  to  organize  the  Sunday-schools  in  her  native 
town  and  became  one  of  the  founders  of  the  Episco- 
pal Church  at  Great  Bend. 

Hotels. — Minna  Du  Bois  had  an  inn  or  tavern 
where  the  present  hotel  stands  in  the  pioneer  days  of 
the  settlement.  H.  K.  Niven  married  his  daughter 
Jane,  and  died  there.  She  afterwards  married  Frank- 
lin Lusk,  Esq.,  and  removed  with  him  to  Montrose. 
Mr.  Lusk  rented  the  hotel  to  Benjamin  Taylor  and 
others,  and  finally  built  the  present  tavern-stand  and 
rented  to  Elijah  Barnum.  Dr.  E.  Patrick  had  it  a 
number  of  years.  W.  D.  Lusk  sold  it  to  Frederick 
Hill,  who  sold  it  to  M.  T.  Mitchell,  the  present  pro- 
prietor. 

Hallstead  Graded  School. — Rev.  Mr.  Calnon 
was  the  first  principal  and  remained  one  year.  Sam- 
uel S.  Wright,  now  station-agent  at  Hickory  Grove, 
then  taught  the  school  two  years,  followed  by  Ray- 
mond Smith  two  years.  Miss  Sherman  one  year,  Cor- 
nelia McMillan  one  year.  Miss  Brown  one  term.  Miss 
Carpenter  one  term.  F.  L.  Wood  was  principal  for 


HALLSTEAD. 


549 


six  or  seven  years,  and  was  succeeded  by  I.  M.  Gray 
two  years,  who  graded  the  school  and  advanced  it 
somewhat.  Miss  Nellie  Simrell  has  taught  in  the 
school  four  years,  and  is  acting  principal  (1887). 
There  are  two  rooms,  eight  grades  and  an  average  at- 
tendance of  about  two  hundred  pupils. 

Merchants. — Joseph  Bowes,  in  1807  or  earlier, 
followed  hy  Jeremiah  Baker,  who  had  a store  shortly 
afterwards  where  Crook’s  shop  now  is,  and  Allen 
McIntosh,  who  had  a store  where  J.  B.  McCreary 
resides,  were  pioneer  merchants  at  what  is  now  Hall- 
stead.  John  McKinney  huilt  a store  near  where  Jas. 

B.  McCreary,  Jr.,  had  his  store  in  1822,  and  was  the 
leading  merchant  in  the  place  until  about  1837,  when 
he  sold  out  to  Conklin  & Page,  who,  in  a few  years> 
sold  to  William  Dayton,  who  did  a thriving  business 
for  many  years.  His  brother  Samuel  succeeded  him^ 
Previous  to  his  death  William  converted  the  old 
McKinney  building  into  a dwelling-house  and  pur- 
chased, of  Elias  Young  and  Milton  Gilman,  the  store 
now  occupied  hy  Jas.  B.  McCreary,  Jr.,  who  succeeded 
Samuel  Dayton  in  1869.  William  Trowbridge  had  a 
store  adjoining  McCreary’s,  and  after  carrying  on 
business  a number  of  years,  he  sold  to  Henry  Lang- 
ley, who  also  occupied  and  run  both  of  the  hotels  at 
that  time.  Daniel  A.  Dayton  and  J.  B.  McCreary 
each  had  the  store  until  Johiel  Dayton  bought  it  for 
his  son.  Dr.  Wellington  C.  Dayton,  who  occupied  it 
as  an  office.  McCreary  bought  a building  of  Dayton, 
and  moved  it  across  the  street  and  started  a store. 
Wm.  C.  McIntosh  bought  a one-half  interest  in  the 
concern  and  finally  purchased  the  entire  business. 
Marsh  and  J.  Lewis  successively  had  this  business ; 
then  the  firm  became  Lewis  & Langley,  succeeded  by 

C.  J.  Langley,  the  present  occupant.  Langley  & Hol- 
land occupy  a building  erected  by  B.  Hill.  J.  B. 
Brown  owns  the  building  adjoining,  which  was  occu- 
pied as  a restaurant  for  some  time,  and  is  now  used  as 
a post-office.  S.  H.  Dayton  erected  the  next  building 
about  forty  years  ago,  and  it  was  occupied  for  a store 
by  E.  A.  Houghton  and  L.  S.  Lenheim.  After  that 
it  was  used  for  school  purposes  by  E.  P.  Rogers,  prin- 
cipal. Rogers  and  Cushman  were  professors,  and  W. 
S.  Barrett  was  musical  director — this  was  about  1849 
-50.  After  a few  years  the  building  was  again  con- 
verted into  a store  by  S.  D.  Ross.  He  had  a number 
of  different  partners.  J.  R.  Douglass  has  the  business 
now. 

Hiram  S.  Hanna  occupies  the  store  building  that 
has  been  used  for  a shoe-shop,  harness-shop,  post- 
office,  and  finally  for  a store.  C.  E.  Bennett  built  the 
store  which  he  occupied  about  one  year,  and  then  sold 
to  his  father-in-law,  E.  D.  Burton,  who  occupies  it  as 
a hardware-store.  M.  E.  Allen  occupies  Barnes’ 
building  as  a dry-goods  and  grocery-store.  W.  D. 
Lusk  built  the  drug-store  occupied  by  Dr,  F.  D.  Lamb, 
a practicing  physician.  E.  R.  Mason  huilt  and  occu- 
pies his  building  as  a jewelry-store.  Millane  & San- 
ford occupy  the  brick  building  on  the  corner  of  Pine 


and  Church  Streets,  which  was  first  occupied  by  W. 
S.  Beebe.  E.  C.  Chase  was  there  also  for  awhile. 
Henry  D.  Warner  was  cabinet-maker  and  undertaker 
in  the  place  for  about  forty  years,  and  recently  re- 
moved to  Montrose. 

There  were  five  of  the  Dayton  brothers.  William 
was  the  leading  man  among  them.  He  carried  on 
business  successfully,  and  was  succeeded,  after  his 
death,  by  his  brother  Samuel.  Wm.  D.  Lusk  married 
one  of  his  daughters,  and  finally  succeeded  to  the 
ownership  of  the  property  by  purchase  at  an  Orphans’ 
Court  sale.  Johiel  Dayton  lived  nearly  opposite 
Kistler’s  tannery,  and  was  a farmer.  His  son.  Dr. 
Samuel  W.,  became  a skillful  physician.  Elias  was  a 
peddler  and  farmer,  and  resided  about  two  miles 
below  the  village,  near  the  State  line.  Daniel  was  a 
peddler  and  farmer  also.  He  is  the  only  one  of  the 
brothers  now  living.  His  son.  Page  Dayton,  resides 
on  the  farm  opposite  Red  Rock. 

' Congregational  Presbyterian  Church. — The 
very  early  history  of  church-work  and  privilege  in 
this  region  can,  at  the  best,  be  only  imperfectly  given. 
The  preaching  of  the  Word,  in  the  early  days  of  this 
community,  was  more  rare  than  regular,  the  church 
meetings  occurring  at  very  irregular  intervals,  so  com- 
bining to  hide  in  obscurity  the  religious  advantages, 
trials  and  triumphs  of  the  Christian  fathers  and 
mothers.  The  present  organization  of  the  Presby- 
terian Church,  known  in  the  very  early  days  of  this 
community  as  the  Congregational  Church,  was  doubt- 
less first  on  the  ground  as  a religious  institution.  The 
first  authentic  records  extant  concerning  the  early 
church-work  and  organization  have  these  important 
entries.  “Great  Bend  (Pa.),  May  the  7th,  1789.  A 
society  meeting,  held  at  the  appointed  place  of  pub- 
lic worship  after  prayer,  proceeded  and  chose,  first, 
Daniel  Buck,  Moderator;  second,  chose,  Daniel  Buck, 
Jonathan  Bennet,  Ozias  Strong,  Elijah  Leonard  (and) 
Jacob  Bacon  a committee  to  form  Articles  of  Faith 
and  Covenant.  May  the  21st,  (1789),  being  appointed 
a day  of  humiliation  and  prayer,  the  Articles  of  Faith 
and  Covenant  were  agreed  on  by  a number  who 
formed  into  a Church,  and  proceeded  then,  in  the 
first  place,  and  chose  Elijah  Leonard,  Clerk  ; second, 
chose  Daniel  Buck,  Moderator.”  Further  record  gives 
reliable  information  that,  on  the  15th  day  of  February, 
1790,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Stephens,  of  Connecticut,  came, 
administered  the  sacrament,  and  pronounced  the  body 
of  believers  covenanted  together  a church  of  Jesus 
Christ  after  the  Congregational  order.  The  names  of 
the  first  members  of  the  Congregational  Church  of 
Great  Bend,  Pa.j  were  Daniel  Buck,  Olive  Buck, 
Ozias  Strong,  Susanna  Strong,  Elijah  Leonard,  Mary 
Leonard,  Moses  Bennet,  Mary  Bennet,  Jane  Strong, 
Asa  Adams,  Olive  Adams,  John  Baker,  Susanna  Bak- 
er, Orasha  Strong,  Patience  Strong,  .lonathan  Bennet, 
Priscilla  Bennet.  October  15,  1790,  Asa  Adams  was 


1 By  Rev.  L.  W.  Church. 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


550 


chosen  the  first  deacon  of  the  church,  and  March  8, 
1792,  Jonathan  Bennet,  second  deacon.  The  Rev. 
Daniel  Buck  was  ordained  (and  probably  installed)  first 
pastor  of  their  church  March  7,  1790,  by  the  Rev. 
Joseph  Badger,  of  Blandford,  Massachusets.  Priest 
Buck,  as  he  was  called,  was  born  in  Connecticut, — a 
resident  of  that  State  prior  to  the  Revolutionary  War, 
— a brother-in-law  of  Rev.  Mr.  Stephens  before  re- 
ferred to,  was  a man  of  fine  form  (six  feet  in  height) 
and  of  commanding  address,  and  possessed  of  con- 
siderable wealth,  besides  being  the  father  of  a numer- 
ous family  of  children.  When  the  War  of  the  Revo- 
lution came,  Mr.  Buck’s  son  Ichabod  was  drafted. 
The  father  paid  the  commutation  of  fifty  dollars; 
but  when  Ichabod  was  drafted  the  second  time, 
the  father  said:  “Ichabod,  you  must  go,  live  or 
die.  I can  put  my  money  to  a better  use  than  that  of 
keeping  you  from  the  service  of  your  country.”  Both 
the  father  and  son  went  to  the  war,  the  latter  taking 
his  money  with  him,  and  spending  it  freely,  during 
the  struggle,  for  the  relief  of  the  suffering.  Mr.  Buck 
attained  the  rank  of  major,  serving  to  the  end  of  the 
war.  After  the  war  Mr.  Buck  emigrated  to  Great 
Bend  from  Connecticut,  and  settled,  bringing  his 
wealth  with  him  and  spending  the  balance  of  it  here, 
with  his  strength,  for  the  temporal  and  spiritual  good  of 
his  fellow-men.  For  a goodly  number  of  years  he  served 
this  church  faithfully,  over  which  he  had  been  ap- 
pointed pastor,  and  served  the  community  as  the  only 
physician  in  this  region.  His  residence  was  a log 
house,  situated  a short  distance  beyond  the  present 
house  of  Mr.  J.  F.  Carl,  and  on  the  opposite  side  of  the 
road-way,  wherein  religious  meetings  were  often  held 
and  the  Word  of  God  explained  to  the  people  gathered. 
“Priest  Buck  ” had  a numerous  posterity;  many  of 
them  settled  in  this  region ; and  when  he  preached  his 
son-in-law’s  (Thomas  Bates’)  funeral  sermon,  he  said 
“ that  about  one  hundred  souls  called  him  father  or 
grandfather.”  He  died  in  1814,  and  his  sepulchre  is 
with  us  to  this  day.  The  “ Buck  difficulty,”  so  called, 
created  a deep  feeling  in  the  church  and  community 
and  led  to  division.  Cause  of  difficulty  said  to  be  the 
discipline  of  a member  of  the  church  by  the  name  of 
Strong.  The  following  charges  were  formulated  and 
pressed  against  the  Rev.  Mr.  Buck  : first,  preaching 
immoral  doctrine ; second,  saying  that  “faith  ” was 
not  found  in  the  Old  Testament ; third,  had  said  that 
conscience  is  not  a natural  faculty,  but  the  result  of 
education.  In  the  trial  which  followed,  Mr.  Buck  was 
exonerated  from  blame  in  his  preaching.  The  “ diffi- 
culty ” resulted,  however,  in  the  suspension  of  five 
members,  and  probable  dismission  of  seventeen  more. 
The  five  suspended  members  were  afterwards  restored 
to  full  fellowship  with  the  church.  The  disastrous 
effect  of  this  “ difficulty,  ” however,  was  felt  in  the 
weakness,  both  numerically  and  spiritually,  of  the 
church  afterward  for  several  years.  Mr.  Buck  closed 
his  labors,  apparently,  as  pastor  over  the  church  in 
1799  (?) 


In  1802  the  church  renewed  her  covenant  under  the 
advice  of  Rev.  David  Paster,  and  an  associate  mission- 
ary, from  the  society  of  Cumberland  and  Berkshire, 
Conn.,  to  which  renewal  of  covenant  the  following 
persons  signed  their  names : Asa  Adams,  Nathaniel 
Gates,  Stephen  Murch,  Jedediah  Adams,  Ichabod 
Buck,  Thomas  Bates,  Samuel  Blair,  Margaret  Faber, 
Betra  Adams,  Lucy  Buck,  Rebeccah  Murch,  Deborah 
Gates,  Olive  Adams,  Phebe  Buck,  Deborah  Lothrop. 

August  30,  1814,  a council  of  ministers  convened  to 
regulate  the  church,  which  was  considered  wanting 
in  strict  orthodoxy.  Only  thirteen  of  the  members 
survived  this  ecclesiastical  sifting.  The  Rev.  Oliver 
Hill  was  pastor  from  August  30,  1814,  to  April  2, 
1823.  In  1815  the  church  joined  the  Luzerne  Asso- 
ciation of  Congregational  Churches.  March,  1831,  the 
church  voted,  under  the  advice  of  Rev.  James  B.  Mc- 
Creary, to  become  Presbyterian,  by  formally  adopting 
the  Covenant  of  Faith  and  Form  of  Government  of 
the  Presbyterian  Church ; though,  as  early  as  Sep- 
tember, 1819,  the  church  is  said  to  have  been  repre- 
sented in  the  Presbytery.  Wright  Chamberlin,  Ru- 
fus Fish  and  Nathaniel  Ives  were  the  first  ruling 
elders  of  the  church  under  Presbyterian  form,  and 
Samuel  Chamberlin,  deacon.  In  January,  1830, 
the  society  determined  to  build  a meeting-house.  It 
was  formally  “Resolved;  that  Abram  Dubois,  Esq., 
and  John  McKinney  build  said  house  at  their  own 
proper  expense  and  cost  (by  their  consent,  both 
parties  being  present  and  agreeing  thereto),  and 
when  said  building  shall  be. completed,  they  shall  be, 
and  are  allowed  the  privilege  of  selling  the  slips  to 
remunerate  them  for  their  expenditures  in  building 
said  house.”  In  due  time  the  “ said  house’’  was  built 
at  a cost  of  about  eleven  hundred  dollars,  and  the  “ex- 
penditures ” of  the  builders  “ remunerated  ” in  the 
way  and  manner  before  noted,  less  an  amount  of 
donation  of  some  two  hundred  dollars.  “January 
13,  1831,  house  accepted  and  dedicated.” 

The  following-named  ministers  served  the  church 
succeeding  Oliver  Hill’s  pastorate,  viz. : Rev.  Ebenezer 
Kingsbury,  April  2,  1823-27 ; Rev.  Abram  Dewitt, 
November  4,  1827-30 ; Rev.  James  B.  McCreary 
supplied  two  years,  1830-32 ; Rev.  Moses  Jewell  and 
Lyman  Richardson,  1832-37.  The  Rev.  James  B. 
McCreary,  now  living  (1887)  in  Hallstead,  Pa.,  at  the 
advanced  honored  age  of  eighty-nine  years,  states 
that  when  he  came  here,  in  1830,  there  were  only 
twelve  or  fifteen  members  in  the  church,  and  that 
there  were  no  church  edifices  here  nor  between  Great 
Bend,  Pa.,  and  Binghamton,  N.  Y.  There  was  a meet- 
ing-house in  Franklin,  Pa.,  with  no  fire  in  it,  in 
which  Mr.  McCreary  preached  with  his  overcoat  and 
mittens  on,  the  women  bringing  their  boxes  of  hard- 
wood coals  for  keeping  their  feet  warm. 

In  1837  the  Rev.  James  B.  McCreary  was  called 
from  Northumberland,  Pa.,  to  the  pastorate  of  this 
church,  and  immediately  entered  upon  his  labors. 
From  this  time  (1837)  the  church  rapidly  gained  in 


HALLSTEAD. 


551 


strength  and  numbers,  about  seventy  persons  being 
added  to  the  membership  on  one  occasion.  In  1851  the 
church  edifice  was  enlarged  to  its  present  dimensions, 
and  a bell  purchased  and  hung  in  the  tower  thereof. 
May  4,  1864,  the  Rev.  James  B.  McCreary  resigned 
the  pastoral  relation  ; his  resignation  was  accepted, 
after  faithfully  serving  the  church  for  a period  of 
about  twenty-seven  years,  the  longest  pastorate  in  the 
history  of  the  church.  During  his  pastorate  ninety- 
eight  persons  were  received  by  letter  into  member- 
ship, and  one  hundred  and  eighty-five  on  confession 
of  faith,  making  a total  number  of  two  hundred  and 
eighty-three  souls.  Succeeding  Mr.  McCreary,  the 
Rev.  John  S.  Hanna  served  the  church  as  stated  sup- 
ply for  one  year  ; after  him  the  Rev.  Wilber  Johnson 
as  pastor  for  a period  of  two  years,  until  September, 
1867.  Elder  Nathaniel  Ives  died  May  23,  1867,  hav- 
ing been  an  elder  in  the  church  thirty-seven  years. 
Rev.  D.  M.  Rankin  served  the  church  as  stated  sup- 
ply from  1868-70,  a period  of  two  years.  Elder 
Wright  Chamberlain  died  1869,  having  been  an  elder 
in  the  church  thirty-nine  years.  Rev.  A.  J.  Arney 
was  called  to  the  pastorate  of  the  church  October  2, 
1871,  closing  his  labors  January,  1875,  after  a service 
of  nearly  four  years.  About  this  date,  October,  1871, 
the  rotary  system  of  eldership  was  adopted  by  the 
church.  Rev.  R.  N.  Ives  assumed  the  pastorate  Jan- 
uary 4,  1875,  and  served  the  church  faithfully  and 
successfully  through  a period  of  nearly  nine  years. 
During  Mr.  Ives’  pastorate  the  church  was  strengthened 
in  spirit  and  largely  increased.  Mr.  Ives  retired 
from  the  service  of  the  church  in  September,  1883. 
The  Rev.  Leonard  W.  Church  (present  pastor,  1887) 
was  called  December  1, 1883,  and  subsequently  installed 
by  a commission  from  the  Presbytery  of  Lackawanna, 
June  17,  1885.  The  number  of  resident  members  at 
present,  1887,  is  one  hundred  and  fifty  seven. 

Pastors  and  Svpplies. — Revs.  Daniel  Buck,  1790-99; 
Oliver  Hill,  1814-23;  Ebenezer  Kingsbury,  1823-27 ; 
Abram  Dewitt,  1827-30 ; James  B.  McCreary,  1830- 
32;  Moses  Jewell,  1832-33;  Lyman  Richardson, 
1834-37;  James  B.  McCreary,  1837-64;  John  S. 
Planna,  1864-65;  Wilber  Johnson,  1865-67;  D.  M. 
Rankin,  1868-70;  A.  J.  Arney,  1871-75;  R.  N.  Ives, 
1875-83  ; L.  W.  Church,  December  1,  1883. 

Elders. — 1831,  Wright  Chamberlin,  Rufus  Fish, 
Nathaniel  Ives;  1834,  Peleg  Johnson,  John  McKin- 
ney ; 1841,  David  Thomas ; 1858,  Nicholas  Dubois, 
R.  N.  Ives;  1862,  Henry  Warner,  Orlando  E.  Cham- 
berlin ; 1871,  Simeon  B.  Chase,  Charles  E.  Baldwin, 
H.  H.  Newell,  George  Buck;  1874,  J.  B.  Johnston; 
1875,  J.  S.  Jacobus,  Ansel  Gere.  Deacons. — 1790, 

Asa  Adams;  1792,  Jonathan  Bennet;  1831,  Samuel 
Chamberlin ; 1834,  Norman  Rouse ; 1841,  Abram 
Dubois,  John  Scatten.  Deaconesses. — 1874,  Frances 
F.  McCrearey,  Eden  M.  Baldwin. 

Rev.  James  B.  McCreary.— It  very  rarely  falls 
to  the  lot  of  man  to  celebrate  his  ninetieth  birthday 
in  the  full  enjoyment  of  physical  health  and  in  pos- 


session of  all  of  his  mental  powers;  but  still  more  rare 
it  is  for  a man  to  pass  the  border  of  four-score  years 
and  ten  with  the  blessed  privilege  of  looking  back 
upon  a career  free  from  blemish,  and  a life  which  has 
been  entirely  devoted  to  the  welfare  of  mankind. 
Such  an  enviable  condition  of  things  has  fallen  to  the 
Rev.  James  B.  McCreary,  of  Great  Bend  Village. 
He  was  born  in  the  year  1797,  in  sight  of  the  famous 
battle-grounds  of  Gettysburg.  His  parents  were 
Robert  and  Anna  McCreary,  both  descendants  of  a 
sturdy  race.  When  a very  young  man  he  traveled 
through  the  Southern  States  as  agent  for  the  pub- 
lishing house  of  E.  Littell  & Co.,  of  Philadelphia. 
During  his  business  tours  he  became  profoundly  im- 
pressed with  the  religious  wants  of  the  communities 
through  which  he  journeyed,  and  believing  that  a 
great  field  of  usefulness  was  open  to  him,  he  resolved 
to  enter  the  ministry.  After  conferring  with  the  Rev. 
Ezra  Styles  Ely,  D.D.,  of  Philadelphia,  who  kindly 
encouraged  him  in  his  decision,  he  commenced  his 
preparatory  studies,  and  in  due  time  entered  the 
Theological  Seminary  at  Princeton,  where  he  re- 
mained three  years  under  the  instruction  of  those 
celebrated  professors,  Archibald  Alexander,  Samuel 
Miller  and  Charles  Hodge.  At  the  close  of  his  theo- 
logical studies  he  was  licensed  to  preach  by  the  Pres- 
bytery of  Philadelphia,  and  turning  his  face  to  the 
southward,  he  commenced  his  work  in  the  ministry  as 
a home  missionary  on  the  eastern  shore  of  Maryland. 
In  the  arduous  labors  of  this  important  mission  his 
health  became  so  impaired  that  he  was  obliged  to  re- 
turn to  Philadelphia,  where  he  remained  for  a long 
time  at  the  home  of  his  good  friend,  Mathew  New- 
kirk. When  he  began  to  convalesce,  his  physician 
recommended  a sojourn  in  the  pure  air  of  the  moun- 
tains of  Northern  Pennsylvania,  and  as  soon  as  he 
was  able  to  travel  he  journeyed  to  Wilkes-Barre  by 
stage.  At  that  place  he  became  acquainted  with 
Judge  Jessup,  who  invited  him  to  Montrose,  where 
he  resided  at  the  pleasant  home  of  the  Jessups,  and 
supplied  the  pulpit  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  for 
some  time  during  the  absence  of  the  regular  pastor. 
The  people  of  Lawsville  desiring  a pastor,  Mr.  Mc- 
Creary was  sent  to  them,  where  he  labored  faithfully 
over  a year.  Having  received  from  Philadelphia  let- 
ters of  introduction  to  Abraham  Du  Bois  and  wife,  of 
Great  Bend,  he  one  day  paid  them  a visit.  Leaving 
Lawsville,  he  went  to  the  Bend  by  the  way  of  the  old 
Steam-mill  road,  which  then  crossed  the  high  ridge 
just  to  the  west  of  Round-Top  Mountain.  In  regard 
to  this  tour  Mr.  McCreary  says : “ As  I came  up  to 
the  summit  of  this  ridge  and  gazed  down  into  the 
beautiful  valley  of  the  Susquehanna  it  seemed  as 
though  I had  suddenly  come  upon  the  Garden  of 
Eden.  This  was  in  1831,  and  at  that  time  there  was 
no  village  where  Great  Bend  now  stands,  and  only  a 
small  cluster  of  houses  where  Great  Bend  Village 
is  located.  A few  scattering  farm-houses  could  be 
seen  now  and  then  through  the  dense  foliage.  The 


552 


HISTORY  OF  SUSUQKHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


8i)lendid  Hngarth-line-of-beauty-mountains  formed  a 
grand  amphitheatre,  but,  unlike  now,  were  clothed  to 
their  very  summits  with  vast  forests  of  pine  and  hem- 
lock. The  crystal  river  turning  the  Great  Bend  from 
Susquehanna  sw'ept  majestically  by  its  grassy  banks, 
the  view  of  which  was  so  interrupted  by  the  heavy 
foliage  of  the  trees  along  its  borders  as  to  resemble  a 
chain  of  silver  lakes,  it  finally  disappearing  in  the 
picturesque  valley  coursing  towards  Binghamton. 
It  was  my  first  sight  of  this  wonderful  amphitheatre, 
where  nature  has  lavished  her  favors  with  such  a free 
and  generous  hand,  and  her  blessings  here  seem  per- 
petual.” 

During  the  first  visit  of  Mr.  McCreary  to  the  Bend 
he  received  a call  from  the  Presbyterian  organization 
to  preach  to  them.  So  pleased  was  he  with  the  re- 
ception of  the  citizens  and  the  charming  surround- 
ings that  he  accepted  the  invitation  and  labored  for 
two  years  in  this  new  field.  While  there  he  married 
Catherine,  the  eldest  daughter  of  Abraham  Du  Bois. 
After  two  years  of  successful  work  at  Great  Bend  he 
was  called  to  Groton,  N.  Y.,  to  take  charge  of  a large 
congregation.  During  his  ministrations  at  that  place 
there  was  a great  revival,  which  added  seventy  new 
members  to  his  church.  From  there  he  was  trans- 
ferred to  Deposit  for  one  year,  and  from  Deposit  he 
w'ent  to  Northumberland  for  a year,  and  then,  after 
an  absence  of  five  years,  returned  to  Great  Bend,  in 
1837.  He  labored  at  Great  Bend  with  marked  suc- 
cess for  nearly  thirty  years,  and,  his  health  again 
failing,  he  went  to  Washington,  D.  C.,  in  1864. 
While  at  the  National  Capital  he  was  appointed  to  a 
responsible  position  in  the  War  Department,  which 
he  held  until  1881,  and  then  voluntarily  resigned  and 
returned  to  his  pleasant  home  at  Great  Bend  Village, 
where  he  now'  resides  with  his  daughter  Kate,  whose 
devotion  to  and  tender  care  for  her  venerable  father 
has  won  for  her  the  admiration  and  esteem  of,  all  who 
know  her. 

Truly  this  grand  old  man  can  say,  with  the  immor- 
tal Longfellow  : “ Time  has  laid  his  hand  upon  my 
heart  gently,  not  smiting  it,  but  as  a harper  lays  his 
open  palm  upon  his  harp  to  deaden  its  vibrations.” 

Rev.  R.  N.  Ives  was  born  at  Lawsville  Centre, 
Susquehanna  County  Pa.,  October  7, 1837,  and  united 
with  the  Methodist  Church  South,  in  Virginia,  Au- 
gust 19,  1852,  and  was  received  into  the  Presbyterian 
Church  at  Great  Bend,  June  1,  1856,  and  was  made 
elder  in  the  church  in  1858.  He  was  dismissed  to 
Conklin  Church  in  1871,  and  January  4,  1875,  com- 
menced preaching  at  Great  Bend,  or  Hallstead,  re- 
maining until  September  3, 1883.  His  labors  were  very 
successful,  about  one  hundred  and  thirty  members 
being  received  into  the  church  by  him. 

Rev.  L.  W.  Church  was  born  in  Afton,  Chemung 
County,  N.  Y.,  in  1843,  and  was  graduated  at  Auburn 
Seminary  in  1873.  He  preached  in  Herkimer  and 
Oneida  Counties  seven  years,  and  at  New  Leba- 
non, Columbia  County,  four  years.  He  has  been  pas- 


tor of  Hallstead  Presbyterian  Church  since  Decem- 
ber 1,  1883. 

Great  Bend  Baptist  Church.* — The  Great  Bend 
Baptist  Church  is  situated  in  the  borough  of  Hallstead, 
the  church  as  yet  retaining  the  old  name.  The  church 
building  stands  quite  near  the  Delaware,  Lackawanna 
and  Western  Railroad,  and  within  a mile  of  the  “ Old 
Erie.”  The  first  Baptist  preaching  in  Great  Bend  of 
which  we  find  record  was  by  Peter  P.  Roots,  a mis- 
sionary from  Massachusetts,  who  preached  at  “ Ran- 
dolph Settlement,”  N.  Y.,  and  then  at  the  Bend,  Lord’s 
day,  24th  March,  1807.  Another  missionary,  Benja- 
min Baldwin,  from  Danbury  (Conn.)  Association,  la- 
bored Lord’s  Day,  20th  December,  1807,  at  the  Bend 
and  Randolph.  Davis  Dimock,  of  Montrose,  preached 
here  occasionally  and  baptized  some  converts.  On 
his  first  visit  into  Pennsylvania,  under  date  of  Sunday, 
September  4, 1825,  Jesse  B.  Worden  wrote : “ Preached 
at  Great  Bend  to  a full  and  attentive  assembly,  twice 
in  the  day-time  and  once  in  the  evening.  There  is 
some  prospect  of  a church  being  gathered  here.”  On 
the  25th  of  October,  1825,  a council  recognized  twelve 
baptized  believers  as  the  Great  Bend  Baptist  Church. 
These  twelve  constituent  members  were  the  following : 
Daniel  Lyon  and  his  wife,  Anna  B.  (Smith)  Lyon; 
Daniel  Trowbridge,  Charles  Hatch,  Stephen  Keech, 
William  Keech,  Esther  Newman,  Betsey  Newman, 
Tamerson  Keech,  Joanna  Keech,  Abigail  (Hayt)  Di- 
mon  and  Anice  Dimon.  They  were  immediately 
joined  by  John  Holmes  and  Elizabeth,  his  wife,  Han- 
nah Hatch,  Roxana  Dimon,  and  Hannah  Duncan  by 
letter;  and  not  long  after  by  Sarah  Johnson,  Eunice 
Smith,  Mrs.  Sewell  Corbett  and  Jonathan  D.  Newman 
by  baptism.  The  new  body,  with  the  above  twenty- 
one  members,  united  with  the  Bridgewater  Association 
in  the  year  1826.  The  new  organization  held  its 
meetings  at  the  house  of  Charles  Dimon— the  pres- 
ent Fred.  Carl  house;  Deacon  Lyon’s,  where  Mr. 
Munson,  the  cartman,  now  lives ; Roosa’s,  on  Dutch 
Hill;  and  Stoddard  s,  on  Locust  Hill.  The  meeting- 
house was  built  on  land  given  by  Deacon  Lyon,  and 
was  dedicated  August  22,  1832,  at  a meeting  of  the 
Bridgewater  Association.  The  church,  thus  auspi- 
ciously started,  had  fair  success  for  several  years, 
reaching  the  highest  mark,  in  point  of  numbers,  in 
1848,  when  it  reported  a membership  of  eighty. 
From  this  point  of  highest  success  the  church  steadily 
and  swiftly  declined.  No  report  was  made  to  the 
Association  for  eleven  years  between  1848  and  1859. 
Forty -two  members  were  reported  in  1859,  but  the  last 
record  in  the  old  church-book  was  November  4, 1859. 
In  1860  the  church  was  “dropped”  from  the  Asso- 
ciational  list.  The  building  was  sold,  and  for  twelve 
years  used  for  school  purposes. 

This  sad  failure  had  its  causes,  of  which  we  may 
with  certainty  mention  the  following : First,  a debt 
upon  the  church  building ; secondly,  the  fact  that  the 


1 From  facts  furnished  by  Rev.  M.  J.  Watkins. 


HALLSTEAD. 


563 


members  belonged  to  two  distinct  and  rival  commu- 
nities ; and  thirdly,  the  failure  to  support  a regular 
ministry.  That  the  first  cause  was  operative  is  con- 
fessed by  Elder  Worden  in  these  words,  which  close 
his  account  of  the  dedication  of  the  meeting-house : 
“Unfortunately  a debt  was  allowed  to  remain  upon  it 
year  after  year.”  Besides,  there  was  a new  church  or- 
ganized across  the  river,  which  may  be  assigned  as  a 
second  cause ; and  Elder  Worden’s  words  given  below 
reveal  the  third  cause : “ The  church  has  rarely  en- 
joyed the  full  labors  of  a pastor,  most  of  her  preachers 
having  more  than  one  field  to  till,  or  compelled  to  en- 
gage in  some  secular  calling  to  gain  a livelihood.” 

Pastors  and  Supplies. — The  first  resident  minister 
was  Elder  Frederick,  who  served  the  church  from 
1827  to  1830.  Elder  Frederick  was  a native  of  Mont- 
gomery County,  N.  Y. ; a graduate  of  the  seminary  at 
Hamilton,  N.  Y.,  class  of  1828,  and  was  ordained  at 
Great  Bend  March  1,  1827.  During  the  first  year  of 
his  ministry  here  he  baptized  thirty  converts. 

He  also  began  “Baptist  efforts”  in  Binghamton, 
and,  as  the  result  of  a revival,  a church  of  thirty-two 
members  was  recognized  in  May,  1829.  He  became 
their  first  pastor  and  helped  to  erect  their  first  house 
in  1831.  Henry  Curtis  was  pastor  during  1831-32, 
and  Thomas  Thayer  during  1833.  Jason  Corwin,  a 
member  of  the  first  class,  graduated  from  Hamilton 
Seminary,  became  the  fourth  pastor  in  1834.  During 
his  too  brief  stay  he  baptized  twenty-five  converts. 
He  opened  a school  for  males,  and  among  his  pupils 
were  at  least  four  who  became  Baptist  ministers, 
Davis  D.  and  Harvey  H.  Gray  being  of  the  number. 
Under  his  ministry  the  church  reported  a flourishing 
Sunday-school.  He,  too,  labored  at  Binghamton,  was 
blessed  with  a revival  and  became  the  second  pastor 
of  that  church.  During  the  year  1835  Davis  D.  Gray 
and  Isaac  B.  Lake  served  as  supplies;  Geo.  W.  Sco- 
field in  1836  ; Geo.  G.  Longstreet  during  1839-40; 
Almon  Virgil  in  1846;  D.  T.  Lockwood,  1849;  J.  B. 
Kimber,  1853-54;  G.  A.  Hogeboom,  1855-57.  From 
1829  to  1858  John  Holmes  (as  supposed,  of  the  Oba- 
diah  Holmes  family)  was  relied  upon  to  fill  all  vacan- 
cies in  the  pulpit.  In  1844  Elder  John  Holmes, 
assisted  by  Elder  A.  L.  Post,  baptized  twenty-four. 
In  1853  Elder  Kimber,  assisted  by  Elder  Nathan 
Callender,  baptized  seventy-five. 

Deacons,  Daniel  Lyon,  John  Holmes,  Robert  M. 
Holmes,  Harvey  Hall  and  David  Roosa.  Clerks, 
Charles  Hatch,  Thos.  Williams,  R.  M.  Holmes,  J. 
Bishop  Holmes,  Geo.  W.  Gray  and  David  Stoddard. 

A dozen  years  of  spiritual  torpor  for  Baptists  fol- 
lowed the  final  dissolution  of  the  first  organization. 
These  years  covered  the  era  of  the  greatest  temporal 
prosperity  of  the  region.  Early  in  1872  Edward 
Ashton  came  from  New  York  State  to  Great  Bend  for 
business  purposes.  He  soon,  however,  gathered  the 
scattered  Baptists  and  resumed  worship.  He  proved 
to  the  school  directors  that  their  title  to  the  meeting- 
house was  imperfect  and  had  it  restored  to  its  owners. 

35 


On  August  4,  1872,  the  following  eleven  Baptists 
organized  the  Great  Bend  Baptist  Church:  A.  W. 
Millard,  Rob’t  Moscript,  Henry  H.  Millard,  David 
Stoddard,  Edward  Ashton,  Fidelia  A.  Guernsey, 
Lovina  Roosa,  Phebe  Moscript,  Deborah  Ann  Millard, 
Lizzie  Ashton,  Louisa  Shaw.  At  a meeting  held 
September  20th  Rev.  E.  Ashton  was  called  to  be  pastor 
of  the  new  organization;  A.  W.  Millard  and  Rob’t 
Moscript,  deacons ; and  PI.  H.  Millard,  clerk.  On  Sep- 
tember 28th  a council  convened  and  recognized  the 
above  eleven  members  as  the  Great  Bend  Baptist 
Church.  With  the  aid  of  the  General  Association  of 
Pennsylvania  the  work  advanced  until  the  sudden 
death  of  the  pastor,  June  30,  1873.  Elder  Thomas 
Simpkins  supplied  preaching  while  pastor  of  the 
Liberty  Church  in  1874,  and  became  resident  pastor 
and  labored  about  one  year.  A number  were  received 
into  the  church  by  baptism,  and  the  building  was 
thoroughly  repaired  at  an  outlay  of  seven  hundred 
dollars.  In  May,  1875,  Elder  E.  Burroughs  began 
his  pastorate  of  Liberty  and  Great  Bend  Churches 
and  labored  for  one  year.  During  his  term  of  service 
a great  revival  occurred,  in  which  the  pastor  was 
assisted  by  Rev.  J.  S.  Johnson,  an  evangelist,  and 
forty-four  were  received  into  the  church  by  baptism, 
ten  by  experience,  and  quite  a number  joined  the 
Presbyterian  Church.  J.  W.  Taylor,  for  some  years 
a minister  of  the  Christian  denomination,  was  ordained 
as  a Baptist  minister  and  pastor  of  Great  Bend  Church 
June,  1877,  and  resigned  the  following  spring — the 
hand  of  fellowship  being  withdrawn  from  him  for 
cause.  The  pulpit  was  supplied  by  Elders  Tilden, 
Tower,  Brown  and  Morris  until  in  September,  1880, 
when  Elder  W.  C.  Tilden,  now  of  Forest  Lake  Church, 
was  called  to  be  pastor,  and  faithfully  served  the 
church  until  1882,  and  was  followed  by  Elder  D.  C. 
Haynes,  of  Binghamton,  N.  Y.,  as  asupply.  The  inte- 
rior of  the  church  was  repaired  and  Rev.  L.  C.  Davies,  of 
North  Wales,  Pa.,  preached  nearly  one  year  to  both 
the  Great  Bend  and  Susquehanna  Churches,  for  which 
the  Ladies’  Aid  Society  provided  one  hundred  and 
sixty-four  dollars  of  the  needed  funds. 

Elder  M.  J.  Watkins,  the  present  pastor,  began 
October  1,  1883,  and  has  already  the  largest  pastorate 
in  the  sixty-two  years  of  the  church’s  history.  The 
money  raised  for  all  purposes  for  the  year  ending 
October  1,  1886,  is  $654.10.  The  membership  re- 
ported is  sixty-nine.  The  church  has  purchased  a 
lot,  and  a “parsonage”  will  soon  be  finished  at  a 
short  distance  from  the  meeting-house.  Present 
deacons,  A.  W.  Millard,  Rob’t  Moscript,  J.  R.  Millard, 
August  Marx;  clerk,  A.  S.  Cahoon ; trustees,  A.  W. 
Millard,  E.  D.  Burton,  A.  S.  Cahoon,  W.  B.  Simpson, 
Sam’l  Loomis;  treasurer,  E.  R.  Mason.  The  church 
has  for  many  years  sustained  an  active  and  flourishing 
Sunday-school. 

Zion  Baptist  Church  of  Great  Bend. — A church  of 
twenty-one  members,  organized  on  the  north  side  of 
the  Susquehanna  River,  was  recognized  April,  1859, 


554 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


as  the  Zion  Baptist  Church  of  Great  Bend.  Dr.  Elijah 
Pratt  acted  as  moderator  of  the  organization  and 
E.  S.  Funnell,  clerk.  They  organized  permanently 
by  electing  as  deacons  Elijah  Pratt,  M.  D.,  David 
Koosa  and  Chauncey  Davis;  and  as  clerk,  Wm.  A. 
Green.  Their  last  church  record  bears  date  Novem- 
ber 6, 1859,  two  days  later  than  that  of  the  old  church 
across  the  river.  A number  of  the  members  of  Zion 
Baptist  Church  are  at  present  members  of  the  reor- 
ganized Great  Bend  Baptist  Church. 


CHAPTER  XXXVIII. 

OAKLAND  TOWNSHIP. 

Originally  this  towmship  was  embraced  in  Har- 
mony ; but  in  1853  it  was  made  a separate  township 
by  an  act  of  the  Court  of  Susquehanna  County.  New 
York  State  lies  on  the  north.  Harmony  and  Susque- 
hanna River  on  the  east,  Jackson  on  the  south,  and 
New  Milford  and  Great  Bend  on  the  west.  From  north 
to  south  it  is  about  six  and  one-half  miles  in  ex- 
tent, and  from  east  to  west  about  an  average  of  three 
and  one-half  miles.  Its  surface  is  exceedingly  broken 
and  hilly,  the  Ouaquagua  Mountains  occupying  so 
large  a part  as  to  leave  but  very  little  level  land  north 
of  the  Susquehanna  River,  which  bisects  the  township 
about  midway  between  its  northern  and  southern 
lines  ; and  that  portion  which  lies  south  of  the  river, 
although  some  of  it  has  been  brought  into  arable  con- 
dition, is,  in  the  main,  not  well  adapted  to  agriculture. 
Only  by  dint  of  commendable  per.«everance  and  toil 
has  any  of  the  land  been  improved,  except,  possibly, 
a little  that  lies  along  the  river  and  near  the  beds  of 
the  few  small  streams  that  are  found  in  some  parts  of 
the  township,  and  along  Drinker  Creek. 

Like  Harmony  and  Great  Bend,  when  the  early  set- 
tlers came  here  they  found  a very  heavy  grow’th  of 
pine,  hemlock,  oak  and  other  forest-trees,  that  have 
been  converted  into  lumber  and  carried  away  to  the 
great  markets,  via  the  Susquehanna  and  Delaware 
Rivers,  thereby  contributing  much  to  the  revenue  of 
this  part  of  the  county. 

Soon  after  this  part  of  the  State  was  surveyed  by 
the  agents  of  the  commonwealth,  in  1785,  a number 
of  families  came  from  the  East,  and,  under  Connecti- 
cut’s claim  to  the  land,  made  purchases  and  formed 
settlements  in  what  is  now  Oakland.  Among  these 
were  Jonathan  Bennett,  William  Smith,  William 
Greek,  Isaac  Hale  and  Nathaniel  Lewis.  But  w’hen 
the  land  dispute  between  Connecticut  and  Pennsylva- 
nia was  settled  in  Pennsylvania’s  favor,  it  was  found 
that  nearly  all  of  the  land  in  Oakland  had  been  pur- 
chased by  Henry  Drinker,  Timothy  Pickering, 
Tench  Coxe  and  William  Hodgdon  ; hence  some  of 
these  families  moved  away  and  others  made  terms 
with  John  Hilborn,  who  was  agent  for  Messrs.  Drinker, 


Pickering,  Coxe  and  Hodgdon,  and  continued  their 
possessions.  Hale  and  Lewis  repurchased  their  claims 
and  afterwards  became  quite  prominent  citizens  ; but 
of  their  descendants  none  are  living  here  now,  as 
nearly  all  have  removed  farther  west.  Mr.  Hale 
lived  where  George  Doolittle  now  resides,  and  Mr. 
Lewis  owned  a place  on  the  other  side  of  the  river. 
Lewis  was  a local  preacher,  ordained  deacon  in  1807. 
(See  history  of  the  Methodist  Church  of  Harmony.) 

Joseph  McKune,  Sr.,  came  from  Orange  County, 
N.  Y.,  to  this  place  in  1810,  and  died  here  in  1851. 
He  settled  near  where  the  McKune  Cemetery  is  now. 
He  had  six  sons.  Among  them  was  Joseph,  Jr.,  who, 
when  he  became  of  age,  settled  on  what  is  now  the 
“ poor  farm ; ” but  about  1830  he  bought  the  small 
farm  of  thirteen  and  one-half  acres  of  land  that  Joe 
Smith  owned.  Benjamin  E.  McKune,  the  present 
owner  of  the  land,  has  the  deed  that  Smith  executed 
to  Joseph  McKune.  Mr.  McKune  afterwards  bought 
quite  a large  tract  of  land  that  bordered  on  this  small 
farm,  and  lived  here  until  his  death,  about  twenty- 
five  years  later.  He  had  eleven  children,  only  one 
of  whom  is  now  living,  namely,  Benjamin  E.  Mc- 
Kune, his  youngest  son,  who  owns  the  old  home- 
stead, around  which  so  much  of  historic  interest  cen- 
tres. 

Joe  Smith,  the  Eounder  of  Mormonism,  built 
the  original  part  of  the  house  now  oecupied  by  ex- 
Sherifi'  McKune,  and  here  he  projected  schemes 
which,  although  seemingly  so  absurd  to  rational  per- 
sons, have  nevertheless  brought  him  many  followers 
and  given  him  world-wide  notoriety.  There  are  sev- 
eral persons  now  residing  in  this  vicinity  who  lived 
here  at  the  time  Smith  was  here.  He  is  described  as 
having  been  a tall  and  strong  man,  light  eomplex- 
ioned,  quite  fond  of  ardent  liquors,  not  infrequently 
drunk,  by  no  means  intelligent  in  feature  nor  prepos- 
sessing in  appearance,  and  in  education  quite  limited. 
His  wife  was  quite  tall,  of  comely  form  and  feature, 
well  educated,  a fine  singer  and  very  social. 

Mrs.  Eliza  Winters  Squires,  now  living  in  Oakland 
borough,  was  often  at  Smith’s  house  and  much  in 
Mrs.  Smith’s  company.  The  young  women  were  on 
very  intimate  terms,  and  very  many  times  did  Mrs. 
Smith  tell  her  young  friend  about  the  finding  of  the 
“golden  plates”  or  the  “golden  Bible.”  Mrs.  Smith 
said  that  it  was  found  in  the  woods,  near  Palmyra, 
N.  Y.  That  according  to  revelations  that  Smith  re- 
ceived, they  proceeded.  They  went  on  horseback 
into  the  woods.  At  a certain  place  her  horse  stopped, 
and  Smith  then  told  her  to  go  no  farther.  But  he 
continued  until  after  getting  out  of  her  sight,  when 
his  horse  put  its  nose  against  a tree ; and  here  he 
alighted,  and  at  the  roots  of  this  tree,  a little  beneath 
the  surface,  he  found  the  “ golden  Bible.”  Putting 
it  underneath  his  waist-coat,  he  returned  to  the  place 
where  he  had  left  his  wife,  and,  concealing  it  under 
the  hearthstone  in  the  house  at  Palmyra  until  they 
removed  to  Oakland,  he  brought  it  here  in  a barrel 


OAKLAND. 


555 


of  beans  and  hid  it  in  a pit  he  made  in  the  woods  on 
the  side-hill  above  the  house.  It  was  written  in  an 
unknown  language ; hence  its  translation  became 
necessary  in  the  manner  in  which  it  was  done.  Mrs. 
Smith  was  mainly  in  sympathy  with  her  husband, 
and  firmly  believed  all  he  told  her  respecting  the 
things  that  were  revealed  to  him.  So  full  an  account 
concerning  “ Joe  Smith,  the  Mormon  Prophet,”  is 
given  in  Miss  Blackman’s  “ History  of  Susquehanna 
County,”  that  we  quote  from  it  as  follows : “ It  is  a 
fact  of  which  we  are  not  particularly  proud,  that 
Susquehanna  County  harbored  such  a madman  as 
Joe  Smith  at  the  period  when  he  was  engaged  in  the 
compilation,  or  rather  the  translation,  of  the  Book  of 
Mormon.  But  to  the  fact  itself  there  are  living  wit- 
nesses, with  some  of  whom  the  writer  has  conversed. 
There  appears  to  be  some  uncertainty  as  to  the  time 
of  his  arrival  in  Harmony  (now  Oakland) ; but  it  is 
certain  he  was  here  in  1825  and  later ; and  in  1829 
his  operations  here  were  finished,  and  he  had  left  the 
county.  In  1830  the  Book  of  Mormon  was  published, 
the  requisite  funds  being  furnished,  it  is  said,  by 
Martin  Harris,  a coadjutor  of  Smith  during  its 
translation,  and  who  had  sold  his  farm  for  the  pur- 
pose, and  reduced  his  family  to  straits  in  consequence. 
His  wife  and  daughters  were  greatly  exasperated  at 
his  course,  but  he  appeared  to  have  been  a sincere  be- 
liever, firmly  convinced  of  the  truth  of  Mormonism.” 
Mr.  J.  B.  Bush  narrates  the  following:  “Joe  Smith 
was  here  lumbering  soon  after  my  marriage,  which 
was  in  1818,  some  years  before  he  took  to  ‘ peeping,’ 
and  before  diggings  were  commenced  under  his  di- 
rections. These  were  ideas  he  gained  later.  The 
stone  which  he  afterwards  used  was  then  in  the  pos" 
session  of  Jack  Belcher,  of  Gibson,  who  obtained  it 
while  at  Salina,  N.  Y.,  engaged  in  drawing  salt. 
Belcher  bought  it  because  it  was  said  to  be  a ‘ seeing 
stone.’  I have  often  seen  it.  It  was  a green  stone, 
with  brown  irregular  spots  on  it.  It  was  a little 
longer  than  a goose’s  egg,  and  about  the  same  thick- 
ness. When  he  brought  it  home  and  covered  it  with 
his  hat,  Belcher’s  little  boy  was  one  of  the  first  to 
look  into  the  hat,  and  as  he  did  so  he  said  he  saw  a 
candle.  The  second  time  he  looked  in  he  exclaimed, 

‘ I’ve  found  my  hatchet ! ’ (it  had  been  lost  two  years) 
— and  immediately  ran  for  it  to  the  spot  shown  him 
through  the  stone,  and  it  was  there.  The  boy  was 
soon  beset  by  neighbors  far  and  near  to  reveal  to 
them  hidden  things,  and  he  succeeded  marvelously. 
Even  the  wanderings  of  a lost  child  were  traced  by 
him — the  distracted  parents  coming  to  him  three 
times  for  directions,  and  in  each  case  finding  signs 
that  the  child  had  been  in  the  places  he  designated  ; 
but  at  last  it  was  found  starved  to  death.  Joe  Smith 
conceived  the  idea  of  making  a fortune  through  a 
similar  process  of  seeing,  bought  the  stone  of  Belcher 
and  then  began  his  operations  in  directing  where  hid- 
den treasures  could  be  found.  His  first  diggings 
were  near  Captain  Buck’s  saw-mill,  at  Eed  Eock ; 


but  because  his  followers  broke  the  rule  of  silence, 
the  enchantment  removed  the  deposits. 

“The  first  reference  in  the  county  papers  to  Joe’s 
influence  appears  to  have  been  in  November,  1831, 
and  December,  1832,  w'hen  two  or  three  wretched 
zealots  of  Mormonism  created  much  excitement,  and 
made  some  proselytes  in  a remote  district  on  the 
borders  of  this  county  and  Luzerne.  The  new  con- 
verts then  proposed  removing  to  the  ‘ promised  land,’ 
near  Painesville,  0.  In  December,  1833,  Isaac  Hale, 
of  Harmony,  addressed  a letter  to  D.  P.  Hurlbert,  in 
the  State  of  Ohio,  in  reply  to  his  application  for  a 
history  of  facts  relating  to  the  character  of  Joseph 
Smith,  Jr.,  author  of  the  ‘ Book  of  Mormon,’  called 
by  some  the  ‘Golden  Bible.’  The  Mormons  pro- 
nounced the  letter  a forgery,  and  said  that  Isaac  Hale 
was  blind  and  could  not  write  his  name.  This  was 
followed  by  a request  from  another  gentleman  of 
Ohio,  that  Mr.  Hale  would  assist  in  laying  open 
Mormonism  to  the  world,  by  drawing  up  a full  narra- 
tive of  the  transactions  wherein  Smith,  Jr.,  was  con- 
cerned, and  attesting  the  saihe  before  a magistrate. 
The  result  is  here  given  : 

“Statement  of  Isaac  Hale.  Affirmed  to  and  subscribed  before  Charles 
Bimon,  J.  P.,  March  20,  1834.  The  good  character  of  Isaac  Hale  was 
attested  to  the  following  day  by  Judges  William  Thomson  and  B.  Bim- 
ock. 

“ I first  became  acquainted  with  Joseph  Smith,  Jr.,  in  ^^ovember, 
1825.  He  was  at  that  time  in  the  employ  of  a set  of  men  who  were 
called  money-diggers,  and  his  occupation  was  that  of  seeing,  or  pre- 
tending to  see,  by  means  of  a stone  placed  in  his  hat,  and  his  hat 
closed  over  his  face.  In  this  way  he  pretended  to  discover  minerals 
and  hidden  treasure.  His  appearance  at  this  time  was  that  of  a careless 
young  man,  not  very  well  educated,  and  very  saucy  and  insolent  to 
his  father.  Smith  and  his  father  boarded  at  my  house  while  they  were 
employed  in  digging  for  a mine  that  they  supposed  had  been  opened 
and  worked  by  the  Spaniards  many  years  since.  Young  Smith  gave 
the  money-diggers  great  encouragement  at  first  ; but,  when  they  had 
arrived  in  digging  to  near  the  place  where  he  had  stated  an  immense 
treasure  would  be  found,  he  said  the  enchantment  was  so  powerful 
that  he  could  not  see.  They  then  became  discouraged,  and  soon  after 
dispersed.  This  took  place  about  the  17th  of  November,  1825.  After 
these  occurrences  young  Smith  made  sevei*al  visits  at  my  house,  and  at 
length  asked  my  consent  to  his  marrying  my  daughter,  Emma.  This 
I refused,  and  gave  him  my  reasons  for  doing  so  ; some  of  which  were, 
that  he  was  a stranger,  and  followed  a business  that  I could  not  ap- 
prove ; he  then  left  the  place.  Not  long  after  this  he  returned,  and, 
while  I was  absent  from  home,  carried  off  my  daughter  into  the  State  of 
New  York,  where  they  were  married  (February,  1826),  without  my  appro- 
bation or  consent.  After  they  had  arrived  at  Palmyra,  N.  Y.,  Emma 
wrote  to  me  inquiring  whether  she  could  have  her  property,  consist- 
ing of  clothing,  furniture,  cows,  etc.  I replied  that  her  property  was 
safe  and  at  her  disposal.  In  a short  time  they  returned,  and  subse- 
quently came  to  the  conclusion  that  they  would  move  out  and  reside 
upon  a place  near  my  residence.  Smith  stated  to  me  that  he  had  given 
up  what  he  called  glass-looking,  and  that  he  expected  and  was  willing 
to  work  hard  for  a living.  He  made  arrangements  with  my  son,  Alva 
Hale,  to  go  to  Palmyra  and  move  his  (Smith’s)  furniture,  etc.,  to  this 
place.  He  then  returned  to  Palmyra,  and  soon  after  Alva,  agreeably 
to  the  arrangement,  went  up  and  returned  with  Smith  and  his  family. 
Soon  after  I was  informed  that  they  had  brought  a'  wonderful  book  of 
plates  down  with  them.  I was  shown  a box  in  which  it  was  said  they 
were  contained,  which  had,  to  all  appearances,  been  used  as  a glass 
box  of  the  common-sized  window  glass.  I was  allowed  to  feel  the 
weight  of  the  box,  and  they  gave  me  to  understand  that  the  book  of 
plates  was  then  in  the  box,  into  which,  however,  I was  not  allowed  to 
look.  I inquired  of  Joseph  Smith,  Jr.,  who  was  to  be  the  first  who 
would  be  allowed  to  see  the  book  of  plates.  He  said  it  was  a young 
child.  After  this  I became  dissatisfied,  and  informed  him  that  if  there 


556 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


was  anything  in  my  house  of  tliat  description,  which  I could  not  be 
allowed  to  see,  he  must  take  it  away,  if  he  did  not,  I was  determined 
to  see  it.  After  that  the  plates  were  said  to  he  hid  in  the  woods.  About 
this  time  Martin  Harris  made  his  appearance  upon  the  stage,  and 
Smith  began  to  interpret  the  cliaracters  and  hieroglyphics,  which  he 
said  was  engraved  upon  the  plates,  while  Harris  wrote  down  the  inter- 
pretation. ...  I told  them,  then,  that  I considered  the  whole  of 
it  a delusion,  and  advised  them  to  abandon  it.  The  manner  in  which 
he  pretended  to  read  and  interpret  was  the  same  as  when  he  looked 
for  the  money-diggers  with  the  stone  in  his  hat,  and  the  hat  over 
his  face,  while  the  book  of  plates  was  at  the  same  time  hid  in  the 
woods.  After  this  Martin  Harris  went  away,  and  Oliver  Cowdry  came 
and  wrote  for  Smith,  while  he  interpreted  as  above  described.  This  is 
the  same  Oliver  Cowdry  whose  name  may  be  found  in  the  ‘ Book  of 
Mormon.’  ” 

From  the  testimony  of  several  persons  now  living  in 
Oakland  it  appears  that  on  several  occasions  Smith 
was  led  to  acknowledge  that  he  was  a deceiver,  and 
that  his  pretended  revelations  had  no  foundation. 
Mrs.  Squires  says  that  Mrs.  Harris  destroyed  about 
one  hundred  pages  of  her  husband’s  manuscript,  and 
that  Smith  dare  not  attempt  another  translation  of  it 
for  fear  that  it  would  not  conform  with  the  first  trans- 
lation. 

Before  Smith  left  this  place,  and  for  some  time 
after  he  went  away,  many  efforts  were  made  to  find 
the  golden  Bible,  and  digging  for  the  hidden  treas- 
ures also  continued.  The  excavations  in  this  local- 
ity were  principally  on  lands  now  owned  by  Jacob  I. 
Skinner.  The  place  is  about  one  and  a half  miles 
west  of  Oakland  borough,  on  the  side-hill  above  the 
McCune  Cemetery.  The  excavations  are  still  plainly 
discernible.  Smith  probably  did  not  take  his  de- 
parture until  about  1831,  as  he  had  a boy  living  with 
him  that  attended  Miss  Hupmiin’s  school  during  the 
summer  of  1830.  Joseph  Fowler  McCune,  now  resid- 
ing in  Windsor,  Broome  County,  N.  Y.,  boarded  in 
this  neighborhood  and  attended  school  at  Hickory 
Grove  while  Smith  was  engaged  in  translating  the 
Bible,  and  was  quite  often  in  Smith’s  house.  Mr. 
McCune  states  that  Reuben  Hale  acted  as  scribe  a 
part  of  the  time.  He  says  Smith’s  hat  was  a very  large 
one,  and  what  is  commonly  called  a “ stove-pipe.” 
The  hat  was  on  the  table  by  the  window  and  the 
stone  in  the  bottom  or  rather  in  the  top  of  the  hat. 
Smith  would  bend  over  the  hat  with  his  face  buried 
in  it  so  that  no  light  could  enter  it,  and  thus  dictate 
to  the  scribe  what  he  should  write.  It  is  said  by 
those  now  living  here,  who  were  in  this  locality  dur- 
ing Smith’s  operations,  that  at  first  Smith  made  no 
pretensions  touching  religion,  nor  was  anything  said 
about  the  golden  Bible  ; but  that  he  was  able  to  point 
out  the  places  where  treasures  could  be  found  was 
his  first  pretension.  To  some  he  represented  that  the 
gold  and  silver  was  in  the  form  of  coin  in  an  iron 
chest,  to  others  that  it  was  in  bars,  and  to  others  that 
it  was  in  the  richest  kind  of  ore. 

Levi  We.stfall  was  the  son  of  James  and  Cath- 
erine Westfall,  who  came  from  Sussex  County,  New 
Jersey,  about  1794,  and  settled  above  the  mouth  of 
the  Canawacta  Creek,  on  a part  of  what  was  after- 
wards known  as  the  Pickering  farm,  in  Harmony. 


Here  Levi  was  born  in  1799,  but  the  next  year  his 
father  removed  to  the  west  side  of  the  Susquehanna 
River,  to  the  farm  of  William  Smith,  now  known  as 
the  Westfall  farm,  in  Oakland.  They  had  other 
children,  four  of  whom — Daniel,  Elijah,  James  and 
Jane — were  born  in  New  Jersey,  while  John  and 
Catherine  were  younger  than  Levi.  Here  young 
Westfall  spent  his  early  boyhood,  and  when  old 
enough  to  be  of  assistance,  was  put  to  work  by  his 
father,  with  whom  he  remained  until  he  was  nineteen 
years  old,  when  he  purchased  his  “time”  and  started 
in  life  for  himself.  Deprived  of  educational  advan- 
tages— the  nearest  district  school  being  at  Taylor- 
town — his  book-learning  comprised  only  the  few 
rudiments  he  mastered  during  three  months’  attend- 
ance at  that  distant  seat  of  learning.  But  by 
self-application,  aided  by  a retentive  memory  and  a 
keen  observation  of  events  and  things,  he  laid  the 
foundation  of  a business  education  that  served  him 
well  in  the  many  and  various  transactions  of  a busy 
life.  After  leaving  his  father  he  engaged  in  the 
lumbering  business  and  the  running  of  rafts  and 
“arks”  down  the  Susquehanna,  that  being  the  only 
manner  in  which  lumber  could  then  be  transported  to 
market.  For  forty  years  he  continued  to  “ run  ” the 
river,  and  its  currents,  shoals  and  rapids  became  fa- 
miliar to  him,  giving  him  the  reputation  of  an  expert 
pilot.  In  1836  he  married  Rachel,  daughter  of 
Thomas  and  Edith  (Jones)  Taylor,  whose  grand- 
father, David  Taylor,  came  to  Gibson  in  1804,  and 
ten  years  thereafter  removed  to  Great  Bend  and  set- 
tled at  the  place  which  afterwards  bore  his  name 
(Taylortown),  where  he  died. 

Her  father  was  a resident  of  Great  Bend  at  the 
time  of  her  birth,  in  1814,  and  she  resided  there  until 
her  marriage.  Levi  and  Rachel  Westfall  commenced 
housekeeping  in  a little  house  that  stood  near  the  site 
of  the  present  brick  residence  that  he  afterwards  erect- 
ed. Their  children  are  Mary  Ellen,  1840,  the  wife  of 
Charles  Beebe,  of  Oakland;  George  W.  (1842-64) 
was  a member  of  Company  F,  Twenty-ninth  Regi- 
ment Pennsylvania  Militia;  Aaron  T.,  1844,  enlisted 
in  Battery  F,  Second  Pennsylvania  Artillery,  (he 
married,  in  1870,  Elizabeth  Tibbetts,  a native  of  New 
York,  resides  in  Oakland) ; Charles  B.,  1852,  married, 
in  1872,  Fanny  M.  Ayres,  of  Bridgewater,  Pa.,  re- 
siding in  Oakland.  Mr.  Westfall  purchased  in  1825, 
of  Timothy  Pickering  and  others,  a large  tract  of 
timber  land,  comprising  two  thousand  seven  hundred 
acres,  and  in  the  cutting  of  timber  and  manufacturing 
of  lumber  he  gave  employment  to  many  men. 

In  1851  he  erected  the  fine  brick  residence  in  which 
he  lived  until  his  death.  He  was  largely  engaged  in 
farming,  and  in  1871  he  purchased  of  Calvin  Brush 
the  Munson  farm  in  Great  Bend,  built  a barn  and 
otherwise  improved  it.  In  politics,  Mr.  Westfall 
was  a Democrat  of  the  Jacksonian  faith,  and  was 
zealous  in  support  of  the  principles  of  his  party,  and 
actively  worked  for  its  success.  He  served  as  super- 


OAKLAND. 


557 


visor,  and  in  1855  was  elected  a justice  of  the  peace, 
his  commission  bearing  the  signature  of  Andy  G. 
Curtin,  as  Secretary  of  State.  For  more  than  fifty 
years  he  was  identified  with  the  progress  and  de- 
velopment of  this  section  of  Oakland,  and  during 
that  time  was  connected  with  large  and  important 
business  transactions. 

From  early  manhood  until  his  death,  in  1872,  his 
life  was  one  of  busy  activity,  and  his  energy  and  in- 
dustry, aided  by  frugality  and  economy,  made  him 
one  of  the  successful  business  men  of  his  day.  His 
sons,  Aaron  T.  and  Charles  B.,  occupy  the  old  home- 


brother,  Dr.  Skinner,  came  at  the  same  time.  They 
purchased  a tract  of  land  lying  on  the  north  side  of 
the  river  and  on  both  sides  of  the  line  that  divides 
Great  Bend  from  Oakland.  Jacob  took  the  part  that 
is  now  in  Oakland  and  his  brother  took  that  part 
that  is  in  Great  Bend.  Jacob  lived  on  this  farm 
until  his  death,  in  1847.  He  married  Ehoda  McDow- 
ell, who  was  born  in  1781  and  died  at  her  son 
William’s  home,  in  Susquehanna,  in  1863.  They  had 
thirteen  children, — ten  sons  and  three  daughters. 
With  the  exception  of  four,  all  are  now  living.  Two 
sons,  Jacob  I.  and  Nathan,  reside  in  Oakland ; one  son. 


stead,  and  the  mother  resides  with  her  daughter,  Mrs. 
Charles  Beebe. 

Mbs.  Eliza  Winters  Squires  was  born  in  1812,  in 
Delaware  County,  N.  Y.  She  came  with  her  mother, 
Mrs.  Winters,  to  this  place  and  settled  near  the 
McKune  Cemetery  in  1825.  She  was  married  to 
Elisha  Squires  in  1837.  Mr.  Squires  died  in  1871. 
Mrs.  Squires  now  lives  in  Oakland  borough,  with  her 
only  son,  Stanley  Squires,  who  is  a locomotive  engi- 
neer, in  the  employ  of  the  New  York,  Lake  Erie  and 
Western  Railroad  Company. 

Jacob  Skinner  was  born  in  1778,  came  from 
Sullivan  County,  N.  Y.,  to  this  place  in  1803.  His 


William,  resides  in  Susquehanna ; one  in  Syracuse, 
N.  Y. ; and  the  others  are  in  the  West.  They  were 
industrious  and  honest  people.  Mrs.  Skinner,  when 
she  came  from  Sullivan  County,  walked  all  the  way, 
and  brought  her  first-born  boy  in  her  arms,  much 
of  the  way  through  the  forest  and  along  narrow 
paths  that  could  not  be  called  roads.  Mr.  Skinner 
was  a devoted  Methodist,  and  at  his  house  the  Method- 
ist ministers,  in  going  over  their  circuits,  were  often 
entertained,  and  in  his  barn  the  quarterly  meetings 
were  held,  and  to  these  meetings  Methodist  people 
from  long  distances  came  to  enjoy  privileges  that  are 
now  seemingly  commonplace. 


558 


HISTOEY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


Jacob  I.  Skinner,  one  of  the  sons  living  in  Oak- 
land, was  born  in  1815  and  resides  in  the  neighbor- 
hood of  the  old  homestead.  Nathan  Skinner,  another 
son,  was  born  in  1826  and  now  resides  in  Oakland 
borough.  William  Skinner,  the  son  living  in  Susque- 
hanna, was  born  in  1819.  He  learned  the  black- 
smith’s trade  at  Lanesboro’,  when  about  sixteen  years 
old.  He  came  to  Susquehanna  about  the  time  the 
railroad  was  completed  to  Binghamton,  and  when 
building  began  at  Susquehanna,  and  put  up  a black- 
smith-shop,  the  first  in  Susquehanna,  in  which  he 
conducted  the  business  of  a blacksmith  for  a short 


was  born  in  Stamford,  Litchfield  County,  Conn.,  July 
30,  1808.  He  was  twelve  years  old  when  his  parents 
came  to  Oakland,  and  in  a few  years  thereafter  his 
father  died. 

Being  the  eldest  of  the  children,  he  became  the 
main  dependence  of  his  mother  in  assisting  to  sup- 
port the  family,  and  to  this  end  he  perseveringly 
toiled  until  they  were  able  to  help  themselves,  when 
his  mother  married  again  and  removed  to  the  West. 
He  then  went  to  learn  the  trade  of  a millwright  of 
his  uncle,  Jonathan  Treadwell.  In  1829  he  married 
Lydia  Squires,  of  Great  Bend,  who  died  in  1834. 


time.  Then  he  sold  out,  built  another  shop  and 
selling  out  again,  built  another,  and  in  these  shops  he 
continued  to  carry  on  the  business  until  1885,  when 
he  retired.  In  1845  he  married  Nancy  E.  SutlifiF,  of 
Windsor,  N.  Y.  They  had  two  children, — one  son 
and  one  daughter,  living  in  Susquehanna. 

Samuel  Brush  was  the  son  of  Ard  and  Mary 
(Treadwell)  Brush,  who  were  natives  of  Connecticut, 
and  removed  to  Harmony  (now  Oakland)  in  1820  and 
purchased  a farm,  where  he  continued  to  reside  until 
his  death.  They  had  children — Samuel,  Julia  Ann, 
Mary,  George,  Benjamin,  Sarah  and  Edwin.  Of  these 
children,  Sarah  is  the  only  one  living.  Samuel  Brush 


They  had  one  child,  Lydia,  1834,  wife  of  Silas  Squires, 
of  Great  Bend.  At  the  time  of  his  marriage  he  had 
purchased  the  Jacob  Skinner  farm,  upon  which  he 
afterwards  resided  and  engaged  in  farming  until  the 
death  of  his  wife.  This  he  soon  after  sold,  and  pur- 
chased the  Treadwell  farm.  For  several  years  he 
worked  at  his  trade  as  a millwright,  and  farmed  it 
some.  In  1840  he  married  for  his  second  wife  Eliza- 
beth, daughter  of  William  and  Elizabeth  Taylor,  who 
was  born  at  Great  Bend  Feb.  9,  1823.  After  his 
marriage  he  removed  to  Taylortown,  where  he  already 
had  a saw-mill,  and  engaged  in  lumbering  there  for  a 
year.  At  the  end  of  this  time  he  returned  to  Har- 


OAKLAND. 


559 


niony,  and  settled  on  the  same  farm  his  father  had 
purchased  in  1820.  He  at  once  began  the  erection  of 
a saw-mill,  which  he  completed  in  1842.  From  this 
time  for  many  years  he  gave  most  of  his  attention  to 
lumbering.  He  bought  a timber  tract  in  New  Mil- 
ford, and  after  cutting  off  the  pine,  sold  it.  He  after- 
wards bought  a four  hundred  acre  tract,  heavily  tim- 
bered, lying  partly  in  Jackson  and  partly  in  New 
Milford,  and  adjoining  the  homestead  farm  in  Oak- 
land. In  the  varied  transactions  of  his  extensive 
lumbering  business  Mr.  Brush  employed  a large 
number  of  men  and  teams,  and  in  his  business  he  was 
not  simply  an  overseer.  There  was  no  branch  of  it 
in  which  he  was  not  at  home,  and  he  was  never  afraid 
to  take  hold  of  the  “butt-end”  of  the  log  himself. 
Finding  that  the  capacity  of  his  “up-and-down” 
saw-mill  was  not  sufficient  for  his  business,  in  1868  he 
erected  a large  steam  mill,  which  embraced  a grist- 
mill, a circular-saw  mill  and  a shingle-mill — all  under 
one  roof.  These  enterprises,  involving  increased  care 
and  labor,  he  successfully  conducted  until  about  1882, 
when  he  sold  the  mills  and  the  four  hundred  acre 
tract  to  J.  M.  & E.  Thomas  & Co.,  and  retired  from 
active  business.  The  same  year  he  erected  his  fine 
and  commodious  residence  at  Brushville,  where  he 
lived  until  his  death,  and  where  his  widow  now  re- 
sides. This  was  the  third  dwelling  he  erected  while 
there,  and  it  is  in  marked  contrast  to  the  little  log 
house  in  which  himself  and  wife  went  to  housekeep- 
ing in  1842.  Their  children  are  Origen,  died  young  ; 
Fernando  E.,  1842,  enlisted  in  the  late  war  in  Ill- 
man’s  (Pa.)  Battery — in  1870  married  Catherine  Foke, 
of  Bradford  County,  Pa.,  is  a merchant  in  Oakland 
borough  and  resides  on  a part  of  the  old  homestead  ; 
Sarah  E.,  1844,  married,  in  1857,  Hiram  N.  Leavitt, 
who  was  a soldier  in  the  War  of  the  Rebellion,  now 
residing  in  Binghamton;  Albert  G.,  1846,  was  a soldier 
of  the  late  war,  was  a member  of  Company  E,  Two 
Hundred  and  Third  Regiment  Pennsylvania  Volun- 
teers, and  lost  his  health  in  the  service — in  1869 
married  Ella  Griffis,  of  Jackson,  Pa.,  is  a merchant, 
doing  business  at  Susquehanna,  but  resides  on  a part 
of  the  homestead;  Amity  T.  (1848-75);  Emmaroy  J., 
1849,  widow  of  Henry  Pierce,  a soldier  of  the  late 
war  in  Company  D,  Eighty -I'ifth  Regiment, 
New  York  Volunteers,  who  died  in  1880; 
Emmazilla  B.,  1851,  married,  in  1870,  Linville 
Griffis,  now  residing  in  Oakland ; Vincent,  1853,  noAV 
residing  in  California;  Lelia  E.  (1858-78),  was  the 
wife  of  J.  B.  Sutton,  of  New  Milford ; Richard  N., 
1860,  married,  in  1879,  Louisa  Sutton,  of  New  Milford, 
now  residing  on  the  old  homestead  farm.  Samuel 
Brush  died  in  1884,  and  his  life  of  busy  activity  has 
left  a permanent  landmark  in  the  hamlet  which  bears 
his  name.  Brushville,  situated  three  miles  southwest 
of  the  borough  of  Susquehanna,  sprang  into  exist- 
ence as  a natural  sequence  to  his  business  tact  and 
ability,  and  could  the  solitary  log  house  of  fifty  years 
ago  have  a resurrection,  it  would  be  surprised  to  find 


twelve  or  more  modern  and  commodious  dwellings 
surrounding  it.  Deprived  of  early  educational  ad- 
vantages, he  was  self-taught  in  the  school  of  experi- 
ence, and  his  business  career  was  marked  by  sound 
iudgment  and  honorable  dealing. 

John  Hilborn  resides  on  the  west  side  of  the 
river,  and  opposite  the  old  Hilborn  homestead,  near 
the  Cascade.  He  is  a grandson  of  John  Hilborn,  one 
of  the  pioneers  of  Harmony.  This  farm  of  Mr.  Hil- 
born's  has  been  owned  and  occupied  by  the  Hilborns 
nearly  one  hundred  years.  The  first  John  Hilborn 
owned  it  in  connection  with  a large  tract  on  that  side 
of  the  river,  and  gave  it  to  his  son  John ; and  from 
John  Hilborn,  Jr.,  it  passed  to  his  son  John,  the 
present  owner.  In  the  farm  there  are  now  about 
seventy-five  acres  of  land.  It  is  in  a good  state  ot 
cultivation,  and  a nice  place. 

Bradley  Beebe.  — His  grandfather,  Timothy 
Beebe  (1768-1844),  came  from  Litchfield  County, 
Conn.,  and  settled  at  Wilkes-Barre,  Pa.,  about  1791.  He 
married  Sally  Lovridge  (1768-1831),  a native  of  Con- 
necticut, and  had  children,-^Polly  (1793 ),  Harry 

(1795-1875),  Lyman  (1798-1873),  Sally  Ann  (1801- 
73),  Harriet  (1804-54),  Almira  (1807-86)  and  Charles 
(1811-82).  In  1802  Timothy  Beebe  removed  from 
Wilkes-Barre  and  settled  at  Windsor,  N.  Y.,  where 
he  purchased  a farm,  upon  which  he  lived  until  his 
death.  His  second  son,  Lyman,  was  four  years  old 
when  the  family  settled  at  Windsor,  and  there  he 
spent  his  minority.  Upon  attaining  his  majority  he 
married  Elizabeth,  a daughter  of  Adam  Swagart,  of 
Windsor,  who  was  born  at  Cochecton,  N.  Y.,  in  1801. 

For  eight  yeai’s  following  he  engaged  in  lumbering, 
and  then  purchased  an  unimproved  farm  on  the  Sus- 
quehanna, near  the  old  homestead,  upon  which  he 
subsequently  erected  a brick  house.  On  this  farm  he 
spent  the  remainder  of  his  life,  and  was  a citizen 
highly  esteemed  by  all  who  knew  him.  Their  chil- 
dren are  Bradley,  born  in  1820 ; Emeline  (1823-61), 
was  the  first  wife  of  Calvin  Brush,  of  Oakland  ; Rich- 
ard C.  (1825),  a farmer  of  Windsor ; Charles,  a farmer 
and  dairyman  on  the  Westfall  place  in  Oakland; 
Clark  (1831),  a farmer  on  part  of  the  homestead  in 
Windsor;  Lois  E.  (1832),  residing  with  her  mother 
on  the  old  homestead;  and  Oliver  D.  (1834-63). 

Bradley  Beebe,  the  eldest  of  these,  had  the  usual 
opportunities  of  the  district  school  during  his  boy- 
hood, and  early  learned  the  important  lesson  that 
industry  and  the  judicious  use  of  money  were  neces- 
sary elements  in  the  make-up  of  a successful  business 
man.  For  four  years,  following  the  age  of  thirteen, 
he  carried  the  mail  on  horseback  between  Windsor 
and  South  Bainbridge  (now  Afton), — a distance  of 
sixteen  miles, — making  one  trip  a week,  during  which 
he  only  missed  four  trips.  For  one  year  he  was  hired 
out  at  farming  by  his  father  to  N.  P.  Waller,  and 
during  the  winter  obtained  two  months’  schooling. 
In  1840  he  worked  for  Jesse  Lane,  at  Lanesboro’.  His 
earnings,  during  these  terms  of  service,  were  given  to 


560 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


his  father  for  the  purpose  of  paying  for  the  home 
farm,  except  twelve  dollars,  which  his  father  allowed 
him  to  retain,  which  was  the  first  money  he  had  ever 
called  his  own.  Upon  reaching  his  majority  he 
worked  for  John  Comfort,  in  Harmony,  a part  of  a 
year,  and  for  two  years  following  he  jobbed  it,  and 
worked  by  the  month,  and  thereby  saved  sufficient 
money  to  make  a start  for  himself  In  1844  he  mar- 
ried Ann  E.  Bird,  who  was  born  in  Windsor,  August 
28,  1823,  the  daughter  of  Warren  and  Hannah  (Hil- 
born)  Bird.  For  four  years  following  his  marriage  he 
farmed  a part  of  the  Hilborn  estate,  which  he  had 


Republican  parties,  and  he  has  ever  been  an  earnest 
and  zealous  advocate  of  their  principles.  For  three 
terms  he  has  served  his  township  as  supervisor,  one 
term  as  assessor,  nine  years  as  poor  director,  and  he 
was  appointed  one  of  the  commissioners  to  locate  the 
poor-house.  His  children  are  Warren  E.,  born  in 
1852,  educated  at  the  home  district  school  and  at  the 
Mansfield  State  Normal  School — now  engaged  in 
manufacturing  whips  at  Windsor,  married  Ada  Dib- 
ble, daughter  of  John  Dibble,  of  Sanford,  N.  Y. ; 
Edith  E.,  born  in  1855,  educated  at  the  district 
schools  and  at  the  graded  school  at  Susquehanna,  a 


rented ; and  for  four  years  thereafter  he  resided  on  a 
farm  in  New  York  State,  which  he  had  purchased. 
This  he  sold,  and  the  year  1852  was  spent  in  prospect- 
ing in  the  West,  with  a view  of  permanently  locating 
there.  Relinquishing  this  idea,  he  returned,  and  in 
1853  purchased  the  same  portion  of  the  Hilborn 
estate,  in  Oakland,  which  he  had  previously  rented — 
his  homestead  since. 

Mr.  Beebe  is  a thorough-going  and  intelligent 
farmer  and  business  man ; and,  by  his  persevering  in- 
dustry and  judicious  management,  unassisted,  he  has 
made  a comfortable  home  for  himself  and  family. 
His  political  alliances  have  been  with  the  Whig  and 


teacher  for  several  terms — is  the  wife  of  Perry  H. 
Smith,  of  Oakland;  Harr^*^  T.  (1858-64);  and  Lois  E. 
(1862),  died  at  the  age  of  two  years. 

Charles  Beebe,  the  third  son  of  Lyman  and  Eliz- 
abeth (Swagart)  Beebe,  was  born  in  Windsor,  April 
12,  1828.  When  old  enough,  and  hiq  enough — for 
the  district  school  was  two  miles  away — he  went  to 
school  summers  until  he  was  ten  years  old,  after 
which  time  he  got  but  a few  days’  schooling  during 
winters.  At  the  age  of  fifteen  his  father  hired  him 
out  for  seven  months  to  work  on  a farm,  and  the  re- 
mainder of  his  minority  and  two  years  thereafter  was 
spent  at  home.  The  parental  training  of  the  children 


OAKLAND. 


561 


encouraged  industry,  included  economy  and  the 
proper  use  of  money,  and  indelibly  impressed  upon 
their  minds  the  necessity  of  obedience  and  the  im- 
portance of  honesty  of  purpose  and  a moral  and  tem- 
perate life.  In  1852  he  came  to  Oakland  (then  Har- 
mony) and  worked  out  for  three  years.  In  1856  he 
commenced  the  business  of  delivering  milk  in  Sus- 
quehanna, getting  his  supply  from  the  Westfall  and 
Taylor  farms.  This  business,  with  slight  interrup- 
tion, he  has  continued  to  the  present,  although  his 
own  large  dairy  farm  has  for  years  furnished  an  ade- 
quate supply  of  milk.  On  the  18th  day  of  February, 


his  milk  business.  In  1857  he  purchased  eighty  acres 
of  Levi  Westfall,  upon  which  he  settled  at  the  time 
of  his  marriage.  In  1865  he  made  a further  purchase 
of  Mr.  AVestfall  of  one  hundred  acres  and  another  one 
hundred  of  McKinney,  both  adjoining  his  homestead 
farm.  To  this  he  added,  in  1872,  the  Cranberry  Marsh 
of  twenty-eight  acres  and  subsequently  thirty-one 
acres  more.  In  1874  he  remodeled  and  made  addi- 
tions to  his  home,  and  during  his  residence  here  has 
erected  commodious  out-buildings.  Mr.  Beebe  may 
be  safely  classed  among  the  thorough-going  and  intel- 
ligent farmers  of  Susquehanna  County.  He  sur- 


1858,  he  married  Mary  Ellen,  daughter  of  Levi  (1799-  [ 
1872)  and  Eachel  (1814)  (Taylor)  Westfall,  the  former 
the  son  of  James  Westfall,  who  settled  in  Harmony 
in  1794  from  New  Jersey  ; the  latter  the  daughter  of 
Thomas  Taylor,  of  Taylortown,  and  the  granddaughter 
of  David  Taylor,  for  whom  the  place  was  named. 
They  have  children, — Frank  W.,  born  in  1862,  edu- 
cated at  the  graded  school  at  Susquehanna  and  now 
interested  with  his  father  in  his  extensive  farming 
and  dairy  business ; Lulu  S.,  1867,  educated  at  Sus- 
quehanna and  Windsor ; and  Nellie  L.  Beebe,  born  in 
1881, 

For  several  years  Mr.  Beebe  added  butchering  to 


I rounds  himself  with  modern  labor-saving  appliances, 
and  all  the  appointments  of  his  home  show  industry. 

“ Beebe’s  Park,”  situate  on  the  banks  of  the  Sus- 
quehanna, on  the  old  Westfall  farm,  which  is  under 
his  control  and  management,  is  the  resort  of  many 
pleasure-seekers  in  summer,  and  the  Soldiers’  Veteran 
Organization  of  the  county  held  their  last  two  en- 
campments there.  An  old  Indian  village  was  located 
near  the  site  of  his  present  homestead.  In  politics 
Mr.  Beebe  is  identified  with  the  Eepublican  party, 
has  served  his  township  as  supervisor  and  otherwise 
officially.  He  is  a member  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias, 
Eoyal  Arcanum  and  Knights  of  Honor. 


562 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


Thomas  Cana  van  was  born  in  Ireland  in  1810. 
He  came  to  America  in  1830,  and  worked  five  years 
for  Brewster,  the  wagon  manufacturer  of  New  York. 
He  then  went  to  Troy,  New  York,  and  opened  a retail 
and  wholesale  dry-goods  store.  He  also  established 
several  traveling  auction-stores,  employed  men,  and 
sent  them  all  through  the  Eastern  and  Middle  States, 
taking  the  general  supervision  of  the  business  him- 
self. He  had  a little  capital  to  begin  with  and  in  the 
course  of  the  years  that  followed  he  accumulated 
much  more.  He  was  also  engaged  in  general  specu- 
lations in  real  estate,  etc.  In  connection  with  his 
various  transactions,  he  came  into  possession  of  a 
large  tract  of  land  in  this  towu.ship,  and  in  Harmony. 

In  1858  he  came  to  this  place  to  reside.  In  1836 
he  married  Bridget  Brennan,  of  Ireland.  Both  are 
living  and  in  very  comfortable  health.  Their  young- 
est son  resides  with  them  and  has  charge  of  the  farm, 
now  comprising  about  four  hundred  acres.  Another 
son,  John  P.,  for  a number  of  years  past,  has  been  in 
the  Pension  Department  at  Washington,  and  their 
daughter  is  the  wife  of  John  J.  McGrath,  of  Chicago, 
Illinois.  Mr.  McGrath,  for  a number  of  years  past,  has 
been  one  of  the  most  extensive  importers  andjobbers 
of  wall-paper  in  the  United  States. 

Mr.  Canavan’s  home  occupies  a position  from  which 
the  scenery  is  remarkably  beautiful  and  grand, — the 
boroughs  of  Susquehanna  and  Oakland,  in  full  view 
on  the  right,  about  one  mile  distant,  the  Ouaquagua 
Mountains  in  front  and  the  Susquehanna  River  for 
many  miles  glimmering  in  the  sunlight  and  reflecting 
the  forms  of  the  bordering  hills.  His  circular  barn, 
nicely  painted  and  ornamented,  can  be  seen  from 
many  miles  away.  It  is  sixty-three  feet  in  diameter 
and  three  stories  high.  A more  pleasant  place  to 
spend  the  declining  years  of  a busy  life  it  would  be 
difficult  to  find,  than  is  this  home  of  Mr.  Canavan’s. 

Joshua  K.  Grimes.  — His  great-grandfather, 
Francis  Grimes,  accompanied  by  two  brothers,  emi- 
grated from  the  north  of  England  and  settled  in  Ver- 
mont before  the  Revolutionary  War.  In  the  great 
struggle  for  independence  he  bore  an  active  part  and 
suffered  more  than  ordinary  hardships  ?s  a soldier. 
He  was  captured  by  the  Indians,  but,  with  two  com- 
panions, managed  to  elude  the  vigilance  of  their  wily 
captors  and  escape,  although  he  was  the  only  one  that 
survived  the  terrible  ordeal,  the  other  two  dying  of 
starvation  and  exposure.  After  the  war  he  returned  to 
Vermont,  where  he  became  a farmer.  One  of  his  sons, 
James  Grimes,  married  Abigail  Howe,  a widow ; they 
had  eight  children, — Moses,  James,  Jr.  (who  was  a 
soldier  in  the  War  of  1812),  Martha,  Elizabeth,  Jeru- 
sha,  Joseph,  Sally  and  Johnson.  Moses  Grimes 
(1787-1845)  was  born  in  Vermont,  and  spent  his  boy- 
hood on  his  father’s  farm.  After  reaching  his  ma- 
jority he  came  to  Washington  County,  N.  Y.,  in  1811, 
where  he  worked  for  a year.  On  the  13th  of  Febru- 
ary, 1812,  he  married  Ruth,  a daughter  of  Joshua  and 
Eleanor  Ketcham,"  born  in  Hebron,  Washington 


County,  N.  Y.,  in  1793,  and  died  in  1871.  After  his 
marriage  h e settled  on  the  Owego  Creek,  in  the  town 
of  Candor,  Tioga  County,  N.  Y.,  and  began  life  in  the 
pine  woods.  Here  he  cleared  up  the  land,  erected 
buildings  and  raised  a large  family.  They  had  chil- 
dren,— John  M.,  1812,  now  residing  on  the  old  home- 
stead, in  Candor,  where  he  was  born.  He  entered 
the  ministry  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church 
about  1840,  and  continued  his  active  labors  as  a min- 
ister for  nearly  thirty  years.  During  the  War  of  the 
Rebellion  he  was  connected  with  the  Christian  Com- 
mission. James,  died  young;  Joshua  K.,  1814; 
Joseph,  1816,  now  residing  in  Colesburg,  Iowa,  has 
been  a justice  of  the  peace  for  forty  years,  and  served 
as  a member  of  the  House  and  Senate  of  the  Legisla- 
ture of  Iowa;  Ralph  L.  (1818-22) ; Francis  A.,  1820, 
now  residing  in  the  city  of  Niles,  Michigan  ; William 
J.,  1822,  a minister  for  thirty-five  years  of  the  Chris- 
tian Church,  now  at  Memphis,  near  Syracuse,  N.  Y. ; 
Benjamin  K.,  (1824-25) ; Deborah  E.  (1823-83) ; 
Sarah  A.  (1828-65 )_ ; Alva  A.  (1829-34) ; Susan,  died 
young;  Thomas  H.  (1832-34) ; Micah  M.  (1836) — in 
1857  he  enlisted  in  the  regular  army  for  five  years. 
When  the  War  of  the  Rebellion  broke  out  he  was  in 
Northwestern  Texas,  under  the  command  of  General 
Twiggs,  who  proved  himself  to  be  an  arch-rebel  and 
traitor  by  ordering  his  troops  to  turn  over  their  arms 
and  military  stores  to  the  rebels.  Major  French,  ot 
his  regiment,  called  a council,  and  Mr.  Grimes  and 
others  who  were  true  to  the  old  flag,  resolved  to  dis- 
obey the  commands  of  Twiggs,  and  formed  a camp 
near  Fort  Duncan.  Although  surrounded  by  rebels, 
they  had  not  the  pluck  to  attack  them,  and,  after 
marching  a thousand  miles  down  the  Rio  Grande  to 
the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  a United  States  vessel  transported 
them  from  thence  to  the  coast  of  Florida,  and  they 
reached  Fort  Pickens  in  June,  1861.  Here  they 
erected  batteries  and  made  preparation  for  the  rebel 
attack  that  was  finally  made  in  November  of  that 
year.  In  September,  1862,  his  five  years  in  Uncle 
Sam’s  service  had  expired,  and  he  received  his  honor- 
able discharge.  Shortly  aftenvards  he  went  West, 
and  there  enlisted  as  a sergeant  in  Company  M, 
Sixth  Michigan  Cavalry.  He  served  under  both 
Sheridan  and  Kilpatrick,  and,  on  the  29th  of  August, 
1864,  was  wounded  in  the  Shenandoah  Valley,  from 
the  effects  of  which  he  died  on  the  3d  day  of  Septem- 
ber following. 

Joshua  K.  remained  on  his  father’s  farm  until  he 
was  twenty-one  years  old,  and  had  the  advantages  of 
the  district  schools  of  that  day,  and  he  also  attended 
the  Owego  Academy  one  term,  during  which  time  he 
taught  school  one  or  two  winters.  In  the  fall  of  1836 
he  went  West  to  visit  relatives,  and  that  winter  taught 
a school  near  Cleveland,  0.  During  the  following 
summer  he  was  engaged  in  erecting  buildings  until 
winter,  when  he  again  taught  a school.  Returning  to 
Candor  in  the  spring  of  1838,  he  there  assisted  his 
father  in  farming  and  lumbering.  On  the  26th  of 


OAKLAND. 


563 


December,  1843,  he  married  Esther  M.  (1823-52), 
daughter  of  Lewis  and  Gharry  Lounsbury,  of  Tioga, 
N.  Y.  They  had  children, — Gharry  P.,  1845,  the 
wife  of  Orrin  T.  Smith,  now  residing  in  Susquehanna  ; 
Gurtis  F.,  1847,  who  enlisted  in  the  War  of  the  Rebel- 
lion, in  Gompany  D,  Fifty-sixth  Regiment  Penna. 
Vols.,  was  withjthe  Army  of  the  Potomac  in  most  of  its 
hloody  battles,  was  wounded  at  Gettysburg,  afterwards 
re-enlisted  as  a veteran,  and  became  an  “ old  ” soldier, 
although  but  eighteen  years  of  age  when  the  war 
closed.  He  married,  in  1868,  Lizzie  Richards,  and  is 
now  a locomotive  engineer,  residing  at  Susquehanna ; 


Mr.  Grimes  married  for  his  second  wife  Maria  S. 
Buck,  born  at  Red  Rock,  in  Great  Bend  township,  in 
1821.  She  was  the  daughter  of  John  B.  and  Susan 
(Ghamberlin)  Buck,  the  latter  born  in  1801  and  died 
in  1879.  John  B.  Buck  was  born  in  1795,  now  resid- 
ing with  his  daughter,  Mrs.  Grimes,  and  can  yet  re- 
call many  stirring  incidents  in  the  early  settlement 
of  this  section  of  the  county.  He  was  the  son  of  Icha- 
bod  Buck  (1757-1849),  the  son  of  Daniel  Buck  (1730- 
1814),  the  son  of  Enoch  Buck  (1642-1771).  Enoch 
Buck  was  a native  of  Gonnecticut,  and  died  there. 

Daniel  Buck  was  a Presbyterian  clergyman,  and 


Moses  L.,  1849,  married  Alida  Soper,  and  is  in  the 
jewelry  business  at  Rapid  Gity,  Dakota.  After  his 
marriage,  in  1843,  he  continued  with  his  father  until 
his  death,  in  1845,  and  in  settling  up  his  estate  re- 
mained there  two  or  three  years  longer.  In  May,  1848, 
he  moved  with  his  family  to  Harmony  (now  Oak- 
land), and  settled  on  a farm  purchased  the  fall  before 
of  Henry  Ketcham.  This  was  a part  of  the  Drinker 
tract,  lying  along  the  Susquehanna  River,  mostly  un- 
improved, and  having  upon  it  no  buildings,  except  a 
log  barn  and  an  old  house,  shown  in  an  engraving 
now  in  his  possession. 


came  from  Gonnecticut  to  Great  Bend,  where()jhe 
bought  a farm  and  engaged  in  agriculture  in  connec- 
tion with  his  ministerial  duties.  Ichabod  Buck  came 
from  Gonnecticut  to  the  Mohawk  Valley,  from  there 
to  Windsor,  and  finally  settled  at  Great  Bend  about 
1795.  He  was  a soldier  in  the  Revolution,  as  was  his 
father  before  him,  who  also  served  in  the  War  of 
1812.  The  grandfather  of  Mrs.  Grimes,  Moses 
Ghamberlin,  was  a Revolutionary  soldier.  They  had 
children, — Susan  E.,  1855,  the  wife  of  Homer  Hall, 
residing  at  Susquehanna,  Pa. ; Ellen  R.,  1860,  the 
wife  of  Walter  Wood,  residing  at  Susquehanna,  Pa. ; 


564 


HISTOKY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


Elbert  J.,  1863,  married  Alice  A.  Wheeler,  1884,  and 
now  residing  in  one  of  the  dwellings  on  the  old 
homestead.  In  politics  Mr.  Grimes  was  originally  a 
Whig,  and  has  been  a Eepublican  since  the  party  or- 
ganized. He  has  not  sought  office,  but  has  served 
his  township  many  terms  as  school  director  and  also 
as  assessor,  supervisor,  town  clerk  and  school  treas- 
urer. Himself  and  wife  are  members  of  the  Presby- 
terian Church  of  Susquehanna.  On  the  farm  pur- 
chased in  1848  Mr.  Grimes  still  resides,  but  what  w'as 
then  a wilderness  has  been  made  to  “ blossom  as  the 
rose,”  and  two  fine  dwellings — one  occupied  by  him- 
self and  the  other  by  his  son  Elbert — seem  to  attest 
the  fact  that  industry,  frugality  and  business  tact 
shall  not  go  unrewarded. 

Schools. — The  first  public  school-house  in  what  is 
now  Oakland  was  located  on  the  south  side  of  the 
riv'er,  on  the  “old  road,”  and  on  the  hill  not  far  from 
Canavan’s  Glen.  It  was  called  the  Prospect  School- 
house.  It  wms  erected  in  1830.  Miss  Lusena  Hup- 
man  was  the  first  person  employed  to  teach.  Jesse 
Hale  and  Robert  McKune  were  the  directors  that 
engaged  her.  In  1836  another  house  was  built  near 
the  “ poor  farm.”  There  are  now  in  the  township 
six  schools,  namely,  Beebe,  Oak  Hill,  McKune, 
Grimes,  Brushville  and  Lamb.  With  the  exception 
of  one  year,  for  ten  years  past  the  directors  have 
provided  six  months’  free  school  each  year.  The 
school-houses  are  kept  in  good  repair,  in  comfortable 
condition  and  painted.  The  directors  at  the  present 
time  are  T.  J.  Reilly,  president ; P.  G.  Smith,  secre- 
tary ; and  Joseph  Stevens,  H.  E.  Matthew's,  George 
M.  Doolittle,  Frank  Quick. 

Mrs.  Lusena  Hupman  Barton,  the  first  person 
emi^loyed  to  teach  in  the  public  schools  in  what  is 
now  Oakland,  was  born  in  Otsego  County,  N.  Y.,  in 
1812.  She  came  with  her  parents  to  AVindsor,  N.  Y., 
when  she  was  four  years  of  age.  In  1830  she  was 
engaged  to  teach  the  school  in  the  new  school-house 
that  is  mentioned  in  the  preceding  paragraph.  A 
short  time  after  the  term  closed  she  was  married  to 
Ephraim  Barton.  In  1847  they  removed  to  Oakland. 
Here  and  at  Hickory  Grove,  in  Great  Bend,  they 
lived  until  Mr.  Barton’s  death,  in  1883.  Mrs.  Barton 
now  resides  with  her  daughter,  Mrs.  B.  F.  McKune, 
although  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  river,  yet  not 
far  from  the  place  where  she  conducted  the  first 
district  school  in  this  township  nearly  sixty  years 
ago.  The  following  is  a copy  of  the  school  bill  that 
was  made  out  at  the  expiration  of  her  term  : 

“ Lusena  Hupmau’s  bill  for  teaching  school  in  the  new  school-house 
in  the  township  of  Harmony  in  the  suiiimerof  1830,  Jesse  Hale  and  Joel 


Salsbury  trustees, — 

“ Jesse  Hale  sent  238  days §3.54 — paid. 

Denison  Root  sent  309  days 4.50 

Alva  Hale  sent  1483^  days 2.20  “ 

Joel  Salsbury  sent  953^  days 140  “ 

Wra.  Chamberlin  sent  74)/^  days 1.10  “ 

Daniel  Cook  sent  44  days 61  “ 

Joseph  Smith  sent  10  days 15  “ 

Sarah  Brush  went  1 day 01 


Rachel  Reynolds  Avent  29  days  (county  scholar) 43 

Total,  946  days ®14.00 

Total  amount  for  teaching  school  16  weeks  at  7 

shillings  per  week 514.00.” 


Calvin  Brush. — Jonas  Brush  and  his  wife,  Tamar 
Ruggles,  came  from  Litchfield  County,  Conn.,  to 
Wilkes-Barre  during  the  latter  part  of  last  century, 
soon  after  their  marriage,  and  in  the  year  1800  re- 
moved to  Windsor,  N.  Y.  About  1810  they  settled 
in  Great  Bend  township,  about  half  a mile  south  of 
the  borough,  on  the  farm  first  located  by  Henry  Lord, 
in  1797,  and  subsequently  owned  by  Asahel  Avery, 
w'here  he  built  a house  and  in  which  the  Daytons  also 
resided  afterwards.  Some  ten  years  later  they  removed 
to  East  Bridgewater,  on  the  Milford  and  Owego  turn- 
pike, where  they  died  on  the  farm  adjoining  the 
Robert  Kent  place.  The  wife  died  in  1837.  They 
hadchildren,— Jonas,  Jr.  (1786-1863) ; Medad  resided 
in  Bridgewater  for  a time  and  went  to  Ohio,  where  he 
died  ; Pamelia  was  the  wife  of  Selah  Trowbridge,  of 
Great  Bend,  where  she  died  ; Anna,  wife  of  Franklin 
Avery,  of  New  Milford;  Sally  was  the  wife  of  Judge 
Grover  Buell,  of  Windsor,  N.  Y. ; Tamar  first  married 
A.  Y’oungs,  and  after  his  death  a Mi’.  Butler  and  Lewis 
Brush  (1800-67).  The  eldest,  Jonas,  Jr.,  horn  in 
Connecticut,  while  yetayoung  man,  about  1812,  came 
from  Windsor  and  took  up  one  hundred  and  six  acres 
of  land  on  Locust  Hill,  in  Great  Bend  township, 
being  the  first  settler  in  all  that  region.  On  this  place 
he  s^ientthe  remainder  of  his  life  and  reared  his  fam- 
ily. He  was  fond  of  hunting,  and  often,  with  the  aid 
of  his  rifle,  brought  to  his  feet  the  wild  game  that,  in 
those  early  days,  inhabited  the  forests.  He  was  a 
reading  man,  and  well  informed  on  the  current  topics 
of  the  day,  a man  of  correct  habits  and  an  esteemed 
citizen.  His  wife.  Electa  (1794-1878),  a daughter  of 
Israel  Bennett,  of  Randolph,  Broome  County,  N.  Y., 
and  a Methodist  of  much  Christian  excellence,  whom 
he  married  in  1823,  bore  him  the  following  children  : 
Tamar  A.  (1821^48);  Calvin,  born  August  25,1825; 
Pamelia  J.,  1827,  has  been  married  three  times,  and  is 
a widow,  residing  in  Binghamton  ; Ellen  A.,  1829, 
the  wife  of  Eben  Hawkins,  of  Windsor  ; Agnes  D. 
(1831-81)  was  the  wife  of  Otis  Hubbard,  of  Windsor  ; 
Martin  R.  (1833-52) ; and  Addison  G.  Brush,  born 
1837,  resides  on  the  homestead. 

The  eldest  son,  Calvin  Brush,  has  spent  most  of  his 
life  a farmer  in  the  northwestern  part  of  Oakland 
township,  about  one  mile  from  the  old  homestead. 
He  obtained  a good  mathematical  education  by  self- 
study  at  home,  receiving  very  little  hook  education 
under  the  instruction  of  a teacher.  His  early  incli- 
nations led  him  to  be  a farmer,  and  his  parental 
training  gave  him  practical  ideas  of  life’s  work.  In 
1846,  upon  attaining  his  majority,  he  bought  one 
hundred  acres  of  land  upon  which  were  some  improve- 
ments, and  ten  years  later  built  his  present  residence. 
He  has  since  added  one  hundred  and  fifty  acres  to  his 
original  purchase,  besides  acquiring  other  parcels  of 


I 


OAKLAND. 


566 


i 

t 


( 


real  estate.  His  business  has  been  general  farming 
and  dairying,  through  which  means  he  has  become 
one  of  the  well-to-do  farmers  of  the  county.  Perse- 
vering industi-y,  and  the  general  good  management  of 
his  business  have  enabled  him  to  gain  a fair  compe- 
tence through  labor  and  tilling  the  soil,  although  he 
had  no  pecuniary  assistance  at  the  outstart.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Keystone  Agricultural  Society  and 
has  served  for  many  years  on  its  executive  committee. 
He  has  been  othcially  identified  with  his  township  as 
assessor  for  three  terms,  school  director  for  many 
years  and  poor  commissioner.  He  was  elected  on  the 


Bend  township,  near  the  old  Brush  homestead.  For 
his  second  wife  he  married,  in  1862,  Ann  H.  Mackey 
(1842-65),  a daughter  of  David  Mackey,  of  New 
Milford,  by  whom  he  has  an  only  child,  Anna  Laura 
Bush,  born  in  1865.  For  his  third  wife  he  married, 
in  1866,  Eunice  A.  Kent,  the  widow  of  Isaac  N.  Pal- 
mer (1824—65),  son  of  Esek  H.  Palmer,  who  came 
to  Brooklyn  from  Connecticut  in  the  spring  of  1811. 
She  was  born  A})ril  19,  1830,  in  Bridgewater,  and  is 
the  daughter  of  Eobert  Kent  (1801-78),  who  settled 
with  his  parents.  Justice  and  Anna  (Stuart)  Kent,  in 
Brooklyn  in  1811,  from  Windsor,  N.  Y.  Her  mother, 


Republican  ticket  a justice  of  the  peace  of  Oakland, 
but  never  qualified  for  the  office.  Mr.  Brush  has  been 
one  of  the  main  supporters  of  the  Methodist  Church 
on  Locust  Hill,  zealous  in  religious  work  in  the  vicin- 
ity, an  efficient  superintendent  of  the  Sunday-school 
in  connection  with  the  church  for  twenty  years,  and 
upon  the  erection  of  the  present  church  edifice  he 
contributed  nearly  one-half  towards  its  construction. 
He  married  for  his  first  wife,  in  1848,  Emeline  Beebe 
(1824-60),  a daughter  of  Lyman  Beebe,  of  Windsor, 
and  sister  of  Bradley  and  Charles  Beebe,  farmers  on 
the  Susquehanna  in  Oakland,  who  died  leaving  one 
surviving  child,  Milton,  born  in  1857,  resides  in  Great 


Pradence  Bailey  (1804-63),  was  the  daughter  of  Cap- 
tain Amos  Bailey  and  Prudence  Gere,  his  wife,  who 
settled  in  Brooklyn  in  1801,  where  Obadiah  Bailey, 
their  son,  now  resides. 

Charles  W.  Lamb. — Jairus  Lamb  (1791-1872),  the 
father  of  Charles  W.,  accompanied  by  David  and 
Jonathan  Bryant  and  Uriah  Thayer,  came  from  Ver- 
mont in  the  spring  of  1812,  and  were  the  first  settlers 
of  Jackson.  They  returned  to  Vermont  that  winter, 
but  early  in  1813  came  back  to  Jackson  (then  Har- 
mony), prepared  to  make  it  their  permanent  home. 
Before  his  return  Mr.  Lamb  married  in  Vermont, 
Amy  Bryant,  and  they  commenced  housekeeping  at 


566 


HISTOEY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


Captain  Potter's,  in  Gibson,  until  he  could  erect  a 
house  for  himself  in  Jackson.  This  he  completed 
early  in  1814,  which  was  the  first  framed  house  in  the 
township.  Mrs.  Lamb  died  in  1815,  leaving  one  son, 
Russel  B.  (1815-68).  She  was  a sister  of  David  Bry- 
ant and  the  first  woman  buried  in  the  township. 
Major  Joel  Lamb,  father  of  Jairus,  came  to  Jackson 
in  1815,  and  took  up  a large  tract  of  land.  He  was  a 
man  of  large  stature,  commanding  appearance  and 
great  physical  strength. 

Jairus  Lamh  returned  again  to  Vermont  in  1816, 
and  there  married  Elizabeth  Hall  (1789-1884),  a sister 
of  Martin  and  Asa  Hall.  They  had  children, — Amy, 
1816,  who  had  for  her  first  husband  A.  J.  Chamber- 
lin, and  after  his  decease  married  Almon  Clinton — 
she  is  now  a widow ; Lucy,  1818,  married  John 
Champlin,  and  is  now  residing  in  the  State  of  New 
York;  Elizabeth  (1820-22);  Nancy,  1822,  married 
Wm.  Champlin,  and  is  now  residing  in  McKean  Co., 
Pa.;  Joel  H.,  1824,  a farmer  of  Jackson;  Lucy 
(1826-86)  was  the  wife  of  S.  H.  Estabrook,  a farmer 
of  Oakland ; Charles  W.,  1828 ; George  W.  (1831-79); 
and  Wesson  T.,  1833,  a farmer  of  Oakland.  Charles 
W.  was  born  in  Jackson,  but  at  the  age  of  six  his 
father  removed  to  New  York  State,  where  he  remained 
two  years.  Upon  his  return  to  Jackson,  Charles  W. 
went  to  live  Avith  his  brother-in-law,  A.  J.  Chamber- 
lin, of  Gibson,  who  was  a farmer,  hut  a few  years 
thereafter  added  hotel-keeping  to  his  other  business. 
Here  he  remained,  Avorking  on  the  farm  and  assisting 
about  the  hotel,  until  he  Avas  twenty  years  of  age. 
His  early  educational  advantages  Avere  most  meagre, 
and  six  months  would  probably  compass  the  school- 
days of  his  life-time.  But  in  the  absence  of  book 
knowledge,  he  learned  in  that  early  and  rugged 
school  of  toil  and  priA'ation  that  self-reliance  and  in- 
dependence that  has  made  him  successful  in  the  bat- 
tle of  life  ; and  he  has  the  promise  that  his  declining 
years  Avill  he  surrounded  with  comforts  that  were  de- 
nied him  in  early  life.  In  1851  he  Avent  to  New 
Milford,  and  purchased  a farm  near  Page’s  Pond. 
In  1853  he  married  Jane  E.,  1831,  daughter  of  Nel- 
son, 1806,  and  Mary  (1806-65)  French,  Avho  Avere  na- 
tives of  Vermont  and  came  to  Jackson  in  1831.  Nel- 
son French  bought  a farm,  erected  a house,  and  noAv 
(1887),  at  the  age  of  eighty-one,  is  residing  on  the  old 
homestead. 

They  had  other  children,^ — Eliza,  1832,  married 
Charles  McKune ; Cordelia  M.,  1835,  married  Wesson 
T.  Lamb  ; Elizabeth  P.  (1838-53) ; George  H.,  1841,  a 
farmer  in  Jackson  on  the  old  Lamh  homestead;  Ed- 
gar N.,  1844,  a farmer  in  Harmony  ; and  Julia  L.,  1847, 
married  Elias  R.  Barrett.  Mr.  Lamb  remained  on  the 
farm  in  New  Milford,  working  it  and  making  im- 
provements until  1865,  Avhen  he  came  to  Oakland 
and  purchased  a farm  about  two  miles  from  the 
borough  of  Susquehanna.  Three  years  later  he  pur- 
chased the  farm  where  he  now  resides,  which  is  just 
outside  the  borough  limits.  These  tAvo  farms  he  still 


owns,  and  he  has  made  many  and  valuable  improve- 
ments upon  them  since  they  came  into  his  possession. 
For  a number  of  years  he  carried  on  an  extensive 
business  in  lumber  and  wood,  but  in  recent  years  has 
devoted  his  time  principally  to  farming.  In  1873  his 
dAvelling-house  took  fire  and  was  totally  consumed, 
but  during  the  same  year  he  erected  in  its  place  his 
present  elegant  and  commodious  homestead.  Mr. 
l.<amb,  in  jAolitics,  is  a Republican,  and  has  served  his 
township  as  supervisor  and  constable  and  collector. 
Mr.  Lamb  is  not  a church  member,  but  his  wife  be- 
longs to  the  Methodist  Church.  He  is  identified 
Avith  the  Grangers,  being  a member  of  “ Highland  ” 
Grange. 

Sylvester  Hale  Estabrook. — The  descendants 
of  Sylvester  and  Demmis  Easterbrook  have  in  some 
instances  changed  the  original  spelling  of  the  name, 
and  of  this  number  is  Sylvester  H.,  who  was  born  in 
Brattleboro’,  Vt.,  October  8, 1822.  His  early  boyhood 
was  spent  in  Vermont,  and  there,  in  the  dis- 
trict school,  which  he  attended  when  opportunity 
offered,  he  acquired  the  rudimentary  education 
obtainable  by  the  youth  of  that  day.  At  the  age  of 
sixteen  his  father  removed  to  Jackson,  and  here,  in 
the  almost  uninhabited  Avilderness,  young  Estabrook 
found  a field  for  industry,  that  would  have  appalled 
less  stouter  hearts  than  those  that  beat  in  the  bosoms 
of  all  our  early  pioneers.  The  log-house  home  was 
first  erected,  and  there  they  attacked  the  forest  that 
surrounded  them,  and  it  gradually  melted  aAvay 
before  their  vigorous  strokes.  Here  for  twelve  years 
he  remained  battling  with  the  forests  and  assisting 
his  father  in  clearing  up  the  farm  and  getting  a 
living  for  the  large  family.  Being  handy  in  the  use 
of  tools,  he  became  a self- constituted  carpenter,  and 
while  the  Erie  Railroad  was  in  process  of  construc- 
tion he  worked  on  it  as  a bridge-builder.  Until  he 
was  twenty-eight  years  old  his  time  and  his  wages 
were  given  his  father  in  improving  and  paying  for 
the  farm.  In  1850  he  married  Lucy,  daughter  of 
Jairus  (1791-1872)  and  Elizabeth  Hall  (1789-1884) 
Lamb.  Her  parents  were  of  the  first  settlers  of 
Jackson,  in  which  town  she  was  born  September  2, 
1826,  and  died  at  the  homestead  in  Oakland,  1886. 
The  year  of  his  marriage  he  again  penetrated  the 
Avilderness  and  purchased  a farm  in  Harmony  (now 
Oakland),  and  Avith  the  same  undaunted  spirit  that 
pervaded  him  twelve  years  before,  he  began  life  anew 
— this  time  for  himself — and  with  new  and  added 
responsibilities.  He  made  an  opening  in  the  forest 
large  enough  to  give  him  elbow-room  to  build  a little 
house,  the  lumber  and  material  for  which  he  brought 
from  Brush’s  mill — an  undertaking  of  considerable 
difficulty,  when  it  is  remembered  there  was  no  road 
leading  to  his  prospective  home.  In  1851  he  took 
his  wife  to  their  new  home — new  in  every  sense — and 
commenced  his  life-Avork  in  earnest.  For  several 
years  he  was  obliged  to  carry  on  his  back  the  food 
and  necessary  supplies  for  his  family.  But  industry 


OAKLAND. 


567 


and  perseverance  conquered  ; the  forest  gave  way  to 
the  farm,  the  little  old  house  was  abandoned  for  the 
pleasant  and  commodious  new  one.  The  creations  of 
his  own  handiwork  and  indications  on  every  hand 
bespeak  the  prosperous  and  successful  farmer.  Besides 
constructing  his  own  buildings,  he  has  erected 
several  for  his  neighbors.  Their  children  are  Emma 
D.,  1851,  wife  of  Edwin  Kenworthy,  residing  at  Car- 
bondale,  Pa. ; John  A.  1854,  married  and  residing 
at  Carbondale ; Sarah  E.,  1856,  wife  of  George  A. 
Johnson,  residing  at  Minerva,  N.  Y. ; Lucy  E.,  1859  ; 


after  Chancellorsville  and  went  to  hospital ; returned 
to  duty,  but  again  sent  to  hospital,  from  which  he  was 
discharged  in  May,  1865.  He  is  a member  of  Moody 
Post,  No.  53,  G.  A.  ft.  In  1886  he  attended  the 
Twentieth  National  Encampment  of  the  Grand  Army 
of  the  Republic  at  San  Francisco,  and  during  an 
extended  tour  of  three  and  a half  months  he  visited 
many  points  of  interest  along  the  Pacific  coast, 
viewed  the  wonders  of  the  Yosemite,  bathed  in  Salt 
Lake,  and  gathered  many  relics  and  curiosities  that 
now  adorn  his  home. 


Almon  S.  (1868-74) ; and  Richard  H.,  1869.  Lucy 
and  Richard  reside  with  their  father  at  the  home- 
stead. Originally  a Whig  in  politics,  Mr.  Estabrook 
was  a vice-president  of  the  first  meeting  held  at  Sus- 
quehanna to  organize  the  Republican  party,  and 
since  that  time  has  been  active  in  support  of  its 
principles  and  laboring  for  its  success ; was  member 
of  County  Committee  for  several  years.  He  has 
served  his  town  as  school  director,  as  constable  and 
collector,  and  for  twelve  years  was  its  assessor. 
When  the  War  of  the  Rebellion  broke  out,  the 
patriotism  that  inspired  his  Revolutionary  ancestors 
was  aroused,  and  in  1862  he  enlisted  in  Company  B, 
Seventeenth  Pennsylvania  Cavalry ; was  injured  soon 


The  Harmony  Agricultural  Society. — Al- 
though this  society  bears  the  above  title,  yet  its 
grounds  are  located  and  its  fairs  are  held  in  Oakland. 
The  grounds  are  on  the  north  side  of  the  river,  and 
about  one  mile  west  of  Oakland  borough.  They  are 
on  lands  owned  by  E.  G.  Taylor,  and  leased  for  a 
term  of  years.  The  ground  embraces  about  fifteen 
acres  of  land  that  is  inclosed  by  a high  board  fence. 
Within  the  inclosure  there  is  a good  one-half  mile 
racing  course.  The  society  was  organized  in  1879. 
Since  that  time  fairs  have  been  held  annually.  The 
present  officers  are  Wm.  H.  Larrabee,  president;  P. 
H.  Smith,  secretary ; F.  B.  Thayer,  treasurer ; and 
Bradley  Beebe,  John  Lane,  E.  R.  Barrett,  Everett 


568 


HISTOKY  OF  SUSc^UEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


Van  Aiken,  Charles  AVhitney  and  Charles  Lamb, 
directors. 

Oaklai^d  Borough  is  on  the  opposite  side  of  the 
river  from  Susquehanna,  and  connected  with  it  by  the 
Susquehanna  and  Oakland  bridge.  There  is  but  little 
business  transacted  in  the  village,  as  the  place  is 
chiefly  occupied  by  railroad  employees  and  their 
families.  Hence,  there  are  but  three  stores  and  twm 
mills,  on  that  side  of  the  river,  where  such  industries 
are  carried  on.  Y^et  the  mills  have  been  very  con- 
venient appendages  to  the  various  business  interests 
of  Susquehanna,  as  they  could  not  have  been  erected 
on  the  other  side  of  the  river,  from  the  fact  that  the 
railroad  occu23ies  that  side. 

In  1864  there  were  but  four  houses  within  the 
present  limits  of  the  borough.  Now  the  borough 
comprises  over  two  hundred  families,  and  nearly  one 
thousand  jjeople.  In  it  there  are  two  churches  and 
a mission  chapel,  and  a good  graded  school  building. 

The  borough  was  incor^iorated  in  1884.  George  H. 
Leal  was  the  first  burgess.  He  was  succeeded  by  J. 
H.  Findoii  in  1886,  who  w'as  re-elected  in  1887.  The 
first  Councilmen  were  T.  J.  Cockayne,  Stanley  Squires, 
S.  Pierce,  Wm.  Johnston,  E.  Ogden  and  C.  Brown. 
The  present  Town  Council  is  composed  of  R.  H.  Shiji- 
ley,  jiresident;  and  Charles  Brown,  C.  C.  Moore,  J. 
H.  Damon,  AY.  F.  Findon  and  Stanley  Squires  ; . AY. 
P.  Munson,  Esq.,  is  the  justice  of  the  peace ; Charles 
Blackburn  is  secretary. 

The  Holdridge  Mills  were  erected  in  1865,  for 
the  manufacturing  of  sash,  blinds  and  doors,  and  for 
planing  and  matching  lumber.  About  1880  appara- 
tus for  grinding  grain  was  put  into  a part  of  the  mill, 
and  at  the  present  time  quite  an  extensive  business 
in  grinding  is  done.  The  jiroprietor,  Harvey  Hol- 
dridge, was  born  in  Albany  County,  N.  Y.  He  came 
to  Lanesboro’  in  1846.  A few  years  afterwards  he 
jiiit  up  a planing-mill  in  Susquehanna,  which  he  con- 
ducted about  seven  years.  In  1866  he  built  the  house 
where  he  now  resides,  and  removing  into  it  with  his 
family,  he  became  one  of  the  first  residents  of  Oak- 
land, and  the  first  business  man.  Before  the  borough 
was  incoiqiorated,  and  since  its  incorporation,  Mr. 
Holdridge  has  nearly  all  of  the  time  held  some 
one  or  more  of  the  different  township  and  borough 
offices.  He  has  done  a great  deal  of  building,  on 
contracts,  both  in  Susquehanna  and  Oakland. 

In  1866  AY.  AY.  Hotchkiss  built  a saw-mill,  about 
one  hundred  rods  down  the  river  from  the  Holdridge 
mills.  Soon  after  a partnership!  was  formed  between 
him  and  Geo.  M.  Doolittle,  when  machinery  for  a 
grist-mill  was  put  into  the  mill,  and  since  that  time  a 
large  business  has  been  conducted  at  this  place ; al- 
though Mr.  Hotchkiss  remained  but  for  a short  time, 
and  Mr.  Doolittle  continued  the  business  until  about 
two  years  ago,  when  he  sold  out  to  J.  K.  Putnam. 

Schools. — An  independent  district  was  decreed  by 
the  court  at  the  January  term  in  1867,  and  Charles 
Beebe  and  T.  T.  Munson  were  appointed  to  hold  an 


election  on  the  second  Tuesday  of  February  follow- 
ing, for  the  purpose  of  choosing  a board  of  directors,, 
T.  T.  Munson,  J.  B.  Kittle,  Harvey  Holdridge, 
Charles  Beebe,  Henry  Shepherd  and  G.  H.  Leal  were 
elected.  At  the  organization  of  the  board,  Mr.  Kittle 
was  chosen  president,  and  Mr.  Holdridge  secretary. 
Miss  Carrie  AYellman  was  the  first  teacher  employed. 
Two  years  after  two  teachers  were  employed,  namely  : 
Carrie  AYellman  and  Maggie  Raymond.  In  1879 
Belle  Councilman  was  principal;  in  1880  Robert 
Hall,  for  a short  time,  when  he  was  succeeded  by  J. 
F.  AY.  Hawes  for  four  years.  In  1884  a good  and 
spacious  building  was  erected  in  place  of  the  one  that 
had  been  used  up  to  this  time.  It  is  two  stories  high, 
with  a basement.  There  are  two  school-rooms  and  a 
hall  on  the  first  floor,  and  a large  school-room  and  a 
recitation -room  on  the  second  floor.  The  building  is 
nicely  furnished,  and  in  every  respect  it  is  a credit  to 
the  place,  and  shows  that  the  citizens  of  Oakland  are 
deeply  interested  in  their  schools.  M.  AY.  Cargill 
was  apjpointed  the  first  principal  in  the  new  building. 
He  was  succeeded  by  G.  P.  Ross  in  January,  1886. 
Mr.  Ross  has  since  conducted  the  school,  and  has 
been  re-appointed  for  1887.  He  is  well  qualified  for 
the  position  and  very  successful  in  his  work.  He  has 
two  teachers  associated  with  him,  namely:  Anna 
Lofgren  and  Grace  Meeker.  The  schools  number 
about  two  hundred  pupils.  The  directors  at  present 
are  Frank  AYeinman,  president;  C.  F.  Meeker,  sec- 
retary; and  G.  H.  Leal,  J.  L.  Councilman,  H.  Kins- 
ley and  L.  Finckenior. 

The  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  of  Oakland, 
previous  to  1880,  existed  in  the  form  of  a class  that 
constituted  at  first  a part  of  the  Harmony  charge,  and 
afterwards  it  was  included  in  the  Susquehanna 
Church.  In  1874,  under  the  direction  of  Rev.  A.  J. 
Van  Cleft,  then  pastoT  at  Susquehanna,  a church  was 
built  in  which  services  were  held,  usually  Sunday 
afternoons.  In  1880  thirty-four  members  took  letters 
from  the  Susquehanna  Society  and  organized  a sep- 
arate church.  Rev.  AY.  C.  Norris  was  appointed  the 
first  pastor.  In  1881  he  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  AY.  B. 
Kinney;  in  1882,  Rev.  Chas.  Alexander;  in  1883, 
Rev.  G.  C.  Jacobs ; in  1884-85,  Rev.  G.  AY.  Leach ; 
in  1886,  Rev.  T.  M.  Furey. 

The  first  trustees  were  S.  P.  Moore,  J.  L.  Council- 
man, Joel  D.  Brown,  AYm.  Frank,  Gilbert  Hawkins, 
George  Badgley,  AYm.  Eastwood.  The  stewards  were 
Gilbert  Hawkins,  Noah  Badgley  and  Silas  AYilson. 
J.  D.  Brown  was  the  class-leader.  The  present 
officers  are  C.  Hilborn,  N.  AY.  Badgley,  S.  AYilson, 
AYm.  McCannon,  J.  C.  Councilman,  Abram  Jordan, 
trustees;  AYm.  McCannon,  H.  Meeker,  S.  AYilson,  F. 
H.  Decker,  J.  D.  Brown,  C.  Hilborn  and  N.  AY. 
Badgley,  stewards.  A union  Sunday-school  was  or- 
ganized a number  of  years  before  the  church  was  in- 
stituted. The  value  of  the  church  jiroperty  is  esti- 
mated at  eight  hundred  and  fifty  dollars.  The 


HAKMONY. 


569 


membership  is  thirty-six.  The  Sunday-school  num- 
ber one  hundred  and  eight. 

Trinity  Church,  of  the  Evangelical  Association 
of  North  America,  was  organized  in  1880,  with  thirty- 
two  members.  This  church  is  commonly  known  as 
the  German  Church.  In  Oakland  there  are  many 
German  families ; hence  the  organization  of  this 
society  was  a very  proper  and  practical  project.  The 
preaching  services,  music,  and  all  in  connection  with 
the  class-meetings  and  business-meetings,  are  con- 
ducted in  the  language  of  the  Fatherland.  Rev. 
Jacob  Vosseler  was  appointed  pastor  in  1880-82; 
Charles  Mowitz,  in  1883-85,  and  J.  G.  Held,  in  1886-87. 
The  first  trustees  were  Henry  Sperl,  Sr.,  Christopher 
Ploutz  and  Frederick  Zeller.  The  present  trustees 
are  H.  Sperl,  Sr.,  Henry  Ochse,  Jr.,  and  Henry 
Rauner.  The  first  stewards  were  Charles  Ottinger, 
Frederick  Zeller  and  Louis  Debfer.  The  stewards  at 
the  present  time  are  Henry  Sperl,  Sr.,  and  L.  Debfer. 
Henry  Ochse,  Sr.,  was  first  elected  class-leader.  He 
held  this  office  until  his  death,  in  1885.  Henry  Sperl 
was  soon  after  elected  to  the  office  and  continued  to 
discharge  its  duties  with  fidelity  and  devotion.  In 
1881  a very  tasty  and  convenient  church  was  erected 
at  a cost  of  about  three  thousand  dollars.  When  the 
church  was  organized  a Sunday-school  was  instituted. 
The  average  attendance  at  this  school  is  about  fifty. 
Henry  Ochse,  Jr.,  is  the  superintendent. 

Christ’s  Church  Mission,  of  the  Protestant 
Episcopal  Church,  was  established  in  1872,  by  Rt. 
Rev.  De  Wolfe  Howe,  bishoji  of  the  diocese  of  East- 
ern Pennsylvania,.  The  same  year  a chapel  in  which 
to  hold  services  was  erected,  at  an  expenditure  of 
about  fifteen  hundred  dollars.  The  deed  of  the  prop- 
erty is  held  in  trust  by  the  standing  committee  of  the 
diocese.  The  formation  of  this  mission  was  the 
initiative  to  the  organization  of  a church  at  Susque- 
hanna. During  a number  of  years  past,  Mrs.  Robert 
Wallace,  of  Susquehanna,  has  been  zealously  laboring 
to  raise  funds  to  carry  out  the  project.  Entertain- 
ments, festivals  and  parlor  musicales  have  at  various 
times  been  provided,  and  from  the  proceeds  of  these, 
she,  and  a few  of  her  co-workers,  have  realized  a sum 
of  money  sufficient  to  buy  a site,  and  create  a fund  of 
about  two  thousand  dollars,  that  stands  to  their  credit 
in  the  bank.  The  drawings  and  plans  of  the  proposed 
church  are  now  perfected,  and  soon  the  contract  is  to 
be  let  and  the  building  is  to  be  erected. 


CHAPTER  XXXIX. 

' harmony  township. 

Harmony  is  situated  in  the  northeastern  corner 
of  Susquehanna  County;  bounded  on  the  north  by 


1 Harmony,  Oakland  and  Susquehanna  written  by  Prof.  C T Thorpe 

36 


New  York  State,  on  the  east  by  Wayne  County,  on 
the  south  by  Thomson  and  Jackson,  and  on  the  west 
by  Oakland  and  the  Susquehanna  River.  Its  northern, 
eastern  and  southern  boundaries  are  straight  lines, 
while  its  western  line  is  formed  by  the  Susquehanna, 
beginning  on  the  east  bank,  at  the  State  line,  near  the 
thirteenth  milestone,  thence  down  the  eastern  bank 
of  the  river  to  a point  in  the  high  rocks  at  Shutt’s 
Eddy,  thence  a few  rods  to  the  road  known  as  the 
Lenox  and  Harmony  turnpike,  thence  along  the  turn- 
pike to  the  Jackson  line.  North  and  south  Harmony 
is  in  extent  about  six  and  one-half  miles,  and  east  and 
west  it  will  average  about  the  same. 

The  surface  of  the  land  is  to  a great  extent  exceed- 
ingly hilly,  with  many  rocky  precipices  and  deep  and 
narrow  gorges,  over  and  through  which  the  rivulets  so 
abundant  in  this  locality  dash  their  particles  into  sil- 
very spray  in  their  seeming  haste  to  reach  the  beauti- 
ful Susquehanna — the  “Crooked  River.”  So  broken 
and  irregular  is  the  surface  as  to  furnish  scenery 
strikingly  wild  and  remarkably  picturesque.  A gen- 
tleman who  had  traveled  extensively,  both  in  the  Old 
World  and  the  New,  said  to  the  writer : “ I have  wit- 
nessed the  finest  scenery  to  be  presented  in  the  differ- 
ent quarters  of  the  globe,  but  nowhere  have  I seen  na- 
ture more  beautiful  than  she  appears  from  the  sum- 
mits of  these  hills.” 

Harmony  is  drained  by  Cascade  Creek ; Starrucca 
Creek  and  its  tributaries.  Pig  Pen  Run,  Little  Roar- 
ing Brook,  Big  Roaring  Brook  and  North  Branch ; 
and  Canawacta  Creek,  with  its  South  and  East 
Branches.  The  sources  of  these  streams  are  in  the 
surrounding  hills,  and  something  more  than  fifteen 
hundred  feet  above  sea-level.  They  flow  in  a westerly 
direction  and  empty  into  the  Susquehanna,  which  at 
this  point  is  about  nine  hundred  feet  above  tide- 
water. The  mouth  of  the  Cascade  Creek  is  about 
three  fourths  of  a mile  south  of  the  State  line;  Star- 
rucca Creek  about  two  miles  down  the  river,  near 
Lanesboro’ ; and  the  Canawacta  about  eighty  rods  be- 
low the  mouth  of  the  Starrucca.  About  one  hundred 
rods  from  the  point  of  intersection  with  the  Susque- 
hanna, the  Cascade  Creek  cautiously  approaches  the 
top  of  a perpendicular  precipice  of  solid  rock,  re- 
markably regular  in  its  formation,  and  over  seventy 
feet  high.  The  stream  seems  intuitively  to  cling  to 
the  upper  strata;  then  losing  its  hold,  it  falls  helpless 
and  limpid  into  the  abyss  below.  In  its  descent  the 
water,  by  its  velocity,  gathers  so  much  air  that  it  looks 
more  like  a column  of  milk  than  water.  This  pecu- 
liar appearance  of  the  water,  contrasted  with  the 
beautiful  evergreen  trees  that  crown  the  precipice 
above  and  that  fringe  the  ravine  on  the  opposite  side, 
renders  the  place  so  romantic  that  many  visitors  are 
annually  attracted  to  it. 

The  northern  line  of  the  township  crosses  Com- 
fort’s Pond,  the  only  lake  in  Harmony,  cutting  off 
about  one-fourth  of  it  and  giving  it  to  Thomson. 

All  of  the  hills  in  this  region  were  originally  cov- 


I 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


570 

ered,  and  the  valleys  and  ravines  skirted  with  a dense 
growth  of  hemlock,  together  with  fine  forests  of  pine 
and  of  maple,  while  beneath  the  surface,  and  not  dif- 
cult  to  be  quarried,  are  vast  quantities  of  excellent 
blue-stone,  unsurpassed  both  for  building  and  flagging 
purposes. 

The  township  is  traversed  by  the  New  York,  Lake 
Erie  and  Western  Railroad,  running  nearly  north  and 
south,  and  by  the  Pennsylvania  Division  of  the  Dela- 
ware and  Hudson  Railroad,  and  the  Carbondale 
Branch  of  the  former  running  northwest  and  south- 
east, with  stations  at  Lanesboro’,  Brandt,  Stevens’ 
Point  and  Melrose.  It  is  evident,  from  Indian  relics 
found  at  these  places,  that  Indians  had  villages  on 
the  flats  bordering  on  the  Susquehanna  at  the  mouth 
of  the  Cascade  Creek,  and  on  both  sides  of  the  river 
just  above  the  mouth  of  the  Caiiawacta.  At  the  latter 
place,  on  what  is  now  known  as  the  island,  the  first 
white  settlers  found  six  apple-trees,  nearly  full-grown, 
all  bearing  fruit,  and  two  of  them  fruit  that  was 
large,  fair  and  delicious. 

The  first  white  people  that  settled  in  Harmony 
were  Moses  Comstock  and  his  family.  About  the 
year  1787  they  came  from  Rhode  Island  into  what 
was  then  a vast  and  almost  unexplored  wilderness. 
For  the  purpose  of  making  a settlement,  Comstock 
built  a log  house  on  the  flat  a few  rods  from  a cove 
between  the  Starrucca  and  Canawacta  Creeks.  The 
place  where  this  log  house  .stood  is  but  a few  feet  from 
the  house  now  owned  and  occupied  by  Ephraim  Can- 
in  Lanesboro’.  The  land  that  Mr.  Comstock  took 
possession  of  he  purchased  of  the  commonwealth  of 
Connecticut,  while  it  appeared  a few  years  afterwards 
that  the  same  land  was  also  claimed  by  Colonel  Tim- 
othy Pickering,  who  purchased  it  of  Pennsylvania. 
The  reader  will  doubtless  remember  that  the  counter- 
claims of  Connecticut  and  of  Pennsylvania  to  territory 
lying  on  the  Susquehanna,  soon  after  the  Revolu- 
tionary War,  became  a matter  of  litigation,  that  re- 
sulted in  the  establishment  of  Pennsylvania’s  claims, 
and  to  the  consequent  discomfiture  of  the  Connecti- 
cut claimants.  Yet  the  Comstocks  continued  their 
possession  and  made  improvements  thereon  until 
1801,  when  Colonel  Pickering  came  with  his  son,  Tim- 
othy Pickering,  Jr.,  and  taking  possession  of  the 
property  by  virtue  of  his  better  title,  he  dispossessed 
Abner  Comstock,  Moses  Comstock’s  son,  who  then 
occupied  it. 

Colonel  Timothy  Pickering  was  born  in  Sa- 
lem, Mass.,  in  1745,  and  died  there  in  1829.  He 
graduated  at  Harvard  College  in  1763,  and  soon  after 
engaged  in  tlie  practice  of  law.  He  held  several  local 
offices  in  Salem  and  became  a very  zealous  colonial 
patriot.  His  stirring  and  patriotic  speeches  so 
aroused  the  people  around  Boston  as  to  excite  the  dis- 
pleasure of  Governor  Gage,  who  ordered  Mr.  Picker- 
ing arrested  for  conspiracy  against  the  English  gov- 
ernment. However,  Pickering  was  not  brought  to  I 
trial,  as  public  sentiment  was  so  pronounced  in  his  ^ 


favor.  In  1775  he  was  appointed  judge  of  the  Court 
of  Common  Pleas,  and  in  1776  he  entered  the  army 
as  colonel,  but  was  soon  promoted  to  the  office  of 
quartermaster-general.  When  the  war  closed  he  en- 
gaged in  business  in  Philadelphia,  and  at  the  same 
time  bought  a large  tract  of  wild  land  in  Pennsylva- 
nia. In  1792  Colonel  Pickering  was  appointed  Post- 
master-General ; in  1795,  Secretary  of  War ; and  soon 
after  Secretary  of  State.  This  office  he  held  until 
May,  1800,  when  he  resigned,  and  came  with  his  son, 
Timothy  Pickering,  Jr.,  to  Harmony.  They  at  once 
began  preparations  for  the  erection  of  a frame  house, 
in  which  to  live.  The  next  year  the  house  was  built, 
and  stood  where  Mr.  Carr’s  house  now  stands.  Colo- 
nel Pickering  intended  to  spend  the  rest  of  his  life 
here,  but  his  friends  in  Massachusetts  so  strenuously 
urged  his  return  to  that  State  that  he  finally  was  pre- 
vailed on  to  comply ; and  leaving  his  son  in  posses- 
sion of  the  property,  he  went  back  to  Salem.  He 
afterwards  represented  Massachusetts  in  the  United 
States  Senate.  The  son,  Timothy  Pickering,  Jr., 
had  been  brought  up  in  the  city,  and  his  life  thus  far 
had  been  spent  in  fashionable  society ; therefore  it  is 
not  surprising  that  he  very  reluctantly  consented  to 
remain  here.  The  consequent  deprivations  and  soli- 
tude of  pioneer  life  sadly  affected  young  Pickering’s 
spirit  and  health.  However,  soon  after  his  coming 
to  Harmony  he  formed  the  acquaintance  of  a young 
woman  living  in  the  vicinity,  whom  he  married.  Yet 
with  her  he  lived  but  a few  years,  as  in  1807  he  died 
and  was  buried  a few  rods  from  the  house  where  they 
lived.  The  place  of  his  burial  is  in  the  cemetery  at 
Lanesboro’.  In  1805  his  son  Charles  was  born.  One 
warm  day  the  next  summer,  as  the  child,  in  charge  of 
Miss  Leah  Rouse,  the  governess,  was  rolling  on  the 
grass  in  the  yard  near  the  house,  a bear  sprang  over 
the  fence  and  attempted  to  capture  him  ; but  Miss 
Rouse  ran  after  bruin  and  furiously  shaking  the 
white  linen  apron  which  she  had  on,  and  screaming 
at  the  top  of  her  voice,  she  frightened  the  animal 
away,  caught  up  the  child  and  ran  with  him  into  the 
house.  Hence  Charles  Pickering  escaped  this  peril 
to  meet  with  other  encounters  and  adventures  much 
more  startling,  as  his  subsequent  experiences  attest. 
His  mother  took  him  to  Salem  soon  after  his  father 
died.  He  graduated  at  Harvard  College  in  1823  ; be- 
came a member  of  the  United  States  Exploring  Ex- 
pedition in  1838,  and  afterwards  traveled  quite 
extensively  in  Asia  and  in  Africa ; consequently,  he 
had  many  opportunities  to  beard  the  lion  in  his  den, 
and  combat  the  bear  and  even  the  tiger.  Mr.  Picker- 
ing visited  Harmony  a few  years  ago  to  see  the  place 
of  his  birth.  He  said  he  should  be  gratified  to  see 
his  protector  and  tell  her  of  some  of  his  subsequent 
adventures ; but  on  inquiry,  to  his  sorrow,  he  found 
that  she  had  a number  of  years  been  dead.  Besides 
becoming  quite  noted  as  an  explorer  and  a traveler, 

I Mr.  Pickering  became  quite  celebrated  as  an  author. 

I Although  the  Comstock  family  were  the  first  white 


HARMONY. 


571 


people  to  settle  in  Harmony,  yet  another  family  soon 
after  came  to  this  locality  and  settled  on  the  east 
bank  of  the  river,  about  two  miles  above  Comstock’s. 
Henry  Drinker,  Jr.,  of  Philadelphia, — better  known 
as  cashier,  for  a long  time,  of  the  Bank  of  North 
America,  Philadelphia, — purchased  of  the  State  a 
large  tract  of  land  lying  on  the  east  bank  of  the  Sus- 
quehanna, and  south  of  the  State  line.  He,  therefore, 
in  1789,  caused  a road  to  be  projected,  leading  from 
the  north  and  south  road  to  the  mouth  of  Cascade 
Creek,  a point  about  midway  in  the  western  bound- 
ary of  his  possessions.  At  the  western  terminus  of  the 
road,  Mr.  Drinker,  the  same  year,  caused  a house,  a 
store  and  a blacksmith-shop  to  be  erected.  The  place 
where  these  buildings  were  located  is  where  Charles 
McKune,  his  wife  and  his  aged  mother,  Mrs.  Mary 
McKune,  widow  of  Robert  McKune,  deceased,  now 
live.  Mr.  Drinker  sent  Joseph  Hilborn  here  to  su- 
perintend and  manage  his  affairs,  and  at  once  con- 
signed to  Hilborn  a supply  of  goods,  such  as  axes, 
iron-bars,  chains,  clothing  and  provisions.  These 
goods  were  consigned  from  Drinker  & Co.’s  store  at 
Philadelphia,  and  for  a long  distance  before  reaching 
their  destination  they  had  to  be  carried  on  the 
backs  of  horses  and  oxen  along  rough  paths  through 
the  dense  forest.  This  was  the  first  store  in  Har- 
mony. 

Several  of  the  Hilborn  family  had,  for  a number 
of  years,  been  employed  by  Mr.  Drinker,  who,  having 
become  impressed  by  the  peaceful  and  harmonious 
characteristics  of  these  faithful  and  honest  employes, 
as  a token  of  his  respect  for  the  Hilborns,  named  this 
new  settlement  Harmony. 

Joseph  Hilborn  carried  on  the  business  for  about 
two  years,  when,  on  the  20th  day  of  November,  1791, 
his  brother,  next  younger,  John  Hilborn,  engaged 
for  the  State,  with  a number  of  other  men,  in  laying 
out  roads,  arrived  at  the  place.  Whereupon  John 
Hilborn,  actuated  by  circumstances  that  will  soon 
be  explained,  bought  of  Mr.  Drinker  a tract  of  land, 
including  the  buildings  above  mentioned.  Mr.  Hil- 
born’s  purchase  was  two  miles  in  extent  on  the  river, 
beginning  at  the  State  line,  and  extending  one  mile 
back.  Of  this  land  Mr.  Hilborn  took  immediate  pos- 
session. The  neat  spring  he  returned  to  Stroudsburg, 
where  his  wife  and  small  child  were  living,  and 
brought  them  with  him  to  his  new  home  in  the  wil- 
derness. The  journey  was  by  no  means  a pleasant 
nor  easy  one,  especially  for  Mrs.  Hilborn,  who  rode 
all  the  way  on  horseback,  carrying  her  little  son, 
William,  then  one  and  one-half  years  old,  in  her 
arms.  Yet,  in  this  toilsome  way  the  Hilborns  estab- 
lished a permanent  settlement  in  Harmony,  and  thus, 
here  began  a civilization  whose  influence  for  pro- 
gressive education,  industry  and  morality  has  perhaps 
been  more  marked  and  potent  than  any  other  to 
which  we  can  refer  in  connection  with  the  history  of 
this  township. 

The  Hilborns  were  Friends  or  Quakers.  John 


Hilborn  was  born  in  Bucks  County  in  1841.  When 
quite  young  he  went  to  live  with  his  grandfather, 
Stephen  Twining,  who  owned  a grist-mill.  Thus  the 
boy  was  afforded  a good  opportunity  for  learning  a 
very  useful  business.  He  well  improved,  not  only 
this  opportunity,  but  also  every  advantage  within  his 
reach,  whereby  he  might  obtain  an  intellectual  edu- 
cation^ as  w'ell  as  an  industrial  one.  He  was  very 
fond  of  books ; yet  books  were  scarce  and  teachers 
few.  So  such  books  as  he  could  get  were  thoroughly 
studied,  and  their  contents  construed  according  to  his 
own  comprehension,  which  Mr.  Drinker  said  was  not 
often  at  fault.  When  he  became  of  age,  so  great  was 
his  appreciation  of  books  that  the  first  money  he 
earned  for  himself  he  invested  in  a library.  He 
would  sacrifice  pleasure  and  even  comfort  to  obtain 
books.  The  reader  will  doubtless  observe  in  the  suc- 
ceeding paragraphs  the  subsequent  importance  of 
John  Hilborn’s  library  to  Harmony  township. 

In  June,  1778,  John  Hilborn  was  taken  prisoner  by 
the  Indians  near  Stroudsburg.  He  w'as  taken  to 
Quebec  and  sold  to  a Frenchman,  w’ho  was  a miller. 
Hilborn  was  put  in  charge  of  the  mill,  and  so  faithful 
and  prudent  was  his  management  that  he  was  allowed 
wages,  by  means  of  which,  in  less  than  two  years,  he 
was  able  to  settle  his  redemption  and  allowed  to  re- 
turn to  his  home.  When  the  Indians,  with  their  cap- 
tives, on  their  way  from  Stroudsburg  to  Canada,  came 
into  the  Susquehanna  Valley,  Hilborn,  being  pleased 
with  the  valley,  mentally  resolved  that,  should  he  ever 
be  so  fortunate  as  to  regain  his  liberty,  he  would 
som-e  day  have  a home  here.  Thus,  returning  from 
captivity,  and  having  accumulated  a little  money, 
and  in  the  meantime  having  married  Martha  Dillon, 
the  purchase  of  the  contemplated  home  was  made. 
Mr.  Hilborn  afterwards  bought  a large  tract  of  land 
on  the  other  side  of  the  river.  He  also,  as  agent, 
had  charge  of  lands  owned  by  the  Drinkers,  by  Pick- 
ering, Coxe  and  Hodgdon.  He  was  assessor  for  the 
Willingborough  township,  Luzerne  County,  before 
Susquehanna  County  was  formed,  and  made  his  re- 
turns at  Wilkes-Barre.  He  died  at  his  home  near  the 
Cascade  in  April,  1826. 

A few  months  after  the  family  arrived  at  Harmony 
Mary  Hilborn  was  born,  August  5,  1792.  She  was 
married  to  Robert  McKune  December  6,  1817.  After 
their  marriage  they  lived  in  New  York  State  until  1826, 
when  they  took  possession  of  the  Hilborn  homestead  in 
Harmony,  where  Mrs.  McKune  has  since  resided.  So 
with  the  exception  of  a few  years,  this  estimable  lady 
has  spent  the  long  period  of  ninety-five  years  in  this 
community,  adored  by  friends,  appreciated  by  neigh- 
bors and  admired  and  loved  by  all.  The  writer,  in 
collecting  material  for  this  work,  recently  spent  a 
number  of  hours  in  conversation  with  her  ; and  al- 
though she  is  now  nearly  ninety-five  years  of  age, 
yet  we  found  her  enjoying  good  health,  w’ith  a mem- 
ory remarkably  retentive,  and  conversational  pow'ers 
exceedingly  easy  and  expressive.  She  says  : “ I was 


572 


HISTOKY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


educated  at  my  mother’s  knee.  When  I was  four 
years  of  age  I could  read  in  any  book  ; and  when  I 
was  six  I could  turn  to  any  passage  in  the  Scriptures 
that  might  be  referred  to,  I presume,  much  more 
readily  than  many  whom  we  now  call  good  Bible 
scholars.” 

Her  brother  William,  two  years  older  than  herself, 
was  also  an  apt  scholar  and  ardently  fond  of  books. 
When  he  was  fourteen  years  of  age  he  had  learned 
all  that  his  father  and  mother  could  teach  him,  so  he 
was  sent  to  a school  in  Philadelphia.  After  return- 
ing home  from  school  he  informed  the  settlers  then 
living  in  this  locality  that  he  would  give  lessons  to 
any  who  desired  instruction,  but  without  pay.  This 
was  considered  a great  kindness,  and  many  of  the 
young  people  improved  the  opportunity.  So  we  find 
that  William  Hilborn  tv  as  the  first  school-teacher  in 
Harmony. 

As  other  families  came  into  this  part  of  the  State, 
it  was  not  long  before  they  heard  of  John  Hilborn’s 
library,  and  upon  inquiry  they  learned  that  Mr.  Hil- 
born cheerfully  gave  any  person  who  desired  it  the 
privilege  of  reading  his  books.  Thus,  it  was  not  at 
all  an  unusual  thing  to  see  men  and  women  going  to 
and  from  Mr.  Hilborn’s,  a place  oftener  visited  than 
any  other  one  in  this  region.  They  came  from  Ara- 
rat, Great  Bend,  Harford,  Bridgewater  and  Windsor 
on  horseback,  starting  from  their  homes  at  early 
morn  and  returning  late  in  the  evening. 

Although  John  Hilborn  and  his  family  were 
Quakers,  yet  ministers  of  the  different  denominations 
were  cordially  received  and  entertained  by  them. 
Religious  service  was  often  held  at  Mr.  Hilborn’s  by 
these  ministers  at  Mr.  Hilborn’s  request.  “ Thy 
creed  is  a matter  of  minor  importance,”  he  would 
say,  “ and  may  God  bless  thee  in  thy  labors  so  long 
as  thy  teachings  have  a tendency  to  make  the  people 
upright.”  The  influence  for  industry,  sobriety  and 
morality  thus  directly  and  indirectly  exerted  by  John 
Hilborn  is  abundantly  attested,  even  to  the  present 
time,  by  the  marked  integrity  and  virtue  of  his 
numerous  descendants  and  relatives  now  living  in 
Harmony  and  Oakland.  John  Hilborn’s  other  chil- 
dren were  John,  Hannah  and  Jesse.  William  married 
and  removed  to  Unadilla,  N.  Y.,  where  he  died  a 
few  years  since;  John  settled  in  Oakland,  died  there 
a number  of  years  ago,  and  his  sou  John  now  is 
living  on  a 25art  of  the  property;  Hannah  married 
Warren  Bird,  and  also  settled  in  Oakland;  and 
Jesse,  unmarried,  is  now  living  in  Unadilla. 

In  1808,  the  year  after  Timothy  Pickering,  Jr., 
died,  John  Hilborn  was  apj^ointed  to  take  charge  of 
the  property.  The  same  year  John  Comfort  came 
from  Orange  County,  N.  Y.,  and  bought  four  hun- 
dred and  eighty  acres  of  the  Pickering  estate,  in- 
cluding the  house  where  the  unfortunate  young  man 
had  lived. 

Mr.  Comfort  at  once  began  to  make  preparations 
for  the  building  of  a saw-mill,  which  he  erected  in 


1810,  near  the  place  where  the  one  at  Lanesboro’ 
now  stands,  and  two  years  afterwards  he  also  put 
up  a small  grist-mill,  adjoining  the  saw-mill.  Before 
these  mills  were  completed,  and  while  the  work  was 
going  on,  the  Lanesboro’  dam  was  built.  These 
were  the  first  mills  in  Harmony.  Before  this  grist- 
mill was  erected  the  settlers  in  this  locality  had  to 
go  to  Unadilla,  and  then  afterwards  to  Windsor  to  get 
their  grinding  done.  Comfort’s  mill  had  but  one 
run  of  stone,  yet  for  twenty-six  years  it  was  the 
principal  mill  in  this  region.  In  1839  it  was  taken 
down  and  a larger  one  put  up  in  its  place. 

In  1818  Mr.  Comfort  sold  this  property  to  Martin 
•Lane,  bought  land  where  Charles  Taylor  now  lives, 
and  put  up  a block-house.  Martin  Taylor  afterwards 
bought  the  place,  took  the  block-house  down  and 
erected  in  its  place  the  beautiful  house  now  standing  on 
the  knoll.  John  Comfort  then  put  up  the  house  where 
Martin  Taylor  now  lives,  and  lived  at  this  place  un- 
til his  death,  April,  1850.  He  built  the  turnpike 
from  Lanesboro’  to  Thomson,  and  took  in  pay- 
ment for  the  work  a large  tract  of  land  in  the  vicinity 
of  Comfort’s  Pond.  This  land  he  divided  among  his 
sons. 

John  Comfort  was  a man  of  sterling  integrity. 
After  the  township  was  formed  he  was  elected  county 
commissioner,  which  office,  with  but  one  exception, 
is  the  only  county  office  ever  bestowed  on  Harmony 
township, — the  exception  being  H.  K.  Newell,  reg- 
ister and  recorder.  Mr.  Comfort  was  the  pioneer 
Methodist  in  this  part  of  Susquehanna  County,  and 
his  children,  grandchildren  and  nearly  all  of  his 
descendants  to  the  present  time  have  been  prominent 
in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  and  highly  re- 
spected for  their  moral  and  intellectual  qualities. 
His  family  consisted  of  his  wife,  Phebe  Gildersleeve, 
and  eight  children.  His  third  child,  Silas  Comfort, 
was  born  in  1808,  and  died  in  Union,  Broome  County, 
N.  Y.,  in  1868.  By  close  application  he  became  a 
profound  scholar  in  the  dead  languages,  literature, 
science  and  theology.  He  was  the  author  of  several 
books,  and  contributed  largely  to  periodicals  pub- 
lished by  the  church  of  which  he  was  a member. 
He  entered  the  ministry  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  when  twenty -seven  years  of  age,  spending 
forty-five  years  in  the  ministry,  serving  sixteen  years 
as  presiding  elder,  and  becoming  so  prominent  that 
his  name  was  a household  word  in  nearly  all  Method- 
ist families  throughout  the  land.  The  next  son, 
James,  boim  1805,  died  in  Harmony,  1885,  received 
from  his  father  a large  tract  of  timber  land  in  the 
vicinity  of  Comfort’s  Pond,  and  buying  more  of  his 
brother  Silas,  was  for  a number  of  years  extensively 
engaged  in  lumbering.  He  furnished  a great  deal 
of  lumber  for  the  Philadelphia  markets,  his  books 
showing  that  he  made  thirty -three  trips  down  the 
Delaware  River  with  rafts.  About  1860  he  gave  up 
lumbering,  bought  the  farm  where  his  son.  Nelson  R., 
now  lives,  and  for  the  remaining  part  of  his  life  gave 


HARMONY. 


573 


his  attention  to  farming.  His  family  consisted  of 
thirteen  children,  nine  of  whom  are  now  living. 
N.  K.  Comfort  now  owns  the  farm  where  his  father 
died.  The  place  is  situated  on  the  river  road,  just 
north  of  the  Cascade  Creek. 

John  Comfort’s  Narrow  E.scape;  or,  the 
Murder  of  Oliver  Harper. — About  one  mile 
from  Lanesboro’,  on  the  Harmony  turnpike,  in  May, 
1824,  Oliver  Harper  was  murdered  by  Jason  Tread- 
well. Mr.  Harper  lived  about  two  miles  below 
Windsor,  on  the  river  road.  He  owned  a large  and 
fine  farm,  which  he  worked,  and  he  was  also  engaged 
in  lumbering  to  quite  an  extent.  At  the  time  of  his 
death  he  was  about  fifty  years  of  age.  He  had  been 
down  the  river  with  a raft,  and  having  disposed  of  the 
lumber  for  about  eight  hundred  dollars,  was  on  his 
return.  Staying  overnight  at  Canaan  Corners,  early 
in  the  morning  he  started  out  for  his  last  day’s  walk 
home.  About  eight  o’clock  in  the  evening  some  one 
came  down  to  Lanesboro’  and  reported  that  there  was 
a man  dead  up  on  the  hill  by  the  I’oadside.  A party 
of  men  at  once  went  to  the  place  and  brought  the 
body  down  to  Lanesboro’.  Finding  that  the  man  had 
been  shot,  search  for  the  criminal  was  immediately 
instituted,  and  an  investigation  to  identify  the  body 
was  begun.  The  murdered  man  proved  to  be  Mr. 
Harper,  and  soon  suspicions  fell  on  Jason  Treadwell 
as  the  murderer.  Treadwell  was  about  thirty  years  of 
age,  married,  and  living  in  a part  of  his  father’s 
house,  situated  on  the  north  side  of  the  river,  about 
one  and  one-half  miles  below  Susquehanna,  where 
Alonzo  Boyden  now  lives.  His  father  had  about 
seventy-five  acres  of  land  ; yet  Jason  did  but  little  to 
aid  in  cultivating  the  farm,  although  he  and  his  wife 
and  one  child  got  their  living  principally  from  it. 
Treadwell  was  not  less  than  six  feet  tall,  with  strong 
and  powerful  physical  proportions ; dark  complexion 
with  eyebrows  very  dark  and  heavy,  coming  com- 
pletely together  over  the  bridge  of  the  nose,  giving 
him  a very  savage  expression  ; fond  of  practical  jokes, 
and  possessed  of  an  eager  appetite  for  strong  drink. 
John  Comfort  at  one  time  reprimanded  Treadwell  for 
his  dissolute  and  indolent  habits.  At  this  Treadwell 
became  very  angry,  and  thereafter  often  used  threaten- 
ing language  respecting  Mr.  Comfort.  At  the  time 
the  crime  was  committed  Mr.  Comfort  was  on  his  re- 
turn from  a trip  down  the  river,  and  was  expected 
home  that  day.  Mr.  Harper  in  stature  and  manner 
resembled  Mr.  Comfort,  and  he  and  Mr.  Comfort  were 
also  dressed  very  much  alike,  so  that,  through  the 
bushes,  to  mistake  one  for  the  other  would  be  not  at 
all  strange.  At  that  time  Isaac  Hale  lived  near 
Treadwell’s,  where  George  Doolittle  now  lives.  Dur- 
ing the  evening  of  the  day  of  the  murder  Treadwell 
came  to  Mr.  Hale’s,  and  his  appearance  was  so  pecu- 
liar as  to  disturb  Mr.  Hale’s  mind,  whereupon  Mr. 
Hale  asked,  “Jason,  what  has  been  the  matter  with 
you  to-day?”  Treadwell  replied,  “Nothing  that  I 
know  of.”  Mr.  Hale  continued  the  conversation,  but 


was  unable  to  elicit  anything  definite.  Mr.  Hale  had 
not  yet  heard  of  the  tragedy ; but  the  next  day,  on 
hearing  of  it,  he  related  what  he  discovered  in  Tread- 
well’s strange  appearance.  Then  Treadwell  was  vis- 
ited, and,  among  other  questions,  was  asked  where  his 
gun  was.  He  said  that  on  coming  across  the  river  it 
fell  out  of  the  boat  into  the  river.  The  place  where 
he  said  he  lost  it  was  searched,  but  the  gun  could  not 
be  found  there ; yet  a day  or  two  after  it  was  found  in 
a hollow  log  on  the  farm  where  Mr.  Teal  now  lives, 
near  Hickory  Grove.  Treadwell  was  then  arrested. 
About  the  same  time  it  was  learned  that  a Mr.  Wel- 
ton,  who  lived  several  miles  above  Windsor,  return- 
ing from  down  the  river,  had  2iassed  over  the  road 
where  Harper  was  killed,  about  an  hour  before  the 
crime  was  committed.  On  being  sent  for,  Mr.  Welton 
said  that  when  he  was  passing  the  place  he  saw  a man 
through  the  bushes,  lying  by  the  side  of  a log,  about 
twenty  feet  above  the  road.  The  man,  looking  up, 
frightened  Mr.  Welton  ; but  instead  of  running  away, 
Welton  walked  right  uj)  to  him  and  asked  what  he 
was  doing  there  ? The  man  said  he  was  sick.  Wel- 
ton discovered  that  the  man’s  face  was  blackened 
with  coal,  and  knowing  of  no  better  way  to  insure 
his  safety  he  said,  “ Here,  come  with  me  ; I have  got 
something  with  me  that  will  help  you,”  and  taking  a 
bottle  of  whiskey  from  his  pocket,  he  induced  the  man 
to  go  with  him.  The  man  took  a drink  from  the  bot- 
tle and  walked  down  the  road  towards  Lanesboro’ 
with  Welton.  Coming  to  the  edge  of  the  woods  he 
turned  back  and  Mr.  Welton  pur-sued  his  way  alone. 
While  Mr.  Welton  was  walking  with  him  he  discov- 
ered that  the  stranger  had  a scar  under  his  chin.  Mr. 
Welton  said  he  thought  he  could  pick  him  out  of  any 
crowd,  however  large.  So  Treadwell  was  jilaced 
among  a large  crowd  of  men  at  Munson’s  tavern  at 
Hickory  Grove,  and  Mr.  Welton,  passing  through  the 
crowd,  walked  up  to  Treadwell  and  said,  “ This  is  the 
man  ; by  that  scar  I know  he  is  the  very  man.” 
Treadwell  was  tried  and  convicted.  Before  his  execu- 
tion he  made  a partial  confession.  He  also  stated 
that  the  money  could  be  found  at  a certain  place  near 
his  home  ; yet  diligent  search  for  it  at  the  place  desig- 
nated was  fruitless. 

The  beginning  of  the  nineteenth  century  marks 
the  period  of  great  activity  in  the  laying  out  and 
building  of  roads  in  this  part  of  the  State ; thus  the 
number  of  families  making  settlements  in  Harmony 
was  perceptibly  increased,  so  much  as  to  cause  the 
formation  of  a township  in  1809.  The  records  show 
that  in  1813  the  tax-list  included  the  following  free- 
holders: Hezekiah  Bushnell,  John  Comfort,  Joshua 
Clark,  David  Hine,  Isaac  Hale,  Jesse  Hale,  .loseph 
Hilborn,  John  Hilborn,  William  Hilborn,  Nathaniel 
Lewis,  Israel  Reynolds,  Marmaduke  Salesbury,  Adam 
Swagart,  Whipple  Tarbox,  John  Snow,  William 
Travis,  Ezekiel  Travis,  Samuel  Treadwell,  .lohu 
Travis,  ,Ir.,  John  C.  Travis,  Jonathan  Treadwell, 

1 James  Westfall,  Nathaniel  West,  Shubel  Williams, 


574 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


John  Hilborn,  Isaac  Hale  and  John  Comfort,  assess- 
ors. As  so  much  territory  has  since  been  tal^en  from 
Harmony  to  form  other  townships,  more  than  one- 
half  of  this  list  would  be  outside  the  present  bound- 
aries of  Harmony,  and  a history  of  a number  of 
these  men  will  be  found  in  connection  with  the  his- 
tory of  those  townships. 

James  Newman  came  from  Connecticut  in  1812. 
He  bought  a part  of  the  Pickering  tract,  on  the  Star- 
rucca,  about  one  mile  from  its  mouth.  He  married 
Betsey  Rouse,  and  together  they  began  the  formation 
of  a home  in  the  forest.  He  was  a man  of  influence, 
— honest,  ambitious  and  energetic,  both  in  action  and 
speech.  She  was  an  estimable  woman  in  every  re- 
spect ; hence  their  offspring  have  been  among  the 
most  respected  citizens  of  Harmony.  Mr.  Newman 
died  in  1848,  and  his  widow  survived  him  twenty-six 
years,  living  with  her  daughter  at  Lanesboro’  until 
1874,  the  time  of  her  death.  Their  only  son,  Martin 
Newman,  became  quite  noted  as  an  inventor  of  ma- 
chinery and  implements  used  in  the  industrial  arts. 
He  also  gained  considerable  prominence  as  an  artist 
in  sketching,  painting  and  engraving.  Several  years 
ago  he  removed  to  Wisconsin,  where  he  now  resides. 

Daniel  Tarbell  came  from  New  York  State  in 
1813.  He  was  a shoemaker  by  trade.  Much  of  the 
time,  for  the  first  few  years,  he  worked  for  John 
Comfort,  about  the  mill,  the  dam  across  the  river  and 
the  race.  Between  him  and  James  Newman  a very 
warm  friendship  existed,  which  led  to  the  marriage 
of  Mr.  Tarbell  to  Sarah  Rouse,  Mrs.  Newman’s  sis- 
ter. Subsequently  Mr.  Tarbell  returned  to  New 
York  State,  where,  a few  years  since,  he  died. 

Joseph  McKune,  Sr.,  came  from  Orange  County, 
N.  Y.,  to  Harmony  in  1812,  and  about  twenty  years 
after  he  moved  into  another  part  of  the  township  that 
is  now  embraced  in  Oakland.  His  son,  Robert  Mc- 
Kune, who  has  been  mentioned  in  connection  with  the 
history  of  the  Hilborn  family,  was  born  in  Orange 
County,  N.  Y.,  in  1786,  and  died  in  Harmony  March 
4,  1861.  His  death  was  the  result  of  an  accident  that 
occurred  to  him  near  the  Cascade,  less  than  one-half 
of  a mile  from  his  house.  He  was  sitting  on  a gravel 
car  that  formed  part  of  the  construction  train  which 
was  being  loaded  with  gravel,  in  conversation  with  the 
foreman  of  the  gang,  when  the  train  suddenly  started, 
Mr.  McKune  was  thrown  under  the  wheels  of  the  car 
and  crushed.  Quite  early  in  life  he  married  a young 
lady,  who  died  about  nine  years  after  they  were  mar- 
ried. In  1817  he  married  Miss  Mary  Hilborn,  and 
removed  to  Sullivan  County,  N.  Y.,  but  after  John 
Hilborn’s  death,  in  1826,  they  returned  to  Harmony 
and  came  into  possession  of  the  Hilborn  homestead. 
There  Mrs.  McKune  is  still  living  with  her  son 
Charles  and  his  wdfe.  The  fruit  of  the  first  marriage 
was  two  daughters  and  one  son,  viz. : the  eldest  daugh- 
ter, Mary  Ann,  married  James  Comfort ; Esther  mar- 
ried S.  0.  Lyons,  and  is  now  living  in  Lanesboro’;  and 
Joseph  Fowler,  who  resides  up  the  river,  just  over  the 


State  line,  about  one  mile  from  the  old  homestead. 
By  the  second  marriage  there  were  seven  children. 
Three  sons  died  at  their  parents’  home,  at  the  ages  of 
twelve,  seventeen  and  twenty-eight  years.  W.  P.,who 
owned  a part  of  the  land  now  embraced  in  Susquehan- 
na Depot  borough,  at  the  time  the  Erie  Railroad  was 
located  through  Harmony,  died  in  Susquehanna  a few 
years  ago.  The  youngest  son  resides  in  Colorado,  and 
the  eldest  in  California. 

John  Hilborn  McKune,  the  eldest  son  of  Robert 
and  Mary  McKune,  has  so  great  distinction  in 
California  that  his  many  friends  and  acquaintances 
in  Susquehanna  County  hold  him  in  highest  admira- 
tion. He  was  born  inSullivan  County,  N.  Y.,  in  1819. 
His  mother  was  his  principal  instructor;  yet  a few 
months  each  year  he  attended  school  at  the  log  school- 
house  that  stood  near  wLere  the  Starrucca  viaduct  is 
now.  In  1819  he  entered  the  law-office  of  Bentley  & 
Richards,  at  Montrose,  as  a student,  and  was  admitted 
to  the  Susquehanna  bar  in  1844.  In  1849  he  went  to 
California,  settled  in  Sacramento  City,  and  in  185(> 
was  elected  county  attorney.  In  1854,  he  was  ap- 
pointed United  States  law  agent  by  President  Pierce> 
to  ascertain  and  settle  private  land  claims.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  Democratic  Electoral  College  of  Cali- 
fornia in  1856 ; in  1857  a member  of  the  Legislature, 
chairman  of  the  committee  appointed  to  impeach 
State  Treasurer  Bates;  in  1858  district  judge  for  the 
Sixth  Judicial  District,  and  held  the  office  eleven 
years.  In  1872,  he  was  appointed  code  commissioner 
to  revise  and  codify  the  State  laws.  He  is  also  a mem- 
ber of  the  “ Society  of  Pioneers’’  of  California. 

JosiAH  Benedict  came  to  Harmony  about  1816. 
He  occupied  land  on  the  Starrucca  Creek,  between 
Schlager’s  and  Brandt.  Two  of  his  daughters  and  one 
son,  Jeremiah  Benedict,  reside  in  the  same  neighbor- 
hood, and  one  son,  Daniel  Benedict,  is  living  in  Oak- 
land. 

Martin  Lane,  in  1818,  bought  four  hundred  and 
eighty  acres  of  land  of  John  Comfort.  This  pur- 
chase included  the  mills  at  Lanesboro’.  A few  years 
after  he  died,  and  his  son  Jesse  came  into  possession 
of  the  property.  Jesse  Lane,  however,  after  his  father’s 
death,  purchased  much  more  land  lying  adjacent,  and 
in  1841  he  sold  fourteen  hundred  acres  to  Lyons  & 
Taylor,  and  soon  after  removed  to  Wilmington,  Dela- 
ware. While  living  in  Harmony  Jesse  Lane  was 
extensively  engaged  in  lumbering,  and  after  leaving 
this  place  he  became  a lumber  merchant  in  Wilming- 
ton, where  he  accumulated  a very  large  fortune  from 
the  successful  business  he  conducted. 

Taylor  Family.- — David  Taylor  and  Mercy  his 
wife,  settled  at  Smiley,  in  Gibson  township,  as 
early  as  1804.  He  built  the  hotel  still  standing  on 
the  Newburg  turnpike,  east  of  the  creek  at  Smiley, 
and  at  the  time  it  was  erected  there  were  only  two 
frame  houses  besides  it  in  Gibson.  He  was  a con- 
tractor in  the  vicinity  of  his  home,  and  with  his  sons 
constructed  portions  of  the  turnpike,  from  1807  to 


HARMONY. 


575 


1810.  One  son,  Amos,  had  settled  in  Gibson  before 
be  died,  and  resided  on  the  west  side  of  the  Tunk- 
hannock,  a mile  below  the  hotel,  and  was  succeeded 
by  bis  son  William  in  the  ownership  of  the  property. 
As  early  as  1814  David  Taylor  removed  to  Great 
Bend  township,  and  settled  at  what  was  after- 
wards Taylortown,  which  was  named  for  him  (now 
called  Hickory  Grove).  He  frequently  accommodated 
travelers  with  quarters  and  board  on  their  journey 
through  the  new  country  and  entertained  them  with, 
old-fashioned  hospitality.  Another  of  his  sons,  Thomas 
succeeded  to  this  homestead  at  his  father’s  death,  and 
is  the  father  of  Mrs.  Joseph  Shipley,  of  Oakland.  A 


a farmer,  lumberman  and  business  man,  spent  most 
of  his  life  at  Lanesboro’  where  he  was  among  its 
early  enterprising  men,  and  there  died  (his  wife  was 
Lydia  Newman  (1815-67),  who  bore  him  children, — 
Velona,  wife  of  Robert  Day;  Sybil  Ida,  wife  of 
Arthur  Tremain  ; and  Agnes  E.,  (wife  of  Charles  M. 
Taylor,  of  Harmony ) David  ; (1814-73),  born  in  the 
lake  country  ; Daniel,  1816 ; Hannah  (1817-66),  was 
the  wife  of  George  Buck  and  resided  at  Red  Rock ; 
Josiah  (1819-42) ; Jones  (1821-84),  married  Leah 
Newman  (1828-54),  was  a farmer  in  Harmony  town- 
ship from  1848  till  his  death,  and  had  children — Edith 
O.,  wife  of  Henry  Helmer  of  Susquehanna;  Clara  I., 


third  son,  William  (1780-1851),  was  a hatter  by  trade,  | 
and  used  to  make  hats,  and,  with  a load  of  them,  take 
a trip  to  different  localities  in  this  State  and  New 
York,  where  he  sold  them  to  merchants  and  others. 
William  Taylor  married,  at  Mount  Bethel,  Pennsyl- 
vania, Elizabeth  Jones  (1789-1864),  and  for  a time 
carried  on  his  business  near  Smiley  Hollow.  He  also 
resided  in  the  lake  country  a short  time,  but  in  1816 
he  came  to  Great  Bend  township,  settled  at  Taylor, 
town  and  the  remainder  of  his  life  was  mostly  spent 
in  farming  and  lumbering.  His  children  are 
Jacob  (1810-83),  born  in  Gibson  ; Jonathan  (1812-60), 


wife  of  Frank  Ames.  By  his  second  wife,  Rhoda  E. 
Vinton,  a native  of  Afton,  New  York,  Jones  had 
children, — William  S.,  Flora  E.,  and  Frank  O.  Tay- 
lor; Elizabeth  born  in  1823,  is  the  widow  of  Samuel 
Brush, of  Brushville,  in  Oakland;  Williamson  (1826- 
46)  ; Sally  Ann  (1830-80),  was  the  wife  of  Edgar 
Thomas  of  Lanesboro,  an  enterprising  business  man, 
lumberman  ; and  Permelia  J.,  born  in  1834,  is  the 
wife  of  Noble  Thomas,  a lumberman,  also  of  Lanes- 
boro. The  three  eldest  sons  spent  most  of  their 
active  business  life  at  Lanesboro,’  where  their 
public  spirit  and  enterprise  did  much  to  build  up  the 


576 


HISTOKY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


place,  and  three  of  the  sons  married  sisters,  daughters 
of  James  (1792-1848)  and  Betsey  Bouse  (1798-1874) 
Newman.  This  James  Newman  served  in  the  War  of 
1812,  in  Connecticut,  and  at  its  close  settled  on 
Starrucca  Creek,  in  Harmony,  where  he  spent  the 
remainder  of  his  life,  a respectable  farmer  and  an 
esteemed  citizen.  His  only  son,  Martin  Newman, 
1822,  is  a merchant  at  Chippewa  Falls,  Wisconsin. 
His  father  was  Nehemiah  Newman  (1767-1843),  who 
came  to  Harmony  late  in  life  and  died  here.  Anoth- 
er son  of  Nehemiah,  Martin  resided  at  Lanesboro,’ 
Montrose  and  Little  Meadows,  and  was  buried  at  the 
former  place.  The  other  children  remained  in  Con- 
necticut. 

Jacob  Taylor,  eldest  son  of  William,  married, 
in  1833,  Hannah  Newman,  who  was  born  in  Har- 
mony February  12,  1816,  a woman  of  genial  manners 
and  known  hospitality,  whose  devotion  to  her  family 
and  womanly  virtues  have  left  their  impress  upon 
the  minds  of  her  children.  Their  children  are 
Emmazilla  Betsey,  1835,  is  the  wife  of  Harmon  K. 
Newell,  ex-county  register  and  recorder,  a promi- 
nent Baptist  and  a merchant  at  Lanesboro’  who  settled 
here  from  Berkshire,  Massachusetts,  in  1851 ; Martin 
Jones,  1837,  an  agent  of  the  Delaware  and  Hudson 
Eailroad  at  Lanesboro’ ; James  0.,  1846,  a manufac- 
turer at  Susquehanna,  served  as  an  emergency  volun- 
teer upon  the  invasion  of  the  State  by  the  rebels 
during  tbe  late  Bebellion ; Jacob  Edwin,  1848,  of  Lanes- 
boro’ ; Hannah  Ada,  1853,  died  at  the  age  of  seven  ; 
and  Leah  Elizabeth  Taylor,  died  young.  Jacob,  in 
common  with  the  other  children,  had  little  opportunity 
for  an  education  from  books,  but  had  such  parental 
training  as  gave  him  practical  ideas,  self-reliance  and 
honest  motives  in  life’s  work.  Until  1842,  after  his 
marriage,  he  resided  at  Taylortown,  where  he  was  en- 
gaged in  the  lumber  business,  which  he  had  previous- 
ly assisted  his  father  in  carrying  on. 

In  that  year  he  settled  at  Lanesboro’,  where  he  was 
largely  engaged  in  the  same  business  until  within  a 
few  years  of  his  death.  During  the  construction  of 
the  Erie  Railway  at  this  point  he  furnished  large 
quantities  of  different  kinds  of  lumber  and  timber  for 
the  company,  and  was  employed  in  the  construction 
of  its  famous  bridges  and  viaduct  in  the  vicinity.  He 
built  his  residence  at  Lanesboro’  in  1851,  the  present 
home  of  his  widow.  Mr.  Taylor  was  no  seeker  after 
political  preferment,  although  he  regularly  exercised 
the  right  of  suffrage,  and  he  was  a member  of  the 
Whig  and  Republican  parties.  He  was  energetic  in 
business,  social  in  his  intercourse  with  his  fellow- 
men  and  sympathetic  towards  those  in  need  in  excess 
of  his  means  to  bestow. 

David  Taylor,  third  son  of  William,  was  two 
years  old  when  his  parents  returned  to  Great  Bend 
township  from  the  lake  country.  He  remained  at 
home  during  his  minority  engaged  in  lumbering  and 
farming,  except  that  during  one  winter  season,  just 


before  reaching  his  majority,  he  got  one  term  at 
school,  but  for  which  time  he  afterwards  worked  out 
and  earned  fifty  dollars  with  which  to  reimburse  his 
father  and  make  up  the  loss — a matter  here  mentioned 
to  show  the  very  striking  contrast  of  school  facilities 
then  to  be  obtained  and  those  now  offered  to  the  ris- 
ing generation.  He  was  a young  man  of  much  reso- 
lution, energy  and  self-reliance,  and  unassisted  pecu- 
niarily in  the  outset,  by  his  perseverance  and  the  ju- 
dicious management  of  his  business,  he  made  a com- 
fortable competence  for  himself  and  family.  He  was 
a man  of  correct  habits,  and,  like  his  brother  Jacob, 
sympathized  with  those  less  fortunate  than  himself, 
and  lent  assistance  to  the  poor,  and  gave  liberally  to 
churches  and  charities.  The  Taylors  were  attendants 
of  the  Universalist  Church  at  Lanesboro’,  and  later  at 
Susquehanna.  After  becoming  of  age  he  bought  six 
hundred  acres  of  timber  land  of  his  father  in  the  east 
woods,  where  he  built  a saw-mill  and  carried  on  the 
lumber  business  until  1845,  when  he  settled  at  Lanes- 
boro’ and  joined  his  brother  Jonathan  in  the  purchase 
of  the  Jesse  Lane  property,  consisting  of  a large  real 
estate,  including  a grist-mill  and  saw-mill.  He 
owned  this  but  a few  months,  and  sold  his  interest  to 
his  brother  Jacob.  In  1851  he  removed  to  the  William 
Hilborn  place,  near  the  Cascade,  which  he  purchased, 
and  after  five  years  sold  it  and  bought  property 
at  Bethel  Hill,  formerly  belonging  to  James  Comfort. 
In  1866  he  bought  the  John  Comfort  farm,  where  he 
resided  until  his  death.  During  the  entire  time  of  his 
residence  at  Lanesboro’  be  was  largely  engaged  in  the 
lumber  busine.ss,  but  before  his  death  he  had  disposed 
of  much  of  his  real  estate.  David  Taylor  never  held 
political  office,  save  to  serve  for  a few  terms  as  con- 
stable, but  he  believed  in  the  principles  of  the  Repub- 
lican party,  and  supported  it  with  his  vote  and  influ- 
ence. He  married,  in  1840,  Amity  Salisbury,  who  died 
seven  years  later,  who  was  a daughter  of  Marmaduke 
Salisbury,  a resident  of  Great  Bend  in  1804,  and  after- 
wards of  Susquehanna.  In  1849  he  married  for  his 
second  wife  the  widow  of  Ansel  Benton,  formerly  Cor- 
nelia B;  Wicks,  of  Afton,  N.  Y.,  the  daughter  of  Sam- 
uel (1777-1852)  and  Margaret  Pearsall  (1776-1845) 
Wicks — the  former  a native  of  Catskill,  N.  Y.,  the 
latter  born  in  Nova  Scotia.  She  was  born  in  1817  and 
is  a woman  of  marked  intelligence  and  high  moral 
sentiment.  Her  only  child  by  her  first  marriage  is 
Adelia  L.  Benton  (1844),  the  wife  of  A.  C.  Hyde,  of 
Afton.  By  her  second  marriage  she  has  children, — 
Nora  T.  (1849),  wife  of  Adelbert  J.  Slager,  professor 
in  the  German  Theological  School  at  Dubuque,  Iowa,  a 
native  of  Harmony  ; Charles  M.,  born  in  1855,  a farmer 
on  the  Susquehanna,  in  Harmony  township,  married 
Agnes  E.,  a daughter  of  Jonathan  Taylor,  before  men- 
tioned ; and  Nellie  Elizabeth,  born  in  1858,  the  wife  of 
Dr.  Morgan  L.  Miller,  a physician  at  Lanesboro’  since 
1882. 

David  Lyons. — His  paternal  grandparents  were 


1 


HARMONY. 


577 


David  (1737-1803)  and  Abigail  Draper  (1740-1829) 
Lyons,  who  resided  at  Coleraine,  Mass.,  where  they 
were  farmers.  This  David  was  one  of  the  men  who 
dared  to  pitch  the  Biitish  tea  into  Boston  harbor  in 
1773,  and  defy  the  authority  of  the  Crown  and  Parlia- 
ment of  the  mother-country  in  placing  a duty  thereon. 
Their  children  were  Dr.  Jere,  a graduate  of  Cam- 
bridge and  a physician  at  Coleraine  until  his  death,  in 
1825,  father  of  B.  R.  Lyons,  of  Montrose;  Jesse,  a 
cabinet-maker;  Seth,  served  in  the  Revolutionary 
War;  Abigail;  Nancy;  David;  Aaron,  settled  on  the 


Coleraine,  October  22,  1805  ; John,  a mechanic  and 
farmer,  resides  in  Erie  County ; Jesse,  a drover  and 
farmer,  lived  in  the  same  county,  where  he  died 
leaving  a family;  and  Betsey,  the  widow  of  Confucius 
Loomis,  resided  at  Great  Bend.  By  a second  wife, 
Anna  Smith,  daughter  of  Joshua  Smith,  of  Spring- 
ville,  Daniel  Lyons  had  children  Barker,  died, 
in  Vineland,  N.  J. ; Susan  Mary,  died  at  eighteen ; 
Sabra  Ann,  wife  of  Dr.  G.  R.  Westcott,  a banker  in 
St.  Paul,  Minn. ; Joshua  resides  on  the  Pacific  coast; 
Horace  and  Silas,  of  To2)eka,  Kansas ; Daniel,  a mer- 


homestead  in  Coleraine;  Dr.  Joel,  practiced  medicine 
near  Coleraine;  Polly ; and  Daniel  Lyons  (1778-1850), 
a cabinet-maker,  who  came  to  Great  Bend  from  Mas- 
sachusetts in  1812,  where  he  conducted  this  business. 
He  was  one  of  the  elected  managers  of  the  first  Great 
Bend  Bridge  Company  in  1814,  and  had  been  one  of 
the  subscribers  to  its  stock  in  1812.  He  was  a deacon 
in  the  Baptist  Church,  and  alone  built  the  meeting- 
house there  in  1825,  and  for  some  time  conducted  the 
meetings  of  the  church.  His  first  wife,  Rebecca 
Barker,  died  in  1819,  and  was  the  daugliter  of  Elder 
Stephen  Barker,  a Baptist  clergyman  of  Massachu- 
setts. Only  four  of  their  eight  children  grew  to  man’s 
estate,  married  and  reared  families, — David,  born  in 


chant  in  Binghamton  ; and  George  Lyons,  an  engineer 
in  Kansas.  David  Lyons,  eldest  son  of  above,  learned 
cabinet-making  and  the  use  of  tools  with  his  father, 
but  had  only  the  meagre  opportunities  of  a private 
school  for  a short  time  for  getting  book  knowledge. 
He  was  seven  years  old  when  the  family  settled  at 
Great  Bend.  He  relates  that  at  the  age  of  seventeen 
the  elder  Drinker,  a Quaker,  came  there  and  engaged 
him  to  convey  himself  and  trunk  to  John  Hilborn’s, 
in  Harmony  ; that  he  made  the  journey  with  great 
difficulty,  cutting  his  road  at  times,  and  using  only  the 
forewheels  of  his  wagon  to  convey  the  trunk  for  a 2>art 
of  the  way,  and  crossed  the  Susquehanna  in  a canoe, — 
showing  the  newne.ss  of  the  country  as  late  as  1822. 


578 


HISTOKY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


In  1827  he  married  Amanda  Smith,  who  died  in  1872, 
aged  sixty-eight  years.  For  one  year  after  his  mar- 
riage he  kept  a hotel  at  the  Bend,  and  then,  in  part- 
nership with  a Mr.  Austin,  bought  some  five  hundred 
acres  of  timber  land  on  the  Belmont  turnpike,  in 
Harmony,  and  divided  it  between  them.  He  built  a 
frame  house  on  his  part,  and  for  two  years  resided  in 
this  place.  He  then  spent  one  year  in  New  York, 
working  at  the  carpenter’s  trade,  and  in  1829  settled 
in  Lanesboro’,  where  he  has  since  resided.  During 
his  residence  here  he  has  engaged  in  contracting  and 
building  and  in  the  manufacture  of  wagons  in  sum- 
mer, and  in  lumbering  during  the  winter  months. 
Upon  his  return  from  New  York  he  bought,  with 
Jonathan  Taylor,  one  thousand  four  hundred  acres  of 
timber  land  and  the  mills,  the  Lane  property,  which 
■he  subsequently  sold  to  the  Taylors.  He  used  to 
haul  his  lumber  to  Hale’s  Eddy,  and  thence,  by  raft, 
marketed  it  in  Philadelphia.  Mr.  Lyons  built  his 
present  residence,  and  he  erected  a grist-mill  at 
Lanesboro’  for  Jesse  Lane  in  1839.  He  has  been  also 
a dealer  in  lumber  and  real  estate.  David  Lyons  be- 
longs to  a generation  of  men  most  of  whom  long  since 
passed  away.  Temperate  in  his  habits,  and  by  nature 
possessed  of  a robust  constitution,  he  bears  his  four- 
score and  two  years  without  much  faltering  in  his 
step,  and  with  a reasonably  fair  preservation  of  mind. 
While  others  have  sought  the  arena  of  public  life  and 
local  ofiicial  place,  he  has  been  content  to  attend  to 
his  own  business;  and  although  he  was  once  elected 
a justice  of  the  peace,  he  declined  to  serve.  He  is  a 
man  of  good  business  judgment,  marked  individuality 
and  conservative  ways,  and  by  his  own  self-reliance 
and  labor  and  calculation  has  made  a competence  for 
himself  and  family.  He  calculates  interest  in  diSicult 
questions  at  his  present  age  of  eighty-two  with  rapidity 
and  accuracy,  and  is  apt  in  all  business  matters.  His 
wife  was  a member  of  the  Baptist  Church  at  Susque- 
hanna. His  children  are  Amelia,  widow  of  David  A. 
Lyons,  of  Susquehanna ; Sarah  H.,  unmarried,  re- 
sides with  her  father;  Julia  A.,  died  at  nineteen; 
Nancy,  wife  of  C.  B.  Smith,  of  Stamford,  Conn. ; 
Charles  J.,  of  Windsor,  N.  Y. 

Joseph  Austin  came  from  Great  Bend  to  Har- 
mony in  1825.  He  purchased  land  on  the  Canawacta, 
and  for  a number  of  years  conducted  a very  success- 
ful lumbering  business.  In  May,  1847,  he  took  a 
quantity  of  lumber  to  Philadelphia,  and  while  re- 
maining there  a few  days  to  dispose  of  it,  he  was 
taken  ill  and  soon  died.  David  Lyons,  Mr.  Austin’s 
life-long  friend,  was  with  him,  and  took  care  of  him 
until  he  died,  and  then  brought  the  remains  home  to 
Lanesboro’,  where  Mr.  Austin  was  buried. 

Agriculture. — Although  the  surface,  generally 
speaking,  is  not  well  adapted  to  agricultural  pursuits, 
yet,  by  dint  of  much  perseverance  and  industry,  a 
number  of  very  good  farms  have  been  developed. 
Jacob  Stover,  on  the  Canawacta,  has  the  best  one  in 
the  township.  Mr.  Stover  was  born  in  England.  He 


came  to  Harmony  in  1845,  with  but  a few  dollars  in 
his  pocket ; but  he  had  a fixed  purpose  to  acquire  a 
comfortable  home  for  himself  and  family.  He  has 
been  signally  successful.  He  purchased  about  one 
hundred  and  twenty  acres  of  wild  land,  and  clearing 
away  a small  place,  he  erected  a log  house  and  a log 
barn.  Here  he  has  lived  and  toiled  until  the  present 
time,  and  the  reward  of  his  industry  and  frugality 
is  seen  in  the  beautiful  and  fertile  fields  and  orchards 
surrounding  his  fine  residence  and  barns,  erected  in 
1860,  in  place  of  the  log  ones  first  mentioned.  C.  E. 
Van  Horn,  on  the  east  side  of  the  same  creek,  oppo- 
site from  Mr.  Stover’s  farm,  is  not  only  a painstaking 
and  thorough  farmer,  but  quite  extensively  engaged  as 
a general  agent  for  the  sale  of  mowing-machines  and 
other  kinds  of  agricultural  implements.  Other  good 
farms  that  will  attract  the  attention  of  the  passer-by 
are  owned  by  Jonathan  Stover,  E.  S.  Eoote,  Frank 
Lyons,  Henry  Helmer,  C.  M.  Taylor,  James  New- 
man, Charles  J.  McKune,  N.  R.  Comfort,  M.  J.  Tay- 
lor and  James  Buckley. 

Lumbermen. — The  extensive  pine  and  hemlock 
forests  that  originally  covered  the  surface  in  Har- 
mony afforded  excellent  opportunities  to  lumbermen. 
The  first  mill  was  built  at  Lanesboro’,  by  John  Com- 
fort, in  1810.  A few  years  later  a mill  was  built  at 
Melrose  by  the  Nine  Partners,  and  about  the  same 
year  the  one  at  Brandt  by  Jonathan  Treadwell,  and 
about  1826  James  Comfort  erected  one  at  Comfort’s 
Pond.  In  1846  Enoch  Copley  put  up  a mill  on  the 
Starrucca,  about  two  miles  above  Brandt,  and  the  same 
year  Wm.  Hilborn  one  on  the  Cascade;  in  1848,  Taylor 
& Lyons  one  near  the  mouth  of  the  Starrucca,  at 
Lanesboro’ ; in  1849,  George  Dyer  one  on  the  Cana- 
wacta ; in  1855,  J.  B.  Stevens  one  at  Stevens’  Point ; 
and  more  recently  several  steam-mills  have  been  put 
up  at  various  points  in  the  township.  At  these  places 
an  immense  quantity  of  lumber  has  been  manufactur- 
ed, and  from  them  exported  to  cities  and  towns  far 
and  near.  The  industry  has  indeed  been  an  im- 
portant and  extensive  one,  conducted  at  Lanesboro’  by 
John  Comfort,  Martin  Lane,  Jesse  Lane,  David  Lyon, 
Jonathan  Taylor,  Jacob  Taylor,  the  Thomas  brothers, 
Elias  Young,  C.  S.  Bennett,  H.  Perrine,  H.  C.  Bross  ; 
at  Brandt  by  Jonathan  Treadwell,  James  Kirk,  Enoch 
Copely ; at  Stevens’  Point  by  J.  B.  Stevens,  David 
Taylor,  James  Connelly ; at  Melrose  by  the  Nine  Part- 
ners, James  Mumford,  Bennett  & Webster,  John 
Ward  & Co. ; at  Comfort's  Pond  by  James  Comfort, 
Silas  Comfort,  D.  R.  Pope,  the  Thomas  brothers  ; on 
the  Canawacta  by  Geo.  Dyer,  Lyon  & Martin,  F.  A. 
Lyon  ; and  on  the  Cascade  by  Wm.  Hilborn  and  J. 
B.  Watrous.  At  the  present  time  those  most  exten- 
sively engaged  in  the  business  are  Mumford  & Stone, 
near  Stevens’  Point ; F.  E.  Putnam,  near  the  same 
place ; Fred.  James,  at  Lanesboro’;  and  F.  A.  Lyon, 
on  the  Canawacta. 

Tanneries.— In  1842  Enoch  Copley  and  Simeon 
Woodruff  built  a tannery  at  Brandt.  A few  years 


I 


HARMONY. 


579 


after  it  was  puixhased  by  F.  H.  & 0.  Burt,  and  about 
1852  it  was  conveyed  to  Brandt  & Schlager,  and  by 
them  the  business  was  conducted  until  a short  time 
ago.  In  1857  Pembroke  White  erected  a tannery  at 
Schlager’s.  In  this  tannery  F.  H.  Burt  also  had  an 
interest  for  a few  years,  when  it  was  sold  to  William 
Tremain,  and  subsequently  purchased  by  Brandt  & 
Schlager,  and  until  a few  years  since  the  business 
here  was  carried  on  by  them  in  connection  with  the 
business  at  Brandt.  Hemlock  bark  in  this  locality 
having  become  very  scarce,  operations  at  these  tan- 
neries were  permitted  to  cease.  In  1876  Fulmer’s 
tannery,  at  Lanesboro’,  was  erected.  In  June,  1886, 
it  was  burned,  but  at  once  rebuilt,  and  in  this  one 
tanning  is  still  continued,  but  the  the  principal  part 
of  the  bark  used  is  brought  from  remote  points  on 
the  railroads. 

Lanesboro’. — When  Martin  Lane  settled  here  he 
called  the  place  Lanesville,  and  subsequently  his  son, 
Jesse  Lane,  changed  the  name  to  Lanesboro’.  The 
Lanesville  post-office  was  established  in  1820,  when 
Martin  Lane  was  commissioned  postmaster.  His 
successors  w'ere  Silas  Comfort,  commissioned  in  1822; 
William  Hilborn,  in  1825;  Charles  Hatch,  in  1827. 
In  1829  the  name  was  changed  to  Lanesboro’,  and 
Charles  Hatch  continued  postmaster  until  1832,  then 
Nathan  S.  Williams  was  appointed,  and  he  was  fol- 
lowed by  Benjamin  Compton  in  1841 ; William  R. 
Conklin,  in  1847 ; Seth  A.  Lyons,  in  1849;  Nehemiah 
C.  Whitcom,  in  1853;  Laurens  Norton,  in  1854;  S. 
A.  Lyons,  in  1861 ; Laurens  Norton,  in  1867 ; and 
Noah  Bisbee,  December  10, 1867,  almost  twenty  years 
ago. 

The  first  store  in  this  place  was  conducted  by 
George  Noble  and  Nathan  S.  Williams.  It  stood 
where  Newell’s  store  is  now,  and  it  was  erected  in 
1822.  The  first  hotel  was  conducted  by  Charles 
Hatch.  It  stood  on  the  west  side  of  the  road  leading 
up  the  Canawacta,  and  if  it  were  standing  now  it 
would  be  directly  under  the  iron  railroad  bridge. 
Lanesboro’  now  is  a very  pretty  village,  having  a 
number  of  better  private  residences  than  can  be  found 
in  many  larger  and  more  pretentious  villages.  In 
this  place  there  are  three  stores,  one  hotel,  one  mil- 
linery store,  one  cigar  manufactory,  one  meat  market, 
one  foundry  and  machine-shop,  one  wagon-shop,  two 
blacksmith-shops,  one  grist-mill,  one  saw-mill,  one 
tannery,  one  church  and  one  school  building. 

Seth  A.  Lyons. — -His  grandfather,  David  (1737- 
1803),  with  three  brothers,  emigrated  to  America  and 
settled  at  Roxbury,  Mass.,  before  the  Revolutionary 
War.  He  early  imbibed  the  spirit  of  hostility  to 
British  oppression,  and  lent  a willing  hand  in  25itch- 
ing  overboard  the  obnoxious  tea  into  Boston  Harbor. 
He  married  Abigail  Draper  (1740-1829),  and  had 
children, — Dr.  Jere,  a graduate  of  Cambridge,  a 
physician  at  Coleraine,  Mass.,  until  his  death,  in  1825; 
Jesse;  Seth,  who  was  a soldier  of  the  Revolution; 
Abigail ; Nancy  ; David  ; Aaron  ; Dr.  Joel,  who  was 


also  a physician  near  Coleraine,  Mass. ; Polly  and 
Daniel.  The  latter  came  from  Massachusetts  in  1812 
and  settled  at  Great  Bend  ; was  the  father  of  David 
Lyons,  of  Lanesboro’.  Aaron  Lyons  was  born  at 
Roxbury,  Mass.,  in  1780,  but  when  four  years  old  his 
parents  removed  to  Coleraine,  where  he  afterwards 
engaged  in  farming,  and  lived  there  until  his  death, 
in  1863.  In  1804*  he  married  Mary  Miner  (1779- 
1863),  a native  of  Connecticut.  Their  children  were 
Alvin  (1805-33) ; Catherine  C.  (1807-48),  was  the  wife 
of  Robert  Miller,  late  of  Jackson  ; Seth  A.  (1809-80) ; 
Gilbert  M.  (1811-36)  ; Mary  A.  (1814-84) ; David  A. 
(1816-81);  Frederick  D.  (1819),  a merchant  in  Sus- 
quehanna for  nearly  thirty  years ; Charles  T.  (1822), 
a druggist  at  Waverly,  N.  Y.  Seth  A.  Lyons  was 
born  at  Coleraine,  Mass.,  July  29,  1809.  His  early 
education  was  such  as  farmers’  boys  obtained  in  those 
days  at  the  district  school.  He  was  early  taught  that 
industry  and  economy  were  necessary  to  success  in 
life.  Deciding  to  learn  a trade,  he  became  an  ap- 
prentice to  a chair  and  cabinet-maker  in  his  native 
town,  and  served  his  full  term.  While  serving  his 
apprenticeship,  he  economized  his  time  and  added  to 
his  store  of  general  information  and  knowledge  of 
books.  In  1832  he  came  to  Lanesboro’,  Pa.,  and 
associated  himself  with  Putnam  W^illiams  and 
Robert  Miller,  and  established  a manufactory  for 
sash,  blinds,  chairs  and  cabinet  work.  For  this  pur- 
pose they  erected  what  is  now  the  main  building 
used  by  the  Barnes  Manufacturing  Company.  With 
a practical  knowledge  of  the  business,  yet  with  little 
money  capital,  Mr.  Lyons  entered  upon  the  prosecu- 
tion of  this  enterprise  with  a pluck  and  energy  that 
was  deservedly  successful.  The  firm  of  W'^illiams, 
Lyous  & Miller  continued  the  business  about  four 
years,  when  they  dissolved,  and  Mr.  Lyons  carried  it 
on  alone  until  1845.  The  principal  outlet  for  the 
products  of  the  manufactory  was  at  Honesdale,  where 
he  had  a store-house,  to  which  jjoint  they  were  trans- 
ported with  teams.  In  1834  he  married  Esther, 
daughter  of  Robert  and  Elizabeth  (Fowler)  McKune, 
who  was  born  September  13,  1812,  near  Wurtsboro’, 
Sullivan  County,  N.  Y.  The  same  year  he  com- 
menced the  erection  of  the  dwelling  that  became  his 
home  until  his  death,  and  so  far  completed  it  as  to  go 
to  housekeeping  in  it  before  the  year  closed.  In  1845 
he  became  associated  with  B.  R.  and  Joel  Lyons  in 
the  mercantile  business  at  Lanesboro’,  but  continued 
in  the  firm  but  one  year,  and  then  entered  into  part- 
nership with  T.  P.  Badger,  which  continued  until 
1852,  when  Mr.  Badger  retired,  and  he  conducted  the 
business  alone  until  1863.  Their  children  are  Fran- 
cis Alvin,  born  November  30,  1834  ; Lucius  and  Ju- 
lius (twins),  1840  ; the  former  died  in  1847  and  the 
latter  in  1849.  Francis  A.,  after  completing  a pre- 
paratory course  at  the  Montrose,  Binghamton  and 
Oxford  Academies,  in  1857  entered  the  sophomore 
class  of  Union  College,  at  Schenectady,  N.  Y.,  and 
graduated  therefrom  with  honors  in  1860.  Upon  his 


580 


HISTOEY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


return  from  college  he  entered  his  father's  store  to 
assist  him  in  his  extensive  business.  In  1862  he 
married  Harriet,  daughter  of  C.  A.  and  Philura  Mc- 
Neil, of  Oxford,  N.  Y.  They  have  children, — Eay, 
Ralph  A.,  Coloma  B.  and  Harry  F.  The  eldest  son, 
Ray,  is  a graduate  of  the  Medical  Department  of  the 
University  of  Pennsylvania,  and  a successful  practi- 
tioner at  Uniondale,  Pa.  In  18^3  Mr.  Lyons  asso- 
ciated his  son  Frank  in  business  with  him,  under  the 
firm-name  of  S.  A.  Lyons  & Son.  In  connection 
with  the  mercantile  business,  Mr.  Lyons  was  largely 
engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  lumber,  owning  and 
operating  a saw-mill,  and  also  carrying  on  a farm. 
In  1873  he  had  an  attack  of  partial  paralysis,  after 
which  he  gave  up  his  place  in  the  store,  relinquishing 
the  mercantile  business  into  the  hands  of  his  son ; 
but  with  unimpaired  mental  faculties,  and  with  all 
his  old-time  skill  and  ability,  he’  continued  to  make 
improvements  and  actively  manage  his  large  business 
until  his  death,  in  1880.  In  politics  he  identified 
himself  with  the  Whig  and  Republican  parties,  and 
although  not  a politician,  yet  took  much  interest  in 
public  affairs.  He  was  postmaster  for  several  years, 
served  as  justice  of  the  peace  one  term,  and  was 
school  director  for  years.  Mr.  Lyons  was  a member 
of  the  Universalist  Church  at  Susquehanna.  His 
widow,  who  survives  him,  resides  at  the  homestead. 
He  was  a man  of  sterling  integrity  and  honesty  of 
purpose,  and  his  loss  was  deeply  felt  in  the  towm 
which  his  life  of  business  activity  and  industry  had 
done  so  much  towards  developing  and  improving. 

Barnes  Manufacturing  Company. — The  enter- 
prise carried  on  by  this  company  and  its  predecessors 
has  been  to  Lanesboro’  and  vicir  ity  a very  important 
one.  The  following  articles  are  among  the  list  manu- 
factured at  this  place : The  Climax  Circular  Saw-Mills, 
steam-engines,  plows,  cultivators,  road-scrapers,  axle- 
boxes,  sleigh-shoes,  cauldron  kettles.  Bush’s  iron 
fence,  castings  and  machine  fittings  for  mills,  tanneries 
and  factories,  derrick  gears,  crow-bars,  picks,  shovels, 
wire-rope,  etc.  In  1834  S.  A.  Lyons,  Putman  Williams 
and  Robert  Miller  built  a sash  and  blind-shop  where 
the  Barnes  manufactory  now  stands.  Mr.  Lyons  had 
eight  dollars  in  cash  to  begin  with,  and  C.  A.  Miller, 
who  is  now  living  in  Susquehanna,  states  that  his 
father,  Robert  Miller,  and  the  other  partner,  Mr. 
Williams,  were  no  better  off  than  was  Mr.  Lyons.  Yet 
these  men  were  industrious  and  honest,  hence  able  to 
get  credit,  and  so  commenced  chiefly  on  borrowed 
capital.  Subsequently  the  partnership  was  dissolved, 
and  Mr.  Lyons  for  a time  conducted  the  business 
alone  until  1843,  when  he  sold  out  to  Amos  Barnes. 
The  machinery  was  then  taken  out  of  the  shop,  and 
it  was  converted  into  a foundry  and  machine-shop. 
However,  since  that  time  the  buildings  have  under- 
gone several  important  changes.  The  circular  saw- 
mills constructed  by  this  company,  have  been  shipped 
to  points  far  and  near,  and  are  now  in  use  in  many  of 
the  States  and  Territories  from  Florida  to  Montana. 


When  the  Erie  Railroad  was  being  constructed,  and 
the  shops  at  Susquehanna  were  under  process  of  erec- 
tion, a great  deal  of  work  for  the  railroad  comjtany 
was  done  at  this  place.  Benjamin  Alesworth,  the 
principal  one  among  a gang  of  counterfeiters  that  in- 
fested Harmony  some  years  ago,  called  at  the  Barnes 
foundry  with  a model  for  a lifting-machine,  as  he 
called  it,  and  wished  castings  made  to  conform  to  his 
model.  Mr.  S.  H.  Barnes  told  him  “ that  he  did  not 
think  the  machine  would  prove  to  be  very  practicaL 
as  it  would  not  lift  anything  very  high.”  Alesworth 
responded  “that  he  did  not  care  so  much  about  its  lift- 
ing high  if  it  would  only  lift  hard.”  The  castings  were 
consequently  made  according  to  the  model,  and  after- 
wards it  appeared  that  this  lifting-machine  was  the 
powerful  press  that  the  counterfeiters  used  in  making 
the  money  so  freely  passed  in  this  locality  at  that  time. 
At  the  time  the  press  was  made,  Mr.  Barnes  had  no 
idea  that  it  was  to  be  put  to  such  a use,  and  since  its 
real  use  was  revealed  he  has  looked  upon  lifting- 
machines  with  a degree  of  distrust. 

Amos  Barnes. — The  progenitor  of  the  Barnes 
family  of  Lanesboro’,  was  Benjamin  Barnes,  who 
came  from  Wales  and  settled  in  Connecticut  earlier 
than  1635.  Upon  the  breaking  out  of  the  Pequod 
War  he  was  commissioned  captain  of  a company,  and 
led  his  men  through  many  a bloody  hand-to-hand 
conflict  with  the  blood-thirsty  savages.  Oliver 
Barnes  was  a native  of  Litchfield,  Conn.,  and  was 
the  father  of  Amos,  who  was  born  at  that  place  the 
7th  day  of  November,  1797,  being  the  youngest 
of  five  sons.  His  brothers  were  Abijah,  Bela,  Jacob 
and  Salma,  and  he  had  sisters — Mabel,  Olive  and 
Milla. 

In  the  year  1800  Oliver  Barnes  removed  with  his 
family  to  Colesville,  Broome  County,  N.  Y.,  and 
settled  on  the  banks  of  the  Susquehanna  River,  a 
short  distance  above  the  present  site  of  the  Ouaquaga 
post-office.  Oliver  Barnes  was  one  of  the  very  early 
settlers  in  that  region,  for  at  that  date  the  country 
along  the  valley  of  the  Susquehanna  was  almost  an 
unbroken  wilderness.  Amos  was  too  young  to 
realize  this  radical  change  from  the  comforts  and 
conveniences  of  civilization  to  the  discomforts  and 
privations  of  a pioneer  life,  and  as  he  grew  to 
manhood  he  became  imbued  with  the  spirit  of  devel- 
opment and  improvement  so  characteristic  of  the 
sturdy  pioneers  of  that  day,  and  to  him  and  his 
co-workers  the  present  generation  are  indebted  for  the 
grand  transformation  scene  that  made  the  valley  of 
the  Susquehanna  a “ thing  of  beauty  and  a joy  for- 
ever.” He  early  turned  his  natural  mechanical  skill 
to  account  by  learning  the  carpenter’s  trade,  and 
many  specimens  of  his  handiwork  may  still  be  seen 
in  the  vicinity  of  his  early  labors. 

In  1823  he  married  Mary  P.  Wei  ton  (1799-1849), 
daughter  of  Eli  and  Anna  Sanford  Welton,  of  Coles- 
ville, who  was  born  in  Plymouth,  Conn.,  where  her 
parents  resided  until  she  was  seventeen  years  old. 


HARMONY. 


581 


when  they  removed  to  Colesville.  They  had  children, 
— Simon  H.  (1825),  Luther  (1826),  Almina  (1828-31), 
Eli  (1830),  Anna  K.  (1831)  and  Almon  (1833).  In 
1843  Mr.  Barnes  came  with  his  family  to  Lanesboro’, 
and  while  he  was  not  one  of  its  early  settlers,  yet  the 
era  of  its  advancement  and  growth  was  inaugurated 
about  the  time  of  his  coming.  He  brought  to  his 
new  home  the  same  industry  and  energy  for  devel- 
opment and  improvement  as  characterized  his 
pioneer  life.  Following  the  bent  of  his  mechanical 
inclinations,  he  purchased,  before  coming  to  Lanes- 
boro’, the  sash  and  blind-factory  of  Seth  A.  Lyons. 
Here  he  manufactured  shingles,  etc.,  until  1850,  when, 
taking  his  eldest  son,  Simon  H.  into  partnership,  the 
factory  building  was  remodeled  and  partially  re- 
built, new  machinery  took  the  place  of  the  old, 
and  the  new  firm  commenced  the  manufacture  of 
castings,  plows  and  general  machinery,  under  the 
firm-name  of  A.  & S.  H.  Barnes.  He  married  at 
Lanesboro’,  in  1850,  for  his  second  wife,  Maria  T. 
Orcutt  (1809),  born  in  Madison,  N.  Y.,  to  which 
place  her  parents  removed  from  Stafibrd,  Conn. 
They  afterwards  became  residents  of  Binghamton, 
N.  Y.,  where  they  died. 

In  1867,  Luther,  another  son,  entered  the  partner- 
ship, and  the  firm  became  A.  & S.  H.  Barnes  & Co. 
By  strict  business  methods,  coupled  with  business 
integrity  and  fair  dealing,  the  firm  did  a thriving  and 
prosperous  business,  the  financial  benefits  from  which 
did  not  accrue  to  them  alone,  but  were  shared  by 
their  neighbors,  to  many  of  whom  it  gave  lucrative 
employment.  In  1875  his  two  sons,  Simon  H.  and 
Luther,  purchased  his  interest  and  he  retired  from 
the  manufacturing  business.  Although  past  the 
allotted  age  of  man,  yet  the  active  business  habits  of 
a lifetime  would  not  allow  him  to  seek  a retirement 
he  had  so  well  earned,  and  from  the  time  he  left  the 
firm  until  his  death,  in  1880,  he  was  most  of  the  time 
actively  engaged  in  building.  He  had  some  eccen- 
tricities, but  was  a kind  parent,  a genial  neighbor  and 
thoroughly  conscientious  and  honest.  He  has  left  land- 
marks all  along  his  life’s  pathway  of  his  handiwork, 
attesting  his  indomitable  energy  and  j>erseverance. 
Of  his  family  who  survive  him,  his  widow,  surrounded 
by  the  comforts  that  his  successful  business  life 
garnered,  spends  part  of  her  time  at  the  homestead  in 
Lanesboro’,  and  the  remainder  with  friends  in  Bing- 
hamton. Simon  H.  and  Luther  still  continue  the 
business  of  the  Barnes  Manufacturing  Company, 
and  the  other  two  sons,  Eli  and  Almon,  are  connected 
with  the  establishment.  The  daughter,  Anna  K., 
presides  at  the  old  homestead;  and  thus  the  whole 
family  remain  near  the  paternal  roof-tree. 

SiMOit  H.  Baenes,  the  eldest  son  of  Amos  Barnes 
(1797-1880)  and  Mary  P.,  his  wife  (1799-1849),  was 
born  August  10,  1825,  in  Colesville,  Broome  County, 
N.  Y.,  at  which  place  his  father  had  resided  since 
1800.  During  his  boyhood  he  availed  himself  of  the 
meagre  educational  advantages  at  that  time  afforded 


by  the  public  schools  of  the  county.  When  old  enough 
to  be  of  assistance,  he  aided  his  father,  whose  occupa- 
tion was  that  of  a carpenter  and  builder.  About 
1840  his  father  was  engaged  in  distilling  essential  oils 
and  manufacturing  essences,  and  himself  and  brother 
Luther  gathered  most  of  the  herbs  and  materials  for 
their  manufacture.  In  the  fall  of  1843  his  father  re- 
moved to  Harmony  township,  and  settled  at  Lanes- 
boro’. In  the  fall  and  winter  of  1845  he  attended  a 
select  school  at  Ouaquaga,  X.  Y.,  and  in  1846  he  at- 
tended another  term  of  select  school  near  that  place. 
The  studies  most  congenial  to  him  were  mathematics 
and  the  mechanical  sciences,  and  he  applied  himself 
with  much  zeal,  with  a view  of  preparing  himself  for 
a teacher,  a step  he  contemplated  for  the  purpose  of 
securing  means  wherewith  to  obtain  a collegiate  edu- 
cation, to  which  his  aspirations  then  tended.  The 
fall  he  reached  his  majority  he  engaged  to  teach  a 
district  school  in  Jackson.  At  this  time  (1846)  the 
New  York  and  Erie  Railroad  was  being  constructed, 
and  railroad  men  and  contractors  came  on  to  build 
and  put  up  the  important  bridges  and  works  in  and 
about  Lanesboro’  and  Susquehanna.  Mechanical 
labor  being  in  great  demand,  and  the  work  requiring 
large  quantities  of  lumber  and  other  material,  Mr. 
Barnes  concluded  that  the  railroad  offered  better 
financial  inducements  than  the  school-room,  and  by 
paying  one  dollar  and  fifty  cents  a month  bonus,  he 
secured  a Mr.  Badger  to  carry  out  his  contract  with 
the  Jackson  School  Board.  He  then  commenced  work 
for  the  Erie  Company,  and,  under  a contract,  built 
two  boarding-houses,  store,  blacksmith-shop,  cement 
and  lime-sheds  and  other  small  buildings.  Besides 
these  contracts,  he  furnished  nearly  or  quite  a half- 
million feet  of  hewn  timber,  which  was  used  in  the 
“false  work,”  so  called,  of  the  famed  stone  viaduct 
at  Lanesboro’.  In  this  work  he  employed  a large 
number  of  men  and  teams. 

He  also  worked  on  the  wooden  bridge  at  Lanes- 
boro’ and  the  river  bridge  at  Susquehanna,  and  as- 
sisted in  building  the  depots  on  the  line  of  the  road 
between  that  place  and  Port  Jervis,  and  had  charge 
of  the  erection  of  the  depot  at  Great  Bend.  In  fall  and 
winter  of  1849-50  he  went  to  Centre  Village,  N.  Y.,  and 
completed  a toll-bridge  over  the  Susquehanna  River, 
built  a toll-house  and  also  a hotel.  In  1850  himself 
and  father  associated  themselves  together,  under  the 
firm-name  of  A.  & S.  H.  Barnes,  for  the  manufacture 
of  castings,  mill  machinery,  plows,  etc.,  and  from 
1852-55  they  furnished  large  quantities  of  railroad 
castings  for  the  shops  at  Susquehanna.  He  was  mar- 
ried to  Martha  A.  Hunter,  daughter  of  Jesse  Hunter, 
of  Cortland,  N.  Y.,  who  died  in  1855.  In  1867  he 
married  Anliza  Jones,  daughter  of  Horace  and  Betsey 
Jones,  of  Coventry,  Chenango  County,  X.  Y.  In 
1867  his  brother  Luther  became  a member  of  the 
firm,  and  the  three  conducted  the  business  until  1875, 
when  himself  and  brother  purchased  their  father’s 
interest,  and,  under  the  title  of  the  “Barnes  Manufac- 


582 


HISTOKY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNS  if  LVANIA. 


turing  Company,”  they  have  conducted  the  business 
to  the  present  time. 

While  the  manufacturing  business,  to  which  Mr. 
Barnes  has  devoted  the  best  part  of  his  life,  has  never 
developed  a great  mine  of  wealth,  yet,  by  industry  and 
frugality  and  correct  business,  as  well  as  social  habits, 
he  has  acquired  a modest  competence  that,  in  the  ab- 
sence of  an  overreaching  ambition  after  wealth,  will 
leave  his  later  years  free  from  financial  anxiety. 
Though  never  a dealer  in  real  estate,  yet,  through 
transactions  incident  to  his  business,  he  is  now  the 
owner  of  ten  or  twelve  hundred  acres  of  land,  and  the 
firm  owns  from  eight  to  ten  hundred  acres  more.  In 
1869,  for  his  own  convenience,  he  purchased  a sur- 
veyor’s compass,  and  although  possessing  no  jrrevious. 
knowledge  of  the  business,  he  unraveled  its  mathe- 
matical mysteries,  and  to-day  enjoys  a local  reputa- 
tion as  an  accurate  surveyor. 

Although  his  own  private  business  has  demanded 
his  entire  time  and  attention,  yet  he  has  always 
shown  a lively  interest  in  the  prosperity  of  his  town- 
ship, and  during  a large  share  of  his  life  he  has  been 
designated  by  his  fellow-townsmen  to  officially  as- 
sist in  the  administration  of  its  local  aft’airs.  In  1853 
he  w^as  constable  and  collector,  and  posted  the  notices 
of  election  at  the  time  Susquehanna  borough  and  the 
towmship  of  Oakland  were  created  from  the  old  town 
of  Harmony.  For  a quarter  of  a century — from 
1861-86 — he  was  a justice  of  the  peace.  He  has  been 
a school  director  for  fourteen  years,  and  served  as 
auditor  for  several  terms.  In  politics  Mr.  Barnes  was 
originally  a Whig,  but  he  joined  the  Republican 
ranks  when  that  party  was  organized,  and  has  ever 
been  one  of  its  most  zealous  and  active  adherents,  and 
served  a number  of  years  as  county  committee  for 
Harmony. 

Mr.  Barnes  is  non-sectarian  in  his  religious  views 
and  beliefs,  and  has  never  connected  himself  with 
any  church  society,  although  a contributor  towards 
the  support  of  the  ministry,  and  other  objects  having 
for  their  aim  the  benefit  of  mankind.  His  wife  is  a 
member  of  the  Episcopal  Church. 

The  Harmoxty  Independent  School  District 
was  formed  in  1873.  The  district  includes  Lanesboro’ 
and  Schlager’s.  In  1874  a nice  two-story  framed 
building  was  erected.  Accommodations  for  three 
departments  are  provided.  The  rooms  are  well 
furnished  with  improved  desks,  pure  slate  black- 
boards, maps  and  other  furniture  in  keeping  wdth  the 
attractive  exterior  appearance  of  the  building.  In 
front  and  surrounding  it  there  is  a beautiful  lawn 
ornamented  with  a plentiful  supply  of  young  hard- 
maple  shade-trees,  and  from  the  street  to  the  front- 
door excellent  blue  fiag-stones  are  laid  for  a walk. 
The  house  and  grounds  are  kept  in  good  order.  The 
first  board  of  directors  was  composed  of  C.  E.  McCoy, 
F.  A.  Lyons,  M.  J.  Taylor,  J.  M.  Thomas,  D.  W. 
Norton  and  S.  M.  Munson.  The  directors  at  the 
present  time  are  E.  I.  Carr,  president ; C.  E.  McCoy, 


secretary;  T.  J.  Nicholson,  treasurer;  and  J.  M. 
Thomas,  Charles  Schlager  and  Fred.  James.  Since 
the  organization  of  the  school  the  following-named 
persons  have  conducted  the  school  as  principals  : 0. 
F.  Payne,  C.  E.  Harris,  Miss  Gertrude  Miller,  Miss 
N.  J.  Adams,  Miss  Madge  Force,  C.  C.  Stillson  and 
J.  H.  Young.  There  are  about  one  hundred  and 
fifty  pupils  that  attend  this  school. 

Charles  E.  McCoy  was  born  in  Erie  County, 
N.  Y.,  in  1824.  He  came  to  Harmony  in  1859,  and 
engaged  in  lumbering,  which  business  he  followed 
about  twenty-five  years.  In  1880  he  opened  a flag- 
stone quarry  near  Lanesboro’,  and  is  a jobber  and  con- 
tractor for  furnishing  and  laying  stone  walks  and 
pavements  in  Wilkes-Barre,  Pa.  He  has  been  a 
school  director  in  the  independent  district  of  Lanes- 
boro’ since  the  district  was  formed,  in  1873.  He  held 
the  office  of  president  eight  years,  and  for  the  past 
nine  years  he  has  been  secretary.  Before  he  left  his 
native  county  he  was  twice  elected  justice  of  the 
peace,  the  first  time  when  he  was  but  twenty-two  years 
of  age.  He  is  now  acting  justice  of  the  peace  at 
Lanesboro’,  elected  to  that  office  in  1886. 

Thomas  Nicholson  was  born  in  Ireland,  and 
came  from  Dublin  to  America  in  1846.  In  1851  he 
came  to  Lanesboro’  with  a very  limited  capital,  en- 
gaged in  harness-making,  and  gradually  extended  his 
business  into  other  lines  of  trade.  He  filled  the 
office  of  school  director  nine  years ; treasurer  of  town- 
ship, seven  years;  constable  and  collector,  three 
years. 

The  Nicholson  Guards. — An  independent  mili- 
tary company  was  organized  in  the  spring  of  1887  by 
Thomas  Nicholson.  The  company  is  composed  of 
nineteenyoung  men  living  at  Lanesboro’,  and  bears  the 
above  title.  It  is  uniformed,  armed  and  already  quite 
thoroughly  drilled.  Mr.  Nicholson  is  captain. 

The  Lanesboro’  Lyceum  is  a literary  society  or- 
ganized in  December,  1875.  The  charter  members 
were  0.  F.  Payne,  Ralph  E.  Stewart,  S.  H.  Barnes,  C. 
H.  Yelvington,  M.D.,  F.  A.  Barnes,  A.  P.  Yelvington, 
Almon  Barnes,  H.  K.  Newell,  M.  J.  Taylor,  C.  E.  Mc- 
Coy, A.  J.  Taylor,  Fred.  Thornton,  S.  M.  Munson,  D. 
W.  Norton,  D.  W.  New'ell  and  A.  S.  Munson.  M.  J. 
Taylor  was  the  first  president ; R.  E.  Stewart,  secre- 
tary ; and  S.  M.  Munson,  treasurer.  The  following 
persons  have  held  the  office  of  president : M.  J.  Tay- 
lor, S.  M.  Munson,  H.  K.  Newell,  C.  E.  McCoy,  J.  T. 
Stewart,  C.  E.  Harris,  P.  S.  Morton,  D.  C.  Yale,  J.  R. 
Comfort,  George  Flogans,  James  Fowler,  S.  H.  Barnes, 
H.  C.  Bross,  Rev.  J.  R.  Wagner,  Rev.  T.  C.  Roskelly, 
Almon  Barnes,  H.  W.  French,  H.  H.  Barnes,  S.  W. 
Tarbox,  Fred.  James,  Rev.  Win.  Bixby  and  James 
Lovelace.  R.  A.  Lyons  is  now  secretary  and  treas- 
urer, and  S.  H.  Barnes  is  vice-president.  The  num- 
ber of  members  at  present  is  forty-eight.  During  the 
winter  season  debates  and  literary  entertainments  ale 
regularly  held.  These  meetings  are  well  attended  and 
the  benefit  derived  from  them  has  been  inestimable. 


HARMONY. 


583 


Lanesboeo’  Lodge,  No.  (56,  I.  0.  G.  T.,  was  insti- 
tuted March  9,  1887,  by  O.  T.  Smith,  D.  G.  C.  T.,  with 
twenty  six  charter  members.  The  officers  are  R.  A. 
Lyons,  C.  T. ; Lottie  McKune,  V.  T. ; H.  E.  Taylor, 
Secretary ; G.  W.  Foster,  F.  S. ; Mrs.  Frank  Com- 
fort, A.  S. ; Frank  Neeley,  C. ; Mrs.  H.  Patrick,  T. ; 
F.  A.  Buckley,  M. ; Agnes  Neeley,  D.  M. ; Mrs.  Mary 
Tuscom,  G. ; B.  A.  Barnes,  S. ; Clara  Warner,  R.  H.  S. ; 
Emma  Neeley,  L.  H.  S. ; Newell  Lounsbury,  P.  C.T. 

The  Starrucca  Viaduct  spans  the  Starmcca 
Creek  near  its  mouth,  and  upon  it  the  tracks  of  the 
New  York,  Lake  Erie  and  Western  Railroad  arelaid.  It 
is  one  of  the  most  imposing  structures  anywhere  to 
be  seen.  It  is  built  of  solid  masonry,  twelve  hundred 
I'eet  long,  ninety-eight  feet  high  and  wide  enough  for 
double  tracks,  having  seventeen  beautifully  symmetri- 
cal arches,  over  which  the  ponderous  locomotives, 
with  their  long  trains,  run  as  smoothly  as  on  solid 
rock.  The  structure  was  laid  during  the  years 
1846-47,  and  cost  about  three  hundred  and  twenty-five 
thousand  dollars.  From  those  visiting  Lanesboro’  this 
viaduct  receives  a great  deal  of  notice. 

BraisDT,  a hamlet  on  the  Starrucca  Creek,  about 
two  miles  above  the  Erie  Railroad  viaduct,  was  known 
as  Harmony  Centre  until  the  name  was  changed  to 
Brandt,  in  honor  of  H.  W.  Brandt.  At  this  point  the 
high  hills  between  which  the  sparkling  Starrucca 
gracefully  winds  have  apiiarently  receded,  forming 
a little  valley,  that  seems  to  have  been  purposely  de- 
signed by  nature  for  this  quiet  hamlet.  At  Brandt, 
and  its  immediate  vicinity,  are  fifty  dwellings,  some 
of  which  would  grace  more  pretentious  towns,  a fine 
brick  church  (Presbyterian),  a modern  and  commo- 
dious school-house,  store  and  post-office,  chair  manu- 
factory, acid  works,  brick-yard  and  stone  quarry  and 
two  steam  saw-mills.  The  Jefierson  Branch  of  the 
Erie  Railroad  has  also  a dejiot  at  this  place. 

The  Brandt  Chair  Manufacturing  Company 
(Limited). — In  1865,  near  the  present  site  of  the 
brick-yard,  a chair  manufactory  was  erected,  and  at 
that  jilace,  until  1882,  the  business  was  conducted. 
At  the  latter  date  the  tannery  at  Brandt  was  destroyed 
by  fire,  and  instead  of  rebuilding  the  tannery,  in  its 
place  a large  three-story  framed  building  was  erected 
and  provided  with  improved  machinery  for  the  pur- 
pose of  carrying  on  the  manufacturing  of  chairs  and 
other  furniture  on  a much  larger  scale  than  it  had 
been  done  before.  About  forty  persons  are  employed, 
to  whom  good  wages  are  paid,  and  thus  also  a good 
market  afforded  for  hard-wood  lumber,  of  which,  on 
the  Starrucca  Creek,  there  is  still  considerable  re- 
maining. The  business  is  conducted  under  a limited 
partnership,  the  members  of  which  are  W.  Scott 
Brandt,  Walter  Schlager,  George  Fromer  and  H.  0. 
Peck. 

They  employ  about  fifty  men  and  the  capacity  of 
the  factory  is  eight  thousand  dozen  chairs  annually, 
the  principal  market  for  which  is  New  York  City. 
The  acid-works  are  conducted  by  W.  Scott  and  Jacob 


S.  Brandt,  R.  Kessler  and  Charles  and  Adelbert 
Schlager.  The  brick-yard  is  owned  by  W.  Scott 
Brandt,  Andrew  Blank  and  H.  O.  Peck.  These  en- 
terprises, including  stone  quarry  and  saw-mill,  em- 
ploy about  fifty  more  men.  One  of  the  steam  saw- 
mills is  owned  and  operated  by King. 

Henry  William  Brandt  was  born  in  Boden- 
werder,  in  the  Kingdom  of  Hanover,  April  26,  1808. 
His  parents  were  Gottlieb  Ludwic  and  Hannah 
Caroline  Charlotte  Brandt,  who  were  both  natives  of 
Bodenwerder,  the  former  born  in  1768,  the  latter  in 
1776.  Gottlieb  Ludwic  Brandt  was  a tanner,  as  had 
been  his  father  and  ancestors  before  him,  and,  look- 
ing on  the  practical  side  of  life,  he  naturally  desired 
his  son  to  follow  in  his  footsteps.  In  pursuance  of 
this  determination,  at  the  age  of  fourteen  young 
Brandt  found  his  school-days  abruptly  terminated,  and 
he  was  placed  in  his  father’s  tannery  to  learn  the 
mysteries  of  the  trade.  But  the  occupation  of  his 
ancestors  did  not  prove  to  his  liking,  and  at  the  age  of 
fifteen  he  was  bound  out  to  an  uncle  to  learn  the  busi- 
ness of  a hatter.  Here  he  remained  but  four  months, 
and  his  father  having  died,  he  returned  home.  Upon 
the  re-marriage  of  his  mother,  his  step-father  as- 
sumed control  of  the  tanning  business  that  had  been 
conducted  by  his  father,  and  through  certain  coercive 
measures  he  returned  much  against  his  will  and  re- 
sumed work  in  the  tannery.  Through  force  of  cir- 
cumstances he  remained  there  until  he  was  twenty- 
four  years  old,  when  taking  the  advice  of  his  rector, 
he  embarked  at  Bremen  for  America,  and  landed  in 
New  York  September  7,  1832.  Alone  in  a strange 
land,  without  friends  or  money,  he  spent  a week  in 
looking  for  work,  when,  meeting  a countryman  of  his, 
he  learned  there  were  tanneries  at  Hunter,  N.  Y., 
and  he  decided  to  accompany  his  new-made  friend  to 
that  place.  Borrowing  some  money  from  an  entire 
stranger — a singular  providence,  he  always  thought — 
he  took  passage  on  a tow-boat  to  the  Catskills,  and 
the  remainder  of  the  journey,  eighteen  miles,  he 
made  on  foot,  carrying  a knapsack  which  contained  all 
his  worldly  possessions.  Here  he  obtained  work  in 
Colonel  Edwards’  tannery  at  ten  dollars  per  month, 
and  remained  a year  and  a half,  when  the  tannery 
ceased  work  and  he  sought  and  obtained  employment 
elsewhere.  In  1835  he  was  foreman  of  the  Fixby 
tannery  at  Lexington  (now  Jewett),  N.  Y.,  and  in 
1836  accepted  the  position  of  foreman  in  Colonel 
Edwards’  tannery  at  Hunter,  and  after  the  colonel’s 
death  he  had  full  charge  of  the  business  for  three 
years.  On  the  20th  day  of  September,  1838,  he  mar- 
ried Ruth  Coe,  a native  of  Greene  County,  N.  Y.,  and 
three  years  thereafter,  in  partnership  with  Andrew 
Hover,  he  went  to  Andes,  N.  Y.,  and  commenced 
the  tanning  business  for  himself.  Their  tannery  was 
destroyed  by  fire  the  second  year  after  they  com- 
menced business,  but  with  that  indomitable  pluck 
and  tenacity  of  purpose  that  ever  characterized  him, 
it  was  soon  rebuilt.  Selling  out  to  his  partner  in 


584 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


1844,  he  returned  to  Lexington  and  soon  afterwards 
went  to  Maine,  intending  to  make  that  State  his  home. 
While  there  he  had  charge  of  the  Southwick  tan- 
nery, in  Kennebeck  County,  but  relinquishing  his  in- 
tention of  making  the  “pine-tree”  State  his  home, 
he  returned  to  Lexington.  In  June,  1845,  himself  and 
Jacob  Schlager  formed  a partnership  and  bought  the 
Charles  Chase  tannery,  at  Lexington.  Mr.  Schlager 
was  also  a practical  tanner,  and  the  partnership  thus 
formed  was  destined  to  continue  for  more  than  forty 
years  and  to  be  dissolved  only  by  death.  They  soon 
after  purchased  the  tannery  of  Ezra  Pratt,  and  also 
rented  the  Edwards  tannery,  at  Hunter,  where  they 
had  both  previously  worked  at  the  “ beam.”  In  the 
summer  of  1852  they  sold  all  their  property  in  Greene 
County,  N.  Y.,  and  came  to  Harmony  Centre,  where 
they  purchased  the  “ Keystone  ” Tannery,  originally 
built  by  Enoch  Coply  in  1848,  but  then  owned  by 
Orlo  and  Friend  Burt.  The  only  buildings  at  the 
“ Centre  ” then  were  the  tannery,  a small  building  on 
north  side  of  creek  used  as  a store,  a saw-mill,  a slab 
school-house,  a small  fraction  of  the  residence  of  the 
late  Jacob  Schlager,  and  what  is  now  the  kitchen  of 
the  present  Brandt  homestead.  Thus  the  firm  of 
“Brandt  & Schlager”  became  indentified  with  the 
business  interests  of  Susquehanna  County,  and  their 
names  are  associated  with  almost  every  enterprise 
inaugurated  for  the  advancement  and  improvement  of 
this  section  of  the  county,  and  particularly  their  own 
town  of  Harmony.  Hardly  were  they  established  in 
their  new  home  before  they  began  to  make  radical 
improvements.  They  erected  a store  building,  and 
added  from  time  to  time  extensive  additions  to  their 
tannery,  increasing  its  capacity  to  ten  thousand  hides 
annually  ; a new  school-house  took  the  place  of  the 
old  slab  one,  and  thrift  and  industry  went  hand-in- 
hand.  In  1857  they  built  a tannery  at  Sherman, 
Wayne  County,  Pa.,  which  they  ran  successfully 
until  1880,  when  they  closed  it,  erected  new  build- 
ings, and  commenced  the  manufacture  of  pyrolignic 
acid,  under  the  name  of  the  “ Scott  Chemical  Com- 
pany,” still  in  successful  operation.  In  1865  they 
erected  what  is  now  known  as  the  “ old  ” chair  fac- 
tory, in  which  they  were  only  indirectly  interested 
at  first,  but  finally  became  its  owners  and  successfully 
conducted  it  for  several  years.  In  1867  they  pur- 
chased the  Lanesboro’  Tannery,  built  about  1854  by 
the  Burt  Bros.,  but  then  owned  by  the  Tremains. 
This  tannery  they  run  for  twenty  years,  and  in  Sep- 
tember, 1886,  the  last  hide  was  tanned  and  the  busi- 
ness discontinued. 

In  1868  Bayless  & Buckalew  erected  at  Brandt 
the  second  acid  factory  established  in  the  country, 
and  after  passing  through  several  hands  it  became 
the  property  of  Brandt  & Schlager,  and  is  still  in  suc- 
cessful operation.  They  also  erected,  in  1876,  a 
steam  saw-mill  at  Brandt.  Mr.  Brandt’s  enterprise 
and  love  for  improvement  was  not  confined  to  his 
own  quiet  hamlet,  as  is  evidenced  by  the  fine  brick 


block  which  he  erected  in  Susquehanna  in  1883,  and 
which  also  bears  his  name.  Mr.  Brandt  has  held 
high  positions  of  honor  and  trust,  which  came  to  him  j 
unsought  because  of  his  unimpeachable  integrity  and 
business  standing  in  the  community. 

In  1866  he  was  elected  a director  of  the  First  Na- 
tional Bank  of  Susquehanna,  and  in  1870  its  presi- 
dent, which  office  he  held  until  1884,  when  he  resign- 
ed it  and  became  the  first  president  of  the  new  City 
National  Bank,  which  he  had  been  instrumental  in 
organizing.  The  same  year  he  was  elected  president 
of  the  Burcey  Chemical  Company,  of  Binghamton, 
N.  Y.  But  the  religious  life-work  of  Mr.  Brandt  was 
as  remarkable  and  equally  as  successful  as  his  business 
career.  It  commenced  in  1847,  when  himself  and 
Mrs.  Brandt  united  with  the  Presbyterian  Church  at 
Hunter.  When  he  came  to  Harmony,  in  1852,  his 
energy  and  zeal,  ably  seconded  by  his  partner,  Mr. 
Schlager,  resulted  in  organizing  the  Presbyterian 
Church  at  Susquehanna  in  that  year,  of  which  he  was 
a trustee  from  the  first,  elected  deacon  the  next  year, 
and  afterwards  a ruling  elder.  Here  himself  and 
family  worshipped  for  more  than  twenty  years  ; and 
he  was  no  “fair-weather”  Christian, — the  warring 
elements  never  deterred  him  from  the  performance  of 
his  religious  duties.  In  1875  the  neat  brick  church 
at  Brandt,  erected  largely  through  the  liberality  of 
Messrs.  Brandt  & Schlager,  was  dedicated.  In  1884  they 
presented  to  the  society  there  a new  parsonage,  thus 
further  evincing  their  Christian  liberality.  In  recog- 
nition of  his  services  to  the  church  and  of  his  high 
moral  character  and  abilities,  he  was  elected  by  the 
Lackawanna  Presbytery  a commissioner  to  the  Gen- 
eral Assembly,  which  met  at  Minneapolis  in  May, 
1886.  This  was  his  last  “ commission  ’’  here,  for  he 
died  July  8,  1886,  shortly  after  reaching  home.  Mr. 
Brandt  was  fond  of  his  family  and  true  to  his  friends. 
He  was  domestic  in  his  habits,  kind  and  genial  in 
his  manner,  both  in  his  business  and  social  relations. 
Deprived  of  educational  advantages  himself,  he  de- 
termined that  his  children  should  enjoy  what  had 
been  denied  to  him,  and  he  gave  them  all  a liberal 
education.  Neither  did  he  forget  their  moral  train- 
ing, and  his  nine  surviving  children  are  all  members 
of  the  church  of  his  choice.  His  was  a Christian 
family  by  precept  and  example,  and  it  can  be  said  of 
him  that  his  influence  for  good  was  felt  from  the  Sus- 
quehanna to  the  Delaware.  In  1867,  and  again  in 
1878,  he  crossed  the  ocean  and  visited  his  native 
land  and  the  scenes  of  his  boyhood.  How  ditferent 
must  have  been  his  feelings  from  those  of  the  penni- 
less boy  who,  nearly  a half-century  before,  anxiously 
stepped  upon  the  deck  of  the  ship  that  wa«  to  bear 
him  to  a foreign  shore.  But  the  rugged  experience 
of  his  early  life  served  to  develop  the  latent  energies 
of  his  nature,  and  fitted  him  for  the  successful  and 
prosperous  business  career  which  awaited  him  in  the 
land  of  his  adoption. 

Ruth  Coe  (Mrs.  Brandt)  was  born  on  Lexington 


fi 


1 


HAKMONY. 


585 


Heights  (now  Jewett),  Greene  County,  N.  Y.,  July  2, 
1821.  Her  parents  were  Oliver  and  Nancy  (Buel) 
Coe,  the  former  a native  of  Goshen,  Conn.,  the  latter 
I a native  of  Canaan,  in  the  same  State.  Their  other 
children  are  Stata,  deceased  wife  of  Charles  B.  Peck, 

1 of  Jewett;  Schuyler  B.,  died  there;  and  Mary  Ann 
I Coe,  a resident  of  the  same  place.  Oliver  Coe’s 
father,  Justus,  settled  at  Jewett  from  Connecticut, 
where  he  died.  Mrs.  Brandt’s  mother,  Nancy  Buel, 

; was  a lineal  descendant  from  William  (Buell),  the 
progenitor  of  the  family  in  New  England,  who  was  a 
j native  of  Huntingdonshire,  England,  and  came  to 
, Dorchester,  Mass.,  in  1630.  Her  maternal  grand- 
father, Hon.  Munson  Buel,  settled  at  Jewett  from 
Cornwall,  Conn.,  in  1794.  He  was  a judge  of  Greene 
County  and  an  elder  in  the  Presbyterian  Church  at 
Jewett.  His  wife  was  Anna  Holcomb,  of  Canaan, 
Conn.  Other  members  of  the  Buel  family  were 
! Presbyterian  clergymen  in  New  England,  and  one, 

I Major  Elias  Buel  (1737-1824),  served  in  the  Eevolu- 

I tionary  War,  was  representative  in  the  General  As- 

sembly of  Vermont  for  four  years,  assistant  judge  of 
Chittenden  County,  Vt.,  1799  and  1801,  and  died  at 
Albany,  N.  Y.  Another  member  of  the  family  be- 
i came  the  wife  of  the  grandfather  of  the  late  General 
I U.  S.  Grant. 

j The  children  of  Henry  W.  and  Ruth  (Coe)  Brandt 
I are  Nancy  Hannah,  born  in  Hunter,  Greene  Co.,  N.  Y., 
in  1839,  the  wife  of  the  Rev.  Raphael  Kessler,  a resi- 
j dent  of  Brandt ; Charlotte,  1841 , wife  of  Rev.  H.  Moon, 
j D.D.,  a Presbyterian  clergyman  of  Elkland,  Tioga 
j County,  Pa. ; Henry,  1843,  enlisted  in  1861  in  Com- 
! pany  H,  Ninth  Pennsylvania  Cavalry,  died  in  hos- 
) pital  at  Clarksville,  Tenn.,  May  14,  1862 ; Harriet  S., 

j 1846,  the  wife  of  Dr.  T.  T.  Wing,  a physician  of  Sus- 

quehanna, Pa. ; Winfield  Scott,  1848,  attended  Homer 
Academy  and  afterwards  took  a course  in  the  Law 
Department  of  the  University  of  Pennsylvania, 
studied  law  in  the  office  of  Read  & Pettit,  in  Phila- 
delphia, and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  of  Susquehanna 
County  in  1880,  practiced  at  Susquehanna  about 
one  year,  when  his  father’s  extensive  business  inter- 
ests requiring  his  assistance,  he  returned  to  Brandt 
(he  married  Harriet  Fromer,  a native  of  Hunter, 
N.  Y.,  and  besides  being  interested  in  several  busi- 
ness enterprises,  is  cashier  of  the  City  National 
Bank  at  Susquehanna) ; Putnam  Proctor  died  young ; 
Helen,  1850,  the  wife  of  Rev.  Walter  S.  Peterson,  a 
Presbyterian  minister  of  Rapid  City,  Dakota;  Jacob 
S.,  1854  (married  Carrie  Porter,  of  Philadelphia),  a 
manufacturer  and  merchant  at  Brandt ; Adolph, 
1857,  a graduate  of  Princeton  College,  in  the  class  of 
1879,  a graduate  of  Princeton  Theological  Seminary 
in  the  class  of  1882,  is  a Presbyterian  minister  at  Ros- 
coe,  Dakota,  married  Josie  Buffum,  of  Massachu- 
setts; Josephine,  1861,  educated  at  Elmira  Female 
Seminary  ; and  Schuyler  Coe  Brandt,  1866,  a student 
at  Hamilton  College. 

Jacob  Schlager  was  born  in  Willstadt,  Baden, 

37 


Germany,  July  26,  1816.  Emigrating  to  America 
when  a small  boy,  he  entered  the  employ  of  Colonel 
Edwards,  who  had  a large  tannery  at  Hunter,  N.  Y. 
Here  he  received  his  first  practical  lessons  in  the  tan- 
ning business,  a business  he  was  destined  to  engage 
in  till  near  the  close  of  his  life. 

In  1843  he  married  Harriet  L.  Cornish  (1819-77), 
who  was  born  at  Lexington,  Greene  County,  N.  Y. 
Early  in  1845  himself  and  Henry  W.  Brandt  entered 
into  partnership,  and  purchased  the  tannery  of 
Charles  Chase,  at  Lexington,  N.  Y.,  and  the  firm  of 
Brandt  & Schlager,  from  this  time  forward,  for  more 
than  forty  years,  became  an  important  factor  in  the 
tanning  interests  of  the  country. 

To  write  the  business  history  of  one  is  to  recite  the 
successful  business  career  of  the  other.  Perhaps  no 
two  men  were  ever  associated  together  whose  habits, 
tastes  and  inclinations  were  so  similar,  or  blended  so 
harmoniously.  For  more  than  forty  years,  and  until 
death  dissolved  the  partnership,  their  confidence  and 
faith  in  each  other  was  implicit  and  absolute.  Soon 
after  purchasing  the  Chase  tannery,  they  bought 
another,  belonging  to  Ezra  Pratt ; and  also  rented  the 
Edwards  tannery,  at  Hunter,  where  they  had  both 
previously  worked  at  ten  dollars  a month.  They  con- 
tinued the  tanning  business  in  Greene  County,  N.  Y., 
until  the  summer  of  1852,  when  they  disposed  of  all 
their  business  interests  in  that  State,  and  came  to 
Harmony  Centre,  in  this  county,  and  purchased  the 
“Keystone  Tannery,”  then  owned  and  operated 
by  the  Burt  brothers. 

The  firm  of  Brandt  & Schlager  was  a welcome  ad- 
dition to  the  industries  of  the  county,  and  proved  a 
valuable  acquisition  to  its  business  interests.  Im- 
provements were  immediately  inaugurated,  new  en- 
terprises sprang  into  existence  and  the  old  town  of 
Harmony  soon  began  to  feel  the  “ new  blood  ” which 
the  energy  and  enterprise  of  the  new  firm  had  inter- 
jected into  her  business  veins. 

The  business  enterprises  and  undertakings  of  these 
two  men  are  so  interlocked  and  interwoven  with 
each  other  that,  to  avoid  repetition,  the  reader  is  re- 
ferred to  the  “ sketch  ” of  the  life  of  Henry  W. 
Brandt  for  a history  of  Jacob  Schlager’s  business 
career  in  Harmony.  Mr.  Schlager  continued  to  re- 
side at  Harmony  Centre  (now  Brandt),  until  1867, 
when  the  firm  purchased  the  Lanesboro’  Tannery,  and 
he  then  removed  to  that  place,  and  assumed  personal 
supervision  of  it,  remaining  there  until  the  business 
of  the  tannery  was  practically  discontinued. 

The  children  born  to  Jacob  and  Harriet  L.  Schla- 
ger are  Freelove  (1844-71);  Adelbeft  J.  1846,  re- 
ceived a classical  education — was  a graduate  of  Ham- 
ilton College,  N.  Y.,  and  also  of  Union  Theological 
Seminary,  New  York  City;  he  is  professor  of  lan- 
guages at  the  Dubuque  Theological  Seminary,  at 
Dubuque,  Iowa ; he  married  Elnora  M.,  daughter  of 
the  late  David  Taylor,  of  Lanesboro’ — see  sketch  of 
I David  Taylor);  Ruth  (1848-71);  Charles,  1854,  at- 


586 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


tended  school  at  Deposit  Academy,  and  had  entered 
upon  a preparatory  course  at  Clinton  Seminary, 
N.  Y.,  when  the  death  of  his  sisters  called  him  home. 
This  was  a sad  bereavement  to  the  family;  the  two 
sisters,  after  completing  their  education  at  the  El- 
mira Female  College,  and  while  upon  the  threshold 
of  young  womanhood,  were  suddenly  stricken  down 
by  death — Ruth  dying  but  two  days  before  her  sister. 
Charles  did  not  return  to  school,  but  soon  afterwards 
engaged  in  the  mercantile  business,  which  he  contin- 
ued until  1885.  He  is  now  largely  engaged  as  a 
wholesale  dealer  in  Pennsylvania  blue  stone,  and  is 
interested  in  various  manufacturing  enterprises  in 
this  and  adjoining  counties.  He  is  also  president  of 
the  “City  National  Bank,”  of  Susquehanna.  In 
1883  he  married  Belle  Sewell,  danghter  of  W.  H. 
Sewell,  of  Unadilla,  N.  Y.,  and  resides  at  Lanesboro’. 

In  October,  1885,  the  business  at  the  Lanesboro’ 
Tannery  being  nearly  ready  to  close  up,  Jacob  Schla- 
ger  removed  to  Binghamton,  N.  Y.,  and  purchased 
the  residence  of  D.  M.  Halbert,  and  fitted  it  up  into 
a delightful  home.  He  had  married,  in  1878,  for  his 
second  wife,  the  widow  of  Charles  Schlager,  and  here, 
surrounded  by  the  comforts  that  a goodly  compe- 
tence garnered,  through  the  business  activities  of  a 
busy  life,  enabled  him  to  command,  he  hoped  to  pass 
the  evening  of  life,  freed  from  the  cares  and  anxieties 
of  his  past  business  career. 

But  an  all-wise  Providence  decreed  otherwise,  and 
on  the  17th  of  December,  1886,  a little  more  than  a 
year  after  removing  to  his  new  home,  he  was  sud- 
denly stricken  down  by  death.  A special  train  con- 
veyed his  remains,  accompanied  by  sorrowing  rela- 
atives  and  friends,  to  Brandt,  where,  in  the  quiet 
cemetery  there,  they  were  laid  to  rest,  but  a short 
distance  from  the  grave  of  his  life-time  business  as- 
sociate, Henry  W.  Brandt.  Thus  the  two  men  who 
were  partners  in  life,  members  of  the  same  church 
and  sharing  alike  the  confidence  of  the  public,  died 
the  same  year,  and  lie  buried  in  the  same  cemetery, 
almost  side  by  side. 

Mr.  Schlager,  besides  his  other  business  invest- 
ments, was  a stockholder,  director  and  vice-president 
of  the  City  National  Bank  of  Susquehanna.  He  was 
a man  with  positive  convictions — in  religious  matters, 
as  well  as  in  politics.  He  was  long  known  as  an  ac- 
tive, earnest  and  representative  Republican  of 
Harmony.  He  was  a member  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church  for  nearly  forty  years,  and  he  was  not  content 
for  his  name  to  simply  appear  on  the  church  records 
— he  was  known  by  his  works.  His  was  a Christian 
life,  embodying  the  Christian  virtues  and  delighting 
in  good  works  to  his  fellow-men.  Mr.  Schlager  was 
well  known  outside  of  business  circles  for  his  liberal 
generosity  and  genial  social  qualities.  Such  a life  is 
woi’thy  of  emulation,  and  his  memory  will  be  cher- 
ished by  many  who  were  recipients  of  his  generosity, 
and  the  influence  of  his  life  will  long  be  felt  in  the 
community  that  knew  him  so  long  and  well. 


The  Harmony  Presbyterian  Church  at 
Brandt,  Pa. — For  twenty-three  years  the  people  of 
Brandt  attended  religious  services  in  the  Presbyte- 
rian Church  at  Susquehanna  Depot ; but  when  the 
population  and  the  increased  attendanee  upon  the 
means  of  grace  in  the  slab  school-house  seemed  to 
warrant,  a desire  was  manifested  that  they  should 
have  a church  organization  of  their  own  in  the  place, 
and,  accordingly,  ground  was  broken  for  a church 
building  in  the  month  of  April,  1874.  On  the  25th 
day  of  August  the  laying  of  the  corner-stone  took 
place,  in  the  presence  of  a committee  from  the  Lack- 
awanna Presbytery,  and  a large  gathering  of  people, 
and  Rev.  S.  H.  Moon  delivered  an  address. 

The  church  was  dedicated  January  20,  1875,  and 
the  building  is  thus  described, — built  of  brick,  sixty- 
two  by  thirty -two  feet,  semi-Gothic  in  style,  stained 
glass  windows,  furnace  and  organ,  and  presents  a neat 
interior  appearance,  corresponding  with  its  exterior, 
the  pulpit  and  organ  being  of  black  walnut.  The 
committee  to  dedicate  the  church  was  Dr.  Charles 
Dunning,  of  Honesdale;  Dr.  Samuel  C.  Logan,  of 
Scranton,  who  solicited  five  thousand  dollars  and 
cleared  the  church  of  debt  on  the  spot ; and  Rev.  P. 
H.  Brooks,  chairman  of  committee.  The  same  month 
the  members  of  the  Susquehanna  Depot  Church,  re- 
siding at  Brandt,  petitioned  the  Presbytery,  and 
were  organized  into  a church  in  April  following,  at 
the  meeting  of  that  body  at  Scranton.  Forty-six 
persons  presented  their  certificates  in  good  and  regu- 
lar standing  from  the  Presbyterian  Church  at  Sus- 
quehanna Depot,  and  assented  to  the  covenant  of  or- 
ganization. Henry  W.  Brandt,  Jacob  Schlager,  Geo. 
Fromer,  Sr.,  and  Angus  Smith  were  chosen  elders, 
the  latter  being  ordained  ruling  elder.  The  pastors 
of  this  church  have  been ; 1875,  Rev.  W.  S.  Peterson 
served  until  June,  1878,  and  went  as  a missionary  to 
Dakota.  He  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  S.  H.  Moon,  who 
remained  until  1879.  Rev.  A.  Patton  served  the 
church  for  two  years  following,  and  was  succeeded  by 
Rev.  Andrew  C.  Zenos,  who  remained  as  pastor  until 
September,  1883,  and  was  succeeded  by  the  present 
pastor,  Rev.  E.  W.  Long,  who  was  called  in  June, 
1884,  and  is  its  present  pastor.  The  church  has  a 
membership  of  seventy,  and  a good  Sunday-school  at- 
tendance. 

Acid-Factories. — Previous  to  1867  there  was  but 
one  acid-factory  in  America,  and  that  was  at  Conklin, 
Broome  County,  N.  Y.  In  the  year  above  mentioned 
Bayless  & Buckalew  erected  the  second  one  in  this 
country,  near  Brandt.  In  1880  the  firm  of  Bayless  & 
Buckalew  was  succeeded  by  Brandt,  Schlager  & Co., 
and  in  1883  this  firm  was  succeeded  by  Brandt  & 
Schlager.  About  two  thousand  cords  of  wood  are  an- 
nually used  at  this  place.  Subsequently  Quinn  & 
Shutts  erected  another  one  at  Montrose,  which,  a few 
years  since,  was  purchased  by  the  Melrose  Chemical 
Company,  and  by  that  company  the  business  is  now 
conducted. 


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HARMONY. 


587 


Brick-Yard. — Near  Brandt  is  a brick-yard  from 
which  about  three  millions  of  bricks  are  annually 
shipped.  The  business  was  projected  about  fifteen 
years  ago  by  Weiant  & Blank.  Some  three  years 
after  the  property  was  purchased  by  the  Harmony 
Brick  Company,  and  by  this  company  the  business 
has  since  been  conducted. 

Post-Offices.  — Concerning  the  post-offices  and 
postmasters  at  Lanesboro’,  the  reader  will  find  im- 
formation  in  the  paragraph  entitled  “ Lanesboro’.” 
At  Brandt,  in  1869,  a post-office  was  established, 
called  Harmony  Centre.  The  name  of  the  office  was 
changed  to  Brandt  in  1875.  H.  W.  Brandt  was  com- 
missioned postmaster  in  1869,  and  Raphael  Kessler 
in  1886. 

Stone  Quarries. — In  1874  Joseph  opened  a flag- 
stone quarry  on  the  Pig-pen  Brook,  about  one-half 
mile  from  the  Starrucca  Creek.  Stone  of  superior 
quality,  finding  ready  sales  at  fairly  remunerative 
prices,  was  taken  out  in  great  abundance.  This  led 
to  the  opening  of  other  quarries,  so  that  at  the  present 
time  there  are  six  others  in  operation  in  this  town- 
ship. From  these  quarries  sixty  thousand  dollar.>>’ 
worth  of  stone  is  shipped  annually  to  Philadelphia, 
New  York,  Havre  de  Grace,  Buffalo,  Chicago  and 
numerous  other  smaller  cities  and  towns.  At  the 
present  writing  Mr.  Charles  Schlager  and  Mr.  Charles 
Taylor  are  most  extensively  engaged  in  this  business. 
Their  shipments  in  1886  amounted  to  about  fifty 
thousand  dollars.  The  business  is  the  more  important 
because  it  chiefly  subsists  as  a labor  factor,  giving 
constant  employment,  at  reasonable  wages,  to  a large 
number  of  laboring  men.  As  the  Pennsylvania  blue- 
stone,  the  product  of  these  quarries,  has  already 
become  a staple  commodity  in  so  many  markets,  the 
revenue  to  be  derived  from  this  enterprise  bids  fair 
to  be  lasting  and  important. 

The  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. — As  early 
as  1812  a class  was  formed,  yet  before  this  time  reli- 
gious meetings  were  conducted  at  various  private 
houses.  All  of  the  names  of  the  first  class  cannot  be 
given  with  certainty,  but  it  is  well  known  that  John 
Comfort  and  his  wife,  Nathaniel  Lewis  and  his  wife, 
Isaac  Hale  and  his  wife,  Marmaduke  Salisbury  and 
his  wife,  and  James  Newman  and  his  wife  were  mem- 
bers of  this  class.  Nathaniel  Lewis  was  an  industrious 
and  quite  an  intelligent  young  man.  He  lived  on 
that  side  of  the  Susquehanna  River  that  is  now  em- 
braced in  Oakland,  near  the  Great  Bend  line.  He 
was  employed  a great  deal  by  John  Hilborn,  who  was 
led  to  admire  the  religious  zeal  manifested  by  young 
Lewis.  Mr.  Hilborn  accordingly  advised  Mr.  Lewis 
to  procure  a license  to  preach,  in  conformity  with  the 
rules  of  the  Methodist  Church,  as  Mr.  Lewis  was  so 
firm  a believer  in  the  doctrines  of  that  denomination, 
and  withal  competent  to  teach  the  people. 

Meetings  wmre  held  at  private  houses  in  the  winter 
and  in  barns  in  the  summer,  and,  after  the  log  school- 
house  at  Lanesboro’  was  built,  meetings  were  often 


held  therein.  In  1834  the  church  at  Lanesboro’  was 
erected,  and  in  1881  a very  neat  and  comfortable 
parsonage  was  built.  There  are  three  appointments 
for  preaching  service  on  the  charge, — namely,  Lanes- 
boro’, Bethel  Hill  and  Stevens’  Point.  At  Bethel  Hill 
there  is  a church  which  was  erected  but  a few  years 
ago.  Its  neatness  and  comfort  speak  well  for  the 
Methodist  people  living  in  that  locality.  Noble 
Thomas  is  the  class-leader  at  Lanesboro’,  Jacob  Stoner 
at  Bethel  Hill,  and  William  Terrill  at  Stevens’  Point. 
At  the  present  time  the  trustees  are  Edgar  Thomas, 
Noble  Thomas,  F.  A.  Lyons,  Luther  Barnes,  N.  R. 
Comfort,  Thomas  Speers,  H.  K.  Newell,  Almon 
Barnes,  James  M.  Thomas.  Number  of  members  is 
ninety-three.  The  number  of  scholars  in  the  Sunday- 
schools  is  about  two  hundred.  F.  A.  Lyons  is  the 
superintendent  of  the  school  at  Lanesboro’. 

Pastors. — The  following-named  ministers  are  among 
those  who  officiated  here  previous  to  1869  : Revs.  D. 
Davis,  P.  Bartlett,  N.  S.  De  Witt,  Geo.  N.  Leach.  C. 
V.  Arnold,  H.  R.  Clark,  Alfred  Bingham,  F.  L.  Hiller, 
and  G.  R.  Hair.  Since  that  date,  N.  S.  De  Witt,  R. 
J.  Kellogg,  A.  F.  Harding,  S.  W.  Spencer,  S.  W.  Cole, 
C.  H.  Jewell,  J.  H.  Hewitt,  J.  R.  Wagner,  T.  C.  Ros- 
kelly  and  Wm.  Bixby,  the  present  pastor,  who  has 
been  a faithful  and  fearless  preacher  of  the  Methodist 
Church  since  1837,  at  which  time  he  was  admitted  to 
the  Oneida  Conference. 

Schools. — The  first  school-house  in  .Harmony  was 
erected  about  1813,  on  the  north  side  of  the  Starrucca 
Creek,  and  on  the  east  side  of  the  wagon-road  that 
leads  from  Lanesboro’  to  Windsor,  or  about  where  the 
blacksmith-shop  now  stands.  This  was  a log  school- 
house,  with  no  furniture  but  the  rudest  kind  of 
benches.  Yet  in  this  rude  building  some  excellent 
work  was  done.  Here  Caleb  Barnes  was  employed  to 
teach  in  1816.  He  was  educated  in  Boston,  Mass., 
and,  after  leaving  this  place,  he  taught  a number  of 
years  in  Sullivan  County,  N.  Y.,  where  he  established 
a reputation  as  a teacher  that  is  seldom  surpassed.  In 
that  old  log  school-house  Silas  and  James  Comfort, 
and  others  that  afterwards  became  quite  noted,  re- 
ceived the  principal  part  of  their  education  until  they 
were  old  enough  to  pursue  their  studies  alone.  This 
school-house  was  used  about  twenty  years,  and  then 
a frame  building  was  put  up,  and  was  located  several 
rods  farther  north. 

The  slab  school-house  at  Brandt  was  erected  a few 
years  after  the  one  above  mentioned.  Now  at  this 
place  there  is  a neat  and  comfortable  school-house, 
nicely  painted  without,  and  furnished  within  with 
improved  iron  forms  and  cherry  and  maple  desks,  oc- 
cupied by  happy  and  cheerful  pupils. 

The  name  of  Susan  Belcher  will  be  cherished  for 
generations  by  those  living  in  this  vicinity.  In  1857 
she  was  engaged  to  teach  this  school,  and  for  thirteen 
years  she  conducted  it  with  the  most  satisfactory  re- 
sults. She  was  boru  in  Cherry  Valley,  Otsego  Coun- 
ty, N.  Y.  After  receiving  a very  thorough  education 


588 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


she  was  employed  to  teach  in  the  Young  Ladies’ 
Seminary  at  Elmira,  N.  Y.  Mr.  Brandt’s  daughters 
attended  that  school,  and  thus  he,  becoming  ac- 
quainted with  Miss  Belcher,  insisted  on  her  coming 
to  this  place  ; and  on  paying  her  quite  a liberal  salary 
in  addition  to  what  the  School  Board  would  pay,  she 
was  induced  to  come,  and  here  she  remained  until  she 
was  married  and  removed  to  Indiana. 

George  T.  Frazier  was  the  last  township  inspector, 
under  the  old  law,  before  the  enactments  of  1854. 

The  first  Board  of  School  Directors,  under  the  new 
law,  was  composed  of  William  Purdie,  president; 
Benjamin  Comfort,  secretary  ; Jacob  Taylor,  treas- 
urer; and  Harvey  Shutts,  Henry  H.  Sampson  and 
William  P.  Conklin.  The  amount  of  the  tax  raised 
that  year  for  school  purposes  was  $307.45.  Teachers 
were  paid  eight  dollars  a month. 

There  are  now  in  the  township  eight  school  dis- 
tricts, namely  : Pleasant  Valley,  Deep  Hollow,  Pros- 
pect Hill,  Brandt,  Stevens’  Point,  Melrose,  Bethel 
Hill  and  Cascade.  In  1886  a new  school-house  was 
built  at  Stevens’  Point.  It  cost  five  hundred  and 
sixty  dollars,  and  about  one  hundred  and  thirty  dollars 
was  paid  for  the  furniture;  and  the  same  year  a 
new  building  was  erected  in  the  Deep  Hollow  District 
at  a cost  of  about  four  hundred  dollars.  Several  of 
the  buildings  in  this  township  are  furnished  with  im- 
proved seats  and  desks.  In  1886  there  was  expended 
for  teachers’  wages  thirteen  hundred  and  fifty-six 
dollars,  and  for  fuel  and  other  necessary  contingent 
purposes  about  four  hundred  and  twenty-five  dollars 
more.  The  directors  at  the  present  time  are  N.  E. 
Comfort,  president;  C.  E.  Van  Horn,  secretary;  and 
O.  L.  Watkins,  Harvey  Bryant,  Simpson  Reynolds  and 
S.  H.  Carnegie.  Perhaps  no  man  in  Harmony  has 
taken  a deeper  interest  in  her  public  schools  than 
James  Buckley,  for  a long  term  of  years  past,  has 
done.  Having  held  the  office  of  school  director  for  a 
number  of  terms,  in  1886  he  resigned,  on  account  of 
his  being  appointed  deputy  register  and  recorder, 
and  hence  necessarily  absent  from  the  township  most 
of  the  time. 


CHAPTER  XL. 

SUSQUEHANNA  BOROUGH. 

Boatmen  floating  down  the  Susquehanna  River 
eighty  years  ago,  saw  on  the  left,  where  Susquehanna 
now  is,  two  precipitons  hills,  closely  and  stubbornly 
abutting  the  river,  and  against  each  other,  separated 
only  by  the  Drinker  Creek,  on  its  way  to  the  river 
from  Fox’s  Pond,  a small  lake  about  five  miles  to  the 
south.  The  eye  resting  on  these  hills,  fell , only  on 
the  jilacid  heavens  and  the  dense  setting  of  unbroken 
verdure.  Not  an  opening  could  be  detected,  from  the 
summit  of  the  hills  to  the  river’s  bank.  So  dense 


was  the  foliage  that  the  creek  itself  was  hidden  from 
view,  as  well  as  the  rocks  along  the  bank  of  the  river. 
Seemingly,  not  satisfied  with  individuality  in  her 
display.  Nature,  as  with  ties  of  union,  had  bound 
together  many  of  these  trees  with  numerous  vines  of 
wild-grape  and  ivy.  But  a few  years  after  the  wood- 
man’s axe  resounded  through  these  hills,  and  was  re- 
echoed from  the  river  below,  uncovering  a surface 
rugged  and  defiant.  To  the  writer  it  is  evident 
that  Nature  never  intended  that  man  should  build  a 
town  here,  for  such  a presumption  would  imply  an 
intermission  of  reason,  and  an  utter  disregard  for  con- 
venience. Yet  man’s  indomitable  purpose  to  bring 
everything  under  subjection  to  him  has  here  so  far 
been  achieved  as  to  cover  these  precipitous  hills  with 
manufactories,  stores,  hotels,  offices  and  dwellings,  oc- 
cupied by  three  thousand  five  hundred  people. 

The  land  embraced  in  this  borough  was  included 
in  the  Drinker  tract,  purchased  by  Henry  Drinker 
late  in  the  last  century ; subsequently  conveyed  by 
him  to  John  Hilborn,  and  from  Mr.  Hilborn  to  suc- 
ceeding grantees  until  1846,  when  it  was  owned 
by  Wm.  H.  Sabin,  William  B.  Stoddard,  Joel  Sales- 
bury  and  William  P.  McKune.  The  farms  owned  by 
Messrs.  Stoddard  and  Salesbury  were  soon  after  sold 
to  the  Erie  Railway  Company  ; the  one  owned  by  Mr. 
McKune,  to  James  H.  Smith ; and  Mr.  Sabin’s  to 
Sedate  Griswold.  The  railway  company  locating  its 
shops  at  this  place  cansed  its  land  to  be  run  out  into 
lots  and  streets,  Mr.  Smith  following  the  company’s 
example.  A number  of  years  later  Mr.  Griswold’s 
farm  was  also  run  out  to  conform  with  the  other  plans. 
On  account  of  the  deep  chasm  through  which  Drinker 
Creek  flows,  but  one  street  (Main)  entirely  intersects 
the  town  from  east  to  west,  and  this  crosses  the  creek 
near  its  mouth.  But  on  both  hills,  on  either  side  of 
the  creek,  nearly  all  of  the  streets  converge  towards 
Main  Street,  so  that,  in  going  from  one  part  of  the 
town  to  the  other,  one  must  pass  directly  through  the 
centre,  as  if  drawn  by  gravitation.  In  the  side-walks 
of  many  of  the  streets  are  flights  of  stairs  with  rests 
at  intervals  ; otherwise,  footmen  would  find  progress 
exceedingly  difficult,  especially  in  winter;  and  along 
some  of  these  streets  teams  never  attempt  to  pass. 
Yet,  after  ascending  to  the  plateaus  on  either  side  of 
the  town,  there  are  good  building-lots,  on  which  are 
to  be  found  many  comfortable  and  pleasant  dwellings, 
the  homes  of  hundreds  of  machinists  and  skilled 
workmen,  that  find  employment  in  the  shops  below, 
into  the  tops  of  whose  ponderous  and  lofty  smoke- 
stacks their  families  can  almost  look.  Mr.  McKune’s 
house  stood  near  the  place  where  L.  S.  Page,  Esq., 
now  lives ; Mr.  Salesbury’s,  on  the  lower  side  of  Main 
Street,  about  opposite  Guttenberg,  Eisman  & Co.’s 
store ; Mr.  Stoddard’s,  about  where  John  Scoville  now 
lives ; and  Mr.  Griswold’s,  near  the  place  where  J.  C. 
McCauley  resides.  In  1846  ground  at  this  place  was 
first  broken  for  the  railroad,  and  in  1818  the  road  was 
completed  to  Binghamton,  the  first  passenger  train 


SUSQUEHANNA. 


589 


running  over  the  road  to  that  city  in  December  of 
that  year. 

It  then  became  evident  that  at  this  point  oppor- 
tunities of  rare  importance  were  presented  to  business 
men  ; and  these  opportunities  were  not  long  left  un- 
improved. Eliot  Benson  was  the  first  on  the  ground. 
He  erected  a hotel  on  the  corner  of  A and  Drinker 
Streets.  A part  of  the  ground  where  it  stood  is  now 
covered  by  the  building  occupied  by  Robert  Wallace 
as  a flour  and  feed-store.  This  was  called  the  Har- 
mony House.  Soon  after  a number  of  stores  were 
erected  by  the  following-named  persons,  in  the  order 
in  which  their  names  appear,  and  at  the  places 
designated:  James  M.  Ward,  corner  of  A (Main)  and 
First  Streets  ; Messrs.  Wm.  Smith  and  R.  H.  McKune> 
where  Guttenberg,  Eisman  & Co.’s  store  is;  L.  S- 
Page,  where  J.  C.  Cook’s  store  is;  James  Bell,  where 
Lannon  & Baxter’s  store  is;  and  Mr.  Bell,  selling  out 
to  Mr.  Hubbard,  erected  another,  which  he  still  occu- 
pies ; Dennis  McDonald,  where  J.  C.  Kane  & Bro.’s 
store  is ; Dr.  Bronson,  where  Kittell’s  hotel  is ; Dr- 
West,  where  S.  Maroney’s  store  is;  and  Wm.  G' 
Shrimpton,  a jeweler’s  store  and  bakery,  where  Shaeff 
Bros.  are.  In  1852  James  Kirk  erected  another  hotel 
where  Gaylord  Curtis  now  lives,  and  a little  later 
others  were  erected, — one  by  Drs.  Smith  and  Shutts, 
about  where  the  Van  Aiken  and  Birdsall  brick  build- 
ings are,  and  another  by  James  Kirk,  which  is  now 
known  as  the  Chaffee  house.  Soon  after  Henry  Per- 
rine  opened  a meat-market  where  Henry  Sperl’s  gun- 
shop  is.  About  the  same  time  that  the  above-men- 
tioned enterprises  were  being  carried  on,  or  a little 
later,  other  business  men  came  to  Susquehanna  and 
engaged  in  various  pursuits.  Among  the  number 
were  Robert  Nicol,  Gaylord  Curtis,  C.  A.  Miller,  C- 
S.  Bennett,  Thomas  Carr,  D.  AV.  Norton,  Thomas 
Ingstrum,  John  Lannon,  A.  H.  McCollum,  A.  W. 
Rowley,  Timothy  Boyle,  Washington  Boyle,  Miles 
Creegan,  Brace  Gilbert,  Augustus  Gilbert,  A.  J.  Sey- 
mour, S.  Seymour,  Wm.  M.  Post,  AValter  Barber,  J. 
H.  Cook,  J.  C.  Cook,  M.  H.  Eisman,  David  Lyon,  F. 
D.  Lyon,  Samuel  Falkenbury,  J.  Van  Barriger,  D.  R. 
Pope,  A.  C.  Parliman,  Thomas  Canavan,  Wm.  Clark, 
Lewis  Freeman,  et  al. 

In  1853  Susquehanna  Depot  Borough  was  incorpo- 
rated, and  soon  after  the  borough  oflicers  were  elected. 
Lewis  S.  Page  was  the  president  of  the  first  Town 
Council,  and  Robert  Nicol,  R.  H.  McKune,  John 
Ward,  A.  W.  Rowley  and  Wm.  Hubbard  were  mem- 
bers. 

Burgesses. — Owing  to  the  destruction  of  the  bor- 
ough records  by  the  fire  of  1874,  it  is  difficult,  with  ac- 
curacy, to  ascertain  who  were  the  burgesses  prior  to 
that  time.  It  is  thought,  by  a number  of  men,  who 
have  been  engaged  in  business  here  continually  since 
the  borough  was  incorporated,  that  the  following  list 
is  quite  reliable : James  B.  Gregg,  John  Ward,  Samuel 
Falkenbury,  Captain  York,  William  Hubbard,  James 
Bell,  Robert  Wallace,  Charles  Ernst,  Samuel  Smith, 


Gaylord  Curtis,  John  Fitzsimmons,  Wallace  Falken- 
bury,1874;  James  G.  Drake,  1875 ; Dennis  Casey  and 
Michael  Banning,  1876 ; Geo.  A.  Post,  1877 ; John 
Dolan,  1878;  Geo.  T.  Frazier,  1879-80  ; Morris  Pren- 
dergast,  1881-82 ; John  R.  Townsend,  1883 ; John 
O’Connell,  1884;  Charles  Langford,  1885;  James 
Burns,  1886 ; Andrew  Ryan,  1887.  The  present 
Town  Council  is  composed  of  John  McMahon,  Wm. 
Allpaugh,  E.  Doherty,  F.  Perry,  C.  O’Connell,  John 
Dunlea. 

Postmasters. — The  Susquehanna  Depot  post-office 
was  established  November  1,  1850,  and  in  1869  the 
name  was  changed  to  Susquehanna.  The  following 
have  been  commissioned  postmasters  for  this  office; 
James  M.  Ward,  November  1,  1850;  C-  S.  Bennett, 
1852;  R.  H.  McKune,  1853;  A.  AV.  Rowley,  1854; 
Laban  F.  Clark,  1861 ; Walter  Barber,  1867 ; H.  P. 
Moody,  1869;  Isaac  W.  Jones,  1869;  James  McKin- 
ney, 1885. 

In  addition  to  the  very  extensive  railroad-shops  in 
Susquehanna,  there  are  at  the  present  time  six  dry- 
goods  stores,  two  merchant  tailoring  establishments, 
six  millinery  stores,  one  ladies’  bazaar,  fourteen 
groceries,  three  drug  stores,  three  hardware  stores, 
three  boot  and  shoe  stores,  three  jewelers’  stores, 
two  flour  and  feed  stores,  two  furniture  stores,  one 
music  store,  one  bakery  and  confectionery  store,  two 
stove  and  tin  stores,  five  hotels,  two  wagon-shops, 
four  meat  markets,  two  marble-shops,  one  steam- 
mill  for  manufacturing  doors,  sash  and  blinds  and 
for  planing  and  matching  lumber,  three  banks,  two 
insurance  and  real  estate  offices,  two  coal  offices,  six 
barber-shops,  two  weekly  newspaper  publishing  and 
job  printing  houses,  with  steam-power  presses, 
one  daily  newspaper,  five  churches,  four  school 
buildings,  six  clergymen,  seven  physicians,  four  law- 
yers, besides  blacksmith-shops,  boot  and  shoe-shops, 
etc. 

Joel  Salesbury  now  lives  in  Thomson  ; AVilliain 
B.  Stoddart  in  Starrucca,  Wayne  County ; and  W.  P. 
McKune,  J.  H.  Smith  and  Sedate  Griswold  are  dead. 

Sedate  Griswold  was  born  in  Massachusetts  in 
1802,  and  when  quite  young  removed  to  Wayne 
County,  in  this  State.  In  1848  he  bought  the  farm 
above  mentioned,  and  came  to  Susquehanna,  where 
he  died  in  1872.  Three  of  Mr.  Griswold’s  daughters 
are  now  living  in  Susquehanna, — Mrs.  Hamilton 
Fordyce,  Mrs.  J.  R.  McCauley  and  Mrs.  F.  B. 
Thayer.  Mr.  Thayer  came  from  Otsego  County, 
N.  Y.,  to  Susquehanna  in  1852,  and  entered  the  ser- 
vice of  the  railroad  company  as  a locomotive  engi- 
neer. He  followed  this  business  principally  on  the 
Susquehanna  Division  fifteen  years,  and  then,  in 
1867,  engaged  in  the  grocery  business  in  this  place 
until  1885,  when  he  retired. 

AVilliam  Smith  came  from  Sullivan  County,  N.  Y., 
to  Lanesboro’  in  1838,  and  from  Lanesboro’  to 
Susquehanna  in  1851.  Forming  a partnership  with 
R.  H.  McKune,  they  engaged  in  general  mercantile 


590 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


business.  They  also  conducted  a tailoring  business, 
a bakery  and  a lumber-yard.  They  employed  about 
fifty  men.  The  first  sewing-machine  ever  brought 
into  Susquehanna  was  purchased  by  them  and  used 
in  their  sho]).  A few  years  after  the  partnership  was 
dissolved;  Mr.  McKune  removed  to  Scranton  and 
Mr.  Smith  engaged  in  other  business  in  this  place, 
where  he  still  resides. 

Levi  S.  Page  was  born  in  Vermont  in  1817,  and 
came  with  his  parents  to  Jackson,  in  this  county, 
when  about  one  year  old.  He  attended  the  Montrose 
and  Harford  Academies,  fitting  himself  for  a teacher. 
He  spent  six  years  as  a carpenter  and  house- 
builder at  Montrose;  was  a farmer  in  New  Milford 
for  a time,  and  in  1851  came  to  Susquehanna,  where 
he  has  dealt  quite  largely  in  real  estate,  been  a mer- 
chant for  some  twelve  years,  and  actively  engaged 
in  other  business  until  1872,  since  which  time  the 
duties  of  justice  of  the  peace  have  occupied  most 
of  his  attention.  In  1854  he  was  elected  school 
director  and  held  the  office  fourteen  years.  He  was 
the  president  of  the  first  Town  Council  that  was  or- 
ganized in  Susquehanna.  He  was  borough  treasurer 
in  1881-82.  In  1858  he  was  elected  county  commis- 
sioner. In  1848  he  married  Miss  Lucy  Ann  Bart- 
lett, of  Jackson.  They  have  three  children — one 
son  and  two  daughters — living  in  this  place. 

James  Bell  was  born  in  England ; came  to  this 
place  in  1848  with  a large  number  of  other  carpenters 
in  the  employ  of  the  railroad  company,  and  assisted 
in  building  the  original  depot,  freight-house  and  the 
shops.  He  soon  after  engaged  in  trade  on  a very  small 
scale,  commencing  with  two  or  three  trunks  full  of 
ready-made  clothing  and  Yankee  notions.  In  1854 
he  established  a boot  and  shoe-store,  which  he  con- 
ducted alone  until  1874,  when  he  took  his  stepson, 
John  Brewer,  into  partnership  with  him,  under  the 
firm-name  of  Bell  & Son.  The  business  conducted 
at  this  store  has  had  a longer  continuance  than  any 
other  one  in  Susquehanna  borough,  and  been  attended 
with  marked  prosperity. 

Chaeles  A.  Miller  was  born  in  Massachusetts 
in  1833,  and  when  six  months  old  came  with  his 
parents  to  Harmony.  But  a few  years  after  they  re- 
moved to  Jackson,  and  in  1847  returned  to  Harmony 
and  soon  settled  in  this  place.  Mr.  Miller  entered  the 
service  of  the  railroad  company  as  a carpenter,  and 
was  employed  on  the  bridges  along  the  road.  But  on 
meeting  with  a serious  accident  he  left  this  business 
and  learned  the  watch-maker’s  trade,  and  worked  at 
watch -making  and  repairing  in  Mr.  Bell’s  store  a 
short  time,  when  he  put  in  a stock  of  jewelry  on  one 
side  of  the  store  and  conducted  the  business  here  un- 
til 1860,  at  which  time  he  built  the  store  where  Gaylord, 
Curtis  & Co.’s  bank  is,  and  removed  his  business  to 
that  place.  He  discontinued  at  the  latter  place  in 
1877,  and  one  year  after  became  proprietor  of  the  Star- 
rucca  House,  the  railroad  company’s  hotel  and  res- 
taurant. For  a number  of  years  he  was  a member  of 


the  private  banking-house  of  Curtis  & Miller.  He  has 
been  the  secretary,  treasury  and  general  manager  of 
the  Water  Company  since  it  was  formed,  in  1874.  A 
few  years  since  he  was  a partner  in  the  firm  of  A. 
Smith  & Co.,  of  Harmony,  proprietors  of  the  acid  fac- 
tory. He  has  been  quite  extensively  engaged  in  lum- 
bering, farming  and  quarrying,  and  shipping  flagging- 
stone  in  Harmony,  besides  having  done  more  build- 
ing in  Susquehanna  than  any  other  person.  In  1858 
he  married  Miss  Mary  R.  Fuller.  They  have  five 
children, — Frank  A.  conducted  a jeweler’s  store  here 
a few  years,  then  became  editor  and  proprietor  of  the 
Susquehanna  Transcript,  but  selling  out  in  1885,  he 
removed  to  Denver,  Col.,  where  he  is  now  engaged  as 
editor  and  proprietor  of  the  Journal  of  Commerce. 
The  second  son  is  a book-keeper  in  the  First  National 
Bank ; the  youngest  son  is  attending  the  Mansfield 
Normal  School ; and  the  two  daughters,  having  com- 
pleted their  studies,  are  at  home. 

Dennis  McDonald  was  born  in  Ireland  in  1811, 
and  died  at  Susquehanna  in  1860.  He  came  to  Amer- 
ica in  1832,  and  located  at  Silver  Lake,  this  county. 
In  1844  he  married  Miss  Margaret  Donnelly,  daughter 
of  Michael  Donnelly,  one  of  the  pioneers  of  the  Cho- 
conut  Valley.  In  1847  Mr.  McDonald  came  to 
Lanesboro’,  where,  taking  a contract  to  build  several 
miles  of  the  Erie  Railroad,  he  began  his  career  as  a 
railroad  contractor.  In  1849  he  removed  to  Susque- 
hanna and  continued  railroad  grading  on  contracts 
with  the  Erie  until  the  road  was  completed.  He 
subsequently  had  contracts  with  the  Albany  and  Sus- 
quehanna road,  and  filled  several  contracts  at  Sus- 
quehanna for  the  construction  of  buildings,  and  until 
his  death  was  prominent  in  carrying  forward  the 
growing  enterprises  of  the  town.  Mrs.  McDonald 
died  in  1883.  Four  of  their  children  now  live  in 
Buffalo,  N.  Y.,  and  two  reside  in  this  place ; one  son, 
Thomas  McDonald,  is  a leading  grocer  of  this  place. 
When  fourteen  years  of  age  he  entered,  as  clerk,  a 
store  which  his  mother  was  conducting,  and  in  1862 
he  engaged  in  business  for  himself,  opening  a grocery- 
store  on  Main  Street.  At  that  store  and  in  other  ones 
in  town  he  has,  in  all,  spent  about  twenty  years  in  this 
business.  In  1880-81  he  was  deputy  sheriff  of  this 
county.  He  was  a member  of  the  School  Board  six 
years,  prior  to  1880,  and  during  his  terms  of  service 
held  the  offices  of  secretary  and  president. 

C.  S.  Bennett  came  to  Susquehanna  from  New 
Milford,  and  for  a number  of  years  conducted  a store 
on  Main  Street.  Gradually  extending  his  business 
into  other  channels,  he  afterwards  was  more  exten- 
.sively  engaged  in  real  estate  speculations  than  any 
other  man  ever  has  been  in  Susquehanna.  He  ac- 
quired a large  property,  which  he  lost  mostly  in  1873 
through  the  shrinkage  of  values.  He  resides  in  his 
native  county,  Chenango,  N.  Y. 

Alexander  W.  Rowley  was  born  in  1818  in 
Greene  County,  N.  Y.,  and  died  at  Susquehanna  in 
1878.  He  came  to  Susquehanna  in  1851,  and  the 


SUSQUEHANNA. 


591 


next  year  erected  the  store  now  occupied  by  Morris 
Prendergast  and  Thomas  Reilly,  where  for  a number 
of  years  he  conducted  a tin-shop  and  kept  in  stock 
stoves,  tin  and  copper-ware  and  a general  line  of 
hardware.  In  1854  he  was  appointed  postmaster, 
and  the  post-olBce  was  kept  in  his  store.  Subse- 
quently he  sold  his  store  and  goods,  and  engaged  in 
lumbering,  furnishing  lumber,  cross  ties  and  fencing 
material  for  the  railroad  company  in  large  quantities. 
He  was  justice  of  the  peace  in  Greene  County,  N.  Y., 
before  coming  here,  and  held  several  borough  offices 
here.  He  left  behind  him  a most  enviable  name  and 
reputation,  and  was  a man  held  in  high  esteem  by 
the  people. 

John  Lannon  was  born  in  Ireland  in  1818,  came 
to  America  in  1844  and  located  in  Maine,  where  he 
married  Catherine  Sullivan  in  1846.  About  one  year 
after  they  removed  to  Lanesboro’,  where  Mr.  Lannon 
was  employed  by  the  railroad  company  in  building 
the  viaduct.  He  came  to  Susquehanna  in  1849,  and 
for  about  two  years  continued  in  the  company’s  ser- 
vice as  a stone-mason  and  bricklayer.  He  then  en- 
gaged for  himself  as  a jobber  and  building  contractor, 
and  many  of  the  buildings  in  this  place,  or  their 
foundations,  have  been  constructed  under  his  super- 
vision. He  has  three  children  living.  The  eldest  re- 
sides in  one  of  the  Western  States ; John  P.  is  a ma- 
chinist, employed  in  the  railroad-shops  at  Susque- 
hanna; and  Joseph  F.  is  engaged  in  mercantile  busi- 
ness in  this  place,  as  the  senior  member  of  the  firm 
of  Lannon  & Baxter,  formed  in  1861.  He  is  a mem- 
ber of  the  Board  of  School  Directors,  and  for  the  past 
five  years  has  been  secretary  of  the  Board.  Robert 
M.  died  April,  1886,  at  about  twenty-five  years  of 
age.  Graduating  at  Mansfield  Normal  School  in 
1878,  he  received  an  appointment  as  principal  of  the 
graded  school  at  Nanticoke,  Pa.  After  four  years  he 
entered  the  profession  of  the  law,  was  admitted  to 
the  Susquehanna  County  bar  in  1884,  and  commenced 
to  practice  at  this  place,  with  prospects  unusually 
bright.  The  year  before  his  death  he  was  the  bor- 
ough attorney  and  secretary  of  the  Town  Council. 

Hon.  Judson  H.  Cook. — His  great-grandfather 
was  Samuel  Cook,  a native  of  Rhode  Island,  who 
removed  from  that  State  to  New  York.  His  son, 
James  Cook,  was  a resident  of  Otsego  County,  N.  Y., 
where  he  married  Lovisa  Griffith,  and  in  1814  he 
came  from  that  place  to  New  Milford,  where  he  pur- 
chased a farm,  upon  which  he  resided  for  nearly 
thirty  years.  At  the  end  of  this  time  he  went  to 
Herrick  and  resided  with  his  son  James  most  of  the 
time  until  his  decease.  They  had  children, — Sally, 
Grifiin,  Dlmmis,  Emily,  Leonard  and  James.  Griffin 
Cook,  the  father  of  Judge  Cook,  was  born  in  Otsego 
County,  N.  Y.,  March  18,  1805.  His  early  education 
was  limited  to  that  usually  within  reach  of  the  farm- 
ers’ boys  of  that  day.  He  was  nine  years  old  when 
his  father  came  to  New  Milford,  with  whom  he  re- 
mained, assisting  on  the  farm  until  after  he  attained  his 


majority,  when  he  married  Ezoa  S.,  daughter  of  Cap- 
tain Levi  and  Priscilla  (Ingalls)  Page,  who  came  from 
Vermont  in  1815  and  settled  in  Jackson,  where  they 
resided  until  their  death.  Immediately  after  his  mar- 
riage he  commenced  housekeeping  on  a farm  in  New 
Milford,  where  he  remained  for  two  years.  In  1832 
he  removed  to  Jackson  and  purchased  an  unimproved 
farm  near  Page’s  Pond,  a fishing  hut  being  the  only 
building  (?)  upon  it.  This  farm  he  cleared  up  with 
the  assistance  of  his  sons,  improved  it,  erected  com- 
modious farm  buildings  and  owned  it  at  the  time  of 
his  death.  Their  children  were  Judson  H.,  Nov.  1, 
1831;  Daniel  F.,  1833,  married  and  residing  in  Ne- 
braska ; John  C.,  1834,  married  and  a merchant  in  Sus- 
quehanna for  twenty-five  years ; William  W.  (1836- 
41) ; Urbane  S.  (1839-62)  was  a soldier  of  the  late  war 
and  first  lieutenant  in  Schooley’s  Battery  ; Loyisa  P. 
(1844-68). 

In  1868  his  first  wife,  Ezoa  S.,  died,  and  in  the  fol- 
lowing year  he  married  Mrs.  Ann  Legg,  of  Thomson. 
After  his  second  mrrriage  he  left  the  New  Milford 
farm  and  purchased  a place  in  Thomson  township 
(now  Thomson  borough),  where  he  resided  until  his 
death,  in  1880.  His  widow  survives  him.  Judson  H. 
was  born  in  New  Milford  township,  and  was  one  year 
old  when  his  parents  removed  to  Jackson.  His  edu- 
cational advantages  were  limited,  the  nearest  school 
being  one  and  a half  miles  distant,  and  when  old 
enough  to  assist  on  the  farm  he  only  attended  winters. 
He  remained  on  the  farm  with  his  father  until  he  was 
seventeen,  when  he  went  to  learn  the  carpenter’s 
trade.  From  this  time  until  he  was  of  age  he  worked 
at  his  trade,  the  proceeds  of  his  labor  going  to  his 
father,  and  he  had  the  satisfaction  of  knowing  that 
his  last  year’s  wages  made  the  last  payment  on 
his  father’s  farm.  Upon  attaining  his  majority  he 
came  to  Susquehanna,  then  a flourishing  village,  and 
set  up  business  for  himself  as  a carpenter  and 
builder.  His  carpenter-shop  was  situated  nearly 
opposite  the  present  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 
In  1854  he  purchased  two  lots  on  Washington  Street 
and  erected  thereon  a dwelling-house.  The  year  fol- 
lowing he  married  Mary  Bartlett,  daughter  of  Wm.  A. 
Bartlett,  of  Jackson,  and  went  to  housekeeping  in  his 
new  dwelling  on  Washington  Street.  He  continued 
the  business'  of  contracting  and  building  for  three  or 
four  years,  during  which  time  he  added  to  the  rap- 
idly-growing town  some  twenty-five  or  thirty  build- 
ings. In  1856  he  entered  the  employ  of  the  Erie 
Railway  Company  in  their  carpenter-shop,  where  he 
remained  until  himself  and  brother,  John  C.,  entered 
into  partnership  in  the  mercantile  business,  under  the 
firm-name  of  J.  C.  & J.  H.  Cook.  This  partnership 
was  continued  until  1875,  when  it  was  dissolved  by  mu- 
tual consent.  The  same  year  he  erected  a large  three- 
story  wooden  building,  which  was  known  as  the 
“ Cook  Block,”  and  stood  on  the  site  of  the  present 
Brandt  Block.  Upon  its  completion  Mr.  Cook  again 
engaged  in  a general  mercantile  business,  this  time 


592 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


alone ; but,  after  continuing  the  business  for  a year, 
sold  out  to  Smith  & Shaeff.  In  1870  he  purchased 
the  fine  and  commodious  residence  previously  owned 
and  occupied  by  C.  S.  Bennett,  and  this  is  his  present 
pleasant  home.  In  1878  he  entered  into  the  real  es- 
tate and  insurance  business,  and  opened  an  office  in 
the  building  owned  by  him.  On  the  9th  day  of 
March,  1883,  the  “ Cook  Block  ” was  totally  destroyed 
by  fire,  involving  heavy  loss  upon  Mr.  Cook,  not  only 
on  building,  but  from  the  loss  of  valuable  papers 
which  were  consumed  in  his  office.  Mr.  Cook  has 


dent  of  the  Woman’s  Christian  Temperance  Union 
for  eleven  years.  Himself  and  wife  are  active  mem- 
bers of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  Mr.  Cook’s 
membership  dating  back  to  1853,  and  for  more  than 
thirty  years  he  has  been  an  official  member  of  the 
same.  In  politics  Mr.  Cook  is  known  as  a stanch 
Republican.  Casting  his  first  Presidential  ballot 
with  the  Democratic  party,  he  soon  severed  his  con- 
nection with  it,  and  when  the  Republican  party  was 
first  organized  at  Susquehanna  he  was  one  of  the 
committee  appointed  on  organization.  He  has  been 


uninterruptedly  continued  the  business  established  in 
1878,  and  occupies  an  office  in  the  Brandt  Block. 

By  his  first  wife,  who  died  in  1865,  Mr.  Cook  had 
children, — Verna  O.,  1856,  married  C.  I.  Fisher  and 
now  residing  at  Sunbury,  Pa.;  Arthur  W.,  1861,  is  a 
partner  with  his  father  in  the  real  estate  and  insur- 
ance business  at  Susquehanna.  In  1867  Mr.  Cook 
married  for  his  second  wife  Cassia  W.,  daughter  of 
John  and  Sophia  B.  Calkins,  a lady  of  rare  energy 
and  intelligence,  whose  philanthropic  labors  in  the 
cause  of  temperance  and  morality  have  been  felt  and 
acknowledged  beyond  the  vicinity  of  her  own  town 
and  county.  She  has  been  district  and  county  presi- 


an  earnest  advocate  of  that  party  and  its  principles 
since,  and  has  contributed  of  his  time  and  means  in 
aid  of  its  success.  His  fellow-townsmen  have  selected 
him  to  fill  various  offices  of  trust  and  importance, 
amongst  them  that  of  justice  of  the  peace,  Council- 
man, school  director  and  treasurer,  aud  in  1871  the 
citizens  of  the  county  elected  him  an  associate  judge, 
which  position  he  honorably  filled  for  five  years,  oc- 
cupying the  bench  with  Judges  Streeter  and  Morrow. 

Mr.  Cook  has  dealt  quite  largely  in  real  estate,  and 
previous  to  the  fire  that  destroyed  the  “ Cook  Block,” 
paid  the  largest  real  estate  tax  of  any  person  in  Sus- 
quehanna. 


SUSQUEHANNA. 


593 


He  has  been  a stockholder,  director  and  vice-presi- 
dent of  the  First  National  Bank  of  Susquehanna  for 
twenty-one  years.  Judge  Cook  has  been  identified 
with  the  growth,  prosperity  and  business  enterprises 
of  Susquehanna  for  thirty-five  years,  and  his  energy 
and  public  spirit  have  contributed  not  a little  towards 
placing  it  on  its  present  firm  and  extremely  stable 
foundation. 

John  C.  Cook  came  to  Susquehanna  in  1854.  For 
three  years  he  was  a.  carpenter  and  house-builder, 
and  subsequently  in  the  employ  of  the  railroad  com- 
pany. In  1858  he  rented  the  store  now  owned  by  F. 
D.  Lyons,  and  began  a grocery  business.  In  1860  he 
f bought  the  store  where  he  is  now  located,  and  has 
^ carried  on  business  since.  He  had  his  brother  for  a 
partner  for  some  time,  and  the  firm  also  conducted  a 
boot  and  shoe  business  on  the  corner  of  Main  and 
Exchange  Streets  for  eight  years.  With  the  exception 
of  James  Bell,  Mr.  Cook  has  been  longer  in  one  kind 
of  business  than  any  other  man  in  this  borough,  and 
embraced  jobbing  as  well  as  retail  trade. 

Hon.  Geo.  T.  Frazier  was  born  in  Connecticut 
in  1818,  and  in  1832  engaged  in  public  school  teach- 
ing. In  1841  he  was  elected  county  superintendent 
for  Broome  County,  and  was  subsequently  a teacher 
until  1850,  when  he  bought  a farm  in  Oakland  (then 
Harmony),  near  Susquehanna.  In  1854  he  estab- 
lished an  office  in  Susquehanna  as  a contractor  with  the 
Erie  Company  for  supplying  wood  for  fuel  and  cross- 
ties and  bark,  which  was  used  for  setting  tires  on  the 
drive-wheels  of  locomotives.  He  furnished  annually 
about  six  thousand  cords  of  wood,  one  thousand 
cords  of  bark  and  fifteen  hundred  cross-ties.  In  1857 
he  left  this  business  and  gave  his  attention  chiefly  to 
farming  until  1865,  when  he  opened  a flour  and  feed 
store  on  East  Main  Street  and  conducted  this  business 
twelve  years,  when,  selling  out,  he  opened  another 
store  on  Drinker  Street,  his  present  place  of  business. 
Mr.  Frazier  is  a brother  of  the  late  H.  H.  Fra- 
zier, the  founder  of  the  Independent  Republican,  pub- 
lished at  Montrose.  He  was  a member  of  the  House 
of  Representatives  of  Pennsylvania  in  1859-60,  and 
was  in  the  Legislature  in  the  extra  session  of  1861, 
when  the  memorable  “$3,000,000  act,”  for  aid  in  rais- 
ing and  equipping  the  Pennsylvania  Reserves,  was 
passed,  and  voted  for  its  passage.  He  was  a school  di- 
rector flfteen  years  while  living  in  Oakland  and  Sus- 
quehanna, having  been  burgess  of  the  latter  place  two 
terms.  He  is  one  of  the  directors  of  the  First  Na- 
tional Bank.  He  is  a man  of  sterling  qualities,  and 
whatever  he  has  undertaken  he  has  pursued  with 
the  discretion  and  vigilance  that  insures  success. 

F.  D.  Lyons  was  born  in  Massachusetts  in  1819, 
came  to  Lanesboro'  in  1848,  and  engaged  with  his 
brother  David  in  mercantile  business.  In  1856  the 
partnership  was  dissolved  and  F.  D.  Lyons  conducted 
the  business  two  years  longer  at  that  place,  then 
exchanged  his  property  there  with  C.  S.  Bennett  fox- 
property  in  Susquehanna.  Since  1859  Mr.  Lyons  has 
37  J 


conducted  a store  in  Susquehanna,  in  which  all  kinds 
of  goods  are  kept. 

David  A.  Lyons  was  born  in  Massachusetts  in 
1816,  and  died  at  Susquehanna  in  1881.  He  came  to 
Lanesboro’  about  1834  and  engaged  in  cabinet-making 
for  his  bx’other,  Seth  A.  Lyons,  until  1837,  and  then  in 
other  pursuits  at  Lanesboro’  until  1857  when  he  came 
to  this  place  and  engaged  in  mercantile  business  in 
a store  that  he  purchased  and  occupied  until  his 
death.  His  widow  and  daughter  still  reside  here. 

The  business  of  Guttenberg,  Eisman  & Co.  was 
established  at  this  place  in  1857,  under  the  title  of 
Guttenberg,  Rosenbaum  & Co.,  and  a frame  build- 
ing formerly  occupied  by  Smith  & McKune.  The 
store  at  Susquehanna  was  one  of  the  five  different 
houses  conducted  by  this  firm — the  other  stores  and 
branches  being  at  New  York,  Elmira,  Montrose  and 
Towanda.  In  1877  the  business  had  become  so 
extensive  that  a settlement  of  the  business  of  the 
seven  partners  was  made  and  the  firm  at  this  place 
was  succeeded  by  Guttenberg,  Eisman  & Co.  In 
1865  the  frame  building  was'  burned  down  and  in 
place  thereof  a large  three-story  bi’ick  building  was 
erected.  The  house  does  a more  extensive  business 
than  is  done  by  any  other  firm  in  Susquehanna 
County.  At  the  present  time  sixteen  men  and 
women  are  employed  in  the  different  departments  of 
this  store. 

Michael  H.  Eisman  was  born  in  Bavaria,  Ger- 
many, in  1839.  He  came  to  America  when  thirteen 
years  of  age,  and  after  attending  school  one  year  he 
secured  employment  in  Guttenberg  & Co.’s  wholesale 
store  in  New  York.  Six  years  after  he  was  admitted 
into  the  partnership  and  thus  became  a member  of  a 
business  house  that  has  been  remarkably  successful. 
In  1862  he  came  to  this  place  and  was  associate 
general  manager  of  the  business  here  two  years,  when, 
in  1864,  he  was  made  sole  manager,  and  since  has  had 
absolute  control.  When  the  firm  of  Guttenberg, 
Rosenbaum  & Co.  was  dissolved,  Mr.  Eisman,  at 
the  request  of  the  members  of  the  firm,  drafted  the 
stipulations  of  dissolution,  by  which  more  than  two 
hundred  and  fifty  thousand  dollars  of  property, 
consisting  of  real  and  pei-sonal  property,  and  located 
in  various  places,  was  divided,  and  so  equitable  did 
the  conditions  thereof  appear  to  them  all,  that  the 
paper  was  adojxted  with  no  changes  whatever.  He 
has  been  president  of  the  First  National  Bank  for  a 
number  of  years  past ; he  is  vice-president  of  the 
Susquehanna  Bridge  Company ; largely  interested  in 
the  Water  Company,  and  identified  with  many  other 
business  enterprises  in  the  county.  For  fifteen  years 
past  he  has  held  the  office  of  school  director  and 
for  fourteen  years  has  been  the  treasurer. 

John  C.  Kane  came  from  Choconut,  where  he  was 
born,  to  Susquehanna  in  1867.  He  engaged  in  the 
grocery  business  as  a partner  of  the  firm  of  Kane  & 
McDonald,  and  about  one  year  after  the  firm  was 
changed  to  McDonald  & Kane.  In  1871  the  partner- 


594 


HISTOEY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


ship  was  dissolved,  and  Mr.  Kane  conducted  the 
business  alone  until  1884,  when  he  sold  out  his 
groceries,  re-arranged  the  interior  of  the  store,  and 
opened  a dry-goods  store  in  place  thereof,  taking  into 
partnership  with  him  his  brother.  The  firm  is  now 
J.  C.  Kane  & Bro. 

John  Buckley  was  born  in  Ireland,  and  when 
eight  years  old,  in  1855,  came  with  his  parents  to 
Susquehanna.  He  spent  several  years  as  a clerk  in 
this  place  and  in  Binghamton,  and  in  1875  establish- 
ed a dry-goods  store  in  the  Falkenbury  block,  which 
he  has  conducted  to  the  present  time. 

E.  J.  Matthews'  Marble  Works. — The  marble 
business  established  by  Mr.  Matthews  in  1885  has  al- 
ready become  a very  important  industry.  His  trans- 
actions are  more  extensive  than  are  those  of  all  the 
other  marble  dealers  together  in  Susquehanna  County. 
From  a small  boy  of  seven  years  of  age,  when  his 
parents  removed  to  Oakland,  he  lived  near  this  bor- 
ough until  he  reached  his  majority,  since  which 
time,  with  the  exception  of  a few  years,  he  has  been 
identified  with  the  active  business  men  of  this 
town. 

Banks.—  The  First  National  Bank  was  chartered  in 
1865.  Its  capital  stock  was  fifty  thousand  dollars, 
The  first  officers  elected  were  the  following  : As  di- 

rectors, Joseph  W.  Guernsey,  Gaylord  Curtis,  E.  T. 
Wheeler,  H.  W.  Brandt,  James  W.  Guernsey,  Wm. 
Tremaine  and  Henry  L.  Bailey ; president,  Joseph 
W.  Guernsey;  vice-president,  Gaylord  Curtis;  cashier, 
Geo.  A.  Guernsey.  In  1866  Justin  H.  Cook  was 
elected  vice-president,  and  has  since  held  the 
office.  In  1869  H.  W.  Brandt  was  elected  presi- 
dent, and  in  1881  Mr.  Brandt  was  succeeded  by 
M.  H.  Eisman,  who  has  since  continued  to  occupy  the 
position.  In  1866  Myron  B.  Wright  was  appointed 
book-keeper ; in  1867  he  was  elected  assistant  cashier, 
and  in  1871  he  was  elected  cashier,  succeeding  Mr. 
Guernsey,  who  had  occupied  the  position  from  the 
organization  of  the  bank  up  to  that  time.  A.  H. 
Falkenbury  was  elected  teller  in  1869,  and  still  holds 
the  position.  C.  F.  Wright  was  made  assistant  cash- 
ier in  1884,  and  Henry  C.  Miller  was  appointed  book- 
keeper at  the  same  time.  The  capital  stock  was 
increased  to  one  hundred  thousand  dollars  in  1871.  The 
directors  now  are  M.  H.  Eisman,  J.  C.  Kane,  H.  A. 
Fonda,  J.  G.  Brewer,  Geo.  T.  Frazier,  A.  H.  Falken- 
bury, J.  H.  Cook,  Samuel  Falkenbury  and  M.  B. 
Wright. 

Myron  B.  Wright  was  born  June  12,  1847,  in 
Forest  Lake.  He  was  educated  at  the  public  schools 
and  at  Montrose  Academy.  In  the  winter  of  1865-66 
he  taught  a public  school  in  the  “ Bolles”  school- 
house,  in  Jessup,  and  at  the  close  of  his  winter  term 
of  three  months  he  taught  a two  months’  term  of 
select  school,  closing  it  at  the  end  of  that  time  to  ac- 
cept a position  as  clei’k  in  the  Ffirst  National  Bank  of 
Susquehanna,  of  which  his  uncle,  George  A.  Guern- 
sey, was  cashier.  In  1869,  upon  the  removal  of  his 


uncle  to  Port  Jervis,  he  was  promoted  to  the  cashier’s 
desk,  which  position  he  still  occupies. 

It  is  said  poets  are  born  such,  and  Mr.  Wright  is  a 
“ born  ” financier.  He  is  a large  stockholder  in  the 
bank,  and  it  enjoys  the  reputation  of  being  one  of  the 
soundest  financial  institutions  in  Northern  Pennsyl- 
vania, having  never  lost  a dollar  on  any  loan  nego- 
tiated by  it  since  its  organization.  Mr.  Wright  is  a 
stockholder  in  the  Susquehanna  and  Oakland  Bridge 
Company,  and  has  been  director  and  treasurer  of  the 
same  since  the  date  of  its  organization.  In  1880 
himself  and  Angus  Smith,  M.  H.  Eisman  and  A.  H. 
Falkenbury  organized  the  “ Susquehanna  Chemical 
Company,”  and  erected  works  at  Starrucca,  Wayne 
County,  Pa.,  of  which  he  became,  and  still  continues, 
the  business  manager.  Since  then  he  has  been  one 
of  the  original  owners,  and  largely  interested  in  the 
Jefferson  Chemical  Company  and  Lackawanna  Chem- 
ical Company,  both  situated  at  Ararat,  Pa. ; also  in 
the  Melrose  Acetate  Company,  of  Melrose,  Pa.,  and 
the  Wayne  Chemical  Company,  of  Equinunk,  Pa. 
In  1870  he  married  Mary  E.,  daughter  of  Hon.  Samuel 
and  Abby  A.  Falkenbury,  who  was  born  at  Jersey  City 
May  14, 1849.  Their  children  are  Sarah  E.  (1872-74); 
Albert  H.,  born  June  10, 1876;  and  Clarence  E.,  born 
April  10,  1882.  Mr.  Wright  may  be  properly  placed 
in  the  front  rank  with  the  successful  business  men  of 
Susquehanna  County.  Early  taught  the  rigid  and 
inflexible  rules  of  finance  that  govern  all  well-regu- 
lated and  sound  banking  institutions,  he  is  a financier 
of  acknowledged  skill  and  ability.  While  the  posi- 
tion he  occupies,  and  the  business  enterprises  he  is 
engaged  in,  have  claimed  his  whole  time  and  atten- 
tion, yet  he  has  taken  a lively  interest  in  the  local 
affairs  of  his  town,  and  has  ever  been  active  in  ad- 
vancing its  interests  with  his  means  and  influence. 
In  politics  he  has  always  been  an  earnest  and  active 
Eepublican,  advocating  its  principles  and  zealously 
aiding  its  success.  In  1886  he  was  the  nominee  of 
the  Eepublican  party  of  Susquehanna  County  for 
member  of  Congress. 

Hon.  Samuel  Falkenbury. — His  great-grand- 
father came  from  Holland  and  settled  in  the  Mohawk 
Valley.  His  grandfather,  Levi  Falkenbury  (1756- 
1850),  was  born  in  Schoharie  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  married 
Hannah  Hatch  (1758-1832).  He  served  in  the  army 
during  the  Eevolutionary  War  for  seven  years,  and 
was  with  Washington  in  his  campaign  through  New 
Jersey,  and  was  a Eevolutionary  pensioner  when  he 
died.  His  son,  Ira  Falkenbury  (1791-1840),  was  born 
in  Schoharie  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  when  about  seven  years 
old  his  parents  removed  to  Skeensborough,  N.  Y.  (now 
White  Hall),  where  his  father  purchased  alarm,  being 
one  of  the  first  settlers  in  the  eastern  part  of  that 
town.  Here  he  cleared  up  and  improved  his  farm 
and  remained  there  until  he  died.  His  son  Ira  re- 
mained on  the  farm,  receiving  the  common-school 
advantages  of  a farmer’s  boy  until  he  became  of  age. 
Shortly  after  attaining  his  majority  he  purchased  a 


SUSQUEHANNA. 


595 


farm  adjoining  his  fatlier’s,  and  married  Esther  Vre- 
denburg,  a native  of  New  York  State,  who  died  about 
1821.  He  served  as  a soldier  in  the  War  of  1812, 
which  broke  out  about  the  time  he  reached  his  ma- 
jority. A son  and  daughter  were  born  of  this  mar- 
riage,— Robert  E.  and  Esther.  In  1822  he  married 

for  his  second  wife  Phoebe  (1789-1830),  daughter  of 
William  Densmore,  who  was  a Revolutionary  soldier. 
He  remained  at  White  Hall  until  his  death,  honored 
and  respected  by  all  who  knew  him.  Their  children 
were  William  (1823-59);  Samuel,  1825;  Ira,  1827, 
married  and  residing  in  Jersey  City,  where  he  is  in  the 
employ  of  the  Erie  Railroad  Company ; Obed  D., 
1831,  married  and  for  several  years  resided  in  Jersey 
City,  where  he  had  charge  of  the  Erie  Railroad  Com- 
pany’s foundry,  and  while  a resident  of  New  Jersey 
was  elected  a member  of  the  General  Assembly  ; came 
to  Susquehanna  in  1873,  and  is  foreman  of  the  Erie 
Railroad  Company’s  foundry  at  this  place. 

Samuel  Falkenbury  was  born  at  White  Hall,  Wash- 
ington Co.,  N.  Y.,  February  25,  1825.  His  early  boy- 
hood was  spent  on  his  father’s  farm.  The  limited 
advantages  of  the  district  schools  he  had,  but  when 
old  enough  to  help  on  the  firm  these  were  confined 
to  the  winter  term.  At  the  age  of  fifteen  his  father 
died  and  the  year  following  himself  and  brothers  car- 
ried on  the  farm.  The  next  year  he  hired  out  as  a 
“ driver  boy  ” on  the  Champlain  Canal,  which  he  fol- 
lowed one  season,  then  worked  on  a farm  and  went  to 
school  in  winter  until  the  spring  of  1843,  when  he 
went  to  New  York  City  to  learn  the  trade  of  an  iron- 
moulder.  In  1848  he  married  Abby  A.,  daughter  of 
Albert  and  Abby  Y.  Hedden,  a native  of  Newark, 
N.  J.,  and  went  to  housekeeping  in  Jersey  City.  Here 
he  remained  working  at  his  trade  until  1851,  when  he 
went  to  Piermont,  N.  Y.,  and  entered  the  employ  of 
the  Erie  Railroad  Company,  but  retained  his  resi- 
dence in  Jersey  City.  On  the  5th  day  of  October,  1852, 
he  removed  with  his  family  to  Susquehanna,  and  for 
thirty-five  years  this  has  been  his  home.  He  imme- 
diately took  charge  of  the  Erie  Railroad  Company’s 
foundry,  and  remained  in  charge  of  it  for  more  than 
twenty  years.  In  1874  he  was  elected  a representative 
to  the  State  Legislature  for  two  years,  and  served  his 
constituents  faithfully  and  acceptably,  and  his  record 
as  a legislator  was  consistent  and  honorable.  In  1879 
he  engaged  in  the  book  and  stationery  business,  which 
he  has  successfully  carried  on  to  the  present  time.  In 
1864  he  erected  a large  three-story  building  on  the 
corner  of  Main  Street  and  Erie  Avenue  for  stores, 
offices  and  Masonic  Hall.  This  building  was  destroyed 
by  fire  in  1875,  and  on  its  site  he  erected,  the  year 
following,  three  store  buildings, — one  of  which  he 
now  occupies.  He  is  a director  of  the  First  National 
Bank,  and  the  only  original  stockholder  now  living 
in  Susquehanna.  When  he  came  to  Susquehanna,  in 
1852,  he  rented  of  the  Erie  Company  a house  on 
Washington  Street,  which  he  afterwards  purchased, 
remodeled,  and  is  his  present  residence.  Their  chil- 


dren are  Mary  Emma  (1849),  wife  of  M.  B.  Wright,  a 
manufacturer  and  banker  of  Susquehanna ; Albert  H. 
connected  with  the  First  National  Bank  and  a manu- 
facturer, and  Clara  E.  are  unmarried  and  living  at  home 
with  their  parents.  Mr.  Falkenbury,  although  not  a 
pioneer  in  this  section,  has  “ grown  up  ” with  Susque- 
hanna. A scattering  hamlet  when  he  came  here,  he 
has  not  only  watched,  but  contributed  to  its  growth 
until,  in  population,  it  ranks  first  in  the  county.  He 
was  a member  of  its  first  Council,  and  for  two  years 
president  of  the  board,  and  for  one  year  burgess ; has 
served  as  Councilman  several  times  since ; was  one 
of  the  commissioners,  under  act  of  Assembly,  to  locate 
the  Oakland  and  Susquehanna  Poor  Asylum,  and 
served  as  one  of  its  directors  for  three  years.  He  la- 
bored actively  with  James  B.  Gregg  in  organizing  the 
Library  Association,  and  was  identified  with  many 
other  enterprises  for  the  benefit  of  his  town.  He  was 
one  of  the  committee  on  organization  when  the  Re- 
publican party  was  organized  in  Susquehanna,  and 
has  ever  been  loyal  in  support  of  its  principles,  and 
zealous  and  active  in  advancing  its  interests  and  con- 
tributing to  its  success.  As  a mechanic,  as  a business 
man,  a legislator  and  a citizen,  he  has  ever  had  the 
confidence  and  esteem  of  his  fellow-townsmen. 

City  National  Bank. — This  bank  was  incorpor- 
ated in  1884 ; capital  stock,  fifty  thousand  dollars. 
H.  W.  Brandt,  Charles  Schlager,  S.  H.  Barnes,  V. 
Blackburn,  M.  Wagner,  W.  Thomas,  S.  S.  Doolittle, 
W.  S.  Brandt  and  H.  O.  Peck  were  the  first  directors. 
H.  W.  Brandt  was  elected  president ; Charles  Schlager 
vice-president ; W.  S.  Brandt  cashier ; and  L.  G.  Ben- 
son teller.  In  1885  Jacob  Schlager  was  elected  vice- 
president ; in  1887,  Charles  Schlager,  president ; and 
the  same  year,  S.  S.  Doolittle,  vice-president.  No 
changes  have  been  made  in  the  board  of  directors,  ex- 
cept to  fill  the  places  made  vacant  by  the  death  of  H. 
W.  Brandt  and  the  resignation  of  H.  0.  Peck.  These 
vacancies  were  filled  by  R.  Kessler  and  J.  S.  Brandt. 

Gaylord,  Curtis  & Co.,  Bankers. — This  banking- 
house,  commonly  called  the  Curtis  Bank,  was  institu- 
ted in  1866,  under  the  title  of  Curtis  & Miller’s 
Bank.  In  1877  Mr.  Miller  retired,  and  since  that 
time  the  first-mentioned  title  has  been  assumed. 
William  Emery  was  the  first  cashier.  In  1872  Charles 
F.  Curtis  was  appointed  teller,  and  in  1875  he 
succeeded  Mr.  Emery  as  cashier.  In  1881  Charles 
Sabin  was  appointed  teller.  For  the  past  twenty 
years  or  more,  since  this  bank  was  instituted,  there 
have  been  but  very  few  changes  respecting  the  per- 
sons who  have  conducted  it. 

Gaylord  Curtis,  a banker  at  Susquehanna,  Pa., 
was  born  in  Herkimer  County,  N.  Y.,  January  29, 
1812,  andthesameyear  came  with  his  parents,  Nathan- 
iel (1778-1850)  and  Mary  Lamberson  (1778-1848) 
Curtis,  to  East  Bridgewater  where  his  grandfather,  Na- 
thaniel Curtis,  was  the  pioneer  settler  in  1806.  Gay- 
lord, remained  at  home  during  his  boyhood,  learned 
how  to  work,  and  obtained  wbat  education  from  books 


596 


HISTOKY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


he  could,  by  attending  the  home  school.  Industry  and 
self-reliance  were  marked  characteristics  of  his  early 
life.  At  the  age  of  sixteen  he  was  apprenticed  to 
Albert  Moss,  a tanner  and  shoemaker  at  New  Milford, 
with  whom  he  remained  six  years,  and  became  fully 
conversant  with  those  trades.  He  then  followed  his 
trade  for  two  years  at  Lanesboro’,  and  in  1836  became 
the  partner  of  John  Smiley, .at  Gibson,  in  general  mer- 
chandising. He  married,  in  1843,  while  a resident  of 
Gibson,  Almira  S.  Sabin,  who  was  born  June  13, 1812, 
a daughter  of  William  and  Almira  Bissel  Sabin, 
natives  of  New  Haven,  Conn.,  who  settled  in  New 
Milford,  in  1816,  were  farmers,  and  resided  there  un- 
til their  deaths.  Their  surviving  children  are  ; — John, 
of  Chicago  ; Almira  S. ; and  Benjamin,  proprietor  of  a 
Susquehanna  hotel.  Mr.  Curtis  continued  success- 
fully the  mercantile  business  at  Gibson  until  the 
spring  of  1853,  when  he  settled  in  Susquehanna,  and 
served  as  the  first  treasurer  of  the  borough.  During 
that  year  he  built  the  store  now  the  property  of  David 
Lyon,  on  Main  Street,  and  kept  a general  store  for 
some  six  years,  besides  doing  a considerable  real  es- 
tate business.  In  1861  he  was  elected  justice  of  the 
peace  on  the  Democratic  ticket,  and  by  re-election  he 
served  two  terms.  In  this  capacity  Esquire  Curtis 
never  encouraged  litigation,  but,  on  the  other  hand, 
frequently  acted  as  a peacemaker,  and  counseled  an 
amicable  adjustment  of  any  difficulties.  He  has  been 
the  nominee  of  his  party  for  sheriff  and  associate 
judge,  but  owing  to  the  party  being  in  the  minority, 
the  ticket  failed  of  election.  He  has  been  closely 
identified  with  the  interests  of  the  borough  during  his 
residence  here,  and  has  served  as  burgess  and  in 
other  official  positions.  He  is  president  of  the  Sus- 
quehanna Water  Company,  a large  holder  of  its  stock 
and  was  the  prime  mover  in  its  establishment. 

In  1866  the  firm  of  Curtis  & Miller  opened  a pri- 
vate banking-house,  the  present  location,  which  was 
managed  under  the  firm-name  until  1877,  when  Mr. 
Miller  retired  from  the  concern,  and  Charles  F.  Cur- 
tis (nephew)  became  a partner.  The  banking-house 
of  G.  Curtis  & Co.  is  one  of  the  solid  institutions  of 
the  borough,  and  commands  the  confidence  of  the 
public  for  its  systematic  and  safe  management  of  all 
business  entrusted  to  its  care.  Esquire  Curtis  enjoys 
the  distinction  of  being  the  only  successful  private 
banker  of  years’  standing  in  Susquehanna  County, 
and  has  been  engaged  in  business  during  the  longest 
period.  He  started  out  in  boyhood  with  only  a six- 
pence in  his  pocket,  but  with  that  perseverance, 
judicious  management  and  shrewdness  in  business 
matters  characteristic  of  his  whole  life-work,  he  has 
made  a competence  to  enjoy  in  his  declining  years. 
Mr.  Curtis  is  a man  of  frank  and  open  manners,  so- 
cial, genial  and  sympathetic,  and  he  liberally  sup- 
ports the  various  enterprises  around  him  needing 
assistance,  never  forgetting  those  less  fortunate  than 
himself.  As  a respite  from  business,  and  for  the  pur- 
pose of  seeing  the  country,  in  company  with  Samuel 


Vail,  of  New  Milford,  he  took  a two  months’  trip  in 
1886  to  the  Pacific  coast ; visited  Utah,  Portland, 
Oregon,  the  principal  cities  of  California,  the  Garden 
of  the  Gods,  near  Manitou,  Col.,  and  sailed  to  the 
mouth  of  the  Columbia  River,  visiting  Astoria,  named 
for  John  Jacob  Astor,  who,  in  1811,  established  the 
first  trading-post  at  that  point  with  the  Indians.  A 
description  of  the  outline  of  travel  of  Curtis  and 
Vail  was  published  at  the  time,  showing  that  these 
gentlemen  did  not  make  the  tour  without  interest  to  I 
themselves  and  friends.  1 

Fires. — The  most  disastrous  fires  that  have  occurred  ] 

to  the  business-places  in  the  borough  are  the  follow-  ji 
ing;  In  1862  a store  owned  by  C.  S.  Bennett  and  : 
occupied  by  Geo.  Weed  was  destroyed,  together  with 
a large  stock  of  general  merchandise.  In  1865  fire 
broke  out  in  Saba  Bryant’s  grocery-store,  by  which  ’ 
this  store  and  Guttenburg,  Rosenbaum  & Co.’s  dry- 
goods  store  and  T.  J.  Ingstrum’s  grocery  were  de- 
stroyed. In  June,  1874,  fire  was  discovered  in  Frank 
Kirby’s  shoe-store,  that  stood  right  over  the  Drinker 
Creek,where  Wm.  H.Strachen’s  grocery  is  now  located. 

In  a short  time  fire  was  communicated  to  other  build- 
ings adjacent  to  it,  and,  before  the  fire  was  brought 
under  control,  about  thirty  buildings  on  Main  Street, 

Erie  Avenue  and  Willow  Street,  together  with  a great 
deal  of  property  contained  in  them,  were  consumed. 

In  1878  a large  building,  in  which  there  were  four 
stores,  located  on  Erie  Avenue  and  known  as  the 
Smith  Block,  was  utterly  ruined  before  the  flames 
were  subdued,  although  the  building  was  deluged 
with  four  powerful  streams  of  water  that  were  thrown 
upon  and  into  it.  In  1879  Rogers’  steam  mill  on 
Exchange  Street  was  burned.  In  May,  1883,  fire 
broke  out  in  one  of  the  stores  in  the  Cook  Block,  a 
very  large  frame  building.  This  building  was  entirely 
consumed;  and  the  graded  school  building,  standing  | 
near  by,  also  took  fire  and  was  destroyed.  With 
extreme  difficulty  other  buildings,  on  the  opposite  1 
side  of  Main  Street,  and  the  railroad  company’s  shops 
in  rear  of  the  fire,  and  on  the  opposite  side  of  Ex- 
change Street,  were  saved. 

The  Susquehanna  and  Oakland  Bridge  Com- 
pany was  incorporated  in  June,  1874.  The  first 
directors  were  M.  B.  Wright,  M.  H.  Eisman,  Thomas 
McDonald,  H.  Holdridge,  J.  C.  Kane,  Charles  Beebe, 

J.  G.  Brewer,  S.  N.  Mitchell,  Henry  Howell  and 
J.  H.  Cook.  J.  H.  Cook  was  elected  president;  M. 

H.  Eisman,  vice-president;  J.  G.  Brewer,  secretary; 
and  M.  B.  Wright,  treasurer.  The  capital  stock  was 
fifteen  thousand  dollars,  which,  in  1875,  was  increased 
to  twenty  thousand  dollars.  The  officers  at  present 
are  the  same  that  were  first  elected,  and  the  present 
board  of  directors  are  M.  H.  Eisman,  Robert  Wallace, 

W.  S.  Mitchell,  J.  C.  Cook,  Adolph  Spellenberg, 

J.  H.  Cook,  H.  Haldridge,  Michael  Milane,  J.  C. 
Kane,  Charles  Beebe,  M.  B.  Wright  and  J.  G. 
Brewer. 

The  Susquehanna  Water  Company  was  incor- 


f-byA.H.TMcya^- 


SUSQUEHANNA. 


597 


porated  in  1874  with  a stock  capital  of  five  thousand 
dollars-  The  first  officers  were  Gaylord  Curtis,  presi- 
dent; and  C.  A.  Miller,  secretary  and  treasurer.  The 
directors  were  M.  H.  Eisman,  James  Bell,  Lewis 
Freeman,  M.  B.  Wright,  E.  N.  Smith  and  S.  N. 
Mitchell.  The  offices  of  president,  secretary  and 
treasurer  have  remained  unchanged.  The  directors 
now  are  M.  H.  Eisman,  James  Bell,  Lewis  Freeman 
and  M.  B.  Wright. 

Railroad  Shops. — These  are  the  principal  motive- 
power  shops  of  the  New  York,  Lake  Erie  and  Western 
■ Railroad  Company,  covering  about  seven  acres  of 
ground,  exclusive  of  many  acres  of  yards,  courts,  side- 
I tracks  and  switches.  In  the  construction  of  these 
!•  buildings  the  company  has  expended  not  less  than 
one  and  one-fourth  million  dollars,  and  for  machinery 
y now  in  use  nearly  three  hundred  thousand  dollars 
I more.  The  company  also  constantly  keeps  on  hand 
iron,  lumber  and  other  material  to  the  value  of  about 
one  hundred  and  twenty  thousand  dollars,  and  dis- 
burses monthly  to  its  nine  hundred  employees  at  this 
place,  on  an  average,  about  sixty  thousand  dollars. 
Yet  these  shops,  which  never  fail  to  attract  the  atten- 
tion of  all  who  first  visit  the  place,  are  not  the  original 
ones  erected  here. 

In  1847  the  original  shops  were  located  about  where 
the  present  ones  now  stand,  and  the  next  year  they 
were  constructed.  They  were  inexpensive  frame 
buildings,  which,  fully  equipped  with  machinery,  cost 
less  than  two  hundred  thousand  dollars,  and  were  de- 
signed to  give  employment  to  about  two  hundred  men. 
In  January,  1849,  the  first  invoice  of  requisites  was 
ordered  for  the  Lanesboro’  shops,  as  they  were  then 
called ; the  men  were  engaged,  the  machinery  started, 
and  the  work  of  building  and  repairing  locomotives  [ 
began.  A number  of  years  after,  during  the  war,  it 
was  evident  that  the  increasing  business  of  the  road 
required  grWter  and  better  facilities  for  keeping  the 
motive-power  in  order  than  these  shops  provided  ; 
hence,  under  instructions  from  the  officers  of  the  com- 
pany, James  B.  Gregg,  then  master  meehanic,  drew 
an  outline  of  plans  for  buildings,  such  as,  in  his 
judgment,  would  be  adapted  lo  the  purposes,  and 
adequate  to  meet  the  necessities  of  the  road.  Draw- 
ings of  these  plans  were  then  perfected  by  Mr.  Minot, 
the  general  superintendent,  submitted  to  the  officers 
of  the  company,  and,  on  being  approved,  the  work  of 
construction,  in  1863,  proceeded.  In  1865  the  build- 
ings were  completed  and  formally  dedicated  by  means 
of  interesting  and  appropriate  ceremonies.  The  main 
building  is  seven  hundred  and  fifty  feet  long  and  one 
hundred  and  thirty-seven  feet  wide — a massive  stone 
structure,  whose  roof,  with  the  exception  of  many 
spacious  sky-lights,  is  covered  with  slate  and  sup- 
ported by  a symmetrical  frame-work  of  timber, 
securely  fastened  together  with  iron  bolts  and  stayed 
with  numerous  iron  braces  and  pendants.  In  this 
building  the  following-named  departments  of  the 
business  are  conducted:  Erecting,  machinery,  tool. 


rod,  turning,  planing,  wheel,  tin  and  copper,  and 
stock.  Adjoining  the  main  building,  on  the  north 
side,  are  six  annexes,  viz.,  boiler-shop,  blacksmith- 
shop,  engine-room  and  bath-room,  store-room,  paint- 
shop  and  pattern  store-room,  and  carpenter-shop  and 
pattern-shop.  The  carpenter-shop  is  built  of  stone 
and  the  others  of  brick,  each  annex  being  about  one 
hundred  and  eighty  feet  long  by  eighty  feet  wide. 
The  foundry,  still  farther  north,  detached  from  the 
other  buildings  a few  feet,  is  a brick  structure,  two 
hundred  and  fifty  feet  long  and  seventy-two  feet  wide, 
provided  with  two  large  cupolas,  from  which  sixty 
thousand  pounds  of  molten  iron  is  daily  run  into  cast- 
ings, used  in  the  construction  of  motive-power  and 
otherwise.  To  the  east,  about  two  hundred  feet  dis- 
tant, is  located  the  hammer-shop,  a building  one 
hundred  and  sixty  feet  long  by  eighty  feet  wide,  which 
is  provided  with  steam-power  hammers,  driven  by 
powerful  engines.  The  apparatus  is  so  nicely  ad- 
justed that  with  these  hammers  a blow  of  the  exact 
force  required  can  be  produced,  from  the  gentlest  tap 
to  the  heaviest  blow,  within  .the  momentum  of  the 
ponderous  hammer  driven  by  the  power  of  the  engine. 
On  the  west  end  of  the  main  building  the  round- 
house, containing  thirty-three  stalls,  is  located ; and 
still  fiirther  west  are  the  gas-works  and  oil-works. 
The  oil  produced  by  these  works  is  for  lubricating 
purposes,  and  about  sixteen  hundred  barrels  is  com- 
pounded monthly.  The  power  to  run  the  machinery 
in  the  main  shop  and  in  the  annexes  is  furnished  by 
a two  hundred  horse-power  Corliss  engine.  They  are 
kept  comfortably  warm,  even  in  the  coldest  weather, 
by  more  than  fifteen  miles  of  steam- pipes,  and  when 
necessary  to  work  nights  the  buildings  are  made 
almost  as  light  as  day  by  an  excellent  system  of  elec- 
tric-lights and  gas-ligh4s.  Of  conducting  the  business 
at  these  shops  Mr.  Gregg  inaugurated  a remarkably 
thorough  system,  which,  instead  of  deteriorating  in 
the  least,  has  gradually  been  improved  by  those  who 
have  succeeded  him;  so  that,  at  the  present  time,  an 
almost  exact  date  may  be  assigned  wdien  an  order  for 
any  given  number  of  locomotives  will  be  filled.  Be- 
sides keeping  in  order  nearly  two  hundred  locomo- 
tives, each  of  which,  it  is  safe  to  say,  must  undergo 
repairs  at  least  once  a year,  five  new  ones  can  be 
turned  out  per  month. 

The  locomotives  first  used  on  the  road  were  about 
eighteen  tons  in  weight,  and  quite  diminutive,  com- 
pared with  those  now  used.  One  of  these,  preserved 
as  a relic,  and  protected  from  the  soot  and  dust  by 
glass  partitions,  now  stands  in  the  main  shop,  that 
the  visitor  may  contrast  it  with  the  majestic  ones  in 
process  of  construction  right  by  its  side.  Many  of  the 
locomotives  now  made  weigh  more  than  fifty  tons, 
and  are  capable  of  drawing  eighty  loaded  freight  cars 
on  an  ordinary  grade.  Preferring  hard-coal  burners 
to  those  in  whieh  soft-coal  is  used,  during  the  last  two 
years  many  experiments  have  been  made  to  construct 
such  as  would  be  capable  of  making  the  time  made 


598 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


by  soft-coal  burners,  with  the  heavy  and  elaborate 
passenger  trains,  for  which  the  road  is  celebrated.  It 
is  a pleasure  to  say  that  recently  this  desire  has  been 
realized  in  the  construction  of  what  is  known  as  Ex- 
perimental Engine  102,  a locomotive,  for  power  and 
speed,  probably  not  surpassed. 

Master  Mechanics. — John  Brandt  (1849-51);  James 
B.  Gregg  (1851-72);  Robert  Wallace  (1872-76);  Vin- 
cent Blackburn  from  1876  to  the  present  time.  Mr. 
Brandt  is  now  general  superintendent  of  the  Oregon 
and  California  Railroad,  his  ofBce  being  at  Portland, 
Oregon.  Mr.  Gregg  was  a farmer’s  son,  born  near 
Wilmington,  Del.,  educated  at  Burlington,  N.  J., 
after  which  he  learned  the  machinist’s  trade,  at  Wil- 
mington, and  then  entered  the  service  of  the  Erie 
Company  as  general  foreman  of  the  Piermont  shops. 
In  1851  he  came  to  Susquehanna,  having  been  ap- 
pointed master  mechanic  of  the  shops.  Having  held 
this  position  nineteen  years,  in  1872  he  resigned  it 
and  removed  to  Binghamton,  N.  Y.,  where  he  soon 
after  engaged  with  others  in  manufacturing  boots  and 
shoes,  under  the  firm-name  of  Anderson  & Gregg, 
and  afterwards  as  J.  B.  Gregg  & Son,  until  his  death, 
in  1885.  While  at  Susquehanna  Mr.  Gregg  not  only 
had  supervision  of  the  work  done  in  the  shops,  but  he 
was  also  the  company’s  land  agent  and  attorney,  and 
by  him  nearly  all  of  the  land  that  the  company  orig- 
inally purchased  was  parceled  out,  on  favorable 
terms,  to  a class  of  worthy  and  industrious  men  who 
came  to  this  place  seeking  homes  for  themselves  and 
families. 

Robert  Wallace  was  born  in  Ireland.  After  receiv- 
ing a liberal  education  at  Bullock’s  Academy,  at  Bel- 
fast, he  served  a seven  years’  apprenticeship  as  a ma- 
chinist, upon  the  completion  of  which,  in  1848,  he  at 
once  sailed  for  America.  Here  he  found  employment 
in  the  Rogers  Locomotive  Works,  at  Paterson,  N.  J., 
for  the  next  three  years.  In  1851  he  came  to  Susque- 
hanna and  engaged  in  the  service  of  the  Erie  Com- 
pany, a service  that  continued  twenty-four  years.  In 
1876  he  resigned,  and  has  since  been  engaged  in  mer- 
cantile pursuits.  In  1850  he  married  Anne  Allen,  of 
Belfast,  Ireland,  who  died  at  Susquehanna  in  1873. 
In  1874  he  married  Mrs.  Eliza  B.,  widow  of  James 
B.  Tucker,  of  Bermuda.  Mrs.  Wallace  is  an  active 
member  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church,  and  to 
her  the  society  at  Susquehanna  is  much  indebted. 
His  sons  are  all  in  the  employ  of  the  railroad  com- 
pany. John  S.  is  at  present  chief  storekeeper  and 
book-keeper  of  the  oil-works,  and  also  a member  of  the 
School  Board;  William  J.  is  foreman  of  the  pattern- 
shop  : Martin  E.  is  a draughtsman  in  the  office  of 
superintendent  of  motive-power,  at  Buffalo,  N.  Y. ; 
and  Robert,  Jr.,  is  a pattern-maker  at  this  place.  The 
two  daughters  reside  with  their  father  at  Susque- 
hanna. 

Mr.  Blackburn  was  born  in  New  York  City.  When 
he  was  about  four  years  old  his  parents  removed  with 
him  to  Schenectady,  N.  Y.,  where  he  was  educated. 


after  which  he  spent  six  years  in  the  Schenectady 
Locomotive  Works,  in  learning  different  branches 
of  the  business.  After  working  in  several  machine- 
shops  elsewhere,  in  18J6  he  succeeded  Mr.  Wallace  as 
master  mechanic  of  the  shops  at  Susquehanna.  Mr. 
Blaekburn  is  a member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church, 
where  he  holds  responsible  offices  and  exerts  much 
influence,  being  chorister  and  superintendent  of  the 
Sabbath-school  and  president  of  the  board  of  trustees. 
During  the  past  three  years  he  has  been  president  of 
the  “Young  Men’s  Library  Association,”  and  of  the 
“ Union  Temperance  League,”  recently  organized,  he 
is  the  president.  In  1854  he  married  Margaretta 
Forman,  of  Fonda,  N.  Y.  They  have  two  sons — 
Charles,  shop  time-keeper,  and  Henry,  machinist, — 
both  employed  in  these  shops. 

Shop-Clerks. — James  M.  Ward,  1849-51;  John  J. 
Ward,  1851-52;  Theodore  Springsteen,  Sr.,  1852  to 
the  present  time. 

Theodore  Springsteen  was  born  and  educated  in 
New  York  City.  After  leaving  school  he  was  em- 
ployed in  a dry-goods  store  in  New  York  until  1851, 
when  he  was  appointed  assistant  shop-clerk  for  the 
shops  at  this  place.  In  1853  he  was  made  a shop- 
clerk,  and  thus  for  the  long  term  of  thirty-five  years 
he  has  most  acceptably  filled  this  important  office.  At 
the  beginning  he  was  assisted  by  Philip  Brady — who 
still  resides  here — as  time-keeper. ' Now  there  are 
associated  with  him  the  following-named  persons: 
Theodore  Springsteen,  Jr.,  assistant  shop-clerk;  Tabor 
A.  Hayward,  engineers’  and  firemen’s  time-keeper; 
Charles  Blackburn,  shop  time-keeper;  Frank  Wein- 
man, clerk ; and  a telegraph  operator.  He  and  his 
wife  united  with  the  Methodist  Episeopal  Church  in 
1855,  when  the  society  in  this  place  was  in  its  infancy, 
but  some  time  ago  united  with  the  Presbyterians. 
Their  other  children  are  John,  a pattern-maker,  and 
William,  a machinist,  employed  here,  and  their 
daughter  at  home. 

General  Foremen. — The  following  is  the  list  in  the 
order  of  their  succession : Charles  Williams,  Stephen 
Stinnard,  Austin  King,  William  Stamp,  Robert  Wal- 
lace, Thomas  West,  C.  O.  Vedder,  John  Hawthorne, 
Samuel  Higgins,  J.  H.  Moore.  The  department  fore- 
men at  the  present  time  are  0.  H.  Simmons,  Thomas 
J.  Hassett,  Washington  Shaeff,  J.  G.  Espenlaub,  R. 
J.  McCarthy,  William  Hunt,  S.  L.  French,  Daniel 
White,  Geo.  H.  Leal,  O.  D.  Falkenbury,  W.  J.  Wal- 
lace, B.  C.  Stoddard,  M.  H.  Pope,  A.  T.  Back,  Isaac 
Bond,  C.  P.  Weiss,  Wm.  Stamp,  H.  Fordyce,  W.  W. 
H.  Robinson,  J.  H.  Findon. 

Superintendents  of  Motive- Power. — In  1872  the  office 
of  the  superintendent  was  removed  from  New  York 
to  this  place.  Howard  Frye  then  held  the  office.  In 
1874  he  was  succeeded  by  F.  K.  Hain,  who  held  the 
office  two  years,  when  F.  M.  Wilder  was  appointed  to 
the  position.  After  having  been  superintendent  for 
ten  years  Mr.  Wilder  resigned  and  R.  M.  Soule  was 
appointed  his  successor.  Upon  coming  into  office,  in 


SUSQUEHANNA. 


599 


1886,  Mr.  Soule  found  it  would  be  more  convenient 
were  the  offices  located  at  Buffalo,  N.  Y.;  therefore 
they  were  removed  to  that  place.  The  removal  from 
Susquehanna  not  only  caused  the  departure  of  the 
superintendent,  but  took  from  our  community  about 
twenty  gentlemen — a majority  having  families — em- 
ployed as  accountants  and  book-keepers. 

The  Railroad  Station  buildings  are  large,  fine  brick 
structures.  The  freight-house  is  one  hundred  and  fifty 
by  thirty-six  feet.  The  passenger  depot,  about  three 
hundred  feet  long  and  thirty-six  feet  wide,  is  well 
appointed  for  the  purpose,  having  waiting-rooms, 
ticket  office,  transportation  office,  telegraph  office, 
etc.,  together  with  an  excellent  hotel  conducted  by  C. 
A.  Miller,  Esq.  In  1850  there  were  two  through 
trains  for  passengers  each  way  daily,  two  local  trains, 
‘'■j  one  coal  train  and  one  freight  train.  The  capacity  of 
freight  cars  at  that  time  was  about  ten  tons,  while  a 
very  large  proportion  of  the  cars  now  used  have  a 
capacity  of  twenty-five  tons.  Now  there  pass  through 
this  place  daily  ten  through  trains  for  passengers  each 
way  and  nine  local  trains,  and  about  twenty-five 
freight  trains  each  way.  The  number  of  freight  cars 
reported  at  this  office  as  passing  this  station  during 
the  month  just  closed  (March,  1887)  was  thirty-eight 
thousand  one  hundred  and  fifty-three. 

A table  of  freight  tariffs  for  1854,  now  hanging  on 
the  wall  in  the  freight  office,  shows  that  for  a stock 
car  from  Dunkirk  to  New  York  one  hundred  dollars 
was  charged.  While  the  stock  cars  now  have  double 
the  capacity  of  those  of  1854,  yet  from  Buffalo  to 
New  York  but  thirty-five  dollars  is  the  tariff,  and  this 
is  a fair  comparison  respecting  all  other  classes  of 
freight.  To  do  the  work  performed  at  this  station  by 
clerks  in  the  transportation  office  and  freight  office 
and  on  the  yard  as  switchmen  and  switch-tenders,  etc., 
seventy-two  men  are  employed.  The  following,  in 
the  order  of  their  succession,  have  been  .station-agents 
at  Susquehanna : James  Ward,  Mr.  Merrill,  Mr. 
Sheafe,  Samuel  Gibson,  J.  T.  Cameron,  1857-73  ; Ira 
A.  Post,  1873-83 ; Clark  Evans,  1883-86 ; and  G.  W- 
Conklin  from  1886  to  the  present  time.  Ira  A.  Post 
has  been  in  the  service  of  the  railroad  company  a 
long  time.  In  1848  he  engaged  in  railroad  business 
as  a contractor,  taking  a number  of  contracts  with  the 
“ Erie”  while  this  road  was  being  built.  In  1851  he 
commenced  running  trains  on  the  road  as  conductor. 
He  followed  this  business  nearly  all  of  the  time  from 
1851  to  1873,  when  he  came  to  Susquehanna  as  station 
agent,  which  position  he  now  fills. 

The  Telegraph  Office. — Thomas  E.  Walsh,  the  pres- 
ent manager,  entered  this  office  when  a young  man, 
in  1865,  as  a messenger,  and  after  learning  the  busi- 
ness he  was  promoted  step  by  step,  until  1874,  when 
he  was  appointed  manager,  since  which  time  he  has 
filled  this  very  important  and  responsible  office  and 
discharged  its  duties  most  acceptably.  He  has  six 
persons  employed  in  the  office  under  bis  supervision. 
Two  packages  of  money  sent  by  the  United  States  ' 


Express  Company  have  been  stolen  at  Susquehanna. 
One  package  of  thirty  thousand  dollars  was  taken 
from  the  company’s  safe  on  October  13,  1871,  and  no 
clue  to  the  thieves  was  ever  found.  Another  pack- 
age, of  forty  thousand  dollars,  was  taken  in  June, 
1883.  Pinkerton’s  detectives  investigated  the  latter 
case,  and  arrested  George  H.  Proctor,  an  employee  of 
the  company,  for  the  crime,  who  confessed  his  guilt, 
revealing  the  names  of  some  of  his  accomplices,  and 
was  sent  to  the  Eastern  Penitentiary  for  eight  years, 
in  1885. 

Library  Association. — In  1848,  when  the  rail- 
road company  was  making  preparations  to  erect  the 
shops  and  station  buildings,  a boarding-house  was 
erected,  which,  thereafter,  became  the  centre  of  so 
much  interest,  that  a brief  description  of  it  and  the 
purposes  for  which  it  was  used  will  doubtless  gratify 
the  reader.  This  building — main  part,  forty-five  by 
forty-five ; wing  thirty  by  fifty  ; two  stories — stood 
about  where  the  large  smoke-stack  is  now.  The 
whole  of  it  was  used  a few  years  for  a boarding-house, 
but  about  1858  Mr.  Gregg  askred  the  company’s  per- 
mission to  allow  him  to  use  a part  of  it  for  a circulat- 
ing library.  The  company  cheerfully  granted  his  re- 
quest, with  assurances  that  it  would  also  do  whatever 
was  reasonable  to  further  his  project.  Hence  he  in- 
vited Messrs.  Robert  Wallace,  Theodore  Springsteen, 
Sr.,  Samuel  Falkenbury,  JohnT.  Bourne  and  Wni.  R. 
Greeley,  to  meet  with  him,  whereupon  an  association 
was  formed,  entitled  “The  Young  Men’s  Literary 
Association,”  and  measures  were  taken  to  carry  out 
the  project.  A commodious  and  pleasant  reading- 
room  and  library  was  arranged.  Committees  were 
appointed,  and  succeeded  in  collecting  about  thirty 
volumes,  and  money  to  purchase  four  hundred  vol- 
umes more;  and  February  5,  1859,  the  library  was 
opened  for  the  distribution  of  books.  In  1866,  the 
new  shops  and  offices  being  completed,  and  suitable 
rooms,  adjacent  to  the  master  mechanic’s  office  having 
been  provided  by  the  railroad  company,  the  library 
was  removed  to  the  place  that  it  now  occupies.  At 
the  same  time,  in  the  upper  part  of  the  new  building, 
a large  hall  was  neatly  fitted  up,  called  Mechanics’ 
Hall,  and  the  use  of  this  was  also  given  to  the  asso- 
ciation. In  1866  the  railroad  company  appropriated 
three  hundred  and  fifty  dollars,  and  in  1869  one  hun- 
dred dollars,  more  to  enlarge  the  library  ; and  these 
donations  from  the  company,  together  with  funds 
raised  by  the  citizens  of  the  place,  enabled  the  asso- 
ciation to  purchase  a large  number  of  books,  so  that 
at  the  present  time  the  catalogue  includes  over  three 
thousand  volumes  of  miscellaneous  works.  Under 
the  auspices  of  the  association,  courses  of  lectures 
were  held,  in  which  some  of  the  most  eminent  men 
of  the  countiy  appeared.  Here  were  also  given  con- 
certs, entertainments,  festivals,  etc.,  making  them 
places  of  very  frequent  and  pleasant  resort.  The  first 
president  of  the  association  was  M.  H.  C.  Vail,  M.D. 
The  present  officers  are  V.  Blackburn,  president ; John 


600 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


Graham,  vice-president;  Martha  Hayward,  secretary; 
O-  H.  Simmons,  treasurer ; Mary  A.  Nicol,  librarian. 

Susquehanna  Mutual  Benefit  Association.— 
In  pursuance  of  suggestions  made  by  Mr.  J.  B. 
Gregg,  in  July,  1869,  this  association,  commonly 
known  as  the  “Shop  Society,”  was  organized.  The 
objects  of  the  organization  were  to  provide  weekly 
benefits  for  such-  of  its  members  as  should  be  ill  or 
otherwise  disabled,  and  on  the  death  of  any  of  its 
members  to  pay  to  the  surviving  widow  or  orphans 
such  a sum  as  might  be  raised  by  an  assessment  of 
one  dollar  each  on  the  membership.  Each  member 
pays  twenty-five  cents  monthly  dues.  The  association 
has  a membership  of  three  hundred  and  forty-five, 
and  about  fourteen  hundred  dollars  in  the  general 
fund.  Since  its  organization  it  has  paid  out,  in  bene- 
fits and  expenses,  about  twenty-five  thousand  dollars. 
The  present  officers  are  E.  W.  Jackson,  president; 
F.  Weinman,  vice-president;  T.  Springsteen,  Jr., 
secretary ; G.  H.  Leal,  treasurer ; and  Dr.  S.  S.  Sim- 
mons, T.  Taylor,  Sr.,  and  A.  T.  Back,  trustees. 

The  Strike  of  1874. — While  Mr.  Frye  was  super- 
intendent of  motive-power,  a number  of  men  not 
residents  of  Susquehanna,  were  employed.  Some  of 
them,  however,  after  securing  employment,  brought 
their  families  here.  The  railroad  company,  laboring 
under  financial  embarrassments  somewhat  serious, 
was  unable  to  make  the  monthly  payments  as 
promptly  as  many  of  the  men  desired.  Those  to 
whom  we  first  alluded  were  especially  clamorous 
because  of  the  company’s  delay,  whereupon 'a  com- 
mittee composed  of  employees  was  appointed  to  con- 
fer with  the  superintendent,  respecting  the  matter. 
The  committee  asked  that  the  payments  should  be 
made  not  later  than  the  15th  of  each  month. 
After  some  consultation  the  time  was  extended  to  the 
25th  of  each  month,  and  the  company  gave  its 
assent.  But  for  some  reason,  delay  in  making  the 
monthly  payments  was  not  avoided  ; hence  agitation 
ensued  until  a large  number  were  incited  to  revolt. 
Then  the  machinery  in  the  shops  was  stopped,  and 
the  running  of  trains  was  not  allowed,  except  those 
carrying  the  mails.  No  locomotives  were  permitted 
to  leave  the  round-house ; and  as  trains  came  into  the 
station,  the  locomotives  were  taken  off  and  run  upon 
the  switches.  Mr.  Helme,  the  sheriff  of  the  county, 
was  unable  to  restore  order,  so  the  Governor  of  the 
State  was  applied  to  for  assistance.  General  Os- 
borne’s division,  including  the  Ninth  Regiment,  and 
a company  of  artillery  from  Wilkes-Barre,  the  First 
Regiment  from  Philadelphia,  and  the  Telford  Guards 
of  Susquehanna  were  ordered  to  take  possession  of 
the  railroad  company's  property,  and  restore  order. 
The  order  was  soon  obeyed,  and  the  officers  of  the 
railroad  company  were  once  more  in  peaceable 
possession  of  the  shops.  Then  the  employees  were 
all  paid  off,  and,  gradually,  nearly  all  of  the  men 
were  taken  back  into  the  service  of  the  company  ; 


yet,  those  who  were  the  leaders  in  the  strike  were 
never  again  given  employment. 

The  Telford  Guards. — An  independent  com- 
pany of  State  militia  was  organized  at  Susquehanna, 
by  Captain  James  Smith,  in  1872,  consisted  of  sixty- 
five  men,  called  the  Telford  Zouaves,  with  James 
Smith,  captain  ; R.  H.  Hall,  first  lieutenant;  and  Jacob 
Malpass,  second  lieutenant ; all  commissioned  by  Gover- 
nor Geary.  In  1876  the  company  was  brought  under  the 
jurisdiction  of  the  National  Guards’  system ; hence  the 
title  was  changed  as  above  indicated;  and  in  1878, 
under  a re-organization  of  the  military  system  of  the 
State,  the  company  lost  its  individuality,  and  was 
joined  to  the  Thirteenth  Regiment,  as  Company  G, 
of  the  National  Guards  of  Pennsylvania,  with  its 
headquarters  at  Scranton.  Many  of  the  men  com- 
posing the  company  were  in  the  employ  of  the  rail- 
road corporation,  and  as  the  Guards  were  quite  fre- 
quently called  into  service  by  the  Governor  of  the 
State,  to  the  inconvenience  of  the  railroad  company, 
as  well  as  of  the  men,  in  1879  it  disbanded.  At  the 
time  of  the  re-organization,  when  the  Guards  were 
joined  to  the  Thirteenth  Regiment,  Captain  Smith 
was  re-commissioned,  S.  L.  French  was  commissioned 
first  lieutenant,  and  Hon. Geo.  Post,  second  lieutenant. 
U nder  order  from  State  officials,  the  company  was  called 
into  active  service  as  follows : In  1874,  at  Susquehanna, 
on  the  occasion  of  the  strike  of  the  railroad  em- 
ployees ; in  1875,  at  Hazelton,  Buck  Mountain  and 
Wilkes-Barre,  where  the  men  were  under  .arms  thirty- 
seven  <lays;  in  1876,  at  the  Centennial  Exposition,  in 
Philadelphia;  in  1877,  at  Wilkes-Barre,  two  weeks  ; 
in  1879,  at  Harrisburg,  to  attend  the  inauguration  of 
Governor  Hoyt. 

Colonel  W.  H.  Telford  was  born  in  Ireland  in 
1840,  and  came  to  America  in  1852,  locating  at  Nor- 
wich, N.  Y.,  where  he  received  an  academical  educa- 
tion. In  1859  he  went  to  Towanda,  Pa.,  to  engage  in 
the  marble  business,  and  during  1861  organized  the 
Goodrich  Guards  of  that  place.  He  enlisted  a com- 
pany in  Towanda,  known  as  Company  G,  of  the 
Fiftieth  Regiment  of  Pennsylvania  Volunteers,  and 
while  captain  of  the  company  he  also  acted  as  major 
of  the  regiment  until  February  8,  1865,  when  he  was 
commissioned  lieutenant-colonel,  and  May  15,  1865, 
he  was  made  colonel.  He  was  engaged  in  thirty-two 
important  battles.  He  was  taken  prisoner  at  Spottsyl- 
vania  Court-Honse  in  May,  1864,  and  remained  a 
prisoner  of  war  eight  months.  After  making  his  es- 
cape three  times,  only  to  be  recaptured  again,  the  fourth 
attempt,  from  Columbia,  S.  C.,  proved  successful.  He 
reported  to  General  Sherman  at  Savannah,  where  he 
met  army  officers,  to  whom  he  gave  valuable  informa- 
tion respecting  the  enemy’s  lines  and  fortifications. 
Before  it  was  known  that  he  had  made  his  escape, 
his  wife,  whom  he  married  a few  months  before  he 
enlisted,  had  effected  an  exchange  for  him.  With  re- 
markable persistency  she  pursued  her  object  until  she 


SUSQUEHANNA. 


601 


gainoil  au  interview  with  President  Lincoln  and  ef- 
fected her  purpose.  After  the  war  he  returned  to 
Bradford  County,  and  soon  thereafter  came  to  Sus- 
quehanna, where  he  has  sinceresided.  Telford  Guards 
were  so  named  in  his  honor. 

Schools. — The  first  school-house  at  this  place  was 
a small  building  called  the  Pine-tree  School-house, 
erected  in  1850,  and  located  just  back  of  the  present 
site  of  the  Methodist  Church,  on  what  is  now  called 
Prospect  Street.  Afterwards  this  building  was  moved 
down  the  hill  to  the  lot  on  the  corner  of  Washington 
and  Second  Streets,  where  Mrs.  Morgan  now  resides. 


was  agitated,  but  not  until  1869  was  the  project  per- 
fected and  a suitable  building  for  the  purpose  com- 
j)leted.  This  was  located  on  Main  Street,  where  Ho- 
gan’s Opera-House  now  stands.  The  lot,  about  one 
hundred  and  ten  feet  front  by  two  hundred  feet  deep, 
was  owned  by  the  railroad  company.  The  company 
conveyed  the  lot  to  the  borough  under  the  form  of  a 
perpetual  lease,  on  the  condition  that  it  should  be  used 
exclusively  for  school  purposes,  and  that,  when  for 
such  purposes  it  shall  have  been  abandoned  two  years, 
it  should  revert  to  the  company.  In  1883  the  Cook 
block,  near  by,  taking  fire,  was  destroyed,  and  from  it 


SECOND  WARD  GRADED  SCHOOL  BUILDING — SUSQUEHANNA. 


In  1856  this  house  was  abandoned  and  a larger  and 
better  one  was  erected  on  the  opposite  corner  of  the 
same  streets.  This  was  called  No.  1,  and  here  the 
public-school  for  the  western  part  of  the  town  was 
conducted  until  1859.  In  1851  a school  building  for 
the  eastern  part  of  the  town  was  erected  about  where 
the  parochial  school  building  now  stands.  In  1855 
this  was  sold  to  other  parties  and  another  one  was 
erected  on  the  corner  of  Jackson  and  Grand  Streets, 
now  occupied  by  the  Osborn  block.  In  this  building, 
called  No.  2,  schools  were  held  until  1869.  As  early 
as  1863  the  question  of  establishing  a graded  school 
38 


fire  was  communicated  to  the  school  building  and  it 
also  was  soon  but  smouldering  ruins.  This  was  a 
framed  building,  forty  by  sixty,  and  three  stories 
high.  Inasmuch  as  the  growing  industries  of  the 
town  had  caused  the  school  property  to  be  almost 
entirely  surrounded  with  stores,  mills  and  shops,  the 
directors  concluded  not  to  rebuild  on  this  lot,  and  im- 
mediately entered  into  negotiations  with  the  railroad 
company,  whereby  the  borough  might  acquire,  to  a 
part  of  the  lot,  a title  in  fee-simple  that  would  enable 
the  directors  to  dispose  of  their  interest  for  money 
with  which  they  could  purchase  other  lots  better 


602 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


adapted.  The  railroad  company  offering  generous 
propositions  that  were  accepted  by  the  school  direc- 
tors, two  sites,  one  in  each  ward,  were  purchased,  and 
steps  were  at  once  taken  to  provide  Susquehanna 
with  two  brick  school-buildings  that  should  be  ade- 
quate to  the  necessities  of  the  borough  and  in  keeping 
with  the  prosperity  of  the  place.  In  1885  the  one  in 
the  Second  Ward,  a cut  of  which  is  portrayed  in  this 
connection,  was  completed  and  opened.  This  build- 
ing is  furnished  with  steam  apparatus  for  heating 
and  ventilating,  and  otherwise  with  superior  school 
furuiture.  The  one  in  the  First  Ward  is  now  in  pro- 
cess of  erection,  and  when  it  is  completed  one  will 
find  it  difficult  anywhere  to  find  better  public-school 
accommodations  than  this  borough  will  afford. 

The  first  board  of  school  directors  for  Susquehanna 
was  constituted  as  follows;  H.  A.  Tingley,  M.D., 
president ; A.  J.  Davis,  Esq.,  secretary ; W.  H.  Hub- 
bard, treasurer ; and  S.  B.  West,  Dennis  McDonald 
and  Henry  Perrine.  The  directors  when  the  graded 
school  was  opened  were  Washington  Shaeff, 
dent ; H.  A.  Tingley,  secretary ; C.  A.  Miller,  treas- 
urer; and  H.  P.  Moody,  E.  G.  Taylor  and  A.  T. 
Back.  The  members  of  the  present  board  are  T.  J. 
Hassett,  president ; J.  F.  Lannon,  secretary ; M.  H. 
Eisman,  treasurer;  and  M.  Milane,  C.  F.  Curtis  and 
J.  S.  Wallace.  Mr.  Eisman  is  serving  his  fourth 
term  ; Mr.  Milane,  his  third  term  ; Messrs.  Hasset 
and  Lannon,  their  second  term ; and  Messrs.  Curtis 
and  Wallace,  their  first  term.  In  1854  the  first  ap- 
proju'iation  from  the  State  fund  was  received.  It  was 
$165.90.  The  last  one,  or  for  the  year  1886,  was 
$793.46.  The  annual  reports  show  that  the  whole 
number  of  pupils  in  attendance  in  1860  was  two 
hundred  and  eighteen  ; in  1880,  five  hundred  and 
ninety-two. 

A course  of  study  for  eleven  years  is  prescribed. 
This  includes,  besides  the  common  English  branches, 
algebra,  geometry,  trigonometry,  physiology,  physics, 
drawing,  general  history,  book-keeping,  rhetoric,  lit- 
erature, civil  government  and  Latin.  In  1879  the 
course  of  study  prescribed  for  the  school  was  first 
completed  by  a class  of  ten,  and  to  the  members  of 
this  class  diplomas  were  awarded.  Each  year  since 
others  have  graduated,  so  that  the  alumni  at  the  pres- 
ent time  includes  sixty  young  men  and  women,  many 
of  whom  are  filling  honorable  jrositions  in  various 
pursuits,  and  in  which  they  have  already  exhibited 
excellent  ability. 

Among  the  first  employed  to  teach  at  Susquehanna 
were  Mrs.  W.  C.  Frith,  Mary  Bartlett  (afterwards 
Mrs.  J.  H.  Cook),  Lydia  V.  Bryant  (now  Mrs.  G.  N. 
Brown),  Augusta  Kelsey,  A.  L.  Ellsworth,  Ellen  M. 
Headley  and  Eliza  Truman,  and  subsequently  the 
names  of  W.  J.  Judd,  M.  H.  Pope,  U.  B.  Gillet,  Ad- 
die  Bradford,  A.  W.  Larrabee  and  E.  W.  Rogers  ap- 
pear in  the  recorded  list.  In  1869  the  graded  school 
was  organized  with  M.  L.  Hawley  as  ^^rincipal,  and 
Carrie  Wellman,  Helen  Peck,  Martha  Hayward,  Helen 


Page  and  Mary  A.  Nicol  as  teachers,  and  a few  weeks 
after,  Emily  Bushnell  was  added  to  the  faculty  as  as- 
sistant principal. 

Mr.  Hawley,  as  principal,  conducted  the  school  in 
1869-72;  A.  W.  Cooper,  1872-74;  W.  T.  Dunmore, 
a few  months  ; and  W.  Fuller,  the  remaining  part  of 
the  year  1874-75 ; and  C.  T.  Thorpe,  from  1875  to  the 
present  time.  Associated  with  Mr.  Thorpe  now  are 
Mary  A.  Nicol,  assistant  principal,  and  Martha  Hay- 
ward, Alice  G.  Clark,  Alice  Moylan,  Johanna  Zorn, 
Belle  Councilman,  Agnes  Kelly  and  Carrie  Brady, 
teachers. 

Mr.  Hawley  was  born  in  Franklin,  Delaware 
County,  N.  Y.,  in  1833.  He  came  to  Susquehanna 
County  in  1849,  entered  Harford  Academy,  in  which 
he  pursued  his  studies  a few  terms,  and  afterwards 
taught  district  schools  at  Jackson  Corners  and  Bridge- 
water.  He  then  read  law  and  was  admitted  to  the 
bar  at  Cortland,  N.  Y.  He  returned  to  Susquehanna 
County,  however,  and  took  charge  of  the  school  at 
New  Milford,  thence  he  went  to  Gibson  and  opened 
a private  normal  school,  which  he  conducted  three 
years. 

He  subsequently  edited  the  Binghamton  Standard 
and  Daily  Times.  In  1881  he  was  appointed  superin- 
tendent of  the  schools  at  Gloucester,  Mass.,  where  he 
is  still  engaged.  A.  W.  Cooper,  after  resigning  his 
position  in  the  Susquehanna  school,  entered  the  min- 
istry, uniting  with  the  Wyoming  Conference  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  and  in  this  Conference 
he  still  retains  his  membership.  W.  T.  Dunmore  ac- 
cepted an  appointment  as  superintendent  of  schools 
in  Hornellsville,  and  is  now  a lawyer  in  Utica,  N.  Y. 
Mr.  Fuller  entered  college  after  leaving  Susquehanna, 
and  upon  his  graduation  he  again  engaged  in  teaching 
as  a college  professor. 

Charles  T.  Thorpe,  principal  of  the  graded 
schools  of  Susquehanna  borough  for  the  past  thirteen 
years,  was  born  in  Sheffield,  Berkshire  County,  Mass., 
March  15,  1840.  His  parents.  Colonel  Oreb  A.  and 
Lydia  M.  (Loomis)  Thorpe,  removed  to  Otsego  County, 
N.  Y.,  in  1846,  where  they  spent  the  remainder  of 
their  lives.  Colonel  Thorpe  commanded  a regiment 
of  the  Massachusetts  State  Militia,  and  was  the  son  of 
Titus  Thorpe,  who  served  in  the  War  of  1812.  Lydia 
M.  Loomis  was  the  daughter  of  Moses  Loomis,  an 
early  surveyor  for  the  States  of  Pennsylvania  and 
Maryland.  Charles  T.  Thorpe  was  educated  in  the 
public  schools  of  Otsego  County  and  under  private 
instruction.  He  began  teaching  at  the  age  of  seven- 
teen, and  for  eight  winter  terms  successfully  conducted 
the  school  at  Otego,  in  Otsego  County.  In  1865  he 
was  elected  a justice  of  the  peace  at  Otego,  and 
served  one  term  of  four  years,  during  which  time  he 
was  elected  associate  judge  of  Otsego  County,  and 
served  for  one  term  of  two  years.  He  was  granted  a 
State  certificate  by  the  superintendent  of  public 
instruction,  and,  in  1870,  resumed  school  work,  and 
taught  for  three  years  more  at  Otego,  and,  in  1874, 


SUSQUEHANNA. 


6u3 


was  principal  at  the  graded  school  at  New  IMilford. 
In  1875  he  was  chosen  principal  of  the  graded  schools 
of  Susquehanna  borough,  where  he  has  gained  an  en- 
viable reputation  as  an  educator,  a thorough  discipli- 
narian, and  as  a man  of  high  moral  and  Christian 
sentiment.  He  has  been  a member  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church  since  sixteen  years  of  age,  a super- 
intendent of  Sunday-school  for  ten  years,  and  a leader 
of  the  choir  for  eighteen  years.  He  is  a member  of 
the  Royal  Arcanum  and  Knights  of  Honor  at  Sus- 
quehanna, in  which  societies  he  has  held  official  place. 
Mr.  Thorpe  married,  in  1861,  Marilla,  daughter  of 
Stratton  Osborn,  of  Morris,  Otsego  County. 


Miss  Brady,  one  year.  Misses  Nicol,  Hayward,  Clark 
and  Moylan  hold  permanent  certificates,  and  Miss 
Zorn  has  a professional  certificate. 

Before  the  graded  school  was  established  there  were 
several  private  schools  in  Susquehanna,  two  of  which 
should  be  mentioned  as  having  been  especially  note- 
worthy, namely : Mis»  De  Witt’s  and  one  conducted 
by  Mr.  Wall  and  his  successor,  Mr.  McCormick. 

Miss  Emeline  De  Witt  was  born  near  Binghamton, 
N.  Y. ; was  graduated  with  highest  honors  from  Miss 
White’s  private  school,  of  that  city,  and  after  her 
graduation  immediately  began  her  career  as  a school- 
teacher, which  she  continued  iu  the  vicinity  of  her 


Miss  Nicol  was  first  employed  as  teacher  in  the 
primary  department  when  the  graded  school  was  or- 
ganized, in  1869.  For  the  past  eleven  years  she  has 
been  assistant-principal.  Thus  for  the  past  eighteen 
years  she  has  been  connected  with  this  school.  Miss 
Hayward  taught  in  Susquehanna  one  year  before  the 
graded  school  was  organized,  and  from  year  to  year, 
without  intermission,  embracing  a period  of  nineteen 
years,  she  has  since  been  re-elected.  Miss  Clark  has 
been  connected  with  the  school  fourteen  years ; Miss 
Moylan,  eleven  years;  Miss  Zorn,  eight  years;  Miss 
Councilman,  four  years;  Miss  Kelly,  three  years;  and 


native  place  until  1856.  So  successful  has  she  been 
as  to  establish  a reputation  quite  beyond  a merely  lo- 
cal one.  At  the  urgent  solicitation  of  Messrs.  J.  B. 
Gregg  and  Samuel  Falkenbury  she  was  induced  to 
come  to  Susquehanna.  The  railroad  company,  through 
Mr.  Gregg’s  agency,  fitted  up  the  rooms  under  the  li- 
brary and  reading-rooms,  in  what  was  called  the 
boarding-house,  and  gave  Miss  De  Witt  the  free  use 
of  them.  At  this  place  she  conducted  her  school  un- 
til 1863,  when  it  became  necessary  to  take  this  build- 
ing away,  as  the  new  shops  were  to  occupy  the  ground 
on  which  it  stood.  Miss  De  Witt  now  concluded  to 


604 


HISTOKY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


accept  a desirable  and  lucrative  position  in  tbe  schools 
of  Hudson  City,  N.J.,  where  she  followed  teaching 
until  she  married.  She  then  removed  with  her  hus- 
band to  Colorado,  where  she  died  in  1881.  Miss  De 
Witt  was  an  excellent  scholar  in  Latin,  French  and 
German,  which  she  taught  in  her  school ; a fine  elo- 
cutionist and  rhetorician  ; quite  skillful  in  the  fine 
arts,  and  very  much  interested  in  literature.  Among 
those  who  were  so  highly  favored  as  to  receive  in- 
structions from  her  are  Mary  A.  Nicol,  Alice  G. 
Clark,  Mrs.  M.  B.  Wright,  Clara  Falkenbury,  Flora 
Tingley,  A.  H.  Falkenbury,  John  S.  Wallace,  Theo- 
dore Springsteen,  Jr.,  and  George  Donahue. 

Thomas  Wall  was  born  in  Ireland,  a graduate  of 
the  national  school  system  of  his  native  land,  and 
came  to  America  in  1856,  locating  at  Susquehanna. 
He  soon  after  opened  a school  about  where  the  Catho- 
lic. parsonage  now  stands,  which  he  conducted  until 
about  1861,  when  he  w'as  succeeded  by  Mr.  Dunn, 
w'ho,  however,  remained  but  a short  time,  and  was 
followed  by  James  McCormick.  Messrs.  Wall  and 
McCormick  were  devoted  Catholics,  and  in  their 
schools  the  doctrines  of  that  Church  w’ere  taught,  in 
addition  to  the  course  of  study  designed  for  intellectual 
improvement.  Mr.  Wall  was  a man  of  pronounced 
views  and  characteristics ; consequently,  strict  in  dis- 
cipline, analytic  in  teaching  and  persistent  in  effort. 
He  especially  appreciated  mathematics ; and  that  he 
was  eminently  successful  in  making  good  mathemati- 
cians of  his  pupils  is  well  attested  by  the  marked 
ability  of  a number  of  business  men  now  in  Susque- 
hanna who  attended  his  school.  Upon  leaving  Sus- 
quehanna he  went  to  Australia,  where  for  about  six 
years  he  conducted  a school  for  the  government.  He 
then  purchased  a large  tract  of  land  in  Australia,  to 
the  cultivation  of  which  he  has  since  given  his  atten- 
tion. Among  those  who  attended  his  school  in  Sus- 
quehanna are  Thomas  McDonald,  John  Ahearn,  John 
Buckley,  John  P.  Lannon,  Thomas  P.  Lannon,  M.M. 
Riley,  John  Reilly,  W.  J.  Murphy, — superintendent 
of  the  Buffalo  Division  of  the  New  Y^ork,  Lake  Erie 
and  Western  Railroad, — Dennis  Maloney,  of  New 
York. 

Mr.  McCormick  was  born  in  Ireland  and  received 
his  education  in  the  national  schools.  He  came  to 
Susquehanna  in  1863,  and  finding  an  opportunity  in 
this  school  to  engage  in  an  occupation  that  he  had 
chosen  to  follow,  he  took  the  place  that  Mr.  Wall  a 
few  months  before  had  occupied,  and  for  nearly  ten 
years  Mr.  McCormick  at  this  place  performed  the  du- 
ties of  a teacher  with  commendable  zeal  and  energy. 
He  then  went  to  Chicago,  111.,  w’here  he  engaged  as 
book-keeper  in  a wholesale  store,  a business  that  he 
has  since  followed.  Robert  M.  Lannon  then  took 
charge  of  the  school  until  1876,  when  it  became  neces- 
sary to  remove  the  building,  as  the  church  had  dttcr- 
mined  on  erecting  a parsonage  on  the  ground  it  occu- 
pied. Among  the  members  of  Mr.  McCormick’s 
school  were  J.  F.  Lannon,  R.  M.  Lannon,  T.  J.  Has- 


sett,  James  McKinney,  John  O’Connell,  John  J.  Wil- 
liams, Joseph  Williams,  James  F.  Curtis. 

Laurel  Hill  Academy. — In  1857  the  Catholic 
Church  bought  of  John  B.  Scoville  a number  of  acres 
of  land  and  the  buildings  thereon,  known  as  the  Way 
House,  and  converted  the  same  into  a convent.  This 
place  is  pleasantly  located  on  the  southeastern  border 
of  the  town,  on  the  old  Harmony  road.  The  prospect 
from  this  point  is  most  beautiful  and  enchanting,  with 
the  Canawacta,Starrucca  and  Cascade  Valleys  uniting 
with  the  winding  Susquehanna  on  the  right;  the 
Ouaquagua  Mountains  in  front;  while  almost  the  en- 
tire town,  the  Drinker  Creek  Valley  and  again  the 
bending  Susquehanna  for  many  miles  may  be  seen  on 
the  left.  This  academy  has  fulfilled  a very  important 
mission  at  Susquehanna  for  these  many  years.  It  has 
accommodations  for  about  one  hundred  and  fifty  pu- 
pils. Besides  the  usual  branches  taught  in  schools, 
music,  painting,  drawing,  needle-work,  etc.,  are  pur- 
sued. The  place  is  the  home  of  about  eight  or  ten 
Sisters  of  the  Immaculate  Heart,  who  have  the  care 
of  the  property  as  well  as  the  charge  of  the  school. 

About  1874  the  church  also  purchased  the  property 
where  the  parochial  school  is  located,  near  the  par- 
sonage, and  the  building  thereon  formerly  occupied  as 
a dwelling  was  converted  into  a school,  which  has 
since  been  conducted  by  the  Sisters  in  connection 
with  the  academy.  At  the  parochial  school  the  names 
of  about  two  hundred  pupils  are  enrolled.  The 
Mothers  Superior  who  have  been  appointed  to  super- 
intend the  convent  and  schools  are  Mothers  The- 
resa, De  Chautal,  Ap_astasia,  Xavier,  Benedict  and 
Boniface. 

Churches. — The  Catholic  Church  of  Susquehanna 
had  its  origin  at  Lanesboro’  in  1847.  At  that  time 
all  of  this  part  of  the  county  was  embraced  in  Silver 
Lake  parish,  with  Very  Rev.  John  V.  O’Reilly  as 
pastor.  In  the  beginning  of  the  year  Father  O’Reilly 
frequently  visited  this  locality  and  celebrated  Mass 
at  several  private  houses,  namely, — Dennis  McDon- 
ald’s, Henry  Williams’  and  John  Larkin’s.  Stephen 
Maroney,  now  living  in  Susquehanna,  but  then  a 
young  man  in  the  employ  of  the  railroad  company, 
assisted  in  serving  Mass  at  those  places.  A little 
later  in  the  year  a church  was  erected.  It  was  two 
stories  high,  the  upper  part  being  used  for  a school, 
and  stood  on  the  upper  side  of  the  road,  nearly  oppo- 
site the  present  site  of  the  graded  school  building 
in  Lanesboro’.  In  1858  this  building  was  taken 
down,  moved  to  Susquehanna,  put  up  again  where  the 
parsonage  now  stands,  and  until  about  1876  used  for 
school  purposes.  At  the  latter  date  it  was  again  taken 
down,  as  the  new  brick  parsonage  w’as  to  occupy  the 
ground  where  it  stood.  Yet,  before  this  building  was 
removed  from  Lanesboro’  a framed  church  was 
erected  at  Susquehanna  in  1853.  This  church  would 
seat  about  eight  hundred  people;  but  in  a few  years 
the  congregation  was  altogether  too  large  for  its 
accommodations ; hence,  after  due  consideration,  in 


SUSQUEHANNA. 


605 


1872,  it  was  deemed  expedient  by  the  pastor  that 
another  hnilding  should  be  erected, — one  having  a 
capacity  adequate  to  the  needs  of  the  congregation, 
and  so  substantial  as  to  endure  for  centuries,  and  in 
architecture  and  finish  consonant  with  the  dignity  of 
the  church.  This  structure  was  begun  in  1875.  The 
corner-stone  was  laid  with  appropriate  ceremonies 
by  Bishop  O’Hara,  on  Sunday,  June  3,  1876,  and 
Sunday,  November  7,  1880,  the  edifice  was  com- 
pleted and  opened  for  service.  The  cost  of  the 
building  was  $42,000.  The  gentlemen  performing 
the  responsible  duties  of  building  committee  were 
Rev.  John  Slattery,  Thomas  McDonald,  John  G. 
Kane  and  Morris  Prendergast.  The  first  church  at 


SUSQUEHANNA  CATHOLIC  CHURCH. 

Lanesboro’  was  dedicated  by  Father  O’Reilly  un-- 
der  a special  dispensation  from  Bishop  Newman  ; the 
framed  church  at  Susquehanna  by  Bishop  Newman  ; 
and  the  present  brick  building  by  Bishop  O’Hara. 

In  1853,  when  the  church  was  built  at  Susque- 
hanna, a new  parish  was  created,  called  the  Susque- 
hanna parish.  This  was  taken  from  the  Silver  Lake 
parish,  and  embraced  Great  Bend,  New  Milford  and 
Nicholson.  About  1872  Great  Bend,  New  Milford 
and  Nicholson  were  set  off  and  Starrucca  was  an- 
nexed. From  the  origin  of  the  church  at  this  place 
until  1868,  this  parish  was  in  the  Philadelphia  dio- 
cese, and  since  that  date  it  has  been  in  the  Scranton 
diocese. 

Pastors:  Very  Reverend  John  V.  O’Reilly,  1847-73  ; 
Rev.  John  Slattery,  1873-85 ; Rev.  P.  F.  Broderick, 
from  1885  to  the  present  time. 

Very  Rev.  John  Vincent  O’Reilly,  better 
known  as  “Father”  O’Reilly,  was  born  in  Drum- 


hairy,  County  of  Longford,  Ireland,  October  20, 
1796.  Little  is  known  of  his  early  history  before 
coming  to  America,  further  than  that  he  received  a 
classical  education  preparatory  to  his  entering  the 
ministry.  The  date  of  his  coming  is  also  unknown, 
but  in  1830  he  was  ordained  a priest  of  the  Catholic 
Church,  at  Philadelphia,  by  the  Right  Reverend 
Bishop  Kendrick.  He  was  soon  afterwards  assigned 
to  missionary  work  in  Northern  Pennsylvania  and 
Southern  New  York,  and  labored  diligently  and  zeal- 
ously for  his  church  and  people  in  this  field  for  sev- 
eral years,  making  long  journeys  on  horseback  in 
the  performance  of  his  pastoral  duties.  He  estab- 
lished churches  in  different  parts  of  this  and  adjoining 
counties;  among  others  the  church  at  St.  Joseph’s, 
in  Cboconut ; was  pastor  of  many,  and  exercised  a 
supervision  over  all  within  his  jurisdiction,  to- 
gether with  the  societies  of  the  church  which  he 
established.  In  1847  a church  was  erected  at  Lanes- 
boro’, where  he  officiated  as  jiastor ; but  in  1853  he 
organized  a society  at  Susquehanna,  which  included 
the  one  at  Lanesboro’,  and  when  the  church  was  com- 
pleted the  one  at  LanesbcJro’  was  discontinued.  He 
still  had  general  supervision  of  the  churches  in  the 
county,  but  from  this  time  until  his  death  he  made 
Susquehanna  his  home.  About  this  time  he  was  ap- 
pointed by  Bishop  Newman,  of  Philadelphia,  vicar- 
general  of  the  diocese.  Soon  afterwards  he  erected 
a Catholic  college  in  Choconut,  known  as  St.  Joseph’s 
College,  of  which  he  was  appointed  president,  and 
Rev.  Father  Fitzsimmons,  vice-president.  He  also 
built  the  convent  at  St.  Joseph’s,  which  was  under 
the  supervision  of  the  Sisters  of  the  Immaculate 
Heart. 

About  1860  he  purchased  and  fitted  up  for  the 
purpose  what  is  known  as  the  Laurel  Hill  Academy, 
at  Susquehanna,  which  is  under  the  supervision  of 
the  Sisters  of  the  Immaculate  Heart.  Shortly  after- 
wards he  erected  the  churches  at  Great  Bend,  New 
Milford  and  Nicholson,  and  attended  them  as  pastor. 
He  obtained  from  the  Erie  Railroad  Company  a grant 
of  six  acres  of  land,  and  converted  it  into  the  ceme- 
tery known  as  Laurel  Hill  Cemetery,  at  Susque- 
hanna. On  the  4th  day  of  October,  1873,  upon  re- 
turning from  Great  Bend,  where  he  had  been  to 
attend  to  some  matters  connected  with  his  official 
duties,  after  alighting  from  the  train  at  Susque- 
hanna, he  was  struck  by  a passing  locomotive  and 
instantly  killed.  He  was  still  an  active  and  robust 
man  for  his  age,  with,  apparently,  many  years  of 
usefulness  before  him.  He  had  already  made  ar- 
rangements, and  was  perfecting  plans  for  the  erection 
of  a new  church  at  Susquehanna,  and  the  funds  for 
the  same  he  had  partly  collected.  His  funeral  was 
attended  by  a large  concourse  of  people,  and  was  one 
of  the  most  imposing  ever  witnessed  in  this  section 
of  the  country.  He  was  greatly  beloved  by  his  peo- 
ple, and  he  had  the  esteem  and  respect  of  all  who 
knew  him.  He  was,  in  fact,  the  representative 


606 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


Catholic  of  this  section,  and  his  faithful  and  un- 
tiring labors  for  more  than  forty  years  in  the  estab- 
lishing and  building  up  of  the  church  of  his  faith 
have  borne  ample  fruit.  While  sectarian  in  his  belief, 
he  was  iion-sectarian  in  his  efforts  for  the  benefit  of 
mankind  and  the  moral  good  of  the  community.  For 
this  he  knew  no  sect  or  creed,  and  he  worked  hand- 
in-hand  with  the  representatives  of  other  Christian 
churches  in  pursuance  of  this  purpose.  Susque- 
hanna, among  whose  people  he  had  lived  so  long,  felt 
deeply  his  loss,  and  his  death  removed  from  the 
Catholic  Church  one  of  the  ablest  and  most  zealous 


FATHER  O’REILLY. 


members  of  its  priesthood.  He  was  laid  to  rest  in  the 
Laurel  Hill  Cemetery,  in  the  circular  plot  reserved 
for  the  remains  of  members  of  the  priesthood,  and  a 
beautiful  and  expensive  monument  of  Italian  marble, 
erected  by  the  contributions  of  members  of  his  flock, 
with  material  aid  from  the  leading  business  men  of 
Susquehanna,  marks  his  last  resting-place. 

Rev.  John  Slattery  was  born  in  Tipperary,  Ire- 
land, in  1842,  and  died  at  Susquehanna,  Pa.,  in  May, 
1887.  At  fourteen  years  of  age  he  entered  a Jesuit 
school  at  Limerick,  and  completed  his  classical  stud- 
ies at  Castle  College,  in  Dublin.  He  came  to  Amer- 
ica in  1863  and  entered  a theological  college  in  Phil- 
adelphia. He  was  ordained  in  1867,  and  appointed 
curate  to  Rev.  M.  F.  Martin,  of  St.  James’  Church, 
West  Philadelphia.  Qualities  of  inherent  zeal  and 
executive  ability  of  more  than  ordinary  character  at 
once  in  him  became  manifest;  therefore,  in  about  six 
months  thereafter,  he  was  appointed  pastor  of  St. 
Joseph’s  parish,  in  this  county.  This  parish  then 
included  the  churches  at  Montrose  and  Silver  Lake. 
During  his  five  years’  pastorate  on  this  charge  he 
built  a church  at  Silver  Lake  and  a parsonage  at  St. 
Joseph’s.  In  1873  he  was  appointed  pastor  of  this 
church,  to  succeed  Father  O’Reilly,  deceased.  This 
appointment  carried  with  it  unusual  significance, 
from  the  fact  that  his  predecessor  had  been  so  suc- 


cessful and  popular  in  the  administration  of  the 
affairs  of  the  church.  But  the  important  work  so 
successfully  achieved  by  Father  Slattery  at  this  place 
during  the  next  few  years  abundantly  attested  the 
wisdom  of  the  bishop  in  making  the  appointment. 
The  house  in  which  services  were  held  when  he  came 
here  was  neither  large  enough,  nor  in  other  respects 
suitable.  The  society  was  also  without  a parsonage. 
Hence  he  immediately  jDerfected  the  practical  and 
efficient  systems  inaugurated  by  Father  O’Reilly  be- 
fore his  death,  whereby  a better  place  in  which  to 
worship  might  be  provided.  He  also  at  once  took 
steps  to  erect  a suitable  parsonage.  With  remarkable 
energy  and  perseverance  these  projects  were  carried 
out  to  the  satisfaction  of  his  parishioners  and  the 
unfeigned  pleasure  of  himself.  These  buildings  are 
not  only  ornaments  to  the  town,  but  in  all  probability 
they  will  stand  for  generations  as  monuments  com- 
memorating the  name  and  merits  of  Father  Slattery. 
In  all  other  respects  he  was  a model  pastor,  beloved 
by  his  iieople  and  highly  respected  by  the  entire 
community.  About  five  years  before  his  death  the 
germs  of  disease  made  themselves  manifest  in  a 
slightly  impaired  condition  of  his  health.  But  in 
the  lapse  of  time  that  followed,  the  disease — consump- 
tion— became  more  and  more  defiant,  until  it  was  evi- 
dent that  he  must  resign  his  work  to  one  better  able 
to  perform  it.  Whereupon,  in  1885,  Father  P.  H. 
Broderick  was  appointed  to  succeed  him.  However, 
Father  Slattery  remained  in  the  parsonage  he  built 
until  his  death.  His  funeral  was  attended  by  thirty- 
five  priests  and  a very  large  concourse  of  people. 
All  of  the  business  places  in  town  were  closed,  and 
in  the  schools  Solemn  High  Mass  was  celebrated,  fol- 
lowed by  an  eloquent  and  impressive  eulogium  by 
Rt.  Rev.  Bishop  O’Hara,  of  this  diocese. 

Rev.  P.  F.  BRf>DERiCK  was  born  in  Archbald,  Pa., 
in  1856.  He  pursued  his  studies  so  diligently  at  the 
public  schools  of  Archbald,  and  under  private  in- 
structors in  the  classics,  that,  entering  St.  Charles' 
College,  of  Ellicotfs  City,  in  1872,  he  was  able  to 
graduate  therefrom  in  two  years.  In  1874  he  entered 
St.  Charles’  Theological  Seminary,  at  Overbrook,  near 
Philadelphia,  Pa.,  from  which  he  graduated  in  June, 
1879,  and  was  ordained.  He  celebrated  his  first  Mass 
at  Archbald  June  29,  1879,  and  the  next  month  he 
was  appointed  to  his  first  mission,  at  Dunmore,  Pa. 
That  mission  included  six  places  where  services  were 
held,  between  Moscow  and  the  Delaware  Water-Gap, 
and  these  places  he  regularly  visited  and  at  them 
celebrated  Mass.  In  December,  1882,  he  was  trans- 
ferred to  St.  Peter’s  Cathedral,  Scranton,  Pa.  In 
1883  he  spent  a number  of  months  at  Susquehanna, 
while  Father  Slattery  was  in  Europe  for  his  health, 
and  in  July,  1885,  Father  Slattery  being  no  longer 
able  to  administer  to  the  church  at  this  place.  Father 
Broderick  was  transferred  from  Scranton  to  Susque- 
hanna, and  appointed  its  pastor.  Father  Broderick 
is  a man  of  very  pleasing  address,  a fluent  speaker. 


SUSQUEHANNA. 


607 


possessing  excellent  executive  ability  and  other  qual- 
ities that  well  enable  him  to  discharge  the  duties  of 
the  pastor  of  this  large  and  prosperous  church. 

Curates;  Fathers  H.  O’Reilly,  Prendergast,  J.  G. 
Mullin,  P.  J.  Murphy,  Fitz  Maurice,  P.  Shields,  T. 
Brehoney,  R.  Hennessy  (died  at  Susquehanna  Au- 
gust, 1880),  W.  A.  Nealon,  John  Loughlin,  J.  Welsh 
and  J.  Martin  have,  in  the  order  in  which  their 
names  are  given,  been  appointed  assistants. 

The  first  Protestant  religious  meetings  held  at  this 
place  were  prayer-meetings,  conducted  in  a school- 
house  located  near  the  present  site  of  the  Catholic 
Church,  and  organized  at  the  instance  of  Aaron  My- 
ers, a Presbyterian,  and  Mrs.  William  C.  Frith,  a 
Methodist,  early  in  1851.  Soon  after  preaching  ser- 
vice was  also  held  at  the  same  place,  and  steps  were 
taken  to  organize  churches. 

Presbyterian  Church. — In  the  spring  of  1851  Rev. 
Burr  Baldwin,  a Presbyterian  missionary  stationed  at 
Montrose,  Pa.,  made  an  appointment  to  preach  once 
in  three  weeks  in  the  school-house  above  mentioned. 
In  October  of  the  same  year,  at  a meeting  held  for 
the  purpose,  a church  was  organized  by  Mr.  Baldwin, 
and  the  following-named  persons  entered  into  cove- 
nant relations  with  it : Mr.  and  Mrs.  E.  Bonnell,  by 
letter  from  Schenectady,  N.  Y. ; Mrs.  Marcia  C. 
Barnes,  by  letter  from  Binghamton,  N.  Y. ; Miss 
Emma  J.  Noble,  by  letter  from  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church  of  Lanesboro’ ; and  on  profession  of 
faith,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Aaron  Myers,  Mrs.  Frazier  and 
Mrs.  Alida  Mayhew.  About  one  year  after  the  frame 
of  the  church  edifice  was  raised,  and  upon  its  com- 
pletion, in  August,  1853,  the  building  was  dedicated 
by  Rev.  Edward  Allen,  belonging  to  the  Philadelphia 
branch  of  the  American  Home  Missionary  Society, 
who,  a few  months  before,  began  to  tabor  in  this  field. 
During  this  year  fifteen  members  were  added  to  the 
church,  while  the  year  before  its  membership  was 
increased  by  only  four.  Among  those  that  became 
members  in  1853  were  H.  W.  Brandt  and  Jacob 
Schlager  and  their  wives.  The  enterprise  that  char- 
acterized these  men,  impelled  by  their  devotion  to 
the  church,  at  once  assured  the  future  prosperity  of 
the  society  (see  Harmony).  Since  1853  to  the  present 
time  the  church  has  had  a gradual  and  healthy  growth, 
the  church  edifice  has  been  enlarged,  and  from 
time  to  time  improved  and  repaired,  and  in  1872  a 
very  comfortable  and  pleasant  parsonage  was  erected 
at  a cost  of  two  thousand  nine  hundred  dollars. 

Inasmuch  as  at  Brandt,  about  four  miles  distant 
from  Susquehanna,  there  were  in  1874  about  fifty 
members  of  the  church,  and  as  at  that  time  the 
membership  was  sufficiently  large  to  admit  of  its 
consideration  without  serious  detriment  to  the  mother- 
church,  a proposition  was  made  to  organize  a new 
church  at  that  place.  Hence  its  offspring  at  Brandt 
was  duly  organized  the  next  year,  a history  of  which 
will  be  found  in  connection  with  the  history  of  Har- 
mony. The  first  elders  were  Jacob  Schlager  and 


Aaron  Myers,  elected  in  1853,  and  the  first  deacons, 
elected  at  the  same  time,  were  H.  W.  Brandt  and 
Jacob  Schlager.  The  officers  at  the  present  time  are 
as  follows:  Elders,  Daniel  White,  Kennedy  Johnson, 
Washington  Shaeff  and  Theodore  Springsteen,  Sr. ; 
Trustees,  V.  Blackburn  (president),  B.  C.  Stoddard 
(secretary),  Gaylord  Curtis,  Dr.  Birdsall,  Dr.  Mitch- 
ell and  George  C.  Eidman.  The  church  is  composed 
of  one  hundred  and  fifty  members.  The  Sabbath- 
school  was  instituted  by  Alfred  Stanley  and  Miss 
Emma  Noble,  and  for  some  time  conducted  in  the 
school-house.  When  the  place  of  meeting  was 
changed  to  the  church  Aaron  Myers  became  superin  - 
tendent.  He  was  followed  by  J.  B.  Gregg,  whose 
successors  have  been  Peter  Tait,  David  Harris,  David 
Galbraith  and  V.  Blackburn.  The  school  now  num- 
bers about  four  hundred.  In  connection  with  the 
Sabbath-school  there  are  two  well-organized  societies 
— a missionary  society,  to  which  all  belong,  and  a 
temperance  society,  to  whose  pledge  four  hundred 
and  seventy  names  are  subscribed.  The  Ladies’ 
Missionary  Society  of  this  church  is  in  a prosperous 
condition.  Mrs.  Brooks  is  the  president.  The  society 
supports  a scholarship  in  a school  in  Japan.  Pastors: 
Revs.  Burr  Baldwin,  1851-53 ; Edward  Allen,  1853 
-56;  George  N.  Todd,  1856-59;  Jesse  Brush,  1859- 
61 ; Horatio  Pettingill,  1861-66  ; Solomon  H.  Moon, 
1866-71 ; and  P.  H.  Brooks,  1871  to  the  present  time. 

Rev.  P.  H.  Brooks  was  born  near  Schenectady  in 
1837,  and  graduated  at  Union  College  in  1862,  and 
Princeton  Theological  Seminary  in  1864.  He  has 
served  the  churches  at  Tom’s  River,  N.  J.,  West 
Milton,  N.  Y.,  four  years,  Knowlton  and  Hope,  N.  J., 
organizing  a new  church  at  Delaware  Station.  In 
1871  he  came  to  Susquehanna,  and  was  installed 
pastor  in  the  fall  of  that  year,  and  has  remained  here 
ever  since,  and  has  entered  other  fields  where  good 
could  be  done. 

In  1878  he  was  elected  permanent  clerk  of  the 
Lackawanna  Presbytery,  serving  as  such  until  1883, 
when  he  was  elected  stated  clerk  of  the  same  Presby- 
tery, an  office  he  still  holds.  His  designs,  illustra- 
tive of  the  Sabbath-school  lessons,  have  been  pub- 
lished in  the  Westminster  Teacher,  the  organ  of  the 
church.  In  1874  he  married  Miss  Kate  S.  Colby. 
She  is  also  very  active  and  energetic  in  church  work, 
performing  the  duties  of  a pastor’s  wife,  in  connection 
with  the  ladies’  missionary,  temperance  and  sewing 
societies,  etc.,  with  a great  deal  of  enthusiasm.  They 
have  three  children. 

Methodist  Episcopal  Church. — At  a session  of  the 
Conference,  held  in  Ithaca,  N.  Y.,  July,  1851,  Susque- 
hanna was  made  a mission  in  connection  with  Lanes- 
boro’, and  one  hundred  dollars  was  appropriated  by 
the  Conference  with  which  to  introduce  Methodism 
into  Susquehanna.  Rev.  C.  V.  Arnold  was  appointed 
minister  in  charge,  and  organized  a class,  as  follows : 
S.  C.  Robinson,  leader  ; Wm.  McKune  and  wife,  Wm. 
Smith,  George  Petit  and  wife,  W.  C.  Adams  and  wife. 


608 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


and  Mrs.  Robert  McKune.  Mr.  Robinson  was  suc- 
ceeded by  George  Petit  after  a short  time.  The 
charter  having  been  obtained  from  the  court,  S.  C. 
Robinson,  William  Smith  and  Win.  McKune  were 
elected  the  first  trustees.  In  the  autumn  of  1851  a 
site  was  procured,  and  the  work  of  building  a church 
began,  which,  under  the  perseverance  and  enterprise 
of  William  Smith,  was  completed  the  following  year. 
He  employed  the  men  to  do  the  work,  furnished  the 
material,  boarded  the  men,  and  gave  a great  deal  of 
his  time  to  the  supervision  of  the  building.  He  ad- 
vanced the  money  necessary  to  keep  the  matter  in 
progress,  and  of  the  fourteen  hundred  dollars  that  was 
expended,  he  contributed  one-half.  The  society  in 
1872  purchased  a parsonage,  and  occasionally,  as  the 
circumstances  have  required,  the  church  property  has 
been  repaired  and  improved.  The  value  of  the 
property,  according  to  the  last  annual  report,  is  five 
thousand  five  hundred  dollars,  ujion  which  there  is 
no  debt.  The  membership  is  now  about  two  hun- 
dred. Before  the  church  was  completed,  the  class- 
meetings  and  preaching  services  were  held  in  the  pine- 
tree  school-house,  and  after  the  school-house  was 
moved  down  on  Washington  Street  the  meetings  were 
held  at  the  latter  place.  Mr.  Arnold,  as  soon  as  prac- 
ticable, organized  a Sabbath-school.  The  pine-tree 
school-house  was  the  place  of  meeting.  George 
Petit  was  aj^pointed  superintendent,  and  conducted 
the  school  until  the  fall  of  1852,  when  L.  F.  Clark 
succeeded  him.  From  this  time  until  Mr.  Clark’s 
death,  in  1868,  he  was  a very  zealous  member  of  the 
Sunday-school,  and  in  every  department  of  the 
church  he  took  unbounded  interest.  The  Sabbath- 
school  now  numbers  two  hundred  and  forty.  J. 
Clark,  Jr.,  is  the  superintendent. 

The  following  is  a list  of  the  names  of  those  who 
have  been  pastors  of  this  church  : C.  V.  Arnold,  G. 

IT.  Blakeslee,  J.  H.  Cargill,  H.  R.  Clark,  C.  W.  Judd, 
E.  B.  Tenny,  John  A.  Wood,  S.  W.  Weiss,  0.  M. 
McDowell,  J.  Miller,  E.  N.  Everett,  G.  H.  Blakeslee, 
J.  V.  Newell,  L.  W.  Peck,  W.  B.  Westlake,  A.  J. 
Van  Cleft,  W.  J.  Judd,  Wm.  S.  Wentz,  George  For- 
syth and  J.  B.  Sumner. 

When  the  heavy  bents  to  the  church  were  raised 
Mr.  Arnold  did  the  shouting,  and  it  is  a matter  of 
history  that  never  in  Susquehanna,  before  nor  since, 
was  such  a shout  heard,  as  when  Mr.  Arnold  cried, 
“ Heave  0 heave!”  but  the  frame  went  up.  He 
proved  to  be  just  the  man  to  bring  a new  church  into 
existence. 

Mr.  Cargill,  on  leaving  this  place,  was  stationed  at 
New  Milford.  He  was  invited  to  deliver  an  oration 
at  Susquehanna,  the  Fourth  of  July,  1854.  Passing 
along  the  sidewalk,  in  front  of  the  old  “ Harmony 
House,”  he  heard  some  one  cry  out,  “ Get  out  of  the 
way,  they  are  going  to  fire ! ” He  sprang  the  wrong 
way,  and  fell  mortally  wounded,  receiving  the  full 
force  of  the  shot  of  the  cannon  which  stood  but  a few 
feet  from  him. 


H.  R.  Clark,  D.D.,  was  born  in  1813.  Before  join- 
ing the  Conference,  in  1844,  he  spent  eight  years  as  a 
professor  in  Cazenovia  Seminary.  He  has  been 
among  the  leading  members  of  Wyoming  Conference, 
having  occupied  a number  of  the  best  appointments, 
filled  the  office  of  presiding  elder  in  Wyoming,  Bing- 
hamton, Owego  and  Otego  Districts,  and  represented 
the  Conference  in  the  General  Conferences  of  1856^ ’64 
and  ’68.  He  has  also  been  prominent  in  the  educa- 
tional interests  of  the  church,  holding  the  office  of 
trustee  of  Genesee  College  and  of  the  Syracuse  Uni- 
versity. He  now  resides  at  Binghamton,  N.  Y. 

Mr.  Wentz  had  served  the  charge  very  acceptably 
two  years,  and  while  attending  a session  of  the  Con- 
ference held  at  Waverly,  N.  Y.,  in  the  spring  of  1881  > 
he  contracted  a severe  cold  which  terminated  in  pneu- 
monia, from  which  his  death  resulted  before  he 
reached  his  home.  The  church  was  then  without  a 
2>astor  until  about  the  1st  of  July. 

Mr.  Forsyth  was  born  in  England,  but  came  to 
America  when  quite  a young  man.  He  is  an  assidu- 
ous student  by  nature;  hence,  notwithstanding  the  in- 
auspicious circumstances  with  which  he  had  to  contend, 
he  pursued  a preparatory  course  of  study,  and  entered 
Wesleyan  University,  from  which  he  graduated  in 
1864.  He  was  afterward  jirofessor  of  Latin  and 
Greek  in  Wyoming  Seminary,  at  Kingston,  Pa.,  until 
1872,  when  he  was  appointed  ^irincipal  of  East  Maine 
Seminary,  where  he  remained  until  his  coming  to 
Susquehanna,  in  1881.  He  is  one  of  the  ablest  men 
in  the  Conference. 

C.  W.  Judd  was  born  in  1829,  and  died  at  Wilkes- 
Barre  February  11,  1880.  In  1854  he  joined  the  Con- 
ference, and  after  spending  five  years  as  an  itinerant, 
he  went  as  a missionary  with  his  wife  to  India.  They 
remained  in  India  ten  years,  then  visited  America, 
spending  two  years  here,  and  again  returned  to 
India. 

Baptist  Church. — In  1856  an  organization  was  effec- 
ted at  Lanesboro’  for  Lanesboro’  and  Susquehanna. 
Under  this  organization  meetings  were  held  at  these 
j)laces  for  about  ten  years  before  the  charter  was  ob- 
tained, for  the  reason  that  as  yet  the  society  had  no 
church  property.  In  1866  steps  were  taken  to  erect  a 
building,  a site  was  purchased  at  a cost  of  five  hun- 
dred dollars,  and  a building  erected  at  an  expenditure 
of  about  four  thousand  dollars.  The  corner-stone  was 
laid  in  November,  1866,  and  the  church  was  dedicated 
November  10,  1867.  In  1866,  when  the  charter  was 
obtained,  the  constitution  of  the  church  was  adopted 
and  the  following-named  persons  were  elected  officers  : 

G.  H.  Leal,  M.  L.  Hulce,  Brown,  S.  Griswold, 

Nathaniel  French,  G.  W.  Mackey  and  Dr.  Samuel 
Birdsall,  trustees;  Dr.  Birdsall,  clerk.  Those  having 
been  elected  deacons  are  M.  L.  Hulce  and  G.  H.  Leal, 
in  1867 ; Nathaniel  French,  in  1860 ; and  J.  B.  Barnes, 
in  1878.  The  present  deacons  are  G.  H.  Leal  and  J. 
B.  Barnes ; trustees,  G.  H.  Leal,  J.  B.  Barnes,  W.  S. 
Mitchell,  H.  T.  Mallery,  G.  P.  Ross,  Putman, 


SUSQUEHANNA. 


609 


A.  C.  Purple  ; clerk,  A.  C.  Purple  ; treasurer,  J.  B. 
Barnes.  Those  that  have  served  as  clerks  are  David 
Benedict,  M.  L.  Plulce,  Dr.  Samuel  Birdsall,  S.  Mas- 
ters, A.  C.  Purple,  0.  D.  Mallery  and  A.  C.  Purple, 
from  1884  to  the  present  time.  As  nearly  as  can  be 
ascertained,  the  following  is  a list  of  the  names  of  the 
ministers  who  have  served  this  church : Revs.  J.  B- 
Kimber,  Merrill,  Van  Patten,  R.  G.  Lamb,  Geo.  Bal- 
com,  E.  A.  Francis,  W.  Erskine,  E.  T.  Jacobs,  T.  B. 
James,  J.  A.  Baskwell,  Chas.  Tower,  T.  Simpkins,  S. 
W.  Cole,  L.  C.  Davis,  Abner  Morrill,  present  pastor. 

The  Universalist  Church. — A meeting  was  held  in 
March,  1866,  at  Dr.  H.  P.  Moody’s  office,  to  organize 
a society.  C.  S.  Bennett  was  chairman  of  the  meeting, 
and  H.  K.  Newell,  secretary.  F.  D.  Lyons,  David 
Taylor  and  Wm.  P.  Conklin  were  elected  trustees, 
Wm.  P.  Conklin,  treasurer  and  H.  K.  Newell,  stand- 
ing clerk.  A petition  to  the  court  for  a charter  was 
drafted,  and  in  January, 1867,  the  charter  was  obtained. 
In  1871  the  church  resolved  to  erect  a building  in 
which  to  hold  services,  and  Rev.  L.  F.  Porter,  Dr.  E. 
N.  Smith,  D.  A.  Lyons  and  Jacob  Taylor  were  elected 
members  of  the  building  committee.  In  September, 
1871,  the  corner-stone  was  laid.  Rev.  Daniel  Ballou 
of  Utica,  N.  Y.,  conducting  the  ceremonies.  The 
■church  was  completed  and  dedicated  in  April,  1872. 
The  following  were  present  and  took  part  in  the  cere- 
monies: Revs.  L.  F.  Porter,  H.  Boughton,  Daniel 
Ballou,  J.  M.  Austin.  The  property  cost  over  ten 
thousand  dollars.  Before  the  church  was  built,  ser- 
vices were  held  in  Lanesboro’  in  the  school-house,  at 
Chaffer  Hall,  and  at  various  other  places  in  Susque- 
hanna. The  ministers  who  have  served  the  church 
are  Revs.  Wm.M.  DeLong,C.C.  Clark,  L.  F.  Porter,  J. 
H.  Campbell,  F.  M.  Whitney,  Samuel  Ashton  and 
H.  W.  Hand.  Revs.  DeLong,  Clark  and  Whitney  are 
dead.  Mr.  Porter  resides  in  Brooklyn,  this  county, 
where  he  has  been  preaching  for  a number  of  years 
past;  Mr.  Ashton’s  home  is  in  Binghamton,  N.  Y., 
and  Mr.  Campbell’s  in  the  western  part  of  New  Yoik 
■State.  A number  of  years  ago  the  society  was  in  quite 
a flourishing  condition  ; but  within  a few  years  past 
it  has  lost  by  death  a large  number  of  members  who 
were  financially  well  off,  and  generous  contributors, 
so  that  its  strength  has  been  sadly  crippled. 

Secret  Societies. — Canawacta  Lodge,  No.  360,  F. 
A.  M.,  was  instituted  February  7, 1866.  The  charter 
membei's  were  W.  M.  Post,  Geo.  N.  Brown.  H.  P. 
Moody,  Samuel  Falkenbury,  I.  W.  Jones,  J.  T.  Cam- 
eron, C.  A.  Miller,  M.  H.  Eisman,  J.  B.  Gregg.  The 
Past  Masters  are  Wm.  M.  Post,  G.  N.  Brown,  H.  P. 
Moody  (deceased),  M.  H.  Eisman,  G.  W.  Gleason, 
David  Mason,  John  C.  Foote  (deceased),  Isaac  Bond, 
John  White,  C.  O.  Vedder,  A.  D.  Harding,  J.  G. 
Bailey,  Tabor  Hayward,  S.  L.  French.  One  hundred 
and  twelve  is  the  present  membership,  and  the  follow- 
ing are  now  the  officers  of  the  lodge:  E.  W.  Jackson, 
W.  M. ; O.  T.  Smith,  S.  W. ; W.  P.  Munson,  J.  W. ; 
C.  A.  Miller,  treasurer;  G.  W.  Gleason,  secretary. 


Starrucca  Lodge,  No.  423,  I.  0.  0.  F.,  was  instituted 
June  30,  1869,  with  the  following  charter  members : 
R.  Wallace,  J.  S.  Shrimpton,  0.  H.  Simmons,  John 
Wood,  C.  Ottinger,  A.  T.  Galloway,  L.  Freeman,  J. 
W.  Erwin,  F.  M.  Elting,  C.  R.  Drake,  W.  P.  Conklin. 
It  has  a membership,  at  the  present  writing,  of  one 
hundred  and  twenty-seven.  Its  assets  are  about  six 
thousand  dollars.  Since  its  organization  the  lodge 
has  disbursed  in  benefits  to  its  members  about  thir- 
teen thousand  dollars.  At  the  present  time  its  chairs 
are  filled  as  follows:  Almon  Barnes,  N.  G. ; J.  N. 
Seddon,  V.  G. ; O.  H.  Simmons,  Per.  Secretary; 
W.  A.  Springsteen,  Assistant  Secretary  ; T.  Spring- 
steen, Jr.,  Treasurer;  J.  H.  Bull,  G.  H.  Leal,  J.  T. 
Cockayne,  Trustees  ; T.  Springsteen,  Jr.,  Rep.  Past 
officers : O.  H.  Simmons,  J.  S.  Shrimpton,  J.  T.  Cock- 
ayne, W.  Merrlees,  Geo.  Kirk,  Joseph  Moore,  G.  H. 
Leal,  T.  Springsteen,  Jr.,  W.  E.  Hubbell,  A.  T.  Back, 
J.  H.  Bull,  F.  Howard,  S.  L.  French,  A.  C.  Parliman, 
W.  Snediker,  J.  G.  Buckland,  H.  W.  French,  K. 
Johnson,  R.  H.  Shipley,  H.  Griswold,  Jno.  Griswold, 
R.  C.  Woodruff,  B.  C.  Stoddard,  J.  E.  Taylor,  H.  A. 
Dillon,  T.  Taylor,  Sr. 

Canawacta  Encampment,  No.  225,  /.  0.  0.  F.,  was 
instituted  March  11,  1872,  by  Calvin  C.  Halsey,  D.D. 

G.  P.,  with  eight  charter  members,  namely  : R.  Wal- 
lace, Sr.,  J.  S.  Shrimpton,  C.  Ottinger,  A.  Agnew, 
J.  T.  Cockayne,  A.  V.  Price,  J.  Wood,  W.  H.  Curtis. 
The  first  officers  were  R.  Wallace,  C.  P.;  J.  S.  Shrimp- 
ton, H.  P. ; W.  H.  Curtis,  S.  W. ; A.  V.  Price,  J.  W. ; 
C.  Ottinger,  S. ; J.  T.  Cockayne,  T.  It  now  has  six- 
ty members.  The  officers  at  present  are  D.  Freden- 
berg,  C.  P. ; J.  C.  Kortright,  H.  P. ; C.  Betner,  S.  W. ; 
T.  Springsteen,  Jr.,  S. ; Geo.  Kirk,  T.  The  following 
are  past  officers : R.  Wallace,  J.  H.  Bull,  John  M. 
Leslie,  T.  Springsteen,  Jr.,  A.  Spellerberg,  R.  C. 
Woodruff,  J.  T.  Cockayne,  G.  H.  Leal,  George  Kirk, 
J.  Yeomans,  W.  Snediker,  F.  Knoes,  J.  G.  Buckland, 
J.  E.  Taylor,  R.  H.  Shipley,  John  Griswold,  W.  A. 
Springsteen,  H.  A.  Dillon,  S.  W.  Young,  C.  Betner. 

Cascade  Canton,  No.  11,  J.  0.  0.  U,  w'as  instituted 
May  31,  1886,  with  twenty-one  charter  members.  Its 
members  are  all  fully  uniformed,  at  an  expense  of 
thirteen  hundred  dollars.  Its  officers  are  T.  Spring- 
steen, Jr.,  Com. ; H.  A.  Dillon,  Lieut. ; J.  G.  Buck- 
land,  E. ; J.  S.  Shrimpton,  Ac.  ; J.  H.  Bull,  Adjt. 

Atlantic  Lodge,  No.  452,  K.  of  F.,  was  instituted 
November  3,  1876.  The  charter  members  were  W. 

H.  Dodd,  A.  D.  Harding,  B.  C.  Stoddard,  O.  D.  Falk- 
enbury, F.  A.  Snyder,  E.  W.  Jackson,  T.  Springsteen, 
Jr.,  J.  S.  Wallace,  H.  A.  Leal,  I.  F.  Storer.  The 
first  officers  were  W.  H.  Dodd,  P.  C. ; A.  D.  Harding, 
C.  C.  ; T.  Springsteen,  Jr.,  K.  of  R.  S. ; F.  A.  Sny- 
der, M.  E. ; E.  W.  Jackson,  M.  F. ; John  S.  Wallace, 
M.  A. ; F.  Storer,  0.  G.  Past  Chancellors  : W.  H. 
Dodd,  A.  D.  Harding,  T.  Springsteen,  Jr.,  F.  A. 
Snyder,  F.  W.  Jackson,  1.  F.  Storer,  B.  C.  Stoddard, 
J.  0.  Taylor,  O.  D.  Falkenbury,  John  S.  Wallace, 
M.  W.  Brundage,  H.  A.  Leal,  E.  E.  Tiugley,  John 


610 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


Medway,  T.  T.  Wing,  R.  H.  Day,  M.  E.  Wallace,  L. 
Finckenior,  S.  S.  Simmons,  T.  A.  Hayward,  H.  A. 
Childs,  S.  J.  Bagnall,  John  B.  Smith,  E.  J.  Brush, 
John  H.  Scoville,  E.  B.  Clark,  C.  B.  Falkenbury,  A. 
AVagner.  Present  membership,  sixty-eight.  Since 
its  organization  this  lodge  has  disbursed  for  sick  bene- 
fits, charities  and  funeral  expenses  about  four  thou- 
sand five  hundred  dollars.  The  present  officers 
are  A.  Wagner,  P.  C. ; George  D.  Prentice,  C.  C.  ; E. 

F.  Stoddard,  V.  C. ; A.  Bently,  P. ; S.  S.  Simmons, 
M.  E. ; T.  A.  Hayward,  M.  F. ; H.  A.  Childs,  K.  of 

R.  and  S. ; John  Stephens,  M.  A. ; A.  D.  Harding, 
I.  G. ; John  B.  Smith,  0.  G. ; S.  S.  Simmons,  Rep. ; 
W.  J.  Hull,  O.  D.  Falkenbury,  A.  D.  Harding,  trus- 
tees. General  fund,  sixteen  hundred  and  twenty- 
five  dollars. 

Endowment  Rank,  Section  74,  K.  of  R.,  was  insti- 
tuted January  24,  1876,  by  A.  D.  Harding,  D.  G.  C. 
There  were  thirteen  charter  members.  The  first  offi- 
cers installed  were  0.  D.  Falkenbury,  P. ; B.  C.  Stod- 
dard, V.  P. ; A.  D.  Harding,  Sec.  and  Treas.  The 
rank  is  now  composed  of  forty-one  members.  The 
present  officers  are  the  same  as  above-mentioned. 
Mr.  Harding  has  been  the  secretary  all  the  time  since 
the  society  was  organized.  The  society  has  been  so 
fortunate  as  to  lose,  by  death,  but  one  member  (H. 

A.  Leal),  during  the  past  eleven  years. 

Atlantic  Division,  No.  17,  of  the  Pa.  Brigade  of 
the  Uniform  Rank  of  K.  of  P.,  was  instituted  April 
7,  1884,  by  T.  A.  Hayward,  D.  S.  C.  The  charter 
members  were  Dr.  S.  S.  Simmons,  J.  S.  Wallace,  A. 

D.  Harding,  E.  W.  Jackson,  AVm.  Ea-twood,  E.  B. 
Clark,  F.  A.  Snyder,  B.  C.  Stoddard,  M.  E.  AVallace, 

E.  F.  Stoddard,  J.  B.  Smith,  A.  B.  Ketchum,  F.  A. 
Miller,  James  Acker,  A.  S.  Benedict,  C.  A.  Smith,  H. 

S.  Wood,  T.  A.  Hayward,  S.  W.  Foster,  H.  A.  Childs, 
C.  C.  Taylor,  P.  H.  Smith,  B.  F.  Pride,  W.  AV.  AAmod, 

C.  F.  Storer,  G.  AV.  Dinsmore,  J.  H.  Scoville,  AV. 
P.  Munson,  E.  J.  Brush,  T.  Springsteen,  Jr.  About 
twelve  hundred  dollars  was  expended  in  furnishing 
uniforms  for  the  division.  The  first  officers  were 

B.  C.  Stoddard,  Capt. ; S.  S.  Simmons,  1st  Lieut.;, 
John  S.  AVallace,  2d  Lieut.;  A.  D.  Harding,  R.  ; 
Wm.  Eastwood,  T.  The  present  membership  is  thirty 
and  the  officers  are  E.  AV.  Jackson,  Capt. ; H.  A. 
Childs,  1st  Lieut. ; C.  B.  Falkenbury,  2d  Lieut. ; Geo. 

D.  Prentice,  R. ; AVm.  Eastwood,  T.  Dr.  S.  S.  Sim- 
mons, of  this  division,  is  the  highest  officer  in  this 
State,  holding  the  office  of  brigadier-general.  Col. 
A.  D.  Harding  is  assistant  adjutant-general ; Col. 

T.  Springsteen,  Jr.,  is  assistant  quartermaster-gen- 
eral ; and  Major  John  S.  AA^allace  is  aide-de-camp. 

Keystone  Lodge,  No.  68,  K.  of  H.,  was  instituted 
January  19,  1875.  The  charter  members  were  G.  A. 
Post,  E.  AV.  Jackson,  David  Harris,  George  Grey, 
Joseph  Lofgren,  R.  A.  Austin,  George  A.  Brown, 
George  Creeve,  AA'^m.  Palmer.  H.  L.  Rosenbaum,  H. 
A.  Tingley,  Elisha  Thomas,  Thomas  AA^'est.  The 
past  dictators  are  Dr.  H.  A.  Tingley,  Thomas  AVest, 


G.  A.  Post,  E.  W.  Jackson,  David  Harris,  M.  H. 
Pope,  C.  H.  Kanolt,  C.  0.  Vedder,  T.  J.  Tingley, 

C.  T.  Thorpe,  J.  H.  Bull,  0.  H.  Simmons,  S.  S. 
Simmons,  J.  G.  Bailey,  J.  AV.  Taylor,  F.  AVeinman, 
S.  Malcolm.  The  present  officers  are  E.  AV.  Jack- 
son,  P.  D. ; J.  Malcolm,  D. ; W.  F.  Lyon,  V.  D. ; 
C.  T.  Bartram,  A.  D. ; C.  H.  Kanolt,"^  R.;  G.  H. 
Leal,  F.  R. ; C.  Thorpe,  T. ; M.  H.  Pope,  G. ; 0. 

H.  Simmons,  C. ; H.  Bohn,  G. ; Joseph  AA^hitting- 
ton,  S. ; and  M.  H.  Pope,  C.  H.  Kanolt  and  C.  T. 
Bartram,  trustees.  The  present  membership  is  sev- 
enty-one. Since  its  organization  the  lodge  has  dis- 
bursed for  benefits  and  death  claims  about  twenty- 
two  thousand  dollars.  Hon.  George  A.  Post  was  a 
member  of  the  Supreine  Lodge.  H.  A.  Tingley 
was  a member  of  the  Supreme  Lodge  that  met  at 
Indianapolis  in  1875.  E.  AV.  Jackson,  Esq.,  has 
been  a member  of  the  Grand  Lodge  of  Pennsylva- 
nia since  1876.  He  was  at  first  a member  of  the 
committee  on  laws  and  supervisions,  a very  re- 
sponsible office.  In  1883  he  was  elected  assistant- 
dictator,  and  in  1885  vice-dictator. 

Lady  Franklin  Lodge,  No.  730,  Knights  and  La- 
dies of  Honor,  was  instituted  October,  1883,  by  Geo. 
Creeve,  D.  G.  P.,  with  eighty-six  charter  members. 
Their  officers  first  installed  were  J.  B.  Smith,  P.  P.; 
Job  Malpass,  P. ; Charles  Langford,  V.  P. ; Blanche 
Dodge,  S. ; L.  S.  Price,  F.  S. ; James  Acker,  T. ; 
G.  E.  Dodge,  C. ; AV.  H.  Dodd,  G. ; Mrs.  J.  B. 
Smith,  G. ; 0.  F.  Horton,  S. ; Dr.  A.  P.  Rowley, 
Med.  Ex.  The  past  protectors  are  J.  B.  Smith,  Job 
Malpass,  O.  D.  Falkenbury,  Blanche  Dodge,  J.  G. 
Bailey,  Mrs.  H.  E.  Tingley,  Laura  O.  Price,  Geo. 
Creeve,  W.  H.  Terhune,  T.  J.  Tingley,  Belle  B. 
Johnson.  The  present  officers  are  E.  AV.  Mapes, 
P. ; H.  E.  Tingley,  V.  P. ; Blanche  Dodge,  Sec. ; 
N.  J.  Topping,  F.  S. ; T.  J.  Tingley,  T. ; James 
AValker,  G. ; Mrs  H.  R.  Townsend,  G. ; J.  G.  Bai- 
ly,  S. ; Dr.  H.  A.  Tingley,  Med.  Ex.  Miss  Blanche 
Dodge  is  grand  vice-protector  of  the  Grand  Lodge 
of  Pennsylvania,  elected  to  this  office  in  October, 
1885,  a position  she  has  filled  with  marked  ability. 

Branch  No.  11,  of  the  Catholic  Mutual  Benefit  As- 
sociation,  was  organized  February  21,  1879,  by  Jos. 
Cameron,  D.D.,  of  Honesdale,  Pa.  The  charter 
members  were  Michael  Fanning,  T.  J.  Hassett,  Jos. 
M.  AA^illiams,  John  Riley,  Juhn  Hassett,  Thomas 
Casey,  Alichael  Foley,  Michael  Shannahan,  Michael 
Callahan,  Edward  O'Dey,  Patrick  J.  Smith,  Robert 
Bai'r,  Bart.  Cavanagh,  Michael  Roach,  P.  T.  Irving. 

The  first  officers  were  Rev.  John  Slattery,  S.  D. ; 
Michael  Fanning,  P.  ; Joseph  AVilliams,  1st  V.  P. ; 
John  Riley,  2d  \^.  P. ; Thomas  Casey,  R.  S. ; P.  T. 
Irving,  Asst.  R.  S.  ; T.  J.  Hassett,  F.  S. ; Robert 
Barr,  T. ; P.  J.  Smith,  Q.,  pro  tern.-  Edward  O’Dey, 
M. ; Michael  Callahan,  G.  The  past  officers  are 
Michael  Fanning,  T.  J.  Hassett,  J.  M.  AVilliams, 
James  J.  Murphy,  John  II.  McMahon,  John  J. 
Mclnerny,  J.  J.  Boyle,  M.D.  The  present  officers 


SUSQUEHANNA. 


611 


are  Rev.  P.  H.  Broderick,  S.  D. ; J.  J.  Boyle,  C.  ; 
Andrew  J.  Ryan,  P.  ; Martin  Ryan,  1st  V.  P. ; Tlios. 
J.  O’Donnell,  2d  P.;  P.  B.  McMahon,  R.  S. ; 
Robert  J.  McCarthy,  Asst.  R.  S. ; B.  J.  Lynch,  F.  S. ; 
Robert  Barr,  T. ; James  Dolan,  M.  ; P.  J.  Madigan. 
G.  J.  J.  Mclnerny  is  the  representative  at  the  present 
time,  and  the  trustees  are  Michael  Banning,  John  J. 
Ahearn,  Richard  J.  McCarthy,  John  Mclnerny  and 
Patrick  J.  Geary.  Thomas  J.  Hassett  is  the  district 
deputy.  The  assets  of  the  branch  are  about  two 
thousand  dollars,  and  since  its  organization  it  has 
disbursed  in  charities  and  death  claims  about  sixteen 
thousand  three  hundred  dollars.  Nearly  all  of 
the  time  since  the  organization  of  this  branch  Mr. 
Banning  has  been  a member  of  the  Grand  Council  of 
Pennsylvania.  In  1881  he  was  elected  grand  mar- 
shall ; in  1882,  2d  vice-president;  in  1884,  1st  vice- 
president  ; and  in  1886,  president.  Mr.  Banning 
came  to  Susquehanna  in  1857,  and  during  the  past 
thirty  years  he  has  been  in  the  employ  of  the  railroad 
company  as  a brass-melter  and  moulder.  He  is  an 
active  and  influential  member  of  the  Catholic  Church, 
and  closely  identified  with  the  civil  affairs  of  the 
borough.  He  has  served  six  years  as  a member  of 
the  Town  Council,  and  in  1876  was  burgess  of  the 
borough. 

Starrucca  Division,  No.  137,  Brotherhood  of  Loco- 
motive Engineers,  was  instituted  in  1871,  with  twen- 
ty-two charter  members,  viz.:  W.  J.  Hull,  R.  H. 
Day,  W.  D.  C.  Cutwater,  R.  Halloran,  F.  Thomas,  P. 
Halloran,  S.  C.  Fuller,  John  King,  John  O'Neil,  N. 

R.  Bennett,  H.  N.  Howell,  J.  J.  Simmons,  J.  R. 
Bravo,  John  Donahue,  W.  C.  Thurston,  M.  L.  Rose, 

L.  R.  Pettit,  George  Pettit,  H.  Kinsley,  E.  Haskins, 

C.  L.  Bravo,  George  Casey.  The  first  officers  were 
W.  J.  Hull,  C.  E. ; L.  R.  Pettit,  F.  E. ; R.  H.  Day, 

S.  E. ; J.  R.  Bravo,  F.  A.  E. ; C.  B.  Bravo,  S.  A.  E.  ; 
R.  Halloran,  T.  A.  E. ; W.  D.  C.  Cutwater,  G. ; Geo. 
Pettit,  C.  The  present  officers  are  W.  J.  Hull,  C.  E.; 

M.  Clancey,  F.  E. ; Frank  Robins,  S.  E. ; John 
Keena,  F.  A.  E. ; H.  C.  Pettis,  S.  A.  E.  ; J.  Buckley, 

T.  A.  E.  ; John  King,  G. ; Joseph  Galloway,  C. ; W. 

D.  C.  Cutwater,  S.  I.  The  present  membership  is 
fifty-eight.  Since  the  division  was  instituted  six 
have  died;  eighteen  withdrew  in  1874,  to  organize 
No.  172,  at  Binghamton,  N.  Y. ; and  twenty-two 
withdrew  in  1886,  to  organize  No.  305  at  Great 
Bend. 

Keystone  Lodge,  No.  208,  Brothei'hood  of  Locomo- 
tive Firemen,  was  instituted  in  1854  by  S.  M.  Stevens, 
grand  organizer.  The  charter  members  were  M. 
Feign,  J.  J.  Lannon,  J.  P.  McDonald,  Charles 
Anderson,  J.  S.  Elston,  A.  Halloran,  Paul  Salmon, 
J.  J.  Keys,  Frank  Houk,  R.  M.  Brown,  P.  Harri- 
gan,  E.  Pettis,  M.  M.  Kane,  R.  L.  Dwight,  H. 
R.  Alden,  W.  B.  Smith,  James  Barry,  J.  C.  Barnes, 
C.  E.  Bliss,  Samuel  Messereau.  The  first  officers 
were  J.  J.  Lannon,  M.;  M.  Feign,  V.  M;  J.  P. 
McDonald,  S. ; Charles  Anderson,  F. ; Augustine 


Halloran,  W. ; Paul  Salmon,  C. ; J.  J.  Keyes,  C. ; 
Frank  Houk,  I.  G. ; R.  M.  Brown,  C.  G. ; P.  Harri- 
gan,  R.  M.  Brown  and  E.  Pettis,  trustees.  The  present 
officers  are  C.  A.  Allen,  M. ; M.  Feign,  V.  M. ; J.  J. 
Lannon,  S. ; A.  Dunlap,  R. ; A.  Jordan,  C. ; J.  Foley, 
W. ; C.  D.  Fox,  Con.;  F.  Delaney,  C. ; M.  N.  Cree- 
gan,  I.  G. ; E.  Pettis,  C.  G. ; J.  J Lannon,  P.  M. ; M. 
M.  Kane,  F.  Delaney  and  J.  J.  Lannon,  trustees. 
The  membership  now  is  forty.  In  1886  eighteen 
members  of  this  lodge  withdrew  therefrom,  and  or- 
ganized a new  lodge  at  Hallstead,  as  a matter  of  con- 
venience to  themselves  and  expediency  to  the  order, 
as  many  new  members  could  be  obtained  at  the  latter 
place.  Since  Keystone  Lodge  was  instituted  two 
members  have  died. 

Susquehanna  Council,  No.  140,  of  the  Royal  Ar- 
canum, was  instituted  August  6,  1878,  by  Dr.  J.  H. 
Wright,  of  Allegheny,  Pa.  The  charter  members 
were  G.  A.  Post,  E.  W.  Jackson,  W.  S.  Beebe,  B.  F. 
Field,  Geo.  Van  Wormer,  C.  F.  Curtis,  L.  M.  Dartt, 
R.  C.  Woodruff,  I.  A.  Post,  J.  Hope,  Geo.  Scoffin,  H. 
Brown,  T.  West,  J.  H.  Brock,  M.  H.  Pope.  The 
officers  elected  and  installed  at  that  time  were  I.  A. 
Post,  P.  R. ; Thomas  West,  R. ; George  Scoffin,  V.  R. ; 
J.  Hope,  C. ; B.  F.  Field,  C. ; J.  H.  Brock,  G. ; E.  W. 
Jackson,  S. ; C.  F.  Curtis,  C. ; Geo.  Van  Wormer,  T. , 

R.  C.  Woodruff,  W. ; Herbert  Brown,  S. ; B.  F.  Field, 
M.  H.  Pope,  L.  M.  Dartt,  trustees ; and  Dr.  W.  S. 
Beebe,  medical  examiner.  The  past  regents  are  I.  A. 
Post,  Thomas  West,  E.  W.  Jackson,  C.  T.  Thorpe,  S. 

S.  Simmons,  L.  M.  Dartt,  M.  H.  Pope,  C.  H. 
Kanolt.  The  council  has  paid  out,  on  account  of 
death  claims  and  sick  benefits,  about  thirteen  thou- 
sand dollars.  Its  membership  is  now  seventy-six.  The 
present  officers  are  M.  H.  Pope,  P.  R.  ; C.  H.  Kanolt, 

R. ;  H.  C.  Benson,  V.  R. ; Wells  Harris,  O. ; C.  T. 
Thorpe,  S. ; Charles  Sabin,  C.;  S.  S.  Simmons,  T. ; E. 

S.  Whitney,  G. ; J.  Hope,  Chap. ; H.  Brown,  W. ; Wm. 
Watkin,  S.  C.  H.  Kanolt  is  the  representative,  and 
C.  T.  Thorpe,  C.  H.  Kanolt  and  Thomas  Graham  are 
the  trustees.  During  the  past  three  years  a commit- 
tee appointed  by  the  council  has  conducted  a series  of 
lectures  and  literary  and  musical  entertainments,  in 
which  lecturers  and  artists  of  excellent  ability  have 
appeared.  These  lectures  and  entertainments  have 
been  largely  attended  and  highly  appreciated  by  the 
public.  C.  T.  Thorpe  is  the  chairman  of  this  com- 
mittee, and  Dr.  S.  S.  Simmons  is  the  secretary. 

Canawacta  Tribe,  No.  246,  L.  0.  R.  M.,  was  insti- 
tuted August  16,  1883,  by  Thomas  A.  McDowell,  G.  S. 
The  tribe  began  with  sixty  charter  members,  and  now 
has  a membership  of  eighty-seven.  The  first  officers 
were  F.  H.  Barnes,  S. ; B.  C.  Stoddard,  Sr.  S. ; 
Thos.  Higson,  Jr.  S. ; C.  C.  Langford,  P. ; J.  S.  Wal- 
lace, C.  of  R. ; J.  G.  Bailey,  K.  of  W.  The  trustees 
were  Sheldon  Pierce,  Henry  Kinsley,  J.  R.  McCauley. 
The  present  officers  are  C.  M.  Tingley,  S. ; Geo. 
Shappe,  Sr.  S. ; A.  E.  Shipman,  Jr.  S. ; Henry 
Kinsley,  P. ; J.  S.  Wallace,  C.  of  R. ; J.  G.  Bailey,  K. 


612 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


of  W. ; and  the  trustees  are  C.  B.  Falkeubury,  George 
Benson,  M.  H.  Pope. 

L<)cal  Branch,  No.  252,  Order  of  the  Iron  Hall,  was 
instituted  May  7,  1885,  by  Conrad  Klee,  of  Bingham- 
ton, N.  Y.  The  charter  members  were  T.  A.  Hay- 
ward, S.  S.  Johnson,  Charles  Boynton,  W.  S.  Kistler, 
J.  G.  Bailey,  H.  Sperl,  Jr.,  Joseph  Best,  J.  J.  Keefe, 
Valentine  Miller,  J.  W.  Taylor,  H.  Bohn,  C.  H- 
Knise,  Frank  Weinman,  John  Mess,  D.  Z.  Wilson, 

L.  S.  Gilbert,  A.  P.  Rowley,  O.  T.  Smith,  E.  B.  Clark, 
A.  H.  Falkeubury,  H.  C.  Miller,  C.  F.  Wright,  G.  N. 
Shappee,  Albert  Wagner,  J.  C.  Burns,  H.  A.  Dillou_ 
The  first  officers  were  D.  Z.  Wilson,  P.  C.  J. ; J.  G. 
Bailey,  C.  J. ; J.  W.  Taylor,  V.  J. ; T.  A.  Hayward, 
Ac. ; C.  F.  Wright,  A. ; 0.  T.  Smith,  P. ; A.  H.  Falk- 
enbury,  C. ; W.  S.  Kistler,  H. ; J.  Best,  W. ; V.  Mil- 
ler, V. ; F.  Weinman,  A.  Wagner,  L.  S.  Gilbert, 
trustees.  The  present  officers  are  J.  G.  Bailey,  P.  C.  J. ; 
J.  0.  Graves,  C.  J. ; H.  C.  Miller,  V.  J. ; T.  A.  Hay- 
ward, Ac. ; A.  H.  Falkenbury,  C. ; C.  H.  Knise,  A. ; 
Charles  Boynton,  P. ; A.  S.  Langford,  H. ; John 
Montgomery,  W. ; G.  F.  O’Neil,  V.;  F.  Weinman,  A. 
Wagner,  L.  S.  Gilbert,  ti’ustees.  T.  A.  Hayward  is 
deputy  supreme  justice  of  this  district. 

Susquehanna  Lodge,  No.  39,  Knights  of  Columbia^ 
was  instituted  January  21,  1887,  by  E.  A.  Kellogg, 
S.  G.,  of  Elmira,  N.  Y.  There  were  twenty-two 
charter  members.  The  officers  are  0.  T.  Smith,  G.; 
E.  W.  Estabrook,  V.  G.;  George  E.  Barton,  P.;  P.  H. 
Ludwig,  S.;  L.  R.  Pettit,  F.  S.;  S.  S.  Simmons,  T. ; 
A.  E.  Shipman,  G.;  D.  T.  Sprague,  G.;  W.  E.  Wester- 
velt,  S.;  Dr.  S.  S.  Simmons,  Med.  Ex.;  P.  H.  Lud- 
wig, Sr.  P.  G.;  George  N.  Brown,  Jr.  P.  G.  The 
trustees  are  George  N.  Brown,  George  E.  Barton,  E. 
W.  Estabrook.  The  present  membership  is  sixty- 
two. 

I.  0.  G.  T. — A Good  Templars’  lodge  was  organized 
here  in  1867,  by  Thomas  Roberts.  The  charter- 
members  were  Mr.  and  Mrs.  J.  B.  Gregg,  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  William  Emery,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  P.  H.  Rafter,  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  0.  T.  Smith,  M.  B.  Wright,  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
George  A.  Guernsey  and  Miss  Laura  Wilmot.  The 
officers  were  S.  B.  Gregg,  C.  T.;  Laura  Wilmot,  V.  T.; 

M.  B.  Wright,  S.;  William  Emery,  T.;  George  A. 
Guernsey,  P.  C.  T.;  Mrs.  0.  T.  Smith,  R.  H.  S.;  and 
Mrs.  G.  A.  Guernsey,  L.  H.  S.  For  a number  of 
years  this  lodge  was  very  prosperous,  at  one  time 
having  a membership  of  four  hundred.  The  past 
chief  templars  were  G.  A.  Guernsey,  J.  B.  Gregg, 
William  Emery.  Among  those  who  were  prominent 
in  this  lodge  only  one  is  at  present  an  active  mem- 
ber of  the  lodge  now  existing,  namely : Mr.  0.  T. 
Smith,  who  is  a deputy  grand  chief  templar. 

Susquehanna  Lodge,  No.  456,  I.  0.  G.  T.,  was  insti- 
tuted November  19,  1876,  by  Grand  Chief  Templar 
Rev.  George  C Hart,  with  the  tollowing  charter 
members  : R.  T.  Dodson,  C.  T.;  Miss  C.  M.  Dodge, 
V.  T.;  F.  V.  Whitney,  Sec.;  Rev.  N.  J.  Judd,  C.; 
Mrs.  C.  E.  Whitney,  A.  S.;  F.  S.  Williams,  F.  S.;  M. 


Gilman,  T.;  W.  J.  Perry,  M.;  Carrie  Frith,  D.  M.;  W. 
S.  Snediker,  G.;  George  Perry,  S.;  Mary  Perry,  R.  H. 

S. ;  Mary  Gilbert,  L.  H.  S.;  Harvey  Holdridge,  P.  C. 

T. ;  and  J.  H.  Cook,  James  Leahy,  Lillie  Jurisch, 
Mrs.  George  Brown,  members.  The  past  chief  temp- 
lars are  R.  T.  Dodson,  Harvey  Holdridge,  Job  Mal- 
pass,  W.  H.  Dodd,  Dennis  Tinsman,  L.  Finckenior, 
C.  M.  Tingley,  Rev.  W.  B.  Kinney,  James  Leahy,  A. 
Comstock,  A.  R.  Forbes,  W.  0.  Graham,  H.  Reisman, 
H.  A.  Purple,  O.  T.  Smith,  Blanche  Dodge,  William 
Epes.  The  present  membership  is  one  hundred  and 
six.  The  lodge  is  in  good  financial  circumstances. 
The  officers  at  present  are  William  Lyons,  C.  T.; 
Mrs.  C.  E.  Whitney,  V.  T.;  G.  P.  Ross,  Sec.;  Dr. 
W.  W.  Fletcher,  F.  S.;  Colonel  W.  H.  Telford,  C.; 
Mrs.  Lottie  Munger,  T.;  Frank  Davenport,  M.;  Miss 
Lizzie  Malpass,  G.;  William  Malpass,  S.;  A.  C. 
Brooks,  A.  S.;  Alpha  Sperring,  D.  M.;  Mrs.  William 
Lyons,  R.  H.  S.;  Mrs.  Belle  Johnson,  L.  H.  S.;  Wil- 
liam Epes,  P.  C.  T.;  and  James  Montgomery,  L.  D. 

Juvenile  Temple,  I.  0.  G.  T. — Purity  Temple,  No. 
10,  was  organized  July  8,  1880,  by  Dr.  S.  S.  Sim- 
mons. The  officers  installed  at  that  time  were  Harry 
Bravo,  C.  T.;  Minnie  Hull,  R.  H.  S.;  Lizzie  Mitch- 
ell, L.  H.  S.;  Alice  Irving,  V.  T.;  Leslie  Frank,  S.; 
Maggie  Ottinger,  A.  S.;  Ada  Hull,  F.  S.;  May  French, 
T.;  Lula  Pope,  C.;  Charles  Ottinger,  M.;  Katie  John- 
son, A.  M.;  Katie  Finckenior,  G.;  Gussie  Leal,  S. 
The  present  membership  is  one  hundred  and  forty- 
one,  with  the_  following  as  officers;  Charles  D. 
Graves,  C.  T.;  Grace  Whitney,  R.  H.  S.;  George 
Thompson,  L.  H.  S.;  Willie  Taylor,  V.  T.;  Edward 
Bush,  S.;  Allen  C.  Brooks,  A.  S.;  Carrie  Kane,  F.  S.; 
John  Barnes,  T.;  Lottie  Yelvington,  C.;  Frederick 
Barnes,  M.;  Lena  Tiffany,  A.  M.;  C.  Meeker,  G.;  May 
Jurisch,  S.;  Eva  Whitney,  P.  C.  T. 


CHAPTER  XLI. 

* NEW  MILFORD  TOWNSHIP. 

New  Milford  is  one  of  the  larger  as  well  as  earlier 
settled  townships  of  Susquehanna  County.  It  is 
centrally  situated  in  the  second  tier  from  the  State 
line,  bounded  on  the  north  by  Great  Bend,  on  the 
east  by  Jackson,  on  the  south  by  Harford,  and  on  the 
west  by  Bridgewater  and  Franklin.  Length  from 
east  to  west,  seven  and  one-half  miles ; breadth,  six 
and  one-half  miles.  A notch  is  made  in  its  north- 
west corner  by  the  township  of  Franklin,  which  takes 
out  about  a square  mile.  Its  entire  area  is  about 
thirty  thousand  two  hundred  and  forty  acres. 

Geographical  Features,  Surface,  Soil,  Etc. — 
The  surface  is  moderately  hilly,  though  there  are  few 


1 By  Jasper  T.  Jennings. 


NEW  MILFORD. 


613 


elevations  that  are  not  susceptible  of  cultivation 
throughout  their  whole  extent.  In  most  cases  consider- 
able Hats  are  met  with  on  their  summits,  and  here 
the  best  land  is  often  found.  The  soil  is  generally  of 
a light  loamy  nature,  of  a rich  chocolate  color 
denominated  “ Red  Shale ; ” and  is  well  adapted  to 
both  grass  and  grain.  The  valleys  through  which  the 
streams  flow  are  usually  level,  but,  with  the  exception 
of  those  along  the  Salt  Lick  Creek,  are  not  very  wide. 
Here  the  soil  is  somewhat  heavier,  and  of  colder 
nature,  though  in  many  places  there  are  rich  alluvial 
bottoms  of  recent  formation,  which  yield  all  crops 
abundantly.  Some  of  the  larger  flats  are  stony  and 
sandy.  As  a general  thing  they  do  not  produce  as 
well  as  the  hillsides  and  elevated  table  lands.  “ Hard- 
pan  ” is  commonly  found  underlying  the  clay  soil 
around  the  base  of  the  hills,  and  here  the  ground  is 
often  wet,  especially  in  the  spring,  and  early  culti- 
vation is  sometimes  retarded.  These  lands  are  well 
adapted  to  grazing  purposes,  and  with  proper  top 
dressing  make  excellent  meadows.  Higher  up  on 
the  slopes,  which  comprise  the  greater  portion  of  the 
surface,  the  soil  is  warm  and  dry,  underlaid  by  a rocky 
strata,  and  with  favorable  weather  produces  excellent 
crops. 

The  most  considerable  elevations  are  Mott  Hill, 
over  which  passes  the  Great  Bend  and  Cochecton 
turnpike  ; Peck  Hill,  west  of  the  borough  ; Shay  Hill ; 
the  two  hills  east  of  the  borough  ; the  Rice  and  Jen- 
nings Hills,  on  opposite  sides  of  the  Salt  Lick  Creek, 
about  three  miles  east  of  the  borough  ; and  the  Van- 
Fleet  Hill,  to  the  eastward  of  the  Mott  Hill.  From 
the  summits  of  some  of  these  elevations  extensive 
views  are  afforded.  From  Peck  Hill  a good  view  of 
the  eastern  part  of  the  county  may  be  had.  During 
clear,  cold  days  the  smoke  of  locomotives  on  the 
Jefferson  Railroad  may  be  seen  for  a long  time,  mov- 
ing like  white  spectral  pillars  along  the  distant  water- 
shed range  in  Thomson,  Ararat  and  Herrick.  Mott 
Hill  affords  a splendid  view  of  the  valley  of  the  Salt 
Lick,  at  the  northern  extremity  of  which  appears 
the  busy  town  of  Great  Bend,  eight  miles  distant. 
Beyond,  the  higher  range  of  hills  forming  the  north- 
ern banks  of  the  river,  in  New  York  State,  make  up 
the  extreme  objects  of  the  picture.  The  scenery  to 
the  south  is  varied  and  extensive.  The  view  from 
VanFleet  Hill  is  far  extended  and  especially  interest- 
ing. 

Agricultural  Productions. — Formerly  large 
quantities  of  wheat  and  rye  were  grown  in  this  town- 
ship ; but  as  the  land  became  older  and  the  protecting 
forests  were  cut  away,  winter  grain  was  more  liable  to 
damage  from  winter  frosts,  and  gradually  decreased 
in  yield  and  quality.  With  proper  cultivation  good 
crops  of  wheat  may  be  grown  on  the  dry  hill  lands  in 
protected  situations,  where  the  snows  of  winter  will 
not  blow  off  and  leave  the  ground  bare ; but  it  is  at- 
tended with  considerable  expense,  and  since  railroad 
communication  has  been  opened  with  the  West  a su- 


perior grade  of  flour  is  furnished  cheaper  than  the 
farmer  can  produce  it  here.  As  a consequence,  this 
branch  of  grain-raising  has  been  nearly  abandoned. 
Fair  crops  of  corn  are  usually  grown,  though  Western 
competition  has  been  slowly  driving  this  product 
from  the  field,  until  scarcely  one -half  enough  is  now 
grown  for  home  consumption.  Oats  have  become  the 
leading  cereal  crop,  and  they  are  now  grown  much 
more  extensively  than  they  were  a few  years  since. 
Potatoes  and  buckwheat  generally  do  well.  The 
township  is  well  supplied  with  pure  spring  water, 
free  from  limy  or  mineral  impregnations,  and  has 
all  the  natural  requirements  for  a first-class  dairy  re- 
gion. Long  since,  this  became  the  principal  industry 
of  the  agricultural  population.  Most  of  the  more 
prominent  dairymen  have  patent  creameries,  and 
manufacture  their  own  butter,  which  is  shipped  in 
large  quantifies  to  New  York  City,  where  it  scarcely 
ever  fails  to  bring  the  highest  market-price.  A great 
number  of  veal-calves  are  shipped  every  spring,  and 
many  neat  cattle  and  sheep. 

Streams  and  Water-Courses. — The  principal 
streams  are  the  Salt  Lick,  Beaver  and  Martin’s  Creeks. 
Salt  Lick  Creek,  which  may  properly  be  set  down  as 
the  leading  stream,  has  its  main  source  in  Jackson 
township,  near  the  head-waters  of  Drinker's  and  But- 
ler Creeks;  and  flowing  in  a southwest  direction, 
enters  the  old  Page  Pond,  in  East  New  Milford  ; 
thence  deflecting  to  the  west  and  southwest,  it  passes 
through  Rice’s,  Moon’s  and  Keep’s  Ponds  to  New 
Milford  Borough,  receiving  a considerable  branch  at 
Keep’s  Pond,  from  the  East  Lake,  on  the  north.  At 
New  Milford  Borough,  in  the  central  part  of  the 
township,  it  receives  the  united  waters  of  the  Meylert 
and  Wellman  Creeks  from  the  south,  and  turning  to 
the  north,  receives  another  tributary  from  the  Moss 
Pond  on  the  east,  after  which  it  passes  on  to  Sura- 
mersville.  Here  it  is  further  augmented  by  the  waters 
of  Beaver  Creek  from  the  west,  and  another  small 
stream  from  the  east,  when  it  crosses  the  north  line  of 
the  township  and  continues  in  a north  course  to  the 
Susquehanna  River,  at  Great  Bend.  Its  banks  are 
generally  not  very  high,  or  steep,  except  in  certain 
places  where  they  converge  close  together  ; and  it  is 
naturally  fitted  for  a series  of  mill  privileges,  or  water- 
powers.  Several  saw  and  grist-mills  have  been  built 
along  its  course,  and  in  former  times,  when  timber 
of  all  kinds  was  abundant,  immense  quantities  of 
lumber  were  manufactured.  Before  many  saw-mills 
had  been  built  fine  trout  were  often  caught  along  its 
still,  dark  course,  beneath  the  sombre  hemlock  that 
overshadowed  its  silent  pools.  Eels,  cat-fish  or  bull- 
heads, pickerel  and  bass  are  common  in  the  ponds, 
and  suckers  are  abundant  throughout  the  whole 
course  of  the  creek  in  the  spring. 

Near  the  Summit  Bridge,  one  mile  west  of  the 
borough,  where  the  Delaware,  Lackawanna  and  West- 
ern Railway  passes  through  a deep  cutting  to  overt 
come  the  height  of  ground  between  the  Salt  Lick  and 


614 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


Martin’s  Creek  valleys,  are  two  springs  but  a short  dis- 
tance apart,  the  waters  of  which  flow  in  opposit- 
directions.  One  flows  north  to  enter  the  Salt  Lick 
and  finds  its  way  into  the  Susquehanna  at  Great  Bend 
while  the  other,  which  forms  the  source  of  Martin’s 
Creek,  flows  southward  to  enter  the  Tunkhannock 
Creek  at  Nicholson,  and  eventually  finds  its  way  to 
the  Susquehanna  at  Tunkhannock.  The  course  of 
Martin’s  Creek  in  New  Milford  township  is  through 
a narrow  winding  alder  swamp,  interspersed  with 
beaver  meadows  and  long  'ponds,  closely  hemmed  in 
by  frowning,  precipitous  banks,  which  ever  cast  their 
lofty  shadows  upon  the  smooth,  mirror-like  surface. 
The  railroad  follows  the  stream  on  the  east  side,  the 
steep  and  rocky  bank  having  been  sliced  down  to  the 
depth  of  many  feet  to  form  the  road-bed.  The  trav- 
eler on  the  train  passing  down  this  narrow  valley 
looks  out  of  the  car-window  upon  a succession  of 
rapidly-changing  pictures,  almost  rivaling  the  shift- 
ing scenes  of  the  kaleidoscope.  Every  turn  presents 
new  surprises  and  ushers  in  different  scenery,  much 
of  which  is  romantic  and  picturesque.  Wauneka 
Glen  is  a wild  and  romantic  spot,  which,  strange  to 
say,  has  until  recently  been  scarcely  known  outside 
of  its  immediate  neighborhood. 

The  martin,  which  was  once  said  to  be  numerous 
in  this  place,  and  which  probably  gave  rise  to  the 
name  of  Martin  Creek,  has  long  since  been  nearly 
exterminated.  A small  stream  has  its  source  in  two 
branches  in  the  southeast  quarter  of  the  township, 
which  flows  south  to  unite  with  Butler  Creek,  near 
Burrows  Hollow.  Partner’s  Creek,  one  of  the  main 
streams  of  Harford  township,  has  its  source  in  three 
small  branches  in  the  southern  part  of  New  Milford. 
One  of  these  originates  in  Hunt  Lake,  a small  sheet 
of  water  situated  on  elevated  ground  about  one  mile 
from  the  south  line  of  the  township.  East  Martin’s 
Creek,  which  unites  with  the  main  stream  at  Kings- 
ley’s, in  Harford,  rises  in  the  southwest  quarter  of 
New  Milford.  Near  the  source  of  this  creek  there  is  a 
chain  of  natural  ponds,  known  as  the  Three  Lakes. 
The  upper  lake  is  wholly  and  the  middle  lake  partly  in 
the  township.  The  west  line  of  the  township  crosses 
Heart  Lake,  a beautiful  sheet  of  clear  water  which 
probably  derives  its  name  from  its  peculiar  shape, 
and  which  has  become  famous  as  a summer  resort  and 
picnic-ground.  Its  outlet  flows  southward,  across  the 
corner  of  Bridgewater,  forming  the  Hopbottom 
Creek,  the  principal  stream  of  Brooklyn  township, 
which  unites  with  Martin’s  Creek  at  Hopbottom,  in 
Lathrop.  Beaver  Creek,  which  flows  in  a northeast 
direction  to  unite  with  the  Salt  Lick  Creek  at  Sum- 
merville, has  its  source  in  the  southeast  corner  of 
Franklin.  Mitchell’s  Creek,  which  flows  north 
through  a wilderness  section  of  Great  Bend  to  the 
river  above  Red  Rock,  finds  its  head-waters  in  the 
northeast  corner  of  New  Milford.  East  Lake,  in  this 
part  of  the  township,  and  Hunt  Lake,  in  the  southern 
part,  near  “ Tennant  Town,”  are  said  to  be  very  deep. 


Timber  and  Vegetation. — New  Milford  was  once 
an  eminently  well-wooded  region.  Considerable  chest- 
nut timber  was  found  on  the  elevated  lands  in  various 
localities,  and  in  some  places  it  was  the  prevailing 
wood.  It  was  generally  thrifty  and  sound  and  often 
grew  to  a great  size.  Solid  stumps  which  were  cut 
fifty  years  ago  may  yet  be  seen,  some  of  which  meas- 
ure three  or  four  feet  in  diameter.  The  ridges  around 
the  head- waters  of  the  Meylert  Creek  were  once  cov- 
ered with  chestnut. 

Indians. — There  is  scarcely  any  aboriginal  history 
to  record  in  connection  with  this  township,  though 
there  is  plenty  of  evidence  to  show  that  the  Indians 
once  existed  here,  and  that  it  was  at  one  time  a por- 
tion of  their  favorite  hunting-grounds.  Numerous 
flint-pointed  arrow-heads  have  been  picked  up  in 
plowed  fields  in  many  places,  and  several  spear-heads 
and  stone  pestles  for  pounding  corn  have  been  found. 
There  is  a place  of  some  five  or  six  rods  in  extent, 
near  the  source  of  the  Meylert  Creek,  where  hundreds 
of  broken  arrow-heads  and  scales  of  flint  have  heen 
plowed  up.  It  is  thought  to  have  been  the  site  of  an 
arrow-factory.  Where  their  flint  was  obtained  re- 
mains a mystery.  Another  similar  place  is  said  to 
have  been  found  near  the  east  line  of  the  township. 
Not  far  distant  a regular  series  of  mounds  were  found, 
which  were  thought  by  some  to  have  been  an  Indian 
burying-ground. 

Settlement  and  Early  History. — The  first 
white  men  w’ho  visited  the  present  limits  of  New  Mil- 
ford township  were  probably  the  surveying  parties  of 
1784  and  1788  ; but  they  only  passed  through,  mark- 
ing their  lines  as  they  went,  and  leaving  little  to  re- 
cord respecting  them.  The  earliest  work  tending  to 
a real  settlement  was  the  first  cutting  through  of  the 
Great  Bend  and  Cochecton  road,  in  1791.  Quite  a 
number  of  sturdy  pioneers  were  engaged  in  this 
work  for  a considerable  time,  chopping  and  clearing 
out  the  old  logs  by  day  and  camping  in  the  thick 
woods  at  night ; and  it  is  probable  several  of  the  bark- 
covered  cabins  found  by  the  early  settlers  along  the 
line  of  this  unworked  passage  through  the  great 
woods,  and  which  were  supposed  to  he  hunters’  cab- 
ins, were  erected  by  them,  and  occupied  hy  hunters 
afterwards.  Robert  Corbin  was  then  living  in  the 
present  limits  of  the  borough,  and  his  family  was 
probably  the  only  one  in  this  section.  Rough  and 
uneven  though  this  pathway  was,  and  full  of  knolls 
and  roots,  it  formed  a primitive  passage-way  for  those 
who  had  the  courage  to  brave  the  trials  of  frontier 
life,  and  who  did  not  mind  the  slow  pace  of  the  ox 
team  or  the  jolting  and  sliding  of  the  cumbersome 
sled,  and  it  may  be  said  to  be  the  advance  work  of 
civilization  in  the  wilderness. 

In  1793  there  was  a solitary  cabin  somewhat  resem- 
bling an  Indian  wigwam,  standing  under  the  thick 
canopy  of  great  hemlocks,  near  where  James  Sum- 
mers afterwards  had  his  residence,  in  Summersville. 
It  was  the  temporary  home  of  a hunter  by  the  name 


NEW  MILFORD. 


615 


of  Houck,  and  was  believed  to  be  the  first  hut  erected 
in  the  township.  Although  extremely  rude  in  con- 
struction, consisting  of  poles  and  bark,  it  furnished  a 
sort  of  shelter  from  the  wild  beasts  and  beating 
storms,  where  the  hunter  could  retreat  when  not  en- 
gaged with  his  traps  and  gun.  He  made  no  clearing, 
and  when  he  vacated  the  place  it  is  thought  he  was 
succeeded  by  one  Smith.  In  the  fall  of  the  above- 
mentioned  year  David  Summers,  from  Greene 
County,  N.  Y.,  but  originally  from  Connecticut,  passed 
through  this  section,  and  being  favorably  impressed 
with  the  locality,  he  secured  the  cabin,  and  in  May, 
1794,  brought  his  family  to  their  backwoods  home. 
As  soon  as  they  were  fairly  settled,  the  father  and  elder 
sons  commenced  work  with  their  axes,  and  in  a short 
time  there  was  a break  in  the  great  forest,  and  their 
exceedingly  primitive  shelter  and  immediate  sur- 
roundings were  greatly  improved.  At  this  time  Rob- 
ert Corbett  had  quite  a clearing  in  the  southern  part 
of  what  is  now  the  borough,  and  Benjamin  Hayden 
was  just  beginning  in  the  northern  part.  Aside  from 
these,  there  was  no  settlement  nearer  than  Great 
Bend.  The  season  was  so  far  advanced  before  Mr. 
Summers’  arrival,  that  he  could  have  no  garden  on 
his  own  place  that  year ; but  he  obtained  the  privilege 
of  planting  and  cultivating  a few  vegetables  among 
the  logs  and  stumps  in  Mr.  Hayden’s  clearing,  a mile 
and  a half  away.  Herds  of  deer  were  seen  almost 
every  day,  bears  were  common  and  the  howling  of 
wolves  during  dark  nights  was  often  fearful.  Mrs. 
Summers,  as  well  as  her  husband,  was  possessed  of 
iron  nerve  and  great  energy,  and  many  times  she 
used  to  rise  from  the  loom  or  spinning-wheel,  and, 
regardless  of  surrounding  dangers,  flit  through  the 
woods  to  the  distant  garden,  to  return  before  the  noon 
hour  with  vegetables  for  dinner.  Mr.  Summers  had 
purchased  four  hundred  acres  of  land,  which  gave 
early  promise  of  a wise  selection  and  an  excellent 
farm.  It  took  in  most  of  the  extensive  Summersville 
flats,  which,  aside  from  those  in  the  borough,  are  the 
largest  in  the  township  ; and  it  was  covered  through- 
out its  whole  extent  with  a very  heavy  growth  of 
hemlock  timber.  Having  erected  a more  commodious 
log  house,  he,  in  1801,  kept  a hotel,  where  travelers 
passing  this  way  found  very  hospitable  entertainment. 
A few  years  afterwards  he  built  the  first  grist-mill  in 
this  section,  on  the  Franklin  road,  some  forty  or  fifty 
rods  from  the  Sutphin  store  building  of  later  years. 
It  was  a frame  building  of  considerable  size,  but 
crude  in  design,  with  an  elevated  race-trough,  which 
carried  the  water  from  the  Beaver  Creek  to  the  wheel 
and  which  often  dried  up  in  summer  and  froze  up  in 
winter,  causing  much  disappointment  and  perplexity; 
'but  nevertheless  it  soon  became  famous,  for  there  was 
no  competition,  and  it  was  many  times  taxed  to  its 
utmost  capacity  to  supply  the  settlers  with  bread. 
Previous  to  this,  the  people  of  this  vicinity  had  carried 
their  grain  to  Binghamton  to  get  it  ground,  and  the 
rude  old  Summersville  mill  was  deemed  a wonderful 


institution,  which  they  were  not  slow  to  appreciate. 
One  great  inconvenience  had  been  swept  away,  and  a 
new  era  seemed  to  dawn  upon  the  ilsing  settlement. 
The  frame  of  this  old  mill  has  long  survived  its 
builder,  and  at  present  forms  part  of  the  residence  of 
Charles  Morse.  David  Summers  died  in  April,  1816, 
at  the  age  of  fifty-five.  His  widow  died  in  1844,  aged 
eighty-four.  They  had  five  sons, — Eli,  Calvin,  David, 
James  and  Ira.  All  were  born  before  Mr.  Summers 
came  here.  David  died  in  1831,  and  Eli,  who  had 
removed  to  Illinois,  died  in  August,  1870,  at  the  age 
of  eighty-seven.  Calvin,  James  and  Ira  remained  at 
Summersville,  where  they  became  very  prominent 
citizens  in  building  up  and  advancing  the  interests  of 
the  township.  The  many  enterprises  they  originated 
and  successfully  carried  out  will  be  spoken  of  in  their 
proper  place. 

Hezekiah,  Daniel  and  Samuel  Leach  were  probably 
the  next  permanent  settlers  after  David  Summers. 
They  located  about  1799  at  the  foot  of  the  Mott  Hill, 
on  the  old  road  that  had  been  cut  through,  one  mile 
south  of  Robert  Corbett’s.  Hezekiah  Leach,  after- 
wards known  as  Captain  Leach,  came  from  Litchfield 
County,  Conn.,  on  horseback,  bringing  with  him  his 
gun,  together  with  other  necessaries,  and  a huge  bear- 
trap,  weighing  sixteen  pounds.  He  took  up  some 
three  hundred  acres  of  land,  and  immediately  com- 
menced clearing  away  the  forest  in  true  pioneer  style. 
He  married  a daughter  of  Robert  Corbett. 

To  furnish  the  necessary  accommodations  for 
travelers,  nearly  every  other  house  along  the  New- 
burg  turnpike  was  turned  into  a hotel.  Even  then 
none  scarcely  ever  lacked  for  patronage.  Mr.  Leach 
was  by  trade  a carpenter,  and  put  up  many  of  the 
early  framed  buildings  in  this  locality.  The  timber 
for  the  frame  work  was  hewn  in  the  woods,  and  was 
usually  very  large  and  heavy.  When  put  together  in 
proper  shape  it  formed  structures  of  great  strength 
and  endurance.  For  his  own  use  he  erected  a heavily- 
framed  edifice,  thirty  by  eighty  feet  in  size,  and  two 
stories  in  height,  with  a great  stone  chimney  and 
fire-place,  and  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  road  cor- 
responding barns  and  sheds,  one  of  which  was  a 
hundred  feet  in  length.  With  such  facilities  for  the 
accommodation  of  the  traveling  public,  he  soon  be- 
came one  of  the  most  noted  hotel-keepers  on  the 
road.  George  Leach,  son  of  Hezekiah,  who  was  born 
here  in  1802,  used  to  say  “ his  earliest  recollections 
were  those  of  travelers,  from  year  to  year,  filling  the 
house  from  garret  to  bar-room  ; and  of  a cellar  stored 
with  liquors  and  eatables  in  their  season,  while  the 
long  sheds  were  crowded  with  horses  and  vehicles. 
Customers  were  moving  at  all  hours,  coming  in  until 
midnight,  while  others,  long  before  daylight,  at  the 
summons,  ‘Hurrah,  boys!  we  must  be  off  again,’ 
were  starting  away.  On  a rainy  day,  or  when  work 
was  slack,  crowds  of  men  and  boys  would  gather  to 
pitch  quoits,  or  play  various  games  of  skill  and 
strength.  Balls,  sleigh-rides  and  parties  were  fre- 


616 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


quent  in  winter.  Whiskey  was  as  common — and 
almost  as  much  imbibed  by  most  persons — as  water. 
It  was  deemed  an  absolute  necessity  on  many  occa- 
sions where  it  is  now  disused.  Liquors  were  then 
much  purer  than  they  now  are,  yet  many  a strong, 
good-hearted,  useful  man,  through  their  seductive  in- 
fluences, came  1o  poverty,  disease  and  death.”  The 
lively  times  of  hilarity  and  fun  experienced  at  the 
old  Leach  tavern  are  remembered  and  often  spoken 
of  by  our  oldest  residents  of  the  present  day.  Cap- 
tain Leach  was  also  somewhat  of  a “ Nimrod,”  as 
well  as  hotel-keeper  and  pioneer,  and  many  were  the 
hunting  stories  he  used  to  tell  while  sitting  in  the 
chimney-corner  during  the  long  winter  evenings, 
where  his  many  guests  congregated  to  chat  and  listen 
with  interest  and  delight.  While  residing  here  he 
killed  five  hundred  and  forty-eight  deers,  sixty-one 
black  bears,  eleven  wolves,  one  panther,  and  wild-cats, 
raccoons,  etc.,  in  great  numbers.  He  also  killed  a 
light  straw-colored  bear  near  Hunt  Lake,  which  was 
deemed  a great  curiosity.  Its  skin  was  purchased  by 
a Judge  Woodward,  somewhere  near  Cooperstown. 
Mr.  Leach  had  eight  children,  — George,  Harry, 
Lucien,  Lewis,  Julius,  Sally,  Emily  and  Cornelia. 
His  descendants  are  now  scattered  from  Boston  to 
California.  He  died  on  the  1st  day  of  January, 
1840,  at  the  age  of  sixty-six.  His  property  was  pur- 
chased by  Secku  Meylert,  and  some  years  afterwards 
divided  up  and  sold  to  Robert  Gillespie  and  Nathan 
Fish.  The  old  house,  with  its  great  timbers,  has 
been  cut  in  two  parts,  and  much  of  it  demolished; 
but  a part  of  it  still  remains,  and,  having  been  removed 
a few  rods,  forms  a large  and  convenient  residence  at 
the  Meylert  Corners.  Hezekiah  Leach,  Sr.,  father  of 
Captain  Leach,  was  also  here  at  an  early  day.  He 
was  an  active  patriot  in  the  War  of  the  Revolution. 
He  died  in  1823,  at  the  age  of  eighty-three. 

Daniel  Hunt  located  for  a short  time  near  Hunt 
Lake,  but  he  removed  to  more  agreeable  quarters, 
after  making  a slight  beginning,  and  did  not  return. 
He  also  married  a daughter  of  Robert  Corbett. 

Benjamin  Doolittle  came  from  Connecticut,  and 
took  up  six  hundred  acres  of  land,  in  1799 ; though 
he  did  not  become  a resident  here  until  December, 
1801.  He  located  just  west  of  the  summit  of  the 
Peck  Hill,  where  John  Bisbee  now  resides,  a little 
over  a mile  west  of  the  borough  line.  He  married 
Fanny,  daughter  of  Ichabod  AVard.  Their  children 
were  Nelson,  Albert,  George,  Harry,  Benjamin  and 
Lydia. 

Mr.  Doolittle  remained  some  time,  making  very 
considerable  improvements,  and  was  an  active  and 
useful  man  in  the  community ; but  as  the  country 
began  to  be  more  cleared  up  and  thickly  settled,  he 
yearned  again  for  the  frontier,  and  finally  emigrated 
westward,  and  settled  in  Ohio.  In  December,  1801, 
John  Foot  arrived  with  his  wife  and  three  children, 
from  Vermont.  He  was  the  next  settler  west  of  Mr. 
Doolittle,  and  was  by  trade  a shoemaker.  His  son. 


Edwin  Foot,  many  years  afterwards  became  the  first 
Daguerrean  artist  in  Montrose. 

Among  the  other  settlers  of  1801  were  Josiah  and 
Peter  Davis,  and  Nathan  Buel,  who  took  up  a piece  of 
State  land,  on  the  present  Franklin  road,  above  Sum- 
mersville,  lately  known  as  the  Tracy  Hayden  farm. 
Mr.  Buel  had  two  children — Arphaxed,  who  lived  to 
an  advanced  age,  near  the  spot  where  they  had  made 
their  first  settlement,  and  Polly,  who  became  the 
wife  of  Mr.  Leighton. 

The  next  year,  1802,  John  Hawley,  father  of 
Deacon  Hawley,  added  his  name  and  energy  to  the 
New  Milford  settlement.  He  located  a short  distance 
east  of  Mr.  Doolittle,  on  the  place  lately  known  as 
the  “Ralph  Vailes  farm.”  His  sons  were  John, 
Uriah  and  Newton.  One  of  his  daughters  married 
Elias  Carpenter,  one  of  the  Nine  Partners,  of  Har- 
ford, and  another  married  Belus  Foot,  son  of  their 
pioneer  neighbor,  and  settled  near  by,  where  she 
resided  all  her  days.  In  those  days  chopping  fallow 
constituted  the  chief  i,employment  of  the  settlers 
during  the  winter,  and  logging,  picking  and  burning 
brush,  harrowing  in  grain  among  the  roots  and 
blackened  stumps,  and  rolling  up  log  and  pole  fences 
around  the  borders,  constituted  the  principal  work  in 
the  summer  and  fall.  “ Logging  bees  ” were  then  in 
vogue,  and  were  looked  upon  by  many  as  a privilege 
instead  of  a duty.  Word  was  passed  around  to  ten 
or  fifteen  of  the  neighbors,  and  on  the  appointed  day 
the  sturdy  backwoodsmen  assembled  with  oxen  and 
handspikes,  and  the  work  commenced,  while  their 
wives  made  fried  cakes,  and  dressed  a goose  or  wild 
turkey,  and  a supper  fit  for  a king  was  prepared  for 
the  blackened  toilers.  Work  among  the  ashes  and 
charcoal  always  produced  a sharp  appetite,  and  the 
savory  meal  prepared  by  matronly  hands  was  relished 
and  highly  appreciated.  When  the  log  heaps,  num- 
bering one  or  two  hundred,  and  covering  several  acres 
in  extent,  were  burned  in  the  night,  as  they  often 
were,  a grand  spectacle  was  presented.  The  whole 
clearing  was  lit  up  to  the  pitch  of  noonday,  while  the 
tall  trunks  of  the  surrounding  forest  stood  out  in 
bold  relief,  presenting  a picture  well  calculated  to 
ever  haunt  the  memory  of  the  beholder. 

Deacon  Hawley,  son  of  the  early  pioneer,  settled 
on  the  Franklin  road,  near  Mr.  Buel,  where  he  shortly 
afterwards  built  a distillery.  Grain  grew  abundantly 
on  the  rich  fallow  grounds  of  the  new  settlements,  and 
there  being  few  facilities  for  conveying  it  to  distant 
markets,  it  was  sold  very  cheap.  Rye  was  sometimes 
sold  for  twenty-five  cents  per  bushel.  Large  quanti- 
ties were  used  at  the  distillery,  where  it  was  manu- 
factured into  whiskey,  to  supply  the  numerous  hotels. 
The  small  clearings  were  in  those  days  well  protected 
from  the  cold  winds  by  the  surrounding  forests,  and 
peach  trees  grew  readily  and  yielded  well.  There  was 
a large  peach  orchard  in  a new  clearing  where  George 
Corwin  now  lives,  and  another  on  the  Montrose  road 
where  William  Harding  now  lives,  which  was  then 


NEW  MILFORD. 


617 


owned  by  ii  man  by  the  name  of  Mason.  Hogsheads 
of  peaches  were  delivered  at  Deacon  Hawley’s  to  be 
manufactured  into  peach  brandy.  For  many  years 
the  work  was  carried  on  more  or  less  extensively,  and 
was  the  chief  means  of  supporting  Mr.  Hawley’s  fam- 
ily; but  eventually,  becoming  convinced  ol  te  evil  it 
was  producing,  he  abandoned  the  business.  Deacon 
Hawley  was  many  years  a prominent  member  of  the 
church  and  a valued  citizen  in  the  community.  Min- 
isters occasionally  came  this  way,  and  meetings  were 
held  in  the  different  dwellings  or  primitive  school- 
houses.  Among  the  more  noticeable  of  these  early 
ministers  were  Rev.  Burr  Baldwin,  Rev.  Mr.  Hill  and 
Rev.  Lyman  Richardson.  Deacon  Hawley  took  a 
very  active  part  in  the  religious  exercises,  and  minis- 
ters met  with  a pleasant  reception  at  his  house.  He 
was  the  first  in  this  section  to  advocate  the  anti-sla- 
very cause,  and  his  vote  at  the  election  was  often  the 
only  one  supporting  that  party.  He  died  in  1866,  at 
the  age  of  eighty-four  years.  Merab,  his  wife,  died 
in  1830,  at  the  age  of  fifty-five  years,  and  Phebe,  his 
widow,  in  1869,  aged  eighty-three  years. 

Prominent  among  the  settlers  of  1803  and  1804  were 
Cyrenius  Storrs,  Joseph  Sweet  and  family,  and  Col- 
onel Job  Tyler  and  family,  who  came  here  from  Har- 
ford. They  all  located  on  the  main  road  southeast 
from  Captain  Leach.  Mr.  Storrs  took  up  a piece  of 
heavy  timber-land  on  the  flat  just  west  of  the  present 
Baptist  Church,  which,  years  afterwards,  made  a very 
desirable  farm.  He  died  in  1855.  His  son,  Origen,  is 
still  living  on  Mott  Hill,  a short  distance  to  the  west- 
ward of  the  spot  where  his  father  settled.  Few,  if 
any,  have  lived  in  the  township  longer.  Mr.  Tyler 
settled  just  over  the  hill  to  the  east,  where  he  took  up 
a large  piece  of  land  which  made  one  of  the  smooth- 
est and  best  farms  in  this  section  of  the  country.  Part 
of  it  was  in  later  years  owned  by  Oliver  Lathrop,  who 
was  long  known  as  a good  scholar  and  a much-es- 
teemed citizen  of  this  vicinity.  Mr.  Tyler  was  pos- 
sessed of  considerable  means  for  a settler  of  those 
times,  which,  together  with  mature  judgment,  made 
him  eminently  successful.  He  had  three  children, — 
Jared,  who  settled  near  him  on  the  east,  where  he  re- 
sided most  of  his  lifetime,  but  who  eventually  moved 
to  Harford,  where  he  died  ; Nancy,  who  became  the 
wife  of  Francis  Moxley  and  lived  on  the  adjoining 
farm  to  the  west ; and  another  daughter,  who  became 
the  wife  of  Brewster  Guile,  of  Harford.  Colonel 
Tyler  died  in  1857,  at  the  age  of  seventy-seven  years. 
Joseph  Sweet  located  east  of  Mr.  Storrs.  In  1812 
Thomas  Sw'eet  kept  a licensed  tavern  on  the  place  af- 
terwards known  as  the  Seymour  farm.  Some  time  af- 
terwards he  sold  to  Jonas  B.  Avery,  and  moved  to 
Harford.  Jonas  B.  Avery  kept  a well-regulated  pub- 
lic-house for  some  time,  while  the  old  turnpike  was 
thronged  with  travelers,  and  lived  to  see  many  of  the 
early  inconveniences  of  the  border  dwindle  away  be- 
fore the  steady  march  of  civilization.  He  died  in 
1836,  at  the  age  of  seventy  years.  His  wife  died  in 
39 


1835,  aged  sixty-three  years.  They  had  but  one  son, 
Franklin  N.,  commonly  known  as  Major  Avery.  He 
died  in  1843,  aged  forty-seven  years.  Plis  widow,  Ro- 
sanna, survived  her  husband  twenty-six  years,  dying 
in  1869,  at  the  age  of  seventy-two  years.  Two  brothers 
of  another  family  of  Averys,  from  Groton,  Conn.,  also 
settled  near  here  at  an  early  day.  Their  names  were 
Ebenezer  and  Park  W.  Avery.  They  married  sisters, 
the  daughters  of  Jonas  B.  Avery. 

In  the  spring  of  1804  Seth  Mitchell,  then  a young 
man  of  nineteen,  came  from  Roxbury,  Litchfield 
County,  Connecticut,  with  Mi'.  Doolittle,  who  had 
been  to  Connecticut  on  business.  A ball  was  held  in 
David  Summers’  mill  during  that  year,  in  which 
twenty-five  couples  of  young  people  from  New, Mil- 
ford, Great  Bend  and  Lawsville  took  part.  In  later 
years  this  mill  became  the  well-known  Summers’ 
hotel.  Mr.  Mitchell  found  employment  with  Mr. 
Doolittle  during  the  first  summer,  and  in  the  fall  re- 
turned on  foot  to  Connecticut.  He  came  back  in  the 
spring  of  1805,  and  purchased  one  hundred  acres 
about  three  miles  west  of  the  borough,  and  at  once  set 
to  work. 

Josiah  Crofut  and  Joseph  Gregory  came  in  from 
Connecticut  that  spring,  and  took  up  the  present 
Henry  Northrop  place,  adjoining  the  lands  of  Mr. 
Mitchell.  Excepting  these  two  families,  Mr.  Mit- 
chell’s nearest  neighbors  south  and  west  were  six 
miles  distant.  Between  his  place  and  Montrose  there 
was  no  road  even  cut  out.  Mr.  Crofut  rolled  up  a 
large  log  house,  and  Mr.  Mitchell,  being  a single  man^ 
boarded  with  him — ^working  two  days  in  a week  for 
his  board,  and  two  days  more  to  get  a yoke  of  oxen, 
to  use  the  other  two  days  for  himself.  In  this  way  he 
chopped  and  cleared  five  acres  during  the  summer, 
and  on  the  approach  of  autumn  sowed  a fine  piece 
of  grain.  Their  first  season  in  the  heart  of  the  great 
forest  was  a hard  one.  Provisions  were  scarce,  and 
there  were  no  stores  nearer  than  Great  Bend.  Mr. 
Crofut’s  log  house  was  extremely  rude  at  first,  and 
the  ground  in  the  large  apartment  was  but  half 
covered  with  floor.  There  were  only  five  boards  over- 
head at  one  end  for  a chamber-floor,  and  upon  these 
Mr.  Mitchell’s  straw-bed  was  placed.  To  this  primi- 
tive perch  he  was  obliged  to  climb  by  the  log  walls ; 
but  he  was  no  grumbler,  and  always  made  the  best  of 
the  situation ; and  the  sighing  of  the  tree-tops  and 
pattering  rain  on  the  roof  so  close  above  his  head, 
soothed  him  to  sleep  as  well  as  though  his  weary 
brain  had  been  pillowed  on  a downy  couch  in  the 
midst  of  a magnificent  palace.  His  brother,  Nathan, 
came  in  the  spring  of  1806,  and  took  up  a lot  adjoin- 
ing his  on  the  west,  now  owned  by  Tracy  Frink. 
They  boarded  with  Mr.  Gregory  this  summer,  and 
when  he  was  ready  to  set  out  for  Roxbury  again,  in 
the  fall,  he  had  added  eight  acres  more  to  his  clear- 
ings, and  sowed  it  to  grain.  Nathan  built  a house  in 
his  own  clearing  in  1807,  and  moved  therein.  He 
died  in  1816,  at  the  age  of  thirty-five. 


618 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


“ Military  drills,  or  ‘ Trainings,’ as  they  were  called,  were  common 
in  the  settlement  here  at  this  time,  as  well  as  many  years  afterwards  ; 
and  these  events  were  looked  upon  by  the  boys  and  young  men  as  the 
great  holidays  of  the  year.  Ginger-bread  was  made  and  sold  in  large 
quantities,  and  peddlers  and  venders  came  in  from  Binghamton  to  sell 
fancy  articles  and  wares  in  endless  variety.  The  Stars  and  Stripes  floated 
gayly  in  the  new  cleariugs,  and  the  music  of  the  fife  and  drum  sent 
back  their  stirring  echoes  from  the  surrounding  woods.  Social  greet- 
ings were  exchanged  by  old  and  young,  and  a day  of  general  pleasure 
and  festivity  was  indulged  in.  Mr.  Mitchell,  though  only  tw^enty-three 
years  of  age,  was  elected  captain.  An  artillery  company  in  Harford 
had  a very  nice  brass  cannon  which  had  seen  service  in  the  old  French 
War.  They  often  used  to  unite  with  the  New  Milford  company  on  gen- 
eral muster  day,  and  awake  the  slumbering  echoes  of  the  wooded  hills 
with  the  deep-toned  notes  of  the  great  gun.  At  one  of  these  military 
parades  some  years  later  the  window-glass  in  Jonas  Avery’s  house  was 
shattered  to  fragments  by  the  heavy  firing  of  this  cannon  near  it.” 

In  1815  Mr.  Mitchell  built  a large  frame  house, 
which  is  still  standing,  and  is  at  present  owned  by 
Ezra  Beebe.  By  judicious  economy  and  hard  labor 
he  finally  acquired  a handsome  competency;  adding 
to  his  farm  from  time  to  time  as  he  obtained  the 
means,  until  it  eventually  numbered  four  hundred  and 
seventy  acres.  He  cleared  over  three  hundred  acres 
of  land,  and  built  more  than  seven  hundred  rods  of 
stone  wall,  built  one  log  and  six  frame  dwellings, 
nine  barns,  including  two  horse  barns,  besides  numer- 
ous sheds  and  out-buildings.  He  was  supervisor  of 
the  township  fourteen  years,  justice  of  the  peace  ten 
years  and  was  an  active  and  consistent  member  of 
the  Baptist  Church  about  fifty  years.  Lemuel 
Mitchell  owned  the  farm  in  later  years,  but  sold  it 
to  A.  B.  Smith,  who  came  from  Baltimore  in  1849. 
Ezra  Beebe  purchased  the  place  in  the  fall  of  1866, 
and  Mr.  Smith  moved  to  the  borough. 

William  Rockwell  was  probably  the  only  settler 
who  came  here  in  1805.  Freeman  Badger,  of 
Cheshire,  Conn.,  came  to  the  New  Milford  settlement 
prior  to  1804,  but  went  back  after  staying  a short 
time,  and  did  not  return  as  a permanent  settler  until 
1806.  He  was  an  energetic  and  useful  man  in  the 
community,  and  his  death,  which  occurred  in  1855, 
deprived  the  settement  of  an  influential  citizen. 
John  O’Brien  now  occupies  the  place  where  Mr. 
Badger  first  located.  Mr.  Badger’s  father,  David 
Badger,  also  died  here,  in  1835,  at  the  age  of  eighty- 
six.  His  mother  died  in  1828,  aged  seventy-five. 
Mary,  wife  of  Freeman  Badger,  survived  her  husband 
only  five  days.  Their  son,  Frederick,  was  for  many 
years  a prominent  man  in  the  township. 

In  1806  Asa  Bradley  came  from  Connecticut  with 
William  Ward,  and  took  up  two  hundred  acres  of 
land  where  Henry  H.  Bradley  now  resides.  He  was 
at  that  time  a single  man,  and  boarded  with  Mr. 
Doolittle,  on  Peck  Hill.  His  first  clearing  was  made 
on  the  hill  near  the  northwest  corner  of  his  lot,  a 
mile  or  more  from  his  boarding-place.  The  second 
summer  he  rolled  up  a little  cabin  in  his  clearing,  and 
obtaining  a small  supply  of  provisions,  he  stayed  here 
most  of  the  time  alone.  The  third  season  he  cut  and 
logged  a large  fallow,  which  he  fenced  and  sowed, 
when  he  returned  to  Connecticut,  as  usual,  to  pass 
the  winter.  The  next  spring  he  came  back  with  an 


ox-team,  bringing  with  him  a wife.  He  had  no 
shelter  of  his  own  fit  to  move  into,  and  he  gladly 
accepted  the  very  kind  hospitality  of  Deacon  Plawley 
until  he  could  roll  up  a log  house  for  himself.  Mr. 
Hawley,  at  this  time,  lived  in  a rude  triangular  apart- 
ment in  one  corner  of  his  distillery. 

In  those  days  there  was  not  much  notice  taken  of 
township  lines,  and  New  Milford  had  not  been  set  off 
as  a separate  corporation.  John  Hawley,  Sr.,  was 
elected  one  of  the  overseers  of  the  poor  of  Lawsville 
in  1804,  and  Hezekiah  Leach,  a supervisor  of  Willing- 
borough.  From  1801  to  1806  one  justice’s  district 
included  Lawsville,  Nicholson  and  Willingborough. 
These  remote  townships  of  Luzerne  were  little  known 
at  the  county-seat,  which  was  at  Wilkes-Barre,  and 
the  officers  and  inhabitants  were  often  placed  in  wrong 
positions.  Thus  we  find  S.  Hatch,  who  kept  a hotel 
at  Great  Bend,  spoken  of  as  a taverner  in  Nicholson  ; 
and  Abel  Kent,  Wright  Chamberlin  and  Hosea  Tif- 
fany, taverners  in  Nicholson  and  Willingborough. 
This  state  of  things  was  constantly  causing  more  or 
less  confusion  and  inconvenience,  and  in  1805  a pe- 
tition was  circulated  for  a new  township.  In  August, 
1807,  the  Luzerne  County  Court  established  the 
township  of  New  Milford  with  the  following  bound- 
aries : 

Beginning  at  the  turnpike  road,  on  the  south  line  of  Willing- 
borough ; thence  west,  along  said  line,  to  the  east  line  of  Lawsville  ; 
thence  south  one  mile  and  a half ; thence  west  to  the  extent  of  five 
miles  from  said  turnpike  ; thence  south  to  the  north  line  of  Nicholson 
township  ; thence  east  to  Wajme  County  line;  thence  north  along  said 
county  line  to  the  southeast  corner  of  Willingborough  ; thence  west 
along  the  south  line  of  Willingborough  to  the  place  of  beginning.” 

By  these  boundaries  its  width  from  north  to  south 
was  made  the  same  as  it  is  at  present,  but  it  extended 
east  to  the  Wayne  County  line,  and,  in  addition  to  its 
present  territory,  included  all  of  what  is  now  Jackson 
and  Thomson,  and  part  of  Ararat.  In  1815  the 
township  of  Jackson  was  organized  from  the  eastern 
part  of  this  territory,  and  New  Milford  was  reduced  to 
its  present  limits.  Most  of  the  settlers  had  come  from 
Connecticut,  and  the  name  of  New  Milford  is  thought 
to  have  been  given  to  the  new  township  in  honor  of 
New  Milford  in  that  State. 

Having  been  properly  organized,  the  first  township 
election  was  held  at  the  house  of  John  Hawley,  on 
Peck  Hill,  March  18, 1808.  John  Hawley  and  John 
Slater  were  elected  judges  of  election,  Hezekiah 
Leach  town  clerk,  and  Thomas  Sweet  and  Benjamin 
Doolittle  supervisors  and  constables.  At  the  second 
town-meeting,  held  on  the  3d  of  March,  1809,  Nathan 
Buel  was  elected  clerk,  and  Benjamin  Hayden  and 
J.  Gregory  supervisors. 

The  spring  of  1807  was  rendered  memorable  in  this 
section  on  account  of  the  greatest  single  snow-fall  of 
which  we  have  any  knowledge  in  Susquehanna 
County.  On  the  night  of  April  1st  snow  fell  four  feet 
deep  on  the  level.  The  stumps  and  fences  were  nearly 
all  covered  up,  and  for  a time  it  was  almost  impossi- 
ble to  travel  about  at  all.  The  news  of  such  an  ira- 


NEW  MILFORD. 


619 


meiise  snow-fall  in  the  new  settlement  probably  bad 
some  influence  to  retard  emigration  here,  as  but  few 
more  settlers  came  during  the  next  four  or  five 
years. 

In  ISIO  the  entire  population  of  the  township  was 
one  hundred  and  seventy-four.  At  the  time  the 
county  was  officially  organized,  in  1812,  two  years 
after  it  had  been  set  oft“  from  Luzerne,  New  Milford 
contained  sixty  taxable  inhabitants.  Besides  these, 
Robert  Bound,  Thomas  Clymer,  Abraham  Du  Bois, 
Henry  Drinker,  Samuel  Meredith  and  Isaac  Wharton 
were  taxed  as  non-resident  land-holders. 

About  this  time  John  Phinney  came  from  Wind- 
ham County,  Conn.,  and  located  on  the  hill  west  of 
the  village,  near  where  Messrs.  Doolittle,  Hawley  and 
Foot  had  their  clearings,  which  were  now  becoming 
considerably  extended.  He  was  many  years  an  active 
and  influential  citizen  in  the  township.  He  died  in 
1867,  aged  eighty-five ; Lucretia,  his  wife,  in  1853, 
aged  sixty-six.  Philander  Phinney,  the  present  pro- 
prietor of  the  Eagle  Hotel,  in  New  Milford  borough, 
is  his  son.  John  Phinney’s  father,  Samuel  Phinney, 
came  into  the  settlement  shortly  after  his  son.  His 
wife,  whose  maiden-name  was  Hyde,  was  one  of  those 
who  escaped  from  the  Wyoming  Massacre  in  1778. 

Gordon  Darrow,  another  worthy  settler,  arrived 
here  from  Groton,  Conn.,  May  6,  1812.  He  taught 
school  a couple  of  winters,  and,  in  1814,  responded  to 
the  draft  and  proceeded  to  the  seat  of  war.  He  was 
stationed  at  Danville  for  a time,  under  the  command 
of  Captain  Frederick  Bailey.  In  1815  he  married 
Sally  Moxley,  and  the  next  year  moved  to  Harford, 
where  he  died  in  1885,  in  his  ninety-fourth  year.  He 
had  a family  of  six  children,  four  of  whom  are  now 
living.  His  wife  died  in  1864,  aged  seventy-five.  At 
the  time  of  his  death  Mr.  Darrow  was  the  oldest  man 
in  Harford,  the  oldest  member  of  the  New  Milford 
Baptist  Church,  and  probably  the  oldest  school- 
teacher in  the  county.  In  his  young  days  Gurdon 
Darrow  was  steward  on  board  the  revenue  cutter 
''  Active,”  running  between  New  York  and  Sandy 
Hook ; and  he  remembered  well  of  seeing  the  keel  of 
the  vessel  that  Captain  Cook  made  his  first  voyage 
around  the  world  in,  then  lying  at  Newport,  R.  I. 

Deacon  Robinson  Lewis  also  came  from  Groton, 
Conn.,  in  1813-  He  was  on  his  way  to  the  Chemung 
Flats,  when  he  stopped  at  the  old  Jonas  Avery  tavern, 
and,  being  acquainted  with  several  of  the  settlers  in 
this  section,  he  finally  resolved  to  settle  here.  He 
took  up  the  place  now  owned  by  E.  W.  Watson, 
which  he  sold  some  time  afterwards  to  William  Ten- 
nant, and  bought  an  improvement  made  by  Joshua 
June,  on  the  head-waters  of  the  Meylert  Creek.  He 
died  here  in  1858,  aged  sixty-nine.  Mr.  Lewis  was  a 
very  prominent  member  of  the  Baptist  Church  in  its 
early  days,  and  served  as  deacon  many  years.  Abi- 
gail, his  widow,  died  in  1879,  in  her  eighty-fourth 
year.  She  was  a faithful  member  of  the  Baptist 
Church  for  fifty  years.  Their  children  were  John, 


George,  Oliver,  Joseph,  Robinson,  Sylvester,  Emeline 
and  Julia.  Joseph  went  to  Wisconsin  about  1848, 
and  John  went  West  a few  years  later,  and  became  a 
doctor.  George,  Oliver,  Robinson  and  Sylvester  are 
still  living  in  the  township.  Emeline  became  the 
wife  of  Hiram  Williams,  and  lived  many  years  on  the 
old  homestead.  They  are  now  living  in  Franklin. 
Julia  became  the  wife  of  Josiah  Williams,  and  died 
shortly  afterwards. 

The  list  of  taxables  for  1813  also  recorded  the 
names  of  John  Belknap,  John  Dikeman,  Titus  Ives, 
William  Phinney  and  Jacob  Wellman.  They  were 
all  prominent  men  of  the  township  for  many  years. 
John  Belknap  located  on  the  turnpike,  just  below 
Hezekiah  Leach,  where  he  built  a saw-mill.  Many 
years  afterwards,  when  a very  old  man,  and  his  mind 
somewhat  weakened  by  age  and  infirmity,  he  wan- 
dered from  home  one  night,  in  the  month  of  October, 
and  did  not  return. 

“ The  country  was  soon  aroused,  and  the  vicinity  thoroughly  searched  ; 
but  no  trace  of  him  could  be  found.  On  the  third  morning  after  his 
departure,  which  was  Sunday,  it  was  estimated  that  five  hundred  men 
were  out  on  the  search.  Forming  ajine  on  the  Montrose  road,  reach- 
ing from  the  present  Eagle  Hotel  to  near  the  Summit  Bridge  on  the 
Joshua  Phinney  place,  nearly  a mile  in  length  and  only  a rod  apart. 
Colonel  Tyler  took  charge  of  the  company,  which,  at  the  word,  moveil 
forward  in  a straight  line  south  across  the  little  valley  and  up  the  hill 
above  where  the  Delaware,  Lackawanna  and  Western  Railroad  now  is. 
His  dead  body  was  found  here,  just  below  a rock  about  four  feet  high, 
in  the  thick  woods.  His  feet  were  lacerated  by  stones  and  briers,  and 
his  clothing  had  been  nearly  all  torn  from  his  body.  His  unbalanced 
mind  had  led  him  to  his  death.  The  remains  were  wrapped  uji  in  a 
blanket,  a bier  was  obtained  and  he  was  carried  back  for  Christian 
burial.  His  son,  James  Weazler  Belknap,  was  well  known  in  after- 
years  as  a pettifogger  at  lawsuits.” 

Jacob  Wellman  settled  near  the  creek  to  the  west 
of  the  Leach  tavern,  where  he  made  quite  an  exten- 
sive clearing,  and  took  an  active  part  in  advancing 
the  interests  of  the  settlement.  He  was  also  a soldier 
of  the  Revolution.  He  died  in  1830,  at  the  advanced 
age  of  ninety-one.  His  sons  were  John,  Jacob, 
David,  Berry,  Hiram  and  Calvin,  all  of  whom  were 
well  known  to  older  residents  as  prominent  settlers  in 
the  eastern  part  of  the  township.  John  built  a saw- 
mill, and  for  many  years  did  a large  amount  of  saw- 
ing. The  property  is  at  present  owned  by  Sam- 
uel Vail.  The  old  “John  Wellman  Pond,”  as  it  is 
still  sometimes  called,  is  somewhat  shallow,  with  a 
mud  bottom,  and  is  one  of  the  greatest  fishing- places 
in  this  section  of  the  country.  It  was  in  this  pond 
that  Matthew  Vanfleet,  many  years  ago,  was  drowned. 
Jacob  Wellman  settled  near  the  head  of  the  pond, 
where  his  sons,  Elias,  George  and  Frank,  now  reside. 
David  and  Berry  settled  farther  east,  on  the  north 
side  of  the  Meylert  Creek,  on  the  place  now  owned  by 
Urban  Tingley.  Calvin  located  over  the  hill  to  the 
north  of  them,  and  rolled  up  a log  house  in  the  thick 
woods,  near  a large  spring,  where  he  and  Charles 
Foot  lived  for  some  time.  The  farm  is  at  present 
owned  by  D.  W.  Rice.  Mr.  Wellman,  years  after- 
wards, when  his  farm  had  been  mostly  cleared  up, 
and  the  New  Milford  and  Jackson  road  cut  through, 


620 


HISTOKY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


built  a frame  house,  which  is  still  standing.  He 
bought  cattle  and  sheep  to  butcher,  and  sold  dressed 
meat  at  New  Milford  and  Great  Bend.  Years  after- 
wards his  son,  A.  D.  Wellman,  built  a slaughter- 
house at  New  Milford,  and  carried  on  the  business 
extensively.  The  Wellmans  were  a strong  and  hardy 
race  of  men,  and  in  their  young  days  were  hard  to 
beat  with  the  axe,  sickle  or  cradle. 

In  1813  two  Scotch  settlers,  Daniel  McMillen  and 
Lauchlin  McIntosh,  came  to  the  now  rapidly  growing 
settlement,  and  located  near  the  Middle  Lake.  No 
roads  had  been  cut  through  in  this  direction  as  yet, 
but  in  that  year  the  court  was  petitioned  to  grant  a 
road  from  Hezekiah  Leach’s  to  Lauchlin  McIntosh’s. 

This  year,  also,  the  name  of  Ithamer  Mott  appears 
on  the  list  of  taxables,  though  he  did  not  become  a 
permanent  resident  here  until  1814.  He  took  up  a 
large  tract  of  land  on  one  of  the  highest  hills  of  the 
township,  over  which  the  old  Newburg  turnpike  lay, 
half  a mile  south  of  Captain  Leach’s,  where  he  erected 
another  huge  tavern-house,  over  eighty  feet  in  length 
and  somewhat  like  that  of  his  neighbor  at  the  foot  of 
the  hill.  Other  facilities  were  also  added  for  the  ac- 
commodation of  emigrants  and  travelers,  and  these 
two  houses  became  the  rival  hotels  of  the  road.  The 
road  up  the  Mott  Hill  was  rocky  and  steep,  and  travel- 
ers who  came  this  way  in  the  latter  part  of  the  day 
nearly  always  wished  to  go  to  the  top  of  the  hill  to 
put  up  for  the  night,  that  they  might  have  an  easy 
place  to  start  from  in  the  morning.  Many  droves  of 
cattle  were  passing  through  here  about  this  time,  and 
Mr.  Mott  often  used  to  keep  them  overnight.  He  put 
fast  stage-coaches  upon  the  road,  which  were  run 
north  to  Great  Bend  and  east  to  Smiley’s.  During 
the  main  traveling  season  the  great  house  was  usually 
crowded  with  well-paying  guests,  and  Mr.  Mott  used 
to  say  he  had  sometimes  taken  in  as  much  as  five  hun- 
dred dollars  in  a week.  He  commonly  employed  a 
large  force  of  laborers,  who  often  used  to  become 
noisy  wdth  whiskey,  and  exert  themselves  to  their  ut- 
most in  racing  and  performing  wonderful  feats  at 
their  work. 

In  1814  Jonathan  Moxley  came  from  Groton,  Con- 
necticut, and  located  near  the  present  Baptist  Church. 
“ His  father’s  name,  Joseph  Moxley,  is  on  the  Fort 
Griswold  monument  at  Groton,  among  those  slain  by 
the  British  under  the  leadership  of  the  traito^  Arnold, 
in  1781.”  Jonathan  also  took  part  in  that  contest  as 
an  emergency  man,  but  was  never  regularly  enlisted. 
He  was  by  trade  a wheel-maker ; and  as  the  spinning- 
wheel  was  found  in  nearly  every  house  in  those  days,  he 
was  kept  busy  all  the  time,  when  not  engaged  in  the  fal- 
low and  field.  He  died  here  in  1849,  at  the  age  of 
eighty-four ; his  wife,  Sally,  in  1826,  at  the  age  of  sixty- 
seven.  They  had  seven  children,  of  which  the  twin 
brothers,  Francis  and  Gurdon,  may  be  numbered 
among  the  most  enterprising  and  influential  farmers  in 
the  township.  Francis  purchased  an  improvement  of 
Henry  Harding,  which  had  formerly  been  owned  by  a 


man  by  the  name  of  Bills,  where  he  spent  most  of  his 
daj's.  The  farm  is  now  occupied  by  Henry  La  Barr. 
Gurdon  located  about  a mile  farther  south,  near  the 
Harford  line.  Both  had  very  excellent  farms,  and  these, 
with  good  management,  brought  large  returns.  Gur- 
don Moxley  is  said  to  have  raised  as  high  as  forty 
bushels  of  wheat  to  the  acre.  Gurdon  died  in  the 
township  several  years  ago,  and  Francis  in  the  bor- 
ough, whither  he  had  gone  to  live  with  his  son  Wil- 
liam T.  Moxley,  the  present  proprietor  of  the  steam 
grist-mill.  William  T.  Moxley  at  one  time  owned  the 
farm  near  the  Baptist  Church,  and  built  the  house 
there.  While  there  he  owned  one  of  the  most  exten- 
sive dairies  in  this  section,  and  made  great  quantities 
of  butter.  He  also  fattened  and  sold  a large  amount 
of  pork.  During  the  War  of  the  Rebellion  he  was  ap- 
pointed marshal  for  this  township,  and  in  1869  he 
was  elected  sheriff.  Gurdon  Moxley  was  for  some  time 
justice  of  the  peace.  Henry  and  Davis  Moxley  are 
his  sons.  John  Wallace  and  Thomas  Walker  came,  in 
1814,  from  Delaware  County,  New  York;  and  the 
next  year,  1815,  John  and  Alpine  Pierce  became  set- 
tlers in  the  northwest  corner  of  the  township. 

In  1815  Enoch  Smith  came  in  on  foot  and  alone, 
carrying  his  axe  and  knapsack  on  his  back,  from 
Hardwick,  Caledonia  County,  Vermont.  His  brother- 
in-law,  Levi  Page,  had  preceded  him  a year  or  two 
before,  and  had  a log  cabin  and  a little  clearing  on 
the  place  at  present  owned  by  Eosman  I.  Page.  He 
selected  a tract  of  land  afterwards  known  as  the  Bur- 
lingame farm,  and  proceeded  to  build  his  first  log 
cabin,  just  below  the  present  barn  of  Nelson  Burlin- 
game. The  next  year  he  was  joined  by  his  wife  and 
child.  In  1837  he  exchanged  his  improvement  for  a 
wild  tract  on  the  main  branch  of  the  Salt  Lick  Creek, 
three  miles  east  of  the  turnpike,  which  he  cleared  up, 
and  where  he  spent  the  remainder  of  his  days.  He 
was  collector  of  taxes  in  that  year,  his  warrant  being 
signed  by  Cyrus  H.  Avery  and  Charles  Tingley,  com- 
missioners, and  S.  Meylert,  clerk.  He  took  an  active 
part  in  religious  matters,  and  was  for  many  years  a 
Methodist  class-leader.  There  were  no  churches  here 
then,  and  the  settlers  were  widely  scattered  through 
the  “ East  Woods,”  as  the  settlement  in  this  section 
was  called,  but  meetings  were  held  at  the  different 
dwellings,  and  preaching  was  Jiad  almost  as  regularly 
as  now.  Nearly  all  of  the  settlers  raised  flax  and  kept 
sheep,  and  manufactured  their  own  clothing.  Mrs. 
Smith  was  a weaver,  and  two  old-fashioned  looms 
were  kept  going  nearly  all  the  time.  They  sometimes 
wove  a thousand  yards  of  cloth  in  a year.  S.  P. 
Smith  was  then  a small  boy,  and  was  kept  almost 
constantly  busy  winding  quills. 

They  had  nine  children, — Rhoda,  who  was  born  in 
Vermont  and  who  became  the  second  wife  of  Conk- 
lin Hartt;  Edmund,  who  was  their  first  child  born  in 
the  primitive  frontier  home,  and  who,  for  want  of  a 
better  cradle,  was  rocked  in  a-piece  of  hemlock  bark 
tied  up  at  the  ends  ; Betsey,  who  became  the  wife  of 


NEW  MILFORD. 


621 


Richard  Hartt ; Mary,  wlio  became  the  wife  of  Sam- 
uel Williams;  Oristus,  now  in  Iowa;  Emeline  ; Sam- 
uel P.,  now  living  on  the  old  homestead  ; Anna ; and 
Julia.  Mr.  Smith  stood  as  a minute-man  in  the  War 
of  1812.  He  died  in  1871,  at  the  age  of  eighty. 

Among  the  many  other  settlers  who  came  here 
prior  to  or  during  the  year  1816  were  William  Sabin, 
a shoemaker,  who  came  from  New  Haven,  Conn., 
and  settled  on  the  turnpike  between  the  borough  and 
Summersville,  and  who  died  in  1869,  at  the  age  of 
ninety-one;  John,  Dexter  and  Wells  Stanley,  who 
located  in  the  neighborhood  of  the  Three  Lakes. 
Seabury  Perkins  ; Gideon  Peck,  who  settled  on  the 
hill  west  of  the  borough,  and  from  whom  the  hill  was 
named  ; William  Wood,  who  took  up  the  Van  Fleet 
place;  Robinson  Wood,  who  took  up  the  Manzer 
place,  on  the  turnpike,  and  who,  years  afterwards, 
committed  suicide  by  hanging  himself;  and  David 
Haven,  who  settled  on  the  Major  Hammond  farm. 

The  population  of  the  township,  as  reported  by  the 
assessor  in  December,  1816,  was  four  hundred  and  sixty- 
one.  The  following  list  of  taxables  from  the  New 
Milford  assessment  for  1816  will  show  who  were  tax- 
payers here  at  that  time,  though  there  were  probably 
several  new  settlers  who  were  not  assessed  : 

Jonas  B.  Avery,  Franklin  N.  Avery,  Park  W.  Avery,  Ebenezer  Avery^ 
Christopher  Adams,  Samuel  S.  Beardsley,  John  Belknap,  Nathan  Buel, 
Joseph  Blanding,  Jr,,  Walter  Brown,  Freeman  Badger,  David  Badger, 
David  Badger,  Jr.,  G.  Catlin,  Cyrel  Carpenter,  Josiah  Crofut,  John 
Dikeman,  Gurdou  Darrow,  Benjamin  Doolittle,  Joseph  Doolittle,  Joshua 
Doolittle,  Thomas  Dean,  Peter  Davis,  James  Edmunds,  Cyrus  Freeman 
(colored),  Alonzo  Foster,  John  Foot,  Belus  H.  Foot,  Linus  Foot,  Wil- 
liam Foster,  Nathan  Forsith,  Veri  Galpin,  Eli  Gregory,  Ezekiel  Gardner, 
Uriah  Hawley,  Phebe  Hawley,  John  Hawley,  David  Haven,  Benjamin 
Hayden,  Stephen  Hubbard,  Titus  Ives,  Joseph  Ives,  Hezekiah  Leach, 
Jr.,  Christopher  Leach,  Andrew  Leighton,  Nathan  Lusk,  Joel  Lusk, 
Harvey  Lusk,  Robinson  Lewis,  Jr.,  Samuel  Ledger,  Nathan  Mitchell, 
Seth  Mitchell,  Nicholas  McCarty,  Philetus  McKenzie,  Lauchliu  Mc- 
Intosh, Daniel  McMillan,  Ithamer  Mott,  Jonathan  Moxley,  Jonathan 
Moxley,  Jr.,  John  McLeod,  Luther  Mason,  Amos  Northrop,  James 
Owens,  Selah  Oakes,  Seabury  Perkins,  William  Phinney,  Samuel  Phin- 
ney,  John  Pierce,  Alpine  Pierce,  John  Phillips,  Horace  Peck,  Gideon 
Peck,  William  Rockwell,  Aimold  Richardson,  John  Stanley,  Dexter 
Stanley,  Wells  Stanley,  Moses  Seymour,  John  Slater,  John  Slater,  Jr., 
William  Sabin,  David  Summers,  Calvin  Summers,  James  Summers,  Ira 
Summers,  Job  Tyler,  William  Wood,  Robinson  Wood,  Ichabod  Ward, 
William  Ward,  Jacob  Wellman,  Jacob  Wellman,  Jr.,  David  Wellman, 
Ferguson  Wilson,  Jason  Wiswell,  David  W^hite,  James  Wallace,  Thomas 
Walker. 

About'this  time  Sylvanus  Wade  took  up  a tract  of 
land  between  the  Leach  tavern  and  Jacob  Wellman’s. 
He  had  a blacksmith-shop  near  where  the  road  crosses 
the  Wellman  Creek.  He  afterwards  sold  his  im- 
provement to  Richard  Moss,  who  iu  turn  sold  it  to 
James  Van  Cott,  and  took  up  the  place  where  his  son, 
Ira  Moss,  now  resides.  G.  B.  R.  Wade,  at  one  time 
prothonotary,  and  later  well-known  in  business  circles 
generally,  was  a son  of  Sylvanus  Wade.  Another 
son,  Jefferson  Wade,  located  on  the  tract  now  owned 
by  Dennis  Shay.  Another  settler  was  Darius  Bing- 
ham, who  located  on  the  turnpike  below  Captain 
Leach’s.  He  was  killed  by  the  fall  of  a tree  in  1828, 
at  the  age  of  sixty.  His  son,  Lemuel  Bingham,  kept 


a tavern  for  some  time  in  the  house  afterwards  owned 
by  Deacon  Mackey. 

Calvin,  Gad  and  Leonard  Corse,  and  James  Wal- 
worth, also  arrived  here  about  this  time  from  Ver- 
mont. Mr.  Walworth  settled  near  the  southeast 
corner  of  the  township.  His  sons,  Rufus  and  John, 
were  well-known  in  this  vicinity.  The  Corses  took 
up  lands  on  the  hill  above  East  New  Milford.  Leon- 
ard located  on  the  present  Walter  Watson  place,  and 
soon  owned  the  first  saw-mill  in  this  part  of  the 
townshijr.  He  built  three  different  saw-mills,  and 
was  always  more  or  less  engaged  in  the  lumber  busi- 
ness. Prior  to  the  building  of  the  dam  the  tract  so 
long  overflowed  by  the  famous  Page  Pond  was  an  im- 
mense beaver  meadow,  covered  with  a luxuriant 
growth  of  wild  grass.  The  earliest  settlers  came  here 
from  a long  distance  and  cut  it  for  fodder. 

Oliver  Tennant  came  in  1816  from  -Fisher’s  Island, 
in  Long  Island  Sound,  and  located  in  the  southern 
part  of  the  township,  along  the  creek  that  flows  from 
Hunt  Lake.  The  next  year  his  brother,  William 
Tennant,  came  from  Shelter  Island,  Suffolk  County, 
N.  Y.,  and  took  up  a tract  6f  land  about  a mile  and  a 
half  northeast  of  the  Moxley  Corners.  Allen  Tennant, 
another  brother,  from  the  same  place,  arrived  in  1818, 
and  settled  near  Oliver.  Two  years  afterwards  they 
were  joined  by  their  half-brother,  Benjamin  Tennant, 
who  settled  in  that  section  of  the  township  known  as 
the  “East  Woods.”  The  four  brothers,  previous  to 
coming  here,  had  married  four  sisters,  daughters  of 
one  Mr.  Braman.  The  section  where  Oliver  and  Allen 
Tennant  located  was  settled  by  their  descendants,  and 
has  always  been  known  as  “Tennant  Town.”  Oliver 
Tennant  had  three  daughters,  who  also  became  the 
wives  of  three  brothers, — Meribah,  who  became  the 
wife  of  Thurston  Lewis,  of  Harford ; Abigail,  who  be- 
came the  wife  of  Deacon  Robinson  Lewis  ; and  Nancy, 
who  became  the  wife  of  Libbeus  Lewis.  His  sons 
were  Oliver  and  William.  Allen  Tennant’s  sons  were 
John,  Thomas,  Allen,  Havens  and  Montreville.  His 
daughter,  Mary,  became  the  wife  of  John  Watson. 
William  Tennant’s  sons  were  Allen,  Samuel  and 
John.  His  daughters  were  Cynthia,  wife  of  Jonathan 
Carpenter,  of  Harford  ; Meribah,  wife  of  John  Wil- 
liams ; Eliza,  wife  of  Francis  Richardson,  one  of  the 
Harford  pioneers ; Harriet,  wife  of  Alanson  Williams  ; 
Hannah,  who  lived  single;  and  Abigail,  wife  of  An- 
drew Osmun. 

Benjamin  Tennant’s  children  were  Almira,  wife  of 
Conklin  Hartt ; Frances,  wife  of  Joseph  Lewis,  another 
brother  of  Thurston  Lewis ; Rocella,  wife  of  Noah 
Buchanan;  Benjamin,  who  early  went  West;  Ann, 
wife  of  Alfred  Hartt;  Sophronia,  wife  of  Stephen 
Hartt;  and  Harrison.  Benjamin  Tennant  was  pos- 
sessed of  a remarkably  strong  constitution,  and  re- 
tained his  health  and  strength  to  an  advanced  age. 
When  he  was  over  eighty  years  old  he  could  cut  and 
put  up  two  cords  of  stove-wood  in  a day,  with  more 
ease  than  much  younger  men.  He  died  in  the  West. 


622 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


The  memorable  cold  summer  of  1816  was  a season 
of  dearth  and  scarcity,  hardly  paralleled  in  the  his- 
tory of  the  county.  The  winter  was  a remarkably 
warm  one,  there  being  but  very  little  snow,  and  the 
months  of  January  and  February  like  September.  The 
atmosphere  was  smoky,  like  that  of  Indian  summer, 
and  the  ground  was  dry  and  dusty  ; but  on  the  ap- 
proach of  spring  it  began  to  grow  colder,  with  lower- 
ing skies;  and  maple  sugar  was  made  plentifully  un- 
til the  12th  of  May.  It  was  very  late  before  any 
corn  could  be  planted.  It  snowed  in  June,  and  a 
heavy  frost  cut  the  corn  to  the  ground  and  wdthered 
all  the  leaves  on  the  trees.  In  August  a frost  laid 
its  blighting  hand  upon  nearly  every  green  blade  of 
vegetation. 

Corn  was  an  entire  and  hopeless  failure.  Those  who 
were  so  fortunate  as  to  have  a little  of  the  old  crop 
remaining  sold  it  readily  the  next  year  for  seed-corn, 
at  five  dollars  per  bushel.  Ice  remained  in  old  de- 
cayed logs  in  the  thick  woods  on  the  north  side  of 
the  hill  nearly  all  summer.  Hogs  did  not  fatten 
well,  cattle  felt  its  influence  and  deer  were  unusually 
poor.  Some  rye,  wheat  and  potatoes  were  raised,  but 
these  were  hardly  sufficient  and  a season  of  great  des- 
titution followed,  which  reduced  those  just  beginning 
almost  to  the  verge  of  bankruptcy. 

In  1817  Stephen  Hartt,  Sr.,  came  from  Long  Island, 
and  settled  on  the  hill  one  mile  west  of  the  borough. 
The  place  is  now  known  as  the  Wiseman  farm.  He 
had  three  sons,  who  came  in  with  him, — Jacob,  Ste- 
phen, Jr.,  and  another,  who  died  shortly  after  his 
arrival.  Jacob  settled  on  the  Montrose  road,  east  of 
the  Joshua  Phinney  place.  He  was  a blacksmith  by 
trade,  and  at  one  time  worked  in  a shop  built  by 
Roderick  McKenzie,  near  where  the  town  hall  now 
stands,  in  the  borough.  Some  years  afterwards  he 
moved  to  the  “ East  Woods,”  and  took  up  the  pres- 
ent Poor  Asylum  farm.  Two  of  his  sons — Alfred  and 
Richard — were  with  him  here,  and  they  soon  had 
quite  an  opening  in  the  thick  forest,  far  distant  from 
any  other  human  habitation.  The  sons  of  Jacob 
Hartt  were  Conklin,  Alfred  and  Richard.  Conklin 
first  bought  an  improvement  of  Francis  Richardson, 
and  settled  where  Joseph  Harrow  now  lives.  After- 
wards he  moved  to  the  “East  Woods”  and  took  up 
the  place  where  his  son  Jerome  now  resides,  where 
he  died  in  1881,  aged  seventy-six.  Alfred  married 
Ann  Patten,  and  lived  during  his  latter  days  in  the 
borough.  He  died  in  1883,  at  the  age  of  seventy-six. 
Richard  took  up  a lot  adjoining  his  father’s  on  the 
east,  in  1834,  long  afterwards  known  as  the  Matthews 
farm,  but  now  owned  by  Granville  Harrow.  He  made 
the  first  clearing  here,  and  helped  cut  the  road 
through  the  woods  from  New  Milford  Borough  to  that 
point.  He  now  resides  in  the  borough.  The  daugh- 
ters of  Jacob  Hartt  were  Sally,  wife  of  Jared  Tyler; 
Mary,  wife  of  Haniel  Farrar  ; and  Phcebe,  wife  of 
Hollis  Knowlton,  of  Jackson.  He  died  in  1849,  at 
the  age  of  sixty-nine.  Stephen  Hartt,  Jr.,  married 


Sophronia,  daughter  of  Benjamin  Tennant,  and  set- 
tled in  the  East  Woods. 

Havid  B.  Jennings  came  from  Paterson,  N.  J.,  in 
the  fall  of  1814.  He  stopped  at  the  Mott  tavern 
while  on  his  way  to  the  “ Lake  Country,”  and  being 
well  pleased  with  the  locality,  resolved  to  make  his 
home  here.  He  stayed  at  the  Mott  house  until  he 
could  roll  up  a cabin  on  the  place  where  H.  W.  Shay 
now  lives.  Afterwards  he  built  a log  house  near  the 
creek,  above  the  Meylert  school-house,  and  at  one 
time  he  owned  the  place  where  Mr.  Lloyd  now  lives. 
About  this  time  a road  was  cut  through  the  woods 
from  the  turnpike,  at  Hezekiah  Leach’s,  to  the  Ver- 
mont settlement,  in  Jackson.  The  Corses  located  on 
this  road.  About  the  middle  of  October,  1828.  Mr. 
Jennings  moved  over  into  the  “ East  Woods,”  and  be- 
came one  of  the  first  settlers  in  that  part  of  the  town- 
ship. He  rolled  up  a log  house  near  an  excellent 
cold  spring,  and  took  up  the  place  occupied  at  present 
by  his  son  Havid.  He  made  large  quantities  of 
maple  sugar,  and  raised  large  crops  of  turnips  on  the 
rich,  burnt  grounds,  which  he  exchanged  at  New 
Milford  for  other  necessaries  to  use  in  the  house. 
Wild  animals  were  very  troublesome  in  this  part  of 
the  township  even  at  that  late  day ; his  wife  and 
son  were  driven  from  the  sugar-camp  by  wolves. 
Mr.  Jennings  had  a large  family,  but  six  of  whom  are 
now  living.  Charles  and  George,  the  two  eldest, 
early  went  West.  They  are  both  dead. 

In  1817  Samuel  Hammond  came  from  Cheshire 
County,  New  Hampshire,  and  bought  an  improve- 
ment made  by  Havid  Haven,  near  the  south  line  of 
the  township,  where  his  son,  Lieutenant-Colonel  Asa 
Hammond,  now  resides.  Late  in  the  fall  of  the  year 
1819  he  was  joined  by  his  son  Asa,  then  twenty-five 
years  of  age,  healthy  and  robust,  and  possessed  of  a 
remarkable  degree  of  bodily  strength  and  endurance. 
The  following  incident  of  his  early  life  will  illustrate 
the  above  assertion : 

“At  the  age  of  twenty  few  dared  to  cope  with  him  in  any  kind  of  man- 
ual labor.  About  this  time  he  cut,  split  and  piled  over  five  cords  of 
thirty-inch  wood  per  day  for  three  months  in  succession.  A young 
wood-cutter  of  considerable  renown  hearing  of  Hammond’s  work,  and 
not  liking  the  idea  of  being  beat,  came  to  try  a contest  with  him, 
claiming  that  he  could  ‘out-chop’  him.  Proceeding  to  the  woods,  the 
race  began,  and  all  day  long  the  measured  strokes  of  the  heavy  axes 
fell  with  more  than  ordinary  force  and  celerity.  At  night,  when  the 
wood  was  piled,  the  great  wood-cutter  found  he  had  four  and  one-half 
cords.  Mr.  Hammond  ran  over  his,  and  found  it  measured  six  cords  1 
It  is  needless  to  say  the  fellow  did  not  care  to  challenge  him  again.” 

Mr.  Hammond  came  the  whole  distance  from  New 
Hampshire  with  a yoke  of  oxen  and  wagon,  being 
twenty-one  days  on  the  road.  The  next  year  he 
cleared  five  acres  of  flat  land,  rolling  all  the  logs 
alone,  many  of  them  being  three  feet  in  diameter. 
He  cleared  most  all  his  land  with  but  very  little  help. 
In  those  days  there  was  considerable  pine  timber  of 
superior  quality  growing  in  the  eastern  part  of  New 
Milford  township,  and  much  of  it  was  of  large  dimen- 
sions. Mr.  Hammond  trained*  in  the  “ Independent 
Company  of  Light  Infantry,”  and  was  made  major 


NEW  MILFORD. 


623 


under  Colonel  Lee  Richardson.  Afterwai’ds  he  was 
promoted  to  the  rank  of  colonel.  He  has  always  been 
one  of  the  most  temperate  men  among  us,  drinking 
no  liquor  or  tea,  nor  using  any  tobacco.  When  he 
built  his  present  house  he  told  his  father  he  should 
furnish  no  liquor  at  the  raising.  His  father  replied 
that  it  would  be  doubtful  whether  he  could  get  the 
necessary  help  without  it,  as  it  was  the  general  cus- 
tom at  that  time.  “ Then,’’  replied  Colonel  Ham- 
mond, with  his  characteristic  firmness,  “ it  may  rot.” 
He  invited  his  neighbors  next  day,  informing  each 
that  he  should  have  no  liquor.  They  all  came,  how- 
ever, and  the  building  was  raised  with  no  disturbance. 
It  was  the  first  house  in  the  place  raised  without 
liquor.  He  is  at  present  the  oldest  man  in  the  town- 
ship, being  nearly  ninety-three  years  of  age.  He 
has  twenty  grandchildren,  twenty-five  great-grand- 
children and  three  great-great-grandchildren.  Colonel 
Hammond  has  been  a fathful  member  of  the  Episco- 
pal Church  for  more  than  fifty  years.  Honest  and 
upright  in  all  his  dealings,  bold  and  fearless  in  his 
expressions  against  wrong,  he  has  been  an  exemplary 
citizen. 

Lincoln  and  Shubael  Hall  came  here  about  this 
time,  from  Vermont.  Lincoln  Hall  took  up  the  place 
that  Alexander  Hannah  now  occupies.  Later  he 
traded  farms  with  Josiah  McKune,  who  early  owned 
a saw-mill  in  the  northeast  corner  of  the  township, 
near  the  old  Harmony  road,  and  went  there  to  live. 

John  S.  Handrick,  a shoemaker,  came,  in  1817, 
from  Litchfield,  Conn.,  and  took  up  the  place  adjoin- 
ing Mr.  Bradley's.  He  was  one  of  the  early  members 
of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  and  was  ever  ready  to 
labor  for  any  enterprise  that  promised  a good  influ- 
ence in  the  settlement.  His  son,  Wm.  C.  Handrick, 
now  lives  on  the  old  homestead. 

John  Belcher  came  in  from  Gibson,  about  1819,  and 
settled  where  S.  L.  Dix  now  lives.  He  probably 
built  the  first  cabin  in  that  portion  of  the  township 
afterwards  known  as  the  “ East  Woods.”  In  1831  he 
took  up  the  place  now  owned  by  L.  S.  Everett,  where 
he  resided  for  many  years.  His  children  were  Uriah, 
William,  Elizabeth,  Eliza,  Mary  Jane,  Hannah, 
Melissa,  Abigail,  Ansel  and  John. 

A few  of  the  early  settlers  had  barns  in  which  they 
stored  and  threshed  their  grain,  but  many  stacked 
their  grain  out,  and  threshed  it  in  clear  weather  on 
an  open-air  “ threshing-floor.”  These  w'ere  usually 
made  by  laying  a plank  floor  upon  flattened  logs,  and 
boarding  up  the  two  sides  in  the  same  manner  that 
our  modern  barn  floors  are  made.  The  sheaves  were 
thrown  on  from  the  stacks,  and  the  work  commenced. 
The  grain  was  at  first  cleaned  by  swinging  sheaves 
violently  to  and  fro  over  the  floor.  Afterward  hand 
fans  were  made  of  light  wood,  and  these  were  consid- 
ered a great  invention. 

“ Another  branch  of  employment  conducted  during  bright  sunny  days 
was  ‘getting  out  flax.*  A\i  implement  was  constructed  by  fastening 
four  parallel  strips  of  hard-wood  board,  five  or  six  inches  in  width,  and 


about  four  feet  in  length,  and  one  inch  apart, with  upper  edges  sharpened, 
two  blocks  at  each  end,  set  upon  legs  to  raise  it  to  a convenient  height, — 
and  a corresponding  upper  part  with  lower  edges  shariieiied  to  strike 
down  between  the  others.  This  was  termed  a ‘ Break.’  The  operation 
was  performed  by  placing  a bundle  of  tlax  between  the  two  parts,  and  by 
means  of  a pin  in  the  head  of  the  upper  part,  working  it  repeatedly  and 
with  force,  up  and  down  upon  it.  When  the  inner  parts  of  the  stalks 
had  been  well  broken  up,  and  the  coat  fairly  displayed,  it  was  placed 
over  another  contrivance  consisting  of  an  upright  piece  of  board  with 
sharpened  end,  and  repeatedly  struck  downward  with  a huge  wooden 
knife  termed  a ‘Swingel,’  to  get  out  the  broken  parts  of  the  stalks,  de- 
nominated ‘shives.’  This  was  called  dressing  it.  It  was  then  drawn 
through  ahatchel,  which  consisted  of  a short  piece  of  board  full  of  sharp 
iron  spikes,  four  or  five  inches  in  length,  fastened  to  the  hind  break 
block,  and  the  coai-se  tow  separated  from  the  Hax,  when  it  was  ready  for 
the  women’s  work.  They  drew  it  through  a finer  hatchel,  and  carded 
the  fine  tow  with  a pair  of  hand-cards, which  was  always  a part  of  the 
necessary  kitchen  outfit,  and  this  was  spun  on  the  regular  spinning-wheel, 
while  the  other  part,  known  as  linen,  was  spun  on  the  small  foot-wheel. 
The  next  process  carried  it  to  the  loom. 

“As  a sort  of  diversion  during  warm  nights,  about  the  time  green  corn 
w’as  right  for  boiling,  a number  of  boys  and  young  men  met  at  an  ap- 
pointed rendezvous,  and  with  hounds,  axes  and  guns,  went  ‘cooniijg.’ 
Raccoons  were  often  driven  from  the  corn-fields,  and  treed  by  the  dogs  ; 
and  sometimes  half  a dozen  great  trees  "vs’ere  felled  in  one  night  to  se- 
cure them.  After  tramping  through  the  woods  until  tired  and  hungry, 
a great  fire  was  built  near  some  cornfield,  and  an  armful  of  roasting  ears 
secured  for  a delicious  supper.  Sometimes,  though,  they  came  across  a 
melon-patch,  or  a pear  tree  ; and  then  they  were  made  to  suff  er  more  than 
the  corn-fields  had  from  the  incursions  of  the  raccoons.  They  were 
strong  and  hearty  then,  and  the  next  day  found  them  at  work  in  the 
fallow,  as  jubilant  and  happy  as  usual.” 

In  the  summer  of  1819  a German  gentleman  of  rare 
intellectual  attainments  arrived  in  the  settlement  and 
took  up  a fifty-acre  tract  of  wild  land,  known  in  later 
years  as  the  Writer  farm.  This  was  Secku  Meylert, 
a man  soon  destined  to  perform  a very  prominent 
part  in  the  rising  community.  He  had  previously 
been  possessed  of  much  wealth,  and  at  one  time  had 
carried  on  a heavy  banking  business  in  the  city  of 
CasSel,  having  traveled  extensively  in  Europe,  and 
for  a time  served  as  an  officer  of  the  staff' in  the  French 
army  under  Napoleon.  The  pamphlet  of  Dr.  Rose,  of 
Silver  Lake,  which  he  road  in  England,  determined 
his  destination,  and  he  came  to  Susquehanna  County. 
Although  he  had  the  willingness  to  work,  Mr.  Meylert 
was  no  backwoodsman.  His  progress  was  slow  and 
his  returns  meagre.  His  proficiency  in  mathematics 
and  the  ancient  and  modern  languages  could  do  him 
no  good  in  the  woods.  He  tried  to  keep  a store  ; but 
the  people  had  no  money,  and  the  effort  was  a failure. 
Other  investments  proving  unfortunate,  his  means  soon 
wasted  away,  and  he  was  at  length  obliged  to  ex- 
change pioneer  life  for  some  other  occupation  better 
suited  to  his  training.  He  tried  teaching  school  at 
Leach  Corners  a short  time,  but  the  scholars  could  not 
understand  him  well,  and  abandoning  this,  he  went 
to  Montrose  and  taught  a class  in  the  French  language. 

In  1833  he  removed  to  Montrose,  where  for  several 
years  he  faithfully  performed  the  duties  of  commis- 
sioners’ clerk,  and  deputy  register  and  recorder.  A 
brighter  morning  again  dawned  upon  him.  He  re- 
ceived a good  compensation  for  work  congenial  to  his 
taste,  and  now  large  sums  came  to  him  from  Germany. 
The  agency  of  large  landed  estates  was  placed  in  his 
hands,  which  he  handled  with  such  consummate  judg- 


<624 


HISTOKY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


ment  and  ability,  that  he  was  ultimately  given  the 
charge  of  nearly  all  the  great  land  tracts  belonging  to 
non-resident  land-owners  in  Northeastern  Pennsyl- 
vaniy.  He  purchased  several  tracts  of  wild  land,  and 
returning  in  1844  to  his  New  Milford  farm,  augmented 
this  by  the  purchase  of  adjoining  farms,  including  the 
olden-time  property  of  Hezekiah  Leach,  until  it  ag- 
gregated nearly,  one  thousand  acres.  He  married 
Abigail,  eldest  daughter  of  Deacon  Nichols.  They 
had  five  sons  and  three  daughters.  “He  was  an  active 
member  of  the  Baptist  Church,  a zealous  Christian, 
kind,  affectionate  and  benevolent  in  every  good  work  ; 
a man  of  strict  integrity,  and  of  great  truthfulness  ; 
positive  in  character,  stern  and  unyielding  in  the  per- 
formance of  his  convictions  of  duty.”  He  died  at  his 
home  in  New  Milford,  December  30,  1849,  aged  six- 
ty-five. Michael  Meylert,  son  of  Secku  Meylert,  in- 
herited much  of  his  father’s  habits  and  characteristics, 
and  purchasing  an  immense  tract  of  land  in  Sullivan 
County,  Pennsylvania,  founded  the  county-seat  at 
Laporte,  took  an  active  part  in  building  a court-house 
and  railroad,  and  in  short  became  one  of  the  leading 
men  of  that  county. 

The  census  of  1820  showed  the  population  of  New 
Milford  to  be  six  hundred  and  ten — a gain  of  four 
hundred  and  thirty-six  since  1810. 

John  Williams  came  here  about  1824  (?)  from 
Harford.  He  had  originally  come  from  Schuylkill 
Haven  to  what  is  now  Franklin.  Hi's  children  were 
Samuel,  who  settled  on  an  adjoining  tract ; Catha- 
rine, wife  of  Ansel  Perkins ; Semalvia;  John;  Happy 
Ann,  wife  of  James  0.  Wellman;  Clark  D.,  who 
resides  on  part  of  the  old  homestead ; Elsie ; Wil- 
liam; and  Caroline,  wife  of  Alexander  Hannah. 
There  is  a grave-yard  on  the  farm,  where  quite  a 
number  from  this  vicinity  have  been  buried.  He 
died  in  1861,  aged  sixty-six ; his  wife  in  1858,  aged 
fifty-six.  About  the  time  John  Williams  came,  pos- 
sibly a little  earlier,  William  Belcher  came  from  Gib- 
son and  settled  in  the  valley,  between  his  place  and 
Lincoln  Hall’s.  A man  by  the  name  of  Wayman 
built  a log  house  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  road 
from  Belcher’s  about  1830.  He  remained  but  a short 
time,  and  Elisha  Smith  moved  in  about  1832.  Con- 
temporary with  these  settlers  were  Peter  Page,  David 
Douglas,  Evans  Bailey,  Alanson  Williams  and  Sabinus 
Blanding.  Peter  Page  came  from  Vermont,  and 
settled  on  the  hill  now  owned  by  Isaac  S.  Corwin,  in 
East  New  Milford.  David  Douglas  came  in  with 
him,  and  the  two  families  lived  for  some  time  in  one 
log  house.  Evans  Bailey  also  had  a log  house  near 
theirs.  A few  years  afterwards  Douglas  moved  to  the 
other  side  of  the  hill  and  located  on  a part  of  the 
place  subsequently  owned  by  Samuel  Williams. 
Alanson  Williams  located  on  the  farm  now  owned  by 
Joseph  B.  Darrow.  Sabinus  Blanding  settled  east  of 
Alanson  Williams,  on  the  tract  afterwards  known  as 
the  Solomon  Williams  farm.  Solomon  Williams 
came  from  Newburg,  and  bought  Blanding’s  im^irove- 


ment  in  1828.  He  took  an  active  part  in  religious 
work,  and  was  for  many  years  one  of  the  strongest 
pillars  of  the  church.  He  had  a large  family,  which 
are  now  scattered  in  a number  of  different  States. 
Stephen  D.  and  Hiram  are  his  sons. 

In  1830  the  population  of  the  township,  which  at 
that  time  included  the  village,  was  one  thousand. 

Among  the  principal  settlers  who  came  here  during 
the  next  decade  were  Herman  Bailey ; Frank  Adams, 
who  located  on  the  place  where  his  widow  now  re- 
sides; William  Hopkins,  who  lived  awhile  on  the 
2)lace  where  Frank  Cole  now  resides,  and  then  took 
up  the  tract  where  Albert  Waldo  now  lives;  Noah 
Buchanan,  who  located  near  Conklin  Hartt’s  place ; 
and  Russel  Tanner,  who  came  from  Massachusetts 
and  purchased  an  im2)rovement  made  by  John  Ben- 
nett. Herman  Bailey  came  from  Vermont  about 
1836,  and  took  up  a 2)iece  of  land  near  where  Moon’s 
mills  are.  Like  Mr.  Meylert,  he  was  a man  of  supe- 
rior education,  and  could  read  the  Greek,  Latin  and 
French  languages ; but  concerning  pioneer  life  he  was 
totally  ignorant.  He  constructed  a rude  hut  of  poles 
and  logs  in  a little  brook  a few  rods  to  the  east  of  the 
Asylum  school-house,  where  he  had  mud  for  his  floor- 
in  summer,  and  water  and  ice  a foot  thick  in  winter. 
To  build  this  exceedingly  primitive  cabin,  he  carried 
slabs  on  his  back  from  Corse’s  saw-mill,  nearly  two 
miles  distant  through  the  thick  hemlock  forest,  fol- 
lowing the  course  of  creek,  and  climbing  over  old 
logs  and  windfalls,  with  not  even  a marked  tree  to 
guide  him.  His  bed  consisted  of  aboard  and  blanket, 
and  here,  beneath  the  overhanging  canopy  of  sombre 
hemlocks,  he  took  his  solitary  repose,  unmindful  of 
the  sighing  of  the  wind  or  the  hooting  of  owls.  He 
stayed  here  about  three  years,  teaching  school  two 
winters,  and  partly  clearing  three  or  four  acres  where 
Mr.  Moon’s  orchard  now  is,  when  his  father  and 
brothers  came  through  here  on  their  way  to  Ohio, 
and  he  went  with  them. 

Seth  Martin  took  up  the  place  where  Levi  P.  Tan- 
ner now  lives,  just  below  East  New  Milford.  He  had 
formerly  worked  in  an  axe- factory.  He  had  a black- 
smith-shop  here  in  1836,  and  made  axes.  William 
Bradford  settled  near  where  Erastus  Bradford  now 
lives.  His  two  sons,  Erastus  and  John  W.  H.  Brad- 
ford, live  on  adjoining  farms,  one  of  which  includes 
the  old  pioneer  home.  William  Coleman  settled 
where  N.  G.  Bishop  lives,  Jacob  Wayman  took  up 
the  place  now  occupied  by  Benton  Morgan  and  Jed- 
ediah  Read  located  on  the  John  Washburn  2>lace. 
In  1837  Justin  Burlingame  came  and  located  on  the 
first  improvement  made  by  Enoch  Smith.  His  son. 
Nelson  Burlingame,  now  resides  there.  George 
Chandler  located  on  the  tract  afterwards  owned  by  Dea- 
con Jacob  Stoddard.  Joseph  Lewis  took  up  a place 
on  the  old  Harmony  road,  one  mile  north  of  Mr.  Brad- 
ford’s, which  has  since  borne  the  narne  of  the  “ Lewis 
Corners.”  Alanson  Merit  located  between  Messrs. 
Lewis  and  Bradford,  about  1839.  David  Wellman 


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NEW  MILFORD. 


G25 


came  into  the  “ East  Woods  ” in  1836,  and  took  ujj  the 
I place  now  owned  by  Norman  Tingley. 

I On  the  5th  day  of  October,  1837,  snow  fell  sixteen 
inches  deep.  The  leaves  were  all  on  the  trees  at  the 
time,  and  forests  and  fruit-trees  were  badly  wrecked 
and  broken. 

The  population  of  the  township  in  1840  had  in- 
creased to  one  thousand  one  hundred  and  forty-eight, 
showing  a gain  of  one  hundred  and  forty-eight  in  ten 
j years.  George  Squires  remembers  passing  over  the 
old  Harmony  road  that  year,  and  on  the  whole  dis- 
tance from  Lanesboro’  to  New  Milford  he  found  but 
five  occujjied  houses.  Mr.  Lewis’  house  at  the 
; “ Lewis  Corners  ” had  been  burned  at  the  time,  and 

he  was  not  there.  Old  Mr.  Towner,  father  of  Wil- 
liam, Daniel,  Horton  and  Henry,  was  then  on  what 
is  now  known  as  the  “old  Towner  farm,”  near  the 
northeast  corner  of  the  township.  He  had  probably 
been  there  several  years,  and  had  quite  a clearing. 
Mr.  Squires  settled  where  he  now  resides,  in  1851,  and 
shortly  afterwards  he  was  joined  by  his  brother  Silas. 
Peter  Albright  and  Charles  McKinney  settled  on  the 
Sumniersville  road,  to  the  west  of  them.  At  that  time 
the  road  had  been  laid  out  and  worked  some,  and 
small  clearings  had  been  made  in  the  neighborhood 
of  the  present  places  of  Messrs.  Deaken,  Brush  and 
Walworth.  The  entire  road  was  for  many  years  sup- 
posed to  be  in  the  township  of  New  Milford ; and 
taxes  were  paid  and  the  people  voted  there ; but  a 
careful  re-survey  some  years  since  showed  that  the 
section  lying  betw'een  the  Lincoln  Hall  place  and 
George  Squires’  was  in  Great  Bend. 

Anson  Waldo  came  from  Connecticut  in  1840,  and 
purchased  an  improvement  of  William  Hopkins,  who 
then  took  up  the  “ Van  Cott  place,”  one  mile  east  of 
the  borough.  Lancaster  Jennings  took  up  the  place 
where  he  has  ever  since  resided,  in  1842.  His  axe,  was 
his  only  capital  to  begin  with,  and  he  experienced 
many  hardships  and  privations.  He  was  a carpenter 
by  trade,  and  built  many  framed  buildings  for  people 
in  this  vicinity  during  the  following  years.  He  put  up 
a sort  of  framed  house  in  his  own  clearing,  and  lived 
here  alone  for  several  years  before  he  was  married.  Mr. 
Jennings  cleared  nearly  all  of  his  land  alone,  often 
working  all  night  burning  log-heaps  in  the  fallow, 
and  proceeding  with  his  laboi's  next  day  as  usual. 

David  Matthews  bought  the  improvement  first 
made  by  Richard  Hartt,  and  lived  there  many  years. 
He  was  a soldier  in  the  War  of  1812.  Selotus  Beebe, 
Daniel  Matthews  and  John  Reynolds  were  among  the 
first  settlers  on  the  east  road,  above  the  Keej)  mill. 
Most  of  the  wild  lands  in  the  township  had  now 
been  taken  up,  and  here  the  history  of  the  settlement 
properly  closes.  Snow  fell  four  feet  deep  April  19, 
1857. 

William  Harding,  the  third  child  of  Lemuel 
(1788-1861)  and  Polly  (Wheat)  (1795-1874)  Harding, 
was  born  in  Orange  County,  N.  Y.,  in  1819,  and  came 
to  New  Milford,  Susquehanna  County,  with  his 


parents,  in  1834,  where  they  settled  upon  Peck  Hill. 
Lemuel  Harding  had  been  a farmer,  and  under  his 
watchful  supervision  and  the  careful  instruction  of  his 
good  wife,  their  thirteen  children  acquired  valuable 
ideas  and  sound  moral  training.  Their  children  were 
Ann,  born  1815,  the  wife  of  L.  B.  Mitchell,  a farmer 
of  North  Bridgewater;  J.  P.  Harding;  William,  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch;  Amos  W.  ; George  S.,  formerly  a 
commission  merchant  in  New  York  City,  now  resides 
at  Nicholson,  Pa. ; Jerusha,  married  Lyman  B.  Cole, 
a farmer  of  Bridgewater,  and  died  in  1883;  Arminda, 
married  John  Sherman  and  died  in  1871  ; Luther  M.  ; 
Lemuel,  Jr. ; Mary  E.,  the  wife  of  William  F.  Hall- 
stead,  general  manager  of  the  Delaware,  Lackawanna 
and  Western  Railroad;  Henry  L. ; Silas  W. ; and 
Emily  J.  Harding.  Until  his  twenty-third  year,  Wil- 
liam Harding  remained  upon  the  home  farm  and 
then  bought  jiart  of  his  father’s  farm,  which  he  con- 
tinued to  carry  on  some  few  years  before  purchasing 
the  present  Ely  farm,  whereon  he  remained  eight 
years.  In  1859  he  moved  once  more,  having  purchased 
the  present  homestead  on  the  Montrose  and  New  Mil- 
ford road,  where  now  his  widow  and  only  son  reside. 
In  1867  he  bought  a half-interest  in  the  cheese  factory 
which  had  been  built  upon  his  land,  the  firm  becoming 
Clark  & Harding.  After  two  years  partnership  with 
Mr.  Clark  and  a like  term  with  Mr.  Beebe,  he  took 
the  entire  control  and  carried  on  a successful  business 
for  several  years.  He  also  gave  considerable  atten- 
tion to  the  improvement  of  cattle  and  favored  the 
Jersey  grades,  which  are  still  kept  on  the  farm.  Mr. 
Harding  always  took  a warm  interest  in  local  matters 
and  was  school  director  nine  years,  suiiervisor  two 
terms  and  auditor.  In  1847  he  married  Almira  S., 
the  daughter  of  John  S.  and  Dotha  (Gibbs)  Handrick, 
of  New  Milford  township,  who  died  a year  or  more 
after  marriage.  In  March,  1853,  he  married  Sophia 
C.,  daughter  of  Frederick  and  Betsey  (Trumble)  Fos- 
ter, who  was  born  in  Bridgewater  in  1827.  Frederick 
Foster  was  one  of  tbe  earlier  settlers  in  that  town- 
ship, and  located  where  L.  B.  Cole  now  resides.  His 
children  were  George,  emigrated  to  California  in  1849, 
and  died  on  the  ocean  on  his  return,  in  1852 ; Char- 
lotte, married  Hibbard  Watrous  and  died  about  1868 ; 
Sophia  C.  (Mrs.  William  Harding) ; Adelia,  died  in 
early  youth;  Almon,  now  in  the  insurance  business 
in  Missouri;  Martin,  a merchant  in  Indiana ; Freder- 
ick, a merchant  and  interested  in  mining  in  Oregon  ; 
Mary,  the  wife  of  John  Abrahams,  died  in  1868; 
Elizabeth,  married  John  Peirce,  a successful  farmer 
in  Indiana;  William;  Martha,  the  wife  of  Byron 
Goulding,  a land  agent  in  Nebraska,  who  formerly 
published  the  Kearney  (Neb.)  Non  Pareil ; and 
Faruham,  who  died  in  childhood.  Of  this  family, 
three  sons  entered  the  Union  army  during  the  late 
war,  and  William,  a sergeant  in  New  Jersey  Infantry, 
died  in  camj)  in  Virginia  in  1863,  while  Almon  and 
Martin  both  commanded  companies  in  the  Twelfth 
Indiana  Cavalry  Vols.,  and  passed  through  safely. 


(526 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


To  William  and  Sophia  C.  (Foster)  Harding  were 
born  two  children,  viz.,  Lottie  A.,  born  1855,  the  wife 
of  N.  C.  Curtis,  merchant  at  Gibson ; and  William 
F.  Harding,  born  1861.  Mrs.  Harding  is  a member 
of  the  Montrose  Baptist  Church,  which  also  her 
husband  attended  occasionally  until  his  sudden  death, 
on  February  5,  1887. 

Norman  Tingley. — This  family  is  one  of  the  old- 
est and  one  of  the  largest  in  the  entire  county. 
Elkanah  Tingley  (1760-1838),  the  first  of  the  name  in 
Susquehanna  County,  removed  from  Attleborough, 
Mass.,  in  early  manhood,  to  Nanticook,  N.  Y.;  there 
married,  and  in  1795  came  to  “ Nine  Partners’  ” settle- 
ment. He  took  up  the  farm  whereon  Deacon  Free- 
man Tingley  now  resides  and  upon  which  the  family 
reunion  is  held  each  year.  After  the  decease  of  his 
first  wife  he  married  Keziah  Mason  (1767-1805),  who 
bore  him  Daniel,  Anne  (married  Joseph  Yeoman), 
Milton,  Charles  and  Mason  Tingley.  Charles  Ting- 
ley (1796-1862)  remained  on  his  father’s  farm  until 
his  marriage,  in  1818,  when  he  bought  the  farm  now 
occupied  by  his  son  Urbane,  and  remained  thereon 
until  his  death.  He  enjoyed  the  respect  and  esteem 
of  the  people,  and  his  judgment  and  advice  were 
sought  by  many.  He  settled  a great  many  estates^ 
and  frequently  acted  as  arbitrator  in  the  settlement  of 
disputes.  He  gave  liberally  to  churches,  and  was  a 
warm  friend  of  educational  interests.  He  filled 
nearly  all  the  township  offices,  and  was  county  com- 
missioner for  three  years  from  1835.  Governor 
Shunk  appointed  him  associate  judge  in  1848,  and  he 
occupied  the  bench  with  Judges  William  Jessup  and 
Moses  C.  Tyler  until  1852.  He  married  Sally  Wil- 
marth  (1798-1881),  the  daughter  of  Thomas  (1774— 
1841)  and  Sarah  (Perry)  (1776-1851)  Wilmarth.  The 
last  named  was  a cousin  of  Commodore  Perry,  the 
victor  of  the  battle  of  Lake  Erie,  and  a descendant 
of  Captain  Perry,  who  landed  from  the  “ Mayflower.” 
Their  children  are  Warren  M.,  a surveyor  and  justice 
of  the  peace,  Hopbottom;  Jackson  P.,  a farmer  in 
Harford ; Norman ; Jane  L.,  died  suddenly  in  early 
womanhood,  in  1850;  Urbane,  before  mentioned  ; and 
Homer,  also  a farmer  in  this  township. 

Norman  Tingley  was  born  in  Harford,  November 
7,  1826,  and  in  1850  married  Abigail  Sweet,  born 
September  15,  1828,  in  Ohio,  to  which  State  her 
parents  went  in  1823. 

The  Sweets  were  among  the  earliest  settlers,  in 
Harford,  and  several  members  of  the  family  have  at- 
tained prominence,  Alfred  Sweet  (1800-72)  and 
Clarissa  Capron  (1804-40),  his  first  wife,  had  Hannah, 
(1822-70),  was  the  first  wife  of  Rial  Conklin,  of 
Summit  County,  Ohio;  Avis  (1824-53)  married  Abra- 
ham Link,  of  Summit  Co.,  0.;  Maria  L.  (1826-61),  mar- 
ried George  Taylor,  of  Cincinnati ; Abigail  (Mrs.  Nor- 
man Tingley) ; Nancy  D.,  born  1830,  the  second  wife 
and  widow  of  Abraham  Link,  now  lives  at  Ogden,  Utah 
Territory ; Hilin  C.,  born  1833,  resides  in  Portage 
County,  0.;  Elias,  born  1835,  was  one  of  the  Union 


soldiers  of  the  Rebellion,  and  took  part  in  the  battle 
of  Lookout  Mountain,  now  of  Garrettsville,  Ohio  ;; 
and  Ama,  born  1837,  engaged  in  missionary  and  edu- 
cational work  at  Ogden,  Utah  Territory.  Alfred 
Sweet  was  twice  married,  his  second  wife  being  Mrs. 
Louisa  Capron,  now  residing  in  Summit  County. 
The  children  of  Norman  and  Abigail  (Sweet)  Tingley 
are  John  C.  (1852-71) ; Mary  E.,  born  November  20, 
1854,  married  E.  0.  Wagner,  of  Susquehanna,  and 
has  Harriet,  Leon  and  Charles  Tingley  Wagner;  and 
Orlen  Capron  Tingley,  born  December  13,  1862, 
married,  April  2,  1885,  to  Eliza  Wright,  of  Chenango 
Forks,  N.  Y.  He  has  charge  of  the  home  farm  and 
resides  near  his  parents.  In  1850  Norman  Tingley 
and  bride  came  to  New  Milford  and  commenced 
housekeeping  upon  the  farm  of  one  hundred  and 
fifty-six  acres  they  still  occupy.  He  has  been  a 
member  of  the  Republican  party  since  its  organiza- 
tion, and  has  held  office  in  his  township  for  many 
years,  at  present  being  one  of  the  auditors.  He  has- 
settled  several  important  estates,  and  fills  an  honora- 
ble position  in  the  respect  and  esteem  of  his  fellows. 
For  over  twenty-five  years  he  had  been  a member  of 
the  F.  and  A.  M.  Freedom  Lodge,  No.  328,  which 
had  been  resuscitated  at  the  home  of  his  father.  Judge 
Charles  Tingley,  who  was  one  of  its  members  and 
was  afterwards  accorded  Masonic  interment. 

Mr.  Tingley  demitted  to  New  Milford  Lodge,  No. 
507,  to  which  body  his  only  son,  Orlen  C.  Tingley, 
belongs,  and  of  which  both  are  Past  Masters.  Mr. 
Tingley  is  also  a member  of  Great  Bend  Chapter,  No. 
210,  R.  A.  M. 

“The  O’Mara  Murder. — On  the  morning  of  the  27th  of  Septemhery 
1873,  the  community  about  Montrose  Depot  were  startled  by  the  dis- 
covery of  the  dead  bodies  of  two  women  lying  near  the  railroad  track,, 
which  had  every  appearance  of  having  been  murdered.  Deep  ugly 
gashes  infiltrated  with  blood,  upon  their  faces  and  heads,  rendered  their 
aspect  ghastly  in  the  extreme.  They  were  soon  identified  as  the  bodies 
of  Margaret  and  Mary  0‘Mara,  a mother  and  daughter,  who  resided 
about  a mile  and  a half  away,  with  Daniel  O’Mara,  a son  of  Margaret. 
Mary  O’Mara’s  arm  had  been  severed  at  the  elbow,  and  lay  some  ten  or 
twelve  feet  above  the  body.  The  shoulder  was  also  nearly  severed, 
hanging  only  by  the  ligaments  ; but,  as  these  wounds  were  not  infil- 
trated with  blood,  it  was  thought  they  had  been  made  after  death.  Dan- 
iel O’Mara  and  a hired  man  by  the  name  of  Patrick  Irving  were  at  once 
sent  for,  and  brought  to  the  depot.  Blood  was  noticed  on  Irving’s  pants,, 
and  on  being  questioned  as  to  how  it  came  there,  he  said  it  came  from 
bleeding  at  the  nose  ; but  O’Mara,  when  he  came,- said  it  was  from  kill- 
ing chickens.  They  were  told  they  had  better  not  say  much,  and  as 
they  appeared  nervous  and  uneasy,  a close  watch  was  kept  upon  them. 
Coroner  C.  C.  Halsey  was  at  one  summoned,  and  a thorough  investiga- 
tion made.  Passing  up  the  road  in  the  direction  of  O’Mara’s  house, 
blood  was  soon  found  in  different  spots  at  short  distances  apart,  and 
traced  to  O’Mara’s  wagon,  which  stood  near  a bark-pile.  Upon  the  bot- 
tom boards  of  the  wagon  were  two  large  spots  of  blood,  one  of  which 
was  about  two  feet  in  diameter,  and  the  crimson  stain  had  trickled  down 
upon  the  axle.  Some  dried  leaves  bad  been  thrown  upon  the  large- 
spots  in  the  wagon,  and  near  by,  the  place  was  found  where  these 
leaves  had  been  scraped  up.  Strands  of  dark  brown  hair  were  also 
found  in  the  back  end  of  the  w’agon.  Apiece  of  rope,  stained  with  blood,, 
was  picked  up  in  the  road,  and  a lock  of  hair  saturated  with  blood.  In 
one  place  in  the  road  a spot  of  blood  was  found  nearly  as  large  as  the 
head  of  a barrel.  Proceeding  to  the  house,  an  awful  scene  was  pre- 
sented. Blood  was  found  spattered  upon  the  door,  on  the  floor  and 
upon  the  bed-clothes.  Tracks  of  blood,  as  though  made  by  afoot,  were 
found  upon  tlie  stairs.  On  the  door  an  attempt  had  been  made  to  erase- 


NEW  MILFORD. 


627 


blood  stains  by  planing.  The  piano  was  found  with  the  shavings  in  it, 
luoi^  and  stained.  The  aslies  in  the  stove  were  examined,  and  shreds 
of  cloth  and  partially  burned  buttons  were  found.  A pair  of  pants 
were  found  bespattered  with  blood,  and  a hark  spud  still  bearing  the 
dark  stains  upon  it.  A yoke  of  oxen  were  next  examined.  The  yoke 
and  both  oxen  were  more  or  less  besmeared  with  blood.  All  the  cir- 
cumstances of  the  horrible  tragedy  seemed  to  point  to  O' Mara  and 
Irving  as  the  perpetrators  ; and  they  were  promptly  arrested,  and  after 
a preliminary  trial  lodged  in  jail. 

“The  trial  took  place  at  the  January  term  of  court,  1874 — Hon.  F.  B. 
Streeter,  presiding,  assisted  by  Hon.  James  W.  Chapman  and  Hon.  J.  H. 
Cook,  associate  judges.  The  attorneys  for  the  commonwealth  were 
District  Attorney  James  E.  Carmalt,  Little  & Blakeslee,  Esq.,  and  'NVil- 
liam  A.  Crossman,  Esq.  The  attorneys  for  the  prisoners  were  J.  B.  & A- 
H.  McCollum,  Esqs.,  W.  II.  & H.  C.  Jessup,  Esqs.,  and  EUianan  W. 
Smith,  Esq.  The  following  are  the  nanif-s  of  the  juroi*s  impaneled  : 

“Henry  B.  Wood,  George  G.  Woodward,  Nathaniel  J.  West, George  B. 
Smith,  Orrin  T.  Smith,  Ansel  B.  Hill,  Alfred  Baldwin,  Nelson  B.  Com- 
fort, William  P.  Gardner,  Robert  Westgate,  Henry  Griswold,  Levi  T. 
Birchard. 

The  case  was  one  of  intense  interest,  and  during  the  many  days  of 
its  continuance  the  court-room  was  densely  packed.  The  evidence 
was  overwhelming,  and  a verdict  of  mnrder  in  the  first  degree  was  ren- 
dered. The  sentence  of  death  was  read  to  the  prisoners,  and  in  Novem- 
ber, 1874,  they  expiated  their  terrible  crime  on  the  gallows.  It  was  the 
second  execution  in  Susquehanna  County.” 

Mills,  Factories,  Stores,  etc. — The  first  grist- 
mill, built  by  David  Summers  about  1803  or  1804,  has 
already  been  described.  He  also  built  a saw-mill  not 
far  from  this  time.  Several  years  afterwards  John 
Belknap  erected  a saw-mill  just  below  Captain 
Leach’s.  His  pond  was  very  small,  and  most  of  the 
sawing  had  to  be  done  in  the  spring,  at  the  time  of 
high-water.  He  often  used  to  run  the  mill  day  and 
night  for  several  weeks  in  succession  at  this  time  of 
the  year,  and  managed  to  do  a large  amount  of  work 
in  a short  time.  John  Wellman’s  saw-mill  was  built 
about  the  same  time.  The  old  “ Corse  Mill,’’  at  East 
New  Milford,  was  also  one  of  the  early  pioneer  mills, 
and  in  the  amount  of  business  done  probably  exceeded 
all  others  in  the  township.  In  1830  the  old  dam  was 
removed  and  a new  one  built  of  stone.  The  great 
reservoir  was  increased  to  two  miles  in  length,  and 
covered  an  area  of  one  hundred  and  ten  acres  in  ex- 
tent. The  most  extensive  lumber  business  ever  carried 
on  in  this  part  of  the  county  was  the  result.  The  lum- 
ber was  drawn  through  North  Jackson  to  Lanesboro’ ; 
thence  to  Hale’s  Eddy,  where  it  was  rafted  and  floated 
down  the  Delaware  to  Philadelphia.  In  1847  the 
property  was  purchased  by  Elihu  Page.  The  mill 
had  been  burned  previous  to  this,  but  Mr.  Page  soon 
rebuilt  it,  and  the  extensive  business  was  continued 
by  him  for  many  years.  A lath  and  shingle-mill  were 
afterwards  added.  Another  dam  was  built  just  be- 
low, and  a large  factory  erected,  in  which  Mr.  A.  A. 
Hall  placed  improved  wood-working  machinery  and 
commenced  the  manufacture  of  bedsteads,  tables  and 
general  furniture.  He  also  made  coffins  and  carried 
on  the  undertaking  business.  The  factory  is  at  pres- 
ent owned  by  C.  S.  Page. 

In  June,  1855,  an  enormous  rain-storm  occurred, 
and  the  great  pond  being  already  hard  pressed,  the 
dam  suddenly  burst  asunder.  The  accumulated 
waters  rushed  down  the  valley  with  a frightful  roar. 


carrying  destruction  in  its  train.  Pouring  into  the 
large  pond  below,  now  owned  by  Rice  & Williams, 
it  swept  that  away  with  it,  piling  up  acres  of  logs  and 
drift-wood  along  its  path,  increasing  its  force  and 
power  by  the  further  addition  of  the  pond  where 
Moore’s  mills  now  are,  and  sweeping  away  every 
bridge  on  its  course,  descended  upon  the  slumbering 
village  of  New  Milford.  A swift  runner  had,  however, 
gone  before  it  and  warned  the  inhabitants  of  the  ap- 
proaching flood  in  time  for  them  to  prepare  for  the 
danger,  and  no  lives  were  lost.  The  dam  was  promptly 
repaired  by  Mr.  Page,  and  the  business  was  continued 
again  as  usual,  giving  an  impulse  and  activity  to  the 
place  which  was  soon  augmented  to  a busy  hamlet. 
For  many  years  the  Page  Pond  was  well  known  for 
twenty  or  thirty  miles  around  as  the  greatest  fishing 
resort  in  this  section  of  the  country.  In  the  summer 
of  1870  the  pond  was  drained  for  the  purpose  of  re- 
pairing the  dam,  when  about  three  tons  of  fish  were 
secured.  The  mill  property  was  purchased  a few  years 
since  by  Archibald  Hill ; and  the  great  reservoir  has 
been  drained  with  the  intent  of  converting  it  into 
farming  land. 

0.  P.  Tallman  came  from  Wayne  County,  Pa.,  in 
1853,  and  purchasing  the  Leonard  Corse  farm,  where 
Isaac  S.  Corwin  now  resides,  he  built  a blacksmith- 
shop,  where  he  carried  on  the  business  of  horse-shoe- 
ing and  general  blacksmithing  for  many  years.  The 
shop  is  now  run  by  William  S.  Tanner.  A store- 
building having  been  erected  by  Mr.  Page,  Theodore 
F.  Hen  wood  put  in  a stock  of  goods  and  commenced 
the  first  mercantile  business  in  the  place.  The  East 
New  Milford  post-office  was  established  August 
12,  1879,  Theodore  F.  Henwood  postmaster.  The 
place  now  contains  a post-office,  a store,  a black- 
smith-shop, a wagon-shop,  a harness-shop,  a furniture 
factory,  a very  excellent  temperance  hotel — the  “Rob- 
inson House  ” — opened  in  1885,  a school-house  and  a 
church,  which  will  be  spoken  of  more  at  length  in  its 
proper  place. 

A saw-mill  was  owned  at  an  early  day  by  Joshua 
McKune,  near  the  old  Harmony  road,  in  the  north- 
east corner  of  the  township.  Rufus  Walworth  built 
the  saw-mill  now  owned  by  Rice  & Williams,  and  for 
some  time  carried  on  an  extensive  lumber  business. 
Many  years  afterwards  it  was  rebuilt  by  Leonard 
Corse,  being  the  third  and  last  saw-mill  that  he  owned 
in  the  township.  Rice  & Williams  have  added  a 
corn  and  feed-mill. 

Jeremiah  Doud  came  from  Greenfield,  then  Luzerne 
County,  about  1845,  and  purchasing  the  Herman 
Baily  property,  built  a log  dam  and  saw-mill.  Two 
or  three  years  afterwards  he  built  a little  grist-mill 
just  above  the  present  site  of  Moon’s  mills,  in  a point 
now  covered  by  the  pond.  Shortly  after  bnilding  the 
present  grist-mill,  Mr.  Doud  sold  the  property  to  Ar- 
chibald Hill,  who  traded  it  with  Elias  Moore,  in  the 
spring  of  1865,  for  a farm  in  Lenox.  Mr.  Moore  re- 
paired the  saw-mill,  raised  the  grist-mill,  and  put  a 


628 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


stone  basement  underneath,  and  built  a large  over- 
shot wheel,  making  a firat-class  mill.  He  died  about 
1869,  and  the  property  passed  into  the  hands  of  Fer- 
dinand Whipple,  of  Brooklyn,  who  took  as  partners 
with  him  first  Steward  Mead,  and  afterwards  D.  A. 
Moon,  an  experienced  miller.  Elisha  Bell,  of  Hop- 
bottom,  finally  took  Mr.  Whipple’s  place,  and  the 
firm  was  changed  to  Bell  & Moon.  Later  L.  W.  Ten- 
nant purchased  Mr.  Bell’s  interest,  and  the  business  is 
now  conducted  by  Tennant  & liloon.  The  saw-mill  a 
mile  below  was  built  by  Leonard  Corse,  after  selling 
his  property  at  East  New  Milford,  and  years  after- 
wards was  purchased  by  Joel  Keep,  a prominent  lum- 
berman, who  died  here  in  1881,  at  the  age  of  seventy- 
one  years. 

Elias  Thomas  came  to  the  East  Lake  at  an  early 
day,  where  a saw-mill  was  erected,  and  more  or  less 
prime  lumber  manufactured.  He  was  succeeded  by 
N.  K.  Sutton,  who  came  from  the  Wyalusing  Valley  in 
the  spring  of  1852.  Mr.  Sutton  also  manufactured 
lath  and  shingles.  In  1864  he  put  in  a steam-engine. 
Increased  facilities  produced  a corresponding  increase 
in  production,  and  an  immense  amount  of  lumber  was 
turned  out  and  shipped  at  New  Milford.  But  a series 
of  disasters  was  now  about  to  take  place.  Three  or 
four  years  afterwards  the  mill  took  fire  and  was  con- 
sumed. It  was  promptly  rebuilt,  however;  but  on 
the  18th  of  April,  1871,  the  engine  blew  up,  destroy- 
ing the  motive-power  and  killing  the  engineer,  Barney 
Butterfield.  It  was  now  re-constructed  as  a water  jrower 
once  more,  but  shortly  afterwards  it  burned  again. 
Mr.  Sutton  next  purchased  the  Walworth  mill,  which 
had  been  built  just  over  the  line  in  Great  Bend  sev- 
eral years  previous,  but  this,  too,  shared  the  same  fate ; 
and  being  somewhat  discouraged  with  such  unsafe 
property,  he  retired  from  the  lumber  business  and 
removed  to  the  borough,  where  he  has  since  re- 
sided. 

One  of  the  first  steam  saw-mills  in  this  vicinity  was 
a portable  mill  brought  in  by  a Mr.  Wolcott,  and 
which  was  located  for  some  time  near  John  Bradford’s. 
Later  a steam  saw-mill  was  located  at  the  old  Moss 
mill,  about  a mile  east  of  the  borough.  The  pond, 
which  was  first  constructed  about  1833,  has  lately 
been  drained.  Mr.  Coi’bin  has  a steam-mill  on  the 
Highlands. 

The  enterprising  spirit  of  Calvin,  James  and  Ira 
Summers,  sons  of  the  fir.st  pioneer  in  the  township, 
early  rendered  Summersville  one  of  the  busiest  places 
in  this  locality.  The  first  grist-mill  proving  inade- 
quate on  account  of  the  uncertainty  of  the  water- 
Ijower,  a new  one  was  erected,  which  forms  part  of  the 
present  mill,  where  water  could  be  drawn  from  the 
Salt  Lick.  It  was  for  a long  time  kept  running  night 
and  day.  Even  then  it  was  crowded  to  its  utmost  ca- 
pacity to  supply  the  demand,  and  at  times  custom- 
work  accumulated  on  their  hands.  Ira  Summers  soon 
added  an  oil-mill,  which  was  attached  to  the  same 
building. 


The  carding-machine  and  woolen  factory  were  the 
first  establishments  of  the  kind  in  this  section,  and 
for  many  years  were  eminently  successful.  Years 
afterwards  the  business  was  carried  on  in  a separate 
building,  across  the  railroad  from  the  mill,  where 
three  power-looms  w'ere  added,  and  quantities  of  cloth 
manufactured.  There  was  also  added,  at  different 
times,  a glove  factory,  lathes  for  the  manufacture  of 
hoe  and  shovel-handles,  and  a plaster-mill,  which  at 
one  time  furnished  nearly  all  the  plaster  used  in  this 
part  of  the  county.  They  were  also  at  one  time  pro- 
prietors of  an  extensive  nursery,  and  many  of  the 
best  orchards  in  this  locality  were  originally  purchased 
here.  Such  enterprise  could  not  fail  to  impart  a pro- 
gre.ssive  influence  to  its  surroundings  ; and  a flourish- 
ing little  hamlet  sprang  up,  which,  in  business  ac- 
tivity, was  second  only  to  the  borough.  Calvin 
Summers  kept  a hotel  here  at  an  early  day,  and  often 
kept  droves  overnight.  Richard  Sutphin  and  John 
McKinstry  came  from  New  Jersey,  and  were  the  first 
to  establish  a store  here,  in  a building  erected  for  the 
purpose  by  Calvin  and  Ira  Summers.  Mr.  Sutphin 
married  Mary,  daughter  of  Calvin  Summers.  Some 
years  afterwards  he  purchased  over  five  hundred  acres 
of  valuable  pine  lands  in  this  section,  and  entered 
largely  into  the  lumber  business.  A store  has  been 
kept  here  most  of  the  time  since  it  has  been  first  es- 
tablished. After  Mr.  Sutphln’s  death  the  mercantile 
business  was  carried  on  for  some  time  by  David  Sum- 
mers, and  then  by  Benjamin  Sabin,  who  finally  re- 
moved to  Susquehanna,  and  became  the  proprietor  of 
the  “ Cascade  House.” 

Shortly  after  the  close  of  the  war  the  mills  were  pur- 
chased by  Nicholas  Shoemaker.  A saw-mill  was 
added  to  the  grist-mill,  where  cars  could  be  loaded 
without  hauling  the  lumber,  and  an  extensive  business 
was  carried  on  for  some  time.  The  business  is  now 
conducted  by  his  son,  G.  A.  Shoemaker.  A steam- 
engine  has  lately  been  added,  and  it  now  commands 
both  steam  and  water-power.  Calvin  Summers  died 
in  1851,  James  in  1873,  and  Ira  a few  years  later.  In 
the  fall  of  1862  David  Summers,  son  of  Ira  Sum- 
mers, was  elected  sheriff.  He  is  at  present  engaged 
in  the  banking  business  at  New  Milford,  the  firm- 
name  being  Summers  & Hayden.  Daniel  McMillan 
early  established  a wagon-shop  at  Summersville, 
where  he  continued  to  reside  nearly  all  his  days. 
Elliot  Aldrich  came  to  the  active  little  hamlet  from 
Gibson,  and  established  a blacksmith-shop  about  1844. 
Mr.  Aldrich  was  not  only  an  excellent  workman,  but 
he  was  an  unusually  well-informed  man  in  regard  to 
ownship  and  legal  matters,  and  was  engaged  in  pub- 
lic business  more  or  less  nearly  all  his  lifetime.  He 
settled  many  estates,  was  a man  that  was  much  looked 
to  for  counsel,  and  was  justice  of  the  peace  for  many 
years. 

Schools  and  Teachers. — The  first  school-houses 
in  the  township  were  exceedingly  primitive,  and  situ- 
ated at  long  distances  apart.  One  of  the  earlier 


NEW  MILFORD. 


629 


houses  was  located  near  Mr.  Doolittle’s,  at  the  corners 
of  the  road  on  the  hill,  west  of  the  present  place  of 
Perry  Harding’s.  There  was  much  woods  to  go 
through  in  those  days,  and  wild  animals  were  often 
seen.  Mrs.  Van  Fleet  remembers  seeing  a wolf  at 
one  time  running  about  the  lot  near  the  school-house, 
and  Horace  Summers  remembers  seeing  five  cross  the 
road  near  the  Sand  Bank,  just  below  the  borough, 
where  the  little  school-house  stood  that  then  accom- 
modated both  Summersville  and  New  Milford.  It  was 
afterwards  removed  to  a spot  near  the  cemetery,  where, 
many  years  later,  it  was  occupied  by  Mr.  Bertholf.  A 
house  was  built  at  the  Meylert  Corners,  another  at 
the  Moxley  Corners,  and  somewhat  later,  another  on 
the  hill  near  where  Lincoln  Hall  settled.  The  first 
school-house  in  the  “East  Woods  Settlement”  was 
constructed  of  logs,  at  the  foot  of  the  hill,  below  the 
present  poor  asylum,  and  near  the  bridge  across  the 
Salt  Lick  Creek.  This  was  succeeded  some  years 
afterwards  by  the  “ Old  Red  School-House,”  famous 
for  singing  and  spelling-schools,  exhibitions,  debates 
and  meetings. 

In  the  earlier  history  of  the  schools  of  New  Mil- 
ford there  was  no  school  law  and  no  public  money 
for  building  purposes.  The  settlers  took  charge  of 
the  whole  matter  with  interest,  and  went  to  work  as 
though  they  meant  business.  When  it  was  decided 
that  a school-house  was  needed,  an  appointment  was 
made  for  a “bee”;  and  when  the  settlers  arrived, 
with  active  hands  and  willing  hearts,  the  ground  was 
cleared  and  fixed,  and  entering  the  woods  with  their 
axes,  timber  was  selected,  cut  and  hewed,  lumber 
and  stone  were  hauled  to  the  spot,  and  the  building 
was  completed  by  work  and  contribution.  Of  course, 
they  were  somewhat  rude  when  compared  with  our 
modern  school  buildings,  and  many  inconveniences 
had  to  be  put  up  with  that  pupils  of  the  present  day 
will  never  experience  ; but  they  served  their  purpose, 
and  despite  the  many  obstacles  to  be  met,  our  grand- 
fathers recall  many  happy  days  they  passed  in  those 
primitive  school-rooms,  while  learning  to  read,  write 
and  cipher.  Pupils  read  in  the  Testament  and  old 
old  English  reader,  and  learned  to  spell  from  the 
Webster  spelling-book.  The  smaller  pupils  read  in 
the  spelling-book.  As  the  memory  of  our  older  people 
reverts  back  to  their  early  school-days,  they  recall  the 
story  of  “ The  Old  Man  and  the  Rude  Boy,”  whom 
he  found  in  one  of  his  apple-trees,  “ The  Milkmaid,” 
“ The  Two  Dogs,”  “ The  Fox  and  the  Swarm  of 
Flies,”  and  many  more. 

Prominent  among  the  early  teachers  were  Gurdon 
Darrow,  Dr.  L.  W.  Bingham,  Eli  Nichols,  Mary 
Phinney,  John  Phinney,  Miles  Dikeman,  Secku 
Meylert  (who  taught  the  first  school  at  the  Meylert 
Corners)  Harry  Leach,  (Polly  Mitchell,  afterwards 
the  wife  of  Calvin  Wellman,)  and  Joshua  Phinney. 
Among  the  many  more  recent  teachers  were  Joshua 
W.  Walker,  a very  accurate  and  able  man  in  public 
business,  justice  of  the  peace  and  town  clerk  many 


years  ; W.  I.  Tinker,  now  in  Harford;  Levi  Rogers; 
Daniel  Hannah,  now  an  attorney  in  New  Milford; 
E.  C.  Baldwin  ; Armida  West,  now  the  wife  of  Lewis 
Inglet,  of  Le  Mars,  Iowa;  Ida  Everett,  now  the  wife 
of  Walter  Foster,  of  Gibson  ; Mr.  and  Mrs.  U.  B. 
Gillett ; Mary  Cantrell,  now  the  wife  of  Jared  Bar- 
rett; J.  S.  Gillen,  Bridgie  Honlihan,  W.  B.  Miller, 
Orlen  C.  Tingley,  Della  Sherwood  and  many  others. 

Churches  and  Sunday-Schools. — Although 
there  was  no  regular  organization  effected  for  many 
years,  the  settlers  met  for  worship  at  the  different 
dwellings,  often  coming  long  distances  over  rough 
log  roads,  with  oxen  and  sleds,  to  participate  in  the 
joys  of  an  evening  meeting,  and  listen  to  the  inspir- 
ing words  of  some  passing  minister.  On  the  11th  of 
February  1827,  a meeting  was  held  at  the  Moxley  school- 
house,  for  consultation  in  regard  to  the  regular  organi- 
zation of  a Baptist  Church.  Among  those  who  took  an 
active  part  in  forwarding  the  work  were  Daniel  Platt, 
Oliver  Tennant,  Allen  Tennant,  Robinson  Lewis, 
Francis  Moxley,  Asahel  Roberts  and  Secku  Meylert. 
Daniel  Platt  was  chosen  moderator,  and  Secku  Meylert 
clerk.  The  articles  of  faith  .being  read  and  adopted, 
it  was  agreed  to  send  to  the  churches  of  Bridgewater, 
Harford,  Eaton,  Great  Bend,  Jackson  and  Gibson, 
for  council ; and  that  Robinson  Lewis  should  answer 
for  the  church,  and  receive  the  hand  of  fellowship. 
The  council  meeting  took  place,  according  to  appoint- 
ment, on  the  22d  of  February,  Elder  Davis  Dimock, 
from  Bridgewater,  being  present.  Rial  Tower,  Darius 
Tingley,  Stephen  Harding  and  Jonathan  Smith, 
from  Harford ; Daniel  Platt,  Aden  Stilwill,  Otis 
Stearns,  Daniel  Tingley  and  Robert  Chandler,  from 
Jackson  and  Gibson  ; and  Deacons  John  Holmes  and 
Daniel  Lyon,  from  Great  Bend  ; Elder  James  Clark 
from  Choconut,  and  Elder  Elijah  Peck,  from  Mount 
Pleasant,  were  also  present.  Elder  Davis  Dimock, 
who  had  been  chosen  moderator,  gave  the  right  hand 
of  fellowship ; Elder  James  Clark  preached  from 
Ephesians  4 : 16;  and  the  New  Milford  Baptist 
Church  was  duly  constituted. 

Prominent  among  the  early  members,  many  will  re- 
member, in  addition  to  those  given  above,  the  names 
of  Gurdon  Darrow,  Jonathan  Moxley,  Deacon  Rich- 
ard Richardson,  Noah  Read,  Urbane  Darrow,  Seabury 
Perkins,  Abigail  Lewis,  Esther  Moxley,  Abigail  Mey- 
lei’t,  Polly  Wellman,  Flavia  Wellman,  Naomi  Belk- 
nap, Polly  Tennant,  Rosina  Stilwill  and  many 
others.  Meetings  were  held  in  school-houses  and 
private  dwellings  until,  in  1860,  a meeting  was  held  to 
consult  in  regard  to  building  a house  of  worship. 
The  design  was  carried  out,  and  on  the  15th  of  Janu- 
ary, 1851,  the  new  church  edifice  was  dedicated,  with 
an  appropriate  sermon  by  Rev.  D.  D.  Gray.  An  era  of 
prosperity  soon  followed,  and  many  new  members 
were  added  from  all  parts  of  the  township.  Great 
earnestness  was  manifested,  and  at  some  meetings 
eighty  or  ninety  members  were  present.  Spirited  re- 
vivals were  conducted  by  Elder  Francis  at  the  “ Red 


630 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


School-House”  and  at  Hall's  furniture  factory,  in 
East  New  Milford.  Elder  Lamb  and  Elder  J.  W. 
Parker  held  monthly  meetings  for  a year  or  two  at 
the  above-mentioned  school-house  some  years  later. 
Among  the  many  different  pastors  who  have  labored 
in  the  Baptist  Church  diligently  and  well,  we  notice 
the  names  of  Elders  James  Clark,  Holmes,  Jason 
Corwin,  D.  B.  Purinton,  D.  D.  Gray,  J.  B.  Worden, 
Nathan  Callander,  E.  A.  Francis,  Lamb,  Stearns  and 
O.  W.  Cook.  The  position  is  at  present  ably  filled 
by  Elder  Mallery. 

A Sabbath-school  has  nearly  always  been  carried 
on  in  connection  with  the  church,  in  which  hundreds 
of  children  and  young  people,  as  well  as  many  older 
ones,  have  received  religious  instruction.  The  excel- 
lent work  of  Superintendents  J.  W.  Walker  and  E.  W. 
Watson  has  borne  good  fruit. 

' The  Methodists  of  the  township  also  manifested  an 
active  interest  at  an  early  date.  Many  very  in- 
teresting meetings  were  held  in  the  rude  frontier 
dwellings,  beneath  the  shadows  of  the  sombre  forest 
in  the  “East  Woods,”  shortly  after  the  settlement. 
Enoch  Smith  labored  faithfully  as  class-leader  there 
and  elsewhere  from  1827  to  1840,  and  many  new 
members  were  added  to  the  growing  society.  No 
regular  minister  was  hired  the  year  round,  as  now, 
but  a regular  weekly  prayer-meeting  was  maintained 
with  much  earnestness,  and  homespun  woolen  dresses 
and  full-cloth  pants  did  not  hinder  them  from  being 
present  and  speaking  for  the  Saviour.  Though  the 
number  of  adherents  was  not  large,  most  of  them 
w'ere  faithful  laborers  in  the  vineyard,  and  the  organ- 
ization was  countenanced  and  sustained  as  it  strug- 
gled on  to  prosperity.  Nathaniel  Lewis  was  local 
preacher  here  in  1827  and  1828.  Revs.  Henry  Peck 
and  George  Evans  preached  occasionally  at  about  the 
.same  time.  Revs.  E.  M.  Tenny,  Wm.  Bradley,  P.  G. 
White  and  Thomas  Wilcox  preached  here  from  1838 
to  1840.  I.  M.  Snyder  and  George  Peck  were  then 
presiding  elders  of  the  Oneida  Conference. 

Solomon  Williams  was  for  many  years  one  of  the 
most  active  and  influential  members.  When  the 
Methodist  Church  at  New  Milford  was  built  it  be- 
came a central  point  for  all  to  meet  for  divine  ser- 
vice; still,  meetings  were  held  occasionally  at  the 
distant  school-houses,  and  the  revival  meetings  at  the 

Red  School-House,”  conducted  by  Revs.  Severson 
and  Elwell,  are  well  remembered  by  most  people  in 
that  vicinity.  Gilbert  Williams  and  0.  P.  Tallman 
became  very  active  members  in  the  eastern  part  of 
the  township,  and  finally  arrangements  were  made  to 
have  meetings  at  New  Milford  in  the  morning  and  at 
East  New  Milford  in  the  afternoon,  the  same  minister 
•conducting  both  services.  Rev.  R.  J.  Kellogg  was  the 
first  minister  under  the  new  arrangement.  Meetings 
were  regularly  held  in  a little  building  constructed 
for  a Good  Templars’  Hall,  near  Rice  & Williams’ 
pond.  They  were  afterwards  removed  to  the  East 
New  Milford  school-house. 


On  the  15th  of  March,  1883,  a building  committee, 
consisting  of  T.  J.  Tallman,  Rodman  Morse,  Edson 
Williams,  Joseph  Rice  and  C.  S.  Page,  were  chosen 
to  erect  a church.  They  let  the  contract  to  C.  S. 
Page  at  ten  hundred  and  seventy-five  dollars.  The 
church  was  dedicated  November  15,  1883.  Presiding 
Elder  J.  G.  Eckman,  assisted  by  the  pastor,  J.  L. 
Race,  and  several  of  the  former  pastors,  conducted 
the  dedicatory  services.  The  church  property  is  now 
estimated  at  two  thousand  five  hundred  dollars. 

A flourishing  Sunday-school  has  always  been  con- 
nected with  the  church,  which  in  later  years  has  been 
ably  conducted  by  Superintendent  C.  S.  Page.  A 
union  Sunday-school  has  been  held  at  intervals  more 
or  less  during  summer  seasons  at  the  Asylum  School- 
house,  formerly  the  “ Red  School-House.”  Among 
the  different  superintendents  who  have  conducted 
schools  there  are  Rev.  John  Green,  Elias  Moore, 
William  Tinker  and  Stephen  D.  Williams.  Sabbath- 
schools  have  been  conducted  at  intervals  in  the  var- 
ious school-houses  throughout  the  township. 

New  Milford  Poor-Hovse. — The  New  Milford 
Poor-House  issituated  on  the  Jackson  road,  two  miles 
east  of  the  borough.  The  farm  consists  of  ninety-six 
acres,  which  was  originally  settled  by  Jacob  Hartt, 
and  long  afterwards  known  as  the  Ansel  Perkins 
farm.  It  was  purchased  of  Jeremiah  Baldwin,  to- 
gether with  the  stock  upon  it,  for  four  thousand  five 
hundred  dollars,  and  the  institution  was  opened  in 
the  spring  of  1871.  It  is  conducted  by  three  com- 
missioners, elected  by  the  people  of  the  township, 
one  being  elected  annually  to  serve  three  years. 
They  meet  on  the  premises  on  the  first  Saturday  of 
each  month.  The  accounts  are  audited  annually, 
and  a report  made  to  the  court.  An  executive  ofiicer 
or  steward  is  hired  each  year  to  take  charge  of  the 
inmates  and  carry  on  the  work. 


CHAPTER  XLII. 

^NEW  MILFORD  BOROUGH. 

New  Milford  Borough  is  pleasantly  situated  on 
an  extensive  flat  near  the  centre  of  New  Milford 
township,  at  the  confluence  of  the  branches  of  the 
Salt  Lick  Creek.  It  is  neatly  laid  out,  and  surrounded 
hy  all  the  natural  advantages  that  an  enterprising 
place  could  desire,  and  for  three-quarters  of  a century 
it  has  been  justly  celebrated  as  one  of  the  most  beau- 
tiful towns  in  Northern  Pennsylvania.  The  village  is 
over  a mile  in  length,  almost  a dead  level,  and  con- 
tains two  parallel  streets  the  whole  length,  straight  as 
a line  can  be  run.  In  places  three  or  four  streets 
have  been  opened.  Cross-streets  have  been  con- 


1 By  Jasper  T,  Jennings. 


NEW  MILFORD. 


631 


structed  at  convenieut  distances,  forming  neat  and 
well-arranged  squares.  Main  Street,  which  originally 
formed  a section  of  the  old  Newburg  turnpike,  is  a 
spacious  thoroughfare,  lined  with  ample  sidewalks 
and  rows  of  maple  trees,  and  forms  one  of  the  hand- 
somest avenues  to  be  met  with  in  this  section  of  the 
country.  New  Milford  is  situated  midway  between 
the  two  most  important  boroughs  in  the  county — 
Montrose  and  Susquehanna — being  nine  miles  from 
each.  By  railroad  it  is  twenty  miles  from  Bingham- 
ton, six  from  Great  Bend,  fifteen  from  Hopbottom 
and  forty-two  from  Scranton.  In  a commercial  sense 
its  facilities  are  among  the  best  afibrded,  and  it  has 
long  been  a central  shipping-point  for  a number  of 
surrounding  townships.  It  became  an  incorporated 
borough  in  1859.  The  following  are  its  dimensions  : 
‘‘  Beginning  at  a stone  corner  in  the  north  line  of  the 
Hayden  farm  ; thence  by  said  north  line,  south  87  de- 
grees and  39  minutes  east,  84  rods  to  stones  ; thence 
south  4 degrees  east,  532  rods  to  stones  ; thence  north 
87  degrees  and  30  minutes  west,  234  rods  to  stones ; 
thence  north  14  degrees  and  30  minutes  east,  527  rods 
to  the  place  of  beginning.”  Its  length  is  therefore 
about  one  and  two-thirds  miles,  and  its  average 
breadth  about  half  a mile,  its  shortest  line,  eighty- 
four  rods,  being  on  the  north  end. 

Early  Settlement. — In  1789  Jedediah  Adams, 
from  the  settlement  at  Great  Bend,  came  to  this  place 
in  company  with  a surveying  party  in  the  employ  of 
a Philadelphia  land-holder,  and  being  favorably  im- 
jrressed  with  the  extensive  flat  he  resolved  to  settle 
here.  Hastily  constructing  a rude  cabin  near  the 
present  site  of  the  Eagle  Hotel,  he  moved  into  the 
unbroken  wilderness  and  commenced  the  first  chop- 
ping between  Great  Bend  and  Brooklyn.  At  that 
time  there  was  a primitive  bark  cabin  standing  under 
the  great  trees  where  Charles  Pratt’s  residence  now 
is,  made  for  the  occasional  accommodation  of  an  old 
hunter  and  trapper  by  the  name  of  De  Vaux.  He 
had  dug  a well  justacross  the  present  road,  near  where 
the  hotel  now  stands,  but  he  had  done  no  clearing 
and  made  no  attempt  toward  a settlement.  He  soon 
went  away,  and  Mr.  Adams  and  his  wife  were  left 
alone  in  the  solitary  depths  of  the  great  wilderness. 
In  the  fall  of  1790  he  returned  to  Great  Bend. 

Robert  Corbett,  from  near  Boston,  Mass.,  came, 
with  his  family,  in  1790,  and  located  on  the  place  the 
hunter  had  vacated.  He  was  a man  of  great  energy 
and  determination,  and  such  a man  the  time  and 
situation  demanded.  A snug  log  house,  with  a great 
stone  chimney,  was  erected,  and  soon  the  forest  was 
resounding  with  the  measured  strokes  of  the  settler’s 
axe.  Quite  a clearing  shortly  appeared  as  the  result 
of  his  labors,  surrounded  by  a log  fence,  and  a good 
crop  of  grain  was  grown  among  the  blackened 
stumps.  He  lived  here  for  four  years,  with  no  neigh- 
bors nearer  than  Great  Bend,  and  nothing  but  marked 
trees  to  guide  him  through  the  deep  woods.  Game 
was  abundant,  but  Robert  Corbett  was  no  hunter  ; he 


was  a settler  in  the  truest  sense  of  the  word,  and  all 
his  energies  were  bent  to  cutting  away  the  forest  and 
enlarging  his  clearing.  His  son,  Warner  Corbett, 
died  here  in  March,  1795,  at  the  age  of  seven  years. 
This  was  probably  the  first  funeral  in  the  settlement. 
It  must  truly  have  been  a sad  event.  Their  own 
family  and  Benjamin  Hayden’s,  who  had  recently 
married  a sister  of  the  dead  child,  with  the  family  of 
David  Summers  at  Summerville,  were  all  the  settlers 
in  the  great  woods  for  many  miles  around.  Loving 
hands  and  nearest  friends  had  much  of  the  sad  rites 
to  perform. 

For  a long  time  there  were  no  roads  except  those 
cut  through  the  woods  without  working,  being  what 
we  would  now  call  log  roads;  but,  in  1799,  a road 
was  granted  from  Corbett’s  house  to  Solomon  Mill- 
ard’s, in  what  is  now  Lenox  townshijr.  Previous  to 
this  the  old  road  from  Great  Bend  to  Mount  Pleas- 
ant had  been  partly  cut  through.  In  1801  Mr.  Cor- 
bett’s name  appears  on  the  list  of  taxables  as  “ Inn- 
keeper but  shortly  afterwards  he  sold  his  property 
here  to  Christopher  Longstreet,  from  New  Jersey,  and 
removed,  with  two  of  his  sons,  Sewell  and  Cooper,  to 
the  mouth  of  Snake  Creek,  where  they  became  the 
founders  of  Corbettsville.  His  son,  Asaph,  remained 
in  the  settlement  at  New  Milford,  and,  about  1802, 
built  the  first  framed  house  in  the  place,  on  land  long 
occupied  by  Henry  Burritt  as  a garden.  It  was  built 
with  heavy  timbers,  like  all  framed  buildings  of  those 
days,  and  was  well  calculated  to  stand  the  rav- 
ages of  time.  It  formed  the  temporary  residence  of 
several  of  the  early  pioneers,  and  was  finally  removed 
to  the  bank  of  the  Moss  Pond  Creek,  where  it  crosses 
Main  Street,  and  where  now,  after  the  lapse  of  eighty 
years,  it  forms  a part  of  the  residence  of  Charles 
Ward.  It  is  the  oldest  house  in  the  place. 

Benjamin  Hayden,  the  second  permanent  settler, 
came  from  Boston,  near  Bunker  Hill.  He  stopped 
awhile  at  Great  Bend  and  then  came  here,  single,  in 
March,  1794.  He  married  Ruby  Corbett,  and  rolling 
up  a log  house  near  the  present  residence  of  his  grand- 
son, William  Hayden,  he  took  his  bride  to  their  new 
pioneer  home.  The  little  cabin  stood  in  a wilderness 
of  stumps,  surrounded  by  the  tall,  open  forest;  but 
there  was  a path  through  the  woods  to  Mr.  Corbett’s, 
nearly  a mile  south  of  their  location,  and  a continua- 
tion of  the  same  to  Mr.  Summers’,  a mile  and  a half 
to  the  north,  in  the  direction  of  Great  Bend.  There 
were  no  stores  here  then,  and  the  nearest  mill  was  at 
Binghamton.  It  was  no  trouble  to  raise  grain,  but  it 
was  a troublesome  job  to  get  it  to  the  mill.  Meal  and 
flour  were  often  used  sparingly,  and  corn  was  some- 
times hulled,  or  parched,  and  pounded.  The  incon- 
veniences of  transportation  were  the  greatest  difficul- 
ties to  be  met  with.  The  woods  were  full  of  deer,  and 
venison  was  so  easily  obtained  that  only  the  hind- 
quarters were  commonly  used.  At  the  end  of  five  or 
six  years  Mr.  Hayden’s  clearing  had  been  consider- 
ably extended ; and  when  the  old  road  had  been  more 


632 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


eftectually  cut  through,  settlers  began  to  arrive  in  the 
vicinity.  Every  new-comer  was  hailed  with  delight. 
Early  in  1799  Andrew  Tracy,  Esq.,  came  through  here 
with  his  family  on  his  journey  from  Connecticut  to 
the  Brooklyn  settlement;  his  horses  being  jaded  and 
worn  with  twenty-eight  days  of  travel  over  the  rough, 
uneven  roads,  Mr.  Hayden  took  his  oxen  and  kindly 
helped  them  on  their  w’ay  through  Harford  to  the 
little  border  clearing.  At  Martin’s  Creek  they  were 
met  by  Mr.  Joseph  Chapman,  who  had  preceded  them 
to  the  settlement,  and  who  guided  them  through  the 
great  woods  to  their  new  home,  carrying  in  his  arms 
the  infant  daughter,  who  was  destined  to  become  the 
mother  of  the  eight  “ Hayden  Brothers.”  Samuel 
Hayden,  father  of  Benjamin,  had  located  towards 
Great  Bend,  Benjamin  Doolittle  on  the  hill  to  the 
west,  and  the  Leaches  and  Hunts  to  the  south;  and,' 
■as  the  century  closed,  the  ring  of  the  woodsmen’s  axe 
and  the  welcome  sounds  of  human  voices  were  heard 
daily  on  every  hand.  Although  long  distances  inter- 
vened between  them,  they  often  used  to  visit  at  each 
other’s  houses  during  pleasant  moonlight  nights,  re- 
gardless of  the  danger  of  being  followed  by  wolves 
and  other  wild  animals,  and  many  happy  evenings 
were  thus  passed  despite  their  inconvenient  surround- 
ings. A common  condition  of  toil,  trial  and  privation 
forbade  all  haughtiness  and  ridicule,  and  made  them 
a worthy  band  of  brothers  and  sisters  in  a common 
cause.  About  this  time  there  was  a panther’s  den 
among  the  ledges  on  the  rugged  hill-side,  northeast 
of  the  settlement,  and  those  fierce  animals  became  a 
terror  to  the  settlers.  Their  night  forays  were  com- 
mon, and  lambs,  sheep  and  pigs  were  often  carried 
away.  After  many  adventures  with  them  they  were 
eventually  exterminated. 

Benjamin  Hayden  died  in  1842,  at  the  age  of  sixty- 
seven.  He  lived  to  see  his  enterprising  efforts  re- 
warded, and  for  his  honesty  of  purpose  and  faithful 
performance  of  duty  he  has  ever  been  remembered. 
His  widow  died  in  1849,  age  seventy.  They  had 
but  one  son,  Warner  Hayden,  who  married,  in  1816, 
Sally,  daughter  of  Andrew  Tracy,  Esq.,  of  Brooklyn. 
At  that  time  there  was  only  one  dwelling  on  the  east 
side  of  the  road,  where  the  borough  now  is.  This  was 
near  where  the  old  Moss  store  stood  in  after-years, 
and  was  owned  by  Mr.  Adams.  Warner  Hayden  was 
a saddler  and  harness-maker,  and  carried  on  a 
successful  business  for  many  years.  He  died  in  1850, 
at  age  of  fifty-two.  His  widow,  a very  old  lady,  aged 
eighty-nine,  is  still  living  in  the  borough,  near  the 
spot  where  she  first  commenced  housekeeping.  They 
had  nine  children, — William,  John,  Tracy,  George, 
Mary,  Henry,  Andrew,  Benjamin  and  Marshall. 
Their  enterprises  in  connection  with  the  progress  of 
the  borough  will  be  noticed  further  on. 

About  1802  Colonel  Christopher  Longstreet,  an 
honored  Revolutionary  soldier,  came  from  New 
Jersey,  and  bought  Robert  Corbett’s  improvements. 
He  was  a very  influential  man  in  the  community. 


His  wife  died  here  in  1813,  at  the  age  of  seventy- 
three,  and  shortly  afterwards  he  moved  to  Great 
Bend.  A colored  man  popularly  known  as  “Old 
Prince,”  who  came  here  with  them,  remained  in  the 
settlement  until  his  death,  in  1816.  Upon  Colonel 
Longstreet’s  retirement  the  property  was  purchased  by 
Nicholas  McCarty,  who  increased  his  facilities  for 
keeping  and  feeding  the  hungry  throng  which  now 
began  to  pour  along  che  old  Newburg  turnpike,  and 
who  kept  a very  creditable  public-house  for  several 
years.  He  died  October  11,  1821,  aged  fifty-seven ; 
Lanah,  his  widow,  died  January  20,  1862,  at  the  ripe 
old  age  of  ninety  years.  During  the  latter  part  of  her 
life  she  lived  in  a small,  old-fashioned  house  near  the 
railroad  crossing,  west  of  the  Eagle  Hotel.  They 
had  four  children, — Benjamin,  who  settled  on  part  of 
the  estate,  and  built  a small  house  where  C.  M.  Shelp 
now  resides ; Leah,  who  became  the  wife  of  Isaac 
Warner,  and  lived  on  the  hill  west  of  the  borough ; 
Rachel,  who  became  the  wife  of  John  Boyle,  and  lived 
on  another  part  of  the  estate  ; and  Mary  Ann,  w’ho 
married  a man  by  the  name  of  King,  and  early  re- 
moved to  the  western  country. 

In  1806  William  Ward  and  his  young  wife  arrived 
in  the  settlement  from  Litchfield  County,  Conn. 
He  was  a brother-in-law  of  Benjamin  Doolittle, 
who  preceded  him  to  the  frontier  a few  years  previous, 
and  whose  glowing  accounts  of  the  thriving  settlement 
at  this  place  induced  him  to  make  New  Milford  his 
future  home.  They  occupied  a small  log  house 
near  the  present  site  of  the  Town  Hall.  Immediately 
upon  their  arrival  Mr.  Ward  entered  upon  the  com- 
mon duties  of  that  period,  chopping  a large  fallow 
where  the  depot,  steam-mill  and  adjoining  buildings 
have  since  been  erected.  Mrs.  Ward,  whose  maiden- 
name  was  Sally  Briggs,  came  from  the  midst  of 
refined  society  in  the  old  settled  town  of  Roxbury, 
Conn.,  and  the  sudden  change  to  life  in  the  back- 
woods  brought  many  lonesome  hours,  but  she  looked 
forward  with  hope,  lent  a helping  hand  wherever  she 
could,  went  about  her  daily  duties  cheerfully,  and 
never  a word  of  complaint  was  heard  from  her  lips. 

The  next  year,  1807,  they  were  joined  by  Deacon 
Ichabod  Ward,  father  of  William  Ward,  who  located 
nearly  opposite  the  present  Presbyterian  Church,  on 
a spot  long  occupied  in  after-years  as  the  beautiful 
garden  of  H.  Burritt.  A pear-tree,  planted  by  his 
hand,  long  survived  its  worthy  owner,  living  and 
flourishing  until  a few  years  since.  Deacon  Ward 
was  one  of  the  most  valued  members  of  the  Presby- 
terian Church,  and  it  was  mainly  through  his  earnest 
endeavors  that  an  organization  of  that  denomination 
was  thus  early  effected  and  maintained.  His  children 
were  William,  who  came  here  the  year  previous,  as 
already  stated ; Samuel,  much  younger;  and  three 
daughters,  one  of  whom  became  the  wife  of  Benjamin 
Doolittle,  one  Mrs.  Seba  Bryant,  and  the  other  Mrs. 
Uriah  Hawley.  After  making  quite  an  extensive 
clearing  William  Ward  removed  to  Mt.  Pleasant, 


NEW  MILFORD. 


633 


where  he  remained  for  several  years,  but  ultimately 
returning  to  New  Milford,  he  soon  became  one  of  the 
most  valued  citizens  of  the  growing  settlement.  In 
1834  he  was  commissioned  a justice  of  the  peace,  and 
for  a long  time  he  was  noted  for  his  honesty,  integrity 
and  ability  in  that  capacity.  He  was  many  years  the 
principal  agent  in  this  section  for  the  sale  of  the  lands  of 
the  Du  Bois  estate,  and  the  extensive  tracts  owned  by 
Meredith,  Bingham  and  Drinker.  It  has  been  said 
that  few  citizens  of  the  Salt  Lick  Valley  did  more  to 
develop  the  resources  and  contribute  to  the  prosperity 
of  Susquehanna  County.  “ To  great  perseverance 
and  untiring  industry  in  the  pursuit  of  business  he 
added  the  most  unqualified  kindness,  ever  extending 
to  rich  and  poor  a cheerful  hospitality.” 

He  had  ten  children, — Christopher  L.,  William  C., 
Peter,  James,  John,  Jack,  Augustus,  Charles,  a 
daughter  who  became  the  wife  of  D.  Dimock,  and 
another  who  became  the  wife  of  William  Post.  He 
died  at  the  old  Ward  homestead  October,  1849,  at  the 
age  of  sixty-four.  The  house  was  the  second  framed 
dwelling  in  the  place.  It  now  forms  a part  of  the 
residence  of  William  T.  Moxley.  Mrs.  Ward  after- 
wards became  the  wife  of  Joseph  Williams,  one  of 
the  pioneers  of  Bridgewater  township,  and  lived  to  the 
ripe  old  age  of  eighty-five.  She  died  in  August,  1872. 

The  following  incident  of  pioneer  life  is  related  by 
Miss  Blackman,  who  received  it  from  the  lips  of  the 
heroine  herself : 

“A  large  buck  was  one  day  chased  by  the  hunter’s  dogs  into  Mr 
Ward’s  clearing.  Samuel  Ward,  then  only  a lad  of  twelve  or  fourteen 
years,  who  was  living  with  his  brother,  seeing  the  animal  stumble  and 
fall,  immediately  sprang  and  caught  him  by  the  horns,  at  the  same  time 
calling  to  Mrs.  Ward  for  assistance.  Feeling  her  helplessness,  but,  with 
a true  woman's  courage  and  quickness  of  perception,  realizing  the  dan- 
gerous position  of  her  young  brother-in-law,  who  was  htruggling  to  pre- 
vent the  animal  from  regaining  his  feet,  she  hastened  to  unwind  the 
long-webbed  garters  she  wore,  and  with  them  speedily  succeeded  in 
tying  its  legs,  until  a neighbor,  who  happened  to  be  in  calling  distance, 
reached  them  and  cut  the  animal’s  throat.” 

'William  C.  Ward  was  a very  prominent  man  in 
New  Milford,  and  many  of  his  characteristics  resem- 
bled those  of  his  brother,  for  whom  he  was  agent  for 
the  sale  of  lands.  He  purchased  many  cattle  in  this 
section,  and  drove  them  in  droves  to  New  Jersey  and 
New  York;  and  much  of  his  life  was  spent  in  the 
mercantile  business.  His  charitable  disposition,  hon- 
esty and  sound  judgment  were  prized  by  the  people, 
and  offices  of  public  trust  were  continually  placed  in 
his  hands.  He  held  the  office  of  justice  of  the  peace 
for  more  than  thirty  years ; and  such  were  his  per- 
suasive arguments  in  settling  all  quarrels  and  disputes 
brought  before  him,  in  a satisfactory  manner  to  both 
sides  without  recourse  to  the  law,  that  he  earned  the 
title  of  “ Peacemaker,”  and  received  the  commenda- 
tion and  respect  of  all.  He  delighted  in  relieving 
suffering,  and  his  cheering  presence  often  brought  a 
ray  of  sunshine  to  dispel  the  gloom  of  poverty  in 
many  a home  in  times  of  sickness  and  trouble.  He 


died  February  24,  1871.  Mrs.  Ward  survived  her 
husband  several  years,  living  on  the  homestead,  in 
the  neat  residence  on  the  corner  opposite  the  Eagle 
Hotel,  now  owned  by  Charles  Pratt.  She  was  a sis- 
ter of  Mrs.  Burritt.  Their  children  were  Lewis,  who 
died  in  New  Milford;  William  T.,  now  in  the  West- 
ern country;  Eliza  Jane,  who  became  the  wife  of  C. 
S.  Bennett;  Sarah,  who  became  the  wife  of  George 
Weed ; Maria ; Caroline,  who  became  the  wife  of 
George  B.  McCollum ; and  George,  now  in  the  employ 
of  the  Delaware,  Lackawanna  and  Western  Railroad 
Company,  at  Great  Bend.  Charles  Ward,  brother  of 
William  C.  and  C.  L.  Ward;  is  at  present  the  only 
representative  of  the  Ward  family  living  in  the  place. 

Captain  Thomas  Dean,  from  Cornwall,  Conn.,  ar- 
, rived  in  the  New  Milford  settlement  in  1814,  and  lo- 
cated opposite  Benjamin  Hayden’s.  He  had  an  en- 
ergetic spirit,  and  he  labored  faithfully  for  the  good 
of  the  settlement.  His  daughter  became  the  wife  of 
Dr.  Bingham ; and  after  her  husband’s  death  Mr. 
Dean  passed  his  declining  years  with  her.  He  was 
blind  and  infirm  several  years  before  his  decease,  but 
he  was  ever  calm  and  resigned.  He  died  June  22, 
1870,  at  the  age  of  ninety -one. 

In  1817  an  especially  valuable  acquisition  was 
made  to  the  settlement  by  the  arrival  of  Dr.  Lemuel 
W.  Bingham.  He  possessed  a splendid  education, 
and  as  a physician  had  few  equals  in  this  section  of 
the  country.  His  practice  was  very  extensive  and 
successful,  and  continued  thus  without  interruption 
to  the  close  of  his  life.  During  his  early  practice  the 
roads  were  very  poor,  in  many  places  being  only 
passages  cut  through  the  woods;  and  his  long  jour- 
neys were  often  tedious,  lonesome  and  fatiguing  in 
the  extreme.  Many  times,  when  obliged  to  be  out  in 
the  night,  he  was  followed  by  wolves ; but  he  had  a 
stout  and  resolute  heart,  and  the  dangers  and  trials 
of  his  profession  did  not  deter  him  from  active  work. 

Among  the  prominent  arrivals  of  1818  were  those 
of  Albert  and  Gains  Moss,  from  Cheshire,  Conn. 
They  located  on  the  east  side  of  the  turnpike,  near 
the  present  site  of  the  Episcopal  Church.  Albert 
Moss  was  a shoemaker,  tanner  and  currier  ; and  being 
possessed  of  some  means  as  well  as  ambition  and  en- 
terprise, he  built  a small  tannery,  and  later  a store 
and  shop,  purchased  a considerable  tract  of  land,  and 
carried  on  quite  an  extensive  business.  A number  of 
hands  were  required  most  of  the  time  in  the  different 
fields  of  labor,  all  of  which  served  to  give  spirit  and 
activity  to  the  rising  town.  His  sons  were  Levi,  who 
lost  his  life  in  the  late  war ; Josiah,  who  moved  to  Ne- 
braska a few  years  since ; and  Albert,  who  still  resides 
in  New  Milford. 

Judge  John  Boyle  was  born  in  the  town  of  Bal- 
lybay.  County  Monaghan,  Ireland,  April  20,  1799. 
His  parents  were  people  who  possessed  a comfortable 
home  and  evinced  a wise  intelligence  by  giving  their 
children  the  advantages  of  a good  education.  His 
boyhood  and  early  youth  were  spent  at  his  father's 


For  Christopher  L.  Ward,  see  history  of  the  press, 

40 


634 


HISTOKY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


home,  but  a spirit  of  enterprise,  which  even  at  that 
early  date  led  many  to  seek  fortune  and  a home  in 
the  New  World,  induced  Mr.  Boyle,  at  the  age  of 
nineteen,  to  bid  adieu  to  friends  and  native  land,  and 
taking  passage  to  America,  he  landed  in  New  York 
in  September  1818.  Early  in  the  spring  of  1819  he 
came  to  New  Milford,  and  soon  afterwards  took  up  a 
farm  of  eighty  acres,  a portion  of  which  now  forms  an 
important  part  of  the  borough.  For  several  years  he 
devoted  his  time  to  clearing  up  and  improving  his 
farm,  and  to  agricultural  and  mechanical  pursuits,  he 
being  possessed  of  a trade  that  he  had  learned  before 


cal  surveyor,  and  after  his  death,  in  1821,  there  was 
no  one  to  take  his  place  until  about  1825,  when  Mr. 
Boyle,  having  a full  knowledge  of  the  theory,  com- 
menced the  practice  of  surveying,  which  he  continued 
successfully  for  many  years.  He  was  appointed 
county  surveyor  in  1839,  and  held  the  office  several 
successive  terms.  During  his  active  career  as  sur- 
veyor, he  surveyed  a large  portion  of  the  lands  in  this 
county,  and  his  services  were  often  called  for  in  ad- 
joining counties.  As  a surveyor,  he  was  noted  for 
his  accuracy  and  strict  impartiality.  In  politics  Mr. 
Boyle  was  identified  with  the  Democratic  party,  with 


coming  to  America.  Thus,  with  little  worldly  capi- 
tal, but  with  au  active  brain,  industrious  habits  aud 
a large  stock  of  energy  and  perseverance,  he  com- 
menced a career  of  business  activity,  destined  to 
leave  a lasting  impress  upon  the  town  of  his  adop- 
tion. 

In  1822  he  married  Rachel,  daughter  of  Nicholas 
and  Lanah  (Decker)  McCarty,  who  came  to  New 
Milford  in  1805,  and  purchased  the  farm  and  hotel  at 
the  Corners,  where  he  continued  to  reside  and  keep 
a public-house  until  his  death.  It  was  a noted  resort 
and  land  mark  for  travelers,  and  has  remained  a ho- 
tel to  the  Jpresent  day.  Mr.  McCarty  was  a practi- 


which  he  early  allied  himself.  He  was  a man  of  pos- 
itive convictions,  and  having  intelligently  weighed  a 
question  and  reached  a conclusion,  was  tenacious  of 
his  views.  In  1851  he  was  elected  an  associate  judge 
for  Susquehanna  County  for  five  years,  and  sat  on  the 
bench  with  Judge  Wilmot,  then  president  judge  of 
this  judicial  district.  He  also  took  a prominent  part 
in  the  local  affairs  of  his  town,  and  among  the  local 
offices  to  which  his  fellow-citizens  elected  him  was 
that  of  justice  of  the  peace,  which  he  filled  with  much 
ability  for  several  years.  In  his  religious  belief  Judge 
Boyle  was  an  exemplary  and  consistent  Roman  Catho- 
lic. He  was  the  first  Catholic  settler  in  the  county. 


NEW  MILFORD. 


635 


and  thus  became  the  sturdy  pioneer  of  the  faith  which 
lie  ever  manfully  upheld  and  earnestly  championed. 
His  amiable  wife  became  a convert  to  his  creed,  and 
together  they  reared  their  children  in  its  tenets. 
In  a few  years  other  Catholics  settled  in  the  countj', 
yet  it  was  a long  time  before  a priest  came  to  this 
section.  In  order  to  avail  himself  of  the  sacramental 
privileges  of  his  church,  he  was  obliged  to  go  to  Phil- 
adelphia, the  nearest  accessible  point.  Finally  a 
priest  was  sent  at  intervals  to  visit  Mr.  Boyle,  and  for 
a period  of  more  than  forty  years  Mass  was  celebrated 
and  other  religious  services  held  at  Mr.  Boyle’s  house. 
As  other  Catholics  moved  into  the  town,  the  congre- 
gation was  so  increased  that  a church  was  found  to 
be  necessary.  Judge  Boyle  not  only  deeded  a piece 
of  land  in  the  borough  for  this  purpose,  but  contrib- 
uted liberally  towards  its  erection,  and  the  Catholics 
of  New  Milford  consider  that  to  his  exertions  and 
liberality  they  are  largely  indebted  for  their  present 
place  of  worship.  And  not  alone  in  religious  matters 
did  his  liberality  find  expression  ; the  poor  and  op- 
pressed ever  found  in  him  a friend.  Patriotic  in  his 
love  for  the  land  of  his  adoption,  he  was  ever  solici- 
tous for  its  welfare  and  progress.  He  died  in  the 
centennial  year,  at  the  age  of  seventy-seven,  leaving 
behind  the  example  of  a life  full  of  busy  activity,  and 
a record  for  integrity  and  honorable  dealing  second 
to  none.  He  lies  buried  beneath  the  shadows  of  the 
little  church  he  loved  so  well,  his  amiable  and  loving 
wife  having  preceded  him  many  years  before,  dying 
at  the  age  of  forty-three,  and  leaving  a void  in  the 
household  never  afterwards  filled.  Their  children  are : 
Timothy  received  an  excellent  education,  and  became 
an  expert  surveyor  and  draughtsman.  In  1853  he  was 
elected  county  surveyor,  removed  to  Susquehanna, 
where  he  practiced  his  profession,  and  was  also  ex- 
tensively engaged  in  the  insurance  business.  He 
died  at  Susquehanna  in  1873,  aged  fifty  years.  Two 
children  survive  him.  Francis  W.  learned  the  car- 
riage-making trade  when  young.  He  afterwards  pur- 
chased the  “ Eagle  Hotel,”  which  he  conducted  for 
several  years,  and  was  postmaster  of  New  Milford 
from  1853  to  1861.  In  1862-65  he  was  engaged  in 
the  mercantile  business  at  Susquehanna.  He  was  ap- 
pointed by  President  Johnson  assistant  internal  rev- 
enue assessor,  which  office  he  held  for  two  and  one- 
half  years.  Returning  to  his  native  town,  he  erected, 
some  years  since,  a fine  residence  near  the  old  home- 
stead, where  he  now  resides.  He  has  been  a justice 
of  the  peace  for  the  last  ten  years.  He  has  been 
twice  married  and  is  the  father  of  ten  children,  three 
of  whom  are  deceased.  Benjamin  M.  learned  black- 
smithing  and  when  of  age  went  to  California,  where 
he  married  and  remained  ten  years.  He  then  re- 
moved to  Ottawa,  111.,  where  he  engaged  in  the 
mercantile  business,  which  he  has  successfully  con- 
tinued to  the  present  time.  He  had  eight  children, 
six  of  whom  are  still  living.  Sophia  J.  was  educated 
at  the  school  of  those  thoroughly  refined  ladies,  the 


Misses  White  and  Griffin,  of  Binghamton,  N.  Y. 
Before  completing  her  studies  she  was  summoned 
home  by  the  illness  and  death  of  her  mother.  She 
at  once  assumed  the  care  of  the  family,  and  remained 
her  father’s  housekeeper  until  his  death.  She  has 
never  married — is  now  residing  with  her  youngest 
brother.  Dr.  Boyle,  of  Susquehanna,  who  was  but 
three  years  of  age  when  the  mother  died.  Ann  Eliza 
was  also  educated  in  the  same  school  with  her  sister, 
in  Binghamton,  and  in  1861  entered  the  Convent  of 
the  Immaculate  Heart  of  Mary,  at  St.  Joseph’s,  and 
was  known  in  religious  life  as  Sister  Mary  Cephas. 
She  possessed  more  than  ordinary  abilities,  and  dur- 
ing her  short  life  in  the  convent  she  occupied  the  po- 
sition of  Superioress  for  a time  at  Pittston  and 
also  at  Lebanon,  Pa.  She  died  at  Reading  in  1867, 
aged  thirty-one  years,  and  her  memory  is  revered  by 
all  the  members  of  her  order.  John  C.  (1838-49). 
Henry  K.  (1843-74),  after  completing  his  education, 
at  the  age  of  nineteen,  went  to  Ottawa,  111.,  and  en- 
tered the  law-office  of  Bushnell  & Avery,  and  after 
completing  his  studies  was  admitted  to  the  bar.  He 
rapidly  ran  to  a high  rank  in  his  profession,  but  his 
untiring  energy  and  devotion  to  its  increasing  de- 
mands undermined  his  health,  and  in  the  summer  of 
1874  he  sought  the  genial  air  of  Southern  California, 
hoping  to  regain  it,  but  survived  only  a few  weeks 
after  reaching  there.  Alluding  to  his  death,  the 
Western  papers  thus  speak  of  him  : “ Hon.  Henry  K. 
Boyle  was  one  of  the  most  talented  young  men  that 
ever  lived  in  Ottawa,  and  was  universally  esteemed 
for  his  sterling  qualities  of  head  and  heart.  His  men- 
tal and  legal  attainments  were  of  a high  order,  and 
though  comparatively  a young  man,  only  thirty,  he 
occupied  a place  in  the  front  rank  with  the  ablest  law- 
yers in  the  State.”  He  was  mayor  of  Ottawa  several 
years,  and  in  1873  married  Linnie  Carton,  who,  with  a 
son,  survives  him.  Julius  J.  (1846)  commenced  the 
study  of  medicine  with  Dr.  D.  C.  Ainey  in  1864,  but 
the  following  year  went  to  Ottawa,  111.,  where  be 
continued  his  studies  with  Dr.  R.  M.  McArthur,  of 
that  city.  In  1864-67  attended  Rush  Medical  Col- 
lege, at  Chicago,  and  1868-69  completed  his  studies  at 
the  Buffalo  University,  New  York,  graduating  there- 
from and  receiving  his  diploma  in  1869.  He  located 
at  Ottawa,  and  for  five  years  successfully  practical 
his  profession,  and  during  that  time  was  elected 
health  officer  of  the  city.  His  health  becoming  im- 
paired, he  sought  the  mild  climate  of  California,  where 
he  remained  two  years.  Returning  to  Ottawa  with 
the  intention  of  resuming  his  practice,  he  soon  found 
that  its  malarial  atmosphere  was  too  much  for  his 
constitution,  and  he  decided  to  seek  the  pure  air  of  his 
own  native  hills  of  Susquehanna  County.  In  1872 
he  married  Miss  Cecelia  Killelea,  of  Ottawa,  111., 
and  has  two  children,  two  having  died  in  infancy. 
When  the  Medical  Examining  Board  for  Pensions 
was  established  in  this  county.  Dr.  Boyle  was  ap- 
pointed one  of  its  members.  A local  paper  thus 


636 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


speaks  of  him  : “ Dr.  Boyle  has  resided  in  Susque- 
hanna the  past  ten  years,  and  has,  by  reason  of  his 
conceded  skill,  secured  an  extensive  practice  and  at- 
tained distinction  in  his  profession.” 

James  Boyle,  brother  of  theabove-mentioned  pioneer, 
came  later  and  purchased  the  opposite  improvement 
of  Benjamin  McCarty,  lately  known  as  the  Whitlock 
property,  where  he  resided  until  his  death,  in  1857, 
aged  sixty.  He  was  a carpenter  by  ti-ade. 

The  land  throughout  the  valley  was  now  all  taken 
up,  and  the  clearings  of  the  different  settlers  were  all 
united  in  one.  A better  style  of  buildings  had  taken 
the  place  of  the  early  cabins  and  log  barns,  and 
though  the  wolves  were  still  heard  now  and  then  far 
back  in  the  woods,  and  an  occasional  wild-cat  was 
killed,  prosperity  began  to  prevail  in  the  settlement, 
and  the  light  of  a brighter  morning  began  to  dawn. 

' The  line  of  forest  was  gradually  pushed  back  to  the 
base  of  the  hills,  from  whence  they  sent  back  the 
jingling  echo  of  the  great  old-fashioned  sleigh-hells 
as  Captain  Leach  drove  through  with  his  spirited 
team,  or  others  passed  over  the  turnpike,  wrapped  in 
buffalo  robes  and  furs,  on  a pleasant  pleasure  drive  or 
on  their  way  to  some  distant  point  on  business. 

The  principal  days  of  amusement  were  the  Fourth 
of  July  and  the  military  parades,  or  “ Training  Days,” 
on  the  second  and  third  Mondays  in  May.  Many  of 
the  older  inhabitants  readily  recall  the  fun  and 
festivities  enjoyed  by  all  in  those  early  days,  when  the 
different  companies  assembled  at  an  early  hour  for 
the  duties  of  the  day,  when  the  participants  enjoyed 
their  work  and  the  spectators  were  happy  with  the 
entertainment.  Boys  and  young  people  regarded 
those  days  as  holidays,  and  their  approach  was  hailed 
with  pleasure  and  delight.  Peddlers  and  hawkers  met 
the  assembled  people  and  made  themselves  conspic- 
uous in  the  display  and  sale  of  their  wares.  Razors, 
knives  and  pencils  were  sold  cheap,  though  when 
tested  for  use  they  often  proved  dear  to  the  purchaser. 
The  boy  who  did  not  manage  to  secure  some  flashy 
articleon  thatday  considered  himself  very  unfortunate. 
Everything  was  enlivened  by  music,  and  rendered  gay 
by  scores  of  yards  of  red,  white  and  blue,  while  the 
quick  and  heavy  discharges  of  Harford  cannon  shook 
the  ground,  and  sent  its  angry  voice  roaring  through 
the  forest,  from  hill  to  hill,  like  the  deep-toned  notes 
of  thunder.  Mr.  Boyle  had  a small  cannon  which 
was  sometimes  used  on  those  occasions,  and  when  the 
trainings  were  held  at  Captain  Leach’s,  Berry  Well- 
man used  to  carry  it  up  there  on  his  back,  in  the 
morning  before  daylight,  for  the  fun  of  waking  up  the 
captain.  Many  who  belonged  to  these  early  military 
companies  here  will  remember  the  names  of  Captain 
De  Witt,  Captain  Brown,  Major  Avery,  Major  Ham- 
mond, Colonel  Bowman,  Colonel  Lusk  and  many 
more.  The  military  history  of  New  Milford  in  con- 
nection with  the  late  war  will  be  found  in  another 
place. 

Hotels. — The  first  hotel  in  the  place  was  kept  by 


Robert  Corbett  before  the  commencement  of  the  pres- 
ent century.  At  that  time  his  house  and  Benjamin 
Hayden’s  were  the  only  dwellings  in  the  place.  A 
son  of  Joshua  Sabin,  one  of  the  early  settlers  of 
Brooklyn,  speaks  of  going  through  the  woods  from 
Great  Bend  to  Corbett’s  tavern,  while  on  their  way  to 
Hopbottom,  in  1799,  and  of  seeing  a tame  elk  in  the 
inclosure  with  Mr.  Corbett’s  cattle.  In  the  barn  he 
saw  an  enormous  pair  of  elk’s  horns  standing  on  their 
points,  the  top  of  the  inverted  skull  of  which  was 
more  than  six  feet  from  the  floor.  Mr.  Sabin,  who 
was  five  feet  ten  inches  in  height,  took  off  his  hat 
and  passed  through  between  the  horns,  under  the 
skull,  which,  as  he  stood  erect,  just  touched  his  hair. 
At  that  early  day  guests  at  the  lone  tavern  were  not 
numerous,  but  with  the  cutting  through  of  the  roads 
the  number  rapidly  increased,  and  the  keeping  of  a 
public-house  soon  became  quite  a business.  In  1802 
or  1803  the  Corbett  property  was  purchased  by  Colo- 
nel Christopher  Longstreet,  who  continued  the  hotel 
business  for  several  years,  when  it  was  bought  by 
Nicholas  McCarty.  The  tide  of  western  travel  soon 
began  to  assume  vast  proportions,  and  the  line  of  the 
old  turnpike  presented  a busy  scene  in  the  constantly 
passing  throng.  Many  private  houses  were  turned 
into  hotels,  and  even  then  they  were  often  crowded 
with  guests.  Benjamin  Hayden  and  several  others 
were  at  length  obliged  to  open  taverns  to  meet  the 
demands  of  the  traveling  public.  “ McCarty’s  Cor- 
ners ” soon  became  a famous  stopping-place,  and  its 
barns  were  nightly  full  of  horses,  and  its  yards 
crowded  with  long,  white-covered  wagons  of  emi- 
grants. His  first  license  was  granted  by  the  Governor 
on  the  recommendation  of  the  court  of  Luzerne 
County,  January,  1807.  “ In  the  Name  and  by  the 
Authority  of  the  Commonwealth  of  Pennsylvania  ” 
the  right  was  given  to  sell  “ Rum,  Brandy,  Beer,  Ale, 
Cyder,  and  all  other  Spirituous  Liquors,”  but  he  was 
forbidden  to  “suffer  drunkenness, unlawful  gaming  or 
any  other  disorders.”  Later  the  property  was  owned 
by  Mr.  Boyle,  who  conducted  the  business  in  a cred- 
itable manner  for  some  years.  It  was  finally  pur- 
chased by  P.  Phinney,  by  whom  it  was  remodeled 
and  much  enlarged,  including  the  addition  of  a neat 
and  commodious  hall,  where  balls,. shows,  entertain- 
ments and  meetings  were  often  held,  and  the  “ Eagle 
Hotel  ” became  known  as  one  of  the  leading  public 
houses  in  this  part  of  the  country.  Though  perhaps 
contrary  to  the  true  intent  of  the  law,  the  elections  of 
the  township  have,  up  to  this  time,  always  been  held 
here.  Situated  midway  on  the  main  road  from  Sus- 
quehanna to  Montrose,  at  its  intersection  with  the  old 
Newburg  turnpike,  it  forms  a sort  of  half-way  house 
between  these  two  important  points,  and  receives  a 
fair  share  of  local  patronage.  A good  livery  is  also 
connected  with  the  hotel,  and  a free  bus  meets  all 
day  and  evening  passenger  trains.  It  is  one  of  the 
oldest  public-houses  in  Susquehanna  County. 

The  “Jay  House”  was  originally  built  by  F.  F. 


NEW  MILFOKD. 


637 


Badger.  Its  history  does  not  go  back  as  far  as  the 
“ Eagle  Hotel,”  though  its  earlier  days  were  soon 
enough  to  witness  a host  of  travelers  along  this  main 
thoroughfare,  that  had  not  yet  taken  to  the  railway. 
It  was  constructed  somewhat  like  the  present  “ Eagle 
Hotel,”  with  a hall  attached,  and  was  conducted  in  a 
similar  manner.  A good  picture  of  this  house  was 
given  on  the  right-hand  upper  corner  of  the  old 
county  map,  published  in  1858.  It  was  then  known 
as  the  “New  Milford  Valley  Hotel,”  E.  Barnum,  pro- 
prietor. Some  time  afterwards  the  business  was  con- 
ducted by  a man  by  the  name  of  Todd,  later  by  Wm. 
Smith,  and  ultimately  the  property  was  purchased  by 
William  Jay.  It  was  destroyed  by  the  great  fire  in 
the  spring  of  1883,  but  was  at  once  rebuilt  on  a much 
larger  scale,  commensurate  with  the  increasing  busi- 
ness of  the  place.  It  is  a three-story  edifice,  conve- 
niently arranged,  with  all  the  modern  improvements, 
and  in  regard  to  size  may  be  classed  with  the  largest 
hotels  in  the  county.  It  is  located  in  the  centre  of 
the  town,  on  Main  Street,  near  the  depot,  and  as  a 
public-house  bears  an  excellent  reputation.  It  is  at 
present  conducted  by  Charles  Jay. 

The  “ Delaware  House  ” is  a recent  institution  es- 
tablished near  the  depot  by  M.  J.  Crane. 

Eaely  Stores,  Shops,  Mills,  etc. — For  sev- 
eral years  after  the  first  settlement  of  New  Milford 
there  were  no  stores  kept  in  the  place,  and  the  set- 
tlers were  obliged  to  go  long  distances  over  rough 
roads  to  obtain  the  few  necessary  goods  they  could 
not  get  along  without.  Sometimes  one  of  their  num- 
ber went  to  Binghamton,  which  was  at  that  time  lit. 
tie  more  than  a thriving  frontier  settlement,  or  to 
Wilkes-Barre,  which  was  then  the  county-seat,  tak- 
ing with  them  a load  of  produce,  and  the  required 
purchases  were  made.  But  as  new  settlers  were  ar- 
riving every  year,  it  soon  became  evident  that  this 
lovely  valley  was  destined  to  become  a grand  central 
point  for  the  whole  surrounding  region,  and  a proper 
place  to  establish  a mercantile  business.  The  first 
store  in  the  place  was  opened  by  William  Ward  in 
1815,  and,  though  he  kept  but  few  goods  for  sale,  and 
those  chiefly  confined  to  staple  articles,  it  was  looked 
upon  by  young  and  old  as  a wonderful  institution. 
At  one  time,  before  commencing  his  practice  as  a 
physician.  Dr.  Bingham  tended  store  for  him.  From 
the  first  it  seemed  to  be  a success,  but,  like  all  suc- 
cessful enterprises,  it  did  not  remain  long  without  op- 
po.sition.  Before  the  close  of  the  first  year  James 
Edmunds  and  Captain  Dean  opened  a store  in  one  of 
the  Hayden  rooms,  which  was  afterwards  removed  to 
the  old  red  house  near  the  lower  end  of  the  settle- 
ment, and  within  the  next  five  years  two  or  three 
more  little  stores  were  established ; most  of  them  did 
not  prove  to  be  permanent  institutions. 

About  1821  Henry  Burritt  arrived  in  the  settle- 
ment from  Newtown,  Conn.  He  was  at  this  time  a 
young  man  of  twenty-one.  He  formed  a partnership 
with  Harvey  Grifiing,  who  had  lately  come  from 


Guilford,  in  the  same  State,  and  a small  store  was  at 
once  opened  in  a part  of  the  residence  now  occupied 
by  William  T.  Moxley.  In  1824  the  firm  of  Grifiing 
& Burritt  was  mutually  dissolved,  and  each  continued 
the  business  separately.  A short  time  afterwards  Mr. 
Burritt  purchased  part  of  the  McKenzie  farm  and 
built  a store  of  his  own,  where  he  continued  to  do 
business  all  his  life.  The  dwelling,  a large  framed  one, 
had  already  been  built  by  Mr.  McKenzie. 

In  those  days  the  most  costly  part  of  mercantile 
business  was  the  transportation.  Goods  had  to  be 
hauled  all  the  way  from  Newburg  by  horses  and  wag- 
ons. This  slow  and  tedious  process  made  goods  very 
high ; but  it  furnished  work  for  a small  army  of  men 
that  are  now  obliged  to  seek  employment  in  some 
other  field  of  labor.  Mr.  Burritt  was  engaged  in  the 
mercantile  business  longer  than  any  other  man  in 
New  Milford.  He  opened  one  of  the  pioneer  stores 
and  continued  the  business  nearly  sixty  years,  wit- 
nessing, in  the  meantime,  the  progress  of  the  place 
from  a few  scattering  houses  to  a flourishing  borough 
of  nearly  a thousand  inhabitants.  In  all  of  his  business 
transactions  he  was  always  very  exact,  strictly  honest 
and  competent.  He  died  October  9,  1878,  in  the  sev- 
enty-ninth year  of  his  age.  His  widow  died  in  1882, 
in  her  eighty-first  year.  Their  daughter  Mary  became 
the  first  wife  of  Dr.  L.  A.  Smith ; Eliza  became  the 
wife  of  a Mr.  Lea,  and  went  to  Binghamton.  During 
his  long  mercantile  career  Mr.  Burritt  had  many  dif- 
ferent clerks,  several  of  whom  are  well  remembere  I 
by  older  residents  of  this  vicinity.  Prominent  on  the 
list  are  the  names  of  Ira  Scott,  John  Badger,  Lucien 
Leach,  I.  S.  Little,  Lewis  McMillan  and  Samuel 
Moss.  The  last  mentioned  conducted  his  business 
many  years,  and  after  his  death  continued  his  calling 
for  some  time  in  the  same  building.  He  removed  to 
the  brick  store  that  he  now  occupies  in  1880,  and 
opened  a dry-goods  and  clothing-store. 

Warner  Hayden  opened  a store  in  1827.  The  firm- 
name  was  afterwards  changed  to  Hayden  & Ward, 
“merchants  and  inn-keepers.”  In  1832  William  Ward 
and  son  were  in  partnership.  A small  store  building 
was  erected  near  the  present  site  of  the  town  hall, 
and  for  a number  of  years  business  was  continued 
here.  Later  the  building  was  removed  to  the  McCarty 
Corners,  near  the  present  residence  of  Charles  Pratt, 
where  AVilliam  C.  Ward  located  and  kept  a store  many 
years.  His  sons,  Lewis  and  William  T.,  were  active 
and  efficient  clerks.  After  their  retirement  the  posi- 
tion was  for  a time  filled  by  George  B.  McCollum. 

Among  the  enterprising  merchants  of  this  place 
was  C.  C.  AVright.  He  opened  a store  in  the  building 
afterwards  occupied  by  the  Haydens,  and  at  once  in- 
augurated a new  era  in  trade  and  prices.  He  had  for 
his  clerk  C.  S.  Bennett.  Albert  Moss  established  a 
store  at  an  early  day  near  the  Episcopal  Church, 
which  was  conducted  for  some  years  by  his  sons, 
Albert  and  Josiah.  Years  afterwards  a general  store 
was  reopened  in  the  same  building  by  his  grandson. 


G38 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


W.  L.  Moss.  The  building  has  lately  been  remodeled, 
and  is  now  used  as  a private  residence.  Blacksmith- 
ing,  of  course,  became  one  of  the  early  necessities  in 
the  settlement,  but  for  a limited  time  there  was  not  a 
sufficient  amount  of  work  to  demand  a tradesman,  and 
the  sturdy  pioneers  managed  to  do  their  own  work. 
One  of  the  first  regular  blacksmith’s  shops  in  the 
place  was  built  by  Deacon  Ichabod  Ward  on  the  spot 
where  Burritt’s  shed  was  afterwards  built.  After  Mr. 
^Vard’s  death,  Roderick  McKenzie  put  up  a black- 
smith’s shop  near  where  the  town  hall  now  is.  He 
furnished  the  stock  and  Jacob  Hartt  did  the  work. 
Afterwards  a blacksmith’s  shop  was  built  by  Amos  A. 
Brant  on  the  corner  near  the  Episcopal  Church, 
where  the  business  was  successfully  carried  on  for 
many  years.  Other  shops  were  erected  by  different 
parties,  as  the  progress  of  the  place  demanded,  and 
the  principal  part  of  the  work  of  the  surrounding  set- 
tlements soon  centred  here. 

A shoe-shop  was  early  established  here  by  Albert 
Moss,  and  boots  and  shoes  were  made  and  mended. 
The  business  was  also  carried  on,  more  or  less,  in 
other  places.  Mr.  Moss  also  built  the  first  tannery  in 
the  place,  and  tanned  his  own  leather.  It  was  small, 
but  it  served  the  purpose  for  the  time,  and  as  his 
means  and  business  increased,  he  built  a larger  estab- 
lishment with  a stone  basement.  Superior  work  was 
now  done,  and  with  increased  facilities  the  tanning 
and  currying  business  was  carried  on  quite  extensive- 
ly. The  recollections  of  many  among  us  revert  back 
in  happy  memory  to  the  days  when  the  old  red  tan- 
nery formed  a conspicuous  object  in  the  growing  vil- 
lage. It  was  twice  burned,  but  the  stone  basement 
remained,  and  now  forms  part  of  the  large  tannery  of 
J.  H.  Safford.  Warner  Hayden  also  built  a small  tan- 
nery on  the  fiat  near  the  creek.  A saw-mill  was 
owned  here  by  Newton  Hawley  early  in  the  history 
of  the  settlement.  It  was  built  on  the  same  spot  that 
the  Johnston  mill  occupied  in  after-years;  and  in  pio- 
neer days,  when  good  timber  was  plenty,  a large 
amount  of  sawing  was  done.  It  was  owned  at  one 
time  by  Captain  Dean. 

Progress  of  the  Village. — The  place  had  now 
begun  to  assume  the  appearance  of  a thrifty  little  vil- 
lage, and  its  natural  facilities  offered  inducements  to 
new  enterprises  of  greater  magnitude.  It  had  long 
been  considered  one  of  the  most  central  points  in  the 
county,  it  was  readily  reached  from  all  directions,  and 
for  a time  there  was  talk  of  making  it  the  county-seat. 

In  1841  Dr.  L.  A.  Smith  came  here  from  Brooklyn, 
and  shortly  afterwards  commenced  practicing  as  a 
physician.  He  still  resides  in  the  place,  having  had 
a very  successful  practice  for  about  forty-five  year's. 

Ezra  A.  Pratt. — About  the  year  1632  William 
Pratt,  a young  Englishman,  arrived  at  Cambridge, 
Mass.  He  came  from  Hertfordshire  and  was  the  sixth 
child  of  Rev.  William  Pratt,  who  was  the  grandson  of 
Thomas  Pratt,  of  Baldock,  Hertfordshire,  who  died 
in  February,  1539. 


William  Pratt  bore  a name  which  has  been  enrolled 
high  among  the  records  of  the  British  Empire,  and 
he  was  the  progenitor  of  the  Pratt  family  here.  In 
1636,  with  Hooker’s  company,  he  went  to  Hartford, 
Conn.,  and,  about  1645,  he  thence  removed  to  Say- 
brook,  Conn.  In  1661  he  was  “established  lieutenant 
of  the  Saybrook  Band,”  having  previously  taken  part 
in  the  destruction  of  the  Pequod  Indian  fort  at  Mystic 
and  the  annihilation  of  their  power  as  a tribe.  Lieu- 
tenant William  Pratt  was  a man  of  considerable  note 
in  the  colony.  He  became  a large  land-holder  in 
Saybrook  and  the  township  of  Hebron,  and  repre- 
sented the  town  of  Saybrook  in  the  General  Assembly 
for  thirteen  years,  and  until  his  death,  in  1678.  He 
married  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  John  Clark,  and  had 
eight  children.  Through  Captain  William  (1653- 
1718),  the  fifth  child  of  Lieutenant  William  Pratt,  and 
his  wife,  Hannah  Kirtland,  their  son  Benjamin,  born 
1681,  and  Anna  Bates,  whose  son  Zephaniah  (1712- 
58)  and  Abigail,  his  wife,  had  two  children,  we  come 
to  Zadock  Pratt  (1755-1828),  who  was  a soldier  of  the 
Revolution  and  was  made  prisoner  by  the  British  at 
the  battle  of  Long  Island.  He  married  Hannah 
Pickett,  born  1755,  who  bore  him  seven  children.  In 
1783  he  moved  into  New  York  State,  settling  after  a 
time  at  Windham  (now  Jewett)  Greene  County,  where 
he  died. 

Of  his  children,  his  son.  Colonel  Zadock  Pratt,  be- 
came known  as  the  founder  of  Prattsville,  N.  Y.,  and 
was  a member  of  Congress  during  five  sessions.  He 
was  the  owner  of  the  largest  tannery  in  the  country 
and  was  an  active  business  man.  One  of  the  sons  of 
the  last-named.  Colonel  George  W.  Pratt,  was  a gal- 
lant soldier  of  the  Union  during  the  late  Rebellion, 
and  fell  while  leading  his  regiment  to  the  charge  at 
the  second  battle  of  Manassas.  The  eldest  son  of 
Zadock  and  Hannah  Pratt,  Ezra  (1788-1875),  was 
born  at  Stephentown,  N.  Y.,  and  early  engaged  in  the 
tanning  business,  and,  during  a number  of  years,  car- 
ried it  on  successfully  at  Jewett,  N.  Y.  He  married 
Hannah  Dickerman  (1790-1856),  and  they  had  the 
following  children:  Hannah  Louisa  (1813-86),  was 
the  wife  of  Benj.  C.  Miles,  a retired  tanner  at  Deposit, 
N.  Y. ; Ann  Eliza  (1815-79).  married  Levi  Bailey,  a 
farmer,  of  Great  Barrington,  Mass.;  Cyrus  Walter 
(1818-66),  was  a tanner  in  Lewis  County,  N.  Y.,  and 
hide  and  leather  merchant.  New  York  City ; Ezra  Au- 
gustus ; Adaline,  born  1821,  the  widow  of  Eri  D.  Pond, 
formerly  a commission  merchant  of  New  York  City, 
resides  at  Bergen  Heights,  N.  J. ; Ogden  (1823-59), 
formerly  a partner  with  his  brother,  Ezra  A.,  at  New 
Milford;  Theodore  (1825-47)  was  a school-teacher; 
George,  born  1827,  a retired  tanner,  lives  at  New 
Milford;  Martha  Dickerman  (1827-71)  was  the  wife 
of  Rev.  Dr.  C.  D.  Buck,  of  the  Dutch  Reformed 
Church  of  Middletown,  N.  J. ; Francis  D.,  born  1831, 
a retired  tanner  and  merchant,  formerly  doing  busi- 
ness at  Nicholson,  Pa.;  and  Marietta  (1834-64),  who 
married  Rev.  Thomas  S.  Ward,  the  Presbyterian 


NEW  MILFORD. 


639 


pastor  at  Carbondale,  Pa.,  and,  with  her  husband, 
died  within  a year  of  their  marriage. 

Ezra  A.  Pratt  was  born  at  Jewett,  Greene  County, 
N.  Y.,  September  20,  1819.  Upon  reaching  his  ma- 
jority he  engaged  in  mercantile  business  at  North 
Blenheim,  N.  Y.,  which  he  continued  until  1848,  when 
the  firm  of  E.  A.  & O.  Pratt  built  a large  tannery 
at  New  Milford,  Pa.,  which,  however,  was  burned  a 
year  and  a half  afterward,  nearly  absorbing  their  whole 
capital.  They  started  anew,  and  rebuilt  their  tan- 
nery of  thirty  thousand  sides  per  year  capacity,  which 
they  operated  in  tanning  hemlock  sole  leather.  They 
erected  an  extensive  tannery  at  Nicholson  in  1855, 
which  was  operated  by  Pratt  Brothers  until  1859, 
when,  upon  the  death  of  his  brother,  Ogden  Pratt, 
the  Nicholson  works  were  made  over  to  George  and 
Francis  D.  Pratt,  while  he  retained  the  business  at 
New  Milford.  Mr.  Pratt  continued  the  business  suc- 
cessfully until  1870,  and  disposed  of  his  tannery  to 
A.  Corbin  & Co.  He  has  been  interested  in  building 
up  New  Milford,  and  has  contributed  to  its  various 
enterprises  and  charities.  In  1857  he  purchased  of  a 
corporation  the  land  and  building  thereon,  used  as  a 
town  hall,  and  presented  it  to  the  borough  of  New 
Milford.  For  thirty  years  he  has  been  treasurer 
of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  and  a very  liberal  sup- 
porter of  the  same,  where  himself  and  family  worship. 
In  1846  he  married  Mary,  daughter  of  William  and 
Hannah  Morehouse  Fink,  of  North  Blenheim,  who 
died  in  1856.  His  second  wife,  Harriet  Fink,  whom 
he  married  in  1859,  died  in  1885,  without  issue.  His 
children  are  Sarah  Isabella ; Hattie,  died  in  early 
womanhood;  and  Charles  Clarence,  who  married 
Lillie  Goff,  of  Binghamton,  was  for  a time  merchant 
in  that  city,  but  now  is  a resident  of  New  Milford. 

Pratt’s  tannery  was  conveniently  located  within  a 
few  feet  of  the  railway,  and  a short  siding  or  switch 
was  built  for  the  accommodation  of  the  establishment, 
and  car-loads  of  hides  were  often  left  at  the  doors. 
The  Pratt  brothers  soon  occupied  the  finest  residence 
in  the  place.  Ogden  Pratt  died  in  the  winter  of  1859, 
and  E.  A.  Pratt  conducted  the  business  alone  until 
the  fall  of  1869,  when  it  was  sold  to  Corbin  & Todd. 
In  the  spring  of  1872  they  took  as  a partner,  A.  B. 
Smith,  who  had  previously  owned  the  planing  works 
at  the  Johnston  mill,  just  below  the  depot.  On  the 
afternoon  of  the  17th  of  September,  1880,  the  tannery 
caught  fire  again,  and  the  entire  works,  together  with 
two  or  three  hundred  cords  of  bark,  were  consumed. 
It  has  never  been  rebuilt.  The  ground  was  afterwards 
sold  to  the  railroad  company,  and  was  graded  for 
sidings  and  a place  to  load  and  unload  cars.  A cattle- 
yard  has  since  been  added. 

Early  in  1849  a movement  was  instituted  to  improve 
the  village  and  secure  a public  park.  The  Pratt 
brothers,  as  well  as  many-more  public-spirited  citizens 
of  the  place,  took  an  especial  interest  in  the  proposed 
plan,  and  on  the  evening  of  the  27th  of  July  a meet- 
ing was  held  at  the  school-house  to  further  these 


objects.  Dr.  L.  W.  Bingham  presided  as  chairman, 
and  S.  H.  Morse  was  chosen  secretary.  By-laws  were 
drafted,  and  a permanent  organization  effected,  known 
as  the  “New  Milford  Improvement  Club.”  The 
following  otficers  were  elected:  President,  Ezra  A. 

Pratt;  Vice-President,  S.  H.  Morse;  Secretary, 
Josiah  Moss  ; Treasurer,  Dr.  L.  A.  Smith  ; Directors, 
Dr.  L.  W.  Bingham,  Ogden  Pratt  and  Dr.  L.  A.  Smith. 
A subscription  paper  was  then  circulated  to  raise 
funds  for  the  purchase  of  a suitable  plot  of  land.  F. 
F.  Badger,  having  offered  the  desired  land  for  the 
purpose  above  stated,  at  a price  far  below  the  actual 
value,  was  made  honorary  member.  It  was  pur- 
chased for  two  hundred  dollars,  which  amount  was 
duly  paid  by  Josiah  Moss,  trustee  of  the  “Improve- 
ment Club.”  The  surface,  which  is  neat  and  dry,  is 
almost  a complete  level,  and  is  studded  with  rows  of 
stately  maple  trees.  In  the  centre  a very  beautiful 
pagoda  has  been  erected,  where  an  excellent  band 
often  plays  during  pleasant  summer  evenings. 

Nelson  Hager  came  from  Schoharie  County,  N.Y.,  in 
1850.  He  was  a shoemaker  by  trade,  and  a very 
enterprising  and  influential  citizen.  He  opened  a 
boot  and  shoe-shop,  and  soon  became  the  leading 
representative  of  that  trade  in  this  locality.  He  had 
four  sons, — D.  W.  Hager,  at  present  station  agent  for 
the  Delaware,  Lackawanna  and  Western  Railway  at 
this  place;  S.  S.  Hager,  station  agent  for  the  same 
company  at  Gouldsboro’ ; Willis  D.  Hager,  purchas- 
ing agent  for  the  same  company  in  New  York  ; and 
Melvin  E.  Hager,  engineer  on  the  elevated  railroad 
in  New  York. 

In  1850  Silas  Hamilton,  a blacksmith,  came  and 
built  the  shop  near  the  creek,  where  Aaron  Aldrich 
has  conducted  the  blacksmithing  business  so  many 
years.  Aaron  Aldrich  is  a first-class  tradesman,  and 
has  successfully  carried  on  the  business  in  the  same 
shop  nearly  thirty  years.  Arthur  Hamilton,  son  of 
Silas  Hamilton,  worked  with  him  five  years,  from 
1874  to  1879.  H.  V.  Hamilton,  another  son,  located 
in  the  central  part  of  the  borough  in  1879,  where  he 
soon  gained  an  extensive  patronage.  He  formed  a 
partnership  with  Aaron  Aldrich  in  1885. 

The  Delaware,  Lackawanna  and  Western  Railway, 
which  was  built  through  here  about  1851,  established 
a depot  at  this  place,  making  the  town  an  important 
shipping-point  and  changing  its  business  prospects. 
New  and  larger  stores  were  opened,  new  industries 
created,  the  price  of  land  and  building  lots  advanced, 
more  and  better  buildings  were  erected,  and  the  place 
rapidly  changed  from  a quiet  little  village  to  a lively 
and  enterprising  town.  S.  H.  Morse  was  the  first  sta- 
tion agent  here,  and  a man  by  the  name  of  Bartholo- 
mew the  second.  Mr.  Bg,rtholomew-  was  succeeded  by 
C.  G.  Merrill,  a man  of  excellent  ability,  who  filled 
the  position  for  about  ten  years.  He  was  followed  by 
E.  K.  Richardson,  who  stayed  about  a year  and  a 
half.  In  November,  1869,  Mr.  Richardson  was  suc- 
ceeded by  D.  W.  Hager,  who  still  retains  the  position. 


640 


HISTOKY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


More  business  is  done  at  this  station  than  any  other 
between  Binghamton  and  Scranton.  The  freight  bus- 
iness alone  for  the  single  month  of  September,  1880, 
aggregated  two  million  three  thousand  nine  hundred 
and  sixty-one  pounds.  For  the  quarter  ending  Octo- 
ber 31,  1886,  the  aggregate  was  five  million  one  hun- 
dred and  four  thousand  three  hundred  and  thirty- 
four  pounds,  or  over  two  thousand  five  hundred  and 
fifty-two  tons.  The  amount  received  for  passenger 
tickets  averages  about  eight  hundred  dollars  per 
month.  A large  part  of  this  business  comes  from 
Montrose. 

A foundry  was  established  here  by  J.  S.  Tingley, 
and  another  by  P.  H.  Corwin.  Plows  and  other  cast- 
ings were  made.  Harness-shops  were  opened  by  J. 
H.  Smith  and  Josiah  Moss,  and  a cooper-shop  was 
conducted  for  some  time  by  John  Hawley,  at  the 
lower  end  of  the  village.  H.  Lyons  worked  at  wagon- 
making near  the  upper  extremity  of  the  place,  and 
N.  L.  Sprague  opened  a wagon-shop  on  Main  Street, 
near  the  creek. 

In  1859  a petition  for  a borough  charter  was  circu- 
lated. It  briefly  described  the  extent  and  business 
interests  of  the  village,  and  was  signed  as  follows  : 

George  W.  Weed,  William  C.  Ward,  J.  Dickerman,  Jr.,  F.  F.  Badger, 
Elijah  Barnum,  R.  T.  Manning,  Joseph  Williams,  John  Hayden,  J. 
Moss,  Levi  Moss,  Tracy  Hayden,  Henry  De  Witt,  William  Hayden, 
Abram  B.  Beadle,  John  S.  Dennes,  J.  Badger,  Horatio  Garratt,  Ezra 
Pratt,  Solomon  R.  Williams,  J.  S.  Bunnell,  Joel  Lamb,  E.  A.  Pratt,  C. 
G.  Merrill,  H.  Burritt,  A.  D.  Wellman,  John  H.  Smith,  P.  H.  Corwin, 
John  Boyle,  James  R.  Blasdell,  J.  P.  Miller,  Jesse  Payne,  J.  S.  Tingley, 
Henry  S.  Lyon,  T.  Boyle,  W.  T.  Ward,  A.  Moss,  Jr.,  R.  A.  Johnston, 
George  Hayden,  Benjamin  L.  Hayden,  John  Hawley,  M.  Hayden,  E. 
Cornwall,  B.  B.  Little,  S.L.  Hancock,  L.  W.  Bingham. 

The  court  granted  the  petition  and  decreed  that  the 
village  of  New  Milford  be  incorporated  and  erected 
into  a borough  December  2,  1859,  and  ordered  the 
first  election  for  borough  officers  to  be  held  Tuesday, 
January  10, 1860,  and  the  third  Friday  of  February 
annually  thereafter.  Jason  Dickerman,  Jr.,  was  made 
judge  and  Tracy  Hayden  and  George  Weed  inspec- 
tors of  the  first  election.  Prominent  on  the  list  of 
burgesses  since  that  time  are  the  names  of  E.  A.  Pratt, 
N.  W.  Prince,  H.  Garratt,  Charles  Tucker,  George 
Stone,  Charles  Jay  and  several  others. 

Dr.  D.  C.  Ainey  came  from  Brooklyn  and  located 
here  in  1861.  He  was  postmaster  here  about  twenty 
years,  and  has  practiced  medicine  since  his  arrival. 

New  Milford  post-office  was  established  July  6, 
1811,  with  Nicholas  McCarty  as  postmaster.  His  suc- 
cessors have  been  : Hezekiah  Leach,  Jr.,  1815  ; Wil- 
liam Ward,  1817  ; John  Badger,  1829;  Wm.  C.  Ward, 
1845 ; Squire  H.  Morse,  1849 ; Francis  W.  Boyle,  1853; 
Ezra  A.  Pratt,  1861 ; Daniel  W.  Hager,  1864  ; D.  C. 
Ainey,  1865  ; Chas.  J.  Mitchell,  1885. 

In  1866  O.  M.  Hawley,  brother  of  Hon.  E.  B.  Haw- 
ley, purchased  William  C.  Ward’s  store  property,  and 
an  extensive  mercantile  business  was  conducted  for  a 
short  time  under  the  firm-name  of  Hawley  & Follett. 
After  two  or  three  years  Mr.  Hawley  purchased  a 


corner  lot  opposite  the  “ Eagle  Hotel,”  on  the  north, 
and  erected  a fine  building,  which  he  fitted  with  a 
general  line  of  goods,  and  carried  on  trade  until  1872, 
when  the  business  was  purchased  by  H.  W.  Decker, 
of  Orange  County,  N.  Y.  Mr.  Hawley  now  resides  in 
Binghamton.  Mr.  Decker  became  popular  as  a liberal 
merchant  and  citizen,  and  has  always  taken  an  active 
interest  in  all  affairs  of  a public  nature.  His  wife 
dying,  he  sold  the  goods  to  F.  G.  Inderlied,  who  con- 
tinued the  business  here  until  the  spring  of  1886,  “when 
he  removed  to  the  new  and  commodious  “Advertiser 
Block,”  opposite  the  “ Jay  House.” 

The  Hayden  Brothers  carried  a line  of  notions  and 
fancy  articles  on  the  road,  and  finally  opened  several 
stores  at  different  times  in  the  north  part  of  the  town, 
which  were  conducted  for  several  years  with  varying 
success.  Later  they  removed  to  the  central  part  of  the 
borough,  and  established  more  extensive  stores  there. 
William  Hayden  erected  a neat  brick  store,  where  he 
carries  a large  stock  of  dry-goods  and  clothing.  The 
Postal  Telegraph  Company  have  an  office  in  his  store- 
room. Marshall  Hayden  opened  a general  grocery 
and  drug-store  adjoining,  now  conducted  as  a grocery- 
store  by  the  Dean  Brothers.  John  Hayden  erected  a 
general  hardware-store  on  the  corner  of  Main  and 
Depot  streets,  near  by,  where  he  is  at  present  doing 
business. 

Jason  Dickerman,  originally  from  New  Haven, 
Conn.,  came  from  Otsego  County,  N.  Y.,  in  1854,  and 
opened  a general  store  in  the  building  now  occupied 
by  William  Smith  as  a grocery  and  provision-store. 
He  handled  nearly  all  the  railroad  wood  and  ties  de- 
livered at  this  station  for  fifteen  years,  and  his  trade 
increased  until  his  sales  reached  from  forty-five  to 
forty-eight  thousand  dollars  per  year.  He  built  the 
first  brick  store  in  the  place,  about  1868.  It  was  a 
large  double  structure,  one  part  of  which  was  used  as 
a dry-goods  department,  and  the  other  for  the  sale  of 
groceries.  Afterwards  two  of  his  sons,  Hobart  and 
William,  conducted  the  dry-goods  business,  while  he 
and  his  youngest  son,  George,  carried  on  the  grocery 
department.  O.  M.  Hawley  at  one  time  kept  a dry- 
goods  and  clothing-store  in  this  building,  and  later 
the  same  part  has  been  used  by  Samuel  Moss  for  the 
same  line  of  business.  Mr.  Dickerman  continued  the 
mercantile  business  until  1886. 

In  1855  Horatio  Garratt  came  from  Lyons,  Wayne 
County,  N.  Y.,  and  entered  the  store  with  Mr.  Dick- 
erman. He  was  in  partnership  with  him  two  years, 
when  he  built  a general  grocery  and  provision-store 
on  the  site  of  his  present  one,  which  was  destroyed 
by  fire  at  the  time  Jay’s  Hotel  burned.  The  business 
is  now  mainly  conducted  by  his  son,  E.  S.  Garratt. 

Some  years  later  J.  C.  McConnell  established  a 
general  drug-store  near  Mr.  Garratt’s,  where  he  still 
conducts  a thriving  business.  The  telephone  line 
from  Montrose  to  Susquehanna  passes  through  here, 
and  an  office  is  kept  in  this  building.  The  second 
floor  is  occupied  by  the  Masonic  fraternity. 


NEW  MILFORD. 


641 


George  B.  McCollum  erected  a provision-store 
on  the  corner  of  Main  and  Washington  Streets 
where  he  carried  on  business  for  some  time.  It 
was  eventually  purchased  by  L.  L.  Leroy.  The 
building  was  burned  some  years  afterwards,  but  was 
rebuilt  on  a far  more  extensive  scale.  The  business 
is  now  carried  on  by  Leroy  & Braman.  Mr.  Braman 
is  a first-class  artist,  and  a photograph  gallery  has 
been  added  on  the  upper  floor. 

In  1885  a general  hardware-store  was  opened  by 
Risley  & Co.,  in  the  building  partly  occupied  by  the 
post-office.  A provision-store  was  also  opened  by 
W.  G.  Smith  in  February  of  the  same  year.  In  the 
spring  of  1886  the  New  Milford  Trading  Company 
established  an  extensive  store  in  the  Advertiser 
Block,  near  the  depot.  They  purchase  produce,  and 
deal  largely  in  provisions,  groceries  and  crockery.  A 
general  news  office  has  been  opened  near  the  depot 
by  William  Smith ; watches,  clocks  and  jewelry  are 
repaired  and  kept  for  sale  by  L.  B.  Isbell,  who  has 
given  his  whole  lifetime  to  the  business.  Several 
small  stores  of  more  or  less  prominence  have  been 
kept  here  from  time  to  time  by  Harvey  Griffing,  A. 
A.  Hall,  D.  W.  Hager  and  others. 

The  principal  stores  in  active  operation  in  1887, 
commencing  at  the  southern  extremity  of  the  bor- 
ough, are  Leroy  & Braman,  groceries  and  provisions ; 
Samuel  Moss,  dry -goods ; A.  C.  Risley  & Co.,  hard- 
ware ; W.  G.  Smith,  groceries  and  provisions;  New 
Milford  Trading  Company,  groceries  and  provisions ; 
F.  G.  Inderlied,  dry-goods,  groceries  and  provisions  ; 
E.  S.  Garratt,  groceries  and  provisions;  William 
Smith,  confectionery  and  neWs  depot ; John  Hayden, 
hardware  and  furniture ; J.  C.  McConnell,  drugs  and 
medicines ; Dean  Brothers,  groceries  and  provisions  ; 
and  William  Hayden,  dry-goods. 

J.  S.  Tingley  was  succeeded  in  the  foundry  busi- 
ness by  William  S.  Mead,  who  continued  to  manufac- 
ture plows,  etc.,  until  1886,  when  the  property  was 
purchased  by  Mr.  Chapman,  who  carries  on  the  work 
at  present.  The  Corwin  foundry,  which  was  not  a 
permanent  institution,  was  at  one  time  occupied  as  a 
file  factory,  and  later  as  a blacksmith-shop.  Alvah 
Quick  opened  a blacksmith-shop  in  an  adjoining 
building  in  time  of  the  war,  where  he  did  an  exten- 
sive business  for  some  time.  Since  then  black- 
smith-shops have  been  opened  at  different  times  by 
Mr.  Tabor,  Mr.  Doolittle,  J.  S.  Tingley  and  several 
others.  The  last  two  are  still  engaged  in  the  busi- 
ness. 

The  Union  Mill  was  erected  by  Reuben  Vail.  It 
is  a large  and  convenient  building,  well  adapted  for 
a factory  It  was  used  for  a time  as  a steam  saw  and 
grist-mill.  Later  it  was  used  for  a skating-rink.  A 
steam  grist-mill  was  lately  built  near  the  depot  by 
Carpenter  & Montgomery.  It  is  now  owned  by  Wil- 
liam T.  Moxley.  Near  the  depot,  also,  is  Moxley  & 
Everett’s  large  livery  barn.  A general  undertaking 
business  is  carried  on  by  N.  F.  Kimber  a few  doors 


from  the  Eagle  Hotel.  A planing-mill  was  conducted 
for  some  time  by  A.  B.  Smith,  near  the  Johnston 
saw-mill.  It  was  at  one  time  carried  on  by  a Mr. 
Fischer ; but  lately  it  was  purchased  by  Jacob 
Fritsch,  who  continued  the  business  a short  time 
there,  and  then  removed  to  the  railroad  crossing  on 
the  Montrose  road,  where  he  now  conducts  a general 
wood-work  and  furniture  establishment. 

William  L.  Weston  came  here  from  Brooklyn  in 
1864,  and  in  the  following  year  commenced  business 
as  a dentist.  In  June,  1865,  Dr.  E.  Snyder,  homoeo- 
pathic physician  and  surgeon,  arrived  here  from  Can- 
dor, Tioga  County,  N.  Y.  He  removed  to  Bingham- 
ton in  February,  1880.  Dr.  S.  A.  Brooks  came  from 
the  same  place  in  October,  1879.  He  is  also  a homoeo- 
pathic physician.  The  latest  arrival  in  this  profes- 
sion is  Dr.  Kimball  from  Gibson,  who  is  now  located 
in  a part  of  William  T.  Moxley’s  house.  He  mar- 
ried a daughter  of  Dr.  Bingham. 

In  1871  a savings  bank  was  established  here  by 
S.  B.  Chase  & Co.,  and  a considerable  business  was 
done  for  some  time,  but  it  was  not  a permanent  insti- 
tution. In  October’,  1878,  the  banking-house  of 
Summers  & Hayden  was  established. 

In  1874  J.  H.  Safford  purchased  the  Moss  tannery 
and  erected  a currying-shop  thirty-four  by  ninety- 
five  feet,  five  stories  high,  and  a tannery  with  two 
hundred  vats.  The  tannery  consumes  about  two  thou- 
sand five  hundred  tons  of  bark  annually,  and  about 
one  hundred  thousand  sides  of  leather  are  tanned. 
About  seventy  men  are  employed  to  carry  on  the 
business.  N.  W.  Prince  and  Charles  Tucker  have 
been  foremen,  and  Jas.  F.  Nelson  is  clerk  of  the  con- 
cern. 

The  Advertiser’s  Block  was  built  in  1885.  In  1886 
a creamery  was  built  near  the  Johnston  mills  by  A.  F. 
Kinney.  It  is  conducted  on  the  cream-gathering 
plan,  and  is  generally  well  patronized  by  the  sur- 
rounding farmers.  All  the  fixtures  are  new  and  of 
the  most  approved  kind,  and  the  churning  is  done  by 
steam-power.  The  first  newspaper  enterprise  in  New 
Milford  was  the  Northern  Pennsylvanian,  edited  and 
published  by  J.  R.  Gailor,  in  1870.  It  had  previously 
been  published  at  Great  Bend,  and  originally  at  Sus- 
quehanna. Mr.  Gailor  was  soon  obliged  to  relinquish 
its  publication  on  account  of  failing  health,  when  it 
was  published  for  a time  by  H.  F.  Beardsley,  and 
finally  removed  to  Susquehanna,  to  continue  under 
the  name  of  the  Susquehanna  Gazette.  The  New  Mil- 
ford Advertiser  was  started  in  1880  by  Chester  S.  Vail. 
The  enterprising  spirit  and  ability  of  its  managers,  C. 
S.  Vail  and  G.  C.  Howell,  have  been  faithfully  given 
to  making  a good  local  newspaper. 

0.  N.  Worden,  a ready  .writer  and  prominent  news- 
paper man,  whose  articles,  over  the  nom  de  plume  of 
“ Gleaner,”  were  read  with  interest  in  the  early  num- 
bers of  the  Advertiser,  died  in  New  Milford  township, 
April  21,  1881.  He  was  not  only  a literary  man,  but 
he  was  a practical  printer  also,  and  often  came  into 


642 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


the  Advertiser  office  and  put  his  articles  in  type  him- 
self. During  his  life-time  he  edited  several  different 
publications,  including  the  Montrose  Spectator,  in 
1837,  and  the  Wyoming  County  Record  at  Tunkhan- 
nock,  in  1844.  He  was  the  first  to  commence  the 
publication  of  the  Lewisburg  Chronicle,  and  in  1841 
he  started  the  Athens  Scribe,  of  Bradford  County.  At 
the  time  of  his  death  he  was  at  work  on  the  Pittston 
Gazette.  He  was  born  in  Cazenovia,  Madison  County, 
N.  Y.,  in  1817.  During  the  year  1872  a company  was 
chartered  and  funds  raised  for  the  erection  of  a Town 
Hall.  A site  was  purchased  and  the  building  put  up 
at  a cost  of  about  five  thousand  dollars.  In  1873  the 
building  was  sold  under  a mechanic’s  lien.  H.  Gar- 
ratt  bid  it  in  with  the  understanding  that  a certain 
number  of  shares  were  to  be  taken  by  other  parties, 
and  the  institution  was  controlled  by  the  new  company 
until  the  fall  of  1886.  E.  A.  Pratt  finally  bought  out 
all  of  the  stock-holders  and  presented  the  building  to 
the  borough.  It  is  a liberal  gift  from  a worthy  man 
for  a worthy  purpose. 

Recent  Notable  Events  and  Incidents. — One 
night  in  June,  1855,  the  inhabitants  were  suddenly 
aroused  from  their  beds  by  the  startling  news  that 
Page’s  Pond  had  burst  loose,  and  was  coming  down 
upon  them  in  an  angry,  turbulent  flood  that  nothing 
could  withstand.  Hurrying  to  places  of  safety,  the 
excited  people  awaited  the  oncoming  torrent  with 
anxiety  and  consternation.  Soon  an  ominous  roaring 
was  heard  approaching,  and  then  the  creek,  already 
swollen  by  a heavy  rain,  began  to  I'ise,  spread  out  and 
overflow  its  diminutive  banks.  In  a few  minutes  the 
creek  assumed  the  appearance  of  a great  river,  bear- 
ing along  snags,  logs  and  trees  upon  its  foaming 
bosom.  The  streets  became  swift-rolling  rivers,  cov- 
ered with  floating  sticks,  barrels,  boxes,  rails  and 
debris,  and  the  picture  presented  was  that  of  a town 
half  submerged  in  an  agitated  lake.  The  railroad 
track  was  badly  damaged,  and  near  the  depot,  where 
the  broad  current  was  strongest,  an  old  floating  tree 
burst  in  the  door  of  a building  and  passed  completely 
through  by  means  of  another  door  on  the  opposite  side. 
Cellars  were  filled  and  much  damage  was  done  on  the 
lower  floors  of  dwellings,  as  well  as  in  gardens,  yards, 
streets  and  sidewalks.  For  a time  it  seemed  as 
though  the  entire  town  would  be  swept  away.  No 
lives  were  lost,  but  had  it  not  been  for  timely  warning 
by  a man  who  had  preceded  the  flood  from  its  starting- 
point,  there  is  no  telling  what  might  have  been  the 
result.  It  left  its  mark  on  the  surface  in  the  shape 
of  deep  gullies  and  unsightly  heaps  of  stones  and 
gravel — seams  and  scars  along  its  course  that  required 
months  of  labor  and  years  of  time  to  obliterate. 

A number  of  fires  have  occurred  here,  some  of 
which  has  been  quite  extensive  and  disastrous.  The 
burning  of  the  tanneries  have  already  been  mentioned. 
In  May,  1867,  a fire  occurred  on  Main  Street,  near  the 
bridge,  in  which  several  buildings  including  a wagon- 
shop  and  foundry,  were  consumed.  They  were  rebuilt 


however,  but  met  with  the  same  fate  again  on  the 
night  of  March  30,  1887.  The  New  Milford  Cornet 
Band  used  an  upper  room  of  one  of  these  buildings 
for  a practicing  room,  and  much  of  their  property 
was  destroyed.  At  another  time  a fire  destroyed 
Leroy’s  store  and  George  Weed’s  house.  But  by  far 
the  largest  fire  that  ever  occurred  in  this  place  was  i 
on  the  2d  of  May,  1883,  when  Jay’s  Hotel  was  burned. 

It  was  very  dry  at  the  time,  and  the  fire  soon  spread 
to  Garrett’s  store,  McConnell’s  store,  the  hotel  barn  ' 
and  Butterfield’s  building,  and  the  very  heart  of  the  . 
town  was  wrapped  in  a grand  mass  of  flame.  Explo- 
sions of  oil  and  liquors  in  the  drug-store  sent  great 
sheets  of  dazzling  flame  hundreds  of  feet  into  the  air, 
seeming  to  threaten  the  entire  town  with  destruction. 

A dispatch  had  been  telegraphed  to  Binghamton 
for  help,  and  in  a little  over  twenty  minutes  they 
arrived  upon  the  ground,  and  shortly  thereafter  a 
stream  of  water  was  playing  upon  the  fire.  The 
conflagration  was  soon  under  control,  and  the  place 
was  saved  from  further  destruction.  The  whole  space 
along  the  park  from  Main  to  Back  Streets  was  burned 
over.  Twenty  thousand  dollars’  worth  of  property 
had  changed  to  smoke  and  ashes ; but,  luckily  for 
the  town  the  loss  was  about  covered  with  insurance, 
and  an  army  of  busy  workmen  were  soon  upon  the 
spot,  engaged  in  the  work  of  rebuilding  on  a far 
more  extensive  scale  than  before.  It  is  now  the  finest 
part  of  the  borough. 

James  Van  Cott,  one  of  the  successful  farmers  of 
New  Milford  township,  was  born  near  Bloomburg, 
Sullivan  County,  N.  Y.,  November  9,  1811.  His 
parents  were  Nicholas  and  Mary  (Jackson)  Van  Cott, 
who  emigrated  from  Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y.,  to  Sullivan 
County  late  in  the  eighteenth  century,  and  followed 
agricultural  pui’suits.  Their  children  were  John,  a 
retired  business  man,  living  at  Unadilla,  N.  Y. ; 
James  ; Harrison,  a farmer  and  business  man,  residing 
at  Bainbridge,  N.  Y. ; Maria  died  in  her  youth ; 
Esther  married  Henry  Bradley,  of  Oxford,  N.  Y.,  and 
died  about  twenty  years  ago  ; and  Margaret  Ann,  who 
was  the  wife  of  Dorwin  Davis,  living  near  Norwich, 

N.  Y.,  died  also  some  twenty  years  since. 

James  Van  Cott  obtained  an  academical  education 
at  Bloomburg,  and  learned  the  trade  of  wagon- 
making, serving  lour  years  as  an  apprentice.  Owing 
to  the  delicate  state  of  his  health,  he  left  that  work 
after  two  years  and  became  a farmer.  In  1837  he 
came  to  Susquehanna  County,  and  bought  a farm 
just  south  of  New  Milford  borough,  which  he  carried 
on  until  1872,  when  he  bought  property  just  south  of 
ihe  borough  limits  and  moved  there,  retiring  from  ac- 
tive farm-life.  He  served  the  people  as  an  official  of 
the  township  for  some  years,  but  the  state  of  his 
health  would  not  permit  him  giving  much  time  to 
such  duties.  He  was  an  industrious  and  pains-taking 
man,  best  jfleased  when  doing  something,  and  always 
worked  his  way  up,  single-handed,  to  a position  of 
maintained  character  for  honesty.  The  fact  that  he 


NEW  MILFORD. 


643 


had  comparative  prominence  and  affluence  rendered  his 
influence  valuable  and  his  counsel  much  sought  after. 
His  death,  on  November  28,  1885,  was  sudden,  and 
his  relatives  and  friends  experienced  a severe  shock 
when  the  fact  was  recognized.  In  1835  he  married 
Samantha  Harding,  and  during  their  fifty  years  of 
wedded  life  she  proved  a helpmeet  indeed,  her  care 
and  affectionate  sympathy  ever  giving  the  home  circle 
a happy  tone.  She  was  the  daughter  of  Abraham 
(1779-1856)  and  Deborah  (Newman)  (1779-1846) 
Harding.  Her  father  was  the  son  of  Abraham 
Harding,  of  near  Otisville,  N.  Y.,  a farmer  who  came 
from  Nova  Scotia.  The  children  of  Abraham  and 
Deborah  Harding  were  Lydia  (1801-40)  was  the 
wife  of  Robert  Comfort,  of  Sullivan  County,  N.  Y.  I 
Daniel  W.  and  James  E.  both  died  in  infancy ; 
Henry  O.  (1807-66)  was  a Sullivan  County  farmer  (he 
came  to  Susquehanna  County  at  an  early  day,  but  re- 
turned to  his  native  county  and  died  there) ; Abigail 
M.,  born  1809,  is  the  widow  of  Thomas  Wilson,  a 
farmer  of  this  township ; Temperance  A.  (1811-81 ) mar- 
ried Hiram  Decker,  formerly  of  Middletown,  N.  Y., 
and  now  of  Buffalo ; Samantha,  born  1813,  married 
James  Van  Cott;  and  Harrison  (1819-56),  a farmer 
of  Sullivan  County. 

The  two  children  of  James  and  Samantha  Van 
Cott  are  Harrison  H.,  born  1842,  a progressive  farmer 
and  stock  dealer  of  New  Milford,  who  married,  in 
1863,  Amanda,  the  daughter  of  Robert  Moore,  of 
Bridgewater,  and  has  two  children,  Wm.  H.  and 
Lewis ; and  William  M.,  born  1846,  an  intelligent 
farmer  also  of  the  township,  who  married,  in  1871, 
Ada,  the  daughter  of  W.  Youngs  and  Rebecca  J. 
Wilson. 

Schools. — One  of  the  first  schools  in  this  section 
of  the  county  was  taught  by  Gurdon  Darrow,  in  a 
little  building  near  the  cemetery,  in  1812.  A primi- 
tive school-house  was  also  built  near  the  “ Sand  Bank,” 
which  accommodated  the  pupils  of  both  the  New 
Milford  and  Summersville  settlements.  The  pioneer 
teachers  were  usually  very  thorough,  and  a number 
in  this  section  taught  excellent  schools.  Among  those 
especially  worthy  of  mention  were  L.  W.  Bingham, 
John  Phinney,  Miles  Dikeman.  After  awhile  the 
school-house  near  the  “ Sand  Bank  ” was  moved  away, 
and  a little  red  school-house  with  a square  roof  was 
erected  near  Doctor  Bingham’s,  where  a school  was 
maintained  many  years.  Years  afterwards,  another 
house  was  built  near  the  Methodist  Church,  at  the 
southern  extremity  of  Back  Street.  It  has  lately 
been  moved  a short  distance  and  fitted  up  for  a private 
dwelling.  After  the  school  law  went  into  effect  more 
attention  was  given  to  the  public  schools,  and  better 
facilities  were  demanded.  The  graded  school  build- 
ing was  accordingly  erected,  near  the  Congregational 
Church,  on  the  east  side  of  the  Park.  It  is  one  of  the 
most  beautiful  locations  in  the  place.  The  building 
was  originally  forty  feet  square,  and  two  stories  high, 
conveniently  arranged  for  primary  and  intermediate 


schools  on  the  lower  floor,  and  a graded  school  on  the 
upper  one.  It  has  lately  been  increased  in  length 
and  an  addition  erected  at  the  side,  and,  with  its  pres- 
ent neat  arrangement  and  thorough  management, 
affords  facilities  unsurpassed  by  any  similar  institution 
in  the  county.  Three  schools  are  taught  in  the  lower 
rooms.  Among  the  different  principals  who  have 
conducted  this  school  we  notice  the  names  of  Pro- 
fessor M.  L.  Hawley,  late  superintendent  of  public 
schools  in  Binghamton,  New  York  ; Hon.  Eugene  B. 
Hawley,  afterwards  editor  of  the  Montrose  Democrat, 
and  State  senator  from  this  district ; Professor 
E.  K.  Richardson,  at  one  time  station  agent  at  this 
place,  and  later  principal  of  the  graded  school  at 
Great  Bend ; Professor  W.  W.  Watson,  afterwards 
county  superintendent,  and  for  many  years  a very  able 
attorney  at  Montrose ; Professor  H.  L.  Griffis,  w’ho 
left  here  in  1880,  after  serving  two  years,  to  accept 
the  appointment  of  professor  of  natural  sciences  in 
the  Binghamton  High  School,  and  Professor  U.  B. 
Gillett;  who  has  recently  been  elected  county  super- 
intendent. In  most  cases  the  assistant  teachers  have 
been  especially  proficient  in  their  vocation,  and  have 
had  a long  and  satisfactory  experience.  Among  these 
we  notice  the  names  of  Eliza  Foot,  Carrie  Doolittle 
(now  Mrs.  Frederick  Jay)  and  Mrs.  U.  B.  Gillett. 

Churches. — Several  of  the  eaily  settlers  of  this 
place  were  church  members  before  coming  here,  and 
in  their  new  homes,  in  the  heart  of  the  great  wilder- 
ness, they  were  lonesome  and  almost  lost  without 
some  place  to  meet  together  for  public  worship.  At 
a meeting  of  the  Episcopalians  holden  on  the  1st  day 
of  July,  A.D.  1816,  a permanent  organization  was  ef- 
fected, and  preliminary  steps  taken  towards  the 
building  of  a church  edifice.  David  Badger,  Esq., 
was  chosen  moderator,  and  Chauncy  B.  Foot,  clerk  of 
said  society.  It  was  voted  that  David  Badger,  Esq., 
be  appointed  senior  warden,  and  John  Foot,  senior 
warden  (2d).  Arad  Wakelee  and  Benjamin  Doolittle 
were  appointed  vestrymen,  and  John  Foot  and  Ress- 
line  Smith,  choristers.  A petition  for  a charter  was 
signed  by  David  Badger,  John  Foot,  Arad  Wakelee, 
Benjamin  Doolittle,  Samuel  T.  Beardslee,  Belus  H. 
Foot,  Gaius  Moss,  Daniel  White,  John  Phinney,  Jos. 
Doolittle,  Isaac  Edson,  L.  W.  Bingham  and  Samuel 
Ward.  The  charter  of  St.  Mark’s  Church  was  given 
September  2,  1817.  Rev.  Samuel  Marks  was  widely 
known  as  one  of  the  most  influential  clergymen  of 
those  times.  David  Badger  and  John  Foot,  who  had 
taken  such  an  active  part  in  the  organization  of  the 
church,  were  constituent  wardens,  and  Arad  Wakelee, 
Benjamin  Doolittle,  Julius  Jones,  Stephen  Barnum, 
Samuel  T.  Beardslee,  Belus  H.  Foot,  William  Ward 
and  Freeman  Badger,  vestrymen.  As  soon  as  the 
proper  arrangements  could  be  made  the  church  was 
erected,  and  its  neat  white  belfry  rose  above  the  set- 
tlement in  a very  iJleasing  manner,  to  gladden  the 
hearts  of  its  many  faithful  adherents,  and  bid  Chris- 
tianity and  civilization  hearty  welcome.  For  many 


644 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


years  it  was  the  only  church  edifice  in  the  place;  and 
its  bell,  which  was  the  first  to  send  its  silvery  tones 
rolling  through  the  far-extending  forest,  to  reverber- 
ate and  echo  among  the  far-off  hills  on  a silent  Sab- 
bath morning,  was  sometimes  answered  by  the  doleful 
howl  of  a distant  wolf  or  the  dismal  hooting  of  owls, 
which  at  that  day  were  often  seen  perched  on  some 
high  dead  limb  around  the  borders  of  clearings,  in 
the  daytime.  But  it  was  also  responded  to  in  a dif- 
ferent manner.  A large  congregation  nearly  always 
assembled  ; and,  most  of  them  being  willing  workers, 
much  interest  was  manifested,  and,  although  it  had 
many  inconveniences  to  meet,  as  all  pioneer  churches 
did,  it  struggled  bravely  through  and  success  crowned 
its  efforts.  Fifty  acres  of  land  were  contributed  to  the 
church  by  the  heirs  of  Isaac  Wharton,  which  was 
sold  June  30,  1830,  to  Freeman  Badger,  for  one  hun- 
dred dollars,  and  the  proceeds  applied  as  directed. 
Henry  Burritt,  William  Ward,  Albert  Moss  and  John 
Badger  were  prominent  in  the  early  history  of  the 
church,  and  old  Major  Hammond,  Richard  Moss, 
Josiah  Moss,  Philander  Phinney,  Horatio  Garratt, 
Albert  Moss,  Jr.,  Samuel  Moss  and  many  more  of  the 
sober  and  enterprising  citizens  of  both  the  borough 
and  township  have  been  active  in  its  recent  history. 

Presbyterian  Church. — Among  the  few  settlers  who 
gathered  here  about  the  beginning  of  the  present 
century  was  Ichabod  Ward,  the  father  of  William 
Ward,  and  the  grandfather  of  the  late  William  C. 
Ward.  In  him  we  may  discover  the  first  germs  of 
the  Presbyterian  Church  in  this  place.  To  him  is 
due  the  honor  of  maintaining  public  religious  wor- 
ship in  his  own  large  kitchen  or  the  bar-room  of  the 
Ward  house  every  other  Sabbath,  and  in  the  house  of 
Deacon  Titus  Smith,  in  Franklin,  every  alternate 
Sabbath.  Sometimes  the  two  congregations  wor- 
shipped together,  at  the  house  of  Benjamin  Doolittle, 
now  the  residence  of  Mr.  Bisbee,  on  the  hill  a mile 
west  of  Phinney’s  Hotel.  Mr.  Ward  also  conducted 
services  at  funerals,  in  the  absence  of  a minister. 
Occasionally  an  itinerant  evangelist  appeared  among 
the  frontier  settlements  of  the  West,  even  as  early  as 
1801  and  1802.  The  rude  log  dwellings  in  different 
sections  were  often  crowded  with  earnest  worshippers, 
and  it  was  no  uncommon  thing  in  those  days  for  peo- 
ple to  go  through  the  woods  and  new  clearings  from 
this  place  to  Harford,  Great  Bend  and  Franklin  to  be 
present  at  preaching.  It  was  largely  due  to  the  efforts 
and  prayers  of  Ichabod  Ward  that,  in  1813,  a little 
band  of  twelve  were  gathered  into  the  fold  of  the 
“Union  Congregational  Church”  of  Lawsville  and 
New  Milford  (now  the  Presbyterian  Church,  of  Frank- 
lin), from  which  have  sj^rung  the  Congregational  (now 
Presbyterian)  Churches  of  Liberty  and  New  Milford. 
At  the  head  of  the  list  of  the  original  members  of 
this  mother-church  stand  the  names  of  Ichabod 
Ward  and  Mary,  his  wife.  He  died  in  1824,  and  his 
widow  four  years  later.  Side  by  side  their  ashes 
sleep  in  the  village  grave-yard. 


Another  not  less  prominent  actor  in  these  early 
scenes  was  John  Hawley,  one  of  the  first  deacons 
of  the  church  in  this  place.  The  missionary  found  a 
welcome  home  under  his  roof,  and  his  house  was  al- 
ways open  to  the  public  for  religious  worship.  For 
many  years  he  conducted  a distillery,  an  occupation 
which  at  that  time  was  not  deemed  inconsistent  with 
a Christian  profession.  Not  only  the  cup  of  cold 
water  was  given  in  the  name  of  a disciple,  but  too 
often,  in  accordance  with  the  practice  of  the  times, 
the  inebriating  bowl  was  offered  and  accepted.  But, 
little  by  little,  the  light  began  to  dawn  upon  the 
minds  of  intelligent  Christians,  and  the  demoralizing 
and  destructive  influence  of  intemperance  began  to  be 
more  widely  seen  and  felt.  It  was  related  by  Rev. 
Burr  Baldwin,  of  Montrose,  that,  on  his  return  from 
Synod,  in  1828,  where  his  mind  had  been  powerfully 
awakened  by  the  discussion  of  the  question  of  tem- 
perance, he  met  Deacon  Hawley,  and  spoke  to  him  of 
the  alarming  increase  of  drunkenness  in  the  county, 
and  of  the  responsibility  of  the  church  in  regard  to 
it,  and  asked  him  to  give  up  his  distillery.  “Can’t 
do  it.  Brother  Baldwin,”  he  replied,  “ it’s  the  support 
of  my  family.”  Months  passed  on,  and  the  parties 
again  met.  “ How  about  the  distillery,  Brother  Haw- 
ley?” “Brother  Baldwin,  I can’t  give  it  up;  it’s  the 
support  of  my  family.”  Other  months  went  by,  and 
the  deacon  again  met  his  reprover.  “ How  about 
that  distillery?”  “It’s  given  up,”  was  the  reply. 
“Ah,  indeed!  but  how  about  the  family?”  “Oh, 
they’re  living  yet,”  he  answered,  with  a significant 
smile.  The  victory  was  achieved ; and  from  that  day 
he  became  an  earnest  advocate  of  temperance.  He 
served  the  church  faithfully  as  deacon  for  fifteen 
years ; but  in  1841,  in  the  midst  of  the  anti-slavery 
agitation,  in  which  he  took  high  ground  as  an  Aboli- 
tionist, he  lost  sympathy  and  patience  with  the 
church,  and  on  account  of  words  spoken  in  heated 
debate,  which  he  afterwards  refused  to  recall,  he  was 
disfellowshipped.  He  continued,  however,  to  enjoy 
the  confidence  of  all,  and  regarded  the  household  of 
faith  with  a father’s  interest  until  his  death,  in  1856. 

The  history,  proper,  of  this  church  begins  with  its 
organization,  in  1826,  though  a few  of  its  members  had 
been  identified  with  the  mother-church,  while  New 
Milford  was  an  out-station.  During  the  ministry  of  Rev. 
Lyman  Richardson,  then  in  the  height  of  his  pulpit 
power,  a great  revival  broke  out  in  Franklin,  in  the 
spring  of  1826,  extending  its  quickening  influence  to 
New  Milford.  Encouraged  by  this  token  of  the  di- 
vine favor,  a church  of  nineteen  members  was  organ- 
ized at  the  house  of  Deacon  Hawley,  in  the  following 
July,  by  Rev.  Lyman  Richardson  and  Rev.  Burr 
Baldwin.  The  following  is  a list  of  the  original  mem- 
bers : John  Hawley  and  Moab  Hawley,  his  wife; 
John  S.  Handrick  and  Dotha  Handrick,  his  wife; 
Joel  Hotchkiss  and  Estella  Hotchkiss,  his  wife;  Hi- 
ram C.  Baker ; Phoebe  Hawley,  a wddow  ; Hannah 
Doolittle,  a widow ; Mary  Ward,  widow  of  Deacon 


NEW  MILFORD. 


645 


Ichabod  Ward;  Dorathy  Phinney ; Eliza  G.  Hand- 
rick,  now  Mrs.  Van  Fleet ; Mary  H.  Handrick,  after- 
wards Mrs.  Henry  Bradley  ; Sally  Hawley  and  Mary 
Ann  Hawley,  daughters  of  Deacon  Hawley  ; Mary 
Foster;  Rebecca  Beardslee;  Andrew  Hawley,  son  of 
Deacon  Hawley  ; and  Lucretia  Hotchkiss. 

John  Handrick,  father  of  William  C.  Handrick, 
succeeded  John  Hawley  as  deacon  in  1841.  He  is 
described  as  a man  of  strict  and  regular  habits,  main- 
taining with  great  fidelity  the  family  altar,  the  prayer- 
meeting, the  Sabbath-school  and  the  public  worship 
of  the  sanctuary.  He  served  the  church  for  ten  years 
as  its  first  clerk,  frequently  moderated  its  meetings, 
taught  in  its  Sunday-schools  and  diligently  exercised 
his  office  of  deacon  from  his  election  to  the  close  of 
his  life,  in  1868.  In  all  his  sacrifices  and  services  his 
wife,  Dotha,  bore  a cheerful  part,  as  an  help-meet  for 
him.  She  died  in  the  fall  of  1873. 

Stephen  K.  Crane,  the  father  of  Rev.  Henry  J.  Crane, 
was  elected  deacon  with  John  S.  Handrick,  in  1841. 
His  name  frequently  occurs  as  moderator  of  the 
monthly  meetings,  and  for  several  years  he  superin- 
tended the  Sabbath-school.  Prominent  among  the 
other  deacons  we  notice  the  names  of  Seth  Clark  and 
Silas  Corwin,  elected  in  1835  ; Kenneth  A.  Johnston 
and  P.  H.  Corwin,  elected  in  1852.  Shortly  after  the 
church  was  organized  the  school-house  on  Miller’s 
Hill,  near  the  C.  M.  Shelp  farm,  a little  over  a mile 
west  of  the  borough,  was  fitted  up  for  a place  of  wor- 
ship and  occupied  alternately  for  many  years,  by  the 
Methodist  and  Congregational  Churches  of  this  place. 
From  1826  to  1836  twenty  members  were  added,  from 
1836  to  1846  thirty-three,  from  1846  to  1856,  fifty-two, 
1856  to  1866  fifty-three,  and  from  1866  to  1876  forty- 
eight  were  received,  making  in  all  two  hundred 
and  twenty-five  members  during  the  first  fifty  years 
of  its  existence. 

For  many  years  the  name  of  a Gospel  minister  rarely 
occurs  in  the  records  ; but  from  incidental  references 
it  is  evident  that  occasional  crumbs  did  fall  from  the 
tables  of  surrounding  churches,  particularly  those  of 
Harford,  Franklin  and  Great  Bend,  and  once,  at  least, 
in  June,  1834,  a protracted  meeting  was  held  which 
continued  five  days.  In  June,  1835,  a subscription 
was  circulated  for  the  partial  services  of  Rev.  Moses 
Jewell,  then  laboring  at  Great  Bend.  Similar  ar- 
rangements were  made  the  following  year  with  Rev. 
Joseph  Barlow,  of  Franklin.  In  July,  1838,  Rev.  E. 
Luce  was  engaged  to  preach  here  once  in  four  weeks. 
Rev.  Messrs.  Pine,  Loe  and  French  are  remembered 
in  1842,  and  Rev.  Joseph  Davison  was  here,  more  or 
less,  from  1843  to  1846.  He  was  followed  by  Rev.  Mr. 
Hicks,  who  was  in  turn  succeeded,  in  1849,  by  Rev. 
William  M.  Wooley,  then  the  young  pastor  of  the 
church  in  Franklin.  In  1850  the  services  of  Rev.  J. 
McCreary,  of  Great  Bend,  were  secured.  Meantime, 
from  1848  to  1850,  Rev.  Burr  Baldwin,  then  Presby- 
terial  missionary  to  the  feeble  churches,  supplied  the 
lack  of  other  service,  preaching  in  the  neighborhoods. 


About  this  time  the  Sabbath  morning  service  was 
transferred  from  Miller’s  Hill  to  the  village.  At  first 
the  upper  loft  of  the  flourishing  tannery  of  the  Pratt 
Brothers  was  utilized  for  a sanctuary  and  afterwards 
the  large  hall  of  the  McCarty  House.  But  the  neces- 
sity of  a uew  house  of  worship  was  fast  becoming  ap- 
parent to  all,  and  in  September,  1848,  under  the  ad- 
vice and  encouragement  of  Mr.  Baldwin,  they  resolved 
to  undertake  the  work  of  building.  A lot  was  pre- 
sented by  William  Ward,  Esq.,  lying  in  the  vicinity 
of  Mr.  Garratt’s,  and  a board  of  trustees  was  elected, 
consisting  of  B.  B.  Little,  I.  S.  Corwin,  R.  L.  Sutphin, 
James  Boyle,  H.  A.  Summers,  P.  H.  Corwin  and  Wil- 
liam C.  Handrick,  five  of  whom  wei’e  appointed  a 
building  committee.  Solicitors  were  also  appointed 
to  raise  subscriptions,  who  reported  the  following  De- 
cember ten  hundred  and  forty  dollars.  Preparations 
were  at  once  commenced  to  erect  an  edifice  thirty-two 
by  forty-six  feet,  at  a cost  of  about  two  thousand  dol- 
lars. By  the  following  summer  most  of  the  material 
had  been  procured,  and  the  work  of  framing,  etc., 
was  well  advanced,  when  one  day,  while  in  the  midst 
of  their  labors  at  a bee,  where  a number  of  willing 
workers  had  gathered,  word  was  brought  that,  by  the 
munificence  of  F.  F.  Badger,  E.  A.  & O.  Pratt,  Henry 
Burritt,  and  others,  land  for  a public  park  had  been 
purchased  and  presented  to  the  town,  and  a beautiful 
site  on  the  east  side  was  freely  offered  for  a church 
and  an  academy.  It  is  needless  to  say  the  offer  was 
thankfully  accepted.  The  building  was  raised  the 
following  October.  A charter  of  incorporation  was 
secured  at  the  spring  session  of  the  court,  and  the 
dedication  took  place,  with  appropriate  services.  May 
22,  1850. 

From  the  completion  of  their  house  of  worship  the 
church  entered  upon  a brighter  era.  Rev.  Henry  Os- 
borne, from  the  Presbytery  of  Catskill,  became  the  first 
resident  minister,  in  the  spring  of  1851,  and  continued 
till  1855.  He  is  remembered  as  a gifted  teacher,  a 
faithful  pastor  and  an  able  expounder  of  the  Gospel, 
and  under  his  ministry  the  church  and  congregation 
grew  and  flourished  as  never  before.  Rev.  David  A. 
Abbey  ably  served  as  minister  from  1857  to  1861. 
Several  brief  engagements  now  followed,  among  whom 
were  Rev.  J.  H.  Crane,  in  1861 ; Rev.  J.  H.  Rickett,  iu 
1862;  Rev.  J.  P.  Striker,  in  1863  ; Rev.  Wilbur  John- 
son, in  1865;  Rev.  Francis  Rand,  iu  1866;  Rev. 
Charles  H.  Wheeler,  in  1867 ; and  Rev.  David  M. 
Rankin,  from  the  Great  Bend  Church,  who  preached 
here  a part  of  the  time  until  August,  1870.  On  the 
10th  day  of  April,  1869,  the  church,  which  had  up  to 
this  time  been  known  as  Congregational,  formally 
adopted  the  title  and  polity  of  a Presbyterian  Church, 
and  perfected  its  organization  by  the  election  of  Wil- 
lard Truesdell,  Edward  Whitlock  and  P.  H.  Corwin 
to  the  office  of  ruling  elder.  Rev.  A.  D.  Barber  en- 
tered upon  the  full  service  of  the  church  in  the  fall 
of  1870,  and  continued  about  two  years.  He  was  fol- 
lowed by  Rev.  W.  J.  Arney,  of  Great  Bend,  who 


646 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


preached  here  part  of  the  time  until  the  summer  of 
1874,  when  he  was  succeeded  by  J.  O.  Van  Fleet,  a 
student  of  the  Theological  Seminary  of  New  Bruns- 
wick. Rev.  H.  H.  Wells,  of  Kingston,  was  here  a 
short  time  after  Mr.  Van  Fleet,  when  the  services  of 
Rev.  Willard  P.  Gibson  were  secured,  who  preached 
the  “Semi-Centennial  Sermon”  inl876, from  Job  viii. 
8.  Rev.  R.  N.  Ives  served  as  minister  in  1878  and 
1879,  and  the  names  of  Rev.  Charles  S.  Marvin  and 
Rev.  H.  Benson  also  occur.  The  ministry  of  Rev.  J. 

A.  Rosseel,  of  Mount  Pleasant,  brings  the  history  of 
the  church  down  very  nearly  to  the  present  time. 
In  1885  the  building  was  raised  and  a neat  basement 
built  underneath,  which,  together  with  other  extensive 
repairs,  renders  it  all  that  could  be  desired  as  a pleas- 
ant and  convenient  house  of  worship. 

The  existence  of  a small  Sunday-school  in  connec- 
tion with  this  church  is  still  remembered  on  the  hill, 
as  early  as  1829-  It  was  first  organized  byJ.W.  Rayns- 
ford.  Esq.,  of  Montrose,  it  is  thought,  and  afterward 
superintended  by  Deacons  Hawley,  Corwin  and  Crane, 

B.  B.  Little,  P.  H.  Corwin,  and  others.  Until  about 
1861  it  was  regularly  closed  during  the  winter,  and 
was  resumed  early  in  May.  Since  that  time  it  has 
generally  been  held  the  year  round.  It  is  usually 
well  attended,  has  a fine  library  and  is  in  a prosper- 
ous condition. 

The  history  of  the  Methodist  Church  of  New  Mil- 
ford may  also  be  traced  far  back  in  the  history  of  the 
settlement.  Indeed,  several  of  the  earlier  pioneers, 
including  Benjamin  Hayden,  Captain  Dean  and  oth- 
ers, were  stanch  Methodists  when  there  was  only  an 
occasional  break  in  the  great  woods,  and  but  few  set- 
tlers had  dared  the  perils  and  privations  of  the  borders. 
Their  early  church  history  is  very  similar  to  that  of 
the  Presbyterians,  Prayer-meetings  were  often  held 
in  the  settlers’  houses,  sometimes  in  the  borough  set- 
tlement and  sometimes  in  the  more  isolated  dwell- 
ings of  the  settlers  in  the  township.  Occasionally  a 
minister  camethis  way,  and  then  everybody  turned  out 
and  crowded  the  little  log  cabin  to  overfiowing. 
Hymns  were  sung,  for  there  were  some  good  singers 
among  the  early  backwoodsmen,  and  earnest  prayers 
made  and  sermons  were  listened  to  with  the  greatest 
interest.  It  was  no  uncommon  thing  for  the  sturdy 
pioneer  to  bring  out  his  oxen  and  sled  on  a bright 
moonlight  evening,  and  taking  his  family,  and  per- 
haps some  of  his  neighbors,  go  four  or  five  miles 
through  the  woods  to  meeting.  All  formality  and 
fashion  were  laid  aside,  and  all  met  as  equal  brothers 
and  sisters  in  a holy  cause.  The  time  was  generally 
well  spent,  and  they  returned  to  their  homes  happy 
with  the  conscious  knowledge  that  they  had  faithfully 
discharged  their  duty  to  God  and  man.  Often  the 
melodious  sound  of  their  voices  rose  in  harmonious 
accord  as  they  sang  some  familiar  hymn  on  the  return 
journey,  which  rang  through  the  forest  like  heavenly 
music,  such  as  only  those  who  have  listened  to  good 
singing  in  similar  situations  can  understand  and  ap- 


preciate. A,  sketch  of  some  of  the  earlier  work  of 
this  societ)'  has  already  been  given  in  the  history  of 
the  township.  The  meetings  at  the  school-house  on 
the  hill  west  of  the  village  were  faithfully  conducted 
for  a long  time,  and  are  still  remembered  by  older 
citizens. 

On  November  18,  1848,  the  members  of  the  society 
met,  according  to  previous  notice,  for  the  purpose  of 
appointing  trustees  for  a contemplated  meeting-house, 
to  be  called  the  First  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  of 
New  Milford-  Rev.  David  Terry,  pastor  in  charge, 
was  chosen  president.  The  following  nine  persons 
were  elected  trustees;  Thomas  Dean,  Jared  Beardsley, 
Joshua  Phinney,  Solomon  R.  Williams,  Enoch  Smith, 
Amos  M.  Brant,  Dennis  McKeeby,  James  B.  Warner 
and  Reuben  Hatch.  Joshua  Phinney  was  elected 
secretary.  At  a meeting  of  the  said  trustees  a few 
days  later,  C.  C.  Wright  was  chosen  treasurer.  After 
discussing  different  plans  it  was  finally  decided  to 
build  a house  thirty-eight  by  fifty-three  feet,  and  on 
January  22, 1849,  the  contract  was  let  to  Simeon  Lewis, 
for  fifteen  hundred  dollars.  Meanwhile  a suitable  lot 
had  been  secured  at  the  foot  of  the  “ Dugaway  Hill,” 
where  the  Jackson  road  enters  the  town,  the  deed  of 
which  was  given  by  Wm.  C.  Ward  and  wife,  January 
15,  1849.  A petition  for  a charter  having  been  pre- 
pared, was  duly  signed  as  follows:  Rev.  George  P. 
Porter,  Joshua  Phinney,  Simeon  Lewis,  Solomon  R. 
Williams,  John  F.  Deans,  Orrin  Lester,  Embley 
Shafer,  P.  Hinds,  F.  B.  Chandler,  Jonas  Carter,  Geo. 
V.  Bentley,  W.  K.  Hatch.  The  charter  was  filed  Jan- 
uary 16th  and  was  granted  by  the  court  April  20, 1849. 
The  edifice  was  promptly  pushed  to  completion,  and 
the  already  large  andfiourishing  society  entered  upon 
a still  brighter  era  of  its  advancing  history.  It  was  by 
far  the  largest  house  of  worship  in  the  place,  and  its 
congregations,  made  up  of  both  members  and  non- 
sectarians, were  generally  large  and  attentive. 

Among  the  many  worthy  clergymen  who  have  pre- 
sided here  we  notice  the  familiar  names  of  Rev.  David 
Terry,  who  was  here  in  1848;  Rev.  George  P.  Porter; 
Rev.  H.  R.  Clark,  in  1857 ; Rev.  S.  Elwell,  in  1866; 
and  Rev.  R.  J.  Kellogg,  in  1870.  At  this  time  the 
church  property  was  estimated  to  be  worth  four  thou- 
sand five  hundred  dollars.  Rev.  J.  S.  Thomson  came 
in  the  spring  of  1871.  He  was  an  eloquent  .speaker, 
but  his  teachings  were  not  deemed  in  accordance 
with  the  established  doctrine  of  the  church,  and  he 
was  tried  on  the  alleged  charge  of  heresy  and  ex- 
pelled. He  afterwards  organized  a free  religious 
society,  and  preached  in  Phinney’s  Hall,  where  im- 
mense congregations  assembled  to  hear  him,  and  later 
in  the  town  hall,  which  was  at  first  erected  by  a stock 
company,  for  his  meetings.  He  was  followed  at  the 
town  hall  by  a Mr.  Clark,  but  after  a short  time  the 
members  of  the  society  became  somewhat  indifferent, 
and  the  meetings  were  discontinued.  It  was  a hard 
blow  for  the  Methodists,  and  Rev.  Mr.  Brooks,  who 
succeeded  Mr.  Thomson  at  the  church,  found  consid- 


NEW  MILFOKD. 


647 


erable  dissension  to  quell.  For  a time  the  attendance 
was  somewhat  lighter,  but  during  Eev.  0.  M.  Mar- 
tin’s ministry  a great  revival  occurred,  and  the  church 
regained  its  former  position.  He  was  followed  by 
Revs.  J.  W.  Hewitt,  C.  V.  Arnold,  J.  H.  Weston,  J. 
L.  Wells  and  J.  L.  Race.  During  the  ministry  of 
Rev.  J.  L.  Race  the  East  New  Milford  Methodist 
Church  was  built,  and  the  large  congregation  was 
divided.  Mr.  Race  entered  into  an  arrangement  to 
preach  there  regularly  on  the  afternoon  of  every  Sab- 
bath, as  his  predecessors  had  at  the  school-house. 
Occasionally,  however,  when  the  weather  was  fair, 
numerous  members  from  either  place  were  seen  in  the 
congregation  at  the  other  house  of  worship. 

A plot  of  laud  having  been  secured  of  Mrs.  Ellen 
B.  Whitlock  for  six  hundred  dollars,  fifty  dollars  of 
which  was  donated  to  the  cliurch,  a neat  parsonage 
was  erected,  and  on  the  8th  of  April,  1884,  a meeting 
of  the  board  of  trustees  was  held  for  the  purpose  of 
making  arrangements  for  moving  the  church  to  the 
parsonage  lot,  near  the  residence  of  E.  A.  Pratt.  On 
this  occasion  Samuel  Green  was  chosen  president 
and  John  Cobb  secretary.  H.  B.  Carpenter,  John  A. 
McConnell,  J.  E.  Gunn,  Charles  Bronson,  E.  G.  Lloyd 
and  Rev.  J.  L.  Race  (pastor)  were  present,  and  a 
committee  having  been  appointed  to  solicit  subscrip- 
tions to  defray  the  necessary  expenses  of  removal,  it 
was  resolved  to  undertake  the  work  as  soon  as  five 
hundred  dollars  should  be  obtained.  The  building 
was  removed  the  following  fall,  and  raised  upon  a 
spacious  and  substantial  basement,  and  on  the  28th 
of  November,  1885,  the  job  of  finishing  the  church 
according  to  specifications  was  let  to  J.  W.  Gillespie 
for  eleven  hundred  and  twenty  dollars.  As  a church 
edifice  it  ranks  among  the  largest  and  finest  in  the 
county.  The  present  pastor  is  Rev.  J.  F.  Warner, 
who  came  here  in  the  spring  of  1885. 

In  looking  back  along  the  list  of  influential  mem- 
bers of  this  church  w'ho  have  from  time  to  time 
served  as  trustees,  we  find  many  worthy  names,  which 
are  perhaps  remembered  with  pleasure  by  people  in 
different  parts  of  the  country, — Joseph  P.  Miller,  an 
old  man  still  living  at  East  New  Milford,  and  attend- 
ing the  sanctuary  regularly  ; William  Tinker,  Benja- 
min Warner,  Calvin  Wellman  and  O.  P.  Tallman,  all 
gone  to  their  rest  long  since ; Pierce  Dean,  another 
honored  citizen,  still  living  on  his  farm,  a mile  west  of 
the  borough  • M.  C.  Dikeman,  a well-remembered 
school-teacher  of  earlier  days,  long  since  departed ; 
William  Gunn,  T.  J.  Tallman,  Richard  Hartt,  Edwin 
Baldwin,  R.  J.  Vailes,  Joseph  Rice,  C.  S.  Page  and 
more  now  numbered  among  our  respected  citizens. 

A very  flourishing  Sunday-school,  conducted  by  an 
able  corps  of  teachers,  has  nearly  always  been  a 
prominent  feature  of  this  church,  as  well  as  others, 
and  the  order  of  work  and  style  of  instruction  is,  to 
say  the  least,  highly  commendable.  It  has  in  con- 
nection a very  fine  library. 

Among  the  churches  in  New  Milford  the  Roman 


Catholic  compares  favorably  with  those  of  other  de- 
nominations in  size  and  number  of  adherents.  Its 
members  represent  about  fifty  families,  many  often 
attending  from  Great  Bend  and  surrounding  sections. 
What  Ichabod  Ward  was  to  the  Presbyterians  in  this 
locality,  the  Hon.  John  Boyle  was  to  the  Roman 
Catholics.  A sort  of  mission  was  established  here  at 
an  early  day,  and  for  a period  of  more  than  forty 
years  previous  to  the  erection  of  the  church,  religious 
services  were  held  at  his  residence  on  the  occasional 
visit  of  a priest,  and  it  was  mainly  through  the  zeal 
and  energy  of  that  pioneer  Catholic  that  this  denom- 
ination is  indebted  for  a place  of  worship  here.  For 
many  years  Rev.  J.  V.  O’Reilly,  a veteran  missionary, 
whose  death  occurred  in  1873,  had  charge  of  this  and 
many  other  missions,  which  in  those  early  days  were 
scattered  over  the  counties  of  Susquehanna,  Bradford, 
Wayne  and  Luzerne.  The  labors  of  attending  that 
extent  of  country  were  most  arduous,  and  as  the  roads 
were  in  poor  condition,  many  journeys  were  traveled 
on  horseback.  But  O’Reilly  was  a man  that  never 
faltered  in  his  religious  duties,  and  he  did  not  de- 
spair. His  later  years  were  made  brighter  as  he 
looked  back  along  the  pathway  he  had  trod,  and  be- 
held the  fruits  of  his  labor  springing  up,  and  the 
cross  erected  in  many  places  where  he  had  organized 
feeble  missions  in  some  settler’s  humble  cabin  years 
before,  and  he  felt  that  the  harvest  was  fully  com- 
mensurate with  his  trouble.  When  the  members  in 
this  locality  became  sufficient  in  numbers  and  means 
to  demand  a church  edifice,  Mr.  Boyle  came  forward 
and  liberally  donated  the  land  for  its  site,  and  in  Oc- 
tober, 1869,  they  commenced  building  a chapel  twen- 
ty-six by  fifty  feet;  but  shortly  after  the  frame- work 
was  raised  it  was  blown  down  by  a terrific  gale  of 
wind.  Undaunted  in  their  efforts,  they  set  to  work 
with  renewed  energy,  and  in  a short  time  the  damage 
was  repaired  and  the  building  was  inclosed.  It  was 
completed  and  appropriately  dedicated  in  July,  1871. 
For  the  dispatch  and  perfection  of  the  undertaking 
much  is  due  to  the  untiring  efforts  of  the  Eev.  Ed- 
mund Fitzmaurice,  then  located  at  Dunmore,  Pa., 
who  ably  superintended  the  work.  He  is  now  located 
in  Hazleton.  The  present  pastor  is  Rev.  P.  J.  Mc- 
Manus, of  Great  Bend. 

Several  Baptists  were  here  at  an  early  day,  but 
when  the  Baptist  Church  was  organized  near  Mr. 
Moxley’s,  in  South  New  Milford,  in  1827,  they  joined 
there,  and  no  church  was  built  in  the  borough.  A 
complete  account  of  the  Baptist  Church  there  is  given 
in  the  history  of  the  township.  In  the  fall  of  1885 
a small  Baptist  mission  was  organized  by  Rev.  O.  W. 
Cook  in  a room  over  W.  G.  Smith’s  store,  which 
finally  developed  into  a more  complete  church  organ- 
ization. A charter  has  been  applied  for,  and  a plot 
of  ground  secured,  and  the  time  is  probably  not  far 
distant  when  a Baptist  Church  will  be  numbered  with 
the  other  churches  here.  The  church  is  at  present 
presided  over  by  Rev.  I.  D.  Mallery. 


648 


HISTOKY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


The  Universalists  have  also  lately  organized,  and 
the  prospects  are  that  they,  too,  will  soon  have  a 
church  edifice  in  New  Milford.  There  are  many  of 
that  persuasion  in  both  the  borough  and  township, 
and  as  they  are  generally  people  of  considerable 
means,  they  can,  if  they  choose,  build  a fine  house  of 
worship.  Many  meetings  were  held  here  during  the 
winter  of  1887,  and  much  interest  was  manifested. 
They  were  principally  conducted  by  Eev.  L.  F.  Por- 
ter, of  Brooklyn,  Mrs.  L.  F.  Porter,  Rev.  Mr.  Hand 
and  others. 

Neav  Milford  Cemetery. — The  New  Milford 
Cemetery  is  one  of  the  oldest  and  most  beautiful 
“ cities  of  the  dead  ’’  to  be  met  with  in  Susquehanna 
County.  It  is  pleasantly  situated  on  a high,  sandy 
knoll  overlooking  the  town  and  valley  at  the  south- 
ern extremity  of  the  borough,  and  comprises  several 
acres  in  extent.  The  original  part  was  conveyed  by 
deed  to  the  township  at  an  early  date,  before  the  in- 
corporation of  the  borough,  and  is  now  mostly  taken 
up.  It  has  since  been  greatly  enlarged,  and  it  is 
thought  there  is  now  more  dead  buried  here  than 
there  are  living  people  in  the  town.  An  hour  or  two 
spent  here  calls  up  many  memories  of  the  past  and 
awakens  reflections  on  the  future.  In  olden  times  the 
Newburg  turnpike  used  to  wind  along  the  northern 
ascent  to  the  cemetery,  and  pass  over  the  hill  on  the 
back  side ; but  with  the  change  in  the  road  the  west- 
ern boundary  of  the  cemetery  was  made  to  conform 
thereto.  It  is  surrounded  by  a stone  wall,  with  two 
entrances  from  the  road  on  the  west.  Entering  the 
northern  gate,  we  pass  up  the  steep  ascent  between 
the  rows  of  unpretentious  tombstones,  and  soon  stand 
upon  a small  flat  at  the  top  of  the  elevation,  where 
the  first  interments  were  made.  Here,  centrally  situ- 
ated, is  a small,  dark-colored  slatestone,  well  pre- 
served, bearing  the  following  inscription  : 

“ In  memory  of  Warner  Corbett,  who  died  March  23,  1795. 

Ae.  7 years.” 

It  is  thought  to  be  the  oldest  tombstone  in  the 
county.  Nearby  is  another  of  the  same  description, 
which  reads  as  follows  : 

“ Here  lies  Gitte,  consort  of  Col.  Christopher  Longstreet,  who  died  May 
11, 1813.  Ae.  73  years. 

“ The  sweet  remembrance  of  the  just 
Shall  flourish  though  they  sleep  in  dust.” 

Among  others  are  David  Summers,  died  1816 ; Na- 
than Mitchell,  died  1816,  aged  thirty-five;  Nicholas 
McCarty,  died  1821,  aged  fifty-one;  Wm.  Ward,  died 
1849,  aged  sixty-four;  Lemuel  W.  Bingham,  1794- 
1867;  Robertson  Wood,  died  1843,  aged  fifty-four; 
Ogden  Pratt,  died  1859,  aged  thirty-five ; Ezra  Pratt, 
died  1876,  aged  eighty-seven ; Richard  Morse,  died 
1865,  aged  sixty;  Henry  Burritt,  died  1878,  aged 
seventy-eight. 

Societies. — I.  0.  0.  F. — One  of  the  first  societies 
organized  here  was  the  old  “ Canawacta  Lodge,”  No. 
207,  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows.  The  charter 


was  first  issued  October  19, 1846,  and  the  first  regular 
meeting  held  on  the  24th  of  December  following.  The 
following-named  persons  were  the  first  officers : Noble 
Grand,  A.  N.  Meylert ; Vice-Grand,  Wm.  C.  Ward  ; 
Secretary,  G.  B.  R.  Wade;  Assistant  Secretary,  James 
M.  Ward;  Treasurer,  Nathan  Cadwell.  The  subor- 
dinate officers  were  John  Hayden,  Right  Supporter  to 
Noble  Grand ; David  Summers,  Left  Supporter  to  No- 
bleGrand;  Allison  Pratt,  Conductor;  Nathan  Mitch- 
ell, Senior  Warden;  and  Lemuel B.  Mitchell,  Inside 
Guardian.  After  about  six  years  the  lodge  was  moved 
to  Great  Bend,  the  first  meeting  there  being  held  on 
the  1th  of  January,  1852.  It  was  held  there  until  1856, 
when  the  charter  was  given  up,  and  for  a long  time  the 
meetings  were  discontinued.  On  the  17th  of  December, 
1874,  the  charter  was  reissued,  and  the  lodge  re-estab- 
lished at  New  Milford.  The  new  charter  members 
were  Tracy  Hayden,  A.  C.  Merryman,  S.  P.  Smith, 
James  Tennant,  John  Hayden,  Stewart  Mead,  M.  T. 
Very,  William  E.  Lawson,  C.  E.  Lawson,  David  Well- 
man, John  T.  Williams,  J.  N.  Low,  William  Smith, 
John  A.  Dix,  W.  P.  Tallman  and  David  Summers,  of 
New  Milford,  S.  B.  Chase,  of  Great  Bend  ; and  S.  H. 
Morse,  of  Montrose.  The  following  officers  were  elect- 
ed : Noble  Grand,  Tracy  Hayden ; Vice-Grand,  A.  C. 
Merryman;  Secretary,  S. P.  Smith;  Assistant  Secre- 
tary, James  M.  Tennant;  Treasurer,  John  Hayden. 
The  meetings  of  the  lodge  are  held  weekly  over  Dean 
Brothers,  store.  The  present  membership  numbers 
thirty-six. 

F.  and  A.  M.,  No.  507. — A Masonic  lodge  was  char- 
tered in  this  place  December  6, 1872 , with  the  follow- 
ing charter  members : W.  T.  Ward,  W.  R.  Brink, 
D.  C.  Ainey,  M.  Hayden  and  William  S.  Mead. 
The  following  were  the  first  officers:  Worshipful 
Master,  E.  K.  Richardson;  Senior  Warden,  W.  T. 
Ward  ; Junior  Warden,  W.  R.  Brink;  Secretary,  M. 
Hayden ; Treasurer,  D.  C.  Ainey.  Their  meetings 
are  held  in  their  splendidly  furnished  rooms  over  J. 

C.  McConnell’s  drug-store.  The  lodge  is  in  a flourish- 
ing condition,  numbering  among  its  thirty-seven 
members  many  of  the  leading  men  of  the  borough  and 
township.  Among  the  more  prominent  Past  Mas- 
ters are  E.  K.  Richardson,  N.  O.  Ainey,  Daniel 

D.  Tompkins,  Dr.  D.  C.  Ainey,  Norman  Tingley, 
D.  P.  Little.  W.  S.  Mead,  C.  M.  Shelp,  E.  O.  Perry 
and  0.  C.  Tingley. 


CHAPTER  XLIII. 

BROOKLYN  TOWNSHIP. 

* The  space  herein  allotted  to  this  township  is  filled 
chiefly  with  a history  of  its  people,  written  in  the 
centennial  year  of  its  first  settlement. 


1 By  E.  A.  Weston. 


BROOKLYN. 


649 


Description^. — Brooklyn  is  in  the  south  central 
part  of  Suscpiehanna  County,  and  is  bounded  on  the 
northwest  by  Bridgewater ; on  the  north,  by  New  Mil- 
ford ; on  the  east,  by  Harford ; on  the  south,  by  Lath- 
rop ; and  on  the  west,  by  Dimock.  It  did  not  obtain 
its  present  name,  Brooklyn,  until  1825.  Prior  to  this, 
in  1790,  the  territory  embraced  in  this  township  was 
known  as  Tioga ; in  1795  as  Nicholson  ; in  1806  it  was 
comprised  in  Bridgewater ; in  1814  it  was  part  of 
Waterford  township,  which  name  the  court  changed 
to  Hopbottom  in  1823,  and  finally,  on  petition  of  the 
citizens  in  1825,  the  name  of  the  township  and  post- 
office  were  changed  to  Brooklyn.  In  1846  the  area  of 
the  township  was  reduced  nearly  one-half  by  the 
erection  of  Lathrop,  since  which  time  its  boundaries 
have  remained  unchanged. 

Topography — Brooklyn  was  originally  covered 
with  a dense  growth  of  towering  pines,  once  extending 
from  a point  west  of  the  village  two  miles  up  the 
stream,  and  contained  a great  variety  of  native  trees 
and  flowers,  fruits  and  grasses,  animals,  birds  and 
fishes.  It  is  traversed  by  hills  and  valleys,  weird  and 
romantic  rocks  and  ledges,  winding  streams, — the 
Meshoppen  just  beyond  its  western  border,  with  the 
two  miniature  and  picturesque  lakes  tributary  thereto ; 
Marten  Creek  on  the  east,  and  Hopbottom  and  Hor- 
ton in  the  middle,  with  their  sparkling  artificial 
ponds,  and  many  famous  and  copious  springs  of  purest 
perennial  waters. 

The  soils  and  remains,  the  scanty  Indian  relics, 
and  its  still  preserved  roots  of  resinous  trees,  just  as 
these  roots  were  seen  by  the  first  white  settlers  a hun- 
dred years  ago — the  remains  of  evergreen  monarchs  of 
by  gone  ages  ; the  narrative  and  incident  of  pioneer 
life  ; the  toils,  the  privations,  and  pleasures  as  well, 
incident  to  the  first  settlement  in  the  wilderness ; the 
babies  rocked  in  sap-troughs,  dug  from  divided  logs  of 
wood  ; the  horse-back  rides  of  ladies  to  the  New  Eng- 
land Fatherland  and  back ; the  household  distaff, 
spinning-wheel  and  loom;  the  adventures  among 
panthers,  bears  and  wolves ; the  bread  material 
pounded  in  hollowed  stumps,  or  transported  for  miles 
on  the  shoulders  of  men,  are  interesting  facts  connec- 
ted with  the  early  settlement  of  Brooklyn  in  com- 
mon with  the  other  townships  of  the  county. 

But,  “ while  men  may  come  and  men  may  go,”  the 
only  way  to  hold  them  in  memory  is  to  note  that 
coming  and  that  going  as  they  pass  down  the  stream  of 
time.  Such  is  the  attempt  here  made,  not  by  writing 
a few  flattering  words  of  a few  only,  but  by  a general 
record  of  all,  from  which  their  work  can  be  inferred 
by  the  date  at  which  they  wrought  and  the  length  of 
time  they  served,  the  place  of  the  homestead  they 
occupied  and  the  region  whence  they  came  (always  a 
semi-certificate  of  character) ; by  the  positions  they 
filled,  the  associations  they  formed,  and  the  indus- 
tries in  which  they  were  engaged-  That  such  a 
record  will  leave  a valuable  gift  to  the  future  seems  i 
undisputed.  True,  some  excel  in  one  province  and  ' 
41 


some  in  another.  Each  fills  a different  sphere,  and 
they  differ  in  energy  and  endurance.  But  “a  man’s 
a man  ” — a human  soul — for  all  that,  and  it  takes  all 
to  fill  the  ranks  and  supply  the  needs  of  life.  To  get 
this  record,  every  family  in  the  township  (with 
many  outside)  has  been  consulted,  assessment  rolls  for 
forty  years  have  been  examined,  and  monumental  in- 
scriptions, deeds  and  other  memoranda,  and  Miss 
Blackman’s  excellent  work  have  contributed  their 
share.  But  that  errors  and  omissions  have  some- 
times been  made  is  doubtless  inevitable  from  receding 
and  often  conflicting  recollections.  But  (except  the 
sketches,  the  record  of  the  soldiers  of  ’61,  etc.,  which 
have  been  prepared  by  others)  this  is  the  people’s 
history,  as  they  have  given  it ; and  these  are  the 
annals  of  the  olden  time,  treasured  up  for  him  who 
would  spend  a pensive  and  instructive  hour  in  con- 
ning the  lessons  of  the  past. 

The  first  settlement  at  Brooklyn  was  made  in  1787, 
by  a company  of  persons  from  Philadelphia  and  vi- 
cinity that  were  induced  to  come  to  this  section  by 
John  Nicholson,  who  had  purchased  lands  here  under 
the  Pennsylvania  title.  But-these  people  were  unac- 
customed to  the  wilderness,  and  when  the  promised 
aid  of  their  leader  failed,  they  became  discouraged 
and  began  to  sell  their  improvements  to  Connecticut 
settlers,  in  1798.  The  New  England  people  supposed 
that  after  paying  for  the  clearings  and  log  buildings  of 
their  predecessor,  they  had,  under  Connecticut  patents 
from  the  British  crown  and  purchase  from  the  Indi- 
ans, a full  legal  right  to  the  lands.  But  they  found 
themselves  mistaken,  and  had  afterwards  to  pay 
again  for  the  soil  when  the  dispute  between  the  Penn- 
sylvania and  Connecticut  claims  was  finally  settled  in 
favor  of  the  former. 

Thus,  at  the  very  outset,  Brooklyn  suffered  loss  and 
annoyance  from  the  error  the  world  long  ago  im- 
bibed, that  sovereigns,  even  though  beyond  the  sea, 
own  the  soil,  as  well  as  the  right  of  jurisdiction  in  pro- 
tecting its  occupants,  and  that  the  increase  in  the 
worth  of  idle  lands  adjoining  other  lands  whose  value 
is  raised  by  the  civilizing  labors  of  its  tillers,  justly 
belongs  to  idle  speculators  ! 

The  following  is  a chronologic  list  of  pioneer  and 
other  deceased  or  removed  residents  : * 

1787.  Wm.  Conrad  (escaped  Hessian  soldier).  Eve, 
his  wife;  John  (to  Lenox),  Polly  (Forsyth  of  Har- 


1 The  heavy  figures  denote  date  of  coming  (or  of  birth  if  born  here), 
as  near  as  can  now  be  ascertained  ; families  are  put  together,  though 
the  wife  may  not  have  come  at  same  time  and  childi’en  may  have  been 
born  afterward  ; the  first  name  is  that  of  the  husband  ; if  the  name  of  an 
ancestor  is  referred  to,  it  is  put  often  only  by  initials,  in  parenthesis ; 
age  or  date  of  birth  is  separated  from  date  of  death  by  a dash  ; the  sec. 
ond  name  is  the  wife’s;  names  of  children,  if  known,  after  the  semi- 
colon ; present  occupant  of  homestead  given  last,  and  by  referring  to 
this  name  the  whole  chain  of  occupancy  may  be  found  (and  by  looking 
on  the  ground  the  old  apple-trees,  the  patches  of  tansey  and  live-forever 
may  often  be  seen  near  the  spot  where  the  settler’s  cabin  stood) ; length 
of  residence,  if  not  stated,  can  be  computed  from  date  of  coming  and 
date  of  death  ; former  and  subsequent  residence,  in  parenthesis  ; if  a 
daughter  married,  husband’s  name  often  put  after  in  parenthesis. 


650 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


ford),  Kate  (Felton  of  Nicholson),  Geo.  (to  Gibson), 
Win.,  Andrew  (to  Lenox),  Jacob.  [Kate  born  here 
1787,  doubtless  the  first  birth  in  townshiji  and  county.] 
Res.  11  yrs.,  and  went  to  Harford.  Ansel  Sterling — 
upper  house. 

Adam  Miller  (Protestant  Irish)  a.  66— d.  1831,  Eli- 
nor Nicholson  (sister  of  John,— Welsh  and  English), 
61—1816  ; Wm.,  Chas.,  Anna  (Wells).  Res.  12  yrs. 
and  went  to  Clifford.  E.  S.  P.  Hine. 

John  Robinson— Res.  11  yrs.  (went  to  Lenox). 
See  Thos.  West. 

Richard  McNamara  (Scotch)  — Res.  12  yrs., 
(Lenox).  See  A.  J.  Smith. 

Mr.  Page  (German),  children,  John,  Betsey,  Peggy 
and  8 more.  Res.  13  yrs.  Returned  to  Philadelphia. 
See  Village. 

Mr.  McIntyre  settled  on  “ McIntyre  Hill,”  now  oc- 
cupied by  A.  R.  Gere  and  D.  B.  Packer. 

Among  other  Nicholson  settlers  of  this  year  were 
Robert  Patterson,  Mr.  Trout  (see  Luther  Benjamin). 
Mr.  Dennison  (see  M.  L.  Lemon),  and  Mr.  Fox  (see 

L.  B.  Tiffany). 

1790.  John  Jones  (Welsh),  (91—1834,  Elizabeth 
Milbourn,  formerly  Bloomfield ; Polly,  Betsey  (Sweet), 
Nancy  (Howard). — 0.  Bailey,  J.  W.  Adams,  and  H. 

M.  Williams. 

Richard  Milbourn  (Long  Island— never  here), 

Elizabeth  Bloomfield, Bloomfield,  and  Sally 

(Jotham  Oakley). 

Bloomfield  Milbourn,  (R.  M.),  68  -1839,  (North- 
umberland, Pa.),  Hannah  Tewksbury  (Isaac  T.),  78— 
1854 ; Eliza  (Lyman),  Sarah  B.  (Tiffany).  See  L.  B. 
Tiffany. 

1792.  Mark  Hartley  (Scotch-Irish) ; children, 
Mark,  Wm.,  James. — Lenox. 

1793.  Prince  Perkins  (Ci. — colored),  Judy,  his 
wife;  Wm.  See  Freeman  Bennet,  Chas.  Kent  and 
Napoleon  Dennis. 

Wm.  Harkins — went  to  Springville.  See  Wm. 
Cameron. 

1795.  Wright  Chamberlin  (Ct).  Res.  1 summer, 
(Gibson). 

1798.  Joseph  Chapman,  Jr.  (Norwieh,  Ct.),  76 — 
1845,  J.  C.,  Sr. — (See  Dimock),  Betsey  Letfingwell, 
69 — 1846  ; George  (gone  to  Florida),  Jas.  W.  (Mon- 
trose), Lydia  (Adams),  John  H.  (Scranton),  Joseph, 
deed. — Thos.  West. 

Andrew  Tracy,  Sr.,  1742 — 1801  (Norwich,  Ct).  1st 
Molly  Clement  (not  here) ; Peleg,  Leonard,  Zebediel, 
Eunice,  Betsey,  Harriet,  Edwin,  Sidney:  2d  Mary 
Weston  (formerly  Cady)  ; Sally  (Hayden),  Andrew, 
— Ansel  Sterling. 

1799.  Peleg  Tracy,  (A.  T.),  Hannah  Letfingwell ; 

Betsey,  Maria,  Dank,  Chas.,  Vernet,  Martha,  Mary, 
(Wilkes-Barre).  Res.  5 yrs.  0.  Bailey  and  Wm. 
Cameron,  , 

Thos.  Giles  (now  set  off  in  Dimock,  but  many 
years  considered  in  Brooklyn),  79  — 1851,  Betsey 
Demin,  48 — 1821,  Polly  (Jer.  Spencer),  Daniel, 


Fanny  (lost),  Jabez,  Lucinda  (J.  R.  Ely),  Bathsheba, 
(L.  Ely),  Wm.,  Geo.  H.,  Betsey  (S.  Maryott).  j 

Joshua  Sabin  (Otsego  Co.,  N.  Y.) ; children,  Jona- 
than, Aaron,  Lyman,  Betsey,  Ezra,  Ezekiel,  Polly, 
and  4 others.  Res.  4 yrs. — A.  J.  Smith. 

Jonathan  Sabin  (J.  S.),  Mrs.  Raynale.  Res.  10. — ■ 
A.  J.  Smith. 

Mr.  Webber,  a neighbor  of  P.  Tracy. 

Sami.  Weston  (Norwich,  Ct.)  1st  Julia  Horton  ; 
Chas.,  Wm.  L.,  Julia:  2d  Eliza  Baker  ; Ann(Bagley), 
Jane. — Res.  28  (Clifford). 

James  Coil  and  Edward  Goodwin — time  uncertain. 
— (Lenox).— E.  S.  P.  Hine. 

Edwin  A.  Weston  descended  from  Puritan  stock. 
His  earliest  ancestor  in  America  was  Edmund  Weston, 
who  came  from  London,  Eng.,  at  the  age  of  thirty 
years,  to  Boston,  in  the  ship  “ Elizabeth  and  Ann,” 
Roger  Cooper,  master,  in  the  year  1635,  and  settled  at 
Duxbury,  near  Plymouth,  Mass.  One  of  his  four 
children  was  Edmund  (1660-1727),  who  married  a 
granddaughter  of  one  of  the  “ Mayflower  ” Pilgrims, 
and  lived  at  Plympton,  Mass.  Of  his  six  children, 
the  second  was  Zechariah,  born  1690,  lived  in  Plymp- 
ton and  had  flve  children,  the  oldest  of  whom  was 
Jonathan  (1718-90),  who  married  Elizabeth  Bosworth, 
of  Norwich,  Conn.,  and  lived  at  Tolland,  Conn.  He 
had  eight  children,  the  fourth  of  whom  was  Amaziah 
(1754—96).  He  married,  in  1786,  Mary  Cady  (1762- 
1856),  of  Brooklyn,  Windham  County,  Conn.,  and 
lived  at  Norwich,  Conn.  Their  children  wereBamuel 
(1787-1840),  merchant  of  Clifford,  Pa. ; Mary,  married 
Elias  Hoyt,  of  Kingston,  Luzerne  County,  Pa.;  Wm. 
Williston  (1791-1853);  and  John  Norris  (1794-1848), 
physician  at  Towanda,  Pa. 

After  the  death  of  Amaziah  Weston  his  widow 
married  Andrew  Tracy,  and  came  with  him  and  her 
children  to  Brooklyn  in  February,  1799.  They  settled 
on  the  clearing  which  Esq.  Tracy  had  bought  of  Wm. 
Conrad,  made  in  1787,  just  north  of  what  is  now 
Brooklyn  village,  an  account  of  which  will  be  found 
in  the  history  of  the  township. 

William  W.  Weston  married,  in  1819,  Eliza  Cone 
(1802-36),  a daughter  of  Daniel  Cone  (1767-1847),  of 
Middletown,  Middlesex  County,  Conn.,  who  came 
with  his  family  to  Brooklyn  in  1813,  and  afterward 
removed  to  Ohio.  William  Weston  was  a thoughtful 
man,  of  sterling  integrity,  of  genial  natnre  and  liter- 
ary tastes,  but  lacked  robust  health,  and  spent  much 
of  his  time  in  light  mechanical  work,  and  in  raising 
garden-seeds.  Eliza  Weston  was  a devoted  Christian 
woman  and  an  early  and  faithful  member  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church  of  the  township.  They  settled 
on  a lot  just  north  of  the  one  taken  by  Esq.  Tracy. 
Their  children  were  Mary  A.,  born  October  21,  1820, 
and  now  a widow,  resides  with  her  son  at  Menomonee, 
Wis. ; and  Edwin  A.,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  born 
January  8,  1826.  William  Weston  subsequently 
married  Lovinia  Smith,  a daughter  of  Latham  Smith, 


Q,  jf, 


BROOKLYN. 


651 


au  early  settler  of  the  township,  and  had  one  son, 
William  L.  Weston,  dentist,  of  New  Milford. 

In  1851  E.  A.  Weston  married  Mary  Elizabeth 
Jackson,  daughter  of  Ruel  Jackson,  a native  of  Ver- 
mont, and  Lodusky  (Holdridge)  Chamberlin,  who  is  a 
daughter  of  Dea.  Wright  Chamberlin,  one  of  the  first 
settlers  of  Gibson,  and  Sally  Holdridge,  of  the  same 
township.  Dea.  Chamberlin  was  from  Connecticut, 
and  the  Holdridges  were  also  of  New  England  extrac- 
tion. Mr.  Jackson  was  a blacksmith.  He  had  two 
children, — Mary  E.,  born  at  Great  Bend  October  17, 
1832,  and  her  sister  Charlotte.  During  Mary  E.’s 
childhood  they  ^lived  near  Chicago,  111.,  and  then 
in  Marcellus,  Onondaga  County,  N.  Y.  After  Mr. 
Jackson’s  death,  in  1847,  his  widow  married  Henry 
Miller,  of  Cooperstown,  N.  Y.,  who  is  also  deceased, 
and  his  widow  lives  at  Susquehanna.  Mrs.  Weston 
is  a woman  of  fine  intellectual  ability,  of  generous 
impulses  and  cheerful  and  ingenuous  disposition,  and 
has  been  a successful  teacher  of  elocution  at  Keystone 
Academy  and  in  private  classes.  She  is  also  favora- 
bly known  as  a public  reader. 

After  the  death  of  William  Weston  his  son  Edwin 
came  to  live  on  the  homestead,  and  engaged  quite  ex- 
tensively in  fruit-growing.  He  also  practices  survey- 
ing. He  has  four  children, — E.  Eugene,  Edwin  Be- 
laud and  two  younger  daughters,  Jennie  and  Mollie. 
Eugene  was  a teacher  for  several  years.  He  was  edu- 
cated, in  part,  at  West  Newton,  Mass.,  by  the  eminent 
teachers,  Nathaniel  Allen  and  brothers,  and  at  the 
normal  schools  at  Millersville,  Pa.,  and  at  Cortland, 
N.  Y.  He  read  medicine  with  Dr.  Hollister,  of  Scran- 
ton, received  a diploma  at  the  Baltimore  Medical 
College  and  is  a practicing  physician  at  Taylorville, 
Lackawanna  County,  Pa.  Leland  was  also  a student 
at  West  Newton  and  Cortland,  and  is  also  engaged  in 
fruit-raising  on  the  homestead. 

Edwin  A.  Weston  may  truthfully  be  ranked  among 
the  self-educated  men  of  Susquehanna  County.  In 
his  childhood  he  was  always  fonder  of  fields  and 
woods  and  books  than  of  conventional  restraints,  but 
attended  the  common  schools  and  schools  of  other 
instructors  of  superior  ability  and  worth,  and  was  a 
diligent  scholar  at  Franklin  Academy,  under  the 
veteran  and  efficient  teacher,  Lyman  Richardson,  and 
at  Wyoming  Seminary,  under  Dr.  Nelson.  He  was 
himself,  for  many  terms,  a teacher  of  district  and 
select  schools,  and  also  for  years  was  a school  director, 
and  his  experience  and  ability  in  educational  affairs, 
and  his  interest  in  and  love  for  the  work  led  to  his 
unsought  election  to  the  office  of  superintendent  of 
schools  for  the  county  of  Susquehanna  in  1863 ; and 
though  the  energies  of  all  were  absorbed  in  the  war 
and  its  patriotic  duties,  he  sought  to  give  to  public  in- 
struction a higher  standard  of  efficiency  and  useful- 
ness. In  1856  he  was  elected  a justice  of  the  peace, 
which  office  he  held  for  fifteen  years,  when  he  declined 
further  service.  In  this  official  capacity  he  sought  to  be 
a peace-maker  rather  than  a promoter  of  litigation. 


He  was  always  a close  student,  not  only  of  books, 
but  of  the  realm  of  nature  and  of  the  needs  of  the 
people  of  the  county,  state  and  nation.  For  two  or 
three  years  he  voted  with  the  Whigs,  but  warmly  es- 
poused the  Republican  cause  in  all  its  struggles  for 
human  rights  and  human  liberty  through  its  primitive 
days  of  ignominy  and  popular  disfavor,  and  he  be- 
came a stanch  member  of  the  party  at  its  organiza- 
tion, in  1856,  and  stood  with  it  in  all  its  contests  for 
the  preservation  and  restoration  of  the  Union. 

Since  1873  he  has  been  firmly  intrenched  in  anti- 
monopoly  reform  and  in  the  effort  to  secure  a sound 
and  constant  government  money  for  the  people,  which 
he  has  advocated  through  the  press  and  by  public  lec- 
tures ; and  he  is  the  author  of  a concise  work  on  the 
subject,  entitled,  “Specie  Basis,”  which  thoroughly 
covers  the  fundamental  principles  of  monetary 
science.  He  has  always  been  identified  with  the  total 
abstinence  cause,  and  has  used  every  honorable 
means  to  urge  its  popular  adoption.  He  was  a Pro- 
hibition candidate  for  legislative  honors  in  1886,  and 
received  a flattering  vote. 

In  hygiene  and  religion  he  has  learned  to  recognize 
and  trust  the  laws  of  nature — the  great  laws  that  the 
All-wise  has  ordained  to  rule  the  universe  of  life,  of 
matter  and  of  spirit,  and  that  govern  human  mind 
and  human  sympathy,  human  action,  human  account- 
ability and  human  destiny,  written  and  inspired  by 
Deity  Himself  in  the  hearts  and  consciences  of  His 
children,  and  emphasized  the  golden  rule  of  Christ — 
as  being  far  above  the  formulas  of  schools  and  the 
creeds  and  rituals  of  sects. 

His  political  faith  aspires  to  the  carrying  out  in 
America  of  the  ideal  which  the  fathers  and  founders 
of  our  government  set  up,  by  which  they  hoped  to 
avoid  the  production  here  of  great  classes,  involving 
the  masses  in  indigence  and  bestowing  vast  wealth  on 
the  few.  To  this  end  he  has  firmly  urged  the  spread 
of  knowledge  and  intelligence — urged  all  financial, 
and  industrial,  and  soci  , and  political  reforms,  and 
reforms  in  transportation  and  in  limitation  of  land 
ownership,  which  shall  more  effectually  preclude 
debt  and  usury,  idleness  and  intemperance,  and 
periods  of  bankruptcy,  and  bus  ..  ss  panics,  and  shall 
secure  to  industry  a just  and  sure  reward,  and  give 
every  prudent  family  a home. 

He  believes  that  the  vast  progress  the  world  has 
made  in  arts  and  sciences,  and  in  labor-saving  ma- 
chinery, has  revolutionized  the  condition  of  things  in 
our  social  and  political  relations,  and  requires  of  us 
very  different  and  very  urgent  and  correspondingly 
progressive  duties  and  efforts  to  secure  therefrom  the 
good  and  reject  the  evil — a vital  need  now  being 
keenly  felt  all  over  the  world ; and  hence  that  a 
prosperous  and  successful  people  can  no  longer  trust  to 
leaders  and  to  heroes — to  corporations,  rings  or  invet- 
erate parties ; but  every  man  must  become  a hero  and 
every  woman  a heroine  and  a peer,  and  all  must  work 
together  bravely  and  lovingly,  with  sturdy  ardor,  in 


652 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


the  broad  fields  of  human  usefulness  and  human  wel- 
fare. 

Franklix  Tewksbury. — The  progenitors  of  the 
family  from  New  England  were  from  Tewksbury, 
England,  where  one  of  them,  John,  was  burned  at  the 
stake  for  adhering  to  the  Protestant  religion.  Jacob, 
son  of  Isaac  Tewksbury,  came  from  Vermont  in  1800 
and  bought  • of  Mr.  Page  the  land  where  Brooklyn 
Centre  is  now  located.  In  1808  Putnam  Catlin,  as 
agent,  claimed  title  to  this  land  and  sold  it  to  Deacon 
Joshua  Miles,  and  Tewksbury  removed  one-half  mile 
west,  where  he  bought  a farm  and  built  a frame  house 
prior  to  1820,  which  is  standing,  in  1887,  near  the 
creamery.  His  father,  Isaac,  visited  him  in  1803,  and 
in  1804  came  with  his  family  and  located  on  the 
clearing  of  one  of  the  original  forty  settlers  of  Brook- 
lyn— McIntyre  Hill.  In  1805  Isaac  and  Jacob  built 
a saw-mill,  the  first  in  town,  just  below  the  Centre, 
opposite  the  present  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 
Isaac  Tewksbury  and  wife  were  buried  in  the  church- 
yard there.  Jacob’s  brother  Sargent  came  to  the 
town  in  1802  and  settled  on  the  farm  afterward  owned 
by  John  Bolles.  He  died  in  1842,  aged  sixty-eight. 
Jacob  resided  on  his  farm  until  about  1841,  sold  it  to 
his  son  Samuel,  and  resided  with  his  children  the 
remainder  of  his  life.  His  wife  was  Mary  Reed,  of 
Vermont,  who  bore  him  children, — -Nancy  married 
Alden  Seeley  and  died  in  Auburn ; Betsey,  wife  of 
William  Sterling,  of  Brooklyn  ; Lovinia,  wife  of  Ste- 
phen Smith,  of  Brooklyn — all  natives  of  Vermont; 
Daniel  (1802-65);  Samuel,  1804,  resides  in  Auburn; 
Maria  married  Nelson  Williams  and  died  in  Corry, 
Pa. ; Jacob,  a farmer  in  Bridgewater ; Alpha  married 
Beach  Earle,  of  Springville,  and  after  his  death 
Joseph  Rider,  and  resides  in  Dunkirk,  N.  Y. ; Mary 
was  the  wife  of  Fitch  Resseguie,  of  Gibson,  whose 
son  George  served  in  the  State  Legislature  in  1886 ; 
John,  a farmer  in  Auburn.  The  mother  of  these 
children,  a devoted  Christian  woman,  was  one  of  the 
Methodist  class  of  four,  first  formed  by  the  early  mis- 
sionaries, and  one  of  the  founders  of  the  Methodist 
Church  of  Brooklyn.  The  Tewksbury  house  was  the 
stopping-place  and  home  of  the  early  ministers,  and 
a welcome  was  extended  to  all,  more  than  equal  to 
their  means.  Jacob  was  a member  of  the  church  at 
his  death.  The  eldest  son,  Daniel,  married,  in  1821, 
Prudence  (1799-1880),  a daughter  of  Anthony  and 
Mary  Chipman  Fish,  who  was  a native  of  Stonington, 
Conn.,  and  had  removed  to  Brooklyn  with  her  pa- 
rents. In  1826  they  settled  on  one  hundred  acres  of 
land  bought  of  Samuel  Weston,  in  the  northeast  part 
of  Brooklyn,  added  one  hundred  acres  adjoining,  and 
resided  on  the  last  purchase  until  their  deaths.  The 
former  is  the  homestead  of  their  son  Franklin,  and 
the  latter  of  their  grandson,  Lester.  Both  himself 
and  wife  were  devoted  members  of  the  Methodist 
Church  at  Brooklyn.  Daniel  Tewksbury  was  known 
for  his  piety,  active  practical  benevolence,  and  as  an 
honest  man.  He  was  a good  farmer  and  dairyman. 


Formerly  a Democrat,  he  voted  for  Fremont  in  1856  i 
and  was  afterwards  a Republican.  Their  children 
are  Franklin,  born  September  26, 1822;  Sally,  1826, 
wife  of  Christopher  Thayer,  of  Scranton;  Henry,  1827,, 
a farmer  near  the  homestead;  and  John,  1835,  a car- 
penter in  Scranton. 

Franklin  Tewksbury  attended  the  home  district 
school  (Tewksbury)  in  boyhood  and  learned  farming. 
He  married,  in  1845,  Frances  A.  Burch,  and  settled 
on  the  homestead,  to  which  he  has  added  by  purchase, 
making  a total  of  four  hundred  acres  in  one  body. 
He  built  his  present  residence  in  1847,  and,  at  various 
times,  commodious  out-buildings.  He  is  a thorough- 
going and  intelligent  farmer,  and  surrounds  himself 
with  all  the  appliances  to  lessen  labor  and  make  more 
attractive  farm-work.  He  has  taken  little  interest  in 
politics,  save  as  a voter,  yet  has  served  as  school 
director  and  supervisor.  His  eldest  son,  Lester, 
married  Estella  J.  Ballard,  of  Brooklyn,  and  has 
children, — Glen  E.  and  Grace  R.  He  began  breeding 
thoroughbred  Holstein  stock  in  1883  and  has,  in  1887, 
a herd  of  nine.  One  cow,  “ Vere  L.,”  registered,  has 
a record  of  seventy-two  pounds  of  milk  daily  and  five 
hundred  pounds  weekly.  His  only  daughter,  Allie, 
is  the  wife  of  Charles  M.  Craver,  a merchant,  of 
Brooklyn  Centre,  and  has  two  children — Arthur  W. 
and  Lillian — and  his  youngest  son  is  Edson  P.  Tewks- 
bury, at  home.  Mrs.  Tewksbury’s  father,  Powell  G. 
Burch  (1795-1879),  a native  of  Warren,  Herkimer 
County,  N.  Y.,  married,  at  Guilford,  N.  Y.,  Lovinia 
Y.  Palmer  (1804-74),  of  Chenango  County,  settled  in 
Auburn  township  in  1840,  and  in  1860  in  Brooklyn, 
where  both  died.  He  served  in  the  War  of  1812  and 
was  at  Buffalo  and  Black  Rock.  Their  children 
were  Rensselaer  H.,  of  Auburn;  Caroline  P.,  wife 
of  N.  J.  Coggswell,  of  Bradford  County;  Frances 
Amret,  born  July  1,  1826,  wife  of  Franklin  Tewks- 
bury; Morgan  R.,  of  Brooklyn;  Abigail  S.,  wife  of 
Bradford  Watrous,  of  Brooklyn ; Rev.  Oliver  E.,  a 
Methodist  minister  in  Illinois;  Clarissa  P.,  wife  of 
T.  I.  Lacy,  of  Binghamton ; Mary  S.,  wife  of  Christo- 
pher Rogers,  of  Brooklyn ; Caleb  C.,  of  Brooklyn 
Centre;  and  Curtis  Y.,  a painter  at  Tunkhannock, 
Pa. 

Chas.  Gere  (Hartland,  Vt.),  65—1-842,  Sally  Deni 
son,  64 — 1841 ; Sarah  (Kintner),  Lucy  (Merrill),  Deni- 
son, Robert,  Julia  (Adams). — J.  W.  Tiffany. 

Ebenezer  Whitney  (Vt.),  1st  Elizabeth  Eaton;  Ros- 
well, Triphena  (Titus),  Orange : 2d  Sally  Pratt;  Isaac, 
Ebenezer,  Amarilla  (Maxon),  David,  Ephraim,  Reu- 
ben.— H.  L.  Bailey  and  C.  S.  Perkins. 

Sami.  Howard,  Nancy  Jones  (J.  J.);  John,  Polly, 
Olive  (Robinson),  Samuel,  Chas.,  Nancy. — N.  R. 
Mack  and  H.  M.  Williams. 

Chas.  D.  Gere  (C.  G.),  27 — ^1822,  Fanny  Baker 
(E.  B.)  24 — 1831;  Emeline  (Ayers). 

Roswell  Whitney  (E.  W.),  Sally  Squier;  Permelia 
(Tiffany — Hawley),  Harvey,  Geo.,  Polly  (Gorton) 
Martin. — M.  Underwood  and  C.  S.  Perkins. 


< 


BROOKLYN. 


653 


1801.  Joshua  Saunders,  R.  I.,  Mary  his  wife; 
Richard,  Nathan  (killed  by  falling  tree),  Joshua, 
Lyman,  Thos.,  Phally  (Bagley),  Benjamin,  Aaron. — 
I.  A.  Bailey. 

Captaix  Amos  Bailey. — Obadiah  Bailey,  born  in 
Groton,  New  London  County,  Conn.,  in  1728,  mar- 
ried, in  1747,  Azubah  Rogers,  of  the  same  county. 
The  family  homestead  was  at  Groton,  where  the 
former  died,  and  an  old-time  grave-stone  marks  the 
place  there  where  they  were  buried.  The  latter  died 
at  nearly  one  hundred  years  old,  at  Whitestown, 
N.  Y.  The  same  old  well,  with  its  long  sweep,  is 
used  on  the  Bailey  homestead  that  the  family  used 
over  a hundred  years  ago.  Their  children  were 
Jabez,  born  1748 ; Obadiah,  Jr.,  1750-1843 ; Simeon, 
1754;  Temperance,  1756;  Azubah,  1758;  Elizabeth, 
1760;  Dorathy,  1763;  Michael,  1765;  Rhoda,  1768 ; 
Vine,  1771.  Of  these,  Obadiah,  Jr.,  married,  in  1774, 
Esther  Williams  (1746-1833),  and  resided  upon  the 
old  Bailey  homestead,  at  Groton,  where  he  reared  a 
large  family  of  children,  as  follows : Giles,  1775- 
98;  Captain  Amos,  1777-1865;  Eliphalet,  1778-82; 
Colonel  Frederick,  1780-1851;  Esther,  1782-1843; 
Sally,  1784;  Lodowick,  1785-1873;  Mary  (1788-1881), 
unmarried;  a teacher  and  member  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church ; and  Isaac,  born  in  1790. 

Three  of  these  sons — Captain  Amos,  Colonel  Fred- 
erick and  Lodowick  Bailey — settled  in  Brooklyn,  in 
the  early  part  of  the  century,  and  were  among  the 
most  enterprising  in  building  roads,  establishing 
churches  and  schools,  and  in  the  encouragement  of 
everything  to  improve  the  county  and  make  it  de- 
sirable for  habitation. 

Captain  Amos  Bailey  married,  in  1801,  Prudence 
Gere  (1768-1854),  a daughter  of  Robert  Gere,  and  sis- 
ter of  Charles  and  Ebenezer  Gere,  also  of  Groton, 
Conn.  The  ceremony  was  performed  at  Groton,  by 
Amos  Gere,  justice  of  the  peace. 

In  March,  1801,  Captain  Bailey  and  Ebenezer 
Gere  came  to  Bidwell  (then  Nicholson),  Luzerne 
County,  and  spent  the  summer  with  Captain  Peleg 
Tracy  ; and  it  is  related  that  Captain  Bailey  killed 
the  hrst  deer  he  ever  saw  the  morning  after  his  ar- 
rival. He  and  Mr.  Gere  split  lumber  from  a cherry 
log  and  made  them  a table  and  bedstead — the  table 
being  in  1887  the  property  of  one  of  his  children. 
Miss  Eunice  G.  Bailey.  In  the  fall  they  returned  to 
Connecticut ; Captain  Bailey  returned  the  next  sea- 
son, 1802,  and  worked  the  summer  on  his  farm,  which 
he  had  bought  of  Captain  Tracy  the  year  before,  on 
which  was  a log  house  built  in  1790,  by  Jones  & 
Milbourne.  In  the  fall,  after  a journey  of  seventeen 
Jays  from  Connecticut,  he  arrived  at  his  new  home 
with  his  wife.  On  this  farm,  which  is  situated  about 
two  miles  southeast  of  Brooklyn  Centre,  this  couple 
spent  their  lives,  and,  with  their  united  industry  and 
economy,  made  a comfortable  home  for  themselves 
and  family. 

The  early  minister  of  the  Universalist  Church, 


after  his  long  journey  from  Lisle,  N.  Y.,  found  with 
them  a welcome  and  cheer  known  only  to  the  early 
settlers  ; and  this  hospitality  to  their  neighbors  and 
the  stranger  were  im^iressive  characteristics  of  their 
nature.  Captain  Bailey  was  among  the  first  to  create 
a feeling  among  the  neighbors  for  the  establishing  of 
a Universalist  Church,  and  was  one  of  the  building 
committee  in  the  erection  of  the  church  edifice  on  the 
hill  east  of  Brooklyn  Centre,  where  the  family  wor- 
shipped afterwards.  He  erected  his  frame  house  in 
1809,  and  during  his  life  cleared  a large  part  of  his 
farm  of  one  hundred  and  eighteen  acres.  The  orch- 
ard, a part  of  which  is  now  standing,  was  planted 
from  seeds  which  he  brought  from  Connecticut.  His 


early  recollections  ran  back  to  the  taking  of  Fort 
Griswold,  at  Groton,  by  the  British,  and  he  remem- 
bered being  sent  to  his  grandparents  on  that  occa- 
sion for  safety.  He  was  commissioned  captain  of 
Third  Company,  One  Hundred  and  Twenty-ninth 
Regiment  Pennsylvania  Militia,  in  1806,  by  Gover- 
nor McKean,  in  the  Second  Brigade,  Ninth  Division, 
composed  of  the  counties  of  Northumberland,  Ly- 
coming and  Luzerne. 

He  cast  his  first  vote  for  President  for  Thomas  Jef- 
ferson, in  1804,  and  followed  closely  the  principles  of 
the  Whig  and  Republican  parties  after  their  organi- 
zation. 

He  served  continuously  as  assessor  of  Brooklyn  for 
nine  years,  enjoyed  the  entire  confidence  of  all  who 
knew  him,  both  publicly  and  privately,  and  his  ex- 
ample as  a man  of  correct  habits,  Christian  character 
and  genial  and  social  disposition  were  well  worthy 
of  emulation.  Their  children  were  Prudy,  1804-63, 
wife  of  Robert  Kent,  resided  in  Bridgewater  ; Amos  G. 
(1806-55),  married  Rowena  Kent,  and  was  a farmer  in 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


654 


Brooklyn,  and  for  many  years  a justice  of  the  peace  ; 
Eunice  G.,  born  in  1808,  never  married,  resides  on 
the  homestead  in  1887,  a woman  of  high  moral  senti- 
ment, Christian  character  and  benevolence.  The  in- 
cidents of  her  girlhood  are  fresh  in  her  memory,  and 
the  writer  owes  much  to  her  care  in  the  preservation 
of  data  for  the  facts  for  this  sketch.  The  youngest, 
Obadiah  Bailey,  was  born  Sept.  14,  1810,  where 
he  resides,  and  succeeded  his  father  in  the  ownership 
of  the  homestead.  With  the  other  children,  he  at- 
tended the  early  private  school  of  Miss  Sally  Kings- 
bury, who  afterwards  became  the  wife  of  the  well- 


ous  official  capacities,  and  he  was  chosen  an  elder  ii*  I i 
the  church  in  1868,  which  office  he  still  retains.  ! ' 
When  a young  man  he  was  a member  of  a cavalr3,i 
company — the  Susquehanna  Troop — with  Hydf|, 
Crocker  as  captain,  Asa  Hammond  major  and  Judge  ; i 
William  Jessup  colonel  of  the  regiment.  He  has  j ' 
voted  at  every  Presidential  election,  save  one,  since  I | 
his  first  vote  for  John  Quincy  Adams;  and  during! 
the  trying  years  of  the  Rebellion  gave  his  influence  || 
and  means  freely  in  support  of  the  Union  cause.  He  |]j 
erected  his  present  residence  in  1859,  and  his  build-  1 1 
ings  and  other  appointments  of  his  farm  show  the  jl] 


known  teacher  and  public  instructor.  Rev.  Lyman 
Richardson ; then  taught  at  the  home  of  his  uncle. 
Colonel  Frederick  Bailey.  From  youth  he  has  been 
a member  of  the  church  of  his  parents,  and  contrib- 
uted largely  in  the  erection  of  the  present  church  edi- 
fice. In  1832  he  married  Annis  Palmer  (1807-84),  a 
daughter  of  Esek  H.  and  Amy  Smith  Palmer,  who 
settled  on  an  adjoining  farm  from  Groton,  Conn.,  in 
1811,  a woman  devoted  to  the  church  and  to  her 
family.  They  lived  happily  together  over  a half- 
century,  and  celebrated  their  golden  wedding,  hon- 
ored by  their  children  and  made  happy  by  their  many 
friends.  Mr.  Bailey  has  served  his  township  in  vari- 


hand  of  a thrifty  agriculturist.  His  eldest  son,  Wil- 
liam Pitt,  for  two  years  assessor  of  the  township,  for 
six  terms  a teacher,  born  in  1834,  resides  on  and 
owns  the  homestead ; married,  in  1862,  Charlotte  D., 
daughter  of  David  Frick,  of  New  Milford,  who  died 
in  1872,  leaving  two  daughters, — Clara  L.  died  in 
1886,  aged  nineteen,  and  Annis  C.  In  1874  he  mar- 
ried Celia  A.,  daughter  of  Gurdon  Abel,  of  Gibson,  by 
whom  he  had  one  child,  Albert  A.  Bailey,  who  died 
at  the  age  of  seven  years.  The  second  son,  Esek  P., 
born  in  1837,  married  Mary  E.  Terry,  and  resides  in 
Brooklyn.  He  is  an  ex-county  commissioner,  was 
among  the  first  to  enlist  for  nine  months  in  1861,  sub- 


BROOKLYN. 


055 


sequently  enlisted  in  the  marine  service  for  four 
years,  was  wounded  by  a shell  at  Fort  Fisher,  taken 
to  the  hospital,  after  lying  on  the  ground  from  eleven 
o’clock  A.  M.  till  evening,  and  afterwards  honorably 
discharged.  The  only  daughter  was  Prudy  R.  Bailey 
(1840-74),  the  wife  of  Freeman  T.  Powers,  who  died  at 
Scranton. 

Col.  Frederick  Bailey,  a prominent  and  influ- 
ential factor  in  many  of  the  early  enterprises  of  Sus- 
quehanna County,  a native  of  Groton,  Conn.,  settled 
in  Brooklyn,  where  his  son,  Henry  L. , now  resides, 
in  1807.  He  bought  of  Amos  Lawrence  his  title  to 
the  improvement  first  begun  by  Mark  Hartley,  Sr. 
(father  of  Esquire  Hartley,  of  Lenox),  one  of  the 
original  Nicholson  settlers,  and  afterwards  purchased 
from  the  State  land  adjacent,  making  a large  and 
valuable  farm.  Here  he  spent  his  life,  and  reared  his 
family  of  six  sons  and  four  daughters.  His  early 
opportunities  at  school  were  well  improved,  and  for 
several  terms  while  a young  man  he  was  a teacher, 
possessing  thorough  discipline,  and  a happy  faculty 
of  inspiring  his  pupils  with  a laudable  ambition  in 
laying  the  foundation  for  all  their  attainments  in 
after-life.  He  was  the  early  counselor  and  adviser 
for  his  neighbors,  drew  most  of  their  contracts,  deeds, 
wills  and  other  instruments  of  writing,  and  was  an 
japt  and  correct  accountant,  and  many  of  his  writings 
! now  to  be  seen  show  method  and  accuracy. 

During  his  forty-four  years’  residence  in  Brooklyn, 

I he  w'as  the  trusted  public  servant  of  his  fellow-men. 
He  was  one  of  the  projectors  of  the  old  Milford  and 
Owego  turnpike  road,  one  of  its  stockholders  and  a 
director,  largely  controlled  its  contracts,  and  served  as 
its  treasurer  from  1824  until  his  death,  in  1851.  In 
the  War  of  1812,  being  drafted,  he  went  out  as  cap- 
tain of  a company,  was  elected  colonel  of  the  regi- 
ment, and  proceeded  as  far  as  Danville,  when,  after 
about  one  month,  the  war  being  ended,  the  troops  re- 
turned. Col.  Bailey  was  subsequently  for  many  years 
identified  with  the  old  State  militia,  and  frequently 
delivered  the  Fourth  of  July  oration  upon  invitation. 
He  was  also  one  of  the  founders  of  the  Universalist 
Church  of  Brooklyn,  and,  with  his  family,  members 
of  it.  He  was  an  active.  Old  Line  Whig,  and  influen- 
tial in  the  councils  of  his  party.  As  early  as  1814  he 
served  as  supervisor,  and  in  1820  was  clerk  of  the 
township.  Col.  Bailey  was  widely  known,  highly 
respected  and  liberal  in  his  sentiments  and  actions. 
He  was  a thrifty,  prudent  and  industrious  farmer  and 
obtained  a competence,  with  which  he  was  liberal  to 
those  in  need  and  for  church  and  charitable  objects. 
He  married,  in  1806,  Polly  Witter  (1789-1828),  who 
bore  him  children, — Mary  Witter  (1808-67),  first  the 
wife  of  Zina  Roberts,  of  Bridgewater,  and  after  his 
death  married  Simeon  Tyler,  of  the  same  township; 
Frederick  Witter  (1809-46),  was  a merchant  at  Derry, 
N.  H.;  Lodowick  T.  (1811-36),  died  at  home;  Sally 
Maria  (1813-51  ),^wife  of  Rodney  Jewett,  of  Brooklyn ; 
Isaac,  died  young;  William  Pitt  (1816),  died  at 


eighteen;  James  Whiting  (1818),  a manufacturer  near 
Haverhill,  Mass.;  Esther  W.  (1820),  wife  of  William 
B.  Stevens,  of  Le  Raysville,  Pa.;  Robert  Morris  (1822), 
a manufacturer  of  Boston,  Mass.;  Henry  L.,  born 
March  8,  1824;  Eliza  Ann  (1826-53),  was  the  wife  ot 
Moses  L.  Cole,  of  Orange  County;  and  Lavinia 
Bailey,  who  died  young.  Col.  Bailey’s  second  wife 
was  Lucinda  Morgan  (1780-1869).  The  burial-place 
of  the  Baileys  is  in  the  cemetery  on  the  hill  east  ot 
Brooklyn  Centre. 

Henry  L.  Bailey,  son  of  Col.  Frederick,  has 
spent  his  life  on  the  homestead,  and  succeeded  his 
father  in  its  ownership.  He  had  the  usual  advantages 
offered  in  his  boyhood  for  obtaining  an  education 
from  books  in  the  private  and  home  district-school. 
Upon  reaching  his  majority  he  spent  two  years  in 
the  store  of  his  brother,  Robert  M.,  at  Derry,  N.  H.-, 
and  returned ; has  since  been  a farmer.  The  long 
frame  house,  with  dormer  windows,  erected  by  his 
father  prior  to  1829,  he  remodeled  in  1882,  and  the 
original  purchase  of  four  hundred  acres  he  retains, 
situate  on  the  Milford  and  Owego  turnpike,  about 
two  miles  east  of  Brooklyn  Centre,  where  he  farms 
and  breeds  thoroughbred  stock,  having  now  some 
twenty-five  Jersey  cows.  Following  the  belief  of  his 
parents,  he  is  a Universalist,  and  a contributor  to  the 
worthy  objects  needing  support  about  him.  During 
the  late  Rebellion,  as  a member  of  the  Board  of  School 
Directors,  he  assisted  in  filling  the  quota  of  soldiers, 
and  formerly,  as  a Whig,  and  later  a Republican,  he 
stands  firmly  upon  the  platform  of  reform.  Character- 
istic of  the  family,  his  hospitality,  sociability  and 
integrity  of  purpose  are  no  exception  to  his  ancestors. 

Henry  L.  Bailey  married,  in  1851,  H.  Miranda 
Guernsey,  who  was  born  July  8,  1830.  They  have 
one  daughter,  an  only  child,  Anna  Eliza,  born  1854, 
who  was  married,  in  1882,  to  Milton  W.  Palmer,  a 
son  of  Isaac  N.  Palmer,  of  Brooklyn,  and  grandson  of 
Esek  H.  and  Amy  Palmer,  before  mentioned.  A 
second  daughter,  Emma  Lavinia,  died  in  1870,  one 
year  old.  Mrs.  Bailey’s  father,  Hiram  C.  Guernsey 
(1802-71),  was  the  son  of  Joseph  and  Sarah  Rexford 
Guernsey,  who  resided  near  the  Bridgewater  and 
Brooklyn  line  in  1811.  Her  mother,  living  in  1887, 
is  Maria  R.,  a daughter  Benjamin,  (1772-1820)  and 
Lucy  Spencer  (1770-1839)  Watrous,  was  born  at  Mid- 
dleburg,  N.  Y.,  in  1807,  was  the  twin  sister  of  James, 
and  removed  to  Bridgewater  with  the  family  in  1818, 
and  settled  where  her  brother,  Spencer  Watrous,  now 
resides.  The  Watrous  parents  removed  from  Chester, 
Middlesex  County,  Conn.,  in  1797,  to  Middleburg, 
Schoharie  County,  N.  Y.  Hiram  Guernsey  and  wife 
were  lifedong  members  of  the  East  Bridgewater, 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 

Lodowick  Bailey,  the  younger  brother  of  Capt. 
Amos  and  Col.  Frederick,  settled  in  Brooklyn  town- 
ship in  1818,  where  his  son  Lodowick  resides  in  1887. 
He  married  in  1813,  Hannah  Avery  (1789-1860),  a 
native  ofGroton,  Conn.  He  made  the  improvements  on 


656 


HISTOKY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


his  homestead,  from  a wilderness  tract,  was  a worthy 
citizen,  an  industrious  farmer,  and  an  upright  Chris- 
tian man.  His  children  are  Hannah,  born  1815, 
widow  of  Joseph  McKeeby,  Brooklyn;  John  L. 
(1817-79)  resided  and  died  adjoining  the  homestead, 
married  Huldah  T.  Youmans,  of  Brooklyn;  Eliphalet, 
1819,  died  a young  man  ; Caroline,  1821 ; Eliza,  1823, 
wife  of  Mark.Quick,  of  New  Milford,  resides  in  Scran- 
ton ; Adeline,  1825  ; Isaac  Avery,  1828,  of  Brooklyn, 
married  Maria  A.  Grannis,  of  Orwell,  Pa. ; Ijodowick 
succeeded  his  father  on  the  homestead,  was  born  1831, 
married  Louisa  A.  Giles,  of  Dimock ; and  Lucinda  M., 
1834. 

Daniel  Lawrence;  chil.  Lucy,  Wm. — see  H.  C. 
Fairchild  and  H.  A.  Tewksbury. 

Amos  Lawrence — see  H.  L.  Bailey. 

.Wm.  Lawrence  (D.  L.),  Amy,  his  wife  ; 42 — 1827 ; 
Phebe  (Geo.  Bagley),  Clark. 

Dan’l  Tewksbury — Sketch  and  L.  Tewksbury. 

Benj.  S.  Saunders  (J.  S.),  Dolly  Bagley  (0.  B.); 
Lydia,  Ruth,  Mary,  Henrietta,  Catharine,  Emeline, 
Eliza,  Perry.  See  “ old  roads.” 

1802,  Jeremiah  Gere,  1769-1842  (son  of  Rezin  G. 
of  Wyoming  Massacre),  Martha  (“Patty”)  Morgan; 
Charles,  Edward,  Geo.  M.,  Harriet  (Wheeler),  Wm. 
D.,  Henry. — I.  W.  Wright. 

Sargent  Tewksbury  (I.  T.)  68 — 1842,  1st,  Nancy 
Worthing  (B.  W.);  Amos,  Reuben,  James,  Louisa 
(Robinson);  2d  Fanny  Kellam  (formerly  Bush) ; Abi- 
gail, Emily  (Ely),  Franklin,  Irving. — Jno.  Bolles. 

Mott  Wilkinson,  Phebe,  Lawrence ; Elisha,  Jas., 
Lucy,  Phebe. — H.  C.  Fairchild. 

Edward  L.  Gere  (J.  G.)  80 — 1879,  1st  Mary  Follet 
66 — 1870  ; Mary  E.  (Park),  Angeline  M.  (Stanton), 
Jeremiah,  Robt.  L. : 2d  Pauline  Wilmarth. — R.  L. 
Gere. 

Amos  Tewksbury  (S.  T.)  66 — 1864,  1st  Harriet 
Robinson,  39 — 1842 ; Nancy  (Palmer),  Benj.  F., 
Fanny  M.,  Ellen  (Frost) : 2d  Rebecca  Gates. — B.  G. 
Sterling  and  M.  Caldwell. 

Chas.  V.  Gere  (J.  G.),  Theressa  Ely  (G.  E.) ; Har- 
riet (Davison). — C.  A.  Williams  and  Joseph  Stanton. 

Geo.  Chapman  (J.  C.),  Lydia  Palmer  (E.  P.) ; Bet- 
sey, Chas.  M.  Res.  82. — Wm.  Mead. 

Andrew  Tracey,  Jr.  (A.  T.,  Sr.),  Abigail  Lobdell ; 
(Marathon,  N.  Y.) — L.  M.  Benjamin. 

1804.  Barnard  Worthing,  1744-1820  (Amesbury, 
Mass.),  Doratha Bagley  (Sister  of  0.  B.) ; Jacob,  Win- 
throp,  Jonathan,  Miriam  (Otto),  Nancy  (Tewksbury). 
— Lived  mostly  in  Lathrop. 

Orlando  Bagley  (Vt.),  Dolly  (or  Dorcas)  Taylor; 
.lesse,  Stephen,  Thos.,  Geo.,  Washington,  Dolly  (Saun- 
ders) Sally  (Williams). — H.  McCoy. 

Isaac  Tewksbury  (Hartland,  Vt.),  Judith  Sargent ; 
Jacob,  Sargent,  Ephraim,  Jonathan,  Abigail  (Saun- 
ders), Huldah  (Yeomans),  Hannah  (Milbourn)  and 
Judith  (Wood). — Village  and  D.  B.  Packer. 

John  Seeley;  ch.,  Polly,  Alden,  Reuben,  Justus, 


Olivia  (Adams),  Laura,  Cynthia  (Austin — Oakley). J 
Eliza,  Samantha. — A.  L.  Warner  and  A.  J.  Smith, 

Consider  Fuller,  Ruth  Elms;  Sarah  (Belcher),i| 
Alfred,  Ruth,  Isaiah,  Susanna,  Lucinda  (Tewksbury). 
— I.  Van  Auken. 

Jacob  Worthing  (B,  W.),  1st  Lydia  Carey;  Carey  : 
2d  Mary  Hall ; Lydia, — E.  N.  McKinney  and  Asa , 
Fish. 

Jesse  Bagley  (0.  B.),  1768-1874,  Phally  Saunders  j 
(J.  S.)  55 — 1845;  Henry,  Daniel,  Horace,  Lorin,  Ed- 
ward, Je.sse  H.,  Wm.  A.,  John,  Jas.  E.,  Alice  (Kel- 
lam), Harriet,  Mary  E.,  Caroline. — J.  0.  Bullard. 

Geo.  Bagley  (0.  B.),  Phebe  Lawrence  (W.  L.)  ; 
Amy  (Jackson),  Sarah,  Orlando,  Elizabeth, — Chas.  A. 
Hewett. 

Washington  Bagley  (0.  B.),  45 — 1848,  Lydia  Wil- 
liams (S.  W.),  39 — 1853 ; Roxena  (Gavitt),  Ellen, 
Mary  (Brewster),  Eliza. — J.  J.  Roper. 

Jonathan  Tewksbury  (I.  T.),  77 — 1860,  Lucinda 
Fuller  (C.  F.) ; Geo.  L.,  Lucy  (Thayer),  Isaac  S., 
Sarah  (Gere),  Ansel,  Hannah  (Mudgett),  Jesse  W., 
Mary  (Kingsley). — A.  R.  Gere. 

Alden  Seeley  (J.  S.),  Nancy  Tewksbury  (Jac.  T.) — 
T.  J.  Tiffany. 

James  Tewksbury  (Sar.  T.),  76 — 1880,  Emeline  Sut- 
lifF  (Z.  S.) ; Abner,  Harvey. — H.  A.  Tewksbury. 

1806.  Stephen  Gere  (bro.  Jer.  G.),  75 — 1847,  1st 
Martha  Weed;  Mary  (Fletcher),  Peter:  2d  Abigail 
Olney  (H.  O.)  68 — 1849 ; Cornelia  (Packer),  Albert. 
— W.  R.  Caswell. 

Samuel  Yeomans,  Sr.  (Vt.),  Sarah  Bromley  ; Sabra 
(Tingley),  Samuel,  Jr.,  Joseph. — S.  B.  Eldridge. 

Sam’l  Yeomans,  Jr.,  1st  Huldah  Tewksbury  (I.  T.); 
Sally  (Munger),  Sam’l  H. : 2d  Anna  Adams. 

Joseph  Yeomans  (S.  Y.,  Sr.),  84 — 1870,  Anna  Ting- 
ley  ; Moses,  Keziah  (Kittle),  Sally,  Dan’l,  Huldah 
(Bailey),  Eliza  (Reynolds). — J.  A.  Van  Auken. 

J.  H.  Chapman  (J.  C.),  Louisa  Jones ; Elizabeth 
(Johnson),  Jos.  L.,  Ann,  Clara  (Rockwell),  Fanny, 
Edith  M.  (Palmer). — E.  S.  Eldridge. 

Amos  G.  Bailey  (A.  B.),  49 — 1855,  Roena  Kent 
(J.  K.),  64—1872 ; Chas.  R.,  Edwin,  Emily  (Giles), 
Rhoda  (Van  Auken),  Robt.  K. — J.  M.  Kent. 

Alfred  Tiffany — see  sketch  and  G.  N.  Smith. 

Fredk.  Baily— see  sketch. 

1808.  Joshua  Miles  (Brooklyn,  Ct.,  via  Litchfield, 
N.  Y.),  61 — 1815,  1st  Lucy  Cady;  Joshua,  .Tr.,  Lucy 
(Giddings),  Mary  (Coe),  Ebenezer,  Jonathan,  Sarah 
(Stone) ; 2d  Mary  Tracy  (wid.  A.  T.). — See  Village. 

Anson  M.  Tiffany  (A.  T.),  73 — 1881,  Sarah  B.  Mil- 
bourn  (B.  M.) ; Lyman,  Hannah  (Tewksbury),  Lucy. 
— L.  B.  Tiffany. 

Daniel  B.  Bagley  (J.  B.),  35 — 1843,  Sally  Fish 
(Amt.  F.) ; Chas.  V.,  Levira  (Chamberlin). — A. 
Chamberlin. 

1809.  Noah  Tiffany  (Attleboro’,  Mass.),  66 — 1818, 
1st  Hannah  Carpenter  ; Jemima  (Farrar),  Hannah 
(Stanley),  Arunah : 2d  Mary  Olney ; Olney,  Mary 


BROOKLYN. 


057 


(Perigo),  Noah,  John,  Clarissa,  Malinda  (Lindsey).— 
Win.  Cameron  and  Village. 

Edward  Paine,  Pomfret,  Ct.,  1777-1820,  1st  Judith 
Lathrop  ; Edwd.  L. : 2d  Charlotte  Lathrop  ( J.  L.). — 
C.  A.  Hewett. 

Chas.  Perigo,  1784—1867,  Mary  Tiffany  (N.  T.)  29 — 
1819;  John  T.,  Mariett:  2d  Peddy  Foster,  74 — 1866; 
Eliza  (Helm),  Chas,  F.,  Geo.,  Lydia  (Craver),  Wm- 
Henry,  Manning. — J.  M.  Kent  and  M.  Perigo. 

Edward  L.  Paine  (E.  P.),  Eleanor  Ross. — (Oshkosh, 
Wis.) — C.  A.  Hewett. 

1810.  Joshua  Miles,  Jr.,  84 — 1863,  Caroline  Cas- 
well ; Lucy  C.  (Richardson),  Mary,  Chas.,  W.,  Sally, 
Jane,  Harriet,  Alice,  Lovinia,  Adelaide  (Sterling,  111., 
1843.) — D.  C.  Perry. 

Bela  Case,  57 — 1832,  Roena  Moore  90 — 1865 ; Edith 
(Kingsby),  Fredk.,  Catharine  (Britton),  Louisa  (Wis- 
well),  Artemisia  (Thatcher),  Orson,  Wellington,  Jane, 
Alsiemena  (Blake),  Julia  (Bakei’),  Mary  (Millard). — I. 
Van  Auken  and  C.  A.  Williams. 

Isaac  Sterling,  1st  Urena  Johnson  ; Isaac  H.,  Brad- 
ley : 2d  Meliscent  Bonney ; Rositer,  Harmon,  John. — 
L.  A.  Townsend. 

Josiah  Mack,  Lyme,  Ct. — not  here,  Betsey  Bennet; 
Elijah,  Elisha,  Enoch,  Nancy  (Noah  Pratt),  Fanny 
(Elihu  Smith),  Polly  (Josiah  Lord). 

Elijah  B.  Mack,  89 — 1861,  (J.  M.),  Elizabeth  Rice; 
Josiah,  Betsey  (Lines),  Jemima  (Lathrop),  Elijah, 
Polly  (McKinney),  Nehemiah,  Eliza  (Blakeslee)* 
Amanda. — N.  R.  Mack. 

Putnam  Catlin  (land  agent),  Polly  Sutton ; Chas., 
Henry,  Geo.  (Indian  painter),  Eliza  (Dart),  Mary 
(Hartshorn),  Julius,  Richard,  John,  Francis,  James. — 
J.  C.  Miller. 

Bristol  Budd  Sampson  (colored),  1st  Phebe;  Susan 
I (Underwood),  Wm.,  Amma : 2d  Phebe,  Joanna,  Char- 
1 lotte,  Judy,  Hannah. — M.  Underwood. 

Pelatiah  Tiffany  (Mass.)  1786-1862,  1st  Hannah 
Miller;  Elizur,  Emily,  Thos.  J.,  Lucy  (Spencer),  Or- 
ville, Polly,  (Bloomfield) : 2d  Hannah  Sutliff,  3d  Lucy 
Chase. — A.  Blake  and  T.  E.  Shadduck. 

Captain  David  Morgan  (1785-1866),  a native  of 
Litchfield  County,  Conn.,  settled  in  what  is  now 
Brooklyn  township,  in  1810.  He  was  dependent  en- 
tirely upon  his  own  resources  to  carve  out  a fortune, 
or  even  a subsistence,  for  himself  in  this  new  county  ; 
but  being  a man  of  great  industry,  and  possessed  of  a 
will  to  overcome  every  obstacle,  he  made  for  himself 
a home,  and  during  his  active  business  years  amassed 
a fair  competence.  With  his  own  hands  he  cleared  off 
a large  part  of  the  original  forest  from  his  farm,  and 
brought  its  fields  in  due  time  to  yield  plentiful  crops. 
He  was  a man  of  unswerving  fidelity  to  his  word,  a 
friend  and  supporter  of  public  schools,  and  used  his 
influence  in  ihe  support  of  a high  moral  sentiment 
in  the  community.  For  thirty-five  years  he  was  one 
of  the  main  supporters  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  at 
Brooklyn,  of  which  he  was  a member  and  constant 
attendant,  until  disabled  by  the  infirmities  of  age.  In 


this  home,  fashioned  by  his  own  and  wife’s  hands, 
they  spent  their  life  together,  surrounded  by  a large 
family  of  children,  whom  they  carefully  trained  and 
reared  up  under  Christian  influences,  and  in  all  that 
makes  true  manhood  and  womanhood.  They  lived  to 
see  all  their  children  settled  in  homes  of  their  own, 
who  had  not  died  while  young.  Captain  Morgan’s 
wife  was  Esther  (1794-1872),  a daughter  of  Thomas 
and  Mary  (Marsh)  Brink,  of  Wyalusing,  Bradford 
County,  who  was  a devoted  Christian  wife  and  mother, 
and  left  the  impress  of  her  life-work  upon  her  chil- 
dren. Their  children  are,  Nancy,  wife  of  Moses 
La  Grange,  of  Union,  Broome  Co.,  N.  Y. ; Sarah,  wife 
of  J.  L.  Mercereau,  of  Binghamton  ; Thomas,  of  Dix- 
on, 111.;  James,  of  Cedar  Rapids,  Iowa;  Mallory, 
whose  residence  is  in  Iowa ; Ellen,  wife  of  C.  R. 
Bailey,  of  Brooklyn  township  ; Mary  E.,  widow  of  the 
late  A.  J.  Gerritson,  of  Montrose;  Addison,  of  Scran- 
ton ; Martha,  deceased,  was  the  wife  of  L.  T.  Burch- 
ard  ; and  William  Morgan,  who  died  young. 

I.  H.  Sterling  (I.  S.)  Goshen,  Ct.,  83—1882,  Har- 
riet Emmons ; Amos,  Ansel,  James,  Harmon,  Ralph, 
Harriet  (Babcock),  Charles,  Julia,  Ursula  (Roper). — 
A.  G.  Sterling. 

Geo.  M.  Gere  (Jer.  G.),  Sarah  Parke,  (Min.). — 

E.  P.  Bailey. 

1811.  Thos.  Sterling  (bro.  I.  S.)  61 — 1828,  Mehet- 
able  Norton,  60 — 1827.  (Fairfield,  Ct.);  Jas.  W. — 

F.  M.  Sterling. 

Nathan  Jewett  (E.  Haddam,  Ct.)  died  1860,  Electa 
Fox ; Francis,  Rodney,  Betsey  (Mack)  Allen,  Lavinia. 
— N.  R.  Jewett. 

Asa  Bonney;  children, Phebe,  Meliscent  (Sterling), 
Polly  (Sutliff),  Anna  (Har.  Sutliff),  Ruth  (Barron), 

Cyril  Giddings  (Franklin,  N.  Lon.  Co.,  Ct.)  72 — 
1853,  Lucy  Miles  (J.  M.,  Sr.)  83 — 1865;  Lucy  M. 
(McAlpin),  John,  Sarah,  Deborah  (Champlin). — J.  B. 
Quick. 

Jedediah  Lathrop  (Lisbon,  Ct.),  Sarah  Tracy; 
Judith  (Paine),  Charlotte  (Paine),  Alice  (Bibbins). — 
Henry  Aten. 

Wise  Wright,  Ct.,  Louise  Shepherd;  Francillo, 
Loomis,  Minerva,  Ruth  (Miles),  Alanson,  Orlando, 
Lucinda,  (Geo.  Miles),  Lydia  (J.  Brown). — T.  E. 
Penny. 

Silas  P.  Ely  (Ga.  E.)  81 — 1865,  1st.  Mehitable 
Church,  61 — 1847  ; Fanny  (Tiffany),  Orrin  C.,  Jared, 
Harriet  (Titus),  Sarah  (Peckham);  2d  Betsey  Peck- 
ham.— G.  M.  Ely. 

Justice  Kent. — Among  the  families  which  set- 
tled permanently  in  Brooklyn  township  was  that  of 
Justice  Kent.  He  was  born  in  Massachusetts  in 
1771,  and  while  yet  a young  man  went  to  Windsor, 
Broome  County,  N.  Y.,  where,  in  1795,  he  married  Anna 
Stuart  (1779-1858).  In  1810  he  thought  to  better  his 
prospects  for  a home  for  himself  and  growing  family 
of  six  children,  and  came  to  this  township  prospect- 
ing for  a new  home.  Here  he  engaged  a log  house 
on  what  is  now  the  Jewett  farm,  and  made  arrange- 


658 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


ments  to  settle.  In  1811,  with  his  wife  and  chil- 
dren, he  returned,  and  finding  his  log  domicile  occu- 
pied by  the  Guernseys,  both  families  shared  the 
meagre  accommodations  for  a time.  In  1813  he  pur- 
chased one  hundred  acres  of  land  in  the  northern 
part  of  the  township  for  five  dollars  per  acre,  of 
Putnam  and  Polly  (Sutton)  Gatlin,  then  a woodland 
tract.  He  was  a carpenter  by  trade,  and  soon  after 
his  purchase  erected  a frame  house  on  his  property, 
and  out-huildings.  He  also  erected  a grist-mill 
(where  Jewett’s  saw-mill  is),  near  the  Bridgewater 
line,  which  was  tended  by  his  sons,  and  where  the 
neighbors  used  to  get  their  grain  ground  for  domes- 


Josiah  Mack,  of  Brooklyn ; Rowena  (1807-72),  was 
the  wife  of  Amos  G.  Bailey,  son  of  Captain  Amos 
Bailey;  Emily,  1817,  wife  of  James  Waldie,  of  Brook- 
lyn ; and  Eliza,  1819,  wife  of  John  Roper,  of  Brooklyn. 

The  eldest  son,  David,  with  his  brother  Robert, 
bought  the  homestead  of  their  father  in  1822,  of 
which  David  became  sole  owner  in  1839.  He  built 
the  present  residence  in  1847,  and  at  different  times 
commodious  out-buildings.  He  was  a careful  busi- 
ness man  and  an  intelligent  farmer,  and  a man  of 
strict  integrity  in  all  his  intercourse  with  his  fellow 
men.  He  was  politically  a Whig  and  a Republi- 
can, and  held  the  offices  of  supervisor  and  school 


tic  use.  On  this  farm  he  reared  his  family  of  eleven 
children,  and  spent  the  remainder  of  his  days,  dying 
in  1858,  the  same  year  of  the  death  of  his  wife.  This 
couple  well  knew  the  hardships  of  pioneer  life,  but 
met  its  obstacles  with  commendable  energy,  and 
reared  their  children  to  habits  of  industry  and 
economy.  Their  children  were  David  (1799-1886); 
Robert  (1801-78),  settled  in  Bridgewater;  Elijah 
(1803-81),  died  in  Carbondale ; Harry  W.  (1809- 
81),  was  a farmer  in  Brooklyn ; Ezra  S.  (1812-74), 
a farmer  and  merchant  in  Brooklyn  ; Charles,  born 
in  1814,  a farmer  in  Brooklyn  ; George  J.,  born  in 
1823,  a resident  of  Brooklyn ; Almira,  1805,  wife  of 


director  in  the  township.  During  the  early  days  he 
was  one  of  the  board  of  managers  of  the  Milford 
and  Owego  turnpike,  of  which  he  was  a stockholder. 
In  1826  he  married  Betsey  Miles,  who  was  born  at 
Hartwick,  Otsego  County,  N.  Y.  She  had  come  to 
the  settlement  with  her  parents.  Captain  Rowland 
and  Betsey  (Ashcraft)  Miles,  from  Otsego  County, 
about  1822,  and  for  two  terms  had  taught  the  neigh- 
borhood school,  then  situate  on  the  homestead,  now 
known  as  the  Morgan  District.  For  over  sixty  years 
David  and  Betsey  Kent  lived  together  on  this  home- 
stead, and  during  the  Centennial  year,  with  their 
many  friends  and  relatives,  some  eighty  in  number. 


BROOKLYN. 


659 


they  celebrated  their  golden  wedding.  She  survives 
her  husband  and  is  cared  for  by  her  son,  Justice  M., 
who  succeeds  his  father  in  the  management  of  the 
homestead.  Both  herself  and  husband  were  mem- 
bers of  the  Universalist  Church  of  Brooklyn,  and 
supporters  of  religious  and  charitable  interests  in 
the  community.  Of  their  children, — Lucina  (1829- 
84)  was  the  wife  of  Ansel  Sterling ; Malvina  and 
Miles  L.,  died  young;  Justice  M.,  born  June  17, 
1839;  William  D.,  died  young;  Angelia,  born  in 
1844,  is  the  wife  of  A.  S.  Waldie,  a justice  of  the 
peace  of  Brooklyn  ; and  Ansel  M.,  who  died  in  1864, 
at  the  age  of  eighteen.  Captain  Rowland  Miles  was 
a native  of  Rhode  Island;  married  in  Otsego  County, 
N.  Y.  After  the  death  of  his  wife,  in  1809,  leaving 
two  children, — Charles,  of  Carbondale,  and  Mrs. 
David  Kent, — he  married  Clara  Rice,  who  bore  him 
children, — Reuben  Orson ; Harriet,  wife  of  Hugh 
Stone,  now  of  Illinois;  Henry  ; and  James  L.  Miles, 
who,  being  wounded  at  the  battle  of  Gettysburg, 
died  soon  afterwards.  Rowland  Miles  settled  first 
in  Brooklyn,  then  in  Abington,  but  died  at  the  home- 
stead of  his  son-in-law,  David  Kent,  at  the  a^e  of 
eighty-two. 

Henry  W.  Kent  (J.  K.)  71 — 1881,  Rhoda  A. 
Palmer  (E.  H.  P.) ; Amy  L.  (Sterling)  Richard,  Nel- 
son.— Wm.  Cameron. 

Samuel  Wright  (bro.  W.  W.),  Almira  Sweatland. 
See — Napoleon  Dennis. 

Latham  Williams  (Groton,  Ct.);  Ch.,  Nelson,  Eve- 
line (Ross),  Luke,  Thankful  (Miles),  Amanda  (Wm. 
Giles),  Lucy  (G.  H.  Giles),  John  S. — Chas.  Kent. 

Rodney  Jewett. — His  father,  Nathan  Jewett 
(1783-1861),  came  from  East  Haddam,  Conn.,  in  the 
spring  of  1811 ; bought  the  Guernsey  improvements 
on  one  hundred  acres  of  land  near  the  Bridgewater 
line,  paying  for  his  purchase  in  gold,  and  erected  a 
log  house.  He  had  been  a comb  manufacturer  in 
Boston,  and  later  a ship  carpenter  at  East  Haddam. 
In  the  fall  of  the  same  year  (November  3d)  he  removed 
with  his  w’ife.  Electa  Fox  (1790-1865),  and  two  chil- 
dren),— Francis  (born  1808,  died  a young  man  in  New 
Orleans)  and  Rodney  (1810-1877), — and  settled  at  their 
new  home  in  Bi'ooklyn.  He  added  some  two  hundred 
acres  more  of  land  by  purchase  in  after-years;  built  a 
barn  in  1813,  and  the  present  residence,  owned  by  his 
grandson,  Nathan  R.  Jewett,  in  1822.  He  cleared  a 
large  part  of  his  land,  was  an  industrious  and  judi- 
cious farmer,  and  identified  himself  with  early  enter- 
prises for  the  bettering  of  the  condition  of  the  settlers. 
His  wife  was  a member  of  the  Methodist  Church  from 
eleven  years  of  age,  and  one  of  the  early  devoted 
members  and  founders  of  the  church  at  East  Bridge- 
water.  Their  house  was  the  stopping-place  for  the 
early  Methodist  preachers,  and  their  hospitality  and 
generosity  were  fully  commensurate  with  their  means. 
Both  were  buried  at  East  Bridgewater.  Their  other 
children  were  Betsey  (1816)  is  the  wife  of  Alfred  W. 
Mack,  of  Eagle  Harbor,  Orleans  Co.,  N.  Y. ; Allen 


(1819-63)  served  in  the  late  Rebellion,  was  wounded 
in  a cavalry  fight  at  Beverly  Ford,  and  died  shortly 
afterward  in  the  hospital;  Lavinia  (1823-86)  re- 
ceived her  preparatory  education  at  Harford  Academy, 
was  graduated  at  Wyoming  Seminary,  under  Dr.  Nel- 
son, in  1854,  and  was  a teacher  of  high  repute  in  the 
public  schools  for  many  years.  She  established  a se- 
lect school  at  her  home,  which  she  continued  for  six 
years,  when  she  taught  the  higher  branches,  and  to 
her  careful  instruction  many  of  those  in  the  vicinity 
trace  their  better  knowledge  of  an  English  edu- 
cation. 

Rodney  Jewett,  second  son  of  Nathan,  was  fifteen 
months  old  when  his  parents  settled  in  Brooklyn.  He 
had  the  usual  advantages  of  the  district  school  in  the 
neighborhood,  but  even  in  boyhood  learned  that  in- 
dustry and  economy  must  be  characteristic  of  those 
who  would  gain  a competence  in  a new  country. 
How  well  he  studied  these  principles  was  well  illus- 
trated in  his  after-life  in  the  large  property  that  he 
accumulated  and  divided  among  his  children.  He 
was  self-reliant  as  a young  man,  and  his  parental 
training  had  been  no  detriment  to  laying  the  founda- 
tion for  his  success  as  a business  man.  Although  he 
had  little  to  begin  with,  upon  reaching  his  majority, 
his  ambition,  his  judicious  management  and  will  to 
accomplish  whatever  he  undertook,  together  with  his 
sagacity,  made  him  one  of  the  most  successful  men  of 
his  time  in  the  county.  His  homestead  was  where 
his  son,  Frederick  B.,  now  resides,  contiguous  to  his 
father’s,  and  comprised  some  four  hundred  acres  at  his 
death.  His  residence,  built  in  1841,  together  with  a 
dozen  out-buildings,  were  burned  in  1873,  and  the 
present  fine  residence  was  erected  on  the  same  site 
soon  afterwards  by  himself  and  Frederick.  The  latter 
is  his  successor  on  this  property,  and  is  the  owner  of 
some  six  hundred  acres  of  land  in  one  body,  and 
keeps  a dairy  of  sixty  cows.  Rodney  Jewett  married, 
in  1836,  Sally  Maria  Bailey  (1813-51),  a daughter 
of  Colonel  Frederick  (1780-1851)  and  Polly  Witter 
(1789-1828)  Bailey,  who  came  to  Brooklyn  in  1807, — 
whose  sketch  may  be  found  elsewhere.  The  children 
are  Mary  E.,  born  in  1838,  is  the  wife  of  Rev.  Charles 
Blake,  a Methodist  minister  at  Rome,  Pa.;  Nathan 
Rodney,  1839,  before  mentioned;  Jane  A.,  1841,  wife 
of  Hon.  B.  Wood,  a lawer  of  Effingham,  111. ; Harriet 
E.,  1842,  the  wife  of  Jonathan  F.  Gardner,  a large 
farmer  in  East  Bridgewater;  Gertrude  E.,  1844,  wife 
of  Major  H.  W.  Bard  well,  of  Tunkhannock ; Lavinia  A., 
1846,  wife  of  William  Stark,  of  Bridgewater;  and 
Frederick  B.  Jewett,  born  in  1848,  before  mentioned. 
His  second  wife,  now  his  widow,  residing  at  Montrose, 
is  Sarah  B.  Kennard,  whom  he  married  in  1852.  She 
was  born  in  East  Bridgewater  January  17,  1811 ; is  a 
woman  of  marked  intelligence  and  Christian  charac- 
ter. Her  father,  Abraham  E.  Kennard,  a native  of 
Bucks  County,  removed  with  his  mother  and  step- 
father to  Harmony,  this  county,  when  he  was  a boy. 
Upon  reaching  manhood  he  married  Sally  Bird,  who 


6dO 


HISTOEY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


was  born  in  Windsor,  N.  Y.,  and  in  1810  settled  in 
East  Bridgewater,  on  a farm  upon  which  the  creamery 
is  now  located.  They  were  among  the  early  settlers 
'of  that  part  of  the  township,  reared  a large  family 
of  children,  were  identified  with  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church  at  East  Bridgewater,  and  died  there  re- 
spected by  all  who  knew  them. 

Their  children  are  Dr.  George  D.  practiced  medi- 
cine at  Skinner’s  Eddy  for  many  years,  made  a trip  to 
California,  and  died  on  the  Pacific  Ocean  on  his  return 
voyage;  Alonzo  L.  married  and  died. in  Iowa;  Lura 


(Oakley),  Enoch,  Wm.  Penn,  Norton,  Thos.,  Smith. — 
F.  M.  Sterling. 

Elisha  Mack  (.1.  M.)  1768-1839,  1st  Lydia  Lord ; 
Lydia,  Matilda  (Lord),  Fanny  (A.  Tiffany),  Eliza 
(P.  Tiffany),  Elisha;  2d  Taphena  Lord;  Marvin 
Enoch,  Horace,  Charles,  Wm.,  Ursula,  Emily  (Bag- 
ley),  Adaline,  John,  Ansel,  Alfred,  Mary. — P.  H. 
Tiffany. 

Elisha  Mack,  Jr.  (E.  M.),  Lois  Eobinson;  Mary, 
Lydia,  Henrietta  (Ely),  Albert. — A.  E.  Mack. 

Marvin  L.  Mack  (E.  M.),  1st  Emeline  Palmer  (E. 


Ann,  wife  of  S.  A.  Mack,  died  at  Wellsborough,  Pa.  ; 
Lunira,  deceased,  was  the  wife  of  Dennison  Marvin, 
of  Onondaga  County,  N.  Y. ; Abram  M.  died  at 
eighteen  ; Sarah  B.,  widow  of  Rodney  Jewett,  noticed 
above  ; Martha  S.,  the  wife  of  Alexander  McCollum, 
died  in  East  Bridgewater ; Amasa,  deceased ; Mary 
A.,  wife  of  Lucius  Blakslee,  of  White  Haven,  Pa. ; 
Warren  P.  lived  and  died  in  East  Bridgewater,  on 
the  homestead;  Julia  A.  and  Benjamin  Bird  died 
young;  and  Helen,  the  wife  of  J.  B.  Harding,  died  in 
Michigan.  Of  this  large  family  of  the  Kennard  chil- 
dren, only  Mrs.  Blakslee  and  Mrs.  Jewett  are  living  in 
1887. 

Jas.  Wm.  Sterling  (T.  S.)  1791-1864,  Betsey 
Tewksbury  (J.  T.)  82 — 1876,  Mary  (Belcher),  Al- 
bert, Hannah  (Lathrop),  Jas.,  Geo.  W.,  Paulina 


H.  P.);  Edwin,  Jas.  W.,  Geo.  C.,  Ledyard,  Chas.  M., 
Horace,  Ellen  : 2d  Mary  Roscoe. 

Moses  B.  Yeomans  (J.  Y.),  Ann  Hewett  (Jed.  H.); 
Jos.  0.,  Sarah  (Hinkley),  John  M. 

Elijah  Kent  (J.  K.)  78—1881,  Elsa  Dikeman,  59 — 
1866;  Geo.  W.,  Ellen,  Theodocia. — Hubert  Johnson. 

Elisha  Safford,  (Lisbon,  Ct.)  81 — 1862,  Olive  Tracy 
73 — 1859;  Felix,  Verie  Ann,  Levi,  Susan  (Van  Auken), 
John  D.,  Laban,  Jedediah,  Elisha,  Martha,  Esther 
(Tiffany).- — L.  McKeeby. 

David  Sutliff,  Charity  Dunbar;  Harris,  Joel,  Zara, 
Currance,  Hannah  (Tiffany),  Charity  (Garland).  I. 
Van  Auken. 

Harris  Sutliff  (D.  S.),  Anna  Bonney;  Lucius, 
Phebe,  Henry. 


BROOKLYN. 


661 


Joel  Sutliff;  chi.  Lyman,  Mary,  Clarissa  (Grannis). 
— L.  B.  Tiftany, 

Zara  Sutliff  (D.  S.),  Polly  Bonney,  (A.  B.)  ; So- 
phronia,  David,  Caroline  (Corwin),  Emeline  (Tewks- 
bury), Levi,  Lucretia — I.  Van  Auken. 

1812.  Edward  Packer  44— 1832,  Mary  Lord ; Ed- 
it ward,  Joseph,  Chas.,  Dudley,  Albert,  Elisha,  Mary, 
Samuel. — D.  B.  Packer. 

Esek  H.  Palmer,  Grotou,  Ct.,  83 — 1861,  Amy  Smith 
(J.  S.),  96 — 1879;  Lydia  (Chapman),  Emeline  (Mack), 
Annis  (Baily)  Elmina  (R.  Kent),  Rhoda  (H.  W. 
Kent),  Jas.  S.,  Gurdon,  Chas.  R , Eunice  (Titus), 
Isaac. — F.  Bennet. 

Stephen  Breed  (Sketch). — E.  S.  P.  Hine. 

Stephen  W.  Breed  (S.  B.)  1812-1880,  1st  Lucy 
Beardsley,  1812-1846;  2d  Susanna  Guile ; Geo.  F. — 
I.  W.  Wright. 

Stephen  Williams,  Sr.  63 — 1846,  Polly  Williams  53 — 
1839;  Amos,  John,  Lydia  (Bagley),  Sally  (Kellam), 
Stephen,  Mary  (Barnes),  Angeline,  Emily  (Williams). 
Wm.  L.  Perry. 

Jas.  Packer,  Lina  Williams;  Albert,  Julia  (Gere), 
Sarah  (Chandler),  Jas.  G.,  Mary  (Barnes),  Eunice 
(Walker),  Chas.  M. — Res.  thirty-six  years. — N.  L. 
Tiffany. 

Wm.  S.  Maryott,  Rebecca  Lampher;  Wm.,  Icha- 
bod,  Rebecca,  Stephen,  David,  Mary,  Sarah,  Elisha, 
Charles,  Anson,  Preston,  Harriet. — D.  I.  Kinney. 

Caleb  Crandall,  1st  Ransom ; Polly  (Saunders), 
Asa,  Nancy  (Wilmarth):  2d  Betsey  Darrow;  Geo., 
Henry,  Jas. ; 4th  Malinda  Britton ; Sarah,  Elizabeth, 
Joshua.  See  “old  roads.” 

Asa  Crandall  (C.  C.),  Rhoda  Tewksbury  (Eph.  T.); 
Wm.  P.,  Emeline  (Tiffany),  Chas.  E.,  Amanda  (Ira 
Foster).  Sami.  Mead. 

Ephraim  Howe  67 — 1840,  Amy  Sterling  (sister  I.  S.); 
Hiram,  Thos.,  Elijah,  Eph.  K.,  Jas.  E.,  Minerva 
(Whitford),  Mary  (Nichols). — N.  C.  Benjamin  and 
Luther  Benjamin. 

Jas.  E.  Howe  (E.  H.),  1st  Lucy  Baccus  26 — 1834; 
Eunice  (Day):  2d  Pamela  Converse. — (Nicholson). 
Luther  Benjamin. 

Nelson  Tiffany  (A.  T.)  44 — 1855,  Permelia  Whitney 
(R.  W.);  Harvey  N.,  Harmon  B.,  Cynthia  A.,  Emma 
E.— H.  B.  Tiffany. 

E.  Kirby  Howe  (E.  H.),  Julia  Randall  (S.  R.); 
Betsey  (Baker),  Lucy  (Reed),  Mary  (Crandall),  Em- 
ma, Frances,  Lucetta,  Alfred. — E.  N.  McKinney. 

Hiram  Howe  (E.  H.),  Sylvia  Cheever;  Lydia,  Eph. 
P.,  Amy,  Cyrus,  Nancy,  Nathan. — J.  C.  Gere. 

Stephen  Smith,  Lovinia  Tewksbury  (Jac.  T.);  Al- 
mira, Eliza  (Schooumaker),  Welcome,  Jane,  Wealthy, 
Mariette,  Jas.  N.,  Elnora.  Res.  thirty.  (Auburn). 
B.  0.  Watrous. 

Elizur  Tiffany  (P.  T.)  71 — 1883,  Hannah  Rought; 
John,  Mary,  Geo.  P.,  Lucy,  .ludson. 

Robert  Fitch  Breed. — His  father,  Stephen  Breed 
(1786-1852),  of  Stonington,  Conn.,  married,  in  1811, 
Sophia  Gere  (1786-1882),  a daughter  of  Robert  Gere 


and  sister  of  Charles  and  Ebenezer  Gere,  of  Groton, 
Conn.,  early  settlers  in  Brooklyn.  The  following 
year  after  their  marriage,  1812,  Stephen  Breed,  wife 
and  son,  Stephen  W.,  removed  from  Stonington,  and 
after  a tedious  journey  reached  the  clearing  in  Brook- 
lyn where  Adam  Miller  and  family  had  their  home 
in  1787.  The  property  had  also  been  vacated  by 
James  Coil  and  Edward  Goodwin.  Upon  arriving 
here  Mr.  Breed  had  three  hundred  dollars  in  money — 
a large  sum  for  a new  settler  of  this  county  eighty 
years  ago.  In  due  time  he  extended  largely  his  clear- 
ings, added  by  purchase  other  land  and  was  the  owner 
at  his  death  of  some  two  hundred  acres  as  his  home- 
stead, besides  other  real  estate  in  the  township.  He 
was  a thrifty  and  industrious  farmer.  In  1822  he 
erected  the  present  residence,  and  opened  it  as  “ The 
Travelers’  Home,”  a public-house,  on  the  old  Milford 
and  Owego  turnpike,  where  he  entertained,  as  the 
popular  landlord,  the  weary  travelers  emerging  from 
the  old-fashioned  coaches  of  the  day,  after  a journey 
on  that  great  thoroughfare  from  New  York,  or  from 
Owego.  Early  in  the  temperance  reformation  he 
adopted  its  principles  and  afterwards  kept  his  inn  as 
a temperance  house  until  his  death.  At  Breed’s 
Hotel  was  the  place  for  many  years  for  holding  the 
old  militia  drills,  which  brought  all  the  country  folks 
together,  where  cider,  pumpkin  pies  and  boiled  eggs 
were  usually  sold  from  wagons  for  a luncheon,  and  on 
which  occasions  the  officers  of  the  day  donned  their 
richly  ornamented  costumes,  becoming  their  rank,  as 
they  rode  their  stately  steeds  on  parade  drills.  Ste- 
phen Breed  and  wife  were  among  the  early  members 
and  founders  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  of  Brook- 
lyn, of  which  he  was  one  of  its  elders  as  long  as  he 
lived.  Mrs.  Breed  was  an  honororable  Christian 
woman,  whose  life  left  its  impress  upon  her  children, 
and  whose  influence  was  felt  in  the  church  and  among 
her  wide  circle  of  friends.  She  was  a member  of  the 
First  Congregational  Church  of  Bridgewater  (then 
called)  as  early  as  1818,  and  remained  a devoted  mem- 
ber of  the  church  until  her  death,  at  the  great  age  of 
ninety-six  years. 

Their  son  Stephen  W.  (1811-80),  of  delicate  health 
in  boyhood,  was  educated  in  the  private  school  of 
Miss  Kingsley,  at  the  house  of  Colonel  Bailey  and  at 
Franklin  Academy,  in  Harford,  was  a merchant  at 
Orwell,  Bradford  County,  for  some  time,  and  subse- 
quently settled  on  the  old  State  Road,  on  a farm  for- 
merly owned  by  his  father,  where  he  carried  on  farm- 
ing and  a tannery  during  his  active  business  life. 
He  was  an  enterprising,  public-spirited  man.  His 
first  wife,  Lucy  Beardsley,  died  in  1842,  five  years 
after  their  marriage,  without  issue.  By  his  second 
wife,  Susanna  Guile,  of  Harford,  he  had  one  child, 
Rev.  George  Fitch  Breed,  who  has  been  successively 
rector  of  Danville  and  Troy  Episcopal  Churches,  and 
is  the  present  rector  of  the  Episcopal  Church  at 
Asbury  Park,  New  Jersey. 

Robert  Fitch  Breed  (1815-82),  second  son  of  Ste- 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


()62 


phen  and  Sophia  (Gere)  Breed,  was  born  on  the  home- 
stead in  Brooklyn,  to  the  ownership  of  which  he  suc- 
ceeded at  his  father’s  death.  He  in  early  life  became 
inured  to  farm  work,  and  seemed  to  inherit  the  business 
and  ability,  sterling  characteristics  of  his  father.  What 
book-knowledge  he  acquired  in  boyhood  he  turned  to 
practical  use,  and  throughout  life  his  practical  ideas, 
sound  judgment  and  honorable  counsel  were  alike 
highly  esteemed  by  all  who  knew  him.  He  was  do- 
mestic in  his  habits,  a good  farmer  and  a large  stock- 
raiser,  and  he  added  to  the  real  estate,  making  a total 
of  some  five  hundred  acres.  He  was  a member  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church  of  Brooklyn,  in  which  he  had 
been  reared,  was  at  its  death  one  of  its  elders,  and  not 
only  was  he  a liberal  contributor  to  the  support  of  the 
church  and  charities  during  his  life,  but  he  bequeathed 
a fund  for  its  maintenance  after  his  decease.  He  was 
in  no  sense  a politician ; but  as  a member  of  the 
Whig  and  Republican  parties,  he  exercised  the  right 
of  suflrage  according  to  his  own  judgment  of  men  and 
principles,  and  for  several  years  served  as  assessor  of 
Brooklyn.  In  1874  he  married  Emma  M.  Beers  (born 
in  1844),  a daughter  of  John  S.  (1796-1863)  and 
Sally  Howe  Beers  (born  in  1800),  of  Orwell,  Pa.  To 
Robert  F.  and  Emma  M.  Breed  were  born  three  chil- 
dren,— Stephen  Fitch,  Elmer  William  and  Robert 
Stanley  Breed.  The  children  of  John  S.  and  Sally 
Beers  are  Aurelia,  wife  of  George  W.  Brown,  of 
Orwell ; John  U.,  of  Whately,  Mass. ; Mary,  wife  of 
Leroy  Woodruff,  of  Towanda;  Charles,  of  Orwell; 
Sarah,  wdfe  of  J.  C.  Gere,  of  Brooklyn ; Louisa,  wife 
of  William  Black,  of  Bradford  County ; Lyman,  of 
Clay  Centre,  Kansas;  and  Emma  M.  Beers,  of  Brad- 
ford County.  After  the  death  of  Mr.  Breed  his 
widow,  in  1886,  married  Porter  E.  S.  Hine,  a teacher 
of  wdde  and  merited  reputation  in  this  and  adjoining 
counties,  who  was  born  in  Gibson  in  1838.  He  was 
educated  at  Harford  University  under  Rev.  Lyman 
Richardson  and  under  Rev.  Edward  Allen,  and  at 
the  Normal  School  of  Illinois,  and  has  been  a teacher 
of  public  schools  for  a period  of  over  thirty  years. 
For  several  years  he  has  been,  and  is  at  present,  prin- 
cipal of  the  graded  school  at  Nicholson,  Wyoming 
County,  and  has  taught  the  higher  English  branches 
in  the  schools  in  Harford,  Clifford,  Lenox,  Gibson, 
Brooklyn,  Sussex  and  Warren  Counties,  N.  J.,  and  in 
the  State  of  Illinois.  He  is  the  son  of  David  L.  (born 
1815)  and  Polly  K.  Adams  (born  1817)  Hine,  of  Har- 
ford, the  former  a native  of  New  Haven,  Conn., 
whose  father,  Stephen  Hine  (1792-1826),  died  in 
Natchez,  Miss.,  and  whose  mother,  Esther  (Larrabee) 
Hine  (1791-1867),  died  in  New  Haven  ; the  latter  a 
daughter  of  Joshua  K.  (1791-1876)  and  Peddy  W. 
Tiffany  Adams  (1796-1830),  who  came  from  Connecti- 
cut in  1812  to  Brooklyn,  and  subsequently  settled  in 
Harford,  where  they  died.  Joshua  K.  Adams  was  a 
native  of  Windham  County,  and  Peddy  W.  Tiffany 
was  a daughter  of  Hosea  Tiffany,  who,  with  his  wife 
and  three  older  children,  settled  in  Harford  in  1792, 


but  who  first  visited  this  county  in  1790,  and  was  one 
of  the  nine  'partners. 

1813.  Israel  Reynolds,  Westchester,  N.Y.,  Hannah 
Loder;  Nancy,  Sally,  Nathaniel,  Samuel,  Esther, 
Polly,  Hannah,  Abby,  Israel.  Res.  twelve  years. 

Samuel  Reyolds  (I.  R.),  95 — 1885,  Keziah  Scott; 
Jas.  W.,  Wm.  U.,  Amelia  (Darrow),  Lavinia,  Win- 
field.— J.  W.  Reynolds. 

Nathaniel  Reynolds,  died  1873,  Sarah  Foster ; 
Hothir,  Phebe  (Rogers),  Oscar,  Alzina,  Euphemia, 
Martha,  Faustina  (Johnson),  Mary,  Theodore. 

Ezra  Brown,  Nancy  Bolles ; Ezra  S.,  Clark,  Fanny 
(Beebe),  Deborah  (Derby),  Lyman,  Hosea,  Amanda, 
Lorenzo,  Clarissa,  Julia. — Hothir  Reynolds. 

David  Bissell,  Hepzibah  Reynolds;  Chas.  F.,  Nel- 
son, Edward,  Lydia,  Sarah. — A.  L.  Warner. 

Jacob  Wilson  (J.  W.,  Sr.)  1784-1868,  Belinda 
Brown  75 — 1867  ; Mary  A.  (Oakley),  Nelson  J.,  Eliza 
(Booth),  Elliot,  S.  Jane  (Penny). — J.  M.  Newton  and 
C.  R.  Bailey. 

Asa  Crandall  (Charleston,  R.  I.),  Matilda  Saun- 
ders; Eliza,  Mary,  John,  Rebecca,  Artemisia,  Asa, 
Sarah,  Hannah,  and  Chas.  M.  (late  of  Montrose). 
— C.  F.  Richards. 

Daniel  Cone  (Middlesex  Co.,  Ct.),  Ruth  Rich ; 
Martha,  Ruth,  Sylvester,  Thos.,  Amanda,  Edwin, 
Eliza  (Weston),  Nelson,  Alma,  Angeline.  Res.  5 yrs. 
(Ohio). 

Jas.  Smith  (Ct.)  83 — 1835,  Annis  Newton  82 — 1833; 
Isaac,  Latham,  Amy  (Palmer),  Eunice,  Abagail. — 
Wm.  Cameron. 

Isaac  Smith  (J.  S.)  86 — 1861,  Sally  Eldridge ; David 
G.,  Betsey  (Torrey),  Giles,  Minette  (Nickerson), 
Hallam,  Sami.  K.,  Mary  (Whipple),  Sophia  (Gar- 
land).— J.  Lorimer. 

Latham  Smith  (J.  S.)  66 — 1848,  Sally  Newton  51 — 
1840  ; Sarah  L.  (Weston),  Sophronia  (Tiffany),  Emma, 
(Gere),  Mary  (Adams),  Latham  ’A.,  Elijah  N.,  Hub- 
bard, Deborah  (Peck),  Jas.  F.,  Eunice  (Hawley). — J. 
W.  Adams. 

Ezra  S.  Kent— See  sketch  of  A.  W.  Kent. 

1814.  Joshua  Baker,  Groton,  Ct.,  1785-1872,  Betsey 
Vorse,  1782-1860;  Dank,  Betsey,  Mary  A.,  Reuben, 
Abbie,  Orrin,  Esther  (Mackey),  Margaret,  Lewis, 
Annie,  Joshua. — F.  Bennet  and  “ old  roads.” 

Gabriel  Ely,  Lyme,  Ct.,  Eunice  Merriman;  Mary 
(Mitchell),  Silas  P.,  Joseph,  Wm.,  Rachel,  Fanny 
(Rogers),  Erastus,  Theressa  (Gere),  Gates. — B.  0. 
Watrous. 

Zelophehad  Ely  (bro.  G.  E.)  52 — 1822,  Elizabeth 
Sterling,  90 — 1859 ; Jacob,  Lyman,  John  R.,  Hiram, 
Parnel  (Babcock),  Elizabeth  (J.  R.  Babcock). — J.  R. 
Ely. 

Lyman  Ely  (Z.  E.)  77 — 1873,  Bathsheba  Giles,  69 — 
1876 ; Mary  (Van  Auken),  Lucy  (Williams). — I.  Van 
Auken. 

1815.  Lebbeus  Rogers  (Montville,  Ct.)  81 — 1872, 
Fanny  Ely,  75 — 1870  (G.  E.) ; Elizabeth  (Lewis),  An- 


BKOOKLYN. 


663 


I drew,  Chas.,  Rachel  (Reynolds),  Sarah,  Christopher, 
Henry,  Mary  (Stanton),  Fanny,  Edwin. — C.  Rogers. 

Andrew  Rogers  (bro.  L.  R.)  1792-1878,  Silance 
Ely  (Gur.  E.)  1798-1840;  Gordon  B. — L.  Richards. 

Enoch  Mack  (J.  M.)  Polly  Spencer;  Harriet, 
K Flavel. — 0.  D.  Hollister. 

» John  R.  Babcock,  Elizabeth  Ely  (Z.  E.) ; Jacob, 
5 Elizabeth,  Louisa  (Spencer),  Charles,  John,  Lucy 

(Brundage),  Sami.,  Jas.  T.— A.  Rogers. 

Peter  Herkimer  (Herkimer  Co.,  N.  Y.)  died  1868, 
Lucina  Bacon  ; Peter,  Lucy,  Lyman,  Wm.  R.,  Leon- 
ard, Betsey  (Brown). — L.  Herkimer. 

Jas.  Oakley,  57 — 1851  (Harford)  Vashti  Bacon,  75 — 
1869;  Alonzo,  Jotham,  Betsey  (Brownell),  Emeline 
(Tiffany),  Harriet,  Geo.  D.,  Edward,  Mary  (Page), 
Martha  (Sherman),  Danl,  G. — W.  R.  Page. 

Anthony  Fish,  Groton,  Ct.,  88 — 1854,  Hannah  Chip- 
man,  84 — 1856  ; Anthony,  Hannah  (Latham — Bisbee), 
Prudy  (Tewksbury),  Francis,  Sabra  (Davison),  Fredk., 
Julia  (A.  Hewett),  Sally  (Bagley),  Fanny  (J.  Hewett), 
Asa,  Mary  (Richardson),  Emily  (Williams),  Wm. — 
A.  Fish. 

Francis  Fish  (A.  F.)  83-1884,  1st  Nancy  Tarbox, 
59 — 1860 ; Eliza  (Tewksbury) : 2d  Diadama  (Scott) 
Wright. — B.  G.  Sterling. 

Fredk.  Fish  (A.  F.),  Ancy  Race;  Malena  (Tiffany), 
Sarah  (Page),  Wm.  C. 

Nathaniel  Sterling  (bro.  I.  S),  97 — 1872,  1st  Prudy 
Maples ; Anna,  Sally,  Rebecca,  Jefferson : 2d  Polly 
Moss,  65 — 1849  ; Doratha,  Silas,  Flora,  Hannah,  Julia 
Rachel. — C.  T.  Goodrich. 

Jefferson  Sterling  (N.  S.)  Sophronia  Wilson  (D. 
W.);  Collins,  Harriet  (Whitman). 

Henry  Gere  (J.  G.),  Harriet  Parke  (Thos.  P.). — 
Mo. 

1816.  Joseph  Jackson  (Josh.  J.)  1789-1864, 1st  Re- 
becca Cushman ; Phebe  (Rose),  Rebecca  (Brown) ; 
2d  Esther  Bidwell ; Almira  (Ci’ofoot),  Joseph  F., 
Benj.  B.,  Betsey,  Joshua,  Esther  J.  (Wilson) : 3d  Milly 
(Tarbox)  Wilson. 

Joshua  Jackson  (Vt.)  80 — 1842,  Eleanor  Fisk ; 
Joshua,  Jr.,  Joseph,  Susanna  (Farrar),  Caleb,  Betsey. 
— R.  Sterling  and  M.  Perigo. 

Sami.  Bissell.  See  physicians. 

Joshua  Fletcher,  Mary  Gere  (S.  G.). 

A.  J.  Tiffany — Sketch. 

1817.  Augustus  Converse,  Sibyl  Smith ; David  G., 
Pamela  (Howe),  Mary  (Gere),  Augustus,  Sophronia, 
Jane,  Erastus,  Isaac,  Jas.  A. — M.  L.  Lemon. 

Thos.  Garland,  (S.  G.)  1796-1882,  Judith  Tewks- 
bury, 1797-1868  (Jac.  T.) ; Susan  M.  (Adams),  Ed- 
ward, Caroline  (Townsend),  Louisa  (Lee),  Lucy  G. 
(Sterling). — L.  A.  Townsend. 

Erastus  Caswell,  Norwich,  Ct.,  82 — 1869,  Lucy 
Carey,  64 — 1855;  Henry,  Lydia  (J.  Lines)  Mary,  Jas., 
Wealthy  (L.  N.  Lines),  Huldah  J. — C.  F.  Richards. 

Gurdon  Ely  (Ct.)  (bro.  Z.  E.) — not  here,  Parnal 
Phelps;  Ammi,  Gurdon,  Silance  (Rogers). 


Ammi  Ely  (G.  E.),  Hannah  Ely ; Elizabeth  (Rey- 
nolds).— Eliza  Reynolds. 

Jonas  R.  Adams,  1st  Eliza  Tappan  ; Jas.  L.,  Eliza 
(Race):  2d  Olivia  Seeley;  Amos,  Albert,  Nancy. — 
Jennie  Northrop. 

Hezekiah  Olney  71 — 1822,  Windham,  Ct.,  Orpha 
Hawkins;  Abigail  (Gere),  Rachel  (Corey). 

G.  W.  Palmer  (E.  H.  P.)  58—1875,  Emily  Gere.— 
R.  L.  Gere. 

S.  Horace  Yeomans  (S.  Y.,  Jr.)  1817-1859,  Roena 
Belcher;  Fredk.,  Edward,  Sarah,  Huldah,  Wm.  H. — 
Lathrop. 

1818.  Jacob  Wilson,  Sr.,  76—1826,  Hannah  Dimock ; 
Jacob  Dimock. — C.  R.  Bailey. 

Dimock  Wilson  (J.  W.,  Sr.),  Milly  Tarbox ; Chas., 
Sophronia  (Sterling),  Julia  (Lewis.) — Clifford. 

Joseph  Peckham,  Sr.,  Anna  Burdick ; Joseph, 
Clark,  Nancy  (Austin),  Betsey  (Ely).  Res.  8 yrs. 

Joseph  Peckham,  Jr.,  1782-1860,  Sally  Crandall, 
1793-1882;  Jas.  S.,  Sarah  (Oakley — Crandall). — J.  S. 
Peckham. 

Joseph  Lines,  Sr.,  1799-1874,  Betsey  Mack  (J.  M.) 
1800-1887  ; Elizabeth  (Tiffany),  Joseph. — Cornelia 
Packer. 

Thos.  Oakley,  61 — 1857,  1st  Clarissa  Otis;  Sarah 
(Perigo),  Edwin,  Eunice  (Curtis),  Thos.  M.,  Polly 
(Watrous),  Nancy,  Joseph,  Clarissa:  2d  Cynthia 
(Seely)  Austin,  J.  Oakley. 

Richard  Williams,  Sally  Gates;  Elisha  G.,  Mary  L. 
(Stanton),  Adaline  (Tooker),  Ellen  A.  Res.  55  yrs. — 
H.  Aten. 

Geo.  Newbury;  Olive  Randall,  (S.  R.) ; Caroline. 
Levi  Simons,  Sally  Wright  (Sis.  W.  W.) ; Harlo,  Ju- 
lius, Calvin,  Jas. — S.  S.  Gavitt. 

Arunah  Tiffany  (N.  T.),  Lucy  Follet.  Res.  2 yrs. 
Gibson. 

Gurdon  Ely  (G.  E.  Sr.)  1796-1873,  Olive  Corey ; 
Jeremiah,  Mahala,  Ammi,  Rosetta,  Lydia,  Martha, 
Olive  S. — C.  F.  Watrous. 

Jeremiah  Spencer,  Polly  Giles  (T.  J.) ; Sami.  W., 
Fanny  (Yeomans),  Lucy  (I.  Dewitt).  I.  A.  Bailey. 

Lodowick  Bailey  (bro.  A.  B.)  87 — 1873,  Hannah 
Avery  70 — 1860 ; Hannah,  John  L.,  Eliphalet,  Caro- 
line, Eliza,  Adaline,  I.  Avery,  Lodowick,  Lucinda, 
L.  Bailey. 

J.  L.  Bailey  (L.  B.  Sr.)  Huldah  T.  Yeomans  (J. 
Y.) ; Miner,  Bathsheba. — J.  A.  Rozelle. 

Amos  P.  Merrill,  N.  H.,  69—1843,  Rebecca  Barber  ; 
Jonathan  H.,  Amos  B. — R.  Sterling. 

Amos  B.  Merrill  (A.  P.  M.),  Harriet  E.  Smith ; 
Jonathan  H.,  Andrew,  Rebecca  (Bell),  Ansel,  Daniel, 
Leander.  Hopbottom. — R.  Sterling. 

Jonathan  H.  Merrill  (A.  P.  M-),  Lucy  Gere  (C. 
G.);  Chas.  G.,  Geo.  W..  Rebecca. 

Abel  Hawley,  Ct.,  Marilla  Hutchinson ; Emily, 
Joseph  W.,  Pamela,  Crandall,  Milo,  Nelson,  Sarah, 
Del.  Williams. 

Asa  Hawley  (bro.  A.  H.),  Ruth  Bronson ; Eliad, 
Asa,  Fanny,  Sally,  Rhoda. — A.  G.  Sterling. 


664 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


David  Smith,  Waterford,  Ct.,  Eunice  Comstock ; 
Burgess,  Mary,  John,  Res.  9 yrs.  J.  Lorimer  and  J. 
W,  Adams. 

Henry  Mitchell,  Mary  Ely  (G.  E.);  Horatio.  Res. 
16  yrs. — J.  M.  Newton. 

Henry  Caswell  (E.  C.),  Lydia  Carr ; Geo,,  Win.  R., 
Hettie.  See  “ Old  Roads.” 

1819.  Elijah  Newton,  Groton, Ct., 1793-1843,  Deborah 
Newton  (Asa  N.). — H.  M.  Williams. 

Orren  C.  Ely  (S.  P.  E.),  st.  Jane  Gardner;  2d  Re- 
becca Gardner;  Erless. — Mich. 

Stephen  Williams,  Jr.,  Fanny  Barnes;  Fredk., 
Delbert. — Del.  Williams. 

1820.  Joseph  Edmonds,  Patty  Reynolds. — M.  L. 
Lemon. 

Jas.  Munger;  chn.,  John,  Chrisjohn,  Tillotson. — 
Dell.  Williams. 

■Jas.  L.  Adams  (J.  R.  A.),  Lydia  Chapman  (J.  H.)  ; 
Mary  (Chase). — C.  H.  Boughton. 

Jas.  Sterling  (Wm.  S.),  Sophia  Rease ; Mary(Mc- 
Keever)  Jas.  M.  (See  Amanda  S.). — F.  M.  Sterling. 

Felix  T.  Safford  (E.  S.),  Elizabeth  Rease;  Fredk., 
Edson  W. — L.  McKeeby. 

1821.  Rowland  Miles  (Jesse  M.)  84 — 1869,  Betsey 
Ashcraft ; Charles,  Betsey  (Kent) ; 2d  Clarissa  Rice  ; 
Reuben  O.,  Harriet  (Stone),  Henry,  James. — A.  A, 
Quick. 

1822.  Jesse  Miles,  Brooklyn,  Ct.,  77 — 1833,  Olive 
Adams,  72 — 1831;  Rowland,  Parker,  Jared,  Edmund. 
Hartshorn,  Betsey,  Caroline. — W.  M.  Gavict. 

Edmund  Miles  ( Jes.  M.)  32 — 1829,  Sally  Irons  66 — 
1865;  Emeline  (Gavitt),  Philena  (Crandall). — W.  M. 
Gavitt. 

Ebenezer  Gere — Sketch. — H.  McCoy. 

Stephen  Randall ; ch.,  Julia  (Howe),  Harriet  (In- 
gram), Olive  (Newbury),  Denison,  Alfred. — E.  T. 
Stephens. 

Sami.  B.  Blake,  Mass.,  74 — 1868,  Alsiemena  Case 
(B.  C.);  Albert,  Roan,  Salina,  Edwin — Sami.  Mead. 

John  Austin  81-1865,  Nancy  Peckham  (J.  P.  Sr.) 
54 — 1843;  Lloyd,  Ledyard,  Nancy  (Main)  Wm.  T., 
Loretta  (Stanton),  Norman,  Julia  (Ely). — N.  R.  Jewett. 

1823.  Edward  Otto,  1st  Fanny  Hall : 2d  Miriam 
Worthing;  Sarah. — D.  S.  Watrous. 

Isaiah  Hawley  (bro.  A.  H.),  Dolly ; Wm.  Elsie, 
Nancy,  Joseph. — D.  C.  Westbrook. 

1824.  Varnam  Whitford,  Minerva  Howe  (E.  H.) ; 
Mariah,  Salina,  Volney,  Benj.  H.,  Hannah,  Lydia, 
Adnah. 

Chas.  R.  Palmer  (E.  H.  P.),  Elvira  (Kingsley) 
Stroud  ; Arthur,  Ida,  Charles.  (111.) — F,  Bennet. 

1825.  Elisha  Baker  (bro.  Josh.  B.)  1778-1859, 
Susanna  Avery,  1778-1860;  Elisha,  Mary  A.  (Culver), 
Fanny  (Gere),  Eliza  (Weston),  Jared,  Chas.,  Caroline 
(Adams),  Emeline,  Geo.  H. — W.  L.  Sterling. 

Gurdon  D.  Hempstead,  Ledyard,  Ct.,  1799-1866, 
Mary  L.  Newton,  1800-78  ; Orlando,  Julia  (Tiffany), 
Salmon,  Mary,  Sarah,  Albert,  John  (Dimock) — H.  M. 
Williams. 


Wm.  S.  Champlin,  Mary  Ring. — C.  T.  Goodrich. 

Joseph  Lines,  Jr.  (J.  L.),  Lydia  Caswell  (E.  C.) — 
C.  F.  Richards. 

Reuben  F.  Ring,  Marshfield,  Mass.,  Anna  Sterling 
(N.  S.) ; Reub.  F.,  David  J.— E.  S.  Eldridge. 

Geo.  H.  Baker  (E.  B.),  Betsey  Howe  (E.  K.  H.)  ; 
Isabel,  Ella  (Deans),  Jane,  Morris,  Chas.,  May,  James, 
Eva,  Edwin. — W.  L.  Sterling. 

1826.  Aaron  W.  Munger,  47 — 1834, 1st — Sylvester  ; 
Maria  (Packer) : 2d  Sally  Yeomans  (S.  Y.,  Jr.) ; Mar- 
tha, James. — C.  A.  Hewitt. 

Lucius  Robinson,  77 — 1874,  Judith  Dorton,  65 — 
1858  ; Matilda,  Betsey,  Lucy,  Nancy,  Lucius,  Hannah, 
Sarah. — L.  N.  Lines. 

Youngs  Culver,  Ct.,  Polly  Mills ; Y.  Leonard. — 
J.  P.  Page. 

Y.  L.  Culver  (Y.  C.  ),  64 — 1868,  Mary  Ann  Baker  ; 
(E.  B.) ; Susan,  Geo.,  Emmur,  Josephine,  Chas.,  Har- 
riet, Jas.,  Jared,  Wm.  — J.  P.  Page. 

Wm.  Ainey,  74 — 1851,  Hannah  Crawford  ; Jacob, 
John,  Moses,  Rebecca  (Westbrook)  Catharine. — C. 
H.  Ely. 

Jacob  Ainey  (Wm.  A.),  Catharine  Kinnan;  John 
Hannah,  Amanda,Wm.  H.,  David,  Albert.— Dimock, — 
H.  C.  Fairchild. 

I.  N.  Palmer  (E.  H.  P.),  1st  Nancy  Tewksbury  (A. 
T.) ; Milton  W.:  2d  Amanda  Kent. — F.  Bennet. 

Seth  Bisbee,  N.  H.,  1st  Leah  Aldrich ; Alonzo, 
Jane,  Sally,  Noah,  Levi,  Betsey:  2d  Hannah  (Fish) 
Latham  (A.  F.);  Leah,  Hannah,  Lydia,  Alpha,  John, 
Martin,  Jas. — Lathrop. 

Jas.  C.  Morgan — Sketch. 

1827.  Eli  B.  Goodrich,  N.  Y.,  62 — 1864,  Cynthia 
Tiffany  (A.  T.) ; Lucy  (Tewksbury),  Alexander,  Wel- 
lington, Edwin,  Chas.,  Mary,  Eliza,  Anson,  Manzer, 
Ransom. — E.  B.  Goodrich. 

Sami.  G.  Bowen,  Nancy  Herkimer. — N.  Aldrich. 

Luke  Williams  (L.  W.),  Sarah  Bagley  (O.  B.)  ; 
Henry  M. 

Walter  Adams,  Anna  Ring;  Galen,  Ann  (Bagley), 
Jane  (Walker),  Jacob,  Harriet.  See  Village. 

1828.  Sami.  Garland,  Lebanon,  Me.,  Susan  Rhine ; 
Louisa,  Susan  (Potts),  Mary  (Buck),  Ephraim,  Thos., 
Edmund.  Res.  18  yrs. — N.  C.  Benjamin. 

Jedediah  Hewett,  Bridgewater,  not  here,  Rachel 
Sterling  (Sis.  I.  S.),  82 — 1860 ; Abel,  Gurdon,  James, 
Wm.,  Hannah  (Baker),  Ann  (Yeomans). 

Abel  Hewett  (Jed.  H.),  Julia  Fish  (Ant.  F.) ; Ada- 
line,  Ellen,  Jane,  Wm.,  Francenia. — Carbon  Co. 

Nathan  Aldrich,  N.  H.,  Elizabeth  Wheelock; 
Alanson,  Andrus,  Albert,  M.  Ann  (Van  Housen), 
Alvin,  Winsor,  Alcista  (Ellsworth),  Res.  45. — Amasa 
Aldrich. 

Ephraim  Garland  (S.  G.),  Patty  Varney;  J.  Jay, 
Jas.  V.,  Sami.,  Elizabeth,  Martha,  Thos.  C.,  Ange- 
lina, Sarah. — N.  Y. — Res.  16. — N.  C.  Benjamin. 

Jezreel  Dewitt,  N.  J.,  82 — 1868, 1st  Lucy  Stoddard, 
Stoddard,  Evi,  Jezreel,  Prudence,  Diadama  (Morgan). 


BROOKLYN. 


665 


Increase,  Abel,  Chancy : 2d  Esther  Lambert. — A.  J. 
Smith. 

Aaron  Dewitt  (bro.  J.  D.),  1793-1876,  Hannah,  62 — 
1856 ; Maria,  Jacob,  Catharine  (Roberts),  Albert, 
Isaac,  Amos,  Geo. — F.  P.  Miller. 

Jeduthan  Nickerson,  Minette  Smith  (I.  S.);  Helen 
— adopted. — F.  Benuet,  E.  P.  Bailey. 

1829.  Jacob  Van  Auken,  50 — 1846,  N.  J.,  Elizabeth 
80 — 1852;  Amos,  Benj.  W. — Susan  Van  Auken. 

Amos  Van  Auken  (J.  V.),  Susan  Havens;  Isaac, 
Eleanor  (Ely),  Dank,  John,  Giles,  Mary  (Giles),  Rush. 
— C.  J.  Lathrop. 

B.  W.  Van  Auken  (J.  V.),  Susan  Salford  (E.  S.); 
Tracy,  Sidney,  Courtright,  Calvin,  Olive,  Dwight, 
Martin,  Hester,  Willis,  Levi,  and  Ruby  (grandchild). 
— Levi  Van  Auken. 

1830.  Allen  McKinney,  57 — 1864,  Mary  Mack 
(Elij.  M.) ; Braton,  Noble,  Amanda,  Mary,  Jane 
(Northrop),  Chester,  Eliza,  Elisha. — Jennie  Northrop. 

Sylvester  Cooke,  Mass.,  Olivia  Wade;  Oliver, 
Fredk.,  Austin,  Henry,  Wm.,  Edwin.  Res.  14. — J. 
Best. 

Braton  Richardson. — See  “Physicians.” 

1833.  Sami.  Westbrook,  Rebecca  Ainey;  Hannah 
(Mead),  Dank,  Lucetta  (Ross),  Malvina. — D.  C.  West- 
brook. 

John  Potts,  Susan  Garland  (S.  G.). — Bucks  Co. — J. 
F.  Doran. 

Asa  Newton. — Sketch. 

Archibald  Williams,  Ct.,  41 — -1843,  Sarah  Titus, 
1810-1867 ; Chas.,  Joab,  Geo.,  Jasper,  Harriet,  Wil- 
lard.— C.  A.  Williams. 

The  following  belong  to  the  next  25  years : — 

Cyrus  Oakley  (bro.  Jas.  O.),  66 — 1876,  1st  Dency 
Carpenter;  Edwin,  Emma:  2d  Sarah  Peckham. 

Amos  Smith,  Abigail  Mitchell ; Lucy,  Amos,  Polly, 
Emeline,  Arzelia,  Fanny  (Bissell). — N.  R.  Jewett. 

Lyman  W.  Kellam,  Sally  Williams  (S.  W.,  Sr.); 
Fanny  (Bell),  Eliza,  Samk,  Wm.,  Chas. — R.  T. 
Ashley. 

Samk  W.  Spencer,  Louisa  Babcock  (J.  R.  B.); 
Chas.,  Frank,  Mary  (Surdam). 

Samk  Kellam  (bro.  L.  K.),  Alice  Bagley  (Jas.  B.) ; 
Luther. — A.  J.  Ainey. 

Albert  G.  Reynolds,  1st  Elizabeth  Ely  (A.  E.); 
Geo.,  Joseph:  2d  Rachel  Rogers  (L.  R.);  Julia, 
Chas.:  3d  Eliza  Yeomans  (J.  Y.) ; Mortimer,  Ella 
(Brink).— E.  A.  Reynolds. 

Orlando  A.  Eldridge  (R.  E.),  1812-1816,  Mary  A. 
Taylor,  1818-1884 ; Samk  B.,  Wm.  H.,  Edwin  S.— S. 
B.  Eldridge. 

Samk  D.  Townsend,  N.  Y.,  Sally  M.  Benjamin ; 
Lewis,  Mary  (Morgan),  Adelia,  Jerome,  Cornelia, 
Theodore.  Res.  33  yrs. 

Robt.  Eldridge,  Groton,  Ct.,  1st  Sally  Sylvester ; 
Jas.,  Orlando,  Lydia,  Eliza : 2d  Dorathe  Collard ; 
Chas.,  Jennie. — A.  J.  Ainey. 

Geo.  H.  Giles,  (T.  G.),  Lucy  S.  Williams  (L.  W.) ; 
42 


Theoda,  Geo.  I.,  Loretta  (Davison),  Fanny,  Lyman, 
Hattie  (Lindley),  Thos.  L.,  Wm.  H. 

Benjamin  Jackson  (J.  J.),  Hannah  Lily;  Eleanor, 
Eliza,  Mary,  Benj.  S.,  Bianca,  Joseph. — C.  F.  Perigo. 

John  Stroud,  Elvira  Kingsley;  Wm.,  Frances, 
John. 

C.  Marvin  Chapman  (G.  C.),  Mary  Adams  (Wm. 
A.);  Will,  Burt,  Geo.  Florida. — Wm.  Mead. 

Daniel  Torrey,  57 — 1857,  Betsey  Smith  (I.  S.) ; 58 — 
1862. — L.  Richards. 

Chas.  C.  Daley,  Lucy  Wilcox;  Chas.,  Julia,  Lucy, 
Louisa,  Alvin,  Harriet,  Frances,  Horace,  Wm.  T. — 
E.  T.  Stephens. 

Ira  W.  Curtis,  Eunice  Oakley  (T.  0.);  Fernando, 
Clara. 

John  Robinson,  1st Holenback;  Caroline  (W. 

P.  Sterling):  2d  Olive  Howard  (S.  H.);  Chas.,  Olive, 
Nancy,  Mary,  Hersey. — F.  A.  King. 

Edwin  Tiffany,  1812-1857,  Sophronia  Smith  (L.  S.); 
Malvina  E. — M.  E.  McKeever. 

James  Monroe  Newton. — The  first  record  we 
have  of  this  family  is  that  the  father  of  Samuel  New- 
ton removed  from  Scituate,  Massachusetts,  and  settled 
at  Ledyard  or  Groton,  New  London  County,  Con- 
necticut, and  that  in  regular  line  of  successive  genera- 
tions from  this  ancestor,  Samuel,  Jr.,  Christopher, 
Agrippa,  Asa  (1767-1848)  and  Eunice  Allen  (1767- 
1849)  Newton,  followed  by  their  son,  Samuel  Allen 
Newton,  have  occupied  the  homestead  there.  Family 
tradition  says  that  the  progenitor  of  the  Newtons 
settled  in  New  England  soon  after  the  landing  of 
the  Pilgrims  in  1620,  and  the  seven  generations  here- 
in given  seem  to  authenticate  the  tradition.  Samuel 
Allen  Newton  (1791-1863)  was  a teacher  of  wide  re- 
pute in  his  native  place,  Groton,  and  there  for  twenty 
winters  instructed  the  youth  of  the  common  schools. 
He  served  in  the  War  of  1812,  and  did  coast-duty, 
and  was  a fife  major  in  the  old  State  militia  of  Con- 
necticut. He  married,  in  1815,  Mary  (1795-1876),  a 
daughter  of  Isaac  and  Amy  Gavitt  Babcock,  of  the 
same  place.  The  latter  after  her  husband’s  death,  in 
Connecticut,  came  to  this  county  and  settled  near 
Dimock  Corners  with  her  children.  Eunice  Allen’s 
father.  Captain  Samuel  Allen,  was  killed  in  Fort 
Griswold  during  the  Revolutionary  War,  and  his  name 
is  inscribed  on  a marble  tablet  with  others  who  so 
gallantly  withstood  the  British  on  that  memorable 
occasion.  Agrippa  Newton,  the  great-grandson  of 
Samuel  above  mentioned  was  called  out  to  defend 
New  London  at  the  time  it  was  burned  by  the  British 
in  the  same  war,  but  was  not  in  any  engagement. 
Samuel  Allen  Newton  removed  with  his  wife  and 
family,  in  1834,  from  Groton,  and  sailing  in  a sloop 
to  New  York,  thence  via  the  Hudson  to  Rondout, 
the  Delaware  and  Hudson  Canal  to  Honesdale,  and  by 
team  the  remainder  of  the  way,  arrived  in  the  north- 
ern part  of  Brooklyn  township.  Here  he  purchased 
of  Judge  William  Jessup,  agent,  one  hundred  and 
twenty-five  acres  of  land,  which  was  his  homestead 


G66 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


until  his  death.  He  subsequently  added  by  purchase 
seventy-five  acres  more.  In  1 840  he  built  the  present 
residence.  Upon  the  solicitation  of  his  neighbors, 
he  opened  a select  school  at  his  home  in  1839,  known 
as  the  Newtonville  Institute,  where  many,  who  are 
now  the  business  men  of  the  community,  obtained 
their  most  advanced  education  from  books.  He  was 
a natural  mathematician,  a natural  mechanic  and  a 
surveyor,  and  he  was  apt  in  music,  which  he  loved 
and  ardently  practiced.  Both  himself  and  wife  were 
devoted  members  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  of 


ing  a wife  and  one  son.  She  is  the  present  wife  of 
Jason  Wright,  of  Hopbottom.  James  M.  Newton, 
before  mentioned,  owns  the  homestead  and  has  con- 
tinued its  management  since  his  father’s  death.  He 
obtained  his  early  education  in  the  home  schools,  and 
under  the  private  instruction  of  his  father.  His  life- 
work  has  been  farming,  and  the  appointments  of  the 
old  homestead  show  the  work  of  a thrifty  and 
judicious  agriculturist.  He  united  with  the  Susque- 
hanna Grange  years  ago,  and  is  interested  in  all  that 
benefits  the  farmer  and  improves  the  condition  of  its 


Brooklyn.  The  eldest  son,  Isaac  A.,  born  in  1819, 
died  in  Wyoming  County,  Pennsylvania,  leaving»a 
wife  and  two  children ; James  Monroe,  born  at  Groton, 
Connecticut,  October  12,  1821,  succeeded  his  father 
on  the  homestead;  Jenette,  1824,  was  first  the  wife  of 
Martin  L.  Catlin,  of  Bridgewater,  and  after  his  death 
married  Dann  S.  Watrous,  of  Brooklyn  ; Henry 
Franklin,  1826,  formerly  connected  with  the  fork 
manufactory  at  Montrose,  is  a farmer  in  Dimock ; 
George  F.  (1836-69),  died  at  Holly,  Michigan,  leav- 


laborers.  The  family  is  identified  with  the  Methodist 
Church  at  Brooklyn. 

His  wife,  whom  he  married  in  1856,  is  Frances  E. 
Slauson,  who  was  born  at  Ridgefield,  in  Fairfield 
County,  Connecticut,  May  26,  1837.  She  is  a daugh- 
ter of  Jesse  B.  (1809-69)  and  Fannie  Mead  (1808-82) 
Slauson,  who  removed  from  Connecticut  in  1853,  to 
this  county,  and  in  1856  settled  near  Birchardville, 
where  their  son,  Edward  B.,  now  resides.  They 
were  members  of  the  Forest  Lake  Methodist 


BROOKLYN. 


667 


Church  and  were  bui'ied  in  the  cemetery  there. 
Their  other  children  are  Edward  B.,  born  in  1840  ; 
Mary  Eugenia  (1843-77),  wife  of  Charles  Leet,  died 
at  Montrose ; Jesse  B.  Slauson  was  a hatter  by  trade 
and  carried  on  that  business  at  Ridgefield,  but  after 
settling  in  this  county  he  was  a farmer.  The  chil- 
dren of  James  M.  and  Francis  E.  Newton  are,  E. 
Dora,  a graduate  of  the  Montrose  Academy  in  the 
class  of  ’76,  and  a teacher  for  twenty  terms;  married, 
in  1885,  Frederick  Hohn,  a native  of  Germany,  who 
landed  in  Philadelphia  in  1865,  and  resides  on  his 
farm  nearly  adjoining  the  Newton  homestead;  Fan- 


Watrous  family  may  be  found  in  the  Bridgewater 
township  history. 

Joseph  (1794-1875),  second  son,  born  in  Chester, 
Conn.,  removed  with  his  parents  to  Middleburg,  N.  Y., 
and  in  1816  married  Dolly  (1795-1835),  a daugh- 
ter of  Usher  Benjamin,  of  the  same  place.  In  1817, 
with  his  wife,  he  came  to  Bridgewater,  and  settled 
near  the  present  site  of  Mott’s  woolen-mill,  where  he 
resided  until  1830,  when  he  bought  four  hundred 
acres  of  land  from  the  John  B.  Wallace  tract,  situate 
on  the  Milford  and  Owego  turnpike,  in  southeastern 
Bridgewater,  where  his  son,  Charles  F.,  resides  in 


nie  M,.  for  some  time  a milliner  at  Montrose,  also 
married,  in  1885,  Edward  G.  Lee,  a farmer  in  Brook- 
lyn ; Edward  Weeks  and  Louisa  Ella  Newton. 

Dann  Spencer  Watrous. — His  paternal  grand- 
parents, Benjamin  (1772-1820)  and  Lucy  (Spencer) 
(1770-1839)  Watrous,  natives  of  Chester,  Middlesex 
County,  Conn.,  settled  in  the  town  of  Middleburg, 
Schoharie  County,  N.  Y.,  in  1797,  and  in  1818 
removed  to  Bridgewater,  this  county,  and  settled 
where  their  son  Spencer  Watrous  now  resides.  They 
had  a family  of  twelve  children,  most  of  whom 
married  and  raised  families,  and  were  residents  of 
Susquehanna  County.  A further  sketch  of  the 


1887.  In  1844  he  built  the  present  residence,  and 
for  many  years  thereafter  kept  a public-house  for  the 
accommodation  of  travelers  on  this  great  highway 
to  New  York,  but  his  main  business  was  farming. 
Both  himself  and  wife  were  members  of  the  Baptist 
Church  at  Montrose,  and  reared  their  children  under 
Christian  instruction.  They  were  as  follows : Har- 
riet, born  in  1817,  widow  of  the  late  Ezra  S.  Kent, 
of  Brooklyn ; Henrietta  (1819-75),  was  the  wife  of 
Charles  Kent,  of  Brooklyn;  Dann  Spencer,  born 
August  26,  1820 ; Orlando,  1822,  resides  at  Montrose ; 
Bradford  Orson,  1824,  a farmer  in  Brooklyn ; Ansel 
Wesley,  1826,  of  Bay  City,  Mich.;  Sarah  Augusta 


668 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUFHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


and  Augustus  T.  died  young ; Lucy  Maria,  1831,  is 
the  wife  of  Charles  F.  Perrigo,  of  Brooklyn.  By  his 
second  wife,  Lucinda  Wilson,  whom  he  married  in 
1836,  from  Smithfield,  Bradford  County,  he  had 
children— Charles  F.,  born  in  1836,  served  in  the  late 
Rebellion,  and  resides  on  the  homestead ; Addison, 
1838,  of  the  firm  of  Watrous  Bros.,  merchants,  at 
Waverly,  N.  Y. ; Mary  J.,  1840,  the  wife  of  Moses 
Harkness,  died  in  Smithfield,  Bradford  County ; and 
William  L.,  1846,  served  in  the  navy  during  the  late 
Rebellion,  and  is  of  the  firm  of  Watrous  Bros.,  at 
Waverly.  By  his  third  wife,  Ann  Wilson,  a sister  of 
his  second,  he  had  no  children. 

Dann  Spencer  Watrous,  the  eldest  son,  improved 
his  district  school  education  by  a short  term  of  in- 
struction under  the  noted  teacher,  Samuel  A.  Newton, 
who  kept  a select  school  at  his  own  home  in  the 
neighborhood.  He  married,  in  1843,  Sarah  Ellen 
Bard  (1822-84),  a daughter  of  John  (1794-1854)  and 
Almeda  Wilson  (1800-35)  Bard,  of  Bridgewater. 
Her  mother  was  the  daughter  of  Stephen  Wilson, 
the  first  settler,  and  the  first  child  born  in  Bridge- 
water  after  its  settlement.  Their  children  are 
Almeda  B.,  born  in  1845,  wife  of  Irvin  W.  Oakley ; 
and  Dolly  Amanda  (1848-61).  Dann  S.  Watrous  was 
early  inclined  to  the  use  of  tools.  After  his  marriage 
he  settled  on  a part  of  the  homestead,  and  took  up 
the  carpenter  and  joiner  trade,  which  he  has  followed 
since  with  great  success.  In  1851  he  bought  one 
hundred  acres  of  land  in  northern  Brooklyn,  of 
Nicholas  N.  Townsend  and  Ira  D.  Bell,  then  very 
much  run  down,  and  only  having  poor  buildings 
thereon.  He  at  once  set  about  bringing  the  land 
into  a higher  state  of  cultivation,  and  in  1857 
erected  his  present  residence,  making  the  doors, 
sash,  mouldings  and  all  fine  work  and  the  entire 
structure,  himself,  which,  when  completed,  was  said 
to  be  the  finest  farm  residence  in  the  townshi}).  He 
built  the  Universalist  Church  edifice  and  two  stores 
at  Hopbottom,  and  the  Presbyterian  and  Methodist 
Churches  and  the  Kent  & Eldridge  store  at  Brooklyn 
Centre,  besides  many  other  of  the  most  substantial 
residences  in  the  township  and  vicinity.  His  life  has 
been  one  of  great  activity,  and  unassisted,  he  has 
made  a competence  for  himself  and  family.  He  has 
served  his  township  as  judge  and  inspector  of  elec- 
tion, school  director,  sujjervisor,  auditor  and  poor- 
master,  and  is  in  politics  a Republican.  He  has 
been  a Past  Grand  of  Odd  Fellows’  Lodge,  No.  313, 
Brooklyn,  for  thirty-four  years,  and  a member  since 
1850.  He  was  Master  of  Brooklyn  Grange,  No.  246, 
and  one  of  its  organizers,  and  he  is  also  a Past  Master 
of  Susquehanna  Grange.  No.  74.  His  second  wife, 
whom  he  married  in  1885,  was  Mrs.  Jenette  Catlin 
(born  April  28,  1824),  widow  of  the  late  Martin  L. 
Catlin  (1818-80),  to  whom  were  born,  by  her  first 
marriage,  Harry  N.  Catlin,  residing  on  the  Catlin 
homestead  in  Bridgewater ; and  Mary  O.,  wife  of 
Marion  E.  Grifiis,  of  Dimock.  Jenette  was  the 


daughter  of  Samuel  A.  and  Mary  Babcock  Newton, 
who  settled  in  Brooklyn  township  from  Ledyard, 
New  London  County,  Conn.,  in  1834,  a sketch  of 
whose  family  is  in  Brooklyn  history. 

Galen  V.  Adams  (W.  A.),  Susan  M.  Garland 
(T.  G.);  Adelaid  (Jones),  Eva,  Emmett. — A.  W.  T. 
Kent. 

Sami.  S.  Benjamin,  N.  Y.,  56 — 1866,  Margaret 
Borthwick,  68 — 1875;  Nelson,  Geo.,  Lyman,  Mary 
(Eldridge),  James. — A.  L.  Warner. 

Joseph  L.  Reynolds  (A.  G.  R.)  Silance  E.  Rogers, 
(G.  B.  R.) ; Elizabeth,  Georgianie,  Edmund,  Joseph. — 
J.  D.  Blaisure. 

Wm.  Bloomfield,  Polly  Tiffany  (P.  T.);  Emeline, 
Herbert. — A.  Blake. 

Asa  Tewksbury,  Nancy  Pratt;  Geo.  W.,  Edwin. — 
L.  F.  Porter. 

John  T.  Perry,  N.  J.,  Nancy  Lewis ; David,  Harriet, 
Wm.  L.,  Sarah  (Adams),  Ann  (McVicar),  Eliza 
(Dolawy). — M.  B.  Grennell. 

Geo.  McAlpine ; 1st  ch.  Lucinda,  Lydia,  Jas.  2d 
Lucy  M.  Giddings  (C.  G.) ; Frances,  Sami. — J.  B. 
Quick. 

Johnson  Quick,  N.  J.,  Harriet  Estile;  Sarah, 
Catharine  (Tewksbury),  Alva,  Joseph,  Alice  (Tits- 
worrh),  Thos.  E. — A.  A.  Quick. 

Christopher  Thayer  (H.  T.),  Sally  Tewksbury 
(D.  T.),  Wm.  Stanton,  Lydia  M.  Williams,  (R.  W.), 
Ettie,  Clark. — B.  Woodward. 

Jas.  Waldie,  Scotland,  1st  Ann  Shaw ; Nancy 
(Giles),  Jas.,  Amanda  (Hutson),  John,  Alexander, 
Tyler,  2d  Emily  Kent  (J.  K.). — E.  W.  Penny. 

Powell  G.  Burch,  N.  Y.,  Lovina  Y.  Palmer; 
Caroline,  Amret,  Morgan,  Abigail,  Mary,  Caleb, 
Curtis.—  F.  H.  Tiffany. 

O.  G.  Hempstead  (G.  D.  H.),  Eliza  O.  Tyler; 
Delos,  Earnest,  Wm.  0.,  Minnie,  Harry. — L.  F. 
Porter. 

Amos  G.  Hollister,  Emeline  Tiffany  ; Eliza  (Kent), 
Preston,  Cora  (Baily),  Sarah,  Wm.  H.,  Duane. 

Henry  W.  Dennis  (colored),  Angeline ; Wm., 
Napoleon,  Sumner. — N.  Dennis. 

laac  Tewksbury  (E.  T.),  Abby  Squier;  Harriet,  Ed- 
mund, Curtis,  Rhoda,  Rufus,  Ephraim,  Lyman,  Per- 
melia. — Mary  Loomis. 

James  W.  Adams. — Of  the  very  few  men  of  this 
county  who  lived  over  a century,  one  was  John 
Adams,  a native  of  Massachusetts,  and  a Revolution- 
ary soldier,  who  came  to  Harford  in  1837.  He  was 
then  ninety-two,  but  it  was  his  wish  to  spend  his  last 
days  with  his  son  James,  who  had  come  here  about 
1825,  and  who  himself  had  served  in  the  War  of 
1812.  After  his  one  hundredth  year  he  made  a pair 
of  shoes  in  a day,  and  did  his  work  well.  Four  let- 
ters were  written  by  him  when  he  was  one  hundred 
and  one  years  old,  and  published  before  his  death  in 
a Massachusetts  paper,  which  have  been  preserved, 
and  evince  a wonderful  retention  of  mental  faculties, 
cultivated  and  improved  after  his  maturity,  his  early 


BROOKLYN. 


6G9 


, advantages  being  but  few.  He  died  in  1849,  aged  one 
, hundred  and  four  years,  one  month  and  four  days, 
f and  was  buried  in  the  cemetery  on  the  hill  east  of 
j Brooklyn  Centre,  where  also  James  Adams,  his  son, 
was  interred.  The  latter  died  at  the  age  of  seventy- 
six,  in  1855.  John  Adams’  wife  was  Joanna  Munro. 
By  his  first  wife,  Dolly  Dickerson  (1779-1818),  whose 
father  is  said  to  have  fired  the  first  gun  at  Lexington 
on  the  part  of  the  colonists,  James  Adams  had  chil- 
dren,— Nancy  (1800-59)  married  Loren  B.  Gates,  re- 
sided in  Harford  for  a time  and  went  West;  Dolly, 
(1802-28),  a Mrs.  Brooks,  of  Massachusetts  ; James, 


tei’  of  Ohio  Whitney,  of  the  same  place,  by  whom  he 
had  children, — Lnther  B.,  born  1829,  a chair  manu- 
facturer of  Ashburnham  ; Dolly  died  young ; Ohio 
Whitney,  1833,  resides  at  Junction,  N.  J.,  and  is  an 
engineer;  Francis  A,,  1835,  an  engineer,  residing 
near  Junction,  N.  J.,  at  Charleston  ; James  Whitney, 
born  at  Ashburnham,  October  21,  1839;  and  Joseph 
Henry,  1841,  drowned  in  a tannery  pit  at  the  age  of 
four.  James  Adams  married,  for  his  second  wife, 
Mary  H.  Smith,  of  Brooklyn,  who  was  born  April  12, 
1815.  She  was  a daughter  of  Latham  A.  Smith,  whose 
father,  James  Smith,  and  family  settled  in  Brooklyn 


(1804r-80),  father  of  James  W. ; Elizabeth  D.  (1806- 
70),  wife  of  John  Boynton,  of  Groton,  Mass. ; Jonas 
(1808-70)  died  in  Harford;  Joanna  Munro  (1811-49) 
was  the  wife  of  Laban  Capron,  of  Harford.  By  his 
second  marriage,  to  Lucy  Sartell  (1792-1864),  he  had 
children, — John  S.,  born  1820,  of  Harford  ; Lucy  E., 
(1821-82).  wife  of  Alfred  Jeffers,  of  Lenox ; Sarah 
M.,  1824,  wife  of  H.  N.  Smith,  of  Lenox  ; Mary  Ann 
died  young  ; Andrew  Jackson,  1828,  resides  in  Har- 
ford ; and  William  B.,  1831,  of  Hopbottom. 

The  second  son,  James  Adams,  a native  of  Ash- 
burnham, Mass.,  married  Mary  B.  (1809-47),  a daugh- 


from  Connecticut,  in  1813.  The  present  Dr.  Smith» 
of  New  Milford,  and  the  late  Dr.  Smith,  of  Susque- 
hanna, are  her  brothers.  James  Adams  was  a mo- 
rocco manufacturer  in  Ashburnham.  In  1850  he  re- 
moved thence  and  bought  the  Smith  homestead  in 
Brooklyn,  containing  two  hundred  and  fifty  acres, 
situate  on  the  old  State  Road.  He  erected  a tannery 
in  1865  on  his  farm,  and  continued  business  as  a 
farmer  and  tanner  until  his  death.  He  was  a self- 
reliant,  industrious,  judicious  and  honest  man,  and 
without  any  pecuniary  assistance  made  a competence 
which  was  divided  among  his  children  at  his  death. 


670 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


James  W.  Adams  was  eleven  years  old  when  his 
father  came  to  Brooklyn.  His  boyhood  was  divided 
between  attending  school  and  assisting  his  father  on 
the  farm.  Upon  reaching  his  majority  he  cast  his 
first  vote  for  Abraham  Lincoln,  in  1860,  and  in  August, 

1862,  enlisted  as  sergeant  Company  A,  Captain  Geo. 
L.  Stone,  One  Hundred  and  Fifty-first  Pennsylvania 
Volunteers,  for  nine  months’  service-  He  was  in  the 
skirmish  near  Hagerstown,  and  in  the  memorable 
battle  of  Gettysburg.  He  was  mustered  out  July  29, 

1863,  after  serving  some  eleven  months.  Returning 
home,  he  managed  the  business  for  several  years  be- 
fore his  father’s  death,  and  succeeded  him  in  the 
ownership  of  the  farm  and  home  property,  by  pur- 
chase of  the  heirs  of  the  estate.  He  has  served  bis 
township  as  school  director,  supervisor  three  terms, 
and  as  one  of  the  board  of  judges  of  elections.  He 
was  one  of  the  charter  members  of  the  Grand  Army 
Post,No.l43,  Brooklyn, and  since  its  first  election  after 
its  reorganization,  in  1878,  he  has  served  as  com- 
mander of  the  post.  For  one  year  he  was  assistant 
inspector  of  the  district  comprised  of  Wyoming  and 
Susquehanna  Counties.  In  1861  he  married  Sarah 
J.  Perry,  a daughter  of  John  T.  and  Nancy  (Lewis) 
Perry,  w’ho  was  born  in  Wantage,  Sussex  County, 
N.  J.,  April  22,  1841.  Her  parents  removed  thence 
to  Brooklyn  in  1844,  and  subsequently  settled  at 
Brooklyn  Centre,  where  her  father  manufactured 
wagons  until  his  death.  Their  only  child  is  Mary 
W.,  who  married,  in  1886,  Charles  A.  Sickles,  of 
Scranton.  John  T.  Perry’s  children  are  David  C. 
and  Wm.  L.,  farmers  in  Brooklyn;  Harriet,  wife  of 
David  Rutan,  of  Elmira,  N.  Y. ; Ann,  wife  of  M. 
McVicar,  a blacksmith,  residing  at  Brooklyn ; and 
Eliza,  wife  of  O.  M.  Doloway,  a merchant  at  Brook- 
lyn Centre. 

Other  persons  who  at  various  times  have  lived  or 
been  assessed  in  the  township  are  Luther  Catlin,  Geo. 
Risley,  Elijah  Birge,  Wm.  Birge,  David  Merriman, 
Geo.  Maynard,  Uri  B.  Gillet,  Lewis  Follet,  Wm.  Bis- 
sill,  John  Davis,  Orson  Reed,  Calvin  Beebe,  W.  R. 
Griffith,  Palmer  Williams,  Clark  Peckham,  Timothy 
Penny,  Christopher  Penny,  John  Goss,  Hiram  Rock- 
w'ell,  Flavel  M.  Williams,  Leonard  Ashley,  Prentis 
Lyman,  J.  D.  Farnam,  Josiah  Williams,  Henry 
Knapp,  Rachel  Langstaff,  Francis  Perkins,  Horace 
Little,  Richard  Potter,  Cornelius  Rhodes,  Nathan 
Lathrop,  Erastus  Allen,  John  Sullivan,  Ebn.  Fisk,  J. 
H.  Boyd,  Obed  Johnson,  Isaac  Morgan,  Jas.  Beards- 
ley. 

Old  Mills. — Below  the  old  orchard,  on  land  now 
of  Samuel  Mead,  in  a cozy  semi-circular  basin  on  the 
east  margin  of  the  Hopbottom,  is  the  spot  where  the 
first  grist-mill,  built  by  direction  of  John  Nicholson, 
stood.  Traces  of  the  escape-race  are  still  to  be  seen, 
and  only  a few  years  ago  the  interlocked  timbers  of 
the  wheel-pit  were  removed  to  clear  the  ground. 
The  dam  was  some  eighty  rods  above — a little  above 
the  present  dam — and  the  water  was  taken  in  a race 


along  the  left  bank.  A negro  miller  presided  here 
until  starvation  forced  him  away.  The  next  was  a 
saw-mill  built  by  Isaac  Tewksbury  & Sons  about 
1805,  and  stood  just  at  the  southeast  corner  of  the 
new  cemetery.  Three  or  four  years  after,  Joshua 
Miles,  Sr.,  built  a grist-mill  near  it.  A saw- mill  was 
built  by  John  Seeley  & Sons  on  the  place  now  owned 
by  A.  L.  Warner.  A carding-mill  was  put  up.  by 
Joseph  Guernsey  just  west  of  the  house  now  occupied 
by  Theodore  Reynolds.  A grist-mill  was  built  by 
Justice  Kent  just  above  the  boundary  line  as  now 
settled,  close  by  the  site  of  the  Jewett  saw-mill  on 
the  border  of  Bridgewater.  The  Truesdell  grist-mill 
stood  (about  1830)  near  where  the  Nicholson  dam 
was.  This  mill-site  was  occupied  by  a saw-mill  kept 
up  for  some  years  by  F.  Whipple,  and  by  Harrison 
Dowd;  and  Geo.  McAlpineused  it  for  a bedstead- fac- 
tory. A saw-mill  was  early  built  by  Ammi  Ely  (1st) 
and  Lebeus  Rogers,  at  the  outlet  of  Ely  Lake.  A.  G. 
Reynolds  replaced  this  by  a carding-machine  and 
feed-mill  which  is  no  longer  standing.  Alfred  Tiffany 
& Son,  Nelson,  built  a saw-mill  on  Martin  Creek, 
near  the  residence  of  the  latter,  who  afterward  added 
a grist-mill,  neither  of  which  is  standing.  Charles 
Tiffany  also  had  a saw  and  feed-mill  a mile  above, 
near  his  house.  James  Oakley  built  a saw-mill  at 
what  is  now  Alford,  which  has  been  rebuilt,  and  a 
plaster  and  feed-mill  added  near  by — now  operated 
by  Wm.  H.  Tiffany.  Elisha  Mack,  Sr.,  put  up  a saw- 
mill on  Horton  Creek,  at  Mack’s  Corners.  A large 
factory,  run  by  steam,  for  sawing,  planing,  lathe- 
work  and  furniture-making,  has  taken  its  place,  now 
conducted  by  E.  P.  Mack  & Sous.  In  1812-14  a 
cotton -factory  was  built  by  Edward  Paine  (in  which 
others  were  interested)  a mile  below  the  village.  The 
machinery  was  hauled  from  Philadelphia  by  Samuel 
Yeomans  and  Thos.  Bagley  with  ox-teams,  taking 
twenty-three  days.  The  investment  proved  unprofit- 
able, and  was  soon  transferred  to  John  Seymour 
(Harford)  & Co.,  and  in  1825  to  Cyril  Giddings  & 
Co.,  and  was  converted  into  a wool-carding  and  cloth- 
dressing establishment,  under  charge  of  Lucius  Rob- 
inson. It  was  last  used  by  Geo.  McAlpine  as  a furni- 
ture-factory, and  is  no  longer  standing.  But  Brook- 
lyn’s greatest  mill-builder  was  Joshua  Miles,  Jr.  He 
put  up  his  first  grist-mill  a little  above  the  (cotton) 
“ factory,”  and  alterward  built  another  still  farther 
up.  This  finally  went  into  the  hands  of  Horace 
Thayer,  and  Tewksbury  & Thayer,  and  then  to  Wm. 
Watterson.  It  was  burnt  and  rebuilt,  and  is  now 
owned  by  M.  Caldwell.  Mr.  Miles  also  built  a saw- 
mill above  this,  and  then  another  still  above.  This 
was  rebuilt,  a little  higher,  by  H.  Tewksbury  and  C.  C. 
Thayer,,  and  is  now  owned  by  M.  Caldwell.  Later 
(about  1822)  Mr.  Miles  built  (near  the  saw-mills)  an 
oil-mill  (linseed),  with  carding-machine  in  upper 
part ; and  about  1825  he  began  a large  paper-mill,  in 
which  printing-paper  was  made  of  bass-wood  fibre, 
wrapping-paper  of  straw,  etc.,  and  writing-paper  of 


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BROOKLYN. 


671 


rags.  J list  as  its  machiueiy  and  processes  had  been 
perfected  after  years  of  trial,  it  was  burnt  in  1842. 

IXDUSTRIE.S. — Beside  ordinary  farming,  dairying 
(now  chiedy  in  connection  with  the  “American  Dairy 
Company  ”),  fruit-growing,  etc.,  in  which  the  people 
have  been  and  are  engaged,  the  following  are  lists  of 
mechanics,  etc.,  down  to  the  present  time : 

Carpenters. — Charles  Gere,  Elijah  Morgan,  Joshua  Miles,  Sr.,  Joshua 
Miles,  Jr.,  Edward  Packer,  Jeremiah  Spencer,  Rufus  Holdridge,  Justice 
Kent,  James  Packer,  I.  H.  Sterling,  J.  Lines,  Sr.,  George  Bagley,  Abel 
Hewett,  Rowland  Miles,  Nelson  Williams,  James  tiewett,  D.  B.  Bagley, 
L.  W.  Kellam,  Chester  Tuttle,  AVm.  Hewett,  R.  0.  Miles,  J.  Lines,  Jr., 
Present. — J.  H.  Stanton,  A.  S.  Waldie,  M.  B.  Grennell,  D.  S.  Watrous, 

J.  J.  Roper,  Conger  Tiffany,  A.  E.  Tewksbury,  A.  A.  Quick,  M.  S. 
Quick,  I.  S,  Tewksbury. 

Blacksmiths. — Joshua  Saunders,  Eph.  Howe,  J.  C.  Sweet,  Robert  Rand, 
George  Newbury,  J.  B.  Hill,  Jac.  Aney,  H.  R.  Kittle,  Noah  Hickock 
Thomas  Howe,  William  T.  Walker,  George  Crandall,  N.  J.  Vergason, 
Ansel  Vergason,  Samuel  Westbrook,  Hart  Roberts,  John  Potts,  Asa 
Day,  D.  M.  Yeomans,  G.  W.  Palmer.  Present. — J.  and  P.  Doran,  J.  L. 
Bookstaver,  M.  Me  Vicar,  J.  Hill. 

Shoemakers. — J.  Chapman,  Joshua  Jackson,  S.  B.  Blake,  Isaiah  Haw- 
ley, Joshua  Fletcher,  Abel  Hawley,  Peter  Williams,  G.  M.  Gere,  John 
Siibin,  Jesse  Bagley,  S.  L.  Kellam,  Edmund  Garland,  C.  C.  Daley,  E. 

K.  Howe,  Joseph  Jackson,  I.  M.  Dewitt,  Wm.  Chase,  J.  D.  Richardson, 
F.  Whipple. 

Cabinet  and  Furniture. — Asa  Crandall,  Elijah  Newton,  Wm.  Specna- 
gle,  Edward  Otto,  Wash.  Bagley,  Alfred  Mack,  Thos.  Sterling,  Ebnr. 
Gere,  M.  L.  Mack. 

Coopers. — Stephen  Randall,  Stephen  Williams,  Isaac  Tewksbury,  L. 
K.  Tewksbury,  Thos.  Oakley,  Wm.  Phillips,  Amos  Tewksbury. 

Wagon-Makers. — Ephm.  Garland,  Abram  Kimber,  J.  T.  Perry,  J. 
Quick.  Present. — T.  E.  Shadduck. 

Hatters. — J.  R.  Adams,  Andrew  Rogers. 

3Iasons. — Isaac  Williams,  A.  B.  Merrill  (stone),  David  Bissell  (stone). 
Present. — A.  Blake,  B.  0.  Watrous,  E.  S.  Tewksbury  (stone),  E.  T.  Ste- 
phens (stone). 

Tailors. — Thos.  Garland,  E.  F.  Roberts,  P.  Reynolds,  D.  A.  Titsworth, 
W.  W.  Monroe, Groves. 

HarnessMakers. — F.  Whipple,  J.  White,  0.  A.  Lines,  E.  N.  Barney, 
B.  T.  Case.  Jedediah  Lathrop,  saddler. 

Tanners. — Jeremiah  Gere,  Aaron  Dewitt,  R.  F.  Ring,  Patk.  Nugen 
(deer-skin),  Samuel  Adams,  F.  Whipple. 

Hotel-keepers. — Noah  Tiffany,  Arunah  Tiffany,  Samuel  Yeomans,  Seth 
Bisbee,  Stephen  Breed  (no  liquors),  Jesse  Bagley.  Present. — L.  H. 
Frink  (Alford),  J.  0.  Bullard  (no  liquors).  See  “ predecessors  ” of  J.  0. 
Bullard. 

Asheries. — Jas.  Noble,  S.  K.  Smith,  E.  L.  Gere. 

Merchants. — 1st,  James  Noble  and  Jairus  Day  (in  Abbey,”  early  in 
1823),  2d,  Edward  L.  Paine  (in  his  own  store,  west  of  Malvina  Tiffany’s 
house,  in  May,  1823),  R.  T.  Ashley  (1831),  F.  W.  Bailey,  George  M. 
Gere,  James  Jackson,  Henry  Gere,  S.  W.  Breed,  E.  S.  Kent,  Nelson 
Tiffany,  Skidmer  Tompkins,  Edwin  Tiffany,  James  Smith,  E.  McKenzie, 
0.  G.  Hempstead,  0.  A.  Eldridge,  Robert  Eldridge,  F.  W.  Allen,  C.  Rog- 
ers, 0.  W.  Toot,  M.  T.  Very,  Wm.  Craver,  G.  P.  Tiffany,  D.  A.  and  A. 
Titsworth,  A.  W.  Kent,  S.  B.  Eldridge,  Aminie  and  Luther  Ely,  0.  M. 
Dolaway,  C.  M.  and  W.  Craver,  A.  C.  Dolaway,  J.  H.  Guun,  N.  F.  Hine  ; 
at  Alford,  Loam  Hinds,  J.  C.  Lee,  Wm.  McMillan,  F.  E.  Tewksbury,  W. 
H.  Tiffany  (grain),  J.  B Very,  Perry  Sweet. 

Physicians. — Caperton  (1787),  Samuel  Bissell,  Mason  Denison, 

Palmer  Way,  E.  B.  Slade,  B.  Richardson,  J.  Merrill,  A.  W.  Munger, 
Enoch  Mack  ; — Hatch  (1835),  Isaac  Meacham,  W.  L.  Richardson,  E.  L. 
Blakeslee.  Present. — A.  Chamberlin,  A.  J.  Ainey. 

Albert  Watrous  Kent  is  third  in  regular  line 
of  descent  from  Justice  Kent  (1771-1858),  a native  of 
Massachusetts,  who,  with  his  wife,  Anna  Stuart, 
(1779-1858)  and  children,  settled  in  the  northern 
part  of  Brooklyn  township  in  1811,  a more  detailed 
account  of  whom  may  be  found  elsewhere  in  this 
volume.  His  father,  Ezra  S.  (1812-74),  fifth  son  of 
Justice  Kent,  was  born  in  Brooklyn,  and  spent  his 


^ 

life  here,  a farmer,  a merchant  and  a dealer  in  stock. 
In  1836  Ezra  S.  Kent  purchased  a farm  adjoining  his 
father’s  homestead,  and  the  following  year  married 
Harriet  Watrous,  eldest  daughter  of  Joseph  (1794- 
1875)  and  Dolly  Benjamin  (1795-1835)  Watrous, 
of  Southeast  Bridgewater,  who  was  born  July  30, 
1817,  near  the  present  site  of  Mott’s  woolen-mills, 
where  her  father  first  settled  in  Bridgewater.  Mr. 
Kent  managed  his  farm  and  made  improvements 
thereon  until  1848,  when  he  purchased  the  store  and 
residence  of  Judge  Rollin  T.  Ashley,  at  Brooklyn 
Centre.  Here  he  removed,  erected  the  present  store 
building  of  S.  B.  Eldridge,  in  1851,  and  carried  on  a 
general  mercantile  business  until  1865.  Twice  a year 
during  this  time  he  regularly  went  to  New  York  and 
purchased  goods,  conveying  them  via  Binghamton, 
and  afterwards  to  Great  Bend  by  railroad,  and  thence 
by  team  to  Brooklyn.  His  journey,  in  the  early  days, 
was  made  by  the  old  stage-line  on  the  Milford  and 
Owego  turnpike,  the  most  direct  route  to  the  great  me- 
tropolis. For  several  years  before  and  subsequent  to 
his  retirement  from  mercantile  business  he  was  quite 
largely  engaged  in  buying  sheep  and  cattle  in  West- 
ern Ohio,  which  he  drove  and  sold  in  Eastern  markets. 
In  his  boyhood  he  had  obtained  a fair  education  for 
the  opportunities  then  at  hand,  and  was  for  several 
terms  a teacher  in  the  district  schools,  both  before 
and  after  his  marriage.  He  was  an  active  business 
man,  possessed  marked  individual  characteristics, 
and,  by  his  industry  and  judicious  management, 
accumulated  a fair  competence.  He  was  formerly  a 
member  of  the  Whig  party,  afterwards  a Republican, 
but  in  the  Presidential  campaign  of  1872  he  gave 
his  vote  to  Horace  Greeley,  a man  whom  he  had  for 
many  years  admired.  Both  himself  and  wife  were 
members  of  the  Universalist  Church  at  Brooklyn. 
She  survives  in  1866,  and  gave  many  of  the  facts  for 
this  sketch. 

Albert  W.  Kent  was  born  on  the  homestead  in 
Brooklyn,  February  4,  1838.  He  was  educated  at 
the  home  schools  and  at  Harford  Academy.  Upon 
reaching  his  majority  he  entered  the  store  of  his 
father  as  a clerk.  Three  years  afterwards,  in  1862,  he 
took  a one-half  interest  in  the  business,  and  in  the 
spring  of  1865  became  sole  owner.  From  this  date 
(with  the  exception  of  two  years,  1866-67)  until  1881, 
the  firm  of  Kent  & Eldridge  continued  a successful 
mercantile  business,  when,  Mr.  Kent  retiring  from 
the  firm,  Mr.  S.  B.  Eldridge,  his  partner  and  brother- 
in-law,  became  sole  manager  and  is  the  present 
owner  of  the  business.  Since  his  retirement  from  mer- 
chandising he  has  been  engaged  in  improving  his 
farm  and  other  property.  In  1886,  in  connection 
with  0.  D.  Roberts,  he  placed  upon  a solid  financial 
basis  the  creamery  that  had  been  erected  the  previous 
year  at  Hopbottom,  which  he  manages,  and  during 
the  past  season  has  shipped  therefrom  its  products  of 
one  hundred  thousand  pounds  of  butter,  besides  cream, 
to  New  York  and  other  markets.  Mr.  Kent  is  an  active. 


672 


HISTOEY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


thorough-going  business  man,  a supporter  of  religious 
and  charitable  works,  and  indorses  the  highest  moral 
sentiment  in  the  community.  While  yet  in  his 
minority  Mr.  Kent  took  an  active  interest  in  town- 
ship matters  and  local  politics.  He  has  been  officially 
identified  with  the  township  as  constable,  clerk,  treas- 
urer, assessor  and  auditor,  and,  for  one  term,  he 
served  on  the'  Board  of  County  Auditors.  He  has 
passed  through  the  various  offices  of  the  Odd  Fellows’ 
Lodge,  No.  313,  at  Brooklyn,  of  which  he  has  been  a 
member  for  many  years. 

He  married,  in  1866,  Mary  J.  (born  February  7, 
1840),  a daughter  of  Frederick  W.  Bailey  (1809- 
46),  a merchant,  at  Derry,  N.  H.,  and  granddaughter 
of  Colonel  Frederick  Bailey  (1780-1851),  who  was  one 
of  the  early  and  prominent  settlers  of  Brooklyn,  and 
of  whom  a further  account  will  be  found  in  this  vol- 
ume. Her  mother  was  Elizabeth  Merrill  (1805- 
42),  whose  parents  resided  atSalem,  N.  H.  She  has 
one  brother,  Frederick  H.  Bailey,  of  Bradford,  Pa., 
and  a half-brother,  Milton  A.  Bailey,  of  Lawrence, 
Mass.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kent  have  no  children.  The 
other  children  of  Ezra  S.  and  Harriet  Kent  are 
Mary  E.  (1840-85),  was  the  wife  of  S.  B.  Eldridge, 
herein  mentioned,  a merchant;  Willis  L.,  born 
in  1845,  succeeded  his  father  on  the  homestead  ; and 
Joseph  L.  Kent,  born  in  1851,  of  Somerville,  Mass. 

Authors  and  Writers. — Anna  L.  Muzzey,  M. 
M.  Quick  (“Miss  Dekin  Spavin.”). 

Schools.— The  first  school-house  was  built  of  logs 
in  the  fall  of  1800,  and  stood  by  a babbling  brook, 
northwesterly  from  the  house  of  Andrew  Tracy,  on 
the  southeast  part  of  what  was  afterward  the  Charles 
Perigo  lot.  The  teacher  the  following  winter  was 
Leonard  Tracy.  He  died  in  1802  and  is  buried  be- 
side his  father  in  the  old  cemetery.  Schools  were 
often  taught  in  summer  on  barn-floors,  and  when 
haying  came  they  would  move  into  the  stable.  The 
following  list  contains  most  of  the  teachers  for  the 
next  forty  years : 

Samuel  Weston,  Eunice  Otis,  Nancy  Howard  (a  private  school  at  her 
house — N.  B.  Mack’s — her  scholars  being  Polly  and  Ezekiel  Sabin, 
Daniel  and  Polly  Giles  and  Sally  Tracy),  Wm.  Weston,  Edward  Chap- 
man, Edith  Case,  Edward  Paine,  Mary  Weston,  Henry  Parke,  Julia 
Weston,  George  Catlin,  Dana  Fox,  Ebenezer  Paine,  Frederick  Bailey, 
Joshua  Miles,  Matilda  Mack,  Thaddeus  Palmer,  Alice  Bibbins,  Asa 
Crandall,  Edward  L.  Paine,  Blott  Wilkinson,  Augustus  Birge,  Benjamin 
Parke,  James  Lewis,  Cyril  Giddings,  Jacob  Wilson,  Jesse  Bagley,  Buth 
Cone,  Sally  Kingsbury,  George  M.  Gere,  Williston  Kingsbury,  S.  B. 
Blake,  F.  W.  Bailey,  Abel  Hewitt,  James  W.  Chapman,  Fanny  Hall, 
Phebe  Bonney,  Mrs.  Joseph  Chapman,  Eliza  Milbourn,  C.  M.  Gere,  Lu 
cretia  Kingsley,  Sarah  Gere,  Verie  Ann  Safford,  IMiriam  Worthing,  Ca- 
lista  Tiffany,  Mary  Kingsley,  Margaret  Parke,  Julia  Gere,  Nancy  Mor- 
gan, James  Palmer,  E.  S.  Kent,  A.  G.  Bailey,  Wm.  Belcher,  Eliza  Parke, 
Anna  Bronson,  Mehitabel  Blakeslee,  Lucy  Gere,  Enoch  Mack,  Annie 
Smith,  Warren  Guernsey,  Asahel  Carpenter,  Lyman  Ely,  Alfred  3Iack, 
Lucy  C.  Miles,  Wm.  C.  Tiffany,  Dudley  Smith,  E.  T.  Tiffany,  Azur  La- 
throp,  Bobert  Carr,  Betsey  Miles,  Elsie  Dikeman,  Nancy  Kingsley, 
Clarinda  Babcock,  Elhanan  Smith,  Isaac  Bailey,  Jonathan  Merrill,  Lydia 
Chapman,  Amos  Tewksbury,  A.  B.  Merrill,  Olive  Corey,  Simon  Lusk, 
Daniel  C.  Thatcher,  T.  S.  Bartholomew,  Daniel  Sterry,  Emily  Fuller, 
Susan  Parke,  Julia  Packer,  Louisa  Parke,  J.  0.  Bullard,  Nelson  Doo- 
little, S.  W.  Breed,  A.  W.  Main,  Loami  Hinds,  Mary  Newton,  Sally 
Fish,  Louisa  Robinson,  Rodney  Jewett,  E.  N.  Loomis,  Nancy  Cushing, 


Hannah  Follet,  Eliza  Kingsbury,  Willard  Waldron,  Alonzo  Kennard, 
Mary  Aldrich,  J.  B.  Ely,  Nelson  Tiffany,  Carey  Worthing,  Judson  Tif- 
fany, Y.  L.  Culver,  0.  G.  Hempstead,  Betsey  Sweet,  G.  B.  R.  Wade, 
James  Robinson,  Eliott  Aldrich,  Emily  Tiffany,  Sarah  Milbourn,  Alsie- 
mina  Case,  Betsey  Thatcher,  Mary  Hall,  Lucy  Loomis,  Elizabeth  Rog- 
ers, Charles  Mack,  Diadama  Hewitt,  Lydia  Tiffany,  Gurdon  Rogers, 
Joanna  Passmore,  Elizabeth  Robinson,  Wm.  Yaple,  Eleanor  Farrar, 
Margaret  Parke,  Marietta  Fuller,  Lydia  Mack,  William  Allworth,  T. 
Hempstead,  William  Smith,  Julia  Fish,  Sylvester  Munger,  Addison 
Newton,  John  F.  Deans,  Eliz.  Bissell,  Lucy  M.  Giddings,  Owen  Ely, 
Fanny  Fish,  Denison  Randall,  Emily  Gere,  Sarah  Giddings,  Matilda 
Robinson,  Charlotte  Root,  Elizabeth  Babcock,  Charles  Stephens,  Miles 
Spencer,  Nancy  Giddings,  Sarah  Miles,  Adaliue  Skidmore,  Levi  Fair- 
child,  Nancy  McMillan,  Mary  Skidmore,  Alonzo  Taylor,  George  Ste- 
phens, Sophronia  Wilson,  Emeline  Tiffany,  Judd  Wilson,  William  Main, 
William  Pride,  Abia  Lane,  George  Tupper,  Sally  Kennard.  At  a little 
later  period  S.  A.  Newton,  Sylvester  Cooke  and  John  Rounds  taught 
select  schools. 

Such  are  among  the  men  and  women,  few  of  whom 
are  now  living,  whose  educational  influence,  some- 
times of  the  ruder  sort,  mingled  with  that  of  the 
home  circles  of  the  township,  left  its  impress  on  suc- 
ceeding time,  which  is  well  worthy  kindly  and  hon- 
orable remembrance.  The  first  books  used  were 
Columbian  Speller,  English  Reader  and  American 
Preceptor,  and  Daboll’s  Arithmetic. 

Churches — Some  of  the  oldest  records  having  been 
lost,  the  essential  facts  are  here  given  with  as  com- 
plete lists  of  the  oldest,  longest-standing  members  of 
the  first  half  of  the  century  as  can  now  be  obtained. 
The  New  England  people  began  attention  to  religious 
affairs  from  the  very  first.  In  August,  1801,  sermons 
were  preached  at  the  house  of  Andrew  Tracy  by  Ja- 
cob Crane  and  Mr.  Thompson. 

The  Congregational  people  seem  to  have  instituted 
public  services  as  early  as  1799,  Joshua  Sabin  and 
others  taking  an  active  part.  For  a number  of  years 
several  of  them  joined  with  the  Harford  Church,  or- 
ganized in  1800.  The  names  on  the  Harford  record 
are  Elizabeth  Jones,  Patty  Gere,  Elizabeth  Whitney, 
Eliza  Sweet,  Nancy  Howard,  Mary  Tracy,  Lucy  Eol- 
let,  Lucy  Miles,  Arunah  Tiffany,  Olney  Tiffany. 

August  7,  1810,  the  church  was  organized  here,  as 
the  Second  Congregational  Church  of  Bridgewater, 
under  the  ministerial  direction  of  William  Lock- 
wood  and  M.  Miner  York,  with  the  following-named 
members : 

Joshua  Miles,  Sr.,  and  Noah  Tiffany,  deacons ; Olney  Tiffany,  Eleazer 
French,  Josiah  Lord,  Sr.,  Patty  Gere,  Nancy  Howard,  Betsey  Mack, 
Mary  Lord,  Mary  Miles,  Elizabeth  Whitney,  Phebe  Wilkinson. 

Members  added  during  the  next  eight  years 
were  : 

Ebenezer  Whitney,  Lyman  Doolittle,  Lucinda  Doolittle,  Taphena 
Mack,  MaryR.  Weston,  Ephm.  Whitney,  Jacob  Wilson,  Cyril  Giddings, 
Samuel  Wright,  Sr.,  Mott  Wilkinson,  Mary  Tiffany,  Lucy  Miles,  Alsie- 
mena  Case,  Selinda  Wilson,  Azuba  Wrigkt.  In  1815  Jacob  Wilson  was 
chosen  deacon  in  place  of  J.  Miles,  deceased,  and  in  1818,  Cyril  Giddings, 
in  place  of  N.  Tiffany,  deceased. 

In  1818  the  following  names  were  added  : 

Joshua  Jackson,  Sr.,  Eleanor  Jackson,  Gabriel  Ely,  Mehitable  Ely, 
Erastiis  Ely,  Theresa  Ely,  Horatio  Ely,  Joshua  Fletcher,  Wm.  Squiers, 
Lewis  Follet,  Thaddeus  Palmer,  Artemasia  Case,  Milly  Wilson,  Clarissa 
Tiffany,  Betsey  Squiors,  Joshua  Jackson,  Jr.,  Joseph  Jackson,  Sr.,  Esther 
Jackson,  Caleb  Jackson,  Jere.  Gere,  Chas.  V.  Gere,  Edw.  L.  Gere,  Patty 
Palmer,  Lois  Wright,  Nancy  Giddings,  Polly  Howard,  Sarah  Miles,  Eliza 


BROOKLYN. 


673 


Morgan,  Hannah  I'ollet,  Mary  Jackson,  Isaac  Brown,  Silas  P.  Ely, 
Lydia  Brown,  Eden  Brown,  Sophia  Breed,  Roena  Case,  Stephen  Breed, 
George  Chapman,  John  Tiffany,  Sarah  D.  Gere,  Lucy  P.  Gere,  Betsey 
Jackson,  Clarissa  Oakley*  Elizabeth  Jones,  Eliza  Sweet ; and  (1819-22) 
Lucius  Robinson,  Lucy  Brown,  Matilda  Tiffany,  George  M.  Gere,  Desire 
Wilson. 

September  20,  1823,  at  a meeting  in  the  school- 
house,  Gideon  N.  Judd  presiding,  the  form  of  church 
government  was  changed  to  Presbyterian,  and  Joshua 
Jackson,  Jacob  Wilson,  Cyril  Giddings,  Stephen 
Breed,  Jeremiah  Gere  and  Chas.  V.  Gere  were  chosen 
and  ordained  as  ruling  elders. 

Subsequent  members — Mary  Gere,  Lydia  Chapman,  Sarali  C.  Gere, 
Frances  Giddings,  Pliebe  Kandall,  Anna  Rose,  Louisa  Parke,  Lucy 
Beardsley,  A.  R.  Tiffany,  Chloe  Tiffany,  Isaac  Van  Auken,  Eliza  Wes- 
ton, Esther  Morgan,  Fanny  Tiffany,  Harriet  Parke,  Olivia  Cooke,  Da- 
vid Morgan,  Lebbeus  Rogers,  Fanny  Rogeir,  Alfred  Mack,  Mary  A. 
Wilson,  0.  C.  Ely,  Henry  Gere,  Joseph  Farrar,  Lucy  Parke,  Fanny  M. 
Tiffany  Eliza  A.  Latham,  Eliza  Wilson,  David  N.  Wheeler,  Ferdinand 
Whipple,  Julia  A.  Gere,  Mary  A.  Weston,  Ezra  Crofoot,  Almira  Crofoot, 
Jared  M.  Ely,  Nancy  Morgan,  Gilbert  M.  Lee,  Phebe  Lee,  N.  Judd 
Wilson,  Amasa  Knight,  Sarah  Giddings,  Joseph  Peckham,  James  S. 
Peckham,  John  Robinson,  Olive  Robinson,  John  Stroud,  Elvira  Stroud, 
Rebecca  Ely,  Eunice  J.  Newton,  S.  Jane  Wilson,  Hannah  Wheeler, 
Harriet  Gere,  Emeline  Seeley,  A.  Eliza  Hyde,  Sarah  Rogers,  Mary  E. 
Gere,  Angeline  Gere,  Abner  Stanton,  Albert  R.  Gere,  Robert  F.  Breed, 
Isiiac  Newton,  Charles  Babcock,  Samuel  A.  Newton  and  wife,  Mary 
Whipple,  Ursula  Mack,  Sarah  Townsend,  Horace  Little  and  wife,  Catha- 
rine Titsworth,  Sarah  Ely,  Abigail  Little,  Conger  Tiffany. 

The  first  church  edifice  was  dedicated  November  6, 

1829.  It  still  exists,  remodeled  into  the  dwelling  of 

J.  H.  Stanton.  The  present  house  was  dedicated 
February  14,  1872.  Ministers : From  1810-18, 

Messrs.  Lockwood,  Treat,  Bascom,  Hill,  Ebenezer 
Kingsbury  and  Joseph  Wood  conducted  occasional 
services  ; in  1818  Mr.  York  preached  steadily  a few 
months;  1818-21,  Gideon  N.  Judd  preached  one- 
fourth  the  time  ; 1823-24,  Messrs.  Conger  and  Beach, 
occasionally;  1824-30,  Messrs.  Kingsbury,  Burr, 
Baldwin  and  Heerwell,  occasionally;  1830-44,  Syl- 
vester Cooke  (see  “ pioneers  ”),  one-half  time — rest 
in  Springville  and  Dimock;  1844—48,  Orris  Fraser; 
1848-51,  B.  Baldwin,  half-time ; 1851-54,  Samuel 
Shaffer ; 1854,  T.  S.  Britton,  five  months ; 1858-68, 
Wm.  H.  Adams ; 1868-75,  George  Spaulding;  1875, 
Jacob  Best  (see  “ present  inhabitants  ”)•  In  1849 
Mr.  Best  went  a missionary  to  the  west  coast  of 
Africa,  and  his  wife  went  in  1853  ; both  returned  in 
1861. 

The  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  Building  of  1813 
was  the  first  in  the  township.  It  was  taken  down  in 

1830,  and  a larger  one  built,  which  was  remodeled  in 
1867,  as  it  is  now.  The  wrought-iron  door-latch  of 
the  first  old  church  is  still  preserved  on  the  house  of 
A.  R.  Gere.  In  1817  Joshua  and  Caroline  Miles 
deeded  the  church  lot  (six  by  twelve  rods)  to  Stephen 
Bagley,  Ebenezer  Paine,  Jedediah  Lathrop,  Jonathan 
Tewksbury,  Samuel  Yeomans,  John  Wilson,  Eli 
Meeker  and  Benj.  Hayden,  trustees. 

In  1804  a Methodist  class  was  formed,  consisting  of 
Jacob  Tewksbury  and  wife,  Mary  Tracy  and  Silas 
Lewis.  Nicholas  Horton  (of  Nicholson)  was  leader, 
43 


and  afterward  Frazier  Eaton  and  Jacob  Tewksbury. 
The  following  is  the  class  of  1811  just  as  recorded  : 

Edward  Paine  (leader),  Charlotte  Paine,  Hannah  Milbourn,  Silas 
Lewis,  Orlando  Bagley,  Dorcas  Bagley,  Betsey  Saunders,  Jacob  Tewks- 
bury, Mary  Tewksbury,  Isaac  Tewksbury,  Judith  Tewksbury,  Abigail 
Saunders,  Mary  Saundei*s,  Isaac  Sterling,  Meliscent  Sterling,  Nancy 
Seeley,  Dorcas  Bagley,  Jr.,  Jacob  Worthing,  Sally  Fuller,  John  Seeley, 
Alden  Seeley,  Polly  Oatlin,  Jesse  Bagley,  Fally  Bagley,  Jonathan 
Tewksbury,  Josiah  Crofoot,  Eliza  Crofoot,  Alice  Lathrop,  Yarnura 
Saunders,  Dolly  Bagley,  Betsey  Tewksbury,  Polly  Seely,  Sabra  Tingley, 
Stephen  Bagley,  Mary  Bagley,  Samuel  Yeomans,  Huldah  Yeomans, 
Sheffield  Saunders,  Thomas  Bagley,  William  Sterling,  Lucinda  Fuller, 
Jonathan  Worthing. 

The  following  are  among  the  early  preachers  and 
elders  from  1804  to  1841 : 

Morris  Howe,  Robert  Burch,  Christopher  Frye,  Elisha  Bibbins,  John 
Hazzard,  Elijah  Warren,  Wyatt  Chamberlin,  George  Peck,  Edwd. 
Paine,  Dana  Fox,  George  Lane,  Benj.  Bidlack,  Loririg  Grant,  Gideon 
Draper,  Noah  Bigelow,  John  Kimlin,  Wm.  Brown,  George  Harmon, 
Marmaduke  Pierce,  “Father”  Davy,  Benj.  Ellis,  Silas  Comfort,  V.  M. 
Corayell,  Joseph  Towner,  Chas.  Harris,  Geo.  Evans,  Lyman  Mumford, 
Isaac  Park,  Alanson  Benjamin,  Horace  Agard,  Peter  Wentz,  Wm.  Red- 
dy, C.  T.  Stanley. 

The  First  Universalist  Church  was  built  on 
the  hill  east  of  the  village  in  1824,  and  was  dedicated 
November  25,  1825.  It  stood  in  a conspicuous  spot, 
and  could  be  seen  from  a large  surrounding  territory, 
even  from  points  in  other  counties.  In  1854  it  was 
remodeled  and  supplied  with  a bell,  the  first  church- 
bell  in  the  township.  In  1872  the  old  church  was 
taken  down,  and  the  memorials  under  its  corner-stone, 
after  having  lain  there  forty-eight  years  to  a day, 
were  re-deposited  under  the  corner  of  the  new  church, 
built  in  Gothic  style,  at  large  cost,  in  the  village. 
This  was  dedicated  September  2,  1874,  on  the  occa- 
sion of  the  meeting  there  of  the  Susquehanna  Asso- 
ciation, on  the  fiftieth  anniversary  of  its  formation. 

The  following  is  an  imperfect  list  of  earlier  mem- 
bers : 

James  Smith,  Amos  Bailey,  Rufus  Kingsley,  Frederick  Bailey,  Esek. 
H.  Palmer,  Fremond  Peck,  James  L.  Gray,  Joshua  K.  Adams,  Aniiis 
Smith,  Prudence  Bailey,  Lucina  Kingsley,  Betsey  Chapman,  Almira 
Wright,  Latham  Smith,  Ephm.  Howe,  Obadiah  Bailey,  Ezra  S.  Brown, 
Isaac  Smith,  Elisha  Lord,  Dalton  Tiffany.  Jonas  Adams,  Alfred  Tiffany, 
Deborah  Newton,  Preston  Tiffany^  Eliza  Tiffany,  Pedy  E.  Gere,  James 
Adams,  Sr.,  Polly  Packer,  James  E.  Howe,  Daniel  Wood,  Stephen  Wil- 
liams, Lodowick  Bailey,  Robert  W.  Gere,  Edward  Otto,  Isaac  Tewksbury, 
Elihu  Smith,  James  Munger,  Richard  Williams,  Pelatiah  Tiffany,  Chas. 
Perigo,  C.  S.  Brown,  Samuel  B.  Blake,  Elijah  Newton,  Justice  Kent, 
Lucinda  Bailey,  Sally  Smith,  Amy  Howe,  Eunice  G.  Bailey,  Amy  Pal- 
mer, Elmina  Palmer,  Rhoda  A.  Palmer,  Sally  M.  Bailey,  Annis  Palmer, 
Polly  Wood,  Hannah  Bailey,  Polly  Williams,  Julia  E.  Gere,  Selina 
Packer,  Francis  M.  Otto,  Sally  R.  Munger,  Sarah  Williams,  Peddy 
Perigo,  Mary  Brown,  Alsiemena  Blake,  Amos  G.  Bailey,  C.  R.  Palmer, 
J.  J.  Roper,  Eliza  Roper,  II.  L.  Bailey,  Nelson  Tiffany,  H.  W.  Kent, 
Robert  Kent,  David  Kent-,  Betsey  Kent,  Roena  Bailey,  Sophronia  C. 
Tiffany,  Charles  Kent,  Henrietta  Kent,  Elizur  Tiffany,  M.  L.  Mack, 
Sarah  L.  Weston,  Prudy  Bailey  (Kent),  Francis  Fish,  Ezra  S.  Kent, 
Harriet  Kent,  Emily  Waldie,  E.  T.  Stephens,  Mary  A.  Stephens,  L.  A. 
Smith,  Judson  Tiffany,  H.  N.  Smith,  0.  G.  Hempstead,  Eliza  Hempstead, 
Mary  Smith,  G.  W.  Palmer,  P.  E.  Palmer,  Deborah  Smith,  C.  M.  Gere, 
Emma  Gere,  Skidmer  Tompkins. 

These  are  the  ministers  from  1820 : 

B.  Streeter,  Amos  Crandall,  Charles  R.  Mareh,  George  Rogers,  Alfred 
Peck,  Thomas  J.  Crowe,  T.  S.  Bartholomew,  James  K.  Mack,  J.  B.  Gil- 
man, A.  O.  Warren,  Nelson  Doolittle,  L.  P.  Porter,  H.  Bonghton,  Asher 
Moore,  J.  M.  Getchell,  J.  M.  Clark,  N.  Snell  and  Mr.  and  Mrs.  L.  F. 
Porter  (see  “Pres.  Inh.”) 


674 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


Each  church  maintains  its  Sunday-school,  and  each 
has  the  efficient  help  of  its  ladies’  aid  society. 

Baptist  people  have  resided  here,  and  Baptist 
clergymen  have  often  preached — Wm.  Purdy  as  early 
as  1808— and  Joshua  Baker  was  a stanch  Baptist 
minister.  The  Episcopalian,  Catholic  and  Unitarian 
beliefs  have  had  representatives.  George  F.  Breed 
entered  the  Episcopal  ministry.  All  shades  of  relig- 
ious opinion  have  existed,  including  simple  believers 
in  the  principles  of  humanity  and  justice,  the  spirit 
of  forgiveness  and  works  of  righteousness  and  peace, 
as  paramount  attributes  of  character  and  action — hu- 
man and  divine. 

OLD  OFFICERS. 

Sw2)eri)isor«.— David  Sutliff,  Frederick  Bailey,  Jacob  Tewksbury,  Ste- 
phen Breed,  Thomas  Giles,  Amos  Bailey,  George  Cone,  Elisha  Mack, 
Stephen  Williams,  Samuel  Weston,  Enoch  Mack,  David  Morgan,  Chas. 
Gere,  Joseph  Peckham,  David  Bissell,  Amos  Tewksbury,  David  Kent, 
Pelatiah  Tiffany,  Charles  Perigo,  Lodowick  Bailey,  Bzek.  H.  Palmer,  S. 

D.  Townsend,  Gurdon  Ely,  George  L.  Tewksbury,  J.  E.  Howe,  Amos 
Van  Auken,  Daniel  Tewksbury,  Francis  Fish  (1850). 

Township  accounts  were  first  settled  by — 

Jieeftolders.— Jeremiah  Gere,  Joseph  Chapman,  Thomas  Giles,  Fred- 
erick Bailey,  Elisha  Mack,  Edward  Paine,  Charles  Gere,  Cyril  Giddings, 
Charles  Perigo,  James  Smith,  Edward  Packer,  Justice  Kent,  Samuel 
Yeomans,  Augustus  Burge,  Stephen  Breed,  Joshua  Miles,  Henry  Mitchell, 
M.  L.  Mack,  Daniel  Tewksbury,  Ammi  Ely,  Jacob  Wilson,  Thomas  Gar- 
land, Charles  V.  Gere,  Nathan  Jewett. 

After  1830— 

Auditors. — Frederick  Bailey,  Edward  Packer,  Joseph  Chapman,  Ed- 
ward Otto,  A.  G.  Bailey,  Abel  Hewitt,  Elijah  Newton,  B.  Richardson,  A. 
B.  Merrill,  Henry  Bagley,  David  Kent,  Horace  Thayer,  Anson  Tiffany. 

Town  Clerics. — Frederick  Bailey,  Ebenezer  Gere,  David  Bissell,  Elijah 
Newton,  William  IVeston,  Daniel  Bagley,  John  Stroud,  Samuel  Kellam, 
Edwin  Tiffany,  Abel  Hewitt,  R.  T.  Ashley,  L.  W.  Kellam,  Ansel  Sterling. 

Assessors  and  Assistants. — Amos  Bailey,  Justice  Kent,  Charles  Perigo, 
Samuel  Yeomans,  Cyril  Giddings,  David  Bissell,  Stephen  Williams,  Wm. 
Weston,  George  Chapman,  E.  H.  Palmer,  Joseph  Peckham,  Amos 
Tewksbury,  I.  H.  Sterling,  Anson  Tiffany,  Richard  Williams,  A.  B. 
Merrill,  John  Stroud,  E.  G.  Williams,  Daniel  Torrey. 

School  Directors  (began  1836). — Frederick  Bailey,  Amos  G.  Bailey, 
Amos  Tewksbury,  George  Chapman,  Nelson  Williams,  Joshua  Miles, 
Lyman  Ely,  Ferdinand  Whipple,  Eli  B.  Goodrich,  Rodney  Jewett,  J.  H. 
Chapman,  Nelson  Tiffany,  Samuel  Townsend,  Richard  Williams,  J.  R. 
Ely,  J.  H.  Sterling,  S.  B.  Blake,  A.  B.  Merrill,  Anson  Tiffany,  C.  C. 
Daley,  C.  M.  Gere,  Braton  Richardson. 

Justices. — Edward  Paine,  Edward  Packer,  Samuel  Bissell,  James  Noble, 
Abel  Hewett,  Marvin  L.  Mack,  Ebenezer  Gere,  A.  G.  Bailey,  R.  0. 
Miles,  A.  E.  Tcwksburys,  Chancy  Tingley,  E.  A.  Weston,  G.  B.  Rogers, 

E.  G.  Williams,  and  present,  M.  Caldwell,  A.  S.  Waldie. 

Constables.— Cyril  Giddings,  Asa  Crandall,  Thaddeus  Palmer,  Samuel 

Yeomans,  David  Morgan,  Jeremiah  Gere,  William  Weston,  Thomas  Gar- 
land, Lyman  Ely,  Jonas  R.  Adams,  Joseph  Lines,  Abel  Hewett,  Jesse 
Bagley,  Elijah  Newton,  J.  H.  Chapman,  Washington  Bagley,  Daniel 
Bagley,  John  B.  Mack,  John  Stroud,  C.  M.  Gere. 

Old  Roads. — (As  first  used  but  now  abandoned) 
From  near  the  present  Breed  house  down  through 
the  old  orchard,  by  the  spring  and  cabin  of  Goodwin 
and  Miller,  by  the  old  school-house,  and  cabin  of  D. 
G.  Smith,  across  Dry  Creek  and  by  the  Harkins 
spring  and  cabin,  and  then  west  to  join  the  present 
Charles  Kent  road  ; from  above  A.  R.  Gere’s,  run- 
ning south  of  Old  Orchard  down  near  the  Noble 
Ashery,  and  crossing  the  Village  Brook  east  of  O. 
W.  Fool’s  house ; from  Sabin’s  place  to  Edmond’s 
place,  higher  up  the  side-hiii  than  now ; from  near 
the  first  “ old  factory  school-house,  south  by  B.  S. 


Saunders’s,  Caleb  Crandall’s  and  Isaiah  Hawley’s 
(afterward  H.  Caswell’s),  by  Mason  & Thad.  Pal- 
mers’ (now  C.  Brewster’s),  crossing  the  Hopbottom, 
and  up  by  Joshua  Baker’s  ; from  village  across  creek 
near  Mrs.  Loomis’s,  and  (near  the  present  new  road) 
toward  Edward  Paine’s;  from  near  the  spring  and 
Fuller  and  Sutlilf  cabins,  the  Mott  Wilkinson  cabin, 
and  second  cabin  of  Daniel  Lawrence  (in  sugar  or- 
chard of  Harvey  Tewksbury)  toward  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church;  from  0.  Bailey’s,  near  Wise  Wrights 
and  Edmond  Miles’s,  to  Hopbottom ; from  H.  L. 
Bailey’s  east  by  his  old  barn,  by  Ebenezer  Whitney’s, 
across  creek  to  Harford ; from  Jacob  Tewksbury’s 
north  by  Thomas  Sterling’s,  Joseph  Chapman’s  and 
David  Morgan’s;  from  David  Cushing’s  (W.  R. 
Page’s)  across  Martin  Creek  to  Richardson’s  mills, 
Harford.  That  once  famous  thoroughfare,  the 
Milford  and  Owego  turnpike,  with  its  lines  of  four- 
horse  stages  and  loads  of  passengers  and  freight, 
went  through  the  township  from  southeast  to  north- 
west. It  is  still  in  use  as  a township  road,  and  is 
described  in  the  general  history  of  this  volume. 

Cemeteries. — There  are  three;  the  “Old,”  on 
Page’s  “Dutch  meadows”;  the  “Hill,”  McIntyre; 
and  the  “New,”  just  east  of  the  Old.  Some  early 
settlers  were  buried  in  private  grounds,  as  on  the  Mil- 
bourn  place,  the  Adam  Miller  place  and  Lyman 
Saunders’  place.  It  is  not  now  known  to  whom  most 
of  these  belong.  The  first  burial  in  the  Old  ground 
was  that  of  “ Aunt  Molly  ” — McLaughlin.  The  first 
death  among  New  Englanders  was  doubtless  that  of 
Andrew  Tracy,  November  1,  1801.  The  cemetery 
was  not  then  established,  but  he  was  afterwards  re- 
moved to  it.  Other  monumental  dates  in  Old  ground 
are  Joshua  Miles,  July  6,  1815;  Isaac  Tewkesbury, 
also  about  1815-13  ; Nancy  Morgan,  April  20,  1817 ; 
Noah  Titfany,  July  19,  1818 ; Edward  Paine 

(drowned),  July  8,  1820;  Barnard  Worthing,  July  13, 
1820;  Elizabeth  Jones,  April  27,  1822.  The  first 
burial  in  the  Hill  Cemetery  was  that  of  Charles  R. 
Marsh,  died  March  10,  1828,  though  Amos  Crandall 
is  buried  beside  him  who  died  July  2,  1824,  but  was 
removed. 

Post-Office. — Hopbottom  Post-office  was  estab- 
lished October  1,  1813,  Putnam  Catlin,  postmaster. 
In  the  house  where  the  office  was  kept  there  is  a brick 
in  the  arch  over  the  fire-place  inscribed : “ P.  Catlin, 
1812.”  Henry  Catlin  was  appointed  postmaster  Janu- 
ary 10,  1815,  and  Gabriel  Ely,  1816,  in  same  house; 
Noah  Tiffany  in  1817,  and  Arunah  Tiffany  1818,  in 
“ Old  Abbey  ; ” Thomas  Garland,  1821  (see  village) ; 
James  Noble,  1824,  in  his  store;  Thomas  Garland, 
1826  (see  L.  A.  Townsend) ; name  changed  to  Brook- 
lyn, March  20,  1830 ; Daniel  B.  Bagley,  postmaster, 
1838  (see  A.  Chamberlin) ; R.  T.  Ashley,  1841  (store); 
D.  B.  Bagley,  1 842  ; Sally  Bagley,  1843 ; J.  L.  Adams, 
1861 ; Ammi  Ely,  1885. 

Montrose  Depot  Office,  established  March  11, 
1852,  Javan  B.  Salsbury,  postmaster ; Loami  B.  Hinds, 


BROOKLYN. 


675 


postmaster,  1853  ; William  McMillan,  1854 ; John  C. 
Lee,  1855;  Edward  S.  Hinds,  1857;  Fernando  A. 
Tiffany,  1867;  Manzor  J.  Goodrich,  1868;  Joseph  D. 
Richardson,  1868;  L.  F,  Rosengrant,  1869;  William 
H.  Tiffany,  1870  ; name  changed  to  Tiffany  February, 
1877 ; and  to  Alford,  March,  1877.  East  Dimock 
post-office  established  June  9,  1862,  George  L.  Wil- 
liams, postmaster ; George  H.  Giles,  postmaster,  1864, 
and  office  discontinued  July  16,  1883. 

Name. — Under  Connecticut  claim  and  survey,  the 
township,  as  now  constituted,  was  mostly  in  Dandolo, 
the  south  part  being  in  Bidwell,  and  it  was  often 
called  by  these  names  by  the  first  New  England  set- 
tlers. Under  Pennsylvania  jurisdiction,  it  was,  in 
1790,  in  Luzerne  County,  and  chiefly  in  Tioga  town- 
ship. In  1806  it  was  part  of  Bridgewater.  In  1814  it 
was  Waterford,  in  Susquehanna  County.  In  1823  it 
was  Hopbottom,  same  as  post-office,  and  in  1826,  Brook- 
lyn. Till  1846  it  included  Lathrop. 

Present  Inhabitants. — By  actual  count  the 
people  number  (spring  of  1887)  as  follows:  village, 
166;  Alford,  43 ; rest  of  township,  769;  total,  978. 
In  the  following  enumeration  the  heads  of  present 
families  are  given  : 


Aldrich,  Amaea. 
Aldrich,  Norris. 
Austin,  Willie. 
Adams,  James  W. 
Alworth,  William. 
Aten,  Henry. 

Aten,  Herbert. 
Bailey,  I.  Avery. 
Bolles,  John. 

Brink,  S.  T. 

Byram,  William  T. 
Benjamin,  Luther  M. 
Blaisure,  J.  B. 
Benjamin,  Nelson  C. 
Bennet,  Freeman. 
Bailey,  Charles  R. 
Bailey,  Esek  P. 
Bailey,  Obadiah. 
Bailey,  Caroline. 
Brewster,  Charles  M. 
Babcock,  Isaac, 
Blake,  Albert. 
Banker,  Minerva. 
Brink,  0.  D. 

Bailey,  H,  L. 

Breed,  Fitch. 

Caswell,  Mary  L. 
Cameron,  William. 
Carpenter,  Clayton. 
Catterson,  G.  0. 
Conrad,  Dennis, 
Caswell,  Will.  R. 
Carpenter,  Wesley. 
Crandall,  Roena. 
Davison,  Martin  V. 
Darrow,  Orphinea. 
Daley,  William  T. 
Dennis,  Napoleon. 
Ellsworth,  Betsey. 
Ely,  George  M. 

Ely,  John  R. 

Ely,  J.  R.,  Jr. 

Ely,  Charles  H. 

Ely,  Emery. 

Ely,  Olive. 


Fish,  Asa. 

Force,  Mordecai. 
Fish,  William  C. 
Fairchild,  H.  C. 
Free,  Andrew. 

Fish,  Frank  C. 

Gere,  Arthur. 

Gere,  Robert  L. 
Grannis,  Edward. 
Gere,  Jerh.  C. 

Gere,  Albert  R. 
Gavitt,  Stephen  S. 
Gavitt,  W.  M. 

Gere,  George  L. 
Goodrich,  Edwin  B. 
Goodrich,  Charles  T. 
Grannis,  Lyman. 
Hollister,  0.  Duane. 
Hohn,  Frederick, 
Hearn,  Lewis. 
Hewett,  Fanny. 
Hewett,  C.  A. 
Hinkley,  Orren  W. 
Hine,  N.  F. 
Herkimer,  Lyman. 
Hill,  Josephus. 

Hine,  E.  S.  P. 
Jewett,  Nathan  R. 
Jewett,  Frederick  B. 
Johnson,  Hubert. 
Jackson,  Mary. 
Jackson,  John. 

Kent,  Frank  H. 
Kent,  Rodney  W. 
Kinney,  David  I. 
King,  Frank  A. 
Kent,  Chas. 

Lindsey,  Benj. 
Lindsey,  Riley, 
Lemon,  Martin  L. 
Lee,  John  C. 

Lee,  E.  G. 

Lines,  Lewis  N. 
Lathrop,  Edward  J. 
Lewis,  Harrison. 


Lathrop,  Charles  J, 
Lorimer,  John. 
Labar,  Julius. 

Miles,  Reuben  0. 
McKinney,  Noble. 
Miller,  Jacob  C. 
Miller,  Frederick. 
Miller,  F.  P. 

Miller,  Samuel. 

Mead,  Wm. 

Mead,  Amos. 

McCoy,  Henry. 

Mack,  Albert  E. 
Muzzey,  Anna  L. 
Mack,  Neh.  R. 
Monroe,  Sarah. 

Mack,  Lathm.  H. 
Mack,  Edwin  P. 
Mack,  A.  L. 

Mack,  Mary. 
McKeeby,  Lodowick. 
Mead,  Sami. 

Newton,  James  M. 
Oakley,  Joseph. 

Otto,  Sarah. 

Oakley,  Irving  W. 
Perkins,  Chrisr.  S. 
Perigo,  Manning. 
Perigo,  Henry. 
Peckham,  James  S. 
Penny,  Thomas  E. 
Packer,  Dudley  B. 
Packer,  Elbt.  A. 
Packer,  Cornelia. 
Packer,  Anna. 

Perry,  Wm.  L. 
Packard,  Nelson  E. 
Page,  Joseph  P. 

Page,  Joseph  H. 

Page,  Walter  R. 
Perigo,  Chas.  F. 
Penny,  Edwin  W. 
Penny,  Charles  M. 
Palmer,  Milton. 
Perry,  Daxid  C. 
Quick,  Horace  D. 
Quick,  Joseph  B. 
Quick,  Alva  A. 

Quick,  Harriet. 
Quick,  Lydia  A. 
Quick,  Mark  S. 
Reynolds,  Kezia. 
Reynolds,  James  W. 
Reynolds,  Theo.  F. 
Reynolds,  Hothir. 
Rogers,  Christr.  C. 
Richards,  Elizabeth. 
Rogers,  Gurdon  B. 
Roper,  John  J. 

Roper,  Harry. 
Remaly,  Wilson  P. 
Richards,  Charles  F. 
Ring,  George  J. 

Ring,  David  J. 
Reynolds,  Georgiania. 
Reynolds,  Eliza  A. 
Rozelle,  Edward  E. 
Rogers,  Andrew. 
Rozelle,  J.  Andrew. 
Rogers,  Frank  L. 
Sterling,  Ansel. 


Sterling,  Will.  L. 
Sherman,  Lyman. 
Smith,  Andrew  J. 
Sterling,  Frank  M. 
Sterling,  Javan. 
Sterling,  George  W. 
Sterling,  Byron  G. 
Sterling,  James  H. 
Sterling,  Amos  G. 
Sterling,  Harriet. 
Stephens,  Edward  T. 
Stephens,  Conner  L. 
Sterling,  Ralph. 
Schwendeman,  Zopher. 
Simons,  Calvin  A. 
Snyder,  Eugene  D, 
Sterling,  A,  Harmonu 
Sickler,  Charles  A. 
Smith,  Gilbeit  N, 
Simons,  Julius. 
Stanton,  Joseph  BL 
Tiffany,  Joseph  W. 
Tewk-sbury,  Henry. 
Tewksbury,  Lester. 
Tewksbury,  Franklin. 
Townsend,  Lewis  A. 
Townsend,  Thomas  S. 
Tewksbury,  Ephm.  S. 
Tewksbury,  A.  E. 
Tiffany,  Conger. 
Tiffany,  Owen  L. 
Tiffany,  Nelson  L. 
Tiffany,  Charles  H, 
Tiffany,  Stephen  E. 
Tiffany,  Hannah. 
Tiffany,  Thomas  J, 
Tiffany,  Mather  C. 
Tiffany,  Preston  H. 
Tiffany,  Judson  D. 
Titflworth,  Catharine. 
Tiffany,  Hosea. 
Tewksbury,  Harvey  A- 
Tiffany.  Lyman  B. 
Tiffany,  Harmon  B. 
Underwood,  Marquis, 
Van  Auken,  James  A. 
Van  Auken,  Isaac. 

Van  Auken,  Susan. 
Watroiis,  Dann  S. 
Warner,  Ansel  L. 
Worthing,  Lydia, 
Williams,  Charles  A. 
Woodward,  Baker  L. 
Williams,  Delbert. 
Whitman,  Janies  M. 
Westbrook,  Daniel  C. 
Williams,  Elisha  G. 
Williams,  Abram  V. 
Watrous,  B,  0. 
Watrous,  Chester  F. 
Whipple,  Ferdinand. 
Wright,  Eugene  E. 
Weston,  E.  A. 

Williams,  Henry  M. 
Wright,  Irving  W. 
Whiting,  H.  H. 

West,  Thos. 

Yeomans,  Daniel  M. 
Yeomans,  Ann. 
Yeomans,  Joseph  0. 
Youngs,  Lewis. 


Alford  (Montrose  Depot)  as  follows: 

Brown,  Daniel  A.  Hendriex,  Alexander. 

Brown,  Daniel.  Mead,  Mordecai. 

Frink,  Lewis  H.  Richardson,  Joseph  D. 


676 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


Sweet,  Perry.  Very,  OIney  H. 

Tingloy,  Chas.  Very,  Jerome  B. 

Tingley,  T.  J.  Watson,  Edward  D. 

Tiffany,  Win.  H.  West,  Theresa. 

Brooklyn  Village  is  snugly  nestled  among  the  hills 
in  a little  expanse  of  the  Hopbottom  Valley. 
northern  part  of  it  is  on  the  warrantee  land  lot  of  Dr. 
Barnabas  Blntiey,”  and  the  southern  on  “ John  Dun- 
lap’s,” the  line  between  them  passing  through  it.  The 
first  clearing  within  its  limits  was  made  by  Mr.  Page, 
in  1787.  His  cabin  stood  on  the  knoll  now  owned  by 
R.  T.  Ashley,  just  back  of  his  house.  This  claim  was 
successively  owned  by  Jacob  Tewksbury,  Joshua 
Miles,  Sr.,  Noah  Tiffany  and  Arunah  Tiffany,  and 
then  began  to  be  divided  and  subdivided  into  smaller 
lots. 

Isaac  Tewksbury  lived  from  1804  to  1807  in  a log 
house  near  the  centre  of  the  town,  and  Joshua  Miles, 
Sr.,  built  a large  frame  house  (not  finished  until  after 
his’  death),  where  A.  Ely’s  store  now  is,  in  1810. 
This  building  was  afterwards  known  by  the  name  of 
the  “ Abbey,”  and  many  people  lived  in  it,  and  post- 
office,  store,  hotel  and  shops  were  kept  in  it  for  twenty 
years  or  more.  Another  house  on  the  south  side  of 
the  creek  (where  the  old  road  used  to  run),  near  the 
first  saw-mill,  also  had  many  occupants,  among  whom 
were  Thomas  Garland  (postmaster  in  1821),  Hilliard 
Sterling,  Amos  Crandall,  Jacob  Worthing,  Walter 
Adams  and  others.  The  oldest  dwelling  now  standing 
in  the  village  is  doubtless  that  of  Malvina  Tiffany,  built 
by  Edward  L.  Paine  in  1823.  The  old  school-house, 
built  about  1814,  and  frequented  by  scholars  from  a 
radius  of  two  miles  or  more  around,  stood  on  the 
brink  of  the  knoll,  where  T.  M.  Oakley's  house 
now'  stands.  The  present  heads  of  families  are  as 
follows : 


Adams,  Julia  A. 

Kent,  A.  W. 

Ainey,  A.  J. 

Kent,  Willis  L. 

Ashley,  RolUn  T. 

King,  Francis  A. 

Boughtou,  C.  H. 

Kent,  Betsey. 

Bookstaver,  James  L. 

Kent,  Justice  M. 

Burch,  C.  C. 

Kent,  George  J. 

Burch,  Morgan  R. 

Kent,  Elmina. 

Bagley,  Sally. 

Loomis,  Mary. 

Best,  Jacob. 

McKinney,  Mary. 

Bullard,  James  0. 

McKinney,  Elisha  R. 

Case,  Benjamin  T. 

McKeever,  Mary. 

Cravei,  Lydia. 

McVicar,  Marshall. 

Graver,  Charles  M. 

Moore,  Eliza  P. 

Caldwell,  Moses. 

Northrop,  Jennie. 

Chamberlin,  Abram. 

Oakley,  Thomas  M. 

Doran,  John  F. 

Palmer,  P.  Emily. 

Dolaway,  Albert  C. 

Porter,  L.  F. 

Doran,  P.  C. 

Sterling,  Amanda. 

Dolaway,  0.  Morris. 

Stanton,  Jonas  H. 

Eldridge,  Samuel  B. 

Shadduck,  Thomas  E. 

Eldridge,  William  H. 

Tiffany,  Charles  H. 

Ely,  Ammi. 

Tiffany,  Elisha  T. 

Ely,  Olive. 

Tewksbury,  Lyman  K. 

Ely,  Luther. 

Titsworth,  Alfred. 

Eldridge,  Edwin  S. 

Tiffany,  Frederick  H. 

Foot,  0.  W. 

Tewksbury,  Isaac  S. 

Grennell,  Moses  B, 

Weston,  Leland. 

Gere,  Robert  W. 

Waldie,  Tyler  C. 

Giles,  Geo.  I. 

Waldie,  Emily. 

Kent,  Harriet. 

Waldie,  Alexander  S. 

CHAPTER  XLIV. 

LATHROP  TOWNSHIP. 

Lathrop  was  taken  from  Brooklyn  in  April,  1846, 
and  its  history,  consequently,  up  to  that  period,  is 
intimately  connected  with  that  township.  It  was 
named  in  honor  of  Benjamin  Lathrop,  at  that  time 
an  associate  judge  of  the  county.  Prior  to  this  it 
bore  the  names  applied  to  this  section, — Tioga,  Nich- 
olson and  Bridgewater,  while  a part  of  Luzerne  County ; 
Waterford,  in  1814;  Hopbottom,  in  1823,  and  Brook- 
lyn from  1825  until  1846.  When  erected,  the  east 
line  of  Lathrop  was  Martin’s  Creek;  but,  in  1853, 
the  bound  was  placed  on  the  top  of  the  ridge,  along 
that  stream  and  east  of  the  Delaware,  Lackawanna 
and  Western  Railroad.  On  the  north  is  Brooklyn; 
on  the  east,  Lenox ; south,  Wyoming  County,  and 
west,  the  township  of  Springville.  The  area  is  small, 
and  is  very  much  broken  by  the  high  ridges  along 
the  streams  which  drain  southward.  The  principal 
one  of  these  is  Horton's  Creek,  flowing  from  Brook- 
lyn through  the  centre  of  the  township,  and  taking 
in  its  course  the  waters  of  many  small  brooks,  among 
them  being  the  outlets  of  the  Lord  and  Tarbell 
Ponds.  Both  were  named  for  early  settlers  on  their 
shores.  They  are  small,  placid  sheets  of  water,  with 
pleasant  surroundings,  and  are  well  stocked  with 
fish.  Both  are  west  of  the  centre  and  on  the  southern 
slope  of  the  highlands,  along  the  Brooklyn  line. 
Field’s  Pond  is  a smaller  sheet  of  water  in  the  south- 
western part  of  the  township,  and  is  partly  in  Spring- 
ville. Martin’s  Creek  runs  parallel  with  the  east  line 
of  the  township,  and  about  half  a mile  from  it, 
through  a narrow  valley  hemmed  in  by  almost  pre- 
cipitous hills.  Along  the  western  base  of  the  east 
hill  is  built  the  Delaware,  Lackawanna  and  Western 
Railroad,  which  has  been  such  an  important  factor 
in  developing  this  part  of  the  county.  The  tillable 
lands  in  this  section  are  limited  to  the  upper  part  of 
the  valley,  and  consist  of  a few  farms  only.  Here  is 
the  borough  of  Hopbottom,  of  which  a separate  ac- 
count is  given.  The  high  ridges  east  of  the  centre  of 
the  township  were  formerly  heavily  timbered  with 
pines  and  hemlocks,  whose  conversion  into  lumber 
formed  a most  important  industry  many  years.  An 
equally  important  interest  in  this  section  will  be  the 
development  of  the  fine  deposit  of  building  stone, 
cropping  out  in  many  parts  of  these  ridges,  which 
will  give  employment  to  a large  number  of  men. 
The  stone  is  of  a very  superior  quality,  and  is  already 
in  great  demand. 

The  soil  of  Lathrop  is  quite  fertile,  and  is  especially 
adapted  to  produce  grass.  Much  hay  is  shipped,  and 
the  dairy  interest  has  become  the  most  important 
industry  since  the  clearing  up  of  the  country. 

The  pioneers  of  Lathrop  were  few  in  numbers, 
and,  in  most  cases,  were  connected  with  the  families 
settling  in  Brooklyn  at  an  earlier  day.  The  natural 


LATimOP. 


677 


features  of  the  country  and  the  uncertain  condition 
of  the  land  titles  did  not  invite  general  settlement, 
and  for  many  years  the  finer  locations  only  were 
improved.  It  is  believed  that  the  first  white  man 
living  within  the  bounds  of  the  township  was  a her- 
mit named  Joseph  Sprague,  who  was  here  as  early 
as  the  spring  of  1799.  He  lived  on  the  flats,  on  Mar- 
tin’s Creek,  where  was  long  the  farm  of  Dr.  S. 
Wright,  and  now  the  place  of  M.  L.  Tiffany.  Of 
him  and  his  own  experiences  in  this  section  in  1799, 
the  Hon.  Charles  Miner  said: 

“Four  or  five  miles  below  Captain  Chapman  (then  living  on  C.  IM. 
Chapman's  present  place,  in  Brooklyn)  lived  in  solitude  Joseph  Sprague, 
twelve  or  fourteen  miles  of  wilderness  intervening  between  him  and 
Marcy’s  mill,  in  the  settlement  on  the  Tiinkhannock. 

“Having  made  sugar  with  Sprague  on  shares,  I took  a horse-load 
down  the  Tunkhannock,  peddled  it  out,  a pound  of  sugar  for  a pound 
of  pork,  seven  and  a half  pounds  for  a bushel  of  wheat,  five  pounds  for 
a bushel  of  corn.  Saw  the  Susquehanna,  got  a grist  ground,  returned, 
and  with  Mr.  Chase— a young  man  who  came  from  Connecticut  with 
Mr.  Miner — made  knapsacks  of  coarse  shirts,  filled  them  with  provis- 
ions, and  each  taking  an  axe  on  his  shoulder,  we  took  the  bridle-path 
by  Mr.  Parke’s,  and  thence  fifteen  miles,  more  or  less,  arrived  at  Kindaw 
or  Hyde’s,  at  the  forks  of  the  Wyalusing.  I do  not  think  that  a line 
drawn  due  south  from  Binghamton  to  the  Tunkhannock — near  forty 
miles — would  have  cut  a laid-out  road  or  come  in  sight  of  a house  or 
cabin  of  an  earlier  date  than  the  preceding  summer.” 

It  is  said  that  Joseph  Sprague  was  the  son  of  a sur- 
veyor for  one  of  the  Philadelphia  land-owners,  to 
whom  this  tract  of  three  hundred  acres  of  land  had 
been  given,  on  condition  that  he  himself,  or  one  of 
the  family,  would  occupy  it.  But  the  truth  regarding 
the  hermit  never  became  known.  After  living  here 
some  time  he  went  to  Wilkes-Barre,  where  he  took 
sick  and  died,  after  having  willed  his  land  to  a Mr. 
Blanchard,  with  whom  he  had  his  home.  Subse- 
quently those  claiming  to  be  heirs  of  Sprague  took 
possession  of  the  property;  but  it  was  finally  sold 
to  John  Chapman,  and  later  to  Dr.  Samuel  Wright. 
It  is  one  of  the  finest  tracts  of  land  in  the  township. 

The  next  clearing  in  what  is  now  Lathrop  was 
made  in  the  fall  of  1799  by  Captain  Charles  Gere, 
who  came  from  Vermont  to  join  the  Hopbottom  set- 
tlement in  Brooklyn.  This  settlement  properly  ex- 
tended to  near  the  central  part  of  what  is  now  La- 
throp, and  also  included  the  eastern  part  of  Dimock, 
as  well  as  the  whole  of  what  is  now  Brooklyn.  He 
began  his  improvements  on  what  became  the  Lord 
place,  on  the  west  side  of  the  Abington  turnpike,  but 
did  not  bring  in  his  family  until  1801.  The  following 
year  he  sold  out  to  Josiah  Lord,  and  in  1803  removed 
to  Brooklyn,  locating  one  mile  west  of  Mack’s  Cor- 
ners. 

The  same  year  that  Captain  Gere  brought  his  fam- 
ily, 1801,  John  S.  Tarbell  located  near  the  pond  which 
bears  his  name  to  this  day,  having  a farm  which  af- 
terwards became  known  as  “ Mitchell’s  Meadow.”  He 
removed  in  1816,  and  for  a number  of  years  Henry 
Mitchell  occupied  the  place,  which  has  since  had 
other  owners. 

Josiah  Lord  took  possession  of  the  improvements  of 
Captain  Gere  in  1803.  He  was  a native  of  Lyme, 


Connecticut,  and  had  come  in  1801  to  look  for  land. 
When  he  moved  into  this  country,  late  in  1801  or  early 
in  1802,  he  brought  with  him  his  sons — Josiah,  Elisha, 
John  and  Enoch.  The  latter  located  at  the  mouth  of 
Tarbell  Pond,  where  he  built  a saw-mill  in  1820,  and 
subsequently  moved  to  Illinois.  Josiah  Lord,  the 
elder,  remained  on  his  first  location  until  his  death, 
in  1845,  at  the  age  of  seventy-eight  years.  This  was 
afterwards  the  home  of  his  third  son,  John,  who  died 
in  1856,  when  the  place  passed  into  the  hands  of  John 
Lord,  Jr.,  a grandson  of  the  original  settler.  Elisha 
Lord  was  lower  down  the  turnpike,  on  the  H.  N.  Tif- 
fany place,  the  latter  being  his  son-in-law.  He  was 
one  of  the  first  to  recognize  the  validity  of  the 
Drinker  title,  and  paid  for  his  lands  against  the  earn- 
est protests  of  his  neighbors,  who  became  indignant 
when  he  insisted  that  he  was  in  the  right.  Subse- 
quent events  gave  ample  proof  that  bis  views  were 
correct.  He  was  one  of  the  few  settlers  who  was  not 
embarrassed  by  a clouded  title  to  his  lands.  For 
some  years  he  entertained  the  traveling  public  at  his 
farm-house,  and  H.  N.  Tiffany  has  merchandised  in 
the  same  building  the  past  few  years.  Josiah  Lord, 
Jr.,  lived  on  part  of  the  homestead,  farther  up  the 
turnpike.  The  descendants  of  the  Lord  family  be- 
came very  numerous,  but  many  have  removed  and 
others  have  deceased.  The  pond  west  of  the  farm 
where  Josiah  Lord  settled  was  named  for  that  family. 

When  the  Lords  first  came  to  Lathrop  wild  animals 
were  very  numerous  and  bold,  and  their  capture  af- 
forded much  diversion.  The  following  interesting 
account  of  the  adventures  of  some  of  the  younger 
members  of  the  family  was  written  by  John  Lord,  Sr., 
in  1856 : 

“My  father,  Josiah  Lord,  located  with  his  family  in  what  is  now 
called  Lathrop  township,  in  1801.  There  was  but  one  family  then  in 
Lathrop,  and  only  six  in  what  is  now  called  Brooklyn.  There  is  but 
one  man  in  my  acquaintance  now  living,  who  was  here  and  bad  a fam- 
ily when  I came  here,  and  he  is  Captain  Amos  Bailey.  About  the  )st 
of  April,  18(  3,  my  father  was  absent  from  home,  leaving  me  and  my 
brother  Elisha  to  attend  to  the  cattle,  which  had  gone  up  a small  creel" 
into  the  woods.  A little  before  sunset  they  came  into  the  clearing  on 
the  run,  and  turned  round  and  looked  back,  with  heads  up,  as  if  they 
were  much  frightened.  As  one  of  the  cows  did  not  coaie,  we  went  in 
search  of  her,  hunted  until  dark,  but  in  vain.  In  the  morning  we  re- 
newed our  search,  and  found  her  between  two  logs.  She  was  thrown 
upon  her  hack,  her  horns  stuck  in  the  ground ; the  jugular  veins  were 
gnawed  in  two,  and  her  flanks  ripped  open.  Nothing  of  her  calf  was  to 
be  found,  but  one  of  the  hoofs  and  a part  of  the  skull.  My  father  pro- 
cured a large  double-springed,  spike-joined  bear-trap,  set  it  by  the  cow 
and  covered  it  with  dirt.  It  had  been  undisturbed  for  a week,  when  father 
took  up  the  trap  and  brought  it  to  the  house.  The  next  day  my  brother 
and  I found  that  the  cow  had  been  torn  to  pieces  by  the  wolves.  My 
brother  then  said  a German  hunter  had  told  him  father  did  not  set  the 
trap  right.  He  added  a proposal  to  me  to  help  him  set  it  according  to  the 
hunter’s  directions,  and,  said  he,  ‘we  will  have  one  of  the  wolves  before 
father  comes  home.’  We  collected  all  the  fragments  of  the  old  cow  in  a 
pile  against  a log,  and  then  went  home  for  the  trap.  We  knew  mother 
would  not  let  us  set  it,  if  she  suspected  our  plan,  so  my  brother  left  me 
outside  the  house  while  he  went  in,  agreeing  to  whistle  ‘ Yankee  Boodle  ’ 
when  mother’s  attention  should  be  so  engaged  she  would  not  be  likely 
to  see  me  bear  off  the  trap.  I waited  some  time  for  the  signal,  but  on 
hearing  it  I shouldered  the  trap  and  ran  for  the  woods.  When  I got 
there  I was  very  much  exhausted,  as  the  trap  was  very  heavy.  My 
brother  soon  came  with  an  axe,  and  we  set  the  trap  with  two  large  hand- 
spikes and  deposited  it  in  the  water  in  front  of  the  bait.  The  trap  was 


G78 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


two  inches  under  water,  and  the  pan  we  covered  with  moss.  The  bait 
we  covered  with  logs  in  such  a way  that  the  wolves  could  not  get  access 
to  it  without  going  into  the  trap. 

“ About  two  o’clock  the  next  morning  we  were  w'aked 
up  by  a sudden  yell  of  the  wolves,  and  they  yelled 
without  intermission  until  daylight.  We  got  up  an 
hour  before  daylight  to  run  some  balls.  My  brother 
then  told  mother  we  had  set  the  trap  and  had  got  a 
wolf  in  it,  and  were  going  to  kill  it.  She  was  much 
frightened,  and  used  every  means,  except  force,  to 
prevent  us  from  going  into  the  woods  until  father’s 
return  ; but  the  prospect  of  revenge  upon  the  wolves 
for  killing  the  cow — decidedly  the  best  old  muley  of 
our  three — carried  our  minds  above  every  other  con- 
sideration, and  we  started  off  so  early  that  my  brother 
said  he  could  not  see  the  sights  of  his  rifle,  and  we 
sat  down  on  a log  to  wait  until  it  should  be  lighter. 
I was  ten  years  old  the  February  preceding,  and  my 
brother  was  not  quite  twelve.  My  brother  had  killed 
several  deer,  and  was  a good  shot  with  a rifle.  I had 
never  shot  one. 

“The  wolves  continued  howling,  the  flne  yell  of  the 
pups  increasing  the  roar,  which  seemed  to  shake  the 
earth  like  thunder.  I was  seized  with  a sudden  im- 
pulse of  fear.  I remembered  reading  that  some  chil- 
dren who  had  disobeyed  their  parents  went  into  the 
woods  to  play,  and  God  gave  them  up  to  bears  which 
devoured  them.  I had  disobeyed  my  kind  mother  for 
the  first  time,  and  my  conscience  smote  me.  We  had 
left  her  in  sobs  and  tears,  and  were  in  a dark  wilder- 
ness with  a gang  of  wolves.  Suddenly  they  were  still, 
and  I expected  they  were  surrounding  us.  Every  sin 
that  ever  I committed  rushed  into  my  mind,  and  I felt 
a true  sense  of  my  meanness.  Just  then  my  brother 
rose  and  said,  ‘ Come,  it  is  light  enough  now  to  com- 
mence the  battle.’  With  much  difficulty  I succeeded 
in  rising,  but  my  legs  utterly  refused  to  carry  me  to- 
ward the  scene  of  danger.  Concealing  my  cowardice 
as  much  as  possible,  I said  the  wolf  had  got  out  of  the 
trap,  and  we  had  better  go  back  and  relieve  mother  of 
her  fright.  But  he  said,  ‘ No,  we  have  got  on  fast,  I 
want  you  to  go  very  still,  for  I want  to  get  a shot  at 
one  that  is  not  in  the  trap,  first,  and  if  I do,  you  may 
shoot  the  one  in  the  trap  .’  This  was  a grand  idea. 
I thought  no  more  about  the  bear  story,  or  about 
mother,  or  any  of  my  rascally  capers,  and  my  fear  all 
left  me.  Moving  on,  we  were  soon  in  plain  view  of 
where  we  set  the  trap.  We  lay  in  ambush  some  time, 
but  as  no  wolves  were  to  be  seen,  we  went  to  the  bait, 
and  tbe  trap  was  gone?  There  were  tufts  of  hair  and 
plenty  of  blood,  and  the  ground  was  torn  up.  The 
track  of  the  wolf  was  plain  and  we  followed  it  up  the 
creek  about  ten  rods,  when,  as  we  turned  around  a 
short  curve  in  the  creek,  a gang  of  wolves  started  and 
ran  up  the  bank,  too  swift  for  my  brother  to  shoot  with 
success.  The  wolf  with  the  trap  started  at  the  same 
time  and  ran  up  the  creek,  and  we  followed  after, 
about  thirty  rods,  when  we  could  not  find  the  track 
further  ; but  as  a log  there  reached  from  one  bank  to 


another,  my  brother  told  me  to  go  on  the  whole  length 
of  the  log,  and  find  where  the  wolf  got  over.  Near^ 
the  farther  bank  a beech  tree  with  the  leaves  on  had  j 
fallen  the  summer  before,  and  made  a thick  brush 
heap  on  and  below  the  log.  In  getting  through  this 
brush  I slipped  from  the  log.  My  bare  feet, — shoes 
were  not  fashionable  for  boys  in  those  days — felt  the 
soft  fur  of  the  wolf  and  the  flinch  under  them  at  the 
same  instant.  I heard  the  trap  rattle ; one  bound 
brought  me  out  of  the  brush,  and  I exclaimed,  ‘ Here 
is  the  wolf  hid  under  the  brush  I’  My  brother  was 
looking  at  me  with  a grin,  and  replied,  ‘ I thought  you 
had  found  something  by  the  way  you  jumped.’  He 
told  me  to  stand  back,  and,  as  he  fired,  the  wolf  gave  a 
growl  and  commenced  a violent  struggle.  He  then 
told  me  to  go  above  the  log  and  keep  the  wolf  from 
getting  through  under  the  log,  until  he  could  load  his 
rifle.  She  had  got  her  head  through,  but  could  get 
no  farther.  The  ball  had  passed  through  the  wolf’s 
mouth,  and  some  of  the  teeth  were  hanging  out.  My 
brother  came  over  the  log,  and  told  me  to  get  behind 
a tree,  for  in  his  hurry  he  had  put  his  powder-horn 
to  the  muzzle  of  his  rifle  and  poured  in  the  powder 
by  guess,  and  he  did  not  know  what  it  might  do,  for 
he  would  let  it  all  go  together.  I told  him  to  smash 
away.  He  let  fly,  and  I saw  the  wolf’s  ear  lop  down. 
It  was  the  most  deafening  report  of  a rifle  I ever 
heard.  I went  towards  the  wolf’s  head,  and  found 
the  ball  had  gone  through  it ; some  of  the  brain  was 
protruding  from  the  ball-hole.  We  then  went  below 
the  log,  and  drew  out  the  wolf — the  largest  one  I ever 
saw.  At  this  juncture  we  heard  mother  scream.  She 
seemed  to  be  coming  in  the  woods  towards  us.  We 
answered  her ; but  she  made  so  much  noise  herself — 
screaming  every  breath,  as  on  she  came,  like  a raving 
maniac — she  could  not  hear  and  did  not  see  us, 
though  we  ran  to  meet  her,  until  we  were  close  to 
her.  She  then  sat  down  on  a log,  and,  oh,  what  a 
picture  of  fright!  In  running  through  a laurel 
thicket  she  had  scratched  her  face  so  that  it  bled  in 
several  places,  and  she  was  as  pale  as  a corpse.  Her 
combs  had  been  pulled  out  and  lost,  and  her  long 
hair  was  streaming  in  every  direction ; she  tried  to 
arrange  it;  but  her  hands  trembled  so  she  could  not 
do  it,  and  it  was  some  time  before  she  could  speak.” 

The  boys  dragged  the  wolf  home,  and  the  frightened 
mother  carried  the  rifle.  Subsequently,  Josiah  Lord 
and  one  of  his  sons  captured  a young  bear,  which 
they  took  home  alive  and  kept  until  it  regained  its 
freedom  by  gnawing  off  the  rope  with  which  it  was 
tied. 

Above  the  Elisha  Lord  place  an  improvement  was 
made  at  an  early  day,  which  was  purchased  in  the 
fall  of  1803  by  Barnard  Worthing,  a native  of  Ver- 
mont, whose  son  built  a house  on  this  tract  of  land 
the  following  year.  In  the  spring  of  1805  the  Worth- 


ing family  occupied  this  place,  but  removed  at  an 


iVort 


Ad 

1811 

BODtl 


lied, 


dial 

ini 

He 


fori 

a“ 


I 

Swi 

nin 

nui 


sai 

th( 

SCf 


early  day.  The  farm  became  known  later  as  the 
Abel  Green  place,  and  after  having  many  occupants 


LATHROP. 


679 


' a part  of  it  is  now  owned  by  George  C.  Bronson.  The 
' Wortliings  remained  identified  with  the  interests  of 
Brooklyn  for  a longer  period  than  their  removal  from 
Lathrop. 

Amos  Bronson  came  from  Litchfield,  Conn.,  in 
1814,  and  settled  on  the  present  Wallace  farm,  in  the 
southern  part  of  Dimock.  He  was  fourteen  days 
making  the  journey,  and  brought  along  some  fine 
stock,  among  the  rest  being  twenty  head  of  merino 
sheep.  He  was  the  father  of  daughters  who  mar- 
ried,— Harriet,  Thomas  Muzzy,  of  Dimock ; Anna, 
Joseph  Meeker;  and  Adaline,  Zachariah  Brewster,  of 
Bridgewater.  Of  his  two  sons,  John  removed  to  In- 
diana, and  Lake  is  still  living  at  Bronson’s  Corners, 
in  Lathrop,  at  the  advanced  age  of  eighty-nine  years. 
He  is  the  father  of  Philander  S.  and  George  C.  Bron- 
son, both  of  whom  served  in  the  Union  army.  The 
former  claims  credit  as  a pioneer  in  the  advocacy  of 
a “greenback”  currency  of  our  country. 

In  1811  Noah  Pratt  settled  on  the  present  Lorenzo 
Sweet  place,  on  Horton’s  Creek.  He  had  a family  of 
nineteen  children,  and  the  descendants  became  very 
numerous,  but  most  of  them  removed  from  the  town- 
ship. 

Elihu  Smith  settled  on  the  farm  below  Pratt’s  the 
same  year.  He  subsequently  improved  a farm  nearer 
the  Brooklyn  line,  which  is  still  occupied  by  his  de- 
scendants. A daughter  became  the  wife  of  Orson 
Case,  of  Hopbottom,  and  of  his  sons,  Elihu  moved  to 
Montrose  and  Gilbert  to  Brooklyn. 

Earlier  than  this,  in  1819,  Anthony  Wright,  from 
Somers,  Conn.,  settled  on  Martin’s  Creek,  on  the  place 
next  above  the  Sprague  clearing,  which  was  at  that 
time  occupied  by  Ira  Sweatland,  one  of  the  claimants 
of  the  property.  He  was  one  of  the  pioneer  Method- 
ists of  this  section,  and  a public-spirited  citizen.  He 
occupied  his  farm  forty-eight  years,  departing  this 
life  in  December,  1857,  nearly  seventy-four  years  old. 
Some  years  later  his  father.  Captain  Samuel  Wright, 
settled  southwest  from  him,  on  the  west  side  of  the 
ridge,  where  he  died  in  1835.  Dr.  Samuel  Wright 
was  a son  of  Anthony,  and  settled  on  the  creek  below 
the  homestead,  on  the  Sprague  improvement.  Loren 
was  another  son,  but  Samuel  and  Wise  Wright,  living 
in  Brooklyn,  were  his  brothers. 

Lower  down  the  creek  Bela  Case  made  a clearing, 
coming  to  the  place  after  having  lived  in  Brooklyn  a 
few  years  after  1810,  but  did  not  remain  long.  His 
son  Orson  remained,  and  was  the  first  permanent 
settler  of  what  is  now  the  borough  of  Hopbottom. 

Near  the  township  line,  west  from  Wright’s  and 
east  from  Lord’s,  William  Squiers  settled  in  the  fall 
of  1816.  He  came  from  Westfield,  Vt.  Ten  years 
later  he  left  this  place  and  moved  to  the  forks  of  the 
outlet  of  Tarbell  Pond  with  Horton  Creek,  on  the 
place  which  Levi  Phelps  had  cleared  after  1812. 
Here  he  died  in  1865,  but  the  farm  is  still  occupied 
by  his  descendants,  as  is  told  in  a separate  sketch  in 
this  book. 


The  Waterford  Asset^sment  in  1816  gives  the  names 
of  all  the  settlers  living  in  what  are  now  Brooklyn 
and  Lathrop  at  that  time,  as  follows  : 

Amos  Bailey,  Fred.  Bailey,  Stephen  Breed,  Joshua  Baker,  Stephen 
Bagley,  Orlando  Bagley,  Jesse  Bagley,  Lewis  Bagley,  Silas  Bagloy, 
Thomas  Bagley,  Gideon  Beebe,  William  Bunge,  Augustus  Bunge,  John 
Babcock,  Bela  Case,  Erastus  Caswell,  Asa  Crandall,  Joseph  Chapman, 
Jr.,  Joseph  Chapman,  Putnam  Catlin,  Daniel  Cone,  Solomon  Dickinson, 
Thomas  Davidson,  James  Davidson,  Calvin  Davidson,  Silas  Ely,  Gabriel 
Ely,  William  Ely,  Erastus  Ely,  Zelophehad  Ely,  Anthony  Fish,  Davy 
Fox,  Cyrel  Giddings,  Charles  Gere,  Jeremiah  Gere,  Stephen  Gere,  Samuel 
Howard,  Ephraim  Howe,  John  James,  Lawrence  Johnson,  Eleazer  Kim- 
ball, Justus  Kent,  Valentine  Lewis,  Josiah  Lord,  Josiah  Lord,  Jr.,  Eliza 
Lord,  John  Lord,  William  Latham,  Jedediah  Lathrop,  Daniel  Lawrence, 
Bloomfield  Milbourne,  Eliza  Mack,  Enoch  Mack,  Elijah  Mack,  David 
Morgan,  Joshua  Miles,  Joshua  D.  Miles,  Mary  W.  Miles,  Hezekiah  Plo- 
ney,  Jonathan  Packley,  David  Phelps,  Charles  Perigo,  Prince  Perkins, 
William  Perkins,  James  Packer,  Ebonezer  Payne, Edward  Payne,  Peter 
Paul,  Noah  Pratt,  Levi  Phelps,  Edward  Packer,  Thaddeus  Palmer, 
Esek  H.  Palmer,  Nathaniel  Rose,  Robert  Rand,  Nathaniel  Reynolds, 
David  Stone,  John  Seymour,  Elisha  Safford,  William  Squier,  James 
Smith,  Ira  Sweatland,  Silas  Sweatland,  Thomas  Saunders,  Simon  Saun- 
ders, Varnum  Saunders,  Joshua  Saunders,  Benjamin  Saunders,  Isjiac 
Sterling,  Nathaniel  Sterling,  Thomas  Sterling,  Reuben  Seeley,  William 
Sterling,  Zara  Sutliff,  David  Sutliff,  Harris  Sutliff,  Aaron  Squier,  Isaac 
Smith,  Anson  Spicer,  Pelatiah  Tiffany,  Alfred  Tiffany,  Noah  Tiffany, 
Olney  Tiffany,  Nathan  Tham,  Jonathan  Tewksbury,  Jacob  Tewksbury, 
Thomas  Tewksbury,  Sargent  Tewksbury,  Oliver  Tubbs,  Mott  Wilkinson, 
William  Western,  Roswell  Whitney,  Samuel  Wright  Anthony  Wright, 
Samuel  Wright,  Jr.,  Wise  Wright,  Latham  Williams,  Jacob  Worthing, 
Winthrop  Worthing,  Jonathan  Worthing,  Elisha  Williams,  Stephen 
Williams,  Silas  Witters,  John  Weston,  Samuel  Weston,  Joseph  Youmans, 
Samuel  Youmans. 

It  vi'ill  be  seen  that  but  few,  comparatively,  lived 
in  the  Lathrop  part  of  Waterford,  and  that  the  south- 
ern part  of  the  township  was  at  this  time  an  unbroken 
wilderness.  Soon  after  1816  Deacon  Joshua  Jackson 
settled  on  the  north  line,  but  in  Brooklyn,  as  also  did 
his  son  Joshua,  who  returned  to  New  Hampshire. 
Joseph  and  Caleb,  other  sons  of  the  deacon,  lived  in 
Lathrop  and  cleared  up  farms.  The  daughters  mar- 
ried Ezra  S.  Brown  and  Rufus  Rose.  Joseph  Fisk 
came  about  the  same  time  and,  after  living  in  this 
neighborhood  a brief  period,  moved  to  what  is  now 
Niven,  in  Springville,  which,  from  his  settlement 
there,  was  called  “ Fisk’s  Corners.”  Some  of  the 
members  of  his  family  connected  themselves  with  the 
Mormon  colony,  which  immigrated  from  the  south- 
eastern part  of  Springfield  and  the  southwestern  part 
of  Lathrop,  to  join  the  head  of  the  church  in  the 
West. 

Dyer  Williams. — The  family  homestead  in  New 
England  was  at  Brooklyn,  Windham  County,  Conn. 
His  paternal  grandfather,  Thomas  M.  Williams,  re- 
sided on  this  homestead,  was  drafted  in  the  War  of 
1812,  and  went  as  far  as  New  London.  He  died  in 
1829.  His  wife,  Mary  Boswell,  died  in  1815,  and 
their  children  were  Flavel  M.  (1800-80),  Archibald, 
George,  Betsey,  Elizabeth  and  Clarissa.  By  a second 
wife,  a Miss  Bennett,  Thomas  had  children — Hannah, 
wife  of  Henry  Gardner,  of  Dunning,  Lackawanna 
County,  Pa.,  and  Josiah  B.  Williams,  of  this  county. 

Flavel  M.  Williams  married,  in  1826,  Lodema 
Downing  (1779-1875),  a native  of  the  same  place,  who 
was  reared  by  one  Williams,  and  by  Jacob  Butte,  of 


680 


HISTORY  OP  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


Lawrence,  Otsego  County,  N.  Y.,  until  the  age  of 
twenty-three,  when  she  returned  to  Connecticut, 
where  they  were  married.  They  first  went  to  Law- 
rence, N.  Y.,  and  resided  in  other  places,  but  in  1834 
came  to  Brooklyn,  this  county,  his  brother  Archi- 
bald having  come  some  years  earlier.  In  1843  Mr. 
Williams  bought,  of  Henry  Drinker,  one  hundred 
acres  in  Lathrop,  near  Lakeside,  then  having  a small 
clearing  and  a log  shanty,  without  a door  or  any  roof. 
Here  this  couple  began  life,  and  with  a laudable  am- 
bition set  about  making  themselves  a home.  As  years 
came  and  went,  the  clearing  became  larger  and  the 
soil  better  prepared  for  crops  until,  in  1866,  a frame 


Betsey,  1835,  wife  of  Warden  Rockwell,  of  Lathrop;  and 
Dyer  Williams,  who  was  born  where  he  now  resides, 
April  30,  1845.  He  had  the  usual  opportunity,  in 
common  with  other  boys,  of  the  advantages  of  the 
home-school,  and  as  soon  as  old  enough,  assisted  his 
father  on  the  farm.  He  has  made  many  improve- 
ments on  the  homestead,  and  cleared  a large  part  of  it 
himself,  and  erected  a commodious  barn  the  year 
before  his  father’s  death.  Mr.  Williams  is  one  of  the 
industrious,  calculating,  thorough  farmers  of  the 
township.  He  has  served  his  township  as  school 
director  for  six  years,  as  supervisor  for  two  years,  and 
is  the  present  treasurer,  in  1887.  His  political  afiilia- 


residence  took  the  place  of  the  log  house,  and  w'ell- 
fenced  fields  the  place  of  woodland.  Mr.  Williams 
was  a reading  man,  possessed  a remarkable  memory  of 
events,  and  was  interested  in  the  current  political 
topics  of  the  day.  Originally  a Democrat,  he  became 
a Whig,  was  a warm  admirer  of  President  Lincoln, 
and  a Republican.  His  wife  was,  early  in  lite,  bap- 
tized into  the  Episcopal  Church,  and  both  were  buried 
at  Hillsdale  Cemetery,  in  Lathrop.  Their  children 
are  Seymour  (1828-81),  settled  in  Chicago,  where  he 
was  a member  of  the  Board  of  Trade;  Phebe,  1830, 
wife  of  Lyman  Saunders,  a farmer  in  Lathrop  ; 


tions  are  with  the  Republican  party. 

He  married,  in  1873,  Amy  Gray,  who  was  born  in 
Dimock,  March  24,  1844,  by  whom  he  has  one  child, 
Arthur  S.  Williams. 

Her  father,  Abisha  W.  Gray  (1809-82),  was  a native 
of  Groton,  Conn.,  and  came  here  with  his  parents, 
Jonas  Gray  (a  cooper  and  a seafaring  man),  and 
step  mother,  Polly  Vorce,  in  1817,  and  settled  in 
Dimock,  where  they  died.  His  own  mother,  Lucy 
Sjjicer,  died  in  Connecticut. 

Abisha  W.  Gray  married,  in  1831,  Mary  Green, 
born  in  Rhode  Island  in  1812,  resided  in  Dimock  till 


LATHEOP. 


G81 


1848,  when  he  settled  in  Eush,  and  resided  until  his 
death.  The  homestead  is  now  occupied  bj'  his  widow 
and  son,  Francis  M.  Gray.  Their  other  children  are 
Jonas  L.;  Emily  and  Francis  H.  died  young ; John  W. 
(2d),  a farmer  in  Rush;  Amy  (Mrs.  Dyer  Williams) ; 
Alice  D.,  wife  of  G.  L.  Bullard,  of  Meshopj^en ; and 
Percilla  M.  (1853-81),  the  wife  of  Cyrus  Roberts,  died 
in  Rush.  The  parents  of  Mary  Green  Abel  (1789- 
1809)  and  Polly  (Whitford)  Green  came  from  Rhode 
Island  in  1817,  and  settled  where  G.  C.  Bronson  now 
resides,  on  the  Abington  turnpike,  in  Lathrop,  and 
the  same  year  the  mother  died.  Their  children 
were  Phebe,  wife  of  Samuel  Thurber,  died  in  Wis- 
consin in  1886,  at  seventy-six  years  of  age;  Mary 
Green  (Mrs.  Gray)  Wanton,  1815,  resides  in  Lathrop  ; 
James,  1817,  of  Oregon.  Abel  Green  married  Roma 
Nichols  for  his  second  wife,  who  bore  him  Elijah, 
Betsey,  Sarah  and  Abel,  all  deceased.  He  was  buried 
in  the  Nicholson  cemetery. 

The  children  of  Jonas  Gray  are  Hannah,  wife  of 
Isaac  Park,  of  Bradford  County  ; Polly, wife  of  Liberty 
Sharp,  of  Owego,  N.  Y. ; Philip  died  of  yellow  fever 
in  New  Orleans ; Alathea,  wife  of  Marcus  Eastabrook, 
of  Bradford  County ; John  W.  resides  in  Dimock ; 
Oliver  lived  and  died  in  Bradford  County ; and 
Abisha  Gray. 

Mary  Boswell’s  father  was  pressed  into  the  British 
army,  deserted  and  came  to  America,  and  was  a sol- 
dier during  the  Revolutionary  War  in  support  of  the 
colonies. 

Ephraim  Tewksbury  came  about  1818,  and  settled 
on  the  John  Lean  place,  in  the  northern  part  of  the 
township,  east  from  Horton’s  Creek.  He  was  the 
father  of  sons  named  Isaac,  Asa  and  Perry.  The  latter 
moved  to  the  West.  Asa  died  at  Hopbottom,  in 
1871.  Isaac  settled  on  the  farm  south  of  the  home- 
stead, but  sold  to  Reuben  Tewksbury,  a son  of  Sar- 
gent Tewksbury,  of  Brooklyn,  and  moved  to  Hop- 
bottom,  where  he  died.  He  was  the  father  of  sons 
named  Edmund  G.,  Curtis,  Rufus,  Ephraim  and  Ly- 
man. George  L.  and  Isaac  S.  Tewksbury,  sons  of 
Jonathan,  of  Brooklyn,  settled  in  the  neighborhood 
of  Tarbell’s  Pond.  The  former  died  on  the  farm  he 
had  improved,  but  the  latter  returned  to  Brooklyn. 

In  1835  Jesse  Silvius  located  on  the  west  side  of 
Tarbell’s  Pond,  and  lived  there  until  his  death,  in  the 
fall  of  1886.  He  was  the  father  of  sons  named  Oscar, 
John  and  George.  Of  other  early  and  prominent 
settlers  in  the  neighborhood  of  this  body  of  water, 
special  sketches  are  given. 

Lorenzo  Sweet. — Amos  Sweet,  with  his  wife 
and  children — Captain  Asahel,  Stephen,  Oney,  Polly 
and  Nancy — came  from  Attleborough,  Mass.,  in  the 
fall  of  1795,  to  Nicholson  (now  Harford),  and  joined 
the  Nine  Partners’  settlement.  He  built  a black- 
smith-shop the  same  fall.  Amos  Sweet  had  six  sons 
and  two  daughters.  Amos,  Jr.,  Elias  and  John,  re- 
mained in  Massachusetts  until  the  fall  of  1797,  when 
Elias  and  John  came  to  what  is  now  Harford. 
43i 


Amos,  Jr.,  a blacksmith,  remained  in  Attleborough. 
The  earliest  religious  meetings  for  the  purpose  of 
reading  the  Scriptures  were  frequently  held  at  the 
house  of  Amos  Sweet  as  early  as  the  latter  part  of 
1795,  and  a recent  writer  says  they  were  continued 
for  twenty-five  years.  In  1868  Captain  Asahel 
Sweet  was  living  at  over  ninety  years  of  age.  He 
married  in  1801,  and  settled  on  a farm  in  Harford, 
where  he  spent  his  life.  He  died  in  1872,  at  over 
ninety-four  years,  and  had  been  cared  for  by  a 
daughter  for  some  twenty  years. 

Elias  Sweet,  a son  of  Amos,  married  Abigail  Fos- 
ter, resided  in  Harford,  where  Jackson  Tingley  now 
lives,  and  had  children — Captain  Elias,  Joseph,  Alfred, 
Hannah,  wife  of  Saxa  Seymour,  was  a merchant  at 
Harford;  Eliza,  wife  of  a Mr.  Capron,  of  Ohio; 
Arta,  Abigail,  wife  of  Ira  Belcher,  of  Gibson.  The 
others  settled  in  Harford,  except  those  whose  settle- 
ment is  mentioned. 

Of  these.  Captain  Elias  (1794-1833)  was  father  of 
Lorenzo  Sweet,  and  married  Sylvia  Wright  (1792- 
1848),  a daughter  of  Samuel  and  Azuba  (Gibbs) 
Wright,  the  grandparents  of  Dr.  Samuel  Wright, 
herein  mentioned. 

This  Samuel  Wright  was  a soldier  of  the  Revolu- 
tion, settled  in  Lathrop  after  his  sons  came  here,  and 
died  in  1835. 

Captain  Elias  Sweet  owned  a farm  at  Oakley,  in 
Harford  township,  and  a saw-mill  there  in  connection 
with  Daniel  Oakley,  which  he  managed  until  1833, 
when  he  was  accidentally  drowned  in  the  mill-pond. 
He  was  captain  of  an  artillery  company  for  several 
years.  Their  children  are  Lorenzo,  the  eldest;  Wil- 
liam Henry  resided  and  died  in  Harford ; George  A. 
resides  in  New  Milford  township  ; Elenora,  wife  of 
Washington  Wilmarth,  died  in  Harford  ; Alfred  was 
accidentally  killed  in  the  mill-yard ; Eliza,  wife  of 
Hother  Reynolds,  of  Brooklyn ; Elias,  of  New  Mil- 
ford; and  Andrus  Sweet,  who  went  West  and  has  not 
been  since  heard  from.  Lorenzo  was  twenty  years 
old  when  his  father  was  drowned.  He  assisted  his 
mother  in  the  management  of  the  farm  and  mill  un- 
til he  attained  his  majority,  and,  when  twenty-two 
years  old,  bought  out  the  interest  of  his  father’s  es- 
tate. His  mother  subsequently  married  Daniel  Piper, 
and  moved  to  Harford.  Lorenzo,  at  sixteen,  had  be- 
gun learning  the  trade  of  a carpenter,  and  at  that 
age  had  closed  his  school-boy  days,  which  had  been 
at  such  times  in  the  year  as  he  could  be  of  little 
service  as  a worker  at  home. 

He  continued  the  management  of  the  farm  and 
saw-mill,  and  engaged  in  lumbering  for  seventeen 
years,  when  he  sold  his  property  at  Oakley  to  the 
Delaware,  Lackawanna  and  Western  Railroad,  and 
the  same  year,  1851,  bought  his  present  farm  in 
Lathrop,  one  hundred  and  twenty-three  acres,  of  the 
widow  of  Dr.  Rose,  formerly  the  Noah  Pratt  place. 
This  has  been  his  homestead  since,  the  house  being 
built  by  Pratt  and  repaired  by  himself  in  1863.  Mr. 


682 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


Sweet  is  a careful,  industrious  business  man.  He  has 
served  as  treasurer  of  the  township  for  seventeen 
years,  and  assessor,  and  has  held  the  office  of  school 
director  and  been  otherwise  officially  identified  with 
the  community. 

He  married,  in  1841,  Lydia  M.  Squires,  who  was 
born  July  17,  1823,  a devoted  wife  and  mother,  and  a 
member  of  the  Methodist  Church.  Her  father,  Wil- 
liam Squires(1788-1865),  married  Betsey  Brown  (1795- 
1864),  and  came  from  Westfield,  Vt.,  in  the  fall  of 
1816,  to  a farm  afterwards  owned  by  A.  Sterling,  near 
the  north  line  of  Lathrop  (then  Waterford),  on  the 


Jesse  Silvius,  of  Lathrop  ; John,  of  Scranton;  Lydia 
M.  (Mrs.  Sweet) ; Lucy  Mary,  wife  of  Asahel  Lord, 
resides  in  Wilkes-Barre ; Susan  E.,  wife  of  G.  W.  Tif- 
fany, of  Hopbottom ; Reuben  S.,  on  the  homestead ; 
Henry,  principal  of  the  Pittsburgh  High  School  for 
many  years,  and  a merchant  in  that  city ; Parley  P. 
Squires,  a farmer  in  Lenox. 

Betsey  Brown  was  the  daughter  of  Isaac  and  Lydia 
(Ingalls)  Brown,  who  were  also  early  settlers  in 
Lathrop  from  Vermont,  and  Isaac  Brown  was  a sol- 
dier of  the  Revolution,  and  died  at  the  age  of  ninety- 
eight  years. 


first  road  east  of  Horton’s  Creek.  About  1826  he  re- 
moved to  the  Colonel  Phelps  place,  where  they  s]3ent 
the  remainder  of  their  lives.  They  were  buried  in  the 
Hillsdale  cemetery.  Their  son  succeeded  to  the 
homestead,  which  is  situated  near  the  junction  of  the 
outlet  of  Tarbell’s  Pond  and  Horton’s  Creek.  He 
was  an  active  Presbyterian  and  a constant  attendant 
at  the  Brooklyn  Centre  Presbyterian  Church  for  nearly 
forty  years. 

Their  children  are  Sarah,  widow  of  Dr.  Samuel 
Wright,  for  many  years  a physician  of  Lathrojr,  whose 
sketch  is  in  this  volume ; Louisa  was  the  first  wife  of 


The  children  of  Lorenzo  and  Lydia  M.  Sweet  are 
Angelia,  wife  of  John  Bisbee,  of  New  Milford ; Almon 
E.,  of  Jetmore,  Hodgman  County,  Kansas,  a con- 
tractor and  farmer ; Levy  D.,  a carpenter  at  Wichita, 
Kansas  ; George  A.  Sweet,  a carpenter  on  a part  of  the 
homestead  ; and  Arta  L.  died  young. 

Southwest  from  this  locality,  now  called  Lakeside, 
Jacob  Decker  settled  in  1842,  coming  from  Luzerne 
County.  He  removed  to  Wisconsin  in  1866,  but  of 
his  nine  children  James  lives  in  Springville,  Job  at 
Factoryville,  Elijah  W.  and  Henry  on  part  of  the 
homestead,  the  remaining  part  being  owned  by  Ira 


LATHROP. 


683 


B.  Miller.  The  oldest  son,  Joseph,  and  the  remainder  | 
of  the  family  moved  to  the  West,  except  three 
daughters,  who  were  married  in  this  county. 

In  the  northeastern  part  of  the  township  Isaac 
Brown  was  an  early  settler,  but  died  more  than  forty 
years  ago.  He  was  the  father  of  Eden  Brown,  of 
Lathrop,  and  John  Brown,  of  Lenox.  The  former 
had  a son  named  Carter,  who  removed  to  Winona, 
Minn.,  and  another  son,  William  Jenas,  lives  on  the 
homestead.  He  is  the  father  of  David  L.  Brown,  of 
Montrose. 

West  from  this  place  Ezra  S.  Brown  and  Daniel 
Wood  purchased  a tract  of  land  in  1832,  which  had 
previously  been  owned  by  George  Harding.  Brown 
was  a carpenter  by  trade,  and  had  come  to  Lathrop 
as  early  as  1821.  He  is  now  a resident  of  Hopbot- 
tom,  more  than  eighty  years  old.  Descendants  of  the 
Wood  family  also  remain  in  the  township.  South, 
Joseph  Gardner  made  some  improvements  and  still 
resides  in  that  locality,  aged  eighty-seven  years.  He 
is  the  father  of  sons  named  John,  Eliphalet  and 
Washington. 

In  the  same  district  Silas  Robinson,  from  Vermont, 
settled  at  a later  period.  He  was  the  father  of  Wil- 
liam Robinson,  of  Bronson’s  Corners,  and  Thomas 
Robinson,  of  Factoryville.  Thomas  J.  Robinson,  a 
brother  of  Silas,  lived  in  the  upper  part  of  the  same 
district,  where  his  descendants  still  own  the  farm. 

John  Johnson. — Among  those  who  have  carved 
out  a home  for  themselves,  cleared  off  the  forest  and 
erected  fine  farm  buildings  surrounded  with  cultivated 
fields,  probably  there  is  no  one  in  the  township  of 
this  generation  of  men  and  women  that  deserve  more 
special  mention  than  John  Johnson  and  his  wife, 
Julia  Ann  Sutton  Johnson,  whom  he  married  in  1845. 
He  was  born  in  Hunterdon  County,  N.  J.,  November 
18,  1822,  and  removed  with  his  parents,  Benjamin  A. 
and  Zeluma  Lindsley  Johnson,  to  Sussex  County,  in 
that  State,  where  they  settled,  near  Branchville.  This 
was  the  home  of  his  grandparents,  his  grandfather’s 
name  being  John  Johnson.  At  Branchville  his 
father  was  engaged  for  some  fourteen  years  in  a 
woolen  manufactory.  In  1835  the  family  removed  to 
Bridgewater,  this  county,  afterwards  resided  in  Jes- 
sup, and  subsequently  settled  on  a farm  near  the  line 
of  Spriugville  and  Lathrop,  in  the  former  township, 
where  the  parents  spent  the  remainder  of  Iheir  days 
and  were  huried  in  the  cemetery  there.  The  mother 
was  a devoted  Christian  woman,  a member  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church  at  Montrose,  and  afterwards 
united  with  the  Presbyterian  Church  at  Brooklyn. 
Their  children  were  carefully  trained  in  all  that 
makes  true  manhood,  and  early  taught  industry,  econ- 
omy, and  how  to  become  useful  men  and  women  and 
good  citizens.  The  other  children  are  Benjamin  A.,  of 
Dimock  ; William,  of  Lathrop  ; Albert  Dennison,  of 
Springville ; Phebe,  deceased,  was  the  wife  of  C. 
Shelp,  of  Jessup;  Mary  Ann,  deceased,  was  the  wife 
of  Benjamin  Risley,  of  Dimock  ; Susannah,  deceased, 


was  the  wife  of  Philander  Strickland,  of  Springville  ; 
Betsey  is  the  wife  of  Giles  Osborne,  of  Lathrop; 
Amanda,  the  wife  of  Tyler  Waldie,  a constable  oi 
Brooklyn  ; and  Theodore,  a farmer,  resides  in  Spring- 
ville. For  two  years  after  his  marriage  Mr.  Johnson 
resided  in  Jessup,  where  he  bought  land,  cleared 
twelve  acres,  and  then  his  property  was  sold  from  un- 
der him,  leaving  him  with  nothing.  In  the  spring  of 
1848  he  settled  on  a woodland  tract  of  one  hundred 
acres,  bought  of  the  Pierpont  estate,  on  the  western 
line  of  Lathrop,  where,  the  same  season,  he  cut  away 
the  forest  trees  and  the  next  season  erected  a small 
frame  house,  and  began  clearing  his  land  and  pre- 
paring its  soil  for  crops.  After  nine  years,  when  he 
had  made  considerable  improvements,  his  house  was 
destroyed  by  fire.  Nothing  daunted,  he  fitted  up 
his  corn-house,  moved  in  the  family  and  used  it  as  a 
domicile  until  he  had  erected  another,  which  was  the 
homestead  until  it  was  supplanted,  in  1886,  by  his 
present  line  and  commodious  residence.  At  the  time 
his  house  was  burned  he  had  little  means  to  build 
another,  and  some  of  his  kind  neighbors,  by  subscrip- 
tion, raised  money  and  gave  him  to  build  the  second 
one.  Knowing  the  motive  of  his  friends  and  highly 
appreciating  their  kindness,  he  retained  the  list  of 
helpers,  and,  twelve  years  afterwards,  reimbursed  all 
of  them  with  interest  and  principal.  He  subsequently, 
in  1864,  in  1868,  in  1871  and  in  1872,  added  to  his 
original  purchase  three  hundred  and  thirty-four  acres 
more  of  land  adjoining,  bought  from  the  Drinker  es- 
tate and  others.  Part  of  this  he  sold,  leaving  his 
present  farm  two  hundred  and  eighty  acres.  He 
bought,  in  1 882,  a property  in  Park  Place,  Scranton 
City,  which  he  also  owns,  in  1887.  He  has  cleared 
much  of  his  land  himself,  erected  spacious  out-build- 
ings, substantial  fences,  and  all  his  surroundings  show 
thrift,  industry  and  the  work  of  an  intelligent  agri- 
culturist. Mr.  Johnson  may  well  be  patterned  after 
by  the  rising  generation  for  persevering  industry, 
integrity  and  an  honest  purpose  in  all  the  re- 
lations of  life.  His  home  is  the  welcome  place  for  the 
itinerant  minister  and  the  stranger,  and  his  liberality 
to  every  good  cause  equal  to  his  means  to  bestow. 

Their  children  are  two  sons  and  two  daughters,  all 
married  and  have  homes  of  their  own, — Manning 
Benoni,  a farmer  in  Springville;  Miles  Hubert,  a far- 
mer in  East  Bridgewater ; Helen  Lillia,  wife  of  Isaac 
J.  Kinney,  of  Lathrop ; and  Flora  Ida,  wife  of  George 
Thayer,  of  Park  Place,  Scranton.  Mrs.  Johnson  at- 
tended the  Harford  Academy  in  girlhood,  then  con- 
ducted by  Rev.  Lyman  Richardson,  and  was  a teacher 
for  five  terms  before  her  marriage.  She  has  been  a 
member  of  the  Union  Methodist  Class  in  the  neigh- 
borhood for  thirty  years,  was  one  of  the  organizers  of 
the  Union  Ladies’  Aid  Society  on  January  2,  1887, 
and  is  a woman  devoted  to  her  family,  the  church 
and  every  good  work.  Her  mother,  Betsey  Tuttle 
Sutton  (1796-1882),  a native  of  Wethersfield,  Vt.,  was 
a devoted  member  of  the  Methodist  Church  at  Spring- 


684 


HISTOKY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


ville  from  1810  until  her  death,  a period  of  seventy- 
two  years.  Her  father,  Samuel  Sutton  (1796-1875), 
was  a farmer  in  Springville,  and  was  a native  of 
Milford,  Pa.,  whose  parents  were  Samuel  and  Susan- 
nah (Strickland)  Sutton,  residents  also  of  Springvillle. 
Her  mother,  Betsey  Tuttle,  was  a daughter  of  Ezra 
Tuttle,  who  came  to  Springville  from  Wethersfield, 
Vt.,  in  1801,  with  his  family  of  six  children, 
and  settled  near  Lynn.  He  drove  in  from  Vermont 
two  cows  and  three  horses.  He  was  a carpenter  and 
millwright,  built  the  first , frame  house  in  the  town- 
ship, and,  with  his  sons,  cleared  two  hundred  and 


first  child  born  in  the  township.  Mrs.  Johnson’s 
father,  Samuel  Sutton,  had  one  brother,  Sylvester, 
who  died  in  the  West,  and  one  sister,  Phebe,  the 
wife  of  Charles  Thomas  and  mother  of  Professor  S. 
S.  Thomas,  a teacher  of  wide  repute  in  the  coun- 
ty ; and  another,  Sally,  wife  of  George  Watson,  who 
lived  West.  The  children  of  Samuel  and  Betsey 
Sutton  are  Terressa  A,  was  the  wifeof  Eev.  Welcome 
Smith,  a Methodist  minister  of  New  York;  Manning 
Roach,  a justice  of  the  peace  and  surveyor,  of  New- 
comb, Ersex  County,  N.  Y. ; Henrietta,  wife  of  Miles 
Prichard,  of  Springville;  Julia  Ann,  born  July  9 


fifty  acres  of  land.  He  also  constructed  a large  part 
of  the  Wilkes-Barre  and  Montrose  turnpike.  He 
bought  his  land  under  the  Connecticut  title,  but  after- 
wards had  to  pay  five  hundred  dollars  to  secure  a 
legal  title  from  Henry  Drinker,  the  Pennsylvania 
claimant.  He  died  in  1826.  His  children  were  Abi- 
athar,  a member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church 
over  fifty  years,  died  at  over  ninety  ; Benoni,  died 
young ; Sylva,  a Mrs.  Carrier,  of  Bridgewater  ; Sa- 
brina, married  a Mr.  McKenzie,  of  the  same  township  ; 
Betsey,  a Mr.  Sutton ; Achsah,  a Mr.  Strickland,  of 
Springville;  and  Myron  Tuttle,  who  died  West,  the 


1824,  wite  of  John  Johnson,  our  subject;  Samuel  E., 
of  Springville;  Sabrina,  wife  of  L.  F.  Eosengrant, 
died  in  Springville ; Phebe,  wife  of  Joseph  Oakley, 
died  in  Springville  ; Eliza,  wife  of  E.  W.  Tiffany,  near 
Tunkhannock. 

Lyman  Saunders.— The  progenitor  of  the  family 
here  was  Joshua,  who  removed  with  his  family  from 
Rhode  Island  in  1801,  and  settled  at  Mack’s  Corners. 
He  sold  to  Elisha  Mack  in  1811,  and  in  1817  moved 
to  Ohio  with  Orlando  Bagley  and  sons,  but  returned 
after  a time  to  Brooklyn,  where  they  spent  the  re- 
mainder of  their  lives.  Mrs.  Joshua  Saunders  is 


LATHKOP. 


685 


mentioned  by  Dr.  Peck,  in  his  history  of  early  Meth- 
odism, as  one  of  the  first  class  of  four  in  the  vicinity. 
His  children  were  Thomas,  Lyman,  Nathan  (killed 
while  assisting  Captain  Amos  Bailey  clear  his  land  in 
1804,  by  the  falling  of  the  limb  of  a tree),  Aaron, 
Shelfield,  Falla  (wife  of  Jesse  Bagley,  who  built  a 
hotel  in  Brooklyn  and  kept  it  for  several  years),  and 
Martha  and  Eliza  (who  married  and  remained  in 
Ehode  Island).  Of  these,  Aaron  (1798-1862)  was 
only  three  years  old  when  the  family  came  here.  He 
married  Polly  Crandall,  who  died  about  1850.  She 
was  a daughter  of  Caleb  Crandall,  settler  here  from 


bottom  ; James,  a blacksmith  at  Bisbee’s  Corners, 
Lathrop ; Lucy,  wife  of  Jerry  Stanton,  of  Waverly, 
Pa.  ; and  Sarah  died  young.  By  his  second  marriage, 
to  the  Widow  Hawley,  Aaron  Saunders  had  children, 
— Judson,  of  Kansas,  and  Ida  Saunders,  of  Nicholson. 
Lyman  Saunders,  son  of  Aaron,  had  to  depend  upon 
his  own  resources  for  a start  in  life,  and  in  boyhood 
became  inured  to  labor  on  the  farm.  In  1852  he  married 
Phebe  Williams,  who  was  born  in  Lawrence,  Otsego 
County,  N.  Y.,  June  14,  1830,  and  who  was  a teacher 
for  three  terms  before  her  marriage.  Lyman  was  ten 
years  old  when  his  parents  settled  on  his  present 


Rhode  Island  as  early  as  1812.  After  their  marriage 
they  settled  where  William  Ainey  now  resides,  where 
he  cleared  a large  part  of  the  farm.  In  1836  he  re- 
moved to  the  farm  where  his  son  Lyman  now  re- 
sides, situated  on  Lord  Pond  or  Briar  Lake.  Both 
himself  and  wife  were  buried  in  the  Brooklyn 
cemetery. 

Their  children  are  Joseph,  a miller  at  Hopbottom; 
Eleanor,  wife  of  Chauncey  Scott;  Lathrop;  Lyman, 
born  in  Lathrop  October  8,  1826;  Warren  died  a 
young  man  ; Lurama,  wife  of  Henry  M.  Williams,  of 
Brooklyn ; Benjamin,  a blacksmith  in  Boooklyn ; 
Harriet,  wife  of  A.  J.  Chamberlin  ; Martin,  of  Hop- 


farm,  and  he  himself,  by  his  own  industry,  paid  for 
this  one  hundred  and  four  acres  of  land,  upon  which 
he  built  his  residence  in  1853.  His  principal  busi- 
ness has  been  general  farming  and  sheep-raising, 
which  he  has  followed  successfully.  He  has  been  a 
life-long  Democrat,  was  a warm  supporter  of  the 
Union  cause  during  the  War  of  the  Rebellion,  and 
although  not  himself  drafted,  he  bought  a substitute 
for  the  army,  paying  therefor  seven  hundred  dollars. 
He  has  served  as  supervisor  of  Lathrop  for  fourteen 
years,  postmaster  for  thirteen  years,  and  has  been  a 
school  director.  They  have  children, — Charles  S. 
died  in  1855,  aged  about  two  years;  Alpha  L.,  wife  of 


686 


HISTOEY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


Charles  McKinney,  of  East  Bridgewater ; Everett  J., 
farmer  on  the  turnpike  in  Lathrop  ; Annie  G.  and 
Harry  D.  Saunders  at  home. 

Mrs.  Saunders’  father,  Flavel  M.  Williams  (1800- 
80),  married,  in  1826,  Lodema  Downing  (1799-1875), 
and  left  Brooklyn,  Conn.,  for  Lawrence,  Otsego 
County,  N.  Y.,  where  they  remained  until  1834,  when 
they  came  to  Brooklyn,  this  county,  and  subsequently 
settled  at  Lakeside,  in  Lathrop,  where  they  died. 
They  were  buried  at  Hillsdale,  in  Lathrop.  Her 
grandfather  was  Thomas  Williams,  a soldier  of  the 
War  of  1812.  Flavel  Williams’  children  are  Seymour, 
a member  of  the  Board  of  Trade  of  Chicago,  born  in 
1828,  died  in  1881 ; Phebe  (Mrs.  Lyman  Saunders) ; 
Betsey,  born  in  1835,  wife  of  Worden  Eockwell,  of 
Lathrop;  Dyer,  who  owns  the  old  homestead  at 
. Lakeside.  Caleb  Crandall,  the  maternal  grandfather  of 
Lyman  Saunders,  resided  in  what  was  then  Brook- 
lyn, was  married  four  times,  and  reared  children  as 
follows:  Polly,  Asa,  Eliza  (drowned in  the  Hopbottom 
Creek),  Nancy  (wife  of  Thomas  Wilmot,  of  Harford). 
By  his  second  wife,  George,  Henry,  James  and  two 
daughters  ; by  his  third  wife,  Sarah  (wife  of  Myron 
Eeynolds,  of  New  Milford),  Caleb,  Elizabeth  (wife  of 
Kufus  Conrad,  of  Lenox),  and  Joshua  Crandall. 

ZoPHAR  E.  S.  Mackey,  who  had  come  to  Clifford 
in  1824  with  his  father,  George  W.  Mackey,  from 
Eensselaerville,  N.  Y.,  settled  in  Lathrop  from  Clif- 
ford in  1856,  and  purchased  one  hundred  and  fifty 
acres,  containing  a small  log  house,  into  which  he 
moved  his  family.  He  was  a war  Democrat  until 
1876,  and  a Greenbacker  thereafter  until  his  death, 
in  1884.  He  had  a family  of  ten  children, — Francis, 
Joshua  D.,  Geo.  S.,  Jared,  John  B.,  Mina  M.,  Nellie, 
Nelson,  Manly  and  Frank.  The  sons  are  Greenback- 
ers.  George  Searle  at  one  time  cast  the  only  temper- 
ance vote  in  the  township.  He  was  secretary  of  the 
first  Greenback  club,  and  active  in  starting  the 
National  Record,  a Greenback  organ. 

In  1848  the  following  were  the  taxables  of  the 
newly -organized  township  of  Lathrop  : 

John  Ainey,  John  Blanchard,  Jeremiah  Bailey,  Edon  Brown,  Ezra  S. 
Brown,  George  N.  Benjamin,  Harlow  Button,  Seth  Bisbee,  Oliver  G. 
Bowman,  William  Cherry,  Amos  Cook,  Ebenezer  Coke,  William  Driggs, 
David  Davis,  Jacob  Decker,  George  Decker,  William  Felton,  Christian 
Felton,  Wanton  Green,  Charles  Griffls,  Joseph  Gardner,  James  Haynes, 
Cyrus  Haynes,  Stephen  Hazleton,  Jr.,  Marquis  Inkly,  Benjamin  .lolin- 
son,  John  Johnson,  Horace  Jayne,  Ebenezer  Jayne,  Justus  M.  Lee, 
Elisha  L.  Lathrop,  Lyman  Lathrop,  Samuel  Lindsley,  John  Lindsley, 
Elisha  Lord,  John  Lord,  Charles  Lord,  John  Lord,  Jr.,  Joshua  Lord, 
Josiah  Lord,  Julius  Lord,  Mary  Lord,  Drew  Lord,  Parker  Miles,  William 
Miles,  Daniel  Miles,  Joshua  Millard,  Alfred  Pratt,  Noah  Pratt,  Francis 
Perkins,  Chris.  Perkins,  Kufus  Phillips,  Timothy  Quick,  Silas  A.  Robin- 
son, William  Eobinson,  Thomas  Robinson,  Hiram  Eockwell,  Jane  Rose, 
Rufus  Rose,  John  Shaefer,  Elihu  B.  Smith,  Gilbert  N.  Smith,  Elihu 
Smith,  Richard  Smith,  David  G.  Smith,  Martin  Silshttry,  William  Sweet, 
William  B.  Sweet,  Balzer  Steel,  John  Steel,  John  Squiers,  William 
Squiers,  Richard  Selden,  Daniel  Searle,  Jesse  Silvius,  Aaron  Saunders, 
Joseph  Saunders,  Lyman  Saunders,  George  W.  Tiffany,  George  L. 
Tewksbury,  Isaac  S.  Tewksbury,  Reuben  Tewksbury,  Russell  Tewks- 
bury, Clarissa  Tewksbury,  Edmund  G.  Tewksbury,  Curtis  L.  Tewks- 
bury, Elijah  Welch,  Jr.,  Stephen  S.  Welch,  Flavel  M.  Williams,  Ira 
Waterman,  Charles  Waterman,  David  N.  Waterman,  Anthony  Wright, 
Horace  Wright,  Leister  Wright,  Ora  Wright,  Francillo  Wright,  Daniel 


Wood,  John  Wood,  Woodbury  Wilbur,  Daniel  Westbrook,  Ferdinand 
Whipple. 

Business  Interests. — Agriculture  and  its  kindred 
pursuits  constitute  the  chief  employment  of  the  people 
of  Lathrop,  and  there  has  been  but  little  mercantile  j 
business  outside  the  limits  of  Hopbottom.  At  Bron- 
son’s Corners,  John  N.  Gardner  had  a small  store,  in  a 
building  which  has  been  removed  ; and  higher  up  the 
turnpike,  H.  N.  Tiffany  is  now  trading  in  a room  of 
the  Elisha  Lord  house.  Near  by  he  erected  a small 
building,  called  “Concert  Hall,”  in  which  festive  and 
public  gatherings  are  held.  The  school-house  at 
Bronson’s  Corners,  being  centrally  located,  has  been 
much  used  for  public  occasions,  and  there  the  annual 
township  meetings  are  held.  In  this  neighborhood 
was  established  the  Lathrop  post-office,  on  the  8th  of 
May,  1848,  with  Francis  Perkins  as  postmaster.  He 
was  succeeded  by  Christopher  S.  Perkins,  in  1849, 
and  in  1852  the  office  was  discontinued.  May  19, 
1858,  the  office  was  re-established,  and  Edmund  G. 
Tewksbury  was  appointed  postmaster.  Since  that 
time  the  successive  appointees  have  been,  1861,  John 
N.  Gardner;  1862,  Elisha  N.  Lord;  1866,  Ezra  S. 
Brown ; 1867,  Elzinia  Brown ; 1872,  E.  0.  Silvius; 
1878,  Mina  M.  Mackey ; Sept.  1868,  William  H. 
Knapp;  and  since  1883,  Benoni  T.  Strickland.  A 
tri-weekly  mail  is  supplied. 

At  Lakeside  near  the  mouth  of  Tarbell  Pond,  Enoch 
Lord  improved  a power  for  a saw-mill  in  1820,  which 
still  does  good  service,  the  mill  having  been  rebuilt 
several  times.  Among  other  operators  have  been 
George  L.  Tewksbury,  W.  Waterman,  Brownson  and 
Newton,  and  the  present,  James  Mack.  It  does  a good 
local  business.  Lower  down  the  stream  was  the 
William  Squier’s  saw-mill,  operated  by  water-power, 
and  later  a steam  saw-mill  by  E.  S.  Squiers  did  good 
service,  but  both  have  been  abandoned.  Below  this 
point,  on  Horton’s  Creek, — Daniel  Searle  had  a saw 
mill  which  cut  up  the  greater  part  of  a tract  of  thir- 
teen hundred  acres  of  fine  pine  timber.  For  a time 
E.  S.  Searle,  at  that  time  but  a young’man,  had  charge 
of  the  mills,  and  made  heavy  shipments  down  the 
Tunkhannock  and  the  Susquehanna,  by  means  of  rafts, 
some  of  which  were  taken  as  far  as  Baltimore  before 
they  were  broken  up.  The  mill  was  sold  to  W.  H. 
Osborn,  and  later  to  T.  Waterman,  but  the  dam  has 
been  removed,  and  the  land  it  occupied  is  now  used 
for  farming  purposes.  Higher  up  the  stream  Joseph 
Gardner  had  a mill,  which  has, also  been  abandoned 
as  have,  also,  been  some  operated  on  Martin  Creek. 

A recent  industry,  and  one  which  promises  to  be 
of  much  benefit  to  the  township,  is  the  quarrying  ot 
flagstones  in  the  ridges  along  Horton’s  and  Martin 
Creeks.  In  the  former,  especially,  are  found  large 
stones  of  very  superior  quality,  and  paying  quarries 
have  been  02iened  on  the  fai’ms  of  E.  S.  Squiers  and 
William  Osborn,  from  which  unusually  fine  stone 
has  been  shipped.  In  all  five  quarries  are  in  oper- 
ation, and  more  than  fifty  men  are  employed. 


HOPBOTTOM. 


687 


The  apply  jelly  factory  of  the  Mackey  Bros,  is  an 
important  industry,  whose  usefulness  will  be  greatly 
extended  in  the  near  future.  The  Lathrop  First 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  was  incorporated  Nov. 
22,  1S70,  on  the  petition  of  Sidney  Osborn,  S.  C. 
Osborn,  J.  F.  Gray,  Humphrey  Lord,  Jedediah 
Saftbrd,  William  Johnson,  R.  0.  Silvius,  D.  N. 
Waterman,  John  Waterman,  L.  P.  Mack,  John  T. 
Shipley  and  Jesse  Silvius,  with  the  latter,  James 
Mack,  B.  T.  Strickland  and  John  Miller  as  trustees. 
These  took  charge  of  the  church  edifice,  which  was 
then  being  built  at  Lakeside,  and  which  was  dedicated 
February  16,  1871. 

A lot  of  land  on  the  east  shore  of  the  lake,  was 
secured  from  the  Strickland  farm,  on  which  was  built 
a plain  house,  with  sittings  for  several  hundred  people. 
The  outlay  was  $2,600,  of  which  amount  $1000  was 
unsecured  on  the  day  of  dedication,  lent  with  the 
generous  help  of  friends,  from  Wyoming  County, 
$1,100  was  raised  that  day,  and  the  house  was  con- 
secrated free  from  debt,  and  has  since  been  a com- 
fortable place  of  worship.  Previous  meetings  were 
held  in  Lakeside  and  Hillsdale  school-houses,  the  ap- 
pointments being  connected  with  the  old  Brooklyn 
circuit;  and  it  is  said,  that  these  gatherings  were 
sometimes  the  occasion  of  decided  opposition  to  re- 
ligious worship.  An  earnest  interest  in  spiritual 
matters  produced  by  several  revivals,  not  only 
changed  this  feeling,  but  wrought  upon  the  sympathy 
of  the  community  to  help  provide  a permanent  place 
of  worship.  Among  the  earlier  Methodists  were 
numbers  belonging  to  the  Silvius,  Miller,  Mack,  Os- 
born, Tewksbury,  Decker  and  Thayre  families.  In 
1887  the  church  had  about  thirty  members,  constitut- 
ing a class  of  which  James  Baker  was  the  leader. 
The  appointment  belongs  to  West  Nicholson  circuit, 
the  Rev.  I.  F.  Towner  being  the  preacher  in  charge. 
Jesse  Silvius  was  class  leader  from  1869  to  1876, 
followed  by  G.  L.  Thayer,  J.  B.  Williams  and  Jas. 
Baker.  A Sunday-school  was  organized  in  1869,  with 
Sidney  Osborn  first  superintendent,  followed  by  Geo. 
Searle  Mackey,  and  many  others.  The  Lathrop  Six 
Principle  Baptist  Church,  is  the  name  of  a sect 
holding  its  meetings  in  the  Decker  School-house. 
For  a time  covenant  meetings  were  held  once  a 
month,  and  stated  preaching  every  two  weeks ; but  in 
recent  years,  the  services  have  been  held  with  less 
frequency,  and  are  now  only  of  occasional  occurrence. 
Most  of  those  formerly  belonging  here  removed,  and 
the  organization  has  only  a nominal  existence. 
Henry  Decker  and  H.  Jacques  were  resident  ministers. 
Others  who  preached  in  Lathrop  were  Elders  D.  T. 
Ross,  A.  A.  Maryott  and  John  M.  Salisbury. 

Hillsdale  Cemetery,  opposite  the  school-house 
district  bearing  this  name,  has  a pleasant  location  and 
contains  one  acre  of  land,  secured  from  the  farm  of 
Alfred  Pratt.  This  attractive  place  of  the  dead  owes 
its  existence  to  the  efforts  of  Mrs.  Lake  Bronson,  who 
exerted  herself  to  solicit  funds  to  improve  it,  in  1859. 


A substantial  stone-wall  surrounding  it,  and  rows  of 
fine  maple  trees  add  to  the  attractions  of  the  place.  It 
is  said,  that  Mrs.  Eli  Pratt  was  the  first  person  in- 
terred in  this  ground.  There  are  now  many  memen- 
toes to  the  dead  some  of  them  being  handsome  monu- 
ments. The  cemetery  is  well  kept  and  is  in  charge  of 
trustees  P.  S.  Bronson,  William  Robinson  and  H.  W. 
Tifi'any. 

An  account  of  the  Lathrop  Cemetery,  near  Hop- 
bottom,  may  be  read  in  the  sketch  of  that  village. 


CHAPTER  XLV. 

HOPBOTTOM  BOROUGH. 

This  thriving  borough  is  a station  on  the  Delaware, 
Lackawanna  and  Western  Railroad,  in  the  township 
of  Lathrop,  one  mile  from  its  northeastern  corner.  It 
is  solely  the  creation  of  the  railroad,  and  whatever 
prosperity  the  place  has  had  was  produced  by  that 
thoroughfare.  The  location  is  not  as  favorable  for 
village  purposes  as  those  of  some  other  towns  in  the 
county,  as  the  valley  at  this  point  is  narrow  and  can 
be  reached  from  the  east  and  the  west  only  by  passing 
over  high  hills,  on  roads  which  are  kept  in  repair 
with  some  difficulty.  A natural  advantage  is  the 
water-power  of  Martin’s  Creek,  afforded  at  this  point, 
which  has  been  well  utilized.  Until  the  building  of 
the  railroad,  in  1850-51,  this  section  was  a comparative 
wilderness.  There  was  no  improved  highway,  and  on 
the  east  side  of  the  creek  but  a small  clearing  had 
been  made  by  Orson  Case,  the  first  permanent  settler, 
but  who  does  not  appear  to  have  had  any  title  to  the 
lands  on  which  he  lived,  and  which  was  a part  of  a 
large  tract  belonging  to  Major  Post,  of  Montrose. 
West  of  the  creek  was  a small  tenant  farm  belonging 
to  Jeremiah  Blanchard,  a non-resident  of  the  county. 
When  the  railroad  was  located,  James  G.  and  Marcus 
Case,  sons  of  Orson,  contracted  with  the  Post  family 
for  what  is  now  the  most  of  the  village  site,  and  soon 
after  sub-divided  the  lands.  Sales  of  smaller  tracts 
were  made  to  Wm.  B.  Adams,  Alfred  Jeffres,  Truman 
and  Elisha  Bell  and  David  Wilmarth,  most  of  whom 
occupied  their  purchases.  The  Bells  donated  lands 
for  station  purposes  and  trains  occasionally  stopped 
after  1852,  but  it  was  not  until  1863  that  a substantial 
depot  building  was  provided  by  the  company.  Prior 
to  that  time  an  old  frame,  which  had  been  a corn- 
house,  accommodated  the  public,  and  Anson  B.  Mer- 
rill was  the  first  station  agent,  being  also  the  store- 
keeper and  the  postmaster.  After  the  increase  of 
railroad  business  the  name  of  the  station  "was  changed 
to  Foster,  the  name  of  the  post-office  also  being 
changed  to  that  title  in  1875.  In  a short  time  the 
village  and  post-office  reclaimed  the  name  of  Hop- 
bottom,  but  the  name  of  the  station  has  since  been 
continued  as  Foster. 


688 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


The  shipments  from  the  station  are  very  heavy,  the 
aggregate  business  being  greater  than  that  of  any 
other  station  on  this  road  in  the  county.  The  aver- 
age passenger  trafBc  is  about  five  hundred  dollars  per 
month.  In  1883  the  present  neat  and  commodious 
station-house  replaced  the  first  depot  building,  and, 
at  an  earlier  period,  Foster  became  an  important 
water  station  on  the  road.  C.  G.  Merrill  is  remem- 
bered as  one  of  the  early  agents,  but,  since  1864,  that 
position  has  been  very  acceptably  filled  by  0.  D. 
Roberts,  whose  enterprise  has  helped  to  promote  the 
business  of  the  place.  Albert  Titus  has  here  been  in 
the  employ  of  the  railroad  company  since  1851,  and  is 
one  of  the  pioneers  of  the  village. 

Amos  B.  Merrill,  a son  of  Amos  Merrill,  a pioneer 
in  Brooklyn,  was  a permanent  settler  next  to  the 
Case  family.  He  reared  sons  named  Jonathan,  An- 
drew, Daniel,  Leander,  Ansel  and  James,  some  of 
whom  have  continued  in  Hopbottom. 

Lyman  Kellum,  a carpenter  by  trade,  came  from 
Brooklyn  in  1852,  his  family  being  the  third  to  take 
up  its  permanent  residence  here.  He  became  a jus- 
tice of  the  peace  of  Lathrop,  engaged  in  the  lumber 
business,  and,  in  1878,  opened  a part  of  the  present 
Foster  House.  He  died  in  1880,  having  reared  sons 
names  Charles  H.,  of  Hopbottom,  Samuel  and  Wil- 
liam, of  Scranton. 

Elisha  and  Truman  Bell. — The  Bell  family  in 
New  England  date  back  to  1637,  when  Abraham  Bell 
is  noticed  in  the  New  Haven  records.  John  Bell 
(1701-76),  an  early  settler  of  Southington,  Conn., 
married,  in  1727,  Rachel  (1703-68),  a daughter  of 
Samuel  and  Rebecca  (Clark)  Woodruff,  by  whomhehad 
children, — Elizabeth,  Ruth,  Elinah,  Huldah,  John, 
Rachel,  Solomon,  Hezekiah,  Elisha  (1743-1835)  and 
Rebecca  Bell.  Of  these  children,  Elisha  married  in 
Southington,  in  1876,  Thankful  Bartholomew  (1746- 
87),  and  had  the  following  children : Rachel,  Mar- 
gurette,  Luthena,  Elias,  Ruth  and  Rollin  Bell  (1786- 
1863).  He  sold  his  farm  of  fifty  acres  in  Southing- 
ton, where  he  had  lived,  and  gave  a deed  to  William 
Henson,  dated  February  8,  1787,  and  he  was  dismiss- 
ed from  the  Congregational  Church  records  there  by 
letter  dated  March  31,  1805,  to  Nicholson,  Luzerne 
County,  Pa.  He  came  to  Lenox  (part  of  Nichol- 
son), this  county,  with  his  family,  in  1794,  and  by  his 
second  wife  had  two  children  born  here, — Sterling 
and  Calvin ; the  latter  was  drafted  in  the  War  of 
1812,  and  went  as  far  as  Danviile.  Rollin  was  also 
■drafted  in  that  war,  but  not  called  to  serve.  Of 
these  children,  Elias  went  to  Ohio,  thence  to  Indiana, 
where  he  died  ; Sterling  resided  and  died  in  Clifford ; 
Calvin  succeeded  to  the  homestead,  which  was 
located  in  the  interior  of  the  township,  and  was  in 
turn  succeeded  in  the  ownership  of  the  property  by 
his  son  William,  who  resides  on  it  in  1887. 

Rollin  married  Anna  Millard  (1788-1869),  a daugh- 
ter of  Solomon  Millard,  one  of  the  foremost  and 
enterprising  early  settlers  of  Lenox,  who  was  in  the 


township  prior  to  1797,  and  served  in  the  Revolu- 
tionary War.  He  owned  a farm  of  two  hundred  and 
sixty  acres  on  the  Tuckhannock,  most  of  which  hej 
cleared.  The  homestead  is  now  the  property  of  his  | 
daughter,  Mrs.  Charles  Kent,  of  Brooklyn.  He  was 
a large  real  estate  owner,  a man  of  broad  views,  gave 
his  children  practical  ideas  by  his  own  example,  and 
as  good  an  education  as  the  home  schools  afforded. 
He  was  upright  in  his  dealings,  honest  in  his  pur- 
poses and  free  from  all  ostentation.  His  wife  was  a 
member  of  the  Baptist  Church,  and  a worthy  help- 
meet in  their  mutual  life-work.  Their  children  are 
Solomon  (1810-44),  a carpenter  resided  in  Harford  ; 
Elisha,  born  March  14,  1812  ; Worthy  (1814-54)  was 
a farmer  in  Lenox  ; Sarah,  1816,  first  the  wife  of 
Daniel  Roberts,  whose  son  is  Oscar  D.  Roberts,  depot- 
master  at  Hopbottom,  and  the  present  wife  of  Charles 
Kent,  before  mentioned;  Truman,  born  December 
7,  1818;  Ira  D.,  1823,  a farmer  in  Lathrop;  and 
Stephen  Bell,  a farmer  in  Hopbottom  Borough, 
whose  only  children  are  Mrs.  Arthur  Robinson,  of 
Lathrop,  and  Mrs.  Irwin  W.  Wright,  of  Hop  Bottom. 

Elisha  Bell  became  inured  to  farm-work  in  his 
boyhood,  and  early  learned  that  economy  and  indus- 
try are  essential  characteristics  to  him  who  would  at- 
tain financial  .success.  He  remained  at  home  until 
the  age  of  twenty,  and  in  1832  married  Icy  B.  Miller 
(1814-56),  a daughter  of  Samuel  and  Icy  (Bender) 
Miller,  early  settlers  of  Clifford,  who  bore  him  chil- 
dren,— Alonzo  E. ; Polly  Ann,  died  in  1855,  aged 
twenty;  Philander ; Clarinda  Rosina,  died  in  1842, 
aged  two  years  ; Charles  H.  died  in  1864,  aged  twen- 
ty-two ; Solomon  W. ; and  Samuel  Galusha  Bell.  All 
the  surviving  sons  are  farmers  in  Lenox — Philander 
and  Samuel  G.  on  the  homestead. 

At  the  time  of  his  marriage  he  bought  a woodland 
tract  of  land — two  hundred  and  fifty  acres — and  set 
about  making  a home  for  himself.  He  cleared  one 
hundred  and  fifty  acres  of  this  land  himself,  erected 
farm-buildings  thereon  and  farmed  it  there  until  1854, 
when  he  settled  at  Hopbottom,  where  he  has  been  a 
merchant  from  1854  to  1866,  with  his  brother  Tru- 
man as  partner  (E.  & T.  Bell)  for  ten  years  of  the 
time.  The  brothers  bought  a saw-mill  a mile  or  two 
below  Hopbottom,  on  Martin’s  Creek,  in  1856,  ot 
which  he  has  been  sole  owner  since  1857,  and  run  it, 
shipping  his  lumber  to  Scranton,  until  1886,  when  he 
sold  it.  Mr.  Bell  has  been  a very  active  business- 
man, has  dealt  largely  in  real  estate  and  been  the 
owner  at  times  of  several  farms.  The  judicious 
management  of  his  business  has  gained  him  a compe- 
tence, and  he  can  happily  see  his  sons  settled  in  life 
on  farms  donated  by  their  father. 

The  political  alliance  of  the  family  is  with  the 
Democratic  party.  He  has  never  sought  any  official 
preferment,  nor  has  he  shrunk  from  duty  when  placed 
upon  him  by  his  townsmen,  and  has  served  as  assessor 
and  school  director.  The  family  are  identified  with 
the  Universalist  Church,  and  Mr.  Bell  was  a large  con- 


HOPBOTTUM. 


689 


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tributor  to  the  present  church  edifice  at  Hopbottom. 
For  his  second  wife  he  married,  in  1870,  Mrs.  Richard 
Hughes,  Martha  M.  Tanner,  who  was  born  October 
4,  1830,  and  is  a daughter  of  Seneca  F.  Tanner  (1808- 
70)  and  Louisa  F.  Payne  (born  1806),  who  resided  for 
a time  in  Harford,  and  afterwards  in  Lenox.  Louisa 
F.  Payne  was  a daughter  of  Amos  (1765-1862)  and 
Susan  (Moss)  Payne  (1772-1852),  settlers  of  Lenox 
in  1812  from  Connecticut;  the  former  served  in  the 
War  of  the  Revolution.  Seneca  F.  Tanner  was  a son 
of  Clark  S.  and  Sabra  Tanner.  Richard  Hughes, 
born  in  Lancashire,  England,  in  1823,  married  Martha 


Lenox  December  7,  1818,  the  fourth  son  of  Rollin 
and  Anna  Bell.  In  common  with  the  other  children, 
he  obtained  a liberal  education  in  the  home  district 
school,  and  by  attending  one  term  at  the  Harford 
Academy.  He  thoroughly  learned  farming,  and  re- 
mained with  his  father  until  1844,  when  he  married 
Harriet  Peck  (1821-55),  a daughter  of  Captain  Free- 
man and  Eunice  (Otis)  Peck,  who  settled  in  Harford 
in  1806.  This  Freeman  Peck  was  one  of  the  first 
members  of  the  Universalist  Church  upon  its  organi- 
zation at  Brooklyn,  in  1826.  Mr.  Bell’s  only  child 
by  this  marriage  is  Eunice  E.,  the  wife  of  William 


M.  Tanner  in  1845,  by  whom  he  had  children — 
Seneca  Freeman,  an  engineer  on  the  Delaware,  Lack- 
awanna and  Western  Railroad,  resides  at  Hampden, 

N.  J.;  Sarah  Ann,  wife  of  Samuel  Kellum,  of  Scran- 
ton ; Richard  Hayden,  an  engineer  in  Franklin,  this 
county.  The  father  served  in  the  Confederate 
army,  was  a musician,  and  was  last  heard  of  in  the  hos- 
pital. The  other  children  of  Seneca  F.  and  Louisa 
F.  Tanner,  are  Mordecai  C.,  of  Harford ; Cyrus  F., 
of  Lenox;  Seneca  Riley  died  in  1864,  aged  twenty- 
three  years,  (these  three  sons  all  served  in  the  late 
Rebellion),  and  Amos  Tanner,  a carpenter,  residing  in 
Lenox. 

Truman  Bell  was  born  on  the  homestead  in 

44 


E.  Carpenter,  of  Binghamton.  After  his  marriage 
he  settled  on  eighty  acres  of  the  homestead,  given 
him  by  his  father,  only  being  required  to  pay  the  right 
of  soil  to  William  Hartley,  who  had  title  from  the 
State,  at  one  dollar  per  acre.  He  cleared  seventy 
acres  of  this  land,  added  other  land  to  it,  erected  farm 
buildings  and  resided  there  until  1856,  when  he  re- 
moved to  Hopbottom  and  was  the  partner  of  his 
brother  Elisha  (E.  & T.  Bell)  in  mercantile  business 
for  twelve  years,  when  they  sold  out  the  business  to 
Johnson  & Reese.  They  had  bought  the  Case  saw- 
mill in  1865,  on  Martin’s  Creek,  of  which  Mr.  Bell 
became  sole  owner  in  1867.  Since  this  date  he  has 
been  engaged  in  lumbering  and  managing  his  real 


690 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA, 


estate.  Industrious,  judicious  and  prompt  in  busi- 
ness matters,  he  has  the  confidence  of  all  who  know 
him,  and  he  is  the  trusted  counselor  of  his  neighbors, 
and  has  been  frequently  of  service  to  them  in  con- 
veyancing of  a local  nature.  He  served  as  justice  of 
the  peace  of  Lenox,  assessor,  school  director  and  su- 
pervisor, and  as  a member  of  the  Board  of  School 
Directors — during  the  war  assisted  in  raising  the 
bounty-money  for  soldiers.  During  his  residence  in 
Hopbottom  he  has  been  burgess  two  years;  member 
of  the  Borough  Council  five  years ; school  director 
thirteen  years ; and  assessor,  both  of  the  borough  of 


1817,  is  a daughter  of  Captain  Stephen  Williams,  an 
early  settler  in  Brooklyn  from  Connecticut. 

W.  M.  Tingley,  a descendant  of  one  of  the  oldest 
families  of  Brooklyn,  became  connected  with  the  in- 
terests of  the  village  in  1854,  and  is  still  an  honored 
citizen  of  the  place.  He  reared  a number  of  sons, 
who,  like  their  father,  are  remarkably  tall  men,  their 
average  height  being  nearly  six  feet  two  inches.  In 
1864  Emanuel  Carpenter  became  a resident  of  Hop- 
bottom,  and  engaged  in  the  staging  business,  but  all 
his  sons  became  successful  railroad  men.  The  popu- 
lation of  the  village  increased  slowly  until  in  more 


cf 


Hopbottom  and  township  of  Lathrop,  for  several 
years.  Himself  and  wife  are  members  of  the  Uni- 
versalist  Church,  and  he  assisted,  by  liberal  contribu- 
tion, in  the  building  of  the  present  church  edifice  in 
the  borough.  In  1858  he  married  his  second  wife, 
Fannie  M.  Kellum,  who  was  born  November  21 , 1839, 
by  whom  he  has  children, — Jennie  Eliza,  wife  of 
Charles  H.  Hoover,  of  Binghamton,  and  Luther  P. 
Bell.  His  father,  Lyman  W.  Kellum  (1812-80),  a 
native  of  Bridgewater,  resided  in  Brooklyn  until  1852, 
when  he  settled  at  Hopbottom,  where  he  built  the 
“ Foster  House,”  now  managed  by  his  widow  and 
children.  Her  mother,  Sally  Ann  Williams,  born 


recent  years,  when  it  became  more  permanent  and  a 
better  class  of  residences  were  erected.  In  1887  there 
were  three  hundred  and  fifty  inhabitants,  a good 
school-house,  two  churches,  .six  stores,  two  public- 
houses  and  other  interests  noted  below.  The  first 
building  in  Hopbottom  which  had  a noteworthy 
size  was  a part  of  the  present  “ Exchange  Hotel,” 
which  was  erected  in  1853  by  David  Wilmarth.  It 
was  enlarged  by  him  from  time  to  time,  and  he  kept 
it  until  1885,  when  Asa  Day  became  the  landlord. 
Opposite  from  it,  on  the  south  side  of  the  railroad, 
the  popular  “ Foster  House  ” was  opened  in  1878  by 
Lyman  Kellum,  which  has  been  kept  by  his  family 


HOPBOTTOM. 


691 


since  his  death,  in  18S0.  Under  the  management  of 
his  son  Charles  H.,  it  has  lately  been  much  improved. 
The  second  good  business  building  at  Hopbottom 
was  a large  store-house,  erected  near  the  depot,  in 
1802,  by  S.  W.  Breed  & Co.,  of  Brooklyn.  As  soon 
as  completed  it  was  occupied  by  Truman  & Elisha 
Bell,  general  merchants.  The  first  goods  were  sold 
in  the  place  by  Amos  B.  Merrill,  who  had  a store  in 
a small  building  on  the  site  of  the  present  drug- 
store as  early  as  1852.  Two  years  later  he  sold  to 
Elisha  Bell  and  W.  M.  Tingley,  and  in  1857  the  latter 
disposed  of  his  interest  to  Truman  Bell.  In  1862 
the  Bell  Brothers  occupied  the  Breed  building,  and 
four  years  later  sold  out  to  Cyrus  Johnson  and 
George  W.  Rees.  In  1870  Rees  alone  engaged  in 
trade,  continuing  until  his  death,  in  July,  1883.  This 
building  was  destroyed  by  fire  January  1,  1886,  while 
occupied  by  Otley  & Schoonmaker  as  a drug-store. 

In  1866  E.  M.  Tiffany  & Co.  eftgaged  in  merchan- 
dising at  the  stand  where,  since  1872,  E.  M.  Tiffany 
alone  has  been  in  trade,  and  where  for  many  years 
has  been  kept  the  Hopbottom  post-office.  In  1867 
Nelson  M.  Finn  commenced  trading  in  the  village, 
occupying  his  present  business  house  since  1875.  A 
little  later  the  Hall  Brothers  came  from  New  Hamp- 
shire and  began  trading  in  a small  way,  but,  in  1870, 
occupied  the  store  built  by  them  on  the  corner  of 
Centre  and  Main  Streets.  In  1886  they  sold  to 
George  P.  Tiffany,  of  Brooklyn,  and  William  A.  and 
Clark  B.  Hall  returned  to  New  Hampshire,  George 
L.  Hall  going  to  the  West.  They  were  very  success- 
ful merchants.  In  1872  James  Jeffres  and  John  H. 
Tiffany  built  a store,  in  which  they  engaged  in  trade. 
A number  of  others  have  occupied  this  building  for 
trading  purposes,  George  W.  Strupler  merchandising 
there  since  1883.  In  1874  Alfred  Jeffres  erected  another 
business  house,  in  which  his  son  Frank  opened  a fur- 
niture-store. Lyman  Blakeslee  became  the  owner, 
and  in  1882  J.  S.  Wright  occupied  it  as  a hardware 
and  grocery-store.  Since  June  1,  1885,  I.  W.  Wright 
has  merchandised  at  that  stand.  A tin-shop  has 
been  carried  on  at  Hopbottom  by  J.  S.  Wright  since 
1872,  it  being  the  oldest  continuous  mechanic- 
shop  in  the  place.  In  1875  J.  P.  A.  Tingley  opened 
a drug-store  in  the  improved  Merrill  stand,  which  is 
now  owned  by  Saddlemire  & Schoonmaker. 

The  Hopbottom  post-office  was  established  March 
15,  1852,  with  Amos  B.  Merrill  as  the  postmaster. 
His  successors  have  been,  in  1861,  J.  M.  Nicholson; 
1865,  John  H.  Chapman  ; 1866,  John  H.  Tiffany. 
March  19,  1875,  the  name  of  the  office  was  changed 
to  Foster,  and  soon  after  discontinued.  It  was  re-es- 
tablished, with  the  name  of  Hopbottom,  March  8, 
1876,  and  Thomas  J.  Miles  appointed  postmaster.  In 
1880  Nelson  M.  Finn  became  the  postmaster,  and  was 
succeeded  in  the  fall  of  1885  by  the  present  postmas- 
ter, E.  M.  Tiffany.  Since  August,  1882,  this  post- 
office  has  been  a postal  money-order  office.  Two 
mails  per  day  are  supplied. 


Edson  M.  Tiffany.— In  the  fall  of  1794  Thomas 
Tiffany,  wife  and  children, — Lorinda,  Alfred  (1781- 
1860),  Thomas,  Pelatiah,  Tingley,  Dalton  and  Lewis — 
came  from  Attleboro’,  Mass.,  and  joined  the  “ Nine 
Partners’  ” settlement,  in  what  is  now  Harford  (for- 
merly Nicholson)  township.  They  came  from  the 
Delaware  to  the  Susquehanna  at  the  rate  of  ten  miles 
per  day,  over  a road  cut  out  without  being  worked. 
This  Thomas  Tiffany  was  commissioned  justice  of  the 
peace  in  1799,  which  he  resigned  some  three  years 
afterwards.  He  died  in  1835,  aged  seventy-eight 
years,  and  was  buried  in  the  village  cemetery  at  Har- 
ford. Thomas  Tiffany’s  children  born  here  were  Bet- 
sey, Millie,  Preston  and  Orville.  His  eldest  son,  Al- 
fred, was  thirteen  years  old  when  the  family  came 
here.  He  married  first,  in  1806,  at  Salem,  Pa.,  Lucy 
Miller  (1784-1816),  a native  of  Glastonbury,  Conn., 
by  whom  he  had  six  children, — Cynthia  (1806-48), 
wife  of  Eli  B.  Goodrich,  of  Brooklyn  ; Anson  M. 
(1808-81),  resided  in  Brooklyn ; Clarissa,  1809,  widow  of 
Walter  Follett,  of  Binghamton  ; Nelson  (1811-55), 
of  Brooklyn  ; Lucy  Emeline  (1813-71),  wife  of  Jonas 
Adams,  of  Harford ; Alfred  Judson  (December  28, 
1815 — March  25,  1876),  father  of  Edson  M.  By  his 
second  wife,  Fanny  Mack  (1798-1850),  a native  of 
Lyme,  Conn.,  whom  he  married  in  1818,  he  had  thir- 
teen children, — Lydia  Amanda,  1818,  wife  of  Elias  N. 
Carpenter,  of  Harford;  Joseph  Lord  (1820-26)  ; 
Charles  Horace,  1821,  resided  in  Brooklyn ; Hannah 
Eliza  (1823-72),  wife  of  Stephen  E.  Carpenter,  of  Har- 
ford; Fanny  Mary  (1825-79),  wife  of  Jackson  Tingley, 
Harford;  Edwin  Mack,  1828,  resides  in  Bridgewater; 
Betsey  Norris  (1830-73),  married  Horace  Makeel 
Rice,  of  Binghamton ; William  Henry,  1832,  of 
Brooklyn  ; Sarah  Matilda  (1834-78),  wife  of  George 
J.  Benjamin,  died  in  Chicago  ; Marvin  Lee,  1836,  of 
Hopbottom;  Franklin  Elliot,  1838,  resides  at  Nich- 
olson ; Harriet  Adelaide,  1842,  wife  of  Homer  Tingley, 
of  New  Milford;  and  Newell  Wesley  Tiffany,  1844, 
resides  in  Binghamton. 

Fanny  Mack  was  a daughter  of  Elisha  and  Lydia 
(Lord)  Mack,  settlers  from  Lyme,  Conn.,  in  Brooklyn 
in  1810.  He  had  sons — Elisha,  Marvin  and  Enoch — and 
daughters — Lydia,  Eliza,  Matilda  and  Fanny  Mack. 
Alfred  Tiffany’s  third  wife.  Patience  Vance  (1794- 
1869),  was  a native  of  Windsor,  N.  Y.,  and  died 
without  issue.  He  settled,  and  resided  until  his  death, 
on  a farm  near  Kingsley’s  Station,  in  Brooklyn,  on  the 
Old  State  Road,  owned  in  1887  by  his  grandson,  Ed- 
son Tiffany.  Alfred  Judson,  youngest  son  of  Alfred 
and  Lucy  Miller  Tiffany,  married,  in  1840,  Lucy  Eliza 
Loomis,  who  was  born  in  Coventry,  Conn.,  October 
18,  1818.  She  is  the  youngest  daughter  of  Eldad 
(1785-1829)  and  Fanny  Jeffers  (1790-1882)  Loomis, 
who  settled  in  Harford  from  Coventry,  in  1824,  and 
whose  paternal  ancestor,  Joseph  Loomis  (1590-1658), 
settled  in  Windsor,  Conn.,  from  London,  England,  in 
1638,  she  being  the  eighth  generation  from  him  in 
regular  line.  For  a time  after  his  mandage  Alfred  Jud- 


692 


HISTOKY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


son  Tiffany  resided  in  Harford,  but  in  1851  removed 
to  the  old  homestead  in  Brooklyn,  where  he  spent  the 
remainder  of  his  life,  a farmer,  and  where  his  widow, 
now  Mrs.  Gilbert  N.  Smith,  resides  in  1887. 

He  was  a man  highly  respected  by  all  who  knew 
him,  had  an  honest  purpose  in  life’s  work,  of  correct 
habits  and  high  moral  sentiment,  and,  with  his  wife, 
members  of  the  Universalist  Church,  of  Brooklyn,  to 
the  support  of  which  they  contributed.  He  was  of- 
ficially identified  with  the  township  as.  supervisor  and 
judge  of  election.  Their  children  areEdson  M.,  born 
in  Harford,  January  19,  1841,  and  Henry  J.  (May  27, 
1849 — November  10,  1862).  After  the  death  of  her 
husband,  Mrs.  Tiffany  married  Gilbert  N.  Smith,  of 
Lathrop.  Edson  M.  Tiffany,  only  surviving  child  of 
Alfred  J.  Tiffany,  was  educated  at  the  Montrose 
Academy  under  Professor  Stoddard,  and  at  Harford 
Academy  under  Eev.  Lyman  Eichardson,  where  he 
was  graduated  in  the  English  branches.  He  subse- 
quently attended  Eastman’s  Business  College,  at 
Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y.,  and  was  graduated  in  the  class 
of  1864.  During  the  late  Eebellion  he  was  drafted 
for  the  three  years’  quota,  but  commuted,  remained  on 
the  home  farm  and  for  seven  winter  terms  was  a 
teacher,  five  of  which  were  at  the  home  district  school. 
In  1866  he  purchased  the  store  of  C.  B.  Hall,  at  Hop- 
bottom,  where  he  has  been  engaged  in  a general  mer- 
cantile business  since,  a period  of  twenty-one  years. 
J.  H.  Tiffany  was  his  partner  until  1873,  under  the 
firm-name  of  E.  M.  Tiffany  & Co.  From  1866  to  1873 
he  was  assistant  postmaster  at  Hopbottom,  and  in  1885 
he  was  commissioned  postmaster,  which  office  he  now 
holds,  with  the  post-office  located  in  one  corner  of  his 
store.  He  was  elected,  and  served  for  three  years,  as 
the  first  burgess  after  the  erection  of  the  borough  of 
Hopbottom,  has  served  as  judge  of  elections,  and  he 
has  been  a member  of  the  Town  Council  since  the 
close  of  his  service  as  burgess.  In  the  fall  of  1884  he 
was  a candidate,  and  received  the  nomination,  for 
member  of  the  State  Legislature  on  the  Democratic 
ticket ; ran  largely  ahead  of  his  ticket,  but  his  party 
being  in  the  minority,  he  failed  of  election.  Mr.  Tif- 
fany and  wife  are  members  of  the  Universalist  Church, 
and  for  nineteen  years,  save  one,  he  has  been  the 
superintendent  of  its  Sunday-school.  He  built  his 
fine  and  spacious  residence,  situate  on  the  west  side 
of  Martin’s  Creek,  in  1881.  He  married,  in  1871, 
Mary  E.  Miles,  who  was  born  November  2,  1845. 
Their  only  child  is  Grace  Pearl  Tiffany,  who  was  born 
January  17,  1875.  Mrs.  Tiffany  was  a teacher  for 
twelve  terms  before  her  marriage,  and  was  graduated 
at  Maplewood  Musical  Seminary,  East  Haddam, 
Conn.,  in  the  class  of  1869,  under  Professor  D.S.  Bab- 
cock, and  was  an  instructor  of  music  for  several 
years. 

Her  parents  are  Jasper  and  Ursula  (Black)  Miles, 
of  Spring  Hill,  Bradford  County,  where  she  was  born. 
Her  father  died  in  1852,  in  Dimock,  at  the  age  of 
forty  years,  was  the  son  of  Thomas  Miles,  of  Dimock, 


whose  wife,  Polly  Vose,  was  of  Scotch  origin.  Her 
mother,  born  in  1819,  was  a daughter  of  James  Black, 
of  Spring  Hill,  Bradford  County,  formerly  from  Ver- 
mont, and  resides  at  Wilcox,  Elk  County.  The  chil- 
dren of  Jasper  and  Ursula  Miles  are  Burton  E.,  a 
farmer  at  Wilcox ; Alonzo  W.,  a clerk  for  Edson  M. 
Tiffany  ; Mary  E. ; and  Thomas  J.  Miles,  a druggist 
in  Kansas. 

Marvin  Lee  Tiffany,  fifth  son  of  Alfred  and 
Fanny  (Mack)  Tiffany,  was  born  on  the  homestead, 
near  Kingsley’s  Station,  in  Brooklyn  township,  March 
23,  1836.  His  early  education  was  obtained  at  the 
home  district  school  and  at  Harford  Academy,  from 
which  he  was  graduated  in  the  class  of  ’53,  at  the  age 
of  seventeen.  He  at  once  thereafter  went  from  home, 
and,  with  that  self-reliance  characteristic  of  those  who 
are  successful  in  life’s  work,  determined  to  carve  out 
a home  and  competence  for  himself.  For  three  years 
he  worked  in  the  Delaware,  Lackawanna  and  Western 
Eailroad  Company’s  wood-shops  at  Scranton,  and  in 
the  construction  of  bridges  on  the  road.  In  July, 
1856,  he  began  as  brakesman  for  the  same  company, 
and  served  in  that  capacity  on  the  first  passenger 
train  run  on  the  southern  division ; and  from  Decem- 
ber of  that  year  until  1859  he  was  a fireman  on  the 
main  line.  Being  promoted,  he  served  as  engineer, 
and  ran  a locomotive  on  the  road  for  the  following  six 
years ; was  an  engineer  for  the  Lehigh  and  Sus- 
quehanna Eailroad  between  Ashley  and  Mountain 
Top,  1866-67  (one  year),  and  served  as  engineer  for 
one  year  for  Parrish,  Thomas  & Co.,  at  Sugar  Notch, 
and  from  1868  to  1871  as  braker-boss  for  the  same 
firm.  For  eight  years  following  1871  he  was  super- 
intendent of  collieries  nnmbers  6,  8,  9 and  10,  at  Ash- 
ley and  Sugar  Notch,  for  the  Lehigh  and  Wilkes- 
Barre  Coal  Company.  In  1878  he  had  bought  a farm 
known  as  the  “ Blanchard  Place,”  of  one  hundred 
acres,  situate  on  Martin’s  Creek,  near  Hopbottom, 
since  included  in  the  borough  limits,  upon  which  he 
settled  in  the  fall  of  1879.  Here  he  engaged  in  gen- 
eral farming,  and  has  dealt  quite  largely  in  farm  pro- 
ducts, cream  and  butter,  buying  and  shipping  to 
Scranton  and  Wilkes-Barre.  His  farm  is  one  of  the 
old  land-marks  in  the  valley,  attractive  and  produc- 
tive. He  remodeled  his  residence,  and  in  1886  built 
a creamery  on  his  farm  for  the  purpose  of  facilitating 
and  enlarging  his  cream  and  butter  business. 

Mr.  Tiffany  is  a thrifty,  thorongh-going  business 
man.  He  was  one  of  the  prime  movers  in  the  erec- 
tion of  the  borough  of  Hopbottom,  and  president  of 
its  first  council,  and  he  has  served  as  a member  of  its 
council  since — as  assessor  one  year,  as  judge  of  elec- 
tions, as  school  director,  and  is  president  of  the  School 
Board  in  1887.  During  the  late  Eebellion,  in  1864, 
Mr.  Tiffany  furnished  a substitute  for  three  years,  for 
service  in  the  army,  although  he  himself  was  not 
drafted.  He  married,  in  1860,  Lucy  Ann  Eoper,  who 
was  born  in  Harford  November  25,  1839.  They  have 
an  adojited  daughter.  Flora  Lathrop  Tiffany,  born  in 


HOPBOTTOM. 


693 


Franklin  May  4,  1874.  Her  father,  John  J.  Roper, 
born  in  1813,  came  from  Rutland,  Mass.,  in  1832,  with 
his  older  brothers,  William,  of  Gibson,  and  Alvin,  of 
Bridgewater,  and  until  1837  resided  in  Gibson,  from 
that  time  until  1855  in  Harford,  and  since  the  latter 
date  he  has  been  a resident  of  Brooklyn.  He  married 
hrst,  in  1834,  Lucia  Gutter  Roper  (1817-52),  a native 
of  Sterling,  Mass.,  who  came  here  with  her  parents 
and  settled  in  Gibson,  her  father  being  Joseph  Roper. 
Their  children  are  Joseph  Fausen,  served  nine  months 
in  the  late  Rebellion,  died  in  1866  at  the  age  of 
twenty -eight,  at  Hopbottom ; Ruth  Amelia,  wife  of 


On  the  flats  above  the  village  lived  Dr.  Samuel 
Wright,  a botanic  physician,  as  the  first  medical 
i:iractitioner  in  this  locality.  In  1866  Dr.  W.  N. 
Green  became  a resident  physician,  dying  in  the  vil- 
lage in  1886.  From  1877  until  March,  1887,  Dr. 
Rufus  Thayre  practiced  at  Hopbottom,  when  he 
moved  to  Montrose.  Dr.  Perry  Schoonmaker  came 
in  1884,  and  Dr.  Abner  Johnstone  in  1886,  both  con- 
tinuing in  practice. 

In  1851  the  Case  Brothers  got  in  operation  a saw- 
mill on  Martin  Creek,  in  the  lower  part  of  the  village, 
which  became  the  property  of  Truman  Bell,  and  has 


Albert  Titus,  of  Hopbottom  ; Lucy  Ann  (Mrs.  M.  L. 
Tiffany) ; John  Murray,  served  in  the  late  Civil  War 
nearly  three  years  and  a resident  of  Parker,  Dakota ; 
Sarah  Helen,  wife  of  Everton  B.  Potter,  of  Gibson  ; 
Emma  Louise,  wife  of  Thomas  Cassedy,  of  Ashley, 
Luzerne  County  ; and  Alvin  Everett,  of  Washington 
Territory.  For  his  second  wife  he  married,  in  1855, 
Eliza  (born  in  1819),  a daughter  of  Justice  Kent,  who 
settled  in  Brooklyn  in  1811,  by  whom  he  had  a daugh- 
ter who  died  young,  and  two  sons,  Albert  and  Harry 
Roper.  John  J.  Roper  had  three  other  brothers, 
and  one  sister,  Mrs.  Candace  Perry,  of  New  Milford. 


been  extensively  operated  by  him  ever  since.  In 
1866  another  power  on  the  same  stream  was  im- 
proved, in  the  upper  part  of  the  village,  by  W.  M. 
Tingley,  who  erected  a good  flouring  mill,  having 
three  runs  of  stones,  which  was  set  in  motion  in  1867. 
The  water  was  conveyed  to  the  mill  through  a trunk 
ten  rods  long,  and  at  first  a breast  wheel  was  used. 
Later  a wheel  of  the  turbine  pattern  has  been  pro- 
vided, and  the  mill  has  been  otherwise  improved  un- 
til it  has  become  a fine  property.  George  Coray  be- 
came the  owner  in  1871,  and  after  his  death,  in  1884, 
his  son,  G.  E.  Coray,  operated  the  mills  until 


694 


HISTORY  OP  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


January,  1887,  when  he  sold  to  0.  D.  Roberts  and 
Truman  Bell,  the  proprietors  in  March,  1887. 

Below  this  mill  Preston  Whiting  had  a small  re- 
pair shop,  operated  by  water-power,  taken  from  the 
bulk-head  of  the  mill,  but  operated  it  a short  time 
only. 

In  the  lower  part  of  the  village  F.  P.  Conrad  and 
Moses  Caldwell  erected  large  mechanic  shops,  which 
were  burned  in  1883,  but  were  rebuilt  on  a more 
extensive  scale  the  following  year,  and  a steam  engine 
was  supplied  to  furnish  power  by  the  lessees  of  the 
shop,- — Nash,  Grant  & Brown.  The  firm  discontin- 
ued work  after  a short  period,  and  the  machinery  has 
been  removed.  In  the  spring  of  1887  the  shops 
were  unoccupied.  A mile  below  the  village,  on  Mar- 
tin Creek,  Lyman  Kellum  built  a saw-mill  in  1854, 
-which  he  sold  to  Elisha  Bell  in  1856.  The  latter 
operated  it  thirty  years,  when  he  sold  to  Morris 
Tingley.  Nearer  the  village  William  Miles  operated 
saw  and  feed-mills,  which  have  been  discontinued, 
but  on  the  brook  beyond  the  hill  Daniel  Miles  has 
in  operation  a small  feed  mill. 

The  “Foster  Creamery”  was  built  in  1884  by  0.  D. 
Roberts  and  L.  M.  Peters,  to  operate  on  the  cream- 
gathering system.  After  one  year’s  operation  by  this 
firm,  A.  W.  Kent  & Co.  became  the  operators.  In 
1887  the  creamery  was  sold  to  the  American  Dairy 
Co.  It  is  a well-arranged  factory,  and  has  had  a 
large  patronage. 

In  the  spring  of  1887  M.  L.  Tiffany  erected  and 
equipped  a fine  creamery  on  his  farm,  a short  distance 
above  the  upper  part  of  the  borough,  which  will  also 
be  operated  on  the  cream-gathering  system.  A large 
patronage  has  been  assured,  and  it  will  prove  an  im- 
portant factor  in  the  business  of  the  village.  The 
shipment  of  flag-stones  is  an  important  industry  at 
Hopbottom,  which  is  increasing  each  year. 

Societies. — The  village  has  had  a number  of  soci- 
eties, which  flourished  for  a period,  then  declined  and 
all  have  passed  out  of  existence.  The  oldest  of  these 
was  Lathrop  Lodge,  No.  555,  I 0.  G.  T.,  which  was 
organized  March  9,  1868,  and  which  disbanded  April 
28,  1877.  In  this  period  there  was  an  aggregate 
membership  of  four  hundred  and  sixteen,  and  at  the 
time  the  meetings  were  discontinued  it  had  thirty- 
eight  members  in  good  standing,  most  of  whom  be- 
longed to  the  Wright,  Tiffany  and  Bell  families.  The 
meetings  were  held  in  Good  Templars’  Hall,  which 
had  been  prepared  for  the  lodge  by  Elisha  Bell,  and 
were  occasions  of  great  interest.  Another  effort  to 
promote  the  cause  of  temperance  was  made  Jan.  13, 
1880,  when  the  Hopbottom  Jemperance  Union  was 
organized  in  Dr.  Thorpe’s  private  school-room,  when 
the  following  officers  were  chosen  : N.  M.  Finn,  pres- 
ident; G.  W.  Tiffany,  financial  secretary;  0.  D. 
Roberts,  treasurer ; and  J.  S.  Wright,  secretary.  More 
than  sixty  members  were  enrolled,  and  the  organiza- 
tion was  kept  up  about  two  years. 

Valley  Council,  No.  286,  0.  U.  A.  M.,  was  organized 


at  Hopbottom  in  1872,  and  continued  its  meetings 
about  six  years.  More  than  sixty  members  belonged, 
but  it  ceased  to  prosper,  and  it  was  decided  to  close 
up  its  affairs  and  surrender  the  charter. 

The  iNCORPORATioisr. — Hopbottom  became  a bor- 
ough April  8,  1881,  with  the  following  bounds  : Be- 
ginning at  a stake  on  the  northeast  corner,  thence  along 
the  Lenox  line  south  14^°  east  220  rods  south  20J° 
west  167  rods  to  an  oak  tree  south  59°  east  152  rods, 
on  the  west  7°  east  282  rods  to  a stone,  on  the  north 
85°  east  160  rods  to  the  place  of  beginning.  Within 
these  bounds  were  three  miles  249  perches  of  streets 
and  two  hundred  and  fifty-two  inhabitants.  There 
were  lands,  not  surveyed  into  lots,  owned  by  M.  L, 
Tiffany,  Elisha  Bell,  Truman  Bell  and  H.  G.  Wright. 
May  23,  1881,  E.  Carpenter  was  appointed  street  com- 
missioner, and  the  streets  were  named  as  follows : 
From  M.  L.  Tiffany’s  to  the  line  near  the  Universalist 
Church  as  River  Street ; from  the  bridge,  over  the 
creek  to  the  railroad,  as  Main  Street ; from  the  bridge, 
over  the  creek,  above  H.  Quick’s,  as  High  Street  ; 
from  grist-mill  to  line  beyond  Mi-s.  Cantlin  as 
Centre  Street ; from  near  E.  Carpenter’s  to  line  above 
Truman  Bell  as  Forest  Street ; from  D.  Wilmarth  to 
line  above  W.  B.  Adams  as  Front  Street;  from  Tru- 
man Bell  to  O.  D.  Roberts’  as  Prospect  Street ; from 
below  the  railroad  station  as  Railroad  Street. 

The  first  officers  of  the  borough  were  : Burgess,  E. 
M.  Tiffany  ; Councilmen,  Truman  Bell,  William  B. 
Adams,  M.  L.  Tiffany,  I.  T.  Wilmarth,  James  Bisbee, 
0.  D Roberts,  who  qualified  April  28,  1881. 

J.  P A.  Tingley  was  appointed  clerk  and  was  re- 
elected each  year  until  1885.  E.  M.  Tiffany  was 
elected  burgess  in  1882  and  1883.  In  the  former  year 
J.  P.  A.  Tingley  was  elected  justice  of  the  peace  for 
five  years,  and  in  1884  A.  W.  Miles  elected  justice. 
The  same  year  Truman  Bell  was  elected  burgess  and 
has  been  re-elected  to  the  present  time,  with  the  ex- 
ception of  1886,  when  G.  E.  Coray  became  the  burgess, 
and  W.  M.  Tingley,  clerk. 

In  1887  the  officers  were  as  follows  : Burgess,  Tru- 
man Bell ; Councilmen,  E.  M.  Tiffany  (president), 
B.  A.  Gardner,  G.  W.  Strupler,  Charles  H.  Kellum, 
M.  L.  Tiffany.  A.  J.  Chamberlain ; Justices,  W.  M. 
Tingley,  George  W.  Tiffany  ; Clerk,  W.  M.  Tingley  ; 
Assessor,  Truman  Bell;  Constable,  C.  Carpenter;  Col- 
lector, Charles  Fish;  Judge  of  Election,  D.  S.  Quick; 
Inspectors,  J.  C.  Merrill,  W.  H.  Sayre  ; Overseer  of  the 
Poor,  H.  S.  Quick. 

Since  the  incorporation  of  the  village  the  streets 
have  been  improved  and  other  benefits  have  been  de- 
rived which  are  directly  traceable  to  these  corporate 
privileges.  The  ordinances  were  drafted  by  Wm.  B. 
Adams  and  I.  T.  Wilmarth. 

Schools  and  Churches. — The  first  school-house 
in  the  borough  stood  on  the  hillside  southwest  of  the 
Methodist  Church,  and  was  built  in  1858.  It  was 
used  until  the  present  fine  edifice  took  its  place,  in 
1879.  It  is  a two-room  frame,  but  when  first  used 


HOPBOTTOM. 


695 


I had  but  one  school,  of  which  George  Gere  was  the 
' I teacher.  In  1880  S.  S.  Thomas  became  the  principal 
^ of  the  two  schools,  now  opened,  and  eontinued  until 
I 1884.  The  following  year  E.  T.  Trible  became  the 
principal,  but  in  the  fall  of  1886  S.  S.  Thomas  was 
again  called  to  assume  charge  of  the  schools,  being 
the  present  principal.  The  schools  have  more  than 
ninety  pupils  enrolled,  giving  an  average  attendance 
of  eighty  pupils.  Of  these,  twenty  pupils  attend  from 
Lathrop,  their  tuition  being  paid  by  the  township 
board,  and  ten  are  from  outside  sources.  Eight 
months  of  school  per  year  are  maintained. 

In  1887  the  School  Board  was  composed  of  M.  L. 
Tiffany,  W.  S.  Saxon,  J.  C.  Merrill,  H.  S.  Quick,  J.  S. 
Hettes,  N.  M.  Finn  and  B.  A.  Gardner,  the  two  last- 
named  having  received  an  equal  number  of  votes. 

The  Hopbottom  M.  E.  Church  is  the  outgrowth  of 
an  early  Methodist  appointment  at  Anthony  Wright’s^ 
on  Martin  Creek,  a mile  above  the  village.  Here 
meetings  were  statedly  held,  in  connection  with  other 
appointments  on  Bi'ooklyn  Circuit,  and  this  relation 
has  since  been  sustained,  Hopbottom  Church  being 
a part  of  Brooklyn  Circuit.  In  1849  a Methodist 
Sunday-school  was  organized  in  the  kitchen  of  Antho- 
j ny  Wright,  which  was  superintended  by  Mrs.  Sarah 
B.,  the  wife  of  Dr.  Samuel  Wright,  and  which  created 
such  an  interest  that  it  was  determined  to  make  it 
permament.  Accordingly,  Anthony  Wright  set  aside 
an  acre  of  ground,  in  the  spring  of  1850,  on  which  a 
small  frame  building  was  moved,  which  was  fitted  up 
as  a place  of  worship,  and  more  especially  as  a place 
where  those  desiring  to  attend  the  Sabbath-school 
might  find  room.  The  ground  was  also  consecrated 
to  the  dead,  and  now  forms  a part  of  the  Lathrop  ceme- 
tery. In  this  building  the  Martin  Creek  Sabbath- 
school  was  held  about  twenty  years,  and  was  attended 
by  scholars  living  many  miles  around,  the  enrollment 
some  seasons  being  sixty  or  more.  Joseph  Liries,  Jr., 
came  from  Brooklyn  and  superintended  the  school 
several  years.  Henry  Caswell  was  also  one  of  the 
superintendents,  in  the  old  building.  After  the  com- 
pletion of  the  Methodist  Church  at  Hopbottom,  the 
Sabbath-school  was  transferred  to  that  place,  and  has 
since  been  there  continued,  among  the  superinten- 
dents being  T.  J.  Miles  and  the  present,  Mrs.  Emma 
Titus.  The  school  is  continued  the  year  around, 
and  has  fifty  attendants. 

The  church  edifice  at  Hopbottom  was  erected  in 
the  summer  and  fall  of  1870,  under  the  direction  of  a 
building  committee  composed  of  William  P.  Crandall, 
Emanuel  Carpenter  and  Dr.  Samuel  Wright.  The 
Louse  is  an  attractive  frame,  thirty-five  by  fifty  feet, 
with  a belfry,  in  which  is  a five  hundred  pound  bell, 
costing  thirty-two  hundred  dollars. 

“ On  the  day  of  dedication,  December  15,  1870, 
eighteen  hundred  dollars  were  to  be  provided  for,  after 
the  infant  society  had  done  all  it  felt  able  to  do,  but 
under  the  benign  influence  of  the  occasion,  the  entire 


sum  was  pledged  and  the  new  church  auspiciously 
began  its  history.” 

The  church  was  built  by  contract  by  Anson  Merrill 
and  Loomis  Wright,  and  while  the  latter  was  working 
on  the  belfry  he  fell  from  the  building,  but  fortunate- 
ly sustained  no  serious  injury. 

On  the  17th  of  August,  1871,  the  church  became  an 
incorporated  body,  on  the  petition  of  Samuel  Wright, 
P.  H.  Whitney,  Cyrus  M.  Jackson,  Win.  Squiers, 
Wm.  P.  Crandall,  Stephen  S.  Gavitt,  H.  G.  Wright, 
Abraham  Severson,  W.  K.  Eeynolds,  C.  W.  Wright, 
Emanuel  Carpenter  and  J.  S.  Wright. 

In  1886  the  church  had  a season  of  reviving  influ- 
ence, which  greatly  augmented  its  membership.  The 
number  belonging  in  March,  1887, was  fifty-five,  form 
ing  a class  led  by  Dr.  P.  Schoonmaker  and  A.  W. 
Miles. 

The  First  Universalist  Church  of  Hopbottom  was  or- 
ganized February  27,  1870,  with  thirty-two  mem- 
bers, of  whom  the  following  sustained  an  official 
relation  : Elders  Freeman  T.  Powers,  I.  D.  Bell, 
Gilbert  N.  Smith,  Deacons  A.  B.  Merrill,  Lyman  W. 
Kellum,  Clerk  H.  B.  Wood  and  Steward  Albert 
Titus.  August  19,  1870,  the  church  became  an  incor- 
porated body,  with  the  above  officers  and  E.  K. 
Howe  as  incorporators.  On  the  28th  of  December, 
1870,  the  fine  church  edifice  erected  the  preceding 
fall,  at  a cost  of  five  thousand  six  hundred  dollars, 
was  dedicated  by  the  Susquehanna  Association  of  Uni- 
versalists,  which  held  its  meeting  at  this  place  at  that 
time.  It  is  a frame  structure,  thirty-six  by  fifty-six 
feet,  with  slated  roof,  and  has  a spire  nearly  one  hun- 
dred feet  high.  In  this  is  a bell  of  eight  hundred 
pounds  weight.  The  windows  have  lately  been  sup- 
plied with  stained  glass,  and  the  church  building 
throughout  is  very  inviting.  Prior  to  its  occupancy 
the  meetings  were  held  in  the  school-house  and  in 
Good  Templars’  Hall,  and  the  Eev.  A.  0.  Warren,  of 
Montrose,  was  the  minister,  continuing  to  preach 
until  after  the  church  was  built.  In  1871  the  Rev. 
H.  Boughton  became  the  minister,  serving  two  years, 
and  was  succeeded  by  the  Rev.  A.  O.  Warren,  who 
was  the  minister  until  1878.  The  Rev.  J.  M.  Getch- 
ell  came  next  for  one  year,  followed  by  the  Rev.  M. 
L.  Hewitt,  for  two  years,  and  the  Rev.  J.  M.  Clark, 
for  one  year.  For  a period  of  several  years  there  was  no 
regular  minister,  but  occasional  preaching  was  sup- 
plied by  the  ministers  of  the  Brooklyn  and  Montrose 
churches.  Since  1884  the  minister  has  been  the  Rev. 
0.  R.  Beardsley,  who  also  serves  the  Nicholson  Church. 
In  1886  the  church  received  an  addition  to  its  mem- 
bership of  more  than  thirty  persons,  twenty-five 
joining  on  one  occasion.  In  1887  the  church  book 
contained  the  names  of  ninety-one  persons,  and  the 
officers  were:  Elders,  Elisha  Bell,  0.  D.  Roberts, 
Luther  Bell ; Deacons,  James  Merrill,  Albert  Titus ; 
Clerk  and  Steward,  Truman  Bell. 

A vigorous  Sabbath-school  is  maintained  in  the 
church.  It  has  an  average  membership  of  sixty,  and 


696 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


lias  had  E.  M.  Tiffany  as  its  superintendent  since  the 
organization  of  the  society,  with  the  exception  of 
one  year.  It  is  one  of  the  largest  in  the  association. 

The  Lathrop  Cemetery  is  the  place  of  interment  for 
the  people  of  Hopbottoni  and  the  surrounding  coun- 
try. It  is  a well-located  tract  of  land  of  a little  more 
than  two  acres  on  Martin  Creek,  on  the  Brooklyn 
township  line.  It  first  comprised  one  acre,  which 
was  donated  for  burial  purposes  by  Anthony  Wright 
in  November,  1850,  and  by  him  placed  in  charge  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  of  Brooklyn,  which 
held  it  in  trust  until  it  passed  under  the  control  of 
the  Lathrop  Cemetery  Association,  organized  in 
June,  1886.  This  association  elected  as  its  first  trus- 
tees S.  S.  Underhill,  J.  S.  Wright,  Orlando  Wright, 
Jonathan  Squiers  and  Dr.  S.  Wright.  The  cemetery 
has  since  been  enlarged  and  inclosed  with  a sub- 
stantial stone  wall,  and  several  neat  monuments  have 
been  erected.  It  is  becoming  more  attractive  each 
year.  In  1887  the  board  controlling  it  in  behalf  of 
the  association  was  composed  of  W.  P.  Crandall,  M. 
J.  Titus,  G.  W.  Tiffany,  Charles  Brewster  and 
Jonathan  Squiers. 


CHAPTER  XLVI. 

LENOX  TOWNSHIP. 

Lenox  was  the  second  township  erected  after  the 
formation  of  the  county.  At  the  January,  1813,  term 
of  court  Peter  Rynearson  and  others  presented  a pe- 
tition asking  that  a view  be  ordered  of  that  portion 
of  old  Nicholson  township  which  had  fallen  within 
the  new  county,  and  praying  that  it  be  erected 
into  a separate  township,  to  be  called  Hillsborough. 
Such  viewers  were  appointed  and,  at  the  April  ses- 
sions, the  same  year,  two  of  them,  Isaac  Rynearson 
and  H.  Tiffany,  Jr.,  presented  the  following  report: 

“ We  do  report  that  we  have  layed  off  that  part  of  Nicholson  belong- 
ing to  Susquehanna  County,  and  a part  of  Harford  township  as  follows  : 
Beginning  where  the  county  line  crosses  Martin’s  Creek,  it  being  the 
southeast  corner  of  that  part  of  Bridgewater  belonging  to  Susquehanna 
County,  then  running  east  on  the  county  line  seven  miles  to  the  town- 
ship of  Clifford,  thence  north  five  miles  and  three-quarters,  thence  ^ve8t 
six  miles  and  one-quarter  to  Martin’s  Creek,  thence  down  said  creek  to 
place  of  beginning.” 

The  court  decreed  that  a township  with  the  above 
bounds  be  erected  and  that  its  name  be  Lenox.  Sub- 
sequently the  northern  boundary  was  somewhat 
changed,  and,  in  1813,  Lathrop  was  given  all  that 
portion  of  the  territory  lying  east  of  Martin’s  Creek, 
and  the  present  western  boundary  of  Lenox,  along  the 
ridge  which  forms  a natural  division  between  the 
two  townships. 

The  surface  of  Lenox  consists  of  deep  valleys  and 
high  ridges,  a few  of  the  latter  having  areas  which 
give  them  the  appearance  of  plateaus.  Most  of  them 
have  been  cleared  up  and  improved,  so  that  they  now 


constitute  the  finest  farming  lands  in  the  township. 
The  sides  of  many  of  the  ridges  are  too  precipitous 
and  sterile  to  be  profitably  tilled,  but  many  of  them 
contain  superior  flagging  stones,  the  quarrying  of 
which  has  already  become  a profitable  interest,  and  is 
yearly  increasing  in  importance.  The  valleys  are 
narrow,  but  contain  belts  of  flat  lands  of  remarkable 
fertility,  which  caused  their  early  selection  by  the 
pioneers  of  Lenox.  Through  them  also  have  been 
located  the  principal  roads.  The  earliest  of  these 
was  but  a path,  up  the  Tunkhannock,  which,  follow- 
ing the  flat  lands,  crossed  and  re-crossed  the  stream 
very  frequently.  In  1814  the  present  road  along  the 
west  bank  of  the  stream  was  located  and  soon  after 
built.  In  1821  the  Milford  and  Owego  turnpike  was 
completed  diagonally  through  the  northeastern  part 
of  the  township,  and  soon  after  the  Great  Bend  turn- 
pike was  built,  crossing  the  above  road  at  what  was 
Rynearson ’s  (now  Cameron’s)  Corners.  The  Lons- 
dale and  Brooklyn  turnpike  was  built  in  1849,  along 
the  East  Branch  to  Glenwood,  thence  across  the  hills 
to  the  valley  of  Martin’s  Creek.  All  of  these  turn- 
pikes have  long  since  become  public  highways. 

The  timber  growth  of  Lenox  was  varied,  embracing 
the  beech,  birch  (black  and  yellow),  basswood  (the 
American  lime  or  linden),  butternut,  or  white  wal- 
nut ; buttonwood,  or  American  plane-tree  ; chestnut, 
cherry  (black,  choke  and  red),  the  slippery  elm, 
hemlock,  hickory  (bitter  nut  and  small-fruited), 
iron-wood,  maple  (hard  and  soft),  oak  (black  and 
white),  pine  (white),  white  poplar,  or  American 
aspen ; sumach  (smooth  and  poison),  tulip-tree,  or 
white-wood;  willow,  witch-hazel  and  walnut.  Some 
of  these  varieties  are  no  longer  found,  and  the  most 
numerous  species  exist  only  in  limited  quantities. 
But  a small  portion  of  the  township  is  in  its  primitive 
condition,  and  the  timber  supply  is  being  rapidly  ex- 
hausted. In  early  times  these  woods  and  the  ledges 
of  rocks  afforded  shelter  for  all  kinds  of  game,  bears 
and  wolves,  and,  as  late  as  1869,  a large  wild  cat  was 
shot  in  Lenox.  Wild  bees  were  numerous,  owing  to 
the  great  variety  of  plants  and  flowers  which  abound- 
ed, and  there  is  an  account  of  one  bee-tree  being  cut 
which  contained  two  hundred  and  fifty-six  pounds 
of  honey. 

The  drainage  of  Lenox  is  afforded  by  the  Tunk- 
hannock and  its  tributaries.  The  main  creek  flows 
entirely  through  the  township,  entering  near  the 
northeast  corner  and  crossing  diagonally  to  a point 
west  of  the  centre,  on  the  Wyoming  line.  Just  above 
this  place  it  takes  the  waters  of  its  principal  afiluent, 
the  East  Branch,  which  enters  from  Clifford,  about  a 
mile  above  the  southeast  corner,  and  flows  southwest. 
It  is  a stream  of  considerable  volume  and  has  several 
fine  water-powers.  The  smaller  streams  are  mainly 
the  outlets  of  small  lakes  or  ponds,  of  which  the 
largest  is  Loomis  Lake,  in  the  northwestern  part, 
which  discharges  its  waters  through  Millard  Brook, 
falling  into  the  Tunkhannock  at  Glenwood.  Its  mill- 


LENOX. 


69T 


sites  were  also  utilized.  Next  east  is  the  Lower  Bell 
Brook,  which  is  made  up  of  many  springs,  and  has  a 
companion  in  Upper  Bell  Brook,  the  outlet  of  Trues- 
dell’s  Pond.  Round  Pond  is  in  the  northeastern  part 
ot  the  township,  and  Robinson  Lake  is  in  the  high- 
lands in  the  southeastern  part.  In  the  western  part 
are  Taylor  Pond  and  small  brooks,  flowing  southward 
into  the  Tunkhannock  in  Wyoming  County.  These 
streams  are  fed  by  a large  number  of  springs  of  cool 
water,  which  contribute  to  make  the  township  essen- 
tially a dairy  section,  and  that  interest  affords  the 
principal  occupation  for  the  inhabitants. 

The  Pioneers  of  Lenox  labored  under  the  disadvan- 
tages connected  with  the  natural  features  of  the  town- 
ship. The  early  settlements  were  disconnected  and 
the  means  of  communication  difficult  on  account  of 
the  absence  or  poorness  of  the  roads. 

“ People  then  carried  their  grain  to  Wilkes-Barre  in  canoes,  and  made 
most  of  their  purchases  there.  * On  their  way  they  were  accustomed  to 
blow  a horn  when  nearing  each  habitation,  that  persons  desiring  grocer- 
ies, etc.,  might  come  to  the  bank  and  deliver  their  orders,  which  would 
be  attended  to,  and  purchases  made  by  the  obliging  neighbor  and  voy- 
ager, who  announced  his  return  from  Wilkes-Barre  with  the  purchases 
by  another  blast  of  his  horn.  In  returning,  the  cauoe  was  propelled 
almost  the  entire  length  of  the  Tunkhannock  Creek  by  pushing.’ 

“ One  pound  of  maple  sugar,  then  worth  twelve  cents,  could  be  ex- 
changed at  Tunkhannock  for  four  shad,  so  abundant  were  they  then  in 
the  Susquehanna.  Persons  often  suffered  from  hunger,  and  children 
were  sometimes  seen  crying  for  food.  The  principal  articles  of  diet 
were  corn  mush  and  bread  made  of  corn  meal,  milk,  butter  and  pota- 
toes ; fried  doughnuts  as  a Christmas  luxury ; pork  rarely  obtainable, 
but  venison,  bear-meat  and  wild  turkeys  in  their  season  abundant,  as 
also  many  varieties  of  fishes  ; speckled  trout  in  all  the  streams,  and 
some  of  them  very  large.  In  spring  there  was  little  to  eat  except  por- 
ridge made  of  maple-sap  and  corn  meal,  and  sometimes  Johnny-cake, 
though  the  latter,  sweetened  and  shortened,  was  a dish  for  guests 

“One  woman,  the  mother  of  numerous  children  who  sometimes 
begged  her  to  give  them  something  different  from  their  usual  fare  (plain 
Johnny-cake),  used  to  promise  them  ^ tfimmy-cake.’  It  differed  from 
their  customary  bread  in  name  alone,  but  imagination  rendered  it  a sat- 
isfactory dish. 

“ Corn  was  chiefly  pounded  in  mortars,  some  of  which  were  hollowed 
stumps  ; others  were  found  in  rocks,  and  supposed  to  have  been  exca- 
vated by  the  Indians.  Pestles  of  their  manufacture,  as  also  arrow-heads 
and  hatchets,  were  found  in  the  vicinity  of  Glenwood. 

“ In  1798  immense  numbers  of  pigeons  encamped  along  the  hills  of 
the  Tunkhannock  in  this  section.  The  circumstance  was  so  remarka- 
ble it  was  remembered  and  mentioned  by  Mr.  John  Bond  sixty  years 
after,  at  the  Pioneer  Festival  at  Montrose,  in  1858,  though  he  was  but 
a boy  when  it  occurred.”  ^ 

The  pigeons  were  easily  captured,  and  very  ma- 
terially contributed  to  the  maintenance  of  the  early 
settlers.  After  some  of  the  obstacles  which  had  beset 
the  pioneers  were  removed,  other  impediments  to  the 
general  settlement  of  the  township  appeared  in  the 
disinclination  of  the  land-owners  to  place  their  lands 
in  the  market  at  inviting  prices,  and  in  the  disputed 
titles  which  attended  the  sale  of  some  tracts.  These 
circumstances  prevented  substantial  improvements 
from  being  made  in  some  localities  until  within  the 
past  forty  years.  Since  that  time  Lenox  has  im- 
proved rapidly  and  has  assumed  its  proper  position 
among  the  other  divisions  of  the  county. 

It  is  believed  that  Isaac  Rynearson  made  the  first 


1 Blackman. 


permanent  settlement  in  what  is  now  Lenox.  As 
early  as  1797  he  was  located  on  the  Tunkhannock, 
at  what  is  now  known  as  Cameron’s  Corners,  and  where 
he  continued  to  reside  until  his  death,  in  1840,  at  the 
age  of  eighty-two  years.  Being  at  the  crossing  of  two 
important  turnpikes,  his  place  was  very  widely  known 
in  the  days  of  stage  travel,  and  he  himself  was  promi- 
nent in  the  affairs  of  the  township  and  the  county. 
Of  his  five  sons,  Peter  and  Abraham  moved  to  the 
West,  Okey  and  Cornelius  died  on  the  homestead, 
and  Aaron  improved  the  Miller  farm  in  West  Lenox, 
living  there  until  his  death.  He  was  the  father  of 
Isaac  and  Israel  Rynearson.  The  daughters  of  the 
elder  Isaac  Rynearson  were  Elsie,  who  married  Peter 
Lott,  of  the  eastern  part  of  Lenox;  Peggy,  married 
to  William  Knapp,  who  lived  on  the  Martin  Conrad 
place,  near  the  old  home;  Anna  became  the  wife  of 
Milton  Tiffany,  of  Harford ; and  Charity  was  the  wife 
of  Stutely  Harding,  of  West  Lenox,  who  was  a son 
of  Benjamin  Harding,  one  of  the  pioneers  of  the 
township.  William  Knapp  began  improving  his 
place  before  1816,  and  died  'on  the  farm  he  cleared 
up.  He  reared  sons  named  William,  Isaac  and  Peter. 
But  few  of  the  descendants  of  the  Rynearson  family 
remain  in  the  township. 

Also,  in  1797,  an  improvement  was  made  by  Solo- 
mon Millard,  lower  down  the  Tunkhannock,  where 
the  brook  which  bears  his  name  falls  into  that 
stream.  He  had  a choice  location  and  made  sub- 
stantial improvements,  erecting  mills,  shops  and  a 
distillery.  His  death  occurred  about  1825,  and  nine 
years  later  his  farm  became  the  property  of  the  Grow 
family,  who  owned  it  until  recently.  He  had  a large 
family,  the  sons  being  Benajah,  who  moved  to  Dun- 
daff;  Solomon,  who  removed  to  Indiana;  Henry,  after 
living  on  the  D.  C.  Oakley  place  a number  of  years, 
moved  to  La  Salle  County,  Illinois  ; Ira  lived  on  the 
homestead  until  his  removal  to  Michigan;  Stephen, 
the  father  of  Elder  H.  J.  Millard,  is  a citizen  of  New 
York  ; John  T.,  after  improving  the  farm  on  the  hill 
east  of  Henry’s,  now  occupied  by  his  son  John,  moved 
to  Black  River  Falls,  Wisconsin ; and  Jehoiada 
moved  to  Michigan.  The  daughters  of  Solomon 
Millard  married, — Betsey,  Benjamin  Tingley,  of  Har- 
ford ; Lydia,  John  Finn,  of  Lackawanna ; Anna, 
Rollin  Bell,  of  Lenox;  and  Lois,  Ebenezer  Jayne,  of 
Wyoming  County. 

As  early  as  the  settlement  of  Solomon  Millard  was 
that  made  by  Mark  Hartley,  lower  down  the  same 
glen,  the  place  of  original  settlement  still  belonging 
to  his  descendants ; and  many  families  still  bear  this 
name  in  the  township. 

M.  J.  Hartley. — In  1787  John  Nicholson,  comp- 
troller of  Pennsylvania,  and  the  owner  of  extensive 
tracts  of  land  in  the  State,  started  upon  the  endeavor 
to  colonize  his  lands  along  the  Hopbottom  Creek,  and 
gathered  together  a considerable  number  of  thrifty 
persons  for  such  purpose,  during  the  ensuing  five 
years.  Among  this  number  was  Mark  Hartley,  of 


698 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


Scotch  descent,  though  of  Irish  birth,  and  then  living 
at  Northumberland,  who,  in  1792,  was  induced  by 
Nicholson  to  join  the  colony.  Accompanied  by  his 
wife  and  son  William,  then  only  a few  weeks  old,  a 
home  was  made  near  the  southern  part  of  Brooklyn 
township,  and  there  the  family  remained  during  the 
next  five  years,  being  increased  by  the  birth  of  an- 
other son,  Mark,  in  1795.  Between  two  and  three 
years  after  this  event  the  family  removed  to  what  is 
now  Lenox  township,  and  located  near  where  the 
east  branch  of  the  Tunkhannock  joins  the  main 
stream,  upon  property  still  in  the  possession  of  his 
descendants.  Mark  Hartley  was  a stirring  and  go- 
ahead  farmer,  and  made  a handsome  property  in  ad- 
dition to  affording  an  example  of  energy  and  foresight 
to  his  children, — William,  who  was  afterwards  one  of 
•the  most  important  men  of  the  township  ; and  Mark, 
Jr.,  and  James.  Mark  Hartley,  the  second  son,  mar- 
ried Elizabeth  Jayne  and  settled  on  the  homestead, 
and  for  many  years  carried  on  the  farm.  His  children 
were  Samuel,  a shoe-maker,  who  died  in  the  West; 
Catharine,  now  Mrs.  Stephen  Bell,  of  Hopbottom; 
William,  a farmer,  living  near  Glenwood;  Elsie,  the 
wife  of  Daniel  Kentner,  a farmer  of  the  township  ; 
Jonathan,  a farmer,  residing  at  Factoryville;  David, 
a railroad  contractor;  Mark  Jerome;  Paulina,  died 
in  early  youth  ; Sarah,  lives  with  her  brother  Silas  at 
Lenoxville  ; Charles,  died  in  infancy;  Silas,  a manu- 
facturer and  business  man  of  Lenox ; and  Helen 
residing  at  Nicholson.  About  1848  he  removed  to  a 
farm  of  four  hundred  and  sixty-eight  acres  on  the  hill 
north  of  Glenwood,  which  he  had  purchased  some 
time  before,  and  where  he  died  October  11,  1869. 
Mrs.  Hartley  survived  her  husband  until  March  13, 
1876.  Their  son,  Mark  Jerome  Hartley,  born  on 
Christmas  Day,  1829,  obtained  the  ordinary  scholastic 
advantages,  and  worked  upon  his  father’s  farm  until 
after  his  twenty-third  year,  when  he  began  the  trade 
of  a carpenter  at  Scranton,  receiving  for  his  first 
year’s  work  sixty  dollars.  The  two  years  following  he 
worked  upon  the  public  works  in  Cattaraugus  Co., 
N.  Y.,  and  then  returned  to  his  native  county  to  en- 
gage in  business  at  Susquehanna,  which  he  carried  on 
about  the  same  length  of  time.  The  succeeding  five 
years  he  spent  upon  a farm  near  the  Glenwood  Tan- 
nery, which  he  had  bought  of  Hon.  G.  A.  Grow,  and, 
disposing  thereof,  he  went  back  to  Susquehanna  a 
few  months  before  joining  a construction  corps  organ- 
izing by  William  D.  Jayne  for  service  in  the  South, 
under  the  command  of  Colonel  Greenleaf,  of  Phila- 
delphia. From  the  spring  of  1865  Mr.  Hartley  was 
engaged  as  boss  in  the  work  of  rebuilding  the  bridges 
and  repairing  the  damages  done  by  Sherman’s  army 
on  the  March  to  the  Sea,  etc.,  until  the  August  fol- 
lowing, when  he  received  an  honorable  discharge 
from  the  government  service.  The  next  spring  he 
built  at  Susquehanna,  adjoining  the  First  National 
Bank,  in  which  building  he  carried  on  for  six  years  a 
restaurant  and  mercantile  enterprise.  He  then  *sold 


out  and  entered  the  mercantile  business  at  Lenoxville 
with  his  brother,  the  firm  being  M.  J.  & S.  Hartley, 
and  he  was  postmaster  there  in  1872.  Shortly  after 
this  he  bought  the  property  upon  which  his  father 
had  died,  and,  having  erected  a pleasant  home  there- 
on, he  removed  to  their  present  residence.  He  is  a 
very  active  and  enterprising  man.  He  deals  in  live 
stock,  marketing  his  animals  after  being  fatted  at 
Scranton.  On  December  18,  1858,  he  married  Nancy 
M.  (born  1837),  the  daughter  of  C.  P.  (born  1812)  and 
Eliza  Houghteling  (born  1807)  Kinney,  of  Otsego 
Co.,  N.  Y.  Mr.  Kinney  was  born  in  that  county,  the 
son  of  Abijah  Kinney,  a farmer. 

A third  son  of  Mark  Hartley,  Sr.,  was  James,  who 
found  a home  in  the  neighborhood  of  Glenwood,  and 
was  the  father  of  sons  named  Edwin,  James  and 
Cyrus.  The  oldest  son,  William,  married  Jerusha 
Marcy,  the  daughter  of  a pioneer  lower  down  the 
creek,  and  lived  on  the  homestead  until  his  death, 
sharing  it  with  his  brother,  Mark.  His  sons  were 
Abel,  Cyrus,  Milo  and  William,  all  of  whom  have 
deceased. 

About  midway  between  Rynearson’s  and  Hartley’s, 
Bryant  Robinson,  an  Irishman,  settled  some  time  be- 
fore 1800  (by  some  it  is  claimed  as  early  as  1796),  and 
improved  a farm  which  is  now  owned  by  Simon 
Marcy.  Both  he  and  his  wife  were  advanced  in  years 
at  this  time,  and  died  before  many  years,  being  buried 
on  the  farm.  The  oldest  son,  John,  lived  on  part  of 
the  homestead  until  1837,  when  he  moved  to  Ohio, 
most  of  his  family  accompanying  him.  His  second 
son,  James,  was  born  at  Wilkes-Barre  Oct.  16,  1792, 
from  where  his  father  came  when  he  was  in  his  fourth 
year,  and  for  the  past  ninety-one  years  he  has  resided 
in  the  township  of  Lenox.  In  1820  he  married  Lucy 
Jayne,  who  is  also  living  at  the  age  of  eighty-five 
years.  A part  of  the  time  they  lived  on  the  home- 
stead, but  for  the  past  fifty  years  they  have  resided  on 
a farm  a little  west  of  Lenoxville.  They  reared  six 
sons  and  four  daughters, — Elizabeth,  Emeline,  Elsie 
and  Mary  Jane,  the  latter  being  the  wife  of  James  R. 
Johnson,  of  Nebraska.  The  sons  are  Holloway,  on 
the  homestead ; James  M.,  Daniel  B.,  John  Milo, 
Samuel  De  Witt  and  Ellery,  all  living  in  the  county 
except  James  M.,  who  is  in  McKean  County.  A 
third  son,  Daniel,  lived  and  died  near  Lenoxville. 
He  was  the  father  of  sons  named  Elias,  Daniel  S., 
John  William,  James,  Ambrose  I.  and  Emory,  some 
of  whom  remained  near  the  place  of  their  nativity. 

Isaac  Doud  was  the  first  settler  at  Lenoxville,  he- 
ginning  his  improvements  at  that  point  in  1797.  He 
lived  so  near  the  Clifford  line  that  his  blacksmith- 
shop  fell  into  that  township  when  the  line  was  run. 
He  built  mills  and  made  other  substantial  improve- 
ments, but  left  Lenox  for  Ohio  in  1821,  going  the  en- 
tire distance  with  an  ox-team.  Some  of  his  family 
remained,  among  them  being  Isaac,  who  settled  in 
Luzerne  County ; Ebenezer,  who  settled  in  Clifford  ; 
and  John,  who  lived  in  the  neighborhood  of  Lenox- 


LENOX. 


699 


ville  until  he  was  more  than  eiglity  years  old,  and 
died  at  the  home  of  his  son,  Thomas  Doud,  of  Clif- 
ford. 

Michael  Halstead  was  another  early  settler  on  the 
East  Branch,  where  he  reared  a large  family,  and  had 
brothers  named  Isaiah  and  Joseph,  who  moved  to  the 
West.  Another  member,  James  Halstead  (commonly 
called  Cooper  Jim),  became  nearly  a hundred  years 
old,  living  last  in  Sullivan  County.  His  descendants 
were  very  numerous.  Michael  Halstead  was  the 
father  of  sons  named  William,  Michael,  Jesse,  James, 
Samuel,  Joseph  and  Elisha,  most  of  whom  remained 
in  Lenox. 

Below  the  old  Robinson  place,  on  tbe  Tunkhannock, 
early  improvements  were  made  by  the  Bartlett  family, 
which  removed  some  time  after  1813.  This  farm  was 
afterwards  owned  by  tbe  Dimocks,  and  later  by  Loren 
Wright.  Still  lower  lived  the  Bells,  of  whom  a spe- 
cial account  is  given.  Other  early  settlers  left  the 
township  so  many  years  ago  that  no  account  has  been 
preserved. 

In  1813  the  taxables  of  that  part  of  Nicholson  in 
Susquehanna  County  were  as  follows : 

Eollin  Bell,  Calvin  Bell,  Elisha  Bell,  Stuten  Bell,  Jacob  Blake, 
Abner  Bartlett,  Ebenezer  Bartlett,  James  Buchanan,  Isaac  Dowd,  John 
Decker,  .Tames  Halstead,  Michael  Halstead,  William  Hartley,  William 
Knapp,  Matthew  Laflin,  Solomon  Millard,  Joshua  Morgan,  .Tohn  McCord, 
Stephen  Millard,  Jacob  Quick,  Isaac  Rynearson,  Peter  Rynearson,  Ben- 
jamin Ryder,  Bryant  Robinson,  John  Robinson,  Henry  Wells. 

In  1816— 

"William  Buchanan,  William  Cooper,  .John  Conrad,  Benjamin  Decker, 
Isaiah  Halstead,  Benjamin  Harding,  Asaph  Fuller,  Henry  Millard, 
Richard  McNamara,  Thomas  JIcNamara,  Amos  Payne,  Okey  Rynear- 
son, James  Robinson,  Joseph  Ryder,  Nathan  Tiffany,  Samuel  Worth, 
Wilbur  Woodbury. 

The  Ryders  lived  on  the  Tunkhannock,  on  the 
present  Roberts  farm,  moving  from  Lenox  to  Ohio. 
Benjamin  Decker  was  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  town- 
ship and  reared  a large  family,  the  sons  being  Lewis, 
Stephen,  John,  Benjamin,  William,  Byram,  Moses 
and  Aaron. 

William  Conrad  (or  Coonrod)  was  one  of  the  first 
German  settlers  of  the  county.  In  1788  he  came 
with  his  wife  and  one  child,  John,  not  quite  three 
years  of  age,  to  the  Hopbottom  settlement  in 
Brooklyn,  building  a rude  cabin  on  a farm  which  was 
afterwards  sold  to  a man  named  Tracy.  Soon  after 
their  arrival  their  daughter  Catharine  was  born,  and 
was,  it  is  believed,  the  first  native  white  child  born 
in  the  southern  part  of  the  county.  Upon  leaving 
Brooklyn,  William  Conrad  settled  in  Harford,  where 
he  died.  His  entire  family  consisted  of  John,  who 
died  in  Jackson ; Catharine,  married  to  Henry 
Felton,  of  Harford;  Polly,  the  wife  of  Nathan  For- 
syth, of  Harford  ; George,  who  lived  at  South  Gibson  ; 
William  and  Jacob,  who  moved  to  Bradford  County; 
and  Andrew,  who  settled  in  the  western  part  of 
Lenox,  and  was  the  father  of  Charles  W.,  James  M., 
Rufus,  Henry  W.  and  J.  Oscar  Conrad.  The  Con- 
rads have  become  a very  numerous  family  in  the 


southern  part  of  the  county,  having  representatives 
in  half  a dozen  townships. 

Asaph  Fuller  came  from  Canterbury,  Conn.,  in 
1814,  and  settled  on  Harford  Creek,  a mile  from 
Rynearson’s.  He  was  a shoemaker  by  trade  and  also 
carried  on  a small  tannery.  He  became  one  of  the 
oldest  men  in  Lenox,  dying  in  the  fall  of  1868,  aged 
ninety-four  years.  His  second  wife  survives  him, 
living  on  the  homestead  at  the  age  of  eighty-seven 
years.  By  this  union  seven  children  attained  mature 
years,  namely : Theodore,  living  on  the  homestead  ; 
James,  a citizen  of  Gibson  ; and  daughters  married  as 
follows;  Julia,  Henry  Sperbeck;  Emeline,  Luther 
Walter;  Susan,  Erastus  Guard;  Diantha,  John  A. 
Whitney  ; and  Lydia  J.,  George  Belcher. 

On  the  farm  next  above,  Richard  McNamara,  an 
Irisman,  settled  at  the  same  time,  and  here  reared 
sons  named  Thomas,  Luke,  Ephraim  and  Lewis. 
The  farm  is  now  occupied  by  his  grandson,  Richard 

D.  McNamara. 

Higher  up  and  near  the  Harford  line.  Captain 
Amos  Payne  made  some  pioneer  improvements,  and 
reared  sons  named  Charles,  Daniel  and  William,  all 
of  whom  were  large,  tall  men.  East  from  this  place, 
and  across  the  ridge,  Lyman  Follett  lived  on  the 
place  now  occupied  by  his  son  Albert.  His  mother, 
whose  maiden-name  was  Lincoln,  is  also  living  on 
the  homestead,  at  the  advanced  age  of  eighty-seven 
years. 

Nathan  S.  Tiffany,  son  of  Daniel  Tiffany  and  Mary 
Woodcock,  of  Hartford,  Conn.,  was  born  March  20, 
1785,  and  married  Nancy  Pellett,  of  Canterbury,  Conn., 
and  moved  to  Lenox  in  1815.  He  purchased  one  hun- 
dred and  seventy-five  acres  of  land  of  John  Conrad, 
since  known  as  the  “Squire  Chandler  farm.”  He 
was  an  energetic  man  of  considerable  prominence  in 
the  township,  and  held  a number  of  township  offices. 
He  left  a large  family, — Emulous,  located  in  Harford  ; 
Louise  Marie  was  the  wife  of  Russell  Woodward ; 
Emily  J.,  wife  of  Cyrus  B.  Woodward  ; Edwin  resides 
in  Susquehanna;  Russell  in  South  Gibson;  Almira 
was  the  wife  of  John  B.  Walker ; Horace  N.  resides 
in  Lathrop.  He  was  a prominent  school-teacher 
many  years,  and  register  and  recorder  in  1873.  He 
has  also  been  justice  of  the  peace  a number  of  years. 
Annie  E.  is  the  wife  of  John  Steenback,  and  resides 
near  Susquehanna. 

On  Sun  Hill,  Levi  Davis,  from  Connecticut,  cleared 
up  a farm  which  is  now  occupied  by  his  son,  Judson 

E.  Other  sons  were  Francis,  Eldridge  D.  and  Henry. 
In  the  same  neighborhood,  on  the  Clifford  line,  Wil- 
liam Stevens  began  clearing  up  a farm  at  an  early 
day,  and  lived  there  to  extreme  age.  He  was  noted 
for  his  adherence  to  Whig  principles,  and  was  for 
some  years  the  only  member  of  that  party  in  that  town- 
ship. 

Some  years  later  Charles  Chandler,  Jr.,  came  from 
Gibson  and  settled  west  from  Stevens.  In  1834  he 
had  the  only  painted  house  in  Lenox.  Six  years 


700 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


later  he  was  a member  of  the  State  Legislature,  and 
died  at  Harrisburg,  of  small-pox,  in  1840. 

In  1823  Rial  Tower,  his  wife  and  father,  Nathaniel, 
came  from  Vermont  and  settled  south  of  the  Baptist 
Church.  The  latter  was  a Revolutionary  pensioner, 
and  died  in  1836,  aged  eighty-eight  years.  Rial  Tower 
and  several  of  his  sons  became  Baptist  ministers.  He 
was  a man  of  strong  convictions,  and  early  advocated 
temperance  usages.  It  is  claimed  that  he  raised  the 
first  barn  without  liquor  in  the  township,  and  that 
some  of  his  neighbors  derisively  called  it  the  “one 
thing  lacking.”  A part  of  this  property  now  belongs 
to  Gordon  S.  Chase.  He  died  July  29,  1878,  aged 
seventy-eijrht  years,  and  lies  in  the  graveyard  near 
his  old  home.  His  family  consisted  of  sons, — Warner 
C.j  William  N.,  Purington  R.  and  Charles  M.,  the 
three  last  named  being  ministers.  The  daughters 
married : Sarah  E.,  Stepheu  Millard,  of  Lenox  ; Polly 
M.,  Nathan  Callender;  Emily  F.,  Elias  N.  Moore; 
Diantha  E.,  John  W.  White ; and  Lucy  Z.,  D.  C.  Oak- 
ley, of  Lenox. 

Below  the  Tower  place  improvements  were  made  by 
Hazard  Powers  and  Luke  D.  Bennett,  sons-in-law  of 
Darius  Tingley,  of  Harford ; and  their  descendants 
still  live  in  this  locality.  Joseph  T.  Bennett,  a son  of 
the  above,  now  lives  on  the  Truman  Bell  place. 

West  of  Tower’s,  Hubbard  N.  Smith,  a son  of  Eli- 
jah Smith,  of  Brooklyn,  located  at  a more  recent  pe- 
riod, the  place  having  been  occupied  early  by  Milton 
Tiffany,  who  was  married  to  Anna  Rynearson.  They 
reared  a large  family. 

Alsoist  Tiffany  (1806-84)  was  a grandson  of 
Thomas  Tiffany,  who,  with  his  wife  and  family,  left 
Attleboro’,  Mass.,  in  the  fall  of  1794,  and  joined  the 
“ Nine  Partners’  ” settlement  in  Nicholson  (now  Har- 
ford), this  county.  The  second  son,  Thomas,  re- 
sided about  one  mile  from  Kingsley  Station,  in 
Harford,  where  he  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life,  and 
died  about  1840,  at  over  sixty  years  of  age.  His  first 
wife,  Chloe,  a daughter  of  Elkanah  Tiugley,  who  was 
a settler  in  Harford  in  1795,  from  Attleboro’,  bore 
him  children, — Alson;  Priscilla,  the  widow  of  Ros- 
w'ell  Barnes,  of  Gibson  ; and  Milton,  who  settled  in 
Lenox,  but  subsequently  removed  to  near  Tunkhan- 
nock,  where  he  died.  By  a second  marriage,  to  a 
Miss  Truesdell,  he  had  one  child,  Chloe,  who  married 
William  Tripp,  of  Harford,  where  both  died,  leaving 
a son,  Alson  Tripp,  who  served  in  the  late  Rebellion, 
and  was  killed  at  the  battle  of  Fredericksburg.  By 
his  third  marriage  to  Esther  Williams,  he  had  chil- 
dren,— Thomas  Williams  Tiffany,  who  died  on  the 
homestead,  and  Esther,  the  wife  of  Alfred  Barnard, 
of  Harford,  also  deceased.  The  brothers  and  sisters 
of  Thomas  Tiffany  were  Lorinda  and  Alfred  (older), 
Pelatiah,  Tingley,  Dalton,  Lewis,  Preston,  Orvill, 
Betsey,  a Mrs.  Norris,  of  Jackson,  and  Millie  wife 
of  Calvin  Corse,  of  Jackson  (younger),  the  first 
seven  of  whom,  including  Thomas,  came  from  Attle- 
boro’. Alson,  eldest  son  of  Thomas  and  Chloe  (Ting- 


ley), Tiffany  improved  his  meagre  advantages  for  an 
education  from  books,  and  learned  in  boyhood  that 
the  pioneer  of  a newly  settled  country  must  couple 
economy  with  industry,  and  be  judicious  in  all  mat- 
ters in  order  to  succeed  financially.  Upon  becoming 
of  age,  along  wi  th  his  father  and  brother,  he  took  up 
a wilderness  tract  of  land  in  Lenox,  six  miles  from 
the  homestead,  in  Harford,  erected  a cabin  and  for 
some  two  years  walked  to  and  from  the  land  while 
cutting  off  the  timber  and  preparing  its  virgin  soil  for 
crops.  In  1830  he  erected  the  present  residence,  and 
the  same  year  married  Fanny  M.  Ely,  who  was 
born  in  Brooklyn,  August  8,  1811.  Her  parents,  Silas 
P.  (1783-1865)  and  Mehitabel  Church  (1786-1847) 
Ely,  Presbyterians,  settled  in  Brooklyn  in  the  spring 
of  1810,  and  had  children, — Fanny  M. ; Orrin  C.,  of 
Michigan ; Teressa  died  at  twelve;  Jared  died  at  nine- 
teen ; Harriet  was  the  wife  of  Asa  Titus,  of  Lenox, 
both  deceased  ; George  resides  on  the  homestead  in 
Brooklyn;  and  Sarah,  deceased,  was  the  wife  of  James 
Peckham,  of  Brooklyn.  Silas  P.  Ely’s  father,  Ga- 
briel, and  uncle  Zelophehad  came  in  1814,  and  the 
former  was  postmaster  at  Brooklyn  in  1815  or  1816, 
The  first  school  in  the  vicinity  was  kept  in  one  of  the 
rooms  of  Mr.  Tiffany’s  new  house  as  soon  as  it  was 
completed,  the  teacher  being  Permelia  Seeley.  He 
spent  his  life  a farmer  on  this  place  of  one  hundred 
and  twenty  acres,  cleared  most  of  it  himself,  and 
erected  good  out-buildings.  He  did  not  obtain  the 
title  of  his  land,  which  had  been  claimed  by  the 
agent  of  Dr.  Rose,  and  after  his  death  by  the  agent  of 
one  Collins  until  1852,  when,  in  the  interest  of  all  the 
settlers,  it  was  bid  off  in  Philadelphia  for  fifty  cents 
per  acre  by  one  Ward,  who  gave  the  deed  to  each. 
Soon  after  their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Tiffany  united 
with  the  Presbyterian  Church,  Brooklyn,  where  the 
latter  has  always  remained  a member.  He  believing 
his  field  of  labor  to  be  in  his  own  neighborhood, 
united  with  the  Free-Will  Baptist  Church,  at  Loomis 
Lake,  where,  for  eighteen  years  prior  to  his  death,  he 
was  the  moving  spirit  in  its  support  and  in  its  relig- 
ious work.  From  youth  he  was  a temperance  man, 
was  one  of  the  first  to  abstain  from  keeping  liquor  for 
the  beverage  of  the  early  settlers  at  their  logging 
bees,  and  ever  by  his  words  and  influence  advocated 
total  abstinence.  He  gave  his  children  the  best  ad- 
vantages his  means  afforded  for  obtaining  an  educa- 
tion in  the  home  schools  and  at  Harford  Academy, 
and  was  always  interested  in  everything  that  tended 
to  make  society  better  and  elevate  moral  sentiment,  in 
the  community.  He  was  formerly  a Whig  and  later 
a Republican,  but  never  sought  official  place.  Upon 
the  breaking  out  of  the  Rebellion  his  heart  was  fired 
with  patriotism,  and  although  fifty-six  years  of  age, 
he,  on  February  21,  1862,  enlisted  at  Glenwood,  in 
Company  A,  Captain  Dorshimer,  and  went  to  the 
front  in  the  One  Hundred  and  Seventh  Regiment 
Pennsylvania  Infantry.  His  age  and  poor  health 
barred  him  from  much  active  service,  however,  and 


LENOX. 


701 


after  serving  in  the  hospital  until  spring,  he  was 
honorably  discharged  in  April,  1863,  at  Camp  Con- 
valescent, Va.,  for  disability,  and  returned  home.  The 
golden  wedding  of  this  worthy  couple  was  celebrated 
at  their  home,  on  the  fiftieth  anniversary  of  their 
marriage,  where  they  were  made  happy  by  the  greet- 
ings of  their  children  and  many  friends.  The  widow, 
a woman  devoted  to  her  family  and  to  her  church, 
survives  in  1887,  and  is  cared  for  by  her  son,  Frank- 
lin M.,  who  succeeded  to  the  ownership  of  the  home- 
stead upon  the  death  of  his  father.  The  children 
are  Teressa  M.,  born  1832,  first  the  wife  of  Warner 
C.  Tower,  and  after  his  death  married  Hubbard  N. 
Smith,  of  Lenox  ; Chloe  (1834-79),  wife  of  John  M. 
Hobbs,  died  at  Uniondale;  Orrin  C.,  1837,  enlisted  at 
Scranton,  March  30,  1864,  private  Company  G,  One 
Hundred  and  Eighty-seventh  Regiment  Pennsylvania 
Provost  Guards,  was  killed  instantly  by  the  explo- 
sion of  a shell  near  Petersburg,  June  18,  1864, 
(he  was  a bright  member  of  society,  a church-going 
young  man),  and  with  the  heart  of  a true  patriot  bid 
farewell  to  dear  friends  and  hastened  to  defend  his 
country’s  rights,  saying,  as  he  left  his  home  and 
friends,  “ I am  no  better  to  die  than  thousands  who 
have  already  fallen;”  Jennie  J.,  1840,  died  at  nearly 
twenty-four;  Harriet  Melissa,  1842,  wife  of  Rev.  Nel- 
son J.  Hawley,  of  Florida,  a Methodist  Episcopal 
minister,  who  went  into  the  service  of  the  war  from 
Susquehanna  County,  commanded  a company  and  re- 
mained for  three  years ; Jared  M.,  1845,  superinten- 
dent Kingsley  Section,  Delaware,  Lackawanna  and 
Western  Railroad,  resides  at  Kingsley  Station; 
Cynthia  C.,  1848,  and  Ella  A.,  died  young;  Franklin 
Monroe,  1853  ; and  Ambrose  E.  Tiffany,  a contractor 
and  builder  at  Clifford,  Pa. 

Franklin  Monroe  Tiffany  married,  in  1874,  Elva  A. 
Jerald,  who  was  born  in  Abington,  Lackawanna 
County,  February  26,  1852,  the  youngest  child  of 
Ray  G.  Jerald  (1803-81)  and  his  wife,  Dorcas  Rem- 
ington Jerald  (1807-82),  who  came  from  Rhode  Is- 
land to  Abington,  and  thence  to  Lenox,  where  they 
settled  and  died.  Their  children  are  three, — Harry 
Bernard,  Lenna  Gertrude  and  Vanna  Belle  Tiffany. 

Lower  down  this  road  Charles  Titus,  from  Con- 
necticut, cleared  up  a farm  and  lived  there  until  his 
death.  This  place  is  now  the  home  of  his  youngest 
and  only  surviving  son,  Albert  J.  Titus.  On  the 
farm  occupied  by  Byron  McDonald,  his  father,  Allen 
McDonald,  settled  at  a later  day  and  reared  a large 
family.  In  the  later  years  of  his  life  he  lived  on  the 
D.  N.  Hardy  place,  where  he  set  out  a fine  vineyard, 
which,  unfortunately,  has  been  taken  up,  thus  remov- 
ing the  only  industry  of  the  kind  in  Lenox.  On  the 
Alfred  Jeffers  farm,  on  the  same  road,  Erastus  Ely 
made  a beginning  and  for  a short  time  had  a small 
store,  the  first  in  this  part  of  the  township,  at  the 
lake  which  bears  his  name.  Luther  Loomis  settled,  as 
is  elsewhere  related ; and  in  the  western  part,  south 
from  the  lake,  lived  Jacob  Blake,  on  a farm  on 


which  lived  Warren  M.  Tingley,  after  1841,  until  his 
removal  to  Hopbottom,  where  he  still  resides. 
Squire  Tingley  and  the  six  sons  he  reared  had  an 
average  height  of  six  feet  two  inches.  The  family 
descended  from  the  Tingleys  of  Harford,  whose 
posterity  have  become  very  numerous  in  the  county. 

Asa  Dimock  was  a pioneer  in  Herrick,  settling  in 
that  township  in  1807.  Eleven  years  later  he  and 
his  son  Thomas  moved  to  Dundaff,  where  he  resided 
until  1827,  when  he  moved  to  a farm  on  the  Tunk- 
hannock,  in  Lenox,  where  he  died  late  in  1833.  His 
son  Shubael  also  lived  on  this  place,  but  removed  to 
Wisconsin  ; Asa,  another  son,  remained  in  Herrick. 
The  elder  Dimock  was  one  of  the  first  commissioners 
of  the  county  and  was  prominent  in  all  public  affairs, 
being  well  adapted  for  a leader  in  that  period. 

“ At  this  time  the  township  was  strongly  Democrat- 
ic in  politics.  During  one  of  the  campaigns  in  which 
Andrew  Jackson  was  a candidate  for  the  Presidency, 
the  Lenox  election  was  held  at  his  house,  when  he 
gave  notice  that  he  had  a keg  of  whiskey  which  he 
would  open  for  those  in  attendance  after  the  election, 
provided  no  vote  was  cast  against  Jackson.  Either 
all  the  voters  were  Democrats,  or  the  temptation  was 
too  strong  for  their  principles,  for  Jackson  received 
every  vote,  and  the  whiskey  was  opened.  ^ 

“ The  township  continued  strongly  Democratic 
until  the  excitement  occasioned  by  the  ‘ Kansas-Ne- 
braska  Bill.’  In  the  fail  of  1856  a majority  of  votes 
against  the  Democratic  ticket  was  cast  for  the  first 
time.  A banner  was  presented  to  Lenox  by  the 
ladies  of  Montrose,  as  a prize  to  the  township  which 
gave  the  greatest  increase  of  Republican  votes  at  the 
November  election  over  the  election  of  the  previous 
month.” 

In  1813  there  were  but  twenty  houses  in  Lenox, 
and  only  three  hundred  and  forty  acres  of  improved 
land.  In  1833  the  houses  numbered  eighty,  and  the 
acres  of  improved  land  had  been  increased  to  one 
thousand. 

In  1834  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Grow  and  some  of  the 
members  of  her  family  were  added  to  the  population 
of  Lenox.  She  came  from  Windham  County,  Conn., 
with  other  immigrants,  bringing  with  her  the  oldest 
son,  Edwin,  Galusha  A.  (at  that  time  ten  years  old) 
and  the  youngest  of  her  family  of  six  children,  a 
daughter.  The  oldest  child,  a married  daughter,  ac- 
companied her  mother  to  meet  her  husband,  who  had 
bought  a farm  near  Dundaff,  in  Luzerne  County.  In 
a few  years  Frederick  and  Samuel,  the  other  two 
children,  came  to  join  their  mother.  The  children 
had  been  scattered  among  relatives  after  the  death  of 
their  father,  until  Mrs.  Grow’s  residence  at  Lenox ; 
but  here  they  were  all  eventually  gathered  in  one 
family,  and  remained  such  for  years  after  attaining 
their  majority  and  engaging  in  business.  The  mother 
died  in  1864,  and  is  remembered  by  her  neighbors  as 


^ Miss  BlackmaD. 


702 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


a woman  of  uncommon  worth,  and  deserving  of  more 
than  an  ordinary  tribute.  She  bought  the  Solomon 
JMillard  farm  of  four  hundred  and  forty  acres  for  one 
thousand  three  liundred  dollars,  as  the  land  was  in  a 
poor  state  of  cultivation,  but,  with  the  assistance  of 
her  suns,  she  soon  increased  its  fertility,  until  it  was 
as  productive  as  any  in  the  township.  The  first  sea- 
son her  stock  consisted  of  a cow  and  a yoke  of  oxen, 
which  were  used  by  Edwin  and  Galusha  to  put  in  a 
field  of  oats  and  a few  acres  of  corn. 

“ The  pigeons  that  year  rested  on  Elk  Hill,'  and 
were  very  destructive  to  the  farmers’  oats  and  corn. 
As  Galusha  was  then  too  young  to  work,  he  was  as- 
signed a post  upon  the  ridge  of  a barn,  which  then 
stood  between  the  corn-field  and  the  oats,  that  he 
might,  with  two  small  sticks,  rattle  upon  the  roof  and 
scare  off  the  pigeons.  So  he  spent  the  days,  after  the 
corn  came  up,  till  it  was  too  large  for  the  pigeons  to 
disturb.  He  was  obliged  to  be  up  early  in  the  morn- 
ing, and  to  carry  his  dinner  with  him,  as  the  pigeons 
were  so  numerous  they  would  destroy  a whole  field  in 
a very  short  time.  Imagination  sees  the  embryo 
Speaker  of  Congress  perched  on  that  barn-roof  no  less 
happy  and  no  less  dignified — since  his  post  was  one  of 
essential  service— than  in -the  palmy  days  when  he 
occupied  the  third  seat  in  the  nation.” 

She  soon  after  opened  a country  store  which  she 
placed  in  the  charge  of  her  sons,  and  the  business  es- 
tablished is  still  carried  on  by  her  grandson,  Fred.  F. 
Grow.  The  oldest  son,  Edwin,  still  remains  in  the 
township;  Frederick  has  deceased;  Samuel  removed 
to  Binghamton ; and  of  Galusha  A.,  who  became 
distinguished  both  in  the  State  and  the  nation,  a 
special  sketch  is  here  given, — 

Galusha  A.  Grow  was  born  in  Ashford  (now 
Eastford),  Wmdham  County,  Conn.,  May,  1834.  Dur- 
ing the  winter  of  1836,  ’37  and  ’38  Galusha  was  at 
school  in  the  old  school-house,  which  has  since  been 
converted  into  a neat  chapel  for  the  use  of  Mrs.  F. 
P.  Grow’s  Sabbath-school.  Here,  when  he  was  not 
yet  fourteen  years  old,  he  took  an  active  part  in  the 
debating  society,  for  which  he  prepared  himself  on 
his  walks  twice  a day  to  and  from  foddering  cattle, 
about  one  mile  from  the  house.  Assisting  his  brother 
in  the  small  country  store  originally  established  by 
Mrs.  Grow’s  energy,  on  the  present  site  of  the  Glen- 
wood  post-office,  and  accompanying  him  in  the 
spring  in  rafting  lumber  down  the  Susquehanna  to 
Port  Deposit,  Md.,  Galusha  found  occupation  for 
seasons  when  uot  in  school  until  he  entered  Franklin 
Academy,  at  Harford,  in  the  spring  of  1838.  He  and 
his  younger  sister  Elizabeth  (afterwards  the  wife  of 
Hon.  J.  Everett  Streeter)  then  had  rooms  a mile  from 
the  academy,  at  Mrs.  Farrar’s,  where  they  boarded 


1 “ The  Volunteer  of  that  season  had  a paragraph  respecting  the  eastern 
part  of  the  county  : ‘ Nine  miles  in  length  and  two  in  width— every  foot 
of  which,  and  almost  every  tree  and  branch  of  which,  are  occupied  by 
pigeons.’  ” 

Tlie  beech  nuts  were  the  attraction. — Blackman. 


themselves  ; but  the  winter  following,  his  sister  not 
being  with  him,  he  roomed  in  the  institution,  and 
boarded,  as  one  of  a club,  with  Mrs.  Walker,  mother 
of  the  late  Governor  of  Virginia.  Preston  Richard- 
son was  then  principal,  but  at  his  death,  soon  after, 
the  Rev.  AVillard  Richardson  succeeded  him,  and  was 
Mr.  Grow’s  teacher  until  he  left,  in  1840,  for  Am- 
herst College.  His  first  political  speech  was  made 
in  his  senior  year  at  Amherst,  in  1844.  He  grad- 
uated with  high  honors  in  his  class,  and  with  the  repu- 
tation of  being  a ready  debater  and  a fine  extempo- 
raneous speaker.  He  commenced  studying  law  with 
Hon.  F.  B.  Streeter  in  the  winter  of  1845,  and  was 


GALUSHA  A.  GROW. 


admitted  to  the  bar  of  Susquehanna  County  April 
19,  1847.  He  was  law  partner  of  Hon.  David  Wil- 
mot  at  Towanda,  1848-49;  but  his  health  then  de- 
manding a resort  to  out-door  pursuits,  he  spent  some 
time  in  surveying,  peeling  bark,  working  on  the 
farm,  etc.  In  the  fall  of  1850  he  received  the  unani- 
mous nomination  for  the  State  Legislature  by  the 
Democratic  Convention  of  the  county,  which  he  de- 
clined. 

The  same  season  the  Honorable  David  Wilmot 
withdrew  as  a candidate  for  Congress  in  the  Twelfth 
District,  with  the  understanding  that  the  Free-soil 
party  would  support  Mr.  Grow,  hitherto  unknown 
outside  of  the  county.  The  result  was  the  election  of 
Mr.  Grow,  just  one  week  after  his  nomination,  hy  a 
majority  of  twelve  hundred  and  sixty-four  over  the 


LENOX. 


T03 


Republican  candidate,  John  C.  Adams,  of  Bradford. 
He  took  his  seat  December,  1851,  at  the  time  but 
twenty-six  years  old — the  youngest  member  of  Con- 
gress. Ill  1852  his  majority  was  seven  thousand  five 
hundred,  and  at  the  next  election  the  vote  was  unani- 
mous, owing  to  his  opposition  to  the  Kansas-Nebraska 
Bill.  From  the  date  of  the  repeal  of  the  Missouri 
Compromise  Mr.  Grow  severed  his  connection  with 
the  Democratic  party;  still  he  continued  to  represent 
the  Wilmot  District  until  the  4th  of  March,  1863. 
His  defeat  at  the  election  the  previous  fall  was  owing 
to  the  Congressional  apportionment  which  united 
Susquehanna  County  with  Luzerne,  thus  giving  a pre- 
ponderating Democratic  vote. 

The  entry  of  Galusha  A.  Grow  into  political  life 
was  at  an  eventful  period  in  the  history  of  the  country. 
Grave  questions  of  half  a century’s  agitation  had 
culminated  and  demanded  conclusive  settlement;  new 
industrial  questions  had  assumed  prominence,  all  of 
which  finally  disrupted  the  old  political  parties.  Mr. 
Grow  took  his  stand  from  the  first  on  the  side  of  free- 
dom and  the  interests  of  the  laboring  classes,  and 
adhered  to  it  steadfastly  to  the  end.  His  unwavering 
devotion  throughout  his  whole  Congressional  career 
to  the  passage  of  the  Homestead  Bill  has  endeared  his 
name  to  the  hearts  of  the  people  everywhere.  “ Land 
for  the  landless  ” was  not  with  him  a political  catch- 
word with  which  to  win  votes.  It  was  a deep,  well- 
settled  conviction,  and  he  followed  it  with  an  earnest- 
ness worthy  both  of  him  and  it,  until  he  saw  it 
adopted  as  one  of  the  principles  of  a national  party. 
And  finally,  under  the  sanction  of  that  party,  he  saw 
this,  his  early  conviction,  become  a fixed  fact  estab- 
lished by  law,  and  bearing  his  own  signature  as 
Speaker  of  the  House  of  Representatives.  His  oppo- 
sition to  human  bondage  was  a natural  sequence  to 
his  devotion  to  free  homesteads.  He  has  always 
remembered  the  people,  the  great  masses,  who  are 
most  deeply  interested  in  wise  legislation  and  in 
sound,  wholesome  government.  Always  a ready 
champion  of  justice  and  humanity,  with  a sympathy 
deep  as  human  suffering,  a courage  that  hurled  defi- 
ance in  the  face  of  Southern  bravadoes,  and  an 
eloquence  that  charmed  the  nation,  in  the  entire 
record  of  his  public  career  there  cannot  be  found  a 
blot  or  stain.  In  all  his  public  and  official  acts  he 
manifested  and  lived  up  to  the  same  rule  of  purity, 
honor  and  honesty  that  characterized  his  private  life. 
His  name  will  be  recorded  in  history  among  those 
who  have  zealously  struggled  to  benefit  and  improve 
the  condition  of  all  races  of  men. 

Mr.  Grow’s  “ maiden  speech  ” in  Congress  was 
made  on  the  Homestead  Bill,  and  was  reported  as 
among  the  ablest  speeches  in  its  behalf — a measure 
he  persistently  brought  forward  every  Congress  for 
ten  years,  when  he  had  at  last  the  satisfaction  of 
signing  the  law  as  Speaker  of  the  House  of  Repre- 
sentatives. For  ten  years,  early  and  late,  during 
every  session,  he  was  its  steady,  consistent  and  un- 


yielding champion.  He  made  five  set  speeches  in  the 
House  in  its  advocacy.  Under  his  leadership  four 
bills  at  four  different  sessions  of  Congress  passed  the 
House,  before  it  was  finally  adopted  by  both  Houses 
so  as  to  become  a law.  To  the  fact  of  his  long  con- 
tinuance in  Congress,  to  his  parliamentary  skill  and 
knowledge,  to  his  persistent  and  unyielding  devotion 
to  all  questions  upon  which  he  holds  well-matured 
opinions,  is  the  country,  to  a great  degree,  if  not 
wholly,  indebted  for  the  final  success  of  the  home- 
stead policy  in  the  legislation  of  the  country,  and  the 
Republican  party  for  one  of  its  fundamental  doc- 
trines. His  passage-at-arms  with  Keitt,  of  South 
Carolina  (a  timely  and  appropriate  answer  to  former 
Southern  insolence),  during  the  attempt  in  Cdngress 
to  admit  Kansas  as  a slave  State,  is  yet  fresh  in  the 
minds  of  many.  He  exhibited  equal,  if  not  greater, 
courage  in  his  letter  of  reply  to  a challenge  of  L.  O’B. 
Branch,  member  of  Congress  from  North  Carolina, 
for  words  spoken  in  debate  in  the  House,  on  the 
proposition  of  the  Senate  for’  increasing  the  rates  of 
postage. 

July  4,  1861,  he  was  elected  Speaker  of  the  House 
of  Representatives,  and  at  the  close  of  his  term  re- 
ceived a unanimous  vote  of  thanks,  which  was  the 
first  unanimous  vote  given  to  any  Speaker  in  many 
years.  In  1868  he  was  chairman  of  the  State  Central 
Republican  Committee  during  the  campaign  which 
resulted  in  the  election  of  General  Grant.  No  man 
of  Susquehanna  County  has  ever  been  so  w’idely 
known  to  statesmen  at  home  and  abroad. 

Early  in  Mr.  Grow’s  Congressional  career  the  New 
York  Evening  Post,  referring  to  him,  said:  “Mr. 
Grow  is  a young  man,  enthusiastic  in  his  attach- 
ment to  principle,  bold  in  giving  utterance  to  truth 
in  presence  of  its  friends  or  foes,  felicitous  in  address, 
possessed  of  a clear,  logical  mind,  a vivid  imagination 
and  that  sympathy  which  Wirt  describes  as  the 
requisite  of  every  true  orator.” 

His  twelve  years  of  Congressional  service  extended 
through  a most  important  period  of  the  republic. 
The  repeal  of  the  Missouri  Compromise,  election  of 
Banks  Speaker,  the  Kansas  troubles,  Lecompton 
Bill,  the  Homestead  Bill,  the  Pacific  Railroad,  etc., 
as  well  as  the  Fremont  and  Lincoln  campaigns,  and 
the  first  two  years  of  the  Rebellion.  He  served  on 
the  Committee  on  Indian  Affiiirs  and  on  Territories, 
and  was  chairman  of  the  latter  when  the  Republicans 
had  a majority  in  the  House,  during  the  Speakership 
of  Banks  and  Pennington,  which  embraced  the  period 
of  all  the  Kansas  troubles.  Through  his  whole  Con- 
gressional service  he  opposed  strongly  and  persist- 
ently any  and  all  disposition  of  the  public  lands, 
except  in  homesteads  for  actual  settlers.  He  intro- 
duced and  advocated  a proposition  to  prevent  any 
sales  of  the  public  lands  except  to  actual  settlers, 
which  was  defeated  by  Democratic  votes.  Had  it 
been  adopted,  it  would  have  prevented  non-residents 
acquiring  title  to  any  of  the  public  domain.  The 


704 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


land  policy,  adopted  as  part  of  the  creed  of  the 
Republican  party  (and  which  has  been  zealously 
advocated  in  Congress  by  Mr.  Grow),  was  one  of  the 
most  potent  influences  in  securing  to  that  party  the 
majority  in  all  the  new  States  and  the  Territories.  In 
all  the  exciting  discussions  of  public  affairs  since 
1850  he  has  taken  an  active  and  influential  part, 
especially  in  those  relating  to  the  extension  or  perpe- 
tuity of  slavery.  In  1859  he  was  mainly  instrumental 
in  defeating  the  attempt  of  the  Senate  to  increase  the 
rates  of  postage  from  three  to  five  and  ten  cents,  and 
double  old  rates  on  printed  matter.  Mr.  Greeley,  in 
an  article  at  the  close  of  that  Congress,  said  : “ Mr. 
Grow,  this  session,  has  evinced  a fertility  of  resource, 
a command  of  parliamentary  tactics,  a promptitude 
in  seizing  an  opportunity,  a wisdom  in  act  and  a 
brevity  of  speech,  such  as  have  rarely  been  exhibited 
on  that  floor.  The  passage  of  the  Homestead  Bill 
under  his  leadership  would  of  itself  have  sufficed  to 
confer  honorable  distinction.  So  the  Senate’s  at- 
tempt to  force  the  House  to  raise  the  rates  of  postage 
was  met  by  Mr.  Grow  in  a manner  and  spirit  that 
at  once  decided  the  contest.  We  rejoice  that  Mr. 
Grow  is  to  be  a member  of  the  next  House.” 

Mr.  Grow  left  Congress  March  4,  1863,  in  feeble 
health,  with  a nervous  system  almost  prostrated  from 
the  severe  labor  and  long  strain  of  his  twelve  years’ 
service  in  Congress,  during  the  most  exciting  and 
eventful  period  in  the  history  of  the  country.  In 
1864  and  1865  he  was  lumbering  at  Newton,  Luzerne 
County ; and  in  1866  and  1867  he  was  in  business  in 
the  oil  region  in  Venango  County.  In  1878  he 
purchased  four  hundred  acres  of  bituminous  coal 
lands  at  Brady’s  Bend,  in  Clarion  County,  on  the  line 
of  the  Allegheny  Valley  Railroad.  Mr.  Grow  has 
devoted  most  of  his  time  of  late  to  the  development 
of  these  lands,  and  he  is  now  a large  producer  of 
bituminous  coal  for  Buffalo  and  Canada  markets. 

In  order  to  regain  health,  he  spent  the  summer  of 
1871  on  the  Pacific  Coast,  in  California,  Oregon  and 
Washington  Territory.  In  the  fall  of  that  year  he 
went  to  Texas,  where  he  remained  as  president  of 
the  Houston  and  Great  Northern  Railroad  Company 
until  the  spring  of  1875.  During  the  four  years  he 
was  in  Texas  he  neither  voted  nor  took  any  part  in 
politics,  his  time  being  wholly  occupied  with  rail- 
road construction  and  management.  But  on  his  return 
to  his  old  home  in  Pennsylvania,  he  entered  actively 
into  the  canvass  for  the  election  of  Hartranft,  in  the 
fall  of  1875,  and  for  Hayes,  in  the  Presidential  elec- 
tion of  1876.  In  1878  he  was  urged  for  the  nomina- 
tion of  Governor  by  a large  and  influential  portion 
of  the  Republican  newspaper  press  of  the  State,  and 
was  the  choice  of  the  delegates  from  a majority  of 
the  Republican  counties  of  the  State. 

Into  the  political  canvass  of  1879  he  entered  with  all 
his  accustomed  zeal  and  power,  beginning  in  Maine, 
in  August,  and  continuing  almost  without  interrup- 
tion, speaking  in  Ohio,  Pennsylvania  and  New  York, 


till  the  election  in  November.  Since  then  he  has 
taken  an  active  part  in  the  canvass  at  every  State 
and  national  election.  In  the  fall  of  1879  he  declined 
the  mission  to  Russia,  tendered  by  President  Hayes. 
He  was  a candidate  for  United  States  Senator  in  1881. 
Members  of  the  Legislature  from  twenty-eight  of  the 
thirty-nine  Republican  counties  in  the  State  were 
for  him,  and  the  Republican  newspaper  press  was 
largely  in  his  favor.  After  a long  contest  John  I. 
Mitchell  was  elected  as  a compromise  canddiate. 

The  language  of  the  New  York  Tribune  in  1875, 
commenting  on  the  representative  men  of  the 
country,  said : “ Mr.  Grow  represents  a class  of  public 
men  that  has  almost  become  extinct — men  of  strong 
moral  sense  and  convictions,  unselfish  purposes,  and 
a patriotism  which  overrules  all  considerations  of 
personal  interest  or  partisan  expediency.  The  long 
struggle  between  freedom  and  slavery  naturally  car- 
ried him  to  the  front  in  the  Repnblican  party.  And 
when  the  war  brought  the  controversy  to  a close  he 
withdrew  from  the  arena  of  active  politics  (with 
greatly  impaired  health),  and  has  ever  since  devoted 
himself  to  the  care  of  his  private  business.”  Mr. 
Grew  has  always  retained  his  home  at  Glen  wood,  in 
Lenox,  and  has  never  cast  a _vote  outside  of  the 
county. 

A cane  recently  (1887)  came  to  Montrose,  for  Mr. 
Grow,  with  the  following  inscription  : 

“Galusha  a.  Grow,  Speaker  of  Congress,  1860-3. 

Grown  on  the  first  homestead  in  the  U.  S. 

Presented  by  the  first  Homesteader. 

Daniel  Freeman,  Beatrice,  Neb.” 

Griswold  Orsmon  Loomis,  of  Lenox,  Pa.,  is  a 
lineal  descendant  in  the  eighth  generation  from  the 
progenitor  of  the  family  in  New  England,  Joseph 
Loomis  (1590-16.58),  who  was  a woolen-draper  in 
Braintree,  Essex  County,  England,  sailed  from  Lon- 
don in  1638,  in  the  ship  “Susan  and  Ellen,”  and  ar- 
rived in  Boston  July  17th  of  the  same  year.  He  had 
with  him  his  wife,  five  sons  and  three  daughters.  He 
settled  in  Windsor,  Conn.,  in  1639,  and  his  house  was 
situated  near  the  mouth  of  Farmington  River,  on  the 
“Island.”  One  son,  John  (1622-88),  resided  at  Farm- 
ington, and  later  at  Windsor;  was  .deacon  of  the 
church  there,  and  deputy  of  the  general  court  in  1666- 
67,  also  from  1675  to  ’87.  Deacon  John’s  second  son, 
Thomas  (1653-88),  resided  at  Hatfield,  Mass.,  and 
Thomas’  eldest  son.  Ensign  John  (1681-1755),  resided 
at  Windsor  and  Lebanon.  Timothy  (1718-85),  third 
son  of  Ensign  John,  resided  at  Lebanon,  and  Elisha 
(1748-20),  second  son  of  Timothy,  first  resided  in 
Lebanon,  but  subsequently  settled  in  Coventry.  His 
wife  was  Rebecca  Terry,  by  whom  he  had  children, — 
Joseph  (1771-1841)  died  in  Bridgewater,  N.  Y. ; Me- 
dad  (1778-1857);  Eldad  (1785-1829);  and  Luther 
(1792-1857)  Loomis,  who  settled  in  Lenox,  from  Cov- 
entry, about  1826,  near  the  lake  that  bears  his  name, 
the  outlet  of  which  is  Millard’s  Brook.  Eldad,  the 


LENOX. 


705 


third  son  of  Elisha  and  Rebecca  (Terry)  Loomis,  mar- 
ried, in  1807,  Fanny  (1790-1882),  a daughter  of  Na- 
thaniel and  Eunice  (Fowler)  Jeffers,  who  came  from 
Coventry  and  settled  in  Harford  in  1822.  He  was 
drafted,  near  the  close  of  the  War  of  1812,  and  went 
as  far  as  New  London.  He  resided  in  Coventry  and 
managed  his  farm,  tannery  and  shoe-shop  until  1824, 
when,  with  his  family,  he  came  to  this  county  and 
settled  on  a tract  of  woodland  about  one  mile  west  of 
Harford  village,  and  at  once  began  clearing  off  the 
forest  and  completing  a comfortable  home  for  his 


in  his  profession  and  in  social  life.  Griswold  Orsmon, 
born  in  Coventry,  October  14, 1812  ; Emily  E.  (1815- 
72)  was  the  wife  of  Alanson  Aldrich,  of  Harford ; and 
Lucy  E.,  born  in  1818,  first  wife  of  Alfred  Judson 
Tiffany,  of  Brooklyn,  and  after  his  death,  in  1876, 
married  Gilbert  N.  Smith,  and  resides  on  the  Tifiany 
homestead,  near  Kingsley  Station,  in  Brooklyn. 

Griswold  0.  Loomis,  during  his  boyhood,  resided 
with  his  uncle  Luther,  in  Coventry,  and  had  the  usual 
opportunities  for  obtaining  an  education,  which  he 
well  improved.  He  did  not  accompany  the  family  to 


family.  He  died  five  years  afterwards,  and  his  eldest 
son,  Dr.  Elisha  N.,  succeeded  him  in  the  ownership 
of  the  property,  which  is,  in  1887,  owned%)y  the  lat- 
ter’s heirs.  The  widowed  mother  continued  her  resi- 
dence there  the  remainder  of  her  life,  and  received 
from  the  government  a pension  for  her  husband’s  ser- 
vice in  the  war.  She  survived  her  husband  fifty -three 
years,  and  lived  to  see  many  of  her  great-grandchil- 
dren. Eldad  Loomis  and  his  wife  were  people  up- 
holding high  moral  sentiment,  and  reared  their  chil- 
dren to  principles  of  integrity  and  honesty  of  purpose 
in  life’s  work.  Dr.  Elisha  N.  (1809-74)  practiced  as 
an  eclectic  physician  in  Harford  and  vicinity  during 
his  active  life,  and  was  a man  highly  respected,  both 
45 


this  county  in  1824,  but  two  years  later,  then  a boy 
of  fourteen,  came  with  his  father,  who  had  visited  the 
old  home  in  Connecticut  that  year.  Upon  reaching 
their  new  home  in  Harford  he  at  once  applied  him- 
self to  the  farm-work,  and  did  his  part  in  paying  off 
the  indebtedness  of  the  family.  The  premature  death 
of  his  father,  when  Griswold  was  only  seventeen  years 
old,  left  him  to  depend  entirely  upon  himself  for  a 
start  in  life,  for  his  elder  brother.  Dr.  Elisha,  had 
chosen  to  remain  on  the  homestead  and  take  care  ot 
the  family.  About  1830  he  took  up  a woodland  tract 
of  land  in  Lenox,  on  the  line  between  that  township 
and  Harford ; built  a shanty,  and,  as  he  had  leisure 
from  other  work,  cleared  many  acres,  walking  to  and 


706 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


from  the  home  in  Harford,  a distance  of  four  miles. 
After  work  in  this  way  for  some  two  years,  he  re- 
solved to  build  him  a house,  and  during  a part  of  the 
years  1832,  ’33  and  ’34,  in  order  to  save  money  for 
this  pur2:)ose,  he  worked  for  Elkanah  Tingley,  of  Har- 
ford, for  eight  months,  at  ten  dollars  per  month ; for 
one  Weston  in  a saw-mill,  at  Dundaff,  for  a time,  and 
earned  thirty  dollars  ; took  a job  of  David  Comj^ton, 
below  Honesdale,  sawing  lumber  at  fifty  cents  per 
thousand  feet,  earning  one  hundred  dollars  ; worked 
for  Captain  Asahel  Sweet  one  summer,  and  for  Comp- 
ton again  in  the  winter  of  1834,  earning  two  hundred 
dollars.  In  the  spring  and  summer  of  the  latter  year 
he  returned  to  his  farm,  now  ninety-one  acres,  and 
built  his  present  residence,  a fine  structure,  for  the 
time  it  was  erected,  which  he  some  thirty  years  ago 
remodeled.  In  that  same  year  (1834)  he  married 
Alzina  Titus  (1814-52),  a daughter  of  Leonard  Titus, 
of  Harford.  This  Leonard  Titus  was  the  sou  of  Eze- 
kiel Titus,  one  of  the  nine  partners  who  first  came 
to  Harford  in  the  spring  of  1790. 

Leonard  Titus’  wife  was  the  daughter  of  Nathan 
Maxon,  who  settled  in  Harford  in  1800  from  Rhode 
Island.  She  lived  to  a great  age,  and  was  a woman 
of  remarkable  ambition.  The  other  children  of 
Leonard  Titus  were  Sylvenus  (died  in  Lenox), 
Charles,  Huldah,  Sarah  and  Anna,  all  reside  on  the 
Titus  homestead  in  Harford.  By  this  marriage  Mr. 
Loomis  had  children, — Sidney  E.,  born  1835,  married 
Maria  West,  and  after  her  death  Emma  Oakley,  and 
resides  in  Lenox  ; Polly  E.,  1838,  wife  of  Otis  J. 
Bailey,  of  Harford;  Ellen  Louisa,  1842,  married  first 
Orange  P.  Whitney,  who  served  in  the  late  Rebellion, 
and  died  in  Salisbury  prison,  N.  C. ; and  second 
Jeremiah  B.  Avery,  of  Springville;  Sarah  Catharine, 
died  young;  Isabell  E.  (1850-64);  and  Edith  A., 
1852,  wife  of  John  Howell,  of  Harford.  About  1848 
a new  and  perplexing  question  arose  with  Mr. 
Loomis  in  common  with  a large  number  of  the  set- 
tlers of  Lenox.  Dr.  Rose  claimed  the  ownership  of 
their  lands.  Wm.  Jessup,  acting  as  his  agent,  cameon 
to  survey  them  ; but  his  right  to  do  this  was  disj^uted 
by  the  settlers,  and  while  the  matter  was  under  con- 
sideration Dr.  Rose  died.  A new  claimant,  in  the 
person  of  one  Collins,  represented  by  Agent  Moss, 
opened  the  subject  with  the  settlers,  but  died  before 
the  matter  was  adjusted.  Finally  the  lauds  were  ad- 
vertised to  be  sold  in  Philadelphia,  and  by  arrange- 
ment with  the  settlers,  being  surveyed  by  Hon.  G.  A. 
Grow,  they  were  bid  off  by  a Mr.  Ward,  and  Mr. 
Loomis  obtained  his  title  in  February,  1851,  paying 
therefor  fifty  cents  per  acre.  He  had  cleared  a large 
part  of  his  farm,  fenced  it  well,  and  at  different  times 
erected  good  out-buildings.  Everything  about  his 
place  shows  the  work  of  an  industrious  and  thrifty 
farmer.  He  recites  that  deer  and  wolves  were  plenti- 
ful in  the  vicinity  when  he  first  settled  on  his  place, 
and  that  he  saw  at  one  time  as  many  as  seven  deer. 
Mr.  Loomis  has  never  sought  official  place,  yet  has 


served  his  township  for  thirty-three  years  as  suj^er- 
visor  and  poormaster,  and  for  one  term  as  school 
director  and  auditor.  Pie  is  possessed  of  a strong 
jjhysique,  and  has  enjoyed  a robust  constitution. 
His  life-work  has  been  to  make  a home  for  himself 
and  family,  and  his  aim  has  been  to  live  honestly 
with  his  neighbors,  and  be  just  with  all  with  whom 
he  deals.  His  integrity,  stability  and  good  judgment 
are  imjjressive  characteristics  of  his  nature.  His 
life-work  is  a striking  example  of  the  result  of  toil 
and  economy,  and  in  great  contrast  with  the  oppor- 
tunities now  offered  the  young  man  without  means. 

In  1853  he  married  for  his  second  wife  Mary  L. 
West,  who  was  born  at  North  Madison,  Conn.,  March 
8,  1824.  Their  children  by  this  union  are  Edward 
Grow,  died  young;  Nelson  Griswold  (1861-79) ; and 
Laura  Eveline,  born  in  1864,  the  wife  of  Elmer  E. 
Tower,  on  the  homestead,  the  son  of  Warner  Tower, 
who  was  the  son  of  Elder  Rial  Tower,  a native  of 
Vermont,  who  settled  in  Lenox  in  1825.  The  late 
Elder  Wm.  N.  Tower,  a Baptist  minister,  and  Rev.  P. 
R.  Tower,  a Methodist  clergyman  of  Osborn  Holland, 
N.  Y.,  and  Elder  Charles  Tower,  a Baptist  minister 
at  North  Hector,  N.  Y.,  are  sons  of  Elder  Rial  Tower. 

The  parents  of  Mary  L.  West  were  Samuel  B.  C. 
and  Harriet  (Bailey)  West,  who  settled  in  Lenox  in 
1839.  Their  children  are  Amy,  wife  of  Silas  Ellis,  of 
Carbondale ; Levi,  of  Factoryville ; Mary  L. ; Sus- 
annah, deceased  ; Thomas,  of  Brooklyn ; Maria,  wife 
of  Sidney  E.  Loomis,  of  Lenox ; Samuel,  of  Travis 
City,  Mich.;  William  F.,  of  Middletown,  Conn.; 
Elvira,  wife  of  William  F.  Coney,  of  Ware,  Mass.; 
Harriet,  wife  of  H.  H.  Burns,  of  Travis  City,  Mich. ; 
Ella,  first  the  wife  of  Ward  York,  and  second  the  wife 
of  Stephen  Y"ork,  of  Lenox ; Marco  Basarius,  of 
Travis  City,  Mich.  Of  these  sons,  William  F., 
served  in  the  late  Rebellion  for  nine  months,  and 
Samuel  was  in  Sherman’s  army  in  its  March  to  the 
Sea.  The  parents  lived  and  died  in  Lenox.  The 
grandfather  was  Elder  Samuel  West,  a Baptist  minis- 
ter in  Connecticut. 

Lenox  Taxables,  1845. — Calvin  Ball,  Ira  Bell,  Kollin  Bell,  Stephen 
Bell,  Truman  Bell,  Nathan  W.  Bell,  Elisha  Bell,  Worthy  Bell,  Luke 
Bennett,  Benjamin  Bennett,  John  Buck,  Jr.,  Hamilton  Bonner,  Michael 
Belcher,  Kichard  W.  Benjamin,  Jonathan  W.  Baker,  Joshua  Baker, 
Reuben  Baker,  Orrin  Baker,  Samuel  Benjamin,  James  S.  Benjamin, 
Jesse  Benjamin,«Jacob  Blake,  John  Brown,  Charles  Chandler  (estate), 
Riley  Case,  Oi;^  <jase,  Elias  Cannon,  Benedict  R.'  Carr,  Amos  Carpen- 
ter, Othnelio  Carpenter,  Hiram  Carpenter,  Washington  Carpenter,  John 
Conrad,  William  Conrad,  Levi  Chamberlain,  Rufus  H.  Clark,  John 
Caden,  Isaac  M.  Bond,  John  Doud,  John  Doud,  Jr.,  Daniel  Doud,  Levi 
Davis,  John  Decker,  Benjamin  Decker,  Shuhael  Dimock,  Asaph  Euller, 
Elisha  R.  Farnham,  Gideon  Foot,  Nathan  B.  Foot,  Simeon  Foot,  Jacob 
Felton,  George  Felton,  Jason  Fargo,  Grow  Brothers,  Galusha  A.  Grow, 
Orlando  Griggs,  William  Gorman,  Edward  Gardner,  William  Gardner, 
William  Grant,  Levi  Gleason,  Orlando  Glover,  Eliab  Gilbert,  Ezekiel 
Glover,  Peleg  C.  Hopkins,  James  Halstead,  William  Halstead,  Jr.,  Elisha 
Halstead,  Hannah  Halstead,  Samuel  Halstead,  Samuel  L.  Halstead, 
Abijah  Hinkley,  Benjamin  Hinkley,  John  Hoppe,  Chapman  Harding, 
Harvey  Hale,  George  Howell,  Thomas  Harkins,  William  Hartley,  Mark 
Hartley,  Samuel  Hartley,  William  Hartley  (2d),  James  Hartley,  John 
Howard,  James  Howard,  Lucius  Hartshorn,  James  Ireland,  Bunnell 
Johnson,  Obediah  Johnson,  Alfred  Jeffres,  Daniel  Kentner,  William 


LENOX. 


707 


Knapp  (estate),  Isaac  K.  Knapp,  Herbert  Leach,  William  C.  Lake, 
Griswold  0.  Loomis,  Lnther  Loomis,  Solomon  Lott,  Peter  Lott,  E. 
McNamara,  Lewis  McNamara,  Stephen  Masters,  John  T.  Millard,  An- 
drew Millard,  Stephen  S.  Millard,  Abiathar  IMillard,  John  Millard, 
Sterling  B.  klaxon,  Henry  Mauzer,  Ashbel  Munson,  Adam  Miller, 
Henry  S.  Millard,  John  Marcy,  George  Nixon,  Martin  Newman,  George 
Newbury,  William  Odle,  William  Payne,  Daniel  Payne,  William  Price, 
Warren  Price,  William  Price,  Jr.,  George  Price,  Charles  C.  Potter,  John 
D.  Pickering,  Nathaniel  Pickering,  Phineas  Pease,  Harry  Pease,  Amasa 
Pease,  Hazard  Powers,  James  Robinson,  James  S.  Robinson,  Daniel 
Robinson,  Aaron  Rynearson,  Isaac  Eynearson,  Cornelius  Rynearson, 
Okey  Rynearson,  Sarah  Roberts,  Clinton  Roberts,  William  Reese,  John 
Reese,  Jonathan  A.  Rose,  Orville  Ranson,  Elijah  Scott,  Alva  Scott,  Otis 
C.  Severance,  Asa  Smead,  Nelson  Smead,  Francis  Sherdon,  George  Sweet, 
George  Snyder,  James  Snyder,  William  Stevens,  Hiram  Stevens,  Jenks 
Sprague,  Elihu  Sprague,  Leonard  Searle,  Zerah  Scott,  Joseph  S.  Scott, 
Chauncey  Scott,  Nathaniel  Smith,  Naaniau  Tingley,  John  Truesdell, 
Samuel  Truesdell,  Milton  Tiffany,  Rial  Tower,  Seneca  F.  Tanner,  Isaac 
Truesdell,  William  Thomas,  Silvenus  Titus,  Noah  Titus,  Charles  B.'Titus, 
Baker  Titus,  Asa'  Titus,  Benjamin  C.  Tourgee,  Alfred  Tourgee,  W.  B. 
Tourgee,  John  A.  Tourgee,  Lewis  Tourgee,  Lucius  Utley,  Joseph  Wilson, 
Jason  S.  Wilson,  Frederick  Wilson,  Charles  Wilson,  John  B.  Wescott, 
Asahel  Wescott,  Daniel  H.Wade,  S.  0.  Williams,  Samuel  Wright,  Loren 
Wright,  David  Whitney,  Reuben  Whitney,  Samuel  West,  Levi  West, 
Jonathan  H.  Weyner,  Matthew  Wilsey,  Isaac  Woodruff,  Samuel  Wood- 
ruff, Ira  Wilbur,  Gilbert  Wickwire,  Russell  Wickwire,  Jehiel  Wickwire, 
Josiah  Whiting,  Alfred  Whiting,  John  T.  Whiting,  George  Wood,  John 
Yarns,  Nathan  Yarns. 

Hamlets  and  Business  Interests. — The  oldest 
business  point  in  the  present  township  of  Lenox  was 
at  Rynearson’s,  or  what  is  now  known  as  Cameron’s 
Corners,  in  the  northeastern  part  of  the  township, 
where  the  Owego  and  Great  Bend  turnpikes  cross  each 
other.  These  circumstances,  and  its  location  in  the 
oldest  settlement,  gave  the  place  an  importance,  fifty 
years  ago,  which  has  not  been  continued  to  the  pres- 
ent. The  post-office  is  the  only  remaining  evidence 
of  its  former  business.  This  was  established  Septem- 
ber 29,  1826,  with  the  name  of  Lenox,  and  Peter  By- 
nearson  was  appointed  postmaster.  The  following 
year  he  was  succeeded  by  William  Jackson,  who 
opened  a store  in  a building  Rynearson  had  put  up, 
on  the  northeast  corner,  and  which  also  served  as  a 
tavern.  This  store  was  continued  several  years,  but 
upon  the  removal  of  Jackson,  in  1830,  Okey  Rynear- 
son became  the  postmaster,  and  kept  it  in  his  tavern, 
where  it  was  continued  a number  of  years.  In  1836 
Freeman  P.  Clinton  became  the  postmaster ; in  1838, 
Daniel  Payne ; and  on  the  7th  of  March,  1844,  Charles 
Smith.  He  kept  it  but  a short  time,  being  succeeded, 
April  29,  1844,  by  Orville  Tiffany,  who  kept  the  office 
at  his  house,  where  is  now  Centreville,  but  was  suc- 
ceeded, June  24, 1844,  by  Charles  W.  Conrad,  who  again 
kept  the  office  at  the  Corners.  Since  that  time  the 
changes  have  been  as  follows:  1845,  Daniel  H. 
Wade;  1854,  Daniel  Payne;  1863,  Isaac  Halstead; 
1864,  John  Cameron;  1866,  Hiram  White.  Discon- 
tinued April  24,  1867,  and  re-established  May  19, 
1874,  John  Halstead  postmaster;  1875,  George  W. 
Mapes.  Discontinued  June  23,  1875,  and  re-estab- 
lished September  14th,  the  same  year,  with  George 
W.  Mapes  postmaster.  Since  1881  the  office  has 
been  kept  by  Thomas  Cameron.  At  present  a daily 
mail  is  supplied. 

After  Okey  Rynearson  there  came,  as  tavern-keep- 


ers, Charles  and  William  Smith,  and  in  the  best  days 
of  staging,  Daniel  H.  Wade.  At  this  time,  from 
1845  on,  until  the  building  of  the  Delaware,  Lacka- 
wanna and  Western  Railroad,  this  house  had  a large 
patronage,  and  the  little  hamlet  bore  a busy  appear- 
ance. When  the  decline  came,  Wade  sought  to  dis- 
pose of  his  property,  but,  not  being  able  to  make  a 
profitable  sale,  put  it  up  in  a lottery,  selling,  it  is 
said,  four  thousand  dollars’  worth  of  tickets.  The 
property  passed  into  the  hands  of  relatives,  named 
Williams,  and  the  tavern  was  kept  some  time  by  a 
man  named  Stephens,  but  was  finally  purchased  by 
John  Cameron,  an  Irishman,  who  last  kept  the  pub- 
lic-house at  this  place.  The  original  building  was 
burned  down,  as  was  also  the  one  which  was  put  up 
on  its  site ; and  this  once  famous  landmark  has  alto- 
gether disappeared,  except  the  foundation  walls, 
which  have  been  left  standing.  Other  fires  have  re- 
moved the  buildings  of  the  hamlet  until  but  a few 
houses  and  shops  remain,  and  no  business  of  note  is 
done.  For  many  years  Dan  Payne  had  a shoe- 
maker’s shop,  and  Alonzo  Payne  was  the  blacksmith. 
That  trade  was  also  carried  on  by  C.  W.  Conrad  and 
Benjamin  Bennett. 

Below  the  Corners,  on  the  Tunkhannock,  William 
Hartly  had  an  early  saw-mill,  which  was  swept  away 
by  a freshet,  when  owned  by  Solomon  Taylor.  It 
was  rebuilt  by  George  Belcher,  and  long  operated  by 
him ; but  has  ceased  to  be  useful.  On  the  same 
stream,  above  the  Corners,  and  near  the  township 
line,  Corbett  Pickering  had  a lumber-mill,  which  is 
still  operated  as  the  property  of  Erastus  Holmes. 
In  the  northeastern  part  of  the  township,  on  Harford 
Brook,  was  the  mill  of  the  McNamara  family,  which 
has  gone  down.  East  from  this,  on  the  Bonner 
farm,  were  found  surface  indications  of  coal,  which 
led  to  prospecting  for  that  mineral,  with  unsuccessful 
results.  A drift  was  worked  by  Almon  Clinton,  Ira 
Carpenter  and  Levi  Peck ; but,  after  digging  about 
eighty  feet,  the  project  was  abandoned. 

Lenoxville  is  a pleasantly-located  hamlet  on  the 
East  Branch,  in  the  southeastern  part  of  the  township. 
It  has  several  dozen  buildings,  a church,  three  stores, 
mills  and  shops.  The  first  improvement  of  a business 
nature  was  made  here  as  early  as  1806,  when  Isaac 
Doud  built  a small  grist-mill,  the  first  in  these  parts, 
and  which  proved  a great  convenience  to  Lenox  and 
Clifford.  After  1820  John  Doud  was  the  owner.  The 
completion  of  the  Brooklyn  and  Lonsdale  turnpike 
through  this  place,  in  1849,  first  directed  attention  to 
the  locality  as  a business  centre  and,  in  1851,  Skid- 
more D.  and  Adney  C.  Tompkins  built  the  frame- 
work of  the  present  large  mill,  to  accommodate  this 
increasing  business.  Before  it  was  completed  a fresh- 
et swept  away  the  dam  and  demolished  one  corner  of 
the  mill.  From  these  owners  the  property  passed  to 
Decker  Brothers,  Decker  & Lee,  Decker  & Halstead 
(who  supplied  the  mill  with  new  machinery  and  made 
extensive  repairs,  building  also  the  present  saw-mill) 


708 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


Morae  & Richmond,  and,  since  1884,  Silas  B.  Hartley 
has  been  the  owner.  The  grist-mill  has  three  runs 
of  stones,  and  the  saw-mill  has  a cutting  capacity  of 
ten  thousand  feet  of  lumber  per  day. 

Before  1850  Daniel  Baker  had  in  operation  a turn- 
ing-shop, on  the  site  of  the  present  saw-mill,  where  he 
manufactured  hoe  and  shovel-handles.  It  was  kept 
up  but  a few  years.  Above  the  mill  Hiram  White 
started  a foundry,  at  an  earlier  day,  which  was  oper- 
ated on  repairs  and  common  castings  until  his  death  in 
1885,  since  which  time  it  has  been  idle.  Near  by  0. 
C.  Severance  put  up  large  mechanic  shops,  in  which 
many  wagons  were  made.  These  are  now  carried  on 
in  a more  limited  manner  by  Nathan  C.  Halstead. 
Lower  down  the  stream  Martin  Doud  and  others  have 
operated  small  saw-mills,  which  are  still  in  existence, 
though  run  but  a few  months  each  year. 

The  first  merchandising  in  Lenoxville  was  done  by 
Abraham  Churchill  in  1850.  He  used  one  room  of 
his  present  dwelling,  and  continued  in  trade  three 
years,  having  Daniel  Baker  as  a partner  the  last  year. 
In  1853  Decker  Brothers  opened  a store  near  their 
mill,  in  which  they  merchandised  some  time,  being 
followed  by  Miller  & Bolton.  In  this  building  Silas 

B.  Hartley  has  been  continously  in  trade  since  1870. 
Lower  down  the  turnpike  Alfred  Marcy  opened  the 
second  extensive  business  stand,  after  the  war,  and  J. 

C.  Decker  is  now  there  in  trade.  At  a later  period. 
Adam  Miller  built  another  store-house,  but  died  be- 
fore he  could  occupy  it.  In  this  place  William  Miller 
and  O.  C.  Severance  have  traded,  the  latter  being  still 
in  business. 

Lenoxville  post-office  was  established  January  28, 
1851,  with  Skidmore  D.  Tompkins  as  first  postmaster. 
His  successors  have  been  : 1853,  A.  C. Tompkins;  1854, 
Abraham  Churchill ; 1866,  Hiram  White ; 1869, 

Abraham  Churchill;  1872,  M.  J.  Hartley  ; 1873,  Silas 
B.  Hartley ; 1885,  Mary  E.  Johnson.  The  office  has 
a dally  mail. 

At  Lenoxville,  Dr.  J.  Harding  has  been  the  first 
resident  physician,  locating  in  1884.  Many  of  the 
buildings  in  the  hamlet,  have  been  erected  within  re- 
cent years,  the  old  residence  of  William  Johnson 
Ashbel  Munson  being  regarded  as  land-marks  of  the 
time  when  they  were  the  only  buildings  on  the  west 
side  of  the  creek.  Munson  was  a pioneer  miller. 

Glenwood  has  a delightful  location  in  the  south- 
western part  of  the  township,  above  the  forks  of  the 
East  Branch  and  the  Tunkhannock.  It  is  not  inap- 
propriately named.  The  surrounding  hills  are  high, 
and  in  most  places  still  wood-covered,  making  a 
marked  contrast  with  the  flat  lands  along  the  stream, 
forming  here  a glen  nearly  a mile  long  and  about  one- 
fourth  as  wide.  The  early  settlers  at  this  point  were 
the  Millard  and  Hartley  families,  descendants  of  the 
latter  still  owning  the  lower  part  of  the  glen.  At 
the  upper  end  of  the  glen  was  the  homestead  of  the 
Millards,  which  became  the  property  of  the  Grow 
family  in  1834,  whose  energy  and  business  enterprise 


has  caused  the  hamlet  to  spring  up.  In  1887  Glen- 
wood contained  mills,  a store  and  post-office,  hotel, 
shops,  chapel  and  about  fifteen  residences.  Near  the 
centre  of  the  present  hamlet  Solomon  Millard  put  up 
his  grist-mill  prior  to  1817,  having  his  saw-mill  and 
distillery  on  Millard  Brook,  above  his  residence.  In 
1825  Benajah  Millard  became  the  owner  of  the  mills, 
which,  three  years  later,  were  reported  as  the  prop- 
erty of  James  Coil.  In  1833  Woodbury  S.  Wilbur 
owned  the  mill  property,  and  later  it  passed  into  the 
hands  of  the  Grow  Brothers,  and  was  owned  in  con- 
nection with  their  farms  in  the  upper  part  of  the 
glen.  In  1846  they  rebuilt  the  mills,  erecting  a 
large  three-story  frame,  in  which  were  placed  three 
runs 'of  stones.  These  mills  were  used  until  their 
destruction  by  fire,  February  14,  1885.  The  work  of 
rebuilding  was  immediately  commenced,  and  within 
four  weeks  the  saw-mill,  on  an  enlarged  and  im- 
proved plan,  was  in  operation.  The  grist-mill  was 
completed  the  following  summer,  and  is  also  a fine 
structure.  Both  mills  are  operated  as  the  property 
of  the  Grow  family,  and  do  a large  business. 

In  a few  years  after  her  removal  to  the  Millard  farm, 
in  1834,  Mrs.  Grow  began  merchandising  on  a small 
scale,  occupying  a room  in  her  house.  The  business 
increasing,  a store  building  was  put  up  opposite  the 
homestead,  in  which  two  of  her  sons,  Edwin  R.  and 
F.  P.,  engaged  in  a mercantile  business,  which  has 
been  continued  to  the  present  time.  In  1875  this 
building  was  removed  to  a lot  below  the  mills  and 
opposite  the  F.  P.  Grow  mansion,  where  it  was  en- 
larged and  well  fitted  up  for  its  purpose-  Since  1881 
it  has  been  occupied  by  F.  F.  Grow  as  the  successor 
of  Grow  Bros.  Here  is  kept  the  Glenwood  post-office, 
established  January  3,  1835,  with  the  name  of  Mil- 
lardsville,  and  Woodbury  S.  Wilbur  as  the  postmas- 
ter. He  was  succeeded  by  F.  P.  Grow  in  January, 
1838,  and  he,  in  turn,  in  1844,  by  Edwin  R.  Grow, 
who  has  been  postmaster  continuously  since  that 
period.  December  30,  1851,  the  name  of  the  office 
was  changed  to  Glenwood,  a name  which  had 
been  applied  to  the  hamlet  at  an  earlier  period, 

A short  distance  below  the  mills  the  Grow  Bros, 
built  the  Glenwood  Hotel,  in  1850.  It  was  a large 
building  with  accommodations  for  one  hundred 
guests,  and  had  a fine  patronage  of  summer  boarders, 
who  were  attracted  to  the  place  by  the  comfort  and 
rest  the  hostelry  afforded,  as  well  as  by  the  bracing 
air  and  natural  scenery  of  the  locality.  At  that  time 
fine  trout  abounded  in  the  brooks,  and  the  flora  of 
the  hills  was  large  and  varied.  The  Grow  Bros,  sold 
the  hotel  to  A.  F.  Snover,  who  kept  it  successfully 
many  years,  when  he  was  succeeded  by  V.  Cafferty. 
This  fine  structure  was  completely  destroyed  by  fire 
March  18,  1870,  and  no  hotel  was  rebuilt  on  its  site. 
Near  by  a farm-house  now  stands.  The  present 
public-house  was  originally  a residence,  which  was 
enlarged  and  improved  for  hotel  purposes  by  A.  F. 
Snover  after  the  destruction  of  the  above  house,  and 


LENOX. 


709 


was  kept  by  him  until  1883.  He  was  succeeded  by 

G.  W.  Hinckley,  and  within  a year  by  the  present, 
James  Doran.  It  is  a large  frame  building.  The 
first  public-house  in  this  place  was  kept  by  Benajah 
Millard,  a short  time  only,  after  1825.  In  1831  and 
the  following  few  years  Charles  H.  Miller  kept  a tav- 
ern which  had  a very  unique  sign,  on  which  was  the 
admonition  “ Live  and  let  live.”  A part  of  this 
building  was  used  in  the  construction  of  the  F.  P. 
Grow  mansion. 

In  1842  Charles  W.  Conrad  began  blacksmithing  in 
the  building  which  had  been  used  by  Miller  as  a barn, 
while  he  kept  the  tavern,  having  first  only  an  ordinary 
shop,  and  often  taking  his  pay  in  produce.  But  his 
business  increased  to  such  an  extent  that,  in  the 
course  of  years,  he  had  the  most  extensive  establish- 
ment of  the  kind  in  the  county.  A large  portion  of 
the  work  done  was  making  mule-shoes  for  use  on 
western  mail-routes,  on  contracts  secured  him  by  Geo. 

H.  Giddings,  a native  of  the  county,  who  was  inter- 
ested in  the  staging  business.  Steam-power  was  em- 
ployed, and  improved  machinery  was  used  in  carrying 
on  the  shops,  the  business  requiring  an  investment  of 
no  less  than  six  thousand  dollars,  when  the  entire 
plant  was  destroyed  by  fire  on  the  night  of  June  28, 
1869.  In  the  fall  of  the  same  year  the  shops  were  re- 
built on  a larger  scale  than  before  the  fire,  and  a por- 
tion of  the  steam-power  was  used  to  operate  a shingle- 
mill.  This  establishment  was  also  destroyed  by  fire, 
burning  down  in  the  winter  of  1875.  A smaller  shop 
was  erected  upon  the  ruins  of  the  building,  in  which 
Mr.  Conrad  worked  until  1879.  The  present  occupant 
is  Richard  Wescott.  Another  mechanic  at  Glenwood, 
whose  occupation  has  been  carried  on  for  a long  term 
of  years,  is  L.  M.  Hardy,  who  has  had  a shoemaker’s 
shop  for  more  than  three  decades. 

Nearly  a mile  above  the  mills,  on  the  Tunkhannock, 
an  extensive  tannery,  costing  sixty  thousand  dollars, 
was  built,  in  1850,  by  Schultz,  Eaton  & Co.  In  1857 
it  was  destroyed  by  fire,  but  rebuilt  the  same  year. 
It  had  a capacity  to  turn  out  forty  thousand  sides 
of  sole  leather  per  year,  and  besides  bringing  a large 
number  of  people  into  the  township,  olfered  a good 
market  for  the  hemlock  bark  in  this  section,  and 
produced  a free  circulation  of  money.  The  tannery 
employed  steam-power  and  the  plant  embraced  a 
number  of  tenements  and  a store,  which  was  kept  by 
the  tannery-owners. 

“Asa  Eaton,  one  of  the  original  firm,  united  seem- 
ingly diverse  tastes,  the  one  inducing  him  in  1856  to 
erect  a church,  and  the  other  in  1858  to  provide  a 
race-course  for  his  own  and  others’  enjoyment.  Fast 
horses  were  his  recreation,  and  before  the  ‘course’ 
was  laid  out  he  had  cleared  the  highway  for  the  dis- 
tance of  a mile  (between  the  tannery  and  the  hotel), 
of  every  stone  or  unevenness  that  could  retard  a 
horse’s  speed  or  lessen  the  comforts  of  a rider.  In 
the  fall  of  1861  he  conceived  the  idea  of  assembling 
the  fast  horses  and  fine  riders  of  the  county  to  try  the 


race-course  on  his  beautiful  flat  by  the  margin  of  the 
Tunkhannock.  The  occasion  was  also  dignified  by  the 
inauguration  of  the  Glenwood  Fair,  which  was  under 
the  management  of  an  agricultural  society  of  which 
F.  P.  Grow  was  president  and  Asa  Eaton  treasurer. 
The  fair  was  held  in  October  three  years  in  succession, 
when  it  was  superseded  by  the  one  at  Nicholson,  five 
miles  below.”  ^ 

Mr.  Eaton  lived  at  the  tannery  until  his  removal 
to  Orange  County,  N.  Y.  His  love  for  fast  horses 
never  led  him  to  sacrifice  his  honor,  and  it  is  said 
that,  finding  the  j^rivileges  of  the  race-course  abused 
in  his  new  home,  he  sold  his  horses  and  vowed  that 
he  should  not  have  anything  to  do  with  a business 
which  was  tainted  with  the  least  suspicion  of  unfair 
dealing.  In  the  course  of  years  the  tannery  passed 
into  the  hands  of  Black,  Burhans  & Clearwater,  and 
Burhans  retiring,  the  firm  was  composed  of  the  two 
other  members  several  years.  Later,  W.  H.  Osterhout 
became  the  owner,  and  A.  A.  Clearwater  was  the 
resident  agent  and  manager.  In  the  summer  of  1882 
work  was  suspended  and  the  machinery  removed  to 
Clearfield  County.  Some  of  the  buildings  were  re- 
moved and  others  fell  into  decay.  Very  few  of  the 
employees  remained  in  the  locality.  The  abandoned 
store  building  still  stands,  as  also  does  the  Union 
Church,  both  having  been  repaired  by  new  owners. 

The  Good  Templars  had  several  active  organiza- 
tions in  the  township,  and  there  was  also  a division 
of  the  Sons  of  Temperance,  all  of  which  have  sus- 
pended their  meetings. 

Centkeville  is  a hamlet  of  half  a dozen  houses, 
where  the  Owego  turnpike  crosses  Bell  Brook,  in  the 
northern  central  part  of  the  township.  On  this 
stream  was  the  Truesdell  mill,  as  early  as  1825,  and 
later  the  mill  of  Henry  S.  Millard.  L.  W.  Read  be- 
came the  owner,  and,  later,  Alonzo  Payne  tore  down 
the  old  grist-mill  and  erected  a saw-mill  on  that  site. 
Horace  Whiting  is  the  present  owner  and  operates  it. 
A shingle-mill,  in  this  locality,  was  sold  to  H, 
Marcy.  Just  below  the  turnpike,  on  a site  higher 
up  the  stream,  Vincent  Truesdell  had  a shop  in 
which  were  turned  chair-stuff  and  spinning-wheels. 
The  property  was  sold  to  Orville  Tiffany,  who  built  a 
saw-mill  on  the  west  side  of  the  stream,  but  which 
was  later  changed  to  a small  feed-mill,  and  is  still 
operated  as  such.  Above  the  bridge,  Orville  Tiffany 
built  a public-house,  which  had  a good  patronage  in 
the  days  of  stage  travel.  But,  an  earlier  house  of 
entertainment  was  at  the  foot  of  the  hill,  which  is 
now  known  as  the  D.  C.  Oakley  place.  This  was 
kept  by  Henry  Millard,  and  was  a well-known  stop- 
ping-place, from  the  fact  that  the  stage  horses  were 
there  changed.  The  Tiffiiny  tavern  was  afterwards 
kept  by  William  O.  Gardner,  who  also  operated  the 
mills.  William  Spencer  was  a later  owner  of  the 
property  and  keeper  of  the  inn,  which,  about  this 


1 Miss  Blackman. 


710 


HISTOEY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


time,  obtained  an  unenviable  name.  The  contention 
which  followed  his  residence  here  is  still  remem- 
bered. Some  time  after,  William  Burton  opened  a 
small  store  in  the  corner  building,  still  standing, 
though  unoccupied.  In  1883  John  W.  Talman  began 
trading  in  the  Tiffany  building,  which  had  long  been 
a residence,  and  still  continues;  and  on  the  oj^posite 
side  of  the  stream.  Forest  Whiting  opened  another 
store,  in  a new  building,  in  the  fall  of  1886. 

Near  this  place  is  the  fine  Baptist  Church,  and  on 
the  road  below,  at  the  farm-house  of  Archibald  Hill, 
the  first  postmaster,  the  West  Lenox  post-office  was 
established  May  24,  1866.  He  was  succeeded  Jan- 
uary 27,  1881,  by  E.  P.  Bailey.  On  the  1st  of  Octo- 
ber, 1881,  Alonzo  A.  Payne  became  the  postmaster, 
and  since  April  6,  1882,  Mary  Coleman  has  held  the 
office  at  her  residence,  nearly  midway  between  Cen- 
treville  and  Loomis  Lake. 

At  the  latter  place  the  Loomis  family  had  a saw- 
mill, which  has  gone  down,  and  in  this  neighborhood 
a number  of  buildings  were  put  up,  giving  it  the  ap- 
pearance of  a hamlet.  There  are  a good  school- 
house,  Free-Will  Baptist  Church  and  a dozen  resi- 
dences in  the  immediate  locality.  A store  was  kept 
here  for  a brief  period  in  a building  put  up  for  this 
purpose  by  Niles  Carpenter.  It  is  now  a residence. 
Mechanic  shops  have  also  been  maintained ; but  the 
nearness  of  the  hamlet  to  Hopbottom  has  prevented 
it  from  becoming  a business  point. 

Educational  and  Religious. — Miss  Blackman 
states  that  the  first  school  in  the  vicinity  of  Glen- 
wood,  and  probably  in  all  Lenox,  was  taught  about 
1804  by  Miss  Molly  Post,  in  a barn  belonging  to 
John  Marcy,  whose  farm  was  partly  in  Susquehanna 
County,  though  his  residence  was  just  below  the  line, 
in  Luzerne  (now  Wyoming)  County.  The  barn  was 
soon  needed  to  store  the  hay  of  that  season,  and  then 
a large  tree  was  selected  as  a shelter  for  the  scholars 
and  teacher  till  the  close  of  the  term. 

It  was  in  one  of  her  schools  that  a boy  showed  his 
intelligent  comprehension  of  the  word  “ bed.”  On 
being  told  to  spell  it,  he  began  : “ B-ah,  e-ah,  d-ah,” 
and,  being  unable  to  pronounce  it,  his  teacher,  think- 
ing to  aid  him,  asked  what  he  slept  on,  when  he 
replied,  “ Now  I know ! sheepeJcmL  She  is  also  au- 
thority for  the  statement  that  the  first  winter  school 
in  Lenox  was  taught  by  a man  who  was  unable  to 
prove  a sum  in  addition.  Upon  his  being  dismissed  for 
his  incompetency,  another  was  employed  to  complete 
the  term,  who  had  to  secure  the  help  of  one  of  his 
pupils  to  write  out  his  bill  for  teaching,  being  un- 
.skilled  to  do  such  ivork  himself.  Later  teachers 
were  more  competent  to  instruct  the  young,  and  the 
schools  of  Lenox,  and  the  buildings  in  which  they 
are  kept,  compare  favorably  with  those  of  other  town- 
ships. 

The  first  religious  meetings  were  held  in  private 
houses,  barns,  and,  for  many  years,  in  the  school- 
houses. 


The  First  Baptist  Church  in  Lenox  is  the  oldest 
organized  religious  body  in  the  township,  and  was 
constituted  a separate  organization  December  15, 

1830,  with  the  following  members  : Levi  Mack,  Betsey 
Mack,  Henry  S.  Millard,  Sarah  Wilmarth,  Russell 
Tingley,  Joanna  Tourgee,  Elizabeth  Robinson,  John 
Robinson,  Nathaniel  Tower,  Lucy  Tower,  Rial 
Tower,  Betsey  Tower  and  Lydia  Harding.  The  fol- 
lowing summer  several  more  persons  joined  by  letter, 
but  it  does  not  appear  that  any  were  admitted  by  bap- 
tism until  1837,  when  seven  persons  were  received  in 
that  manner,  among  them  Freeman  Tingley,  the  only 
surviving  deacon,  serving  since  1840.  The  first  deacons 
of  the  church  were  John  Robinson  and  Zerah  Scott, 
who  were  chosen  in  June,  1831,  and  were  also  selected 
as  delegates  to  the  Abington  Association,  of  which 
body  the  church  became  a member  and  has  since 
retained  that  connection.  On  the  14th  of  September, 

1831,  the  Rev.  Levi  Mack  was  ordained  to  the  min- 
istry and  served  as  pastor  of  the  church  until  Sep- 
tember 20,  1833.  Previous  to  this  the  Rev.  Charles 
Miller,  of  Clifford,  had  preached,  and  Levi  Mack  had 
also  been  the  minister  as  a licentiate  before  his  ordi- 
nation. February  15,  1838,  Rev.  Rial  Tower  became 
one  of  the  deacons  of  the  church,  having  served  as 
clerk  and  treasurer  up  to  this  time.  In  October  of  the 
same  year  he  was  licensed  to  preach,  and  ministered 
to  the  congregation,  frequently  exchanging  pulpits 
with  Elder  Miller,  of  Clifford.  On  the  22d  of  August, 
1844,  he  was  ordained,  and  continued  as  pastor  until 
June,  1862.  At  that  time  Elder  Benjamin  Miller  was 
called  for — half  his  time — and,  with  the  assistance  of 
Elder  Rial  Tower,  served  the  church  until  April,  1864, 
when  Elder  Rial  Tower  again  became  the  pastor  and 
so  continued  for  several  years. 

In  April,  1866,  the  church  called  Elder  James  Van 
Patten  to  the  pastorate,  but  from  1867  to  1868  the  pul- 
pit was  supplied.  In  June  of  the  latter  year  the  Rev. 
J.  C.  Sherman  began  a two  years’  ministry,  and  from 
1870  to  1871  the  Rev.  Newell  Calleudar  was  the  pas- 
tor. In  April,  1872,  the  Rev.  D.  Pease  here  entered 
upon  a ministry  which  continued  until  January,  1878. 
For  a period  the  pulpit  was  supplied  by  the  associa- 
tion, Elder  David  Halstead  and  others  preaching  un- 
til the  fall  of  1882.  In  December  of  that  year  the 
Rev.  0.  W.  Cook  began  a series  of  meetings  which 
awakened  much  interest,  and  which  led  to  his  being 
ordained,  March  13, 1883,  as  the  pastor  of  the  church. 
He  continued  until  November,  1884,  but  since  March, 
1885,  the  pastor  has  been  the  Rev.  William  A.  Miller, 
preaching  every  two  weeks.  In  addition  to  the  three 
ministers  named  above,  ordained  in  this  church  and 
serving  as  its  pastor,  two  other  members  were  ordained 
to  the  ministry, — W.  N.  Tower,  October  24,  1861,  and 
H.  J.  Millard,  December  8,  1870.  Each  of  these  had 
been  licensed  to  preach  about  four  years  before  his 
ordination,  and  both  rendered  efficient  service  to  the 
church  before  assuming  charge  of  other  work.  In  all, 
nearly  one  hundred  and  eighty  persons  have  been 


LENOX. 


711 


connected  with  the  church  since  its  organization, 
forty-five  being  members  in  March,  1887.  The  clerks 
have  been  Rial  Tower,  Hugh  Mead,  W.  C.  Tower,  A. 
H.  Adams,  C.  M.  Tower,  Ira  Millard,  W.  N.  Tower, 
D.  C.  Oakley  and  Lucy  Z.  T.  Oakley. 

The  first  meetings  were  held  in  the  old  school- 
house,  near  the  Henry  T.  Millard  place,  and  later  in 
the  school-house  farther  down  the  road.  In  April, 
1863,  the  building  of  a church  was  agitated,  but  it  was 
not  until  December,  10,  1863,  that  work  on  the  build- 
ing was  commenced,  the  first  blows  being  struck  by 
Elders  B.  Miller  and  Newell  Callender.  Progress  was 
slowly  made,  as  the  society  was  weak  and  the  prose- 
cution of  the  war  claimed  the  attention  of  the  mem- 
bers, so  that  the  church  was  not  dedicated  until  1866. 
It  was  a frame  building,  with  belfry,  of  attractive  ap- 
pearance, and  was  well  furnished  at  the  time  it  was 
destroyed  by  an  incendiary  fire,  August  29,  1875. 
Within  two  weeks  it  was  decided  to  rebuild  the 
church,  but  again  a long  period  elapsed  before  the 
building  was  ready  for  occupancy.  It  was  not  formally 
dedicated  until  October  4,  1882,  when  it  was  conse- 
crated, free  from  debt,  and  stands  to-day  a memorial 
to  the  faithful  members  who  completed  it  with  so 
much  eflbrt  that  its  accomplishment  was  often  deemed 
impossible.  The  edifice  has  an  eligible  location  on 
the  edge  of  a belt  of  woods  overshadowing  the  vale, 
and  is  an  inviting  place  of  worship,  as  well  as  an  or- 
nament to  the  neighborhood  in  which  it  stands.  It  is 
supplied  with  a bell,  and  is  neatly  furnished.  The 
property  is  valued  at  twenty-five  hundred  dollars,  and 
is  controlled  by  the  church  as  a body,  incorporated 
April  16,  1866,  with  Trustees  Freeman  Tingley,  Rial 
Tower,  Henry  S.  Coutant,  Asa  H.  Decker,  Warner  C. 
Tower,  D.  C.  Oakley,  Charles  M.  Tower,  Elias  M. 
Moore,  and  Amos  H.  Adams.  Nearly  opposite  is  the 
cemetery,  located  on  the  land  of  Henry  Millard,  and 
opened  to  the  public  long  before  the  building  of  the 
church.  It  has  been  well  kept,  and  contains  some 
fine  memorials  to  the  many  dead  there  interred. 
Here  repose  two  of  the  ministers  of  the  church — 
Elders  Rial  and  William  M.  Tower, — and  many  of  the 
pioneers  of  this  part  of  the  township. 

The  West  Lenox  Free-  Will  Baptist  Church  is  a frame 
meeting-house,  with  a capacity  for  several  hundred 
persons,  standing  on  the  west  shore  of  Loomis  Lake. 
The  building  was  commenced  soon  after  the  breaking 
out  of  the  late  war,  but  was  not  completed  for  several 
years.  It  has  recently  been  reseated  and  improved 
internally.  Since  Aug.  18,  1873,  it  has  been  con- 
trolled by  an  incorporated  body,  whose  trustees  at 
that  time  were  0.  W.  Loomis,  0.  G.  Carpenter,  Alson 
Tiffany,  J.  L.  Whiting,  William  Gorman  and  W.  P. 
Gardner,  Some  of  these  serve  on  the  present  board, 
and  have  been  active  members  of  the  church.  Prior 
to  the  building  of  the  meeting-house  the  meetings 
were  held  in  the  school-house  at  Loomis  Lake,  and 
among  the  members  were  Elder  Dariel  Pease 
and  family,  William  D.  Miller  and  family,  William 


Gorman  and  family,  Warren  M.  Tingley  and  fam- 
ily, J.  L.  Whiting,  Isaac  Knapp,  Otis  Bailey  and 
their  wives,  Mrs.  Lydia  Gardner  and  Alson  Tif- 
fany. In  1867  the  church  received  an  addition 
of  fourteen  members,  and  among  these  joining 
about  this  time  were  0.  W.  Loomis,  Henry  Coleman, 

L.  D.  Wilmarth,  Josiah  Whiting,  Howard  Sinsibaugh 
and  their  wives,  and  Mrs.  S.  A.  Miller. 

Elder  Pease  ministered  to  the  church  a number  of 
years,  and  among  others  who  preached  in  the  church 
were  Elders  John  Green,  Asa  Lord,  C.  M.  Prescott, 
W.  A.  Sargent,  Othniel  Phelps,  A.  H.  Fish,  Raleigh 
Carpenter  and  S.  B.  York.  The  church  is  at  present 
without  a regular  pastor  and  the  membership  is  small, 
not  exceeding  twenty.  William  D.  Miller  and  Wil- 
liam Gorman  were  early  deacons.  Those  offices  are 
at  present  filled  by  John  L.  Whiting  and  Henry 
Coleman,  and  L.  D.  Wilmarth  is  the  church  clerk. 

The  Lenoxville  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  was 
built  in  1866.  It  is  a frame  building,  thirty-five  by 
fifty  feet,  and  has  a spire,  bilt  no  bell.  The  church  is 
plainly  furnished,  but  recent  repairs  have  made  it  in- 
viting. The  society  controlling  it  became  an  incor- 
porated body  Jan.  18,  1868,  with  the  following  trus- 
tees : S.  F.  Wright,  E.  V.  Decker,  M.  J.  Decker,  E. 
J.  Brundage,  Abraham  Churchill  and  P.  Van  Etten. 
But  twenty  years  before  the  building  of  the  church  a 
class  of  Methodists  was  organized  at  this  place,  which 
bad  Hiram  White  as  its  leader,  and  which  embraced, 
among  other  members,  Francis  Hull,  John  Carmich- 
ael, L.  N.  Beagle,  J.  T.  Rood,  Abraham  Churchill 
and  Joseph  Allen.  The  meetings  were  held  in  the 
old  school-house,  near  the  mill,  and  later  in  the  new 
school-house,  on  the  west  side  of  the  creek.  The 
preachers  came  from  the  Dundaff  and  Herrick  Cir- 
cuits ; but  since  1886  the  church  has  been  a part  of 
the  Clifford  Circuit,  to  an  account  of  which  the  reader 
is  referred  to  a list  of  ministers  who  have  preached 
in  later  years.  The  present  membership  of  the  church 
is  small,  numbering  but  fourteen,  with  Abraham 
Churchill  as  their  leader.  He  is  also  on  the  board  of 
trustees,  having  as  associate  members  Alvah  Johnson, 

M.  S.  Roberts,  William  White,  A.  Harris  and  N.  C. 
Halstead. 

The  Glenwood  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  became 
an  incorporated  body  in  August,  1882,  on  the  petition 
of  C.  W.  Conrad,  J.  T.  Bennett,  L.  M.  Hardy,  A.  A. 
Clearwater,  B.  E.  Miles,  D.  N.  Hardy,  W.  C.  Clear- 
water, D.  0.  Farnam  and  J.  W.  Height.  About 
this  time  the  Union  Church,  at  Glenwood  Tannery, 
which  had  been  erected  in  1856  by  Asa  Eaton,  was 
secured  by  the  society,  and  repaired  so  as  to  become  a 
comfortable  place  of  worship.  In  this  building  was 
organized,  in  1875,  a class  of  Methodists,  which  had 
among  its  first  members  G.  N.  Hardy,  D.  G.  Black, 
James  Clearwater,  D.  N.  Hardy,  Alonzo  Miles,  Ben- 
jamin Miles,  James  Conrad,  Mary  P.  Conrad  and,  in 
most  cases,  the  wives  of  the  foregoing.  The  Rev.  J. 
L.  Race  was  the  first  regular  minister  of  the  church, 


712 


HISTOEY  OF  SUSQUEHxlNNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


whose  membership  was  now  much  augmented  by  a 
revival  held  under  his  direction,  so  that  at  one  time 
there  were  nearly  forty  members.  The  closing  of  the 
tannery  and  other  local  causes  has  reduced  the  mem- 
bership to  eighteen  persons,  who  belong  to  the  Nich- 
olson and  South  Gibson  Circuit,  the  Rev.  C.  M.  Sur- 
dam  being  the  pastor.  Other  ministers  since  the  or- 
ganization of  the  class  have  been  the  Revs.  S.  J. 
Austin,  J.  H.  Weston  and  F.  A.  King.  The  church 
property  is  valued  at  six  hundred  dollars,  and  is  in 
charge  of  Trustees  C.  W.  Conrad,  P.  P.  Squiers,  John 
Buck,  D.  W.  Wright,  J.  T.  Bennett,  Cyrus  Hoppe  and 
D.  N.  Hsrdy.  Within  a year  the  services  of  the 
Methodists  have  been  alternately  held  in  the  above 
church  and  in  the  Glenwood  chapel,  a house  for  re- 
ligious meetings  in  the  hamlet  of  Glenwood.  A part 
of  this  building  was  originally  a school-house,  which 
was  used  as  early  as  1835,  but,  upon  being  abandoned, 
was  taken  by  Fred.  P.  Grow,  and  enlarged  by  the  ad- 
dition of  twenty  feet  and  otherwise  improved,  to 
make  a chapel  for  the  use  of  a Sunday-school,  which 
was  organized  by  Mrs.  Fred.  P.  Grow  in  1860,  and 
has  since  been  conducted  by  her.  She  began  the 
school  with  five  scholars,  who  met  in  her  room,  while 
she  was  a boarder  at  the  Glenwood  Hotel.  But  the 
school  rapidly  increased  in  numbers  and  interest  un- 
til larger  accommodations  were  demanded  and  more 
teachers  required.  At  one  time  there  were  more 
than  one  hundred  attendants,  but  at  present  the 
number  does  not  exceed  fifty,  who  are  instructed  with 
unabated  interest.  The  school  was  established  in  the 
face  of  considerable  opposition  and  prejudice,  but  has 
since  been  recognized  as  a desirable  moral  force,  and 
commands  the  support  of  the  community.'  A former 
teacher  in  this  school.  Miss  Carrie  Hartley,  was  for 
two  years  a missionary  in  Madura,  India.  In  the 
past  few  years  the  chapel  has  been  improved  by  the 
addition  of  a spire,  in  which  has  been  placed  a fine  bell, 
the  gift  of  Thomas  Dixon,  of  Scranton.  William  E. 
Dodge,  of  New  York,  presented  valuable  maps,  and 
■other  friends  have  contributed  to  make  the  chapel 
more  attractive.  In  addition  to  the  meetings  of  the 
Methodists,  Presbyterian  services  are  occasionally 
held  in  the  chapel,  but  no  congregation  has  been  or- 
ganized. 

In  other  parts  of  the  township  Sabbath-schools 
were  organized  at  an  early  day,  one  being  conducted 
successfully  by  Obadiah  Mills  and  family  at  his  pri- 
vate house,  while  others  were  held  in  school-houses, 
and  after  the  building  of  churches  were  transferred  to 
these  places. 

In  addition  to  the  cemetery  at  the  Baptist  Church, 
near  Centreville,  there  is  a place  of  interment  east  of 
Loomis  Lake,  on  the  old  Carpenter  farm,  which  is 


1 A man  who  had  been  greatly  opposed  to  having  his  children  attend 
the  school,  became  convinced  at  last  of  the  benefit  they  had  derived 
from  it.  Aroused  to  a sense  of  gratitude,  before  leaving  the  place  he 
resorted  to  Mrs.  G.  to  express  it,  which  he  did  by  saying,  “ It’s  the 
d desl  heat  Sunday-school  I ever  see  ! ” — Blackman. 


kept  up  by  the  Titus,  Loomis  and  Carpenter  families, 
and  is  in  good  condition.  In  the  northwestern  part 
of  the  township  a burial-place  was  started  many 
years  ago,  in  which  were  interred  many  members  of  j 
the  Tourgee  and  Gardner  families.  This  ground  was  j 
not  appropriately  selected,  and  is  not  receiving  the  ' 
care  the  resting-places  of  the  dead  deserve  at  the 
hands  of  the  community  in  which  they  are  located. 


CHAPTER  XLVII. 

HARFORD  TOWNSHIP. 

Nicholson  township  was  incorporated  in  August, 
1795.  It  was  then  thirteen  miles  by  twenty.  The 
east  line  was  on  the  boundary  between  Wayne  and 
Susquehanna ; the  north  line  was  in  part  the  north 
line  of  Harford.  The  section  east  of  Harford  was 
incorporated  into  a township  called  Clifford  in  1886 
(the  northern  portion  of  which  became  Gibson  in 
1813),  and  the  section  west  of  Martin’s  Creek  having 
also  been  incorporated,  “ the  inhabitants  of  Nine 
Partners,  at  a special  meeting,  chose  a committee  to 
petition  the  Court  for  a township,  situate  and  lying 
between  Martin’s  Creek  and  Clifibrd,  extending  six 
miles  from  north  to  south.  This  petition  was  pre- 
sented and  the  grant  made  nisi  in  November,  1807, 
and  confirmed  in  January,  1808.  Hosea  Tiffany  sug- 
gested Hartford  as  the  name ; Laban  Capron  said 
strike  out  the  ‘ t,’  which  was  immediately  agreed  to 
by  all.”  Harford  township  is  in  the  southeast  central 
part  of  the  county.  It  is  bounded  on  the  north  by 
New  Milford,  on  the  east  by  Gibson,  on  the  south  by 
Lenox,  and  on  the  west  by  Brooklyn.  Martin’s  Creek, 
which  forms  the  western  boundary,  drains  the  western 
part  of  the  township,  receiving  the  waters  of  East  Mar- 
tin’s Creek,  which  is  the  outlet  of  the  upper,  middle 
and  lower  lakes  in  the  northwestern  part  of  the  town-' 
ship.  The  outlets  of  Tyler  and  Tingley  Lakes  unite 
in  the  village  and  form  a little  creek  that  flows  into 
Partners’  Creek,  which  flows  south  into  the  Tunk- 
hannock.  Butler  Creek  is  the  outlet  of  Butler  Lake, 
in  the  centre  of  Jackson  township.  It  flows  south- 
west through  Burro wes’  Hollow  in  Gibson ; thence 
southward  through  the  eastern  part  of  Harford,  unit- 
ing with  Partners’  Creek,  near  the  south  line  of  the 
township.  The  surface  of  Harford  is  broken  into 
hills  and  valleys,  and  the  land  is  well  strewn 
with  stones,  but  the  soil  is  fertile,  and  the  mountain 
air  and  spring  water  are  pure.  The  township  was 
originally  timbered  with  beech,  maple,  hemlock  and 
pine. 

'Nine  Partners. — In  the  fall  and  winter  of  1789 


1 Caleb  Richardson,  son  of  one  of  the  original  Nine  Partners,  wrote  a 
history  of  the  settlement,  which  he  left  to  liis  grandson,  Rev.  Adam 
Miller,  and  Miss  Blackman  has  followed  this  history  substantially. 


HARFORD. 


713 


several  young  men,  afterwards  its  first  settlers,  were 
deliberating  together  in  Attleborough,  Mass.,  on  the 
subject  of  emigrating  from  the  place  of  their  nativity. 
Most  of  them  were  unmarried  and  unsettled,  but 
several  were  married  and  proprietors  of  small  farms. 
Tlie  ditlicnlty  of  obtaining  near  home  and  from  their 
own  resources  an  adequate  sujiply  of  land,  urged 
them  to  seek  ampler  room  in  some  new  region  and 
on  cheaper  soil.  A company  of  nine  concluded  to 
enter  upon  the  adventure  in  the  spring.  They  were 
Hosea  Tiffany,  Caleb  Richardson,  Ezekiel  Titus, 
Robert  Follet,  John  Carpenter,  Moses  Thacher,  Dan- 
iel Carpenter,  Samuel  Thacher  and  Josiah  Carpenter. 
Messrs.  Tiffany,  Titus  and  Follet  were  married.  Mr. 
Tiffany  only  was  over  thirty  years  of  age;  the  others 
were  mostly  under  twenty-five.  They  left  Attlebor- 
ough by  two  different  routes  on  the  27th  and  29th  of 
April,  1790,  to  meet  at  West  Stockbridge ; thence 
they  proceeded  via  Kinderhook  to  Albany,  N.  Y. 
Information  was  sought  of  the  surveyor-general. 
He  suggested  Canajoharie,  Herkimer  and  German 
Flats  as  inviting  fields,  or,  if  not  suited  there.  Cherry 
Valley,  or  some  towns  soon  to  be  surveyed  west  of  the 
Unadilla.  Reports  of  the  sickliness  of  the  other- 
wise most  attractive  portion  of  the  Mohawk  Valley 
induced  them  to  turn  aside  from  the  river  at  Cana- 
joharie and  ])i'oceed  to  Cherry  Valley.  Here  they 
were  strongly  inclined  to  settle.  But,  visiting  Wil- 
liam Cooper  at  the  outlet  of  Otsego  Lake,  they  were 
invited  to  pass  down  the  Susquehanna  in  a boat  with 
him  in  a few  days,  free  of  exjiense,  to  view  lands  of 
which  he  had  the  agency,  lying  about  one  hundred 
miles  south.  To  this  southerly  movement  consent 
was  given  the  more  readily  in  hope  of  finding  the 
climate  warmer,  as  a settler  at  Cherry  Valley  had 
stated  that  during  five  years  of  his  residence  there, 
not  a month  had  passed  without  frost.  Passing  down 
the  river,  they  arrived  at  the  Great  Bend  May  16th. 
Here  they  found  a few  families,  with  whom  they 
remained  the  next  day,  which  was  the  Sabbath,  and 
attended  worship.  On  Monday,  with  Mr.  Cooper, 
surveyor  and  others,  they  proceeded  into  the  wilder- 
ness in  a southern  direction.  On  Tuesday,  the  19th, 
they  reached  the  Beaver  Meadow,  and  having  found 
a good  si)iing,  they  erected  a bark  cabin  and  en- 
camped. This  was  the  first  dwelling  erected  and 
occujiied  by  a white  man.  (The  first  log  house  was 
afterwards  built  under  the  hill,  between  the  house  of 
Captain  Asahel  Sweet  and  the  village.)  The  emi- 
grants found  snow,  on  their  way  from  Massachusetts, 
one  and  a half  feet  deep,  and  on  their  arrival  in  Penn- 
sylvania the  trees  were  in  full  leaf,  and  the  ground 
covered  nearly  everywhere  with  leeks  or  wild  onions. 
The  Nine  Partners’  settlement  is  in  a valley  having 
the  appearance  of  being  sheltered,  and  probably  before 
the  forests  were  cleared  it  was  more  .sheltered  than  now. 
It  is  certain  that  the  pioneers  here  supposed  they 
were  locating  in  a much  warmer  country  than  the 
Mohawk  Valley.  They,  doubtless,  lived  long  enough  * 
451 


to  be  undeceived.  After  some  days  had  been  spent 
in  viewing  the  vicinity,  a tract  four  miles  long  and 
one  mile  wide  was  purchased  for  £1198.  By  a sub- 
sequent arrangement  with  Mr.  Drinker,  the  landholder, 
their  joint  obligation  for  the  wholesale  {uirchase 
was  canceled,  and  each  individual  became  responsi- 
ble for  his  own  possessions.  The  corner  of  the  tract 
was  near  the  spring  mentioned  ; thence  a line  ran 
northwest  one  mile,  and  thence  four  miles  northeast. 
The  centre  of  a parallelogram  with  these  sides  would 
fall  a short  distance  southwest  of  the  Congregational 
Church  in  Harford  village.  The  writings  were 
drawn  and  signed  on  a hemlock  stump.  May  22, 1790. 

At  that  time  Northern  Pennsylvania  and  the  adja- 
cent parts  of  New  York  presented,  with  little  ex- 
ception, the  solitude  of  an  immense  wdlderness.  Be- 
tween Harmony  and  the  mouth  of  Snake  Creek  about 
a dozen  families  had  located  but  a year  or  two  previ- 
ous. Another  small  settlement,  styled  “the  Irish  set- 
tlement,” had  been  made  at  Hopbottom  (now  Brook- 
lyn), and  another  fifteen  or  twenty  miles  south,  at 
Thornbottom,  below  the  present  county  line.  From 
neither  of  these  could  our  adventurers  expect  an  ade- 
quate supply  of  provisions,  if  they  should  continue 
through  the  summer. 

Wilkes-Barre  and  a “French  settlement”  on  the 
Susquehanna,  below  Towanda,  were  the  nearest  places 
on  w’hich  they  could  deiiend ; and  to  reach  these,  a 
wilderness  of  forty  or  fifty  miles  must  be  traversed, 
without  beasts  of  burden  and  without  even  a path. 
These  considerations  determined  their  return  to  Attle- 
borough to  secure  their  harvests.  From  the  diary  of 
Caleb  Richardson,  Jr.,  we  learn  that  the  following 
agreement  was  made  in  the  spring  of  1790,  after  the 
return  of  the  2)urchasers  to  Massachusetts : — 

“To  run  a centre  line  lengthwise,  which  should  be 
one  hundred  and  sixty  rods  from  the  exterior  lines ; 
then  beginning  at  the  northeast  end  and  going  upon 
the  centre  line  one  hundred  and  fifty  rods,  would 
make  tw'O  lots  of  one  hundred  and  fifty  acres  each ; 
and  to  proceed  until  they  should  have  sixteen  lots — 
eight  on  each  side  of  the  centre  line — the  remainder 
at  the  southwest  end  to  remain  as  public  property  to 
the  company.  Then,  to  apportion  each  man’s  share, 
it  was  agreed  to  make  sixteen  2)aj>er  tickets  to  repre- 
sent and  designate  the  sixteen  lots,  and  to  let  each 
man  draw  for  himself  two  lots,  and  upon  going  back 
in  the  fall  and  viewing  the  land,  each  man  to  make 
his  choice  of  the  two  he  had  drawn.  Then,  for  ad- 
justing the  remaining  eight  lots,  it  was  agreed  that 
he  who,  in  the  candid  judgment  of  the  comjjany,  had 
the  poorest  lot  of  the  eight  already  chosen,  should 
have  his  choice  out  of  the  remaining  eight  lots,  and 
to  proceed  in  this  way  until  the  whole  should  be  dis- 
posed of.”  This  was  eventually  done  to  general  sat- 
isfaction. In  the  fall  of  the  same  year,  nearly  all 
returned,  accompanied  by  several  others.  They 
brought  with  them  an  ox-tcam,  tools,  clothing,  pro- 
visions, etc.  Having  labored  awhile,  they  left  again. 


714 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


lute  in  the  season.  The  spring  of  1791  I'ound  most  of 
them  on  their  land,  elearing  and  eultivating.  In  the 
fall  they  returned  to  Attleborough.  About  that  time 
the  settlement  became  extensively  known  by  the 
name  of  “ Nine  Partners,”  from  the  fact  that  the 
original  purchase  was  made  by  nine  i)artners,  though 
only  eight  returned  to  share  the  first  division.  On 
the  2d  of  February,  1792,  Hosea  Tilfany  and  wife, 
with  their  children,  Hosea,  Amos  and  Nancy,  and 
Robert  Follett,  wife  and  daughter,  Lucy,  left  Attle- 
borough with  ox-teams  and  reached  the  settlement 
the  first  week  in  March.  In  this  comi)any  were  the 
first  white  women  who  visited  this  i>laee.  A consid- 
erable number  of  j)ersons  were  on  the  ground,  with- 
out families,  during  the  season.  Among  these  was 
Joseph  Stearns,  who  occii[>ied  what  was  alteiwaids 
known  as  the  John  Tyler  farm.  He  was  from  Tol- 
land County,  Conn.,  and  returned  there  in  the  tall 
for  his  family,  and  on  the  way  back  to  Nine  Partners 
he  stopped  at  JMt.  Pleasant,  and  remained  there,  but 
his  sons  Otis  and  Ira  alterwards  beciime  residents  of 
Harford  and  Gibson.  Ira  Stearns  died  in  Harfoial 
December,  1870,  in  the  eightieth  year  of  his  age. 

The  sup])ly  of  provisions  raised  was  insufficient  for 
all;  consequently  the  settlers  resorted  to  the  French 
settlement,  Wilkes-Barre  and  Binghamton  (then 
Chenango  Point)  to  mill.  The  stump  at  the  door,  ex- 
cavated so  as  to  form  a mortar,  was  often  the  most 
convenient  mill.  The  settlers  here,  as  elsewhere,  were 
often  uncomfortably  straitened  in  their  necessary 
amount  of  food,  but  an  abundance  of  deer  and  fish 
tided  them  over  many  hard  places  and  proved  to  be 
manna  in  the  wilderness  to  them.  Caleb  Richardson, 
in  his  account  of  the  settlement,  says,  “That  the 
middle  of  the  centre  line  was  not  only  the  middle  of 
the  first  purchase,  but  is  now  near  the  centre  of  Har- 
ford a short  distance  southwest  from  the  graveyard. 
In  coming  upon  their  lands  in  the  fall  for  the  puiqjose 
of  chopping,  a number  of  others  accompanied  them 
from  their  native  town,  with  a view  of  purchasing. 
Those  of  the  first  purchase  came  with  a team  attached 
to  a wagon,  which  is  said  to  have  been  the  first  wagon 
that  ever  passed  over  the  road  from  Mt.  Pleasant  to 
Harford.  While  running  the  centre  line  they  came 
to  a quagmire,  difficult  to  cross,  and  Follett  called  it 
a pulk,  a name  that  it  still  retains,  as  well  as  the 
creek  that  issues  from  it.  Several  new  beginnings 
were  made  that  fall,  and  most  of  those  that  began 
then  returned  the  next  spring.” 

About  this  time  the  settlement  became  known  as 
“Nine  Partners,”  a name  which  was  retained  until 
Harford  was  incorporated.  There  was  a great  deal  of 
travel  between  this  place  and  Attleborough,  and  the 
place  became  extensively  known  by  that  name.  “ In 
the  early  settlement  there  vras  the  greatest  degree  of 
cordiality  and  good  understanding  among  the  settlers; 
their  interests  and  employment  being  similar,  there 
was  nothing  to  create  discord;  there  was  no  great  road 
near  them  and  no  newspaper  circulating  among  them. 


They  knew  but  little  of  politics.  They  built  their 
own  cabins  and  in  the  fall  of  the  year  visited  one 
another  in  the  evenings  with  undissembled  friend- 
ship.” “To  be  sure,  their  tables,  perhaps,  were  mostly 
flat  stones,  their  provisions  mostly  roast  potatoes,  and 
no  one  could  much  exceed  his  neighbor  in  furniture; 
there  was  no  i-ound-about  road  nor  fences  to  get  over 
to  go  home;  all  that  was  necessary  was  a brand  of  fire 
and  to  notice  marked  trees.” 

Hosea  Tiffany  and  John  Tyler  had  the  two  central 
lots,  where  the  village  of  Harford  is  now  located 
principally  upon  the  Tyler  lot.  * Hosea  Tiffany  was 
the  oldest  of  the  “Nine  Partners.”  He  came  with  his 
family  in  1792.  He  was  one  of  the  county  commis- 
sioners in  Luzerne  before  the  county  was  set  off.  He 
was  also  appointed  justice  of  the  peace  in  1799,  which 
commission  expired  when  the  new  county  was  erected 
in  1812.  His  first  log  cabin  stood  on  the  ground 
now  occupied  by  the  Congregational  Church,  and  his 
garden  was  the  ])resent  grave-yard.  He  afterwards 
lived  where  C.  S Johnson  now  lives,  and  his  son 
Amos  kept  a public-house  there.  An  amusing  story 
is  told  of  him  as  justice  of  the  peace.  He  had  mar- 
ried a couple  who,  becoming  dissatisfied,  came  to  him 
to  be  unmarried.  He  invited  them  outside,  and 
taking  his  ax  and  jnitting  his  foot  on  the  log  said, 
“ Let  the  one  that  wants  to  be  unmarried  first,  lay  the 
head  there."  He  married  Nancy  Wilmarth.  Their 
children  were  Nancy,  wife  of  Captain  Asahel  Sweet. 
Hosea  Tiffany,  Jr.,  was  county  commissioner  two 
terms ; he  married  Polly  Sweet,  and  lived  on  a farm 
below  the  village.  His  son,  William  C.,  succeeded  him 
on  the  homestead  and  was  justice  of  the  jreace  two  or 
three  terms.  His  daughter,  Mrs.  Martha  Car|)enter, 
resides  there  now.  Amos  Tiffany  lived  with  his 
father  and  commenced  tavern-keeping  as  early  as 
1817.  About  the  time  the  Philadelphia  and  Great 
Bend  turn2)ike  was  built,  he  built  the  Gow  House. 
His  son  Vernon,  the  only  one  of  his  children  now 
living,  resides  in  . North  Harford.  Angeline,  one  of 
the  daughters,  was  the  wife  of  Otis  Grenell.  Joshua 
K.  Adams  married  Peddy,  the  youngest  daughter  of 
Hosea  Tifiany.  He  came  to  Harford  in  1811,  and 
was  a cabinet-maker  and  undertaker.  His  first  shop 
was  near  his  father-in-law’s.  This  burned  down  and  he 
moved  where  Barnard  now  lives,  which  was  a part  of 
the  Hosea  Tifiany  homestead.  Here  he  erected  another 
shop,  and  was  the  village  cabinet-maker,  making 
chairs,  tables,  etc.  He  had  worked  for  Jacob  Blake, 
an  old  settler  here,  who  died  without  children,  before 
erecting  the  latter  shoi).  He  had  six  daughters  by 
his  first  wife.  Polly,  wife  of  David  Hine  and  Sarah 
lived  in  the  place.  His  second  wife  was  Minerva, 

’ There  were  a number  of  Tiffany  brothers, — Captain  John,  who  settled 
in  Mount  Tleasant,  Wayne  County  ; Zachariah  and  Ezra  settled  in  New 
York;  Noali,  Hosea  and  Tl^oma^s  in  Sus<iuehanna  County.  They  were 
all  Revolutionary  soldiers.  Tlieir  sister  Patty  married  a man  by  the 
name  of  Wilmarth,  wlio  died,  and  she  came  with  her  children  to  Nine 
Partners.  Caleb  Richardson,  Sr.’s,  wife  Esthei*  was  also  a sister,  and 
Dexter  Stanley’s  mother  was  another  sister. 


HARFORD. 


715 


iliiiighter  of  Ezra  Follet.  They  had  four  sons, — Alva, 
Ijoris,  J.  B.  and  Edwin, — who  were  all  in  the  late  war. 
One  of  Alva’s  sons,  Samuel  K.,  lives  in  Salem,  Wayne 
County. 

Edwin  Tingley  Tiffany. — The  New  England 
homestead  of  this  family  was  at  Attleborough,  Massa- 
chusetts, where  John  Titfany  died  in  1788,  and  his  wife. 
Deliverance  Parmenter,  died  in  17J8,  at  the  age  of  eighty 
one  years.  One  son,  Thomas  Titfany  (1756-1835),  mar- 
ried Melatiah  Tingley  (1762-1835),  a sister  ofElkanah 
Tingley  (1760-1838),  the  first  settler  of  the  Tingley 
family  in  Harford  from  Attleborough  in  1795,  and  the 


his  death,  (his  son  Judson  succeeded  him,  and  his 
grandson,  Edson  M.,  is  a merchaut  at  Hophottom, 
whose  sketch  is  in  this  volume) ; Thomas  resided 
north  of  the  Nine  Partners’  settlement,  the  property 
being  owned  in  1887  by  his  grandson,  George  W.  Tiff- 
any ; Pelatiah  resided  in  Brooklyn  and  died  at  the 
Center ; Dalton  resided  adjoining  the  homestead  in 
Harford  ; Lewis  resided  adjoining  his  brother  Thomas 
in  Harford  ; Millie  became  the  wife  of  Calvin  Corse,  of 
Jackson  ; Betsey,  the  wife  of  Nathaniel  Norris,  of  the 
same  township  ; Preston  resided  on  IMeshoppen  Creek 
in  Dimock;  and  Orvill  lived  and  die<l  in  Nicholson 


daughter  of  Thomas  and  Martha  Tingley.  In  the  fall 
of  1794  this  Thomas  Tifbxny,  with  his  wife  and  chil- 
dren,— Lorinda,  Alfred  (1781-1860),  Thomas  (1784- 
1848).  Pelatiah,  Tingley  (1788-1866),  Dalton  and 
Lewis, — came  from  Attleborough  and  joined  the  Nine 
Partners’  settlement.  He  had  other  children  born 
here, — Betsey,  Millie,  Preston  and  Orvill.  Theeldest, 
Lorinda,  married  Noah  Potter,  of  Gibson;  Alfred  set- 
tled near  Kingsley’s  Station,  where  he  resided  until 


township,  Wyoming  County.  Thomas  Titfany,  Sr. 
upon  settling  in  Harford,  located  on  a lot  in  the  south- 
west corner  of  the  Nine  Partners’  settlement,  which 
included  the  Beaver  Meadow,  where  Diilton  Titfany’s 
sons  now  own.  He  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life  on 
that  farm  ; was  commissioned  a justice  of  the  peace 
in  17f)9. 

Both  himself  and  his  wife  were  laid  to  rest  in  the 
old  cemetery  at  Harford  village.  His  fourth  sou, 


716 


HISTORY  OP  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


Tingley  Tiftaiiy  settled  on  a woodland  tract  of  one 
hundred  acres,  one  and  one-hall  miles  north  of  the 
Nine  Partners’  settlement,  cleared  most  of  it  and 
made  it  his  homestead.  He  went  as  asubstitute  for  an- 
other man  to  the  War  ofl812,  and  belonged  to  Col. 
Fred.  Bailey’s  regiment.  He  belonged  to  the  old  Whig 
party,  and  was  an  Anti-Mason.  He  was  a public-spir- 
ited man,  took  a deep  interest  in  all  matters  pertaining 
to  education  and  gave  liberally  to  the  supi)ort  of  the 
church  and  charities.  He  married,  .lanuary  1,  1818, 
Aclisah  Carpenter  (1798-18(38),  a daughter  of  Obadiah 
and  IMercy  (Tyler)  Carpenter,  who  had  settled  in  Har- 
ford in  1795,  also  from  Attleborough.  This  Achsah 
Carpenter  was  a devoted  wife  and  mother,  a Christian 
woman  and  a member  of  tbe  Congregational  Church 
at  Harford.  Their  children  are  Edwin  Tingley, 
born  June  17,  1821  ; Cynthia  A.,  born  in  1826,  wife  of 
E.  Wells  Butler,  of  Griggsville,  111.,  and  Achsah  Me- 
lissa (1829-1880),  died  unmarried. 

Edwin  Tingley  Tiffany  spent  his  boyhood  on  the 
home  farm,  attended  the  home  district  school,  and 
was  further  educated  at  Franklin  Academy  under  the 
eniineiit  educator.  Rev.  Lyman  Richardson.  For  a 
dozen  or  more  terms  he  was  a teacher  in  Harford  and 
adjoining  townships,  in  which  capacity  he  was  known 
as  a good  disciplinarian,  a thorough  instructor  and  a 
careful  student.  He  also  has  done  a large  amount  of 
land  surveying  in  the  vicinity.  In  1845  he  married 
Margaret  Hardenbrook,  who  was  born  in  Montgomery, 
Orange  County,  N.  Y.,  March  11,  1822.  For  eleven 
years  following  he  farmed  the  homestead,  teaching  a 
part  of  the  time  during  the  winter  seasons.  In  1856 
he  began  as  a clerk  in  the  store  of  Penuel  Carpenter, 
where  the  residence  of  Dr.  Blakslee  is  now  located, 
and  in  the  fall  of  1860  bought  out  Mr.  Carpenter,  ran 
in  debt  for  his  goods  and  began  mercantile  business 
on  his  own  account.  He  afterwards  bought  out  Cy- 
rus S.  .Tohnston,  and  removed  his  business  across  the 
street,  where  he  continued  trade  until  January,  1866, 
when  he  soldto .lones,  Babcock  & Tanner.  Thesame 
year  he  built  his  present  store,  which  he  opened  with 
goods  the  following  1st  day  of  March,  and  success- 
fully conducted  general  merchandising  until  1883, 
when  he  disposed  of  his  business  to  his  sons,  who  con- 
tinue in  trade.  Mr.  Tiffany  has  been  closely  identified 
with  the  political  and  business  history  of  the  town- 
ship and  village  for  many  years,  and  one  of  the  strong 
supports  of  the  church,  and  of  the  educational  inter- 
ests in  the  vicinity.  Altogether  he  served  twenty-one 
years  as  postmaster  at  Harford,  being  first  commis- 
sioned by  President  Lincoln.  He  was  displaced  by 
Johnson  and  reinstated  by  President  Grant,  and 
served  until  disidaced  by  Postmaster- General  Vilas. 
He  voted  for  Henry  Clay  in  1844,  was  one  of  thefore- 
most  in  the  organization  of  the  Republican  party  in 
1855-56  in  Harford,  and  voted  for  General  Fremont, 
and  was  a warm  supporter  of  President  Lincoln  and 
his  administration  throughout  the  war.  He  has 
served  his  township  as  town  clerk,  treasurer  and 


school  director,  and  was  one  of  the  early  members  of 
the  Harford  Agricultural  Society,  of  which  he  has 
served  as  secretary,  treasurer  and  one  term  as  its 
president.  In  1855  he  united  with  the  Congregation- 
al Church,  which  he  has  served  as  deacon  for  many 
years,  and  for  fifteen  years  past  he  has  superintended 
the  Sunday-school  connected  therewith.  His  chil- 
dren are  Henry  Judd,  1847,  married  Maggie  A.  Gil- 
lespie ; Clara  Melissa,  1849;  and  Amherst  Lee  Tiffany> 
born  in  1851,  married  Ida  M.  Crandall  and  has  one 
sail,  Ralph  Douglass  Tiffany,  1881. 

John  Tyler  built  a log  house  up  in  the  lot  on  the 
farm  now  owned  by  Mrs.  Jones.  He  came  from 
Attleboro’,  Mass.,  where  he  was  born  in  1746.  He 
was  one  of  the  first  deacons  in  the  Harford  Church, 
and  served  in  the  same  capacity  after  his  removal  to 
Ararat.  He  was  an  agent  of  Henry  Drinker  in  the 
disposal  of  lands  on  the  Tunkhannock  and  Lacka- 
wanna Rivers.  His  wife,  Mercy  (Thacher)  Tyler, 
was  known  far  and  near  by  her  untiring  and  unselfish 
efforts  in  behalf  of  the  sick.  She  was  a skillful  prac- 
titioner in  the  specialties  which  she  adopted.  Deacon 
John  Tyler  died  in  Ararat  in  1822,  aged  seventy-seven, 
and  his  wife  died  in  January,  1835,  aged  eighty- three. 
Their  sons  were  John,  Job,  Joab  and  Jabez.  Their 
daughters  were  Mercy,  Mary,  Polly,  Nannie  and 
Achsah.  John  was  a farmer  and  lived  where  widow 
Hotchkiss  now  lives.  Of  his  three  children,  Clara 
was  the  wife  of  Wm.  M.  Clark,  of  Syracuse,  N.  Y. 
(she  is  a talented  lady  and  has  traced  the  pedigree  of 
a number  of  old  families  very  carefully);  John  W. 
died  at  Cazenovia;  Harriet  A.  was  the  wife  of  Rev. 
Willard  Richardson.  Job  Tyler  married  Sallie  Thacher 
and  settled  in  New  Milford.  Joab  Tyler  married 
Nabby  Seymour  and  retained  the  homestead,  which 
embraced  the  ground  now  occupied  by  the  village. 
He  was  elected  a deacon  in  the  church  and  eventually 
took  his  father’s  place  in  civil  and  religious  affairs. 
He  was  public-spirited  and  contributed  towards 
churches  and  schools  and  built  miles  of  turnpike 
road.  He  died  at  Amherst  1869,  in  his  eighty-fourth 
year.  His  sons — William  S.,  Wellington  and  Edward 
S. — were  educated  at  Amherst  College. 

William  S.  Tyler  was  born  at  Harford  Septem- 
ber 2,  1810.  He  graduated  at  Amherst  College  in 
1830,  and  in  1831  became  a classical  teacher  in  Am- 
herst Academy.  He  afterward  graduated  at  Andover 
Theological  Seminary  and  was  licensed  to  preach  in 
1836;  but,  being  elected  professor  of  the  Latin  and 
Greek  languages  and  literature  in  Amherst  College 
about  that  time,  he  was  not  ordained  till  twenty-two 
years  later.  He  has  published  “ The  Germania  and 
Agricola  of  Tacitus,”  “The  Histories  of  Tacitus,” 
“Prize  Essay  on  Prayer  for  Colleges,”  “Plato’s 
Apology  and  Crito,”  “Life  of  Dr.  Henry  Lobdell,” 
“Theology  of  the  Greek  Poets,”  “ History  of  Amherst 
College,”  “Demosthenes  De  Corona,”  “The  Olyn- 
thiacs  and  Philippics  of  Demosthenes,”  besides  con- 
tributions to  papers.  He  is  undoubtedly  the  ablest 


HARFORD. 


717 


scholar  that  Susquehanna  County  has  ever  produced. 
Edward  S.,  his  brother,  had  charge  of  a school  in 
Newlork  for  a number  of  years.  Jabez  Tyler,  of 
the  original  family,  lived  on  Mount  Ararat,  in  Ararat 
township.  He  had  two  wives — Harriet  Wadsworth, 
and  Mary  Kingsbury.  Royal  and  Harriet  were  children 
by  his  first  wife;  Williston  K.,  who  died  in  the  army. 
Denison  and  Julius  were  the  second.  Mercy  Tyler 
was  the  wife  of  Obadiah  Carpenter,  a farmer  in  Har- 
ford. Their  children  were  Asa,  Penuel,  Amherst, 
Obadiah  L.  Mary  Tyler  was  the  wife  of  Cyril  Car- 
penter, of  Greenfield,  Lackawanna  County.  Tyler 
Carpenter,  one  of  their  sons,  lived  and  died  in  Har- 
ford. Polly,  wife  of  John  Carpenter,  lived  on  the 
farm  noAv  occupied  by  Harry  Van  Buskirk.  Nannie 
Tyler  was  the  wife  of  Thomas  Sweet;  Charlotte,  their 
daughter,  was  the  wife  of  Rev.  Lyman  Richardson. 
Achsah  Tyler  was  the  wife  of  Rev.  Whiting  Griswold. 
Their  son  Joab  went  South  and  Melissa  became  the 
wife  of  J.  C.  Gunn,  of  Honesdale,  Pa.  After  Mr. 
Griswold  died  Achsah  became  the  second  wife  of 
Jason  Torrey;  Rev.  David  Torrey  is  their  son.  Ex- 
Governor  C.  C.  Carpenter,  of  Iowa,  was  a grandson  of 
John  Carpenter,  Sr.,  who  married  Polly  Tyler. 

Caleb  Richardson, Sr.,  was  one  of  the  “Nine  Part- 
ners.” “He  was  a soldier  in  the  French  War  of 
176.5  and  had  traversed  the  Mohawk  Valley  before 
any  settlements  were  made  upon  it,  and  was  with 
General  Bradstreet  at  the  taking  of  Frontenac.  He 
was  a captain  in  the  War  of  the  Revolution,  had 
command  and  held  the  fort  where  the  Battery  is  now, 
in  New  York  City,  while  General  Washington  re- 
treated.” After  the  war  he  was  justice  of  the  peace 
in  his  native  town.  In  the  spring  of  1790  he  was  one 
of  the  nine  partners,  but  did  not  return  to  settle.  His 
son  came  in  1806  and  he  came  in  1808.  He  was  a 
very  capable  business  man.  His  wife,  Esther,  a sister 
of  Hosea  Tiffany,  died  in  1822,  aged  eighty-three, 
and  he  died  the  year  following,  aged  eighty-three. 
They  had  lived  together  sixty  years  and  are  buried 
in  the  Harford  burying  ground. 

Caleb  Richardson,  Jr.,  was  with  the  “ nine  part- 
ners ” when  they  entered  into  an  agreement  with 
Drinker’s  agent  for  the  original  purchase  of  land, 
and  not  being  one  of  the  purchasers,  he  witnessed 
the  agreement  on  a hemlock -stump  for  a writing- 
desk.  He  was  a justice  of  the  peace  and  deacon  in 
Attleboro’.  He  came  to  Harford  in  1806,  and  took 
up  land  outside  of  the  original  purchase,  about  one 
mile  from  Harford,  and  made  a clearing  on  what  has 
since  become  classic  grounds — tbe  site  of  the  old 
academy  and  present  orphans’  school.  In  1810  he 
was  elected  deacon  of  the  Harford  Church,  a position 
which  he  retained  until  his  death,  in  1838,  aged  sev- 
enty-six. In  1837  he  wrote  the  “ History  of  Nine 
Partners”  for  his  grandson,  C.  J.  Richardson.  He 
had  five  sons,—’  Rev.  Lyman  Richardson,  of  Harford 


Academy,  whose  children  were  Dr.  Edward  S.,  Rev. 
Willard,  N.  Maria,  E.  K.,  George  L.  and  Lyman  E. ; 
Deacon  Lee  Richardson,  died  in  1833  (he  had  five 
sons, — Dr.  William  L.,  of  Montrose,  Ebenezer,  Ste- 
phen J.,  Wellington  J.  and  C.  Judson  Richardson, 
of  Chicago) ; Caleb  Coy,  was  the  third  son  ; Preston, 
was  an  alumnus  of  Hamilton  College  (his  life-work 
was  principally  in  connection  with  the  academy)  ; 
Dr.  Braton  Richardson,  the  fifth  son,  was  a physician 
in  Brooklyn,  Pa. 

Robert  Follett,  one  of  the  “ nine  partners,”  lived 
where  Burt  Sherwood  now  lives.  His  .sons  were 
Robert,  Jr.,  Walter  and  Lyman.  Walter  was  a 
blacksmith,  a trade  which  he  learned  of  Freeman 
Peck.  He  worked  at  his  trade  in  Harford,  and  was 
coroner  in  1836  and  sheriff’  in  1839.  He  moved  to 
the  Arunah  Tiffany  place,  and  finally  went  into  a 
hotel.  He  died  in  Binghamton,  N.  Y.,  aged  nearly 
eighty ; being  free-hearted,  he  saved  nothing.  Lyman 
lived  in  Harford  until  1850,  when  he  moved  to  Lenox, 
near  the  southwest  corner  of  Harford,  where  he  lived 
with  his  son.  Captain  Albert  C.  Follett,  and  died 
there,  aged  seventy-three.  His  widow  is  living,  aged 
eighty-six,  and  has  been  blind,  so  that  she  could  not 
see  to  read  for  thirty  years,  and  twelve  years  so  that 
she  cannot  discern  light;  but  she  says  “she  is  thank- 
ful and  contented.” 

EzekieIj  Titus  (1769-1846)  was  one  in  a company 
of  nine  young  men  who  left  Attleboro’,  Mass.,  in  tbe 
early  spring  of  1790,  seeking  a home  in  a new  country, 
and  purchased  a tract  of  land  in  what  is  now  Har- 
ford, four  miles  long  and  one  mile  wide,  the  following 
May.  Titus,  with  the  rest,  returned  to  Massachusetts, 
and  the  same  fall,  1790,  came  back  equipped  with 
tools  to  begin  a settlement.  He  was  married  to  Lois 
Richardson  in  1786,  who  came  to  the  new  home  with 
her  children, — Leonard  (1787-1870),  Richardson 
(1791-1875),  Preston  (1793-1862)  and  Sophia  (1795), 
— in  the  fall  of  1795.  One  child,  Lydia  (1798-1868), 
was  born  here  three  years  after  their  arrival.  In  the 
division  of  this  land,  while  these  young  men  were  in 
Massachusetts  after  their  first  visit,  Ezekiel  Titus 
drew  a lot  just  north  of  the  present  location  of  the 
orphans’  school,  where  he  erected  his  log  house, 
which  was  ready  to  receive  his  family  on  their  arrival. 
The  mother  did  not  live  to  see  the  settlement  in  a 
very  advanced  condition,  but  died  in  1801.  The  sec- 
ond sofi,  Richardson,  lived  to  be  nearly  eighty-five, 
and  died  unmarried.  Preston  married  Tryphena 
Whitney,  resided  in  Harford  and  bad  four  sons  and 
four  daughters, — Crawford,  was  killed  at  a 4th  of 
July  celebration  at  Montrose  ; David,  depot  agent  at 
Nicholson;  Otis,  resides  at  Elk  Lake;  and  Edwin 
Titus,  succeeded  to  his  father’s  homestead ; Delila ; 
Clarissa ; Nancy  ; and  Lorancy.  The  eldest  daugh- 
ter, Sophia,  married  Michael  Scheiks,  and  resided  in 
Ohio,  and  Lydia  became  the  wife  of  Oramy  Seeley, 
of  Harford,  and  had  children, — Merritt,  a farmer  and 
carpenter  near  Harford  ; Emeliue,  widow  of  Freeman 


1 See  Harford  Academy. 


718 


HISTOllY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


l*eck,  resides  at  Scranton  ; Olive,  wife  of  Edwin 
Clinton,  of  Gibson;  Brayton,  of  Kansas  ; and  Charles 
Seeley,  of  Syracuse.  Ezekiel  Titus’  second  wife, 
Betsey  Jones,  had  no  issue.  By  his  third  wife,  Betsey 
Jeffers,  a daughter  of  Nathaniel  Jeffers,  he  had  chil- 
dren,— Ezekiel  Prosper,  settled  in  Ohio;  Albert,  of 
Hopbottoni ; and  William  Ira  Titus  (adopted  as  Car- 
jienter),  of  Harford.  Ilis  fourth  wife  was  Clarissa, 
the  widow  of  Jonas  Halstead,  of  Benton,  Pa.,  by 
whom  he  had  no  issue.  Leonard,  the  eldest  son  of 
Ezekiel  Titus,  married  Elizabeth  JIaxon  (1787-1870), 
a daughter  of  Nathan  and  Nancy  Maxon,  who  set- 


tled in  Harford  from  Rhode  Island  in  1800.  She  was 
a member  of  the  Free-Will  Baptist  Church  at  Loomis 
Lake,  a woman  of  great  vigor  and  persevering  indus- 
try, even  in  her  old  age,  and  at  eighty-one  spun  thir- 
teen or  fourteen  pounds  of  wool  during  the  summer, 
aud  knit  five  pairs  of  socks.  In  1819  Ezekiel  and 
Leonard  erected  the  present  residence  on  the  prop- 
erty, situate  on  the  road  leading  from  Harford  to 
Kingsley’s  Station,  which  has  been  the  home  resi- 
dence of  the  family  since.  In  this  house  Ezekiel 
Titus  died,  was  buried  at  Harford,  and  Leonard  spent 
the  remainder  of  his  life.  Leonard  was  a quiet  aiul 
unostentatious  citizen,  a man  of  good  morals,  honor- 
able in  his  dealings  and  exemplary  in  his  habits.  He 
never  sought  any  office;  was  a Democrat  in  early 
life,  but  afterwards  a Republican  and  a supporter  of 
the  Union  cause  during  the  war.  Their  children  are 
Sylvenas  (1812-78),  resided  aud  died  in  Lenox;  Al- 


zina  (1815-52),  was  the  wife  of  Griswold  O.  Loomis, 
of  Lenox;  Huldah  (1817) ; Charles  B.  (1821) ; Sarah 
C.  (1823);  and  Anna  M.  (1825).  The  last  three  re- 
side on  the  homestead,  and  contidbute  the  engraving 
of  their  father  to  this  work,  all  being  unmarried. 

The  Thacher  Family.— The  name  is  undoubt- 
edly of  French  origin.  Among  the  ancient  parlia- 
mentary writs,  as  early  as  Henry  VIII.  and  earlier,  it 
is  found  sjtelled  Le  Thaccher  and  Le  Thachere. 

The  correct  spelling  is  followed  in  this  sketch. 
The  evidence  on  this  point  is  abundant  and  conclu- 
sive. Good  usage  is  on  the  same  side.  About  seventy 
years  ago  “ t ” was  interpolated  by  a portion  of  the 
family  in  Harford.  A few  in  other  localities,  and  at 
various  times  have  done  the  same.  Ninety  per  cent, 
of  the  family  in  the  United  States  adhere  to  the 
proper  form. 

There,  are  Thatchers  in  New  England,  New  Jersey 
and  Canada  who  are  not  of  the  race.  This  makes  the 
spelling  im[iortant.  The  name  Thacher  is  very  com- 
moti  in  England, 

In  1883  it  was  discovered,  in  the  Hugo  manuscript 
in  the  British  Museum,  that  a Rev.  Peter  Thacher 
was  vicar  of  the  parish  of  Queen  Camel,  Somerset 
County,  Englanil,  from  1574  to  1624.  There  are  strong 
reasons  for  believing  that  he  was  the  father  of  Rev. 
Peter  Thacher,  of  Salisbury,  Wilts  County,  England, 
and  of  Anthony  Thacher. 

The  first-named  son  was  vicar  of  the  parish  of  Mil- 
ton  Clevedon  six  years,  then  rector  of  the  Church  of 
St.  Edmunds,  Salisbury,  eighteen  years,  dying  in  1640. 
His  son  Thomas  came  to  America  in  1635  with  his 
i uncle,  Antony.  From  these  two  the  Thachers  in 
! America  are  descended. 

This  son  became  first  minister  of  Old  South  Church, 
Boston.  Rev.  Thomas  Thacher  was  eminent  in  piety 
and  intellectual  attainments.  Died  1678.  His  son. 
Rev.  Peter  Thacher,  Milton  (near  Boston),  was  the 
father  of  Rev.  Peter  Thachei',  Middleborough,  Mass., 
and  grandfather  of  Rev.  Peter  Thacher,  Attleborough, 
Mass.,  “ faithful  and  beloved  pastor  of  the  Second 
Congregational  Church.”  His  descendants  to  the 
present  time  are  proud  to  trace  their  lineage  to  him. 
Born  1716,  died  1785. 

To  him  were  born  ten  children,  viz. ; Mercy  (Tyler), 
Peter,  Thomas,  Obadiah,  John,  Mary,  Moses,  Samuel, 
Bethiah  (Blanding)  and  Nathan.  The  seventh  and 
eighth  were  two  of  the  “ Nine  Partners  ” who  came  to 
Harford  in  1790.  Obadiah  and  John  followed  in 
1795. 

The  children  of  Moses  were  Rev.  Washington 
Thacher  and  Sarah.  The  children  of  Samuel  were 
Daniel  C.,  Peter,  Enos,  Samuel,  Eliza,  Mary  (Guile), 
Betsy  and  Harriet  (Thacher).  Children  of  Obadiah 
were  Elizabeth  (Greenwood),  Peter,  Stephen,  Thomas, 
Rev.  Moses,  Hannah  (Pride),  Rev.  Tyler  Thacher 
and  Philena  (Hotchkin).  Children  of  John  were 
Sally  (Tyler),  Nathan,  John,  Myra  (Stephens), Daniel, 


•I- 


HARFORD. 


Y19 


Bcthiah  (Ellsworth),  Rebeccah,  Unley,  Amanda 
(Greenwood)  and  Seth  AViHiston  Thaeher. 

Ot  the  children  of  Moses,  Samuel  and  Obadiah, 
eighteen  in  number,  all  are  dead;  none  of  their  chil- 
dren reside  in  Harford. 

All  the  sons  of  Jcdin  remained  in  Harford  the 
greater  portion  of  their  lives — three  of  them  all  their 
lives.  One  still  survives,  SethAVh,  aged  eighty-two. 

Only  three  grandsons  hearing  the  family  name  are 
now  in  Harford,  viz.:  Russel  R.,  Ebenezer  B.  and 
Azor;  only  three  great-grandsons, — Wallace  L.,  Daniel 
B.  and  Emerson. 

Of  all  the  Thachers  coming  into,  remaining  or  finally 
leaving  Harford,  hut  twenty-six  jiersons  having  the 
blood  in  their  veins  are  now  residents.  Four  great- 
great-grandsons  and  eight  great-great-granddaughters 
are  in  this  total — the  eleventh  generation  from  Rev. 
Peter  Thaeher,  of  Oueen  Camel,  England — all  the 
links  in  this  descent  having  been  established  without 
doubt  long  years,  save  the  first,  and  covering  a period 
of  three  hundred  and  forty  years. 

John  Thaeher  was  one  of  the  seven  members  of  the 
Congregational  Church,  Harford,  at  the  time  of  its 
organization.  Born  1759,  died  1841. 

In  addition  to  the  three  ministers  already  named, 
Hannah  Thaeher  Pride  and  Philena  Thaeher  Hotch- 
kin  became  missionaries  to  the  Choctaws.  Philena 
atid  Eliza  were  teachers.  On  the  roll  of  the  Congre- 
gational Church  are  three  Deacon  Thachers.  Sixty 
persons  bearing  the  family  name  stand  on  its  roll, 
and  probably  as  many  more,  if  we  trace  the  blood  into 
other  families.  Of  the  numerous  descendants  of  Rev. 
Peter  Thaeher,  Attleborough,  comprising  five  genera- 
ations,  few  have  failed  to  comply  with  the  claims  of 
God.  The  promises  of  Scripture  as  to  faithful  service 
from  generation  to  generation  have  been  abundantly 
fulfilled.  The  seed  of  the  godly  have  followed  in  their 
steps. 

Two  of  the  Rev.  Peter  Thachers  had  the  Master’s  de- 
gree, Another  branch  had  a D.D.  Thomas  Antony 
Thaeher  was  an  honored  and  beloved  professor  at  Yale, 
lately  deceased.  Several  judges,  mayors.  State  and  na- 
tional legislators  stand  in  the  list.  A number  were 
graduates  of  Harvard  College.  Oxenbridge  Thaeher,  an 
attorney  of  eminence,  was  author  of  “ The  Sentiments 
of  a British-Ainerican,”  appearing  at  same  time  with 
writings  of  James  Otis,  1764.  These  two  men  were 
co-laborers  with  Samuel  Adams,  patriot. 

The  coat  of  arms  of  the  family  bore  the  motto: 
“ Cedant  avina  togee,  concedat  laurea  Unguce  ” — (Let 
military  authority  yield  to  the  civil  power;  let  the 
laurel  yield  to  eloquence.) 

Deacon  Freeman  Tinoley. — Elkanah  Tingley 
(1760-1838),  son  of  Thomas  and  Martha  Tingley, 
came  from  Attleborough,  Mass.,  with  his  family  in 
1795,  and  located  on  two  hundred  acres  of  land  ad- 
joining the  Nine  Partners’  settlement.  His  first  wife, 
a Miss  Aldrich,  died  in  1790,  leaving  five  children, — 
Darius  (1779-1839),  father  of  Freeman  ; Patty  (1782- 


1862),  wife  of  Warren  Follett ; Dolly,  1784,  wife  of 
Daniel  Chalker,  of  Choconut,  died  in  Ohio;  Benjamin 
(1785-1849)  died  in  Dundaff;  Chloe  (1788-1810)  mar- 
ried Thomas  Tiffany,  Jr.,  of  Harford.  By  his  second 
wife,  Keziah  Mason  (1767-1805),  he  had  five  chil- 
dren,— Daniel,  1791,  a Baptist  deacon,  died  in  Jack- 
son  ; Anna,  1792,  wife  of  Joseph  Yeomans,  of  Brook- 
lyn ; Milton,  1794,  resided  in  Jackson  ; Charles  (1796- 
1862)  resided  in  Harford;  and  Mason,  born  in  1799, 
a Baptist  deacon  of  Dimock.  The  last  two  of  these 
children  were  born  in  Harford  (then  Nicholson).  El- 
kanah erected  a log  house  on  his  woodland  tract, 
and,  with  the  assistance  of  his  sons,  cleared  a large 
|)art  of  it  and  brought  its  original  soil  into  a good 
state  of  cultivation.  He  supj)lanted  his  log  house 
with  a frame  one  in  1808,  the  present  residence  of  his 
grandson.  Freeman.  The  property  has  remained  in 
the  family  since,  a ]>eriod  of  ninety-three  years.  His 
third  wife  was  a Miss  Hall,  who  died  without  issue. 
He  was  a member  of  the  old  Baptist  Church  of  Har- 
ford, and  it  is  believed  that  he  was  among  the  or- 
ganizers of  that  church.  His  eldest  son,  Darius,  mar- 
ried Sabra  Yeomans,  who  died  in  1858.  She  was  a 
daughter  of  Samuel  Yeomans,  who  settled  in  Brook- 
lyn about  1804,  a woman  noted  for  her  knowledge  of 
dairying  and  cheese-making,  and  a member  of  the 
early  Methodist  class  of  Brooklyn. 

Darius  settled  on  fifty  acres  of  the  homestead,  in 
time  added  thereto  other  real  estate,  was  a large 
farmer,  dairyman  and  cheese-maker,  and  marketed  the 
Ijroducts  of  his  dairy  largely  outside  the  county. 
He  was  drafted  in  the  War  of  1812  and  went  with  the 
troops  as  far  as  Danville,  but,  jjeace  being  declared, 
he  returned  home.  He  was  a deacon  in  the  Harford 
Baptist  Church  and  remained  a member  here  until 
the  disbandment  of  the  church,  in  1841,  when  he 
united  with  the  Baptist  Church  in  West  Lenox. 

His  children  are  Calista,  horn  in  1807,  the  widow 
of  Luke  Bennett,  of  Lenox,  resides  in  South  Gibson  ; 
Naaman,  1808,  succeeded  to  a part  of  the  homestead, 
now  resides  with  his  children  in  Harford;  I’hilena, 
1810,  was  the  wife  of  Hazard  Powers,  of  Gibson  ; 
Freeman,  born  July  20,  1811  ; Truman,  1813,  resides 
on  a farm  contiguous  to  the  homestead ; Alnian, 
1814,  a farmer  in  the  same  neighborhood;  Melia, 
1817,  was  the  wife  of  Rufus  Russell,  died  at  Tunk- 
hannock  ; Sabra  C.,  1819,  wife  of  Timothy  Carpen- 
ter, of  South  Gibson  ; and  Sally  Charlotte,  1823,  was 
the  wife  of  Joseph  Oakley,  of  Brooklyn. 

Freeman  Tingley  had  the  usual  opportunities,  in 
common  with  the  other  children,  for  an  education 
from  books  in  his  boyhood,  and  continued  at  school 
during  the  winter  terms  until  he  reached  his  major- 
ity. At  that  time  his  father  gave  him  one  hundred 
and  thirty-six  acres  of  wild  land,  about  one  mile  from 
the  homestead,  off  which  he  began  clearing  the  forest 
and  making  a home  for  himself.  In  1834  he  built  a 
small  frame  house  thereon,  and  the  same  year  married 
Julina  Tingley,  who  was  horn  IMarch  24, 1816,  in  Gib- 


720 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


son,  :i  iliiugliter  of  Benjainin  and  Betsey  Millard 
(1771-1857)  Tingley.  Her  lather  was  the  son  of  El- 
kanah  Tingley,  herein  noticed,  and  her  mother  was 
the  daughter  of  Solomon  Millard,  a soldier  of  the 
Revolution,  a settler  of  Lenox  prior  to  1797,  and 
one  of  the  most  enterprising  men  of  the  county.  This 
Benjamin  Tingley  was  twice  married,  and  reared  a 
large  family  of  children.  Freeman  Tingley  had 
learned  at  home  that  industry  and  economy  are  neces- 
sary to  success,  and  for  twenty  years  he  continued 
his  residence  on  this  place,  cleared  off  some  seventy- 
five  acres  of  the  timber  with  his  own  hands,  tilled  the 
soil  and  fenced  its  fields,  and  made  a comfortable 
home.  In  this  work  he  was  supported  by  his  devoted 
wife,  who  did  her  part  well  and  was  ever  ready  to 
e.\tend  a hearty  welcome  to  their  friends  and  neigh- 
bors, and  whose  hospitality  was  always  commensu- 
rate with  her  means.  Shortly  after  their  marriage 
this  couple  united  with  the  Baptist  Church  at  West 
Lenox,  and  they  have  brought  tins  influence  of  a 
Christian  life  to  bear  upon  the  lives  of  their  children. 
For  many  years  he  was  superintendent  of  the  Sunday- 
school  and  an  earnest  worker  among  the  young. 
Since  1840  Mr.  Tingley  has  been  a deacon  of  this 
church,  and  Deacon  Tingley  is  known  by  all  as  a man 
of  the  highest  honor ; in  his  life-work,  of  correct 
habits ; a supporter  of  temperance  reform  and  of 
every  worthy  work.  He  was  one  of  the  building 
committee  in  1865  and  gave  his  time  and  money  to 
erect  the  West  Lenox  Baptist  Church,  and,  after  it 
was  burned,  in  1876,  he,  at  the  meeting  for  rebuild- 
ing the  church,  in  1878,  accepted  the  office  of  treas- 
urer. He  has  served  his  township  officially  as  super- 
visor and  school  director.  In  1854  Deacon  Tingley 
settled  on  the  old  homestead  of  his  grandfather,  where 
he  has  since  remodeled  the  house,  erected  good  out- 
buildings, and  made  the  place  to  show,  in  its  various 
a])pointments,  the  work  of  a thorough-going  farmer. 
Their  children  are  Frederick,  born  in  1837,  is  settled 
on  the  first  homestead  of  his  father,  and  married  Ella 
Cox,  of  Harford ; Louisa  Eveline,  1839,  wife  of  Abram 
Eaton,  a farmer  and  merchant  now  residing  at  Dun- 
nings, Lackawanna  County;  Cordelia  Gertrude 
(1845-85),  was  the  wife  of  Oscar  R.  Pease,  of  Shultz- 
ville,  above  county ; Zeli)ha  Philena,  1848,  wife  of 
Joseph  Treanor,  of  La  Grace,  Dakota;  Emily  Jose- 
phine, 1851,  wife  of  John  W.  Tallnian,  of  West 
Lenox;  Mason  Freeman,  1857,  married  Ida  A.  Hilly- 
gus,  of  Vestal  Centre,  Broome  County,  N.  Y. ; and 
Heber  Darius,  1862,  married  Anna  J.  Chalker,  of 
Freedom,  Ghio,  the  granddaughter  of  Daniel  and  Dolly 
(Tingley)  Chalker,  before  mentioned.  The  last  two 
sons  farm  the  present  homestead. 

Laban  Capron  and  family  came  in  1794.  He  was 
called  Major  Capron,  and  was  one  of  the  first  Board 
of  County  Commissioners  for  Susquehanna  County. 
His  sons  were  Wheaton,  Amos  and  Laban  Capron, 
Jr.  Joab,  a deaf  and  dumb  man,  is  a son  of  Whea- 
ton’s. One  day  when  he  and  his  mother  were  alone 


in  the  cottage  it  took  fire.  They  were  in  the  cham- 
ber and  the  stairway  was  on  fire.  He  escaped  from 
the  window  but,  being  a mere  boy,  was  unable  to 
rescue  his  mother,  and  being  dumb,  he  was  unable  to 
shout  for  help ; thus  was  he  compelled  to  see  her 
burned  to  death  without  being  able  to  render  any  as- 
sistance. Joab  resides  with  Emerson  Capron,  a son 
of  Laban,  Jr.,  who  lives  near  Richardson  Mills 
School-house.  Orlen  Capron,  brother  of  Laban, 
moved  to  Ohio.  Wing  Capron  was  a Baptist  deacon. 
Laban  Capron,  Esq.,  died  1827,  aged  fifty-six.  Dr. 
Comfort  Capron,  the  first  physician  at  Harford,  died 
in  1800,  aged  fifty-six.  He  was  the  father  of  Laban 
and  Orlen  Capron,  and  a surgeon  in  the  Revolution- 
ary army.  He  came  in  1794  and  appears  to  have 
been  the  second  physician  in  the  county.  He  has 
been  followed  at  Harford  by  Drs.  Luce  and  Horace 
Griswold.  “ Mrs.  Mercy  Tyler  used  to  ride  on  horse- 
back for  miles  around  to  visit  the  sick.”  One  time, 
when  the  snow  was  deep  so  that  she  could  not  ride 
her  horse,  four  stalwart  men  bore  her  on  their  shoul- 
ders to  the  house  of  her  patient.  ^ Dr.  Streeter,  who 
practiced  here  from  1812  for  half  a century,  and  died 
at  an  advanced  age ; Dr.  E.  N.  Loomis,  an  eclectic, 
lived  two  miles  west  of  the  village ; Dr.  Clark  Dick- 
erman,  from  1832  till  1853;  Dr.  C.  C.  Edwards; 
Alonzo  M.Tiflany,  son  of  Hosea  Tiffany,  Jr.,  died  in 
South  Gibson;  G.  N.  Gamble;  Kent;  H.  Penny- 
packer;  Win.  R.  Blakeslee;  Galbraith  ; and  Lowrie. 

Obadiah  Carpenter  and  sons,  Obadiah  and  Elias, 
came  in  1795,  and  purchased  two  lots,  or  three  hun- 
dred and  twenty  acres,  of  the  original  Nine  Partners’ 
purchase,  of  Mr.  Drinker.  They  built  a log  house 
about  ten  or  fifteen  rods  from  the  present  residence 
of  Elias  Carpenter  and  cleared  up  a farm.  Obadiah 
Carpenter,  Sr.,  was  one  of  the  first  deacons  in  the 
Congregational  Church.  Elias  had  one  hundred  and 
sixty  acres  where  they  first  built,  and  Obadiah 
had  the  other  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  adjoining. 

Elias  married  Polly  Hawley  and  resided  all  his  life 
on  the  homestead.  He  was  assessor  and  one  of  the 
first  school  directors  under  the  new  school  law. 
Payson  Kingsbury,  Walter  Follet  and  John  Blanding 
were  the  other  directors.  The  directors  at  that  time 
examined  teachers  as  to  their  qualifications  and  at- 
tended to  hiring  also.  Elias  N.  Carpenter  resides  on 
the  old  homestead.  Ira,  the  oldest  son,  lived  where 
his  daughter  Polly,  wife  of  John  Tiffany,  lives.  Oba- 
diah lived  where  Walter  Wilmarth  now  lives.  Am- 
herst Carjjenter,  one  of  his  sons,  was  a man  of  some 
[)roniinence.  He  was  born  and  reared  upon  the  farm 
where  he  resided  all  his  life.  He  was  public-spirited 
and  filled  nearly  every  office  of  trust  in  the  township. 
He  was  county  commissioner  in  1853,  colonel  of  mili- 
tia and  brigade  inspector.  He  was  one  of  the  orig- 
inal subscribers  in  the  Agricultural  Society,  and  was 
general  superintendent  at  the  annual  fairs.  He  was 


1 See  medical  chapter. 


HARFORD. 


121 


a member  of  the  Congregational  Church  and  sexton 
for  twenty-three  years.  Penuel  Carpenter  resided  in 
the  village,  and  was  a merchant  and  cattle-buyer. 

Thomas  Wilmarth  located  in  the  west  neighbor- 
hood. His  children  were  Thomas,  Perry,  David, 
Sewel,  Peddie  and  Sally.  Walter  Wilmarth,  brother 
of  Thomas,  had  a family, — La  Fayette,  George  and 
Willard. 

Ira  Stearns  came  to  Harford  early  and  afterward 
stopped  in  Mount  Pleasant  with  his  father.  He  came 
again,  however,  and  purchased  of  David  Lyon.  Sam- 
uel Lyon,  his  brother,  resided  on  the  place  adjoining. 
Ira  Stearns’  wife  was  Maria  Plum.  Their  children 
were  Edwin,  who  died  in  Wilkes-Barre  ; Charles,  who 
went  to  Oregon ; Alvin,  who  resides  on  the  home- 
stead ; and  Oscar,  who  died  in  the  army ; George, 
Ansel,  Maria,  Amanda,  Mary,  Alonzo  and  Henry. 

Captain  Eliab  Farrar  came  to  Gibson  in  1804.  He 
married  Jemima  Tiffany,  daughter  of  Noah  Tiffany 
and  resided  a number  of  years  in  “ Kentuck,  ” near 
Arunah  Tiffany,  where  he  cleared  up  a place.  He  re- 
moved to  Harford  about  1817  and  bought  the  Sturde- 
vant  place.  He  died  in  1858,  aged  eighty-live ; his 
wife  died  in  1874,  aged  nearly  ninety-two.  Their 
children  were  Lucina,  a school-teacher  in  Susque- 
hanna and  Wayne  Counties,  who  died  in  1873,  aged 
sixty-seven  ; Lorin  occupies  the  homestead ; his  wife 
was  Mary  L.  Chandler.  They  have  a family  of  four 
girls,  nearly  all  of  whom  have  been  teachers  in  the 
orphan  school,  and  two  boys.  Emeline,  wife  of  Rev. 
E.  0.  Ward,  of  Bethany  ; Henrietta,  wife  of  Lorin 
Eastman  ; Eliab  lives  in  Bradford  ; Daniel  M.,  stage 
proprietor  at  Harford  ; Hannah  C.,  wife  of  R.  M. 
Grenell,  of  Honesdale,  Pennsylvania  ; Mary  C.,  wife 
of  John  Godding;  Clarissa,  wife  of  D.  P.  Roe — were 
the  other  children  of  Eliab  Farrar. 

Francis  Richardson  came  to  Harford  from  Mass- 
achusetts about  1825.  He  located  on  a cross-road 
going  towards  the  turnpike,  from  the  road  to  North 
Harford,  about  two  miles  from  the  village.  He  was 
the  first  in  that  section,  and  went  into  a wilderness 
and  cleared  up  a farm  with  the  assistance  of  his  boys, 
two  of  whom  had  preceded  him  and  erected  a log 
cabin  twelve  feet  by  twelve.  Into  this  he  moved  with 
his  wife  and  twelve  children.  They  purchased  one 
hundred  acres  at  first  and  added  another  one  hundred 
afterward.  The  children  were  Mehitable,  Lavinia, 
Lois,  Silence,  Laura,  Richard  (lived  and  died  on  the 
homestead).  Francis,  Thomas,  Melloid,  John  and 
Joseph  were  the  other  sons.  Mehitable  was  the  wife  of 
John  Tenant;  Lavinia,  wife  of  ZerahVery;  Lois, 
wife  of  Peter  Dunn ; Lauira,  wife  of  George 
Lindsey,  who  took  the  second  place  owned  hy 
Francis  Richardson,  his  father-in-law,  and  is  one 
of  the  enterprising  farmers  of  the  township.  Mr. 
Joslyn  was  one  of  Richardson’s  first  neighbors ; he 
soon  returned  to  Massachussetts.  George  Tiiigley 
resides  on  that  place  now.  Thomas  Tingley  was  his 
next  neighbor.  Peter  Thacher  resided  on  the  farm 

46 


now  owned  by  Robert  Alexander.  Austin  Ellsworth 
lived  up  by  Tingley  Lake,  where  Mr.  Savage  lives. 
The  first  school  in  the  neighborhood  was  taught  by 
Elenor  Farrar  in  Austin  Ellsworth’s  barn.  Noah 
Fuller  also  resided  near  Tingley  lake. 

Hon.  Henry  Warren  Williams,  son  of  Peter 
Williams,  was  horn  in  Harford  July  30,  1830.  He 
received  his  education  at  the  common  schools  and  at 
Harford  Academy  and  commenced  to  read  law  with 
Little  & Chase  at  Montrose.  In  May,  1852,  he  re- 
moved to  Wellsboro’  Tioga  County,  Pennsylvaina 
and  completed  his  studies  under  the  direction  of  Hon. 
John  W.  Guernsey,  and  was  admitted  to  the  Tioga 
County  bar  January  term,  1854.  He  practiced  law  at 
Wellsboro’  until  1865,  when  he  was  appointed  ad- 
ditional law  judge  of  the  Fourth  Judicial  District,  at 
the  age  of  thirty-four.  He  resigned  this  position 
and  was  elected  president  judge  in  1871,  and  unan- 
imously re-elected,  having  the  united  support  of  all 
parties,  in  1881.  He  was  one  of  the  seven  lawyers 
appointed  by  the  Governor  to  draft  laws  to  carry  in- 
to effect  the  provisions  of  the  Constitution  of  1883. 
He  was  also  a lay  delegate  to  the  Pan  Presbyterian 
Council  at  Edinburgh.  He  has  been  on  the  bench 
twenty-two  years  and  has  the  reputation  of  being  one 
of  the  ablest  and  fairest  judges  in  the  State.  For  the 
last  two  years  there  has  not  been  a writ  of  error  tak- 
en to  the  Supreme  Court  from  his  district.  He  is  the 
Republican  nominee  for  justice  of  the  Supreme 
Court  to  succeed  Judge  Mercur,  who  died  in  June, 
1887. 

Harford  Village. — Harford  village  is  located  in 
a hollow  amid  the  green  hills,  once  forest-crowned, 
but  now  generally  cultivated  and  planted  with  orch- 
ards or  made  into  meadows  and  pastures.  The  vil- 
lage contains  about  two  hundred  and  fifty  inhabitants, 
two  churches,  four  stores,  a school,  tannery,  steam 
saw-mill,  two  wagon-shops,  a blacksmith-shop,  har- 
ness-shop, millinery-store,  a post-office,  with  two 
daily  mails  and  annually  has  the  best  Agricultural 
Fair  in  Susquehanna  County. 

Stores. — John  Seymour  brought  the  first  goods  into 
Harford,  in  1809 ; he  sold  out  to  Joab  Tyler  and  Rev. 
Whiting  Griswold,  his  brother-in-law,  whose  ill 
health  obliged  him  to  leave  the  ministry.  The  store 
was  near  the  Streeter  place.  Tyler  succeeded  this 
firm,  and  was  alone  for  a while,  followed  by  Tyler 
& Seymour.  Professor  Tyler,  son  of  Joab  Tyler, 
says:  “From  my  earliest  recollections,  Tyler  & Gris- 
wold, Tyler,  Carpenter  & Co.,  or  Tyler,  Seymour  & 
Co.,  used  to  keep  a variety-store  in  the  house  on  the 
other  side  of  the  brook,  next  to  Dr.  Streeter’s.  And 
among  other  good  things  of  every  sort  which  they 
used  to  sell  there,  they  kept,  of  course,  a variety  of 
good  or  bad  liquors,  wine,  brandy,  rum,  whiskey  and 
I know  not  what  besides.”  It  was  John  Seymour 
that  was  in  partnership  with  Deacon  Tyler.  Saxa 
Seymour  followed  them  in  business,  and  was  the 
leading  merchant  in  Harford  for  many  years.  B.  F 


722 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


& Abram  Eaton,  Moxley,  Harding  & Blanding,  are 
remembered  as  having  been  engaged  in  the  mercan- 
tile business  a sliort  time.  Aaron  Greenwood  built 
what  is  now  known  as  the  Granger  Hall,  about  1840, 
and  commenced  store-keeping.  George  G.  Pride  suc- 
ceeded him  about  1846.  Zerah  Very  and  C.  S.  John- 
ston purchased  Pride’s  stock  of  goods  and  commenced 
business  in  1849.  They  occupied  that  building  two 
years,  when  Mr.  Very  purchased  the  property,  where 
he  lived  the  remainder  of  his  life,  and  fitted  up  a 
room,  which  had  been  used  as  a kitchen  of  the  hotel, 
for  a store.  Very  & Johnston  removed  their  goods 
there,  and  did  business  in  partnership  until  1855, 
when  .lohnston  built  tbe  store  now  occupied  by  his 
son,  C.  H.  Johnston.  In  1865  Johnston  sold  his 
goods  to  Tiffany  and  his  store  to  Jones,  Babcock  & 
Tanner.  Jones,  Babcock  & Tanner  did  business  to- 
gether until  1870,  when  Babcock  retired ; and  in  1872 
Jones  bought  out  and  continued  until  he  died,  in 
1879.  C.  H.  Johnston  has  carried  on  the  business 
since  at  this  stand. 

Mr.  Very  continued  alone  after  Johnston  left  him 
in  1855,  until  1865,  when  his  sons-in-law,  T.  J. 
Carr  and  H.  N.  Avery,  succeeded  him.  After  two 
years  Mr.  Very  purchased  Avery’s  interest,  which  he 
sold,  in  1870,  to  H.  S.  Sweet  and  C.  S.  Hallstead. 
Carr  finally  purchased  their  interests,  and  closed  out 
the  business  in  1877.  There  was  a store  as  early  as 
1840  where  Dr.  Blakeslee  resides.  The  house  was 
built  by  Russell  Tuttle,  who  was  succeeded  in  the 
mercantile  business  by  Dexter  Sibley  and  Peter  Car- 
penter. The  latter  became  sole  owner,  and  sold  the 
goods  to  Edwin  T.  Tiffany,  in  1860.  Mr.  Tiffany 
bought  Johnston’s  goods  in  1865,  and  in  1867  built 
the  store  which  has  been  occupied  by  his  sons,  H.  J. 
and  Lee,  since  1883.  Russell  R.  Thacher  & Son, 
Daniel  B.,  commenced  harness  business  in  1867.  In 
1877  they  established  a grocery  business.  E.  M.  Os- 
borne also  established  a grocery  business  about  the 
same  time. 

Zerah  Very. — His  parents,  Asa  Very  (1776-1829) 
and  Chloe  Rexford  Very  (1774-1842),  came  from  Dan- 
ville, Vt.,  in  1814,  and  settled  on  a farm  two  miles 
north  of  Harford  village,  on  the  turnpike  leading  to 
New  Milford,  where  they  spent  the  remainder  of  their 
lives.  They  had  children  as  follows:  Betsey,  wife  of 
Aaron  Mogg,  of  Waverly,  Pa. ; Russell  resided  near 
Eairdale,  this  county,  and  there  died;  Orrin  died  in 
Michigan ; Olney  H.  resides  at  Montrose  Depot,  aged 
eighty-three  years ; Zerah,  born  August  10,  1805,  at 
Danville,  Vt.,  died  at  Harford,  December  9,  1886; 
Cyrena,  widow  of  Judson  Mulneaux,  who  was  killed 
in  the  late  Rebellion,  resides  at  Washington,  D.  C. 
Lorinda  was  the  wife  of  Samuel  Cornell,  of  New  Mil- 
ford ; Emily  died  a young  woman ; and  Dr.  Loren 
Very,  who  practiced  medicine  in  Centreville,  Louisi- 
ana, where  he  died.  Zerah  Very,  a merchant  at 
Harford  from  1849  until  about  1870,  was  nine  years 
old  when  his  parents  came  to  this  county.  He  at- 


tended the  home  district  school  in  boyhood,  and  for 
two  winters  was  a pupil  at  the  Harford  district 
school,  where  he  diligently  applied  himself  and  ob- 
tained a fair  English  education,  to  which  he  added  his 
practical  ideas  obtained  at  home.  With  such  a start, 
upon  reaching  his  majority  he  set  about  making  a 
competence  for  himself  and  a home  for  his  family.  In 
1828  he  married  Levina  Richardson  (1807-71),  who 
was  born  at  Rehoboth,  Mass.,  and  came  here  with 
her  parents,  Francis  (1768-1850)  and  Mehetabel  Puf- 
fer (1778-1854)  Richardson.  From  this  time  until 
1849  he  engaged  in  farming  on  the  homestead,  and  by 
industry  and  judicious  management  he  was  enabled 
to  begin  mercantile  business  in  Harford  free  of  debt. 
For  two  years  he  hired  a store  opposite  the  Congrega- 
tional Church,  and  in  the  meantime  remodeled  and 
built  additions  to  the  property  he  had  bought  of  Saxa 
Seymour,  across  from  the  present  post-oflSce.  His 
store  was  kept  in  the  front  part,  and  he  resided  in  the 
rear  part  of  the  building.  Here  he  carried  on  general 
mercantile  business  for  upwards  of  twenty  years,  and 
was  succeeded  by  his  sons-in-law.  During  the  latter 
years  of  his  life  he  did  very  little,  except  to  attend  to 
his  own  private  business  and  to  the  farm  which  he 
still  owned. 

Mr.  Very  was  known  in  the  community  as  a man 
of  strict  integrity  in  all  his  business  relations,  pos- 
sessed of  a high  sense  of  honor,  a man  of  honest  mo- 
tives and  unostentatious  ways.  He  never  sought  the 
emoluments  of  office  nor  positions  of  public  trust,  yet 
in  every  way  worthy  and  qualified,  he  discharged 
whatever  duty  was  placed  upon  him  by  his  fellow- 
citizens  with  fidelity.  Both  himself  and  wife  im- 
pressed their  children  with  the  value  of  home,  and 
made  it  attractive  by  their  presence  and  familiarity 
with  them. 

Their  children  are  Eleanor,  born  in  1829;  Leonora 
(1832-65),  the  wife  of  Thomas  J.  Carr,  died  in  Har- 
ford, leaving  children, — Susan  L.  (wife  of  Charles  S. 
Edwards,  of  Scranton),  Ida  May,  Anne  E.  and  Clar- 
ence E.,  who  died  at  six  years  of  age;  Eudora,  born 
in  1835,  the  widow  of  Hezekiah  Avery,  of  New  Mil- 
ford, who  died  at  Union,  N.  Y.,  in  1869,  leaving  one 
daughter,  Elfrida,  the  wife  of  C.  D.  Brown,  of  New 
Milford;  and  Emmerancy  Very  (1839),  who  died  at  the 
age  of  four  years. 

Mr.  Very  married  Mrs.  Cyrena  Green,  in  1872,  for 
his  second  wife,  who  died  in  1881.  She  was  a sister 
of  Major  Asa  Hammond,  of  New  Milford.  His  third 
wife,  who  survives  him,  was  Mrs.  Floranda  Hartt,  a 
daughter  of  Richard  Richardson,  who  resides  in  Har- 
ford. The  only  surviving  daughters  of  Mr.  Very  suc- 
ceed to  the  farm  property  and  the  store  property  in 
the  village. 

Henry  M.  Jones  was  born  in  the  township  of  Har- 
ford May  24,  1830,  and  was  the  only  son  who  grew  to 
man’s  estate  of  Austin  (1788-1861)  and  Polly  T.  Car- 
penter (1798-1870)  Jones,  who  were  married  in  1824, 
and  resided  on  East  Hill.  He  was  educated  at  Har- 


HAEFORD. 


723 


ford  Academy  under  the  eminent  teacher,  Rev.  Ly- 
man Richardson,  and  for  several  terms  was  a success- 
ful teacher  in  the  home  district  schools.  In  1854  he 
married  Marietta  I.  Blandin,  who  was  born  in  Hones- 
dale,  August  24, 1831,  a woman  devoted  to  her  family 
and  to  the  church  and  charitable  works,  and  who  was 
for  one  year.  1850,  a teacher  of  music  in  the  Harford 
Academy.  For  ten  years  following  his  marriage  Mr. 
Jones  farmed  the  homestead  and  then  sold  it  to 
David  Van  Buskirk,  and  in  the  fall  of  1865  bought 
the  present  property  in  the  village  limits  of  Harford, 
formerly  owned  by  Deacon  Joab  Tyler,  a farm  of  one 
hundred  and  thirty  acres.  The  following  spring  he 
purchased  the  store  property,  adjoining  the  village 
home,  of  E.  T.  Tiffany,  and  managed  both  his  farm 
and  general  merchandise  store  until  his  death,  Sep- 
tember 9,  1879.  Henry  M.  Jones  was  a public-spir- 
ited man,  and  contributed  much  to  the  improvements 
of  the  village  and  township.  He  was  a friend  to  the 
poor,  upon  whom  they  often  relied  for  counsel,  was  often 
chosen  executor  and  administrator,  and  was  a citizen 
highly  esteemed  by  all  who  knew  him  or  had  dealings 
with  him.  His  quick  perception,  good  judgment  and  ju- 
dicious management  of  business  gained  him  a compe- 
tence; yet,  while  he  himself  was  prospered,  he  also 
desired  the  success  of  others,  and  he  liberally  contrib- 
uted to  worthy  objects  and  to  the  church  (Congrega- 
tional) of  which  he  was  an  attendant  and  officer,  and 
his  wife  a member.  He  was  always  deeply  interested 
in  educational  matters,  and  a man  adhering  to  the 
principles  of  temperance.  For  one  year  he  served 
as  president  of  the  Harford  Agricultural  Society. 
He  was  sought  by  his  fellow-townsmen  for  positions 
of  trust,  and  he  served  as  justice  of  the  peace  for 
several  years,  and  filled  nearly  all  the  offices  of  the 
township.  He  was  elected  on  the  Republican  ticket, 
and  creditably  served  the  people  in  the  State  Legisla- 
ture for  the  years  1873  and  1874,  during  which  time 
his  vote  was  always  cast  for  measures  tending  to  pro- 
mote the  welfare  of  the  people  and  elevate  the  condi- 
tion of  the  laboring  class.  His  genial  ways,  social 
disposition,  frank  and  open  manner,  and  his  honest 
purpose  and  pure  motives  in  life’s  work  were  marked 
characteristics,  and  his  death  left  a vacant  place 
among  the  citizens  of  Harford  not  easily  filled.  His 
children  are  Mary  C.,  William  Henry  and  Sarah  A., 
died  young.  The  surviving  children  are  Daniel 
Austin,  1864,  and  Edward  E.  Jones,  born  in  1867.  A 
sketch  of  his  only  surviving  sister,  Sarah  Jones,  born 
in  1828,  may  be  found  in  the  chapter  on  authors. 

Austin  Jones,  a native  of  Andover,  Tolland  County, 
Conn.,  came  to  Harford  about  1812.  About  1825  he 
settled  on  East  Hill,  built  the  present  residence  in 
1832,  and  there  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life.  He 
was  a reliable  and  trustworthy  citizen,  no  seeker  after 
political  place,  unostentatious  in  his  ways,  a man  of 
sterling  worth  in  the  community,  and  an  influential 
and  working  member  of  the  Congregational  Church 
at  Harford.  He  was  the  eldest  of  seven  sons,  one  of 


whom,  Dr.  Jones,  was  a prominent  citizen  of  Ala- 
bama. Polly  T.  Carpenter  was  one  of  the  early  zeal- 
ous Christian  women  of  the  church,  full  of  missionary 
spirit,  a woman  of  decided  views,  and  possessed  a 
superior  intellect.  She  was  born  in  Harford,  and  was 
the  daughter  of  John  Carpenter,  Sr.  (1766-1838),  one 
of  the  Nine  Partners  in  Harford  from  Attleborough, 
in  the  spring  of  1790,  who  was  the  son  of  Daniel 
(1744-1803)  and  Elizabeth  Tyler  (1748-1821)  Carpen- 
ter. Her  mother,  Polly  Tyler  (1772-1811),  was  the 
daughter  of  John  Tyler,  who  was  born  in  Attle- 
borough in  1746,  and  settled  in  Harford  in  1794. 
Mrs.  Henry  M.  Jones  was  the  daughter  of  Daniel 
(1806-70)  and  Mary  A.  Davison  (1807-86)  Blandin, 
who  were  among  the  first  settlers  of  Honesdale, 
Wayne  County.  The  former  was  a native  of  Attle- 
borough, and  came  with  his  parents,  Spencer  and 
Nancy  (Carpenter)  Blandin,  to  Bethany,  Pa.,  in  1816. 
This  Nancy  Carpenter  was  a sister  of  John  Carpenter, 
Sr.,  and  was  born  in  1786.  Spencer  Blandin  was  a 
soldier  in  the  War  of  1812  ; Daniel  Blandin  was  agent 
for  the  Delaware  and  Hudson  Canal  Company  at 
Honesdale  for  twenty-two  years,  and  himself  and  wife 
members  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  there.  His  wife, 
Mary  A.  Davison,  was  also  a native  of  Attleborough, 
and  her  parents  were  natives  of  Nova  Scotia.  Their 
other  children  are  Emmons  T.  (1833-58),  a surveyor; 
Albert  C.  (1835-70),  a teacher  of  the  freedmen  after  the 
war,  died  in  Charleston,  S.  C. ; Henry  W.,  1838,  re- 
sides on  the  homestead  in  Honesdale ; George  D., 
1842,  also  on  the  homestead. 

Manufacturing. — About  the  first  manufacturing 
that  was  done  here,  as  elsewhere,  was  that  of  good  old 
rye  whiskey.  Almost  invariably  in  these  old  Yankee 
settlements  in  Wayne,  Susquehanna  and  Luzerne  the 
distillery  was  set  up  by  some  good  elder  and  deacon, 
contemporaneously  with  the  first  church  and  school- 
house  in  the  place,  and  Harford  is  no  exception  to 
the  general  rule ; hence  we  find  that  Joab  Tyler,  John 
Seymour  and  Saxa  Seymour  had  a distillery  near  the 
centre  of  the  village,  about  where  Thacher’s  store 
now  stands.  Samuel  Guile  also  had  a distillery  about 
two  miles  out  of  the  village,  where  Van  Buskirk  now 
lives  ; but  when  the  temperance  reformation  awaken- 
ed the  moral  sense  of  the  people  on  this  subject,  the 
distilleries  were  abandoned.  The  first  grist-mill  was 
built  by  Mr.  Halstead,  in  1796,  in  the  southern  part 
of  the  settlement,  on  the  site  of  the  Harding  mill. 
Tyler,  Seymour  and  Carpenter  built  a grist-mill  on 
the  outlet  of  Tyler  and  Tingley  Lakes,  and  sold  it  to 
Freeman  Peck,  who  moved  the  old  mill  and  built  the 
present  grist-mill,  which  he  sold  alter  a few  years  to 
S.  B.  Guile  and  Chas.  H.  Miller.  The  latter  soon  pur- 
chased Guile’s  interest.  The  mill  is  now  owned  by 
John  Smith.  Rufus  Kingsley  built  a fulling-mill  on 
Martin’s  Creek  in  1810,  and  the  same  year  Elkanah 
Tingley  built  a carding-machine  where  Daniel  Oakley 
subsequently  had  a mill.  Penuel  Carpenter,  Harvey 
Sibley  aud  Dexter  Sibley  married  sisters.  They  erect- 


724 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


ed  a woolen  factory  in  partnership,  and  carried  on 
manufacturing  a short  time.  Messrs.  Tiffany,  Follett 
and  Elias  Carpenter  erected  a saw-mill  in  1800,  about 
one  hundred  rods  southeasterly  from  the  grave-yard. 
The  Harding  mill  and  the  mill  down  by  Leslie’s  were 
the  principal  saw-mills  in  early  days.  Amos  Sweet 
erected  a blacksmith-shop  in  1795;  Freeman  Peck 
worked  at  blacksmithing  many  years.  Gains  Moss 
built  an  upper-leather  tannery  about  1820.  He  had 
about  ten  vats,  and  carried  on  tanning  and  currying. 
In  1839  Lysander  and  Silas  B.  Guile  bought  him  out. 
Shortly  afterwards  Silas  bought  his  brother’s  interest. 


sold  to  Wm.  E,  Reynolds.  Wesley  Osterhout  also 
carries  on  carriage-making. 

Silas  Brewster  Guile. — Samuel  Guile,  Jr. — or 
Guild — (1781-1847),  a native  of  Columbia,  Tolland 
County,  Conn.,  was  the  sixth  generation  from  John 
Guild,  who  came  from  Scotland  in  1630,  and  first 
settled  at  Watertown,  Mass.,  and  afterwards,  in  1636, 
colonized,  with  others,  at  Dedham.  He  married 
Hannah  Coleman  (1783-1871),  a native  of  Coventry, 
Conn.,  and  for  several  years  thereafter  resided 
on  the  homestead  at  Columbia,  where  he  carried 
on  cloth-dressing.  In  1810  he  removed  to  Cov- 


and  continued  the  business  until  1863,  when  he  turned 
it  over  to  his  son,  W.  B.  Guile,  who  has  since  built 
larger,  and  has  a tannery  with  forty-five  vats,  that 
consumes  about  eight  hundred  cords  of  bark  per  year. 
Messrs.  Eaton  & Co.  manufactured  scales  here  a num- 
ber of  years  ago.  Dr.  Wm.  R.  Blakeslee  has  recently 
erected  a steam  saw-mill  with  a capacity  of  about 
eight  or  ten  thou-^and  feet  of  boards  per  day.  He 
employs  about  five  men.  Taken  with  its  steam- 
whistle,  it  is  the  liveliest  industry  in  the  village. 
Joseph  T.  Whiting  started  wagon-making,  and  John 
Sophia  learned  his  trade  of  him.  Sophia  succeeded 
Whitney,  and  carried  on  the  business  for  a time  and  : 


entry,  where  he  continued  his  business  as  a cloth- 
dresser.  During  the  War  of  1812  he  was  drafted, 
but  had  only  gone  as  far  as  New  London,  when  the 
war  being  ended,  the  troops  were  dismissed.  In  1820 
(spring),  with  his  wife  and  six  children,  he  removed 
to  Harford,  traveling  the  distance  with  two  one- 
horse  wagons.  He  bought  a farm  of  Austin  Jones 
on  East  Hill,  the  property  of  Franklin  Hines  in 
1887,  then  largely  cleared,  and  about  1845  sold  this 
farm  to  his  sons-in-law,  and  removed  to  Harford 
village,  where  both  himself  and  wife  lived  until  their 
deaths.  They  were  members  of  the  Congregational 
i Church  at  Harford.  They  had  children, — Sarah,  born 


HARFORD. 


725 


in  1803,  widow  of  Amasa  Chase,  of  Great  Bend. 
Rockwell  (1805-55)  died  at  Downer’s  Grove,  111.; 
Lois  (1807-56)  was  the  wife  of  Simeon  Tucker,  of 
Harford;  Silas  Brewster,  burn  in  Columbia  town- 
ship, Conn.,  June  1,  1809,  died  in  Harford  March 
16,  1887  ; Alvira  (1811-79)  was  the  wife  of  Abel 
Read,  Jr.,  of  New  Milford;  Lysander  (1813-64, 
died  in  Salem,  Wayne  County;  Harlan  (1815-36) 
died  at  home  ; Temperance,  1817,  the  widow  of  Col. 
John  Blanding,  resides  in  Binghamton;  Hannah, 
1821,  wife  of  Obed  G.  Coughlin,  Harford ; Susanna, 
1823,  widow  of  the  late  Stephen  W.  Breed,  of  Brook) 
lyn,  resides  at  Asbury  Park  with  her  son,  an  Episco- 
palian clergyman  ; Catherine  (1826-81)  was  the 
wife  of  Dr.  George  M.  Gamble,  who  practiced  for  a 
time  in  Harford.  Of  these  children,  Silas  B.  for 
many  years  a farmer  and  tanner,  resided  in  Harford 
village.  He  narrated  just  before  his  death  that  in 
boyhood  he  went  to  New  Milford  on  foot  to  buy  the 
leather  for  a pair  of  shoes,  which,  after  being  cut  out, 
were  made  at  home,  and  of  walking  the  entire  dis- 
tance to  Montrose,  the  nearest  place  that  he  could 
buy  a wool  hat,  and  that  he  had  to  walk  to  Harford 
village,  a distance  of  two  and  one-half  miles,  when  a 
boy,  to  school.  In  1831,  just  after  attaining  his 
majority,  he  married  Catherine  Chase  (1810-48),  a 
daughter  of  Elder  Daniel  and  Catherine  (Filbrook) 
Chase,  of  Windsor,  N.  Y.  Elder  Chase  was  a Free- 
Will  Baptist  preacher  throughout  this  part  of  the 
State,  and  after  his  second  marriage  settled  in  Wayne 
County,  where  he  died.  Two  sons,  Amasa  and  David, 
were  tanners  at  Great  Bend,  the  former  herein  men- 
tioned. Catherine  Chase  was  a member  of  the  Free- 
Will  Baptist  Church  from  girlhood,  and  a devoted 
wife  and  mother.  The  children  by  this  union  are 
Melissa  J.,  born  1831,  widow  of  Dr.  J.  N.  Wilson,  of 
Hollisterville,  Wayne  Co.;  Sarah  Catherine  (1834- 
79)  was  the  wife  of  Charles  H.  Miller,  of  Harford, 
and  Winslow  Boynton  Guile,  a tanner  at  Harford. 
Mr.  Guile,  like  most  of  the  young  men  of  a half-cen- 
tury ago,  had  to  depend  upon  his  own  resources  for  his 
start  in  life,  and  upon  becoming  of  age  he  had  only 
a pair  of  steers.  After  his  marriage  for  four  years 
he  rented  his  father’s  farm,  and  for  three  years  fol- 
lowing another  farm.  In  1838  he  bought  a sixty- five 
acre  farm  near  the  village,  but  soon  sold  it,  and  in  1839 
purchased,  with  his  brother  Lysander,  the  Gains 
Moss  tannery  in  Harford,  and  began  business.  After 
two  years  he  bought  his  brother’s  interest,  and  suc- 
cessfully carried  it  on  alone  until  1863,  when  he 
bought  the  Waldron  farm,  resided  on  it  eight  years, 
and  returned  to  his  small  farm  of  a few  acres  in  the 
village.  He  was  succeeded  in  the  tannery  by  his 
son,  who,  after  running  it  for  a few  years  in  partner- 
ship with  Abram  Eaton,  built  one  on  a larger  scale  in 
Harford.  Mr.  Guile  was  one  of  the  charter  members 
of  the  Harford  Agricultural  Society,  and  has  been 
officially  and  as  a member  identified  with  it  since. 
He  served  his  township  as  supervisor,  poormaster 


and  school  director  for  several  years,  and  in  all  his 
public  trusts,  his  fidelity  to  principle  and  honesty  of 
purpose  were  exemplified  and  characteristic  of  his 
whole  life  work.  He  was  a member  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church  for  many  years,  and  a contributor 
to  the  worthy  objects  in  the  vicinity  demanding  sup- 
port. For  his  second  wife  he  married,  in  1850,  Polly 
W.  Tyler,  who  was  born  in  New  Milford  November 
20,  1820,  and  is  the  daughter  of  Col.  Job  Tyler 
(1779-1857)  and  Sally  Thacher  Tyler  (1781-1860). 
The  former,  a native  of  Attleborough,  Mass.,  came 
here  with  his  parents,  John  and  Mercy  (Thatcher) 
Tyler,  in  1794,  and  joined  the  “Nine  Partners’  ” set- 
tlement. This  Sally  Thacher  was  a daughter  of 
John  and  Sally  Thacher,  who  settled  in  Harford  in 
1795.  Col.  Job  Tyler  was  a large  farmer  in  New 
Milford  township,  and  attended  the  Congregational 
Church  at  Harford,  where  also  Mrs.  Guile  retains 
her  membership.  Mercy  Thacher’s  father  was  the 
fourteenth  in  an  uninterrupted  line  of  Thachers,  who 
were  ministers  of  the  gospel.’ 

Elder  Daniel  Chase’s  father,  William,  was  born  in 
1742,  and  his  father,  William,  lived  in  Stratham, 
N.  H.,  whose  wife’s  name  was  Phebe  Rollins.  Cather- 
ine Filbrook’s  mother  was  a native  of  Ireland,  was 
stolen  from  the  seashore  by  a sea  captain  when  only 
nine  years  old  and  brought  to  America. 

Polly  W.  Tyler’s  only  brother,  Jared  (1806-77), 
a farmer,  resided  in  Harford  ; her  only  sister,  Nancy, 
born  in  1804,  was  the  wife  of  Francis  Moxley,  of 
New  Milford. 

Harfokd  Postmasters. — A post-office  was  es- 
tablished at  Gib'son  June  29,  1811,  with  Robert 
Chandler  as  postmaster.  December  24,  1813,  Laban 
Capron  was  appointed.  The  department  at  Washing- 
ton say:  “This  office  was  originally  called  Hartford 
or  Gibson,  and  Laban  Capron’s  appointment  was  to 
Harford.  Gibson  was  adopted  between  1819  and 
1828,  but  there  seems  to  have  been  no  official  action 
in  the  matter.”  Major  Capron  had  the  office  at  his 
residence,  more  than  a mile  west  of  the  present  village. 
April  1,  1825,  Saxa  Seymour  was  appointed,  and  he 
brought  the  office  into  the  village.  He  held  the 
office  for  twenty-five  years  and  was  succeeded  in  1850 
by  George  G.  Pride.  Benjamin  F.  Eaton  was  appointed 
February  11,  1852,  and  Levi  R.  Peck  December  2,  of 
the  same  year.  His  successors  have  been  George  W. 
Seymour,  1853 ; Silas  B.  Guile,  1857  ; Henry  C.  Mox- 
ley, 1861 ; Edwin  T.  Tiffany,  1862 ; Winslow  B. 
Guile,  1867;  E.  T.  Tiffany,  1869;  C.  H.  Miller, 
1885.  The  great  western  mails  in  the  stage-route 
days  were  on  the  Milford  and  Owego  and  Newburg 


1 It  appears  that  Laban  Capron  superseded  I)r.  Chandler  in  1813,  and 
took  the  mail  down  to  his  place.  March  2,  1819,  David  Tarbox,  Jr., 
was  appointed  postmaster  at  Gibson,  and  I think  that  he  superseded 
Capron,  and  that  the  inhabitants  of  Harford  got  their  mail  at  Gibson 
(Burrow’s  Hollow)  until  1825,  when  Saxa  Seymour  was  appointed  post- 
master of  Harford.  S.  B.  Guile  and  Wilson  Thacher  remember  getting 
their  mail  at  Gibson  about  this  time. 


726 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


turnpikes.  Harford  lay  between  these  two  great 
thorouglifares  on  the  Philadelphia  and  Great  Bend 
turnpikes  ; consequently  it  was  not  on  the  great  mail 
lines  to  the  West.  Gibson  and  Cameron’s  were  the 
two  points  on  these  routes  from  which  the  first  mails 
were  obtained  after  the  routes  were  established. 

The  first  mail-carrier  that  is  remembered  was  Oney 
Thacher,  about  1826.  The  route  then  was  from 
Rynearson’s  Corners  (Lenox)  to  Harford,  thence  to 
New  Milford,  following  the  Philadelphia  and  Great 
Bend  turnpike.  Mr.  Thacher  carried  the  mail  on  his 
back  and  traveled  afoot.  He  was  a very  precise  man, 
and  counted  the  number  of  steps  that  he  had  to  travel 
so  that  he  knew  when  he  took  a step  exactly  what  part 
of  his  journey  was  being  accomplished.  He  carried 
the  mail  once  a week  until  the  railroad  passsed  through 
Montrose  depot ; then  a daily  route  was  soon  after 
started.  Ovid  Coughlan  was  one  of  the  first  drivers 
on  this  route.  A.  J.  Seaman  and  others  were  carriers. 
The  route  was  changed  to  New  Milford  until  recently. 
The  mail  runs  twice  a day  from  Kingsley’s  Station  to 
Gibson  by  way  of  Harford.  Daniel  M.  Farrar  is  the 
present  mail-carrier. 

Oakley  post-ofiice,  first  called  West  Harford,  was 
established  August  5,  1852,  with  Daniel  Oakley  as 
postmaster.  March  7, 1854,  the  name  was  changed 
to  Oakley.  In  1875  Denison  K.  Oakley  was  ap- 
pointed postmaster.  This  place  was  named  in  honor 
of  the  Oakleys,  who  had  mills  here.  At  one  time  it 
was  a station  of  the  Delaware,  Lackawanna  and  West- 
ern Railroad,  but  the  cars  do  not  stop  there  now. 

Millboukn  Oakley. — The  grandparents  of  Mill- 
bourn  came  from  New  England  to  Dutchess  County, 
N.  Y.,  during  the  latter  part  of  the  last  century,  and 
in  1783  removed  to  Thornbottom  now  (Nicholson). 
They  had  a large  family  of  children,  of  whom  Jotham 
was  eldest,  was  born  in  1770,  and  was  thirteen  years 
old  when  the  family  settled  in  Pennsylvania.  When 
a boy  be  frequently  visited  the  low-lands  and  streams 
of  this  county  as  a trapper.  In  1793  he  married 
Sarah  Millbourn  (1768-1839),  whose  father  was  an 
Englishman,  and  whose  mother  subsequently  married 
a Mr.  Jones,  also  an  Englishman,  and  settled  in  Brook- 
lyn, this  county.  In  1795  Jotham  Oakley  took  up 
one  hundred  and  thirty  acres,  a woodland  tract  ad- 
joining the  Nine  Partners’  settlement  in  Harford,  and 
built  a block -house  thereon.  He  began  clearing  off  the 
forest,  and  with  genuine  pioneer  fortitude,  both  him- 
self and  faithful  wife,  a woman  of  noted  force  of  char- 
acter and  possessed  of  great  courage,  met  the  incidents, 
fatigues  and  hardships  consequent  upon  a settlement 
in  the  wilderness  unflinchingly,  and  made  a home 
for  themselves  and  children.  This  homestead  has 
been  in  tbe  family  since,  nearly  a century,  and  is  the 
home  of  Millbourn  Oakley’s  widow.  It  was  necessary 
to  have  salt  and  meal  and  flour.  To  obtain  the  salt, 
a trip  had  to  be  made  to  Syracuse,  by  the  old  salt- 
roads  leading  through  long  stretches  of  woods.  To 
get  meal  or  flour  at  this  time,  Jotham  Oakley  used  to 


take  a bushel  of  corn  or  wheat  of  his  owm  rasing,  and 
carry  it  on  his  back  to  Wilkes-Barre,  where  the  near- 
est mill  was  located.  He  built  the  present  frame- 
house in  1806, which  took  the  place  of  the  block-house, 
made  of  hewn  logs  notched  together,  and  this  house, 
without  much  repairs,  has  sheltered  the  family  for  a 
period  of  eighty-one  years.  He  died  here  in  1841. 
He  came  to  this  place  from  Thornbottom  with  only 
two  shillings  in  money,  reared  a family  of  five  sons 
and  three  daughters,  and  before  his  death  gave  each 
of  his  sons  a farm.  He  is  said  to  have  bought  and 
used  the  first  spring-wagon  (wooden  springs)^ 
brought  into  the  township.  He  was  drafted  in  the 
War  of  1812, but  his  second  son,  Thomas,  volunteered 
and  went  in  his  father’s  place,  going  as  far  as  Danville, 
when  peace  was  made  and  he  returned  home. 

The  children  of  these  worthy  pioneers  were  James 
(1794-1851),  resided  and  died  in  Brooklyn ; Thomas 
(1796-1857),  also  resided  and  in  the  same  township  ; 
Daniel  (1798-1874),  resided  and  died  in  Harford ; 
Betsey  (1800-79),  was  the  wifeof  Sylvenus  Wade,  and 
died  in  Greenbush,  Wis.,  where  they  were  the  first 
settlers ; Millbourn  (1802-83),  succeeded  to  the  home- 
stead ; Polly  (1805-59),  the  wife  of  Daniel  Chubbuck, 
died  in  Iowa;  Cyrus  (1807-69),  resided  and  died  in 
Brooklyn  ; and  Sarah  W.  (born  in  1812),  is  the  wife  of 
Virgil  Tiffany,  of  Minnesota,  being  the  only  surviving 
child,  in  1887,  of  this  family  of  children.  Millbourn 
Oakley,  the  fourth  son,  spent  his  entire  life  of  eighty- 
one  years  on  this  place.  He  was  a careful  and  in- 
dustrious farmer,  added  one  hundred  acres,  by  pur- 
chase, to  the  original  farm,  and  made  a comfortable 
competence  for  his  children.  He  was  much  interested 
in  educational  matters  and  gave  his  children  the  op- 
portunity of  completing  their  home  education  at  the 
Harford  Academy.  Of  his  seven  children,  all  were 
teachers  for  one  or  more  terms. 

Millbourn  Oakley  was  a moral  young  man,  and  had 
marked  exemplary  habits.  He  w'as  an  attendant  at 
church  in  boyhood,  and  was  a member  of  the  church 
at  Harford,  from  1843  until  his  death,  of  which  Rev. 
Adam  Miller  was  pastor  for  fifty-three  years.  The  old 
family  pew  was  always  well  filled  until  his  children 
scattered  and  found  homes  of  their  own,  and  the  pa- 
rents became  so  enfeebled  by  age  that  they  could  not 
leave  their  homes.  He  was  one  of  the  founders  of  the 
Harford  Agricultural  Society,  and  its  first  vice-presi- 
dent in  1858,  and  he  was  also  a life-member  of  the 
Susquehanna  Agricultural  Society.  He  was  a lover  of 
fine  horses  and  cattle,  and  his  name  is  still  familiar 
throughout  the  county  as  the  raiser  and  exhibitor  of 
the  finest  shown  at  the  county  fairs.  He  married,  in 
March,  1825,  Nancy  Carpenter,  who  was  born  in  Har- 
ford, May  13,  1804,  and  is  living  on  the  homestead  in 
1887.  She  was  an  early  pupil  of  Rev.  Lyman  Rich- 
ardson at  Harford.  Began  teaching  school  at  the  age 
of  thirteen,  and  continued  her  school- work  until  she 
was  twenty-three.  She  has  been  a member  of  the 
church  for  seventy-two  years,  since  she  was  tw’elve 


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HARFORD. 


727 


years  of  age,  and  is  a woman  of  remarkable  strength 
of  mind,  although  for  many  years  she  has  been  infirm 
in  body.  A devoted  wife  and  mother,  her  Christian 
life  has  left  its  impress  on  the  lives  of  her  children. 
She  furnished  largely  the  facts  for  this  sketch.  Her 
father,  John  Carpenter,  Sr.  (1766-1838),  was  one  of  the 
Nine  Partners,  and  married,  in  1793,  Polly  Tyler  (1772- 
1811),  who  bore  him  children, — John,  1793,  lost  on 
Lake  Erie;  Asahel  (1796-1842);  Polly  T.,  1798,  wife 
of  Austin  Jones,  Harford  ; Jesse,  1801,  died  in  Cali- 
fornia; Betsey  (1803-86),  wife  of  Sterry  9 fanner,  of 
Harford;  and  Nancy  Carpenter,  the  youngest,  and 
widow  of  Millbourn  Oakley.  John  Carpenter  mar- 
ried his  second  wife,  Lydia  Pattee  (1785-1861),  in  1813, 
who  died  without  issue.  His  parents  were  Daniel 
and  Elizabeth  (Tyler)  Carpenter,  who  had  eleven 
children,  and  resided  in  Attleborough,  Massachusetts. 
The  children  of  Millbourn  and  Nancy  Oakley  are 
Lydia  J.  (1827-61),  wife  of  Erastus  Finn,  of  Benton  ; 
Pa.;  Williston  K.  (1830-61),  died  at  home;  Elizai 
1831,  first,  the  wife  of  John  C.  Webster,  and  second, 
of  David  Salisbury,  of  Franklin ; Daniel  C.,  1835,  a 
farmer  of  Lenox ; Betsey  M.,  1836,  wife  of  Watson 
Jeffers,  a farmer  of  Harford;  Samuel  H.,  1840,  a far- 
mer in  Harford  ; and  Elvira  H.  Oakley,  married,  first, 
James  Hartley,  of  Lenox,  and  after  his  death  became 
the  wife  of  W.  A.  Browning,  a farmer  of  Fleetville, 
Pa.  These  children,  with  the  grandchildren  and 
friends,  celebrated  the  fiftieth  anniversary  of  the  mar- 
riage of  their  parents,  when  they  were  made  happy, 
and  welcomed  all  with  that  hospitality  and  good 
cheer  characteristic  of  the  old  home. 

D.  K.  Oakley  was  born  in  Harford  township, 
June  18,  1824, — son  of  Daniel  (1798-1874)  and  Sally 
H.  Carpenter  (1802-1870)  Oakley,  and  grandson  of 
Jotham  Oakley,  of  the  previous  sketch.  Daniel 
Oakley  became  one  of  the  leading  business  men  of 
Susquehanna  County.  His  indefatigable  energy  and 
honorable,  straightforward  character  were  strongly 
impressed  upon  his  surroundings,  and  he  enjoyed,  in 
a marked  degree,  the  confidence  and  esteem  of  his 
fellows. 

He  successfully  operated  the  saw-mill  on  Martin’s 
Creek,  at  Oakley,  over  fifty  years,  and  was  postmas- 
ter at  that  place  twenty-four  years.  As  a young 
man,  he  was  warmly  interested  in  religion,  and  at  an 
early  age  became  a member  of  the  Congregational 
Church  at  Harford,  which  connection  he  retained 
throughout  his  life.  The  cause  of  education  had  his 
unswerving  friendship,  and  the  needy  were  never 
sent  empty  away.  He  gained  much  pleasure  in  the 
knowledge  of  having  been  one  of  those  members  who 
called  the  late  beloved  Rev.  Adam  Miller  to  the 
Harford  Church  pastorate,  and  his  trusteeship  was 
always  a happiness.  His  children  were  Loretta  C., 
died  in  early  womanhood ; Denison  K. ; Maria,  the 
wife  of  N.  T.  Hull,  a farmer  of  Candor,  Tioga  County, 
N.  Y. ; Daniel  Chauncey,  drowned  in  Oakley  Pond 
1833 ; Mary,  the  wife  of  J.  S.  Peckham,  a leading 


farmer  of  Brooklyn  township ; and  Julia  A.,  the  wife 
of  R.  L.  Gere,  also  a Brooklyn  farmer. 

After  a liberal  education  at  the  district  schools 
and  at  the  Harford  University,  Denison  K.  Oakley 
taught  in  the  schools  of  his  native  county  for  three 
years,  j^rior  to  going  to  Wisconsin,  where  he  also 
taught  school  and  organized  and  superintended  a 
Sunday-school  at  Kaukanna  for  about  three  years. 
Returning  to  Susquehanna  County  in  1852,  he  found 
the  Delaware,  Lackawanna  and  Western  Railroad 
had  been  in  operation  for  some  few  months  through 
his  home  property,  from  Scranton  north,  and  appre- 
ciating the  opportunity  of  markets  thus  opened  for 
the  immense  forests  of  the  vicinity,  he  purchased  the 
mill  property  (which  had  been  in  the  hands  of  the 
railroad  company  during  the  building  of  the  road), 
and  began  manufacturing  and  shipping  lumber. 
Scrantou  was  just  then  beginning  to  erect  its  head  as 
a centre  of  population,  and  lumber  was,  of  course,  in 
strong  demand ; hence  the  product  of  the  Oakley 
mill  was  made  a part  of  many  of  the  buildings  now 
forming  a section  of  that  city,  and  Mr.  Oakley  reaped 
his  legitimate  reward.  This  business  he  has  contin- 
ued until  the  present  time,  in  addition  to  large  farm- 
ing interests  in  the  same  locality.  Foreseeing  that 
Scranton  must,  of  necessity,  become  a prosper- 
ous and  large  city,  Mr.  Oakley,  in  1860,  invested  in 
land  there,  and  has  been  engaged  in  the  erection  of 
business  blocks  and  residences  not  only  for  himself, 
but  for  others  by  contract ; and  in  1885  he  there  took 
up  his  residence,  still  continuing,  however,  to  main- 
tain his  milling  and  farm  interests  at  Oakley  Station. 
He  has  served  as  postmaster  at  Oakley  since  1875, 
and  superintended  the  Sunday-school  there  for  fifteen 
years.  He  united  with  the  Congregational  Church 
at  Harford  in  1839,  by  election  in  1855  served  the 
church  as  chorister  for  twenty-eight  successive  years. 
Superintended  the  Sunday-school  for  six  years,  and 
served  as  deacon  of  the  church  from  1866  to  1883, 
when  he  was  granted  dismission  and  recommended 
to  admission  to  the  Presbyterian  Church  at  Brooklyn. 

As  a boy,  Mr.  Oakley  evinced  strong  business  ap- 
titude, and  was  recognized  as  reliable  and  energetic, 
and  his  career  afibrds  a valuable  lesson  to  others  in 
carving  out  a fortune  for  themselves.  In  1861  he 
married  Emeline,  daughter  of  John  and  Esther  Dim- 
mick  Williams,  of  Herrick  township, — a direct  de- 
scendant of  the  historic  Roger  Williams.  She  died 
in  1864,  leaving  no  living  issue.  In  September,  1878, 
Belle  L.  Trippe  became  his  wife.  She  was  born  at 
Freetown,  Cortland  County,  N.  Y., — the  daughter  of 
Septimus  (born  in  Oneida  County,  N.  Y.,  in  1817) 
and  Minerva  Slocum  Trippe,  and  granddaughter  of 
Isaac  Trippe  (1793-1867),  a native  of  Saratoga 
County,  N.  Y.,  son  of  William  Trippe,  a soldier  of 
the  Revolution.  Her  maternal  grandfather  was 
Henry  Slocum,  related  to  General  Slocum,  of  Union 
army  fame;  also  to  the  first  settlers  at  Scranton, 
which  was  formerly  known  as  “Slocum’s  Hollow.” 


728 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


The  result  of  the  union  of  D.  K.  and  Belle  L.  Oak- 
ley is  one  child, — Clarence  D.,  horn  December  2, 1884. 
They  both  hold  membership  in  the  Brooklyn  Pres- 
byterian Church,  though,  on  account  of  their  resi- 
dence at  Scranton,  they  are  attendants  at  the  First 
Presbyterian  Church  of  that  city. 

Watson  Jeffers. — Nathaniel  Jeffers  (1762-1833) 
married  Eunice  Fowler,  and  resided  in  Coventry, 
Tolland  County,  Conn.,  where  he  was  a farmer  and 
tanner.  He  served  as  a soldier  in  the  Revolutionary 
War,  towards  its  close,  being  then  twenty  years  old. 

In  the  fall  of  1822,  with  his  son,  Sebra  Jeffers 
(1793-1870),  and  three  daughters, — Fanny  (1790-1882, 
Betsey  (died  1835)  and  Adeline  (died  1865), — he  came 
to.  Harford,  this  county,  and  bought  one  hundred 
acres  of  land  of  Austin  Jones,  the  homestead  of  the 
family  since,  and  in  1887,  the  property  of  his  grand- 
son, Watson  Jeffers.  The  daughters  remained  here. 
Fanny  had  married  Eldad  Loomis  in  1807,  whose 
family  settled  in  Harford  in  1824.  Betsey  was  the 
wife  of  Ezekiel  Titus,  one  of  the  nine  partners  who 
settled  in  Harford  in  the  spring  of  1790,  and  Adeline 
became  the  wife  of  Col.  Asa  Spicer,  also  of  Harford. 
Nathaniel  and  Sebra  returned  to  Coventry  the  same 
fall,  and  the  next  spring  (1823)  removed  with  the 
remainder  of  their  families  to  their  new  home.  The 
other  children  were  Eunice  (1803-72),  the  wife  of 
Ira  Carpenter,  of  Harford,  and  William,  who  died 
on  the  homestead  in  1829.  Mrs.  Nathaniel  Jeffers 
was  a member  of  the  Congregational  Church  at  Har- 
ford, and  both  herself  and  husband  were  buried  in 
the  cemetery  there.  Sebra  Jeffers,  the  only  surviving 
son,  succeeded  to  the  home  property.  He  had  learned 
to  be  a tanner  with  his  father,  and  to  do  farm-work. 
During  the  War  of  1812,  and  before  and  after  that 
period,  he  had  engaged  in  driving  the  old  stage- 
coaches, and  during  that  war  carried  many  loads  of 
soldiers  and  sailors,  who  were  crossing  the  country 
from  New  England  to  the  lakes  to  man  the  vessels  of 
war  on  Lake  Erie  and  the  border  waters,  and  coast 
defenses.  He  was  a man  of  pure  motives  and  honest 
purposes  in  life,  a substantial  citizen,  and,  with  his 
family,  attendants  of  the  same  church  in  Harford. 
He  survived  his  father  thirty-seven  years,  honored 
and  respected  by  all  who  knew  him.  His  wife, 
whom  he  married  in  1817,  was  Eveline  Lyman  (1796- 
1865),  a daughter  of  William  Lyman,  a ship-carpen- 
ter at  East  Windsor,  on  the  Connecticut  River,  where 
she  was  born.  Their  children  are  Henry  B.  (1818- 
64),  a farmer,  died  in  Iowa;  Alfred  L.,  1819,  a farmer, 
in  Lenox,  has  six  children;  Laura  (1821-40),  died 
unmarried  ; Mary  (1823-57),  was  the  wife  of  Otis  B. 
Titus,  of  Harford,  and  died  leaving  one  son,  Alonzo 

E,  adopted  as  Alonzo  E.  Tiffany,  of  Harford ; George 

F.  (1826-68),  died  in  Harford,  leaving  three  children; 
Emily  W.,  1830,  first  the  wife  of  Alonzo  E.  Carpenter, 
and  after  his  death  married  D.  P.  Tiffany,  Esq.,  of 
Harford;  Watson,  born  where  he  now  resides, 
October  31,  1831 ; Charlotte  A.,  1835,  for  some  time 


a teacher,  is  the  wife  of  Henry  Squires,  a merchant 
of  Pittsburgh  ; Louisa  A.,  1839,  widow  of  John  Gal- 
braith, a taxidermist  of  New  York,  resides  in  West 
Hoboken,  has  one  child,  William  Galbraith  ; Alpha 
M.  (1841-79),  was  the  wife  of  Hosea  Tiffany,  and 
died  at  Owatouna,  Minn.,  leaving  two  children, 
Watson  and  Bert.  Watson  Jefiers  succeeded  to  the 
homestead,  and  in  1877  supplanted  the  old  home 
residence  with  his  present  fine  farm-house.  He 
obtained  his  early  education  at  the  home  district 
school  and  at  the  Harford  Academy,  and  for  four 
terms  was  a teacher  in  the  same  district.  All  the 
appointments  of  his  place  show  the  work  of  a thrifty 
and  intelligent  farmer.  He  has  been  interested  in 
school  matters  at  home  and  throughout  the  township, 
and  during  his  service  of  ten  years  as  a member  of 
the  Board  of  School  Directors  nearly  all  the  districts, 
in  the  township  were  supplied  with  new  school- 
houses.  He  has  filled  successfully  various  other 
offices  of  trust  in  his  township.  He  was  an  early 
member  of  the  Harford  Agricultural  Society,  and  has 
contributed  annually  to  the  support  of  farm  interests 
in  connection  with  its  yearly  fairs.  In  boyhood  he 
was  converted,  and  united  with  the  Methodist  Church 
at  Harford,  where  he  served  for  many  years  as  a 
teacher  in  the  Sunday-school,  and  remained  a member 
of  the  church  until  1881,  when  he  became  a member 
of  the  Congregational  Church,  where  his  wife  is  also 
a member.  He  was  one  of  the  charter  members  of 
the  Good  Templar  Lodge  at  Harford,  and  is  an  advo- 
cate of  temperance  reform  and  prohibition  principles, 
both  by  his  words  and  acts.  He  was  drafted  during 
the  late  Rebellion  with  his  two  brothers,  George  F. 
and  Alfred  L.  The  brothers  were  both  exempted, 
but  Watson  put  in  a substitute  to  serve  in  his  place, 
and  was  afterwards  a supporter  of  the  Union  arms 
both  with  his  means  and  money.  He  married  in 
1865,  Betsey  M.  Oakley,  who  was  born  on  the  Oakley 
homestead,  in  the  same  neighborhood.  May  31,  1836. 
She  was  educated  atthe  Harford  Academy,  and  was  for 
several  terms  a teacher.  Her  parents  were  Mill- 
bourn  (1802-83)  and  Nancy  Carpenter  (1804)  Oakley, 
and  her  grandchildren,  Jothara  (1770-1841)  and 
Sarah  Millbourn  (1768-1839)  Oakley,  whose  sketch  is 
in  this  volume.  The  children  of  Watson  and  Betsey 
M.  Jeffers  are  Henry  and  Addie  Jeffers. 

Taxables  1813. — William  Abel,  David  Aldrich,  Joshua  Adams,  Noah 
Aldrich,  Ebenezer  Bailey,  Joseph  Blandiu,  Jacob  Blake,  William  Bascom, 
Laban  Capron,  Orlen  Capron,  David  Carpenter,  John  Carpenter,  Jona- 
than Carpenter,  Cyrel  Carpenter,  Obadiah  Carpenter,  Elias  Carpenter, 
Cyrus  Cheever,  Nathaniel  Cladin,  Nathaniel  Claflin,  Jr.,  Linsley  Clafiin, 
James  Chandler,  Robert  Chandler,  Charles  Chandler,  John  Coonrod, 
William  Coonrod,  Wheaton  Capron,  Moses  Dutcher,  Jacob  P.  Dunn, 
Charles  Ellsworth,  Eliphalet  Ellsworth,  Eliab  Farrar,  Warner  Follet, 
Ezra  Follet,  Noah  Fuller,  John  Green,  Aaron  Greenwood,  Whiting 
Griswold,  Natban  Guyle,  Oliver  Gratracks  (North  Harford),  Stephen 
Harding,  Perry  Harding,  Thomas  Harding,  Benjamin  Harding,  Jesse 
Harding,  Ebenezer  Kingsbury,  Rufus  Kingsley,  Richard  McNamara, 
Nathan  Munson,  Jotham  Oakley,  W.  Powers,  Oliver  Paine,  F.  Peck, 
Abel  Read,  Caleb  Richardson,  Lyman  Richardson,  Ichabod  Seavor,  Abi- 
jah  Sturdevant,  Ezra  Sturdevant,  Silas  Sturdevant,  Wells  Stanley,  Abi- 
jah  Sweet,  Asahel  Sweet,  Onley  Sweet,  John  S.  Sweet,  Thomas  Sweet, 


HARFORD. 


729 


Stephen  Thacher,  Moses  Thacher,  John  Thacher,  Nathan  Thacher, 
Etkanah  Tingley,  Darius  Tingley,  Thomas  Tiffany,  Thomas  V.  Tiffany, 
Dalton  Tiffany,  Hosea  Tiffany,  Amos  Tiffany,  Arnnah  Tiffany,  Tingley 
Tiffany,  Ezekiel  Titus,  Reuben  Terrill,  John  Tyler,  Joab  Tyler,  Samuel 
Thacher,  Jabez  Tyler,  William  Tripp,  Elias  Van  Winkle,  Edward 
MTimand  (Gibstm),  Thomas  Wilmarth,  Walter  Wilmarth,  Ebenezer 
M hitney,  Orange  Whitney,  Oliver  Ellsworth,  Joseph  B.  Streeter,  Ezekiel 
Barnes,  Amos  Barnes,  John  Skyrian. 

A military  organization  was  required  in  1798-99. 
Obadiah  Carpenter  was  the  first  otficer.  Thomas 
Tiffany  was  commissioned  justice  of  the  peace  in 
1799,  and  Hosea  Tiffany  a few  years  afterwards,  the 
former  having  resigned.  On  the  erection  of  Sus- 
quehanna County  this  commission  became  ivoid. 
Joab  Tyler  and  Laban  Capron  were  commissioned  in 
1813.  Mr.  Capron  resigned  soon  after,  and  Hosea 
Tiffany,  Jr.,  was  commissioned.  He  resigned  in 
1826,  and  Samuel  E.  Kingsbury  was  commissioned. 
Mr.  Kingsbury  died  in  1831,  and  Hosea  Tiffany  was 
re-commissioned.  He  died  in  1836,  and  Payson  Kings- 
bury was  commissioned.  He  resigned  in  1839,  and 
John  Blanding  was  commissioned.  Since  1840,  under 
that  Constitution,  John  Blanding  and  Amherst  Car- 
penter ; Wm.  C.  Tiffany,  who  was  admitted  to  the 
bar  in  1834,  was  elected  twice;  Alvin  J.  Seymour, 

L.  F.  Farrar,  1849;  Amasa  Chase,  1850;  Dexter  Sib- 
ley, 1853 ; E.  N.  Loomis,  1855 ; Dalton  P.  Tiffany 
has  served  since  1860  ; W.  C.  Tiffany,  1863  ; Henry 

M.  Jones,  1869;  E.  M.  Osborn,  1873-78  ; C.  S.  John- 
ston, 1884.  Harford  has  furnished  for  the  legal  pro- 
fession Ebenezer  Kingsbury,  Jr.,  Wm.  C.  Tiffany,  N. 
S.  S.  Fuller,  Judge  Farris  B.  Streeter,  Judge  H.  W. 
Williams,  Rienzi  Streeter,  Jno.  K.  Gamble,  died 
while  a student.  Jas.  Adams  is  a student  now. 

Harford  Lodge,  No.  445,  A.  Y.  M.,  was  chartered 
June  3,  1869,  and  instituted  December  29,  1869. 
The  charter  members  were  C.  C.  Edwards,  W.  B. 
Guile,  L.  R.  Peck,  G.  J.  Babcock,  G.  L.  Payne,  C.  H. 
Miller,  A.  A.  Eaton  and  F.  H.  Tiffany.  It  came  on 
hard  times,  and  the  dues  were  so  high  that  the  lodge 
could  not  sustain  itself,  and  it  was  suspended  in  con- 
sequence thereof. 

David  L.  Hine  was  born  in  New  Haven,  Conn.,  in 
1815,  and  came  here  in  1822.  He  cultivated  a farm  of 
one  hundred  and  forty-five  acres  in  South  Harford  for 
a number  of  years,  and  sold  it  about  fifteen  years  ago 
to  George  Resseguie.  Mr.  Hine  was  one  of  the  founders 
of  the  Agricultural  Society,  and  has  been  one  of  the 
executive  committee  nearly  every  year  from  its  organ- 
ization, until  last  year  he  resigned.  The  executive 
committee  fix  the  time  and  place  of  holding  the 
fairs  and  constitute  the  positive  working  force  in  its 
management.  No  man  has  done  more  for  the  suc- 
cess of  the  society,  both  as  an  organizer  and  director 
than  Mr.  Hine.  Among  those  who  have  served  with 
him  are  Watson  Jeffers,  Nathaniel  Tompkins,  I.  H. 
Parrish,  Penuel  Carpenter  and  John  Leslie.  He 
also  acted  as  school  director  eighteen  years,  and  was 
elected  as  a high-tax  man.  The  school-houses  were 
originally  built  by  the  different  neighborhoods  in 

47 


which  they  were  located.  They  did  service  for  their 
day  and  generation,  but  the  time  came  when  new 
and  better  ones  were  needed.  Some  districts  that 
had  comfortable  houses  did  not  want  to  be  taxed  to 
help  build  houses  in  other  districts.  The  matter 
stood  in  this  way  until  the  school-houses  needed  re- 
building. In  order  to  build  properly,  it  became  neces- 
sary to  get  a special  act  of  Legislature  permitting  the 
directors  to  levy  a larger  amount  for  building  pur- 
poses. Enough  high-tax  men  were  finally  elected  to 
form  a majority  of  the  board.  Seven  new  school- 
houses  were  built,  including  the  graded  school  build- 
ing at  the  village,  and  two  were  bought  that  had 
been  recently  built  by  the  district  during  the  time 
Mr.  Hine  was  director.  Two  new  school-houses  have 
been  built  since,  which  makes  eleven  in  the  town- 
ship, Henry  M.  Jones  and  Watson  Jeffers  also 
served  on  the  board  during  that  struggle.  Mr.  Hine 
holds  that  “ whenever  a man  accepts  an  office  he 
should  either  attend  to  its  duties  or  resign.”  Porter 
Hine,  his  son,  taught  here  a number  of  years,  is  the 
present  teacher  at  Nicholson,  and  resides  in  Brooklyn. 

Levi  R.  Peck. — The  New  England  home  of  this 
branch  of  the  Peck  family  was  at  Litchfield,  Conn., 
and  their  progenitor  of  the  family  from  England  was 
Deacon  Paul  Peck,  an  early  settler  of  the  seven- 
teenth centery.  One  Deacon  William  Peck,  another 
branch,  born  in  London,  England,  in  1601,was  one  of 
the  charter  members  of  the  New  Haven  Colony,  in 
1638.  The  grandparents  of  Levi  were  Elijah  and 
Hannah  (Harrison)  Peck,  of  Litchfield,  whose  children 
were  Almon,  died  at  Albany,  on  his  way  here;  Rhoda  the 
wife  of  Truman  Clinton,  died  in  Ararat;  Clarissa,  wife 
of  a Mr.  Woodruff,  died  in  Livingston  County,  N.  Y.; 
Mahala  was  a Mrs.  Harrison,  of  the  same  county ; Lucy, 
wife  of  Norman  Kilbourn,  of  Connecticut,  died  in  1872, 
whose  grandson  is  Dwight  C.  Kilbourn,  an  eminent 
lawyer;  Freeman  (1788-1864), died  at  Harford,  where 
he  spent  most  of  his  life  ; and  Dr.  Elijah  Peck,  who 
came  to  Harford  in  1830,  where  he  practiced  medi- 
cine for  eighteen  years,  when  he  returned  to  Con- 
necticut, where  he  died,  in  1872.  After  the  death  of 
Elijah  Peck  his  widow  married  Ebenezer  Marsh,  and 
after  his  death  she  became  the  wife  of  Timothy 
Skinner,  whose  son  was  a Governor  of  Vermont. 

This  Freeman  Peck  (formerly  spelled  Freemond) 
settled  in  Harford,  from  Litchfield,  in  1806,  and 
bought,  in  1809,  of  John  Sweet,  sixty-nine  acres,  near 
the  Orphans’  School.  He  was  a blacksmith  by  trade, 
but  a man  of  considerable  enterj)rise,  and  one  of  the 
first  members  of  the  Univeralist  Church  of  Brooklyn, 
in  1826,  and  a Royal  Arch  Mason.  His  house  was 
the  first  one  painted  in  the  township.  He  built  on 
this  place  a blacksmith-shop,  where  he  did  business 
until  1844,  when  he  sold  the  property.  He  also 
bought,  in  1811,  of  Reuben  Tyrrell,  a farm  about 
one  mile  southeast  of  the  village,  and  erected  the 
present  two-story  residence  in  1822.  This  he  managed 
himself  after  1836,  and  here  the  family  resided  after 


730 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


1838.  In  1842  he  built  the  present  three-story  grist- 
mill in  Harford  village,  owned  it  until  1854,  and 
sold  it  to  S.  B.  Guile  and  Charles  H.  Miller.  His 
wife,  whom  he  married  in  1813,  was  Eunice  Otis 
(1791-1870),  a native  of  Norwich,  Conn.,  an  orphan 
girl,  who  came  to  Brooklyn  with  the  Gere  family, 
and  was  a teacher  there  in  the  early  history  of  the 
township.  Her  sister  Clarissa  married  Thomas 
Oakley,  of  Brooklyn.  Their  children  are  Elijah 
(1814-35),  educated  for  the  ministry,  died  upon 
reaching  his  majority ; Simeon  H,  (1815-49)  served 
in  the  Commissary  Department  in  the  Mexican  War, 


ford  Academy,  and  by  study  at  home.  He  remained 
at  home  doing  farm-work  until  the  age  of  twenty- 
three,  and  in  1846  rented  his  father’s  grist-mill,  which 
he  run  for  five  years.  He  was  the  successor  of  G.  G. 
Pride,  in  mercantile  business  at  Harford  (Eaton  & 
Peck)  for  fifteen  months,  a farmer  on  the  Tucker 
place  from  1854  to  1860,  which  he  owned,  and  after  a 
residence  for  three  years  near  Harford  village 
he  purchased  the  homestead  of  his  father,  where  he 
has  since  resided.  Here  he  erected  a barn,  in  1870,  at  a 
cost  of  three  thousand  two  hundred  dollars,  which  was 
built  in  sixty  days,  one  of  the  mostspacious  and  finest 


J’/PP^cA 

/ ' 


and  died  in  Natchitoches,  La.;  Freeman  H.  (1817-76), 
a teacher  and  farmer,  died  at  St.  Croix  Falls,  Wis.; 
Clarissa  (1819^1) ; Harriet  (1821-55),  was  the  first 
wife  of  Truman  Bell,  of  Hopbottom,  formerly  of 
Lenox ; Levi  R.,  horn  in  Harford  December  1, 
1822 ; Nancy,  1825,  married,  in  1845,  John  S.  Adams, 
and  resides  adjoining  the  Peck  homestead,  and  has 
children— John  F.,  Simeon  H.,  Herman  G.,  Charles 
M.,  Marion  E.,  James  S.  and  Nina  M.  Adams ; 
Charles  M.  (1827—63),  died  in  California,  was  a master- 
mason  ; George  W.,  1829,  a mechanic,  resides  in  Har- 
ford. Levi  R.,  son  of  Freeman  Peck,  obtained  a good 
education  from  hooks  at  the  district  school,  at  Har- 


structures  in  the  township.  Upon  leaving  the  mill, 
Mr.  Peck,  in  connection  with  his  farm-work,  engaged 
extensively  in  the  sale  of  agricultural  implements 
throughout  the  county.  He  was  a pioneer  salesman 
in  implements  and  Champion  saws,  and  since  1851 
he  has  sold  four  hundred  and  forty  horse-powers, 
one  thousand  mowing-machines,  and  as  many  horse- 
rakes,  one  thousand  five  hundred  cross-cut  saws, 
besides  other  farm  implements.  In  1869  his  sales, 
mostly  in  the  country,  amounted  to  thirty-five  thou- 
sand dollars.  He  was  one  of  the  founders  of  the 
Harford  Agricultural  Society,  in  1857,  and  contrib- 
uted the  lumber  for  Agricultural  Hall.  He  has 


HARFORD. 


731 


served  on  the  executive  committee  of  the  society  for 
several  years,  and  frequently  been  an  exhibitor  in  its 
fairs.  He  became  a member  of  Warren  Lodge,  Mont- 
rose, F.  A.  M.,  in  1851,  and  remained  there  until  the 
organization  of  the  Live  Oak  Lodge  at  Harford, 
where  he  has  been  a member  since.  In  politics  he 
voted  for  James  K.  Polk,  for  Fremont  and  Lincoln, 
and  was  a stanch  supporter  of  the  Union  in  the  late 
war.  He  enlisted  upon  the  first  call  for  troops  by 
President  Lincoln,  went  to  Harrisburg,  but  upon  ex- 
amination was  rejected  for  disability.  He  was  away 
from  home  three  weeks,  during  which  time  he  served 
as  quartermaster  and  purser  of  the  company  raised  at 
Montrose,  Capt.  Charles  Warner,  and  for  the  Dimock 
company.  He  subsequently  volunteered  a second 
time,  but  was  again  rejected,  and  remaining  at  home, 
supported  the  war  with  his  time  and  means.  Mr. 
Peck  has  enjoyed  a robust  constitution  and  a power- 
ful physique,  aud  his  life-work  has  been  full  of 
activity  and  labor.  He  is  an  intelligent  farmer  and 
a thorough  agriculturist.  He  is  independent  in 
thought,  and  firmly  intrenched  in  his  own  views  of 
the  doctrines  of  the  Bible.  He  married,  in  1849, 
Deborah  A.  Smith  (1824-82),  a woman  of  fortitude  and 
excellence,  a daughter  of  Latham  A.  and  Sally  New- 
ton Smith,  of  Brooklyn,  and  a sister  of  Dr.  L.  A. 
Smith,  of  New  Milford.  Their  children  are  Evelyn 
A.  (1854-80),  was  the  wife  of  Lewis  F^.  Peck,  of  Har- 
ford ; Dr.  Dever  J.  Peck,  born  in  1856,  educated  in 
the  Harford  High  School,  a teacher  for  eight  years, 
read  medicine  with  Dr.  Blakslee,  of  Harford,  and  was 
graduated  from  the  University  Medical  College  of 
New  York  in  the  class  of  ’86,  is  a physician  at  Sus- 
quehanna (he  married  Carrie  Rogers,  of  Bradford 
County,  a teacher  for  several  years  in  the  Orphans’ 
School,  in  Harford) ; Ernest  L.,  born  in  1860,  mar- 
ried Julia  E.,  a daughter  of  Ira  D.  Barnes  (and  Susan 
Benjamin),  son  of  Ezekiel  Barnes  and  grandson  of 
Nehemiah  Barnes,  who  died  in  Gibson,  in  1839,  aged 
seventy-eight. 

Harding  Neighborhood. — In  the  month  of  De- 
cember, 1800,  Stephen  Harding  came  into  South 
Harford,  and  purchased  an  improvement  of  a man  by 
the  name  of  Hallstead,  which  consisted  of  a log  saw- 
mill, located  on  the  Nine  Partners’  Creek,  and  a log 
house.  In  1806  he  purchased  this  land  of  William 
Poyntell.  He  sold  the  place  to  his  father,  Thomas 
Harding,  about  this  time,  and  went  to  Gibson  and 
built  a saw-mill.  His  father  died  in  a few  years,  and 
he  returned,  and  resumed  work  in  the  saw-mill,  which 
he  continued  to  run  until  he  died,  in  1842,  aged  sev- 
enty. He  had  two  wives,  and  reared  a large  family 
of  children,  among  them  Amasa  (who  lived  and 
died  here),  Arabella,  Harry,  Lucy,  Esther,  Lavina, 
Stephen  R.,  John,  Olive,  Lydia  and  James  C.  and 
Elijah  C.,  who  now  own  the  homestead. 

Benjamin  Harding,  half-brother  of  Stephen,  lived 
on  the  place  adjoining,  and  raised  a large  family, 
none  of  whom  reside  in  the  township.  Perry  Hard- 


ing, another  son  of  Thomas  Harding,  lived  in  the 
neighborhood.  He  was  killed  by  the  cars,  at  Peck- 
ville,  when  eighty-four  years  of  age.  One  of  his  sons, 
Alva  Harding,  resides  in  Salem,  Wayne  County. 
Israel  Harding  lived  where  George  Resseguie  now 
lives,  and  raised  a large  family,  all  of  whom  are  dead. 

William  Coonrod  or  Conrad,  a Hessian  who  was 
brought  over  to  this  country  by  the  British,  to  fight 
the  colonies,  lived  on  the  Van  Winkle  Creek.  His 
son-in-law,  Nathan  Forsyth,  had  the  place  after  he 
died.  Forsyth  died  in  1862,  aged  seventy-three,  and 
Polly,  his  wife,  died  in  1878,  aged  eighty-three. 
They  are  both  buried  in  the  Harding  bury ing-ground. 
John  Brundage  was  an  old  settler  on  the  east  side  of 
Van  Winkle  Creek.  . His  sons  were  John,  Daniel, 
George,  William  and  Joseph.  Sally  Ann,  Phoebe 
Ann,  Abby  Jane,  Mary  Ann  and  Nancy  were  the 
girls.  Jacob  Dunn  and  family  were  here  early. 
Peter  V.  Dunn  is  the  only  one  of  his  children  that 
remained  in  the  place.  Joshua  K.  Adams  first  lo- 
cated near  the  Pulk ; he  afterwards  lived  and  died  on 
the  “ Muscle  Crag,”  where  George  Stevens  now  lives. 
Joab  Fuller  first  settled  where  Andrew  Gow  now 
lives.  His  sons  were  Harlan,  Henry  and  Nelson. 
Henry  retained  the  homestead,  and  Harlan  lived 
where  Ludwig  Conrad  lives.  Hezekiah  Pellet,  Oliver 
Weatherby  and  Jared  Woodward  lived  in  the  vi- 
cinity. 

Joseph  Peck  came  from  Connecticut  in  1822,  and 
started  on  “ Muscle  Crag,”  and  subsequently  bought 
the  Isaac  Blake  place,  and  died  there,  aged  eighty- 
six.  His  son,  Collins  Peck,  resides  there  now. 
Philena,  wife  of  James  Powers,  of  Gibson ; Hannah 
M.,  wife  of  Joseph  Powers,  who  resides  on  the  Perry 
Harding  place ; Darius  and  Mary  M.  were  the  chil- 
dren. 

Jacob  Blake  was  an  old  settler,  and  resided  where 
James  Rogers  now  lives.  Aaron  Thayer  was  also 
here  early.  Several  of  his  children  taught  school. 
Miss  Molly  Post  taught  the  first  school  here,  in  a log 
house  on  the  hill  back  of  the  mill.  It  had  a stone 
chimney,  and  was  called  Molly’s  Castle.  The  schools 
were  mostly  in  private  houses  in  the  pioneer  days 
here.  Mrs.  Powers  remembers  attending  school  in 
nearly  every  private  house  in  that  neighborhood. 
Mrs.  Clark  taught  her  own  children  and  her  neigh- 
bors’ in  her  own  house.  Sally  Read,  Ruth  Engle, 
Maria  Lines,  Davis  Thayer  and  Louisa  Thayer,  chil- 
dren of  Aaron  Thayer,  were  teachers.  There  is  a 
Baptist  Church  here,  and  one  of  the  first  churches  in 
the  county  was  organized  here ; but  it  stands  empty 
now ; the  members  have  moved  away,  until  Joseph 
Powers  and  wife  and  Miss  Mary  Peck  are  all  there 
are  remaining.  Jonathan  Smith  and  Stephen  Hard- 
ing were  among  the  constituent  members.  Elder 
Mack  was  one  of  the  early  preachers  among  them. 

Aaron  Thayer  came  to  Harford  in  1820,  from  Med- 
way, Mass.,  and  located  in  the  Harding  neighbor- 
hood, near  the  mill,  and  in  about  one  year  he  re- 


732 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


moved  to  the  East  or  Guile  Hill,  and  remained  there 
a number  of  years,  when  he  removed  near  the  Lenox 
line,  and  finally  died,  at  the  residence  of  his  daugh- 
ter, Mrs.  Allen,  near  the  Or2dran  School.  His  chil- 
dren were  Cyrus  Amanda,  wife  of  Asahel  Carjrenter  ; 
Loisa,  wife  of  Preston  Richardson,  and  after  his 
death  she  became  the  wife  of  Rev.  Edward  Allen; 
Alma,  wife  of  Emulous  Tiffany;  Louisa,  wife  of 
George  Blakeslee;  Margaret  and  Jemima,  married  in 
Ohio;  F.  D.  Thayer,  superintendent  of  the  Honesdale 
Water-Works,  is  the  only  one  now  living. 

Elkanah  Tingley  Follet. — His  father,  Warren 
Follet  (1775-1830),  came  from  Attleborough,  Mass , 


forty  years  before  his  death  and  cleared  considerable 
of  the  land.  His  wife  was  a member  of  the  Baptist 
Church  at  Maxley,  and  most  likely  in  her  younger 
days  belonged  to  the  Harford  Baptist  Church,  where 
her  jjareuts  worshipped  and  were  among  its  founders. 

Their  children  were  Cyrus,  born  1801,  died  in 
Ohio  ; Hiram,  1803,  died  at  Danville,  Pa.,  leaving 
children,  John  and  Betsey;  Sylvia  P.  (1804-42),  wife 
of  Leonard  Corse,  of  New  Milford,  left  children,  Laura 
and  Alvira;  Elkanah  Tingley,  born  Dec.  9,  1805,  died 
Oct.  6,  1886 ; Ovid,  1807,  resided  on  a part  of  the 
homestead  during  his  life  and  left  children, — Virgil, 
George,  William,  Edgar,  Ezra,  Corintha,  Celestia, 


at  the  age  of  twenty,  in  1795,  and  settled  on  about 
seventy  acres  and  afterwards  bought  one  hundred  and 
twenty-one  acres  of  land  in  the  northeastern  part  of 
Harford,  where  he  erected  his  log  house  and  began 
clearing  his  land.  He  married,  in  1800,  Patty  (1782- 
1865),  a daughter  of  Elkanah  Tingley,  who  joined 
the  Nine  Partners’  settlement  the  same  year  as  his 
own  settlement.  Her  mother  was  an  Aldrich.  War- 
ren Follet  afterward  built  a frame  house,  which,  in 
turn,  was  supplanted  by  the  residence  of  his  son 
Elkanah,  erected  in  1868.  He  resided  on  this  place 


Julia,  Emma  and  Henrietta;  Robert,  1810,  a farmer 
in  Pitcher,  N.  Y.,  has  children,  Oscar  and  Della; 
Chloe  T.  (1812-53),  wife  of  Wisner  Belknap,  of  New 
Milford,  left  children, — Patty  A.,  Julius,  James,  John, 
Josiah ; Warren,  Jr.,  died  young;  Charles,  1823,  re- 
sided in  Franklin  and  had  children,  Demila  and 
Ophelia;  Patty  P.,  1828,  the  wife  of  Jacob  Sebel,  of 
Sheffield,  111. 

Elkanah  T.  succeeded  to  the  homestead  by  pur- 
chase, and  after  selling  seventy-five  acres  of  it  to  his 
brother  Ovid,  had  one  hundred  and  sixteen  acres  left. 


HARFORD. 


733 


Here,  where  he  was  born,  he  spent  his  life.  He  was 
an  industrious  farmer,  added  sixty-seven  acres  to  his 
I'eal  estate  and  made  other  improvements.  He  was 
honest  in  his  business  relations,  temperate  in  his 
habits,  a man  of  strict  morality,  and  had  a conscien- 
tious regard  for  the  rights  and  desires  of  others.  He 
married,  in  18(52,  Helen  Blanding,  who  was  horn  in 
the  same  neighborhood  Oct.  17,  1834.  She  has  been 
a member  of  the  Baptist  Church  at  Maxley’s  since 
seventeen  years  of  age.  Her  father,  Sabinas  Bland- 
ing (1798-1846),  a Presbyterian,  joined  at  the  age  of 
nine  at  Harwood,  married  Sophronia  Bronson  (1813- 
71),  a member  of  the  Baptist  Church,  who  bore  him 
children, — Eveline,  died  young;  Helen  (Mrs.  Fol- 
let) ; Marshall,  born  1835,  resides  in  Bureau  County, 
111.;  Herbert,  1837,  a farmer  in  New  Milford;  and 
Emory  S.  Blanding  died  young.  By  her  marriage  to 
Gilbert  Witter,  after  the  death  of  her  first  husband, 
Sophronia  had  one  child,  Mary  Witter,  1850,  wife  of 
Orlando  B.  Harding,  of  Gibson.  Sabinas  Blanding 
was  the  son  of  Joseph  Blanding,  who  settled  where 
Mr.  Gillespie  now  resides  in  1795,  and  came  here  with 
the  Follet  family.  Joseph’s  wife  was  Huldah  Mar- 
tin, and  his  children  were  Joseph  ; Huldah,  wife  of 
John  Dunn,  of  Harford  ; Sabinas ; Elona,  1804,  wife  of 
John  L.  Tiffany,  of  Mount  Pleasant,  and  after  his 
death  married  Solomon  Sherwood,  of  the  same  place ; 
Martin ; Charles  ; Aden  ; Reba;  John  ; and  Mandana, 
wife  of  Amasa  Trobridge,  of  Great  Bend.  Sophronia 
Bronson  was  the  daughter  of  Hosea  and  Helen 
(Pease)  Bronson,  early  settlers  of  Jackson.  The  only 
child  of  Elkanah  and  Helen  Follet  is  Warren  H. 
Follet,  born  June  16,  1863,  and  married  Nora,  a 
daughter  of  Henry  and  Amanda  (Foot)  Chase,  of 
Harford.  He  succeeds  to  the  homestead,  which  has 
been  in  the  family  nearly  a century. 

Abel  Read  lived  near  the  line  of  the  township  and 
was  there  as  early  as  1803.  He  had  a good  farm, 
which  he  left  to  his  sons  Abel  and  Noah,  who  lived 
and  died  here.  Noah’s  son,  Guilford,  lived  and  died 
on  the  homestead.  Joseph  Blanding  was  an  old  set- 
tler here.  His  sons  were  Joseph,  Rebe,  Sabinus, 
John,  Aden  and  Martin.  John  Blanding  had  a good 
farm  and  was  quite  prominently  identified  with  the 
Agricultural  Society.  He  died  recently,  aged  eighty- 
nine.  All  the  family  are  now  away  or  dead.  David 
Blackington  lived  near  the  line  and  Jones  Avery  just 
across  the  line  in  New  Milford.  Gabriel  Everett 
bought  of  Franklin  Avery  in  1836.  He  died  aged 
seventy-seven.  His  widow  is  living,  aged  eighty- 
eight. 

John  Leslie. — His  father,  John  Leslie,  a native 
of  the  Isle  of  Mull,  Scotland,  removed  to  the  Nor(di  of 
Ireland  and  acted  for  many  years  as  land-steward  for 
one  Montgomery,  of  Scotland,  a large  land-owner. 
There  he  became  a well-to-do  farmer.  His  wife  was 
Margaret  Moore,  and  his  father  Malcom  Leslie,  of 
Scotland.  The  children  of  John  and  Margaret 
Moore)  Leslie  who  came  to  America))  are,  John, 


Daniel,  James  and  Mary,  the  wife  of  Archibald 
Hanna,  of  New  Milford.  James  came  here  after  his 
other  brothers  did,  and  lived  and  died  in  Newburgh, 
N.  Y.  John  was  born  in  Benverdin,  three  miles 
from  the  Giant’s  Causeway,  Ireland,  on  the  family 
homestead,  F’ebruary  15,  1808,  and  died  in  Harford, 
this  county,  March  24,  1875.  In  1829  himself  and 
brother  Daniel  sailed  from  Port  Rush,  Ireland,  and 
lauded  in  New  York.  John  had  served  five  years  at 
home  in  learning  the  cloth-trade,  and  during  his  five 
years’  stay  in  New  York,  was,  for  a part  of  the 
time,  a clerk  in  a white-lead  manufactory.  Both  re- 
turned to  Ireland  in  1835,  and  John  married,  the 
same  year,  Mary  Ann  Bernie,  who  was  born  in  parish 
Ahadoey,  Ireland,  September  5,  1817,  and  who  was 
the  only  child  of  John  and  Nancy  (Hunter)  Bernie. 
Their  ancestors  were  of  Scotch  origin,  and,  in  common 
with  the  Leslies,  Presbyterians,  and  belonged  to  those 
old  stanch  Presbyterian  families  who,  two  hundred 
years  ago,  withstood  that  almost  intolerable  persecu- 
tion on  account  of  their  religious  persuasion.  After 
his  death  John  Bernie’s  widow  came  to  America  and 
died  at  her  daughter’s  residence  and  was  buried  at 
Harford.  John  Bernie  had  one  brother.  Dr.  George 
Bernie,  of  Belfast,  a head  surgeon  on  a British  man- 
of-war.  Daniel  Leslie  returned^  and  lived  and  died 
in  Newburgh.  After  their  marriage,  in  April,  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Leslie  sailed  on  the  29th  of  June,  1835,  from 
Liverpool  and  landed  in  New  York  in  August.  They 
had  some  means  with  which  to  start  in  a new  country. 
Mr.  Leslie  served  as  a clerk  for  some  time  in  a cloth 
house  in  New  York,  but  his  wife  not  liking  the  city, 
they  left  for  Newburgh,  and  upon  hearing  of  the  then 
far  West,  and  the  great  opportunities  offered  for  settle- 
ment, they  came  to  Harford  in  the  fall  of  1836,  and 
shortly  afterward  bought  of  Lyman  Follet  the  present 
homestead,  about  one  mile  east  of  Harford  village. 
Under  the  management  of  Mi’.  Leslie  the  half-cleared 
fields  and  woodland  in  a few  years  gave  place  to  well- 
cultivated  soil,  the  house  was  remodeled,  out-build- 
ings erected,  and,  in  due  time,  all  the  appointments 
of  the  new  home  bespoke  the  hand  and  judicious  care 
of  a thrifty,  industrious  and  intelligent  farmer.  Here 
this  worthy  couple  reared  their  large  family  of  chil- 
dren, trained  them  in  all  that  makes  true  manhood 
and  womanhood,  and  gave  them  the  best  educational 
advantages  of  the  Harford  Academy  and  the  graded 
school  of  the  village.  Mrs.  Leslie  brought  letters  from 
the  church  at  home  to  the  Presbyterian  Church  at 
Harford,  and  has  remained  a member  since,  devoted 
to  her  family  and  to  the  church.  He  became  a mem- 
ber soon  after  settling  here,  was  a careful  and  diligent 
student  of  the  Bible,  a lover  of  good  books  and 
thoroughly  read  many  standard  historical  works  dur- 
ing the  latter  years  of  his  life.  He  was  liberal  to 
those  in  need,  a snpjiorter  of  charities,  and  a kind,  in- 
dulgent husband  and  father.  Inheriting  that  indi- 
viduality characteristic  of  the  Scotchman,  he  was  a 
man  of  high  moral  and  religious  impulses,  judicious 


734 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


in  everything  and  honest  in  the  purposes  of  life’s 
work.  He  was  one  of  the  early  members  of  the  Har- 
ford Agricultural  Society,  served  for  many  years  on 
its  executive  board,  and  for  a dozen  years  or  more 
served  his  township  as  assessor,  often  being  supported 
for  office  by  those  differing  with  him  in  political 
opinion.  It  may  be  safely  said  that  Mr.  Leslie  had 
the  high  esteem  of  all  who  knew  him,  and  none  knew 
him  but  to  be  impressed  with  his  integrity  of  motives 
in  all  that  he  did.  Their  children  are  Mary,  born 
1837,  wife  of  William  T.  Gillespie,  of  Harford  ; George 


was  very  properly  named  in  honor  of  Rufus  Kings- 
ley, an  old  Revolutionary  hero,  who  was  the  first  set- 
tler there.  Rufus  Kingsley  was  born  in  Windham, 
Conn.,  February  1,  1763.  He  entered  the  Revolu- 
tionary army  as  a drummer  when  thirteen  years  of 
age,  and  was  at  the  battle  of  Bunker  Hill.  He 
served  through  the  war,  and  was  discharged  at  its 
close.  He  came  to  Harford  in  1809,  and  died  26th  of 
May,  1846,  aged  eighty-four.  His  wife  died  the  fol- 
lowing Friday,  aged  seventy-nine.  They  had  been 
married  sixty  years.  Mr.  Kingsley  was  not  only  a 


H.,  1838,  a contractor  in  Sturgis,  Dakota;  John  M., 
1840,  an  employe  of  the  Erie  Railroad  at  Susque- 
hanna; Dr.  James  D.  (1843-81),  an  eminent  young 
physician,  died  at  Susquehanna,  whose  sketch  may  be 
found  in  the  medical  history  of  this  volume;  William 
G.,  1845,  2)roprietor  of  the  Park  House,  Binghamton  ; 
Catherine  E.  M.,  died  young;  Joseph  H.  L.,  1848, 
an  engineer  on  the  Erie  Railroad,  resides  at  Susque- 
hanna; Jennie  E.  and  Alexander  M.  on  the  home- 
stead ; and  Samuel  M.  Ijeslie,  died  young. 

Kingsley’s. — A post-office  was  established  at 
Kingsley’s  March  13,  1886,  Willis  N.  Whitney,  post- 
master. It  is  a station  and  shijiping  {mint  on  the 
Delaware,  Lackawanna  and  Western  Railroad.  It 


soldier  of  the  Revolution,  but  he  had  been  a soldier  of 
the  Cross  for  fifty  years.  He  had  one  son,  John,  who 
lived  on  the  homestead  and  died  there ; his  son  Rufus 
moved  elsewhere.  Mary  Kingsley,  of  the  old  family, 
was  the  wife  of  Ira  Nichols,  of  Herrick. 

Andrew  J.  Adams. — John  Adams  (1745-1849),  a 
Revolutionary  soldier,  of  Ashburnham,  Mass.,  came 
to  Harford  in  1837,  being  then  ninety-two  years  of 
age,  to  spend  the  remainder  of  his  days  with  his  son 
James.  He  was  a shoemaker  by  trade,  and  after 
reaching  his  one  hundredth  year  would  make  a pair 
of  shoes  in  a day.  He  was  well  educated,  and  method- 
ical in  everything  he  did,  plain  in  his  tastes,  and 
pleasant  in  his  manners  and  a man  of  .correct  habits. 


i 


HARFORD. 


735 


He  never  employed  a doctor  when  ill,  but  depended 
upon  simple  herb  remedies  to  recujrerate  health.  At 
the  age  of  one  hundred  and  one  he  wrote  several  let- 
ters, which  were  published  in  his  native  State  papers, 
evincing  a wonderful  retention  of  mental  faculties 
and  a mind  cultivated  and  improved  after  maturity. 
He  lived  to  the  great  age  of  one  hundred  and  four 
years,  one  month  and  four  days,  and  was  buried  on 
East  Hill,  in  Brooklyn.  He  married,  in  1770,  Joanna, 
a daughter  of  Jonas  and  Joanna  Munro,  at  Lexing- 
ton, the  ceremony  being  performed  by  Rev.  Jonas 
Clark.  She  was  born  in  1747.  His  parents  were 
Thomas  and  Lydia  Adams,  of  Ashburnham.  His 
children  were  as  follow's : John,  born  1771 ; Levi, 
1773,  a tanner,  settled  in  Harford  about  1830,  where 
he  carried  on  the  tanning  business,  (he  died  leaving 
a family,  one  son,  Amos  H.,  residing  near  Scranton)  ; 
Joanna,  1775;  Jonas,  1777,  settled  in  Harford  about 
the  same  time  as  his'brother,  and  died  here,  leaving  a 
family;  James  (1779-1855),  father  of  Andrew  J.,  was 
a soldier  in  the  War  of  1812  ; Rebecca,  1781 ; Walter 
Russell,  1783 ; Betsey,  1785  ; and  Dolly  Adams  (1789- 
1854).  Of  these  children,  James  was  the  first  to 
leave  his  native  place,  Ashburnham,  and  find  a home 
in  this  then  new  country.  He  came  to  Harford  in 
1825,  and  bought  two  hundred  acres  of  woodland, 
having  only  a small  clearing  and  a log  house,  situ- 
ated one-half  mile  east  of  Kingsley’s  Station.  His 
wife,  Dolly  Dickerman  (1779-1818),  whose  father  was 
a soldier  in  the  Revolution,  and  fought  for  the  colo- 
nists at  Lexington,  died  in  Ashburnhairi,  leaving 
children,— ^Nancy  (1800-59),  wife  of  Loren  B.  Gates, 
resided  in  Harford  for  a time  and  went  West;  Dolly 
(1802-28),  married  one  Brooks,  of  Massachusetts; 
James  (1804-80),  settled  in  Brooklyn,  and  his  sketch 
is  in  this  volume;  Elizabeth  D.  (1806-75),  married 
John  Boynton,  of  Groton,  Mass.;  Jonas  (1808-70) 
died  in  Harford;  and  Joanna  Munro  (1811-49)  be- 
came the  wife  of  Laban  Capron,  of  Harford.  For  his 
second  wife  he  married  Lucy  Sartell  (1792-1864),  and 
had  children, — John  S.,  born  1820,  a farmer  in  Har- 
ford; Lucy  E.  (1821-82)  was  the  wife  of  Alfred  Jef- 
fers, of  Lenox ; Sarah  M.,  1824,  the  wife  of  H.  N. 
Smith,  of  Lenox  ; Mary  Ann  died  young ; Andrew 
Jackson,  born  July  10,  1828  ; and  William  B.  Adams, 
1831,  of  Hopbottom.  His  second  wife,  and  nearly 
all  the  children  above  mentioned,  except  the  last  two, 
came  with  him  to  Harford.  James  Adams  cleared 
most  of  his  land,  with  the  assistance  of  his  sons,  and 
erected  a frame  house,  which  was  the  residence  of 
the  family  until  it  was  remodeled  by  his  son,  Andrew 
J.,  in  1877,  and  an  addition  made  thereto.  He  was  a 
shoemaker  and  a farmer  before  leaving  New  England, 
but  gave  his  time  mostly  to  the  improvement  of  his 
new  home  after  coming  here.  He  was  a man  of  un- 
pretentious ways,  never  sought  official  place,  but 
quietly  passed  through  his  life’s  work,  honest  in  his 
purposes  and  pure  in  his  motives.  He  was  fond  of 
music,  and  used  to  play  the  bass-viol  and  bassoon  at 


the  services  in  the  Universalist  Church  in  Brooklyn, 
where  he  worshipped.  Andrew  J.  Adams  was  born 
on  the  homestead  in  Harford,  and  succeeded  to  it  by 
purchase  at  his  father’s  death.  He  obtained  his  early 
book  education  at  the  district  school  and  at  Harford 
Academy.  At  the  age  of  seventeen  he  went  to  New- 
ton, Mass.,  where  he  learned  morocco  manufacturing 
and  tanning.  He  afterwards  worked  at  this  business 
as  a journeyman  at  Ashburnham,  and  followed  it 
until  the  death  of  his  father.  He  married,  in  1852, 
Sarah  J.  Sawyer  (1833-67),  a daughter  of  Abel 
Sawyer,  of  Ashburnham,  where  she  was  born.  Their 
children  are  Herbert  S.,  1856,  married  Lottie,  a 
daughter  of  Isaac  Halstead,  of  Gibson  ; Nettie  G. ; and 

Hattie  L.  Adams.  He  married,  in for  his  second 

wife,  Elmira  M.  Wilmarth,  who  was  born  in  Harford, 
October  4,  1838.  Her  father,  De  Lafayette  Wilmarth 
(1812-54),  belonged  to  a family  who  were  early  set- 
tlers of  Harford,  and  one  Thomas  Wilmarth  was  a 
constable  here  in  1808.  Her  mother  was  Harriet 
Payne,  a daughter  of  Cai^tain  Oliver  Payne  (1780- 
1868),  a native  of  Lebanon,  Conn.,  who  married  Elvira, 
daughter  of  Dea.  Samuel  Barstow,  of  Columbia,  Conn., 
and  were  pioneer  settlers  in  Gibson.  Eight  of  Captain’ 
Payne’s  family  served  in  the  late  Rebellion,  including  a 
son-in-law,  one  a captain  and  one  a colonel.  By 
this  union  Mr.  Adams  has  two  daughters — Emma 
S.  and  Jennie  E.  Adams.  Since  1855  he  has  en- 
gaged in  general  farming.  He  was  an  early  member 
of  the  Harford  Agricultural  Society,  has  served  his 
township  as  supervisor  for  six  years  and  as  assessor 
for  one  year.  He  was  a stanch  supporter  of  the 
Union  cause  in  the  late  Rebellion,  and  although  not 
drafted,  put  in  a substitute  at  nearly  the  close  of  the 
war  at  an  expense  of  one  thousand  dollars.  He  was 
the  prime  mover  in  getting  the  depot  bnilt  at  Kings- 
loys  in  1885,  is  a progressive,  active  business  man, 
and  one  of  the  intelligent  farmers  of  the  country.  He 
is  a member  of  Live  Oak  Lodge,  I.  0.  O.  F.,  No. 
635,  of  Harford. 

I.  0.  0.  F.  OF  Harford. — On  the  petition  of  the 
following  brothers,  residents  of  this  place  and  mem- 
bers of  “ Huron  Lodge,”  No.  483,  of  Jackson,  Pa  Aus- 
tins Darrow,  G.  L.  Payne,  W.  H.  Shannon,  Henry 
Grant,  A.  A.  Eaton,  W.  A.  Payne,  D.  M.  Farrar,  E. 
E.  Corwin,  William  Ira,  William  Tiffany,  A.  V.  Price, 
a warrant  was  granted.  May  20,  1868,  by  the  Grand 
Lodge  of  Pennsylvania  for  the  institution  of  a subor- 
dinate lodge  at  Harford.  Arrangements  were  made  for 
a lodge-room  over  Guile  & Eaton’s,  which  is  properly 
fitted  and  furnished,  and  still  occupied  by  them, 
April,  1887.  July  22,  1868,  Daniel  Brewster,  D.  D. 
G.  M.,  assisted  by  a number  of  brothers  of  Montrose 
Lodge,  came  and  proceeded  to  institute  and  organize 

Live  Oak  Lodge,  No.  635,  I.  0.  O.  F.,  with  the 
following  officers  : Austin  Darrow,  N.  G.  ; E.  E.  Cor- 
win, V.  G. ; Williams  Tiffany,  secretary ; W.  H.  Shan- 
non, assistant  secretary ; A.  P.  Price,  treasurer.  Im- 
mediately afterwards  H.  J.  Tiffany  was,introduced  and 


736 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


instructed  in  the  mysteries  of  the  order.  The  doors 
were  then  opened  to  the  public,  and  the  hall  was 
properly  dedicated  to  extend  the  noble  principles  of 
the  order.  The  brothers  are  all  living,  except  Wil- 
liams Tiffany,  who  died  October  15,  1884,  although 
not  a member  of  this  lodge.  The  following  brothers 
are  officers  for  the  ensuing  term : Herman  G.  Adams, 
N.  G. ; Oscar  C.  Talman,  V.  G. ; Fred.  A.  Osborne, 
secretary  ; James  B.  Raub,  assistant  secretary;  David 

L.  Hine,  treasurer. 

Haeford  Congregational  Church. — Among 
the  settlers  of  1794-95  were  several  members  of  the 
Congregational  Church  in  Attleboro’.  In  the  fall  of 
1794  the  settlement  was  visited  by  Rev.  Daniel  Buck, 
who  had  emigrated  from  New  Milford,  Conn.,  and 
purchased  a farm  near  Great  Bend,  where  he  was 
preaching  the  gospel.  The  visit  was  soon  repeated. 
These  first  sermons  in  the  settlement  were  preached 
in  a log  cabin,  covered  with  bark,  which  stood  on  the 
side  of  “Farrar  Hill.”  A “reading-meeting”  was 
then  established  by  vote  of  the  people,  and  John 
Tyler  was  appointed  to  conduct  it.  The  services 
consisted  of  reading  Scripture,  some  printed  ser- 
mon and  singing.  Not  long  afterwards  a missionary, 
named  Smith,  preached  here  a few  times ; after  that 
an  Irish  minister,  named  Bolton,  was  employed  a 
short  time.  Rev.  Daniel  Thacher  made  several 
transient  visits.  The  people  occasionally  had  the 
pleasure  of  meeting  missionaries  of  the  General  As- 
sembly or  of  the  Missionary  Society  of  Connecticut. 
Rev.  Messrs.  Asa  Hillier,  M.  L.  R.  Perrine  and 
David  Porter  have  been  remembered  with  interest. 
They  were  pastors  elsewhere,  but  would  employ 
a month  or  two  in  the  year  to  look  up  the  destitute  in 
the  wilderness.  A church  was  organized  June  15, 
1800,  by  Rev.  Jedediah  Chapman,  of  the  Presbytery  of 
Orange,  N.  J.,  a missionary  of  the  General  Assembly 
of  the  Presbyterian  Church.  It  consisted  of  seven 
members,  Obadiah  Carpenter  and  Anna  Carpenter 
(his  wife),  John  Tyler  and  Mercy  (his  wife),  John 
Thacher,  Mercy  Carpenter  (wife  of  Obadiah  Carpen- 
ter, Jr.),  and  Miss  Mary  Thacher.  All  had  letters 
from  Attleborough  Church,  of  which  Rev.  Peter 
Thacher  was  pastor.  The  Articles  of  Faith,  drawn 
up  by  Mr.  Chapman  were  subsequently  exchanged  for 
others  of  the  Congregational  form.  “ March  3,  1803, 
being  met  in  church  meeting,  after  prayer  to  God  for 
direction,  the  church,  after  due  deliberation,  do  sol- 
emnly declare  themselves  to  be  of  the  Congregational 
order,  by  vote  unanimously.  Voted,  that  the 

Confession  of  Faith  of  the  2d  Church  of  Christ 
in  Attleborough,  and  Covenant,  together  with 
the  Cambridge  Platform,  be  the  rule  of  faith  and 
discipline.”  In  April,  1803,  John  Tyler  and 
Obadiah  Carpenter  were  elected  deacons.  Meet- 
ings were  held  in  the  house  of  John  Tyler,  which 
stood  on  the  site  of  the  residence  of  the  late  Henry 

M.  Jones.  This  was  the  first  frame  house  in  the  set- 
tlement. Meetings  were  also  held  in  his  barn,  which 


stood  on  the  hill-side,  west  of  his  house.  The  winter  of 
1802-3  is  memorable  for  its  influence  on  the  religious 
character  and  prospects  of  the  growing  community. 
In  those  days  ministers  were  sometimes  sent  forth, 
two  and  two,  to  look  up  the  sheep  scattered  in  the 
wilderness.  January  24, 1803,  Rev.  Seth  Williston 
writes  to  the  Missionary  Society  of  Connecticut : “ I 
came  to  a settlement  called  Nine  Partners,  intending 
to  jireach  a lecture  and  pass  on.  This  was  Monday 
evening.  They  urged  me  to  stay  through  the  week. 
I agreed  to  stay  and  preach  again  the  next  day.  I 
now  agreed  to  stay  over  the  Sabbath.  That  day  was 
a remarkably  solemn  day.  I believe  God  was  in  the 
midst  of  the  assembly,  of  a truth.  Sabbath  evening 
we  had  about  as  full  a meeting  as  in  the  day-time, 
though  there  was  no  moon.”  Rev.  Mr.  Woodward 
had  preceded  Mr.  Williston,  and  on  the  Sabbath  be- 
fore had  preached  and  administered  the  Lord’s  Sup- 
per to  the  little  church.  Mr.  Williston  returned  af- 
ter two  weeks  and  found  the  work  had  spread  during 
his  absence.  He  continued  the  meetings  five  weeks, 
and  at  times  there  were  one  hundred  and  seventy  per- 
sons present,  which  was  a large  number  for  such  a 
settlement.  Sarah  Thacher  joined  the  church  in 
1800.  In  1803  Joseph  Blanding,  Huldah  Blanding, 
Sarah  Thacher,  John  Carpenter,  Molly  Carpenter, 
Samuel  Thacher,  Betsey  Thacher,  Thomas  Sweet, 
Nanny  Sweet,  Ezra  Carpenter,  Mary  Carpenter,  Oba- 
diah Carpenter,  Jr.,  Achsah  Tyler,  Elias  Carpenter, 
Abigail  S,  Clafiin,  Sally  Chamberlin,  Wright  Cham- 
berlin, Obadiah  Thacher,  Elizabeth  Thacher,  Anna 
Knapp,  Elizabeth  Jones,  Patty  Gere,  .Elizabeth 
Whitney,  Ichabod  Seaver,  Mary  Seaver,  Nathan  P. 
Thacher.  In  1805  Elisha  Bell,  Sarah  Bell.  1806, 
Eliza  Sweet,  Nancy  Howard,  Abel  Read,  John  Tyler, 
Jr.,  Polly  Tyler,  Polly  Carpenter,  Joab  Tyler,  Eliza- 
beth Read.  1807,  Caleb  Richardson,  Jr.,  Huldah 
Richardson,  Mary  Tracy.  In  1809  forty-seven  were 
added  to  the  church.  For  five  years  succeeding  Rev.  S. 
Williston’s  visit  the  people  had  been  supplied  by 
transient  missionaries  about  one-fourth  of  the  time. 
In  1806  a small  church  was  erected.  In  the  winter 
of  1808-9  Rev.  Mr.  Griswold,  while  here  on  a visit  to 
relatives,  suggested  that  Rev.  Joel  T.  Benedict,  of 
Franklin,  N.  Y.,  be  invited  to  labor  a while.  He 
came,  and  the  addition  of  forty-seven  members,  be- 
fore noticed,  is  the  result  of  his  labors.  In  personal 
address  Mr.  Benedict  was  frequently  abrupt  and  pun- 
gent. He  gave  prominence  to  the  doctrines  of  grace. 
Some  of  his  discourses  produced  deep  impressions. 
Meetings  were  held  almost  daily.  Some  of  them  were 
held  in  Brooklyn  and  Gibson,  which  were  then  within 
the  bounds  of  the  church  of  Harford.  The  word  of 
the  Lord  was  precious  in  those  days.  Distance, 
darkness  and  bad  roads  were  considered  but  slight 
obstructions  to  the  gathering  of  the  congregations 
anywhere. 

Rev.  Ebenzer  Kingsbury  was  installed  pastor 
August  3,  1810,  and  continued  in  that  relation  until 


HAKFOKD. 


737 


September,  1827.  In  1810  six  persons  were  received 
into  the  church.  From  that  time  until  1818  twelve 
were  received;  from  that  time  until  1827  eighty-six 
persons  were  received.  After  Mr.  Kingsbury’s  con- 
nection was  dissolved,  Rev.  Adam  Miller  preached 
one  year,  1828,  on  trial,  and  finally  accepted  the  call 
of  the  church  and  was  installed  pastor  April  28,  1830. 
The  sermon  was  preached  by  Rev.  Cyrus  Gildersleeve. 
Rev.  Adam  Miller  stood  before  the  people  of  Harfoi’d 
for  more  than  half  a century,  occupying  the  unique 
position  of  a Presbyterian  minister  serving  a Congre- 
gational Church,,  composed  of  members  of  intelligence, 
holding  decided  views,  which  a man  of  less  prudence 
and  discretion  might  have  j^rovoked  into  opposition 
at  any  time.  Mr.  Miller  had  decided  opinions,  but 
never  entered  into  controversy  in  order  to  enforce 
them,  but  quietly  abided  his  time  and  usually  suc- 
ceeded in  impressing  his  opinions  at  the  right  mo- 
ment. He  had  the  complaisance  and  conservatism 
of  a German  united  with  the  shrewdness  and  thrift 
of  a Yankee,  that  made  him  “ as  wise  as  a serpent 
and  as  harmless  as  a dove  ” among  the  people  with 
whom  he  labored.  He  always  avoided  controversy, 
both  in  his  church  and  at  Pi'esbytery.  If  there  was 
any  difficulty  in  any  church  Adam  Miller  was  a good 
man  to  send  to  heal  all  differences.  He  was  unosten- 
tatious and  modest  in  his  way  of  living,  being  careful 
to  keep  within  his  salary  and  pay  his  debts.  After 
his  death  his  congregation  were  astonished  to  find 
that  their  pastor  had  some  fifteen  or  twenty  thousand 
dollars,  which  had  fallen  to  him  as  a legacy.  That 
prudence  which  was  a necessity  in  his  early  life 
became  a habit  as  he  grew  older.  He  had  a large 
family  to  support,  and  if  he  did  not  live  as  liberally 
as  he  might  have  done  in  the  latter  part  of  his  life, 
let  us  remember  that  honesty  and  prudence  are  better 
than  dishonesty  and  extravagance.  He  did  not  leave  a 
legacy  of  church  debts  to  burden  the  congregation, 
nor  of  private  debts  to  harass  his  children.  That 
extravagance  which  led  so  many  congregations  into 
debt,  building  costly  churches,  received  no  encour- 
agement from  him,  and  the  congregation  are  entitled 
to  credit  for  paying  him  all  and  even  more  than  was 
named  in  the  agreement.  Mr.  Miller  preached  a his- 
torical discourse  on  the  fiftieth  anniversary  of  his  la- 
bors here.  At  that  time  there  was  a number  of  distin- 
guished persons  who  spoke ; among  them,  Rev.  N.  G. 
Parke,  who  represented  Lackawanna  Presbytery, 
who  said  : “ A ministry  among  the  same  people,  for 
fifty  years,  in  this  age  of  the  world  is  not  com- 
mon. It  speaks  well  for  you,  my  brother,  that  you 
have  been  able  to  stand  in  your  place  all  these  years 
preaching  only  Christ  and  Him  crucified.  And  it 
speaks  well  for  the  peojjle  who  have  stood  by  you  and 
sustained  you  with  their  sympathy,  their  substance 
and  their  prayers.”  The  first  year  of  Mr.  Miller’s 
ministry  thirty  were  added  to  the  church  ; the  next 
year  fifteen,  and  the  next  sixty.  Rev.  E.  0.  Ward 
said  : “No  church,  perhaps,  has  been  more  prosper- 


ous or  enjoyed  a greater  measure  of  spiritual  sun- 
shine ; and  no  minister,  perhaps,  has  been  more 
useful,  or  has  impressed  himself  more  indelibly  on 
the  character  of  his  imople,  or  has  more  thoroughly 
incorporated  himself  into  their  history  and  experi- 
ence. Not  a church  in  this  whole  region  but  has 
been  instructed  by  his  life  and  encouraged  by  his  ex- 
ample. Not  a pastor  in  his  Presbytery  but  has  found 
in  him  for  the  past  fifty  years  a wise  counselor  and  a 
faithful  friend  and  brother.”  Since  Rev.  Mr.  Miller’s 
death,  in  1881,  the  church  has  had  three  different 
ministers, — Rev.  J.  Merriam,  from  July,  1882,  to 
November  1,  1884;  Rev.  R.  N.  Ives,  from  March  1, 
1885,  to  April,  1886  ; Rev.  Nestor  Light,  the  present 
pastor,  commenced  May  1,  1886.  The  following  per- 
sons have  been  deacons  since  the  organization  of  the 
church : John  Tyler,  1803,  dismissed  1810,  died 
1822;  Obadiah  Carpenter,  1803,  died  1810;  Caleb 
Richardson,  Jr.,  October,  1810,  died  April,  1838; 
Moses  Thacher,  January,  1811,  dismissed  1825;  Joab 
Tyler,  August,  1825,  died  January  13,  1869;  Lee 
Richardson,  August,  1825,  died  June,  1833  ; Preston 
Richardson,  July,  1833,  died  December,  1836  ; Pay- 
son  Kingsbury,  July,  1833,  resigned  1839,  died  1843 ; 
Onley  Thacher,  1840,  dismissed;  Jared  Tyler,  1840, 
died  July  7,  1876  ; Tyler  Brewster,  1866,  dead  ; Den- 
nison K.  Oakley,  1866,  resigned;  Edwin  T.  Tiffany, 
1866;  Wallace  L.  Thacher,  1877 ; Edwin  J.  Tyler. 


CONGREGATIONAL  CHURCH,  HARFORD. 


In  1806  a small  church  edifice,  twenty-two  by  thirty 
feet,  was  built  on  land  given  by  Hosea  Tiffany.  It 
stood  in  fiont  of  the  location  of  the  present  church. 
It  is  now  standing  on  the  other  side  of  the  street,  and 
is  transformed  into  part  of  a dwelling-house.  The 
present  church  was  commenced  in  1822  and  completed 
several  years  afterward.  It  cost  originally  about  two 
thousand  seven  hundred  dollars.  In  1836  it  was  fur- 
nished with  a good  bell,  weighing  eight  hundred  and 
thirty  imunds,  at  a cost  of  two  hundred  and  fifty  dol- 


738 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


lars.  The  lecture-room,  twenty-four  by  thirty  feet,  was 
built  in  1844,  and  opened  for  worship  February  9, 
1846.  It  cost  about  five  hundred  dollars.  In  1851  the 
church  was  repaired  and  extensively  changed  within 
and  without,  at  a cost  of  one  thousand  five  hundred 
dollars.  The  house  was  re-dedicated  January  29, 
1852.  In  1873  seven  hundred  dollars  more  was  spent 
in  repairing  and  carpeting.  Notwithstanding  all  the 
repairs  and  changes,  the  old-fashioned  appearance  of 
the  church  is  largely  retained.  The  pulpit,  which  has 
been  lowered,  is  still  high.  A gallery,  supported  by 
pillars,  extends  over  the  entrance  and  along  the  sides. 
The  church  stands  on  rising  ground,  with  the  chapel 
to  the  right  adjoining,  next  to  the  burying-ground, 
which  gently  slopes  to  the  right,  with  maple  shade  in 
the  cemetery  and  in  front  of  the  church.  Taken  to- 
gether, it  forms  a beautiful  picture,  a typical  country 
church  of  the  New  England  style. 

Sunday-School.— A Sabbath-school  was  organized  in 
the  year  1816  by  the  members  of  the  Congregational 
Church.  How  successful  or  by  whom  conducted  no 
one  is  now  able  to  tell.  About  the  year  1824  an  or- 
ganization was  effected,  with  a constitution,  and  the 
school  was  under  the  management  of  Messrs.  Daniel 
Oakley,  C.  C.  Richardson,  E.  M.  Blanding,  Deacon 
Lee  Richardson,  and  perhaps  others,  until  the  year 
1834.  In  March,  1834,  the  following  record  appears: 
“ Besolved,  That  the  regulation  and  management  of 
the  Sabbath-school  in  this  place  be  directed  in  future 
by  a superintendent  and  a committee  of  two,  all  of 
whom  are  to  be  chosen  by  the  church  yearly.”  Dea- 
con Payson  Kingsbury  was  elected  superintendent, 
and  Deacons  Joab  Tyler  and  Preston  Richardson 
committee.  It  appears  that  Deacon  Kingsbury  held 
the  position  by  re-election  until  May,  1843,  when  he 
declined  a re-election,  and  Amherst  Carpenter  was 
elected  superintendent,  with  Peter  Williams  and 
Shepherd  Carpenter  assistants.  In  1847  Deacon  Jared 
Tyler  was  elected  superintendent,  with  Deacon  0. 
Thacher  and  Shepherd  Carpenter  assistants.  Deacon 
Tyler  served  as  superintendent  for  twenty  years.  The 
assistants  were  changed  a number  of  times.  In  March, 
1867,  Deacon  D.  K.  Oakley  was  elected  superintend- 
ent, with  Tyler  Brewster  and  E.  T.  Tiffany  assistants. 
They  served  until  March,  1873,  when  E.  T.  Tiffany 
was  elec'ed  superintendent,  with  Wallace  L.  Thacher 
and  A.  B.  Tucker  assistants.  Deacon  Tiffany  still 
holds  the  position  as  superintendent.  For  a great 
many  years  this  was  the  only  Sunday-school  in  this 
part  of  the  county,  and  pupils  attended  from  all  the 
surrounding  country  for  miles  around.  As  many  as 
seven  schools  have  been  in  operation  during  the  sum- 
mer months  in  Harford  township,  and  many  of  them 
are  outgrowths  of  this  school.  Since  1856  this  school 
has  been  continued  through  the  year  except,  perhaps, 
a short  vacation  in  the  spring.  The  school  is  still  in 
a prosperous  condition,  with  an  average  attendance  of 
about  sixty.  The  Congregational  Society  was  incor- 
porated in  1832,  and  the  church  property  is  under 


control  of  a board  of  trustees.  From  the  Congrega- 
tional Church  the  following  persons  have  been  fur- 
nished for  the  gospel  ministry : Revs.  Lyman,  Willard 
and  Preston  Richardson,  Washington,  Moses  and  Ty- 
ler Thacher,  William  S.  and  Wellington  H.  Tyler. 
Miss  Hannah  Thacher  joined  the  Choctaw  mission  in 
1821,  and  her  sister,  Philena,  in  1823. 

Rev.  Ebenezer  Kingsbury,  the  first  pastor  of 
Harford  Church,  was  born  in  Coventry,  Connecticut, 
August  30,  1762.  He  was  graduated  at  Yale  College 
in  1786,  and  studied  theology  with  Dr.  Backus,  of 
Somers,  Connecticut.  In  1791  he  was  installed  pastor 
of  the  church  in  Jericho,  Vermont,  continuing  sev- 
enteen years,  until  1808.  In  1809  he  came  to  North- 
eastern Pennsylvania,  commissioned  by  the  Connec- 
ticut Home  Missionary  Society.  He  was  installed 
pastor  of  the  Harford  Church  Aug.  3,  1810,  and  con- 
tinued in  that  relation  until  September,  1827.  Dur- 
ing all  this  pastorate,  one-half  of  his  time  was  spent 
in  missionary  work  in  the  surrounding  country.  In 
this  work  he  traveled  over  a large  part  of  Bradford, 
Susquehanna,  Luzerne  and  Wayne  on  horseback,  by 
marked  trees  and  bridle-paths,  preaching  in  log 
cabins,  barns  and  school-houses.  “ As  a preacher  Mr. 
Kingsbury  was  grave  and  deliberate  in  manner,  and 
instructive  in  matter.  In  social  intercourse  he  was 
affable,  unassuming  and  regardful  of  the  feelings  of 
others.  Fie  was  a welcome  visitor  in  families,  and 
from  such  visits,  social  or  religious,  he  derived  much 
enjoyment.  These  characteristics  of  his  nature  ren- 
dered him  acceptable  as  a pastor  and  missionary. 
He  loved  to  look  up  the  families  scattered  over  these 
hills.  They  gave  him  their  confidence  and  a cordial 
welcome  ; while  he  made  himself  at  home  with  par- 
ents and  children.  Hence  it  is  not  surprising  to  find 
frequent  record  of  his  gathering  and  organizing 
churches.  Of  the  churches  in  the  old  Montrose  Pres- 
bytery, more  were  formed  by  him  than  any  other  man 
After  the  dissolution  of  his  pastoral  relations,  mis- 
sionary labors  were  continued.  From  that  service  he 
retired  to  become  a parishioner — one  worthy  of  much 
esteem.  Fie  died  March  24,  1842,  aged  eighty-two, 
and  is  buried  in  the  Harford  Cemetery.  His  wife 
died  in  1859,  aged  eighty-eight.  Her  house  was  ever 
open  to  the  sons  and  daughters  of  want.  He  had  four 
sons, — Williston,  died  in  1822 ; Payson,  who  was 
several  years  deacon  in  the  Harford  Church,  died  in 
1843  ; Samuel  E.,  became  justice  of  the  peace  in  Har- 
ford ; Ebenezer  Kingsbury,  Jr.,  read  law  with  AVm. 
Jessup,  and  was  admitted  to  the  Susquehanna  County 
bar  in  1828.  He  removed  to  AVayne  County  and  was 
admitted  to  the  bar  there  as  early  as  1833.  He  moved 
to  AA^ayne  to  take  editorial  charge  of  the  Wayne 
County  Herald  and  Bethany  Inquirer,  the  Democratic 
organ  of  the  county,  published  at  Honesdale,  and 
devoted  himself  mainly  to  politics.  In  1835  he  was 
appointed  deputy  attorney-general  for  the  county  ot 
AVayne,  and  held  the  office  until  1838.  In  1837  he 
was  elected  to  the  State  Senate,  and  in  April,  1840, 


HARFORD. 


789 


was  chosen  Speaker  for  the  remainder  of  the  year. 
He  died  about  the  middle  of  April,  1844. 

^ Rev.  Adam  Miller  was  born  at  Canajoharie, 
State  of  New  York,  January  13,  1807.  In  early 
youth  he  consecrated  himself  to  the  service  of  the 
Lord.  At  the  age  of  ten  he  commenced  a course  of 
study  preparatory  to  the  gospel  ministry,  and  entered 
Hartwick  Academy.  Here  he  continued  a diligent 
and  faithful  student  till  he  entered  Union  College, 
where  he  was  graduated  in  the  fall  of  1824,  being  then 
nearly  seventeen  years  of  age.  During  the  same  fall 
he  commenced  the  study  of  theology  at  Auburn,  and 
was  graduated  from  that  seminary  in  1827.  A few 
months  previous  to  his  leaving  the  seminary,  Feb. 
13,  1827,  he  was  licensed  to  preach  the  gospel.  After 
leaving  the  seminary,  he  was  employed  for  several 
months  by  the  Western  Domestic  Missionary  Society 
to  labor  as  a missionary  in  the  Mohawk  Valley,  and 
preached  one  year  at  Oswego  Falls.  In  1828  he  was 
married,  at  Auburn,  to  Miss  Annie  B.  Curtis.  In 
her  he  found  a loving,  faithful  companion,  a true 
helpmate  and  counselor  in  the  various  duties  and 
trials  incident  to  a minister’s  life.  A few  months 
after  his  marriage,  in  September,  1828,  the  professors 
at  Auburn  Seminary  received  a letter  from  Deacon 
Joab  Tyler,  requesting  them  to  send  a minister  to 
Harford  Church  and  congregation.  In  answer  to  that 
request,  and  by  the  advice  of  Dr.  Lansing  particu- 
larly, he  started  for  Harford.  After  a three  days’ 
journey  he  came,  a perfect  stranger,  to  a people  of 
whom  he  knew  nothing,  “ except  that  they  wanted  a 
minister.”  And  on  the  21st  of  September,  1828,  be- 
ing then  in  his  twenty-first  year,  he  preached  his  first 
sermon  to  this  people,  with  whom  he  spent  the  re- 
maining years  of  his  life.  He  was  engaged  on  trial 
for  one  year.  He  was  young,  and,  in  the  estimation 
of  some,  a mere  boy.  His  congregation  contained 
venerable  men  and  women,  his  seniors  in  age  and  re- 
ligious experience,  well  read  on  doctrinal  subjects, 
tenacious  in  their  peculiar  views  and  '“set  in  their 
ways.”  He  had  misgivings,  as  well  as  others,  about 
his  success  in  such  a field,  but  before  the  expiration 
of  his  trial  year  he  received  a formal  call  for  perma- 
nent settlement  at  Harford.  This  call  he  declined,  as 
he  had  purposed  occupying  another  field,  but  the 
church  persisted,  and  on  the  28th  of  April,  1830,  he 
was  regularly  installed  by  the  Presbytery  of  Susque- 
hanna as  permanent  2Jastor  of  Harford  Church  and 
congregation.  His  ministry  continued  for  fifty-three 
years,  during  which  time  he  preached  not  less  than 
eight  thousand  sermons,  attended  upward  of  six  hun- 
dred funerals,  married  six  hundred  and  thirty-five 
couples,  and  received  into  the  church  not  far  from 
five  hundred  and  eighty  members.  Fie  preached 
almost  up  to  the  day  of  his  death,  until  November, 
1881,  and  died  in  the  following  December,  and  was 
buried  in  the  cemetery  hard  by  the  church  he  had 

1 Prepared  from  a memorial  sermon  preached  by  Rev.  E.  0.  Ward,  of 
Bethany. 


served  so  long  and  so  well,  where  a solid  granite  pil- 
lar has  been  erected  to  his  memory  and  that  of  his 
devoted  wife,  who  preceded  him  many  years,  having 
died  in  1855.  They  reared  a large  family  of  children ; 
among  them  were  John,  a newspaper  reporter,  who 
died  in  Illinois  ; Payson  ; Roswell,  general  manager 
of  the  Chicago,  Milwaukee  and  St.  Paul  Railroad ; 
Frederick,  passenger  agent  on  the  same  line;  Thomas 
and  James;  Sarah;  Mary;  Caroline,  wife  of  E.  J. 
Tyler ; Julia,  a teacher,  wife  of  E.  F.  Torrey  of  Hones- 
dale,  Pa.;  and  Frances  H.,  who  married  in  Louis- 
ville, Ky. 

Harford  Methodist  Church. — About  1841  a 
class  was  organized  at  Harford  in  connection  with 
the  Brooklyn  charge.  Among  the  first  members  were 
William  Raymond,  Amos  J.  Rice  and  wife,  Silas  B. 
Guile,  Harvey  Sibley  and  Mary,  his  wife,  Dexter 
Sibley  and  his  wife.  Thankful,  Penuel  Carpenter  and 
his  wife,  Caroline,  Elenora  Sweet,  John  Dikeman 
and  wife,  Augustus  Sophia  and  family.  William  Ray- 
mond and  Amos  J.  Rice  were  the  first  class-leaders ; 
Dexter  Sibley,  J.  C.  Edward  and  S.  B.  Guile  have 
been  class-leaders;  AV.  B.  Guile  is  class-leader  now. 
A Sunday-school  was  organized  about  the  same  time. 
Amos  J.  Rice,  William  Raymond,  Dexter  Sibley,  S. 
B.  Guile  and  AV.  B.  Guile  have  been  superintendents. 
^ S.  B.  Guile  is  the  only  one  of  the  original  class  re- 
maining. The  first  meetings  were  held  in  the  hall  of 
the  Very  House,  which  was  then  owned  by  Harvey 
Sibley.  The  church  was  erected  in  1844.  This  class 
has  been  connected  with  Brooklyn,  South  Gibson  and 
Gibson.  It  was  set  off  as  an  independent  charge  in 
1886.  The  church  and  Sunday-school  are  in  a flour- 
ishing condition. 

Harford  Academy. — In  1817  a select  school  was 
commenced  in  the  village,  and  continued,  with  some 
interruption,  until  1830,  when  Preston  Richardson  re- 
turned from  school  in  poor  health,  and  a room  was  fitted 
up  in  the  second  story  of  his  father’s  (Caleb  Richard- 
son’s) house.  Preston  Richardson,  A.M.,  principal ; Mrs. 
L.  T.  Richardson,  preceptress ; and  Willard  Richard- 
son, assistant,  commenced.  They  had  but  few  stu- 
dents at  first,  but  the  number  of  students  increased  as 
the  excellence  of  the  school  became  known.  On  the 
death  of  Preston  Richardson,  at  the  close  of  the  year 
1837,  the  school  passed  under  the  care  of  AVillard 
Richardson,  principal,  assisted  at  different  times  by 
Farris  B.  Streeter,  Miss  Nancy  Kingsley,  Miss  Harriet 
A.  Tyler  and  Mrs.  L.  T.  Richardson,  subsequently  Mrs. 
Allen.  On  the  resignation  of  AVillard  Richardson, 
in  the  spring  of  1840,  Nathan  Leighton  was  elected. 
He  resigned  and  Rev.  Lyman  Richardson  was 
elected  in  the  fall  of  1840.  On  the  removal  of  Mrs. 
L.  T.  Richardson  to  Carbondale,  in  1844,  Miss  Mal- 
vina Gardner,  Miss  N.  Maria  Richardson  and  Henry 
Abel  assisted  in  the  instruction  until  1848,  when  AA’^il- 
lard  Richardson  returned.  The  following  is  the 
faculty  as  given  in  1855 : 

- Since  deceased. 


740 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


Rev.  Lyman  Richardson,  professor  of  mathematics 
and  natural  sciences. 

Rev.  Willard  Richardson,  professor  of  ancient  lan- 
guages and  the  Normal  Department. 

Mrs.  Harriet  A.  Richardson  and  Miss  N.  Maria 
Richardson,  French,  botany,  drawing,  painting,  em- 
broidery, wax  flowers  and  gilding. 

Miss  H.  L.  Allen,  teacher  of  music,  piano. 

Almon  Stearns,  teacher  of  vocal  music. 

Mrs.  S.  S.  Richardson,  wdtli  the  above-mentioned 
ladies,  form  a board  of  supervision  of  the  ladies’  de- 
partment in  morals  and  propriety  of  conduct,  as  well 
as  literary  attainments.  After  the  death  of  Lyman 
Richardson,  Willard  Richardson  conducted  the  school 
for  a time.  The  “ university,”  as  they  called  it,  was 
finally  given  up  and  the  building  and  grounds  sold  to 
Charles  W.  Deans  in  1865,  for  a soldiers'  orphans’ 
school.  The  good  and  beneficent  influence  of  the 
Richardsons  in  connection  with  the  school,  which 
they  conducted  so  ably  and  so  well,  can  be  seen  in  the 
number  of  professional  men,  judges,  lawyers.  Con- 
gressmen, Governors,  professors,  school-teachers,  min- 
isters and  intelligent  business  men  that  attended  this 
school,  that  call  them  blessed.  The  school  was  at- 
tended by  aspiring  young  men  and  women  of  limited 
means,  who  boarded  themselves  in  many  instances, 
and  it  is  said  that  when  they  got  short,  “Uncle  Ly- 
man ” and  “ Aunt  Sarah  ” often  helped  them  out  of 
their  difficulties.  Hon.  Paul  D.  Morrow,  in  his  address 
at  the  Adam  Miller  semi-centennial,  expressed  the 
uniform  opinion  of  Harford  students  when  he  said, 
“The  two  years  I spent  at  the  academy  are  among  the 
happiest  of  my  life,  and  you  will  pardon  me  if  I step 
aside  for  a moment  to  pay  a tribute  of  respect  to  Mr. 
Richardson  and  his  family.  They  were  most  kind 
and  considerate  for  all  our  wants,  wishes  and  woes, 
and  while  sometimes  we  worried  their  good  souls  with 
almost  wanton  conduct,  they  were  as  gentle  and  affec- 
tionate to  forgive  and  advise  as  one’s  natural  parents. 
Mr.  Richardson  had  a wonderful  ability  in  the  man- 
agement of  pupils,  and,  in  addition  to  this,  he  had 
rare  powers  to  stimulate  us  in  our  studies  and  impress 
upon  us  the  importance  of  continuous  hard  work  and 
self-dependence.  Dear,  good  man  he  was,  and  his 
house  was  a home  for  us  all.”  Mr.  Richardson  was 
only  a fair  scholar,  and  not  what  would  be  called  a 
brilliant  man  ; but  he  had  a warm  heart  for  his  pupils, 
which  gave  him  their  confidence,  and  a true  teacher’s 
enthusiasm,  which  enabled  him  to  fill  their  souls  with 
aspirations ; hence  we  find  many  of  the  graduates  of 
Harford  Academy  with  their  names  written  on  the 
roll  of  fame.  In  1865,  on  the  recommendation  of 
Hon.  Thomas  H.  Burrowes,  superintendent  of  soldiers’ 
orphans,  the  old  academy  buildings  and  one  hundred 
and  twenty-five  acres  of  land  were  purchased  by  Pro- 
fessor Charles  W.  Deans,  and  a soldiers’  orphans’ 
school  was  established.  In  March,  1868,  Professor 
Henry  S.  Sweet  took  charge  and  held  the  position,  with 
the  exception  of  the  year  1873,  when  Dr.^H.N.  Penne- 


packer  had  supervision,  until  the  fall  of  1886,  a pe- 
riod of  nineteen  years.  Clark  has  charge  now. 
During  the  first  year  the  school  was  thoroughly  or- 
ganized. Competent  persons  were  procured  to  super- 
intend the  various  industrial  departments.  Lessons 
were  given  to  the  girls  in  the  various  domestic  duties, 
as  well  as  in  the  use  of  the  needle  and  sewing-machine ; 
and  the  boys  were  taught  how  to  do  chorea  and  to  work 
on  the  farm.  Habits  of  industry  were  thus  formed,  and 
that  degree  of  skill  acquired  which  has  enabled  many 
of  the  orj)hans,  on  leaving  school  at  sixteen  years  of 
age,  to  secure  good  positions.  Each  pupil  is  supposed 
to  do  two  hours’  work  and  to  attend  school  six  hours. 
The  system  of  work  details  being  observed,  each  child 
has  an  opportunity  for  study.  A corps  of  five  teach- 
ers is  employed  to  thoroughly  teach  the  common  and 
higher  English  branches.  Especial  attention  is  given 
to  those  desirous  of  fitting  themselves  for  teaching, 
and  many  are  offered  schools  immediately  after  leav- 
ing the  orphan  school,  and  have  proved  themselves 
competent.  Vocal  music  and  religious  instruction 
are  not  neglected.  Drill  in  military  tactics  is  required 
when  the  weather  is  favorable.  The  sanitary  condi- 
tion of  the  school  has  always  been  good.  There  are 
altogether  eighteen  employees,  including  teachers, 
matrons,  assistant  matrons,  seamstresses,  nurses,  su- 
perintendent of  boys,  stewards,  farmers  and  teamsters. 
There  were  eighteen  pupils  when  the  school  first 
commenced,  which  number  was  increased  to  one  hun- 
dred before  the  year  closed.  The  attendance  has 
been  larger  in  succeeding  years.  There  are  two  hun- 
dred and  twenty-one  pupils  in  attendance  now,  being 
from  four  to  sixteen  years  of  age.  When  Governor 
Pattison  and  others  investigated  the  soldiers’  or- 
phans’ schools  they  found  this  school  in  the  best  con- 
dition of  any  of  them.  It  is  to  be  hoped  that  the 
beneficent  intention  of  the  State  of  Pennsylvania  will 
be  honestly  carried  out  by  all  who  have  charge  of  the 
soldiers’  orphans’  schools.  Professor  Wm.  S.  Tyler,  of 
Amherst  College,  at  the  celebration  in  honor  of  Rev. 
Adam  Miller,  speaks  of  Franklin  Academy  or  Har- 
ford University  in  the  following  manner:  “A  new 
era  was  inaugurated  in  the  history  of  Harford  schools 
when,  in  1817,  the  Centre  School-house  was  built  in 
the  edge  of  a beautiful  grove  of  small  but  thrifty  and 
dense  evergreens — fit  retreat  for  the  muses  and  graces 
then,  though  too  soon  invaded  by  the  march  of  im- 
provement, alias  the  Philadelphia  and  Great  Bend 
turnpike — and  Rev.  Lyman  Richardson  opened  in  it 
our  first  classical  school.  It  was  then  and  there  that 
I began,  at  the  age  of  seven,  the  study  of  Latin,  and 
I delight  to  honor  Mr.  Richardson  as  my  first  teacher 
in  those  ancient  languages,  to  the  teaching  of  which 
I have  devoted  the  greater  part  of  my  life.  Several 
young  men  of  already  mature  years — Washington 
Thacher,  Tyler  Thacher,  Preston  Richardson,  Enos 
Thacher  and  some  others,  began  at  the  same  time 
and  in  the  same  classes  their  preparation  for  the  min- 
istry ; for  the  school  was  the  offspring  and  the  repre- 


HARFORD. 


741 


seutative  of  the  religious  fervor  of  the  age  and  the 
2)lace,  not  less  than  of  its  zeal  for  education.  A suc- 
cession of  hoys  about  my  own  age  and  younger — noble 
fellows — who  have  made  their  mark  in  the  world 
since,  followed  and  extended  the  influence,  till  Har- 
ford became  the  educational  centre  of  Northern  Penn- 
sylvania.” The  list  of  distinguished  graduates  would 
do  credit  to  any  institution. 

* “A  very  large  number  of  its  graduates  became 
professional  teachers  ; many,  ministers  of  the  gospel, 
and  not  a few,  prominent  public  men.  Among  them 
may  be  mentioned  Revs.  Moses  Tyler  and  Washing- 
ton Thacher,  Rev.  William  S.  Tyler,  D.D.,  LL.D., 
of  Amherst  College ; Rev.  W.  H.  Tyler,  formerly  of 
Pittsfield  Institute,  Mass. ; Professor  John  Wadsworth 
Tyler,  a graduate  of  Union  College,  and  former  prin- 
cipal of  Cazenovia  Seminary,  N.  Y.,  who  died  in 
1833;  Professor  E.  G.  Tyler,  formerly  of  Canandai- 
gua School,  N.  Y.;  John  Guernsey,  State  Senator; 
John  D.  Stiles,  Congressman  for  Carbon  County;  F. 

B.  Streeter,  late  j^resident  judge;  and  Paul  D.  Mor- 
row, president  judge  of  Bradford  County ; Hon. 
Luther  Kidder,  deceased  ; Henry  W.  Williams,  presi- 
dent judge  of  the  Fourth  Judicial  District;  Stewart 
Pierce,  State  Representative  and  historian  of  Luzerne 
County;  Jesse  Barrett,  professor  of  mathematics  in 
the  University  of  Missouri;  G.  A.  Grow,  former 
Speaker  of  House  of  Representatives,  United  States; 

C.  R.  Buckalew,  United  States  Senator  and  late  can- 
didate for  Governor  of  Pennsylvania ; and  Cyrus  C. 
Carpenter,  ex-Governor  of  Iowa ; ” J.  Brewster  Mc- 
Collum, president  judge  of  this  district;  M.  J.  Lar- 
rabee,  ex-State  Senator,  and  many  others  who  occupy 
honorable  places. 

^ Lyman  Richardson,  son  of  Deacon  Caleb  Rich- 
ardson, was  born  at  Attleboro’,  Mass.,  in  1790.  At 
the  age  of  sixteen  years  he  moved  to  Harford,  Pa., 
having  a good  common-school  education  and  some 
knowledge  of  Latin.  At  the  age  of  nineteen  he  was 
converted  and  had  a strong  desire  to  enter  the  minis- 
try. He  walked  a hundred  miles  to  an  academy  in 
New  York,  seeking  opportunity  to  work  for  his  board, 
and  enter  upon  a course  of  study.  Being  disappointed, 
he  returned,  settled  on  a small  farm,  married  and,  as 
was  supposed,  entered  on  his  business  for  life.  A few 
years  afterward  he  is  found  at  Wilkes-Barre  Academy, 
one  year  as  student,  three  years  as  principal.  Then 
he  was  teacher  of  a select  school  three  years  in  Har- 
ford. During  all  these  years  he  studied  with  great 
diligence,  using  thus  much  of  the  night  after  the  day’s 
ordinary  work.  Theological  studies  were  prosecuted 
under  Rev.  Ard  Hoyt  and  Rev.  E.  Kingsbury.  In 
1820  he  was  licensed  by  the  Susquehanna  Presbytery 
at  the  age  of  thirty  years.  He  entered  ujion  his 
labors  at  Lawsville,  (now  Franklin).  God  blessed  his 
labors,  and  a revival  ensued,  making  important  ad- 


ditions to  the  church.  After  six  months  he  went  to 
Wysox  and  preached  with  success.  In  1821  he  was 
ordained  an  evan  gelist.  He  labored  at  Wysox  several 
years,  and  subsequently  at  Mount  Pleasant,  Bethany 
and  elsewhere  in  Wayne  County,  he  labored  success- 
fully. God’s  blessing  seemed  to  attend  his  rugged, 
honest  jiresentation  of  the  truth.  For  protracted 
meetings  he  had  some  peculiar  qualifications.  His 
pulpit  utterances  were  not  distinguished  by  graces  of 
diction  or  the  manner  of  iiolished  oratory.  He 
spoke  readily,  earnestly  and  impressively.  Glow- 
ing representations  and  startling  truths  often  came 


unexpectedly.  Individuals,  and  sometimes  the  mass 
of  an  audience,  found  themselves  held  by  a powerful 
infiuence.  With  strong  religious,  he  possessed  also 
sterling  common  sense.  In  1840  Mr.  Richardson  re- 
turned to  Harford  to  take  charge  of  the  academy, 
continuing  twenty-five  years.  The  infirmities  of  age 
then  compelled  him  to  relinquish  the  charge.  In  the 
cause  of  education  his  zeal  was  ardent.  As  teacher 
and  principal  he  maintained  unvarying  kindness  of 
manner,  and  secured  universal  esteem.  Without 
greediness  of  gain,  and  anxious  to  benefit  the  young, 
he  was  ready  to  subject  himself  to  inconvenience  and 
toil,  without  such  compensation  as  justice  might 
claim.  Having  served  his  generation,  he  was  gather- 
ed to  his  fathers,  September,  1867,  at  the  age  of 
seventy-seven  years. 

Prof.  Tyler  says,  “ Mr.  Lyman  Richardson  had  not  a 
college  education,  and  was  not  himself  a thorough 
classical  scholar.  He  was  a well-educated  and  self- 
made  man.  But  this  does  not  mean  in  his  case  that 
he  was  not  educated  at  all.  He  disciplined  his  own 
mind  by  observation,  reflection  and  the  best  books 
within  his  reach.  He  was  a live  man,  wide-awake, 
intensely  in  earnest,  all  on  fire  from  his  heart’s 
core  to  the  end  of  his  tongue,  aud  his  fingers,  and 


1 Misa  Blackman. 

2 Preiiared  from  Adam  Miller's  sketcli. 


742 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


the  very  hairs  of  his  head  with  the  ardor  of  his  tem- 
perament and  the  fervor  of  his  love  to  God  and  man. 
Full  of  enthusiasm  himself,  in  the  teacher’s  chair  as 
well  as  in  the  pulpit,  he  was  able  to  inspire  his  pupils 
with  genuine  enthusiasm  in  their  studies. 

“His  brother,  his  sou  and  his  brother-in-law,  who  suc- 
ceeded him  one  after  another  in  his  work,  all  enjoyed 
better  advantages  of  education,  but  to  him  belongs 
the  honor  of  having  originated,  and  originated  well, 
the  series  of  classical  schools  which  have  proved  such 
an  ornament  and  blessing  to  his  native  town.  It  was 
under  Mr.  Preston  Richardson,  brother  of  Lyman, 
that  I obtained  my  immediate  and  final  preparation 
to  enter  the  junior  class  in  college.  His  school  was 
then  wholly  a private  personal  att'air,  and  was  kept 
in  a small,  simply  but  suitably  furnished  chamber,  or 
attic,  in  the  house  of  his  father,  the  old  Richardson 
house.  That  was  the  germ  of  Franklin  Academy 
and  Harford  University.  Preston  Richardson  was 
the  gentlest  and  loveliest  of  men,  as  unpretending 
as  he  was  unselfish  and  unambitious;  but  a most 
faithful  and  devoted  teacher,  and  a Christian,  whose 
.simple,  child-like  faith  blossomed  and  bore  fruit  in  a 
life  of  rare  purity  and  beauty.  I always  think  of 
him  as  beyond  any  man  of  my  early  acquaintance, 
resembling  the  Apostle  John.” 

Up  to  the  year  1855  some  fourteen  hundred  stu- 
dents enrolled  at  Harford  Academy,  and  nearly  every 
one  of  them  carried  away  with  them  feelings  of  re- 
gard for  the  Richardsons  similar  to  those  expressed 
above.  No  family  that  ever  lived  in  Northern  Penn- 
sylvania ever  did  more  for  the  cause  of  education, 
sound  morality  and  the  pure  principles  of  Christianity 
than  the  Richardsons. 

Common  Schools. — The  “Nine Partners,”  and  the 
other  pioneers  that  followed  them,  appreciated  the 
value  of  an  education  and  early  established  schools 
for  the  education  of  their  children.  The  women,  es- 
pecially, appear  to  have  been  cultivated  Christian 
ladies.  The  first  school  that  Professor  Tyler  remem- 
bers was  one  taught  by  Mr.  Herrick,  in  Joab  Tyler’s 
house.  The  early  teachers  mentioned  by  him  are 
Miss  Sarah  Fisher  and  Mary  Kingsbury,  who  taught  in 
the  old  meeting-house, — “She  seemed  to  be  the  living 
embodiment  of  wisdom  and  goodness,’’ — Nancy  Sweet, 
Sarah  Thacher,  Polly  Carpenter,  Williston  and  Samuel 
E.  Kingsbury.  Rev.  David  Torrey  mentions  a letter 
received  from  Harford  written,  in  1819,  to  a young 
gentleman,  which  says  “the  girls  are  all  teaching.” 
The  nine  girls  named  were  Nancy  Tyler,  Phllena 
Thacher,  Polly,  Betsey,  Nancy  and  Sally  Carpenter, 
and  Sally  Kingsbury  (afterwards  Mrs.  Lyman  Rich- 
son),  Eliza  Thacher  and  Mary  Kingsbury  (afterwards 
Mrs.  Jabez  Tyler),  and  they  were  teaching  at  Ararat, 
Clifford,  Great  Bend,  Lawsville,  Waterford,  and  so 
on.  “ This  was  the  kind  of  work  that  Harford  was 
doing  in  those  early  days ; this  the  enterprising  ac- 
tivity of  its  educated  young  women.”  Mrs.  Aaron 
Greenwood  and  Mrs.  Kingsbury,  wife  of  Rev.  E. 


Kingsbury,  were  cultivated  ladies  of  influence,  who 
helped  to  introduce  into  Harford  the  culture,  the 
refinement  and  piety  which  was  characteristic  of 
Harford,  even  in  its  pioneer  days.  The  Harford 
families  have  furnished  scores  of  good  school-teachers. 
There  are  eleven  schools,  including  the  graded  school 
in  the  village,  in  Harford  township, — Tiffany  or  Car- 
penter District,  Richardson  Mills,  Sweet,  Very,  Read, 
East  Hill,  Harding’s,  Podunk,  Tingley’s,  Oakley’s. 
The  graded  school  has  two  rooms  and  three  teachers — 
a principal,  assistant  and  primary  teacher- — and  ten 
grades.  Wallace  L.  Thacher  furnishes  the  following 
list  of  school-teachers  from  1800  to  1820 : Harriet 
Wadsworth,  Aaron  Greenwood,  Amasa  Herrick,  Mary 

Kingsbury,  Stephen  Worth,  Cole,  Joshua  K. 

Adams,  Alcamena  Case,  Ely  Kingsbury,  Daniel 
Seaver  (Samuel  and  Eliza  Thacher,  but  not  in 
Harford),  Philena  Thacher,  Coy  Richardson,  Peter 
Thacher,  Simeon  Tucker,  Miss  Hawley.  Harford 
had  a good  acadamy  and  good  private  schools,  and 
did  not  look  with  great  favor  upon  the  public  school 
system  at  first.  As  late  as  1863  the  people  of  Harford 
had  paid  but  little  attention  to  the  common-school 
system  of  the  State,  until  the  old  school-houses  that 
had  been  built  by  the  different  neighborhoods  became 
very  much  dilapidated.  The  more  progressive  part 
of  the  community  began  to  see  that  something  must 
be  done ; then  began  the  political  fight  between  high 
and  low  tax,  which  finally  culminated  in  the  election 
of  a high  tax  board  of  directors.  In  1866  John 
Blanding,  Henry  W.  Jones,  Penuel  Carpenter,  David 
L.  Hine,  Elias  Carpenter  and  Gardner  Babcock  con- 
stituted the  board  of  directors,  and  they  decided  to 
build  a graded  school  building  at  Harford,  which 
they  did  at  a cost  of  two  thousand  three  hundred  and 
fifty  dollars.  M.  B.  Helme,  who  was  afterwards  sheriff 
of  the  county,  was  the  carpenter.  The  School  Board 
has  not  always  been  harmonious  in  its  councils,  but 
since  1865,  when  the  new  departure  was  taken,  eleven 
new  school-houses  have  been  built,  giving  the  town- 
ship a school  property  worth  in  the  aggregate  about 
ten  thousand  dollars.  The  higher  department  of  the 
graded  school  is  intended  for  the  advanced  pupils 
throughout  the  township,  and  the  plan  works  well. 
Professor  H.  S.  Sweet  was  the  first  principal,  assisted 
by  Emma  Blanding  and  Sophronia  Farrar.  The  fol- 
lowing persons  have  been  principals  : E.  S.  P.  Hine, 
four  terms;  Henry  C.  Barret,  Miss  Sarah  Jones,  two 
years;  Henry  L.  Griffis,  W.  W.  Fletcher,  D.  J.  Peck, 
W.  L.  Thacher,  Agnes  Thacher,  Etta  Hine  and  Sadie 
Tingley  were  assistants  a number  of  years.  Berton 
E.  Smith  was  principal  two  years,  and  W.  B.  Miller 
in  1887.  Mary  Brown,  Alice  Farrai’,  Kate  Quinlan 
and  Arta  Sweet,  assistants. 

Harford  Agricultural  Society.- — Agreeable 
to  notice,  on  the  21st  day  of  October,  1858,  a number 
of  the  public-spirited  people  of  Harford  assembled  in 
the  school -house  in  the  village  of  Harford  for  the  pur- 
pose of  considering  the  propriety  of  forming  an  agri- 


HARFORD. 


743 


cultural  society.  Arta  Sweet  was  elected  chairman 
and  P.  Carpenter  secretary.  After  considering  the 
subjeet,  the  following  committee  was  aj^pointed  by  the 
chairman  to  draft  a constitution  and  by-laws  for  the 
organization : A.  Carpenter,  Fowler  Peck,  L.  R. 

Peck,  M.  Oakley,  D.  E.  Whitney,  P.  Carpenter,  J. 
Blanding  and  W.  C.  Tiffany.  The  meeting  then  ad- 
journed to  October  25th,  when  the  constitution  and  by- 
laws were  reported  and  adopted,  of  which  a portion  is 
given,  viz.:  “ This  society  shall  be  known  as  the  Har- 
ford Agricultural  and  Mechanical  Association.  The 
object  of  this  society  shall  be  to  promote  and  encour- 
age the  best  interests  of  agricultural  and  mechanical 
arts.  Any  persoia  may  become  a member  by  subscrib- 
ing to  this  constitution  and  paying  the  sum  of  fifty 
cents,  said  sum  to  be  paid  annually,  the  which  shall 
admit  to  the  fair  the  family  of  said  member.  The 
funds  received  by  the  treasurer  shall  be  appropriated 
to  the  payment  of  the  contingent  expenses  and  of 
premiums,  but  no  premiums,  except  discretionary 
premiums,  shall  be  awarded  to  any  person  not  a mem- 
ber of  the  said  society.  The  society  shall  hold  an 
annual  fair  at  such  time  and  place  as  shall  be  fixed 
by  the  executive  committee,  and  it  shall  be  the  duty 
of  the  said  committee  to  make  all  necessary  arrange- 
ments for  holding  fairs.  No  money  shall  be  paid  out 
by  the  treasurer,  except  on  orders  drawn  by  the  exec- 
utive committee.” 

The  charter  members  of  the  Harford  Agricultural 
Society  were  Asa  Hammond,  S.  R.  Guile,  Fowler 
Peck,  Amasa  Chase,  Austin  Danon,  George  A.  Lind- 
sey, E.  C.  Peck,  G.  M.  Carpenter,  A.  L.  Forsyth,  J.- 
Clark,  P.  Carpenter,  J.  Blanding,  A.  Carpenter,  J.  W. 
Watson,  E.  T.  Tiffany,  J.  W.  Tyler,  B.  F.  Eaton, 
Wm.  C.  Tiffany,  W.  T.  Moxley,  Stephen  Sweet,  John 
Williams,  E.  N.  Carpenter,  Orlando  Watrous,  C.  S. 
Tanner,  F.  W.  Richardson,  Hoyt  Wilcox,  C.  Tiffany, 
A.  Reade,  Jr.,  Harvey  Kingsbury,  Ira  Carpenter,  L.  R. 
Peck,  George  Leach,  C.  H.  Miller,  A.  B.  Tucker, 
Shepherd  Carpenter,  Geo.  I.  Tingley,  Marshall  H. 
Blanding,  Willard  W.  Wilmarth,  P.  V.  Dunn,  Alan- 
son  Aldrich,  Coe  Wells,  John  A.  Smyth,  Millbourn 
Oakley,  S.  E.  Carpenter,  J.  G.  Hotchkiss,  John  Leslie, 
H.  G.  Blanding,  Merit  Seley,  H.  J.  Tyler,  D.  E.  Whit- 
ney, D.  T.  Roe,  Tingley  Tiffany,  Theron  Palmer,  H. 
Marcy,  D.  L.  Hine,  Jos.  Powers,  Jr.,  A.  J.  Adams, 
N.  G.  Brainard,  Alonzo  Abel,  A.  M.  Tiffany,  G.  J. 
Babcock,  S.  C.  Halstead,  O.  Payne,  Jr.,  H.  Sibley,  C. 
L.  Seley,  Dexter  Sibley,  Dalton  Tiffany,  William 
Brundage,  A.  G.  Barnard,  Jos.  Moore,  H.  M.  Jones, 
A.  W.  Greenwood,  R.  L.  Tingley,  E.  J.  Tyler,  Walter 
Graham,  J.  D.  Richardson. 

The  first  fair  was  held  on  the  grounds  of  the  Con- 
gregational Church  Society  on  November  9,  1858,  at 
which  there  was  a fine  exhibition  of  stock,  vegetables, 
etc.  At  this  fair  there  was  one  class  for  horses,  colts 
and  mules ; there  were  three  classes  for  cattle.  In  the 
first  class  were  offered  premiums  for  the  best  bull, 
best  milch  cow  and  best  heifer ; class  2d,  best 


pair  work  oxen,  best  pair  three-year-old  steers, 
and  best  pair  two-year-old  steers ; class  3d,  best 
lot  yearlings,  not  less  than  four  head,  the  best  lot 
calves,  not  less  than  four  head.  Premiums  on  sheep 
were  for  best  buck  and  best  lot  of  ewes.  The  first 
officers  of  the  society  w'ere  John  Blanding,  president ; 
Millbourn  Oakley,  vice-president;  Tingley  Tiffany, 
treasurer ; A.  B.  Tucker,  secretary ; L.  R.  Peck,  Fow- 
ler Peck,  D.  E.  Whitney,  executive  committee.  The 
first  annual  meeting  was  held  January  10,  1859.  The 
treasurer  reported  fifty  cents  in  the  treasury.  The 
officers  elected  for  the  ensuing  year  were  A.  Carpen- 
ter, president;  A.  Hammond,  vice-president;  E.  T. 
Tiffany,  secretary ; P.  Carpenter,  treasurer ; S.  E. 
Carpenter,  J.  Leslie,  H.  Marcy,  executive  committee  ; 
after  which  were  added  D.  L.  Hine  and  Coe  Wells. 
The  second  annual  fair  was  held  October  13,  1859, 
w'ith  the  premium  list  considerably  extended.  The 
annual  meeting  of  1860  was  held  January  9th,  when  the 
treasurer  reported  twenty-four  dollars  and  sixty- nine 
cents  on  hand.  During  the  year  1860  the  society  pro- 
cured and  fenced  ground  of  N.  W.  Waldron,  directly 
back  of  the  present  site  of  the  hotel,  and  the  next  fair 
was  held  on  this  ground.  The  necessary  buildings 
for  their  use  were  erected  with  funds  procured  by  sub- 
scription among  our  people.  In  the  report  of  their 
annual  meeting  of  1863  is  the  first  we  find  of  any 
officer  receiving  pay  for  services,  when  it  was  ordered 
that  the  secretary  be  paid  five  dollars  per  year.  At 
this  time  it  was  ordered  that  the  society  be  known  as 
the  Harford  Agricultural  Society. 

In  1868  there  was  $770.52  in  the  treasury.  During 
this  year  the  society  moved  their  buildings  to  the 
ground  which  it  now  occupies.  For  this  purpose 
there  were  orders  drawn  on  the  treasurer  for  $1020, 
the  amount  of  the  deficit  being  borrowed  for  the  pur- 
pose of  paying  these  orders.  The  great  expense  of 
moving  buildings  and  fitting  up  the  new  ground  was 
relieved  very  much  by  the  liberal  action  of  the  farm- 
ers in  giving  labor  and  lumber.  This  work  was  done 
under  the  supervision  of  I.  H.  Parrish,  D.  L.  Hine 
and  P.  Carpenter.  The  eleventh  annual  fair  was  held 
on  the  new  ground,  October  7 and  8,  1868.  February 
1,  1869,  the  treasurer  reported  $8.56  on  hand.  The 
executive  committee  was  authorized  to  borrow  money 
to  put  the  ground  in  proper  condition.  February  7, 
1870,  the  membership  tickets,  badges,  etc.,  were  done 
away  with,  and  a single  admission  of  twenty-five 
cents  was  charged.  February  6,  1871,  the  treasurer 
reported  $24.29  on  hand.  The  executive  committee 
reported  that  the  income  of  the  society  was  insufficient 
to  meet  expenses  and  that  they  had  borrowed  $150 
and  given  their  individual  notes  for  the  same.  At 
this  meeting  it  was  resolved  that  the  premium  on 
domestic  wine  be  discontinued.  In  February,  1873, 
new  constitution  and  by-laws  were  adopted,  of  which 
Article  5 provides  that  “it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the 
executive  committee  to  revise  and  arrange  a premium 
list,  appoint  judges,  employ  police  and  gate-keepers 


744 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


and  other  necessary  assistance,  advertise  for  each 
annual  fair,  draw  all  orders  on  the  treasurer,  and  do 
any  other  business  not  specified  in  the  by-laws.  They 
shall  receive  as  compensation  for  above  service  each 
S6.00  annually.”  The  above  article  has  never  been 
altered  or  amended.  There  are  two  auditors  elected 
each  year.  All  accounts  are  examined  and  nothing 
is  accepted  by  the  society  until  certified  by  the  audi- 
tors as  correct.  The  treasurer  is  required  to  give 
bonds  to  the  executive  committee  for  the  faithful 
performance  of  his  duties.  In  1875  the  salary  of  the 
secretary  was  made  $20,  since  which  time  it  was  fixed 
at  $40  a year.  In  1879  we  find  report  of  $803.38  on 
hand.  During  the  summer  thefioral  hall  now  in  use 
was  erected,  fence  renewed,  well  dug,  etc.,  and  the 
expense  of  these  improvements  was  $803.49.  Receipts 
of  the  fall  fair,  $897.04 ; expenses,  $569.50,  leaving 
$328  for  another  year. 

In  1884  we  find  $946.78  in  the  treasury,  and  the 
executive  committee  leased  two  acres  of  ground,  which 
is  fenced  in  with  the  original  ground.  They  built  a 
large  addition  to  mechanics’  hall,  added  to  the  dining- 
room, and  erected  a secretary’s  office,  with  baggage- 
room  counected,  for  the  care  of  all  kinds  of  parcels, 
which  may  be  left  in  his  care  for  a small  compensa- 
tion, after  which  the  society  consider  themselves 
responsible  for  the  same  until  called  for  by  the  hold- 
ers of  duplicate  checks.  In  1885  their  receipts  were 
larger  than  ever  before,  the  total  receipts  being 
$1579.30;  paid  premiums,  $678.50;  other  expenses, 
$578.61,  leaving  on  hand,  February  1,  1886,  $1108.77. 
A portion  of  this  money  is  being  used  this  year  in 
erecting  new  stands,  painting  buildings,  fencing  two 
and  one-half  acres  more  ground,  which  has  been 
leased  this  year,  digging  another  well,  etc.  The 
society  has  been  very  fortunate  in  securing  the  ser- 
vices of  their  executive  officers.  In  the  twenty-eight 
years  of  its  existence  there  has  never  been  a hint  of 
any  dishonesty.  The  society  has  never  been  incor- 
porated, and  custom  allows  all  over  twenty-one  years 
old  to  vote  in  our  annual  meetings.  Of  the  twenty- 
eight  fairs  held  there  has  been  but  two  adjourned  on 
account  of  bad  weather.  Only  one  office  vacancy  has 
occurred  by  death.  There  were  seventy-six  charter 
members,  and  of  these,  forty  are  still  living. 

The  Harford  Agricultural  Society  has  been  success- 
ful from  the  beginning,  and  the  interest  has  increased 
from  year  to  year  until  all  the  surrounding  townships 
have  become  interested,  making  their  annual  fairs  the 
best  in  Northeastern  Pennsylvania.  Its  success  is  due 
to  the  honesty  and  fairness  with  which  its  business 
has  been  conducted,  the  liberal  and  democratic  spirit 
that  has  been  shown  in  distributing  the  offices,  and 
the  intelligence  of  its  managers.  And  further,  it  is 
purely  a farmers’  fair,  without  attendant  horse-rac- 
ing, gambling  and  drinking. 

Presidents,  John  Blanding,  Amherst  Carpenter, 
Amasa  Chase,  Edwin  Tingley,  H.  M.  Jones,  Watson 
Jeffers,  E.  T.  Tiffany,  W.  B.  Guile,  H.  S.  Sweet ; Vice- 


Presidents,  Dexter  Sibley,  E.  T.  Tiffany,  D.  L.  Hine, 
Edwin  Tingley,  L.  T.  Farrar,  H.  M.  Jones,  Ira  Car- 
penter, W.  B.  Guile,  W.  Jeffers,  A.  T.  Sweet,  A.  J. 
Adams,  A.  J.  Stearns;  Secretaries,  A.  G.  Blanding, 
W.  B.  Guile,  John  Blanding,  A,  B.  Tucker,  Ira  Car- 
penter, J.  C.  Tanner,  S.  E.  Carpenter,  Lee  Tiffany; 
Treasurers,  P.  Carpenter,  E.  T.  Tiffany,  W.  B.  Guile, 
G.  J.  Babcock,  C.  S.  Johnston,  J.  A.  Williams,  W.  B. 
Guile,  J.  L.  Williams.  A number  of  these  officers 
served  several  terms.  The  present  secretary,  Lee 
Tiffany,  to  whom  we  are  indebted  for  the  above  his- 
tory, has  served  since  1876. 

Burial-Places.- — Harford  Cemetery.  — All  the 
record  or  data  which  can  be  found  in  regard  to  the 
title  and  first  occupancy  of  the  old  or  original  grave- 
yard are  found  in  a manuscript  history  of  the  town- 
ship written  by  Deacon  Caleb  Richardson  in  1837  as 
follows : 

“ In  the  year  1803,  December  6th,  Mr.  Drinker,  by 
his  deed  of  that  date,  gave  one  acre  of  ground  for 
the  use  of  the  families  residing  within  three  miles 
of  that  ground.  Hosea  Tiffany  and  Amos  Tiffany, 
by  tbeir  deed  dated  September  24,  1824,  annexed 
seventy-five  perches  on  the  northeast  side  of  the  lot.” 
The  first  burial  in  the  yard  was  Polly  Follet,  an  in- 
fant daughter  of  Robert  Follet,  born  December  8th, 
died  December  25, 1796.  The  first  adult  buried  there 
was  Dr.  Comfort  Capron,  in  1800,  aged  fifty-six. 

In  the  fall  of  1868  a movement  was  made  by  the 
citizens  of  Harford  to  enlarge  the  grounds,  as  nearly 
every  lot  of  the  old  yard  was  occupied  by  or  more 
graves.  In  October,  at  a meeting  of  those  interested, 
measures  were  taken  to  j^rocure  a charter  of  incor- 
poration for  the  society,  to  be  called  “ The  Cemetery 
Society  of  Harford.”  Amherst  Carpenter,  E.  T.  Tif- 
fany, W.  B.  Guile,  J.  C.  Edwards,  H.  M.  Jones  and 
John  Blanding  were  elected  trustees.  Application 
for  a charter  was  made  in  November  and  granted  in 
February,  1869.  The  charter  provides  for  the  an- 
nual election  of  two  trustees  to  serve  for  three  years, 
making  a board  of  six  trustees,  who  have  power  to 
elect  a president,  secretary  and  treasurer  from  among 
their  number,  to  purchase  additional  ground  when 
necessary,  sell  lots,  make  repairs  and  generally  to  con- 
trol the  affairs  of  the  association.  S.  B.  Guile,  who 
owns  the  land  adjoining  agreed  to  sell  all  the  land  they 
wanted  for  two  hundred  dollars  per  acre.  Under  this 
agreement  two  acres  had  been  purchased  and  sur- 
veyed into  two  hundred  lots.  Colonel  A.  Carpenter, 
who  was  sexton  for  twenty -three  years,  and  knew 
where  every  one  was  buried,  went  over  the  yard  with 
E.  T.  Tiffany  and  they  numbered  the  lots  and  made 
a map  of  the  grounds.  Roads  have  been  laid  out, 
and  in  some  cases  the  lots  are  inclosed  by  ever- 
green hedges.  The  first  head-markers  were  native 
stone,  which  are  more  durable  than  marble ; later 
marble  and  granite.  The  “ City  of  the  Dead  ” is 
already  three  times  as  populous  as  the  little  hamlet 
in  which  it  is  located.  Here  “ the  rude  forefathers 


GIBSON. 


745 


of  the  hamlet  sleep  ” — Hosea  Tiffany,  Robert  Follet, 
Caleb  Richardson,  Samuel  Thacher,  John  Carpenter, 
of  the  Nine  Partners,  are  buried  here.  Daniel  and 
Josiah  Carpenter  died  in  Massachusetts,  and  Moses 
Thacher  in  Ohio,  at  the  residence  of  John  Seymour. 
Ezekiel  Titus,  the  last  of  the  Nine  Partners,  died  in 
1846,  in  the  eighty-second  year  of  his  age,  and  was 
buried  in  this  cemetery. 

Others  of  the  early  settlers  died  as  follows ; Oba- 
diah  Carpenter  in  1810,  aged  sixty-eight  years  ; Asa 
Very  in  1829,  aged  fifty-three ; Nathaniel  Jeffers  in 
1833,  aged  seventy-one ; Thomas  Tiffany  in  1835, 
aged  seventy -eight : Abel  Rice  in  1837,  aged  seventy- 
seven  ; William  Coonrod  in  1837,  aged  eighty-four  ; 
Obadiah  Thacher  in  1838,  aged  eighty  ; Elkanah 
Tingley  in  1838,  aged  seventy-eight ; Aaron  Green- 
wood in  1845,  aged  sixty-four;  Rufus  Kingsley  in 
1846,  aged  eighty-four ; and  his  wife,  aged  seventy- 
nine;  Samuel  Guile  in  1847,  aged  sixty-five;  Abel 
Read  in  1857,  aged  eighty-nine;  Amos  Tiffany  in 
1857,  aged  seventy-two;  Eliab  Farrar  in  1858,  aged 
eighty-five;  Jemima,  his  wife,  in  1874,  aged  ninety- 
one  ; Austin  Jones  in  1861,  aged  seventy -three ; 
Asaph  Fuller  in  1868,  aged  ninety-two. 

Rev.  Ebenezer  Kingsbury  and  Rev.  Adam  Miller 
sleep  with  the  people  they  labored  among  so  faithfully. 
Rev.  Lyman  Richardson  also  sleeps  with  his  fathers, 
with  the  appropriate  epitaph,  “He  lived  for  others.” 
Among  other  later  ones  are  James  Wilson,  aged 
eighty-three;  John  Graham,  aged  eighty-four  ; Isa- 
bella Graham,  aged  ninety-one;  Joseph  Peck,  aged 
eighty-six  ; Daniel  Parish,  aged  seventy  ; John 
Kingsbury,  aged  seventy-six ; Samuel  Seymour,  aged 
seventy-six  ; Polly,  his  wife,  aged  eighty-four;  Jotham 
Oakley,  aged  seventy;  John  Gilbert,  in  1869, 
aged  eighty-one ; Leonard  Titus,  died  1870,  aged 
eighty-three ; Ira  Stearns,  aged  seventy-nine.  1871. — 
Mrs.  Samuel  Guile,  aged  eighty-seven ; Captain  Asahel 
Sweet,  aged  ninety-four  ; John  Stewart,  aged  eighty- 
nine.  1872. — Mrs.  Peter  Thatcher,  aged  eighty- 
eight.  1873. — Augusta  Sophia,  aged  seventy -three ; 
Alanson  Aldrich,  aged  sixty-six ; Orime  Seley, 
aged  eighty-two ; Jacob  Clark,  aged  seventy-six. 
1874.  — Amos  J.  Rice,  aged  eighty-two;  Henry 
Cross,  aged  eighty-eight;  Daniel  Oakley,  aged 
seventy-six.  1875.  — A.  Carpenter,  aged  seventy- 
three  ; Robert  Alexander,  aged  eighty-two.  1876. — 
Joshua  K.  Adams,  aged  eighty-five.  1877. — Rev. 
E.  Allen,  aged  eighty-five  ; Amherst  Carpenter,  aged 
seventy-eight ; Mrs.  Ousterhout,  aged  seventy -six  ; 
Ira  Carpenter,  aged  seventy-seven.  1878. — Joseph 
Shannon,  aged  eighty-five;  Thomas  Frear,  aged 
eighty-eight.  1879. — Mrs.  M.  Tingley,  aged  nine- 
ty-nine; Mrs.  Dixon,  aged  ninety-four.  1880. — 
Richard  Richardson,  aged  eighty-one;  Mrs.  Henry 
Cross,  aged  eighty-seven.  1881. — C.  C.  Richardson, 
aged  eighty-six ; Mrs.  Susan  Taylor,  aged  one 
hundred  and  two ; Mrs.  Abram  Taft,  aged  eighty- 
four;  Warton  Williams,  aged  seventy-eight;  Mrs. 
47  i 


Emeline  Thatcher,  aged  ninety;  Rev.  A.  Miller,  aged 
seventy-five.  1882. — Mrs.  Whitney,  aged  eighty-five  ; 
Mrs.  Fanny  Loomis,  aged  ninety-one;  Onley 
Thacher,  aged  eighty-three;  Saxa  Seymour,  aged 
eighty-nine;  John  Blanding,  aged  seventy-four  ; Peter 
Williams,  aged  eighty-two ; Mrs.  Onley  Thacher, 
aged  seventy-nine ; Tyler  Carpenter,  aged  eighty. 
1883. — Dr.  J.  B.  Streeter,  aged  ninety-six ; Rebecca 
Thacher,  aged  eighty-seven;  Mrs. Christian  Younger, 
aged  seventy-five ; Mrs.  Sarah  Richardson,  aged 
eighty-two  ; Mrs.  Lucy  B.  Tingley,  aged  eighty-three  ; 
Millbourn  Oakley,  aged  eighty-one ; John  Kingsley, 
aged  eighty-eight.  1884. — Walter  Follet,  aged  eighty- 
eight;  Andrew  Van  Buskirk,  aged  seventy;  John 
Gow,  aged  eighty-six.  1885. — William  Gow,  aged 
sixty-five;  Tyler  Brewster,  aged  sixty-nine;  Ira  H. 
Parrish,  aged  seventy.  1886. — Mrs.  Ira  Stearns,  aged 
ninety  ; J.  C.  Edwards,  aged  sixty-two ; Mrs.  C.  S. 
Tanner,  aged  eighty-three ; Mrs.  Louisa  T.  Allen, 
aged  seventy-eight ; Harvey'Sibley,  aged  eighty -nine  ; 
Elkanah  T.  Follett,  aged  eighty ; Mrs.  Jeremiah 
Rogers,  aged  seventy-seven;  Zerah  Very, aged  eighty- 
one.  Since  1869  there  has  been  about  sixteen  burials 
on  an  average,  varying  from  eight  burials  in  1885  to 
thirty-two  in  1881.  The  advanced  ages  of  so  many 
that  were  buried  during  that  time  will  not  escape  the 
notice  of  the  careful  reader. 

There  are  three  other  burial-places  in  the  town- 
ship. 

The  Peck  or  Universalist  Burial-ground  is  a mile  or 
more  south  of  the  village,  located  on  the  land  of  Free- 
man Peck,  on  a sharp  rolling  ridge.  It  consists  of  about 
one-half  of  an  acre  walled  in  with  beautiful  balsams 
along  the  wall  in  front  and  up  the  slope  that  faces 
the  road.  Some  of  the  Pecks,  Walter  Wilmarth, 
Asahel  Carpenter  and  a few  others  are  buried  there. 

The  Harding  or  Powers  Burial-ground  is  located 
in  South  Harford.  The  first  adult  buried  there  was 
Thomas  Harding,  about  1809.  The  Hardings,  Brun- 
dages  and  many  others  are  buried  there.  Some  of 
the  graves  are  unmarked  save  by  a head  and  foot- 
stone,  and  unknown.  Joseph  Powers  has  recently 
surveyed  one  hundred  and  four  rods  of  land  and  in- 
closed for  burial  purposes.  This  includes  the  old 
yard  with  additional  ground,  which  is  under  the  con- 
trol of  Joseph  Bowers. 

The  Wilmarth  Burial-ground  is  located  on  lands 
given  by  Sewell  and  Perry  Wilmarth  in  West  Har- 
ford. The  Wilmarths  and  others  have  buried  here. 


CHAPTER  XLVIII. 

GIBSON  TOWNSHIP. 

Gibson  Township,  which  was  named  in  honor  of 
Justice  John  B.  Gibson,  was  erected  in  November, 
1813.  Jn  January  1813,  Asa  I)iniock  and  others 


746 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


petitioned  the  Court  of  Quarter  Sessions  of  Susque- 
hanna County,  “praying that  a township  be  laid  off 
from  the  township  of  Clifford,  beginning  at  the  north- 
east corner  of  said  township,  thence  south  on  the  line 
between  Wayne  County  and  said  township  six  miles 
and  one  hundred  and  sixty  perches,  thence  west  to 
the  line  of  Harford,  thence  north  to  the  northwest 
corner  of  said  township,  thence  east  to  the  place  of 
beginning.”  Whereupon  the  court  appointed  Walter 
Lyon,  John  Carpenter  and  Hosea  Tiffiiny  to  inquire 
into  the  propriety  of  granting  the  prayer  of  the  peti- 
tioners.” These  three  persons  were  discharged  at  the 
request  of  Walter  Lyon,  and  Nicholas  McCarty,  Job 
Tyler  and  Joseph  Washburn  were  appointed  in  their 
stead.  This  committee  reported  to  the  court  that 
they  found  it  necessary  for  the  convenience  of  the 
inhabitants,  that  said  town  should  be  divided  ac- 
cording to  the  prayer  of  the  petition,  and  as  the  line 
of  said  town  had  never  been  ascertained,  and  there 
was  some  dispute  already,  they  found  it  necessary  to 
accurately  survey  and  definitely  mark  the  boundaries, 
which  they  reported  as  follows  : Beginning  at  the 

northeast  corner  of  the  town  of  Clifford  in  the 
Wayne  County  line,  then  south  on  said  line  six  and 
one-half  miles  to  a stake  and  heap  of  stones  for  a 
corner,  thence  west  nine  miles  to  a stake  and  heap  of 
stones  for  a corner,  thence  north  six  and  one-half 
miles  to  the  line  of  Harmony  and  New  Milford  to  a 
stake  and  stones,  thence  on  the  line  of  Harmony 
nine  miles  to  the  first-mentioned  bound,”  which  re- 
port was  confirmed  finally  at  November  session,  1813. 
In  1825  Herrick  was  formed  and  in  1852  Ararat  was 
formed,  each  taking  territory  from  Gibson,  leaving  it 
in  its  present  shape,  bounded  on  the  north  by  New 
Milford  and  Jackson,  on  the  east  by  Ararat  and  Her- 
rick, on  the  south  by  Clifford,  on  the  southwest  by 
Lenox,  and  on  the  west  by  Harford — containing  about 
thirty-six  square  miles. 

The  Tunkhannock  River  runs  diagonally  through 
the  township  from  the  northeast  to  the  southwest 
corner  and  completely  drains  the  township,  receiving 
the  waters  of  the  Willis  and  several  other  small  lakes. 
The  flats  along  the  Tunkhannock  are  good  farming 
lands.  The  East  Mountains  or  Hills  rise  eastward  of 
the  creek  and  high  hills  rise  to  the  westward  from 
the  Tunkhannock.  These  long,  rolling  hills  were 
once  covered  with  maple  and  beech  and  the  valley 
was  timbered  with  hemlock.  Gibson  is  a good  dairy- 
farming and  stock-raising  township.  It  has  a good 
meadow  and  pasture  land  and  apple  orchards.  The 
farm-houses  are  generally  good  and  the  people  are 
thrifty  and  intelligent.  William  Poyntell  was  one  of 
the  first  men  who  laid  warrants  under  Pennsylvania 
title  in  Susquehanna  County.  He  commenced  at  the 
mouth  of  the  Tunkhannock  and  continued  up  the 
stream  as  far  as  Jackson  Centre.  His  surveyors  left 
the  creek  only  once,  and  that  was  to  secure  the  lauds 
afterwards  known  as  “ Kentuck.” 

Joseph  Potter,  a Revolutionary  soldier,  from  Pitts- 


field, Massachusetts,  settled  in  Gibson  January  21, 
1792.  He  commenced  on  the  farm  now  occupied  by 
his  grandson,  Joshua  M.  Potter.  Captain  Potter,  as  he 
afterwards  became,  by  commission  from  Governor 
Mifflin,  dated  July  18, 1798,  wherein  he  is  commission- 
ed captain  of  the  Second  Company,  Fourth  Regi- 
ment of  the  Luzerne  County  Brigade  of  Militia,  came 
from  Ballston  Spa  to  Penn.sylvania,  by  way  of  the 
Bend,  and  erected  a cabin  without  a door,  into  which 
he  moved  his  family.  His  wife  did  not  see  a woman’s 
face  for  the  first  six  months.  He  afterwards  moved 
two  miles  farther  east,  to  the  farm  now  occupied  by 
his  grandson,  Oliver  Potter,  then  he  moved  to  the 
place  now  owned  by  his  grandson,  Stephen  Potter, 
where  he  had  a tavern  on  the  Newburg  road  and 
where  he  died,  February  9,  1835,  his  wife  Lois  having 
died,  November  5,  1824.  They  had  a family  of  nine 
children, — Noah,  who  died  in  Illinois  ; Parley,  who 
resided  in  the  township,  was  accidentally  killed 
up  the  Susquehanna  (his  son  Oliver  resides  on  that 
farm  now) ; John,  who  married  Polly  Washburn, 
lived  and  died  where  his  son  J.  M.  Potter  now  lives. 
John’s  children  were  Electa,  Joseph,  Parley,  Stephen, 
William,  Elsie,  Polly,  Francis,  Elmina  and  Joshua 
M.  The  six  daughters  of  the  original  family  were 
Edie,  wife  of  Daniel  Tingley;  Elsie,  wife  of  Newton 
Hawley ; Lucretia,  wife  of  Dalton  Tiffany  ; Lois, 
wife  of  Otis  Stearns ; Amanda,  wife  of  Wheeler  Lyon  ; 
and  Cynthia,  wife  of  Franklin  Finn.  Joshua  M. 
Potter  owns  four  hundred  acres  of  land  and  has  good 
farm  buildings.  He  has  one  of  the  best  cellars  in  the 
county. 

Kennedy  Hill. — Deacon  William  Holmes  was  a 
ship-carpenter.  He  bought  the  property  now  owned 
by  Joshua  M.  Potter.  His  wife  was  Hannah  Fuller. 
His  sons  David,  William,  Thomas  and  Daniel  settled 
in  the  vicinity.  Daniel  settled  on  East  Mountain  and 
is  there  noticed. 

Before  the  close  of  1809,  David  Carpenter  came 
from  Massachusetts  and  settled  on  the  “ Kentuck  ” 
road,  where  “Freel  ” Brendage  now  resides.  He  was 
a cousin  of  two  of  the  nine  partners  of  the  same  fam- 
ily name,  and  his  wife  was  Abi  Follett,  sister  of  Rob- 
ert Follett.  They  had  four  children — Chester,  whose 
son  Calvin  is  a judge  in  Golden  City,  Col. ; Lucy,  wife 
of  John  Brundage  ; Timothy,  for  fifteen  years  justice 
of  the  peace  of  Gibson  ; Delaney,  wife  of  Sabinus 
Walker,  a merchant  in  Salem,  Pa. 

In  1822  Joab  Tyler,  John  Seymour  & Co.  had  a 
tin  and  sheet  iron  factory  on  Gibson  Hill.  A year  or 
two  later  William  A.  Boyd  came  to  the  place,  and  af- 
ter the  removal  of  Seymour,  was  of  the  firm  of  Tyler, 
Boyd  & Co.  About  1827  they  sold  their  store  to  P. 
K.  Williams.  In  1835  N.  E.  Kennedy  bought  of  P. 
K.  Williams  and  continued  the  mercantile  business 
for  nearly  one-half  a century.  He  is  now  past  eighty. 
The  hill  has  been  known  as  Kennedy  Hill  for  many 
years.  The  Newburg  road  passes  through  here  and  at 
one  time  it  was  a central  point  for  business. 


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GIBSON. 


V47 


Francis  Burrows,  brother  of  Urbane  Burrows,  was  a 
partner  with  Kennedy  for  a time.  Stephen  Potter 
lives  where  Capt.  Potter  died.  He  had  a hotel  there 
many  years.  Horace  Thayer  started  a hotel  on  Ken- 
nedy Hill  and  William  Purdy  Embler,  Peter  Foster 
and  Asa  Post  followed  him.  Tyler,  Seymour  & Co. 
had  a grist-mill,  distillery  and  ashery.  One  of  the 
first  school-houses  in  the  township  was  started  on 
Kennedy  Hill.  The  Methodists  had  a church  here, 
and  at  one  time  it  was  the  central  point  for  miles 
around;  now  nothing  but  farming  is  carried  on  at  this 
point.  David  Sparks  was  an  early  settler  in  Gibson. 
His  son  Lee  Sparks  is  living  at  Chipmuck  Hollow  at 
an  advanced  age. 

Oscar  Washburn. — His  great-grandfather  Wash- 
burn came  from  Massachusetts  and  took  up  land 
where  Bellevue  is  now  situated,  in  Lackawanna  Coun- 
ty, and  when  coal  was  first  brought  into  use  as  fuel 
large  beds  of  it  were  found  on  his  property.  Not 
thinking  it  of  value,  Washburn  sold  his  coal  interest 
to  one  Dr.  Roberts  for  a hat.  The  doctor  afterwards 
found  that  the  title  of  the  land  was  in  the  hands  of 
Pennsylvania  claimants,  and  was  obliged  to  surrender 
it  under  his  Connecticut  claim.  This  Washburn’s 
sons — Joseph,  Waller,  Ebenezer,  Samuel  and  daugh- 
ters— Polly  (wife  of  John  Potter,  of  Gibson),  Betsey 
(wife  of  Elisha  Harding,  of  Herrick) , and  Mrs.  Howe, 
afterwards  of  the  lake  country — came  to  the  central 
part  of  Gibson  township  in  1802.  The  sons,  with  the 
exception  of  Samuel,  who  died  in  Ohio,  and  one 
daughter,  Mrs.  Potter,  spent  the  remainder  of  their 
lives  in  the  township.  Waller  left  children — Dexter, 
Julius,  Franklin,  Lyman,  Samuel,  Mrs.  Tarbox  (of 
Susquehanna),  Ruth,  Elmira  and  Lucretia.  Eben- 
ezer left  at  his  death  children, — -John  (of  New  Mil- 
ford), Joseph,  Erastus,  Philander,  Elsie,  Achsah  and 
Roxanna. 

The  eldest,  Joseph  Washburn,  was  a gun-smith  and 
blacksmith,  and  his  shop  for  the  manufacture  of  tools 
was  the  only  one  for  miles  around.  He  was  a man  of 
good  business  ability  and  was  commissioned  the  first 
justice  of  the  peace  in  the  township,  and  served  two 
terms  as  county  commissioner.  He  died  at  over 
eighty-four.  His  wife  (Prudy  Corbet)  died  in  1848. 
Their  children  were  Ira,  born  in  1803,  a blacksmith, 
gunsmith  and  farmer,  whose  only  son  succeeded  to  a 
part  of  the  homestead  on  Gibson  Hill,  where  he  resides 
in  1887  ; Thersa  (deceased)  was  the  wife  of  Thaddeus 
Whitney,  of  Gibson  ; Betsey,  killed  accidentally,  was 
the  wife  of  Horace  Thayer,  of  Gibson;  Eliza  died 
young;  Nancy  was  the  wife  of  N.  E.  Kennedy, a mer- 
chant on  Kennedy  Hill,  Gibson ; Julia  Ann,  wife  of 
S.  S.  Ingalls,  Chicago,  formerly  a merchant  in  Bur- 
rows’ Hollow ; Ira  married  Eliza  Belcher,  who  was 
born  in  1805,  a daughter  of  William  Belcher,  who 
came  from  Orange  County  and  settled  in  Gibson  in 
1794.  He  was  a brother  of  John  Belcher,  who  settled 
in  the  township  at  the  same  time.  Ira  and  Eliza 
Washburn’s  children  are  Oscar  Washburn,  Esq.,  born  ^ 


on  the  homestead  April  17,  1824 ; Amanda,  first  the 
wife  of  Stephen  Payne,  and  after  his  death  married  a 
Mr.  Baylis,  of  Binghamton ; Janet,  deceased,  was 
the  wife  of  F.  M.  Ellting,  of  Oneonta,  N.  Y. ; Freder- 
ick died  while  sheriff  )of  Lassen  County,  California; 
Mary,  wife  of  John  Fitch,  of  the  same  county;  Free- 
man C.,  a gunsmith,  of  Wellsborough,  Pa.;  Betsey, 
deceased,  the  second  wife  of  F.  M.  Ellting,  of  Oneonta  ; 
Alice,  deceased  young;  Josej)hine,  the  wife  of  Lewis 
Steenback,  died  in  Gibson  ; Helen,  wife  of  Richmond 
Whitney,  of  Oneonta ; and  Henry  A.,  a farmer  in 
California.  Oscar,  eldest  of  these  children,  spent  his 
boyhood  on  the  farm,  obtained  a fair  education  at 
the  home  district  schools,  and  for  some  six  terms  was 
a teacher  in  the  schools  of  the  vicinity  and  for  one 
year  in  New  Jersey.  He  married,  in  1850,  Abby  E. 
Tyler  (1828-58),  youngest  daughter  of  Dr.  Chester 
(1787-1847)  and  Laura  Chedell  (1790-1868)  Tyler,  of 
Gibson.  After  his  marriage  he  bought  a farm  west  of 
Smiley,  where  he  resided  until  1868,  when  he  sold  it, 
and  settled  on  a farm  on  the  Tunkhannock  in  Gibson. 
Here  he  resided  until  the  sale  of  this  farm  to  E.  W. 
Jones,  in  1886,  when  he  removed  in  the  spring  of  the 
following  year  to  Susquehanna.  His  political  affilia- 
tions have  been  with  the  Republican  party,  and  he 
has  served  his  township  for  ten  years  as  justice  of  the 
peace,  school  director  and  assessor  one  term,  and  he  was 
elected  and  served  one  term  as  county  commissioner. 
He  had  one  child  (Mary  E.),  who  died  at  the  age  of 
sixteen.  For  his  second  wife  he  married,  in  1859, 
Sally  C.  Tyler  (who  had  been  a teacher  in  Susquehanna 
County  over  fifteen  years  and  was  a student  of  Har- 
ford University  for  two  years),  born  February  13, 
1820,  a half-sister  of  his  first  wife,  whose  mother,  Sally 
Crafts  (1790-1820),  was  the  first  wife  of  Dr.  Tyler,  and 
the  sister  of  Judge  Crafts,  of  Otsego  County,  N.  Y. 
This  Dr.  Tyler  was  a native  of  Windham  County, 
Connecticut;  was  examined  and  admitted  to  practice 
medicine  and  surgery  at  Delhi,  N.  Y.,  in  1816  and 
came  to  Hartwick,  Otsego  County,  a young  man,  where 
he  practiced  his  profession  until  1825,  when  he  set- 
tled with  his  family  on  Kennedy  Hill,  in  Gibson, 
where  he  continued  practice  until  his  death.  The 
children  by  his  first  wife  were  Sally  C.,  the  present 
wife  of  Squire  Washburn,  and  one  son,  James  C.,  who 
died  young.  By  his  second  wife  Dr.  Tyler  had  chil- 
dren,— James  C..  of  Montrose;  Mary  A.  died  at  thirty  ; 
Emeline  R.,  wife  of  John  C.  Frazier,  died  in  Gibson  ; 
Abby  E.,  the  first  wife  of  Esquire  Washburn  ; John 
C.,  a druggist,  died  at  Lafayette,  Ind.,  in  1885  ; and 
Joab  died  young.  The  religious  persuasion  of  the 
Tylers  is  Presbyterian,  that  of  the  Washburns  Meth- 
odist. 

Kentuck,  or  Five  Partners. — In  traveling  up 
the  Tunkhannock,  there  is  a road  that  leads  from 
South  Gibson  northward  up  the  hill  which  passes 
through  a fine  farming  country  ; this  land,  in  its  wild 
state,  is  said  to  have  so  impressed  a Kentucky  hunter 
with  its  beauty,  that  he  declared  it  looked  like  Ken- 


748 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


tucky — hence  the  name.  Poyntell’s  surveyor.^*,  who 
were  surveying  lands  where  they  could  find  the  best 
localities,  left  the  Tunkhannock  River  flats  to  secure 
these  lands  for  their  employer.  William  Abel,  Eben- 
ezer  Bailey,  James  Chandler,  Hazard  Powers  and 
Daniel  Brewster,  a cousin  of  Abel’s,  who  never  settled 
in  the  settlement,  constituted  the  “ Five  Partners.’’ 
Wm.  Poyntell  advertised  his  lands  in  Connecticut. 
Jacob  Loomis,  William  Abel’s  father-in-law,  con- 
tracted for  eight  hundred  acres  in  the  interest  of  the 
partners.  In  the  fall  of  1809  they  all  came  to  Penn- 
sylvania, and  with  the  exception  of  Brewster,  all  re- 
turned the  next  spring.  They  had  some  difficulty 
about  obtaining  a title,  which  made  it  necessary  for 
William  Abel  and  James  Chandler  to  go  to  Philadel- 
phia to  arrange  the  business,  which  was  accomplished 
by  Mr.  Poyntell’s  deeding  the  whole  tract  to  James 
Chandler,  to  be  divided  by  lot  among  the  “ Five 
Partners.”  Three  men  from  Harford  acted  as  ap- 
praisers. The  lands  were  divided  and  appraised,  two 
dollars  and  fifty  cents  per  acre  being  the  lowest,  and 
three  dollars  and  fifty  cents  the  highest  price  apprized. 
In  the  final  allotment  Mr.  Abel’s  lands  were  three 
dollars  per  acre;  Bailey’s,  three  dollars  and  twenty- 
five  cents;  Brewster’s,  three  dollars  and  fifty  cents; 
Chandler’s,  two  dollars  and  seventy-five  cents ; Powers’, 
two  dollars  and  fifty  cents. 

William  Abel  came  from  Windham,  now  New  Lon- 
don County,  Conn.  He  was  brought  up  near  Jona- 
than Trumbull,  “ Brother  Jonathan.”  His  wife  was 
Polly  Loomis ; both  his  father  and  wife’s  father  had 
seen  service  in  the  Revolution.  He  cleared  up  a good 
farm  on  his  allotment  of  one  hundred  and  twenty-five 
acres,  and  lived  to  be  nearly  ninety-two  years  of  age. 
He  was  born  the  12th  of  July,  1775,  and  remembered 
the  burning  of  New  London  by  Arnold.  He  was  in- 
dustrious and  amassed  a good  fortune  for  his  day 
although  not  a member  of  any  church,  he  was  a lib- 
eral supporter  of  the  Presbyterian  Church.  His  wife 
died  at  the  age  of  eighty.  They  had  a family  of  ten 
children,  nine  of  whom  arrived  at  the  age  of  maturity, — 
William  Abel  is  a successful  merchant  at  Ann  Arbor, 
Mich. ; Guerdon  L. ; Rhoda,  wife  of  S.  S.  Chamber- 
lain.  Sylvester  Abel  read  law  with  Wm.  Jessup,  and 
was  admitted  to  the  Susquehanna  County  bar  in  1839 
(he  removed  to  Ann  Arbor,  where  he  practiced  law, 
and  was  State  Senator  and  a candidate  for  State  treas- 
urer when  General  Scott  was  a candidate  for  the 
presidency);  Alonzo  resides  in  Owego ; Nelson  at 
Saginaw;  Jane  is  dead;  Henry  resides  in  the  town- 
ship and  is  a good  business  man  ; Seth  resides  on  the 
old  homestead. 

James  Chandler  located  about  one  mile  south  of 
William  Abel,  and  cleared  up  the  farm  now  owned  by 
Wm.  H.  Davall.  He  raised  a family  of  some  promi- 
nence; his  oldest  son,  Charles,  was  coroner  in  1824, 
sheriff  in  1827  and  a member  of  the  Legislature  in 
1838-39.  Stephen  P.  and  James  were  the  other  sons. 

Mary  was  the  wife  of  Charles  Edwards.  Their  son. 


C.  C.  Edwards,  is  a celebrated  physician  in  Bingham- 
ton. Harriet,  Huldah,  Adelia,  wife  of  Dr.  Dicker- 
man,  of  Harford,  are  the  daughters. 

Captain  Hazard  Powers  was  an  old  sea-captain. 
He  located  south  of  Chandler’s.  His  children  were 
Joseph,  Samuel,  Ichabod,  William,  Hazard,  Daniel, 
Sarah  and  Hannah.  Ebenezer  Bailey  located  south 
of  William  Abel.  He  had  five  children,  none  of 
whom  are  now  living  in  the  township. 

William  W.  Williams. — Elisha  Williams,  grand- 
father of  our  subject,  when  a young  man,  came  to 
Pennsylvania  from  Connecticut,  and  made  purchases 
of  land,  the  title  of  which  proved  worthless,  and  he 
returned  to  his  native  State.  He  was  among  the  un- 
fortunate soldiers  who  were  at  Wyoming  in  1778,  but 
escaped  that  memorable  and  terrible  massacre,  in 
which  nearly  all  w'ere  killed.  Upon  returning  to  his 
home,  near  Norwich,  Conn.,  he  began  studying  for 
the  ministry,  but  after  a time  abandoned  his  inten- 
tion of  becoming  a clergyman,  read  law  and  prac- 
ticed his  profession  the  remainder  of  his  life.  One  of 
his  sons,  Alden,  served  with  ability  as  a judge  in 
Ohio ; another.  Whitman,  also  settled  in  the  same 
State;  a third,  Elisha  Williams  (1793-1877),  a native 
of  Cider  Hill,  near  Norwich,  where  the  family  re- 
sided, came  to  Brooklyn  township  in  1811,  where  he 
learned  the  trade  of  a carpenter.  He  afterwards  set- 
tled on  a farm,  the  Brewster  allotment  of  the  Five 
Partners’,  in  Kentuck  settlement,  Gibson  township, 
where  he  carried  on  farming,  in  connection  with 
working  at  his  trade  the  remainder  of  his  active  life. 
He  built  the  grist-mill  at  South  Gibson,  which  he 
owned  and  run  several  years.  His  wife,  Lucy  S. 
(1799-1876),  whom  he  married  in  1818,  was  a daugh- 
ter of  Elijah  Dix.  In  religious  persuasion  they  were 
Universalists ; their  children  are  Huldah  C.  (1821- 
83),  J.  Alden  (1826-53),  was  a merchant  for  many 
years  at  Salem,  Wayne  County,  afterwards  at  South 
Gibson,  and  died  while  in  New  York  City  purchas- 
ing goods,  leaving  one  daughter.  Alpha  Frances,  a 
teacher  in  Scranton. 

William  W.  Williams,  their  only  surviving  son, 
was  born  on  the  home  farm,  in  Gibson  township, 
November  11,  1828,  where  he  spent  the  major  part  of 
his  life.  He  had  the  usual  opportunities  for  obtain- 
ing an  education  at  the  district  school,  and  for  some 
time  attended  the  old  Harford  Academy,  now  the 
Soldiers’  Orphans’  School.  While  at  school  he  took 
a prominent  part  in  the  exhibitions,  which  were 
largely  attended  from  all  parts  of  the  county. 

He  gained  recognition  and  praise  for  the  contribu- 
tions rendered,  and  many  thus  sought  his  acquaint- 
ance. From  the  age  of  seventeen  years  he  managed 
the  home  farm,  and  during  his  residence  in  the  town- 
ship purchased  other  real  estate  adjoining  and  in 
other  parts  of  the  township,  until  now  he  is  the 
owner  of  three  farms  there,  and  one  in  Bridgewater 
township.  Mr.  Williams  was  in  early  life  a large 
dealer  in  sheep,  and  afterwards  in  cattle,  and,  espe- 


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749 


cially  during  the  late  war,  he  made  large  purchases 
in  Buffalo,  which  he  shipped  to  this  county  and 
fatted  and  sold  for  home  consumption. 

In  1852  he  engaged  in  the  lumber  business  at  Equi- 
nunk,  Wayne  County,  where  he  purchased  some  five 
hundred  acres  of  timber  land,  and  manufactured  and 
shipped  lumber  to  Philadelphia,  via  the  Delaware, 
until  the  sale  of  this  property,  three  years  thereafter. 
Returning  to  Susquehanna  County,  he  carried  on 
mercantile  business  at  South  Gibson,  and  was  post- 
master at  that  place  for  three  years.  When  a young 
man  he  became  interested  in  township  and  county  af- 
fairs, and,  upon  reaching  his  majority,  was  elected 
and  served  as  constable.  He  subsequently  served  as 
justice  of  the  peace,  assessor  and  in  other  official  po- 
sitions in  the  township.  He  was  the  chosen  candi- 
date of  the  Republican  party  for  their  Representative 
to  the  State  Legislature  in  1875  and  1876,  and  served 
on  the  Committees  on  Appropriation,  Agriculture  and 
others.  In  1881  Mr.  Williams  removed  to  Mont- 
rose, where  he  has  since  resided,  continuing,  how- 
ever, the  personal  supervision  of  his  farms.  His  first 
wife,  whom  he  mrrried  in  1853,  was  Charlotte  (1834- 
68),  daughter  of  Roswell  and  Nancy  (Thacher)  Gil- 
lett,  who  died,  leaving  two  children, — William  E., 
who  was  a graduate  at  Keystone  Academy,  Factory- 
ville,  in  the  class  of  1880,  and  for  one  year  was  a stu- 
dent at  the  University  of  Virginia,  at  Charlottesville 
(he  read  law  with  McCollum  & Watson,  was  admit- 
ted to  the  bar  at  the  January  term,  1884,  and  is 
now  a member  of  the  law-fii'm  of  Blakeslee  & Wil- 
liams, at  Montrose);  and  Julia  A.,  wife  of  Dr.  J.  A. 
Greenawalt,  of  Pittsburgh,  who  was  also  a graduate  at 
Keystone  Academy  in  the  class  of  1880,  at  the  age  of 
sixteen,  being  the  youngest  student  ever  graduated 
at  that  institution.  In  1884  she  was  also  graduated 
for  the  National  School  of  Elocution,  at  Philadelphia. 
Mrs.  Williams’  parents  were  among  the  old  families 
of  Gibson  township,  and  her  grandfather,  Willard 
Gillett,  settled  there  from  Connecticut.  For  his 
second  wife,  he  married,  in  1875,  Carrie  J.,  a daugh- 
ter of  O.  F.  and  Jeannett  (Anderson)  Gunther,  form- 
erly of  Archbald,  now  of  Fleetville,  Lackawanna 
County,  Pennsylvania.  She  was  born  February  28, 
1857.  Her  mother  is  a native  of  Thompsonville, 
Conn.,  and  her  father  is  a native  of  Saxony,  Germany, 
who  came  to  Carbondale  about  1850,  where  he  first 
met  his  wife.  Mr.  Williams’  children  by  his  present 
wife  are  Ethelberta,  Alden  Humphrey  and  Elbert 
Anderson  Williams. 

Arunah  Tiffany  lived  about  1809  on  the  highest 
point  on  Kentuck  Hill,  and  remained  there,  with  the 
exception  of  two  years  spent  in  Brooklyn,  until  his 
death,  in  1863,  at  the  age  of  seventy-eight  years.  His 
son,  George  B.,  now  occupies  the  old  homestead. 
From  a point  west  of  the  house  an  extended  view  can 
be  obtained.  One  can  see,  with  the  aid  of  a glass,  the 
Presbyterian  and  Methodist  Churches  at  Ararat  and 
Harford,  also  the  orphan  school  at  the  latter  place. 


the  Presbyterian  Churches  at  Gibson  and  Dundaff 
and  the  Baptist  Church  at  Greenfield.  Noah  Tiffany, 
a brother  of  the  foregoing,  came  to  Gibson  a few 
years  later.  His  widow  died  recently  in  her  ninety- 
second  year.  She  had  been  a member  of  the  Presby- 
terian Church  for  many  years.  Noah  Tiffany,  Sr., 
father  of  Noah  and  Arunah,  settled  in  Brooklyn  in 
1809,  and  had  other  sons,  Olney  and  John,  and  daugh- 
ters, Jemima  and  Hannah,  wife  of  Wells  Stanley. 
These  children  were  by  his  first  wife,  Hannah  Carpen- 
ter. By  a second  wife  he  had  two  children, — Melinda, 
wife  of  Myron  Lindsley,  of  Bridgewater ; and  Clar- 
issa Waterman,  of  Brooklyn. 

Union  Hill  and  Vicinity. — John  Belcher  came 
in  1794  to  the  farm  since  owned  by  George  Maxey.  It 
extends  west  from  Union  Hill  Church,  and  was  once 
owned  by  George  H.  Wells.  Mr.  Belcher  sold  to 
Abijah  Wells  and  removed  to  Lymansville,  Spring- 
ville  township.  His  sons  were  John,  Ira,  Hiram  and 
Alanson.  The  family  is  scattered.  Some  of  them 
moved  into  Wayne  County.  Michael  lived  in  the 
vicinity  of  South  Gibson,  and  is  remembered  as  an  ec- 
centric and  rather  demonstrative  Methodist  class- 
leader.  His  second  daughter,  wife  of  Ezekiel  Barnes, 
was  born  in  1795,  and  claimed  to  be  the  first  white 
child  born  in  Gibson.  She  lived  to  be  past  eighty. 
James  Bennett  came  to  Union  Hill  and  purchased  an 
improvement  of  William  Belcher,  where  George  Mor- 
gan now  lives  in  1802.  He  had  three  hundred  acres, 
and  cleared  up  a good  farm.  The  roads  afterwards 
ran  through  his  farm  and  cut  it  into  five  corners.  The 
Union  Hill  Presbyterian  Church  stands  on  part  of 
this  land.  Mr.  Bennett  died  in  1847,  aged  eighty- 
two,  and  his  wife  died  ten  years  later,  at  the  same  age. 
Their  children  were  Charles,  Luke,  John,  Rachel, 
Loren  G.  and  Julia.  They  all  resided  in  Gibson  ex- 
cept Luke,  who  moved  to  Lenox,  and  were  all  farmers, 
except  Charles,  a shoemaker,  and  all  attained  a ripe 
old  age.  Levi  Bennett  came  later  and  located  where 
Justin  Gillett  lives. 

George  Galloway  came  to  Union  Hill,  then  known 
as  “Toad  Hill,”  from  Orange  County,  in  1795.  His 
farm  and  James  Bennett’s  lay  adjoining  each  other. 
His  children  were  Jonatham,  born  in  1796;  William, 
born  in  1801.  These  were  among  the  first  children 
born  in  the  township.  Mary  Ann,  Matilda,  Huldah, 
Solomon  W.,  Aaron,  Betsey,  Lewis,  Sarah,  George 
and  Abigail,  Mary  Ann  (the  wife  of  George  Woodward) 
were  the  other  children.  There  were  six  Walker 
brothers  moved  to  Gibson  as  early  as  1818,  and  settled 
in  different  parts  of  Gibson  township, — Arnold,  Enos, 
Keth,  Sabinus,  Cady  and  David.  The  latter  married 
Ann  Holmes  and  moved  to  Syracuse.  Cady  and  Sa- 
binus moved  to  Allegheny  County;  Arnold  and  Enos 
died  in  South  Gibson  ; Sabinus  married  Matilda  Gal- 
loway. Their  sons  were  William,  Jonas,  George  and 
Gilbert.  The  latter  became  Governor  of  Virginia  and 
Representative  to  Congress  from  that  State,  and  had 
the  reputation  at  the  time  of  being  the  handsomest  man 


750 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


in  that  body.  He  moved  back  to  New  York  and  died 
there.  His  brother  Jonas  became  wealthy  in  California. 
Keth  Walker  married  Ann  Hawley  and  reared  a large 
family;  Sabinus  and  George  were  engaged  in  business 
at  South  Gibson  for  a number  of  years  ; A.  B.  Walker, 
another  son,  was  a member  of  the  Legislature  twice, 
the  second  time  as  representative  of  Susquehanna  and 
Wyoming  Counties  in  1870;  Rev.  IraT.  Walker,  an- 
other son,  was  born  in  Gibson,  May  22,  1838,  and 
moved  to  Salem,  Pa.,  when  twelve  years  of  age.  He 
commenced  to  preach  for  the  Methodists  at  Cherry 
Ridge,  Wayne  County,  then  in  Springville,  Susque- 


Thomas  Evans  came  to  Gibson  from  Wales  in  1842, 
and  Uewis  Evans  came  with  him.  Thomas  bought 
his  place  of  Abijah  Wells  in  1847.  Mr.  Wells  was 
an  Orange  County  man,  who  owned  about  seven 
hundred  acres  of  land.  Mr.  Evans  married  a 
daughter  of  Willard  Gillett,  who  came  here  from 
Connecticut  in  1816.  He  has  a good  library,  and  is 
a man  of  intelligence,  in  religion  a Presbyterian  and 
in  politics  a Prohibitionist.  He  has  been  elder  and 
Sunday-school  superintendent  in  the  Union  Hill 
Presbyterian  Church  many  years,  and  was  the  candi- 
date of  the  Prohibition  party  for  the  State  Senate. 


hanna  County,  1858-59,  and  has  been  a successful 
clergyman  ever  since.  One  thousand  persons  have 
been  converted  under  his  preaching.  He  was  pre- 
siding elder  at  one  time  and  is  now  located  at  Lexing- 
ton, Ky. 

Nathan  Guile  came  to  Gibson  in  1809,  and  located 
between  Burrows’  Hollow  and  Union  Hill.  He  cleared 
up  a farm  and  died  at  the  age  of  ninety-two.  He  had 
eight  children.  Vander,  a cripple  and  for  many  years 
mail-carrier,  died  in  South  Gibson  ; Jason,  lived  and 
died  on  the  homestead ; Eliza,  was  the  wife  of  Ches- 
ter Carpenter ; Nathan  and  Charles  live  in  Jackson 
and  Joseph  in  Burrows’  Hollow. 


Lewis  Evans  bought  a farm  of  James  Chamberlain, 
and  Daniel  Evans  bought  the  William  Parmenter 
place. 

Jacob  L.  Gillet.— Willard  Gillet  (1781-1868),  the 
son  of  Isaac,  a native  of  Lebanon,  Conn.,  came  to 
Gibson  in  1816,  bought  out  the  improvements  of  one 
George  Williams,  on  some  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres,  situate  on  Union  Hill,  erected  a frame  house 
and  returned  most  of  the  way  on  foot  to  his  home  in 
Connecticut.  He  had  married,  in  1806,  Eunice 
Loomis  (1783-1861),  a daughter  of  Jacob  Loomis, 
born  in  the  same  place.  lu  1817  he  removed  to 
his  new  home  in  Gibson,  with  his  wife  and  the  fol- 


GIBSON. 


751 


lowing  children : Eunice  (1807-86)  was  the  wife 
of  Silas  Chamberlain,  of  Gibson  ; Eoswell  (1809-55) 
was  a farmer  in  Gibson;  Marietta  (1811-86),  the  wife 
of  Thomas  Evans,  of  Gibson  ; and  Sophia,  born  1814, 
first  the  wife  of  D.  C.  Payne,  of  Gibson,  and  the 
present  wise  of  William  Thyer.  The  children  born 
in  Gibson  are  Jacob  L.,  September  1,  1817  ; Justin 
W.,  1819,  a farmer,  in  Smiley  Hollow.  Willard  Gillet 
afterwards  bought  the  right  of  soil  from  the 
Drinkers,  cleared  a large  part  of  his  land,  and  erected 
the  present  residence  in  1829.  He  was  an  energetic 
and  industrious  farmer,  a man  of  good  judgment, 
and  made  a comfortable  home  for  himself  and  family. 
He  interested  himself  in  church  matters,  assisted  in 
erecting  the  church  edifices  (Presbyterian)  on  Union 
Hill,  and  lived  a Christian  life  as  an  attendant  of 
that  church.  He  was  drafted  in  the  War  of  1812, 
but  furnished  a substitute.  This  Jacob  Loomis  served 
in  the  Revolutionary  War. 

Jacob  L.  Gillet,  next  to  the  youngest  child, 
remained  on  the  homestead  until  his  marriage,  in 
1844,  to  Almeda  E.  Parmenter,  who  was  born  in  Gib- 
son, July  20,  1821,  a woman  devoted  to  her  family 
and  to  the  church  (Methodist).  He  then  bought  a 
farm  in  the  northwest  part  of  Gibson,  but  remained 
on  it  only  four  years,  when,  upon  the  solicitation  of 
his  father,  he  returned  to  the  homestead,  and  in  1851 
erected  his  present  residence  just  across  the  highway 
from  his  father’s,  where  he  has  made  other  improve- 
ments and  resided  since,  engaged  in  general  farming. 
He  succeeded  to  the  wdiole  home  property  and  added 
some  seventy  acres  more  by  purchase.  All  the 
appointments  of  his  farm  and  sugar-works  show  the 
hand  of  thrift,  and  an  intelligent  farmer.  Mr.  Gillet 
had  the  usual  opportunities  of  the  early  school  of  the 
neighborhood,  which  he  so  improved,  together  with  his 
parental  training,  as  to  possess  practical  ideas  of  every- 
thing thgt  pertains  to  his  farm  and  the  duties  of  a 
citizen.  Although  not  identified  with  the  church 
near  his  home  as  a member,  he  contributes  to  its 
support,  with  its  charities,  attends  its  meetings  with 
his  family,  and  has  served  as  trustee  for  many  years. 
He  has  ever  supported  all  measures  calculated  to 
advance  education  among  the  rising  generation,  and 
for  eighteen  consecutive  years  served  the  township 
on  the  Board  of  School  Directors,  besides  holding 
other  offices  in  the  gift  of  his  townsmen.  His  chil- 
dren are  Uleric  B.,  born  in  1845,  educated  in  the  home 
schools  and  at  Montrose  Academy,  began  teaching  at 
fifteen  years  of  age  and  has  been  a teacher  since. 
He  has  been  employed  in  the  graded  school  at  Sus- 
quehanna, was  the  first  teacher  of  the  graded  school 
at  Gibson,  and  for  some  six  years  has  been  principal 
of  the  graded  school  at  New  Milford.  His  wife  is 
Addie  J.Bradford,  daughter  of  J.  W.  H.  Bradford,  of 
New  Milford,  and  has  been  a teacher  as  long  as  her 
husband.  Their  only  daughter  is  Emma  Almeda, 
born  in  1861, the  wife  of  Burton  H.  Tiffany,  and  resides 
on  the  homestead  of  her  grandfather.  Mr.  Tiffany 


is  also  a teacher,  and  is  the  son  of  John  Sheldon 
Tiffany,  of  Mt.  Pleasant,  Wayne  County,  a relative 
of  the  Tiffany  families  who  early  settled  in  Harford. 

Almeda  E.  Parmenter  is  the  daughter  of  William 
(1787-1853)  and  Dirinda  Bennett  (1793-1863)  Par- 
menter. The  former  was  a son  of  Joseph  Parmenter, 
of  Vermont,  and  came  to  Gibson,  a young  man,  about 
1808,  settled  on  Kennedy  Hill ; the  latter  was  a 
daughter  of  James  Bennett,  a resident  of  Gibson  in 
1807,  who  came  from  Orange  County,  N.  Y.  This 
couple  spent  the  remainder  of  their  lives  on  their 
homestead,  were  members  of  the  Methodist  Church, 
and  highly  esteemed  citizens.  Their  family  of 
children  are  Melinda  (1811-81),  wife  of  Hiram 
Belcher,  of  Gibson ; Joseph  (1816-38),  drowned  in 
Grand  River,  Grandville,  in  Michigan  ; Sarah  (1817- 
48),  wife  of  Eli  Z.  Seeley,  of  Gibson  ; Almeda  E., 
1821,  wife  of  Jacob  L.  Gillet ; Calphurnia  H.  (1823- 
56),  w'ife  of  Silas  Whitney,  of  Gibson  ; Eliza  Ann, 
1825,  wife  of  Joseph  E.  Whitney,  of  Gibson ; Marietta, 
1827,  wife  of  William  Tiffany,  of  Gibson  ; William 
Jackson  (1829-57)  of  Gibson,  married  Ellen  Bird- 
sail,  Calvin,  1831,  of  Gibson ; Urbane  (1833-70,) 
married  and  died  in  Michigan  ; and  Adelia  Alvina, 
1837,  wife  of  Truman  Woodward,  of  Dakota  City, 
Iowa. 

Thk  Gibson  Congregational  Presbyterian 
Church. — Nov.  20, 1818,  “ Rev.  Ebenezer  Kingsbury 
and  Rev.  M.  M.  York  met  at  the  Union  school-house 
in  Gibson,  agreeable  to  the  appointment  of  the  Sus- 
quehanna Presbytery,  at  the  request  of  a few  inhabit- 
ants of  the  township.  Rev.  Oliver  Hill,  being  re- 
quested to  attend  the  council,  took  his  seat  as  a mem- 
ber.” The  following  persons  were  constituted  mem- 
bers: Wright  Chamberlain,  John  Seymour,  Abigail 
Case,  Eunice  Whitney,  Abijah  Chamberlain,  Deborah 
Benton,  Ann  Holmes  and  Betsey,  William  and  Mary 
Holmes  were  admitted.  They  chose  Wright  Cham- 
berlain and  William  Holmes  deacons,  and  John  Sey- 
mour clerk.  In  1820  Arunah  Tiffany,  Lucy  Tiffany 
and  Polly  Follet  were  received  from  the  church  at 
Harford.  Samuel  S.  Chamberlain  and  Mrs.  Sarah  A. 
Seymour  were  received  at  that  time.  About  this 
time  Rev.  E.  Conger,  employed  by  the  Susquehanna 
County  Domestic  Missionary  Society,  labored  in  Gib- 
son, and  more  than  usual  religious  interest  existed. 
Near  the  close  of  the  year  Rev.  John  Beach  came 
among  them,  and  March,  1822,  the  people  agreed  to 
hire  him  for  one  year.  Of  forty-three  who  were 
pledged  to  his  support,  thirty-six  were  living  a quarter 
of  a century  later.  They  paid  him  $35.25  in  cash ; 
wheat  worth  $16 ; rye  and  corn  worth  $86;  oats,  $100; 
butter,  $114;  sugar,  $81;  flax,  $102;  something  un- 
decipherable, $150  ; wool,  $47 ; besides  three  sheep, 
105  lbs.  of  pork,  $5  in  boots  and  shoes  and  $5  in  mer- 
chandise. 

The  agreement  was  to  pay  this  “ to  the  trustees  of 
the  Presbyterian  Society  of  Gibson.”  It  is  certain  the 
church  sent  delegates  to  the  Presbytery  about  this  time. 


752 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


Rev.  Mr.  Beach  brought  his  family  to  Kentuck  in 
May,  1822,  and  was  with  the  church  two  years  and  a 
half.  [The  statements  that  follow,  down  to  1863,  appear 
in  the  church  records  written  by  Deacon  Tiffany]  : — 
“In  the  spring  of  1823  A.  Tiffany  gave  the  use  of 
an  acre,  which  was  planted  with  corn,  and  cultivated 
by  the  people  of  Kentuck,  for  the  use  of  the  County 
Missionary  Society.  In  1824  one  acre  of  land  on 
Union  Hill  was  purchased  from  James  Bennett  for 
twenty  dollars,  by  the  church  and  society,  and  they 
then  contracted  with  Elisha  Williams  to  build  a 
meeting-house  (thirty-six  by  twenty-six  feet,  and 
twelve  feet  between  joists,  with  arched  beams),  to  be 
finished  outside  and  the  floor  laid  (the  timber  being 
found  for  him)  for  one  hundred  dollars.  Nearly  half 
this  sum  was  subscribed  by  the  people  of  Kentuck. 
In  1825  the  missionary  acre  was  sold  for  twenty  dol- 
lars. From  1828  to  1830  the  Rev.  Jas.  Russell  was 
half  the  time  in  Gibson,  and  the  other  half  in  Mt. 
Pleasant.  Rev.  Isaac  Todd,  sent  out  by  the  0.  S. 
Educational  Society  of  Philadelphia,  labored  through 
the  years  1830  and  1831.  His  salary  was  two  hundred 
and  fifty  dollars  per  year,  and  he  was  boarded.  A. 
Tiffany,  M.  Chamberlin,  Esq.,  and  Deacon  William 
Holmes  were  responsible  for  four  months  each.  The 
Educational  Society  gave  one  hundred  dollars  each 
year.  The  weekly  prayer-meeting  was  kept  up,  and 
‘the  church  was  never  more  blessed  with  a spirit  of 
fervent  prayer  before  nor  since.  There  was  not  a 
communion  season  in  the  two  years  but  that  more  or 
less  were  added  to  the  church.’  Mr.  Todd  was  instru- 
mental in  getting  the  church  finished  inside  and  out, 
and  he  obtained  sixty  dollars  in  New  Jersey  to  secure 
a charter  of  incorporation,  which  was  finally  had  in 
1834.  Early  in  January,  1833,  the  slips  were  sold  for 
one  hundred  and  eight  dollars.  In  October,  1833,  the 
form  of  government  was  changed  to  Presbyterian, 
and  J.  Chamberlain,  Arunah  Tiffany,  J.  B.  Buck  and 
P.  K.  Williams  were  chosen  elders.  The  Rev.  Sam- 
uel T.  Babbit  preached  through  this  year.  [The  first 
two  were  chosen  deacons  May,  1854.]  January  1, 
1834,  Alonzo  Abel  and  E.  Whitney,  Jr.,  were  ordained 
deacons.  The  latter  died  May,  1852.  The  first  case 
of  discipline  was  reported  in  1835.  In  the  following 
year  the  Rev.  John  Sherer  was  employed,  and,  by 
vote,  the  slips  were  to  be  free.  During  the  next  ten 
years  Revs.  M.  Thatcher,  Lyman  Richardson  and  Eli 
Hyde  occupied  the  pulpit.  July,  1846,  Rev.  Geo.  N. 
Todd  came  as  stated  supply  for  this  church,  in  con- 
nection with  the  one  at  Ararat,  and  November,  1847, 
he  became  the  first  installed  pastor.  About  this  time 
there  was  a discu.ssion  as  to  the  propriety  of  moving 
the  church  edifice  over  to  the  turnpike,  near  the 
Methodist  Church  then  standing  on  Gibson’s  Hill.  It 
was  decided  in  the  negative.  A Sabbath-school  was 
organized  with  ten  or  fifteen  scholars  ; Deacon  Abel, 
superintendent.  In  June,  1849,  one  person  joined  the 
church  on  profession  of  faith — ‘the  first  in  ten  or 
twelve  years.’” 


Rev.  Mr.  Todd’s  pastoral  relations  to  the  people  of 
Gibson  and  Ararat  were  dissolved  December,  1853. 
Early  in  1855  Rev.  0.  W.  Norton  took  his  place  and 
occupied  it  for  three  years.  Rev.  Edward  Allen,  of 
Harford,  was  pastor,  from  1858,  for  twelve  years  or 
more,  and  was  very  energetic  in  pnshing  the  erection 
of  a new  church  and  parsonage.  The  Union  Hill 
Church  was  dedicated  July  7,  1869.  The  church, 
which  has  a seating  capacity  of  three  or  four  hundred 
persons,  cost  six  thousand  dollars.  The  parsonage, 
which  was  built  shortly  after,  cost  two  thousand  dol- 
lars. Miss  Jane  Abel  bequeathed  three  hundred  dol- 
lars toward  the  erection  of  the  parsonage.  Mr.  Todd 
was  followed  by  Rev.  H.  J.  Crane,  who  supplied  the 
pulpit  about  three  years.  Rev.  S.  C.  Marvin,  who 
succeeded  him,  is  remembered  as  a good  sermonizer. 
He  remained  about  three  years,  then  went  West.  D. 
W.  Marvin  followed,  remaining  abont  three  years,  and 
was  succeeded  by  Rev.  Wm.  H.  Ness,  the  present 
pastor.  Silas  Chamberlain  was  chosen  deacon  in 
1858.  Thomas  Evans  and  William  Maxey  are  elders 
now.  Mrs.  Noah  Tiffany  is  now  ninety-one  years  of 
age,  and  has  been  a devoted  member  of  the  church  a 
great  many  years.  Betsey  Chamberlain,  Mrs.  D.  C. 
Brundage,  Mrs.  Geo.  Morgan  and  Mrs.  Geo.  B.  Tiffany 
are  among  the  active  workers  now.  There  are  only 
about  twenty-five  or  thirty  members  remaining.  As 
has  been  mentioned,  a Sunday-school  was  started  by 
Deacon  Abel,  with  twelve  or  fifteen  pupils.  Thomas 
Evans  has  been  active  in  the  school  for  many  years, 
acting  as  superintendent  for  twenty  years.  D.  C. 
Brundage,  T.  G.  Reynolds  and  Gilbert  L.  Payne  have 
also  acted  as  superintendents.  The  attendance  of 
scholars  is  about  forty  or  fifty.  It  is  to  be  hoped  that 
this  landmark  of  the  devotion  of  the  pioneer  settlers, 
from  its  elevated  position  on  Union  Hill,  may  ever 
send  forth  a beacon  light  of  Christian  influence,  that 
shall  enlighten  all  the  surrounding  country  in  the 
way  of  truth  and  righteousness. 

Burrows’  Hollow  and  Vicinity. — The  pioneer 
settler  at  Gibson  or  Burrows’  Hollow  was  Joshua 
Jay.  He  came  about  1790,  and  built  a log  house,  a 
log  grist-mill  and  a blacksmith-shop.  He  wore  a long 
beard,  which  was  uncommon  in  those  days,  and  was  a 
great  hunter.  He  used  to  pry  logs  out  of  the  beaver- 
dam  down  the  Jay  or  Claflin  Creek,  and  when  the 
beavers  came  out  to  make  repairs,  he  would  shoot 
them.  He  sold  his  mill  and  other  improvements, 
about  1794,  to  Elias  Van  Winkle  for  a horse  and  some 
other  consideration.  He  used  the  horse  to  move  his 
family  back  to  New  Jersey.  He  afterwards  had  cabins 
in  various  places  in  the  township,  where  he  spent 
more  or  less  time  hunting.  There  was  a man  by  the 
name  of  Lavoo  with  him  a portion  of  the  time.  Elias 
Van  Winkle  was  a large,  broad-shouldered,  six-feet- 
tall  Dutchman.  He  was  a hard-working  man,  of  con- 
siderable force,  well  fitted  for  a hardy  pioneer  life. 
He  introduced  a very  good  breed  of  horses  called  the 
“Jersey  Blues  ” into  this  section  of  the  country.  He 


GIBSON. 


753 


sold  his  mill  property  to  Stephen  Harding  in  1805-06, 
and  made  a clearing  on  the  hill,  where  he  huilt  a 
plank  house  and  set  out  fruit  trees.  He  traded  this 
property  with  his  son-in-law,  John  Green,  who  had 
made  a clearing  on  what  was  afterward  known  as  Van 
Winkle’s  Creek.  He  died  about  1848,  aged  eighty- 
four  years.  His  children  were  Elizabeth,  wife  of  John 
Green,  who  traded  as  before  noticed  and  lived  on  the 
road  from  Burrows’  Hollow  to  Harford.  He  had  a large 
farm  of  two  hundred  acres,  with  good  orchards,  and 
lived  to  the  age  of  eighty-three  years.  His  sons,  Elias 
V.  (who  was  sheriff  of  the  county  in  1860),  John  and 
Lines,  all  lived  on  the  homestead.  Lines  Green,  aged 
eighty  years,  is  the  only  one  of  the  family  now  living. 
He  is  the  oldest  man  in  the  neighborhood,  and  remem- 
bers when  they  had  to  yard  their  sheep  every  night  to 
keep  them  from  the  wolves.  His  father  was  a great 
hunter  and  killed  panthers,  bears  and  deer.  He  drew 
in  eleven  deer  one  morning  before  breakfast.  The 
deer  would  huddle  together  under  the  hedge  during 
winter,  and  it  was  an  easy  matter  to  kill  them,  espe- 
cially when  the  snow  was  deep  and  there  was  a crust 
on  the  snow.  He  was  a shoemaker,  and  went  from 
house  to  house  to  make  shoes  for  the  families, — what 
they  called  “ whipping  the  cat.”  He  hunted  and  gave 
the  venison  away  to  his  neighbors.  Stephen  Harding 
built  a saw-mill,  and  was  building  a grist-mill  when 
Nathan  Claflin  and  Cyrus  Cheever  bought  the  mill 
property  in  1807.  Harding  was  a good  millwright,  and 
they  had  him  complete  the  grist-mill.  It  had  one  run 
of  stone  quarried  out  of  the  mountain  opposite  Pitts- 
ton  by  S.  Harding.  It  was  a white  flint-stone.  Hard- 
ing always  carried  a double-barreled  rifle,  and  was  a 
good  hunter.  Cyrus  Cheever  removed  from  here  to  a 
place  near  Abel  Bead’s,  and  finally  died  at  Montrose. 
Mr.  Claflin  continued  to  run  the  mills  until  he  died, 
in  1837,  when  his  two  sons,  Naaman  F.  and  John  H., 
divided  the  property,  Naaman  taking  the  farm  where 
he  now  resides,  aged  sixty-nine  years.  He  is  remark- 
able for  his  knowledge  of  local  history.  Nearly  every 
thing  that  has  happened  at  Burrows’  Hollow,  both 
past  and  present,  are  familiar  to  him,  day  and  date. 
His  wife  was  Fanny  Tuttle,  daughter  of  Daniel  Tuttle, 
an  early  settler  in  Franklin  township. 

John  H.  took  the  mills  and  built  a new  grist-mill, 
with  two  run  of  stones,  in  1831,  and  a new  saw-mill 
about  1856.  He  run  the  mills  until  1884,  when  the 
property  fell  into  the  hands  of  Harriet  Seymour,  who 
sold  it  to  William  Gillespie.  The  mill  was  patron- 
ized in  early  days  by  people  for  seven  or  eight  miles 
around. 

Nathan  Claflin  had  two  wives.  Watson,  who  lived 
in  Gibson;  Hermon,  who  was  a millwright;  and 
Mindwell,  the  wife  of  Lemuel  Bingham,  of  Harford, 
were  children  of  the  first  wife.  He  then  married  widow 
Elias  Sweet.  Harriet  F.,  wife  of  Alvin  ,T.  Seymour; 
Naaman  F. ; Sally  Ann,  wife  of  Harvey  Pipher;  and 
John  H.,  were  their  children. 

A man  by  the  name  of  Hamilton  built  the  first 

48 


frame  house  in  Gibson  township,  and  it  was  a frame 
house  in  the  full  sense  of  that  term.  It  was  about 
twenty-four  by  thirty-four  feet  on  the  ground,  and  was 
raised  in  bents  like  a barn,  with  timbers  large  enough 
for  a barn.  The  bents  were  about  three  or  four  feet 
apart,  so  that  these  immense  beams  would  be  close 
enough  together  for  joists.  A number  of  different 
families  lived  in  it.  It  was  built  on  land  that  Drinker 
had  given  to  the  wife  of  his  dissipated  son-in-law',  Sky- 
rin,  and  the  house  was  known  far  and  near  as  the  Old 
Skyrin  House.  Dr.  Robert  Chandler,  the  first  post- 
master, occupied  the  house  in  1804-05  as  a hotel.  He 
subsequently  resided  about  one-half  mile  east  on  the 
turnpike.  Leonard  Mowrey  sold  goods  at  the  Skyrin 
House,  and  it  was  used  for  a school -house  at  times. 
Finally  it  passed  into  the  hands  of  Nathan  Claflin. 
David  Tarbox  started  the  harness-making  and  saddlery 
business  here,  and  continued  until  1827,  when  he  sold 
and  moved  to  Honesdale,  and  engaged  in  the  same 
business  there. 

Urbane  Burrows,  Tarbox’s  brother-in-law,  came  in 
1819,  and  soon  after  bought  the  Dougherty  goods  of 
Mallery.  The  store  was  near  Butler  Creek.  He  had 
a barrel  of  rum,  a keg  of  plug-tobacco,  a chest  of  tea, 
whips  that  he  made  himself,  and  a few  other  things  to 
begin  with.  From  this  small  beginning  he  became 
wealthy  and  carried  a large  stock  of  goods.  He  built 
a saw-mill,  about  1829,  where  an  old  mill  had  been 
built  by  Elder  Lewis.  He  was  the  most  public-spirited 
man  that  ever  lived  in  the  township.  Soon  after  he 
came  he  had  a school-house  built,  an4  later  was  active 
in  having  a graded  school  building.  He  contributed 
largely  to  the  building  of  the  Methodist  Church  on 
Kennedy  Hill  in  1837,  and  later,  in  1868-69,  he  was  a 
liberal  contributor  to  the  church  in  the  village.  He 
did  nothing  for  show,  but  he  became  so  identified 
with  the  place  that  it  was  called  Burrows’  Hollow  in 
his  honor. 

Dr.  Robert  Chandler  kept  the  “Skyrin  House,” 
which  was  the  first  hotel.  There  was  an  old  road 
that  led  to  Great  Bend,  and  another  to  “ Nine  Part- 
ners” from  here.  John  Green’s  wife  often  told  the 
story  of  Hamilton’s  barrel  of  cider  and  laughed  over 
it.  Some  time  about  1800  Hamilton,  who  built  the 
Skyrin  House,  got  a barrel  of  cider  from  New  Jersey. 
When  it  became  known  down  to  “Nine  Partners” 
that  there  was  a barrel  of  cider  at  Hamilton’s,  they 
came  in  full  force,  some  with  horses  and  others  with 
oxen,  bringing  their  families  along.  They  drank  it 
all  that  evening,  and  doubtless  went  back  to  their 
humble  cabins  feeling  that  they  had  tasted  one  of  the 
joys  of  their  Yankee  home  once  more.  The  Great  Bend 
and  Cochecton  turnpike  passes  through  Burrows’  Hol- 
low. Soon  after  that  was  built,  the  old  State  road  was 
started  at  this  place  and  extended  westward  through 
Harford,  Brooklyn,  etc.  The  travel  was  going  from 
Cochecton  to  the  Bend,  and  thence  westward  through 
New  York.  This  Pennsylvania  State  road,  which  in- 
tersected the  Cochecton  and  Great  Bend  road  at 


754 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


Burrows’  Hollow,  was  evidently  intended  to  divert  the 
western  travel  through  Pennsylvania.  Oney  Sweet 
had  a hotel  on  the  Newburg  turnpike,  and  kept  a 
stage-house.  His  son,  Alrnon  Sweet,  resides  there 
now.  Raymond,  another  son,  owned  a farm  near  by 
his  father’s.  A.  J.  Chamberlain  started  a hotel  where 
William  Colwell  has  his  apple-jack  distillery.  Cor- 
nelius Lupton  has  a hotel  now.  In  1840  Eliab  Farrar 
started  a store  where  Barrett  & Foster  now  have  their 
store.  C.  P.  Hawley  did  a good  business  here.  Ingalls 
then  had  the  Burrows  store  until  he  failed  for  about 
forty  thousand  dollars.  A co-operative  store  was 
then  started,  but  it  did  not  last  long.  Nathaniel  C. 
Curtis  then  bought  it,  and  still  continues  the  business. 
Hawley  sold  to  George  H.  Wells,  who  did  business 
twelve  years,  followed  by  S.  P.  Cushman  and  Foster 
& Barrett.  John  Tarbox  built  a small  tannery  about 
1822,  and  carried  on  shoemaking  and  tanning  until 
about  1843,  and  sold  to  Jasper  D.  Stiles,  who  carried 
on  the  business  with  about  thirty  vats.  His  assignees 
sold  the  property  to  Hayden  & Somers,  who  are  just 
starting  the  tannery  again. 

Alvin  Clinton  came  here  in  1827  and  started  black- 
smithing  and  cleared  up  a farm.  He  raised  a family 
and  died  in  1883,  aged  seventy-seven.  His  son  Ed- 
win resides  on  the  old  place. 

Dr.  Robert  Chandler  raised  a large  family.  His 
son  Charles  lived  in  Gibson  many  years  and  finally 
died  where  his  grandson  Charles  resides,  in  Jackson 
township.  George  and  Ezra  went  West.  Henry  died 
in  Thomson,  John  in  Deposit  and  Thomas  lived  in 
Herrick.  Abigail  was  the  wife  of  Oney  Sweet,  of 
Gibson  ; Polly,  wife  of  Moses  Chamberlain  ; and  Bet- 
sey wife  of  Henry  Perry.  They  all  raised  large  fami- 
lies. 

Ezekiel  Barnes  came  to  Gibson  about  1800  and 
lived  on  the  hill  from  Gibson  towards  Kentuck.  Ne- 
hemiah  Barnes,  his  father,  was  a Revolutionary  sol- 
dier, and  had  four  sons, — Amos,  Ezekiel,  Russell  and 
William.  Amos  and  Ezekiel  settled  in  Gibson  on 
farms  adjoining  each  other  of  two  hundred  acres  each. 
They  cleared  up  large  farms,  and  each  had  two  or- 
chards and  a sugar  bush.  They  raised  large  families 
and  were  among  the  enterprising  men  of  the  town, 
but  none  of  their  descendants  reside  there  now.  Wal- 
lace, a son  of  Amos,  lives  near  the  line.  Nathan 
Guile  lived  near  the  Barnes’.  His  son  Jason  lived 
there  until  he  died.  Jonathan  Smith  lived  on  the 
next  farm  towards  Kentuck.  His  son  David  resided 
there  many  years. 

Oney  Sweet  chopped  the  first  tree  where  Alrnon 
Sweet  lives,  in  1807,  and  erected  a small  frame  house 
ten  years  later,  in  1817.  He  erected  the  large  part 
and  fitted  up  the  premises  for  hotel-keeping.  The 
house  was  well  known  as  a stage-house  for  twenty 
years.  In  1848  the  hotel  business  was  discontinued. 
Taverns  were  about  two  miles  apart  on  the  Newburg 
road.  From  New  Milford  traveling  eastward  the  first 
place  was  the  old  Mott  stand ; next  Avery’s ; then 


Sweet’s;  Kennedy  Hill  tavern,  which  was  started  by 
Thayer  ; the  Taylor  stand  at  Smiley  Hollow  ; Dr. 
Day’s,  in  Herrick;  thence  into  Wayne  County.  Dr. 
Chandler  died  at  the  foot  of  the  hill  from  Sweet’s. 
Moses  Chamberlain  was  a brother-in-law  of  Sweet’s, 
both  having  married  into  Dr.  Chandler’s  family. 
Noah  Potter,  Milton,  Charles  and  Daniel  Tingley  lo- 
cated on  the  road  to  Jackson.  In  1817  Charles  Case 
was  located  on  a farm  subsequently  occupied  by  his 
son,  Wm.  T.  Case,  Esq. 

James  Washburn  was  the  first  justice  of  the  peace. 
Among  those  who  have  served  since  are  Wm.  T.  Case, 
C.  P.  Edwards,  Timothy  Carpenter,  Henry  Abel, 
Robert  Ellis,  Rufus  Barnes,  Hergran  Webber,  Wil- 
liam Maxey,  C.  W.  Resseguie. 

Wm.  Dougherty  came  to  Burrows’  Hollow  in  1814, 
just  after  the  War  of  1812,  in  which  he  was  a soldier. 
He  built  the  second  frame  house  in  Burrows’  Hollow, 
near  the  pond  where  Gilbert  Stiles  lives,  and  started 
the  first  store  in  1816-17.  He  borrowed  money  of 
Mallery,  of  Wilkes-Barre.  David  Bryant  and  Har- 
vey Chandler  drew  the  goods,  consisting  of  whiskey, 
tobacco,  etc.,  from  Newburg.  He  sold  a pound  of  to- 
bacco for  a bushel  of  rye,  and  a pound  of  tea  for 
$1.25.  He  could  get  no  money  ; nothing  but  barter 
in  exchange,  and  being  unable  to  pay  Mallery,  he 
took  the  business  and  sold  it  to  Urbane  Burrows  in 
1819.  Dorothy  sunk  the  first  tannery  at  the  Hollow, 
having  four  vats.  He  ran  the  tannery  a number  of 
years  and  sold  to  Tarbox  about  1825.  He  and  Nathan 
Claflin  were  the  first  Royal  Arch  Masons  in  the 
eounty.  He  moved  to  Salem,  Pa.,  where  he  started 
another  tannery.  He  had  four  daughters, — Harriet, 
Mary,  Emeline  and  Nancy.  Harriet  is  the  wife  of 
Adin  Larrabee.  Emeline  is  the  wife  of  L.  D.  Benson 
Jasper  Stiles  bought  out  John  Tarbox  in  1837.  He 
was  a shoemaker,  and  in  1840  commenced  tanning 
again.  He  enlarged  the  tannery  until  he  tanned 
about  five  thousand  sides  per  year.  He  bought  N.  E. 
Kennedy’s  store  in  1877,  which  caused  his  failure  in 
1884.  C.  P.  Edwards  is  a carriage-maker  at  Burrows’ 
Hollow. 

“ A Mr.  Brown  is  said  to  have  lived  here  about 
1796.  Wright  Chamberlain  bought  a farm  of  Joshua 
Jay,  May,  1796,  on  the  eastern  slope  of  what  was 
called  Putt’s  Hill,  about  a mile  east  of  Burrows’  Hol- 
low, and  here  he  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life.  He 
had  left  Litchfield,  Ct.,  one  year  previous,  and 
‘ set  out  with  Denman  Coe  to  visit  the  State  of  Penn- 
sylvania.’ From  his  diary,  now  preserved  by  Silas 
Chamberlin,  we  quote  the  result: 

“ ‘ I bought  a possession  at  Hopbottom,  and  on  the  11th  of  June  (1795), 
I set  out  with  Coe’s  family  to  carry  them  into  Pennsylvania,  and  I 
worked  at  Hopbottom  that  year  from  the  26th  day  of  June  until  the  8th 
of  September  following,  when  I set  out  for  Litchfield,  in  order  to  move 
my  family  to  Hopbottom.  But,  as  I passed  Nine  Partners,  Mr.  John 
Tyler  persuaded  me  to  purchase  a possession  there.  Jan.  21st,  a.d. 
2796,  I bid  farewell  to  the  State  of  Connecticut,  and  on  Feb.  26th,  1796, 

I arrived  with  my  family  in  Nine  Partners.’ 

“ In  August  following  he  removed  his  family  to  his 


GIBSON. 


755 


new  purchase  on  Putt’s  Hill,  now  in  Gibson.  After 
the  death  of  his  first  wife,  in  1797,  he  married  Sally 
Holdridge,  daughter  of  the  first  pioneer  of  Herrick. 
He  had  three  wives  and  twenty-four  children.  (Some 
assert  that  there  were  twenty-eight  in  all,  but  the 
record  closes  with  the  birth  of  his  son  Jackson,  in 
1833.)  His  first  wife’s  family  consisted  of  seven  boys 
and  one  girl.  Moses  C.,  who  died  in  Gibson,  August, 
1870,  at  the  age  of  eighty-three,  was  one  of  those 
boys,  and  was  eight  years  old  when  his  father  left 
Connecticut.  James  was  another,  and  was  the  father 
of  Silas  Chamberlin,  now  of  New  Milford,  but  who 
was  born  in  Gibson,  and  lived  here  sixty-seven  years. 
There  are  but  three  persons  surviving  who  have  lived 
in  the  township  as  long  as  he : viz.,  the  widow  of 
Ezekiel  Barnes  (a  daughter  of  John  Belcher,  Sr.)  and 
Corbet  Pickering,  of  South  Gibson.  Wright  Cham- 
berlin, Jr.,  another  brother,  lived  for  many  years  on 
the  river  between  Susquehanna  Depot  and  Great 
Bend.  He  died  recently.  Wright  Chamberlin,  Sr., 
died  in  1842,  aged  eighty-four.  He  had  been  a Rev- 
olutionary soldier.  For  many  years  he  was  a deacon 
in  the  Presbyterian  Church  on  Union  Hill.  Prior  to 
1800  he  was  a licensed  ‘taverner’  in  his  log  house 
on  the  high  ground,  a short  distance  west  of  Lewis 
Evans’  present  house,  which  he  built  two  or  three 
rods  from  the  house  raised  by  Mr.  Chamberlin  Octo- 
ber, 1814.  At  a later  date  in  his  diary,  he  says  : ‘ I 
moved  my  new  house  down  to  the  well.’  The  first 
house  stood  on  the  old  road,  which,  in  1807-10,  was 
superseded  by  the  Newburg  turnpike.” 

Moses  Chamberlain  first,  was  a native  of  Litchfield 
County,  Conn.  He  was  a soldier  in  the  Revolutionary 
army,  and  after  the  war  moved  to  Vermont,  where  he 
married.  He  removed  to  Franklin  County,  N.  Y., 
and  that  county  being  on  the  border  line  of  warfare 
during  the  War  of  1812,  he  removed  to  this  county, 
and  located  where  his  son,  S.  S.  Chamberlain,  lived 
and  died.  Each  of  the  senior  brothers,  Moses  and 
Wright,  had  a brother  Moses.  Silas  Chamberlain 
died  near  Burrows’  Hollow.  His  sons,  Roswell,  Jud- 
son  and  Orville,  live  in  the  township.  Samuel 
Chamberlain’s  son,  Wilson  A.,  resides  on  the  home- 
stead, Moses  W.,  son  of  Moses  Chamberlain,  resides 
near  Susquehanna. 

Urbane  Burrows,  son  of  Rev.  Daniel  Burrows,  was 
born  near  Groton,  Conn.,  in  1798.  He  obtained  a 
good  common-school  education,  and  understood  sur- 
veying and  drafting.  His  father  was  a Methodist 
preacher,  and  was  sent  to  Congress  as  a Democrat 
from  Connecticut,  for  two  terms.  Urbane,  years 
afterwards,  adopted  his  father’s  religion,  but  not  his 
politics.  He  was  a stanch  Republican.  In  1819, 
when  Urbane  was  twenty-one,  he  came  into  Pennsyl- 
vania, attracted  here  doubtless  by  his  brother-in-law, 
David  Tarbox,  who  had  preceded  him  a year  or  two. 
He  bought  Dougherty’s  stock  of  goods  and  engaged 
in  the  mercantile  business  for  many  years,  and  by  his 
push  and  enterprise  built  up  Burrows’  Hollow,  and 


gained  a competence.  When  a middle-aged  man,  he 
was  transacting  some  business  with  a man  who  had 
family  prayers,  and  requested  him  to  take  part.  He 
refused,  not  being  a professor  of  religion.  He  was 
admonished  by  the  man,  and  went  home  and  resolved 
to  lead  a new  life.  He  united  with  the  church  of  his 
fathers,  and  became  its  main  pillar  and  leading  sup- 
porter. He  gave  the  largest  part  toward  building  the 
church  at  Burrows’  Hollow,  contributed  five  hundred 
dollars  and  a lot  towards  the  parsonage,  and  left 
three  thousand  dollars  as  a permanent  fund  for  the 
church.  He  also  contributed  nine  hundred  dollars 
toward  the  graded  school  building  at  Burrows’  Hol- 
low. 

He  was  precise  and  systematic  in  all  that  he  did. 
His  love  of  order  was  extreme  ; every  six  months  an 
exact  statement  of  his  business  was  made.  He  was 
prompt  in  meeting  his  own  engagements,  and  wanted 
others  to  do  the  same.  His  dun  was  equal  to  a sheriff 
with  a search-warrant ; consequently  he  seldom  lost  a 
debt,  although  he  never  sued  any  one.  He  was  a 
clean,  clear,  cold-cut  gentleman.  Taciturn,  reserved 
and  exclusive  in  his  notions,  he  was  generally  con- 
sidered aristocratic  by  his  neighbors.  He  gave  him- 
self just  so  many  minutes  to  travel  to  a given  place, 
and  then  drove  his  horses  furiously,  up  hill  and  down, 
in  order  to  get  to  his  point  of  destination  in  time. 
His  wife  was  Emeline  Lord,  and  they  had  no  chil- 
dren. He  was  elected  associate  judge  in  1856,  and 
was  Sunday-school  superintendent  and  class-leader  in 
the  Methodist  Church  for  many  years.  He  died  July 
15,  1882,  aged  eighty-three,  and  is  buried  in  the 
burying-ground  near  the  church  which  owes  so  much 
to  his  generosity.  Joshua  Burrows,  a nephew  of  his, 
occupies  his  former  residence. 

Physicians. — Dr.  Robert  Chandler  occupied  the 
“ Skyrin  ” house  as  early  as  1804.  Dr.  Denny  lived 
in  the  Tunkhannock  Valley  ten  years  later.  Dr. 
Wm.  W.  Tyler  was  in  the  township  a short  time.  Dr. 
Chester  Tyler  came  from  Hartwick,  Otsego  County, 
N.  Y.,  and  located  on  Kennedy  Hill  in  1825,  and 
practiced  there  until  he  died,  in  1846.  In  1830,  Dr. 
Wm.  W.  Pride,  a returned  missionary  from  the  Choc- 
taws, practiced  at  Burrows’  Hollow  about  four  years. 
In  April,  1834,  Dr.  Jonathan  W.  Brundage  came  and 
practiced  in  Gibson  until  his  death,  in  1861.  Of  his 
eight  children,  Stephen,  Geo.  C.  and  Jane,  wife  of 
Elmanzer  Walker,  reside  in  Gibson.  G.  N.  Brundage, 
a brother,  and  D.  F.  Brundage,  a son  of  J.  W.  Brun- 
dage, all  practiced  here  ; also  Norman  B.,  son  of  Dr. 
E.  L.  Brundage,  another  brother.  Dr.  Chas.  Drinker 
was  here  a short  time.  Dr.  A.  P.  Miller  practiced 
here  many  years.  Dr.  A.  B.  Woodward,  son  of 
Artemas  Woodward,  an  eclectic  physician,  practiced 
twenty-nine  years  in  his  native  town  ; he  also  had  a 
store  a short  time.  Drs.  Marsh,  Rogers  and  Arthur 
Brundage  are  among  the  later  physicians. 

Schools. — There  was  a log  school-house  about 
twelve  by  fourteen  near  James  Bennett’s  as  early  as 


756 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


1804,  George  Woodward  thinks.  There  were  but 
four  pupils  at  first.  Lois  Potter,  afterwards  wife 
of  Otis  Stearns,  was  an  early  teacher  there.  Miss 
Molly  Post  taught  in  1807,  and  Charles  Bennett  was 
one  of  her  pupils  in  a log  house  with  a bark  roof. 
Lyman  RichardsOn  taught  a school  in  Captain  Pot- 
ter’s house  in  1808-09.  Mr.  Follett  taught  early 
In  1828  Rev.  Rosman  Ingalls  had  a select  school  for 
six  months  in  the  old  Presbyterian  Church  on  Union 
Hill,  and  in  1829,  in  the  school-house  near  Mr. 
Abel’s.  The  Gibson  Academy  on  Kennedy  Hill 
was  built  mainly  through  the  influence  of  Joseph 
Washburn,  Esq.,  President  of  the  Board  of  Trustees. 
It  was  ready  in  1841.  Miss  R.  S.  Ingalls,  Mr. 
■Maxon,  J.  J.  Frazier  and  Mr.  Blatchley  taught  select 
schools  there.  Jane  Chase  and  Harriet  Chandler  are 
remembered  as  early  teachers  here.  The  first  school 
in  the  southern  part  of  the  township  was  taught  in 
the  house  of  Captain  Payne  in  1821.  In  the  same 
year  or  the  year  following  Elisha  Williams,  James 
Chandler,  Captain  Powers,  David  Carpenter,  Oliver 
Payne,  Eleazer,  Artemas,  and  George  Woodward  con- 
tributed towards  building  a school-house  in  Columbia 
District,  so  called  because  most  of  the  old  settlers 
came  from  Columbia,  Conn.  The  building  was 
erected  in  1822  by  Charles  Edwards,  and  stood  upon 
the  opposite  side  of  the  road  from  where  the  present 
building  stands.  Solomon  Bolton,  Harland  Fuller, 
Asahel  Carpenter,  father  of  ex-Governor  Carpenter, 
of  Iowa,  and  H.  N.  Tiffany  are  among  the  early  prom- 
inent teachers.  This  has  been  considered  the  best 
school  in  the  township,  and  has  a local  reputation  for 
being  “ a school  of  teachers.”  In  1836  Lewis  Res- 
seguie  and  his  brother-in-law,  Henry  Miller,  started  a 
subscription  to  raise  funds  to  build  a school-house  in 
South  Gibson.  It  was  erected  that  season,  and  Chloe 
Tiffany  was  the  first  teacher.  Among  those  who 
taught  in  the  next  twenty  years  were  H.  N.  Tiffany, 
Eveline  Chandler,  Lucinda  Tiffany  and  Angeline 
Woodward.  In  1886  another  building  was  erec- 
ted, in  which  Amelia  Belcher,  H.  Kate  Dix,  0. 

C.  Whitney  and  Manly  Brundage  taught  several 
terms  each.  In  1882  the  Graded  School  building 
was  erected  at  a cost  of  two  thousand  dollars ; the 
citizens  of  South  Gibson  gave  four  hundred  dollars. 

D.  E.  Holmes,  contractor  and  builder.  O.  W.  Bur- 
man,  Berton  Smith,  George  P.  Ross  and  Nelson 
Spencer  have  been  principals.  The  school  library 
contains  over  two  hundred  volumes.  The  erection  of 
this  building  provoked  considerable  opposition,  and 
the  directors  had  to  exhibit  considerable  firmness  in 
coming  to  a decision.  The  following  are  the  Board  of 
Directors  that  decided  to  build : Joel  Dix,  Herman 
Webber,  George  Tiffany,  James  Smith,  Charles  W. 
Resseguie,  T.  J.  Reese. 

There  were  schools  in  the  vicinity  of  Burrows’  Hol- 
low as  early  as  1800.  Wright  Chamberlain  was  an 
early  teacher  of  a school  in  his  own  house,  for  his 
own  family  and  his  neighbors’  benefit.  Among  the 


early  teachers  were  Eliza  Morey,  Cynthia  Cheever, 
Wareham  B.  Walker  (who  taught  in  the  old  “Skyrin 
House  ”)  Peddie  Foster,  John  D.  Scott  and  Josiah  B. 
Bill.  The  latter  came  from  New  Milford  every  day, 
and  taught  for  twelve  dollars  a month.  He  under- 
stood how  to  govern  his  eighty  pupils.  They  loved 
and  feared  him.  He  was  the  most  celebrated  teacher 
in  this  school  in  its  pioneer  days.  A school  building 
was  erected  in  1821  under  the  leadership  of  Urbane 
Burrows.  Nathaniel  Claflin,  Oney  Sweet,  David 
Tarbox,  Ezekiel  and  Amos  Burrows,  assisting  M.  B. 
Wheaton  and  Frank  Bailey,  taught  here. 

A graded  school  building  was  erected  in  1879. 
Judge  Burrows  came  back  from  the  Centennial  at 
Philadelphia  with  the  impression  that  Burrows’  Hol- 
low was  behind  the  times  in  the  matter  of  schools, 
and  the  graded  school  building  is  the  result.  W.  L. 
Cornell  was  principal  in  1879,  followed  by  William 
Whitney,  U.  B.  Gillett,  Miss  Ellen  Whitney,  James 
Adams,  Wallace  L.  Thacher. 

The  first  Board  of  School  Directors  in  Gibson  were 
Joseph  Washburne,  Arunah  Tiffany,  Otis  Stearns, 
George  Woodward,  Waller  Washburn  and  Garrett 
Johnson.  There  are  now  twelve  school  districts — 
Burrows’  Hollow,  Kentuck,  Columbia,  Union  Hill, 
Kennedy  Hill,  Washburn,  Gelatt,  Briar  Hill,  Rock, 
East  Mountain,  South  Gibson,  Smiley. 

Kennedy  Hill  and  Bderows’  Hollow  Meth- 
odist Church. — The  first  Methodist  in  Gibson 
was  Margaret  Bennett,  who  lived  on  Union  Hill.  She 
used  to  ride  on  horseback  to  Jacob  Tewksbury’s,  in 
Brooklyn,  a distance  of  twelve  miles,  to  prayer-meet- 
ing. The  first  meetings  in  Gibson  were  held  in  James 
Bennett’s  house  and  barn.  The  first  class  was  organ- 
ized about  1812-13  by  Elijah  King,  who  was  traveling 
on  Broome  Circuit.  George  Williams,  a bachelor,  was 
leader  for  many  years.  The  other  members  of  the 
class  were  Margaret  Bennett,  generally  known  as 
Aunt  “Peggy;”  Sarah  Willis,  afterwards  wife  of 
John  Belcher;  Susanna  Fuller  and  Joseph  Williams. 
Mrs.  Ingalls,  with  her  two  daughters  and  four  sons, 
joined  the  class  soon  after  it  was  organized.  Rosman 
Ingalls  became  a Methodist  preacher.  Charles  Ben- 
nett also  joined  early.  Mr.  Ingalls,  Urbane  Burrows 
and  E.  V.  Decker  have  been  class-leaders.  Christo- 
pher Frye  is  said  to  have  preached  the  first  sermon. 
He  was  on  the  Wyoming  Circuit  as  early  as  1806, 
which  then  included  Hopbottom.  Dr.  George  Peck, 
who  traveled  this  circuit  in  1819,  says  of  him  : “ He 

was  a large  man,  had  a great  voice  and  a fiery  soul. 
Great  revivals  followed  him.”  Of  Nathaniel  Lewis, 
of  Harmony,  a local  preacher  who  early  held  meetings 
in  this  section,  he  said : “ He  was  rough  as  a moun- 
tain crag,  but  deeply  pious.  He  could  read  his  Bible 
and  fathom  the  human  heart,  particularly  in  its  de- 
velopments among  backwoodsmen.”  Rev.  Edward 
Paine,  Elisha  Bibbings,  Loring  Grant  and  others  are 
recalled  as  having  preached  here  to  the  pioneers. 
Later  A.  A.  Decker,  Nathan  Kennedy  and  wife,  A. 


GIBSON. 


757 


Lathrop,  Robinson  Lewis,  Adelia  Lewis,  William 
Roper,  Julia  Roper,  Raymond  Scott,  A.  W.  Green- 
wood, Thomas  W.  Tingley,  Philander  Tiffany.  After 
Major  Lamb  and  family  came  they  held  meetings  at 
his  house,  occasionally,  when  he  lived  in  the  Skyrin 
House,  1815-18 ; also  at  David  Tarbox’s  and  at  the 
school-house  at  Burrows’  Hollow.  The  New  Hamp- 
shire and  Vermont  Methodists  that  settled  in  Jack- 
son  worshipped  here  before  they  had  a class  of  their 
own.  These  early  Methodists  were  the  old-fash- 
ioned, shouting  kind.  The  circuits  were  large,  and 
the  ministers  preached  in  school-houses  and  barns, 
wherever  they  could  obtain  a hearing.  Although 
some  of  their  names  are  forgotten,  the  good  they  did 
will  never  be  lost.  Aunt  Peggy  Bennett’s  house  was  a 
preacher’s  home  for  years.  She  is  remembered  as  a 
very  earnest  Christian  woman,  who  jumped  and 
shouted  when  she  was  happy.  The  first  church  was 
erected  on  Kennedy  Hill  in  1837.  Rev.  Messrs.  Tenny 
and  Reddy  were  on  the  circuit  when  the  church  was 
dedicated.  They  held  extra  services,  which  resulted 
in  a great  revival,  and  many  were  added  to  the 
church.  In  1868-69  this  church  was  sold  to  the  South 
Gibson  charge,  and  it  was  removed  to  that  place,  and 
the  church  at  Burrows’  Hollow  was  erected.  There 
are  about  seventy-five  members,  and  this  year  it  has 
been  set  off  as  a separate  charge.  The  Sunday-school 
was  organized  after  the  church  was  built  on  Kennedy 
Hill,  with  Urbane  Burrows  as  superintendent,  a posi- 
tion which  he  held  until  after  the  church  was  built  in 
Burrows’  Hollow.  He  was  capable  and  liberal  and 
attracted  pupils  for  miles  around. 

The  Baptists  had  preaching  at  Burrows’  Hollow 
first  of  all.  Elder  Dimock  and  Elder  Lewis  preached 
here.  They  organized  the  people  into  a church,  but 
they  never  had  any  building.  Elder  Lewis  baptized 
eleven  through  the  ice  one  day.  Cyrus  Cheever, 
Stephen  Harding,  John  Green,  Di'.  Chandler  and 
Warren  Follet’s  wife  were  Baptists.  Elder  Hartwell 
preached  in  the  place  some  time. 

The  Univeesaeist  Church  was  built  in  1840. 
Charles  Tingley,  Franklin  N.  Avery,  Almon  Clinton, 
Oney  Sweet,  Abijah  Wells,  Moses  Chamberlain,  Mil- 
ton  Tingley,  Amos  Barnes,  Ezekiel  Barnes  and  Obed 
Ney  were  the  principal  members.  James  R.  Mack 
organized  the  church.  There  has  been  no  regular 
preacher  of  late.  Occasionally  a missionary  comes 
here  and  holds  meetings. 

North  Star  Lodge,  No.  119,  A.  Y.  M.,  was  insti- 
tuted in  Gibson,  probably  at  James  Washburn’s 
house,  in  1816.  The  charter  for  this  lodge  was  granted 
in  England  to  Clifford  District,  which  then  embraced 
a large  extent  of  territory,  and  a full  history  of  the 
changes  which  took  place  and  the  different  lodges 
that  were  held  under  this  charter  before  it  was  finally 
surrendered  to  the  Grand  Lodge  of  Pennsylvania 
would  read  like  a romance.  It  appears  that  the  charter 
was  originally  granted  to  Judge  Samuel  Preston,  a 
pioneer  and  prominent  Quaker  settler  at  Stockport, 


Wayne  County  ; Samuel  Stanton,  the  pioneer  settler 
at  Mount  Pleasant,  and  John  Comfort,  another 
prominent  pioneer  at  Lanesboro’.  The  lodge  was 
first  held  at  Mount  Pleasant.  Elijah  Dix,  another 
old  settler,  was  a member  there.  Then  it  appears 
that  the  North  Star  Lodge  was  instituted  either  at 
Hosea  Tiffany’s,  in  Harford,  or  at  Washburn’s  house. 
It  was  held  at  Washburn’s,  in  Gibson,  as  long  as  he 
lived.  The  following  persons  are  remembered  as 
having  been  members  of  that  lodge : William  Dough- 
erty, Nathaniel  Claflin,  Eliab  Farrar,  Joshua  K. 
Adams,  James  Adams,  Captain  Amos  Payne,  Chas. 
Payne,  Dr.  Streeter,  Major  Laban  Capron,  Hosea  Tiff- 
any, Jr.,  Amos  Tiffany,  Capt.  Freeman  Peck,  Jacob 
Blake,  Nathan  P.  Thacher,  Enos  Thacher,  Joab  Fuller, 
Nathan  Aldrich,  Rufus  Kingsley,  Dr.  Braton  Rich- 
ardson, Peter  Williams,  Charles  Tingley,  S.  P. 
Chandler,  Milton  Tingley,  Elisha  Williams,  Moses 

B.  Wheaton,  Job  Benson,  Torrey  Whitney,  

Hanners,  Thomas  Carr  and  Michael  J.  Mulvey  were 
among  the  members.  It  is  said  that  a lodge  was  in- 
stituted under  this  charter  at  Dundaff.  During  the 
Anti-Mason  agitation  the  lodge  did  not  meet  very 
frequently.  After  James  Washburn  died,  Charles 
Tingley,  his  executor,  found  the  chest  containing  the 
charter  and  other  paraphernalia  of  the  order,  and  be- 
ing a Mason,  he  called  a meeting  of  some  of  the  old 
members  at  his  house.  They  assembled  there  and 
concluded  to  reorganize  and  commence  work  again  ; 
but  here  a new  difficulty  arose.  While  this  lodge  had 
been  sleeping,  a contest  had  arisen  in  the  State  between 
the  Ancient  York  Masons,  holding  charters  from 
England,  and  the  Free  and  Accepted  Masons,  organ- 
ized under  the  jurisdiction  of  the  Grand  Lodge  of 
Pennsylvania.  The  old  lodge  gave  five  degrees,  in- 
cluding the  Mark  Master’s  degree,  which  interfered 
with  the  Royal  Arch  Chapter  under  the  Pennsylvania 
jurisdiction;  and  further,  returns  had  to  be  made  to 
England,  which  was  very  inconvenient,  but  most  of 
the  members  that  now  belonged  were  old  men,  and 
all  of  their  lodge  associations  clustered  around  the 
North  Star  Lodge,  and  they  stood  out  stoutly  against 
surrendering  their  old  English  charter.  They  initia- 
ted two  or  three  members  after  reorganization,  but 
the  Grand  Lodge  of  Pennsylvania  insisted  upon  their 
surrendering  their  charter;  Judge  Tingley  was  a 
timid  man,  and  finally  favored  surrendering  the 
charter,  which  was  accordingly  done,  and  Freedom 
Lodge,  of  Jackson,  was  chartered  from  Pennsylvania, 
with  Torrey  Whitney,  W.  M.;  M.  B.  Wheaton,  S.W. ; 
Chas.  Tingley,  J.  W. ; M.  J.  Mulvey,  Senior  Deacon  ; 
Dr.  Streeter,  Junior  Deacon.  Joshua  K.  Adams 
arrived  too  late  to  be  made  Master,  as  was  originally 
intended.  He  was  the  best  workman  in  the  old  and 
also  in  the  new  order  when  it  was  instituted.  Free- 
dom Lodge  was  organized  at  Burrows’  Hollow,  but 
now  has  its  place  of  meeting  at  Jackson. 

George  Gelatt  came  to  Gibson  from  Massachu- 
setts with  his  family  between  1809  and  1812.  He 


758 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


first  located  where  Milton  Tingley  afterward  lived. 
He  built  a tavern  one-half  mile  north  of  Smiley  Hol- 
low, on  the  Newburg  turnpike,  a short  time  after  he 
came  there.  He  was  a farmer  and  carpenter,  and 
lived  to  be  one  hundred  and  four  years  of  age. 

Of  his  children,  Abigail  was  the  wife  of  Eben 
Blanchard,  a farmer  that  lived  in  the  vicinity.  Robert 
built  a saw-mill  above,  on  the  east  branch  of  the 
Tunkhanuock,  where  Barnes’  mill  is  now  located ; 
he  finally  moved  into  Thomson,  where  he  died,  aged 
ninety-six.  Collins  Gelatt  moved  to  Thomson  and 
was  a farmer.  Richard  Gelatt  moved  to  Iowa.  J udge 
Geo.  B.  McCrary  married  one  of  his  daughters.  Jona- 
than Gelatt  first  lived  near  Gelatt  Hollow,  but  finally 
moved  to  Thomson  and  died  there,  aged  eighty-six ; 
his  only  son,  Collins,  lives  in  Jackson.  Charles  Pick- 
ering was  one  of  the  first  merchants  at  Gelatt.  Gris- 
wold Gelatt  has  a store  there  now.  George  Gelatt 
built  a grist-mill  in  Gelatt  Hollow  about  1846,  now 
owned  by  Henry  Gelatt.  Geary  John  built  a card- 
ing-machine  and  woolen  factory  in  1836  and  sold  it 
to  Deacon  Harrison  Poi^e,  who  has  run  it  ever  since. 
Geo.  Gelatt,  Jr.,  located  on  the  homestead,  which  is 
now  owned  by  Silas  Gelatt,  a great  grandson  of  the 
first  settler.  Phineas  Pickering  settled  in  the  vicinity 
of  Gelatt.  His  sons  were  Augustus,  Joseph  and  John 
B.  David  Lamb  built  a saw-mill  above  Gelatt,  near 
the  Jackson  line.  \Vm.  D.  Eymer  started  a furniture 
factory  there  in  1856  and  carried  on  bedstead-making 
and  cabinet  work,  to  which  he  added  undertaking 
until  his  death,  in  1886.  The  property  is  now  in  the 
hands  of  H.  D.  Pickering  and  W.  \Y.  Pope.  “ In 
1826  Roswell  Barnes  bought  a saw-mill  of  Robert 
Gelatt  and  located  in  the  extreme  northeast  corner 
of  Gibson.” 

“ Deacon  Otis  Stearns,  a son  of  Joseph  Stearns,  who 
came  to  Harford  in  1792,  but  located  in  Mount 
Pleasant  a year  or  two  later,  bought  two  hundred  and 
forty  acres  of  Joseph  Potter,  and  remained  on  that 
place  three  years,  keeping  tavern,  when  he  removed 
to  the  farm,  where  he  spent  the  rest  of  his  life,  near 
the  lake  that  bears  his  name.  Here  he  built  a grist- 
mill in  1819.  He  died  in  1858.  His  widow,  a daugh- 
ter of  Captain  Potter,  died  in  Gibson  eleven  years 
later,  in  her  eighty-second  year.  She  was  born  in 
Saratoga  County,  N.  Y.,  came  with  her  father  to  Sus- 
quehanna County  in  1792,  was  fifty  years  a member 
of  the  Baptist  Church,  and  lived  and  died  a Chris- 
tian.” Their  son  Horace  resides  on  the  homestead ; 
another  son,  Almon,  was  a Baptist  minister ; Lucina 
was  the  wife  of  Eli  Barnes. 

Smiley  Hollow  and  Vicinity. — Dr.  , John 
Denny  and  John  Safford  bought  lauds  and  improve- 
ments of  George  Gelatt,  on  the  Tunkhannock,  after- 
wards known  as  Smiley.  Safford  had  a grist-mill,  saw- 
mill and  carding-machine  that  were  burned  in  1822, 
which  so  discouraged  him  that  he  moved  West.  Dr. 
John  Denny  came  there  about  1812,  and  cleared  up  a 
farm  that  Smiley  afterwards  owned.  He  was  a doctor, 


tavern-keeper,  store-keeper,  drover,  farmer  and  weaver. 
He  was  a good  weaver  and  wove  bird’s  eye  coverlets, 
where  he  used  thirty-two  treadles.  His  sons  were 
Nathaniel  S.,  Elias,  Sylvenus  and  Samuel.  There 
were  seven  girls.  Tamar,  wife  of  Corbett  Pickering, 
is  living,  aged  eighty-five.  Peck  Brothers,  two  crip- 
pled tailors,  first  erected  a store  on  the  east  side  of 
the  Tunkhannock,  and  engaged  in  merchandising  in 
connection  with  their  trade. 

John  Smiley  was  born  in  Bloomingburg,  Sullivan 
County,  N.  Y.,  February  15,  1809.  In  1833  he  came 
to  Lanesboro’,  Susquehanna  County,  and  was  em- 
ployed in  a hotel  one  year,  when  he  and  two  other 
young  men  built  a raft  and  run  it  to  Owego,  N.  Y., 
on  their  journey  West.  Here  they  took  the  stage  to 
Buffalo,  thence  by  boat  to  Detroit,  west  into  Michi- 
gan, near  Jackson,  where  he  located  one  hundred 
and  sixty  acres  of  land.  Returning  the  same  summer 
to  Susquehanua  County,  he  hired  out  to  Peck  Bro- 
thers, who  had  a small  store  and  tailoring  shop  on 
the  east  side  of  the  Tunkhannock,  at  what  is  now 
Smiley.  In  1836  John  Smiley,  with  four  hundred 
dollars,  and  Gaylord  Curtis,  with  thirty  dollars,  bought 
out  the  Peck  Brothers  and  began  business,  which  they 
continued  successfully  until  1852,  when  the  partner- 
ship was  dissolved.  They  shipped  their  goods  by  way 
of  the  Delaware  aild  Hudson  Canal  to  Honesdale 

> 

thence  by  teams  to  SmilejL  Money  was  scarce,  and 
business  had  to  be  conducted  on  the  barter  and  credit 
system.  The  store  was  located  on  the  Newburg  turn- 
pike, which  was  the  great  thoroughfare  then,  and  the 
young  merchants  pushed  business  with  such  energy 
that  Smiley  became  the  business  centre  for  miles 
around.  There  were  stores  on  Kennedy  Hill  and  at 
Burrows’  Hollow ; but  north  and  east,  in  Jackson, 
Herrick,  Thomson,  South  Gibson,  and  even  beyond, 
extending  into  Wayne  County,  farmers  came  to  this 
store  to  do  their  trading.  Mr.  Smiley  built  the  pres- 
ent store  on  the  west  side  of  the  creek  in  1848,  and 
carried  on  merchandising  until  he  secured  a ciompe- 
tence,  when  he  sold  out  to  his  son-in-law,  David 
Smiley.  Although  the  railroad  had  diverted  the 
travel  from  the  old  turnpike,  the  business  had  re- 
ceived such  an  impetus  and  become  so  firmly  en- 
trenched, that  David  Smiley,  as  late  as  1864,  shipped 
one  hundred  thousand  dollars’  worth  of  butter  in  one 
year.  In  1837  Mr.  Smiley  bought  the  John  Picker- 
ing farm  and  erected  the  present  dwelling-house,  and 
carried  on  farming  in  connection  with  his  store.  In 
1833  he  married  Keziah  C.,  daughter  of  Dr.  Day,  of 
Herrick.  Miss  Day  was  a school-teacher,  and  was 
teaching  at  Smiley  when  he  became  acquainted  with 
her.  She  is  still  living,  aged  seventy-four,  and  was  a 
fit  companion  of  the  thrifty  and  energetic  young  mer- 
chant. Dr.  Day  first  commenced  at  Mt.  Pleasant. 
He  was  subsequently  proprietor  of  a hotel  on  the 
Newburg  road,  in  Herrick  township,  known  far  and 
near  as  the  Day  stand.  He  was  a genial  man,  well 
calculated  for  a landlord.  He  spent  the  last  few  years 


i 


I 


fwr 


GIBSON. 


759 


of  his  life  with  his  sou-in -law,  where  he  died  at  the 
advanced  age  of  eighty-six. 

John  Smiley  was  a reliable  and  honest  business 
man.  Industrious,  resolute  and  ambitious,  he  made 
a competence,  which,  at  his  death,  was  divided  among 
his  children.  He  never  oppressed  the  poor,  and 
notable  among  his  characteristics  was  his  sympathy 
for  those  less  fortunate  than  himself.  He  gave  long 
credit  to  his  debtors,  and  extended  the  hand  of  charity 
to  the  needy  in  a quiet,  unostentatious  way.  He  was 
a man  of  large  calculation,  good  judgment  and  shrewd 
management.  He  was  conservative  in  expression 
but  firm  in  conviction.  This  is  illustrated  by  his 
sterling  Democracy,  which  he  always  maintained  in 
the  face  of  an  overwhelming  opposition.  Every  elec- 
tion day  found  him  at  the  polls  with  tickets,  stoutly 
contesting  for  his  chosen  principles  ; yet  he  was  so 
democratic  in  manner,  that  he  was  personally  popular 
in  a community  that  was  five  to  one  against  him 
politically.  He  died  in  1872,  and  was  buried  in  the 
family  burying-ground  on  the  old  homestead.  Of  his 
family,  Helen  A.  was  the  wife  of  David  Smiley ; 
James  E.,  his  only  son,  died  young  (Mr.  Smiley  never 
recovered  from  the  sorrow  produced  by  the  loss  of  his 
son) ; Margaret  A.,  wife  of  George  Milliken,  resides 
on  the  homestead ; Mary  K.  is  the  wife  of  H.  N. 
Nichols,  manufacturer  and  capitalist,  of  Denver, 
Colorado;  Jennie  M.,  wife  of  T.  J.  Foley, stock-raiser 
and  president  of  the  First  National  Bank,  of  North 
Platte,  Nebraska. 

The  old  Taylor  stand,  which  was  near  here,  was 
kept  by  Asahel  Norton,  N.  Webber,  Charles  Forbes, 
Lewis  Baker,  Aaron  Green,  William  Lunnegan,  Joel 
Steenback,  George  Entrot  and  Samuel  Holmes,  who 
has  converted  it  into  a dwelling.  In  the  days  of  stag- 
ing, when  the  Newburg  turnpike  was  thronged  with 
travelers  and  cattle,  this  was  a paying  house.  Webber 
took  in  two  hundred  dollars  one  morning.  The  house 
would  accommodate  about  forty  or  fifty  persons,  but 
many  of  the  emigrants  came  in  wagons  covered  with 
sheeting  and  partially  provided  themselves  with  ac- 
commodations. While  Forbes  had  the  hotel  he  run 
a distillery  also.  He  used  to  keep  forty  or  fifty  hogs 
on  the  refuse  grain  from  the  distillery.  Lewis  Baker 
carried  on  the  distillery  after  Forbes  moved  to  Hones- 
dale.  Goodrich  Elton  had  a carding-machine  at 
Smiley  many  years.  In  1836  William  H.  Pope  began 
the  woolen  factory  at  Gelatt,  and  a branch  of  the 
business  was  carried  on  at  Smiley  in  the  Elton  build- 
ing. Alauson  Day  and  Jefferson  Barnes  were  black- 
smiths at  Smiley. 

Silas  Steenback  came  to  Gibson  about  1814,  and 
bought  a farm  on  the  Tunkhannock,  a short  distance 
below  Smiley.  He  cleared  up  a farm  and  bought 
the  Asahel  Norton  grist-mill,  and  subsequently  the 
old  Taylor  stand  of  Lewis  Baker;  and  later  still  he 
built  a saw-mill  and  carried  on  an  extensive  milling 
and  farming  business.  He  made  a good  fortune  and 
sold  to  Henry  Howell  about  1857,  and  moved  to 


Binghamton,  where  he  died  thirteen  years  after,  aged 
nearly  eighty.  He  married  one  of  Dr.  Denny’s 
daughters,  and  had  a family  of  thirteen  children. 
Mrs.  Curtis  HoAvell  and  Esther  reside  in  Gibson. 
John,  Philip  and  Phebe,  wife  of  Chas.  Barrett,  I’eside 
in  Jackson,  and  Ira  in  Sullivan  County. 

Levi,  brother  of  James  Bennett,  lived  half  a mile 
west  of  Smiley.  His  sons  were  William,  George, 
John  and  James. 

A post-office  was  established  at  Smiley,  February  8, 
1854,  and  Goodrich  Elton  was  the  first  postmaster. 
He  was  succeeded  by  David  M.  Smiley,  in  1866 ; 
George  Smiley,  1869;  George  B.  Milliken,  1873; 
George  H.  Williams,  1876.  The  office  was  discontin- 
ued at  Smiley,  May  27,  1879,  and  by  a singular  coin- 
cidence the  name  of  the  pioneer  settler  was  restored 
when  Gelatt  post-office  was  established,  a short  dis- 
tance above  Smiley,  May  7,  1878,  with  George  S. 
Smiley  as  first  postmaster.  Martha  Smiley  was  ap- 
pointed in  1879,  and  Griswold  Gelatt  in  1885. 

East  Gibson  Baptist  Church. — This  church 
was  constituted  at  Smiley  Hollow.  Elder  J.  W. 
Parker  labored  here  as  early  as  1852,  preaching  one- 
fourth  of  the  time  for  two  years.  They  were  then 
constituted  a branch  of  the  Gibson  and  Jackson 
Church,  which  relation  continued  two  years,  during 
which  time  they  were  supplied  with  preaching  by  J. 
B.  Worden  and  A.  O.  Stearns.  April  30,  1856,  they 
were  recognized  as  an  independent  church,  with  Elder 
R.  G.  Lamb  as  their  pastor.  W’m.  P.  Gardner  was  or- 
dained deacon  and  chosen  as  church  clerk.  The  little 
band  struggled  on  for  four  years,  then  changed  their 
place  of  meeting  to  Barnes’  Hill,  where  they  continued 
until  the  final  dissolution  of  the  church.  The  church 
was  constituted  with  eighteen  members,  and  fifteen 
were  afterward  received  by  baptism  and  several  by 
letter.  Elders  Parker,  Lamb  and  Stearns  officiated 
until  their  house  of  worship  became  so  dilapidated 
that  they  concluded  to  disband  and  unite  with  other 
churches. 

An  Old-School  Baptist  Church  was  organized 
about  1824,  near  Gelatt.  Alonzo  Kinney  and  wife, 
Theron  Washburn  and  wife,  Lawrence  Manzer  and 
wife,  Calvin  Morse  and  wife,  Samuel  Washburn  and 
wife  and  Frank  and  wife  were  the  principal  members. 
Elder  Pitcher  was  their  preacher.  The  little  church 
is  used  for  a shop.  The  members  are  nearly  all  dead. 
Alonzo  Kinney  lives  on  East  Mountain. 

Assessment  of  Gibson,  1816-17. — William  Abel,  James  Bennet,  Levi 
Beimet,  Elias  Bell,  John  Belcher,  John  Bennet,  Benajah  Burgess,  Wil- 
liam Belcher,  John  Belcher,  Jr.,  Benjamin  Ball,  Sterling  Ball,  Joel 
Barnes,  Ehenezer  Bailey,  Warren  Bailey,  John  Brundage,  Sylvenus 
Campbell,  Wright  Chamberlain,  Milo  Chamberlain,  Moses  Chamberlain, 
James  Chamberlain,  John  Collar,  Trum.an  Clinton,  Robert  Chandler 
Charles  Chandler,  Nathaniel  Claflin,  Moses  Chamberlin,  Jr.,  Levi 
Chamberlin,  David  Carpenter,  Daniel  Clow,  Cyrel  Carpenter,  James 
Chandler.  Simeon  S.  Chamberlin,  Wright  Chamberlin,  Jr.,  Asa  Dimock, 
Nathan  Daniels,  John  Doyle  (Ararat),  Erastus  Day,  John  Denny,  Daniel 
Denison,  Walter  Dickey,  Eliab  Farrer,  Solomon  Giddings,  James  Giddings, 
Collins  Gelatt,  George  Gelatt,  Jr.,  George  Galloway,  Asahel  Gregory, 
George  Gelatt,  Jonathan  Gelatt,  Nathan  Guile,  John  Green,  Elisha 
Harding,  William  Holmes,  David  Holmes,  Stephen  Harding,  David 


760 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


Hains,  Kufus  Horton,  Carleton  Kent  (Herrick),  .John  Kent  (Herrick), 
Walter  Lyon  (Herrick),  Lyman  Lewis  (Clifford),  Icliabod  Lott  (Clifford) 
I’hebo  Low,  Joel  Lamb,  Natban  Maxson,  Sarab  Mumford,  William 
IMicbael,  Ezra  Newton,  Asbel  Norton,  Thadens  Newton,  William  Par- 
menter,  Joseph  Potter,  Moses  Parsons,  John  Potter,  Noah  Potter,  John 
I’ickering,  John  Pierce,  Sylvester  Powers,  I’bineas  Pickering,  Hazard 
Powers,  Oliver  Payne,' Joab  Roberts,  Samuel  Kesseguie,  Philip  S.  Stew- 
art, Oney  Sweet,  John  Skyron,  Frederick  Stad,  Joseph  Sweet,  David 
Smith,  Jonathan  Smith,  Silas  Steenback,  David  Spoor  (Herrick),  Otis 
Stearns,  JohnSafford,  Benjamin  Tingley,  Amos  Taylor,  Elkanah  Ting- 
ley,  John  Tyler  (Ararat),  Jabez  Tyler  (Ararat),  Arunah  Tiffany,  Noah 
Tiffany,  William  Tripp,  Cady  Walker,  Ezra  Walker,  Joseph  Washburn, 
Walter  Watson,  Walter  Washburn,  Ebenezer  Wither,  Silas  Young, 
Ebenczer  Wiishbnrn,  George  Williams,  William  Wost,  Edward  Weymar, 
Samuel  Wasbnrn,  Henry  Wills,  Arnold  Walker.” 

“The  following  comments  on  the  foregoing  assess- 
ment by  George  Woodward,  now  eighty-six  years  old, 
will  be  read  with  interest ; 

“When  my  father  and  Urbane  Burrows  came  from  Connecticut,  in 
1819,  my  father,  Artenuis  Woodward,  settled  on  the  hill  in  Kentuck, 
in  Ebenezer  Bailey’s  log  house,  in  1821.  He  went  into  the  woods  and 
made  improvements,  and  the  land-owners  were  going  to  drive  him  off 
when  I paid  for  the  place.  William  Abel  was  one  of  our  nearest 
neighbors.  Levi  Bennett  lived  on  East  Mountain,  and  James  Bennett 
on  Toad  Hill  (now  Union  Hill).  Elias  Bell  lived  here  before  wo  came 
and  moved  West.  John  Belcher  lived  on  Union  Hill,  and  sold  to  Abijah 
Wells.  Benajah  Burgess  lived  near  the  centre  of  the  township  then 
and  shortly  afterwards  moved  away.  Benjamin  Ball  lived  on  the  road 
from  South  Gibson  to  Union  Hill,  Sterling  Bell  lived  near  Union  Hill, 
Joel  Barnes  was  a Revolutionary  soldier,  and  lived  in  the  northeast 
part  of  the  township.  He  left  a large  family  of  children.  Ebenezer 
Bailey  and  Warren  Bailey  were  early  settlers  ; the  former  died  at  Lanes- 
boro’.  Ebenezer,  Laura  and  Aurilla  were  their  children.  John  Brun- 
dage  lived  on  the  hill  east  of  South  Gibson  ; his  sons  were  John,  Daniel, 
George,  William  and  Joseph.  Wright,  Milo,  Moses  and  James  Cham- 
berlain were  old  settlers.  John  Collar  lived  north  of  here,  and  was  a 
great  hunter.  David  Carpenter  and  Jas.  Chandler  lived  in  Kentuck. 
The  family  of  the  latter  are  all  dead.  Simeon  S.  Chamberlain  lived  on 
Union  Hill.  Asa  Diinock  settled  in  Lenox.  John  Doyle  lived  in  Ararat, 
Erastus  Day  in  Herrick,  and  John  Denny  at  Smiley.  Walter  Dickey 
was  a farmer  in'Gibson,  and  Eliab  Farrar  moved  to  Harford.  Solomon 
and  Jas.  Giddings  lived  in  Herrick.  Collins  Gelatt  lived  in  Gelatt  Hol- 
low. Nathan  Guile  and  John  Green  lived  in  Burrows’  (then  Gibson) 
Hollow.  William,  David  and  Thomas  Holmes  were  brothers  and  the 
first  two  lived  on  Kennedy  Hill.  David  Hines  lived  in  Harford.  Carl- 
ton and  John  Kent  lived  in  the  Kent  settlement  in  Herrick.  Walter 
Lyon  lived  in  Herrick.  Joel  Lamb  lived  near  the  line  of  Jackson, 
Nathan  Maxon  moved  from  Gibson  to  Clifford.  William  Michael  was 
a Welshman,  and  lived  in  the  edge  of  Clifford.  William  Parmenter  lived 
in  Gibson.  Ezra  Newton  lived  on  East  Mountain.  Asabel  Norton  lived 
where  Samuel  Holmes  kept  tavern.  He-moved  to  the  Lake  Country. 
John  Pickering  lived  near  John  Denny’s.  Sylvester  and  Hazard  Powers 
lived  in  Kentuck.  Oliver  Payne  lived  in  Kentuck.  David  and  Jona 
athan  Smith  lived  on  the  road  to  Burrows’  Hollow  in  Kentuck.  Silas 
Steenback  lived  in  Smiley  Hollow,  and  owned  the  grist-mill  that  Asahel 
Norton  built.  Captain  Potter  was  one  of  the  first  settlers  in  the  town- 
ship. Otis  Stearns  built  the  first  grist-mill,  with  one  run  of  native 
stone.  John  Safford  built  a grist  and  saw-mill  at  Smiley,  which  were 
burned  down.  Benjamin  Tingley  lived  in  the  edge  of  Jackson,  and 
finally  moved  to  Dundaff.  Elkanah  Tingley  lived  in  Harford.  Charles 
Tingley,  one  of  his  sons,  was  associate  judge  of  Susquehanna  County. 
Arunah  and  Noah  Tiffany  lived  in  Kentuck.  Milton  and  Darius  Ting- 
ley lived  in  the  edge  of  Jackson.  William  Tripp  lived  near  Kennedy 
Hill.  Cady,  Marshall  and  Arnold  Walker  lived  here.  Joseph,  Ebenezer 
and  Waller  Washburn  lived  near  together  on  Kennedy  Hill.  George 
Galloway  settled  on  Union  Hill  in  1796,  and  cleared  up  a farm,  which 
he  sold  when  his  neighbor,  John  Belcher,  sold.  There  was  not  a house 
on  the  Tunkhannock  from  John  Collar’s  to  Corbett  Pickering’s  excepting 
Samuel  Resseguie’s  little  bark-coversd  cabin  in  a briar  patch,  at  that 
time.  All  the  valley  and  side  hill  was  a dense  wilderness.  Tbepeople 
were  poor  and  had  to  struggle  hard  for  a living.  I went  into  a cabin 
one  day  and  stumbled  over  something.  I looked  down  and  saw  a child 
in  a sap  trough  for  a cradle.” 

South  Gibson  and  vicinity. — John  Collar  came 


up  the  Tunkhannock  probably  about  1792,  and  made 
a clearing  and  planted  a large  apple  orchard  one 
mile  above  South  Gibson,  where  T.  J.  Manzer  now 
resides.  He  was  a trapper  and  hunter,  and  was  suc- 
cessful in  catching  bear  in  Bear  Swamp.  He  also 
had  a wolf  pen  in  the  swamp,  so  arranged  that  wolves 
would  get  in  at  the  top  and  be  unable  to  get  out. 
He  died,  and  was  buried  on  the  knoll,  now  chartered 
as  the  South  Gibson  Cemetery.  “ Between  1798  and 
1800  the  first  settler  of  South  Gibson  moved  in,  but 
died  soon  after,  and  was  buried  at  the  foot  of  the  hill 
which  bears  his  name.” 

In  1800  Samuel  McIntosh  and  Benjamin  Woodruff 
made  a beginning  on  the  place  afterwards  owned  by 
Samuel  Resseguie.  The  first  permanent  settler  who 
made  improvements  at  South  Gibson  was  Samuel 
Resseguie,  son  of  William  Resseguie,  of  Fishkill, 
who  came  May  8,  1813,  and  brought  his  family  with 
him.  He  bought  a quit-claim  for  four  hundred  acres, 
of  Mr.  Ta3lor,  for  forty  dollars,  and  erected  a log 
cabin,  having  bark  shingles  held  down  with  poles, 
near  the  northwest  line  of  C.  W.  Resseguie’s  farm. 
This  humble  habitation,  surrounded  by  briars,  was 
the  only  cabin  on  the  Tunkhannock,  from  John  Col- 
lar’s to  the  south  line  of  the  township,  where  Corbett 
Pickering  commenced  some  years  later. 

Mr.  Resseguie  finding  that  his  quit-claim  title  was 
not  good,  purchased,  of  Enos  and  his  son,  George 
Walker,  agents  for  William  Poyntell,  one  hundred 
and  twenty  acres,  at  two  dollars  per  acre,  which  his 
son  Fitch  paid  for  in  work  for  Walker.  Samuel  Res- 
seguie subsequently  erected  a frame  house,  where  he 
died  in  1858,  aged  eighty-two.  His  wife  was  Free- 
love  Disgrow,  of  Connecticut.  Samuel  Resseguie  had 
cleared  up  a good  farm  on  the  river  flats,  which  he 
left  to  his  children, — Fitch,  Lewis,  Aaron,  William, 
Harrison,  Nelson,  Betsey,  Cynthia  and  Sally,  who  all 
married  and  settled  in  the  vicinity.  Fitch,  the  old- 
est son,  was  eight  years  of  age  when  his  father  came 
here ; he  is  now  past  eighty,  and  has  witnessed  the 
development  of  the  Tunkhannock  Valley  from  a wil- 
derness to  well-cultivated  farms  and  pleasant  homes. 
He  married  Mary  Tewksbury,  of  Brooklyn,  a noble 
woman,  whose  Christian  life  had  a marked  influence 
on  her  home  and  was  potent  for  good  in  the  commu- 
nity. Fitch  Resseguie  was  very  hospitable,  and 
opened  his  house  and  barn  for  church  services ; those 
coming  from  a distance  were  often  entertained  by 
him,  while  his  house  was  a preacher’s  home  for  pio- 
neer Methodist  preachers.  Of  his  children,  Charles 
W.  married  Angeline  M.  Woodward,  and  resides  on 
the  old  Samuel  Resseguie  farm.  He  is  the  largest 
grower  of  strawberries  in  Northeastern  Pennsylvania, 
having  sent  seven  hundred  bushels  to  market  in  two 
years.  He  was  eighteen  years  school  director,  and 
was  mainly  instrumental  in  securing  the  erection  of 
the  graded  school  building  at  South  Gibson.  George 
and  Gertrude  are  his  children.  Of  Fitch  Resseguie’s 
other  children,  George  resides  in  Harford,  and  was  a 


GIBSON. 


761 


member  of  the  Legislature  in  1884 ; Emory  resides  on 
his  father’s  place ; Mary  £).  is  the  wife  of  Jesse 
Holmes.  George  Conrad,  son  of  William  Conrad, 
purchased  about  one  hundred  acres  on  the  Tunkhan- 
nock,  above  Samuel  Resseguie’s,  in  1818,  and  built  a 
log  house.  Elisha  Williams  bought  four  hundred 
acres  of  land  next  adjoining,  and,  assisted  by  David 
L.  Hine,  erected  a grist-mill  in  1837,  which  was  the 
first  frame  house  in  South  Gibson  village.  They 
erected  a saw-mill  about  the  same  time.  Lewis  Res- 
seguie  had  a frame  house  below  the  village  then. 
George  A.  Hogaboom  had  the  first  frame  dwelling- 
house  in  the  village ; Chancy  Davis  the  first  black- 
smith-shop.  Henry  H.  Harris  erected  a house,  and 
occupied  it  for  a dwelling  and  cabinet-shop.  Elisha 
Williams  and  Asa  Howard  started  the  first  store. 
David  Mapes,  Sabinas  Walker,  George  W.  Walker, 
W.  W.  Williams,  Abner  Walker,  Horace  Tiffany, 
Manly  Walker,  D.  E.  Holmes,  B.  D.  Reynolds,  James 
Fuller,  Evan  Jenkins,  H.  D.  Bennett  and  others 
have  been  merchants  here.  The  present  merchants 
are  D.  E.  Holmes  (since  1861),  William  E.  Maxey 
(member  of  the  State  Legislature  in  1887),  J.  M.  Man- 
ning and  T.  C.  Manzer.  The  grist-mill  is  owned  by 
David  Tobias.  C.  Pickering  had  a saw-mill  on  the 
Tunkhannock,  and  George  Woodward  had  another 
on  Bell  Creek.  D.  T.  Lawrence  had  a cabinet-shop 
where  J.  Evans  now  has  a carding-machine.  Spencer 
Coon  built  the  first  wagons  here,  and  N.  T.  Wood- 
ward had  the  second  shop.  Eli  Conrad  erected  a 
frame  building,  which  was  rented  by  Thomas  Hark- 
ins for  a tavern.  Alden  Pickering  has  the  hotel 
which  Preston  Walker  built,  about  1857.  Besides 
the  four  stores,  the  village  contains  two  millinery- 
shops,  a Methodist  Church,  graded  school  and  about 
one  hundred  and  fifty  inhabitants.  The  village  is 
protected  from  the  winds  by  the  high  hills  that  rise 
on  either  side  of  the  Tunkhannock.  A post-office 
was  established  in  “ Kentuck  ” March  14,1832,  and 
called  Kentuckyville.  Stephen  P.  Chandler  was  the 
first  postmaster.  This  office  was  discontinued  May 
1,  1849,  and  re-established  March  14, 1850,  with  the 
same  postmaster.  December  27,  1853,  the  name  was 
changed  to  South  Gibson,  and  the  office  was  moved 
into  the  valley.  James  C.  Edwards  was  appointed 
postmaster.  He  was  succeeded,  in  1854,  by  Asa  How- 
ard. The  office  was  discontinued  June  5,  1855,  and 
re-established  January  10,  1856,  with  Adon  P.  Miller 
postmaster.  His  successors  have  been  George  W. 
Walker,  1861  ; David  E.  Holmes,  1862;  Asa  Howard, 
1866;  William  W.  Williams,  1867;  D.  E.  Holmes, 
1868;  John  J.  Manning,  1885.  A daily  mail  runs 
from  Hopbottom  through  Lenox,  thence  up  the 
Tunkhannock  through  South  Gibson,  Gelatt  and 
Jackson,  thence  to  Susquehanna.  John  Snow  was 
the  first  mail-carrier  to  the  Kentuckyville  post-of- 
fice. He  traveled  on  horseback  once  a week.  He 
started  at  Kennedy  Hill,  on  the  Newburg  road, 
thence  through  Kentuckyville  (Five  Partners’  set- 
49 


tlement),  Rynearson’s  Corners  in  Lenox,  which  was 
on  the  Milford  and  Owego  route.  Vander  Guile 
next  carried  the  mail.  H.  P.  Miller  was  a cabinet- 
maker and  undertaker  in  the  village  some  thirty 
years.  He  also  worked  at  the  turning  lathe.  This 
was  before  the  day  of  coffin  factories,  and  he  often 
worked  all  night  in  connection  with  the  undertaking 
business.  John  W.  Carpenter  and  Jacob  Steele 
were  among  the  early  shoemakers.  John  Lynch  and 
Jason  Fargo  were  millers  for  Elisha  Williams  many 
years. 

A Good  Templars’  lodge  was  organized  at  South 
Gibson,  by  Mr.  Roberts,  the  State  lecturer,  in  1867, 
with  forty  charter  members.  The  first  officers  were 
G.  C.  Brundage,  W.  C.  T. ; Mrs.  Mary  Resseguie, 
W.  V.  T. ; H.  D.  Bennett,  W.  S. ; Thomas  E.  Jenkins, 
W.  T.  This  lodge  was  in  successful  operation  for 
several  years,  and  at  its  acme  contained  four  hundred 
members,  and  was  styled  the  “ Banner  Lodge  of  Sus- 
quehanna County.”  From  this  lodge  three  others 
were  instituted, — Cambrian  at  Clifford,  one  at  Len- 
oxville  and  another  at  South  Harford.  This  move- 
ment created  a public  sentiment  against  the  liquor 
traffic  which  still  exists. 

South  Gibson  Free  Will  Baptist  Church — On 
the  24th  ofNovember,  1887,  the  first  Free-Will  Baptist 
Church  was  organized  in  South  Gibson,  at  the  house 
of  Lewis  Resseguie,  by  Elder  John  Webster,  of  Frank- 
lin, Pa. ; Elder  Jos.  Bryant,  of  Jackson  ; and  Elder 
Alson  Hains,  of  South  Gibson.  There  were  ten  con- 
stituent members.  There  was  no  Methodist  Church 
here  at  that  time.  Wm.  Robinson,  of  Greenfield,  was 
the  first  preacher,  followed  by  Elders  Chase,  Asa 
Dodge  and  his  brother.  George  Woodward  and  Ar- 
nold Walker  were  the  first  deacons.  The  people  never 
built  a church,  but  worshipped  in  school-houses.  The 
first  quarterly  meeting  was  held  in  George  Wood- 
ward’s barn  in  1838.  It  was  a large  gathering  and 
was  the  first  quarterly  meeting  ever  held  in  South 
Gibson.  Owing  to  dissensions  the  organization  went 
down. 

Sunday  School.— George  Woodward,  David  Car- 
penter and  Elisha  Williams  were  appointed  to  or- 
ganize a Sunday-school,  April  3,  1833.  From  the 
minutes,  Kentuckyville,  April  8,  1833:  “The 

members  of  the  Columbian  district  convened  at  the 
Columbian  school-house  agreeable  to  notice.  Geo. 
Woodward  was  called  to  the  chair,  S.  P.  Chandler 
was  appointed  secretary.  The  object  of  the  meeting 
being  stated  by  the  chairman,  on  motion  Geo.  Wood- 
ward, A.  W.  Tickner  and  Chester  Carpenter  were  ap- 
pointed a committee  to  get  the  books  and  conduct  the 
school.”  There  were  sixty-one  scholars  the  first  year. 
The  Sunday-school  was  afterwards  moved  to  South 
Gibson,  and  was  finally  discontinued. 

South  Gibson  Methodist  Church.—  Mrs.  James 
Bennett,  who  lived  on  Union  Hill,  was  the  first  Metho- 
dist ill  Gibson  township  ; and  Mrs.  Fitch  Resseguie 
was  the  leading  spirit  in  the  South  Gibson  class  at  the 


762 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


time  of  its  organization,  and  for  many  years  there- 
after. The  first  class  was  organized  by  Rev.  Wm. 
Reddy  about  1838,  in  the  first  school-house,  built  by 
H.  P.  Miller,  and  located  near  his  house,  on  what  is 
now  known  as  the  Wilbur  Gardner  property.  The 
charge  at  that  time  embraced  Brooklyn,  Jackson, 
Gibson  Hill  (now  Kennedy  Hill),  and  the  new  ap- 
pointment at  South  Gibson.  The  first  class  consisted 
of  Fitch  Resseguie  and  wife,  Benjamin  Snyder  and 
wife,  and  son  James  and  wife,  Asa  Howard  and  wife, 
Michael  Belcher  and  wife.  Michael  Belcher  was  the 
first  class- leader. 

It  was  customary  at  that  time  to  send  two  ministers 
on  one  circuit.  Rev.  Mr.  Tenny  was  preacher  in 
charge,  and  Rev.  Wm.  Reddy  was  his  assistant  at 
that  time.  Gibson  Hill,  in  the  era  of  the  turnpikes, 
was  the  central  point  for  miles  around.  Rev.  Messrs. 
Tenny  and  Reddy  held  a protracted  meeting  here, 
which  had  a far-reaching  effect,  and  gave  to  South 
Gibson  class  its  first  accession  soon  after  its  organiza- 
tion. Among  those  who  joined  at  this  time  were 
Charles  Edwards  and  wife,  Jas.  Chandler  and  wife, 
Wesley  Carpenter  and  wife,  Hamilton  Bonner  and 
wife,  and  Miss  Mindwell  Sparks,  afterwards  widely 
known  as  Mrs.  Manzer,  the  evangelist.  The  ensuing 
summer  the  first  quarterly  meeting  was  held  in  Fitch 
Resseguie’s  barn  ; all  points  of  the  charge  were  rep- 
resented. Mrs.  Manzer,  who  is  now  living,  speaks  of 
that  occasion  as  follows  : “ I remember  with  pleasure 

the  event.  The  multitude  had  come  on  Saturday 
from  Brooklyn  and  many  miles  away,  to  enjoy  the 
Saturday  and  Sunday  morning  services,  and  especially 
the  love  feast ; and  how  to  dispose  of  so  many  for  the 
night,  in  a neighborhood  so  sparsely  settled,  was  a 
question  submitted  to  ‘ Sister  Resseguie,’  who,  in  her 
Christian  benevolence,  characteristic  always  of  herself, 
replied,  ‘0,  well!  lean  keep  as  many  as  there  are  boards 
in  the  floor,’  and  owing  to  her  mathematical  genius 
forty  persons  were  comfortably  lodged  and  fed  under 
her  hospitable  roof.”  Owing  to  dissensions  between 
the  Free-Will  Baptists  and  the  Methodists,  who 
occupied  the  school-house  alternately,  the  Methodists 
resolved  to  erect  a church  edifice,  and  to  that  end 
Jas.  Chandler,  Asa  Howard  and  Charles  Edwards 
were  appointed  a building  committee,  in  the  sjoring  of 
1840.  They  met  with  the  pastor  and  Urbane  Burrows 
at  Fitch  Resseguie’s.  Mr.  Burrows  started  the  sub- 
scription with  fifty  dollars,  and  enough  was  pledged 
to  insure  the  completion  of  the  building,  which  was 
located  on  Fitch  Resseguie’s  land,  on  the  lot  now 
occupied  as  a burying-ground.  The  church  was 
dedicated  by  Rev.  Mr.  Snyder  in  January,  1841.  No 
promiscuous  seating  was  allowed  in  this  church.  The 
females  sat  upon  the  right,  and  the  males  upon  the 
left.  The  towering  pulpit  at  the  extreme  rear  was 
inclosed  on  the  women’s  side,  and  was  reached  by  a 
flight  of  steps  on  the  men’s  side.  The  salary  at  that 
time  was  one  hundred  dollars  for  single  men,  and 
two  hundred  dollars  for  a married  man  and  wife,  with 


sixteen  dollars  extra  for  every  child.  Methodist  min- 
isters were  proverbial  for  large  families  as  long  as 
this  extra  inducement  lasted.  During  the  subsequent 
decade  several  changes  were  made  in  the  charge.  In 
1853  South  Gibson  was  severed  from  Brooklyn  and 
united  with  Harford,  under  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  Ros- 
nian  Ingalls  and  S.  W.  Weiss,  the  former  aged  and  in- 
firm, and  soon  after  superannuated  ; the  latter  a young 
man  of  marked  piety  and  ability,  just  emerging  from 
his  majority  and  entering  ujjon  his  first  charge.  This 
charge  embraced  the  following  preaching-points : 
Harford,  Wade’s,  South  Gibson,  Kentuck,  Burrows’ 
Hollow,  East  Hill,  Smiley,  Heine’s,  Gibson  Hill, 
Jackson  Centre,  Cargill’s,  North  Jackson,  Savory’s, 
Page’s  Pond  and  Sweet’s.  They  required  eighteen 
sermons  per  month.  Rev.  R.  Ingalls  resided  in  his 
own  house  at  Burrows’  Hollow,  and  the  “ Boy 
Preacher,”  as  they  called  Rev.  S.  W.  Weiss,  boarded 
with  Brewster  Guile,  at  Harford.  The  latter  traveled 
on  horseback  from  place  to  place,  and  being  a good 
singer,  he  often  prefaced  his  sermons  with  sacred 
song.  He  preached  without  notes  and  with  great 
power.  Social  and  genial  in  his  pastoral  relations, 
full  of  power  and  pathos  in  prayer,  he  exerted  a good 
influence.  Wesley  Carpenter  invited  the  young 
preacher  to  go  down  to  the  school-house  on  the 
corner,  near  Wade’s  tavern,  in  the  latter  part  of  Oc- 
tober, 1853.  A service  was  held,  Mr.  Weiss  and  Mr. 
Carpenter  closed  with  prayer,  being  the  only  profes- 
sors in  the  house.  Another  meeting  was  requested, 
and  the  interest  became  such  that  the  meetings  were 
continued  for  si.x  weeks,  notwithstanding  the  oppo- 
sition of  Mr.  Wade,  who  was  a member  of  the  School 
Board,  and  tried  to  put  them  out,  but  a majority  of 
the  board  were  against  him,  and  he  finally  gave  up 
his  hotel  and  left  the  place  in  disgust.  There  were 
one  hundred  conversions,  and  “Pentecostal  Night,” 
as  they  called  it,  will  be  remembered  for  generations. 
Nearly  every  house  in  the  vicinity  became  a house  of 
prayer.  Michael  Belcher  was  the  Peter  Cartwright 
of  the  South  Gibson  Church.  He  frequently  stood 
quartering  from  the  pulpit,  with  his  eye  on  the  min- 
ister, nodding  his  approval,  accompanying  the  same 
with  exclamations  suited  to  his  feelings.  The  fol- 
lowing is  a specimen  of  his  prayers  for  his  pastor: 
“ 0 Lord,  bless  Brother  Weiss,  keep  him  humble.  If 
he  ever  gets  proud.  Lord,  knock  him  down.”  In 
November,  1870,  another  revival  occurred,  in  which 
fourteen  heads  of  families  of  the  best  citizens  were 
converted,  who  since  that  time  have  been  the  main 
financial  support  of  the  church.  Rev.  A.  C.  Sperry 
was  preacher  in  charge  at  that  time.  Among  others. 
Rev.  J.  L.  Race,  F.  A.  King  and  C.  M.Surdam  have 
been  instrumental  in  doing  great  good  in  this  place. 
The  first  board  of  trustees  were  Fitch  Resseguie,  Asa 
Howard  and  James  Chandler.  The  present  church 
edifice  was  erected  in  1869-70,  at  a cost  of  six  thou- 
sand dollars,  and  was  dedicated  in  June,  1870,  by  Rev. 
B.  I.  Ives.  There  have  been  two  women  connected 


GIBSON 


7(>3 


with  this  church  whose  lives  and  services  will  be  long 
remembered — Mrs.  Mary  Tewksbury  Resseguie  and 
Mrs.  Mindwell  Manzer.  Of  the  former,  Rev.  Mr. 
Weiss  writes,  “Whose  jjraise  was  in  all  the  church  ; 
she  was  a lady  of  great  intelligence,  of  refined  man- 
ners, of  spotless  purity  and  of  an  extended  influence. 
She  was  always  at  her  post  of  duty  and  ever  helpful. 
No  circumstances  could  change  her  faith  or  sour  her 
sj^irit.”  Her  calm  spirits,  sympathizing  words  and 
gentle  ministries  won  all  hearts  and  led  scores  of  souls 
to  the  Saviour.  Perhaps  more  than  any  one  else,  not 
excepting  ministers,  she  was  the  means  of  the  growth 
and  stability  of  the  church  of  which  she  was  an  hon- 
ored member.  Mrs.  Manzer  has  in'eached  nearly  one 
hundred  and  fifty  funeral  sermons  since  she  was 
licensed  to  exhort  by  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 
She  is  now  a licensed  evangelist,  and  is  remarkable 
in  prayer  and  exhortation,  having  the  confidence 
and  esteem  of  her  neighbors  and  friends  who  respect 
her  for  her  Christian  character.  The  following  persons 
have  been  class-leaders : Michael  Belcher,  Asa 

Howard,  Charles  Edwards,  Hamilton  Bonner,  James 
Snyder,  Wesley  Carpenter,  Chas.  Bennett,  Geo.  C. 
Bruudage  and  Elisha  Keech.  Geo.  C.  Brundage  has 
been  the  regular  leader  for  thirty  years.  The  first 
Sunday-school  superintendent  was  Charles  Edwards. 
The  first  Sunday-school  concerts  were  instituted  by 
Miss  Alice  Snyder  and  Mrs.  A.  M.  Resseguie.  Mrs. 
E.  H.  Bennett  was  superintendent  of  the  school  for 
many  years,  and  continued  it  throughout  the  entire 
year.  Prior  to  her  time  it  had  been  closed  in  the 
winter.  B.  D.  Reynolds  has  been  superintendent  for 
the  last  seven  years.  June  4,  1885,  a ladies’  aid 
society  was  first  organized,  with  Lucy  A.  Brundage, 
president;  Julia  Howell,  treasurer ; A.  M.  Res-eguie, 
secretary. 

Music. — Silas  Torrey  was  the  first  teacher  of  vocal 
music.  He  taught  in  the  days  of  buckwheat  notes. 
Dr.  A.  B.  Woodward  and  his  brother,  Cyrus  B. 
Woodward,  were  early  teachers  of  vocal  music.  The 
latter  was  a fine  tenor  singer  and  chorister  in  the 
Free-Will  Baptist  Church.  After  that  disbanded  he 
acted  in  the  same  capacity  for  the  Methodist  Church. 
Hi  s successors  have  been  Joseph  Brundage  and  Free- 
man Brundage.  Miss  Alice  Snyder  was  the  first  or- 
ganist. Miss  Gertrude  Resseguie  succeeded  her. 

George  Woodward. — Deacon  Israel  Woodward 
(1707-97),  a man  eminent  for  his  piety,  and  a Pres- 
byterian, resided  at  Lebanon,  Windham  County, 
Conn.  He  united  with  the  church  there  in  1736, 
and  was  officiating  as  deacon  in  1752.  His  will, 
written  by  himself,  was  made  in  1792,  November  23d. 
His  son,  Israel  Woodward,  Jr.,  born  in  1739,  married, 
in  1767,  Anna  Dunham,  who  was  born  in  1745,  and 
had  children  who  grew  to  mature  years, — Anna,  1768; 
Josiah  (1772-93) ; Esther,  died  in  Bradford,  Pa. ; 
Jerome  (1777-1852),  settled  in  Harford,  this  county, 
where  he  died;  and  Artemas  Woodward  (1780-1858), 
a native  of  Columbia,  the  same  county,  in  Connecti- 


cut. Israel  Woodward,  Jr.,  served  in  the  Revolution- 
ary War,  and  was  a resident  of  Columbia.  The 
youngest  son,  Artemas,  was  a hatter  by  trade,  and 
worked  some  as  a mason.  He  was  a member  of  the 
Presbyterian  Cburch  of  Columbia,  and  reared  his 
children  under  the  instruction  of  its  teachings.  His 
first  wife  (married  in  1800),  Marcella  Merifield  (1778- 
1810),  of  the  same  place,  bore  him  children, — George, 
born  March  14,  1801 ; Eliza  (1804-29)  was  the  wife  of 
James  Johnson,  both  dying  in  Gibson  ; Emeline 
(1807-20) ; Marcella,  1810,  widow  of  Daniel  Gray,  of 
Enfield,  Conn.,  has  children  James  P.  and  Henry  W. 
His  second  wife  (married  in  1811),  Betsey  Collins 
(1780-1862),  had  children, — Artemas  Russel  (1811-40), 
died  in  Clifford  leaving  children : Edwin,  Marcella  and 
Louisa ; Cyrus  Bissel  (1813-83)  resided  most  of  his 
life  in  Gibson,  and  died  in  Iowa,  leaving  children  ; 
Nathan,  Truman  and  Marinda  Angeline  (Mrs.  C.  W. 
Resseguie,  of  Gibson) ; Lovisa  Collins  (1815-70),  wife 
of  Henry  P.  Miller,  resided  in  Gibson,  died  in  Lenox, 
leaving  children,  Cyrus  B.  and  Marilla  B. ; Betsey 
Lovina,  1818,  first  the  wife  of  Palmer  Card,  of  Gibson, 
and  second  the  wife  of  Alvin  Roper,  of  Bridgewater, 
has  children,  Asaliel  Card  and  Bird  Roper  ; and  Dr. 
Albert  Bezaleel,  1824,  a physician  and  druggist  of 
Tunkhanuock. 

Artemas  Woodv/ard  came  from  Columbia,  Conn  , 
to  Gibson  in  1819,  and  removed  with  his  family  in 
1820,  and  first  located  in  Kentuck  settlement,  but 
after  one  year  he  took  up  ninety  acres  of  woodland 
one-half  mile  from  South  Gibson,  built  his  log  house 
and  in  1834  a I'rame  one.  Here  he  spent  the  remain- 
der of  his  days,  and  with  the  assistance  of  his  family 
made  a home  for  himself  and  children.  He  united 
with  the  Free-Will  Baptist  Church  at  South  Gibson, 
where  also  his  second  wife  belonged.  He  belonged 
to  the  old  Whig  party.  Not  having  a legal  title  to 
his  land,  his  eldest  son,  George,  who  came  here  in 
1820,  bought  the  right  of  soil, of  the  homestead  from 
Thomas  Meredith  in  1834.  He  had  bought,  about 
1824,  a tract  adjoining  of  one  hundred  and  eighty- 
four  acres,  upon  which  he  lived  for  many  years,  and 
built  the  present  residence  on  it,  now  owned  by  Peter 
Decker.  George  built  a saw-mill  thereon  in  1831, 
cleared  a large  part  of  the  farm  and  brought  it  into  a 
good  state  of  cultivation.  He  sold  much  of  it  at 
different  times,  and  the  balance  of  the  homestead  in 
1883,  now  making  four  farms,  and  removed  to  South 
Gibson. 

During  his  earlier  years  in  Connecticut  he  worked 
on  the  Connecticut  River  and  at  Warehouse  Point 
in  a distillery,  and  for  six  years  after  coming  here  he 
worked  at  the  same  business  in  Gibson  and  Harford, 
and  conducted  the  business  for  one  year  in  the  latter 
place  for  himself.  He  is,  in  1887,  one  of  the  oldest  men 
in  the  township,  and  has  been  a man  of  persevering 
industry  and  strict  integrity  in  all  his  business  rela- 
tions. He  was  for  over  seventeen  years  an  official  of 
the  township,  and  served  as  one  of  the  first  school  di- 


764 


HISTOKY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


rectors,  as  assessor,  supervisor  and  poorinaster.  He 
has  been  until  a few  years  ago  a member  of  the  Free- 
Will  Baptist  Church  at  South  Gibson  since  1824,  and 
served  the  church  as  deacon  for  many  years.  He 
formerly  belonged  to  the  Whig  party,  and  was  a Re- 
publican upon  the  organization  of  the  party  in  1856. 
In  1824  he  assisted  in  raising  an  independent  com- 
pany of  infantry,  served  as  musician,  in  1828  was 
commissioned  first  lieutenant,  and  in  1829  captain  by 
Governor  Shulze.  The  company  was  attached  to  the 
One  Hundred  and  Thirty-sixth  Regiment  Pennsyl- 
vania Militia.  George  Woodward  belongs  to  that 


Mary  Ann  Woodward  are  George  G.,  1833,  farmer  in 
Gibson,  and  Abigail  M.,  1836,  wife  of  A.  J.  Wickwire, 
of  South  Gibson. 

Lawrence  Manzer  bought  about  two  hundred 
acres  on  the  Tunkhannock,  about  one  mile,  above 
South  Gibson,  which  included  the  John  Collar  im- 
provement. He  had  built  a good  log  house  and  a 
barn,  that  is  now  standing.  He  had  planted  a large 
orchard,  which  was  destroyed  by  a whirlwind  after 
Manzer  came  there.  Mr.  Manzer  made  extensive  im- 
provements ; he  cleared  land,  built  comfortable 
houses  and  erected  a saw-mill  in  1843.  He  died  in 


class  of  sturdy  pioneers  who  came  to  this  new  country 
in  its  early  history,  cleared  off  its  forests,  started 
schools,  organized  churches,  imprbved  farms  and 
roads,  and  hewed  out  a competence  and  home  for 
their  children,  and  the  engravings  of  such  men  will 
be  handed  down  on  the  pages  of  this  history,  adding 
increasing  value  as  time  goes  on.  He  married,  in 
1828,  Mary  Ann  Galloway  (1803-84),  a daughter  of 
George  and  Abigail  Galloway,  who  came  from  Orange 
County,  N.  Y.,  and  were  among  the  earliest  settlers 
of  Gibson,  said  to  have  been  here  as  early  as  1791. 
Her  nephew,  Gilbert  G.  Walker,  was  at  one  time 
Governor  of  Virginia.  The  children  of  George  and 


1869,  aged  eighty-three;  nine  of  his  family  were  then 
living.  T.  J.  Manzer  kept  the  homestead,  which  he 
has  improved  and  augmented  by  purchase,  until  he 
owns  some  three  hundred  acres  of  land,  and  is  able  to 
keep  nearly  one  hundred  head  of  cattle.  His  barns 
are  well  arranged  and  his  farm  is  w'ell  watered,  mak- 
ing him  one  of  the  first  farmers  in  the  county.  Henry 
Manzer  resides  in  Lenox.  His  wife, who  was  Mindwell 
Sparks,  is  a preacher  of  some  local  fame,  and  is  often 
called  upon  to  preach  funeral  sermons.  Polly  was  the 
wife  of  Alonzo  Kinne.  John  Williams  and  Arnold 
Walker  were  old  settlers  on  the  Tunkhannock  above 
Manzer’s.  Richard  Denny  bought  Walker’s  improve- 


GIBSON. 


765 


ment  in  1817,  and  he  removed  to  East  Mountain. 
Denny  made  improvements  and  was  one  of  the  best 
farmers  in  the  place.  He  married  Sarah  Steenback. 
They  had  ten  children, — Maria  J.,  Betsey  Ann,  Joel, 
Asenath,  Thomas,  Louisa,  Lorinda,  Jeremiah,  John, 
Sally  Ann.  All  settled  in  the  vicinity.  Maria  is  the 
wife  of  Loren  Bennett;  Joel  was  the  owner  of  several 
houses  in  South  Gibson.  Amos  Taylor  was  an  early 
settler  on  the  Tunkhannock,  and  was  succeeded  in  the 
possession  of  the  homestead  by  his  son  AVilliam. 
David  and  Mercy  Taylor,  his  parents,  came  later, 
about  1800,  and  settled  near  Smiley,  where  he  built  a 
hotel  on  the  Newburg  turnpike,  now  standing  east  of 
the  creek.  He  had  other  sons,  William  and  Thomas. 
About  1814  he  removed  to  Great  Bend  township,  and 
became  the  founder  of  Taylortown.  * 

Burial-Places. — Burrows'  Hollow  Burying-ground. 
— Elias  Van  Winkle’s  child,  aged  about  fifteen,  was 
the  first  person  buried  in  the  yard.  Mr.  Skyrin  agreed 
to  give  ground  for  a burial-place.  He  gave  eight  rods 
on  the  road  and  as  far  back  as  it  was  suitable  to  bury, 
which  is  about  fifteen  rods.  In  1842,  when  it  was 
fenced,  Mr.  Roper,  who  then  owned  adjoining,  gave 
three  rods  more;  after  that  Urbane  Burrows  set  off 
more  land  for  the  same  purpose.  There  are  many 
buried  in  the  yard — four  Revolutionary  soldiers — 
Robert  Chandler,  Nathaniel  Claflin,  Consider  Fuller 
and  Elias  Van  AVinkle;  War  of  1812 — Jason  Fargo, 
John  Guard  and  Moses  Chamberlain. 

Union  Hill  Burying-ground  is  one  of  the  oldest,  if 
not  the  oldest,  in  the  township.  Here  many  of  the 
old  pioneers  and  their  descendants  sleep. 

Besseguie  Burying-ground. — William  Resseguie,  son 
of  Samuel  Resseguie,  was  the  first  person  buried  in 
the  Resseguie  burying-ground ; that  was  about  1840. 
Since  then  a great  many  have  been  buried  there,  and 
the  acre  of  ground  from  Fitch  Resseguie’s  farm  that 
was  originally  set  apart  for  that  purpose  is  nearly  all 
occupied.  The  old  Methodist  Church  stood  on  this 
ground.  Among  the  old  settlers  buried  there  we 
notice  the  following : Samuel  Resseguie,  died  1858, 
aged  eighty-two ; Corbett  Pickering,  died  1878,  aged 
eighty;  Solona  Pickering,  died  1881,  aged  seventy- 
three;  Esther,  wife  of  John  Denny,  died  1853,  aged 
seventy-six;  Cyrus  B.  Woodward,  died  1883,  aged 
sixty-nine;  Artemas  Woodward,  died  1878,  aged 
seventy-eight;  Beiij. Snyder,  died  1863,  aged  eighty- 
two;  Elizabeth,  his  wife,  died  1870,  aged  eighty-one; 
Nathan  S.  Tiffany,  died  1828,  aged  forty-three ; Nancy 
Carpenter,  died  1856,  aged  sixty-eight.  The  grounds 
are  well  fenced  and  in  charge  of  Emory  Resseguie. 

South  Gibson  Cemetery,  or  Manzer  burying-ground, 
is  beautifully  located  on  a flat  sand-knoll,  about 
twenty  feet  above  the  Tunkhannock.  The  flowing 
waters  in  days  gone  by  raised  a natural  embankment 
well  adapted  for  a burial-place.  John  Collar,  who 
was  the  pioneer  on  the  Manzer  place,  and  two  or  three 


others  were  buried  there  many  years  ago,  and  Law- 
rence Manzer  deeded  one-half  acre  to  the  Manzer 
family  for  a burying-jilace,  but  the  neighbors  con- 
tinued to  want  lots  there  until  T.  J.  Manzer  proposed 
to  give  two  acres  and  one-half  more,  and  he,  with 
twenty-eight  others,  had  the  cemetery  incorporated 
in  1870.  T.  J.  Manzer  is  secretary  of  the  company. 
Among  the  old  settlers  buried  there  we  notice  Isaac 
V.  Maxon,  died  1869,  aged  seventy-five ; Israel  How- 
ell, died  1872,  aged  seventy -six;  Benj.  Coon,  died 
1881,  aged  eighty. 

There  are  two  small  burial-places  at  Smiley  Hollow 
and  another  at  Gelatt. 

East  Mountain  District. — Alanson  Belcher  set- 
tled where  his  son  Edgar  now  resides.  John  Washburn 
settled  where  Richard  Owens  lives.  Willard  and 
Warren  Walker,  Benjamin  Snyder  and  Daniel  Tut- 
tle, who  was  killed  by  a falling  tree,  were  early  settlers 
on  East  Mountain.  David  Holmes,  son  of  William 
Holmes,  of  Kentuck,  located  where  his  son  George 
now  lives.  His  children  were  David  E.,  merchant  in 
South  Gibson ; William,  resident  of  Jackson ; Charles^ 
who  died  in  the  army ; Jesse,  Samuel,  George  and 
Sarah,  wife  of  Richard  Owens. 

James  Bennett,  son  of  Levi  Bennett,  came  to  East 
Mountain  and  bought  an  improvement,  including  a 
log  house,  of  Abner  Walker  in  1837.  William  Tay- 
lor and  his  son  Amos  took  up  the  place  where  Josiah 
Taylor  now  lives.  James  Kelly  resided  where  his  son 
Thomas  afterwards  resided.  William  Gardiner  where 
John  Reese  lives.  Isaac  Maxon  was  also  another  old 
settler  here;  his  widow,  aged  eighty-six, resides  on  the 
place  with  her  son  Elisha.  Alonzo  P.  Kinney  has 
been  a resident  forty  years.  William  Owens  has  the 
Willard  and  Warren  Walker  farms.  Owen  and  Wm. 
Williams,  two  bachelor  brothers,  own  the  Shepherdson 
place.  There  are  not  so  many  inhabitants  on  East 
Mountain  as  formerly.  Many  of  the  later  settlers  are 
Welsh,  who  have  purchased  two  farms  in  some  cases 
and  joined  them  together  in  one  farm.  There  has 
been  a school  in  the  settlement  for  fifty-five  years  or 
since  1832.  There  was  a log  school-house  near  where 
Belcher  lives.  Harriet  Taylor  was  one  of  the  first 
teachers.  The  school-house  is  now  near  Pickering’s. 
Elder  Fish  organized  a Free-Will  Baptist  Church, 
which  was  maintained  for  many  years,  but  the  little 
flock  has  been  decimated  by  removals  and  death,  until 
the  organization  has  been  given  up. 

Willard  and  Warren  Walker  and  wives,  Arnold 
Walker  and  wife,  Sylvester  Coon  and  wife,  Orvis  Lewis 
and  wife,  Alanson  Belcher  and  wife,  Thos.  Chandler 
and  wife,  Ellen  Tiffany,  James  Bennett  and  wife  and 
others  were  members.  The  organization  never  had 
any  church  building,  but  worshipped  in  the  school- 
house.  Jas.  Bennett  superintended  the  Sunday-school. 
East  Mountain  was  originally  timbered  with  beech, 
maple  and  hemlock.  The  land  receives  the  wash  of 
the  mountains  and  is  very  fertile. 

Job  Tripp  lived  and  died  on  the  East  Mountain, 


1 See  Lanesboro’  and  Oakland  histories  for  further  history  of  the  Taylors. 


766 


HISTOKY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


where  Solomon  Pickering  now  lives.  His  children 
were  Orson,  died  in  the  army  ; Eliza  Ann,  wife  of 
Nelson  Eesseguie;  Samuel,  who  lives  in  South  Gibson ; 
Charles,  who  died  in  Scranton  ; and  Adaline,  wife  of 
George  Van  Loan,  of  Leiiox.  Benjamin  Snyder  came 
to  Gibson  from  Clifford  in  1824,  and  settled  on  the 
Dann  farm,  near  South  Gibson,  until  1836,  when  he 
removed  to  East  Mountain.  He  had  a family  often 
children.  James,  resides  in  Lenox  ; John,  moved  to 
Oregon  and  became  a noted  bridge-builder ; George, 
lives  in  Illinois;  Elizabeth  Keech,  resides  at  South 
Gibson  ; Polly,  wife  of  William  Taft,  died  in  Gibson 


and  a half  miles  from  South  Gibson,  on  the  road  to 
Gelatt,  which  he  run  in  connection  with  his  farming. 
He  was  known  as  “Esquire”  Williams,  and  served 
for  two  consecutive  terms  as  justice  of  the  peace, 
being  the  first  one  elected  by  the  people  of  the  town- 
ship after  the  law  was  enacted,  providing  for  election 
instead  of  appointment  to  that  office.  He  had 
previously  served  as  constable.  He  also  served 
as  school  director,  and  was  one  of  an  examining 
committee  of  teachers  before  the  creation  of  the 
office  of  school  superintendent.  He  was  a man  of 
temperate  habits,  firm  in  his  convictions,  a great 


in  1884;  Margaret,  is  the  wife  of  D.  T.  Lawrence; 
Ann  J.,  is  the  wife  of  S.  D.  N.  Bennett ; and  Adaline, 
is  the  wife  of  Frederick  Emerick. 

John  Williams  (1788-1869),  a native  of  Nor- 
wich, Conn.,  was  among  the  early  settlers  of  the 
township  of  Gibson,  and  came  here  while  yet  a young 
man,  about  1814.  He  had  been  liberally  educated, 
and  was  a teacher  for  several  terms,  and  in  this 
work  he  was  known  as  a thorough  disciplinarian. 
His  home  on  the  Tunkhannock  is  the  present  resi- 
dence of  his  children.  He  erected  his  first  frame 
house  upon  settling  on  his  land,  and  built  the  present 
residence  about  1853.  He  owned  a saw-mill  on  the 
Tunkhannock  near  his  residence,  which  is  about  one 


reader  of  the  Bible  and  highly  respected  for  his 
honesty  of  purpose.  He  worshipped  with  the  Free- 
Will  Baptists  at  Eock  School-house  and  at  South 
Gibson.  He  enlisted  three  times  during  the  War  of 
1812,  while  a resident  of  Connecticut,  and  during 
his  service  showed  much  bravery,  on  one  occasion 
carrying  an  open  keg  of  powder  to  another  place 
when  no  other  soldier  dared  to  volunteer  to  do  it. 
He  served  as  captain  in  the  old  State  Militia  for  many 
years,  and  was  known  as  “ Captain  Williams”  until 
his  election  as  justice  of  the  peace.  During  the  War 
of  the  Eebellion  he  stood  unswervingly  in  the 
Eepublican  ranks  as  a supporter  of  the  Union  cause. 
His  parents  were  Solomon  (1756-1837)  and  Hannah 


GIBSON. 


767 


Ayer  (1761-1822)  Williams,  and  his  brothers  and 
sisters  were  George,  born  1782,  died  unmarried ; 
Joseph  (1784-1862),  a resident  of  Gibson  for  many 
years,  died  in  Wayne  County;  Sally,  1786,  died 
young;  Hannah  (1791-1837);  Betsey,  1793;  and 
Solomon,  1795.  His  wife,  the  widow  Lott,  formerly 
Ehoda  Poole,  died  in  1846.  His  children  are, — 

Solomon,  eldest  son  of  John  Williams,  bought  one 
thousand  acres  of  timber-land  on  the  Delaware,  and 
was  successfully  engaged  in  the  lumber  business 
when  the  war  broke  out.  His  love  of  country  out- 
weighed the  entreaties  of  friends  and  a desire  for 
private  gain.  He  enlisted  in  Company  E,  Captain 
Lewis  Bunnell,  One  Hundred  and  Seventy-seventh 
Pennsylvania  Regiment,  and  served  nine  months ; 
was  first  stationed  at  Newport  News,  and  at  Suffolk, 
Va.,  where  he  remained  until  December,  1862,  when 
he  volunteered  to  help  man  Fort  Halleck,  where  he 
remained  five  months.  He  was  ordered  to  Fort  Nan- 
semond,  and  afterwards  to  Fort  Kingsbury,  where  he 
remained  until  his  term  of  service  expired.  He  was  a 
brave  soldier,  and  once,  while  on  guard,  halted  com- 
missioned officers,  refusing  to  let  them  pass,  threaten- 
ening  at  the  point  of  the  bayonet  their  lives,  if  they 
proceeded  farther.  Through  disability  he  was  pre- 
vented from  re-enlistment ; returned  to  his  former 
vocation,  which  he  was  soon  obliged  also  to  abandon, 
and  returned  to  the  old  homestead.  John,  second  son, 
born  1825 ; married  the  widow  Myra  Ann  Palmer,  now 
deceased,  resides  on  the  homestead.  Rhoda  An  n,  born  in 
1829,  is  the  widow  of  Jacob  Denny,  resides  at  Equinunk, 
Pa.,  and  has  one  son  living,  Harland  A.  Denny;  and 
Annettie  Williams,  also  on  the  homestead.  This 
Rhoda  Lott  had  four  children  by  her  first  husband, — 
Ichabod,  died  in  Michigan  ; Sally,  deceased,  was  the 
wife  of  Edward  J.  Denny,  of  Gibson  ; William  died 
in  Michigan;  and  Mary  Lott  died  young. 

Hamilton  Bonner  was  born  September  3, 1806,  and 
emigrated  with  his  father,  Chas.  Bonner,  to  Herrick 
from  Tyrone  County,  Ireland.  His  father  settled  on 
the  Newburg  turnpike  near  Dr.  Day’s,  and  Hamilton 
labored  on  the  public  works.  He  helped  log  the 
ground  where  Honesdale  stands,  and  helped  dig  the 
Delaware  and  Hudson  Canal  from  Mamakating  up  to 
Honesdale,  and  helped  build  the  gravity  railroad  from 
Honesdale  to  Carbondale.  He  remembers  the  “ Stour- 
bridge Lion,”  the  first  engine  run  in  America,  and 
says  it  was  a clumsy  thing.  They  could  not  do  much 
with  it.  He  finally  got  enough  of  labor  on  public 
works,  and  came  to  Harford,  near  the  Gibson  line, 
and  bought  an  improvement  of  Michael  Belcher  and 
kept  bachelor’s  hall  awhile,  but  he  would  come  in 
tired  and  his  johnny  cake  would  burn  up  while  he 
was  napping,  and  he  left  and  found  work  at  Skinner’s 
Eddy.  Here  he  met  his  destiny  in  the  form  of  a fe- 
male,— Miss  Hannah  Pepper,whom  he  married  and  re- 
turned to  his  cabin  and  cleared  up  a place.  They 
have  children  as  follows  : Philander,  a resident  of 
Gibson;  David,  lives  in  Wyoming  County;  and 


John  lives  on  the  homestead  ; Philander  and  David 
were  in  the  army  ; Eliza  is  the  wife  of  Herman  Web- 
ber, of  Burrows’  Hollow.  Mr.  Bonner  was  converted 
in  1830,  after  a four  days’  struggle,  and  has  never  had 
any  doubts  since  that  time.  He  has  been  Sunday- 
school  superintendent,  steward  and  is  a licensed  ex- 
horter  in  the  Methodist  Church. 

John  D.  Pickering. — Jotham  and  Phineas  Pick- 
ering, brothers,  settled  in  New  Milford  from  Massachu- 
setts, in  1793.  Five  years  later,  in  1798,  they  settled 
in  Gibson,  the  latter  at  Gelatt  Hollow.  He  had  sons, — 
Augustus,  Joseph  and  John  B.  The  former,  Jotham, 
a soldier  in  the  Revolutionary  War,  resided  on  Gibson 
Hill  and  died  at  about  fifty  years  of  age.  His  chil- 
dren were  Henry,  went  to  Ohio ; John,  resided  in 
Gibson  for  many  years,  removed  to  Nicholson,  where 
he  built  a saw-mill,  and  resided  until  his  death ; 
Preserved,  resided  adjoining  the  homestead  in  Gibson, 
had  a son  William,  whose  son  Alden  S.  is  the  present 
proprietor  of  the  hotel  at  South  Gibson ; Corbet 
(1796-1876),  father  of  John  D. ; Potter,  resided  in 
Gibson  and  diedinGlennwood;  Leah,  wife  of  William 
Tripp,  of  Gibson ; Mrs.  Aden  Cramer,  of  Clifford ; 
Nabby  Ann,  a Mrs.  Miller  of  Gibson  ; and  Polly,  wife 
of  James  Waterman,  of  Mt.  Pleasant,  Wayne  County. 
Corbet,  fourth  son  of  Jotham  Pickering,  married  Tamar 
Denny,  born  in  1803,  now  living,  a daughter  of  John 
Denny,  who  came  to  Gibson  from  Dutchess  County, 
N.  Y.,  in  1814,  whose  wife  was  Esther  Corbet.  Cor- 
bet resided  for  fifteen  years  after  his  marriage  in  North 
Gibson,  and  in  1833  settled  on  the  Tunkhannock,  a 
mile  below  South  Gibson,  where  he  erected  a saw-mill 
in  1835,  and  a grist-mill  about  1848.  Here  he  spent 
the  remainder  of  his  life,  running  his  mills  and  man- 
aging his  farm.  He  served  in  the  War  of  1812,  and 
went  as  far  as  Danville.  Both  himself  and  wife  were 
members  of  the  Baptist  Church  and  attended  at  Gelatt 
Hollow.  Their  children  are  Louisa  (1820-76),  was 
the  wife  of  James  Snyder,  of  Lenox;  John  D.,  born 
in  North  Gibson  February  1,  1821;  Nathaniel,  1823, 
a farmer  at  Glennwood  ; Harlaam,  the  wife  of  Datus 
Stevens,  of  Clifford ; Alanson,  deceased,  resided  in 
Clifford;  Elias,  resides  in  Moscow,  Pa;  Betsey,  de- 
ceased, was  the  wife  of  Benjamin  Potter,  of  Gibson  . 
Lovina,  the  wife  of  Emory  Ehrgood,  of  Moscow  • 
Eveline,  deceased,  was  the  wife  of  John  Traviss,  of 
Gibson,  who  was  killed  in  front  of  Petersburg,  during 
the  war,  and  after  his  death  married  Charles  Lewis, 
both  dying  in  Moscow ; Henry,  of  Yellowstone  Park  ; 
Cordilla,  was  the  wife  of  Frank  Gaum,  and  died  in 
Michigan ; Mahala,  widow  of  Samuel  Blair,  Ohio ; 
and  James  resides  in  Clifford. 

John  D.  Pickering  spent  his  boyhood  on  the  farm  of 
his  father,  and  in  attending  the  mills.  He  learned 
what  hard  work  was,  and  the  important  lessons  of 
economy  and  industry  as  necessary  to  securing  a 
comfortable  home  and  a fair  competence.  He  mar- 
ried, in  1841,  Lucinda  Conrad,  of  Gibson, who  was  born 
July  25,  1821,  and  their  children  are  Melissa  P., 


768 


HISTOUY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


1842,  wife  of  Deuisou  McNamara,  a well-to-do  far- 
mer, of  Lenox  ; Mary  Julianna,  1843,  wife  of  Samuel 
McNally,  of  Lenox;  Eldridge  C.,  1852,  succeeded  to 
his  father’s  homestead  in  Lenox  ; Emma  A.,  1857,wife 
of  Lucius  Briggs,  of  Oibson.  Following  his  marriage 
John  D.  bought  a farm  in  Lenox,  where  his  son  now 
resides,  where  he  remained  until  1874,  when  he  erec- 
ted his  present  residence  in  Gibson,  where  he  has 
since  resided.  When  a young  man  of  seventeen  he 
served  on  the  Canadian  frontier  during  the  Canadian 
Rebellion  of  1837-38,  and  when  forty-two  years  of 


Elizabeth  (1797-1878)  Resseguie  Conrad,  of  Gibson. 
George  Conrad  settled  in  Gibson  in  1818,  and  was 
the  son  of  William  Conrad, who  settled  in  Brooklyn  in 
1787,  and  was  a Hessian  soldier  employed  by  Great 
Britain  in  the  Revolutionary  War.  Betsey  Elizabeth 
Resseguie  was  the  daughter  of  Samuel  Resseguie,  a 
settler  in  Gibson  in  1809. 

The  Conrads  belonged  to  the  Baptist  Church  at 
South  Gibson.  Their  children  are  Eli,  1819,  of 
Gibson  ; Lucinda  (Mrs.  John  D.  Pickering) ; Fidelia, 
1823,  was  the  wife  of  Anchew  Corey,  of  Preston 


age,  in  1864,  he  enlisted  in  Company  D,  Captain  Di- 
mock, Fiftieth  Pennsylvania  Regiment,  at  Harrisburg, 
was  encamped  at  Annapolis,  and  thence,  by  a forced 
march,  during  which  many  stalwart  men  died  on  the 
way,  he  was  engaged  in  the  battle  of  the  Wilderness. 
The  fatigue  of  this  march  resulted  in  permanent 
injury  by  bursting  a vein  on  his  leg,  and  for  disabil- 
ity he  was  sent  to  the  hospital,  and  remained  at  the 
hospitals  at  Newark,  N.  J.,  and  Satterlee,  Philadelphia, 
until  he  was  honorably  discharged  May  15,  1865.  His 
wife  is  a daughter  of  George  (1794-1856)  and  Betsey 


Wayne  County,  where  both  died;  Martin,  1828,  of 
Lenox  ; Freelove,  1831,  widow  of  .John  Guard,  of  Gib- 
son ; George,  1833,  served  nearly  through  the  late  war, 
was  taken  prisoner  with  thirteen  others,  and  under- 
went the  most  inhuman  treatment  in  Andersonville 
prison  for  sixteen  months,  he  being  the  only  one  that 
survived  of  the  thirteen,  resides  in  Lenox;  Henry  F. 
1835,  a farmer  in  Gibson ; William  S.  (1838-63), 
served  in  the  late  Rebellion  one  year,  and  died  on  the 
way  home ; Betsey  Melinda,  1841-59 ; and  Mary,  1843, 
wife  of  Paul  Barriger,  Esq.,  of  Great  Bend. 


JACKSON. 


769 


CHAPTEE  XLIX. 

JACKSOjST  township. 

In  1814,  on  petition  of  John  Hilborn  and  others 
for  a division  of  the  original  township  of  Harmony 
into  two  equal  parts,  six  miles  north  and  south  by 
nine  miles  east  and  west,  the  court  appointed  Asa 
Dimock,  Philip  J.  Stewart  and  John  Kent  viewers^ 
and  their  report  setting  off  the  lower  half  as  a new 
township  to  be  called  Jackson  was  accepted,  and  fin- 
ally confirmed  December,  1815.  A petition  in  May 
previous  asking  to  have  it  named  Greenfield  was 
not  granted,  as  the  viewers  failed  to  report.  The  ma- 
jority of  the  voters  were  Democratic  at  that  time  and 
chose  to  name  the  township  Jackson  in  honor  of  the 
hero  of  New  Orleans.  The  area  of  Jackson  was  di- 
minished one-half  in  1883  by  the  erection  of  the  east- 
ern part  into  the  township  of  Thomson.  When 
Ararat  was  erected,  in  1852,  the  township  was  further 
diminished,  and  is  now  nearly  rectangular  in  shape. 
Oakland  and  Harmony  lay  north,  Thomson  east> 
Ararat  southeast,  Gibson  south  and  New  Milford 
west.  The  general  elevation  of  the  township  is  about 
one  thousand  six  hundred  feet  above  tide-water, 
although  some  points  are  one  thousand  seven  hun- 
dred feet  high.  The  hills  are  more  rolling  and  the 
bluffs  are  not  as  abrupt  as  in  most  of  the  townships ; 
hence  there  is  very  little  waste  land.  The  northern 
half  of  the  township  drains  northward  into  the  Sus- 
quehanna, and  the  southern  portion  is  drained  south- 
ward by  the  Tunkhannock,  which  takes  its  rise  in 
this  township.  The  Canawacta  heads  not  far  from 
the  headwaters  of  the  Tunkhannock,  and  flows  north- 
ward into  the  Susquehanna  at  Lanesboro’.  It  is  said 
that  a party  of  Indians  of  the  Conewago  tribe  were  ac- 
customed to  hunt  and  fish  in  this  vicinity,  and  that 
the  creek  took  its  name  from  this  circumstance. 
Drinker  Creek,  that  flows  northward,  Meadow  Brook, 
which  flows  westerly,  and  the  West  and  Middle 
Branches  of  the  Tunkhannock,  that  flow  southerly,  all 
rise  within  a radius  of  about  one  mile  around  Mount 
Hope.  Butler  Lake  is  the  largest  sheet  of  water  in 
the  township,  being  half  a mile  wide  and  more 
than  a mile  long.  There  was  once  a beaver  meadow, 
which  is  now  covered  by  a mill-pond,  east  of  Butler 
Lake.  Jackson  township,  perhaps  more  than  any 
other,  was  covered  with  hard-wood  forests,  such  as 
maple,  beech,  birch  and  chestnut.  There  was  also 
pine  and  hemlock,  but  the  prevailing  timber  was 
hard-wood.  The  forests  were  more  open  than  now, 
for  the  deer  were  very  numerous  on  these  beech  and 
maple  ridges  and  kept  the  undergrowth  browsed  down. 
They  usually  ate  the  buds  and  small  twigs,  but  some 
hard  winters  they  gnawed  down  undergrowth  and 
limbs  that  were  one-half  inch  thick.  The  deer  were 
very  numerous  when  the  first  settlers  came  and  for 
many  years  thereafter,  and  it  is  not  improbable  that 


David  Bryant  and  John  Griffis  each  killed  one  thou- 
sand deer.  Hard-wood  ridges  are  much  easier  cleared 
than  hemlock  and  pine-covered  lands ; and  hence  it  is 
not  surprising  that  the  hardy  Vermont  and  New 
Hampshire  settlers  of  Jackson  early  had  good  farms. 
Maple  sugar  making  has  been  a source  of  revenue  to 
the  Jackson  farmers,  and  is  still  made  in  considerable 
quantities  in  the  township.  Wealth  is  more  evenly  dis- 
tributed in  Jackson  than  in  any  other  townshij).  The 
farmers  generally  are  in  comfortable  circumstances. 
The  occupation  of  the  people  is  almost  exclusively  that 
of  dairying,  and  they  produce  as  good  butter  as  any 
township  in  the  county.  There  has  been  the  usual 
accompaniment  of  saw-mills,  a grist-mill  or  two,  a 
butter-tub  factory  and  a wagon-shop,  the  country 
store  and  tavern,  but  aside  from  that  the  people  have 
devoted  their  energies  to  clearing  up  the  land  and 
making  improvements  thereon,  and  the  roads  in  the 
township  are  very  good. 

The  first  settlement  in  Jackson  was  near  the  Gib- 
son line,  on  the  road  from  Burrows’  Hollow  to  Jackson 
Centre.  Two  of  the  sons  of  George  Gelatt  made  a 
clearing  as  early  as  1809.  They  afterwards  sold  to 
Elkanah  Tingley,  who  gave  these  lots  to  his  sons, 
Daniel  and  Milton.  In  going  northward  from  the 
Oney  Sweet  tavern-stand,  Benjamin  Tingley  settled 
where  Eexford  Tingley  lives;  Henry  Chandler  where 
Wallace  Barnes  lives  ; Milton  Tingley  just  across 
the  line  in  Jackson,  where  his  son,  Guilford,  now 
lives,  and  Daniel  Tingley  cleared  up  the  next  farm 
where  William  Craft  now  lives,  and  Elder  G.  W. 
Leonard  where  Nathan  Guile  lives.  Patty  (Hamil- 
ton) Wilcox  resides  with  her  son-in-law,  and  is  now 
ninety-four  years  old.  She  can  spin,  knit  and  sew, 
and  is  remarkably  bright  and  clear  for  one  so  ad- 
vanced in  years.  She  came  from  near  where  the  pioneer 
settlers  of  Jackson  lived,  and  remembers  when  they 
first  started  from  home  to  come  into  this  wilderness  in 
1812-13.  Uriah  Thayer,  David  and  Jonathan  Bryant 
and  Darius  Lamb  came  together  and  purchased  six  or 
eight  hundred  acres.  Obed  Nye  bought  one  hundred  and 
twenty  acres  of  Uriah  Thayer,  including  one  acre  of 
wheat  standing  on  the  ground.  He  cleared  up  a 
good  farm  and  erected  buildings.  His  son,  Norman 
P.  Nye,  retains  the  homestead.  The  next  place  is 
the  David  Bryant  farm,  now  occupied  by  William 
Holmes.  Oliver  Cliuton  also  had  part  of  the  Bryant 
tract ; his  son,  Truman,  resides  there  now.  David 
Bryant,  Jairus  Lamb,  Hosea  Benson,  Daniel  Ting- 
ley were  here  when  Hall  came,  in  1815.  Major 
Joel  Lamb  and  family  came  that  year  and  lived  two 
or  three  years  in  the  Skyrin  House.  The  major  was 
a large,  stout,  bony  man,  with  a large  hand,  head  and 
foot, — a man  of  strength  of  body  and  force  of  char- 
acter, well  adapted  for  pioneer  life,  with  its  obstacles 
to  overcome  and  hardships  to  endure.  He  took  up 
four  hundred  acres  of  land  and  located  where  Francis 
Whitney  resides.  He  cleared  land  and  erected  a 
good  house  and  barn  while  he  was  living  in  the  Sky- 


77U 


HISTOEY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


rin  House.  The  family  were  Methodists  and  good 
singers.  His  children  were  (1)  Jairus,  who  settled 
where  Philip  Steenback  lives.  He  had  preceded  his 
father  and  was  one  of  the  first  four  emigrants  from 
New  Hampshire  ■ and  Vermont.  He  raised  a large 
family,  most  of  whom  located  in  the  township.  Joel 
H.  lives  on  the  Hosea  Benson  place.  Charles  and 
Wesson  live  in  Oakland.  (2)  Joel  Lamb  married 
and  settled  in  Thomson,  and  was  at  one  time  the 
wealthiest  man  in  the  township.  Two  of  his  sons 
John  and  Ambrose,  are  farmers  there.  (3)  Chauncy 
Lamb  settled  on  the  farm  joining  his  brother  Jairus’. 
He  was  a good  citizen  and  raised  a family  of  four 
children,  none  of  whom  remained  in  the  township 

(4)  David  Lamb  retained  the  homestead  and  well 
sustained  the  family  name.  He  built  a stall  for  the 
preacher’s  horse,  which  was  kept  clear  for  him  at  all 
times,  with  hay  and  oats  near  at  hand.  He  had  a 
family  of  three  sons  and  three  daughters.  Alonzo, 
one  of  the  sons,  is  a farmer  in  the  township  and 
newspaper  itemizer  for  the  Independent  Republican. 

(5)  Emily  was  the  wife  of  Martin  Hall.  (6)  Bet- 
sey was  the  wife  of  Torrey  Whitney.  (7)  Almira 
was  the  wife  of  Enos  Bryant.  (8)  Polly  was  the  wife 
of  Russell  Whitney,  who  removed  to  Honesdale 
after  living  in  the  south  part  of  Jackson  a short  time. 
(9)  Lucinda  was  the  wife  of  Lyman  Lewis.  (10) 
Samantha  was  the  wife  of  Eben  C.  Blanchard.  (11) 
Lucy  was  unmarried. 

David  Bryant  came  into  the  woods  where  Holmes 
lives  and  took  up  two  lots  containing  two  hundred 
acres  or  more,  and  rolled  up  a log  cabin  and  cleared 
up  a place.  He  came  in  the  spring  of  1812,  and  was 
one  of  the  first  settlers  in  Jackson.  He  was  a great 
hunter,  and  killed  a great  many  deer.  Many  remark- 
able hunting  stories  of  his  are  preserved  in  the  tradi- 
tions of  the  neighborhood.  Once  he  was  out  hunting 
and  raised  his  gun  to  shoot  a deer,  and  heard  a rattle- 
snake hissing  at  his  feet.  “ Most  men,”  said  he, 
“ would  have  stopped  to  kill  the  snake,  but  I knew 
the  snake  couldn’t  get  away  and  I thought  the  deer 
might,  so  I shot  the  deer  first.”  Another  time,  while 
hunting  with  a bald-headed  man,  they  both  laid  down 
in  a hunter’s  cabin  to  rest;  during  the  night  the  man 
jumped  up  and  yelled.  A bear  had  stuck  his  cold 
nose  against  the  bald  head  of  his  friend,  and  he  was 
scared.  “You  need  have  no  fear,”  says  Bryant; 
“ nothing  would  ever  eat  you.”  He  married  Abigail 
Hilliard,  and  his  children  were  Clarissa,  wife  of  Oliver 
Clinton ; Elias  M.  married  Maria  Wheaton  and  went 
into  the  woods  in  the  edge  of  Thomson  in  1843  and 
cleared  up  one  of  the  best  farms  in  that  vicinity,  which 
he  now  occupies.  The  other  children  were  Elvira, 
wife  of  Elon  Wilcox;  Jane,  wife  of  William  Benson, 
lives  in  California;  Alonzo  and  Lazelle  both  died 
while  young  men,  leaving  families;  Louisa  is  the  wife 
of  Arthur  Price  and  Mary  is  the  wife  of  Delos  Rob- 
erts. Horace  Aldrich  came  on  the  farm  adjoining 
Elias  Bryant’s  in  1842,  and  cleared  up  the  farm  where 


Harry  Whitmarsh  lives.  Stephen  Greenwood  com- 
menced on  the  farm  next  to  Aldrich  about  the  same 
time.  John  Gunnison  commenced  on  the  place  owned 
by  Amzi  Page  about  1837.  Ansel  Page  lives  on  the 
place  adjoining.  Moses  B.  Wheaton  commenced  on 
the  place  that  Thomas  Butterfield  afterwards  cleared 
up.  John  Martin  bought  of  John  Tanner  the  farm  j 
where  Charles  Martin  has  resided  for  many  years.  I 
Charles  Brown  took  up  a place  on  the  old  Harmony  1 
Road ; he  afterwards  sold  it  to  his  brother  Ormel,  ' 
whose  son  Zachary  resides  there  now. 

Deacon  Martin  Hall  was  the  son  of  Joel  i 
(1747-1843)  and  Elizabeth  Bush  (1752-1830)  Hall,  | 
who  were  married  in  January,  1772,  and  emigrated  ^ 
from  Connecticut  into  the  wilderness  of  Vermont, 
where  they  endured  the  privations  and  sufferings  in- 
cident to  the  early  pioneers  of  that  State.  Joel  Hall 
was  a farmer  in  Connecticut,  and  served  as  a soldier 
in  the  War  of  the  Revolution.  His  brother,  Hiram, 
was  a soldier  during  the  entire  period  of  that  war, 
serving  seven  years.  When  Joel  Hall  and  wife  emi- 
grated to  Vermont,  four  of  his  brothers  accompanied 
him.  They  had  children, — Hannah,  1772;  Joel, 
1774,  who  came  to  Jackson  from  Vermont  and  re- 
mained ten  or  twelve  years,  then  removed  to  Tioga 
County,  Pa.;  Justus,  1775;  Israel,  1778;  Martin  died 
young;  Lotan  (1783-1854);  Asa,  1785,  came  from 
Vermont  and  settled  near  Jackson  Corners,  where  he 
died ; Elizabeth,  1789,  was  the  wife  of  Jairus  Lamb, 
one  of  the  first  settlers  of  Jackson  (see  history  ot 
Jackson  and  personal  sketch  of  C.  W.  Lamb,  son  of 
Jairus) ; Martin,  January  18,  1793.  Upon  coming  to 
Vermont  Joel  Hall  had  purchased  a wilderness-farm 
situate  in  the  town  of  Halifax,  in  Windham  County, 
where  Martin  Hall  was  born — being  the  youngest  of 
the  family.  Here  young  Martin  spent  his  boyhood, 
and  remained  under  the  parental  roof-tree  until  he 
reached  his  majority.  The  opportunities  for  educa- 
tion were  limited  and  meagre,  never  extending  beyond 
three  months’  schooling  in  the  winter,  but  so  assidu- 
ously and  perseveringly  did  he  apply  himself  to  his 
studies,  that,  at  the  age  of  eighteen,  he  taught  the 
school  in  his  native  town,  and  the  succeeding  term 
also.  The  War  of  1812  found  young  Hall  a member 
of  a militia  company  of  his  town,  and  with  others  he 
volunteered  his  services  as  a soldier,  and  was  made  a 
corporal  in  Captain  Samuel  Preston’s  company.  He 
is  now  one  of  the  honored  pensioners  of  that  war.  In 
January,  1814,  he  left  the  homestead  in  Vermont  and 
went  to  Oneida  County,  N.  Y.,  where  he  worked  for  a 
brother-in-law  during  the  summer.  He  then  decided 
to  visit  the  home  of  his  sister,  Mrs.  Jairus  Lamb,  in 
the  “beech-woods”  of  Pennsylvania,  and  on  foot  he 
proceeded  down  the  Unadilla  and  Susquehanna 
Rivers  to  Great  Bend,  and  from  thence,  through  New 
Milford,  to  the  clearing  of  his  brother-in-law  in  Jack- 
son.  Here  he  remained  until  October  of  that  year, 
during  which  time  he  purchased  of  Henry  Drinker  one 
hundred  and  twenty-five  acres  of  land  at  three  dollars  : 


JACKSON. 


771 


per  acre,  and  “ underbrushed  ” three  or  four  acres ; 
thus  beginning  the  first  clearing  on  the  homestead 
farm  where  he  still  resides,  and  upon  which  he  has 
lived  beyond  the  allotted  age  of  man.  In  the  latter 
part  of  October  he  started  on  foot  for  his  home  in 
Vermont,  accomplishing  the  journey  in  six  days. 
Soon  after  his  arrival  in  Vermont  it  was  publicly  an- 
nounced in  Halifax  and  Marlboro’,  that  “ marriage  is 
intended  between  Martin  Hall,  of  Halifax,  and  Emily 
Lamb,  of  Marlboro’.”  The  wedding  took  place  at  the 
home  of  the  bride,  January  18,  1815,  the  anniversary 
of  Mr.  Hall’s  twenty-second  birthday.  The  young 


Lamb,  who  had  a separate  conveyance,  they  bid  adieu 
to  friends  and  the  “ Green  Mountain  State.”  They 
found  good  sleighing,  and  at  the  end  of  eleven  days 
reached  the  wilderness-home  of  Jairus  Lamb.  Here 
Martin  Hall  and  wife  resided  until  he  had  erected  a 
log  house  on  his  own  tract,  into  which  they  moved 
the  following  summer.  His  stock  consisted  of  a yoke 
of  oxen  and  a cow,  while  his  business-outfit  was  an 
axe  and  log-chain.  But  early  trained  to  habits  of 
industry,  and  himself  and  wife  having  both  tasted  the 
privations  and  discomforts  of  pioneer  life  in  their 
native  State,  they  were  in  no  wise  disheartened,  but 


couple  immediately  made  preparations  for  their 
“ bridal  tour,”  which  had  for  its  objective  point  their 
far-away  Pennsylvania  home.  Major  Joel  Lamb, 
father  of  the  bride,  had  previously  visited  his  son 
Jairus,  and  having  disposed  of  his  farm  since  his 
return,  he  decided  to  move  his  family  with  his  son-in 
law  to  Pennsylvania.  A company  of  seventeen  per- 
sons was  soon  formed,  and  two  large  sleds  were  loaded 
with  goods.  Martin  Hall  had  purchased  an  ox-team, 
and  Major  Lamb  furnished  three  more,  and  with  two 
ox-teams  to  each  sled,  and  a man  with  his  horses  and 
sleigh  to  carry  the  family,  except  Major  and  Mrs. 


hand  in  hand  they  bravely  and  perseveringly  toiled 
on,  with  loving  confidence  in  each  other,  and  a firm 
trust  and  reliance  on  an  all-wise  Providence.  Alter 
coming  to  Pennsylvania  Mr.  HalUwas  again  employed 
as  a teacher — one  winter  at  the  Gelatt  school-house, 
and  another  in  the  one  erected  on  his  own  farm. 

Coming  to  Jackson  when  there  were  but  four 
families  in  the  township,  he  has  lived  to  see  it  one  of 
the  most  populous  in  the  county.  Their  children  are 
Lucy  Ann,  1815,  wife  of  Kobert  Gelatt,  a retired 
farmer  residing  in  Thomson  Boro’ ; Emily  M.,  1819, 
wife  of  Benj.  H.  Larrabee,  a farmer  of  Windsor,  N.  Y. ; 


772 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


Lucj"  Lovina  (1 821-58)  was  the  wife  of  Horace  French, 
a farmer  of  Jack.son;  Semautha  L.,  1823,  wife  of 
Alpheus  W.  Gates,  a farmer  and  lumberman  now  re- 
siding in  Thomson  Borough  ; Philander,  1826,  married 
Sarah  Greenwood,  is  a tanner  now  residing  in  Ne- 
braska ; Eliza  Jane,  1828,  wife  of  Edwin  B.  Moxley, 
a farmer  of  Jackson;  Francis  Marshall  (1831-66) 
married  Caroline  Chamberlin  and  resided  in  Jackson 
at  the  time  of  his  death  ; Rosetta  Bernicy,  1834,  wife 
of  Abner  M.  Pease,  who  farms  the  old  homestead 
which  he  purchased  in  1869,  and  in  whose  pleasant 
home  Deacon  Hall  is  quietly  and  contentedly  passing 
the  evening  of  his  long  and  eventful  life. 

The  bride  of  his  youth,  after  sharing  his  joys  and 
■sorrows,  his  trials  and  triumphs  for  fifty  years,  died 
at  the  homestead  in  Jackson,  in  1865. 

Mr.  Hall’s  political  history  dates  back  almost  to 
the  beginning  of  the  Republic.  He  has  lived  under 
every  administration,  and  participated  in  the  election 
of  every  President  save  four.  His  first  ballot  assisted 
in  electing  James  Monroe,  and  he  continued  to  act 
with  the  Democratic  party  until  Harrison’s  nomina- 
tion, from  which  time  he  acted  with  the  Whigs  as  long 
as  that  party  existed,  and  in  1857  cast  his  lot  with  the 
new-born  Republican  party,  with  which  he  has  since 
been  identified.  Although  having  positive  political 
views  and  convictions,  and  taking  much  interest  in 
political  affairs,  he  was  not  a politician  or  office- 
seeker;  yet  he  was  called  by  his  fellow-townsmen  to 
serve  them  as  constable,  collector,  assessor  and  justice 
of  the  peace.  He  was  also  elected  one  of  the  auditors 
of  Susquehanna  County. 

For  many  years  he  was  familiarly  known  as 
“Major”  Hall,  a title  he  gained  in  connection  with 
an  artillery  company  organized  at  Harford,  Pa.,  of 
which  he  was  for  some  time  captain,  and  from  which 
position  he  was  promoted  to  major  in  the  battalion  to 
which  the  company  belonged. 

But  while  his  military  title  is  honorable  and  well- 
deserved,  and  his  service  under  the  Stars  and  Stripes 
commendable,  yet  he  has  won  a more  fitting  title,  a 
more  honorable  distinction  under  the  “ banner  of  the 
cross  ” and  in  the  service  of  the  Great  Commander 
under  whom  he  enlisted  early  in  life.  His  neighbors 
and  friends,  and  especially  the  members  and  congre- 
gation of  the  Jackson  Free-Will  Baptist  Church, 
know  him  by  no  other  or  prouder  title  than  “ Deacon  ” 
Hall.  More  than  sixty-seven  years  ago,  when  this 
church  was  organized,  it  conferred  this  title  upon 
him,  and  for  all  the  years  since  he  has  held  this 
“commission”  and  faithfully  labored  in  season  and 
out  of  season  for  the  interest  and  welfare  of  this  church. 

In  recognition  of  this,  the  church,  on  January  21, 
1883,  held  special  services  to  commemorate  Deacon 
Hall’s  long  official  connection  with  it,  and  to  extend 
congratulations  upon  his  having  attained  his  ninetieth 
birthday.  Three  days  before,  a large  concourse  of 
relatives  and  friends,  by  invitation  of  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
A.  M.  Pease,  assembled  at  their  residence  to  convey 


to  Deacon  Hall  congratulations  upon  the  ninetieth 
anniversary  of  his  birth.  Children  of  the  first, 
second  and  third  generations  were  present  to  the 
number  of  forty.  Deacon  Hall  converses  fluently,  ) 
can  hear  well,  and  his  memory  remains  excellent ; ] 

but  his  eyesight  has  recently  failed,  and  he  can  see  j 
but  little.  He  has  now  passed  his  ninety-fourth 
birthday.  His  life  has  been  contemporary  with  the  j 
life  of  this  nation,  and  he  has  lived  during  the  most 
eventful  period  of  the  world’s  history. 

BejStson  District. — Peletiah  Gunnison  was  one  of  ' 
the  most  active  men  in  having  the  Benson  school- 
house  built.  Lucy  Hall  taught  the  first  school.  Mary  j 
Tyler  was  one  of  the  first  teachers.  The  school-house  i 
was  built  about  1840.  Geo.  Chandler,  son  of  Dr.  j 
Chandler,  commenced  where  Austin  Benson  resides. 
Macajah  Barrett  and  Orrin  French  took  up  the  land 
where  Urban  and  Lester  Paine  reside.  Peletiah 
Gunnison  commenced  where  Edwin  Leonard  resides 
Wm.  H.  Bartlett  came  with  Calvin  Morse  and  took 
up  land  where  James  Hopkins  lives.  Moses  B. 
Wheaton  first  began  beyond  the  corner  where  Geo. 
Gelatt  lives.  Eli  Page  began  on  the  place  now 
owned  by  his  son,  Amasa  A.  Page.  L.  Dow  Benson 
resides  where  Justus  Seely  commenced.  Solomon 
Matteson  began  where  Thomas  Tallman  lives.  Sabin 
Allen  resides  where  Hiram  Houghton  began.  Amzi 
Nathan  began  where  Ansel  Page  lives.  John  Gunni- 
son first  began  on  the  place  adjoining.  Morris  Griffis 
began  where  Stephen  Greenwood  built.  Nathaniel 
Aldrich  began  where  Robert  Wilkinson  lives.  Widow 
Orr  Tarbox  owns  where  Joel  Hill  began.  Hubbell 
Wells  owned  it  afterwards. 

Hosea  Benson  first  went  to  Harford,  but  soon  after, 
in  1813,  located  about  one  mile  southwest  of  Jackson 
Corners.  He  bought  an  improvement  of  Jonathan 
Bryant,  who  had  five  acres  of  wheat  sowed  when  he 
made  the  purchase.  He  took  up  three  hundred  acres 
and  cleared  up  a large  farm.  He  invented  a stave- 
dressing machine,  and  had  it  patented.  He  was  from 
New  Hampshire,  and  was  one  of  the  founders  of  the 
Methodist  Church  at  this  place.  He  married  Ann 
Aldrich  and  raised  a very  large  family  of  children, — 
Austin,  Maria,  Sophia,  Nathaniel,  Caroline,  Amanda, 
Lorenzo  D.,  Ann  Eliza,  Leander  C.,  Arza  M.  and 
Charlotte.  Austin  has  resided  longer  in  the  township 
than  any  person  now  living,  and  glories  in  the  fact 
that  he  is  a Democrat  at  all  times  and  under  all  cir- 
cumstances. He  taught  school  nine  terms  and 
has  been  a great  reader,  besides  having  his  mind 
stored  with  many  interesting  and  amusing  reminis- 
cences of  the  old  setlers.  He  married  Betsey  Manzer. 

He  and  three  of  his  sons — Hosea  M.,  Philander  R. 
and  Manzer  L. — were  in  the  late  war.  The  latter  died 
in  Salisbury  prison.  Hosea  M.  is  a merchant  and 
farmer,  and,  in  connection  with  his  brother  Philander, 
is  engaged  in  manufacturing  butter  tubs.  Thomas 
K.  resides  in  Scranton,  and  Nelson  C.  and  Nathaniel 
live  on  the  homestead. 


JACKSON. 


773 


Lorenzo  Dow  Benson  is  a farmer,  surveyor  and 
politician,  and  has  been  justice  of  the  peace  contin- 
uously since  1856,  excepting  one  year.  He  married 
Emeline  Dougherty,  and  his  two  boys — Le  Grand  is 
in  Brandt  & Schlager’s  bank  at  Susquehanna,  and 
Frank  is  in  Elmira.  Of  the  girls,  Maria  was  the  wife 
of  Elisha  Brown  ; Sophia  was  the  fii'st  girl  born  in 
Jackson  (her  first  husband  was  Hiram  Houghton, 
second  Orville  Brigham);  Caroline  was  the  wife  of 
Jas.  Bingham,  one  of  whose  sons,  A.  S.  Bingham,  is  a 
carriage- maker  at  Jackson  ; Amanda,  wife  of  Henry 
Jenkins  ; Ann  Eliza,  wife  of  Almon  Moxley  ; Char- 
lotte, wife  of  Luman  Foster.  Job  Benson,  brother  of 
Hosea,  commenced  where  Austin  Benson  lives.  He 
then  commenced  in  the  woods  east  of  the  Tunkhan- 

nock  and  cleared  up  a farm.  He  died  , aged 

eighty-two.  He  had  a family  of  fourteen  children. 
Elliott  is  the  only  one  living  in  the  township  now, 
and  he  kept  the  first  hotel  at  Susquehanna.  James 
Benson,  another  brother,  located  about  four  miles 
west  of  Jackson  village.  He  had  three  sons — Otwell, 
John  and  James  D. — who  divided  the  homestead  into 
three  farms,  where  they  reside.  There  were  three 
daughters — Eunice,  wife  of  Sidney  Morse  ; Margaret, 
wife  of  E.  Chandler;  Anna  E.,  wife  of  Henry 
Barnard. 

Hubbel  Wells  married  Betsy  Marble  and  settled 
in  Jackson,  near  Austin  Benson’s.  Of  his  children, 
Hubbel  Wells,  Jr.,  died  recently  at  Susquehanna. 
Levi  moved  West.  Olive  was  the  first  wife  of  Eeuben 
Harris,  and  the  mother  of  five  of  his  children.  Gra- 
tia was  the  wife  of  Chauncy  Lamb  ; Lavina,  wife  of 
Macajah  Barrett;  Zorada,  wife  of  Nathaniel  Hill. 
Horatio  M.  was  an  excellent  singer,  which  is  a 
family  characteristic,  and  a noted  mimic  and  punster, 
and  in  connection  with  Austin  Benson  and  other  old 
settlers,  could  make  more  fun  than  a clown.  The 
old  settlers  of  Jackson  were  noted  for  gathering 
around  the  hearthstone  and  telling  stories  and  jesting, 
and  in  this  Horatio  Wells  was  conspicuous;  but  his 
life  was  not  all  wit  and  humor  ; he  was  a good,  sen- 
sible man  withal. 

James  Cargill  (4th). — The  first  Cargill  of  whom 
we  have  any  record  was  Rev.  Donald  Cargill,  of  Scot- 
land, born  about  1610,  who  suffered  death  by  hanging 
at  the  hands  of  the  opposers  and  persecutors  of  the 
Protestant  clergy  of  that  day,  on  account  of  his  be- 
lief and  his  advocacy  of  religious  liberty.  A descend- 
ant of  his,  John  Cargill,  left  Scotland  during  the 
Scottish  rebellion  and  went  to  Ireland,  where  he 
died.  His  son  James  and  daughter  Mary  Ann,  after 
the  death  of  their  father,  came  to  this  country  about 
1820,  and  settled  in  Pautuxet,  Mass.  Mary  Ann 
married  Robert  Kennedy,  of  Norwich,  Conn.;  James 
Cargill  (1st)  married  Phebe  Smith,  daughter  of  Ben- 
jamin, a son  of  Lord  Stephen  Smith,  who  was  a 
refugee  from  England  during  the  rebellion,  and  had 
been  a member  of  Cromwell’s  Parliament.  James 
and  Phebe  settled  at  South  Kingston,  R.  L,  where  he 


purchased  a farm  and  mill  privilege.  They  had 
children, — Mary,  John,  James  (2d),  Chloe,  Lucy  and 
Benjamin.  James  Cargill  (2d)  was  born  in  South 
Kingston,  R.  I.,  February  27,  1729,  and  married  Dor- 
cas Arnold,  of  Smithfield,  R.  I.  They  had  children, — 
Rhoda,  James  (3d),  David,  Nathan,  John,  George 
and  Daniel.  These  births  are  recorded  in  the  Cum- 
berland records.  James  Cargill  (3d)  was  born  in 
Cumberland,  R.  I.,  April  22,  1762.  He  was  a soldier 
in  the  Revolutionary  War,  although  but  sixteen 
when  he  entered  the  army.  He  taught  school  for  a 
time  after  the  war.  In  1786  he  married  Chloe 
Chafee  (1766-1836),  a native  of  Westminster,  Vt.,  and 
settled  in  Richmond,  N.  H.  In  1814  he  gathered  his 
worldly  possessions  together,  and  placing  them,  with 
his  family,  in  an  ox-cart  drawn  by  two  yoke  of  oxen, 
he  left  New  Hampshire  and  came  to  this  county, 
where  he  settled  in  West  Jackson.  After  the  death 
of  his  wife  he  resided  with  his  sons,  Ira  and  James 
(4th),  and  died  at  the  house.of  the  latter  in  1848,  at 
the  age  of  eighty-six.  He  was  somewhat  eccentric, 
and  previous  to  his  removal  from  New  Hampshire, 
was  a Quaker  in  practice  and  profession,  but  after 
coming  to  Jackson  he  became  a member  of  the  Meth- 
odist Church.  Their  children  were, — Nancy  (1787- 
1878)  was  the  wife  of  Calvin  Stone,  and  removed  from 
Vermont  to  Jackson  in  1815;  Arnold  (1788-1863)  re- 
mained a number  of  years  after  attaining  his  majority 
with  his  father,  afterwards  married  the  widow  of 
a deceased  brother  and  settled  in  Thomson ; James 
(4th)  (1781-1865) ; Ira  (1792-1857)  married  Anna 
Hine,  and  settled  in  Wayne  County,  Pa.,  where  he 
died;  Clarrissa  (1794-1852)  married  William  Segur, 
and  settled  in  Jackson ; Chloe  (1796-1869)  married 
William  Cleveland,  and  latter  part  of  her  life  lived  in 
Thomson;  Dorcas  (1799-1853)  was  the  wife  of  Berry 
Wellman,  and  settled  in  New  Milford  ; Nisena  (1802- 
87)  was  the  wife  of  Joel  B.  Strickland,  of  Illinois; 
Thomas  Jefferson  (1802-83)  married  Sally  Cook, 
and  settled  in  Jackson,  where  he  died  ; Rachel,  1806, 
widow  of  Joseph  Lewis,  now  residing  in  Illinois; 
Electa  (1809-78)  died  unmarried. 

James  Cargill  (4th)  was  born  in  Richmond, 
Cheshire  County,  N.  H.,  April  28,  1791.  When  his 
father  removed  from  New  Hampshire  he  went  to 
Rhode  Island,  and  worked  until  the  fall  of  that  year, 
and  then  came  on  foot,  with  a pack  on  his  back,  to 
the  wilderness-home  of  his  father  in  Jackson.  In 
1815  he  took  up  a tract  of  woodland,  which  he  con- 
verted into  the  farm  upon  which  he  lived  for  fifty 
years,  and  where  he  died — now  the  residence  of  his 
son,  John  Wesley.  He  was  four  times  married — 
first,  in  1817,  to  Sarah  Comfort  (1799-1818),  daughter 
of  John  and  Phebe  Comfort,  who  were  among  the 
first  settlers  on  the  Susquehanna  River  in  Harmony. 
(For  history  Comfort  family  see  Harmony  township.) 
They  had  one  child,  Sarah  Comfort  (1818-42),  who 
married  Rev.  William  Reddy,  a Methodist  clergy- 
gyman.  In  1819  he  married  Hannah  Comfort  (1801- 


774 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


42),  a sister  of  liis  first  Avife.  Their  children  are 
Hester  Ann,  1824,  a widow  of  Rev.  George  H. 
Blakeslee,  a Methodist  clergyman,  who  died  in  1876, 
now  residing  with  her  daughter  Mary,  who  is  the 
wife  of  Prof.  T.  B.  Stowell,  Ph.D.,  of  the  State  Nor- 
mal School,  at'  Cortland,  N.  Y.  Her  sons  are  Rev. 
Francis  Durbin,  1846,  graduate  of  Syracuse  Univer- 
sity, married  Augusta  M.,  also  a graduate  of  Syracuse 
University,  daughter  of  Hon.  S.  Hubbard,  of  Gen- 
eseo,  N.  Y.,  has  been  for  many  years  a principal  of 
East  Greenwich  Seminary,  R.  I.,  and  is  a member  of 


where  he  purchased  sixty-six  acres  of  wild  land  and 
erected  a log  house.  In  1864  he  removed  from 
Wayne  County,  and  came  to  the  old  homestead  in 
Jackson,  where  he  remained  one  year,  when  he  went 
to  Thomson,  and  purchased  of  William  Witter  the 
farm  where  he  now  resides.  He  has  been  a member 
of  the  Methodist  Church  since  he  became  settled  in 
life,  and  has  been  class  leader,  steward  and  trustee, 
and  also  Sabbath- school  superintendent.  Originally 
a Democrat  in  politics,  he  has  for  many  years  been 
identified  with  the  Republican  party,  and  has  served 


New  England  Southern  Conference ; Erasmus  Dar-  | 
win  (1847-83),  graduate  of  Syracuse  University,  for 
several  years  acting  principal  of  State  Normal  School, 
Potsdam,  N.  Y.,  graduate  of  Albany  Law  School, 
married  Emma  Louise  Qua,  teacher  in  Potsdam  Nor- 
mal School.  Her  other  daughters  are,  Helen  E. 
married  Prof.  Warren  Mann,  A.  M.,  of  the  Normal 
School  at  Potsdam,  N.  Y. ; Clara  M.  married  J.  Wil- 
lard Miller,  Lincoln,  Neb.;  Emma  J.  married  Jasper 
L.  Kellogg,  Lincoln,  Neb.  Parley  Smith,  1826, 
married  in  1848  Betsey,  daughter  of  John  J.  and 
Hannah  Shafer,  born  in  Schoharie  County,  N.  Y.,  in 
1828.  After  marriage  settled  in  Wayne  County,  Pa., 


I his  town  as  school  director  and  supervisor.  They 
have  children, — Elias  Parley,  1850,  married  Matilda 
M.  Bennett,  residing  in  Thomson ; James  Emory 
(185-4-57);  Ella  Betsey,  1856,  wife  of  James  M. 
Brown,  residing  in  Thomson  ; Phebe  Jane,  1859,  wife 
of  W.  .1.  Bills,  residing  in  Scranton,  was  a school- 
teacher for  several  years  previous  to  her  marriage ; 
James  Harvey  (1829-54)  was  a graduate  of  the 
Wyoming  Seminary,  at  Kingston,  Pa.  Converted  at 
the  age  of  nine,  he  early  evinced  a desire  for  the  min- 
istry, and,  after  receiving  his  diploma,  was  admitted 
to  the  Wyoming  Conference  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church.  The  untimely  death  of  this  young 


JACKSON. 


775 


d clergyman  at  Susquehanna,  on  the  4th  of  July,  1854, 
n by  the  discharge  of  a cannon,  is  still  fresh  in  the  minds 

B of  many.  He  had  but  just  entered  the  ministry,  hav- 

it  ing  preached  one  year  on  the  Scranton  and  Provi- 
le  deuce  Circuit,  and  the  year  previous  to  his  death,  at 
■r  Susquehanna  and  Lanesboro’.  But  in  this  brief  time 
0 he  had  developed  rare  and  distinguished  ability  that 
gave  promise  of  a life  of  great  usefulness  and  honor, 
y John  Wesley,  1831,  educated  at  the  common  schools 
B and  at  Wyoming  Seminary  and  Harford  University, 
d married,  in  1856,  Abagail  Amelia,  daughter  of  Mar- 
tin and  Irena  Bunnell,  born  in  1835,  and  was  a stu- 
dent at  Harford  University  and  a teacher  for  six 
terms  before  marriage.  After  his  marriage  settled  in 
Thomson,  where  he  remained  until  his  father’s  death, 
in  1865,  when  he  sold  the  Thomson  farm-  to  his 
brother  and  removed  to  the  homestead,  which  he 
purchased  of  the  heirs  where  he  still  resides.  In 
1864  he  went  to  Chattanooga,  Tenn.,  and  was  in  the 
Construction  Corps  of  the  army  for  a time.  He  is 
literary  in  his  tastes,  writing  for  the  press  occasion- 
ally, and  sometimes  expressing  himself  poetically. 
Previous  to  marriage  he  taught  school — the  first  time 
in  a log  school-house  in  Jackson,  when  he  was 
eighteen.  He  was  identified  with  the  anti-slavery 
party  previous  to  the  war;  since  that  time  he  has 
acted  with  the  Democratic  party,  and  often  with  pen 
and  voice  has  zealously  advocated  its  principles.  In 
1853  he  was  elected  county  auditor,  and  in  1878  was 
elected  to  the  Legislature  of  Pennsylvania  for  two 
years,  and  acceptably  served  his  constituents.  They 
have  one  son,  Manlius  Wilniot,  1859,  educated  at 
Keystone  Academy  and  at  East  Greenwich  Academy, 
R.  I.,  married,  in  1886,  Elizabeth  Roe,  was  principal 
of  the  Thomson  and  Oakland  graded  schools,  and 
now  teaching  in  a normal  school  in  Ohio ; Phebe, 
1833,  was  a graduate  of  Wyoming  Seminary,  was  a 
teacher  for  sevteral  years,  and  for  one  year  wms  pre- 
ceptress of  the  Indiana  Female  College,  married,  in 
1857,  Addison  P.  Smith,  a real  estate  broker  of  New 
York  City.  Their  children  are  Evelyn,  1860,  and 
two  sons,  Jerome  and  Guy,  who  died  young.  Daniel, 
(1835-65)  took  a preparatory  course  at  Wyoming 
Seminary,  and  entered  Union  College,  at  Schenectady, 
N.  Y.,  where  he  graduated  with  honors  ; married,  in 
1865,  Hattie  E.,  daughter  of  Hon.  James  Mumford, 
of  Starrucca,  who  died  in  1866  ; one  son,  Daniel,  1866, 
survives  them.  Emory  (1837-54).  James  Cargill, 
(4th)  was  converted  in  1816,  and  joined  the  Meth- 
odist Church,  and  continued  an  active  member 
during  his  life.  He  was  a class-leader  for  nearly 
forty  years.  His  home  was  the  home  of  the  itinerant. 
For  twenty  years  his  home  was  the  place  where  the 
people  congregated  for  worship,  he  furnishing  fuel 
and  lights  for  the  purpose.  He  ever  gave  liberally 
for  the  building  of  churches  and  the  preaching  of  the 
gosi^el.  Pie  often  rode  on  horseback  five  or  six  miles 
to  attend  prayer-meetings.  His  “ daily  walk  and  con- 
versation ” were  consistent  with  his  profession.  He 


lived  at  peace  with  his  neighbors,  and  never  had  a 
lawsuit  or  church  trial.  Early  taught  in  the  school 
of  industry  and  economy,  he  perseveringly  toiled 
amid  the  discomforts  that  the  pioneers  of  those  days 
encountered,  until  in  the  evening  of  his  life  he  found 
himself  surrounded  with  the  comforts  fairly  earned 
by  the  frugality  of  his  earlier  years. 

Calvin  Stone  settled  adjoining  Cargill’s,  where  Fre- 
mont Butterfield  lives.  Wilson  Stone,  one  of  the  sons, 
resides  in  North  Jackson.  Ira  Cargill  commenced 
near  by  and  remained  a short  time.  Simeon  Slocum 
settled  near  the  school-house  where  Mrs.  Potter  lives. 
Jesse  Dix  moved  from  Mt.  Pleasant  to  Jackson  in 
1832,  and  went  into  the  woods  and  cleared  up  a good 
farm,  now  owned  by  William  Pickering.  He  died  in 
1864,  aged  seventy-three,  and  his  wife  died  in  1879, 
aged  eighty-six.  The  family  have  all  left  the  town- 
shi]). 

Moses  B.  Wheaton  (1790-1866),  a native  of  Rich- 
mond, N.  H.,  married  Mary  Aldrich  (1795-1874),  of 
the  same  place,  and  settled  in  Jackson  township  in 
1814,  where  Dr.  Wheaton  now  resides.  He  cleared 
up  a farm,  and  taught  school  for  fourteen  years,  being 
the  first  school-teacher  in  the  township.  He  removed 
to  North  Jackson  in  1825  and  died  there.  He  had  a 
large  family;  Julia  Ann,  wife  of  Horace  Aldrich,  of 
Jackson ; Laura  Ann  was  the  wife  of  Martin  E.  B. 
Larrabee,  of  Jackson  ; Mary  Elvira  had  two  husbands, 
first.  Parley  Potter,  second,  Chauncey  Lamb;  Fostina 
L.  is  the  widow  of  M.  T.  Whitney,  of  Thomson ; 
Lydia  M.,  wife  of  E.  M.  Bryant,  of  Thomson ; Dr. 
Washington  W.  resides  in  Binghamton  ; Dr.  William 
W.,  of  Jackson  ; Almeda  E.,  wife  of  Henry  Benson, 
of  Jackson,  second,  Henry  P.  Crary,  of  Binghamton; 
Thomas  J.,  of  Wilkes  Barre;  Cleopatra  P.  died  at 
seventeen  ; Catharine  Melissa,  wife  of  R.  V.  Whit- 
ney, of  Thomson ; Nancy  A.,  wife  of  William  W. 
Holmes,  of  Jackson;  Sarah  J.,  dead;  Eamira  A., 
wife  of  Stephen  Jenkins,  of  Thomson. 

Enos  Whitney  was  born  at  Branford,  Conn.,  in 
1761.  He  served  six  months  in  the  Revolutionary 
War.  In  1787  he  married  Eunice  Avery,  and  in  1818 
came  to  Gibson  township,  and  located  on  the  farm 
adjoining  his  son  Thaddeus,  who  had  come  in  1817. 
Enos  Whitney  died  in  1838,  aged  seventy-eight,  and 
is  buried  at  Union  Hill  Cemetery.  Mrs.  Whitney 
took  letters  from  the  Congregational  Church  in  Con- 
necticut and  became  one  of  the  constituent  mem- 
bers of  the  church  on  Union  Hill.  She  died  in  1846, 
aged  eighty-five.  Their  children  were  Laura,  wife  of 
Leonard  Tiffany,  of  Mount  Pleasant ; Thaddeus,  who 
married  Thirza  Washburn  ; Eunice  H.,  wife  of  Moses 
Chamberlain;  Billias  married  Jane  Chase,  and  died 
in  Harford,  aged  fifty -six;  Anna  was  the  wife  of 
Preserved  Pickering ; Enos  married  Margery  Merri- 
man  and  lived  in  Gibson ; Paulina  was  the  wife  of 
Riley  Case  and  lived  in  Lenox,  where  she  died  in 
1850;  Everett  married  Julia  Merriman  and  lived  at 
Great  Bend ; he  died  in  1886,  aged  eighty-one.  Da- 


770 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


vid  E.,  son  of  Billias,  went  out  as  captain  of  Compa- 
ny B,  Seventeenth  Pennsylvania  Cavalry.  He  resigned 
after  a few  months,  and  is  now  a resident  of  Burrows’ 
Hollow. 

Thaddeus  Whitney,  above-mentioned,  came  from 
Connecticut  in  1817,  and  bought  an  improvement  of 
Samuel  Washburn  on  the  old  Newburg  road,  one 
mile  from  Smiley.  He  cleared  up  a farm  and  carried 
on  farming  and  blacksmithing  until  he  died,  in  1860, 
aged  sixty-one.  He  was  a single  man  when  he  came 
here,  and  married  a daughter  of  Joseph  Washburn, 
Esq.  Their  children  were  Julia  Ann,  wife  of  John 
Manzer,  a resident  of  Gibson;  Jane  M.,  wife  of  Gil- 
bert Williams,  of  New  Milford  ; Joseph  E.,  who 
married  Elizabeth  A.  Parmenter,  of  Gibson;  Francis 
M. ; Harriet  A.,  wife  of  J.  Sheldon  Tiffany,  of 
Mount  Pleasant;  Henrietta  M.,  wife  of  F.  M.  Elting, 
of  Oneonta ; Freeman  P.  married  Sarah  Hine,  and 
resides  on  the  homestead ; he  was  corporal  in  Com- 
pany B,  Seventeenth  Pennsylvania  Cavalry,  and  was 
captured  by  Mosby’s  men  September  27,  1864,  and 
was  a prisoner  at  Salisbury  five  months ; Harlan  S. 
enlisted  in  the  same  company  and  died  in  the  army  ; 
Eliza  0.  died  young;  W.  Richmond  married  Helen 
Washburn,  and  resides  in  Oneonta. 

Francis  Marion  Whitney  was  born  in  Gibson 
July  8,  1826.  He  helped  his  father  on  the  farm  until 
he  was  twenty-two  years  of  age,  and  attended  the 
common  schools  winters  when  he  could  be  spared 
from  such  services ; his  help  was  needed  by  his  father, 
because  he  had  to  pay  for  his  farm  twice.  He  sup- 
posed he  had  a sufficient  title  from  the  settler  of  whom 
he  purchased,  but  found  that  the  title  had  to  come 
from  the  land-owners  in  Philadelphia.  Francis 
stayed  at  home  to  assist  his  father  in  his  efforts  to 
pay  for  his  land.  He  next  started  for  himself,  and 
bought  one  hundred  and  twenty -six  acres  of  land  on 
the  east  branch  of  the  Tunkhannock,  where  his  son 
William  resides.  He  went  in  debt  for  this  property, 
and  by  hard  labor  cleared  it  up  and  paid  for  it.  He 
then  purchased  the  Charles  Potter  farm  of  eighty 
acres,  and  removed  to  Jackson  Centre,  where  he  re- 
sided a number  of  years,  and  made  improvements  on 
the  place,  consisting  of  a store,  dwelling-house  and 
barns.  He  next  bought  a hotel  property  at  Susque- 
hanna, known  as  the  *'  Benson  House,”  now  “ Cascade 
House,”  and  removed  there  intending  to  keep  hotel ; 
but  when  he  saw  men  coming  there  to  purchase 
whiskey  who  needed  their  money  for  their  families, 
he  became  so  disgusted  with  the  business  that  he  sold 
out  in  three  months  and  purchased  the  Major  Lamb 
farm,  in  Jackson,  where  he  now  resides.  He  man- 
ages this  farm  and  also  the  farm  at  Jackson  Centre. 
Besides  farming,  Mr.  Whitney  has  been  a drover  and 
handled  a large  amount  of  stock.  His  life  has  been 
an  active  one ; few  farmers  in  the  county  have  labored 
more  industriously  or  been  more  successful  than  he 
has.  He  married  Julia  A.  Belcher,  born  July  12, 
1828,  daughter  of  William  Belcher,  one  of  the  first 


settlers  in  Gibson,  on  the  Claflin  place.  He  died  in 
Ararat  at  an  advanced  age.  Eliza,  another  daughter, 
is  the  wife  of  Ira  Washburn,  of  Gibson.  Their  chil- 
dren were  Libbie,  who  died  at  the  age  of  sixteen ; 
Emily ; William  T.,  who  married  Mary  Hill,  and  re- 
sides on  the  place  where  his  father  first  began;  Hat- 
tie, wife  of  Horace  A.  Bushnell,  station  agent  at 
Nineveh;  Elbert  married- , a daughter  of  Wal- 

lace Barnes,  and  resides  on  his  father’s  farm,  near  the 
Gibson  and  Jackson  line  ; Frank  and  George  live  at 
home. 

Phineas  Pickering  (1771-1849)  came  to  New 
Milford  when  a young  man  and  married  Anna  Kent 
(1780-1866).  His  brother  Jotham  came  with  him,  and 
they  both  settled  in  Gibson,  near  Gelatt,  in  1812,  on 
farms  adjoining.  Phineas  cleared  up  the  farm  where 
the  widow  of  Edgar  Whitney  now  resides.  He  was  a 
sober  and  industrious  man,  working  at  the  trade  of 
shoe-making  in  winter  and  farming  in  summer.  He 
and  his  wife  were  members  of  the  Free-will  Baptist 
Church  at  Union  Hill.  They  secured  a comfortable 
livelihood  and  reared  a large  family  of  children,  and 
died  at  a ripe  old  age.  Their  children  were  Augustus, 
who  married  Lydia  Tripp,  and  resided  in  Jackson, 
where  H.  S.  Brown  now  lives;  John  B.  married 
Elsie  Tripp,  and  resided  in  Gibson,  where  A.  Manzer 
now  lives ; Flora  was  the  wife  of  Jones  Isbell,  a 
cabinet-maker,  who  died  in  Binghamton ; Sophia  was 
the  wife  of  Henry  Barriger,  a resident  of  Uniondale ; 
Myra  was  the  wife  of  George  Jennings,  a resident  of 
Scott,  Wayne  County,  Pa. 

Jotham  Pickering  was  born  in  1810,  at  New 
Milford,  but  spent  his  boyhood  days  from  1812  with 
his  parents  in  Gibson.  He  was  too  good  to  work,  to 
be  sent  to  school  when  there  was  anything  to  do  on 
the  farm,  but  he  improved  his  meager  opportunities 
winters  and  remembers  his  old  teachers  with  pleasure. 
The  first  school  he  attended  was  taught  by  Horace 
Thayer,  on  Kennedy  Hill.  He  afterwards  attended 
school  at  Gelatt.  Chas.  Chandler,  P.  K.  Williams  and 
Martin  Hall  were  teachers  there.  The  day  before  he 
was  twenty-one  years  old  he  took  his  axe  and  went 
into  the  woods  on  the  hill  where  he  now  resides  and 
commenced  chopping  a fallow.  He  purchased  thirty- 
five  acres  of  land  where  his  house  stands,  of  Torrey 
Whitney,  which  with  subsequent  purchases  amounted 
to  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres,  his  present  farm. 
He  commenced  without  a dollar  in  his  pocket,  having 
nothing  but  his  axe,  a determined  purpose  and  strong 
muscles  to  depend  upon  to  secure  means  to  pay  for 
his  land  and  support  for  his  family.  In  1837  he 
married  Mary  Ann  Hopkins,  who  was  born  in  Rhode 
Island  in  1817.  She  was  a daughter  of  Peter  Hop- 
kins ; one  sister,  Ann,  wife  of  Edgar  Barton,  resides 
at  Susquehanna ; Joanna,  wife  of  Arthur  Vosbery, 
resides  at  Havre  de  Grace,  Maryland.  Mrs.  Pickering 
has  been  a true  helpmate,  in  the  discharge  of  every 
duty  devolving  upon  a farmer’s  wife  with  fidelity. 
Mr.  Pickering  proceeded  to  clear  up  a farm  and  pay 


JACKSON. 


777 


for  his  land.  His  well-tilled  fields  are  the  visible 
tokens  of  the  competency  which  he  has  secured  by 
honest  industry.  His  first  rude  log  cabin  has  given 
place  to  a comfortable  dwelling,  and  he  has  recently 
erected  one  of  the  most  commodious  and  conveniently 
arranged  barns  in  the  county,  with  underground 
stabling  for  forty  head  of  cattle.  He  has  a good 
orchard  and  keeps  a few  sheep,  but  depends  upon 
dairying,  which  he  has  pursued  successfully  for  many 
years.  Mr.  Pickering  is  nature’s  man,  blasted  right 
out  of  the  rock,  and  is  a good  specimen  of  the  Sus- 
quehanna County  farmer,  who  has  made  his  money 
by  pure  farming.  He  is  a Republican,  and  his  towns- 
men have  elected  him  Supervisor;  but  he  is  no  office- 
seeker,  and  does  not  trouble  himself  much  about 
politics  or  politicians.  He  and  his  wife  have  been 
members  of  the  Methodist  Church  for  more  than  forty 
years,  and  for  eighteen  years  he  has  been  one  of  the 
stewards  of  the  church.  Both  are  hale  and  strong, 
the  result  of  well-ordered  lives.  Their  children  are 
Martin  A.,  who  married  Esther  Lewis,  and  resides  in 
Jackson  ; Sirana  H.,  wife  of  Elon  Dix,  died  in  1882, 
aged  forty  years;  Joanna  is  the  wife  of  C.  D.  Mum- 
ford,  of  Starrucca. 

Jackson  Center. — The  first  owner  of  the  land 
where  the  roads  corner  extending  north  so  as  to  in- 
clude a portion  of  the  village,  and  the  oldest  docu- 
ment connected  therewith,  is  the  lease  of  Joshua 
Harris  to  his  son-in-law  Uriah  Thayer.  This  quaint 
document  is  dated  Jackson,  June  2,  and  reads  as 
follows : 

“This  Indenture  made  between  .Joshua  Harris,  of  Halifax,  County 
of  Windham,  State  of  V.  T.,  of  the  first  part  and  Uriah  Thayer  and 
Lydia  Thayer,  his  wife,  now  residing  in  Jackson,  Susquehannah,  State 
of  Pennsylvania,  of  the  second  part.  Now,  this  indenture  witnesseth 
that  Joshua  Harris  dose  hereby  leese  unto  his  well  beloved  duahfter, 
Lydia  Thaye,  and  son-in-law,  Uriah  Thayer,  a sartain  tract  of  land  here 
after  discribed,  and  for  the  purpose  hereafter  mentioned,  and  under  the 
restrictions  hereafter  inserted.  The  land  is  fifty  acres,  lying  in  the 
Township  of  Jackson  County  and  State  abov  mentioned,  it  is  part  of 
the  lot  No.  5,  snrvaid  Joseph  Shippe,  ym,  beginning  at  the  origanal 
north  line  sd  lot  at  the  east  side  of  the  Harmony  Road,  leading  from 
Joel  Lamb’s  to  Stephen  Tuckor's  ; thense  south  on  the  east  side  of  sd 
Road  to  the  four  corners  whare  the  Ararat  Road  leading  from  David 
Briant’s  to  ararat  intersects  the  Harmoney  Road  ; thense  easterly  on 
the  South  line  of  my  land  I bought,  deeded  to  me  by  Jonas  Preston  and 
Nathan  Banker,  of  the  city  of  Philadelphia,  and  sd  deed  is  recorded  in 
Montrose.  I say  on  the  North  and  South  line  of  sd  land  beginning  or 
joining  to  the  Harmony  Road  the  east  side,  thens  extending  east,  far 
enough  east  to  make  fifty  acres.  The  Tunkhannock  Crick  runs  through 
the  fifty  acres  near  the  middle  of  sd  fifty  acres.  The  above  discribed 
fifty  acres  I,  Joshua  Harris,  Lease  unto  my  children  before  mentioned, 
during  their  life,  for  their  own  comfort  and  use,  that  they  may  theirby 
he  enabled  to  provide  for  their  Rising  family,  which  now  consists  of 
seven  children,  all  healthy  at  preasant  thru  Divine  Goodness.  The 
eldest  of  them  is  not  yet  nine  years  old,  all  of  them  vary  prommiceing 
Children,  and  dear  to  Jo.shua  Harris  their  grandfather.” 

The  lease  provides  for  building  houses,  planting  or- 
chards, &c.,  and  “ in  case  of  sickness  or  death  of  Uriah 
or  Lydia  or  any  other  misfortune  that  may  render  it 
necessary  for  Joshua  Harris  or  his  wife,  Clarissa,  to 
use  the  place  for  the  before-mentioned  family,  they 
shall  have  the  privilege  of  doing  it.”  This  lease  was 
confirmed  by  will  probated  in  1850  giving  the  above  I 
50 


fifty  acres  and  twenty  acres  more  to  the  children  of 
Uriah  Thayer  when  the  youngest  was  of  age.  Reuben 
Harris,  his  son,  also  came  in  possession  of  another 
part  of  the  Joshua  Harris  property  in  1826,  and 
lived  at  the  corners  nearly  half  a century  and  died 
there  in  1885,  aged  eighty.  E.  W.  Tucker  owns 
the  property  now.  Nathaniel  Hill  worked  in  a 
mill,  and  his  health  failed  and  he  purchased  some 
groceries  and  kept  them  in  his  father’s  house  for  a 
year  or  two,  then  he  purchased  a lot  off  of  the  Thayer 
property  and  erected  a small  store  about  1830-40, 
which  with  additions  and  re-building  constitutes  the 
present  hotel  property  known  as  the  “ Geary  House.” 
Hill  kept  whiskey,  tobacco,  groceries,  &c.,  the  usual 
stock  in  trade  of  the  early  store,  and  he  was  post- 
master also  from  1837  to  1844.  In  1842  Warren  Ting- 
ley  went  into  partnership  with  him  and  the  house 
was  enlarged  for  a tavern  in  connection  with  store- 
keeping. This  firm  soon  failed  and  the  property  fell 
into  the  hands  of  a man  by  the  name  of  Jones.  His 
successors  in  the  ownership  of  the  hotel  have  been 
Turner,  Bartlett,  Van  Horn  and  Geary.  The  Central 
Hotel  was  started  as  a drug  store  in  1860  by  Chauncy 
Fletcher.  In  1867  the  house  passed  into  possession  of 
Delos  Roberts  who  refitted  and  enlarged  it,  chang- 
ing it  from  a grocery  store  to  a hotel.  The  house  was 
originally  built  by  Roswell  Culver  and  John  Olin  and 
sold  to  Dr.  Whitney  who  sold  to  Fletcher,  who  had 
the  post-office  during  the  war  when  so  many  anxious 
wives  and  mothers  approached  the  office  with  tremb- 
ling hearts,  not  knowing  what  news  they  would  hear 
from  the  “ boys  in  blue.” 

Alvin  J.  and  Samuel  Seymour  succeeded  Hill  in  the 
grocery  business  about  1844.  They  soon  discontinued, 
and  that  was  the  last  mercantile  business  that  was 
carried  on  in  the  old  pioneer  house  of  the  village.  It 
was  thereafter  used  exclusively  as  a hotel.  After  the 
Seymours  discontinued  James  D.  Hill  commenc- 
ed business  above  where  the  Baptist  parsonage 
now  stands.  He  also  had  the  post  office,  where 
Whitney  and  Foster  converted  a blacksmith  shop 
into  a grocery  store.  Frank  Benson  had  this 
store  afterwards  and  Charles  A.  De  Fancy  has  a 
grocery  store  and  the  post-office  there  now.  Is- 
aac Comfort,  son  of  John  Comfort,  one  of  the  first 
settlers  of  Lanesborough,  bought  a tract  of  land  which 
had  been  taken  up  by  Asa  Hall,  just  north  ofThayers’, 
(Stephen  Tucker  had  the  third  house  in  the  place, 
the  Reuben  Harris  place  on  the  corner  and  the  Hill 
hotel  being  the  others.)  Hiram  R.  Houghton,  of 
Massachusetts,  through  the  advice  and  encourage- 
ment of  Stephen  Tucker,  bought  the  Comfort  tract 
and  erected  the  first  blacksmith  shop  in  the  village 
and  paid  for  the  land  by  blacksmithing.  He  married 
Sophia  Benson  and  died  when  only  thirty-six  years  of 
age,  leaving  four  children.  Hosea  Benson  bought  the 
interest  of  ose  of  the  girls  and  after  the  war,  in  Septem- 
ber 1865,  he  erected  a store.  The  first  firm  was  Benson, 
Manzer  & Tucker  and  they  did  a business  of  sixty 


778 


HISTOKY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


thousand  dollars  in  three  years,  when  their  partner- 
ship expired  by  limitation,  and  H.  M.  Benson  took 
charge  of  the  business  which  he  has  continued  until 
now.  Daniel  D.  Duren  built  a wagon-shop  which  he 
converted  into  a, store  about  1880  where  Charles  Esta- 
brook  now  sells  goods.  H.  M.  and  P.  K.  Benson 
started  a hemlock  butter-tub  factory  in  1878  and  made 
the  first  hemlock  butter-tubs  in  this  country.  It  had 
been  supposed  previous  to  this  that  butter  would  not 
keep  in  a hemlock  tub.  They  employed  from  ten  to 
fifteen  hands  for  eight  years  and  used  two  hundred 
and  fifty  thousand  feet  of  hemlock  per  year,  and  man- 
ufactured from  thirty  thousand  to  forty  thousand  tubs 
per  year.  The  timber  supply  is  growing  less  and  the 
factory  is  not  doing  as  much  as  formerly.  Houghton 
had  the  first  blacksmith  shop  near  Stephen  Tucker’s. 
He  was  succeeded  by  Mr.  Miller,  Elias  M.  Bryant  and 
Joseph  Foster  whose  shop  was  converted  into  a store. 
Frank  and  William  Spencer,  Stewart  Hobart  and  C. 
C.  Bookstaver  are  the  present  blacksmiths.  A.  S. 
Bingham  and  C.  C.  Bookstaver  erected  a wagon-shop 
and  have  made  as  many  as  seventy-five  wagons  and 
four  hundred  sleighs  in  one  year,  but  the  average 
number  is  much  less.  A.  S.  Bingham  has  the  busi- 
ness now.  The  village  is  centrally  located  in  a fine 
farming  district  and  contains  two  hotels,  three  stores, 
a wagon-shop,  a butter-tub  factory,  a blacksmith 
shop,  two  physicians,  a school-house,  two  churches 
and  about  one  hundred  inhabitants. 

A post-office  was  established  in  1833,  called  Barry- 
ville,  with  Amos  Chase  as  j^ost-master.  In  1836  the 
name  was  changed  to  Jackson.  In  1837  Nathaniel 
Hill  was  appointed  post-master;  James  D.  Hill,  1844; 
Guerdon  G.  Williams,  1854;  Chancy  Fletcher,  1861; 
Delos  Roberts,  1866;  H.  M.  Benson,  1871;  Le  Grand 
Benson,  1879;  Frank  A.  Benson,  1880;  Sanford  J. 
Engle,  1881 ; Charles  A.  De  Lancey,  1885.  North 
Jackson  post-office  was  established  April  21,  1854, 
with  William  Birdsall  as  postmaster.  His  successors 
have  been  Nathan  S.  Williams,  1866 ; James  Y.  Potter, 
1861;  Jesse  L.  Williams,  July,  1861;  Frederick 
Bryant,  1865  ; Susan  C.  Davidson,  1882.  A post-office 
was  established  at  Lake  View  in  1879,  A.  D.  Corse, 
post-master.  Pelatiah  Gunnison  was  the  first  justice 
of  the  peace  in  Jackson  by  appointment  of  the  Gov- 
ernor. James  Hall,  Martin  Hall,  Reuben  Hill,  Wm. 
H.  Bartlett,  Roswell  Culver,  Nelson  French  and 
Lorenzo  Dow  Benson  have  been  justices  since.  Mr. 
Benson  was  first  elected  in  1856 ; after  the  expiration 
of  the  first  term  he  was  re-elected,  but  refused  to  take 
his  commission  ; but,  being  elected  again  the  follow- 
ing year,  he  has  been  continued  by  re-election  until 
the  present  time. 

Stephen  Tucker  was  born  in  Halifax,  Windham 
County,  Vt.,  February  9, 1794.  He  was  three  months 
in  the  War  of  1812,  and  the  November  before  he  was 
twenty-one  he  and  Joseph  Bryant  started  on  foot  for 
Pennsylvania,  having  for  his  outfit  a pack  of  twenty- 
nine  pounds,  a good  reputation  and  the  good  wishes 


of  many  friends.  He  arrived  in  Jackson  the  last  of 
December  and  hired  to  Hosea  Benson.  At  this  time 
Hosea  Benson,  Jairus  Lamb,  David  Bryant  and 
Deacon  Daniel  Tingley  were  the  only  residents  in 
Jackson.  During  the  summer  he  contracted  for  one 
hundred  and  twenty-six  acres  of  land,  chopped  and 
cleared  two  acres  and  rolled  up  a log  house.  He 
returned  to  Vermont  and  married  Lucy  Harris,  sister 
of  Reuben  Harris,  and  returned  to  his  cabin  in  the 
wilderness  and  cleared  up  a farm.  During  the  con- 
struction of  the  New  York  and  Erie  Railroad  he 
contracted  for  and  delivered  one  thousand  tons  of 
coal  in  Broome  and  Chenango  Counties,  drawing  it 
from  Carbondale,  a distance  of  fifty  miles,  bringing 
salt,  pork  and  stoves  in  return;  he  brought  the  first 
stoves  into  this  section.  He  was  a constituent  mem- 
ber of  the  Jackson  Baptist  Church  and  rendered 
liberal  aid  in  the  erection  of  the  church  in  1842.  He 
died  in  1882,  aged  eighty-eight.  His  children  were 
James,  who  commenced  where  J.  H.  Miles  lives  and 
afterwards  lived  where  his  son  Stephen  does ; Clarissa 
has  been  a teacher  nearly  all  her  life  in  Wisconsin  ; 
Elizabeth  was  first  married  to  N.  M.  Wills,  and  her 
second  husband  was  W.  H.  Bartlett ; Sarah  was  the 
wife  of  Rufus  Walworth  ; Williston  resides  in  Thom- 
son borough.  Eunice  was  the  wife  of  J.  H.  Miles  ; 
Evander  resides  on  the  homestead ; Emerson  N.  re- 
sides on  the  Reuben  Harris  farm ; Amos  lives  in 
Wichita,  Kansas  (Reuben  Harris  lived  on  the  corner 
many  years  and  died  in  1884  at  an  advanced  age) ; 
Olive  is  the  wife  of  Jas.  C.  Bushnell  and  Ella  the  wife 
of  Eli  Bloxam,  of  Ararat.  Ichabod  Hill  came  the 
next  year  after  Martin  Hall  did  and  located  adjoining 
him.  His  children  were  James,  Nathaniel,  Archibald, 
Reuben,  Eunice  and  Achsah.  Reuben  remained  on 
the  homestead,  which  is  now  occupied  by  his  son 
Isaac.  Joseph  Powers  lived  neighbor  to  Hall;  he 
bought  of  Ichabod  Powers,  who  took  up  the  land 
before  Hall  came.  His  children  were  Joseph,  Eliza, 
Eunice,  William  and  Esther.  Eunice  and  William 
reside  on  the  homestead.  Eliza  is  the  wife  of  Harvey 
Gray,  of  Rush.  David  Barrett  came  early  and  sold 
his  improvement  to  Eli  Barnes  and  returned  to  Ver- 
mont. Charles  C.  Barnes  occupies  the  place  now. 
Alzada,  wife  of  Horace  Payne,  and  Martha  were  the 
daughters.  Jonathan  Moxley  resided  where  his  son 
Edwin  lives.  Jas.  Cargill,  Sr.,  settled  where  J.  D. 
Benson  lives,  and  Edward  Moxley  afterwards  lived 
where  Arnold  Cargill  began.  Henry  Perry  lived  near 
Hall.  Captain  Page  came  in  1816.  His  son,  Rosman 
Page,  owns  the  place  now.  L.  S.  Page  was  justice  of 
the  peace  many  years.  The  first  saw-mill  was  built 
on  a branch  of  the  Tunkhannock  by  Russell  Whitney. 
Leander  Griffis  has  a grist-mill. 

Leander  Griffis. — His  grandfather,  Abner  Grif- 
fis, served  as  a minute  man  in  the  Revolutionary 
war,  and  received  a pension  until  his  death,  at  the 
age  of  over  eighty  years,  at  Unadilla,  N.  Y.  In  the 
spring  of  1799,  with  Ebenezer  Whipple  and  his  step- 


JACKSON. 


779 


son,  Ezra  Lathrop,  he  came  down  the  Susquehanna 
River  from  Unadilla  to  the  mouth  of  the  Wyalusing 
Creek  in  canoes ; thence  up  that  creek  on  ox-sleds  to 
Bolles  Flats  between  Fairdale  and  Grangerville  on 
the  Creek  road.  For  many  years  he  resided  with  his 
son,  Elisha,  a hotel-keeper  and  farmer  of  Forest 
Lake  township,  and,  after  the  death  of  his  wife,  re- 
turned to  Unadilla,  where  he  died.  A further  ac- 
count of  the  Griffis  family  will  be  found  in  the 
sketch  of  Byron  Griffis,  of  Jessup  township. 

His  second  sen,  John  Griffis  (1785-1865),  a native 
of  Unadilla,  removed  with  his  parents  to  Susquehanna 
County,  and  when  of  age  took  up  a piece  of  land  and 
commenced  to  clear  and  improve  it.  He  shortly  af- 
terwards returned  to  New  York  State  and  married 
Susannah  (1792-1865),  daughter  of  Ebenezer  and 
Susannah  (Marsh)  Leonard.  After  marriage,  returned 
to  Rush,  where  he  remained  until  1830,  when  he  re- 
moved to  Jackson  and  purchased  of  Arby  Rounds 
one  hundred  and  twenty-six  acres  of  land,  which  he 
cleared  up,  improved  and  lived  upon  until  he  died. 
He  was  a great  hunter,  and  to  recount  the  number  of 
deer  and  other  wild  animals  that  tradition  has  it  he 
killed  would  read  like  a tale  of  fiction  to  day. 

Himself  and  family  attended  the  Jackson  Baptist 
Church,  of  which  his  wife  was  a member.  He  was 
an  influential  citizen  of  Jackson,  and  he  was  esteemed 
and  respected  by  his  fellow-townsmen  to  the  day  of 
his  death.  Himself  and  wife  died  the  same  year, 
and  were  buried  on  the  homestead  farm.  Their  chil- 
dren were  Patty,  wife  of  Joel  Turrell,  of  Forest  Lake; 
Lydia,  wife  of  Manning  Woodmansee,  of  Bucking- 
ham, Wayne  County,  Pa.;  Lovina,  wife  of  Miner 
Turrell,  of  Forest  Lake;  Seymour,  married  and  re- 
sided in  Jackson  until  his  death;  Leander;  Morris, 
married  and  was  residing  in  Buckingham,  Wayne 
County,  Pa.,  when  the  war  of  Rebellion  broke  out, 
enlisted  for  three  years,  at  the  end  of  which  term  he 
re-enlisted,  was  taken  prisoner  and  confined  in  prison 
where  he  died;  Edwin,  was  married  and  living  in 
Ontario  County,  N.  Y.,  during  the  war,  was  a soldier 
in  the  army  and  died  at  Harper’s  Ferry  hospital; 
Sylvester,  married  and  residing  in  Jackson ; Susannah, 
widow  of  Almanson  Nye,  residing  in  Jackson;  Ade- 
line, wife  of  N.  P.  Nye,  residing  in  Jackson, — all  ex- 
cept the  latter  born  in  Rush.  Leander,  the  second 
son  of  John  and  Susannah  Griffis,  was  born  October 
22,  1819.  He  was  eleven  years  old  when  his  parents 
can)e  to  Jackson,  and  during  his  boyhood  had  the 
usual  advantages  of  the  district  schools  of  that  day. 
But  the  lessons  of  those  early  years  were  not  all 
learned  from  books.  By  precept  and  example  he 
had  early  engrafted  on  his  mind  the  broad  and  phil- 
anthropic principles  embodied  in  the  “golden  rule.” 
He  early  learned  that  industry,  sobriety  and  economy 
were  necessary  adjuncts  to  success  in  life.  He  re- 
mained with  his  father  on  the  farm  until  his  mar- 
riage. In  1846  he  married  Phidelia,  daughter  of 
Ohed  and  Mehitabel  (Marsh)  Nye,  who  came  from 


Vermont  to  Jackson  in  1816  and  settled  on  the  farm 
now  occupied  by  N.  P.  Nye,  where  they  died, — the 
former  at  the  age  of  eighty-seven,  the  latter  aged 
seventy-three.  Here  their  daughter,  Phidelia,  was 
born,  December  23,  1819.  Their  other  children  were 
Harriet,  who  married  Oramel  Brown,  of  Jackson ; 
Norman  P.,  now  residing  on  the  homestead  in  Jack- 
son  ; Almanson,  who  resided  in  Jackson  until  his 
death;  Lodema,  who  married  Joseph  G.  Moore,  of 
Jackson  ; Marcella,  wife  of  Sylvester  Griffis,  of  Jack- 
son,  and  Pherona,  wife  of  Wallace  Barnes,  of  Gibson. 
Immediately  upon  his  marriage,  Mr.  Griffis  removed 
to  a woodland  tract  that  he  had  previously  purchased, 
and  upon  which  he  had  erected  a small  house  and 
made  some  improvements.  Here  he  remained  two 
years,  when  he  sold  it  and  removed  to  the  homestead 
farm,  which  he  afterwards  purchased  of  the  heirs, 
and  upon  w'hich  he  now  resides.  His  present  com- 
fortable and  commodious  home  he  erected  in  1870. 
Their  children  are  Orville, '1847,  married  Abbie  J., 
daughter  of  Elias  Bryant,  of  Thomson,  is  a farmer, 
and  resides  on  the  homestead ; Flora,  1848,  married 
Charles  T.  Belcher,  a farmer  of  Jackson. 

In  politics,  Mr.  Griffis  has  clung  to  the  political 
faith  of  his  ancestors,  which  was  democratic,  and  for 
many  years  he  has  been  a representative  democrat 
in  his  town.  While  active  and  persistent  in  advo- 
cacy of  the  principles  of  his  pai’ty  and  in  eflbrts  for 
its  success,  yet  never  offensively  so,  and  his  fellow- 
citizens,  both  in  town  and  county,  have  attested  their 
appreciation  of  his  integrity  and  ability  by  frequently 
electing  him  to  various  offices  within  their  gift.  He 
has  served  his  township  on  election  boards,  as  au- 
ditor, school  director  and  supervisor,  and  in  1882,  ’83 
and  ’84  he  honorably  and  creditably  served  the 
county  as  one  of  its  county  commissioners.  Among 
the  thrifty  and  intelligent  farmers  of  Jackson,  Mr. 
Griffis  stands  in  the  front  rank,  and  a life  of  industry 
and  perseverance  has  had  its  reward  in  surrounding 
him  with  home  comforts  in  his  declining  years. 

William  Barrett  came  from  Vermont  to  Jackson, 
in  1829,  and  settled  where  O.  E.  Barrett  now  lives. 
He  cleared  up  that  farm  and  reared  a family  of  six 
boys  and  three  girls.  Three  of  the  boys, — Stanford 
W.,  Wallace  W.  and  Edwin  L.,  reside  in  Bingham- 
ton. Volney  B.  and  Charles  C.,  reside  in  Jackson. 
Leroy  died  in  Columbus,  Ohio.  Levi,  Hosea,  David 
and  Chester,  brothers  of  William,  came  later.  Levi 
located  near  East  New  Milford.  Hosea  located  near 
Lake  View',  in  1832.  He  built  a frame  house  that 
winter,  and  moved  in  the  next  spring.  He  bought 
fifty-six  acres  and  cleared  up  a farm.  He  married 
Polly  Lindsley.  Three  of  his  sons, — Alvin,  Luther 
and  Alonzo,  reside  in  Jackson.  George  resides  at 
Susquehanna.  Hollis  is  a merchant  at  Burrows’  Hol- 
low. Smith  is  in  McKean  County.  Elias,  son  of 
Austin,  is  a butcher.  Mrs.  Barrett  is  living,  aged 
eighty-seven.  George  W.  Tyler  cleared  the  farm 
where  he  lives.  George  Curtis,  and  his  son  James 


780 


HISTOKY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


Curtis,  present  county  commissioner,  reside  in  North 
Jackson. 

Edwin  L.  Leonard  came  from  Vermont  in  1830, 
and  was  the  first  settler  on  the  Upper  Tunkhannock, 
on  what  is  now  the  creek  road.  He  lived  a short 
time  with  Austin  Benson,  until  he  had  made  a clear- 
ing and  erected  a frame  house.  He  died  at  the  age 
of  seventy-one.  His  wife,  whose  maiden  name  was 
— Marsh,  married  again,  and  is  living,  aged  eighty- 
one.  There  were  ten  children  in  Mr.  Leonard’s 
family, — Lorenzo  D.  married  and  died  in  Minnesota. 
Frederick  F.  married  Emily  Hollister,  of  Salem,  and 
resides  on  the  homestead  farm,  which,  for  its  size,  is 
the  best  farm  in  Jackson  township.  They  have 
three  children, — one  daughter,  Kate,  a school  teacher, 
and  two  sons.  Leroy  C.,  of  the  original  family,  re- 
sides in  Illinois.  Cordelia  M.,  married  E.  E.  Hough- 
ton, of  Susquehanna.  Josephine  is  the  wife  of  W. 
\V.  Larrabee,  of  Jackson.  Cynthia  V.  was  the  wife 
of  Melvin  Larrabee.  Edwin  A.  married  Mary  Miles, 
and  resides  in  Jackson.  Velosco  V.  and  Fillmore 
M.  live  in  Nebraska. 

Veranous  Larrabee  came  from  Windham  County, 
Vt.,  in  March,  1831.  He  first  located  near  William 
Bartlett’s,  then  he  bought  where  Isaac  Hill  lives; 
from  there  he  went  to  Jackson  Corners,  and  started  a 
little  tannery  where  Dr.  Wheaton  lives.  He  died  in 
1864,  aged  seventy-five.  His  wife  was  Lucy  Bennett, 
and  they  had  a family  of  tw'elve  children.  Among 
them, — Adin  B.,  who  lives  in  North  Jackson,  and  has 
one  son  George.  Lorenzo  D.  Benjamin,  who  lives  in 
Windsor,  N.  Y.  One  of  his  sons,  Hadley  B.,  was 
county  superintendent  of  Wayne  County  two  terms. 
Charlotte  was  the  wife  of  Calvin  Dix.  Asa  Ham- 
mond is  her  second  husband.  Lorenzo  D.  has  one  boy, 
Melvin,  resides  in  Jackson.  Emory  B.,  the  oldest  boy, 
came  with  his  father,  being  then  nineteen  years  of 
age,  and  located  where  Elias  Barrett  lives,  and  cleared 
up  that  farm.  He  married  Laura  Wheaton,  and  had 
a family  of  seven  sons, — Alfred  W.,  a school  teacher, 
William  H..  Oscar  G.,  Windsor,  John  W.,  Winfield 
C. — Emery  B.  and  all  of  his  boys  but  the  youngest 
son  were  in  the  army,  and  all  came  out  alive.  Oscar 
was  twice  a prisoner,  and  was  one  of  the  one  thousand 
one  hundred  that  lived  without  tasting  food  for  five 
days  at  the  second  Bull  Eun  battle.  They  all  reside 
in  the  county  in  the  vicinity  of  home.  William  H. 
owns  the  George  Perry  farm,  and  is  erecting  one  of 
the  finest  residences  in  the  county.  He  has  one  of  the 
most  convenient  slaughter-houses  and  meat-shops  in 
the  State.  The  building  is  thirty-six  feet  square,  and 
has  a stone  floor,  with  blood  channels  in  the  slaugh- 
ter-room, a large  cooler  for  meats  in  summer,  a win- 
ter meat  cellar,  salt  meat  cellar,  hide  cellar,  etc.  A 
ten  horse-i)ower  engine  runs  the  sausage  cutter  and 
tallow-rendering  machine,  a French  burr-mill  for  feed, 
besides  supplying  heat  for  the  building.  Mr.  Larra- 
bee has  been  running  meat  into  Susquehanna  for 
twenty-six  years. 


Nelson  French  came  to  Jackson  from  Dummerston, 
Vt.,  in  1831,  and  took  up  seventy-eight  acres  of  land  in 
the  wilderness,  and  cleared  up  the  farm  where  he  now 
resides.  He  was  county  commissioner  in  1863  and 
has  been  deacon  in  the  Congregational  Church  many 
years.  He  has  six  children,  all  of  whom  loeated  in 
the  vicinity.  Ephraim  French,  father  of  Nelson, 
eame  later  and  located  where  Tallman  lives.  The 
Free  Will  Baptist  Church  is  built  upon  part  of  this 
ground.  Charles  French,  another  son,  in  September, 
1832,  and  first  located  where  John  Calnon  lives.  He 
sold  that  and  located  where  he  now  resides.  He  had 
a large  family  that  are  scattered  far  and  wide.  Smith 
L.  resides  on  the  homestead.  Nathaniel  French 
came  into  the  neighborhood  when  Charles  did  and 
cleared  up  a farm.  He  married  Betsey  Chase  and 
raised  a large  family  of  children.  Martin,  Edwin, 
Newell,  Myron,  Merritt,  Sylvester  L.,  Sabria  M., 
Chloe  C.  and  Almeron  Gat  Corse  commenced  where 
Charles  French  now  lives.  William  Larrabee  came 
with  Charles  French  and  cleared  the  place  now 
owned  by  his  son,  B.  F.  Larrabee.  Solomon  Madison 
was  here  when  French  came,  and  Ephraim  French 
bought  his  improvement  of  his  son  Sheffield  Madison. 
Joseph  Madison,  Solomon’s  oldest  son,  first  made  a 
clearing  where  Yale  lives.  The  French  school-house 
was  built  about  1835. 

Savory  District. — John  S.  Savory  and  Guerdon 
Williams  came  from  Connecticut  together,  in  1823, 
and  found  their  way  to  what  has  long  been  known  as 
Savorytown,  more  recently  Lake  View,  and  rolled  up 
two  log  cabins  about  six  rods  apart,  on  the  knoll 
above  Jasper  J.  Savory’s.  The  only  settler  in  the 
vicinity  at  that  time  was  Deacon  Norris,  who  was  the 
pioneer  in  the  neighborhood.  Savory  had  been  in 
the  War  of  1812.  He  cleared  up  a farm  and  died  in 
1867,  aged  eighty  years.  Jasper  J.  Savory,  his  only 
living  son,  resides  on  the  homestead.  Guerdon 
Williams’  daughter  Phebe  was  the  wife  of  Alonzo 
Perry.  The  farm  is  now  owned  by  A.  D.  Corse. 

Deacon  Nathaniel  Norris  came  from  Vermont  in 
1816.  His  farm  joined  Savory’s  on  the  southwest. 
His  log  eabin  was  the  first  house  in  the  district,  and 
the  first  frame  house  that  he  built  sixty  years  ago  is 
standing.  He  was  a soldier  in  the  War  of  1812,  a 
deacon  in  the  Baptist  Church,  a leader  in  the  Sun- 
day-schools and  prayer-meeting,  and  a good  citizen. 
Amasa,  one  of  his  sons,  resides  on  the  farm  adjoining 
the  homestead  which  is  now  owned  by  Billings  Bur- 
dick. Nathan  Knowlton  came  a few  years  later  and 
stopped  in  Deacon  Norris’  log  house,  until  he  built  a 
log  house  on  the  place  now  owned  by  his  son  Hollis 
Knowlton.  Silas  Gates  located  on  the  place  adjoin- 
ing where  his  son  Maynard  lives;  Lewis,  John  and 
Charles,  his  other  sons,  reside  in  the  vieinity.  Hosea 
Barrett  settled  where  his  son  Luther  L.  resides. 
Israel  B.  Gregory  came  to  the  place  where  Daniel 
Gregory  lives.  Stephen  Mann  and  Nathaniel  Bixby 
took  up  farms  in  the  district.  Solomon  Matteson 


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781 


came  later  and  resided  on  the  Norris  place;  Orrin, 
one  of  his  sons,  lives  in  the  northern  part  of  the 
township.  Hiram  Follet  was  an  early  settler  here. 
Archibald  Hill  erected  the  first  saw-mill  on  the  out- 
let of  Butler  Lake.  M.  B.  Washburn  has  a saw-mill 
and  feed-mill  there  now.  Henry  Morris  started  a 
store  on  the  corner  and  did  a good  business.  The 
Lake  View  post-office  was  established  in  1879,  A.  D. 
Corse,  postmaster ; the  residents  of  the  neighbor- 
hood built  a school-house  on  the  corner,  about  1832. 
The  first  schools  were  in  Guerdon  Williams’  barn  in 
summer,  and  log  house  in  winter ; Lucina  Farrar 
was  the  first  teacher.  Clarissa  Tucker  and  A.  D. 
Corse  taught  here. 

Lieutenant  Asa  Dodge  Coe.se.— His  grand- 
father, Rufus  Corse,  was  a native  of  Vermont. 
His  children  were  Calvin,  Gad,  Luther,  Chester, 
Leonard,  Hannah,  Mercy,  Molly  and  Sally — all  born 
in  Vermont.  Of  these,  Calvin,  Chester,  Gad  and 
Leonard  removed  to  Pennsylvania,  and  settled  in 
New  Milford.  Three  of  the  daughters  married,  and 
with  their  husbands  also  settled  in  New  Milford, 
where  they  and  their  descendants  have  been  identi- 
fied with  the  growth  and  development  of  that  town 
ship.  Hannah  married  William  Coleman ; Mercy 
married  James  Walworth  ; and  Molly  became  the 
wife  of  Lincoln  Hall.  Gad  afterward  removed 
from  New  Milford  and  settled  in  Jackson,  on  the 
farm  where  his  grandson,  Fred.  Corse,  now  resides. 
Calvin  Corse,  father  of  Asa  Dodge,  was  born  at 
Dover,  Vermont,  September  29,  1794.  He  remained 
on  his  father’s  farm,  receiving  the  usual  advantages 
of  the  common  schools  of  that  day,  until  he  attained 
his  majority,  when  he  came  to  New  Milford,  and  took 
up  an  unimproved  tract  of  one  hundred  acres,  and 
commenced  life  for  himself.  Early  imbued  with 
habits  of  industry,  he  bravely  set  to  work  to  subdue 
the  forest  and  make  for  himself  a home  in  the  wilder- 
ness. Here  he  erected  a log  house,  and  in  1821  he 
brought  to  it  as  a bride  Mela  (1802-66),  daughter  of 
Thomas  and  Melatiah  Tiffany,  of  Harford,  Pa.,  who 
was  born  at  Attleboro’,  Mass.  Their  children  are 
Mela  Caroline,  1822,  now  a widow,  living  at  Dalton, 
Pa.;  Betsey  S.  (1825-70),  was  the  first  wife  of 
Alonzo  Barrett;  Rufus  Thomas  (1827-48);  Asa 
Dodge,  August  21,1829;  Miles  Jerome,  1834,  is  a 
teacher,  has  been  principal  of  the  High  School  at 
Paterson,  N.  J.,  for  the  last  twelve  years  ; Martha 
L.,  1836,  is  the  widow  of  Fred.  Bryant,  now  residing  in 
Jackson  ; Mary  S.,  1839,  wife  of  I.  O.  Stevens,  resid- 
ing in  Scranton.  Asa  Dodge  was  born  in  New  Mil- 
ford, and  at  an  early  age  attended  the  district  school. 
After  his  father  had  erected  a frame  house  the  school 
was  held  there  for  two  terms,  and,  on  one  occasion, 
before  he  was  eight  years  old,  young  Corse  “ spelled 
down”  the  whole  school.  When  ten  years  of  age 
his  father  sold  the  New  Milford  farm  and  removed 
to  Jackson,  where  he  purchased  a farm  at  Savory 
Corners  (now  Lake  View),  now  owned  and  occupied 


by  his  son,  Asa  Dodge.  Shortly  after  coming  to 
Jackson,  Calvin  Corse  met  with  an  accident  that 
made  him  a cripple  the  remainder  of  his  life.  He 
died  at  the  homestead,  in  Jackson,  in  1881,  at  the 
ripe  age  of  eighty-seven,  having  the  esteem  and 
respect  of  all  who  knew  him.  After  his  removal  to 
Jackson,  Asa  Dodge  availed  himself  of  all  the  advant- 
ages afforded  by  the  district  schools,  whenever  he 
could  be  spared  from  the  farm,  and  also  attended  the 
Harford  Academy. 

At  the  age  of  nineteen  he  commenced  his  career 
as  a district  school-teacher — teaching  school  in  the 
winter  and  working  on  the  farm  in  summer,  with  a 
term  at  the  academy  in  the  fall.  This  course  he 
continued — remaining  on  the  farm  with  his  father 
until  October,  1852,  when  he  married  Monemia,  1820, 
daughter  of  Walter  and  Effie  Stewart,  who  were 
natives  of  New  York,  but  who  came  to  this  county 
in  1815,  and  were  for  a short  time  with  the  “ Nine 
Partners  ” at  Harford,  from  which  place  they  moved 
to  Bridgewater,  where  Mrs.  Corse  was  born.  Imme- 
diately after  his  marriage  Mr.  Corse  brought  his 
wife  to  the  homestead,  his  father  having,  by  a mutual 
and  satisfactory  arrangement,  transferred  all  his  busi- 
ness and  interests  in  the  farm  to  him;  and  from  that 
time  until  his  death  his  father  and  mother  lived 
with  and  was  cared  for  by  himself  and  wife.  Their 
children  are  Barbara  E.,  died  young ; Clarence  Stew- 
art, 1855,  educated  at  the  district  school  and  at  Hills- 
dale, Mich.,  where  he  remained  four  years.  He 
afterwards  commenced  the  study  of  the  law  with 
William  H.  & H.  C.  Jessup,  at  Montrose,  but  after 
contiuing  his  studies  for  two  and  one-half  years,  he 
suddenly  resolved  to  take  the  advice  of  the  late 
H.  G.,  and  “ Go  West,”  and  fora  number  of  years 
he  has  been  engaged  in  the  lumber  business  there. 
He  found  a bride  in  the  West  in  the  person  of  Jennie 
Blackford,  and  they  are  at  present  residing  in  Illinois. 
Clayton  Grow,  1857,  was  educated  at  the  district  and 
select  schools,  and  was  for  two  years  a student  at 
Hillsdale,  Mich.  He  married  Hattie  Burdick,  and 
is  a farmer  of  Jackson,  residing  near  the  old  home- 
stead. After  his  marriage  Mr.  Corse  taught  two 
terms  of  school,  after  which  he  devoted  all  his  time 
and  attention  to  his  farm. 

The  breaking  out  of  the  Civil  War  found  him 
busily  employed  in  the  peaceful  pursuits  of  home. 
But  with  abroad  and  intelligent  knowledge  of  public 
affairs,  he  watched  the  lowering  war-clouds  with 
anxious  heart,  and  when  hostilities  actually  com- 
menced, and  the  nation  was  calling  upon  her  sons  for 
help,  his  loyal  heart  beat  in  response  to  the  call,  and 
he  felt  it  his  duty  to  go.  But  his  age,  parents  (his 
father  a cripple)  looked  to  him  for  care  and  support; 
and  a wife  and  two  small  children  claimed  his  pro- 
tection. Thus  the  first  year  and  a half  after  Sumter 
was  fired  upon  passed,  when,  yielding  to  what 
he  believed  to  be  his  highest  duty,  he  enlisted,  in 
September,  1862,  in  Company  B,  Seventeenth  Regi- 


782 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


ment  Pennsylvania  Cavalry,  and  bidding  adieu  to 
wife,  children  and  parents,  started  for  the  front. 
Upon  the  organization  of  the  company  at  Montrose 
he  was  elected  “supernumerary’’  second  lieutenant; 
but  on  arrival  at  Harrisburg,  finding  this  oflSce  abol- 
ished, he  entered  the  ranks.  He  was  soon  after- 
wards promoted  to  orderly  sergeant,'and  in  1864  was 
commissioned  second  lieutenant  of  the  company. 
His  company  and  regiment  were  wdth  the  Army  of  the 
Potomac  in  nearly  all  its  battles,  and  participated 
during  its  service  in  more  than  fifty  battles  and 
skirmishes.  (See  military  chapter  for  service  of 
Company  B,  Seventeenth  Cavalry.) 

When  the  company  was  mustered  out.  Lieutenant 
Corse  was  retained  in  service  by  reason  of  his  later 
commission,  and  assigned  to  Company  B,  Second 
Provisional  Cavalry.  TJiis  order  Mr.  Corse  reluc- 
tantly obeyed ; the  war  w^as  over,  he  longed  to  see 
his  wife  and  children  and  to  receive  the  blessing  of 
his  aged  parents  ere  they  died.  But  true  to  duty,  he 
regretfully  saw  his  companions  start  for  home  and 
friends,  while  he  started  for  his  new  field  of  duties. 
Mrs.  Corse  told  the  writer  that  when  the  company 
came  home  without  her  husband,  the  disappointment 
was  keener  than  were  the  pangs  of  separation  when 
he  left  for  the  army,  nearly  three  years  before. 

Lieutenant  Corse  afterwards  served  on  the  staff  of 
Colonel  Leiper,  commanding  the  forces  at  Louisville, 
Ky.  He  was  finally  mustered  out  in  August,  1865, 
and  reached  home  a few  weeks  before  his  full  three 
years’  term  of  enlistment  would  have  expired.  As  a 
soldier  in  the  ranks,  and  as  a commanding  officer,  he 
won  the  esteem  and  respect  of  both  subordinates  and 
superiors.  Home  from  the  war,  he  immediately 
resumed  his  agricultural  pursuits,  which,  with  only 
an  interruption  of  two  years,  he  had  steadily  followed ; 
and  among  the  intelligent  and  forehanded  furmers 
of  Jackson,  he  stands  in  the  front  rank.  In  the 
spring  of  1876  he  removed  with  his  family  to  Hillsdale, 
Mich.,  that  his  sons  might  have  the  benefit  of  the 
superior  school  at  that  place,  and  remained  there  for 
nearly  two  years. 

In  politics  Mr.  Corse  was  a Free  Soiler  until  the 
organization  of  the  Republican  party,  with  which  he 
acted  until  recently,  but  is  now  identified  with  the 
Prohibition  party. 

He  has  served  his  town  several  terms  as  school 
director,  auditor  and  assessor.  In  1879  Lake  View 
Post-office  was  established,  and  Mr.  Corse  was  ap- 
pointed postmaster,  which  office  he  still  holds.  Him- 
self and  wife  have  been  members  of  the  Jackson 
Free-Will  Baptist  Church  for  more  than  thirty  years, 
and  a portion  of  this  time  he  has  served  the  church 
officially  as  deacon  and  Sabbath-school  superin- 
tendent. 

Easterbrook  Family  — William  Whipple 
Easterbrook. — The  grandfather,  Warren  Easter- 
brook, was  born  in  Rhode  Island,  in  the  town  of 
Warren,  and  being  the  first  male  child  born  there, 


his  parents  named  him  after  the  town.  He  learned 
the  trade  of  a ship  carpenter  and  made  several  trips 
on  whaling  vessels.  He  removed  to  Brattleboro’,  Vt., 
before  the  Revolutionary  War,  served  in  that  struggle 
as  a soldier,  and  was  a pensioner  at  his  death,  which 
occurred  about  1840.  While  a resident  of  New  Jer- 
sey he  married  Rosanna  Hale,  and  their  children 
were  James,  Robert,  John,  William,  Elizabeth,  Sarah, 
Sylvester  and  Bernard.  Of  these,  Robert  and  John 
settled  in  New  York  State;  the  others,  with  the  ex- 
ception of  Sylvester,  remained  in  Vermont.  Major 
James  Easterbrook  was  a soldier  in  the  War  of  1812. 
Sylvester  Easterbrook  (1790-1859)  was  born  in  Brat- 
tleboro’, Vt.  At  the  age  of  eighteen  he  left  home  to 
learn  the  tanner’s  trade,  at  which  he  worked  a short 
time  after  his  apprenticeship  expired  and  then  estab- 
lished a shoe-factory.  In  1811  he  married  Demmis, 
daughter  of  William  (1763-1848)  and  Sophia  Prowty 
(1763-1837)  Whipple,  the  former  of  Groton,  Conn., 
the  latter  of  Brattleboro’,  Vt.,  at  which  place  Demmis 
(1792-1871)  was  horn,  Their  children  are  William 
Whipple,  1811;  Rosanna,  1813,  wife  of  Nelson  Cole, 
residing  in  Wisconsin ; John  (1815-73) ; Sophia, 
1817,  wife  of  George  M.  Cole,  residing  in  California ; 
Elizabeth  (1819-58);  Sylvester  Hale,  1822;  Henry, 
1824,  enlisted  in  Company  F,  Fifty-second  Regiment 
Pennsylvania  Volunteers,  is  a farmer  of  Harford ; 
Sarah  M.  (1826-56) ; Harriet  E.,  1829,  wife  of  George 
Squires,  a farmer  of  New  Milford  ; Warren,  1832,  a 
farmer  of  Jackson  and  residing  on  the  old  homestead ; 
Theodore  H.,  1837,  a farmer  of  Harford.  About  the 
year  1817  he  removed  with  his  family  to  Massachu- 
setts with  the  intention  of  making  that  State  his 
home,  but  the  change  proving  unsatisfactory,  he  re- 
turned to  Vermont  in  1820  and  remained  until  1838, 
when  he  came  with  his  family  to  Jackson  and  settled 
upon  a farm,  where  he  resided  until  his  death.  Wil- 
liam Whipple  Easterbrook  was  born  in  Brattleboro’, 
Vt.  From  an  early  age  until  he  was  fifteen  years  old 
he  resided  much  of  the  time  with  his  grandparents, 
whose  namesake  he  was.  During  these  years  he  ob- 
tained all  the  schooling  he  ever  had.  At  the  age  of 
sixteen  he  worked  out  on  a farm  at  five  dollars  per 
month,  and  continued  working  on  a farm  until  his 
marriage. 

In  1832  he  married  Cynthia  (1817-63),  daughter 
of  Whitmore  and  Lovisa  (Miller)  Barrett,  a native  of 
Brattleboro’,  Vt.,  and  at  once  went  to  housekeeping 
on  a farm  he  had  rented.  Here  he  remained  until 
1837,  when  he  came  to  Jackson  and  purchased  fifty 
acres  of  land,  on  which  was  a log  house,  and  around 
it  the  trees  had  been  chopped  w'hich  were  used  in  its 
construction.  He  then  returned  to  Vermont  and,  at 
his  suggestion,  his  father  came  on  and  also  purchased 
land  here.  In  February  of  the  next  year,  himself, 
father  and  brother-in-law,  Cole,  with  their  families 
and  a man  by  name  of  Griggs,  started  from  Vermont 
and  came  to  Jackson.  They  had  two  teams  and 
sleighs — the  goods  in  one  and  the  three  families  in 


JACKSON. 


783 


the  other  which,  though  a good-sized  covered  one, 
was  pretty  well  filled  with  the  representatives  of  three 
generations.  He  at  once  went  to  housekeeping  in  the 
log  house  on  his  fifty  acre  purchase,  which  is  a part 
of  his  present  homestead  farm.  In  1840  he  bought 
fifty  acres  adjoining  and  continued  clearing  and  im- 
proving. In  1854  he  added  seventy-seven  acres  more, 
and  the  next  year  erected  a saw-mill,  which  is  still  in 
running  order. 

Their  children  are  Frederick,  1832,  married  and 
living  in  Kansas;  Jane  M.,  1834,  married  George  W. 
Lamb,  who  was  a member  of  Company  B,  Seventeenth 


visa  B.,  1845,  wife  of  Palmer  Houghtalin,  who  was  a 
member  of  Company  D,  Fiftieth  Regiment  Pennsyl- 
vania Volunteers,  a farmer  living  in  Wayne  County, 
Pa. ; Hiram  W.,  1847,  was  also  a soldier  in  the  late 
war,  married  and  a blacksmith  in  Gibson  ; Edgar  A., 
1850,  married  and  living  in  Nebraska;  AlmaF.  (1852- 
55) ; Lillie  F.,  18^5,  wife  of  H.  R.  Crowell,  a merchant 
in  Massachusetts;  Forrest  B.  (1857),  married  and  liv- 
ing in  Massachusetts ; Rolla  E.  (1859-69).  It  can 
truthfully  be  said  that  this  was  a patriotic  family, 
for  in  addition  to  having  four  sons  and  three  sons-in- 
law  in  the  army,  Mr.  Easterbrook  himself  enlisted  in 


Regiment  Pennsylvania  Cavalry,  and  died  1879  from 
disease  contracted  in  the  army ; Ann  A.,  1836,  was 
the  wife  of  G.  S.  Ames,  a soldier  from  Gibson,  who 
died  at  Washington,  D.  C.,  while  in  the  service ; is  now 
the  wife  of  Joseph  Atkinson,  residing  in  111. ; Whit- 
more B.,  1838,  enlisted  in  1861  in  the  three  months’ 
service  and  afterwards  in  Battery  F,  First  Pensylvania 
Artillery,  and  was  wounded  ; married,  and  a farmer  of 
Jackson;  William  D.,  1840,  was  a member  of  Com- 
pany D,  Fiftieth  Regiment  Pennsylvania  Volunteers, 
married  and  living  in  Kansas;  Elijah  W.,  1842,  was  a 
member  of  the  Sixteenth  New  York  Independent 
Battery,  married  and  residing  at  Susquehanna ; Lo-  ' 


Company  B,  Seventeenth  Pensylvania  Cavalry,  and 
after  passing  the  examination,  was  rejected  by  the 
mustering  officer  on  account  of  his  age.  In  1867  he 
erected  his  present  pleasant  and  commodious  home- 
stead, and  in  1868  he  married  Charlotte  (1829),  daugh- 
ter of  Hiram  (1806-65)  and  Sally  C.  (1806-86)  Hough- 
talin,'born  in  Schoharie,  N.  Y.,  from  which  place  her 
parents  removed  to  Wayne  County,  Pa.,  in  1854.  Mr. 
Easterbrook  was  a member  of  the  Free-Will  Baptist 
Church  in  Vermont,  but  since  his  residence  here  has 
not  connected  himself  with  any  church  society. 
Originally  a Whig  in  politics,  he  has  been  a Repub- 
‘ lican  since  the  party  was  formed,  and  as  such  has 


784 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


been  an  earnest  supporter  of  its  principles.  In  1883 
he  made  an  extended  tour  in  the  West,  during  which 
he  visited  his  children  and  relative.s,  and  many  places 
of  interest  and  note.  Learning  early  the  lessons  of 
self-reliance,  perseverance  and  industry,  his  life  is  the 
record  of  a practical  and  successful  farmer. 

Physicians.— Dr.  Flavel  Smith  was  the  first  phy- 
sician in  Jackson.  He  came  in  1833  and  practiced 
eight  years,  and  then  located  elsewhere.  Ezekiel 
Guy  studied  medicine  with  Dr.  Streeter  and  located 
here  in  1841,  and  remained  two  years;  then  removed 
to  Harpersville,  N.  Y.  He  was  succeeded  by  Dr. 
Mack,  who  came  in  1843,  and  Dr.  Hamilton  Whit- 
ney, who  came  in  1845  and  died  here  about  1852. 
Dr.  Whipple  was  also  practicing  here  during  part  of 
this  time.  Dr.  Thomas  B.  Orchard  came  in  1853  and 
removed  to  Salem  in  1859.  Dr.  S.  A.  Welch  came 
from  Clinton,  Wayne  County,  and  practiced  a short 
time,  then  went  into  the  army.  Dr.  William  Orchard 
came  in  1862  and  removed  to  Hightstown,  N.  J.,  in 
1878.  Dr.  William  W.  Wheaton  located  in  Jackson 
in  1855  and  practiced  medicine  for  twenty-five  years, 
and  is  now  a resident  of  the  township.  Dr.  S.  J- 
Engle  located  here  in  1879. 


THE  OLD  LOG  SCHOOL-HOUSE. 


Schools. — The  first  school-house  was  located  about 
one  mile  west  of  Jackson  Corners,  on  the  creek.  It 
was  built  about  1820,  and  was  known  as  “ Centre 
School-house.”  It  was  used  for  schools  and  meetings. 
They  came  to  church  on  horseback — a man  and  wife 
with  two  children  on  one  horse  sometimes.  The 
women  came  with  a handkerchief  on  their  heads  and 
the  boys  were  barefooted.  The  next  school-house 
was  built  near  Martin  Hall’s.  There  are  ten  districts 
now — Yale,  Benson,  Slocum,  Miles,  Jackson  Corners, 
Nye,  French,  Savory  or  Lake  View,  Baldwin  or  Ridge. 
The  Nye  is  sometimes  called  the  Kansas  School,  be- 
cause it  was  built  during  the  Kansas  troubles.  Moses 
B.  Wheaton  taught  fourteen  seasons  in  Harford, 
Gibson  and  Jackson,  and  is  said  to  have  been  the 
first  teacher  in  the  latter  township.  Evaline  Spoor, 
Perry  Wilmot,  Polly  and  Nancy  Carpenter  and 
Wareham  Walker  taught  here  or  near  Gelatt  in  Gib- 
son, where  Jackson  pupils  attended.  Austin  Benson 


taught  nine  terms.  James  Hall,  Augustus  Bushnell, 
Arba  Rounds,  Esther  Parmenter,  E.  0.  French, 
Alvin  French,  Elder  Lamb,  Hannah  Sweet,  Merritt 
and  Obed  Coughlin  were  teachers.  M.  B.  Wheaton’s 
family  were  all  school-teachers  but  one.  Fostina 
taught  thirteen  terms.  She  remembers  her  examiners 
under  the  old  system.  Pelatiah  Gunnison,  Milton 
Tingley,  Stephen  Tucker  and  Jesse  Dix  were  direct- 
ors and  examiners.  Lucy  French,  Clarissa  Tucker> 
Miranda  Hall,  Lucy  Hall  and  Fostina  (Wheaton) 
Whitney  were  examined  under  this  system.  They 
were  required  to  read  a selection,  to  write,  to  spell 
orally,  to  “ do  sums  ” on  the  slate  that  were  given  them, 
to  answer  questions  asked  from  the  geography,  and 
when  they  came  to  grammar  the  examiners  told  the 
teachers  “ that  they  must  criticise  themselves,  as  they 
didn’t  know  anything  about  parsing.”  Afterwards 
they  called  upon  Elder  Gray  to  assist  them.  Their 
certificates  read  like  the  following  : “ This  is  to  cer- 
tify that  the  Directors  of  Jackson  township  have 
taken  to  their  assistance  Elder  D.  D.  Gray,  and  have 
examined  Miss  A.  in  reading,  writing,  arithmetic, 
spelling,  geography  and  grammar,  and  found  her 
qualified  to  teach,”  and  this  permit  was  signed  by  the 
directors.  Julia  Wheaton  taught  one  of  the  first 
schools  in  a log  hovel  near  where  Job  Benson  lived. 
M.  B.  Wheaton  lived  where  Nathan  S.  Williams  does, 
neighbor  to  Benson,  and  their  two  families  of  thirteen 
children  each  supplied  the  school  with  pupils. 

Freedom  Lodge,  No.  328,  F.  and  A.  M.,  was  in- 
stituted April  4,  1859,  with  Torrey  Whitney,  W.  M.; 
Moses  B.  Wheaton,  S.  W.;  and  Charles  Tingley,  J.  W. 
When  this  lodge  was  instituted  they  surrendered  the 
old  “ North  Star  ” charter  which  had  been  granted  in 
England,  and  it  gave  power  to  confer  the  Mark  Mas- 
ter’s degree,  which  now  belongs  to  the  Royal  Arch 
Chapter.  Besides,  they  had  to  make  returns  to  Eng- 
land, which  was  not  convenient.  M.  J.  Mulvey  is  the 
only  living  member  of  the  revived  North  Star  Lodge. 
None  of  the  members  of  the  old  North  Star  are  now 
living.  He  is  also  the  only  living  charter  member  of 
Freedom  Lodge.  Leander  Griffis  and  H.  M.  Benson 
are  old  members. 

Huron  Lodge,  No.  483,  I.  0.  of  0.  F.,  was  institu- 
ted June  23, 1853,  with  the  following  charter  members : 
Augustus  Pickering,  Tracy  0.  Hollis,  L.  D.  Benson, 
Dr.  Joel  M.  Mack,  Gilbert  Witter,  James  M.  Bron- 
son, S.  W.  Pickering,  C.  C.  Payne,  Ambrose  Benson, 
Abraham  Coon  and  C.  B.  Gunnison.  Harford  Lodge 
and  Thomson  Lodge  have  been  started  from  this  one. 
It  meets  every  Saturday  evening. 

Burial-Places. — The  first  person  that  died  in  the 
settlement  was  a son  of  Major  Lamb,  and  he  was 
buried  on  Jairus  Lamb’s  farm.  Several  others  were 
buried  here  until  the  Whitney  burying-ground  was 
started,  and  Major  Lamb  was  the  first  person  buried 
there,  in  1832.  It  consists  of  about  one-fourth  of  an 
acre  taken  from  Major  Lamb’s  place.  Norris  Page  is 
said  to  have  been  the  first  person  buried  in  the  North 


JACKSON. 


785 


Jackson  burying-groiincl.  It  is  now  the  largest  ground 
in  the  township.  Edson  Hall  was  the  first  person 
buried  in  the  Griffith  grounds.  There  is  a burial- 
place  at  Lake  View,  and  also  one  at  Jackson  Centre, 
Deacon  Norris  gave  one-half  acre,  in  1828,  and 
walled  in  one  side  for  the  Savory  or  Lake  View  yard, 
and  his  first  wife  was  the  first  one  buried  there. 

The  North  Jackson  Cemetery  has  been  chartered, 
and  contains  about  one  acre.  It  originally  contained 
one-half  acre  given  by  Enos  Bryant,  about  1835. 
There  are  many  old  settlers  buried  in  Jackson  Centre 
or  Baptist  Yard.  Among  them  William  Fletcher, 
died  1875,  aged  ninety-two ; Betsey,  his  wife,  died 
1865,  aged  eighty-four  ; Pelatiah  Gunnison,  died  I860, 
aged  sixty-six ; Margery,  his  wife,  died  1883,  aged 
eighty-nine;  Rev.  Jesse  B.  Worden,  died  1855,  aged 
sixty-eight;  James  Sands,  died  1869,  aged  eighty- 
three  ; Elizabeth  Sands,  died  1885,  aged  eighty-two ; 
Ira  Curtis,  died  1870,  aged  eighty ; Dexter  Washburn, 
died  1884,  aged  seventy-six ; Deacon  Otis  Stearns, 
died  1858,  aged  seventy-four;  Lois  Stearns,  died  1869, 
aged  seventy-four. 

Ede  Potter,  wife  of  Deacon  Daniel  Tingley,  died 
1859,  aged  sixty-six.  She  was  one  of  the  first,  if  not 
the  first,  person  born  in  Gibson.  Daniel  Tingley  died 
1853,  aged  sixty-two ; Ichabod  Hill  died  1858,  aged 
eighty-five ; Christeen,  his  wife,  died  1866,  aged  eighty; 
Reuben  Hill  died  1878,  aged  sixty-eight;  John  Morse 
died  1864,  aged  fifty-four;  Stephen  Tucker  died  1882, 
aged  eighty-eight;  Lucy  Harris,  his  wife,  died  1871, 
aged  seventy-eight ; William  Barrett  died  1882,  aged 
seventy-six;  James  Powers  died  1862,  aged  seventy- 
four  ; Eunice,  his  wife,  died  1863,  aged  seventy-two ; 
Peter  Eymer,  died  1866,  aged  eighty.  Hyde  Olin, 
born  1833,  died  at  Bermuda  Hundred,  Va.,  in  1864; 
Milo  W.  Duren,  died  1885,  aged  seventy-eight;  Henry 
Brown,  died  1868,  aged  fifty-one;  Ephraim  Hill,  died 
1872,  aged  ninety-one. 

Gib.son  and  Jackson  Baptist  Church  history 
begins  December  25,  1825.  Of  the  religious  influence 
previous  to  that  date  we  have  no  account ; but,  accord- 
ing to  the  recollection  of  some.  Elders  Worden  and 
Wilson,  who  were  employed  by  the  New  York  Bap- 
tist State  Convention,  preached  occasionally  among 
them.  Elders  Chase  and  Dodge,  of  the  Free-Will 
Baptists,  also  preached  in  difierent  neighborhoods 
where  the  people  could  be  conveniently  met.  At  this 
period  it  was  not  uncommon  for  meetings  to  be  held 
in  barns.  Elder  Elijah  Peck,  of  Mount  Pleasant, 
Wayne  County,  visited  the  settlement  and  preached 
regularly  to  the  people.  The  first  record  says,  “ At  a 
meeting  of  a few  respectable  inhabitants  of  Jackson 
and  Gibson,  desirous  of  promoting  the  cause  of  Chris- 
tianity, according  to  their  own  belief  and  understand- 
ing of  the  Gospel  of  Jesus  Christ  and  his  apostles, 
appointed  Saturday,  the  12th  day  of  November,  1825, 
to  examine  the  minds  of  those  who  should  meet  con- 
cerning the  formation  of  a church  in  this  place.”  The 
meeting  w'as  attended  according  to  appointment.  Dr. 

50  i 


Chandler  was  chosen  moderator,  and  Stephen  Tucker 
clerk.  December  24th  delegates  assembled  from  the 
Mount  Pleasant,  Bethany,  Damascus,  Scott  and 
Bridgewater  Churches.  Seven  brethren  and  five  sisters 
constituted  the  church.  Elder  Smitzer  preached  the 
sermon,  Elder  Peck  offered  the  constituting  prayer. 
Deacon  Rufus  Grenell  gave  the  charge.  Daniel  Platt 
was  engaged  to  labor  with  them  one-fourth  of  the  time, 
and  remained  about  two  years.  Elder  James  Clark,  a 
missionary  from  New  York,  next  preached  to  them  once 
in  two  months.  He  was  succeeded  by  George  W. 
Leonard,  who  labored  from  1829  to  1833.  Deacons 
Stearns  and  Tingley  were  ordained  with  Elder  Leon- 
ard, during  whose  pastorate  sixty-nine  were  added  to 
the  church.  But  this  apjiareut  prosperity  was 
checked  by  the  supposed  unchristian  character  of 
their  pastor.  They  became  divided,  and  were  three 
years  without  a pastor.  In  the  summer  of  1836  Elder 
Parker  visited  them  and  was  successful  in  gathering 
those  who  were  in  fellowship,  who,  in  a meeting,  the 
record  says,  “ voted  to  withdraw  the  hand  of  fellow- 
ship from  those  who  have  left  us,  and  are  constituted 
into  a church  in  fellowship  with  the  ‘signs  of  the 
times.’  ” From  that  period  the  church  has  been  sup- 
plied with  preaching  most  of  the  time.  At  first  the 
meetings  of  the  church  were  held  in  Jackson  and 
Gibson,  alternately,  in  two  school-houses.  December 
17,  1842,  the  present  church  in  Jackson  was  dedi- 
cated. Up  to  1865  two  hundred  and  thirty-eight  per- 
sons had  been  baptized.  The  following  persons  have 
been  pastors  of  the  church  since  Elder  Parker,  who 
ministered  two  years,  followed  by  D.  D.  Gray  (1838- 
43),  five  years  ; J.  B.  Worden  (1844-53),  nine  years ; 
R.  G.  Lamb  (1853-56),  three  years ; George  Plummer, 
eight  months;  William  Miller  (1857-61),  four  years  ; 
H.  Curtis,  six  months  ; G.  M.  Slaysman  (1862-64), 
eighteen  months ; R.  G.  Lamb,  1865.  Rev.  Messrs. 
Davis  and  Miller  were  succeeded  by  Rev.  Charles  M. 
Tower,  in  1878,  who  continued  until  1883.  Rev. 
James  Rainey  is  the  present  pastor.  The  church 
membership  is  about  one  hundred  and  forty.  A Sun- 
day-school was  organized  early.  The  average  attend- 
ance is  about  seventy-five.  William  H.  Pope,  E.  V. 
Tucker,  Charles  O.  Tingley  and  J.  H.  Miles  are  the 
present  elders. 

Elder  Jesse  B.  Worden,  son  of  Deacon  John 
Worden,  was  born  in  Washington  County,  R.  I.,  in 
1787.  He  mastered  his  alphabet  after  he  was  twelve 
years  old,  and  acquired  knowledge  enough  to  teach 
school.  In  1812  he  was  drafted,  and  entered  the  ser- 
vice as  sergeant-major  and  afterwards  became  lieu- 
tenant. He  engaged  in  mercantile  business  for  a 
time,  which  only  brought  disaster.  During  a revival 
in  1816  he  was  converted,  and  in  1818  was  licensed  to 
preach  by  the  Baptists.  He  labored  in  Onondaga 
County  for  more  than  sixteen  years.  He  came  to 
Susquehanna  County  in  1835,  and  became  associated 
with  Elder  Dimock  at  Montrose  for  three  years,  and 
was  sole  pastor  there  from  1838  to  1844,  when  he  be- 


786 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


came  pastor  of  the  Jackson  Church.  In  his  last 
year’s  connection  with  this  church,  at  his  request, 
Nathan  Callender  was  his  co-pastor,  and,  in  1853, 
Roswell  G.  Lamh  hecame  sole  pastor  of  the  church. 
Mr.  Worden,  like  Albert  Post,  was  a strong  Aboli- 
tionist, and  maintained  his  views  despite  all  opposi- 
tion. He  rested  from  his  labors  Aug.  6,  1855,  in  the 
sixty-ninth  year  of  his  age. 

The  Jackson  Congregational  Church  was 
organized  March  4,  1838,  by  Rev.  Sylvester  Cook, 
with  the  following  constituent  members : Ephraim 
French,  Priscilla  French,  Charles  French,  Eliza  B. 
French,  Merritt  Coughlin,  Mary  Ann  Coughlin,  Levi 
Wells, — these  all  united  by  letter.  David  Hazen  was 
admitted  without  letter.  Lucy  Hazen,  Wm.  H.  Bart- 
lett and  Catharine  Bartlett  were  admitted  by  exami- 
nation. July  21, 1839,  Wm.  Larrabee,  Nelson  French, 
Mary  French,  Sarah  Corse,  Gad  Corse,  Betsey  Wells 
and  Mary  Ann  Wells  united  with  the  church.  Eph- 
raim French  was  the  first  deacon.  He  died  in  1848. 
Nelson  French  and  Jacob  Stoddard  have  been  deacons 
since.  A Union  Church  was  built  where  this  society 
worshipped,  in  connection  with  the  Free-Will  Baptists, 
until  the  Baptists  built  their  church,  in  1872,  at  Lake 
View. 

It  appears  that  these  two  societies  used  the  same 
church  alternately  without  much  friction.  In  the 
Baptists’  record  of  Sept.  27,  1841,  it  seems  that  a 
meeting  was  called  and  “ took  upon  consideration  the 
charge  against  S.  B.  Nason  for  wrongfully  accusing 
Elder  Jos.  Bryant  of  preaching  the  doctrine  of  the 
devil.”  Elder  Bryant  had  preached  a sermon,  which, 
by  Scripture  and  reason,  had  served  to  answer  cer- 
tain objections  then  being  raised  to  the  use  of  musical 
instruments  in  the  church,  and  this  pulpit  defence  of 
the  innovation  was  pronounced  by  some  “the  doctrine 
of  the  devil.”  At  the  same  meeting  Deacon  Hall, 
Horace  French  and  Seba  Bryant  were  appointed  a 
committee  “to  consult  the  Congregational  Church  to 
lay  by  their  instruments  of  music  in  worship.”  This 
committee  must  have  been  remiss  in  the  performance 
of  duty,  as  no  further  mention  is  made  of  the  sub- 
ject. A Union  Sunday-school  was  organized,  with 
William  Coughlin  as  superintendent.  This  Congre- 
gational Church  was  received  into  the  Montrose  Pres- 
bytery in  1859,  and  it  withdrew'  in  1868. 

Jackson  Free-Will  Baptist  Church. — This 
church  was  organized,  in  the  year  1820,  by  Elder 
Daniel  Chase.  The  constituent  members  were  Martin 
Hall,  Emily  Hall,  Nathaniel  Norris,  Betsey  Norris, 
James  Hall,  Nathan  Lewis,  Ira  Gleason,  John  Chase, 
Clarissa  Chase,  Calvin  Corse,  Dorcas  Cargill,  Peletiah 
Gunnison  and  Margery  Gunnison.  Martin  Hall  and 
Nathaniel  Norris  were  chosen  deacons.  The  township 
was  then  a wilderness,  with  but  few  facilities  for  hold- 
ing meetings.  The  church  was  organized  in  Martin 
Hall’s  barn.  After  that  meetings  were  held  in  various 
places,  at  Norris’,  Williams’,  Savory’s,  and  in  the 
school-house,  until  the  Union  Church  was  built  by  the 


Free-Will  Baptists  and  the  Congregationalists  where 
Balch  now  has  a store.  The  two  congregations  wor- 
shipped together  until  the  present  church  was  erected 
at  Lake  View.  Deacon  Norris  served  the  church 
faithfully  while  he  lived,  and  was  the  leading  spirit  in 
the  social  meetings  and  the  Sunday-school.  Luther 
L.  Barrett,  A.  D.  Corse,  C.  C.  Perry  and  Thomas  But- 
terfield have  served  as  deacons.  Martin  Hall  has  been 
sixty-seven  years  an  elder  of  the  church.  Joseph  and 
Marietta  Bryant  were  the  first  to  unite  with  the 
church  after  its  organization.  In  1827  Katharine 
Chase  put  herself  under  the  watchful  care  of  the 
church,  and  Mary  Mason,  Emily  Cook  and  Sybil 
Round  were  received  as  members.  Among  subsequent 
additions  were  George  T.  Perry,  Rachel  Perry,  Milly 
Corse,  Anna  Morris,  Nathan  Knowlton,  C.  B.  Matte- 
son,  John  Gunnison,  Nathan  Round,  Amasa  Chase, 
Louisa  Larrabee,  Lucy  Ann  Hall,  Sally  and  Lucinda 
Knowlton,  Lucy  Larrabee,  Charlotte  Larrabee,  Sally 
Chase,  Hosea  Barrett,  David  Barrett,  Lovina  Barrett, 
Polly  Barrett,  Mary,  Caroline  and  Margery  B.  Nason, 
S.  B.  Nason,  William  B.  Wilder,  Thomas  Norris,  Al- 
pheus  Gates,  George  Tyler,  Jos.  Matteson,  Solomon 
Lake,  Horace  French,  Richard  Potter,  Philander 
Hall,  M.  T.  Whitney,  Warren  W.  Wheaton,  Sheffield 
Matteson,  Sabin  Barrett,  Veranus  Larrabee,  L.  D. 
Larrabee,  Benjamin  H.  Larrabee,  Grin  Matteson,  Al- 
vin Barrett,  Amasa  Norris,  Alonzo  Barrett,  Joseph 
Norris,  Samuel  Bryant,  Robert  Gelatt,  Rev.  James 
Hill,  A.  D.  Corse,  Jonas  Mann,  Hollis  Knowlton,  So- 
lon Corse. 

The  church  now  has  one  hundred  and  thirty-five 
resident  and  twenty  non-resident  members.  They 
organized  a Sunday-school  in  the  old  school-house  in 
the  Savory  District.  Deacon  Norris  was  the  leader. 
A.  D.  Corse,  A.  W.  Barrett  and  C.  P.  Prescott  have 
been  superintendents.  A.  N.  French  is  the  present 
superintendent.  There  are  one  hundred  and  thirty 
names  on  the  roll.  Elder  Chase  had  the  pastoral  care 
of  the  church  from  the  time  of  its  organization  until 
1828. 

Elder  Asa  Dodge  is  mentioned  about  this  time  as 
having  ministered  here  occasionally.  April  4,  1829, 
“ Brother  Joseph  Bryant  related  the  travail  of  his 
mind  concerning  his  duty  to  improve  his  gift,  and  re- 
ceived the  approbation  of  the  church,  and  with  it  a 
certificate.”  This  was  followed  by  his  recommenda- 
tion to  a conference  March  3d,  which  body  gave  him 
“a  letter  to  improve  his  gift  where  the  Lord  may  call 
him.”  On  March  7th  “Joseph  Bryant  improved  the 
forenoon,  and  Elder  William  E.  Robinson  the  after- 
noon, and  broke  bread.”  Elders  Dodge  and  Robinson 
appear  to  have  preached  occasionally  until  June  19, 
1831,  when  “Brother  Joseph  Bryant  was  set  apart  for 
the  work  of  the  ministry  by  the  laying  on  of  hands.” 
Occasional  mention  is  made  of  his  preaching  until 
July  5,  1834,  when  the  church  agreed  to  hire  him 
twice  a month  for  one  year  to  labor  with  them  in  word 
and  doctrine.  He  was  re-employed  at  each  annual 


CLIFFORD. 


787 


meeting,  usually  for  one-half  of  the  time,  until  May 
4,  1844.  Then  it  was  agreed  to  hire  Elder  Joseph 
Bryant  and  A.  H.  Fish  for  the  ensuing  year,  for  as 
much  time  as  they  could  have  the  church.  The  con- 
gregation occupied  a union  church  at  this  time  with 
the  Congregationalists.  Elder  J.  W.  Hills  was  pastor 
from  1850  to  1854.  Elders  Daniels,  Calvin  and  Asa 
Dodge  labored  here  after  this.  Elders  Tillinghast,  H. 
C.  Tompkins,  A.  H.  Fish,  Nelson  Young,  C.  M.  Pres- 
cott, M.  W.  Spencer,  D.  <D.  Brown,  G.  P.  Linderman 
and  A.  F.  Schermerhorn  have  been  later  pastors.  The 
ordination  of  Elder  Bryant  took  place  under  a hem- 
lock tree,  near  the  road  between  Deacon  Hall’s  and 
the  place  since  owned  by  Mr.  Barnes.  Elder  Guidey 
Dodge  was  ordained  in  Pelatiah  Gunnison’s  barn. 
The  first  reference  to  a church  building  is  found  un- 
der date  of  November  19,  1835,  when  a meeting  was 
held  at  the  West  School-house  for  that  purpose.  Pela- 
tiah Gunnison  was  appointed  to  draw  a plan  and  re- 
port the  probable  cost  of  a meeting-house.  Ephraim 
French  and  his  sons,  Nelson  and  Charles,  did  most  of 
the  work  of  framing  and  inclosing  the  building,  which 
was  held  jointly  by  the  Congregational  and  Free-Will 
Baptist  Societies.  It  was  roughly  seated  for  tempo- 
rary use.  William  Bartlett  and  Deacon  Hall  solicited 
funds  for  its  completion.  This  building  was  used 
from  about  1840  till  1872,  when  the  present  Free-Will 
Baptist  Church  was  erected  at  Lake  View. 

Jackson  Methodist  Church. — The  records  of 
the  Jackson  Methodist  Church  are  not  sufficient  to 
give  an  exact  history  of  the  organization  of  the  class, 
but  it  appears  that  there  were  two  classes  in  Jackson 
about  1816.  According  to  the  recollection  of  Nancy 
Stone,  who  died  in  1878,  aged  ninety-one,  as  pre- 
served by  Parley  Cargill,  the  first  preaching  in  Jack- 
son  township  was  by  Elder  Lewis,  in  what  is  now 
Ararat.  Elder  Lewis  came  from  near  the  Susque- 
hanna, in  Harmony  township,  and  preached  more  or 
less  all  through  this  section.  He  formed  a class  in 
East  Jackson  in  1816,  consisting  of  James  Cargill, 
Nancy  Stone,  John  Snow  and  wife,  David  Hine  and 
wife.  Jesse  Stoddard  and  Whitfield  Rockwell  joined 
about  1820.  James  Cargill  was  appointed  class-leader 
and  held  that  position  as  long  as  he  lived.  This  class 
was  reorganized  after  it  had  partly  gone  down.  The 
next  preaching-place  was  at  John  Doyle’s,  the  third 
at  James  Cargill’s  and  there  frequently.  The  class 
discontinued  for  a while  at  Ararat,  and  Nancy  Stone 
and  James  Cargill  joined  the  Jackson  class.  Simon 
Slocum  and  wife  joined  about  1820.  Jerusha  and 
Alvina  Slocum,  Britannia,  Evaline  and  Eunice  Stone, 
and  Aurelia  Stoddard  joined  prior  to  1828.  Wilson 
Stone  and  Sarah  Cargill  joined  in  Ararat  in  1831.  The 
class  was  divided  in  1839.  The  New  Hampshire 
settlers — the  Lambs,  Bensons,  Bryants  and  others — 
were  Methodists,  and  when  Major  Lamb  first  came 
here  and  lived  in  the  Skyrin  House,  Methodist 
meetings  were  held  there,  and  later  in  Tarbox  house, 
also  at  Burrows’  Hollow.  It  was  not  uncommon  for 


devoted  church  members  to  go  a long  distance  to 
church  in  those  days,  and  these  early  worshippers 
sometimes  assembled  at  Bennett’s  house,  on  Kennedy 
Hill,  where  they  could  shout  and  sing  to  the  full  ex- 
tent of  their  voices.  George  Williams  was  the  class- 
leader  there,  It  is  probable  that  the  Jackson  class 
was  formed  about  the  time  the  East  Jackson  class 
was  formed.  The  Centre  School-house  was  built 
about  1820,  and  meetings  were  held  there.  Austin 
Benson  thinks  that  John  Griffin  was  the  first  Method- 
ist that  preached  here  in  Major  Lamb’s  house,  and 
that  Nathaniel  Ruggles  was  the  next  preacher. 
Prominent  among  the  members  that  he  remembers 
were  Major  Joel  Lamb,  Hosea  Benson,  James  Cargill, 
Simon  Slocum,  Calvin  Stone,  Nancy  Stone,  Jairus, 
Chauncy  and  David  Lamb,  and  Peggy  Bennett,  a 
shouting  Methodist.  He  remembers  George  Wil- 
liams and  James  Cargill  as  the  early  class-leaders, 
which  shows  that  the  Jackson  people  were  in  the 
Kennedy  Hill  class  for  a time.  Hubbell  Wells  was 
class-leader  and  chorister  many  years.  He  died  at 
the  age  of  eighty-two.  David  Lamb  succeeded  him 
and  was  class  leader  until,  he  died,  in  1863,  aged  fifty- 
six.  He  was  succeeded  by  Chauncy  Lamb,  who  has 
been  succeeded  by  Joel  H.  Lamb.  Austin  Benson 
remembers  that  they  appointed  a prayer-meeting  for 
rain  one  very  dry  time.  They  assembled  in  the  old 
Centre  School-house.  There  was  not  a cloud  to  be  seen 
when  they  went  in,  and  they  prayed  for  rain.  Among 
others.  Major  Lamb  prayed  “ that  the  bottles  of 
heaven  might  be  unstopped,”  and  before  they  got 
through  with  the  meeting  a good  shower  came  up. 
The  church  at  Jackson  Centre  was  built  in  1850. 
Prominent  among  those  who  built  it  were  David 
Lamb,  Hosea  Benson,  James  Cargill,  Enos  Bryant, 
Jotham  Pickering,  Calvin  Dix,  Chauncy  Lamb. 
A Union  Sunday-school  was  started  at  the  Centre 
School-honse.  Arnold  Bolch  was  one  of  the  first 
superintendents.  The  North  Jackson  class  was  or- 
ganized with  eight  members,  about  1834.  The  mem- 
bers were  Enos  Bryant  and  wife,  Horace  G.  Chase 
and  wife,  Mary  Wheaton,  Sarah  Mattison,  Joseph 
Mattison  and  wife.  Horace  G.  Chase  was  the  first 
class- leader,  and  his  wife  is  the  only  member  of  the 
first  class  now  living.  The  church  was  built  about 
1858.  The  trustees  that  built  the  church  were  Nathan 
Rounds,  D.  R.  Pope,  Truman  Perry.  Thomas  Butter- 
field was  the  first  Sunday-school  superintendent. 


CHAPTER  L. 

CLIFFORD  TOWNSHIP. 

Clifford. — This  township  occupies  the  extreme 
southeastern  part  of  the  county,  bordering  on  Wayne 
County,  on  the  east,  and  on  Lackawanna  County  on 


788 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


the  south.  In  the  order  of  time  it  was  the  sixth  town- 
ship erected  within  the  present  bounds  of  Susque- 
hanna County,  by  a decree  of  the  court  of  old  Luzerne 
county,  at  its  April  session,  in  1806.  It  was  made  to 
embrace  all  that  part  of  old  Nicholson  township,  be- 
ginning at  its  northeast  corner,  on  the  Wayne  County 
line,  and  running  nine  miles  due  west,  thence  due 
south  thirteen  miles.”  When  Susquehanna  County 
was  formed  about  one  mile  was  shorn  off  from  the 
southern  end,  leaving  Clifford  nine  by  twelve  miles  in 
extent.  This  area  was  reduced  by  the  erection  of 
Gibson,  in  1813,  which  took  a little  more  than  half  its 
territory,  and  by  the  erection  of  Herrick,  in  1825, 

■ when  nearly  six  square  miles  were  taken  off  from  the 
northeastern  part,  extending  westward  to  the  base  of 
Elk  Mountain.  Hence  the  northern  bounds  are  the 
townships  of  Herrick  and  Gibson,  and  on  the  west  is 
Lenox  township.  Nearly  the  entire  surface  of  Clifford 
has  an  altitude  "varying  from  eleven  hundred  to  eigh- 
teen hundred  feet,  but  rising  above  the  highest  point 
is  Elk  Mountain,  in  the  northern  part,  and  extending 
into  Herrick.  It  is  an  elevation  of  singular  beauty, 
terminating  in  dual  peaks,  which  are  locally  known 
as  the  north  and  the  south  knobs,  and  which  overtop 
by  hundreds  of  feet  everything  else  for  miles  around 
them.  North  Knob  has  an  elevation  of  twenty-seven 
hundred  feet  and  is  higher  than  any  other  elevation 
in  the  State,  excejrt  in  the  southwestern  districts. 
South  Knob,  one  mile  distant  just  inside  of  Clifford, 
rises  to  a height  of  twenty-five  hundred  and  seventy- 
five  feet.  Some  of  the  sides  of  the  mountain  have 
well-faced  land,  much  of  which  has  been  cleared  into 
good  farms,  and  all  the  heavily  wooded  slopes  have 
been  thinned  out,  a sparse  growth  of  timber  only  re- 
maining. One  of  the  distinguishing  features  of  the 
South  Knob,  is  a projecting  ledge  of  rocks,  at  an  ele- 
vation of  twenty-four  hundred  feet,  forming  a wide 
level,  which  may  be  approached  to  within  a short  dis- 
tance by  means  of  a carriage-road.  From  the  top  of 
this  level,  which  has  appropriately  been  called  “Pros- 
pect Rock,”  one  of  the  grandest  of  nature’s  panoramas 
may  be  seen.  The  eye  takes  in  at  one  sweep,  a vast 
and  diversified  stretch  of  country,  covering  a greater 
variety  of  landscape,  than  can  be  seen  in  any  other 
part  of  the  state.  Hills,  valleys,  lakes,  cultivated  fields 
and  forest  lands,  with  curving  streams  flowing  in  and 
among  them,  are  spread  before  the  observer  in  their 
most  fascinating  forms,  creating  a picture  which  makes 
an  indelible  impression  on  the  mind.  The  entire 
county  is  picturesque,  and  from  this  rock  a birds’  eye- 
view  of  the  whole  is  afforded,  extending  to  the  billowy 
crests  of  the  Moosic  Mountain  Range,  which  is  replete 
with  all  the  forms  of  rural  scenery,  and  the  glowing 
evidences  of  rural  and  mining  life.  Said  a writer  of 
this  spot;  “ Necessarily,  a clear  day,  good  eyes  and 
a spy-glass  of  some  power,  are  needed  to  enjoy  all  that 
may  be  seen  from  any  of  these  sublime  altitudes. 
From  all  points  but  the  southeast  the  elevations  seem 
to  be  covered  with  the  native  forest.  Approaching  it 


from  Dundaff  or  Clifford,  however,  it  is  cultivated  to 
its  summit.  We  left  the  horses  at  a point  where  Mr. 
Finn'  has  erected  a three-story  house  for  the  enter- 
tainment of  travellers  and  sight  seers.  A path  through 
small  trees  and  brush,  brings  you  to  a perpendicular 
ledge  of  rocks,  skirting  which  on  the  east  you  find 
some  stone  steps,^  upon  which  you  ascend  to  Pulpit  : 
or  Table  Rock — quite  a level  plat  of  sodded  surface,  ' 
just  in  the  edge  of  Clifford  township.  The  view  from 
the  Rock  comprehends  a distance  of  forty  miles,  but  I 
from  the  North  Knob  a still  greater  distance  is  brought  ‘ 
within  the  vision,  including  a clear  view  of  the  i 
Delaware  Water  Gap,  the  Blue  and  Catskill  Moun-  , 
tains  and,  distinctly,  the  rugged  scenery  along  the 
Susquehanna.  Bold  bluffs  indent  the  extreme  distance, 
along  the  wide  and  graceful  sweep  of  the  river;  on  the 
intervening  hillsides,  which  rise  apparently  one  above 
another,  like  an  amphitheatre,  until  the  horizon  is 
reached,  numerous  tracts  of  cultivated  ground  appear, 
as  if  cleft  out  of  the  deeper  green  of  the  forests ; while, 
here  and  there,  gleaming  in  the  sunlight,  many  a 
crystal  lake  is  seen,  adding  life  and  brilliancy  to  the 
picture.” 

Round  Hill  is  properly  a spur  of  Elk  Mountain 
and  takes  its  name  from  its  shape.  Both  this  and 
Thorn  Hill,  in  the  southwestern  part  of  the  township, 
are  points  of  interest  to  the  sight-seer,  possessing  ele- 
ments of  beauty  which  make  them  attractive  objects. 

By  far  the  greater  part  of  their  surface  is  tillable, 
and  on  their  sides  some  fine  farms  have  been  opened, 
which  run  down  into  the  small,  but  beautiful  Clifford 
Valley,  In  the  eastern  part  of  the  township,  border- 
ing the  Lackawanna  on  the  west,  is  Millstone  Hill, 
containing  an  excellent  stone  for  milling  purposes,  • 
and  southeast  are  the  hills  in  which  valuable  deposits 
of  anthracite  coal  have  been  found,  whose  develop- 
ment is  noted  in  connection  with  Forest  City. 

Clifford  contains  several  lakes,  the  principal  ones 
being  Crystal  Lake,  on  the  county  line,  and  Long 
Pond  in  the  northwestern  part.  Its  name  indicates 
its  shape,  the  width  being  but  a little  more  than  an 
eight  of  a mile.  Both  this  and  Mud  Pond  are 
environed  by  high  hills,  giving  them  a sequestered 
appearance.  The  outlets  are  brooks  flowing  into  the 
East  Branch,  at  Lonsdale.  The  latter  is  the  principal 
stream  of  the  township,  entering  Clifford  from  Her- 
rick and  flowing  southwest  through  a narrow,  deep 
valley,  which  widens  out  within  a few  miles  of  the  . 
Lenox  line,  where  are  fertile  and  highly  cultivated 
flats.  At  this  point  the  creek  takes  the  waters  of  a 
brook,  variously  called  Dundaff,  Betsey’s  and  Alder 
Marsh  Brook,  the  latter  name  applying  on  account 
of  the  swamp  of  alders  along  its  course.  It  flows 
through  Dundaff,  taking  the  waters  of  the  outlet 


1 Clark  Finn  owns  the  land  including  the  rock,  but  the  western 
slope  belongs  to  David  Thomas. 

2 For  these  accommodating  steps  the  public  are  indebted  to  Charles 
Wells,  of  Clilford. 


CLIFFORD. 


789 


of  Newton  Lake,  in  Lackawanna;  passes  into  that 
county  and  then  re-enters  Susquehanna  County  at 
Clifford  Village. 

The  Lackawanna  River  runs  parallel  with  the  east 
line  of  the  township,  and  after  taking  the  waters  of 
the  east  and  the  west  branches,  from  Herrick,  forms 
a long,  quiet  sheet,  appropriately  named  the  “Still- 
water,” then  breaks  through  a spur  of  the  Moosic 
range,  and  flows  a mountain-stream  into  Lackawanna 
County.  Along  this  stream  were  heavy  forests  which 
remained  unbroken  until  the  building  of  the  Jeffer- 
son Branch  of  the  Erie  Railroad  in  1871.  It  was  the 
favorite  home  of  noble  game,  and  as  late  as  1867, 
William  Hartley,  of  Lenox,  killed  a deer  in  these 
woods.  Many  other  parts  of  the  township  were 
covered  with  a dense  growth  of  timber,  the  chief 
varieties  being  chestnut,  hemlock,  beech,  birch,  maple 
and  other  hard  woods.  The  undergrowth  was  dense, 
and  afforded  fine  feeding  for  the  elk  which  seemed 
partial  to  this  section,  probably  on  account  of  its 
altitude;  and  in  earlytimes  the  country  was  known  as 
Elkwoods.  This  name  lost  much  of  its  currency, 
soon  after  1800,  when  the  abundance  of  beech  nuts, 
in  the  woods  along  the  East  Branch,  attracted  im- 
mense flocks  of  wild  pigeons,  which  caused  the 
locality  to  be  spoken  of  as  the  Beechwood  Country,  by 
hunters  who  came  from  long  distances  to  capture  this 
game.  Only  a small  portion  of  Clifford  remains  in  a 
primev.al  state,  and  the  woods  left  standing  bear 
evidence  of  the  demands  made  upon  them  by  the  in- 
dustrious citizen.  The  greater  part  of  the  area  has 
been  well  cleared  up,  the  stones  gathered  into  neat 
fences;  fruitful  fields  abound,  which  have  made  possi- 
ble ,the  erection  of  many  neat  farm  buildings,  Clif- 
ford standing  in  this  respect  second  to  no  other  town- 
ship in  the  county. 

The  Pioneers. — Settlement  was  not  made  as  early 
in  Clifford  as  in  some  other  localities  of  the  county, 
the  first  clearing  being  made  in  1799.  That  year 
Amos  Morse  and  his  son,  William  A.,  located  on  the 
East  Branch  a mile  below  Elkdale,  and  began  im- 
proving a farm.  Some  years  later  Sally  Morse,  of  this 
family,  taught  the  first  school  in  this  part  of  the 
county.  In  1816  they  sold  the  farm  to  Ezra  Lewis, 
and  soon  after  left  the  county.  Ezra  Lewis  was  a son 
of  Elder  Gideon  Lewis  who  came  to  Clifford,  it  is 
claimed,  in  February,  1800,  and  rolled  up  a log  house 
on  the  Tunkhannock,  on  the  farm  afterwards  occu- 
pied by  P.  R.  Stewart.  Having  no  nails,  the  shingles 
were  held  on  by  poles  withed  together.  He  cleared 
up  a large  place  and  paid  for  it  several  times,  but 
finally  lost  it  through  defective  titles.  As  a Baptist 
preacher  he  preached  about  the  country  and  was 
widely  known  among  the  early  pioneers.  His  family 
consisted  of  children  named  Polly,  who  married 
Elder  William  Robinson  ; Betsey,  Sally,  Abner,  Ezra, 
Levi  and  Lyman.  Levi  had  a family  of  ten  children, 
among  them  being  Orvis,  living  in  Thomson,  and 
Ezra  S.,  living  on  the  old  Morse  farm,  noted  above. 


The  family  of  Adam  Miller  was  the  first  to  retain  a 
permanent  residence  in  the  township.  In  the  spring 
of  1800  he  came  with  his  wife  and  four  children  and 
settled  on  the  flat  a short  distance  west  from  Clifford 
village.  He  was  one  of  the  first  settlers  in  Brooklyn 
township,  but  had  immigrated  to  Ohio,  with  his 
family,  in  1799.  “ All  were  on  horseback — four  horses 

transporting  the  family  and  baggage — the  two  younger 
children,  Charles  and  Anna,  being  carried  in  baskets 
placed  over  one  of  the  horses.  The  baskets  were 
made  in  the  shape  of  cradles,  so  the  children  could 
sit  or  lie  down,  as  suited  them.  A journey  of  six 
weeks  through  a wilderness,  such  as  the  country  ex- 
hibited in  1799,  was  far  from  agreeable  to  any  of  the 
party.  Before  they  reached  their  destination,  Mrs. 
M.  fell  and  broke  her  collar-bone,  and  they  were  de- 
tained three  weeks  at  the  wigwam  of  a hospitable 
Indian  family.  When  they  gained  the  promised  land, 
Mr.  M.  could  not  suit  himself  in  regard  to  location, 
and  after  a few  days  he  broached  the  subject  of  a re- 
turn to  Pennsylania.  His  wife,  who  had  secretly 
longed  for  this,  was  soon  ready  to  resume  journeying, 
and  the  same  season  found  them  in  the  vicinity  of 
Tunkhannock,  and  in  the  following  spring  they  fol- 
lowed up  the  east  branch  of  the  creek  to  the  flat 
at  Clifford  Corners.  Here  they  lived  ten  years,  when 
they  removed  to  Thorn  Hill,  where  Elder  William  A. 
Miller,  their  grandson,  now  resides.  While  clearing 
at  the  latter  place,  Mr.  M.  had  the  use  of  the  flat  two 
years.”  ^ The  house  on  Thorn  Hill  was  at  that  time 
the  largest  in  Clifford,  being  a two-story  frame. 
Ebenezer  Baker,  who  had  married  the  oldest  daughter, 
Polly,  several  years  before,  was  the  carpenter.  After 
some  time  Baker  removed  to  the  Lake  region  in  New 
York.  Of  the  other  three  children  of  the  family — 
^William,  the  oldest  son,  after  living  a number  of 
years  on  the  homestead,  on  Thorn  Hill,  moved  to 
Lenox,  where  he  died.  His  children  were  George 
Miller,  of  that  township  ; William,  of  Carbondale; 
and  Mrs.  Lyman  Bell.  The  youngest  son.  Elder 
Charles  Miller,  died  on  Thorn  Hill,  in  1865,  aged 
seventy-two  years.  He  was  the  father  of  the  Revs. 
William  A.,  S.  Eliakim  and  of  Joseph  S.  Miller, 
Esq.,  all  living  on  Thorn  Hill.  The  youngest  daugh- 
ter, Anna,  became  the  wife  of  John  W.  Wells,  of 
Elkdale.  The  wife  of  Adam  Miller  died  in  1816,  but  he 
survived  until  1831,  when  he  departed  this  life  nearly 
sixty-six  years  old.  Both  belonged  to  the  Free-Com- 
munion  Baptists,  to  whom  Elder  Epaphras  Thompson 
preached  as  early  as  1802,  and  left  that  sect,  two_ 
years  later  to  join  the  Abington  Church  of  Regular 
Baptists.  Their  son,  Charles,  was  for  many  years  the 
pastor  of  the  present  Clifford  Baptist  Church. 

In  the  summer  of  1800  Amos  Harding  also  settled 
on  the  flat  at  Clifford,  buying  some  of  the  land  taken 
up  by  Adam  Miller,  and  purchasing  the  remainder  of 
the  farm  in  1810,  when  he  owned  all  the  land  in  the 


1 Miss  Blackman, 


790 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


Oats.  In  his  family  occurred  the  first  death,  a child 
Iluldah,  drowning  by  falling  into  a spring  which  is 
near  the  house  of  William  Lott,  the  blacksmith  at 
Clifford.  Two  of  his  daughters  married  James  Stearns 
and  Joseph  Baker.,  He  had  sons  named  Salmon  E. 
and  Luke  T.  The  entire  family  moved  to  Ohio 
about  1820,  and  the  farm  was  divided  among  several 
purchasers.  The  upper  part  of  the  flat  was  improved 
by  John  Robinson,  who  died  in  1814,  when  the  farm 
was  owned  by  Elder  William  E.  Robinson,  who  re- 
moved after  1834,  and  the  place  passed  into  the  hands 
of  William  W.  Wells,  the  father  of  the  Wells  of 
this  part  of  the  township.  Another  portion  of  the 
farm  became  the  property  of  Nathan  Callender,  and 
is  now  owned  by  J.  M.  Callender. 

In  the  same  year,  1800,  David  Burns  came  from 
Otsego  County,  N.  Y.,  and  settled  northeast  from 
Dundaff,  west  of  the  small  stream  which  is  now  known 
as  Tinker’s  Brook..  Near  this  place  he  lost  his  only 
son,  about  six  years  old,  the  rest  of  his  family  being 
composed  of  four  daughters.  The  youngest  of  these 
married  Thomas  Burdick,  and  in  August,  1869,  fur- 
nished an  account  of  the  lost  boy  to  the  Montrose 
Republican. 

Captain  Jonathan  Burns,  an  elder  brother  of 
David,  first  lived  in  the  neighborhood  of  Dundaff, 
but,  in  1802,  located  north  of  the  East  Branch,  near 
the  mouth  of  the  brook  which  bears  his  name. 
From  him  descended  the  Burns  family  of  the  town- 
ship, his  sons  being  Henry,  Orrey,  Alexander,  Ziba, 
Jonathan,  Thomas  and  Ellery.  ISome  of  these  re- 
moved from  the  county,  and  others  died  in  the  town- 
ship. A daughter  married  Nathaniel  Cotteral,  who 
removed  to  Providence.  The  Burns  were  of  Scotch 
Irish  descent,  a hardy  race,  and  some  of  the  descen- 
dants still  live  in  the  northern  part  of  Clifford  and 
the  southern  part  of  Herrick. 

James  Norton,  the  father-in-law  of  David  Burns, 
came  from  Saratoga,  N.  Y.,  in  1803,  and  settled  near 
him  on  what  is  now  known  as  the  Burch  road.  He 
had  sons  named  Reuben,  Samuel  and  Ishi,  who  lived 
in  the  same  locality,  the  latter  living  where  is  now 
the  Crystal  Lake  Hotel.  Near  the  same  time  the 
widow  Norton,  with  three  daughters  and  sons,  named 
Abner,  Daniel,  Asahel,  Luther,  Lemuel  and  Silas, 
came  into  the  township  and  settled  north  and  east 
from  Dundaff.  Asahel  Norton  was  the  first  settler  at 
Elkdale,  and  both  he  and  Lemuel  were  interested  in 
the  early  mills  there.  This  once  numerous  family 
has  no  descendants  remaining  in  Clifford.  In  1813 
Lemuel  Norton  was  one  of  the  heaviest  tax-payers. 

“William  Finn,  the  youngest  of  five  brothers,  who 
eventually  came  to  Clifford,  was  the  son  of  James,  a 
Baptist  preacher,  who  was  in  the  Wyoming  Valley 
in  1778,  and  one  of  the  paity  who  were  left  to  defend 
the  women  and  children  gathered  together  in  the 
block-house  or  fort  at  the  time  of  the  massacre.  He 
was  forced  to  retire  to  Orange  County,  N.  Y.,  whence 
he  had  emigrated;  but  in  a few  years  he  returned  to 


Wyoming,  and  subsequently  moved  to  Tunkhannock, 
where  he  died.  His  widow  came  with  William  Finn 
soon  after,  or  in  1802,  to  the  present  township  of 
Clifford,  and  afterwards  married  Daniel  Gore.  Wil- 
liam Finn  cleared  and  cultivated  a large  farm  lying 
one  mile  west  of  Dundaff,  where  he  reared  his  family 
of  eight  children.  He  built  three  dwelling-houses, 
one  of  stone,  which  was  then  considered  a fine  affair. 
His  first  framed  house  was  the  second  of  the  kind  in 
Dundaff.  His  saw-mill  was  the  first  in  successful  op- 
eration there.  He  married  the  youngest  daughter  of 
James  Norton.  Solomon,  John,  James  and  Daniel, 
brothers  of  William  Finn,  also  came  in,  and  some  of 
their  descendants  are  still  in  the  township.  John 
was  a blacksmith  ; James  was  a justice  of  the  peace 
in  1821,  and  had  twelve  children,  ten  of  whom  lived 
to  adult  age.  Of  eight  sons,  Clark,  living  on  Elk 
Mountain,  is  the  only  one  in  Clifford.” 

As  early  as  1806,  James  Wells,  a miller,  came  from 
the  Minisink,  on  the  Delaware,  and  located  on  a 
hundred-acre  farm  at  Elkdale,  after  having  lived  a 
short  time  at  the  mouth  of  the  Tunkhannock.  Here 
he  put  up  mills  and  also  a substantial  house,  with  a 
sloping  roof  and  well-guarded  porch,  which  is  still 
standing  at  Elkdale.  He  sold  his  farm  to  Lemuel 
Norton  and  Horace  G.  Phelps,  and  moved  several 
miles  down  the  East  Branch  to  the  flats,  where  is 
now  the  farm  of  James  C.  Decker.  Here  his  wife 
died,  in  1831 ; but  James  Wells  lived  until  1839, 
when  he  died  at  the  home  of  his  son,  Eliphalet,  at 
the  age  of  eighty-nine  years.  Eliphalet  afterwards 
moved  to  Carbondale.  He  was  one  of  thirteen  chil- 
dren,— eight  daughters  and  five  sons.  The  oldest  son, 
John  W.,  was  married  to  Anna  Miller,  daughter  of 
Adam,  and  finally  settled  on  the  south  side  of  Elk 
Mountain,  where  he  died,  in  1843,  aged  fifty-five 
years.  He  was  the  father  of  the  Wellses  living  in  that 
part  of  the  township,  several  of  whom  died  of  a dis- 
ease called  the  black  fever.  James  Wells,  Jr.,  an- 
other son,  lived  on  a farm  north  from  Dundaff,  the 
place  being  still  occupied  by  his  descendants.  Wil- 
liam, still  another  son,  was  a millwright,  and  lived  at 
Dundaff.  He  was  the  father  of  Sidney  B.  Wells,  for 
thirty  years  a merchant  in  New  York  City. 

1 “ Matthew  Newton  came  from  Connecticut,  in 
1806,  with  his  wife,  daughter  and  five  sons, — Henry, 
Matthew,  Benjamin,  Isaac  and  Thomas.  He  bought 
the  first  improvements  of  Jonathan  Burns.  Newton 
Pond  commemorates  the  name  of  this  family.  Mat- 
thew Newton,  Jr.,  manufactured  all  the  wheels  used 
by  the  first  settlers  in  spinning  wool  or  flax.  Erastus 
West  succeeded  him  in  the  business,  but  moved  into 
New  York  State  over  fifty  years  ago.  From  1806  to 
1811,  we  have  no  certain  data,  except  that  Epaphras 
Thompson,  a Baptist  minister,  became  a resident. 
The  year  1812  is  spoken  of  as  ‘ a religious  time.’ 
Ransford  Smith  settled  near  the  forks  of  the  Lacka- 


Blackman. 


CLIFFORD. 


791 


wanna,  just  above  Stillwater  Pond.  His  sons  were 
Ladon,  Ransford,  Benjamin,  Samuel  and  Philander.” 

Joel  Stevens,  a clothier,  came  from  Massachusetts, 
in  1813,  locating  near  Elkdale.  Later  he  lived  on  a 
two  hundred-acre  farm  east,  where  he  died,  at  the 
age  of  eighty-four  years.  Of  his  sons, — Joel  occupied 
the  homestead ; David  B.  died  August  10,  1819,  on 
the  farm  occupied  by  his  son,  D.  L.  Stevens ; Hiram 
moved  to  Ohio ; Elias  lives  near  Clifford ; and  Wil- 
liam lives  at  Elkdale.  Frank  and  Edmund  moved  to 
the  West. 

In  1813  the  name  of  Riehard  Meredith  appeared  on 
the  tax-list.  He  was  the  first  person  who  applied 
for  naturalization  in  Susquehanna  County.  He  was 
born  in  the  parish  of  Bubourn,  County  of  Kent, 
England,  July,  1773;  sailed  from  Liverpool,  June, 
1808,  and  landed  in  New  York  the  September  fol- 
lowing. His  application  to  the  court  was  made 
January,  1814;  but  it  does  not  appear  that  he  re- 
ceived his  papers  until  February,  1822. 

In  1815  the  taxables  in  the  township  of  Clifford, 
including  that  part  which  was  set  off  to  form  Her- 
rick in  1825,  were  the  following : 

Andrew  Buck,  John  Buck,  Burnett  Buckingham,  James  Bennett, 
Jonathan  Burns,  David  Burns,  C.  Brayton,  Peter  F.  Ball,  Albigence 
Bucklin,  Elnathan  Baker,  Ebenezer  Baker,  Henry  Cobb,  Asa  Cobb,  Eze- 
kiel Chapman,  James  Coil,  James  Coil,  Jr.,  Enoch  Curtis,  James  Cur- 
tis, Edward  Dimmick,  Mortial  Dimmick,  Calvin  Daley,  Luther  Daley, 
Stephen  Ellis,  John  Finn,  \Vm  Finn,  Solomon  Finn,  James  Finn,  James 
Giddinge,  Abijah  Hubbell,Wm.  Halstead,  Jas.  Halstead,  Alanson  D.  Hal- 
stead, Jno.  Halstead,  Jonas  Halstead,  Truman  Holmes,  Salmon  E.  Hard- 
ing, Luke  T,  Harding,  Amos  Harding,  Ira  Justin,  Calvin  Knox,  Gideon 
Kent,  Amos  Knapp,  David  N.  Lewis,  Levi  Lewis,  Walter  Lyon,  Geo. 
Lowry,  Wm.  Miller,  Samuel  Miller,  Adam  Miller,  Wm.  Miller,  (2d,) 
Chas.  Miller,  W^m.  A.  Morse,  Benajah  Millard,  Richard  Meredith,  Sami. 
Norton,  Lemuel  Norton,  Luther  Norton,  Abner  Norton,  Ishi  Norton 
Silas  Norton,  Jas.  Norton,  Daniel  Norton,  Jno.  B.  Nichols,  Eli  Nichols, 
Thos.  Newton,  Wm.  O’Brien,  Jas.  Reeves,  W’m.  C.  Robinson,  Leonard 
Bought,  Jacob  Stephens,  Joel  Stevens,  Thomas  Scott,  Ransford  Smith, 
James  Stearnes,  Benjamin  Tripp,  Isaac  Tripp,  Daniel  Taylor,  William 
Upton,  Erastus  West,  James  Wells,  William  Wells,  John  Wells,  James 
Wells. 

[n  the  northeastern  part  of  the  township  a number 
of  places  were  now  located  and  improved  in  the 
course  of  the  next  half  a dozen  years,  among  the  set- 
tlers being  Ellery  Crandall,  the  Burdicks,  Tinkers 
and  Asher  Peck.  The  latter  came  from  Connecticut 
in  1818,  and  settled  on  the  place  now  occupied  by  his 
son,  Bela  T.,  where  he  lived  until  his  death,  in  May, 
1878,  aged  eighty-six  years.  Other  sons  were  Seril 
and  Asel  H.,  both  of  whom  died  in  the  township. 

Elias  Burdick  and  his  nephews,  Thomas  and  Bil- 
lings, came  from  Rhode  Island  in  1815,  settling  on 
farms  east  from  Peck’s.  The  farm  improved  by  Elias 
is  now  owned  by  his  son,  Elisha.  Other  sons  were 
Luther,  Stephen  and  Caleb.  On  this  farm  is  the 
Burdick  Cemetery.  Thomas  Burdick  lived  on  the 
farm  south,  now  owned  by  one  of  his  sons,  Avery. 
Other  sons  were  Thomas,  Asher  and  David.  Simeon 
Burdick,  another  brother,  came  in  1816,  and  lived  on 
the  Robert  Tinker  farm,  where  he  reared  a large 


family.  He  died  in  December,  1870,  nearly  eighty- 
two  years  old. 

Philip  Burdick. — After  the  close  of  the  Revolu- 
tionary War,  among  the  many  persons  bearing  the 
above  family  name  in  Rhode  Island  was  a farmer 
known  as  Stephen  Burdick,  a good  member  of  the 
Baptist  persuasion,  and  who  enjoyed  the  esteem  of  his 
fellows.  He  married  Mary  Church,  who  bore  him  Joel, 
Billings,  Caleb,  Joshua,  Thomas,  Zebadiah,  Stephen 
Kendall  and  Elias  Burdick ; aho  Polly,  who  became 
the  wife  of  Barber  Cardner.  Kendall  Burdick,  born 
in  1778,  married  Hannah  Gray  (1775-1843),  and  had 
the  following  children  : Elias,  was  a mechanic,  in 
Rhode  Island,  until  his  death ; Mason,  a farmer,  in 
Clifford,  afterwards  removed  to  Lackawanna  County, 
where  he  died;  Dolly,  married,  first,  Putnam  Ed- 
wards, in  Rhode  Island,  and  came  to  this  town- 
ship, where  he  died  (she  subsequently  married  Ros- 
well Ames,  and  is  now  deceased);  Abraham  and  Zeba- 
diah were  farmers,  and  died  in  Clifton ; Philip,  as 
above ; Harriet  is  the  widow  of  L.  S.  Burdick,  a far- 
mer of  this  township ; and  Happy  Burdick,  who  mar- 
ried Ezra  Carpenter,  a farmer,  of  Herrick,  and  has 
since  died.  Kendall  Burdick,  with  his  wife  and  chil- 
dren, left  his  early  home  in  1824  for  the  West,  and 
bought  a farm  near  the  present  Seventh-Day  Baptist 
Church,  in  Clifford.  Feeling  the  need  of  religious 
connection,  he  soon  interested  himself  in  the  estab- 
lishment of  a place  of  worship,  and  was  one  of  the  cod- 
stitueiit  members  of  the  church  above-named  and  re- 
tained his  membership  until  the  last.  He  died  in 
1871,  in  his  ninety-third  year,  having  preserved  his 
mental  and  physical  powers  to  an  unusual  degree. 
He  was  well  informed  on  matters  of  Scripture  and 
an  earnest  Christian. 

Philip  Burdick,  born  in  Rhode  Island,  July  1, 
1814,  had  but  few  school  advantages,  as  he  had  to 
accompany  his  parents  to  a new  country  when  but 
ten  years  old,  and  the  family  was  large,  so  that 
all  able  to  do  anything  had  to  work.  He  helped  his 
father  on  the  farm  until  twenty-two  years  old,  and 
became  a practical  man,  energetic  and  earnest.  In 
1837  he  married  his  cousin,  Mary  Burdick  (born 
August  31,  1816),  and  bought  a small  farm  near  the 
church,  whereon  they  remained  a few  years  before  re- 
moving to  the  present  home.  Both  himself  and  wife 
assisted  in  the  organization  of  the  Seventh-Day 
Baptist  Church,  of  which  he  has  been  one  of  the  hon- 
ored deacons  for  over  thirty  years.  For  many  years 
he  has  been  its  delegate  to  the  Annual  Conference, 
held  in  various  parts  of  the  country,  and  his  counsels 
there  and  elsewhere  are  valuable.  A Republican,  he 
desires  to  place  the  best  men  in  public  places.  The 
father  of  Mrs.  Burdick  was  Elias  (1780-1858),  the 
youngest  son  of  Stephen  Burdick,  before  mentioned. 
He  was  born  in  Rhode  Island  and,  in  1806,  married 
Patty  Brightman  (1786-1810),  who  bore  bim  Patty, 
born  1807,  was  tbe  wife  of  Gideon  Palmer,  of  Rhode 


792 


HISTOUY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


Island;  and  Thankful,  born  1809,  the  widow  of 
Abram  Burdick,  and  now  living  in  Clifford.  For  his 
second  wife,  1811,  he  mariied  Sarah  Brightman 
(1788-1859),  whose  children  were  Luther  (1812-78), 
a farmer  of  this  township ; Sally,  (1814-77),  was  the 
wife  of  Samuel  Cole,  a farmer,  of  Clifford;  Mary 
(now  Mrs.  Philip  Burdick)  ; Julia,  born  1818,  is 
the  wife  of  Rev.  B.  B.  Palmer,  a pastor  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  in  Nebraska;  Stephen, 
1820,  is  a farmer  in  Clifford;  Abigail,  1822,  the  widow 
of  William  H.  Main,  lives  in  Wisconsin;  Elisha, 
1824,  carries  on  the  old  home  farm  in  this  township; 
and  Caleb  (1826-74),  was  also  a farmer  in  Clifford. 
Elias  Burdick  worked  as  a ship-carpenter  in  Rhode 
Island,  but  after  removing  to  Pennsylvania,  in  1815, 
he  became  a farmer,  located  in  the  Burdick  neigh- 
borhood, and  was  a consistent  member  of  the  Seventh- 
Day  Baptist  Church.  The  only  child  of  Deacon  and 
Mrs.  Philip  Burdick  is  Dolly,  born  January  16,  1838, 
the  wife  of  D.  B.  Carpenter,  a jeweler.  Two  of  their 
children,  George  and  Myrabella,  died  in  childhood, 
and  their  son,  Frank  B.  Carpenter,  born  December 
2,  1867,  has  been  educated  by  his  grandfather,  the 
deacon.  He  studied  two  years  at  the  Alfred  Uni- 
versity, New  York,  and  then  became  connected  with 
the  Gaskell  Business  College,  Jersey  City,  as  teacher 
of  book-keeping  and  arithmetic. 

John  Westgate  came  from  Rhode  Island  to  Mount 
Pleasant  in  1816,  and  the  following  year  to  a farm 
three  miles  northeast  from  Dundaff,  where  he  died, 
more  than  eighty  years  old.  His  descendants  still 
live  in  Clifford  and  Herrick.  William  Tinker  came 
at  a later  day  and  settled  southwest  from  Westgate, 
where  members  of  the  family  still  remain.  James 
and  John,  sons,  were  taxables  in  1842.  Robert 
Tinker  is  of  another  generation.  The  family  has 
made  substantial  improvements  and  are  among  the 
most  pros^jerous  citizens  of  Clifford. 

In  1818,  among  other  new  arrivals  in  the  township, 
were  Nathan  Callender,  James  Green,  Reuben  Ar- 
nold and  Lawton  Gardner.  Asa  Dimock  and  his 
sons,  Asa  and  Warren,  and  Philip  I.  Stewart  came 
from  Herrick,  and  a number  of  them  settled  at  Dun- 
daff. George  Brownell  located  at  Lonsdale,  occupy- 
ing the  place  where  Peter  Rynearson  had  previously 
been.  Benjamin  Brownell  was  at  Dundaff.  A few 
years  later  Martin  Decker  settled  on  the  farm  where 
now  lives  his  son,  James  C.,  and  where  he  reared 
other  sons,— Nelson,  Peter  and  Chauncey.  In  the 
same  neighborhood  Peter  Rivenburg  finally  lived 
and  died,  at  the  home  of  his  son,  Hiram  R.  He 
came  from  Albany  County,  N.  Y.,  and  located  on  the 
Clifford  road  below  Dundaff,  on  a farm  where  some 
improvements  had  been  made  by  James  Coil,  Jr. 
His  son,  William,  lives  in  the  same  neighborhood. 
Orrin  has  deceased.  Jonas  lives  in  the  State  of  New 
York;  John,  at  Dundaff,  and  Henry,  northeast  from 
Clifford.  The  latter  is  the  father  of  the  Rev.  Sidney 
W.  Rivenburg,  missionary  in  Assam,  and  Josephine 


W.,  a thoroughly  educated  instructor  of  music  in  the 
Keystone  Academy. 

In  1820  Levi  Chamberlain  came  from  Gibson  and 
opened  a public-house  on  the  pike  east  of  West  Clif- 
ford, but,  four  years  later,  was  west  of  that  hamlet, 
on  the  farm  of  his  son,  Pulaski  W.,  where  he  died  in 
1878,  at  the  age  of  eighty-six  years.  Northeast  from 
him  was  Isaac  Truesdell,  the  first  settler  on  the  west 
slope  of  Elk  Mountain,  and  James  Rolles,  the  father 
of  twenty-two  children,  also  came  in  1822.  Samuel 
Miller  was  here  earlier,  and  followed  the  occupation 
indicated  by  his  name.  He  was  the  father  of  Wil- 
liam D.  Miller,  of  Lenox,  Charles  H.,  of  Harford, 
and  of  daughters  who  married  Elisha  Bell  and  Joel 
Tingley.  George  W.  Mackey  came  from  Rensselaer- 
ville,  Albany  County,  N.  Y.,  about  1824,  and  located 
on  the  Harding  farm,  near  Clifford  Corners,  on  the 
farm  now  occupied  by  Monroe  Callendar.  He  was  a 
hatter  by  trade,  and  followed  the  hatter  business  and 
farming.  He  died  in  1845,  aged  fifty-six,  and  his 
wife,  Elizabeth  Samuels,  died  in  1864,  aged  seventy- 
five.  They  had  several  children, — Rhoda;  Parmelia, 
wife  of  William  Bolton,  a printer;  David,  a farmer 
and  active  abolitionist,  died  in  New  Milford  in  1869; 
Zophar.  R.  S.  Mackey,  in  1849,  purchased  one  hun- 
dred and  sixty  acres  of  timber  land,  one-half  mile 
east  of  Truesdell  school-house,  which  he  sold  to  D. 
Richards,  and  in  1856  removed  to  Lathrop. 

The  Welsh  must  have  the  credit  of  clearing  up  most 
of  the  slopes  of  Elk  Mountain  and  making  the  substan- 
tial improvements  now  to  be  seen  in  the  northwestern 
part  of  the  township.  They  have  here  proven  them- 
selves an  honest,  industrious  class  of  people,  capable 
of  the  highest  citizenship.  The  pioneers  among 
them  were  Thomas  Watkins  and  wife,  Hannah, 
natives  of  Carmarthenshire,  South  Wales.  They  left 
that  country  in  1831,  and  after  a voyage  of  two 
months  landed  in  New'  York.  The  following  spring 
found  them  at  Carbondale,  where  Mr.  Watkins  ob- 
tained work  in  a coal-mine,  but  on  the  10th  of  May, 
1833,  they  came  to  Clifford,  w'here  they  located  on  a 
tract  of  land  near  the  southwest  base  of  the  South 
Knob  of  the  Elk  Mountain.  With  the  exception  of 
a small  clearing  below  him,  everything  was  a dense 
woods,  with  a heavy  undergrowth,  which  afforded 
hiding-places  for  deer,  elk  and  many  noxious  animals, 
which  were  so  bold  that  it  made  the  work  of  pro- 
tecting domestic  animals  difficult.  The  work  of 
clearing  progressed  slowly,  but  Mr.  Watkins  was  a 
man  of  strong  constitution  (being  full  six  feet  high 
and  measured  nearly  four  feet  around  the  chest),  and 
the  forests  at  last  yielded  to  his  efforts.  Before  his 
death,  in  May,  1870,  he  had  cleared  up  a large  farm, 
which  is  still  in  possession  of  Hannah  Watkins,  (now 
in  her  eighty-eighth  year),  and  one  of  her  sons,  Wat- 
kin  W.  Watkins.  Another  son,  John,  lives  in  the 
same  locality.  For  more  than  a year  the  Watkins 
family  was  deprived  of  the  society  of  its  countrymen, 
but  in  1834  a number  of  Welsh  families  located 


CLIFFORD. 


793 


around  them  and  made  permanent  the  Welsh  settle- 
ment, which,  with  the  families  living  in  Gibson  and 
Herrick,  now  numbers  more  than  three  hundred  souls. 
Those  coming  in  1834  were  Zacharias  Jenkins,  David 
Reese,  Win.  P.  Davis,  David  Moses,  David  Anthony, 
Rev.  Thomas  Edwards,  David  Edwards  and  Robert 
Ellis  and  their  families.  The  latter  was  a native  of 
North  Wales,  and  came  with  the  others  from  New 
York.  He  located  near  the  head  of  Long  Pond,  on 
the  farm  where  his  son  Robert  afterwards  lived.  The 
rest  of  the  immigrants  in  this  party  were  from  South 
Wales.  They  left  their  native  country  May  21,  1834, 
from  Swansea,  in  a brig  bound  for  Quebec.  The 
vessel  was  only  of  two  hundred  tons  burden,  not 
much  larger  than  a canal-boat.  There  were  on  board 
the  captain  and  five  sailors,  with  thirty-four  passen- 
gers. Most  of  the  latter  were  religious  people — 
Dissenters— now  “ coming  to  a country  where  they 
could  be  freed  from  paying  tithes  and  supporting  a 
church  they  did  not  believe  in.”  They  held  relig- 
ious meetings  on  board  the  ship,  and  as  they  had 
cross-winds  the  greater  part  of  their  voyage,  they 
were  seven  weeks  on  the  water  before  landing  at  Que- 
bec. Three  families  among  the  passengers  remained 
in  Canada ; the  others  came  to  Clifford.  For  many 
years  the  families  endured  all  the  hardships  of 
pioneers,  often  carrying  heavy  burdens  to  mills,  and 
from  Carbondale,  twelve  miles  distant.  The  few  cows 
they  owned  browsed  in  the  woods  during  the  summer 
season,  and,  as  they  often  failed  to  come  home  at 
night,  their  owners  were  obliged  to  hunt  them  up, 
and  they  were  often  lost  in  the  woods. 

Zacharias  Jenkins  settled  east  of  Long  Pond,  where 
Samuel  Owen  now  lives.  He  was  accompanied  by  his 
son  Evan,  who  married  a daughter  of  \Vm.  P.  Davis, 
and  has  since  removed  to  a farm  near  the  line  of 
Gibson.  Ann,  a daughter  of  Zacharias  Jenkins,  was 
the  first  person  buried  in  the  Welsh  settlement.  Mr. 
Jenkins,  when  sixty-seven  years  of  age,  was  lost  in  a 
swamp  near  Mud  Pond.  Night  overtook  him,  and,  as 
wolves  in  great  numbers,  and  an  occasional  bear  or 
panther,  roved  through  the  woods,  he  climbed  a tall 
pine  for  safety.  Here  he  remained  through  the  night, 
the  wolves  howling  around  him.  In  the  morning  he 
followed  the  outlet  of  the  pond  through  water  and 
thickets,  until  he  came  to  the  Milford  and  Owego 
turnpike,  within  one  mile  of  where  Lonsdale  now  is. 
When  asked  ho  w he  spent  the  night,  he  replied,  “ Hap- 
py, praying  and  singing  most  of  the  time.”  He  is 
remembered  as  “ an  excellent  singer  and  a good 
Christian.”  Evan  Jenkins  was  the  father  of  sons 
named  Thomas,  living  in  Wisconsin  ; William,  who 
died  in  the  army;  John,  living  in  Australia,  has  re- 
cently been  elected  a member  of  Parliament ; David, 
on  the  Pacific  coast ; and  Zachariah,  the  present 
sheriff  of  the  county. 

Wm.  P.  Davis  settled  on  the  turnpike,  where  he 
died  at  the  age  of  sixty-six.  His  son  William 
moved  to  Iowa,  and  Thomas  R.  is  living  near  Loiis- 
52 


dale.  The  daughters  were  married  to  Richard  Bell, 
Evan  Jenkins  and  William  Leek.  A son  of  Thomas 

R.  (Samuel  P.)  died  in  New  York  City,  in  March, 
1886,  while  pursuing  a course  in  a medical  college. 
Another  son,  Thomas  J.,  is  an  attorney  at  Mon- 
trose. 

Henry  Davis,  a native  of  Glamorganshire,  came  to 
America  in  1832,  but  did  not  come  from  Carbondale 
until  1836.  He  was  the  father  of  Samuel  Davis,  a 
teacher  of  repute,  who  died  while  superintendent  of 
the  Ashland  schools,  in  August,  1886,  at  the  age  of 
thirty-seven  years.  A little  earlier,  David  J.  and 
David  E.  Thomas,  Evan  Jones  (from  North  Wales), 
Job  Nicholas,  John  Michael  and  other  families  joined 
the  settlement.  Others  coming  at  later  periods  were 
equally  prominent  in  the  affairs  of  the  neighborhood. 
Their  names  appear  in  a history  of  the  Welsh  Church, 
whose  establishment  and  maintenance  was  one  of  the 
first  cares  of  this  people,  and  whose  teachings  have 
aided  to  make  them  a temperate  and  intelligent  com- 
munity. Many  of  the  young  people  have  become 
teachers ; a number  graduating  from  the  normal 
schools  of  the  State,  among  them  being  daughters  of 
David  L.  Richards  and  Rev.  Daniel  Daniels.  A son 
of  the  former  has  become  a successful  book  pub- 
lisher. 

The  settlement  and  development  of  Clifford  pro- 
gressed rapidly  after  1830.  Twelve  years  later,  in 
1842,  the  taxable  were  as  follows  ; 

Roswell  S.  Ames,  John  Aitkin,  John  Aitkin,  Jr.,  Benjamin  Ayres, 
Simeon  P.  Avery,  Solomon  Arnold,  Joseph  Arnold,  Robert  Arnott,  John 
Anderson,  Jr.,  John  A1  worth,  Milton  S.  Alworth,  David  Anthony,  Rich- 
ard Anthony,  Lewis  Anthony,  Henry  Armstrong,  Jonathan  Burns, 
Ellery  C.  Burns,  Rufus  Burritt,  Christian  Bruce,  Reuben  Bailey,  Thos. 
Burch,  Joseph  Babsou,  Goodwin  Baker,  Alpheus  B.  Baker,  Daniel  Ba- 
ker, Wheaton  C.  Barney,  Miles  B.  Benedict,  Abraham  Burdick,  Kendall 
Burdick,  Zebediah  Burdick,  Philip  Burdick,  Simeon  B.  Burdick,  Thos. 
Burdick,  Elias  Burdick,  Luther  S.  Burdick,  Stephen  Burdick,  Thomas 
Burdick  (2d),  John  Baker,  Artemas  Baker,  Archibald  Browning,  John 
Browning,  James  Broadford,  George  Brownell,  James  Brownell,  Wm. 

S.  Baldwin,  Solomon  Bolton,  Levi  Bell,  Sterling  Bell,  Henry  Bennett, 
Wines  Bennett,  Asa  Brundage,  Benjamin  Brownell,  Alexander  Burns, 
Jonathan  Burns,  Richard  Bell,  Job  Briggs,  Charles  Blackman,  John 
Cottrell,  John  Cottrell,  Jr.,  Thomas  B.  Cottrell,  Zenas  Carpenter,  Arte- 
mas Carpenter,  Ezra  Carpenter,  William  R.  Coleman,  Garrett  Coleman, 
William  Coleman,  Alexander  Coleman,  Ezra  Coleman,  Jeremiah  Cole- 
man, John  Coleman,  Ellery  Crandall,  Ellery  Crandall,  Jr , Hynan  G, 
Coates,  Slocum  Carr,  Peter  Campbell,  Enoch  Chambers,  James  Chambers, 
Abraham  Cramer,  Jacob  G.  Cuddeback,  Levi  Chamberlain,  Pulaski  W. 
Chamberlain,  Tirza  Callender,  Stephen  Callender,  Elias  Callender,  Wm. 
Coil,  Wm.  Coil,  Jr.,  James  Coil,  Jr.,  George  Coil,  John  Coil,  Henry  Coil, 
James  Coil,  Charles  Coil,  John  Chandler,  Ezra  Chandler,  Thomas  Chand- 
ler, Levi  Dearborn,  James  Douglass,  Philip  Dow,  Martin  Decker,  Chaun- 
cy  Decker,  Nelson  Decker,  Peter  Decker,  Peter  Dennis,  Thomas  Doud, 
John  Doud,  Harrison  Doud,  Franklin  Doud,  Benjamin  Daniels,  Walter 
Dickey,  William  P.  Davis,  Wm.  Davis,  Henry  Davis,  Lyman  Doolittle, 
Alfred  Dart,  Horace  Dart,  Oliver  Daniels,  Benjamin  Ellis,  Robert  Ellis, 
Jonathan  T.  Ellis,  David  Edwards,  Charles  P.  Edwards,  Walter  Forres- 
ter, James  Finn,  Alvah  Finn,  Clark  Finn,  William  S.  Finn,  Wm.  Finn, 
XJrial  Finn,  Joseph  Faulkner,  George  Gladhill,  James  Green,  William  T. 
Gritman,  Peter  Graham,  Benjamin  Galbraith,  Hubbard  Hadsall,  David 
W.  Halstead,  Alanson  Halstead,  Edward  Halford,  Robert  Hunter,  Jr., 
Peleg  Hopkins,  Robert  L.  Hunter,  Sloane  Hamilton,  John  W.  Hazard, 
Henry  C.  Healey,  Steplieu  Hodgson,  Samuel  Hodgson,  John  W.  Hazard, 
Henry  C.  Healey,  Francis  Hull,  William  Hill,  Aaron  Hawver,  Hiram 
Hawver,  William  Hughes,  Edward  Hughes,  John  Howells,  John  Irving. 
Stephen  Johnson,  Benjamin  W,  Johnson,  Isaac  Johnson,  Williiuii 


794 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


Jackson,  Elizabeth  Jackson,  Evan  Jones,  Evan  Jenkins,  Jeukin  Jen- 
kins, Thomas  Kelley,  Nathan  Kelley,  Urrin  D.  King,  Holloway 
Lowry,  George  Liiinin,  Orvis  Lewis,  Miller  P.  Lome,  John  McCalla, 
llichard  Meredith,  William  Meredith,  Archibald  McNeal,  Abiathar 
Millard,  Dudley  Maxon,  Edward  Maxon,  Isaac  V.  Maxon,  Charles  N. 
Miller,  Charles  Miller,  William  D.  Miller,  Zebulon  P.  Marcy,  Daniel 
Moses,  William  Mason,  John  Michael,  David  Mackey,  George  Mackey, 
Samuel  Nutting,  Thomas  Nutting,  Georg©  Nutting,  George  W.  North- 
rop, Abner  Norton,  Dorastus  Norton,  Roger  Orvis,  Edward  Oram, 
Sidney  G.  Oram,  Noah  Owens,  George  Patton,  Asher  Peck,  Samuel 
Payne,  Samuel  Payne,  Jr.,  Edmund  Payne,  Thomas  Powell,  Gideon 
Palmer,  Gideon  W.  Palmer,  Thomas  P.  Pliinny,  Elisha  Phinny,  Joman 
H.  Phelps,  Jesse  Packer,  James  Parker,  John  Patterson,  John  Pow- 
ell, William  Powell,  Jeremiah  Rounds,  Duty  Reynolds,  James  Rey- 
nolds, Jenkin  Reynolds,  John  Reynolds,  Addison  C.  Read,  Peter  Riv- 
enburg,  James  RoIIes,  Jr.,  David  Rees,  Harvey  Rogers,  Jas.  Rolles, 
George  Salsbury,  David  B.  Stivers,  Joel  Stivers,  Ziba  Stivers,  Benj. 
Smith,  Ransford  Smith,  Ransford  Smith,  Jr.,  Arthur  Smith,  Jacob  S. 
Smith,  David  Smith,  John  Smith,  Burgess  Smith,  Joseph  B.  Slocum,  Wm. 
H.  Slocum,  Isaac  Stiles,  Eben  H.  Stephens,  William  Stephens,  John 
Stephens,  William  Spencer,  Isaiah  Spencer,  John  Spaden,  Joel  Ste- 
vens, Jr.,  Philip  I.  Stewart,  Mahlon  C.  Stewart,  James  C.  Stewart, 
William  Shannon,  Stephen  St.  John,  Otis  C.  Severance,  Jonathan 
Stage,  Benajah  Tingley.,  Isaac  Tripp,  Orrin  Thatcher,  Jeremiah  Ting- 
ley,  John  Tinker,  James  Tinker,  Aduey  C.  Tomkins,  Perry  H.  Tut- 
tle, Isaac  Truesdell,  ^ m.  Tripp,  David  Thomas,  David  E.  Thomas, 
John  I.  Whitman,  Charles  H.  Whitman,  John  Westgate,  George  D. 
Westgate,  William  Wells,  James  Wells,  Wright  Wells,  John  W.  Wells, 
Sidney  B.  Wells,  Charles  H.  Wells,  John  Wells,  Adam  Welle,  Eliph- 
alet  Wells,  Wm.  Wells  (2d),  Henry  H.  Wheeler,  Silas  G.  Weaver, 
Abraham  Weaver,  Henry  A.  Weaver,  Samuel  T.  Wood,  Abel  Wright, 
William  Wilbur,  Lewis  White,  Daniel  Wedeman,  Henry  A.  Williams, 
Otis  Williams,  Charles  D.  Wilson,  Diinock  Wilson,  Amzi  Wilson, 
Michael  West,  Charles  M.  West,  Thomas  Watkins,  Abel  Wright, 
Dilton  Yarrington,  Alanson  Yarrington,  Siiiton  Yarrington. 

John  Halstead. — Among  the  older  families  of  this 
county  is  that  of  Halsted.  .John  Halstead,  the  first  of 
the  family  in  Pennsylvania,  a native  of  Orange 
County,  N.  Y.,  with  his  wife,  Rachel  Knapp,  settled 
near  Pittston  (then  Lackawanna)  oil  the  Susquehanna 
River,  remained  a few  years  and  removed  to  Clifford 
township,  Susquehanna  County,  locating  near  Elk- 
dale.  Their  son,  Alanson  D.  Halstead,  born  iu 
Orange  County  in  1791,  married  Phebe  Wells  (1797- 
1880),  whose  father,  James  Wells  (1750-1839),  was 
one  of  the  pioneer  business  men  of  this  vicinity. 
His  wife  was  Katie  Van  Auken,  and  their  children 
were  James,  Lydia  (Mrs.  Hartsey),  John,  William, 
Mary  (Mrs.  James  Finn),  Jane  (Mrs.  Hall  Stephens 
first,  and  now  the  widow  of  William  Coil,  living  in 
Lenox,  over  ninety-two  years  old),  Phebe  (Mrs.  A. 
D.  Halstead)  and  Eliphalet  Wells.  Of  these,  only 
Jane  and  Eliphalet  are  now  alive. 

After  the  marriage  of  their  son,  Alanson  D.  Hal- 
stead, Mr.  and  Mrs.  John  Halstead  removed  to  Liv- 
ingstone County,  N.  Y.,  where  they  both  died. 

Deacon  Alanson  D.  Halstead  was  major  of  militia 
for  a long  time,  and  was  an  active  and  intelligent 
man.  In  church-work  he  was  one  of  the  main  pil- 
lars of  the  Elkdale  Baptist  Church,  which  he  assisted 
in  organizing  and  building,  and  in  which  he  served  as 
deacon  until  his  death.  Plis  children  were  David 
W.  Halstead,  ordained  to  the  ministry  in  Wayne 
County,  filled  various  charges  until  his  death,  in 
1886  ; Catharine,  the  widow  of  Alexander  Coleman, 
a farmer,  lives  in  Scranton  ; Rachel  was  married  to 


Cyril  Peck,  a farmer,  and  died  in  1860 ; John ; Na- 
thaniel, now  a carpenter  and  builder,  lives  in  Scran- 
ton ; Rebecca,  the  wife  of  Samuel  Arnold,  a farmer 
near  Dundaff ; Margaret,  married  Sylvenus  Doolittle, 
a carpenter,  and  lives  in  Iowa  ; Charles,  a carpenter, 
lives  in  Scranton  ; Silas,  a farmer  at  Elkdale ; Mary 
and  Sidney,  died  in  youth ; and  Hugh,  who  died  in 
childhood. 

The  early  days  of  John  Halstead,  who  was  born  De- 
cember 8,  1821,  were  spent  upon  the  farm  and  in  the 
saw-mill  ofhis  father.  He  learned  the  trade  of  a black- 
smith and  carried  on  that  business  at  Elkdale  for  about 
a year  ; was  a farmer  on  the  Elk  Mountain  three  years, 
before  selling  out  in  1847.  After  a couple  of  years’ 
blacksmithing  at  the  Corners  he  began  a mercantile 
business  there,  and,  for  a period  of  seventeen  years, 
was  a main  instrument  in  drawing  business  and  resi- 
dents to  this  pleasant  village.  He  was  the  first  post- 
master of  the  place,  and  served  as  such  for  sixteen 
years.  In  1865  he  retired  from  the  store  business,  in 
order  to  give  entire  attention  to  the  growing  demands 
ofhis  live-stock  branch  ; and  in  this  department  his 
close  and  intelligent  care  and  judicious  management 
have  built  up  a large  and  profitable  enterprise.  His 
purchases  are  made  in  Susquehanna,  Lackawanna 
and  Wayne  Counties,  and  the  stock  is  shipped  alive 
to  New  York  and  New  Jersey  markets.  During  the 
last  twenty-five  years  he  has  been  extensively  en- 
gaged in  buying  wool,  in  connection  with  Azur 
Lathrop,  of  Montrose,  and  others,  and  has  probably 
paid  out  to  the  farmers  of  Clifford  township  and  ad- 
jacent territory  more  money  for  their  products  than 
any  other  man  ever  in  the  country.  His  warmest 
sympathies  have  always  been  manifested  in  the  cause 
of  temperance,  and  he  became  one  of  the  charter 
members  of  the  Good  Templars’  Lodge  at  Clifford, 
which  was  organized  in  1869  and  remained  in  opera- 
tion about  three  years.  After  the  sale  of  his  store 
property,  twenty  years  ago,  he  invested  in  farm  prop- 
erty, and  now  has  the  satisfaction  of  seeing  several 
handsome  residences  located  upon  his  land  and  form- 
ing a part  of  the  flourishing  village  of  Clifford.  In 
1843  he  married  Susan  A.  (1822-84),  the  daughter  of 
Artemas  (1782-1855)  and  Huldah  Nash  (1790-1859) 
Baker.  Mr.  Baker  was  a native  of  Massachusetts, 
and  settled  with  his  parents  in  old  Luzerne  County 
now  (Lackawanna),  Penn.,  whence  he  removed,  in 
1840,  to  Susquehanna  County  and  became  a farmer. 
His  children  were  John  Baker,  a farmer  and  carpen- 
ter, died  1883  ; Lucy,  the  widow  of  Alfred  Merriman, 
a farmer  of  Clifford  ; Nash,  a retired  merchant,  living 
at  Clifford  Coroers;  Mercy,  married  J.  L.  Merryman, 
Esq.,  of  Franklin  township,  and  died  in  1866;  Ann 
E.,  who  died  in  1885,  was  the  wife  of  William  R. 
Gardner,  a farmer  of  Lenox  ; Susan  A.,  became  Mrs. 
John  Halstead ; and  Eliza,  the  wife  of  Chauucey 
Decker,  a farmer  of  Lenoxville.  The  children  of 
John  and  Susan  A.  (Baker)  Halstead  are  Rachel  L., 
wife  of  Hiram  Rivenburg,  of  Clifford  ; Charles  L., 


CLIFFORD. 


795 


was  a merchant  at  Cliflbrd,  and  in  1869  married  Bina 
Seamans  (he  died  in  1878,  leaving  one  son);  Celia  S., 
married,  in  1878,  Ira  J.  Wetherby,  a farmer  of  Clif- 
ford ; and  Rosa  Dell  Halstead,  now  at  home.  The 
three  daughters  of  Mr.  Halstead  are  members  of  the 
Clifford  Baptist  Church. 

Business  Interests. — Until  within  recent  years 
the  jieople  of  Clifford  were  almost  exclusively  engaged 
in  agricultural  pursuits,  the  other  occupations  being 
confined  to  a few  persons  in  the  hamlets  and  small 
villages  which  are  the  recognized  trading  or  milling 
centres  of  the  township.  Forest  City,  with  its 
remarkable  growth  and  industries,  employing  hun- 
dreds of  men,  is  the  exception. 

On  the  stream  below  Dundaff,  William  Finn  had 
a pioneer  saw-mill,  which  did  good  service,  and  later 
mills  were  operated  at  other  sites  on  that  stream  by 
Peter  Rivenburg,  John  Barker  and  Eben  H.  Stephens, 
all  of  which  have  passed  away,  and  were  the  only 
industries  at  those  places. 

On  the  East  Branch  of  the  Tunkhannock,  two 
miles  northeast  from  Dundaff’  was  started  the  first 
business  place  in  Clifford.  As  early  as  1806  James 
Wells  put  up  a small  grist-mill  at  that  point,  which 
was  swept  away  by  a freshet.  The  following  year  he 
and  Asahel  Norton  united  in  building  another  mill, 
which  was  also  carried  away  by  a flood  in  the  course 
of  a few  years.  Before  1814  Lemuel  Norton  had  in 
operation  another  mill,  and  as  roads  were  now 
located  down  the  valley  and  up  from  Wilkes-Barre, 
the  place  began  to  partake  of  the  nature  of  a busi- 
ness point.  Ebenezer  Baker  was  the  owner  of  a store, 
the  first  in  the  township,  and  Joel  Stevens  was  a 
clothier,  but  having  his  shop  on  the  hill  southeast  from 
the  mills,  where  he  pressed  and  dyed  cloths  as  early  as 
1814.  The  existence  of  these  industries  caused  this 
locality  to  be  called  the  ^City,  a term  which  is  not  yet 
forgotten  in  connection  with  it.  In  1818  John  Atworth 
became  the  owner  of  the  mill,  which,  with  other 
property,  soon  after  passed  into  the  hands  of  Colonel 
Gould  Phinny  and  Horace  G.  Phelps.  In  1823  they 
began  other  enterprises,  and  the  place  now  became 
knowns  as  Phinmjtown.  Later  it  was  called  East 
Clifford,  and  at  present  is  properly  known  as  Elkdale. 
Like  many  other  inland  hamlets,  it  has  declined  in 
importance,  instead  of  keeping  pace  with  the  general 
improvements  of  the  country. 

Elkdale  has  a post-office,  store,  mill,  church  and 
school-house,  and  half  a dozen  dwellings.  The  post- 
office  was  established  at  the  store  of  G.  G.  Wells,  in 
December,  1877,  as  a private  office,  but  since  1881 
has  been  a regular  office  in  the  postal  service.  A 
daily  mail  from  Dundaff  is  supplied.  The  firm  of 
Gould  & Phelps  not  only  oi>erated  the  mills,  but  also 
distilled  liquor  and  had  a store.  In  1831  the  McCalla 


1 There  is  also  a tradition  that  tlie  place  toolc  its  name  from'tlie  fact 
that  a missionary  preaching  here  took  for  his  text:  “ Up,  get  ye  out  of 
this  place,  for  the  Lord  will  destroy  this  city.” 


Brothers  (John,  James  and  William)  became  the 
owners  of  the  mills  and  distillery,  which  they  carried 
on  extensively,  the  latter  until  1857.  In  its  best 
days  the  mill  had  three  runs  of  stones  and  had  a 
large  capacity.  In  1862  it  was  owned  by  William 
McCalla,  who  died  that  fall  from  injuries  received  in 
the  mill.  It  is  still  owned  by  his  heirs  but  is  oper- 
ated in  a small  way,  only.  The  saw-mill  and 
distillery  buildings  have  been  removed. 

John  Wells  was  an  early  cloth  fuller,  and  Horace 
G.  Phelps  had  a factory  in  which  carding  and  spin- 
ning was  also  done.  Both  removed  to  Dundaff 
before  1830.  The  latter  also  had  a large  tin-shop,  in 
which  J.  B.  Slocum  worked  as  a tinner.  Later, 
Archibald  Browning  opened  a small  store  at  the  Four 
Corners.  Thomas  Halstead  and  H.  W.  Johnson 
afterwards  traded  a short  time  in  a dwelling-house. 
Since  1867  the  present  store,  by  the  Wells  Brothers, 
has  been  carried  on.  In  the  spring  of  1887  a new 
industry  was  established  in  the  hamlet — a co-opera- 
tive creamery  being  gotten  in  operation  by  the 
farmers  of  this  vicinity.  Less  than  a mile  above  the 
McCalla  mills  Holloway  and  Janies  W.  Lowry  built 
a saw-mill  in  1852,  raising  the  frame  without  the  use 
of  liquor  for  the  men  who  assisted — an  unusual  event 
in  that  period.  Prior  to  this,  Thomas  Ustich  had  a 
small  woolen  factory  at  the  site,  operating  several 
looms.  After  1835,  John  James  did  some  carding. 
The  present  owner  of  the  mill  is  Olney  Rounds.  It 
has  circular-saws  and  a good  capacity.  Near  by, 
Emory  Mapes  has  had  a store  since  1884.  Two 
miles  below  Elkdale,  where  the  Owego  turnpike 
crosses  the  East  Branch,  Samuel  Weston  had  small 
saw  and  grist-mills,  which  were  abandoned  before 
1835.  He  also  kept  a small  store.  The  frames  of 
the  mill  buildings  and  the  raceway  remain,  hut  the 
place  has  long  since  been  farm  property.  Westward 
from  this  point  a number  of  public-houses  were  kept 
from  1820  to  1845.  Lyman  Lewis  was  at  the  Leek 
place,  but  had  first  kept  a tavern  on  the  John  Bolton 
place.  On  what  is  known  as  the  Hughes  farm,  Elias 
Bell  and  John  A1  worth  had  taverns ; and  Levi 
Chamberlain  had  a public-house  eight  years  on  the 
farm  now  owned  by  P.  W.  Chamberlain.  All  these 
buildings  have  long  since  been  devoted  to  farm  uses, 
and  the  turnpike  which  was  once  so  extensively 
traveled  is  now  a highway  of  less  importance  than 
many  other  roads  in  that  township. 

James  W.  Lowry. — The  progenitor  of  this  branch 
of  the  Lowry  family  in  the  United  States  was  John 
Lowry,  who  came  from  the  north  of  Ireland  and  lo- 
cated at  Lowell,  Mass.  There  exists  a family  tradi- 
tion to  the  effect  that  this  young  man  was  the  son  of 
a nobleman  emigrating  in  response  to  the  request  of 
an  uncle,  the  Lowell  who  founded  Lowell,  Mass.,  and 
that  owing  to  a shipwreck  he  lost  all  papers  and 
documents,  barely  escaping  with  his  life  and  a roll  of 
gold  coin  which  had  been  placed  around  his  waist  for 
safe  keeping.  He  married  Sabra  Hunt  and  raised  a 


796 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


large  family.  One  of  his  descendants,  George  Lowry, 
with  his  wife,  Mary,  removed  to  New  Jersey  late  in 
the  eighteenth  century  and  settled  at  Sparta,  where 
he  carried  on  the  trade  of  coopering  for  a number  of 
years.  In  1806  they  came  to  Pennsylvania,  first 
settling  in  Luzerne  County  and  some  few  years  later 
in  Cliftbrd  township,  this  county,  where  he  bought 
farm-land,  which  he  lost  through  a flaw  in  the  title 
and  shortly  thereafter  died.  Mrs.  Lowry  survived  her 
husband  many  years  and  married  again ; she  died  in 
1870,  aged  nearly  a hundred  years. 

Their  children  were  Holloway ; Nancy,  married 
Chauncey  Doming;  Polly,  married  Jeremiah  Tuttle; 
.lohn ; Catharine,  married  P.  S.  Foster ; George ; 
Sarah,  married  Orrin  Griswold ; and  Isaac.  Of  these, 
John  is  a business  man  in  Kansas;  George  is  a far- 
mer near  Elkdale;  and  Sarah  resides  at  Carbon- 
dale;  the  others  have  deceased.  Holloway  Lowry 
(1801-75)  was  born  at  Sparta  and  accompanied  his 
parents  in  their  removals.  In  1822  he  bought  land 
in  this  township,  which,  through  a defective  title,  he 
also  lost.  In  1823  he  bought  the  farm  ujjon  which, 
after  his  marriage  to  Sophia  Wells,  of  Clifibrd,  in 
1824,  he  located,  and  where  he  remained  until  his 
death.  He  also  purchased  a farm  on  the  eastern 
exposure  of  the  South  Knob  of  the  Elk  Mountain. 
His  habits  were  very  methodical,  and  so  exact  was  he 
in  his  business  affairs  that  after  his  decease  his  estate 
was  settled  by  his  son,  James  W.,  at  a remarkably 
small  expense.  His  children  were  Charles,  born 
1826,  a farmer  in  Lackawanna  County;  Martha,  born 
1828,  wife  of  Rev.  G.  M.  Dimmick,  now  of  Faribault 
County,  Minn.;  James  W.;  John,  born  1832,  a farmer 
in  Lackawanna  County ; Amy,  born  1834,  now  Mrs. 
J.  F.  Kinback,  of  Carbondale;  Sarah  (1836-63) 
was  the  wife  of  Elias  E.  Lowrie,  of  Lackawanna 
County;  Wright,  born  1838,  a farmer  in  Lackawanna 
County ; Clark,  born  1840,  a merchant  at  Scranton ; 
Benjamin,  1842,  a carpenter  and  builder  in  Luzerne 
County ; Hezekiah,  born  1844,  a farmer  and  stock 
dealer,  living  on  the  old  homestead ; Samantha,  born 
1847,  married,  first,  Thomas  Kelly,  of  Gibson  town- 
ship, and  is  now  the  wife  of  John  Philbin,  of  Carbon- 
dale,  Pa.  James  W.  Lowry,  born  July  18,  1830,  in 
Clifford  township,  obtained  an  academical  education 
at  Dundaff  and  Waverly,  Pa.,  and  was  a teacher  in 
the  public  schools  of  Susquehanna  and  Wayne 
Counties  for  seven  years.  He  married,  in  1854,  pur- 
chased a farm  near  Elkdale,  on  the  East  Branch  of 
the  Tunkhannock  Creek,  and  commenced  housekeep- 
ing. In  connection  with  his  father  he  erected  a saw- 
mill upon  the  property  and  carried  on  lumbering  for 
eight  years,  the  last  seven  years  as  the  sole  proprietor, 
and  then  bought  the  present  homestead  at  Elkdale. 
When  the  rebels  threatened  Pennsylvania,  during  the 
recent  war,  Mr.  Lowry,  with  his  three  brothers,  joined 
a company  of  volunteers  and  proceeded  to  Harrisburg 
to  offer  their  services  to  the  Governor,  and  were  en- 
camped on  Capitol  Hill.  Before  their  acceptance 


by  the  State  authorities  word  came  that  the  rebels 
had  been  driven  from  Pennsylvania  soil  and,  the 
threatened  danger  being  happily  averted,  the  com- 
pany of  emergency  men  were  returned  to  their  homes 
by  authority.  Mr.  Lowry  had  been  identified  with 
political  matters  for  over  twenty-five  years ; was 
school  director  during  fifteen  years  and  justice  of  the 
peace  eleven  years.  In  1878  he  was  nominated  by 
the  Republican  party  for  member  of  the  State  Legis- 
lature, and,  although  defeated  by  the  combined  Demo- 
cratic and  Greenback  parties,  had  the  satisfaction  of 
running  far  above  his  party  vote,  he  coming  within 
thirty  votes  of  an  election.  He  is  a member  of  the 
Baptist  Church  and  for  many  years  has  been  clerk  of 
the  Elkdale  Church.  He  is  associated  with  Rev. 
Dr.  J.  H.  Harris  and  E.  M.  Peck  as  a committee 
appointed  by  the  Abington  Association  in  the  interest 
and  for  the  supervision  of  its  Sunday-school  work. 
’Squire  Lowry  is  an  active  and  enterprising  man, 
interested  in  farming  and  bee  culture,  in  the  agricul- 
tural implement  business  and  in  the  purchase  and 
sale  of  fiirm  stock  quite  largely.  In  1854  he  married 
Alma  (born  November  17,  1830),  the  daughter  of 
Thomas  and  Elizabeth  (Worth)  Taylor,  a native  of 
Luzerne  County,  whose  father,  Thomas  Taylor,  born 
in  1797,  at  Providence,  Pa.,  is  still  a resident  of  Lacka- 
wanna County.  Their  children  are  Wells  J.,  Mil- 
ton  W.,  Samuel  E.,  Eva  L.,  and  Susie  A.;  also 
George  E.,  who  died  in  childhood.  The  ’Squire  is  a 
firm  believer  in  the  value  of  a liberal  education  and 
has  given  his  children  excellent  advantages ; all  have 
attended  the  Keystone  Academy,  at  Factory  ville  and 
the  eldest.  Wells  J.,  is  a practicing  physician  at  Har- 
ford. Dr.  W.  J.  Lowry  has  been  twice  married — first, 
to  Celia  M.  Fuller,  and  after  her  death  to  Flora  M. 
Hammond,  who  has  borne  him  one  child,  Mabel. 
Milton  W.  Lowry,  the  second  son,  applied  himself  to 
the  legal  profession  and  completed  the  full  course  at 
the  Pennsylvania  State  College,  He  was  admitted 
through  a competitive  examination.  He  followed 
this  by  reading  law  in  the  office  of  Hon.  W.  W. 
Watson,  of  Scranton,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  of 
Lackawanna  County  in  1886.  He  married  Annie  M., 
the  adopted  daughter  of  Clark  Lowry,  of  Scranton. 

At  the  intersection  of  the  Carbondale  and  Owego 
turnpikes  a small  hamlet  has  sprung  up,  which  has 
received  the  name  of  West  Clifford.  The  beginning 
of  the  place  was  the  steam  saw-mill  of  William,  James 
and  John  Lee,  which  was  put  up  to  convert  the  heavy 
hemlock  forests  of  this  section  into  lumber.  When 
first  started  the  product  was  about  a million  feet  per 
year.  Though  not  operated  so  extensively,  it  is  still 
largely  carried  on  by  the  present  proprietor,  J.  B. 
Stephens.  H.  W.  Johnson  opened  a store  which  was 
last  kept  in  1883  by  W.  H.  Hasbrouck.  The  hamlet 
has  an  Evangelical  Church,  shops  and  a few  resi- 
dences. 

Northeast,  on  the  outlet  of  Long  Pond,  John  Chand- 
ler erected  a saw-mill  about  1830,  which  was  operated 


CLIFFORD. 


797 


by  Zophar  Mackey.  Owen  Morgan  rebuilt  this  mill  and 
for  the  past  twenty  years  has  carried  it  on.  On  Cam- 
bria Hill,  Leyshon  & Owens  had  a small  store  a few 
few  years.  At  this  jjlace  the  Clifford  Cambrian  Good 
Templars’  Association’  put  up  a hall,  which  is  still 
owned  by  that  body.  The  association  was  chartered 
October  17,  1870,  and  had  Z.  D.  Jenkins  and  others  as 
corporators.  For  a few  years  the  lodge  was  vigorous, 
but  the  meetings  have  not  been  held  for  some  time, 
and  the  hall  has  since  been  devoted  to  public  gather- 
ings. 

Lonsdale  is  a small  but  pretty  hamlet  at  the  inter- 
section of  Lonsdale  and  Brooklyn  turnpike  with  the 
Clifford  and  Carbondale  turnpike.  The  latter  was 
built  in  1847  and  the  former  in  1849.  From  that 
period  dates  the  history  of  the  hamlet,  which,  from 
1850  for  the  next  few  years,  was  more  important  than 
any  other  place  of  its  size  in  this  part  of  the  county. 
Peter  Rynearson  lived  here  about  1818  and  sold  his  im- 
provements to  Geo.  Brownell  before  1825,  who  further 
cleared  up  what  is  now  the  site  of  the  hamlet.  He  sold 
part  of  his  land  to  Henry  A.  Williams,  who  named 
the  place  in  honor  of  his  old  home  in  Rhode  Island. 
The  first  public  building  was  the  hotel  put  up  by  Geo. 
Brownell,  Jr.,  in  1846,  and  which  was  kept  by  him 
several  years,  when  it  was  converted  into  a residence, 
and  is  now  the  J.  B.  Stephens  home.  Opposite  this 
building  Henry  A.  Williams  put  up  the  present  hos- 
telry, in  1849.  It  is  a very  large  frame  building  and 
was  erected  with  a special  view  to  accommodate  social 
parties.  Its  dancing-hall  is  thirty  by  fifty  feet  and 
has  a floor  with  a spring  of  ten  inches.  On  popular 
occasions  as  many  as  two  hundred  people  patronized 
the  balls  given  by  Williams,  and  his  trading  patron- 
age was  also  very  large,  which  gave  the  place  an  ex- 
tended reputation.  After  the  death  of  Williams  this 
fame  diminished  and,  in  later  years,  the  place  has  been 
a common  tavern.  The  store  in  the  hamlet  was 
opened  by  T.  J.  Wells,  in  1851,  and  has  since  been 
kept  by  him.  The  post-office  bears  the  name  of 
Royal  and  was  established  May  19,  1884,  with  Robert 
H.  Wells  as  postmaster.  It  was  given  in  compliment 
to  the  Royal  Baking  Powder,  and  the  company  man- 
ufacturing that  article  favored  the  hamlet  by  erecting 
a very  fine  pole,  one  hundred  and  two  feet  high,  and 
presenting  several  flags  to  wave  from  the  same.  Wells 
has  been  a wheelwright  at  this  place  the  jiast  thirty 
years.  A post  of  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic 
holds  its  meetings  at  Lonsdale. 

Clifford  Village  is  in  the  beautiful  valley  bear- 
ing the  same  name,  near  where  it  passes  into  Lacka- 
wanna County.  The  Betsey  or  Alder  Brook  bisects 
the  valley,  affording  a water-power  near  the  township 
line,  which  was  improved,  after  1834,  by  William  W. 
Wells,  to  operate  carding  and  saw-mills.  They  have 
long  since  gone  down.  So  also  has  the  tannery  put 
up  below  the  village,  in  1850,  by  David  and  Burgess 
Smith,  and  carried  on  by  them  about  ten  years.  Shoes 
were  made  in  connection  and  a shop  has  been  carried 


on  ever  since  by  Burgess  Smith.  In  recent  years  a 
steam  grist-mill,  of  small  capacity,  was  operated  by 
William  Leek,  which  has  been  moved  to  Forest  City, 
leaving  the  village  without  any  manufactories  and 
strictly  a trading  point.  The  early  settlers  on  this 
site  were  the  Millers,  Hardings  and  Robinsons,  the 
latter  living  on  the  county  line,  on  the  farm  which  be- 
came the  Wells  property  in  1834.  A portion  of  the 
Harding  farm,  which  had  first  been  occupied  by  Ad- 
am Miller,  passed  to  the  Callender  family  ; James  Finn 
lived  near  the  Baptist  Church  ; George  Oram  on  the 
Wetherby  place;  and  Jacob  G.  Cuddeback  on  the 
farm  above.  Along  the  eastern  hill  was  a road  to 
Wells’  fulling-mill,  and  where  it  crossed  the  Dun- 
daff  road  Sinton  Yarrington  had  a blacksmith-shop, 
which  was  the  only  interest,  other  than  farms,  until 
1847.  That  year  the  Clifford  and  Carbondale  turn- 
pike was  built  and  the  village  properly  founded.  Its 
growth  was  slow  and  not  very  substantial  until  with- 
in the  last  decade.  In  this  period  a number  of  very 
fine  residences  have  been  put  up,  some  in  the  modern 
style  of  architecture,  and  other  attractive  improve- 
ments made.  All  the  residences,  with  one  exception, 
are  owned  by  the  occupants.  There  are  three 
churches,  four  stores,  hotel,  a number  of  shops  and 
one  hundred  and  ninety  inhabitants. 

The  first  business  houses  were  erected  by  Emory 
Mapes,  in  1847,  and  consisted  of  a store  and  tavern, 
the  former  standing  on  the  site  of  the  present  hotel. 
The  tavern  stood  on  a lot  adjoining,  and  both  were 
kept  by  Mapes.  In  a short  time  C.  D.  Wilson  be- 
came the  owner,  who  sold  to  Baker  & Thacher.  In 
1850  that  firm  built  a store  on  the  corner  opposite 
their  old  one,  and  there  engaged  in  trade.  This  was 
destroyed  by  fire  in  1851.  John  Halstead  erected  a 
new  store  on  this  site  in  1854,  and  occupied  it  for 
trading  purposes  many  years,  also  being  the  post- 
master. H.  W.  Johnson  was  a later  merchant  and 
Julius  Young  is  the  present  merchant  there.  The 
stand  diagonally  ojiposite  was  built  by  N.  C.  Baker 
after  the  war,  and  the  adjoining  building,  now  occu- 
pied as  a store  and  post-office,  by  J.  M.  Robinson, 
was  put  up  by  the  Patrons  of  Husbandry.  The 
upper  part  formed  a hall  for  their  meetings,  and  is 
now  used  for  other  gatherings.  A fourth  stand  was 
erected  by  Dr.  P.  N.  Gardner,  in  which  a large 
number  of  persons  have  traded,  and  which  is  now 
occupied  by  F.  E.  Finn.  The  old  hotel  was  destroyed 
by  fire  in  September,  1876,  and  the  site  has  since 
been  vacant.  The  present  hotel  was  built  in  1877  by 
Aug.  Hassler,  and  since  1878  has  been  owned  by 
Frank  B.  Williams.  Goodwin  Baker  was  a pioneer 
undertaker:  Arnold  Green  was  later,  and  B.  F.  Wells 
succeeded  him  in  1869.  A.  E.  Tiffany  is  the  con- 
tractor and  builder. 

Clifford  post-office  was  established  February  19, 
1851,  with  John  Halstead  as  postmaster,  and  the  fol- 
lowing served  as  successive  appointees  : September 
' 24,  1858,  Jonathan  N.  Baker  ; April  19,  1861,  John 


798 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


Halstead;  July  9,  1866,  Peter  H.  Gardner;  January 
2,  1883,  Julius  Young;  November  27,  1885,  Milo  J. 
Robinson. 

J.  Monroe  Callender. — The  first  of  this  family 
of  whom  we  have  any  knowledge  was  Samuel  Cal- 
lender (1757-1830),  a native  of  Virginia,  who  took 
part  in  the  Revolutionary  War,  and  is  said  to  have 
belonged  to  Washington’s  body  guard.  His  wife 
was  Martha  Slawson  (1756-1836),  whom  he  married 
in  1780,  and  their  children  were  Sarah,  born  in  1780  ; 
Betsey,  1781  ; Samuel  (1783-1857) ; Rhoda,  born 
1785;  Nathan  (1787-1830)  ; Stephen  (1789-1821),  be- 
came the  father  of  Elder  Nathan  Callender,  now  of 
Scott  township,  Lackawanna  County.  Sarah  married 
Isaac  London,  of  Lackawanna  County.  Polly  mar- 
ried Silas  Horton  ; Rhoda  married  Hiram  Horton  ; 
Betsey  married  Samuel  Howell— the  three  latter  all 
of  Orange  County.  The  children  were  born  in 
Orange  County,  N.'  Y.,  where  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Callender 
settled  after  their  marriage ; he,  it  is  said,  hav- 
ing been  disowned  by  his  parents  for  taking  the 
patriot  side  in  the  war  for  independence.  The 
eldest  son,  Samuel  Callender,  removed  to  Pennsyl- 
vania at  an  early  date,  and  was  the  founder  of  Cal- 
lender’s Corners,  Lackawanna  County,  whither  his 
father  and  part  of  the  family  some  time  afterwards 
followed  him.  Nathan  Callender  served  an  appren- 
ticeship as  a tanner  and  currier  at  Middletown,  N.  Y., 
and  removed  to  Lackawanna  County  and  worked  at 
his  trade  near  the  Corners.  In  1810  he  married 
Thirza  (1790-1868),  the  daughter  of  Abra  and  Joanna 
Wetherby,  of  Greenfield  (now  Scott)  township, 
Lackawanna  County.  She  was  born  in  Cheshire 
County,  N.  H.,  and  came  to  Pennsylvania  with  her 
parents  when  sixteen  years  old.  Some  time  after 
their  union  they  came  to  Susquehanna  County,  and 
in  1818  he  was  part  owner  of  a saw-mill  near  Dun- 
daff,  also  of  several  others  in  different  parts  of  Clif- 
ford township.  He  operated  a tannery  at  Duudalf, 
besides  having  a distillery  near  that  place.  Fora 
year  or  two  he  was  proprietor  of  the  Dundaff  Hotel, 
after  retiinng  from  which  he  built  what  was  after- 
wards known  as  the  Upper  Hotel,  which  was  de- 
stroyed by  fire  about  1870.  He  appears  to  have  been 
an  energetic  and  progressive  business  man.  When 
Amos  Harding  moved  to  the  West,  about  1820,  Mr. 
Callender  purchased  from  him  the  large  farm  which 
now  forms  an  important  j>art  of  Clifford  Corners, 
and  upon  the  sudden  death  of  her  husband,  Mrs. 
Callender  removed  to  that  place  with  her  little  ones. 
Their  children  were  Melissa  (1811-43)  was  the  wife 
of  Goodwin  Baker,  a cabinet  maker  of  this  township ; 
Anna  Jane,  born  1813,  the  widow  of  Elias  Stevens, 
a farmer,  now  living  at  the  Corners ; Nancy  (1815-53) 
was  the  wife  of  John  Baker,  a farmer  and  carpenter; 
Mary  H.,  married  Shelden  Hall,  a farmer,  and  died 
in  Wisconsin  ; Clarissa  and  Caroline,  twins : Clarissa 
(1820-50)  was  the  wife  of  John  M.  Wells,  who  car- 
ried on  the  fulling-mill  and  saw-mill  near  Clifford  ; 


Caroline  (1820-48)  was  the  wife  of  Joel  Stevens,  a 
farmer  of  this  township  ; J.  Monroe;  and  Martha  J., 
born  1826,  now  living  with  her  brother  Monroe. 
Of  the  above,  Melissa,  Nancy,  Clarissa  and  Caroline 
lie  buried  in  the  Clifford  Cemetery,  and  there  also 
lies  Mrs.  Thirza  Callender,  who,  in  1845,  had  mar- 
ried Jeremiah  Cap  well,  of  Luzerne  County,  and  after 
his  death,  in  1864,  returned  to  Clifford  to  enjoy  the 
remaining  four  years  of  her  life.  J.  Monroe  Cal- 
lender, born  January  15,  1824,  at  Dundaff,  had  very 
little  opportunity  for  acquiring  an  education,  having 
been  but  six  years  old  when  his  father  died,  and  be- 
ing the  only  boy  in  the  family  many  matters  upon 
the  farm  devolved  upon  him.  He  grew  up  to  be  a 
sturdy,  self-reliant  and  active  man,  and  still  main- 
tains those  characteristics.  He  has  always  carried 
on  the  farm  and  his  labors  have  been  judicious. 
For  about  three  years  subsequent  to  1851  he  was  the 
proprietor  of  the  Clifford  Hotel.  His  farm  is  finely 
located,  and  at  one  time  contained  an  orchard  of  five 
hundred  apple  trees,  two  of  which  still  remain  and 
measure  nine  feet  four  inches  each,  at  the  height  of 
a foot  from  the  ground,  and  one  of  them  bore  forty- 
five  bushels  of  fruit  in  1881.  On  this  farm  is  one  of 
the  oldest  and  most  substantial  barns  in  the  county, 
the  frame  of  it  being  thi  rty-six  by  forty  feet  and  of 
solid  cherry. 

About  1860  he  joined  the  Baptist  Church  with  his 
wife,  and  is  a consistent  member  thereof.  In  1848  he 
married  Mary  S.  Oram  (1824r-61),  whose  parents  were 
George  (1780-1836)  and  Mary  Oram  (1785-1853), 
natives  of  Somersetshire,  England,  and  early  settlers 
in  Clifford.  Their  children  were  Thirza  Mary  Callen- 
der (1849-70);  Thomas  Clarence  (1853-63);  Helen 
Augusta  (1856-63) ; Carrie  Alice  and  Clara  Agnes, 
twins,  born  1861 : Carrie  Alice  died  1862 ; Clara  Ag- 
nes married  Eugene  Kennedy,  of  Lackawanna 
County,  in  1881,  is  a farmer  and  dealer.  For  his 
second  wife  Mr.  Callender  married,  in  1869,  Mrs. 
Mary  A.  Decker,  who  was  born  in  1837,  and  had  one 
child,  Adelaide,  the  wife  of  K.  M.  Miller,  a farmer 
of  Greenfield  township,  Lackawanna  County.  Mrs. 
Decker  was  the  daughter  of  Deacon  J.  G.  Wetherby, 
of  the  Clifford  Baptist  Church,  and  his  wife,  Arminda 
Vail,  both  of  whom  reside  near  the  Corners.  She 
was  first  married,  in  1860,  to  Edward  C.  Decker,  of 
Clifford,  who  died  in  1863,  aged  thirty-two  years. 

Since  1852  Dr.  P.  H.  Gardner  has  been  the  resident 
physician,  succeeding  Dr.  J.  C.  Olmstead,  who  came 
here  a few  years  earlier  and  removed  to  Dundaff, 
Other  physicians  were  here  for  short  periods,  and, 
since  1882,  Dr.  E.  R.  Gardner  has  been  associated  with 
his  father  as  a practitioner. 

Clifford  Lodge,  No.  439,  F.  A.  J/.,  was  instituted 
before  1870,  and  held  its  meetings  in  the  Grange  Hall 
until  it  surrendered  its  charter,  early  in  1884.  At  one 
time  it  was  very  prosperous,  but  removals  and  other 
causes  reduced  its  membership  to  thirteen,  when  the 
meetings  were  discontinued. 


*3 


CLIFFORD. 


799 


The  Masonic  Lodge,  instituted  in  Clifford,  January 
24,  1811,  and  of  which  David  Taylor,  Jonathan  Wil- 
bur, Joseph  Potter,  Oliver  Granger  and  Abel  Kent 
were  officers,  held  its  meetings  in  the  northern  part 
of  the  old  township,  in  what  is  now  Gibson,  and  was 
superseded,  in  1816,  by  North  Star  Lodge,  No.  119, 
of  Gibson. 

At  Clifford  a Good  Templar  Lodge  meets  statedly 
in  Grange  Hall,  and  here  are  also  held  the  bi-weekly 
meetings  of  the  “Clifford  Literary  Union,”  which 
was  organized  in  November,  1886.  In  April,  1887, 
there  were  twenty-five  members  and  a library  contain- 
ing one  hundred  volumes  of  standard  books. 

Crystal  Lake. — This  beautiful  sheet  of  water  is 
one  mile  southeast  from  Dundaff,  and  so  located  that 
about  three-fourths  of  it  is  in  Lackawanna  County. 
It  has  an  almost  eliptical  shape,  being  about  one  and 
one-fourth  miles  long  and  a little  more  than  half  that 
wide.  The  entire  area  is  three  hundred  and  eighty- 
four  acres.  The  water  is  remarkably  clear  and  pure, 
and  is  supj)lied  by  springs  at  the  bottom  of  the  lake. 
The  depth  varies  from  sixty  to  a hundred  feet,  the 
bed  presenting  a topograi>hy  of  small  hills  and  hol- 
lows, not  unlike  the  physical  features  of  the  contigu- 
ous land.  The  beach  is  firm,  and  is  composed  of 
crystal  sand,  whose  clearness  blends  with  the  bright- 
ness of  the  water,  causing  the  lake  to  sparkle  like  a 
gem.  The  shores  are  not  abrupt,  but  recede  gently, 
tilled  fields  sweeping  down  to  the  edge  of  the  water. 
On  the  northeast  side  a grove  of  natural  trees  re- 
main, which  has  been  improved  for  pic-nic  purposes; 
and  on  the  lake  a small  steamboat  was  jjlacedfor  the 
benefit  of  pleasure-parties.  Hundreds  of  visitors 
yearly  frequent  this  charming  spot,  whose  attractions^ 
in  connection  with  those  of  the  surrounding  counti’y, 
have  made  this  one  of  the  most  popular  resorts  in  the 
northeastern  part  of  the  State.  In  1828  the  lake  was 
stocked  with  pickerel,  and  fish  of  many  other  sj>ecies 
abound.  The  lake  was  patented  to  Peter  Campbell, 
who  conveyed  it  to  the  Delaware  & Hudson  Canal 
Company,  who  use  it  as  a feeder  for  their  mining 
works  in  the  vicinity  of  Carbondale,  the  outlet  being 
deepened  for  this  purpose,  to  afford  a greater  flow 
of  water.  In  its  use  it  serves  as  an  extra  reservoir. 

Soon  after  the  county  was  settled,  a tavern  was 
opened  at  Crystal  Lake  by  James  Coil,  Jr.,  and  which 
was  kept,  in  1827,  by  Benajah  P.  Millard,  of  Lenox. 
Peter  Campbell  became  the  owner,  and  in  1834 
Charles  Barstow  began  keeping  the  house.  Benja- 
min Ayres  succeeded  him,  and  during  his  residence 
the  house  was  burned.  Peter  Campbell  built  a part 
of  the  present  house,  on  the  site  of  the  old  one,  but 
it  has  been  enlarged  and  improved  to  accommodate 
forty  guests,  affording  them  a pleasant  summer  home. 
For  many  years  the  house  and  grounds,  comprising 
about  five  hundred  acres  of  land,  have  been  the  prop- 
erty of  the  Simpson  Brothers,  and  for  fourteen  years 
the  hotel  was  kept  by  0.  P.  Phinny.  Since  the  spring 
of  1886  the  proprietor  has  been  John  W.  Barnes. 


Overlook  Cottage”  on  the  hill  commanding  the 
lake,  is  a pleasant  summer  house,  kept  by  S.  H.  John- 
son. 

Forest  City. — This  new  and  rapidly-growing 
town  is  on  the  west  side  of  the  Lackawanna  River,  in 
the  southeastern  part  of  the  township,  and  is  also  a 
station  on  the  Jefferson  Branch  of  the  Erie  Railway. 
The  main  part  of  the  town  is  built  on  a bend  of  the 
hill  bordering  the  narrow  valley,  about  eighty  feet 
above  the  level  of  the  river.  Along  this  is  built  the 
railroad,  and  the  live  streets  of  the  town  have  a nearly 
parallel  course,  almost  north  and  south,  each  street 
being  elevated  about  thirty  feet  above  the  other.  No 
grades  have  been  established,  and  Main  Street  is  the 
only  one  which  has  had  the  stones  and  stumps 
cleared  from  its  course.  The  appearance  of  the 
other  streets  and  the  contiguous  lots  truly  indicate 
the  building  of  a city  in  a forest.  The  country  is 
wild  and  mountainous  and- the  place  is  easily  accessi- 
ble only  through  the  valley,  over  long  and  difficult 
road.s,  which  were  constructed  to  carry  away  the 
lumber  which  was  cut  at  the  mills  along  the  Lacka- 
wanna thirty  years  ago  and  later.  Aside  from  the 
small  clearing  made  on  the  Barrett  farm,  all  this  sec- 
tion was  a comparative  wilderness  until  after  the 
completion  of  the  railroad,  in  1871,  when  a few  more 
persons  came  to  work  at  the  mills,  as  their  product 
could  now  be  increased.  Yet,  in  spite  of  these  disad- 
vantages of  location,  a town  has  been  built  here 
within  the  space  of  a few  years,  which  had,  in  April, 
1887,  a settled  population  of  two  thousand  souls, 
about  one-half  of  which  had  been  added  in  the  course 
of  a few  months,  with  a transient  population  running 
into  the  hundreds.  There  were  more  than  a dozen 
stores,  two  hotels,  a Methodist  Church  and  a good 
school-house,  with  a number  of  the  adjuncts  of  an 
old  place,  many  of  them  brought  into  existence  with- 
in the  last  year.  Many  of  the  public  and  private 
buildings  are  attractive  and  substantial,  and  the  town, 
though  fairly  in  a transition  state,  has  less  of  the 
crude  and  unfinished  appearance  than  most  towns  of 
a like  nature.  This  wonderful  development  has 
been  brought  about  mainly  by  the  discovery  and 
mining  of  anthracite  coal,  all  prior  interests  being 
confined  to  lumbering. 

The  existence  of  coal  in  this  section  was  long  sus- 
pected, but  no  systematic  effort  to  develop  it  was 
made  until  after  the  completion  of  the  railroad.  A 
cut  in  the  track  revealed  the  out-cropping  of  coal, 
and  bore-holes  made  with  the  diamond  drill  also  in- 
dicated the  presence  of  that  mineral,  but  the  dip  of 
the  rocks  made  it  doubtful  whether  it  existed  in  pay- 
ing quantities.  A further  test  confirmed  the  belief 
of  sanguine  prospectors,  and  led  the  Hillside  Coal 
and  Iron  Company  to  purchase  large  tracts  of  land 
for  mining  purposes.  It  thus  secured  the  James  Bar- 
rett farm  of  nearly  one  hundred  acres  and  other 
holdings,  in  1873.  The  following  year  Z.  Kreger  & 
Bros,  began  opening  a mine  for  the  company,  and 


soo 


HISTOllY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


struck  a paying  vein  of  coal  within  seventy  feet.  In 
1874  a small  breaker  was  put  up,  hewed  timbers  being 
used  in  its  construction,  and  in  1875  the  shipment  of 
coal  in  a small  way  was  begun.  This  mine  was 
worked  until  1883,  the  screen  being  operated  by  mule- 
power,  and  the  output  amounting  to  about  three 
thousand  tons  per  month.  In  1885  this  breaker 
burned  down,  but  in  the  fall  of  1886  the  foundations 
for  a larger  breaker  were  laid,  thirty  rods  north  of  the 
old  one.  While  this  vein  was  worked  a mining  ham- 
let sprang  up,  not  exceeding  a dozen  buildings  in  all, 
in  1881,  most  of  them  being  owned  by  the  Hillside 
Coal  and  Iron  Company.  Meantime  a new  shaft 
was  being  sunk  by  the  company  lower  down  the  val- 
ley, and  a breaker  erected  in  connection,  employing 
steam-power,  which  was  fairly  gotten  in  operation  in 
1884.  The  coal  found  was  a very  pure  anthracite, 
lying  in  veins  of  such  thickness  that  it  confirmed  the 
hopes  of  those  interested  that  mining  would  here  be- 
come a permanent  bu.siness.  Coal  was  also  found  on 
the  lands  of  the  Delaware  and  Hudson  Canal  Com- 
pany, on  the  east  side  of  the  river,  with  prospects  of 
its  early  development.  An  unusual  interest  in  the 
future  of  the  place  was  awakened,  and  from  early  in 
1884  may  be  dated  the  real  growth  of  the  town. 
Houses  were  rapidly  erected  on  lots  leased  from  the 
Hillside  Company,  and  in  the  spring  of  1886  the  Del- 
aware and  Hudson  Canal  Company  sold  lots  outright 
from  its  tract  on  the  west  side  of  the  creek,  which 
had  the  effect  of  still  further  stimulating  the  building 
boom.  In  the  fall  of  that  year  the  work  of  mining 
was  commenced  in  the  second  shaft  of  the  Hillside 
Company,  at  a depth  of  nearly  one  hundred  and 
forty  feet,  or  about  double  that  of  the  shaft  near  at 
hand.  In  this  mine  the  vein  is  nearly  seven  feet 
thick. 

The  breaker  was  also  enlarged  to  double  its  former 
capacity  and,  in  March,  1887,  over  eleven  thousand 
tons  of  coal  were  mined.  About  three  hundred  men 
and  boys,  most  of  them  Welsh,  are  employed  under  the 
direction  of  Benjamin  Maxey,  mine  boss,  and  J.  D. 
Caryl,  outside  boss.  The  superintendent  of  the  com- 
pany is  W.  A.  May,  of  Scranton.  Other  mine  bosses 
were  David  McDonald  and  Alexander  McKay.  For 
several  years  A.  L.  Reed  had  charge  of  the  outside 
affairs  of  the  company. 

It  has  been  stated  that  lumbering  was  the  first 
business  interest  carried  on  in  this  section.  At  an 
early  day  the  Delaware  and  Hudson  Canal  Company 
secured  large  tracts  of  timber  land  in  this  region  and 
put  up  mills  on  the  Lackawanna  to  cut  up  the  same. 
Such  a mill  was  put  up  at  the  outlet  of  the  “Still- 
water,” which  was  operated  until  it  became  useless. 
A steam-mill  of  larger  capacity  is  now  in  that  neigh- 
borhood. Below  Forest  City,  Hosea  Carpenter  had 
an  upright  mill  which  he  sold  to  Brennan  & Wood- 
man. In  1864  the  Delaware  and  Hudson  Canal 
Company  erected  a new  mill,  also  with  upright  saws, 
which  w'as  carried  on  successfully,  a number  of  years, 


by  William  Pentecost.  The  present  is  the  third  mill 
at  this  site,  and  has  circular  saws,  giving  it  increased 
capacity.  James  Johns  is  the  present  operator. 
Higher  up  the  stream  the  Hillside  Company  put  up  a 
mill,  in  1882,  which  was  burned.  It  was  rebuilt  and 
again  burned  in  the  fall  of  1886.  A new  mill  on  its 
site  has  just  been  gotten  in  operation.  The  motive- 
power  is  steam. 

Martin  Barrett  sold  the  first  goods  in  the  place, 
beginning  to  trade  in  April,  1875.  Since  1880  he  has 
occupied  his  present  stand.  In  the  spring  of  the 
latter  year  W.  H.  Bates  began  merchandising  in 
part  of  the  store  he  has  since  occupied,. and  which  has 
been  enlarged  to  accommodate  his  increasing  trade. 
He  is  the  oldest  general  merchant.  In  the  fall  of 
1883  Arnett  Bennett  opened  the  third  store,  lower 
down  Main  Street,  where  he  traded  three  years,  sell- 
ing to  Brown  Brothers  in  the  fall  of  1886.  Early  in 
the  spring  of  1884  W.  J.  Davis  opened  the  first 
clothing-store,  occupying  his  present  stand  since  the 
fall  of  1886.  The  same  year  Thomas  J.  Pentecost 
opened  a good  store  and,  since  the  summer  of  1886, 
has  been  at  his  present  commodious  stand.  In  the 
fall  of  1884  W.  J.  Gilchrist  opened  the  sixth  store, 
which  he  sold  to  Henry  Box  in  1886,  the  latter  con- 
tinuing as  a general  merchant.  In  November,  1885, 
the  first  drug-store  was  opened  by  J.  J.  Janswick,  in 
a building  which  had  been  enlarged  and  which  is 
still  occupied  by  him.  A furniture-store  was  opened 
in  the  spring  of  1885  by  W.  L.  Bates,  which  is  con- 
tinued by  him.  In  1886  stores  were  opened  by  W. 
R.  Hankins,  on  the  central  part  of  Main  Street; 
John  Lynch,  on  the  lower  part  of  the  same  street; 
E.  Margan,  on  the  same  street,  nearer  the  centre,  and 
by  R.  C.  Bodie,  on  Higgins  Alley.  In  August  of  the 
same  year  H.  F.  Aldrich  opened  the  first  hardware- 
store. 

Among  the  business  places  opened  in  the  early 
part  of  1887  were  a notion-store  by  Charlotte  Mad- 
dens, meat  markets  by  Stephen  Browmson  and  W. 
H.  Leek,  and  a cigar  factory  by  Martin  Bliss.  In 
1886  was  opened  the  first  hotel — the  Fleming 
House,  a three-story  frame  building,  a part  of  which 
had  served  as  a skating  rink^ — -which  had  John 
McLaughlan  as  proprietor,  in  1887.  The  Bennett 
House,  also  a three  story  building,  on  the  lower  part 
of  Main  Street,  was  opened  in  April,  1887,  by  Ben- 
nett & Son.  Pool-rooms  and  restaurants  were  opened 
in  the  spring  of  1886  by  C.  L.  Avery  and  in  the  fall 
by  Z.  C.  Bell. 

The  first  bakery  was  opened  in  January,  1887,  by 
W.  H.  G.  E.  Wedeman  ; and  since  the  fall  of  1885 
Michael  McGrath  has  been  the  barber  of  the  town. 

As  builders  arid  mechanics.  Forest  City  had,  in 
1887,  Rogers  & Alexander,  wheelwrights ; Tripp  & 
Woodmansee,  M.  Cramer,  L.  P.  Wedeman,  and  W. 
H.  Higgins,  contractors  and  builders ; M.  H.  Davis 
and  John  Brown,  shoemakers ; and  George  Curtis, 
mill-owner,  since  the  spring  of  1886. 


CLIFFOKD. 


801 


S.  C.  J.  Thayer  became  a citizen  of  Forest  City 
. ]\Iay  (5,  1881,  and  has  been  the  justice  of  the  peace 
(li  since  May,  1886. 

Dr.  J.  C.  Seco  located  here  as  a physician  in  No- 
vember, 1885,  and  remained  about  a year.  Dr.  P.  G. 
it  Griffin  was  here  next,  about  five  months  ; and  since 
{!  November,  1886,  Dr.  W.  Saint  C.  Gibbs  has  been  the 
practitioner. 

The  post-office'  at  this  place  was  established  Decem- 
ber 15,  1879,  with  the  name  of  Pentecost  and  David 
R.  Lumley,  postmaster.  The  subsequent  appointees 
have  been  : November  28, 1881,  John  W.  Coon  ; April 
8,  1884,  William  Pentecost;  April  30,  1886,  James  R. 
Fleming.  The  name  was  changed  to  Forest  City 
September  8,  1886,  and  Mr.  Fleming  continues  as 
postmaster.  Forest  City  became  an  election  precinct 
in  1886. 

J.  B.  Stephens,  the  eldest  son  of  John  Stephens, 
born  in  Lenox  township,  Susquehanna  County,  on 
December  6,  1812,  and  his  wife,  Mary  A.  Brownell 
(1811-86),  was  born  August  1,  1834.  His  grand- 
parents were  Jacob  and  Ann  (Baker)  Stephens,  of 
Wyoming  County,  farmers.  Mrs.  John  Stephens  was 
born  in  Rhode  Island  and  came  to  Pennsylvania  with 
her  parents  when  a child.  They  shortly  after  mar- 
riage came  to  Susquehanna  County.  The  children  of 
John  and  Mary  Ann  Stephens  are  Jacob  B. ; George 
H.,  bern  1835,  a business  man  of  the  township  > 
Martha  A.  W.,  born  1836,  married  Andrew  Simpson 
(of  Jones  & Simpson),  of  Archbald,  Pa. ; Mary  A., 
born  1839,  the  wife  of  James  C.  Decider,  a farmer 
of  this  township,  who  was  a lieutenant  in  the  One 
Hundred  and  Seventy-seventh  Pennsylvania  Regiment 
during  the  Rebellion ; Hannah  L.,  born  1842,  mar- 
ried Charles  M.  Hunter,  a jeweler,  of  Clifford,  who 
also  served  during  the  late  war ; John,  born  1847,  en- 
listed in  the  United  States  regular  army  in  1865,  and 
for  four  years  following  he  was  out  in  the  Western 
Territories  fighting  Indians.  After  another  four 
years  spent  at  home  he  returned  to  the  West,  and  for 
ten  years  past  has  been  interested  in  mining  opera- 
tions in  Montana.  The  father  of  these  children  was 
a carpenter  and  farmer,  and  for  a couple  of  years 
kept  the  Dundaff  Hotel  at  an  early  day.  He  now 
makes  a home  with  his  son  J.  B.,  at  Royal.  Jacob 
B.  Stephens  learned  the  trade  of  a carpenter  and 
joiner  of  his  father,  and  acquired  habits  of  diligence 
and  exactitude,  which  have  stood  him  in  good  stead 
during  his  business  career.  They  carried  on  business 
together  until  1875,  and  erected  many  of  the  more 
substantial  and  handsome  buildings  in  this  neighbor- 
hood, including  three  school-houses.  After  the  great 
fire  at  Carbondale,  in  1867,  Mr.  Stephens  opened  op- 
erations there,  rebuilding  that  city,  and  employed  a 
large  force  of  workmen.  The  Moffatt  residence  and 
block  and  many  other  prominent  buildings  were  put 
up  by  him.  Since  1876,  as  manager  for  his  father 
and  himself,  he  has  operated  the  steam  saw-mill 
which  Lee  & James  had  built  in  1872  on  lands  owned 


by  Mr.  Stephens,  on  the  Milford  and  Owego  turnpike. 
He  was  one  of  the  ten  originators  of  the  Clifford 
Valley  Cemetery,  and  retains  a large  interest  therein. 
In  politics  he  is  a Democrat.  During  the  two  terms 
his  services  were  given  the  township  as  supervisor 
(being  elected  by  a handsome  majority,  although  his 
party  is  in  the  minority)  three  iron  bridges  were  built 
and  a good  record  made.  For  some  years  past  he  has 
been  interested  in  the  cause  of  temperance.  He  was 
one  of  the  charter  members  of  Clifford  Lodge,  F.  and 
A.  M.,  and  is  a Past  Master  in  the  order.  He  also 
holds  membership  in  Eureka  Chapter,  No.  179,  R.  A. 
M.,  and  Palestine  Comniandery,  No.  14,  K.  T.,  at 
Carbondale.  He  married,  on  Christmas  Day,  1862, 
Soluna  Johnson,  and  has  had  three  children — Harry, 
born  1865,  now  in  the  United  States  Postal  Service ; 
Archie,  born  1869,  died  1873;  and  Fredie,  born  1870. 
William  W.  Johnson,  son  of  Andrew  and  Eliza  John- 
son, a native  of  Orange  County,  N.  Y.,  was  a carpen- 
ter by  trade,  and  married  Rosetta  Young,  of  Michi- 
gan. Their  children  were  Soluna,  now  Mrs.  J.  B. 
Stephens  ; Nettie  married  Charles  Wilson,  of  Nichol- 
son ; Eventine  F.,  a merchant  at  Nicholson  ; Con- 
stantine, a carpenter  and  builder,  located  at  Seattle, 
Washington  Territory;  Julius,  also  a carpenter  and 
builder,  at  Scranton ; and  Amanda,  who  died  in 
youth.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Johnson  moved  from  Orange 
County  to  Pennsylvania,  and  for  some  time  lived  in 
Lackawanna  County.  In  1844  they  located  in  Clif- 
ford township,  and  now  live  at  Nicholson,  Pa. 

The  school-house  was  erected  in  1885.  It  is  a neat 
frame,  thirty  by  fifty  feet,  and  two  stories  high.  Two 
schools  are  maintained. 

Forest  City  M.  E.  Church  became  an  incorporated 
body  January  17,  1885,  with  W.  J.  Gilchrist,  Wm. 
Pentecost,  Benjamin  Maxey,  Robert  H.  Dunn  and 
George  Johnson  as  the  first  board  of  trustees.  Under 
their  direction  a neat  church  edifice  was  built  on  con- 
tract by  L.  P.  Wedeman,  which  was  dedicated  Novem- 
ber 17,  1886.  It  is  a fi-ame,  with  a small  spire,  and 
has  sittings  for  two  hundred  persons.  Prior  to  the 
completion  of  this  building  meetings  were  held  in  the 
school-house,  the  preaching  services  being  first  regu- 
larly held  by  the  Rev.  Q.  P.  Christopher,  preacher  in 
charge  of  the  Uniondale  Circuit.  Among  the  mem- 
bers of  that  period  (1884)  were  R.  H.  Dunn,  W.  J. 
Gilchrist,  Eleazer  Monroe  and  their  wives,  Mrs.  Ben- 
jamin Maxey,  and  a few  others.  In  April,  1887,  there 
were  twenty-three  members,  and  the  Rev.  J.  Madison 
as  pastor,  succeeding  the  Rev.  Thomas.  In  1884  was 
also  organized  the  first  Sunday-school,  with  W.  J. 
Gilchrist  as  the  superintendent.  The  membership 
has  been  increased  to  sixty,  and  the  school  is  doing 
much  good  in  producing  an  interest  in  religious 
matters. 

The  First  Regular  Baptist  Church  of  Clifford. — As 
early  as  the  fall  of  1802  the  Rev.  John  Miller,  of  Ab- 
ington,  preached  occasionally  in  that  part  of  the 
“Elk  Woods”  settlement  now  known  as  Clifford 


802 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


Corners.  He  held  his  meetings  in  the  log  cabin  of 
Amos  Harding  and  in  the  forests  in  the  summer  sea- 
son following.  His  labors  caused  the  conversion  of  a 
few  persons,  who  were  baptized  in  June,  1803.  About 
the  same  time  the  Rev.  E.  Thompson,  of  the  “Free 
Communion  ” branch  of  Baptists,  preached  in  Clifford, 
and  had  a number  of  adherents  throughout  the  coun- 
try. Some  of  these  were  led  to  acknowledge  the  doc- 
trine of  close  communion  as  preached  by  Elder  John 
Miller,  and  to  connect  themselves  with  the  Abington 
Church.  In  this  way  Adam  Miller  and  his  wife  were 
received  in  July,  1804,  and  others  joined  soon  after. 
These  members  were  finally  organized  as  a branch  of 
the  Abington  Church  and  supplied  with  preaching  in 
addition  to  having  the  lay  services  of  James  Hulse. 
In  1812  Ira  Justin  united  with  this  branch  and  com- 
menced to  preach,  alternating  with  Elder  John  Mil- 
ler, pastor  of  the  Abington  Church.  It  was  deemed 
best  to  organize  a church.  This  was  done  at  a meet- 
ing held  at  the  Union  School-house,  at  Clifford,  on 
Monday,  October  20,  1817,  when  the  above  church 
was  constituted.  Thirty-four  persons  presented  let- 
ters from  the  Abington  Church,  and  on  subscribing  to 
the  articles  of  faith,  were  recognized  as  a separate 
body.  A quickened  interest  followed,  and  “a  good 
work  took  place  in  a neighborhood  lately  notorious 
for  vice  and  immorality.” 

In  1818,  when  the  church  united  with  the  Abington 
Association,  forty  baptisms  and  seventy-six  members 
were  reported.  Elder  Ira  Justin  continued  to  preach 
as  a licentiate,  and  in  the  fall  of  1820  was  ordained 
the  first  pastor,  serving  four  years,  when  he  removed 
to  New  York.  For  three  years  there  was  no  pastor, 
and  a spiritual  decline  took  place.  In  1820  thirty 
members  were  dismissed  to  form  a Baptist  colony  in 
Ohio,  and  the  church  was  now  in  a low  condition.  In 
1826  Charles  Miller,  a son  of  Adam  Miller,  began  to 
improve  “his  gift  for  preaching,”  and  supplied  the 
church.  He  exerted  himself  to  provide  a separate 
place  of  worship,  and  secured  a site  upon  which  to 
build  a meeting-house,  and  the  pledge  of  nineteen 
dollars,  payable  in  cash,  labor,  and  maple  sugar.  In 
spite  of  this  small  beginning,  the  project  was  pushed, 
and  the  promise  of  five  hundred  dollars  was  secured- 
In  the  fall  of  1830  the  house  was  completed  at  a cost 
of  twelve  hundred  dollars.  It  was  a plain  frame 
building,  thirty-eight  by  forty  feet,  and,  after  the 
manner  of  that  day,  simply  furnished.  April  21, 1841, 
the  church  became  an  incorporated  body  on  the  peti- 
tion of  William  S.  Finn,  Alanson  Halstead,  S.  L. 
Wood,  C.  N.  Miller,  Zophar  Mackey,  Elias  Stephens, 
Wm.  A.  Miller,  Alfred  A.  Merriman,  Eliab  Farnam, 
Thomas  Taylor,  Charles  Miller  and  David  Mackey. 
The  meeting-house  was  used  as  built,  with  minor 
repairs,  until  the  fall  of  1881,  when  the  work  of  en- 
larging and  remodeling  it  was  begun.  A tower,  with 
vestibule  and  spire,  was  added  to  the  front  of  the 
building,  and  a lecture-room,  with  movable  partition, 
built  in  the  rear,  the  whole  being  completely  reno- 


vated and  given  a modern  appearance.  The  com- 
pleted edifice  was  consecrated  in  the  fall  of  1882  as 
one  of  the  handsomest  Baptist  Churches  in  this  part 
of  the  county.  It  has  sittings  for  four  hundred 
people,  and  has  a value  of  two  thousand  five  hundred 
dollars.  In  1887  a movement  was  set  on  foot  to  build 
a parsonage,  which  promises  to  be  successfully  accom- 
plished very  soon. 

In  1829  Elder  James  Clark  preached  and  fifteen 
persons  were  baptized,  increasing  the  membership  to 
sixty-six.  In  the  fall  of  1830,  Elder  Charles  Miller 
was  ordained  as  pastor  and  served  at  different  inter- 
vals until  1863.  Under  his  ministry  the  church  pros- 
pered until  1834,  when  it  was  somewhat  distracted  by 
the  influence  of  Antinomianism.  This  caused 
a loss  of  a few  of  the  older  members,  and  prevented 
additions  by  baptism.  After  a few  years  an  increase 
of  interest  came,  and  in  1839  there  was  a great  revival, 
and  twenty-eight  persons  were  baptized,  and  the  com- 
municants now  numbered  one  hundred  and  nine.  In 
1843  Henry  Curtis  assisted  the  pastor,  preaching  with 
marked  power.  This  year  the  church  attained  its 
maximum  membership,  one  hundred  and  thirteen. 

In  1846  William  A.  Miller,  a son  of  the  pastor,  was 
licensed  to  preach  and  assisted  his  father  in  later 
years.  The  Rev.  Almon  Virgil  preached  this  year, 
one-half  the  time.  In  1850  Robert  P.  Hartley,  a 
licentiate,  preached  one  year  and  was  ordained  pastor 
May  1,  1851,  but  soon  rejnoved  to  another  field  of  la- 
bor. This  summer  eight  persons  were  dismissed  to 
form  the  Elkdale  Church.  In  1856  Elder  William  A. 
Miller  became  the  pastor  of  both  the  churches,  for 
one-half  time  each.  The  following  year  Elder  A.  O. 
Stearns  assumed  this  relation,  which  was  continued 
until  1862.  Elder  William  A.  Miller  again  became 
the  pastor  in  1863,  and  served  two  years.  Then  the 
pnlpit  was  supfdied  by  Elders  Benjamin  Miller,  David 
W.  Halstead,  S.  E.  Miller  and  Newell  Callender.  In 
1867  Elder  William  A.  Miller  was  again  the  pastor, 
serving  until  1880.  He  was  succeeded  by  the  Rev. 
Wm.  B.  Grow,  who  was  the  pastor  five  years.  Since 
the  spring  of  1886  the  pastor  has  been  Elder  Eugene 
B.  Hughes,  who  was  ordained  to  the  ministry  in  1874. 
The  members  of  the  church  number  eighty-four,  and 
are  working  harmoniously  for  the  advancement  of  its 
interests. 

The  church  has  furnished  as  ministers  Charles  Mil- 
ler and  his  sons,  William  A.  and  Edward  E.,  and 
Sidney  W.  Rivenburg.  The  latter  was  ordained  in 
1883,  and  is  now  a foreign  missionary  in  Assam. 

In  November,  1817,  James  Reaves  was  elected  the 
first  deacon,  but  was  succeeded,  in  1818,  by  Eliab 
Farnam,  who  served  until  his  death  in  1854.  Frank- 
lin Finn  has  been  a deacon  since  1846,  and  the  other 
deacons  are  John  G.Wetherby  and  I.  O.  Finn.  Others 
who  have  served  in  that  capacity  have  been  James 
Wells,  David  Mackey,  Alfred  Merriman  and  D.  W. 
Halstead. 

The  Sabbath-school  maintained  by  the  church  has 


CLIFFORD. 


803 


ninety-nine  members,  and  I.  0.  Finn  as  its  superin- 
tendent. 

The  Clifford  Blethodist  Episcopal  Church. — The  pre- 
sent church  dates  its  existence  from  the  organization 
of  a class  in  1859,  which  had  Alfred  Thoni])son  as  its 
leader,  Arnold  Green  as  an  exhorter  and  a dozen 
other  members.  But  prior  to  this,  preaching  had 
been  held  at  this  place  by  the  ministers  of  the  old 
Dundalf,  Herrick  and,  later,  Clifford  Circuits,  and  a 
small  class  had  here  been  formed,  which  went  down 
owing  to  the  removal  of  its  members. 

The  first  meetings  were  held  in  the  Baptist  Church, 
but  after  1852  in  the  Union  Church  of  Clifford.  An 
increase  of  members  in  recent  years  stimulated  the 
society  to  erect  a house  of  worship  for  its  exclusive 
use,  and  on  the  22d  of  November,  1882,  was  dedicated 
the  fine  edifice  at  Clifford  village.  It  is  a frame 
structure  of  attractive  appearance,  thirty-two  by  forty- 
two  feet,  with  pulpit  alcove,  and  a vestibule  in  the 
bell  tower,  which  is  eighty-five  feet  high.  The  win- 
dows are  of  stained  glass,  and  the  interior  of  the  church 
has  been  upholstered  throughout.  It  has  not  inap- 
propriately been  called  the  “ Parlor  Church.”  The 
entire  cost  was  more  than  twenty-five  hundred  dollars. 
At  this  time  the  trustees  were  N.  C.  Church,  Arnold 
Green,  L.  Z.  Burdick,  Abraham  Churchill,  Julius 
Young,  Alexander  Green,  John  Bolton,  G.  H.  Ste- 
phens and  Peter  Bennett.  The  latter  has  been  the 
leader  of  the  class  since  1860,  and  in  1887  the  mem- 
bership was  fifty-seven. 

The  parsonage  at  Clifford  has  been  occupied  since 
1882.  It  is  a comfortable  home,  and  is  valued  at 
fifteen  hundred  dollars.  The  minister  in  charge  is  the 
Rev.  H.  A.  Blanchard. 

The  First  Universalist  Church  of  Clifford  was  incor- 
porated April  13,  1876,  on  the  j>etition  of  William  S. 
Wells,  James  T.  Handyson,  D.  C.  Wells,  Hiram 
Wells,  Holloway  Robinson,  James  R.  Johnson  and 
Z.  Ferris,  the  three  first  named  being  trustees.  This 
board  controls  the  old  Union  Church  at  Clifford,  and 
had  as  its  members  in  1877  Sylvester  Wells,  D.  C. 
Wells  and  B.  F.  Wells.  The  Union  Church  was 
built  in  1852  on  a lot  of  land  secured  from  the  farm 
of  Jacob  G.  Cuddeback  by  an  association  of  stock- 
holders, each  share  of  stock  being  rated  at  five  dol- 
lars, and  entitling  the  holder  to  a vote.  It  is  a sub- 
stantial frame  edifice,  whose  front  is  relieved  by  large 
pillars,  and  cost  about  one  thousand  dollars.  Not 
being  much  used  in  late  years,  it  bears  a neglected 
appearance  and  needs  repairs.  In  this  house  the 
Methodists,  Adventists  and  Universalists  have  held 
meetings,  the  first  and  the  last  named  statedly. 
The  Universalists  were  never  strong  numerically, 
and  have  usually  had  the  same  ministers  as  the  Gib- 
son Church,  in  addition  to  the  services  by  visiting 
clergymen.  The  first  of  this  faith  in  this  section 
were  the  Rev.  William  Wells  and  his  family,  who 
came  from  Orange  County,  N.  Y.,  in  1834.  He 
preached  the  gospel  of  love  frequently,  and  held 


many  funeral  services  until  his  death,  in  1857.  The 
past  few  years  Universalist  services  have  not  been 
held  during  the  winter,  and  often  irregularly  in  other 
seasons. 

The  Welsh  Congregation  of  Clifford  Township  be- 
came an  incorporated  body  April  12,  1869,  on  the 
petition  of  Samuel  Owens,  Thomas  R.  Davis,  Evan 
Jenkins,  Thomas  Reynolds,  David  J.  Thomas,  Thomas 
Watkins  and  Henry  Davis.  But  the  congregation 
was  organized  as  early  as  1834,  one  of  the  first  cares 
of  the  Welsh  immigrants  coming  into  Clifford  about 
that  period,  being  a provision  for  their  educational 
and  spiritual  needs.  Thomas  Edwards,  one  of  the 
early  Welsh  settlers,  became  the  first  minister,  and 
preached  until  the  close  of  1835,  when  he  accepted  a 
call  to  Pittsburgh.  The  meetings  were  held  at  the 
house  of  Zachariah  Jenkins,  on  Cambria  Hill,  on 
which  the  first  church  edifice  was  built  in  1839. 
This  was  used  until  it  was  found  too  small  to  accom- 
modate the  growing  congregation,  when  a new  struc- 
ture was  raised  on  an  adjoining  lot  in  the  summer  of 
1854,  under  the  direction  of  a building  committee 
composed  of  Rev.  Daniel  Daniels,  Evan  Jenkins, 
Edward  Hughes,  John  Reynolds  and  Benjamin  Dan- 
iels. It  is  a plain  frame  building,  thirty-one  by 
forty-five  feet,  but  had  an  attractive  interior.  It  is 
proposed  to  remodel  this  church  in  the  summer  of 
1887  by  adding  a lecture-room,  twenty  by  twenty-six 
feet,  and  a tower,  eleven  by  eleven  feet,  in  which  will 
be  a vestibule.  The  tower  will  be  raised  to  a suffi- 
cient beight  to  contain  a bell.  It  is  estimated  that 
the  new  edifice  will  cost  three  thousand  dollars,  and 
the  work  has  been  placed  in  charge  of  a committee 
composed  of  John  Watkins,  Samuel  Daniels,  Walter 
M.  Leek,  David  Davis  and  E.  K.  Anthony.  The 
ground  on  which  the  church  stands  has  been  enlarged 
to  one  acre,  a part  of  which  is  devoted  to  the  burial 
of  tbe  dead.  In  1836  the  Rev.  Jenkin  Jenkins,  a 
son  of  Zachariah  Jenkins,  one  of  the  first  members, 
became  the  pastor,  and  so  continued  until  1843.  It 
was  under  his  direction  that  the  first  meeting-house 
was  built.  At  the  same  time  that  he  served  here  he 
preached  in  the  Presbyterian  Church  at  Dundaff, 
and  thus  the  Welsh  Church  passed  under  the  care  of 
the  Presbytery,  though  retaining  its  form  as  a Con- 
gregational body.  This  relation  was  sustained  nomi- 
nally until  after  1850.  Mr.  Jenkins  was  educated  at 
the  Auburn  Theological  Seminary,  and  was  a minis- 
ter of  ability.  At  the  time  he  left  the  congregation 
it  was  comprised  of  the  following  families  or  single 
persons:  Thomas  Walkins,  Daniel  Moses,  Noah 
Owens,  David  Edwards,  David  Anthony,  David  J. 
Thomas,  Henry  Davis,  John  Howells,  David  Evans, 
William  Rowell,  William  P.  Davies,  Robert  Ellis, 
Evan  Jenkins,  Jenet  Jenkins,  John  Michael,  Sarah 
Bell,  David  Richards,  David  Rees,  David  Moss,  Ed- 
w'ard  Hughes,  Benjamin  Daniels,  Mary  James,  John 
Davis,  Daniel  Davis,  Guenellian  Reynolds,  Daniel 
Harris,  Mary  Jones,  Thomas  Evans,  Lewis  Evans, 


804 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


Evan  Jones,  Elizabeth  Owens,  Margaret  Harris,  Da- 
vid E.  Thomas,  Job  Nicholas. 

From  1843  until  1848  the  congregation  had  no  reg- 
ular pastor,  but  was  supplied  with  preaching  and 
had  lay  services.  . “ They  often  held  meetings  with 
Americans  who  were  religious,  though  neither  could 
understand  the  language  of  the  other.  Some  prayed 
in  Welsh,  others  in  English,  and  both  sang  the  same 
tune  together,  each  using  their  own  language  in 
hymns  of  the  same  meter,  while  the  Holy  Spirit 
communicated  its  influence  from  soul  to  soul,  until 
sometimes  all  present  would  be  in  tears.”  ' In  1848 
the  Rev.  Samuel  Williams  became  the  pastor,  and 
remained  two  years.  He  was  succeeded  in  1850  by 
the  present  pastor,  the  Rev.  Daniel  Daniels,  whose 
services  have  been  continued  ever  since. 

He  was  born  in  Glaioiorganshire,  South  Wales,  in 
1816,  and  came  to  the  country  at  the  age  of  sixteen, 
living  for  twelve  years  at  Carbondale.  At  that  place 
he  was  licensed  to  preach  in  1842,  and  in  1847  he 
was  ordained  to  the  ministry.  He  served  the  Beaver 
Meadow  and  Colerain  Churches  until  1850,  when  he 
became  the  pastor  of  the  Cliflbrd  Church  and  of  the 
charge  which  includes  the  Welsh  families  of  Gibson 
and  Herrick.  Few  ministers  in  the  county  have 
labored  more  zealously  than  he,  or  have  had  a longer 
continued  pastorate.  The  congregation  in  1887  had 
ninety  members,  of  whom  Samuel  Owens  and  Rich- 
ard Davis  were  deacons,  and  Walter  M.  Leek  clerk. 
Benjamin  Daniels  was  the  first  clerk,  and  others  who 
served  in  that  capacity  were  Samuel  Owens,  Thomas 
R.  Davis  and  Zachariah  Jenkins.  The  principal 
services  are  still  held  in  the  Welsh  language,  but  in 
prayer-meetings  and  lectures  the  English  is  often 
spoken,  and  it  is  but  a question  of  a few  years  when 
it  will  be  the  prevailing  language,  not  only  in  the 
church,  but  in  the  Welsh  settlements  of  this  part  of 
the  county. 

The  Clifford  Seventh-Day  Baptist  Church  was  or- 
ganized about  1832  with  eleven  members,  as  follows  : 
Elias  Burdick,  Sarah  Burdick,  Kendal  Burdick,  Han- 
nah Burdick,  Harriet  Burdick,  Putnam  Edwards, 
Dolly  Edwards,  Mason  Burdick,  Zebediah  Burdick, 
Mary  Burdick,  Philip  Burdick. 

For  more  than  twenty  years  the  church  had  no 
regular  preacher,  there  being  no  other  church  of  this 
denomination  in  the  State,  and  none  nearer  chan  a 
hundred  miles.  But  missionaries  sometimes  visited 
this  isolated  band,  and  strengthened  the  faith  of  the 
members  by  preaching  frequently,  sometimes  remain- 
ing a month  or  longer.  Prayer  and  conference  meet- 
ings were  also  held  every  Sabbath  at  the  houses  of 
the  members,  usually  at  Elias  or  Kendall  Burdick’s. 
After  1854  there  was  a cessation  of  services  for  about 
a year;  but  in  1856  the  Burdick  family  were  joined 
by  Deacon  Barber  Gardner  and  others  of  that  family, 
and  the  services  were  renewed.  This  awakened  so 


much  interest  that  a small  i^lain,  frame  meeting- 
house was  built  on  the  farm  of  Kendall  Burdick  in 
1857,  which  was  dedicated  by  Elder  Alfred  Burdick, 
from  Rhode  Island,  assisted  by  Elder  Libbius  M. 
Cotteral.  At  a more  recent  period  the  house  was  en- 
larged by  the  addition  of  ten  feet  to  its  length,  and  it 
has  since  been  kept  in  fair  repair.  Articles  of  faith 
were  adopted  the  same  year,  and  Philip  Burdick 
elected  as  a deacon  to  serve  with  Barber  Gardner. 
Upon  the  death  of  the  latter,  in  1864,  Stephen  Gard- 
ner was  chosen  a deacon,  and  he  and  Philip  Burdick 
have  since  served  in  that  capacity.  In  1854  the 
church  also  became  connected  with  the  Gentral  Con- 
ference of  New  York,  of  which  body  it  has  since  been 
a member,  and  soon  after  Elder  A.  W.  Coon  became 
the  pastor,  serving  many  years.  In  consequence,  the 
membership  increased,  reaching  its  maximum  in 
1882,  when  thirty-four  persons  belonged.  In  1886 
twenty-eight  persons  constituted  the  membership, 
and  although  there  was  no  regular  pastor,  those  be- 
longing rigidly  adhered  to  the  faith  which  they  had 
accepted  in  the  face  of  much  opposition.  Though 
not  strong  in  numbers,  the  church  is  firmly  estab- 
lished, and  is  the  only  one  of  this  denomination  in 
the  county. 

The  Elkdale  Baptist  Church  was  organized  July 
25,  1851,  as  the  “Union  Regular  Baptist  Church  of 
East  Clifford,”  and  bore  that  name  until  1886,  when 
the  above  title  was  adopted.  The  constituent  mem- 
bers were  eighteen  in  number,  as  follows : Alanson 
Halstead,  Phcebe  Halstead,  Lucy  Weaver,  Eleanor 
Brownell,  Martin  Bunnell,  Phoebe  Halstead,  Fanny 
Wells,  Clarissa  Burns,  Harriet  Coon,  D.  W.  Halstead, 
Thomas  Burns,  Benjamin  Dexter,  Benjamin  Coon, 
Cordelia  Arnold,  Lovissa  Baker,  Lovissa  Halstead, 
Phllena  Dexter,  Irena  Bunnell. 

On  the  23d  of  August,  the  same  year,  Thomas 
Burns  and  Alanson  Halstead  were  elected  the  first 
deacons  of  the  church,  and  they  and  F.  F.  Hayden, 
the  present  deacon,  are  the  only  ones  who  ever 
served  in  that  office.  D.  W.  Halstead  was  elected 
the  first  clerk  at  the  same  time,  and  was  succeeded  in 
1858  by  S.  A.  Halstead.  From  1859  to  1870  Wright 
Wells  was  the  clerk,  and  the  next  three  years  D.  L. 
Stevens  served  in  that  office.  In  1873  James  W. 
Lowry  was  elected,  and  has  since  served,  with  the  ex- 
ception of  one  year  (1883),  when  Wright  Wells  was 
again  the  clerk.  He  is  also  a trustee  of  the  Abington 
Association,  to  which  the  church  belongs. 

The  Rev.  J.  L.  Richmond  was  the  first  pastor  of  the 
church,  but  in  1852  the  Rev.  J.  W.  Parker  com- 
menced preaching  for  one-fourth  his  time.  Elder 
Wm,  A.  Miller  began  a pastoral  relation  in  1854,  and 
soon  after  others  supplied  the  pulpit.  In  1860  the 
Rev.  R.  J.  Lamb  was  called,  and  seven  years  later  the 
Rev.  A.  O.  Stearns  began  a pastorate  which  was  con- 
tinued a number  of  years.  The  successive  ministers 
have  been  the  Revs.  Wm.  A.  Miller,  S.  E.  Miller,  A. 
N.  Whitcomb,  R.  M.  Neill  and  Wm.  James.  Since 


1 Miss  Blackman. 


CLIFFORD. 


805 


1886  the  church  has  had  no  regular  pastor.  On  the 
21st  of  January,  1854,  the  Rev.  D.  W.  Halstead  was 
licensed  to  preach,  and  frequently  exercised  this  gift 
here  and  in  the  neighboring  churches.  He  was  zeal- 
ous of  good  works,  and  the  early  prosperity  of  the 
church  was  greatly  promoted  by  his  labors.  He 
sleeps  in  the  cemetery,  by  the  church,  but  his  good 
works  are  still  held  in  remembrance. 

The  first  meetings  were  held  in  the  school-house, 
but  in  1854  the  present  neat  house  of  worship  was 
erected  and  has  since  been  made  attractive  by  re- 
pairs. It  was  dedicated  May  3,  1855.  It  is  plain 
frame,  with  a slate  roof,  and  has  several  hundred  sit- 
tings. Its  interior  is  very  inviting.  On  the  lot  a 
number  of  horse-sheds  have  been  erected.  The  prop- 
erty passed  under  the  control  of  a board  of  trustees, 
which  was  incorporated  January  24,  1855,  and  which 
was  composed  of  Alanson  Halstead,  Thos.  Burns, 
Wright  Wells,  Martin  Bunnell,  D.  W.  Halstead  and 
L.  B.  C.  West.  Their  successors,  in  1887,  were  F.  F. 
Hayden,  Geo.  H.  Hayden,  John  Burdick,  Alden  Bur- 
dick, J.  W.  Lowry  and  S.  E.  Lowry. 

The  Second  Clifford  Baptist  Church  was  organized 
on  the  west  slope  of  Elk  Hill  December  8,  1841,  with 
six  male  and  four  female  members.  Win.  Tripp  was 
chosen  deacon,  but  did  not  serve  long,  as  death  called 
him  to  his  reward  Sept.  7,  1842.  The  meetings  were 
held  in  the  Brundage  school-house,  on  the  Collar 
road,  and  worship  was  statedly  maintained,  the 
Rev.  Charles  Miller  being  the  first  minister.  Soon 
after  George  A.  Hogeboom  was  licensed  to  preach, 
and  ministered  to  the  church  at  intervals  for  seven 
years.  Elder  Win.  A.  Miller  also  preached  at  this 
place.  In  1846  there  were  sixteen  communicants, 
and  the  following  year  Elder  Win.  McKowan  was 
one  of  the  preachers.  In  1848  the  church  asked  to  be 
dropped  from  the  Abington  Association,  which  was 
not  granted.  The  following  year  Elders  John  Miller 
and  Henry  Curtis  were  delegated  to  visit  this  and  the 
Herrick  Church  and  ascertain  their  condition  and 
prospects.  They  reported  that  they  found  them  in  a 
state  of  decline  and  unable  to  maintain  an  existence. 
On  the  1st  of  December,  1850,  the  church  was  dis- 
solved and  the  members  dispersed  among  neighboring 
churches.  F or  many  years  the  northwestern  part  of  the 
township  had  no  organized  religious  body,  except  the 
Welsh  congregation,  but  in  1874  an  effort  was  made 
to  form  a Free-Will  Baptist  Society,  which  was  at- 
tended with  some  success.  A number  of  members 
were  gathered  together  and  preaching  was  statedly 
held  by  Elders  Stone,  Fish  and  Prescott.  In  1878  a 
number  of  persons  who  attended  these  meetings  con- 
nected themselves  with  the  Methodist  Church  at 
Clifford,  leaving  the  Free-Will  Baptist  so  few  in 
numbers  that  the  meetings  were  discontinued.  This 
condition  of  things  prepared  the  way  for  the  organi- 
zation of  the  West  Clifford  Evangelical  Church.  In 
1879  the  Rev.  J.  W.  Hollenbaugh,  an  itinerant  of  the 
Evangelical  Association,  visited  this  section  and  his 


preaching  was  received  with  so  much  favor  that  he 
was  solicited  to  hold  services  regularly.  An  awakened 
interest  made  the  organization  of  a class  possible, 
which  had  among  its  members  G.  W.  Moore  and 
wife,  W.  H.  Hasbrouck  and  wife,  B.  F.  Bennett  and 
wife,  Thomas  N.  Doud  and  wife,  Moses  Cox  and 
wife,  J.  E.  Bennett  and  wife,  Charles  Truesdell  and 
wife.  Others  were  added  until,  in  a short  time,  about 
forty  persons  belonged.  This  made  the  erection  of  a 
church  possible.  It  was  completed  for  dedication  in 
the  fall  of  1880,  by  a building  committee,  composed 
of  W.  H.  Hasbrouck,  C.  D.  Ransom  and  George  W. 
Moore.  The  church  is  a frame,  thirty-two  by  forty- 
two  feet,  surmounted  by  a spire,  in  which  is  a bell 
weighing  seven  hundred  and  fifty  pounds.  The  loca- 
tion is  on  an  eligible  lot  from  the  farm  of  Hasbrouck, 
at  West  Clifford  hamlet,  affording  a convenient  house 
of  worship  for  this  part  of  the  township.  It  was 
erected  mainly  through  the  efforts  of  the  pastor,  the 
Rev.  Hollenbaugh,  who  was  the  preacher  until 
1880. 

Since  that  time  the  appointees  by  the  Central  Penn- 
sylvania Conference,  of  which  this  church  is  a part, 
were  the  following : 1881,  Rev.  N.  H.  Hartman ; 
1882-83,  Rev.  J.  W.  Messenger ; 1884-86,  Rev.  B.  F. 
Keller;  1887,  Rev.  C.  D.  Moore. 

West  Clifford  charge  embraces,  besides  the  above 
church,  preaching  appointments  in  Lenox  and  Har- 
ford, the  entire  membership  being  about  sixty. 

Cemeteries. — One  of  the  first  places  of  interment 
in  the  township  was  on  the  hill  east  of  the  Baptist 
Church  at  Clifford.  It  is  said  to  contain  the  remains 
of  twenty  persons,  and  was  not  used  after  1814,  when 
John  Robinson  was  the  last  person  buried  there. 
The  graves  have  long  since  been  obliterated..  Not 
long  after  the  old  ground  was  abandoned,  George 
Oram  set  aside  three-fourths  of  an  acre  lower  down 
the  valley,  which  was  enlarged  by  his  sons,  after  his 
death,  by  the  addition  of  several  acres.  The  whole  has 
been  inclosed  by  a substantial  stone  wall,  and  beauti- 
fied by  the  planting  of  evergreen  and  shade-trees.  It 
is  a public  cemetery  and  contains  many  hundred 
dead.  For  many  years  Burgess  Smith  was  the  sex- 
ton, and  interred  more  than  four  hundred  persons. 
The  trustees  in  1887  were  James  Decker,  Henry  Riv- 
enburg  and  Monroe  Callender. 

On  the  west  side  of  the  brook  and  along  the  Car- 
bondale  turnpike  is  the  handsome  burial-ground  of 
the  “ Clifford  Valley  Cemetery  Association.”  This 
body  was  incorporated  August  22,  1866,  as  the  Clif- 
ford Valley  Cemetery,  on  the  petition  of  P.  H.  Gard- 
ner, S.  E.  Miller,  Thomas  W.  Atkinson,  W.  W. 
Wallace,  William  H.  Hasbrouck,  E.  S.  Lewis,  J.  G. 
Wetherby,  J.  B.  Stephens,  John  Montgomery,  James 
F.  Hodgson  and  William  Lott.  The  charter  was 
amended  in  August,  1878,  and  the  name  changed  to 
the  present  title.  Four  acres  of  land  admirably 
adapted  for  the  purpose  were  jiurchased  and  im- 
proved, being  laid  out  into  streets,  alleys  and  blocks. 


806 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


twenty  by  thirty-two  feet.  The  cemetery  was  in- 
closed with  a stone  wall,  and  many  of  the  walks  have 
been  graded.  Many  of  the  shares  of  the  Associa- 
tion’s stock  have  become  the  property  of  J.  B.  Ste- 
phens. In  1887  the  officers  of  the  association  were 
J.  G.  Wetherby,  president ; P.  H.  Gardner,  secretary ; 
Julius  Young,  treasurer ; T.  W.  Atkinson,  S.  E. 
Miller  and  E.  R.  Gardner,  auditors. 

In  the  northeastern  part  of  the  township  are  several 
private  and  neighborhood  cemeteries,  which  have 
been  well  kept.  Among  these  are  the  burial-places 
on  the  David  B.  Stevens  and  Elisha  Burdick  farms. 
The  former  is  small,  but  contains  a fine  monument. 
In.  the  latter  many  interments  have  been  made. 
There  are  also  several  small  cemeteries  near  the  Still- 
water, all  being  of  a private  nature. 


CH  AFTER  LI. 

DUNDAFF  BOROUGH. 

The  borough  of  Dundaff  is  located  on  the  high 
lands  near  the  southeastern  part  of  the  county,  one 
mile  northwest  from  Crystal  Lake,  seven  miles  in  the 
same  course  from  Carbondale,  and  twenty-four  miles 
southeast  from  Montrose.  In  the  best  days  of  the 
New  Milford  and  Owego  turnpike  it  was  one  of  the 
most  thriving  villages  on  that  thoroughfare,  and  sus- 
tained a relation  of  importance  to  this  part  of  the 
State  which  was  not  excelled  by  any  other  place  in 
the  county.  Its  early  residents  were  enterprising  and 
ambitious  men,  whose  aspiration  in  1820  contem- 
plated the  formation  of  a new  county,  of  which  the 
then  embryotic  village  of  Dundaft'  should  become  the 
county-seat.  In  later  years  the  village  had  all  the 
interests  common  to  prosperous  towns  of  that  period, 
including  factories,  newspaper,  bank  and  an  academy 
(as  is  related  in  these  pages),  and  exerted  an  influence 
which  caused  it  to  be  widely  known.  But  it  is  diffi- 
cult to  overcome  natural  obstacles  when  competing 
towns,  in  addition  to  the  advantages  of  location,  re- 
ceive the  impetus  connected  with  extensive  transpor- 
tation facilities.  In  such  an  uneven  struggle  it  is 
with  towns,  as  with  men,  a question  of  the  survival  of 
the  fittest.  The  one  contending  against  the  modern 
railway  must  go  to  the  wall.  Notwithstanding  the 
cflbrts  of  the  place  to  avert  such  a fate,  the  decline 
began  in  the  second  decade  of  the  history  of  Dundaff, 
and  after  1840  the  claims  of  the  newer  town  of  Car- 
bondale to  become  the  business  centre  of  this  part  of 
the  State  were  fully  conceded.  Each  succeeding 
decennial  census  showed  a diminished  population  and 
the  departure  of  quickening  interests,  with  no  new 
life  to  take  the  places  of  those  who  had  been  rendered 
inactive  by  age.  From  being  one  of  the  foremost 
places,  Dundafi'has  descended  to  occupy  the  position 
o(  a small  county  trading  point,  whose  enhancing 


feature  is  the  beauty  of  its  rural  surroundings.  The 
scenic  attractions  of  Crystal  Lake  and  the  hills  of 
Clifford  have  caused  Dundaff  to  become  a popular 
summer  resort,  and  the  presence  of  hundreds  of  visi- 
tors lends  animation  to  a place  whose  appearance 
otherwise  indicates  neglect  and  decay.  The  popula- 
tion of  the  village  at  different  periods  was  as  follows : 
1830,  two  hundred  and  ninety-eight;  1840,  three 
hundred  and  four;  1850,  two  hundred  and  ninety- 
six;  1860, two  hundred  and  forty-five;  1870,  one  hun- 
dred and  eighty-seven ; 1880,  one  hundred  and 
seventy-one.  In  1887  there  were  about  one  hundred 
and  fifty  inhabitants,  three  churches  (two  only  oc- 
cupied), a good  hotel,  several  summer  resorts,  two 
stores  and  several  shops. 

The  first  clearing  on  the  site  of  Dundaff  was  made 
as  early  as  1799  by  Benjamin  Bucklin.  He  made  a 
small  opening  in  the  forests,  but  did  not  bring  in  his 
family  until  the  summer  of  1803.  At  that  time  he 
became  the  first  permanent  resident,  occupying  the 
house  which  he  had  built  on  the  side  of  the  hill,  east 
of  the  present  Presbyterian  Church.  His  sons,  War- 
ren and  Albigence,  lived  with  their  father,  and  the 
latter  son  afterwards  occupied  the  pioneer  home, 
which  he  sold  to  James  Coil  in  1813.  The  elder 
Bucklin  built  a saw-mill  on  the  brook,  in  the  lower 
l)art  of  the  village,  which  was  the  first  in  the  township, 
but  was  never  in  successful  operation.  He  returned 
to  the  Mohawk  Valley  in  1813  and  his  sons  moved  to 
Ohio  in  the  course  of  a few  years.  During  their  resi- 
dence here,  a man  by  the  name  of  Hulse  made  an 
improvement  on  the  outlet  of  Newton  Lake,  a little 
above  the  present  grist-mill,  removing  at  an  early  day. 

James  Coil  lived  in  the  Bucklin  house  several  years, 
following  his  occupation  as  a farmer  and  drover.  In 
the  rear  of  the  building  several  of  the  early  settlers 
were  buried,  but  this  graveyard  and  the  old  log  house 
have  long  since  disappeared  from  view.  But  the  site 
of  the  latter  is  indicated  by  the  remains  of  the  fire- 
place. Coil  soon  after  built  a small  house  on  the  site 
of  the  present  hotel,  in  which  he  opened  a tavern. 
Later,  he  improved  lands  at  Crystal  Lake.  His  son 
James  bought  a tract  of  land  within  the  limits  of  the 
present  borough  in  August,  1816,  and  others  made 
purchases  of  adjoining  tracts  the  same  time.  Trans- 
fers of  these  properties  were  soon  after  made,  Asa 
Dimock,  Jr.,  becoming  the  owner  of  a tract  in  1817, 
which  afterwards  passed  to  Nathan  Callender,  and 
was  improved  by  him. 

In  1816  Redmond  Conyngham  began  making  pur- 
chases of  lands  in  this  locality,  adding  to  his  posses- 
sions, in  1819,  such  tracts  as  made  him  the  owner  of 
most  of  the  real  estate  south  of  the  road  which  had 
been  cut  out  the  previous  year  to  Crystal  Lake,  and 
which  later  became  the  Milford  turnpike.  The  same 
year  (1819)  Peter  Graham  purchased  about  five  hun- 
dred acres  of  land  on  the  north  side  of  the  road, 
including  the  land  on  which  the  Bucklin  house  had 
been  built.  He  was  a merchant  in  Philadelphia,  but 


DUNDAFF. 


807 


made  some  improvements,  which  he  placed  in  charge 
of  his  farmer,  Peter  Campbell,  a Scotchman.  Graham 
spent  his  summei’s  on  his  farm  and  contributed  much 
to  the  early  prosperity  of  the  place.  The  site  of  the 
homestead  is  now  occupied  by  the  residence  of  O.  T. 
Hull,  and  is  within  the  limits  of  the  borough.  An- 
other portion  of  this  tract  is  included  in  the  farm  on 
which  George  Graham  resides,  and  which  has  been 
highly  improved  by  Howard  Spencer  as  “The  Grange.” 
Before  1825  some  of  this  land,  bordering  on  the  turn- 
2)ike,  was  set  aside  for  village  lots,  but  the  beginning 
was  made  on  the  Conyngham  lands. 

Kedmond  Conyngham  resided  at  Wilkes-Barre;  but 
having  great  faith  in  the  future  of  this  section,  he 
here  made  extensive  investments  and  projected  many 
improvements.  In  1820  he  laid  out  the  village  on 
his  lands  along  the  turnpike,  which  he  called  Dun- 
dafll  This  name  was  suggested  by  his  friend,  Peter 
Graham,  in  honor  of  Dundaff  Castle,  in  Scotland,  the 
home  of  Sir  William  the  Graeme,  who  was  a com- 
panion-in-arms of  Sir  William  Wallace.  But  prior 
to  this  the  Corners  had  become  a business  place.  In 
1818  Asa  Dimock  had  a store  opposite  the  Coil  tavern, 
which  was  kept  that  year  by  his  son  Warren,  who 
had  come  with  him  from  Herrick.  The  assured  con- 
struction of  the  Owego  and  Milford  turnpike,  and 
the  inducements  held  out  by  Kedmond  Conyngham 
for  settlers  to  locate  in  his  village,  attracted  many 
people  to  Dundaff,  a number  of  whom  became  per- 
manent residents.  Though  a beginning  had  scarcely 
been  made,  a brilliant  future  was  predicted  for  the 
new  town,  as  may  be  learned  from  an  account  of  a 
celebration  held  at  Dundaff  on  the  4th  of  July,  1820: 
“ Toasts  being  in  order  George  Haines,  Esq.,  pro- 
posed, ‘May  the  pleasant  hills  of  Dundaff  become 
the  seat  of  justice.’  ” 

In  the  fall  of  the  same  year  the  village  was  credited 
with  the  publication  of  a campaign  paper — The 
Pennsylvanian — whose  issue  was  limited  to  a few 
numbers  and  which  was  printed  at  Montrose. 

In  1822  Redmond  Conyngham  purchased  the  tract 
of  land  northwest  from  Crystal  Lake,  and  extending 
towards  the  mill,  which  he  had  erected  several  years 
previously.  He  also  put  up  a large  frame  building 
on  the  lake  outlet  for  factory  purposes,  and  built  half 
a dozen  small  houses  for  his  workmen.  It  appears 
that  he  also  contemplated  becoming  a resident  of  the 
place,  and  that  he  made  preparations  to  build  a man- 
sion on  the  hill  overlooking  the  lake  and  the  village, 
from  which  an  extended  view  of  the  country  was 
afforded.  At  this  place  he  dug  a well,  which  may 
still  be  seen  on  the  Phinny  farm.  Financial  troubles 
prevented  him  from  carrying  out  his  plans,  and 
caused  him  to  dispose  of  his  interests  at  Dundaff, 
most  of  his  real  estate  passing  into  the  hands  of 
Colonel  Gould  Phinny,  from  1823  to  1827.  The 
latter  had  become  interested  in  this  part  of  the 
county  by  the  purchase  of  several  farms,  in  1822, 
and  in  1823  was  associated  with  the  Phelpses  in  some 


enterprises  at  what  is  now  Elkdale.  At  that  time  he 
was  a merchant  at  Wilkes-Barre,  the  home  of  Red- 
mond Conyngham. 

In  March,  1824,  Colonel  Gould  Phinny  came  to 
Dundaff  to  give  his  personal  attention  to  the  growth 
and  development  of  the  place ; and  from  this  period 
the  active  business  history  of  the  village  dates.  He 
was  accompanied  by  fourteen  persons,  from  the  Wy- 
oming Valley,  whom  he  had  interested  in  this  section 
and  who  assisted  to  build  up  the  village,  at  once 
engaging  at  various  occupations,  some  independently, 
but  most  of  them  for  Colonel  Phinny,  or  being  asso- 
ciated with  him.  Among  these  were  Archippus 
Parrish,  hotel-keeper;  Ebenezer  Brown,  miller; 
Nathan  H.  Lyons,  distiller;  John  Wells,  clothier;  C. 
B.  Merrick,  physician ; George  W.  Healey,  merchant; 
Robert  Arnett,  farmer ; and  Benjamin  Ayres,  stage 
proprietor.  Charles  Wells,  merchant,  came  a month 
later.  At  this  time  Jacob  Bedford  had  a hat-shop  in 
the  place,  and  there  were  but  few  buildings  besides 
those  already  mentioned. 

Gould  Phinny  owned  the  store,  tavern,  grist  and  saw- 
mills, the  mechanic  shops,  and  was  practicall}'^  the 
proprietor  of  Dundaff.  He  was  a native  of  Connecti- 
cut, but  in  early  life  settled  at  Elizabeth,  N.  J.  Later 
he  engaged  in  business  at  Wilkes-Barre,  coming 
thence  to  Dundaff.  His  home  at  Dundaff  was  fitted 
up  with  the  comforts  and  adjuncts  pertaining  to  resi- 
dences of  gentlemen  of  wealth  in  those  days,  and  is 
still  standing,  a very  substantial  house,  the  home  of 
John  Rivenburg.  His  connection  with  the  business 
of  the  village  is  shown  in  the  following  [pages.  He 
died  in  November,  1848,  nearly  sixty  years  of  age. 
His  son,  Thomas  P.,  was  educated  as  an  attorney,  but, 
since  1833,  has  been  identified  with  Dundaff  in  other 
relations,  and  is  one  of  the  oldest  continuous  resi- 
dents. Another  son,  Elisha,  after  being  in  business 
here  a number  of  years,  removed  to  Scranton. 

Benjamin  Ayres  was  the  first  stage  proprietor  of 
the  place,  but,  in  1829,  engaged  in  the  hotel  business, 
which  he  followed  many  years  of  his  life.  Before  his 
death,  in  1868,  at  the  age  of  sixty-nine  years,  he  was 
the  owner  of  a large  estate,  which  embraced  some  of 
the  Peter  Graham  lands.  A portion  west  from  him 
had  passed  into  the  hands  of  James  Schott.  Ayers 
reared  nine  children, — Thomas  S.,  who  died  a young 
man;  Phinny,  a merchant  in  New  York;  Arthur 
H.  and  Albert,  living  in  Dundaff’;  Benjamin,  a phy- 
sician in  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.  The  daughters  married 
B.  J.  Edwards  and  J.  W.  Babson,  George  H.  Smith, 
Dr.  E.  W.  Wells  and  R.  P.  Olmstead.  Charles  Wells, 
the  merchant,  was  the  father  of  Charles  H.  Wells, 
attorney,  of  Scranton. 

In  1825  Dr.  William  Terbell  came  to  Dundaff  and 
built  a house  below  the  residence  of  Gould  Phinny, 
living  here  as  the  first  permanent  physician  until 
his  removal  to  Corning,  N.  Y.,  in  1837.  The  same 
year  there  were  at  Dundaff,  in  addition  to  the  fore- 
1 going,  Charles  Thompson,  Presbyterian  minister ; 


808 


HISTOEY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


Earl  Wheeler,  lawyer;  Thomas  Wells,  justice  of  the 
peace  and  bank  cashier;  Joseph  B.  Slocum,  tinner  ; 
Oliver  Daniels,  cooper ; Ezra  Stuart,  shoemaker ; A. 
C.  Shaefer  and  Hugh  Fell,  wagon-makers  ; Samuel 
Davis  and  David  Pease,  blacksmith;  Benajah  P. 
Bailey,  tanner;  William  Wells,  Stephen  Lampson 
and  Woodbury  S.  Wilbur,  carpenters.  Sylvester  John- 
son and  Sanford  Robertson,  merchants,  came  three 
years  later,  as  also  did  John  Bennett,  Jonathan 
Stage  and  Thomas  Burch,  farmers.  James  Chambers, 
shoemaker,  and  William  H.  Slocum,  wagon-maker, 
came  still  later ; but  Dilton  Yarrington,  blacksmith, 
was  here  as  early  as  1825,  setting  up  business  for 
himself  in  1826.  He  followed  this  occupation  at 
DundafF  twenty-one  years,  removing  to  Carbondale 
in  1847,  where  he  still  resides,  at  the  age  of  eighty- 
four  years.  The  last  twelve  years  of  his  residence  at 
DundafF  he  was  also  a justice  of  the  peace,  and 
took  a prominent  part  in  church  and  society  affairs. 
His  skating  contest  on  Crystal  Lake,  soon  after  he 
came  to  DundafF,  is  still  remembered  by  the  old  peo- 
ple of  this  section,  and  an  account  is  given  in  his  own 
words  . “ Christmas,  1825,  I ran  a race  on  skates,  on 
Crystal  Lake,  with  Benajah  P.  Bailey,  for  ten  dollars 
a side.  I took  the  stakes ; distance,  one  mile  from 
north  to  south  corners.  I ran  it  in  two  minutes  and 
thirty-three  seconds,  f then  ran  one-fourth  of  a mile 
with  Gould  Phinny  for  twenty  dollars  a side.  Judge 
decided  that  he  was  half-way  when  I was  out.  At 
the  end  of  the  last  race  I jumped  fifteen  feet,  six 
inches,  on  skates.  The  ice  was  smooth  and  the  day 
pleasant;  and,  as  word  had  been  sent  out  to  neigh- 
boring towns,  there  were  more  than  five  hundred 
people  there  to  see  the  race.” 

In  1828  some  of  the  Phelps  brothers  removed  from 
Elkdale  to  Dundaff,  and,  in  the  course  of  a few  years, 
six  of  them  resided  here,  several  coming  directly 
from  their  native  State,  Connecticut.  They  were 
Edward,  who  died  at  Dundaff  in  1836  ; Sherman  D. ; 
Horace  G.,  merchant ; Alexander  C.,  physician ; 
Jaman  H.,  tanner ; and  John  Jay;  none  remained. 
The  latter  married  Rachel  B.,  the  daughter  of  Col. 
Gould  Phinny,  and  moved  to  New  York  City,  where 
he  became  a banker  and  a millionaire.  He  was  the 
father  of  Hon.  William  Walter  Phelps,  who  was  born 
at  Dundaff. 

The  Incorporation. — Dundaff  was  incorporated 
by  a special  act  of  the  Legislature,  March  5,  1828, 
with  bounds  one  mile  square,  beginning  at  a point 
northwest  from  the  house  of  Peter  Graham.  The 
survey  indicating  these  limits  had  been  made  De- 
cember 8,  1827,  by  Matthew  Jackson  ; and  the  bounds 
remained  as  fixed  by  the  act  several  years,  when  they 
were  modified  in  the  northwestern  part,  to  accommo- 
date Peter  Graham,  and  the  borough  is  now  a little 
less  than  a mile  square.  James  Warner  and  Archip- 
pus  Parrish  were  appointed  to  give  notice  of  the  first 
election,  which  was  held  April  8,  1828,  with  the  fol- 
lowing result : Burgess,  Gould  Phinny.  Councilmen, 


George  W.  Healy,  president;  William  Terbell, 
Thomas  Wells,  Earl  Wheeler,  Charles  H.  Wells, 
Benajah  P.  Bailey,  Arthur  Smith,  Dilton  Yarring- 
ton, James  Warner.  High  Constable,  A.  C.  Phelps. 
Overseer  of  the  Poor,  Nathan  Callender.  Clerk, 
Sloane  Hamilton.  Treasurer,  Hugh  Fell.  Assessor, 
Samuel  Graves.  Assistant  Assessors,  Manna  Thomp- 
son, Ezra  Stewart.  Collector,  Ephraim  V.  White. 
Supervisors  of  Highways,  John  Conrad,  John  W. 
Wells.  Among  other  voters  at  this  election  were, 
besides  those  named  above,  Alexander  C.  Shaver, 
Peter  S.  Shaver,  Daniel  Smith,  Goodwin  Baker, 
Richard  Meredith  and  William  Wells. 

Thomas  Wells,  James  Warner  and  Earl  Wheeler 
were  appointed  to  draft  the  ordinances,  which  were 
very  stringent  and,  as  it  proved,  difficult  to  enforce. 
Especially  was  this  the  case  with  the  section  relating 
to  the  running  at  large  of  animals ; and  for  the  first 
few  years  no  official  in  the  borough  was  more  im- 
portant than  the  high  constable.  The  impounding 
of  stock,  as  directed  by  the  ordinances,  caused  con- 
tention, and  led  to  acts  of  violence,  resulting  in  op- 
position to  the  borough,  so  that  many  of  its  possible 
benefits  were  not  realized.  It  also  produced  an 
apathy  in  these  matters,  to  the  hurt  of  the  borough 
interests,  and,  for  a period,  the  regular  meetings  of 
the  Council  were  neglected.  In  1843  matters  had  as- 
sumed such  a shape  that  an  effort  was  made  to  induce 
the  Legislature  to  repeal  the  act  of  1828.  This  stimu- 
lated greater  interest  in  the  affairs  of  the  borough, 
and  the  ap2)ointment,  at  a meeting  held  February  23, 
1843,  of  a committee  to  prepare  a remonstrance  against 
such  action.  T.  P.  Phinny,  Dilton  Yarrington  and 
William  H.  Slocum  were  appointed  to  act  in  such  a 
capacity,  but  it  does  not  appear  that  their  services 
were  required.  The  opposition  to  the  borough  soon 
after  subsided. 

For  a long  time,  however,  its  organization  has 
been  nominal  only,  and  but  little  attention  has  been 
paid  to  the  stringent  enforcement  of  the  ordinances. 

In  1887  the  prineipal  borough  officers  were  the 
following:  Burgess,  Dr.  J.  C.  Olmstead.  Councilmen, 
T.  P.  Phinny,  j^resident;  A.  H.  Ayres,  secretary; 
John  Rivenburg,  I.  E.  Davies,  Nelson  Coleman, 
Henry  Brownell,  Enoch  Chambers,  O.  T.  Hull,  H. 
M.  White.  Auditor,  B.  W.  Richardson,  Plenry 
Brownell.  Justice,  Henry  Bennett.  Constable,  Alon- 
zo Arnold. 

Assessment  1852. — Benjamin  Ayres,  farmer ; Benjamin  Brownell, 
farmer ; Benjamin  Brownell,  Jr.,  Cornelius  S.  Blackman,  blacksmith  ; 
Miles  B.  Benedict,  hatter  ; Kalph  Baker,  Hezekiah  Bennett,  shoemaker  ; 
Samuel  N.  Chittenden,  teacher  ; Jared  M.  Chittenden,  merchant ; George 
Cone,  merchant  ; Alexander  Coleman,  hotel-keeper ; James  Chambers, 
shoemaker;  Enoch  Chambers,  grocery-keeper;  George  Coil,  farmer; 
Henry  Coil,  farmer  ; Charles  Coil,  farmer ; Oliver  Daniels,  cooper;  Pe- 
ter Decker,  laborer ; Nathaniel  Daniels,  young  man  ; Abel  Flynt,  har- 
ness-maker ; Ira  Goodrich,  physician  ; Mary  D.  Hamilton,  Henry  C. 
Healey,  tailor;  Joslyn  & Flint,  tanners  ; 0.  D.  King,  axe-maker;  J.  T. 
Langdon,  merchant ; Amos  IMills,  blacksmith  ; Thomas  Monk,  laborer  ; 
Richard  INIeredith,  farmer ; Johnson  C.  Olmstead,  physician  ; Thomas 
P.  Phinny,  grist-mill ; Elisha  Phinny,  merchant ; Jaman  H.  Phelps,. 


DUNDAFF. 


809 


justice  ; Potter  Pickering,  mill-wriglit ; Ephraim  Pickering,  laborer  ; 
Samuel  R.  Peck,  laborer;  Henry  Primer,  miller;  George  M.  Rogers> 
wheelwright;  James  Schott,  farmer ; James  Schott,  Jr  , farmer  ; George 
Schott,  farmer;  George  Summers,  farmer;  Joseph  13.  Slocum,  tinner  ; 
■\Villiam  H.  Slocum,  wheelwright ; Anthony  Shannon,  farmer  ; Charles 
H.  Wells,  merchant ; Silas  G.  Weaver,  drug-store  ; John  I.  Weaver,  shoe- 
maker ; Erastus  G.  Wells,  tinner ; Sidney  B.  Wells,  merchant  ; William 
Wells,  wheelwright ; John  W.  Wells,  fulling-mill ; Elias  0.  Ward,  min- 
ister ; Nelson  E.  Wright,  Winthrop  Wright,  Amzi  Wilson,  Alanson 
Yarrington,  blacksmith. 

Business  Interests. — The  water-power  at  Dun- 
daff,  though  limited,  was  early  utilized  as  the  motor 
for  many  industries.  On  the  small  brook  Benjamin 
Bucklin  had  the  first  saw-mill  in  the  township,  but  it 
did  not  prove  a success.  The  mills  of  Redmond  Con- 
yngham,  built  before  1820,  on  the  outlet  of  Newton 
Lake,  which  was  afterwards  connected  with  Crystal 
Lake,  became  the  property  of  Colonel  Gould  Phinny 
in  1824.  By  him  they  were  carried  on  till  1842,  when, 
for  thirty  years,  Thomas  P.  Phinny  was  the  owner 
and  rebuilt  the  grist-mill.  Since  1872  Isaac  E.  Davies 
has  owned  the  property. 

Ephraim  B.  White  made  the  first  axes,  using  hand- 
power  and  working  in  a shop  in  the  village.  But  in 
1831  he  started  a.  small  factory  above  the  mill,  having 
a trip-hammer  operated  by  water,  and  forged  axes^ 
hoes,  scythes  and  forks.  Here  had  previously  been  a 
small  turning-shop.  O.  D.  King  was  one  of  his  work- 
men. After  a few  years  White  removed  to  Hones- 
dale. 

Near  this  place  John  W.  Wells  carded  wool  and 
fulled  cloth,  carrying  on  the  mill  many  years.  After 
his  removal  to  Providence,  H.  P.  Winner  and  George 
Swallow  erected  a woolen-mill,  in  which  were  made 
flannels  and  dressed  cloth.  After  being  in  successful 
operation  some  years,  it  was  burned  down  in  1871, 
and  at  the  same  time  the  old  axe-factory  was  con- 
sumed. 

Near  this  place  a glass-factory  was  in  operation  from 
1831  till  1834.  It  was  built  by  Gould  Phinny, 
Horace  G.  Phelps,  John  J.  Phelps  and  Benajah  P. 
Bailey,  but  was  first  operated  by  Gould  Phinny,  and 
for  a time  by  George  W.  Healy.  There  was  a ten-pot 
furnace,  and  ordinary  window-glass  was  made.  Tne 
sand  was  procured  from  the  shores  of  Crystal  Lake, 
and  was  found  very  superior  for  this  purpose.  Nearly 
a hundred  men  and  boys  were  employed,  and  but  for 
the  difficulty  of  transporting  the  products  to  the 
markets  of  that  period,  the  enterprise  would  have 
prospered.  After  work  was  suspended  the  buildings 
were  taken  down  and  devoted  to  other  uses,  except 
the  pot-room,  which  is  still  standing  as  a stable. 

Elisha  Phinny  used  a part  of  the  material  in  build- 
ing an  axe-factory  below  the  mill  after  1835,  which 
was  operated  for  a brief  period  only.  He  next  used 
the  building  in  the  construction  of  a sole-leather  tan- 
nery, employing  the  water-power  to  grind  bark. 
Before  many  years  these  buildings  were  burned 
down.  The  site  was  unoccupied  some  time,  but  about 
1847  it  was  again  used  for  tanning  purposes  by  Sidney 
B.  Wells  and  J.  T.  Langdon.  Their  tannery  had  fifty 
52 


vats,  and  was  used  mainly  in  the  manufacture  of  sole- 
leather.  After  six  years’  operation  this  establishment 
was  also  destroyed  by  fire,  and  this  power,  like  the 
one  above  the  mill,  has  since  been  unemployed. 

The  first  tannery  in  the  place  was  carried  on  in  a 
small  way  by  Nathan  Callender,  and  later  by  Benajah 
P.  Bailey,  after  1825,  in  a yard  which  was  on  the 
Babson  lot.  He  abandoned  this  to  engsge  in  the 
store  business  with  Horace  G.  Phelps,  and  removed 
with  him  to  Corning  in  1836.  In  1828  Jaman  H. 
Phelps  came  from  Elkdale  and  put  up  a larger  tan- 
nery, in  the  rear  of  the  house  which  he  built  on  the 
Wilkes-Barre  road  about  the  same  time.  He  was  also 
a currier  by  trade,  and  made  much  of  the  leather  used 
by  the  community  for  the  next  twenty  years.  He 
also  had  shops  in  which  shoe-making  was  carried  on. 
This  tannery  was  last  carried  on  by  Joslyn  & Flynt, 
and  has  long  since  been  abandoned. 

Among  the  earlier  interests  were  the  hat-shops  of 
Jacob  Bedford  in  1821,  and  that  of  Arthur  Smith,  until 
1833,  when  he  sold  the  building  to  William  Wilbur, 
who  converted  it  into  a residence,  which  he  still  oc- 
cupies. Deacon  Miles  Benedict  was  a later  hatter. 
About  this  time  Angus  Cameron,  a Scotchman,  had  a 
cabinet-shop  near  the  hotel,  which  he  carried  on  until 
his  removal  to  Carbondale.  Much  of  his  ware  is  still 
used  in  the  village. 

In  early  times  the  place  had  many  ordinary 
mechanic  shops.  Dilton  Yarrington  was  a black- 
smith from  1825  until  1846.  Cornelius  S.  Blackman, 
and  Alanson  Yarrington  were  later  smiths,  and  Nelson 
Coleman  at  present  follows  that  trade.  From  1833 
until  1886  William  Wilbur  followed  wagon-making, 
having  George  M.  Rogers  as  an  associate  the  last 
fifteen  years.  His  son,  Henry  0.  Wilbur,  became  a 
prominent  merchant  in  Philadelphia.  William  H. 
Slocum  was  another  pioneer  wheelwright,  also  having 
a large  shop.  More  than  a dozen  men  were  employed 
in  these  shops,  but  both  have  been  closed.  In  1885 
A.  H.  Ayres  erected  a large  skating-rink  near  his 
hotel,  in  which  he  established  the  pioneer  creamery  in 
the  spring  of  1887. 

Public-houses  have  been  kept  at  Dundaff  almost 
from  the  time  of  its  first  settlement.  On  the  site  of 
the  present  hotel  James  Coil  entertained  the  public 
in  the  kitchen  part  of  a larger  building,  which  was 
completed  when  it  became  the  property  of  Colonel 
Gould  Phinny,  in  1825.  Before  this,  Warren  Dimock 
was  the  landlord. 

In  1825  Archippus  Parrish  took  this  place,  which 
had  also  been  kept  by  Nathan  Callender.  In  1829 
Benjamin  Ayres  became  the  landlord,  and  in  1856  the 
owner  of  the  property,  which  had  previously  been 
owned  by  James  Schott  and  had  many  landlords.  In 
1862  Arthur  H.  Ayres  became  the  host,  and  six 
years  later  the  owner  of  the  old  house,  which  was  re- 
built to  its  present  condition  in  1871-72.  Since  that 
time  the  spacious  hostelry  has  been  kept  by  him  and 
has  become  popular  as  a quiet  home  for  summer 


810 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


boarders.  On  what  is  now  known  as  the  Edwards 
place  Nathan  Callender  built  another  public-house, 
which  was  kept  by  him  a few  years  after  1825.  In 
1829  Peter  Shaver  was  the  landlord,  and  was  suc- 
ceeded by  James  Coil.  Benjamin  Brownell  last  kept 
this  hotel,  which  was  destroyed  by  fire  after  1870,  and 
the  site  has  since  remained  unoccupied. 

“The  Villa  ” is  a fine  and  commodious  summer  re- 
sort, occupying  a splendid  location  on  the  old  Ayres 
homestead.  A part  of  the  building  was  erected  in 
1874  by  Phinny  Ayres,  of  New  York,  for  a summer 
residence,  but  the  present  proprietor,  R.  P.  Christo- 
pher, enlarged  the  building  and  opened  it  in  1884.  It 
accommodates  thirty  guests,  and  from  its  porticoes 
many  attractive  views  are  afforded. 

Lower  down  the  street,  and  opposite,  is  the  substan- 
tial residence  of  Thomas  P.  Phinny,  which  was 
originally  built  for  a banking-house  in  1825.  It  con- 
tained a large  stone  vault  and  other  equipments  of  a 
banking-place.  Here  was  opened  the  Northern  Bant:, 
in  the  fall  of  1825.  Gould  Phinny  was  the  president 
and  Thomas  Wells  the  cashier.  Peter  Graham  and 
others  in  the  neighborhood  were  interested  as  stock- 
holders, and  its  prospects  appeared  very  flattering,  as 
the  old  Silver  Lake  Bank  at  Montrose  had  failed  and 
this  was  now  to  become  the  monetary  institution  of 
the  county.  In  reference  to  these  matters  a public 
toast  was  given  at  Dundaff,  July  4,  1825,  as  follows: 
“ Fifty  per  cent,  discount — Experience  has  taught  us 
that  silver  is  too  heavy  a metal  to  swim  on  Silver 
Lake— May  the  Northern  Bank  be  established  on 
more  permanent  foundation.”  Unfortunately,  much 
of  the  stock  of  the  bank  passed  out  of  the  hands  of 
the  original  holders  and  into  hands  of  people  not  in- 
terested in  its  perpetuity,  who  embarrassed  it  to  such 
an  extent  that  its  charter  was  revoked  in  1827. 

Early  the  next  year  the  building  was  converted 
into  a printing-house,  becoming  the  office  of  the 
Dundaff  Republican.  Its  first  issue  appeared  in 
March,  1828,  and  Sloane  Hamilton,  formerly  a teacher 
at  Montrose,  was  the  editor.  It  was  a political,  lit- 
erary, moral  and  religious  mirror,  the  subscription 
list  of  Elder  D.  Dimock’s  Mirror  being  transferred  in 
part  to  this.  Controversy  was  excluded,  but  the 
strong  religious  sentiment  then  prevailing  demanded 
religious  intelligence.  Mr.  Hamilton  was  joined  by 
Earl  Wheeler,  April,  1831,  but  in  March,  1832,  the 
paper  passed  into  the  hands  of  Amzi  Wilson,  who 
changed  the  name  to  Northern  Rennsylvamayi,  and  in 
December  removed  the  establishment  to  Carbondale, 
which  place  was  then  thought  about  to  become  a 
great  city.  Earl  Wheeler  was  at  that  time  an  attorney 
at  Dundaff,  and  since  1833  Thomas  P.  Phinny  has 
been  the  resident  attorney. 

Dr.  Henry  Burnham  became  the  first  resident  phy- 
sician in  1821.  Three  years  later  Dr.  C.  B.  Merrick 
located  at  Dundaff  and  remained  until  his  death.  In 
1825  Dr.  William  Terbell  came  and  remained  until 
1837,  when  he  removed  to  Corning,  N.  Y.  In  1826 


Dr.  Matthias  Button  was  here.  From  1829  to  1843 
Dr’ Joseph  Faulkner,  and  in  this  period  Doctors  Lu- 
ther Wells,  Alexander  C.  Phelps,  and  William  S.  Grit- 
man  also  practiced.  Later,  Doctors  Thomas  Halsey 
and  George  M.  Gamble-were  here  temporarily,  and  a 
Dr.  Gardner  practiced  as  the  first  homceopathist.  Dr. 
Ira  Goodrich  was  here  before  1849,  and  that  year  Dr. 
Johnson  C.  Olmstead  came  to  Clifford,  a few  years 
later  moving  to  Dundaff,  where  he  has  since  been  a 
practitioner.  Since  1880  he  has  had  a contemporary 
in  Dr.  Giles  A.  Fiske.  In  this  period  there  have 
been  other  physicians  located  here,  among  them  be- 
ing Doctors  James  Read,  W.  A.  Alexander,  D.  L. 
Bailey  and  J.  H.  Olmstead.  The  latter  was  a sur- 
geon in  the  United  States  army,  but  removed  from 
this  place  to  Bethany,  where  he  died. 

Asa  Dimock  is  credited  with  having  the  first  store 
in  the  borough,  selling  goods  at  Dundaff  as  early  as 
1818.  The  corner  he  occupied  passed  into  the  hands 
of  Colonel  Gould  Phinny  in  1824,  who  merchandised 
there  until  1836,  Charles  H.  Wells  being  his  first 
storekeeper.  Here  Elisha  Phinny  traded  several 
years,  and  later,  Clark  L. ‘Arnold.  This  is  now  the 
John  Rivenburg  store.  Diagonally  opposite  was 
opened  the  second  store  in  Dundaff,  before  1828,  by 
George  W.  Healey.  He  was  followed  by  Charles  H. 
Wells,  with  whom  Sidney  B.  Wells  was  later  associat- 
ed. Church  & Phinny  were  there  last  in  trade. 
This  building  was  removed  to  make  place  for  Doctor 
Fiske's  residence. 

The  third  stand  was  opened  on  the  southwestern 
corner,  in  1828,  by  Sylvester  Johnson  and  Sanford 
Robertson,  and  Dundaff,  having  now  three  stores,  be- 
came the  trading  point  for  a large  scope  of  country. 
Here  Sidney  B.  Wells  and  J.  T.  Langdon  traded 
many  years.  In  1852  Jared  Chittenden  and  George 
Cone  were  merchants  there,  and  after  1857  Soloman 
Arnold.  In  the  course  of  years  he  demolished  the 
old  building,  and  erected  the  present  stand,  occupied 
by  Isaac  E.  Davies. 

The  present  Henry  Brownell  stand  was  opened  in 
1848,  by  C.  C.  Church  and  Thomas  H.  Phinny.  Near 
by  Enoch  Chambers  has  had  a grocery-store  many 
years,  first  engaging  in  this  branch  of  trade  in  1840 
and  continuing  since  that  time.  After  1861  S.  G. 
Weaver  opened  the  first  regular  drug-store  and  kept 
it  until  his  death,  when  the  stock  was  transferred  to 
the  Davies  store.  J.  B.  Slocum  had  a tin-shop  manj'' 
years  and  James  Chambers  a shoe-shop.  Joslyn  & 
Flynt  carried  on  a harness-shop  and  that  trade  is  at 
present  followed  by  Henry  Bennett. 

The  Dundaff  post-office  was  established  November 
5,  1820,  with  Asa  Dimock  as  postmaster.  Since  that 
time  the  appointees  have  been,  March  12, 1821,  Horace 
G.  Phelps ; March  1,  1831,  Ephraim  Johnson  ; March 
7,  1838,  Charles  H.  Wells;  May  18,  1843,  Joseph  B. 
Slocum  ; February  19, 1845,  Arthur  Smith ; September 
28,  1846,  Sidney  B.  Wells;  June  30,  1849,  Joseph  B. 
Slocum;  February  28,  1853,  Sidney  B.  Wells ; Feb- 


DUNDAFF. 


811 


ruary21,  1855,  Charles  C.  Church;  March  27,1861, 
Thomas  Arnold ; December  6, 1865,  Joseph  B.  Slocum  ; 
February  18,  1886,  John  Rivenburg.  A daily  mail 
from  Carbondale  is  supplied. 

Being  a centre  for  this  part  of  the  State  at  those 
periods,  a number  of  important  meetings  were  held 
in  the  village.  “ A convention  was  held  at  Dundaff, 
February  22,  1830,  in  favor  of  the  Delaware  and  Hud- 
son Canal  Company.  The  delegates  were  among  the 
most  prominent  men  of  the  county,  and  resolutions 
wmre  passed  favoring  the  policy  of  the  company.  In 
1837  a military  convention  was  held  here,  which 
attracted  considerable  attention.  At  an  early  day 
there  had  been  two  companies,  commanded  by  Cap- 
tains James  Wells  and  James  Coil.  The  latter,  it  is 
said,  was  an  efficient  military  man.  Failing  to  realize 
its  hopes  in  regard  to  becoming  the  seat  of  justice 
for  a new  county,  Dundaff  yielded  to  the  claims  of 
Carbondale,  which  was,  in  1836,  the  proposed  seat  of 
a county  to  be  carved  out  of  Luzerne,  and  the  town- 
ships of  Clifford,  Herrick  and  Lenox,  of  Susquehanna 
County.  In  1838-39  there  were  renew'ed  petitions  for 
a division  of  the  county,  indicating  the  tendency  of 
the  people  to  unite  with  Luzerne,  and  it  cannot  be 
denied  but  that  the  natural  features  of  the  section 
justified  them.  Had  their  wish  prevailed  over  that 
of  the  central  and  wmstern  portions  of  the  county,  the 
result  could  not  have  been  more  depressing  to  the 
enterprise  of  Dundaff  than  it  has  been  by  their  re- 
maining.” ^ 

The  Dundaff' Academy  was  established  in  1833.  Its 
sessions  were  held  in  a plain  two-story  frame  building, 
which  became  the  public  school-house  after  the  acad- 
emy w'as  closed.  In  1839  the  Hon.  A.  H.  Read  procur- 
ed two  thousand  dollars  from  the  State  in  aid  of  the 
academy.  For  a number  of  years  good  schools  were 
maintained,  among  the  teachers  being  the  Revs.  E.  O. 
Ward,  E.  Allen,  and  a Miss  Farrar.  In  later  years 
Samuel  Chittenden  was  a successful  teacher.  He  re- 
moved to  New  York,  where  he  became  a prominent 
broker.  The  academy  was  discontinued  when  the 
free  schools  had  become  popular. 

The  Presbyterian  Church  at  Dundaff  was  the 
first  organized  religious  effort  in  the  borough.  In  the 
fall  of  1825  a number  of  citizens  of  the  village  and  the 
surrounding  county  formed  a society  for  the  purpose 
of  building  a meeting-house  for  the  use  of  Presbyte- 
rians or  Congregationalists.  Peter  Graham  encour- 
aged this  movement  by  donating  a lot  from  his  farm 
and  the  offer  of  timber  for  a frame  from  his  wood  lot 
near  at  hand.  Other  citizens  responded  with  gener- 
ous subscriptions,  making  an  early  realization  of  the 
project  possible.  On  the  15th  of  October,  1825,  the 
society  chose  its  first  board  of  trustees,  consisting  of 
Gould  Phinny,  George  W.  Healey,  Ebenezer  Brown, 
Blackleach  Burritt  and  James  Warner.  At  the  same 
time  Horace  G.  Phelps,  George  W.  Healey  and  Jas. 


1 Misa  Blackman. 


Warner  were  appointed  the  building  committee.  The 
frame  of  the  church  was  raised  April  18,  1826,  but 
the  house  was  not  completed  for  dedication  until 
April  13,  1827.  On  the  same  day  the  pews  were 
rented,  but  few  of  the  fifty  seats  remaining  unsold. 
In  later  years  they  were  nearly  all  occupied,  and  their 
sale  was  a source  of  revenue  to  maintain  regular  ser- 
vices. This  house  stood  on  the  rear  of  the  lot,  and, 
until  1833,  was  without  a spire.  The  building  was 
provided  with  one  about  that  time,  and  a bell  placed 
in  it,  which  was  one  of  the  oldest  in  America.  It 
was  cast  at  Amsterdam  in  1603,  and  after  being  used 
in  Europe  and  New  Jersey  a number  of  years,  was 
brought  to  Dundaff  by  Gould  Phinny.  It  was  small 
and  slightly  cracked,  but  served  the  wants  of  the 
community  well  until  its  destruction  by  the  fire  which 
consumed  the  church  on  the  night  of  Oct.  8,  1853. 
This  fire  was  the  work  of  an  incendiary  and  caused 
great  excitement  in  the  borough.  The  Council  offered 
a reward  of  two  hundred  and  fifty  dollars  for  the  con- 
viction of  the  person  committing  the  act,  but  no  ap- 
prehension followed.  The  work  of  rebuilding  was 
soon  after  commenced,  under  the  direction  of  Elder 
Jaman  H.  Phelps,  and  on  the  27th  of  May,  1855,  the 
new  edifice  was  formally  dedicated  by  the  Rev.  Sid- 
ney Ward,  of  Carbondale.  It  is  remembered  that  on 
this  occasion  the  weather  was  very  inclement,  the 
ground  being  covered  with  several  inches  of  snow. 
The  edifice  was  placed  near  the  road,  where,  from  its 
position,  it  is  a most  conspicuous  object  for  many 
miles  around.  It  is  a frame  building,  with  spire  and 
bell,  and  there  are  sittings  for  several  hundred  people. 
On  the  21st  of  January,  1853,  the  church  became  an 
incorporated  body,  with  E.  O.  Ward,  Thomas  P. 
Phinny,  C.  C.  Church,  Elisha  Phinny,  Miles  B.  Ben- 
edict, Henry  C.  Healey,  Thomas  Arnold,  Chauncy 
Smith,  Thomas  H.  Phinny,  Jaman  H.  Phelps,  J.  B. 
Slocum  and  Alanson  Yarrington  as  incorporators. 
Within  the  past  dozen  years  the  church  has  been  but 
little  used,  and  it  begins  to  show  the  signs  of  neglect 
from  want  of  occupancy.  On  the  26th  of  April,  1826, 
the  Susquehanna  Presbytery  met  at  Dundaff,  and  in- 
stalled the  Rev.  Charles  Thompson  as  the  first  pastor 
of  the  church,  a relation  he  sustained  until  the  sum- 
mer of  1828,  when  he  returned  to  the  East.  His  sal- 
ary was  considered  liberal,  being  three  hundred  and 
fifty  dollars  per  year.  In  the  last  year  of  his  pastor- 
ate, the  following  persons  were  pew-holders  in  the 
church,  paying  a rental  of  from  two  dollars  to  eight 
dollars  per  year:  James  Rolles,  Peter  F.  Ball,  Wm. 
Sillsbee,  Sloane  Hamilton,  Hugh  Fell,  Horace  G. 
Phelps,  Peter  Graham,  Otis  Severance,  Goodwin 
Baker,  Charles  'H.  Wells,  William  Mason,  James 
Tinker,  Asher  Peck,  D.  D.  Spencer,  H.  H.  Ellis,  Ezra 
Steward,  Gould  Phinny,  Stephen  Hodgson,  William 
Terbell,  Benjamin  Ayres,  Solomon  Williams,  Richard 
Meredith,  J.  V.  Mapes,  Peter  Hopkins,  James  Coil, 
William  Wells,  Peter  Rivenburg,  George  W.  Healey, 
Joshua  Fletcher,  Philip  I.  Stewart,  Arthur  Smith, 


812 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


Anson  Rogers,  Reuben  Arnold,  Wm.  Johnson,  Luke 
Harding,  Captain  Burns,  James  Warren,  Dilton  Yar- 
rington,  William  Coleman,  Earl  Wheeler,  Jesse  B. 
Dills,  John  W.  Wells,  Mrs.  Hawver. 

In  the  early  part  of  1831  James  Adams  became  the 
minister,  and  after  an  interval  of  a few  years,  in 
which  there  was  preaching  by  supplies,  the  Rev.  J. 
M.  Babbitt  became  the  pastor.  At  this  time  the  rul- 
ing elders  were  Jaman  H.  Phelps,  Dilton  Yarrington 
and  James  Brundage.  Miles  B.  Benedict  was  elected 
elder  April  13,  1842,  and,  at  the  same  meeting,  the 
Rev.  E.  O.  Ward  was  installed  as  the  pastor  of  the 
church.  He  had  commenced  preaching  the  preceding 
fall  as  a licentiate,  and  served  with  great  acceptance. 
His  ministry  extended  over  a period  of  twelve  years, 
and  was  marked  by  the  growth  of  the  congregation 
and  its  activity  in  church-work.  In  1846  there  were 
eighty  communicants,  and  two  years  later  the  maxi- 
mum number,  eighty-nine,  was  reported.  Within 
the  next  few  years  a steady  decline  began,  owing  to 
removals,  and  when  the  Methodist  and  Episcopal 
Churches  were  organized,  after  1850,  the  number  was 
still  further  diminished.  In  1854  the  Rev.  George  N. 
Todd  became  the  last  regular  pastor  of  the  church, 
his  ministry  continuing  several  years.  The  debt 
resting  upon  the  new  church  and  the  depression 
which  followed  the  decline  of  the  village  hastened 
the  suspension  of  the  services,  and  for  a number  of 
years  occasional  meetings  only  were  held,  until  1869, 
when  they  were  practically  discontinued.  In  1845 
Abel  Flynt  was  elected  an  elder,  and  Aug.  1,  1869, 
Joel  Stevens  was  ordained  to  that  office  in  place  of 
Elder  J.  H.  Phelps,  who  removed  to  Scranton.  The 
last  session  meeting  appears  to  have  been  held  Aug. 
9,  1869. 

Dundaff  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. — As 
early  as  1833  the  few  Methodists  living  at  Dundaff 
were  formed  into  a class  which  embraced  Horace  G. 
Phelps,  Benajah  P.  Bailey  and  half  a dozen  other 
members  from  the  Wilbur  and  King  families,  and 
preaching  services  were  held  at  long  intervals.  The 
old  school-house  was  first  occupied,  but,  in  1839,  a 
lot  was  purchased  from  Dilton  Yarrington,  east  from 
the  brook,  on  the  rear  end  of  which  was  built,  that 
year,  a plain  frame  meeting-house,  which  was  placed 
in  charge  of  Trustees  Philip  I.  Stewart,  Stephen 
Hodgson,  Richard  Meredith,  William  H.  Slocum, 
George  W.  Fish  and  William  Wilbur.  The  building 
occupied  that  site  until  1872,  when  a lot  was  secured 
on  the  Main  Street,  and  it  was  moved  front  and  placed 
in  repair.  In  1882  it  was  remodeled  at  an  outlay  of 
six  hundred  dollars,  and  the  spire  built,  in  which  was 
placed  a bell,  the  gift  of  Henry  0.  Wilbur,  of  Phila- 
delphia, who  presented  it  in  honor  of  the  long  mem- 
bership of  his  parents,  William  and  Arminda  Wilbur. 
It  is  a small  but  inviting  edifice,  and  August  6,  1885, 
passed  under  the  control  of  an  incorporated  board  of 
trustees,  composed  of  R.  P.  Christopher,  Thomas 
Halstead,  William  Wilbur,  George  M.  Rogers,  J.  H. 


Littell,  Luther  Wells  and  Henry  Sullender.  The 
church  has  had  a membership  which  ebbed  and  flowed 
with  the  business  life  of  the  village.  After  1850  a new 
class  was  organized,  with  the  following  members : Alfred 
Thompson,  leader;  Charlotte  Norton,  Ann  Hodgson, 
Lydia  A.  King,  Arminda  Wilbur,  Mary  Meredith, 
Elizabeth  Tripp,  Adaline  Gardner  and  Harriet 
Thompson.  In  1860  William  Meredith  became  the 
leader.  The  removal  of  many  members  in  recent 
years  has  again  diminished  the  membership,  leaving 
but  sixteen  in  1887.  The  church  has  sustained  many 
circuit  relations,  and  has  never  had  an  independent 
pastorate  ; but,  for  many  years,  the  field  of  Methodist 
labor  in  the  southeastern  part  of  the  county  was 
known  by  the  name  of  Dundaff  Circuit,  which  em- 
braced appointments  in  half  a dozen  townships. 
Later  relations  were  sustained  with  Dundaff,  Her- 
rick and  Uniondale.  The  present  minister  is  the 
Rev.  J.  H.  Littell,  of  the  Uniondale  Circuit. 

St.  James  Chapel,  Protestant  Episcopal. — 
The  services  of  the  Episcopal  Church  were  held  at 
Dundaff  as  early  as  1835,  the  Rev.  Samuel  Marks  and 
other  clergymen  occasionally  preaching.  The  former 
billiard-room  of  Colonel  Gould  Phinny  was  used  as 
a place  of  worship  at  first ; but  later  services,  con- 
ducted by  the  rectors  of  Trinity  Church,  of  Carbon- 
dale,  were  held  in  the  Presbyterian  Church,  to  the 
erection  of  which  the  Episcopalians  had  contributed 
liberally.  In  this  building  was  formally  organized 
the  parish  of  St.  James,  November  19, 1855,  when  the 
following  vestry  was  chosen : C.  C.  Church,  William 
H.  Slocum,  wardens ; Elisha  Phinny,  Thomas  P. 
Phinny,  Thomas  Graham,  Dr.  Ira  Goodrich,  Benja- 
min Ayres  and  Thomas  Arnold,  vestrymen.  Rector 
A.  Beatty,  of  the  Trinity  Church,  Carbondale,  preach- 
ed in  the  new  parish  until  May,  1856,  when  the  Rev. 
John  A.  Jerome  became  the  first  rector  and  served 
the  parish  three  years.  He  was  a Low  Churchman, 
and  his  sermons  attracted  large  congregations.  In 
May,  1859,  the  Rev.  John  H.  Drumm  became  the  rec- 
tor, and  continued  until  he  went  to  the  war,  as  a 
chaplain,  October,  1861.  Under  his  direction  the 
work  of  building  a chapel  was  begun,  in  1860,  as  it 
was  deemed  best  for  the  parish  to  have  a house  of 
worship  exclusively  its  own.  Thomas  P.  Phinny 
donated  a fine  lot  near  his  residence  for  this  purpose, 
when  Bishop  Samuel  Bowman  removed  the  first  sod 
for  the  foundation  of  the  building,  June  13,  1860. 
The  corner-stone  was  laid  by  the  rector  sixteen  days 
later,  the  sermon  being  preached  in  the  Methodist 
Church.  Before  the  close  of  the  season  work  was  sus- 
pended on  the  chapel,  and  for  more  than  a year  it  was 
in  an  unfinished  condition.  Finally,  through  the 
zealous  efforts  of  a few  members,  it  was  so  far  com- 
pleted that  Bishop  Stevens  held  services  in  it  Novem- 
ber 4,1862,  the  Rev.  S.  D.  Day  being  at  that  time 
the  acting  rector.  But  it  was  not  until  May  11,  1872, 
that  the  chapel  was  formally  consecrated,  the  Rev. 
Bishop  Howe  officiating.  It  is  a substantial  frame 


HERRICK. 


813 


edifice,  in  the  Gothic  style  of  architecture,  having  a 
capacity  for  several  hundred  people.  In  1878  a bell 
was  secured  and  the  following  year  a furnace  sup- 
plied. 

The  Rev.  S.  D.  Day  was  succeeded  as  rector  by  the 
Rev.  A.  H.  Cull,  but  soon  after  the  Rev.  Horatio  C. 
Howard  became  the  rector  and  served  the  parish  un- 
til 1879.  The  following  year  the  Rev.  John  Scott 
succeeded  him  and  remained  until  the  fall  of  1885. 
The  Rev.  F.  H.  Strieker  was  the  next  and  last  rector 
of  the  parish,  discontinuing  his  services  in  the  fall  of 
1886. 

Owing  to  removals,  the  communicants  of  the  par- 
ish have  become  few  in  number,  and  services  are  held 
only  occasionally,  but  there  are  prospects  of  reviving 
interest.  In  1882  a full  vestry  was  elected,  and  was 
composed  of  T.  P.  Phinny,  rector’s  warden  ; Nelson 
Coleman,  church  warden  ; John  Rivenburg,  William 
Johnson,  J.  C.  Olmstead,  O.  P.  Phinny,  George  Gra- 
ham, A.  H.  Ayres,  Jason  H.  Wells  and  Henry 
Brownell. 

Within  the  limits  of  the  borough  are  the  public 
cemetery  and  the  Ayres  burial  lot.  Both  are  well 
kept.  The  former  has  a retired,  peaceful  location, 
and  is  maintained  by  the  community  at  large. 


CHAPTER  LII. 

HERRICK  TOWNSHIP. 

As  originally  erected  from  parts  of  Gibson  and 
Clifford  in  May,  1825,  this  township  was  a right-an- 
gled parallelogram,  extending  north  and  south,  along 
the  Wayne  County  line,  eight  miles,  and  four  and  a 
half  miles  from  east  to  west.  This  area  was  retained 
until  1852,  when  three  miles  of  its  territory  on  the 
north  were  taken  off  to  form  Ararat  township.  It  is 
thus  one  of  the  eastern  border  towmships,  the  second 
from  the  south  and  the  fourth  from  the  north.  The 
township  was  named  in  honor  of  Judge  Edward  Her- 
rick, at  that  time  presiding  over  the  courts  of  the 
county. 

The  surface  of  Herrick  is  elevated,  the  general  level 
being  about  two  thousand  feet,  and  has  but  few  points 
lower  than  eighteen  hundred  feet.  In  the  southwest- 
ern corner  is  the  North  Knob  of  Elk  Mountain,  with 
an  elevation  of  twenty-seven  hundred  feet,  which  is 
the  highest  known  point  in  this  part  of  the  State. 
Extending  north  and  forming,  as  it  were,  the  west 
wall  of  the  township,  is  a range  of  the  Tunkhannock 
Mountain ; and  along  the  Wayne  County  line  is  a 
similar  wall,  formed  by  a range  of  the  Moosic  Moun- 
tain. The  upper  part  of  the  township  is  a continua- 
tion of  the  table-lands  of  Ararat,  and  is  cold  and 
swampy  in  some  localities,  conditions  which  favored 
the  growth  of  immense  forests  of  hemlock  trees,  for 


which  this  section  was  noted.  Here  are  the  sources 
of  the  East  Branch  of  the  Tunkhannock,  which  drains 
the  western  part  of  the  township,  having  a general 
southeasterly  course  and  passing  into  Clifford  near 
the  centre  of  the  south  line.  The  volume  is  small, 
and  has  been  greatly  diminished  since  the  country 
has  been  cleared  up.  Near  tbe  centre  is  Low  Lake, 
the  largest  body  of  water  in  the  township.  It  is 
nearly  a mile  long,  but  less  than  one-fourth  of  a mile 
wide,  and  has  a small  outlet  which  passes  through 
Lewis  Lake,  a smaller  sheet  of  water,  several  miles 
southeast  and  just  above  Uniondale.  At  this  place 
the  outlet  of  the  latter  lake  has  superior  water  privi- 
leges, descending  rapidly  over  ledges  of  rock  until  it 
falls  into  the  Lackawanna.  Both  lakes  were  named 
for  early  settlers  in  their  vicinity,  the  former  for  John 
N.  Low,  who  lived  and  died  on  the  Price  place  prior 
to  1814 ; the  latter  for  David  N.  Lewis,  who  owned 
this  body  of  water  in  early  days.  The  Lackawanna 
rises  in  Ararat  and  passes  -into  Herrick  a slender 
stream,  but,  taking  tbe  waters  of  many  brooks,  attains 
considerable  volume  before  flowing  into  the  “ Still- 
water,” in  Clifford.  Its  course  is  almost  due  south. 

The  soil  of  the  lower  half  of  the  township  is  quite 
fertile,  and  some  good  farms  have  been  made.  In 
the  northern  part  the  cereals  do  not  grow  so  well,  but 
grass  grows  luxuriantly  where  the  country  has  been 
well  cleared  up.  It  was  originally  very  heavily  tim- 
bered. Along  the  hills  in  the  southeastern  part  are 
surface  indications  of  anthracite  coal,  and  it  is  claimed 
that  the  Forest  City  vein  may  here  be  found,  though 
at  a much  lower  depth.  In  the  spring  of  1887  an 
effort  was  made  to  ascertain  the  correctness  of  this 
belief  by  means  of  a bore-hole,  and  in  April,  1887, 
such  a hole  was  being  drilled. 

The  building  of  tbe  Jefferson  Branch  Railway  in 
1871  opened  a new  era  in  the  history  of  the  township, 
and  thenceforth  its  development  was  much  more 
rapid.  It  traverses  Herrick  north  and  south,  east  of 
the  centre,  and  has  stations  at  Herrick  Centre  and  at 
Uniondale.  The  “ Brace  ” road  was  one  of  the  first 
thoroughfares  in  the  township,  and  was  opened  for 
travel  as  early  as  1791.  Its  course  is  not  definitely 
remembered,  as  it  was  abandoned  at  a very  early  day. 
In  a general  way  it  can  be  obscurely  traced  from  a 
point  below  the  village  of  Uniondale  northwest  to 
what  was  afterwards  the  Newburg  turnpike.  Before 
passing  out  of  the  township,  into  what  is  now  Gib- 
son, it  ran  parallel  with  the  new  road  a mile  or  more, 
and  within  half  a mile  of  it.  From  all  accounts  it 
was  not  much  used  after  the  new  road  was  opened, 
and  most  of  the  houses  which  had  been  built  on  it 
were  taken  down  and  rebuilt  on  the  more  favorably 
located  highway.  Some  of  the  old  citizens  remem- 
ber seeing  the  bridges  on  the  old  “ Brace  ” road,  long 
after  other  traces  of  the  road  had  disappeared.  A 
road  to  Great  Bend  from  Northampton  County  was 
located  on  the  following  petition,  and  confirmed  in 
April,  1799 : “ To  begin  at  the  line  of  said  county. 


814 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


where  the  road  crosses  said  line,  and  run  west  to  the 
third  Lackawanna  bridge,  thence  to  Abel  Kent’s, 
thence  to  Asahel  Gregory,  thence  to  Johnson’s  Creek, 
thence  to  D.  Church’s,  thence  to  Tunkhannock  Creek, 
thence  to  Joseph  Potter’s,  thence  to  old  Brace  road, 
thence  to  David  Hamilton’s,  then  to  Daniel  Hunt’s, 
then  to  Daniel  Leach’s,  then  nearly  west  to  Salt  Lick, 
then  to  R.  Corbett’s,  then  north  six  miles  to  the  ferry 
Great  Bend — 23  miles.” 

When  the  Newbui’g  turnpike  was  located  it  fol- 
lowed the  general  course  of  the  above  road.  The 
Wilkes-Barre  turnpike,  better  known  as  Lyon  Street, 
is  the  principal  road  running  north  and  south. 

The  Early  Settlers. — It  is  said  that  Nathaniel 
Holdridge  was  the  first  settler  of  Herrick,  living  here 
as  early  as  1789,  but  removing  soon  after  to  Great 
Bend.  No  account  of  any  improvement  he  made 
could  be  obtained.  About  1791  a number  of  perma- 
nent settlers  came,  among  them  being  Abel  Kent  and 
his  brother  Gideon  and  their  families,  Asahel  Greg- 
ory and  family,  Jonas  and  Sylvanus  Campbell  and 
two  hunters  named  Church  and  Hale.  The  latter 
followed  their  calling  successfully,  as  the  woods  at 
that  time  abounded  with  game.  It  does  not  appear 
that  they  made  any  substantial  improvements  and 
they  may  have  removed  at  an  early  day. 

The  stay  of  the  Campbells  was  somewhat  longer, 
Jonas  remaining  at  least  twenty  years.  In  the  course 
of  time  he  married  a daughter  of  J.  C.  Await,  a Hes- 
sian soldier  who  came  to  Herrick  before  1800.  He 
located  on  the  road  to  Mount  Pleasant,  near  the 
county  line,  and  had  a large  family.  A child  of 
Campbell’s,  two  years  old,  was  drowned  by  falling  in 
a spring  in  June,  1811,  and  was  the  first  j^erson 
buried  in  the  cemetery  at  Uniondale. 

The  Kents  settled  on  the  old  “ Brace  ” road,  west 
of  where  the  Wilkes-Barre  turnpike  crossed  it,  and 
about  a mile  south  of  the  Newburg  turnpike.  Abel, 
Jr.,  opened  and  kept  a tavern  on  the  present 
Thomas  farm  as  early  as  1798.  He  died  in  1806.  He 
had  brothers  named  John  and  Carlton.  The  sons  of 
Gideon  were  Gideon,  Jr.,  and  Durham.  The  older 
members  of  the  family  died  and  others  removed  to 
the  Lake  country.  The  Carlton  Kent  mentioned 
later  on  was  a son  of  Abel,  Jr.  From  their  being  so 
numerous,  this  section  of  the  township  was  known 
many  years  as  the  “ Kent  Settlement.”  The  family 
name  is  not  perpetuated  among  the  present  residents 
of  the  township.  John  Kent  was  the  first  settler  of 
what  afterwards  became  known  as  Dimock’s  Corners. 

Asahel  Gregory,  who  also  had  lived  on  the  old 
road,  then  moved  up  to  the  turnpike,  about  half  a 
mile  west  of  John  Kent.  He  was  the  first  justice  of 
the  peace  in  this  section.  His  career  was  an  active 
one  for  the  times,  in  the  hardships  of  which  he  had  a 
full  share.  He  brought  his  family  down  the  Susque- 
hanna River  to  the  Bend  on  a raft,  and  when  their 
destination  was  reached  he  built  a log  hut,  peeled 
bark  to  shelter  the  bed,  and  took  possession.  Mr. 


Gregory  lived  in  Herrick  over  forty  years,  when  he 
removed  to  the  residence  of  his  son  Samuel,  in 
Bridgewater,  where  he  died  April,  1842,  at  the  age  of 
eighty-three.  He  was  a Revolutionary  pensioner. 
His  remains  rest  in  the  burial-lot  on  Dr.  Asa  Park’s 
old  place.  Hubbel  Gregory,  his  son,  had  a small 
store,  about  1820,  near  his  father’s  residence  in  Her- 
rick. He  removed  to  Michigan  and  died  at  Ann 
Arbor,  in  the  seventy-second  year  of  his  age. 

South  from  these  Walter  Lyon  settled  in  1792.  He 
was  a native  of  Massachusetts,  and  the  son  of  a Rev- 
olutionary soldier,  killed  at  the  battle  of  Trenton. 
Before  removing  to  this  county  he  had  lived  in  Ash- 
ford, Conn.,  from  which  place  he  started  early  in  the 
spring  with  his  wife,  Mary  (Bishop),  and  daughter 
Hannah,  nine  months  old,  on  a rude  sled  drawn  by  a 
yoke  of  steers.  His  wife’s  step-father,  a Mr.  Green, 
accompanied  them,  carrying  a pair  of  steelyards  and 
driving  a heifer — all  their  worldly  goods.  His  brother 
and  family,  on  their  way  to  Genesee  County,  N.  Y., 
were  in  their  company  as  far  as  the  Susquehanna 
River.  Finding  sleighing  difiicult,  at  this  point  he 
made  a canoe  out  of  a tree,  in  which  he  placed  his 
wife,  child  and  Mr.  Green  and  sent  them  down  the 
river  to  Great  Bend,  proceeding  thence  over  the  land 
with  the  cattle  to  meet  them  at  that  point.  Here  he 
loaded  up  his  family  and  drove  to  the  tract  of  four 
hundred  acres  he  had  bought,  and  on  which  he  had 
built  a cabin  the  preceding  summer.  He  subse- 
quently purchased  a number  of  hundred  acres  more 
in  the  same  neighborhood  and  setlJed  all  his  sons 
around  him,  along  what  became  known  as  Lyon 
Street.  Walter  Lyon  was  a person  of  great  energy  of 
character,  and  well  fitted  to  be  a pioneer.  “ In  early 
times  he  was  obliged  to  take  his  grain  to  Great  Bend 
on  his  back,  and  return  with  his  grist  in  the  same 
manner.  Once,  when  the  w'ater  was  low,  he  was 
obliged  to  wait  for  his  grist  three  weeks;  and,  not 
wishing  to  make  a second  journey,  he  hired  out  to 
husk  corn.  In  the  mean  time,  his  family  had  only 
potatoes  and  milk  to  eat,  and  were  in  great  fear  for 
his  safety,  as  his  route  lay  through,  forests  then  tra- 
versed by  bears,  panthers  and  wolves,  and  broken  by 
only  a few  clearings.  He  was  an  active  man  in  town- 
ship and  county  affairs,  being  a justice  of  the  peace,  a 
major  in  the  Seventy-sixth  Regiment  Pennsylvania 
Militia  and  a county  commissioner,  besides  being 
often  intrusted  with  other  public  business.”^  He 
had  a large  family,  including  sons  named  Wheeler, 
Jacob,  John,  Henry  and  Walter,  and  daughters  who 
married  Colonel  Asa  Dimock,  M.  Mumford,  E.  Free- 
man, Nathan  Cottrell,  Alanson  Read  and  David  N. 
Lewis.  Walter  Lyon,  Sr.,  died  in  1838,  aged  sixty- 
eight,  but  his  wife  survived  him  until  1854.  The 
homestead  is  now  occupied  by  Charles  W.  Lyon,  a 
son  of  Wheeler.  Lafayette,  George  H.  and  Walter  E. 
are  sons  of  Jacob  Lyon,  living  in  the  county.  Giles 


1 Miss  Blackman. 


HERIIICK. 


815 


H.  Lyon,  a son  of  John,  now  occupies  his  father’s 
homestead.  Frank,  a son  of  Henry,  lives  in  the 
county;  but  no  children  of  Walter,  Jr.,  remained  in 
Susquehanna.  A son,  James  W.,  living  at  Guelph, 
Canada,  has  become  a celebrated  book  publisher. 

Jacob  Lyon,  Sr.,  was  a colonel  of  the  “Washington 
Guards,”  a volunteer  battalion  of  State  militia.  “He 
was  honest,  patriotic,  intelligent,  public-spirited  and 
generous.”  In  late  years  many  members  of  the  Lyon 
family  have  removed  from  the  township,  and  the  de- 
scendants are  not  near  as  numerous  as  formerly. 

Luke  Harding  came  about  1800  from  the  State  of 
Massachusetts,  and  settled  north  of  Walter  Lyon,  on 
the  farm  now  owned  by  Charles  U.,  a grandson,  and 
a son  of  Elisha,  who  also  lived  on  this  place.  An- 
other son  was  Luke,  who  lived  on  Elk  Mountain, 
where  he  reared  one  daughter,  who  became  the  wife 
of  Artemas  Carpenter.  Addison  C.  Harding,  a son 
of  Elisha,  lives  at  Herrick  Centre. 

In  1805  Joseph  Sweet  settled  at  what  is  now  Her- 
rick Centre,  but  sold  and  moved  away  in  1815,  Ezra 
Newton  becoming  the  owner  of  part  of  the  farm.  He 
kept  a pioneer  tavern  at  that  point. 

Asa  Dimock,  an  older  brother  of  Elder  Davis 
Dimock,  came  from  Pittston  in  March,  1807,  and 
moved  into  a house  of  one  room,  on  the  old  “ Brace” 
road,  in  the  Kent  neighborhood.  At  this  time  his 
family  consisted  of  a wife  and  four  children.  In 
1811,  after  the  turnpike  was  finished,  he  moved  up 
to  the  neighborhood  which  afterwards  became  known 
as  “Dimock’s  Corners.”  But  the  post-office  estab- 
lished here  in  1826  was  called  “ Dimockville,”  and 
so  remained  until  it  was  discontinued,  in  1845.  Of 
this  office  Warren  Dimmock,  a son  of  Asa,  was  the 
first  postmaster.  Asa  Dimock  was  a blacksmith, 
and  built  a shop  near  his  residence,  where  he  carried 
on  his  trade.  He  was  the  postmaster  of  an  office 
here  as  early  as  1815.  He  also  carried  the  United 
States  mail  from  Chenango  Point  to  Newburg,  on 
the  Hudson  River,  once  a week,  sometimes  on  horse- 
back, and  sometimes  in  a single  wagon  or  cutter. 

“ I recollect,”  says  his  son  Shubael,  now  of  Wis- 
consin, “ his  coming  home  from  Newburg  with  the 
mail,  flying  a white  flag  from  a pole  stuck  up  in  h's 
cutter,  with  the  word  ‘ Peace  ” inscribed  on  it  in 
large  letters.  This,  at  the  close  of  the  war  with  Eng- 
land, caused  great  excitement  along  the  road. 

“ Often  have  I heard  the  panther  scream  and  the 
wolf  howl  in  the  wilderness  around  us,  and  seen  the 
scalps  brought  to  my  father,  to  secure  to  the  success- 
ful huntsman  a certificate  for  the  bounty  allowed  for 
them.  I recollect  an  old  hunter  (Wademan)  once 
came  in  my  father’s  absence,  and,  while  waiting  for 
his  return,  he  took  out  from  his  knapsack  some  nice 
white-looking  meat  to  eat  for  his  dinner,  and,  at  the 
same  time,  invited  us  to  taste  it.  I was  the  only  one 
who  accepted  the  invitation,  and  then  he  told  us  it 
was  the  meat  of  the  panther  he  had  kille  1.” 

In  1818  Asa  Dimock  removed  to  Dundaff,  where 


his  son,  Warren,  kept  tavern  a short  time,  then  re- 
turned to  the  Corners.  Nine  years  later,  Asa  Dim- 
ock, Sr.,  lived  with  his  son,  Shubael,  in  Lenox,  where 
he  died  in  1883,  when  this  son  also  returned  to 
Herrick,  but  later  moved  to  Wisconsin.  No  descend- 
ants of  this  family  remain  in  the  township,  and  the 
Dimmicks  of  this  part  of  the  county,  as  the  spelling 
of  their  names  indicates,  belong  to  another  family. 
They  are  the  descendants  of  Captain  Edward  Dim- 
mick,  a Revolutionary  soldier,  who  came  in  Septem- 
ber, 1807,  from  Mansfield,  Conn.,  to  improve  three 
hundred  acres  of  land,  which  he  had  bought  of 
Thomas  Meredith.  This  land  was  west  of  John  Con- 
rad Await,  and  south  of  the  present  Presbyterian 
Church,  at  Uniondale. 

The  following  spring  he  brought  in  his  family, 
consisting  of  sons  named  Martial,  Eber,  Joshua  T., 
Shubael  and  Edward,  and  daughters  named  Eunice, 
Esther  and  Abigail  F.  He. lived  and  died  on  the 
present  Shubael  Carpenter  place.  He  was  a mason 
by  trade,  and  built  many  of  the  large  chimneys  of 
the  first  houses.  In  the  winter  he  made  shoes,  and 
also  carried  on  a tannery  on  a small  scale.  He  died 
in  September,  1836,  aged  eighty-eight  years. 

The  oldest  son.  Martial,  married  Oshea  Smith,  and 
lived  on  the  Martial  0.  Dimrnick  place  until  his 
death,  March  25,  1879,  at  the  age  of  eighty-eight 
years.  His  sons  were  Martial  0.,  Elmer  D.,  Sidney 
D.,  Francis  M.  and  Addison.  Of  the  early  days  at 
Unionville,  Martial  Dimrnick  said,  in  his  reminis- 
cences: “In  July,  1808,  tow'ards  night,  there  came  a 
thunder-shower,  which  continued  till  near  midnight; 
and,  although  I have  lived  here  sixty-two  years,  I 
have  never  seen,  I think,  half  as  much  water  in  the 
Lackawanna,  at  one  time,  as  there  was  the  next  day. 
It  swept  bridges  and  all  before  it  to  its  mouth. 
Everything  in  our  little  cabin  was  as  wet  as  though 
it  had  been  dipped  in  the  sea.  In  June,  1809,  I went 
to  the  Chenango  River,  five  miles  above  its  mouth, 
to  one  Mr.  Crocker’s,  and  brought  three  bushels  of 
corn  on  horseback,  between  forty  and  fifty  miles,  as 
none  could  be  obtained  nearer.  But  what  a change 
has  taken  place  in  the  sixty-two  years  since  I came 
to  this  section ! Then  it  w'as  woods,  woods,  all 
around,  abounding  with  wild  animals,  and  these 
were  really  necessary  for  food  for  the  inhabitants. 
One  could  shoot  and  kill  a large  fat  buck  that  would 
weigh  about  two  hundred  pounds,  and  nice  wild  tur- 
keys that  weighed  twenty-one  pounds  dressed,  or 
catch  them  in  traps,  as  I have  done.  The  Lacka- 
wanna Creek,  passing  right  through  the  settlement, 
swarmed  with  speckled  trout.  Surely  these  were 
almost  the  staff  of  life,  for  bread  was  often  scarce ; 
but  this  game  has  passed  away,  and  the  time  which 
made  it  necessary. 

“ The  settlers  had  many  sore  trials  to  pass  through, 
— poor  roads,  poor  houses,  a want  of  buildings  to 
store  what  little  they  did  raise,  and  a want  of  many 
things  they  had  been  used  to  having  before  they 


816 


HISTORY  OP  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


came  here  ; but,  with  all  their  trials,  there  was  some 
real  enjoyment. 

“On  the  6th  of  July,  1814,  about  5 p.m.,  there  came 
up  a thunder  shower,  accompanied  with  a hurricane,” 
says  Mr.  M.  Dimm'ick,  “which  leveled  almost  every- 
thing before  it  for  five  or  six  miles  in  length  and 
about  a half-mile  in  breadth,  commencing  on  the 
north  side  of  Elk  Mountain  and  reaching  to  Moosic 
Mountain.  It  unroofed  buddings  and  tore  down 
others,  and  opened  a new  w'orld  in  appearance.” 

The  year  1816  was  marked  here,  as  elsewhere,  by 
the  peculiarity  of  its  seasons.  “The  most  of  January 
and  the  whole  of  February  was  like  what  our  weather 
generally  is  in  September — the  ground  dry  and 
dusty,  and  the  atmosphere  warm  and  pleasant  as 
summer.  This  was  followed  by  a cold,  sickly  spring 
and  summer.  Many  died  of  ‘inflammation  of  the 
lungs.’  It  snowed  in  June.” 

Eber  Dimmick'  the  second  son  of  Captain  Edward 
Dimmick,  lived  on  part  of  the  homestead.  He  was 
the  father  of  sons  named  Minor  M.,  Walter  T.,  Ed- 
ward V.,  Orville  and  Eber.  Joshua  T.,  the  third 
son,  married  Rhoda  Carpenter,  and  reared  George 
M.,  a minister  in  Minnesota,  and  another  son,  Love- 
joy.  The  fourth  son,  Shubael,  was  the  father  of  Dr. 
Anthony  Dimm.ick.  Edward,  the  youngest  son, 
moved  to  Wyoming  County,  where  he  still  lives. 
The  daughters  married, — Abigail  F.,  Zenas  Carpen- 
ter; Esther,  John  J.  Williams;  and  Eunice,  Eli 
Nichols.  The  latter  came  from  Fairfield  County,  Conn., 
in  1812,  and  settled  on  the  farm  later  occupied  by  his 
son-in-law,  Samuel  Burritt,  who  was  married  to  his 
daughter  Amanda.  Another  child  was  Ira  Nichols, 
for  many  years  a prominent  business  man  at  Herrick 
Centre.  In  1816  Eli  Nichols  gave  the  people  of  the 
township  a number  of  books  to  form  a library  for 
general  circulation,  which  was  kept  some  time  at  the 
house  of  Stephen  Ellis.  He  died  in  1824. 

John  J.  Williams  came  from  Scituate,  R.  I.,  in 
1816.  He  was  a lineal  descendant  of  Roger  Wil- 
liams. For  a few  years  he  followed  his  occupation  as 
a shoemaker,  but  in  1823  married  and  settled  on  the 
Mortimer  Williams  place,  where  he  died  March  25i 
1848,  aged  fifty-three  years.  Mrs.  Williams  died  in 
1879,  aged  seventy-six  years.  Their  children  were 
Mortimer,  living  on  the  homestead ; Dimmick,  Henry 
L.,  Edgar,  Harry  L.  and  John  J.,  of  Schuylkill 
County  ; Benjamin  F.,  a minister ; Emeline  married 
D.  K.  Oakley;  Gulielma  married  John  F.  Stewart. 

Several  sisters  of  John  J.  Williams  came  with  him, 
and  were  married,— Abigail  to  Pardon  Churchill,  and 
Bathsheba  to  Williams  Churchill.  The  latter  came 
to  Wayne  County  from  Massachusetts  in  1816,  and 
for  three  years  followed  the  occupation  of  a clothier 
in  that  county.  In  1819  he  came  to  Herrick,  and 
commenced  clearing  up  a farm  on  the  ridge  between 
the  Lackawanna  and  the  outlet  of  Low  Lake.  On  the 
latter  stream  he  built  a pioneer  saw-mill,  getting  his 
mill-irons  from  the  settlement  where  Scranton  now 


is.  He  was  an  active  Methodist,  and  sustained  the 
reputation  of  a local  preacher  many  years.  He  died 
on  the  homestead  in  1877,  aged  eighty-two  years,  and 
he  and  other  members  of  the  family  are  buried  in  the 
family  burial-ground  on  the  old  farm.  His  children 
were  Abraham,  living  at  Lenoxville;  Joshua  W.,  of 
Clark’s  Green;  Elisha  died  at  Tunkhannock ; James 
died  at  Scranton;  Charles  living  at  Susquehanna; 
Silas  O.  living  on  the  homestead ; Mary  married  John 
C.  Higgins ; Susan,  Homer  Davidson ; Abbie,  Alvin 
Chandler ; Emeline,  Israel  Rounds. 

The  latter  was  a son  of  Arba  Rounds,  who  came 
from  Rhode  Island  and  settled  first  in  Jackson,  but 
died  on  the  Curtis  farm  in  1866,  aged  eighty-seven 
years.  He  had  reared  a large  family,  the  sons  being 
Nathan,  Alva,  Levi,  Israel,  Zenas  and  Hubhell.  Of 
his  married  daughters,  Laura  was  the  wife  of  Edward 
Dimmick,  Jr. ; Lydia,  of  Lucius  Curtis;  Mary,  of  P. 
H.  Stanton  ; and  Eliza,  of  Mortimer  Williams. 

A number  of  other  settlers  came  in  earlier,  in 
1810,  among  them  being  Abijah  Hubbell,  Hezekiah 
Buckingham,  Blackleach  Burritt  and  Henry  W.  Cur- 
tis, from  Connecticut.  The  latter  located  on  the  flat 
lands,  below  Uniondale,  and  was  the  father  of  Enoch 
and  James  Curtis.  The  former  died  at  Herrick 
Centre,  the  latter  on  the  homestead,  which  is  now 
owned  by  his  son,  Isaac  T.  Daughters  were  married 
into  the  Hubbell  and  Coleman  families.  Hezekiah 
Buckingham  lived  in  the  same  neighborhood,  but  re- 
turned to  Connecticut  in  the  course  of  a few  years. 

“Blackleach  Burritt  settled  first  on  the  Flat,  near 
M.  Dimmick,  but  afterwards  moved  to  the  Willkes- 
Barre  turnpike,  below  Stephen  Ellis,  in  Clifford, 
where  he  died.  His  widow  died  in  the  fall  of  1869, 
aged  ninety-one.  His  sons  were  Grandison  (now  in 
Wisconsin),  Samuel,  Rufus  and  Eli.  One  other  died 
young,  and  Rufus,  at  two  years  of  age,  was  drowned 
in  the  creek  during  the  fall  of  1813.  Of  the  sons  of 
Samuel  Burritt,  Loren  P.  has  represented  this  county 
in  the  State  Legislature  two  years,  and  Ira  N.  was 
private  secretary  to  President  Grant  to  sign  land 
patents.”  ^ 

Philip  I.  Stewart  came  about  the  same  time,  1809, 
or  ’10,  and  bought  a tract  of  land  from  John  Kent, 
upon  which  he  built  a house  where  he  kept  tavern,  in 
1816.  Two  years  later  he  moved  to  Clifford  township, 
where  he  lived  many  years. 

In  1810  Stephen  Ellis  and  his  family  came  from 
Connecticut  and  bought  a tract  of  land  on  the  lower 
part  of  Lyon  Street,  west  from  Uniondale.  He  was 
a Revolutionary  soldier  and  a pensioner.  He  died 
November,  1847,  aged  eighty-four  years.  His  son. 
Captain  Huntington  H.,  died  on  this  farm  in  1828 ; 
Stephen,  another  son,  became  a Presbyterian  clergy- 
man ; and  Jonathan  T.  was  a business  man  at  Union- 
dale. 

David  N.  Lewis  came  from  the  Wyoming  Valley 


1 Miss  Blackman. 


HEKRICK. 


817 


in  1810,  and  purchased  four  hundred  acres  of  land  at 
and  north  of  Uniondale,  including  Lewis  Lake.  His 
only  child  married  Joseph  Sherw'ood,  of  Wayne 
County.  A half  of  the  above  tract  of  land  was  sold 
to  James  Lewis,  a nephew,  who  lived  on  the  hill 
north  of  the  mills,  and  was  the  father  of  Horace  H. 
Lewis,  of  Uniondale. 

James  Giddings,  a retired  sea  captain,  came  from 
Connecticut  in  1811  and  purchased  a farm  north  of 
Walter  Lyon  and  south  of  Asa  Dimock.  Of  his 
thirteen  children,  twelve  became  adults,  namely: 
Andrew,  who  lived  on  Elk  Mountain,  where  his  sou, 
Charles  A.,  now' resides ; Charles  became  a Methodist 
minister;  Giles  A.  went  to  Texas  in  1835  anddied  in 
1836  from  wounds  received  at  the  battle  of  San 
Jacinto  ; James  D.,  a lawyer,  moved  to  Texas  in  1838, 
where  he  accumulated  a large  fortune ; George  H. 
became  a mail  contractor  in  the  West ; John  J.,  also 
a mail  contractor,  was  killed  by  the  Indians  on  the 
plains  in  1861 ; Francis  M.,  a doctor,  was  killed  in 
Mexico;  Clinton  D.,  living  in  Texas;  Sarah  became 
the  wife  of  John  Lyon,  of  Herrick;  Louisa  married 
Spencer  Watrous,  of  Bridgewater ; and  Maria  A.  be- 
came the  wife  of  Walter  Lyon,  Jr.,  and  is  still  living 
with  her  son,  James  Walter  Lyon,  at  Guelph,  Canada. 

On  the  Clifford  township  line,  south  of  Uniondale, 
Ezra  Carpenter  settled  seventy  years  ago,  owning  a 
tract  of  four  hundred  acres  of  land.  He  came  from 
Harford  and  remained  here  until  his  death,  in  1821, 
leaving  a family  of  ten  children —sons  named  Ezra, 
Daniel,  Zenas,  Shepherd  and  Artemas,  the  latter 
still  living  in  the  township.  The  daughters  were 
Mary,  married  Enoch  Curtis;  Eliza,  wife  of  John 
Westgate  ; Rhoda,  wife  of  J.  T.  Dimmick  ; Tryphena 
married  Thomas  Comstock;  and  Tiyphosa.  Ezra 
Carpenter  married  Happy  Burdick,  and  died  February 
15,  1887,  in  his  eighty-sixth  year.  He  was  the  father 
of  Elijah,  Alva,  Russell,  Stephen,  Zora  and  Warren 
Carpenter. 

In  the  northeastern  part  of  the  township  James 
Dunn  was  an  early  land-owner,  and  the  descendants 
made  substantial  improvements.  There  were  sons 
named  Battus,  John,  Joseph,  Peter  and  James  I. 
The  former  was  the  father  of  Alexander,  Zaccheus  K. 
and  Robert  H.  Dunn.  Later  settlers  in  this  locality 
were  George  W.  and  Erastus  B.  Barnes,  sons  of 
Ezekiel  Barnes,  of  Gibson.  In  the  western  part  of 
Herrick  Dr.  Erastus  Day  was  an  important  man  in 
his  time.  He  reared  a large  family — the  sons  being 
Alanson,  Sela,  Erastus  and  Thomas  M.  This  farm  is 
now  the  home  of  Benjamin  Reynolds,  a Welshman, 
and  others  of  that  nationality  occupy  the  farms  of 
pioneers  already  named, — John  Thomas  (father  of 
John  W.  W.  and  Frank  Thomas)  locating  on  the 
Benjamin  Watrous  farm ; W.  E.  Jones  on  the  Asa 
Dimock  place ; and  R.  Davis,  Thomas  Owens  and 
Owen  Owens  on  farms  nearer  Elk  Mountain.  The 
Welsh  have  made  very  desirable  citizens  and  are  be- 
coming more  numerous  in  the  township. 

53 


Taxables  of  1826. — Daniel  Avery,  Charles  Bonner,  Jeremiah  Beard, 
Timothy  Beard,  Grey  Burns,  Roswell  Burns,  Stephen  Brush,  Amos  Bo- 
nan,  John  Blow,  James  Barham,  Samuel  Benjamin,  Ellsworth  Benja- 
min, Shubael  Baldwin,  Roswell  Barnes,  Williams  Churchill,  Seril  Church- 
ill, Sylveuus  Campbell,  Nathaniel  Campbell,  Enoch  Curtis,  James  Curtis 
James  Coleman,  Benjamin  Coleman,  Ezra  Carpenter,  John  Doyle,  Justus 
L.  Doyle,  Warren  Dimock,  James  Dunn,  Edward  Dimmick,  Edward 
Dimmick,  Jr.,  Eber  Dimmick,  Martial  Dimmick,  John  T.  Dimmick, 
Erastus  Day,  Stephen  Ellis,  James  Giddings,  Elisha  Harding,  Wheeler 
Hardman,  Carlton  Kent,  Wheeler  Lyon,  Jacob  Lyon,  Walter  Lyon, 
Johu  Lyon,  Henry  Lyon,  David  N.  Lewis,  John  Munford,  Lillibridge 
Munford,  Jerry  Munford,  William  Miller,  Eunice  Nichols,  Robert  H. 
Newton,  John  S.  Niles,  Oliver  Osborne,  Daniel  Ogden,  Benjamin  Ogden, 
Asa  Parker,  Arba  Rounds,  Almon  Spoor,  Chester  Scarborough,  Timothy 
J.  Symons,  John  Snyder,  John  Snow,  Simeon  Taylor,  Philip  Truax,  Cy- 
rus Tucker,  Mercy  Tyler,  Jabez  Tyler,  Andrew  Watt,  Ezra  Walter,  John 
Williams,  Gershom  Williams,  A.  Woodruff,  Chancey  Woodruff,  P.  Whit- 
ney, Edmund  Worth,  Mary  West,  W.  B.  Walker,  James  Waterman. 

The  Business  Inteee.sts  of  Herrick  have  been 
limited  to  a few  occupations,  and  such  as  are  general 
in  almost  all  parts  of  the  county.  The  country  was 
heavily  timbered,  and  the  work  of  converting  the 
woods  into  lumber  gave  employment  to  a large  force 
of  men  many  years.  On  the  Tunkhannock  Carlton 
Kent  and  Asa  Dimock  had  pioneer  saw-mills,  the 
former  being  last  owned  by  Owen  Davis.  This  mill 
has  gone  down,  as  has  also  the  one  owned  by  Luke 
Bradley.  On  the  outlet  of  Low  Lake,  Silas  Churchill, 
the  Campbells,  John  M.  Meyers  and  Israel  Meyers 
owned  a mill-power  which  is  still  employed  for  sawing 
purposes.  Higher  up  the  stream  Alvin  Chandler  had 
a small  feed-mill,  which  is  now  owned  by  Samuel 
Clark.  Nearer  the  lake  a circular  saw-mill,  operated 
by  steam,  was  built  by  Hathaway  & Putnam  in 
1883,  and  is  still  carried  on  by  them.  On  the  East 
Branch  of  the  Lackawanna,  Z.  K.  Dunn  has  had  a 
circular  saw-mill  in  operation  more  than  thirty  years. 

Near  by  was  another  mill,  operated  by  Israel 
Meyers,  which  was  removed  to  Virginia  in  Novem- 
ber, 1886.  It  was  built  in  1880,  and  the  power  was 
steam.  Lower  down  the  stream  Fred.  James  built  a 
mill,  in  1860,  which  is  still  operated  by  him.  Here 
was  formerly  a steam  gi'ist-mill,  by  George  Fowler, 
which  has  been  moved  to  Carbondale.  Below  the 
turnpike,  on  this  stream,  Ira  Nichols  built  a water- 
pow'er  saw-mill,  which  is  now  carried  on  by  Albert 
Corey.  On  the  West  Branch  of  the  Lackawanna 
Frank  Clark  had  a water-power  mill  as  early  as  1857, 
which,  in  a rebuilt  condition,  is  now  carried  on  by 
Elijah  Howell.  On  the  stream  west,  a mill  built  by 
Aaron  Reynolds  has  been  abandoned. 

The  Forest  Creamery  was  built  by  M.  D.  Wimple 
two  miles  northwest  from  Uniondale,  in  1880,  at  a 
cost  of  two  thousand  dollars.  It  was  supplied  with 
apparatus  for  making  butter  and  cheese,  and  was 
operated  by  Wimple  until  1886.  That  year  the 
farmers  of  the  neighborhood  combined,  and  carried 
on  the  creamery,  with  Mr.  Wimple  as  manager.  The 
milk  of  five  hundred  cows  was  consumed. 

Dimock's  Corners,  in  the  northwestern  part  of  the 
tow'iiship,  at  the  erossing  of  the  Newburg  and 
Wilkes-Barre  turnpikes,  was  for  many  years  one  of 
the  best-known  places  in  the  county  ; and  the  taverns 


818 


HISTOllY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


in  this  neighborhood,  both  on  the  turnpikes  and  the 
old  “Brace”  road,  had  a large  patronage  for  the  ac- 
commodations they  olfered.  Other  branches  of  busi- 
ness were  carried  on  at  the  Corners,  but  it  never  be- 
came a hamlet,  and  lost  its  importance  after  1845, 
being  thereafter  only  farm  property.  Abel  Kent 
was  a “taverner”  as  early  as  1798,  on  the  farm  now 
owned  by  J.  Thomas.  He  died  in  1806.  His  brother 
John  then  kept  a public-house  on  the  old  road  until 
1812,  when  he  built  and  removed  to  a tavern  at  the 
junction  of  the  two  turnpikes.  In  1813  a road  was 
laid  out  from  Gideon  Kent’s  to  A.  Gregory’s.  About 
this  time,  possibly  a year  or  two  earlier,  William  Tan- 
ner kept  a tavern  on  the  turnpike  near  the  western 
line  of  the  present  township.  A year  or  two  later, 
Dr.  Erastus  Day  succeeded  him,  and  became  quite  a 
prominent  man  in  the  vicinity.  A tavern  was  kept 
some  time  by  A.  Hubbell  Gregory  on  their  farm, 
near  Dart’s  Corners,  but  was  not  continued  long 
after  1818.  The  tavern  at  Dimock’s  Corners  was 
kept,  in  1816,  by  Philip  I.  Stewart,  and,  in  1817,  by 
Eber  Dimmick,  who  built  the  last  tavern-stand. 
Warren  Dimock  became  the  landlord  in  1825,  and 
remained  until  1843,  after  which  Shubael  Dimock 
kept  the  house  a short  time,  when  it  was  given  up  for 
farm  purposes.  Stores  were  kept  in  a small  way  at 
different  periods,  by  A.  Gregory,  Alanson  Read  and 
Shubael  Dimock.  Mechanic-shops  were  also  carried 
on,  but  not  long  continued. 

The  post-office  at  Dimock’s  Corners  was  established 
with  the  name  of  Dimockville  January  31,  1826,  and 
Warren  Dimock  was  the  postmaster.  The  subsequent 
appointees  were  as  follows : February  10,  1829,  Orrey 
Burns;  May  11,  1831,  Shubael  Dimock;  May  25, 
1832,  Erastus  Day;  March  30,  1840,  Alanson  Read; 
March  16,  1843,  Warren  Dimock;  March  18,  1844, 
Shubael  Dimock;  July  22,  1845,  Walter  W.  Dimock. 
Discontinued  June  3,  1846. 

Herrick  Centre  is  a village  of  a few  hundred  in- 
habitants, on  ^the  Lackawanna,  where  the  Newburg 
turnpike  crosses  that  stream.  Its  position  is  central 
from  north  to  south,  but  it  is  within  a few  miles  of  the 
Wayne  County  line.  There  is  a good  station  on  the 
Jefferson  Branch  Railway,  this  place  being  an  im- 
portant shipping  point  for  a large  scope  of  country  in 
Wayne  County.  The  village  has  a Methodist  Church, 
a Baptist  meeting-house  now  building,  two  hotels, 
three  stores  and  a large  tannery.  The  latter  industry 
has  given  the  place  existence  and  growth  as  a village. 
It  was  commenced  in  1854  by  G.  L.  Morse  and  Ira 
Nichols,  but  was  not  completed  until  1856.  Originally 
the  building  was  one  hundred  and  fifty  feet  long,  and 
there  were  sixty-eight  vats.  Subsequently  one  hun- 
dred feet  were  added,  and  later  fifty  feet  more,  making 
the  main  building  three  hundred  by  forty  feet,  and 
containing  one  hundred  and  sixty-eight  vats.  The 
leach  house  is  twenty-two  by  one  hundred  and  fifty- 
eight  feet,  and  there  are  bark-sheds  for  storing  five 
hundred  cords  of  bark.  The  motive-power  is  steam,  a 


forty-five  horse-power  engine  being  employed.  Sole- 
leather  only  is  tanned,  the  acid  process  being  used. 
On  an  average  thirty  thousand  sides  per  year  were 
tanned,  and  thirty- five  men  were  employed  in  the 
different  departments  of  the  work.  In  late  years  the 
business  has  declined,  and  work  will  be  suspended 
within  a year. 

There  are  connected  with  the  tannery  plant  twenty- 
two  houses,  shops  and  a store,  the  whole  having  at 
one  time  been  a valuable  property.  The  work  of 
tanning  was  commenced  in  1857  by  the  firm  of  Morse, 
Nichols,  Alden  & Emmons.  In  1859  the  firm  was 
constituted  of  Morse,  Nichols  & Co.  (Alden),  and  so 
continued  until  November,  1874.  At  this  time  Henry 
Alden,  L.  H.  Alden  and  R.  P.  Patterson  formed  a new 
firm — Alden  & Patterson — and  carried  on  business 
until  1879,  when  Henry  Alden  retired,  leaving  the 
firm  with  the  same  name.  The  remaining  two  mem- 
bers have  successfully  carried  on  the  business  until 
the  disadvantages  of  location  have  made  it  un- 
profitable. 

The  first  merchandising  was  done  by  the  tannery 
company,  and  a good  store  has  since  been  carried  on 
by  the  various  firms.  In  this  building  is  kept  the 
Herrick  Centre  Post-office,  which  was  established 
March  16,  1852,  with  Asa  W.  Dimock  as  postmaster. 
The  office  was  discontinued  April  13,  1857,  but  was 
re-established  April  19,  1871,  with  Ira  Nichols  as 
postmaster.  He  was  succeeded,  January  24,  1876,  by 
Henry  J.  Alden,  and  he,  in  turn,  by  Roswell  P.  Pat- 
terson, July  29,  1878,  who  is  the  present  incumbent. 
The  third  store  in  the  place  was  opened  by  M.  J.  Van 
Horn,  who  continues  in  trade.  In  1879  G.  W.  Entrott 
put  up  the  fourth  store  building,  which  was  occupied 
for  trading  purposes  by  Leach  & Barnes,  succeeded  by 
George  Fowler  and  the  present  Osmer  Fletcher. 
Since  the  fall  of  1886  G.  S.  Tingley  and  D.  B.  Lumley 
have  transacted  a coal  and  lumber  business.  The 
second  store  in  the  place  was  opened  by  Charles  C. 
Spencer,  in  part  of  the  Flynn  Hotel.  Lucius  S.  Cur- 
tis also  traded  there  a short  time.  M.  H.  Davis  and 
N.  A.  Walker  also  merchandised  in  the  village  for 
brief  periods  in  a building  which  has  become  a private 
house. 

The  first  place  of  a business  nature  at  what  is  now 
Herrick  Centre  was  the  public-house  of  Silvanus 
Mott,  a son  of  Ithamar  Mott,  of  New  Milford.  In 
the  last  days  of  the  Newburg  turnpike,  relays  of 
stage-horses  were  kept  here  and  the  hotel  was  a stage- 
office.  Mrs.  Mott  was  a later  keeper,  and,  in  time, 
John  M.  Myers  succeeded  to  the  hotel.  He  tore  down 
the  old  house,  which  stood  opposite  the  present  Her- 
rick Centre  hotel,  built  and  kept  this  house  many 
years.  This  hotel  is  now  kept  by  G.  W.  Entrott. 
After  the  Mott  hotel  was  sold,  some  years  after  the 
mysterious  disappearance  of  Mr.  Mott,  Alanson 
Tilden  and  Mrs.  Mott  opened  a new  hotel  on  the 
“ Flat,”  which  they  kept  many  years.  It  was  a 
popular  place,  famous  for  its  good  dinners,  Mrs. 


HERRICK. 


819 


Mott  having  the  reputation  of  being  the  best  cook 
in  the  county.  George  W.  Potter  succeeded  to  the 
ownership  of  this  house,  keeping  it  until  he  was 
killed  by  the  cars  at  Susquehanna.  A part  of  the 
popular  Flynn  Hotel  w.is  built  by  G.  W.  Entrott,  in 
1881,  and  was  completed  by  the  present  proprietor, 
P.  H.  Flynn,  who  became  the  owner  in  1882.  It  is  a 
commodious  country  inn,  having  eighteen  rooms.  A 
Dr.  Bates  is  remembered  as  a practitioner  of  medicine 
at  this  place,  years  ago.  Other  doctors  have  been 
Doctors  G.  A.  Fiske,  Simon  Hubler,  and  the  present, 
A.  L.  Craft. 

The  Lyon  Street  M.  E.  Church. — Among  the 
first  settlers  of  this  part  of  the  township  were  persons 
who  adhered  to  the  faith  of  Methodism,  and  a class 
was  formed  in  the  Kent  settlement  in  1810.  After  a 
few  years  it  ceased  to  exist  and  there  appears  to  have 
been  no  organized  body  of  that  sect,  until  the  society 
was  formed  by  the  Rev.  V.  M.  Coryell,  about  1830, 
which  was  the  beginning  of  the  above  church.  The 
members  belonged  to  the  Lyon,  Kent  and  Giddings 
families,  and  the  meetings  were  held  in  the  school- 
houses  in  this  section  until  1853,  when  the  Lyon 
Street  Church  was  built,  and  placed  in  care  of  the 
trustees  of  Dundaff  Circuit,  to  which  the  church  be- 
longed at  that  time.  Since  1884  it  has  been  a part  of 
Uniondale  Circuit,  and  prior  to  that  time  it  belonged 
to  Herrick  Circuit.  The  church  was  built  mainly 
through  the  efforts  of  Walter  Lyon  and  his  sons, — 
Wheeler,  John  and  Walter, — Carlton  Kent  and  An- 
drew Giddings,  and  though  plain,  was  neat,  and  has 
been  kept  in  a fair  state  of  repair.  In  the  last  few 
years  it  has  been  but  little  used,  as  the  membership 
here  has  become  very  small.  In  1859,  when  the  class 
was  set  off  to  Ararat  Circuit,  the  members  were 
Elisha  Churchill,  leader;  Sarah  Churchill,  Eliza 
Ellis,  Wheeler  Lyon,  Carlton  Kent,  Orpha  Harding, 
Betsey  Harding,  Abel  Kent,  Maretta  Kent,  John 
Craft,  Catherine  Craft,  Eugene  Lyon,  Antoinette 
Lyon,  Lucinda  Avery,  Daniel  A.  Moon,  Jane  Moon, 
Margaret  Stewart  and  Margaret  Giddings.  At  a later 
period  the  members  were  yet  more  numerous,  and 
some  of  them  aided  to  constitute 

The  Herrick  M.  E.  Church,  at  Herrick  Centre. 
A class  was  formed  in  this  part  of  the  township,  soon 
after  the  one  at  Lyon  Street,  but  had  a more  perman- 
ent existence  after  the  establishment  of  Herrick 
Circuit,  in  1870.  In  1871  a parsonage  for  this  cir- 
cuit was  built  at  the  Centre,  and  the  erection  of 
the  church  building  followed  eight  years  later.  It 
was  put  up  by  a building  committee  composed  of 
Dr.  Simeon  Hubler,  James  A.  Munyon  and  S.  0. 
Churchill,  The  edifice  is  attractive  in  appearance, 
thirty  by  fifty  feet  in  size,  and  the  interior  is  finished 
with  hard  woods.  The  church  and  parsonage  are 
valued  at  two  thousand  five  hundred  dollars,  and  the 
property  is  controlled  by  a board  of  trustees  which 
was  incorporated  April  7,  1872.  These  trustees 
were,  in  1887,  1).  E.  Lumley,  Z.  K.  Dunn,  George 


McGonigal,  Janies  Rogers  and  S.  0.  Churchill.  At 
this  time  the  members  numbered  twenty,  forming 
one  class,  of  which  A.  C.  Dunn  was  the  leader  uniil 
his  death,  March  30,  1887.  There  have  been  con- 
nected with  the  church  as  local  preachers,  the  Revs. 
Williams  Churchill,  Alexander  Dunn  and  James 
Rogers. 

At  Herrick  Centre  a Baptist  congregation  was 
organized  in  August,  1880,  with  about  twenty  mem- 
bers, Henry  Simpson  and  Albert  Peck  being  chosen 
deacons.  John  Kegler  at  present  serves  in  that 
capacity.  In  the  fall  of  1880  a meeting-house  was 
begun  and  the  frame-work  raised.  Since  that  time 
but  little  has  been  done  towards  its  completion,  and 
the  organization  of  the  church  is  nominal  only. 
Elders  G.  D.  Nash  and  E.  0.  Stearns  have  preached 
for  this  people,  but  lately  meetings  have  not  been 
regularly  held.  The  school-house  has  been  occupied 
as  a place  of  worship. 

The  Lyon  Street  Free-Will  Baptist  Church 
was  built  in  1852,  and  for  several  years  was  the  place 
of  public  worship  of  a number  of  people  residing  in 
this  part  of  the  township.  Changes  of  population 
and  other  causes  have  made  it  impossible  to  mainta  n 
regular  services,  and  for  many  years  the  house  has 
been  only  occasionally  used  to  hold  Free-Will  Baptist 
meetings.  It  has  been  frequently  occupied  to  hold 
funeral  services,  and  ministers  of  other  denomina- 
tions sometimes  preach  here.  Among  the  early 
members,  were  some  who  had  formerly  been  con- 
nected with  the  regular  Baptist  Church,  after  it  was 
disbanded  in  1851,  and  members  of  the  Harding  and 
Bunnell  families.  Elders  Sampson,  Ellis  and  Fish 
occasionally  preached  in  this  church,  which,  on  ac- 
count of  its  location  near  the  cemetery,  is  kept  in  a 
good  condition. 

The  Herrick  Regular  Baptist  Church  was 
organized  in  the  western  part  of  the  township  June 
11,  1834,  with  the  following  members  ; Jacob  Lyon, 
Martin  Bunnell,  Silas  Finn,  Alexander  Burns,  Thos. 
Burns,  Benjamin  Coon,  Harriet  Coon,  Benj.  Watrous, 
Mahala  Lyons  and  Emily  B.  Finn. 

At  a meeting  held  July  5,  1834,  J.  Lyon  was  chosen 
deacon  and  Benj.  Watrous  clerk.  In  September,  the 
same  year,  the  church  joined  the  Abington  Associa- 
tion, and  in  1839  reported  five  baptisms  and  eighteen 
members,  in  consequence  of  having  a regular  minis- 
ter, the  Rev.  Joseph  Currin  being  the  first  pastor,  and 
serving  until  1841.  Up  to  this  time  the  church  had 
no  pastor,  but  covenant  meetings  were  held  regularly. 
On  the  26th  of  September,  1840,  Silas  Finn,  one  of 
the  members,  was  licensed  to  preach,  but  removed  to 
Luzerne  County  two  years  later.  At  this  period  Elder 
John  Baldwin  preached  one-fourth  his  time,  and,  on 
the  14th  of  July,  1842,  added  six  members  by  bap- 
tism. In  the  winter  of  1842  Geo.  A.  Hogeboom  com- 
menced to  preach,  and,  continuing  several  years, 
labored  with  success.  The  following  spring  the 
church  reported  its  highest  number  of  members — 


820 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


thirty-one.  Many  removals  took  place  the  next  few 
succeeding  years,  which  so  much  weakened  the  church 
that  services  could  no  longer  be  maintained,  and  it 
was  disbanded  July  13,  1851. 

Unionbale  Borough.— The  village  of  Union- 
dale  was  incorporated  as  a borough,  by  a decree  of  the 
court,  January  12,  1885,  and  the  first  election  ordered 
to  be  held  February  17,  the  same  year.  It  resulted  in 
the  selection  of  the  following  officers : Burgess,  C. 

II.  Ellis ; Councilmen,— Philo  Burritt,  Trevenan 
Mills,  0.  T.  Carpenter,  Stephen  Branson,  J.  E. 
d'homas,  Edward  Corey  ; Justices, — Horace  H.  Lewis, 
Elijah  Carpenter;  Poor  Masters,— A.  A.  Tingley, 
Elias  Westgate ; Assessor,  Robert  Westgate;  Consta- 
ble, D.  H.  Coleman. 

Since  1886  J.  E.  Thomas  has  been  the  burgess  and 
Philo  Burritt  the  clerk.  At  the  time  of  the  incorpora- 
tion there  were  thirty-two  freeholders  and  fifty-five 
lot-owners.  In  1887  there  were  seventy  voters  within 
the  limits  of  the  borough  whose  bounds  are  as  follows: 
Beginning  at  a point  where  the  Clifford  line  touches 
the  Wayne  County  line;  thence  north  four  hundred 
and  sixty-five  rods,  on  said  Wayne  County  line;  thence 
west  five  hundred  and  two  rods ; thence  south  five 
hundred  and  seventeen  rods,  or  fifty -two  rods  across  the 
Herrick  line  into  Clifford  ; thence  east  five  hundred 
and  two  rods  to  the  Wayne  County  line  ; thence  north 
fifty-two  rods  to  the  place  of  beginning.  Uniondale 
is  a flourishing  village,  on  the  outlet  of  Lewis  Lake, 
where  its  waters  fall  into  the  Lackawanna  and  occu- 
py the  southeast  corner  of  Herrick.  It  is,  also,  an 
important  station  on  the  Jefferson  Branch  of  the  Erie 
Railroad,  through  whose  agency  it  has  attained  the 
most  of  its  growth.  Most  of  the  buildings  have  been 
put  up  since  the  completion  of  the  road,  and  many 
within  the  past  few  years,  giving  the  place  an  attrac- 
tive appearance.  In  March,  1887,  there  were  the 
interests  noted  below,  constituting  a village  of  nearly 
three  hundred  inhabitants. 

The  place  first  became  a business  point  in  1815, 
when  Martial  and  Eber  Dimmick  opened  a small 
store  at  the  corner,  near  the  Presbyterian  Church. 
About  fifteen  years  later  Peck  & Cole  traded  at  the 
same  point,  and  later  a man  named  Brigham  mer- 
chandised a short  time.  In  the  present  business  part 
of  the  village,  which  was  long  known  as  Frost  Hol- 
low, Thomas  Arnold  opened  the  first  store  about 
1847.  The  building  stood  on  the  site  of  the  present 
Thomas’  store,  and  was  occupied  after  him  by  John 
Miller,  who  traded  about  eighteen  years,  when  he 
moved  to  the  State  of  New  York.  Bobert  M.  Arnold, 
Dr.  A.  B.  Woodward  and  the  firm  of  Wm.  Ketchum 
and  Geo.  W.  Potter  were  later  occupants,  the  build- 
ing burning  down  while  occupied  by  the  latter  in 
1871.  On  this  lot  J.  E.  Thomas  and  Edward  Morgan 
erected  a business  house  in  1874,  where  they  traded 
until  1880,  since  which  time  J.  E.  Thomas  alone  has 
been  the  merchant.  Diagonally  opposite  G.  H.  Ellis 
erected  a store  in  1872,  where  he  traded  until  his 


death,  in  1886.  He  was  also  interested  in  manufac- 
turing, and  was  the  first  local  coal  dealer.  His  stand 
is  now  occupied  by  Horace  H.  Lewis.  In  1881  Ed- 
ward Morgan,  and  Ira  W.  Ryder  engaged  in  trade  in 
the  Elias  Westgate  building,  where  John  F.  Bass 
opened  the  first  hardware  store  in  1886.  Isaac  T. 
Curtis  had  a store  on  the  flat  a short  time,  and  Ira  W. 
Ryder  is  now  trading  in  a building  formerly  used  as  a 
furniture  wareroom.  In  1881  Olney  Rounds  put  up 
another  store  in  which  L.  M.  Kean  and  others  have 
traded. 

The  outlet  of  Lewds  Lake  here  affords  several  w'ater- 
powers  which  have  been  well  utilized.  David  N. 
Lewis  made  the  first  improvement,  putting  up  a small 
grist-mill  about  1820,  which  was  used  many  years. 
On  its  site  the  present  mill  was  built,  in  1857,  by  Geo. 
W.  Arnold  and  D.  A.  Moon,  and  has  since  been  im- 
proved by  Edwin  and  Albert  Corey.  A number  of 
persons  have  had  an  interest  in  the  property,  which  is 
finely  located,  having  a side-track  from  the  railroad. 
Corey  and  Tingley  are  the  present  proprietors.  The 
saw-mill  was  first  put  up,  on  a lease,  by  a man  named 
French.  Ezra  Carpenter,  Wells  & Co.  and  C.  H. 
Ellis  were  later  operators,  the  family  of  the  latter 
still  owning  the  property.  In  1844  Robert  M.  and 
Thomas  Arnold  put  up  a turning-shop,  which  was  en- 
larged to  quite  an  industry  after  their  brother,  George 
W.,  was  associated  with  them.  Handles  of  all  kinds 
were  turned  and  large  quantities  of  bedsteads  made. 
Shingles  were  also  sawed.  In  1882  E.  Morgan  re- 
built the  turning-shop.  Robert  and  Elias  Westgate 
are  the  present  owners. 

Hoi^.  C.  H.  Ellis. — His  grandfather,  Stephen  Ellis, 
was  a Revolutionary  soldier,  a native  of  Connecticut, 
a carpenter  by  trade,  and  in  1810,  with  his  wife, 
Rebecca,  and  young  children,  he  journeyed  westward 
and  cast  his  lot  with  the  infant  County  of  Susque- 
hanna, settling  about  two  miles  west  of  Uniondale,  on 
what  is  now  known  as  Lyon  Street.  His  children 
were  Urania,  Polly,  Hezekiah  Huntington,  Rebecca, 
Stephen,  and  Jonathan  Trumbull  Ellis,  the  latter  of 
whom  became  a leading  citizen  and  was  County  com- 
missioner 1865-71.  Stephen,  the  elder,  died  in  1847, 
aged  eighty-four  years.  His  eldest  son,  Hezekiah 
Huntington  Ellis  (1796-1828),  interested  himself  in 
public  affairs  and  was  relied  on  by  the  people  to  a 
considerable  extent.  He  was  one  of  the  constituent 
members  of  the  Dundaff  Presbyterian  Church  and 
aided  in  its  erection.  He  also  took  part  in  the  Volun- 
teer movement  and  was  captain  of  a company  in 
Colonel  Gould  Phinny’s  Regiment.  He  married 
Mary  Moore,  a native  of  Rhode  Island,  born  June 
23,  1800,  and  his  children  were  Hezekiah  H.  (1823- 
68),  was  a farmer  in  Herrick  township ; Mary  Char- 
lotte (1825-86),  was  a much-valued  teacher  in  Penn- 
sylvania and  Rhode  Island;  Charles  Henry;  and 
Anna  M.,  who  died  in  childhood.  About  seven 
years  after  the  death  of  her  husband,  Mrs.  Ellis  be- 
came the  wife  of  Wheeler  Lyon  (1794-1870),  and  had 


HERRICK. 


821 


two  children,  Amanda  0.  and  Walter  F.,  botli  of 
whom  are  now  deceased. 

Charles  Henry  Ellis,  born  May  20,  1827,  supple- 
mented the  limited  educational  facilities  of  those 
days  by  steady  after-reading,  and  was  also  a close 
student  of  men  and  affairs.  His  early  manhood  was 
passed  in  the  railroad  service,  at  school,  teaching  and 
in  surveying,  the  latter  of  which  he  frequently  prac- 
ticed in  his  maturer  years.  He  was  foreman  in  the 
furniture  factory  of  his  cousin,  G.  W.  Arnold  & Co., 
at  Uniondale,  for  some  years,  and,  upon  his  death, 
bought  a half-interest,  and  carried  on  the  business 
with  the  widow  Arnold,  which  was  combined  with 
that  of  undertaking.  He  afterward  associated  Mr. 
Westgate  in  the  business  for  a few  years,  then  sold 
out  and  began  a highly-prosperous  mercantile  career, 
which  ended  only  with  his  untimely  decease,  Feb- 
ruary 3,  1886,  resulting  from  an  accident  incurred 
in  the  saw-mill,  which  he  also  owned  in  the  bor- 
ough. He  was  postmaster  from  January,  1871,  until 
September,  1885,  and  he  was  the  first  burgess  of 
Uniondale,  which  position  he  was  occupying  at  the 
time  of  his  death.  Possessed  of  a strong  undercurrent 
of  religious  fervor,  he,  in  1864,  united  with  the  Pres- 
byterian Church,  and  for  many  years  was  one  of  the 
trustees  and  an  elder — the  ruling  elder  since  1878. 
In  the  Sabbath-school  work  he  was  a tower  of  strength^ 
teacher  and  superintendent  for  many  years.  He 
carried  into  politics  the  same  unswerving  devotion  to 
principle  which  characterized  his  everyday  life ; and, 
when  elected  as  the  candidate  of  the  Re2)ublican  party 
to  the  State  Legislature,  he  served  the  people  with 
the  strength  and  ability  of  a matured  Christian  man- 
hood. He  was  placed  upon  several  important  com- 
mittees, and  both  at  Harrisburg  and  elsewhere  was  a 
firm  opponent  of  the  liquor  traffic.  He  was  prof- 
fered the  nomination  of  his  party  for  State  Senator, 
but  declined  to  allow  his  name  to  be  presented,  hav- 
ing extensive  business  interests  to  foster,  and  pre- 
ferring the  comfort  and  quiet  of  a pleasant  home-life 
to  the  excitement  and  turmoil  of  politics.  He  was 
conscientious  and  benevolent  to  all  worthy  objects. 

He  married  Anna  E.  Lewis  in  1857,  the  daughter 
of  James  (1800-84,  a native  of  the  Like  country),  and 
Maria  Tobey  (born  1804  in  Otsego  Comity,  N.  Y.), 
Lewis,  whose  children  were  Esther  Jane,  the  widow 
of  Philip  Ricks,  a tanner  and  farmer,  of  Broome 
County,  N.  Y. ; John  Tabor  Lewis,  a meclianic,  who 
married  Elizabeth  Follett,  and  now  lives  with  his 
second  wife,  Helen  Wallace,  in  Clifford  township  ; 
Horace  Harvey  Lewis,  a merchant  in  Uniondale,  who 
married  Leah  Kishbaugh ; and  Ann  E.,  now  the 
widow  of  Hon.  C.  H.  Ellis.  Janies  Lewis  was  the 
son  of  John  and  Jane  Lewis  and  came  to  Susque- 
hanna County  after  the  death  of  his  father  when  he 
was  twelve  years  old,  to  live  with  his  uncle,  David 
N.  Lewis,  who  owned  the  first  grist-mill  in  this  sec- 
tion. His  widow,  now  past  her  eighty-third  year, 
and  the  widow  of  Captain  H.  H.  Ellis,  now  in  her 


eighty-seventh  year,  find  a welcome  home  with  Mrs. 
C.  H.  Ellis  in  Uniondale  borough. 

In  1871  W.  U.  Norton  erected  mechanic  shops 
below  the  railroad,  and,  after  several  years,  emjdoyed 
water-power  to  operate  his  machinery,  continuing  to 
the  present  time.  Morris  Davis  and  Orlando  Darrow 
were  other  early  permanent  mechanics.  In  1886  H. 
H.  Spencer  and  Charles  H.  Coleman  erected  another 
large  mechanic  shoj),  the  upper  story  of  which  has 
been  fitted  ujr  for  a hall. 

The  first  public  house  was  opened  by  Edward  Mel- 
edy  in  1871,  and  was  enlarged  by  him  at  different 
periods.  He  kept  it  until  1884,  when  he  was  suc- 
ceeded by  John  C.  Hughes.  Since  March,  1887, 
Charles  A.  Wademan  has  been  the  jjroprietor. 

Dr.  John  C.  Plant  practiced  medicine  for  a time  at 
Uniondale,  as  also  did  Drs.  A.  B.  Woodward,  Norman 
Brundage  and  W.  W.  Fletcher,  the  latter  until  the 
spring  of  1886.  Dr.  Sanford  Lyons  is  the  present 
practitioner.  Among  the  natives  who  entered  this 
profession,  are  Dr.  Anthony  Dimmick,  who  died  in 
Schuylkill  County,  and  Dr.  Alice  Burritt,  of  Oakland, 
Cal.  The  latter  was  born  at  Uniondale,  November  7, 
1841,  and  after  teaching  a number  of  years,  graduated 
from  the  New  A^ork  Medical  College  for  Women, 
April  10,  1879.  She  served  as  a hospital  physician 
one  year,  then  located  to  |3ractice  in  California,  fol- 
lowing the  profession  successfully. 

The  Susquehanna  County  Messenger  was  established 
May  1,  1883,  as  an  eight-page  weekly,  and  w'as  pub- 
lished at  Uniondale  by  W.  T.  Morgan,  who  was  also 
the  editor.  On  the  17th  of  August,  1883,  the  paper 
passed  into  the  hands  of  a stock  company  of  eleven 
members — C.  W.  Todd  being  president ; W.  W. 
Fletcher,  secretary  ; and  C.  H.  Ellis,  treasurer.  The 
company  secured  the  services  of  William  Geddis  as 
editor,  who  remained  but  a short  time.  Dr.  Fletcher 
subsequently  edited  the  paper  until  the  end  of  a year, 
when  the  material  was  sold  to  the  Chronicle  Company, 
of  Montrose,  and  removed  to  that  place.  The  Union- 
dale  post-office  was  established  April  23,  1852,  with 
George  W.  Arnold  as  the  jjostmaster.  The  subse- 
quent appointees  have  been,  January  10,  1855,  John 
Miller;  December  20,  1856,  Alanson  Tilden ; April 
19,  1861,  John  Miller ; January  3,  1871,  Charles  H. 
Ellis;  November  30,  1880,  Ann  E.  Ellis;  September 
15, 1885,  Ira  W.  Ryder. 

Union  Lodge,  No.  51,  I.  0.  of  O.  T.,  has  held  its 
meetings  at  Uniondale  since  the  time  it  was  insti- 
tuted, August  13,  1886.  The  membership  was  rap- 
idly increased  from  sixteen  to  forty-eight,  but 
meeting  with  reverses,  the  number  declined  to 
twenty  in  the  spring  of  1887.  Interesting  meetings 
are  held  in  the  Larrabee  school-room.  This  room 
was  fitted  uji  in  the  spring  of  1886  to  accommodate 
the  select  school  established  in  April,  that  year,  by 
Alt’.  W.  Larrabee,  and  which  has  been  successfully 
continued  by  him  since  that  time.  The  school  has 
had  an  encouraging  patronage,  and  has  been  the 


822 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


means  of  awakening  an  interest  in  higher  education. 
The  first  school-house  in  this  part  of  Herrick  was 
built  within  the  present  bounds  of  Uniondale,  in 
1819,  and  Gurdon  H.  Tracy  taught  a few  months, 
when  it  was  burned,  and  there  is  no  record  that 
another  building  took  its  place.  The  present  school 
building  at  Uniondale  was  erected  in  1878  by  the 
township  of  Herrick,  with  the  co-operation  of  the 
people  of  the  village.  It  is  a two- story  frame,  twenty- 
Ibur  by  forty  feet,  and  accommodates  two  schools. 
In  1879  the  course  of  study  was  graded  by  the  princi- 
pal, Alt'.  W.  Larrabee,  but  on  account  of  many 
changes,  it  has  been  found  difficult  to  maintain  the 
standard  required  in  a graded  school. 

The  Uniondale  PresbyterianChurch. — It  is  stated  that 
religious  meetings  were  first  held  in  this  locality  in 
1812,  when  an  old,  illiterate,  but  devout  Baptist  came 
into  the  neighborhood  and  preached  so  acceptably 
that,  to  induce  hint  to  remain  among  them,  the  neigh- 
bors united  in  building  him  a small  log  house,  where 
he  lived  alone  and  preached  occasionally  about  a 
year.  At  the  end  of  that  time  Oliver  Hill,  a mis- 
sionary from  the  Connecticut  Society,  came  and  lab- 
ored a short  time,  and,  the  winter  following,  had 
quite  a revival.  In  consequence  the  Congregational 
Church  of  Mt.  Pleasant  was  organized  in  January, 
1814,  with  sixteen  members,  embracing,  among  others 
Edward  and  Esther  Dimmick,  Ransfoi’d  and  Chloe 
Smith,  Blackleach  and  Sally  Burritt  and  Ruth  Buck- 
ingham, who  resided  in  what  was  then  Clifford  town- 
ship. These  and  others  from  this  section  retained 
their  connection  with  the  Mt.  Pleasant  Church  until 
1833,  when  thh'ty-one  members  withdrew  and,  with 
twelve  others,  united  in  forming  the  present  church. 
Stephen  Ellis,  Luke  Harding  and  Martial  Dimmick 
were  chosen  the  first  ruling  elders,  and  three  years 
later  Samuel  Burritt  and  Artemas  Carpenter  were 
ordained  to  that  office,  the  former  remaining  an  act- 
ing elder  until  his  death,  in  1863.  Subsequent  elders 
were  Robert  M.  Arnold,  Elijah  Carpenter,  Israel 
Rounds,  Zenas  Rounds,  Trevenen  Mills,  Eber  Dim- 
mick, Osmer  Carpenter,  C.  H.  Ellis,  M.  0.  Dimmick, 
J.  E.  Thomas  and  T.  B.  Dimmick,  the  three  last 
named  being  the  present  elders. 

The  Uniondale  and  the  Mt.  Pleasant  Chui-ches  have 
had  a common  ministry  when  there  was  a regular  pastor, 
but  when  the  church  was  first  organized  Stephen 
Ellis,  one  of  the  members,  held  services.  In  1835 
the  Rev.  Henry  A.  Boyce  was  installed  the  first  pas- 
tor, but  in  little  more  than  a year  he  was  removed 
by  death.  He  was  succeeded  by  the  Rev.  Anthony 
McReynolds,  who  was  installed  September  27, 1837, 
and  remained  about  two  years.  For  a time  the  pulpit 
was  supplied  by  the  Revs.  Shcrer,  McEwen  and  others 
officiating.  On  the  23d  of  September,  1841,  the  Rev. 
Daniel  Higbie  entered  upon  a very  useful  j^astorate, 
which  continued  five  years.  He  was  succeeded, 
July  7,  1846,  by  the  Rev.  Samuel  Whaley,  who  was 
the  pastor  eleven  years.  Then  came  frequent 


changes  of  ministers,  the  Rev.  Israel  B.  Smith  preach- 
ing two  years  and  a half  from  September,  1857  ; 
the  Rev.  Albert  G.  Beebe,  from  June,  1860,  for  two 
years ; the  Rev.  Raphael  Kessler,  from  1862  to  1866  ; 
the  Rev.  James  B.  Fisher  from  May,  1867,  for  a little 
more  than  a year  and  a half ; the  Rev.  Yates  Hickey 
from  October,  1869,  to  June,  1870 ; the  Rev.  James 
W.  Raynor  from  July,  1870,  for  two  years  ; the  Rev. 
Adelbert  J.  Schlager  from  November,  1872,  for  three 
years;  the  Rev.  Arthur  Folsom  until  July  2,  1876; 
the  Rev.  Joseph  A.  Rossell  from  February,  1878,  un- 
til May,  1881 ; and  the  Rev.  John  Ludlow  Kendall, 
who  was  installed  May  16, 1882,  and  still  continues 
as  the  pastor.  From  the  congregation  has  gone  as  a 
minister  the  Rev.  Francis  M-  Dimmick. 

The  first  house  of  worship  at  Uniondale  was  built 
in  1835,  and  was  a plain  small  frame.  It  had  centre 
slips  and  side  seats,  and  was  used  in  this  way  until 
it  was  remodeled  during  the  pastorate  of  the  Rev. 
Whaley.  In  1868  the  old  building  was  removed 
from  its  site,  and  the  present  edifice  placed  thereon, 
and  occupied  in  the  fall  of  the  same  year.  It  is 
thirty-five  by  fifty  feet  and  twenty  feet  high,  the  roof 
being  surmounted  by  a spire  in  which  has  been 
placed  a good  bell.  When  erected  the  church  cost 
three  thousand  five  hundred  dollars,  and  it  has  since 
been  internally  beautified.  On  the  10th  of  August, 
1868,  it  was  placed  in  charge  of  an  incorporated  board 
of  trustees,  composed  of  R.  M.  Arnold,  E.  V.  Dim- 
mick, Martial  Dimmick,  T.  Mills,  I.  Rounds  and 
D.  A.  Moon,  whose  successors  now  control  the  prop- 
erty. The  congregation  has  had  a large  aggregate 
membership,  which  has  been  diminished  by  the  for- 
mation of  other  churches.  In  1887  there  were  eighty 
members.  The  Sabbath-school  has  a larger  member- 
ship, and  is  in  charge  of  Elmer  Rounds.  For  many 
years  Elijah  Carpenter  was  the  superintendent. 

The  Uniondale  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  was  or- 
ganized in  the  fall  of  1876  as  a branch  of  the  Her- 
rick Circuit,  with  seven  members,  among  them  being 
Isaac  T.  Curtis  and  wife,  and  members  of  the  West- 
gate  family.  In  1878  the  old  school  building  was 
removed  to  an  eligible  lot  and  repaired  for  a house 
of  worship,  being  formally  dedicated  in  1879.  About 
this  time  Uniondale,  Duudaff  and  a few  other  ap- 
pointments became  a separate  circuit,  with  the  name 
Uniondale,  and  a few  years  later  a parsonage  was 
erected  in  the  borough  for  the  use  of  the  minister. 
On  the  19th  of  November,  1884,  the  church  became 
an  incorporated  body,  with  the  following  trustees  : 
William  Anderson,  Israel  Rounds,  W.  N.  Norton, 
Israel  T.  Curtis,  Maurice  0.  Rounds,  C.  W.  Todd  and 
Albert  Corey.  The  five  first-named  continue  to 
serve  and  control  the  property,  which  is  valued  at 
one  thousand  eight  hundred  dollars. 

The  preachers  in  charge  since  the  building  of 
the  church  have  been  the  Revs.  R.  P.  Christopher, 
C.  W.  Todd.  J.  H.  Littel  and  W.  H.  Hiller.  The 
church  has  sixty-nine  members,  many  being  added. 


ARARAT. 


823 


as  the  fruits  of  a camp-meeting  held  near  the  village 
in  1885-86.  The  Sabbath-school  was  organized  in 
1875,  and  had  Isaac  T.  Curtis  as  its  first  superinten- 
dent. It  has  since  been  successfully  maintained. 

The  Free  Methodist  Church  of  Uniondale. — The  fami- 
lies of  Hugh  and  Stephen  Bronson  constituted  the 
eaidy  members  of  this  sect  at  Uniondale,  and  through 
their  ettbrts  a small,  but  neat  frame  meeting-house 
was  built  in  1878,  in  which  worship  was  thereafter 
statedly  held.  This  remained  the  personal  property 
of  the  Bronson  family  until  the  fall  of  1866,  when  it 
was  sold  to  the  congregation,  and,  on  the  22d  of 
November,  1886,  passed  under  the  control  of  an  in- 
corporated board  of  trustees,  composed  of  Stephen 
Bronson,  John  H.  Smith,  Albert  Smith,  Austin  B. 
Cole  and  Orlando  Harrow.  The  church  has  about 
twenty  members,  forming  a class  of  which  Stephen 
Bronson  is  the  leader. 


CHAPTER  LIII. 

ARARAT  TOWNSHIP. 

The  township  of  Ararat  was  erected  from  parts  of 
Herrick,  Thomson  and  Gibson,  by  decree  of  court  in 
August,  1852.  Eleven  years  later  a change  was  made 
in  the  boundary  line  between  it  and  Jackson,  about 
the  same  angle  being  added  to  the  latter  township  in 
the  north  part  of  the  line  that  is  given  to  Ararat  in 
the  south  part.  The  township,  in  its  greatest  width 
and  length,  is  about  five  miles  on  the  west  and 
through  the  centre,  by  four  on  the  north,  south  and 
east.  It  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  Thomson,  on  the 
east  by  Wayne  County,  on  the  south  by  Herrick,  and 
on  the  west  by  Gibson  and  Jackson.  Dunn  Pond  is 
its  largest  lake  ; it  empties  into  Mud  Pond  near  the 
county  line.  There  is  a good  water-power  at  the  out- 
let of  Mud  Pond.  Fiddle  and  Ball’s  Ponds  furnish 
tributaries  to  the  main  stream.  Ararat  is  an  el- 
evated table  land,  being  about  two  thousand  and  forty 
feet  above  the  sea  level.  Lying  upon  the  dividing 
waters  between  the  Starrucca,  Tunkhannock  and 
Lackawanna,  the  township  has  no  deep-cut  ravines 
and  its  average  surface  is  more  nearly  level  than  that 
of  any  other  township  in  the  county.  The  western 
slope  descends  into  the  valley  of  the  Tunkhannock, 
forming  the  only  hills  of  any  consequence  in  the 
township.  Ararat  township  was  named  for  Mount 
Ararat,  just  across  the  line  in  Wayne  County,  which 
rises  twenty-six  hundred  feet  above  the  tide-water,  and 
from  whose  heights  a very  extended  and  beautiful 
view  can  be  obtained.  From  some  of  the  more  favor- 
able eminences  in  Ararat  township  the  eye  sweeps  a 
circuit  of  more  than  one  hundred  and  fifty  miles,  and 
takes  in  points  in  ten  counties,  viz.,  Delaware  and 
Broome  in  New  York ; Susquehanna,  Bradford,  Tioga, 


Sullivan,  Wyoming,  Luzerne,  Lackawanna  and  Wayne 
in  Pennsylvania.  The  Harmony  road  passes  through 
the  town  along  the  brow  of  a hill,  forming  a level  and 
pleasant  route,  overlooking  the  several  branches  of  the 
Tunkhannock,  whose  deep-cut  valley  lies  alongside 
below  like  the  bowl  of  a great  spoon.  From  the  east- 
ern rim  of  this  spoon-bowl  the  eye  stretches  away  in- 
to magnificent  distances,  taking  in  the  entire  circuit 
of  the  Susquehanna  River  from  a little  below  Susque- 
hanna to  Tunkhannock,  including  many  prominent 
points  beyond.  Perhaps  there  is  no  more  beautiful 
drive,  where  a more  extended  landscape  view  can  be 
obtained  in  the  State,  than  is  found  on  this  “ Har- 
mony road,”  which  was  the  first  road  opened  to  trav- 
el in  the  township.  It  commenced  at  the  tavern  of 
Asahel  Gregory,  on  the  Cochecton  and  Great  Bend 
turnpike,  in  the  township  of  Clifford  (now  Herrick), 
and  extended  nearly  north  and  south  through  the 
west  central  part  of  Ararat  and  the  western  part  of 
Thomson,  through  Harmony  to  Lanesborough,  a dis- 
tance of  about  fifteen  miles.  This  road  was  located 
prior  to  1809,  but  it  was  not  opened  until  1810.  The 
first  settlers  upon  this  road  reached  their  destination 
by  a zig-zag  bridle  path,  used  by  the  land  agents  and 
surveyors,  which  led  from  Potter’s  tavern,  in  Gibson, 
where  Stephen  Potter  now  resides,  to  the  place  Dea- 
con John  Tyler,  the  local  land  agent,  had  selected  for 
his  home.  Although  the  Harmony  road  was  never  a 
stage  or  mail-route  it  was  the  road  where  a number  of 
the  first  settlers  located,  and  was  much  used  by 
drovers  of  horses,  cattle,  sheep  and  hogs  going  to 
the  Philadelphia  markets,  and  by  raftsmen  returning 
from  their  lumber  markets.  The  only  tavern  kept 
upon  this  road  was  by  David  Spoor,  in  1821-22,  in 
Deacon  John  Tyler’s  old  house  ; but  the  inhabitants 
along  the  road  were  not  forgetful  to  entertain  stran- 
gers, and  travelers  suftered  very  little  inconvenience. 

What  was  known  from  the  first  as  Ararat  settle- 
ment was  a compact  little  colony  of  settlers  along  the 
Harmony  road  and  branches.  Beginning  with  Ezra 
Walker,  who  settled  three  miles  from  Gregory’s 
tavern,  in  1817,  and  cleared  a large  farm  and  raised  a 
large  family.  After  residing  there  for  nearly  half  a 
century  his  estate  came  into  the  possession  of  Mrs. 
L.  Shaver.  Jabez  Tyler  settled  on  the  farm  joining 
on  the  north,  in  1812,  now  known  as  the  Dr.  Rogers 
farm.  Freeman  Peck  began  on  the  next  farm  in 
1811,  but  was  succeeded  by  William  West  in  1812, 
who  built  the  first  house  on  the  lot  now  occupied  by 
John  Potter  and  J.  A.  Tinklepaugh.  The  next  farm 
was  that  of  Deacon  John  Tyler,  who  settled  there  in 
1810,  with  a reserved  lot  on  the  north,  which  fell  to 
his  granddaughter,  Mrs.  Edmund  T.  Worth,  and  her 
children,  who  settled  there  about  1820,  whose  log- 
house  was  upon  the  ground  now  occupied  by  the 
Presbyterian  Church,  on  the  farm  now  owned  by  C. 
E.  Stone.  The  next  fitrm  was  settled  upon  by  David 
Hine  in  1815,  on  the  property  now  owned  by  Nicholas 
Stone  and  S.  M.  Stearns.  Next  came  Hezekiah 


824 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


Bushnell,  who  located  in  1809  and  settled  in  1810, 
where  his  son  James  C.  Bushnell  now  resides. 
Shubael  Williams  settled  in  1812  on  the  farm  joining 
on  the  north  and  west,  now  owned  by  Sylvester  King 
and  E.  H.  Bloxham.  John  Snow  settled  on  the  next 
farm  in  1814,  his  log  house  occupying  the  site  of 
School-house  No.  3.  The  farm  is  now  divided  and 
occupied  by  L.  A.  Doyle,  Mary  and  William  Doyle  and 
Henry  Davis.  The  next  farm  was  occupied  by 
Jacob  Clark,  who  settled  in  1811-12  upon  land  located 
by  his  father  in  1809,  now  occupied  by  S.  N.  Brooks. 
These  were  all  settlers  upon  the  Harmony  road,  and 
there  was  not  an  unoccupied  lot  between  them.  In 
1824,  when  Oliver  Harper  was  murdered  upon  this 
road,  there  was  not  an  inhabitant  north  of  Jacob 
Clark’s  until  within  one-half  mile  of  the  river  at 
Lanesboro’,  a distance  of  nine  and  one-half  miles. 
Here  Mr.  Bacon  lived  on  what  has  been  more  recently 
known  as  the  John  Rogers  place.  On  the  south,  be- 
tween Ezra  Walker’s  and  Asahel  Gregory’s,  were  two 
small  clearings,  but  no  inhabitant.  One  was  made  by 
D.  Burgess,  where  Mrs.  Walters  lives,  about  1814. 
The  other  was  made  by  Mr.  Pearce  about  the  same 
time,  now  occupied  by  James  Plew.  The  next  place, 
adjoining  the  Clark  farm  north,  was  settled  by  Sam- 
uel Williams,  second  son  of  Shubael  Williams,  about 
1840,  afterwards  occupied  by  Sherman  Williams,  and 
now  by  his  widow.  The  next  farm  was  settled  by 
Charles  Baldwin,  1852,  and  that  is  the  last  farm  on 
the  Harmony  road  in  Ararat  township.  The  farm  is 
now  owned  by  A.  D.  Stone.  The  Ararat  settlement 
was  unfortunately  located  upon  the  line  between 
Harmony  and  Clifford  townships.  The  inhabitants 
north  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  were  in  Harmony, 
and  by  subdivisions  in  Jackson  and  Thomson. 
Those  south  of  the  church  were  in  Clifford,  then  in 
Gibson  and  Herrick.  Some  in  the  southwestern  part 
of  the  settlement  remained  in  Gibson  until  the  town- 
ship of  Ararat  was  formed.  That  the  formation  of 
this  settlement  into  a separate  township  did  not 
sooner  appear  as  a practical  necessity  seems  now  a 
little  strange.  Under  the  circumstances,  the  com- 
munity, which  was  a unit  in  settlement  and  isolated 
from  other  neighborhoods  by  wilderness  barriers,  was 
on  the  border  line  of  several  townships,  without  any 
municipal  organization,  a prey  to  other  localities, 
while  receiving  little  or  no  benefit  in  return.  Upon 
the  passage  of  the  school  law,  authorizing  a board  of 
directors  to  subdivide  the  townships  into  districts,  the 
situation  was  most  perplexing.  The  school-house 
built  by  subscription  in  1829  for  the  double  purpose 
of  a school  and  a meeting-house,  though  central  for 
the  community,  was  right  on  the  township  line.  It 
could  neither  be  removed  nor  abandoned.  To  main- 
tain a joint  school  by  four  townships  was  unsatisfac- 
tory ; to  divide  up  into  four  schools  was  detrimental 
to  each.  The  latter  alternative  at  length  prevailed, 
but  the  old  school-house  stands,  having  served  as  a 
place  of  stated  worship  for  the  Congregationalists  for 


more  than  twenty  years,  for  Sunday-schools,  day- 
schools,  club-room,  dwelling-house  and  election- 
house  alternately  or  successively  for  fifty-eight  years. 
Unpainted  and  neglected,  it  still  stands,  and  is  used 
for  elections,  auditors’  meeting  and  all  town  purposes 
now.  The  most  active  men  in  building  this  school- 
house  were  Jabez  Tyler,  Shubael  Williams,  Hezekiah 
Bushnell  and  Jacob  Clark.  The  latter  in  particular 
gave  much  time  and  labor  to  its  construction. 
Ararat  township  is  now  divided  into  five  school  dis- 
tricts, with  as  many  school-houses.  The  first  log 
school-house  stood  opposite  the  Presbyterian  Church 
and  was  built  about  1813.  Lucinda  Carpenter,  after- 
wards wife  of  David  Avery,  was  the  first  teacher,  with 
seven  pupils.  The  first  school  in  Simonds’  settlement 
was  taught  by  Harriet  Tyler,  in  her  father,  Simeon 
Tyler’s,  house,  about  1830.  Of  the  old  settlers,  Jabez 
Tyler’s  family  furnished  five  teachers,  Shubael  Wil- 
liams’ family  six,  Hezekiah  Bushnell’s  four, 
Nathaniel  West’s  three,  David  Avery’s  three.  At 
the  first  township  election  Norman  Todd,  brother  of 
Rev.  G.  N.  Todd,  was  elected  justice  of  the  peace  and 
town  clerk,  and  George  A.  Brush  was  elected  consta- 
ble. Samuel  Williams,  G.  0.  Baldwin,  B.  H.  Dix,  J. 
H.  Tooley,  J.  E.  Payne  and  J.  C.  Bushnell  have 
been  commissioned  justices  of  the  peace,  the  latter 
five  times.  J.  E.  Payne  and  Julius  Tyler  were 
elected  in  1887. 

On  the  road  leading  from  the  Harmony  road,  near 
Bushnell’s,  to  Jackson,  the  first  settler  on  that  road 
was  Shubael  Williams,  who  came  in  1812  and  cleared 
up  the  farm  now  owned  by  Sylvester  King  and  Eli  H. 
Bloxham.  He  and  his  wife  were  constituent  mem- 
bers of  the  Congregational  Church  and  good  substan- 
tial citizens.  He  was  a regular  attendant  at  church, 
and,  after  residing  fifty-five  years  on  the  same  place, 
died  at  the  age  of  eighty-four,  in  1867.  His  widow 
died  in  1871,  being  the  last  of  the  constituent  mem- 
bers of  the  Congregational  Church.  They  raised  a 
large  family  of  children,  viz., — Gilbert,  resided  on  part 
of  the  homestead  for  a nnmber  of  years  and  then  re- 
moved to  New  Milford,  where  he  died  (he  was  a good, 
substantial  man) ; Samuel,  resided  here  many  years  and 
was  justice  of  the  peace,  removed  to  Susquehanna, 
where  he  died;  Lovina,  wife  of  David  Avery,  who  was  a 
liberal  man  in  society ; Lucretia,  wife  of  N.  J.  West ; 
Sherman,  lived  and  died  here;  Ralph,  died  in  the 
army ; Oliver,  moved  to  Minnesota.  Obadiah  L. 
Carpenter  settled  on  this  road  about  1832.  He  cleared 
up  a good  farm,  now  occupied  by  J.  N.  Sartell  and  S. 
C.  Avery. 

One  of  the  earliest  cross-roads  open  to  travel  was 
the  road  intersecting  the  Harmony  road  near  the 
Presbyterian  Church.  Nathaniel  West  was  the  first 
settler  on  that  road,  on  the  farm  now  occupied  by  his 
son,  N.  J.  West.  The  next  farm  was  settled  about 
1812,  by  Whipple  Tarbox,  a brother-in-law  of  Nathan- 
iel West.  The  farm  is  now  owned  by  Abner  B. 
Avery  and  Mrs.  J.  L.  Doyle.  The  next  place  ad- 


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ARARAT. 


825 


joining  this,  on  the  west,  was  settled  by  Merritt 
Mine,  and  is  now  owned  by  E.  W.  Warner.  Augus- 
tus West  settled  opposite  Warner’s,  where  Mrs.  B.  H. 
Dix  now  lives.  Following  the  road  from  A.  B. 
Avery’s,  the  first  farm  is  owned  by  Chauncey  Avery, 
having  been  previously  occupied  by  his  grandfather, 
John  Avery.  The  next  and  last  place  in  town  was 
settled  by  Mr.  Griggs,  afterwards  owned  by  Knight 
Stone,  who  came  from  Abington  in  1867,  and  leaves  a 
family  of  eleven  children.  His  wife  was  Fidelia  P. 
Olark,  and  their  children  are  Mary  E.,  wife  of  Win.  O. 
Doyle  ; Alvira,  wife  of  Lemuel  Potter,  of  Glenwood  ; 
Noel,  resides  in  New  York ; Charles  E. ; Fernando 
C. ; Albert  W.  and  Nicholas,  are  enterprising 
farmers  in  the  township  ; Cenora  and  Alzada,  daugh- 
ters, and  Rancelo  and  Urban  E.,  sons,  are  unmarried. 

Samuel  Clark  Avery. — His  paternal  grand- 
father, John  Avery  (1774-1844),  resided  at  Laurens, 
Otsego  County,  N.  Y.  He  settled  in  Ararat  about 
1826,  where  his  grandson,  Chauncey,  now  resides,  in 
the  western  part  of  the  township,  on  a farm  2^artly 
cleared,  where  he  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life. 
He  was  a man  of  correct  habits,  genial  and  social, 
and  in  early  life  a class-leader  in  the  Methodist 
Church.  He  was  a great  reader  of  the  Bible,  and  a 
man  of  integrity  in  all  the  relations  of  life.  His  wife 
was  Eleanor  Griffith,  a member  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church  (1772-1840),  who  bore  him  the  fol- 
lowing children  : (1)  David  (1796-1872),  born  in  Lau- 
rens, came  to  Ararat  in  1814,  cleared  up  the  farm 
now  owned  by  his  son,  Eli  L Avery.  His  first  wife, 
Lucinda  Carpenter  (1791-1840),  he  married  after 
■coming  here,  by  whom  he  had  one  daughter,  Han- 
nah, who  married,  first,  George  Brush.  For  upwards 
of  fifty  years  he  was  connected  with  the  Congrega- 
tional Church  of  Ararat.  His  second  wife  was  Lo- 
vina,  a daughter  of  Sbnbael  Williams,  of  Ararat,  who 
bore  him  children, — Olive,  Susanna,  Ada,  Ruby,  Lo- 
demia,  Eli  L.  and  Albert.  (2)  Polly,  died  at  six.  (3) 
Samuel  (1799-1870),  married  Dorcas  Hopkins  (1801- 
75),  a native  of  Rhode  Island,  was  a farmer  and  re- 
sided and  died  on  the  farm  in  Ararat,  where  his  son, 
A.  B.  Avery,  now  resides.  Their  children  are  Chaun- 
cey, born  in  1823,  a farmer  on  the  old  homestead  of 
his  grandfather;  Eleanor,  1825,  first  the  wife  of  Oli- 
ver Williams,  and  second  the  wife  of  Charles  Hop- 
kins, both  of  Minnesota  ; Abner  B.,  a farmer,  on  the 
homestead  of  his  father  ; Susanna,  died  at  nineteen  ; 
David,  resides  in  Ararat;  Angeline  (1833-69),  mar- 
ried Theodore  Doyle,  of  Ararat,  and  died  here ; 
Samuel  Clark,  born  August  25,  1834 ; George,  a 
farmer  in  Ararat : Thomas,  resides  in  Burnwood ; 
Eliza,  wife  of  Norman  M.  Stone,  of  Thomson.  (4) 
Sally,  became  the  wife  of  a Mr.  Briggs,  of  Connecti- 
cut. (5)  Gardner,  married  Julia  Doyle, — children, 
Rodney,  Truman,  Viola.  (6)  Evelina,  married  John 
Green,  of  Otsego  County,  and,  after  his  death,  Wil- 
liam Alexander,  of  the  same  county.  (7)  Mary,  the 
wife  of  Ira  Trip}),  died  in  Buffalo.  (8)  John,  resided 


in  Ararat  and  died  in  Illinois.  (9)  Daniel,  of  Ararat. 
(10)  Lydia  Ann,  1817,  the  widow  of  Justin  L.  Doyle 
(1803-76),  a farmer  in  Ararat.  (11)  And  Ann  Eliza, 
wife  of  Henry  Earnthousen,  of  Toledo,  Ohio. 

Samuel  Clark  Avery  was  born  on  the  homestead  in 
Ararat,  and  had  the  usual  oirportunities  of  the  school 
in  the  neighborhood  in  boyhood.  He  learned  farm- 
ing, and  knew  what  hard  work  was  during  his  minor- 
ity, and  was  impressed  with  the  great  lesson  that 
industry  and  economy,  guided  by  a sound  judgment, 
lead  to  financial  success.  At  the  age  of  twenty  he 
began  working  by  the  month,  and  continued  in  ser- 
vice farming  and  lumbering  for  five  years.  In  1857 
he  bought  a part  of  the  Shubael  Williams  farm, 
where  he  began  keeping  house  in  1859,  after  his 
marriage  to  Sarah  Jane  Taylor,  who  was  born  in 
Gibson  December  11,  1838.  He  was  drafted  in  No- 
vember, 1862,  and  served  in  Company  E,  One  Hun- 
dred and  Seventy-seventh  Pennsylvania  Infantry, 
doing  mostly  {ticket  duty  at  Suffolk,  Deep  Creek  and 
Newport  News,  Va.,  and  near  Harper’s  Ferry,  until 
he  was  mustered  out,  in  August,  1863.  He  was  again 
drafted  in  1864,  but  the  quota  was  filled  by  bounty- 
money  raised  by  the  towmship,  and  he  did  not  go.  In 
1864  he  bought  his  present  farm,  a part  of  the  0.  L. 
Carpenter  place,  then  under  a poor  state  of  cultiva- 
tion. He  erected  on  this  property  his  present  com- 
modious barn  in  1876,  and  his  elegant  and  fine  farm 
residence  in  1877,  both  of  which  will  vie  with  any 
farm  buildings  in  the  county.  Mr.  Avery  is  an 
industrious,  intelligent  and  thorough-going  farmer, 
and  all  the  appointments  of  his  place  bespeak  the 
handiwork  of  a thorough  agriculturist.  He  has 
given  his  attention  mostly  to  dairying  and  horse 
raising. 

The  political  affiliation  of  the  family  has  been 
generally  with  the  Whig  and  Republican  parties,  but 
Mr.  Avery  is  a member  of  the  Democratic  party,  and 
has  served  his  township  as  assessor,  auditor,  constable 
and  collector  for  four  terms.  Both  himself  and  wife 
have  been  interested  in  church  work,  and  liberal  con- 
tributors to  church  and  charitable  purposes,  and  for 
over  ten  years  he  served  as  chorister.  His  wife  was 
organist  and  Sunday-school  teacher  and  is  a member 
of  the  Free-Will  Baptist  Church.  Three  of  his  broth- 
ers, George,  David  and  Thomas,  served  in  the  late 
war.  One  cousin,  Eli  L.  Avery,  and  three  of  his 
brothers-in-law',  John  F.,  Charles  and  Freeman  Tay- 
lor, also  served  in  the  late  Rebellion. 

Sarah  Jane  Taylor  was  the  daughter  of  William 
(1811-86)  and  Mary  (Kelly)  Taylor,  farmers  who 
resided  on  East  Mountain,  in  Gibson,  where  they 
reared  their  children, — John  F.,  a contractor,  resides 
near  Scranton;  Sarah  Jane  (Mrs.  S.  C.  Avery); 
Charles,  a farmer  in  Herrick ; Josiah,  succeeded  to 
the  homestead  of  his  father,  in  Gibson,  served  in  the 
construction  corps  of  the  late  war ; Freeman  F.,  a 
railroad  contractor  and  ranchman  of  Colorado  City  ; 
Leslie  D.,  a mechanic  at  Peoria,  Kan.;  Leroy  Eu- 


826 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


gene,  overseer  of  the  coal-breaker  at  Wenton,  Lacka- 
wanna County  ; Lafayette,  of  Raridan,  Ohio,  a lum- 
herman  ; William  K.  and  Volney  E.,  mechanics  of 
Ottawa,  Kan.  This  William  Taylor  was  the  son  of 
Amos  and  Dolly  (Starks)  Taylor,  who  resided  about 
one  mile  below  Smiley  on  the  west  si  le  of  the  Tunk. 
hannock,  and  settled  there  soon  after  1800.  Amos 
was  the  son  of  David  and  Mercy  Taylor,  who  settled 
at  Smiley  about  1804  and  built  a hotel,  which  was 
then  one  of  three  frame  houses  in  Gibson.  They 
removed  to  Great  Bend  township  in  1814,  and  settled 
at  Taylortown,  named  for  them.  For  a further 
account  of  the  Taylors  see  Taylor  sketch  in  Lanes- 
boro’  history. 

' On  the  road  leading  from  the  John  Tyler  place  to 
Gibson  the  first  settler,  Truman  Clinton,  located  in 
1810.  David  Avery  subsequently  added  to  this  im- 
provement and  made  the  farm  now  owned  by  his  son, 
E.  L.  Avery.  John  Doyle  came  about  1816  and 
settled  on  the  next  place  below.  His  wife  was  a sister 
of  John  Snow.  His  sons  were  Thomas  L.,  Justin  L. 
and  John,  and  his  daughters  were  Mary,  Fanny, 
Julia  and  Abby.  John  the  elder  and  John  the 
younger  moved  to  Illinois.  This  Doyle  farm  became 
the  home  of  Chester  Scarborough  for  many  years,  and 
is  now  occupied  by  his  grandson,  Danford  Hines. 
Thomas  Burman  settled  on  the  cross-road  towards 
Barnes’  Corners,  where  his  son  Danford  now  resides. 
On  the  opposite  side  of  the  way,  next  beyond,  is 
where  Wareham  B.  Walker  commenced  in  1814.  He 
had  been  in  the  War  of  1812  and  came  here  and 
cleared  up  the  farm  where  Thomas  and  Abram 
Bosket  now  reside.  Walker’s  son,  Danford  S.,  resides 
in  Gibson.  Chauncy  Barnes  made  most  of  the  im- 
provements on  the  next  farm,  which  is  just  on  the 
edge  of  Gibson  and  now  occupied  by  his  son,  Rufus 
Barnes,  Esq.  Following  up  the  road  from  Barnes’  to 
Walker  School-house,  No.  5,  the  first  place  was 
settled  by  Thomas  Snow,  about  1830,  now  owned  by 
George  Knight.  Gardner  Avery  settled  where  George 
Burman  lives.  Thomas  L.  Doyle  settled  where  Joseph 
Dunn  lives.  D.  S.  Walker  began  where  George  Carey 
lives.  William  H.  Barnes  resides  where  Aaron  Elliott 
began  about  1830.  On  the  Fiddle  Lake  and  Smiley 
Hollow  road,  where  H.  Cochran  resides,  Lyman 
Washburn  began  and  cleared  up  the  place.  This 
road  terminates  at  C.  F.  Stone’s,  on  the  new  part  of 
the  road  opened  by  the  Wilkes-Barre  Turnpike 
Company.  C.  F.  Stone  owuis  the  place  settled  by 
Parley  Walker  after  the  road  was  opened.  The  next 
irlace  south  was  settled  by  Don.  A.  Walker  and  the 
next  by  Alonzo  Walker;  both  are  now  owned  by 
George  W.  Entrot.  The  next  and  last  farm  south  in 
the  township  was  settled  by  Tompkins  Walker  and 
now  belongs  to  the  estate  of  James  H.  Smith,  of  Sus- 
quehanna, and  occupied  by  Stephen  Washburn.  The 
next  place  was  settled  by  Seba  Boyle,  in  1847.  Flis 
son,  George,  resides  on  part  of  the  farm.  Joseph 
Washburn,  second,  commenced  at  the  outlet  of  Fiddle 


Lake,  on  the  place  now  owned  by  D.  C.  Roberts. 
William  Archer  was  born  in  England  and  came  to 
Ararat  in  1842  and  settled  at  the  end  of  the  road 
and  cleared  up  a farm,  now  owned  by  Theodore  F. 
Archer.  The  other  children  are  Henry,  William, 
Thomas,  Andrew,  George  and  Matilda.  Wilson 
Stone  and  Enos  Dow  settled  on  the  cross-road  leading 
from  the  Tyler  farm  to  the  Summit,  now  owned  by 
William  Thorn.  On  the  road  leading  from  the  Pres- 
byterian Church  to  Dunn’s  Pond  was  the  original 
line  between  Herrick  and  Thomson.  John  Snow 
made  the  first  settlement  about  1816,  w'here  he  died 
in  1851.  He  came  as  a hired  man  for  Joshua  Clark, 
in  1810.  He  was  something  of  a politician  and  was 
useful  to  Charles  Chandler  and  others,  and  for  his 
services  received  a number  of  mail  routes  and  was 
the  first  mail-carrier  on  the  Tunkhannock  route.  It 
was  through  his  instrumentality  that  some  of  the 
early  settlers  were  induced  to  come  here.  He  was 
generous  and  had  a good  many  good  traits.  He  had 
sons — Almon  and  Loren.  His  daughter  Eliza  was 
the  wife  of  William  Carpenter.  Laura  was  the  wife 
of  Dr.  Loomis,  of  Harford.  Silas  S.  and  Edwin  L. 
Baldwin  commenced  on  the  next  farm,  about  1818, 
where  they  remained  during  their  lives.  S.  A.  Bald- 
win began  where  Harley  Hobb  occupies.  Eneas 
Hine  succeeded  S.  Baldwin  on  that  place.  Mike 
Rector  and  PhebeWood  commenced  on  the  farm  now 
owned  by  A.  Hobbs,  about  1824.  After  serving  a 
term  in  jail  he  returned,  and  Rector  and  Phebe  were 
lost  to  history.  Homer  Payne  made  improvements 
where  J.  B.  Bloxham  resides.  Between  Baldwin’s 
and  Rector’s  Peter  Carlin  commenced  where  Latham 
lives,  Rolla  Carpenter  where  William  Carpenter 
resides,  and  Almon  Snow  built  a log-house  where  L. 
L.  Snow,  the  youngest  of  John  Snow’s  children, 
resides.  The  farm  now  occupied  by  W.  J.  Hobbs  was 
the  home  of  William  Dunn.  Simeon  Tyler  and  Ly- 
man Tyler  were  early  settlers  in  the  Simonds  neigh- 
borhood. A son  of  T.  J.  Lewis  resides  on  one  of 
these  farms.  Abel  P.  Borden  came  from  Delaware 
County  to  Ararat  and  bought  the  Ballard  improve- 
ment, and  made  most  of  the  improvements  on  that 
place.  Francis  Marion  Borden  married  a daughter 
of  Peter  Dunn  and  has  charge  of  the  farm.  Manly, 
Albert  and  William  are  carpenters.  William  Hatha- 
w^ay  commenced  where  Charles  Van  Meter  lives. 
Robert  Kay  came  about  the  time  Borden  did.  John 
Cotrell  came  about  1845  and  settled  near  Cotrell’s 
Cut.  He  had  two  sons,  Francis  and  Arnold,  that 
settled  here.  Frank  Slocum  settled  near  them  after- 
wards. Philip,  one  of  his  sons,  resides  in  the  township. 

Upon  the  road  leading  from  the  Wrighter  sehool- 
house  to  Burnwood,  Sabin  B.  Tucker  moved  from 
Herrrick  on  to  this  road  about  1844,  and  cleared  up  the 
place  where  he  and  his  sons  Edwin  and  Asa  reside. 
William  Belcher  and  James  Tew  commenced  on  the 
farm  now  owned  by  Rollo  Carpenter.  V.  0.  Lake 
began  where  he  resides.  On  the  road  from  Sabin 


ARARAT. 


827 


Tucker’s  to  John  Beiiumont’s  place,  the  first  farm  was 
settled  by  Andrew  Glover  ; now  owned  by  L.  Carpen- 
ter. The  next  place  was  settled  by  J.  N.  Sartell;  now 
occupied  by  G.  W.  Gelatt.  The  farm  known  as  the 
Rev.  N.  P.  Sartell  Farm  is  now  owned  by  Silas  N.  Sar- 
tell. Ellas  Jenkins  lived  on  this  place  prior  to 
Sartell.  P.  T.  Baldwin  began,  lived  and  died  in  a log 
house  now  owned  by  J.  W.  Beaumont.  The  next 
place  was  known  as  the  Henry  S.  Drinker  lot ; now 
occupied  by  V.  0.  Stearns,  Mrs.  L.  A.  Doyle,  including 
the  depot,  was  taken  up  by  Ebenzer  Bushnell,  son  of 
Hezekiah,  who  built  a frame  house  on  the  land. 
Jacob  Moore  bought  the  property,  and  built  a log 
house  near  the  house  of  V.  O.  Stearns.  Daniel  Avery, 
Edmond  L.  Worth,  and  William  Bosket  built  houses 
and  made  improvements  in  the  vicinity.  The  Ararat 
Depot,  V.  O.  Steam’s  store.  Barton’s  Hotel  and  other 
buildings  are  upon  this  H.  S.  Drinker  tract.  On  the 
road  to  Thomson  from  School-house  No.  3,  John 
Beaumont  settled  on  the  place  now  occupied  by  his 
widow.  The  last  place  before  reaching  the  township 
line,  now  occupied  by  George  Avery,  was  first  settled 
by  Enos  Dow.  William  Sumner  came  from  Oxford- 
shire, England,  into  the  edge  of  Thomson  in  1846,  and 
bought  an  improvement  of  Benjamin  Boothroyd,  and 
cleared  up  the  place  where  his  son  John  lives.  Mr.  Sum- 
ner lived  to  be  eighty -six.  He  was  a member  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church,  and  John,  his  son  and  succes- 
sor, is  an  elder  in  the  same. 

Travelers  on  the  Harmony  road  discovered  that 
its  route  along  the  brow  of  the  hill  to  the  headwaters 
of  the  Tunkhannock  Creek  was  nearly  level,  and  that 
a much  shorter  and  better  graded  road  to  the  Susque. 
hanna  River  could  here  be  obtained  than  that  used 
by  the  Great  Bend  and  Cochecton  turnpike,  which 
crossed  the  Tunkhannock  ravine  and  several  lesser 
chasms,  and  by  a circuitous  and  mountainous  way 
through  Gibson,  Harford  and  New  Milford  reached 
the  Susquehanna  at  Great  Bend.  Enterprising  men 
at  both  ends  of  the  route  became  enthusiastic  in  its 
advocacy,  but  Deacon  Tyler,  agent  for  the  Drinkers, 
through  whose  land  the  road  must  pass,  strenuously 
opposed  the  road,  and,  being  the  leading  man  along 
the  route,  defeated  the  project.  One  of  his  New  Eng- 
land neighbors,  after  exhausting  arguments  pro  bono 
publico,  appealed  to  his  private  interest  by  saying ; 
“ It  would  double  the  value  of  your  property.”  He 
tartly  replied  “ what  do  I care  for  that  ? I don’t  want 
to  sell  it.”  He  lived  and  died  in  his  chosen  seclusion 
from  a great  thoroughfore.  In  1836-37,  when  Asa 
Dimock  was  in  the  legislature,  a charter  was  granted 
to  Gould  Phinny,  of  Dundaff,  Mr.  Berry,  who  lived 
south  of  Dundaff,  and  Warren  Dimock,  of  Herrick,  to 
build  a turnpike  road  twenty  feet  between  ditches,  to 
intersect  the  Newburg  turnpike  at  Warren  Dimock’s 
tavern  thence  through  Araratthesettlement  to  intersect 
the  Belmont  and  Onaquaga  turnpike  at  or  near  Jonas 
Blandin’s  hotel  in  Thomson.  This  was  to  be  a divis- 
ion of  the  Wilkesbarre  turnpike,  and  upon  this  eight 


miles  the  corporation  obtained  a grant  of  one  thousand 
two  hundred  dollars  from  the  State.  The  proposed 
object  of  this  corporation  was  to  establish  a direct 
stage  and  mail  communication  between  Wilkesbarre, 
on  the  Susquehanna  and  Deposit,  on  the  Delaware, 
passing  through  Hyde  Park,  Providence,  Dundaff, 
Herrick,  Ararat,  Thomson  and  Starrucca.  Warren 
Dimock  was  surveyor,  and  put  nearly  all  of  it  under 
contract  for  building.  Warren  Dimock’s  tavern  was 
half  a mile  east  of  the  Harmony  road,  and  practically 
the  centre  of  Herrick  township.  Here  was  their  post- 
office  and  place  of  holding  elections.  From  here  the 
new  turnpike  passed  through  three  miles  of  dense 
unbroken  forests  before  coming  upon  the  line  of  the 
Harmony  road  near  where  Ararat  School-house,  No. 
5,  stands;  thence  in  the  clearing  of  Ezra  Walker; 
thence  following  the  Harmony  road  about  two  miles  ; 
thence  to  Thomson  by  the  road  now  traveled.  War- 
ren Dimock  contracted  to  build  the  first  mile,  David 
Avery  the  second  and  Ezra  Walker  the  third. 
Through  the  settlement,  Jabez  Tyler  built  one-half 
mile,  David  Hine  and  Nathaniel  West  another  half- 
mile,  Hezekiah  Bushnell  one-half  mile,  while  some 
others  toward  Thomson  did  a little  work  on  their 
contracts.  They  were  to  take  stock  for  pay,  excepting 
tho.se  who  built  through  the  woods,  and  they  were 
paid  in  stock  and  money.  Avery  and  Walker  built 
their  road  in  good  shape,  but  Dimock  only  about  two 
thirds  completed  his,  and  being  one  of  the  commission- 
ers he  could  not  crowd  the  others.  The  project  failed  ii.s 
aturnjnke,  but  was  beneficial  to  the  township  in  start- 
ing a road  which  has  since  become  a public  highway. 
Since  the  forests  have  been  cleared  away  people  have 
almost  forgotten  how  dark  and  dreary  Dimock  woods 
used  to  be.  About  1843-44  a horse-mail  was  estab- 
lished along  this  route.  Nathaniel  West  was  appointed 
postmaster  of  the  “ Western  ” post-office,  but  he  was 
one-half  mile  off  of  the  road,  and  after  a few  calls  the 
mail-carrier  refused  to  goto  the  office,  and  the  mail - 
route  was  abandoned.  Ararat  post-office  was  estab" 
lished  June  14,  1852,  with  Albert  Bushnell  as  first 
postmaster.  He  had  the  office  at  his  house,  on  the 
corner  near  the  church.  His  successors  have  been  Gur- 
ry 0.  Baldwin,  1856 ; William  W.  Stearns,  1857  ; Rolla 
Carpenter,  1865  ; James  E.  Payne,  who  had  the  2)ost- 
ofiice  at  his  store,  and  was  succeeded  by  his  wife, 
Mary  C.  Payne,  in  1872.  Josiah  Barton  was  appointed 
in  1886,  and  moved  the  office  to  N.  A.  Walker’s  store 
at  the  railroad  station.  Burn  wood  post-office  was 

established  June  23,  1884,  with  Stanley  E.  Dunn 
postmaster.  Charles  Ross,  his  assistant,  has  the 
office  at  his  store. 

Deacon  John  Tyler  came  from  Attleboro’,  Mass., 
and  first  settled  in  Harford.  Henry  Drinker  wanted, 
a settlement  made  on  his  lands  and  gave  Mr.  Tyler 
one  thousand  acres  of  land,  and  in  connection  with 
his  son  Joab,  the  agency  for  the  sale  of  more  land  if  he 
would  make  a settlement  in  the  wilderness.  Mr.  Tyler 
came  from  Harford  to  Captain  Potter’s  tavern,  where 


828 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


Stephen  Potter  now  lives,  and  from  thereby  bridle-path, 
to  Ararat  in  1810,  where  he  erected  a frame  house  a 
few  rods  north  of  the  present  house  on  what  is  now 
the  Graham  farm.  His  son  Jabez  came  with  him, 
and  settled  about  one-half  mile  south  of  his  father, 
and  after  his  father  died  he  succeeded  to  the  home- 
stead. He  sold  the  south  farm  to  Amasa  Herrick 
and  made  further  improvements  on  the  homestead, 
including  the  dwelling-house  now  owned  by  John 
Graham.  His  position  in  the  township  was  that  of  a 
leading  man.  He  was  passive  and  conservative,  and 
held  his  position  without  being  aggressive.  He  was 
married  in  1811  to  Harriet  Wadsworth,  who  died  in 
1820,  leaving  two  children— Royal,  who  lives  below 
Susquehanna,  and  Harriet,  who  was  the  wife  of  Al- 
bert Bushnell.  Mr.  Tyler’s  second  wife,  Mary  R. 
Kingsbury,  was  the  mother  of  three  sons — Williston 
K.,  now  dead ; Ebenezer  D.,  who  resides  in  Bingham- 
ton ; and  Julius,  the  youngest,  who  resides  in  the 
township.  Mrs.  Tyler  was  born  in  A^’ermont  December 
29,  1794,  and  is  ninety-two  years  of  age.  She  says: 
“ I was  sixteen  when  father  moved  to  Harford,  and 
was  the  first  pastor  of  the  Harford  church.  In  1812, 
when  I was  seventeen,  they  set  me  to  teaching.  I 
taught  a number  of  terms  in  Harford,  also  two  terms 
in  Franklin.  I knew  the  Smiths  in  that  township, 
and  their  children  came  to  school  to  me.  Polly  Car- 
penter, Nancy  Sweet  and  Sarah  Fisher  were  school- 
teachers at  that  time.  Miss  Fisher  was  older,  and  I 
think  the  first  teacher  in  Harford.  My  brother  and 
sister  taught  also.  We  were  not  examined,  but  were 
hired  by  a school  committee,  consisting  of  two  per- 
sons from  each  district.  They  had  four  and  five 
months  school  in  summer  and  tliree  months  in  winter. 
Men  teachers  were  generally  employed  in  winter. 
They  paid  us  one  dollar  per  week,  and  we  boarded 
around.  My  father  moved  into  a log-house,  and  it 
seemed  pretty  hard.  I have  lived  in  this  same  place 
fifty-seven  years.  It  was  a wilderness  when  we  came 
here.  We  had  a great  deal  of  venison.  One  day 
Dunn’s  sons  killed  seven  deer,  and  Mr.  Dunn  came 
here  with  some  of  the  venison.  I have  had  a busy 
life,  but  was  never  as  strong  as  some  women,  and 
could  not  work  out  doors  as  some  did.  Mother  Mercy 
Tyler  could  work  out  doors,  and  she  was  the  only 
doctor  in  this  part  of  the  country.  She  was  called 
from  Stockport,  on  the  Delaware,  to  the  Wyalusing, 
and  rode  on  horse-back  by  bridle-path  to  see  her  pa- 
tients. She  was  a great  reader,  and  was  eighty-three 
years  old  when  she  died.  Her  strong  frame  gave  way 
after  she  was  eighty,  and  she  was  completely  broken 
down  after  that.  I saw  forty  fallows  burning  one 
clear  day.  Stores  were  scarce,  and  they  kept  tea, 
coffee,  rice  and  some  other  groceries,  also  a few  dry- 
goods,  but  we  did  not  have  much  money  to  buy  with. 
In  the  time  of  the  war  of  1812  with  England  I was 
teaching,  and  paid  one  dollar  ])er  yard  for  calico,  and 
it  was  like  strainer  cloth.  We  would  not  call  it  worth 
anything  now,  and  when  calico  became  worth  eighteen 


pence  and  twenty-five  cents  per  yard  we  thought  it 
was  pretty  cheap.  The  lumbermen  took  pine  lumber 
to  Philadelphia,  and  we  sold  them  hay,  butter, 
cheese  and  pork,  and  got  some  money  that  way.  We 
manufactured  ,our  own  cloth  largely  and  spun  our 
candlewick  and  made  candles.  Times  have  changed 
greatly  in  sixty-three  years,  and  it  seems  as  though 
people  might  live  easier  now,  but  I think  they  work 
just  as  hard.  They  do  more  unnecessary  work.  I 
remember  when  Gen.  Washington  died  ; I was  five 
years  old  that  month ; also  when  Bonaparte  was  ris- 
ing. Party  spirit  ran  high  during  the  war  of  1812, 
the  States  that  bordered  on  the  line  traded  with  Can- 
ada, and  did  not  like  the  embargo  laid  by  the  general 
government.  I remember  well  when  the  first  steam- 
boat was  started.  After  we  came  here  we  took  the 
Gleaner,  a newspaper  published  at  Wilkes-Barre,  and 
it  was  not  much  larger  than  a sheet  of  foolscap  ; 
then  we  took  the  Montrose  papers.  When  I think  of 
the  advantages  people  have  now  I wonder  we  were 
not  all  fools.  We  went  four  miles  away  to  Kennedy 
Hill  for  mail.  Then  one  was  as  good  as  another  ; we 
nearly  all  lived  in  log  houses  alike.  Harford  fur- 
nished most  of  the  early  teachers,  and  they  were 
nearly  all  singers.  They  most  always  had  singing- 
schools  in  connection  with  their  day-schools.  My 
husband  brought  the  first  stove  here  in  1830,  and  it 
caused  quite  a sensation  among  the  neighbors.  It 
had  an  oven  over  the  fire-place  and  two  places  for 
kettles,  one  each  side  of  the  oven.  There  was  iron 
enough  about  it,  and  when  we  had  a hot  fire  it  would 
burn  things  up  in  the  oven.” 

Mrs.  Tyler  united  with  the  Congregational  Church 
at  Harford  in  1820,  and  with  the  Ararat  Church  in 
1826  by  letter.  She  is  well  preserved,  cheerful  and 
contented,  and  feels  that  she  is  nearing  the  brink  of 
that  dark  river  that  all  mortals  must  cross,  but,  wheth- 
er living  or  dying,  she  says  she  knows  it  will  be  well 
with  her. 

^Hezekiah  Bushnell  was  born  in  Lebanon,  Conn, 
in  1782,  and  married  Lucy  Tiffany  in  1804.  He 
spent  his  youth  with  his  grandfather,  Ebenezer,  who 
gave  him  a good  common  school  education.  After 
his  marriage,  he  rented  his  grandfather’s  farm  and 
remained  on  it  until  the  latter  died.  In  1810  he  emi- 
grated to  the  wilds  of  Pennsylvania  and  settled  upon 
the  farm  now  (1887)  occupied  by  his  youngest  son, 
J.  C.  Bushnell.  He  was  a man  of  positive  convic- 
tions, and  inclined  to  hold  others  to  the  same  strict 
accountability  as  he  imposed  upon  himself.  He 
firmly  held  to  the  rule  that  repentance  and  restitution 
were  prerequisites  of  forgiveness,  and  squared  his 
own  errors  by  that  rule.  He  assumed  his  full  share 
of  the  responsibilities  incumbent  upon  a citizen, 


^Hezekiah  Bushnell,  of  the  sixth  generation  from  lllchard  Bushnell, 
who  came  from  England  prior  to  and  settled  at  Saybrook,  Conn, 
and  married  Mary  IMarvin,  daughter  of  Mathias  Marvin,  who  came  to 
Hartford,  Conn.,  in  1635.  From  Ricliard  there  were  Joseph,  Nathan, 
Ebenezer,  Ebenezer  (2d)  and  Hezekiah. 


ARARAT. 


829 


and  did  not  shirk  in  time  of  danger.  He  arrested  a 
ruffian  single-handed,  who  had  robbed  a man,  and 
brought  him  through  a ten-mile  woods  and  delivered 
him  to  the  authorities.  A pioneer  in  the  temperance 
reform,  and  president  of  the  first  temperance  society 
in  the  place,  an  anti-slavery  Whig  in  politics,  a con- 
sistent member  of  the  Congregational  Church  and  an 
officer  in  the  same,  he  breathed  the  free  mountain  air 
of  his  chosen  home  until  1851,  when  he  died  and  was 
buried  in  the  Ararat  Cemetery.  His  children  were 
Leonard  A.,  Ebenezer,  Albert,  James  C.  and  Eliza- 
beth, wife  of  Rev.  J.  B.  Wilson. 

Leonard  A.  attended  school  with  a view  of  becom- 
ing a home  missionary,  but  after  marriage  with 
Livera  A.  Sabin,  both  engaged  in  teaching  for  a time, 
when  they  took  charge  of  the  homestead.  Here  Mr. 
Bushnell  changed  his  church  relations  from  the 
Congregational  to  the  Methodist  Church,  and  was 
licensed  to  preach  by  the  tatter  body.  He  finally  re- 
moved to  Lanesboro’,  where  he  was  killed  by  a falling 
tree.  Ebenezer  taught  school  two  years  in  Sussex 
County,  N.  J.  Returning  he  bought  one  hundred 
acres  of  wild  land  where  Ararat  depot  stands.  After 
making  some  improvements  he  sold  and  bought  a 
place  on  the  main  road,  where  he  resided  until  1863, 
when  he  removed  to  Wisconsin.  Albert  was  a good 
citizen  and  after  his  admission  to  the  bar  of  Susque- 
hanna County,  removed  to  Susquehanna,  where  he 
met  his  death  by  an  overdose  of  aconite,  given  by  a 
friendly  druggist,  who  was  ignorant  of  its  power. 
James  C.  Bushnell  was  born  in  1820,  only  ten  years 
after  the  first  settlement,  and  has  spent  his  life  on  the 
mountain  outlook  where  his  father  first  began.  His 
entire  school  education  consisted  of  fragmentary 
parts  of  eleven  three  months  terms  at  the  common 
school  in  Ararat,  commencing  in  1824,  in  a log  school- 
house,  fourteen  by  eighteen  feet,  with  a large  stone 
fire-place  at  one  end,  and  two  windows  so  high  that 
the  teacher  could  hardly  look  out,  and  concluding 
with  the  winter  term  of  1837.  The  demand  for  his 
labor  precluded  his  attending  school  any  more,  but 
this  did  not  complete  his  education.  He  has  been  a 
life-long  student  of  books  and  observer  of  events, 
thereby  securing  a good  practical  knowledge  of 
affairs.  Inheriting  the  qualities  of  his  father,  he  is  a 
fearless  exponent  of  what  he  believes  to  be  right  in  the 
community.  He  is  an  advocate  of  temperance  and 
occasionally  contributes  articles  to  the  Independent 
Republican.  He  united  with  the  Congregational 
Church  in  1839,  and  has  been  clerk,  secretary  of  the 
society  and  Sunday-school  superintendent.  In  munic- 
ipal affairs  he  has  been  elected  constable  three  times, 
auditor  seven  or  eight  times,  and  justice  of  the  peace 
five  times,  and  in  1882  he  was  mercantile  appraiser. 
As  executor,  administrator  and  general  counselor  for 
the  neighborhood,  he  is  a trusted  man.  He  is  a 
ready  writer  and  is  the  best  informed  man  in  the 
township  in  relation  to  its  early  settlement.  He  has 
an  extended  view  from  his  home,  and  is  the  only 


descendant  of  a pioneer  that  retains  the  homestead 
farm  on  the  Harmony  road  for  a distance  of  fifteen 
miles.  Herman  S.  is  his  only  living  son. 

Nathaniel  West  (1789-1880),  born  in  Schoharie 
County,  N.  Y.,  worked  for  Mr.  Catlin  in  Bridgewater 
in  1811.  Returning,  he  married  Sally  Tuttle  (1785- 
1861),  and  in  1812  came  to  what  is  now  Ararat  and 
settled  on  forty-seven  acres,  where  his  son,  Nathanie^^ 
Jones  West,  now  resides.  He  added  to  his  woodland 
tract,  and  cleared  up  a fiirm  and  made  other  improve- 
ments. He  built  his  present  residence  in  1847,  and 
had  the  first  painted  house  in  town.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  Congregational  Church.  His  children 
are  Augustus,  a resident  of  Dwight,  111 ; Millie,  wife  of 
John  Gelatt,  of  Gelatt  Hollow ; Ruth  was  the  wife  of 
Ransom  Samson.  Nathaniel  Jones  was  born  in  1819, 
and  succeeded  to  the  homestead  He  was  married,  in 
1842,  to  Lucretia  Williams,  daughter  of  Shubael  Wil- 
liams (1783-1867)  and  Ruth  Morton  (1790-1871),  and 
has  children, — Celia  M.^  Sarah  J.,  Abby  E.,  Cecil, 
Emma,  Emerson  G.  and  Lamira ; Lodema,  of  the 
original  family,  was  the  wife  of  Samuel  Williams,  of 
Ararat ; Emily,  widow  of  Sherman  Williams,  of  Ar- 
arat. 

Mrs.  Eunice  Walker,  widow  of  the  late  Ezra 
Walker,  is  one  of  the  oldest  inhabitants  and  the 
earliest  settler  now  living  in  the  township.  She  is 
the  daughter  of  Benjamin  West,  born  in  Albany 
County,  N.  Y.,  in  1797.  She  came  to  Ararat  in  1813 
with  her  parents,  who  settled  on  the  Harmony  road, 
on  the  farm  joining  the  Tyler  farm  on  the  south, 
where  Freeman  had  made  a small  clearing  and  erected 
a barn.  William  West  came  first,  and  built  a house 
upon  the  lot.  His  name  also  appears  as  one  of  the 
constituent  members  of  the  Congregational  Church. 
He  afterw’ards  removed  to  Masonville,  N.  Y.  Her 
father  died  about  1816,  and  was  buried  on  the  Tyler 
farm.  She  became  the  mother  of  ten  children,  five  of 
whom  are  living,  and  only  two  remain  in  the 
township.  Her  husband,  Ezra  Walker,  was  a man  of 
powerful  frame,  always  engaged  in  clearing  land, 
building  walls,  making  turnpike  road  and  like  work 
requiring  energy  and  strength,  and  his  large,  well- 
cleared  and  walled  farm  was  the  last  clearing  in- 
habited on  the  Harmony  road  in  the  town.ship,  going 
south,  as  late  as  1840.  She  lived  to  hear  the  locomo- 
tive whistle  and  see  a railroad  depot  within  a few  rods 
of  her  present  residence. 

Justin  Lee  Doyle. — His  parents,  John  and  Ann 
(Snow)  Doyle,  came  from  Connecticut  about  1816,  and 
settled  in  the  western  part  of  Ararat,  where  D.  Hines 
now  resides,  the  tract  taken  up  comprising  now 
several  farms  adjoining.  Here  they  resided  until 
1835,  when  the  father  and  his  son  John  went  to  Illinois, 
where  the  father  died  and  John  settled  subsequently 
in  Kansas,  where  he  resides  in  1887.  The  children  of 
John  and  Ann  Doyle  were  Thomas  L.  (1799-1870), 
cleared  up  a farm  in  Ararat,  and  resided  in  the  town- 
ship until  his  death;  he  has  one  son,  William,  a res- 


830 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


ident  here;  Justin  Lee,  born  in  Connecticut,  May 
30, 1803,  died  in  Ararat,  June  27, 1876 ; Mary,  married 
Abram  Wrigley,  and  both  died  in  Abington,  Pa.; 
Fanny,  wife  of  Joseph  Bloxham,  of  Ararat;  John 
married  Sarah  Brush,  a daughter  of  his  step-mother, 
and  went  West  with  his  father;  Julia  married  Gard- 
ner Avery,  and  resided  in  Ararat ; and  Abby  became 
the  wife  of  Philip  Matteson,  of  Abington.  John 
Doyle’s  second  wife  was  the  widow  of  Ard  Brush, 
formerly  Mary  Treadwell,  and  the  mother  of  Samuel 
Brush,  of  Brushville,  in  this  county,  by  whom  he  had 
no  issue.  Justin  Lee  Doyle  was  thirteen  years  old 
when  his  parents  came  to  Pennsylvania,  and  settled 
in  the  then  wilderness  country  of  the  j>resent  town- 
ship of  Ararat.  During  his  boyhood  he  acquired  a 
fair  education  from  the  meagre  opportunities  offered, 
and  learned  the  trade  of  a stone-mason,  which  he  fol- 
lowed more  or  less  during  his  early  manhood.  In 
1833  he  married  Lydia  Ann  Ward  Avery,  who  was 
born  in  Otsego  County,  N.  Y.,  in  1817,  and  whose 
parents,  John  (1774-1844)  and  Eleanor  Griffith 
(1772-1840)  Avery,  settled  in  Ararat  from  Otsego 
County  in  1826,  and  whose  sketch  may  be  found  in 
this  volume.  Mrs.  Doyle  survives  her  husband,  and 
is  a woman  of  known  benevolence  in  the  community, 
possessing  those  characteristics  of  her  sex  which 
make  her  a useful  member  of  society  and  a benefit  to 
all  with  whom  she  may  be  associated.  Their  children 
are  Lucetta  M.,  born  in  1836,  was  a teacher  for  sev- 
eral terms,  and  married,  in  1856,  Leonard  0.  Baldwin, 
a farmer  of  Ararat,  whose  parents  settled  in  the  town- 
ship from  Connecticut  in  1816 ; and  Emeline  D. 
(1841-65),  also  a teacher,  became  the  wife  of  Alfred 
W.  Larrabee  in  1862,  buc  only  survived  her  marriage 
three  years.  Two  years  after  his  marriage  Mr.  Doyle 
bought  fifty  acres  of  land,  partly  improved,  the  present 
residenee  of  his  widow,  upon  which  he  erected,  five 
years  afterwards,  in  1840,  the  present  house.  Here 
he  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life,  an  industrious, 
kind-hearted  and  honest  man.  Mrs.  Doyle  added  to 
this  homestead  some  sixty  acres,  the  whole  of  which 
she  conducts  in  general  farming. 

Timothy  I.  Simonds  came  originally  from  Con- 
neeticut  to  Wayne  County,  and  from  there  he  re- 
moved to  Ararat  and  settled,  in  1817-18,  in  what  was 
then  known  as  the  Eleven-Mile  Woods, avast  wilder- 
ness that  lay  along  the  base  of  the  Ararat  or  Moosic 
Mountains.  There  was  a track  through  from  the 
Newburg  turnpike  to  Starrucca.  He  went  into  the 
wilderness  three  and  one-half  miles  from  any  neighbor, 
and  was  the  pioneer  settler  of  East  Ararat.  The  settle- 
ment is  sometimes  called  Simonds’  Settlement,  in  his 
honor.  He  found  about  one  acre  chopped  and  a log 
cabin  partly  rolled  up.  He  was  a hunter,  and  deer, 
bears  and  wolves  were  plenty  then.  He  married  So- 
lona  Toby,  cleared  up  a farm,  and  died  eventually  in 
Mount  Pleasant.  Of  his  family  of  fourteen  ehildren, 
three  girls  and  three  boys  arrived  at  the  age  of  matu- 
rity. Lorenzo  D.,  who  resides  on  the  homestead,  is 


the  only  one  that  remained  in  the  township.  Zaccheus 
Toby,  a brother-in-law  of  the  elder  Simonds,  came  the 
year  following,  and  took  up  the  farm  adjoining.  The 
next  settler  in  this  immediate  neighborhood  was 
Daniel  Ogden,  who  came  a few  years  later  and 
cleared  the  farm  where  John  May  resides.  Of  his 
family,  Elisha,  Truman  and  Lemuel  settled  in  the 
vicinity. 

Horace  Hathaway  came  from  Otsego  County,  N.  Y., 
about  1836,  and  bought  a small  improvement,  in- 
eluding a log  house,  in  East  Ararat.  He  made  further 
improvements  and  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life 
there.  His  wife,  Thankful  Brooks,  was  of  a good 
family.  Their  family  consisted  of  eight  children, — 
Caroline,  wife  of  Abraham  Tmex,  resided  in  Herrick 
township;  Walter  F.  married  Harriet  N.  Hall  and 
remained  on  the  homestead;  Heman  P.  is  a resident 
of  Carbondale;  Maria,  wife  of  Apollo  blocum;  Rosa- 
lia, wife  of  Nelson  M.  Benedict,  of  Starrucca ; William 
E.  resides  in  Binghamton  (his  son,  H H.  Hathaway, 
is  an  agent  on  the  road) ; Josiah;  Mary,  wife  of  David 
Anderson,  of  Carbondale.  Horace  Hathaway  was  a 
Presbyterian  when  he  came  here ; but  there  being  no 
church  of  his  choice,  he  joined  the  Methodist  Church, 
and  his  family  all  became  members  of  the  same 
church.  Heman  P.  is  a local  preacher  and  a strong 
advocate  of  prohibition.  He  was  the  candidate  of 
that  party  for  State  Senator  at  one  time.  Charles 
Hathaway,  a grandson  of  Horace,  has  the  homestead. 
Rev.  Levi  Silvius,  a local  preacher,  resides  in  this 
neighborhood. 

James  Dunn  came  from  Edinburgh  to  New  York  in 
1790.  The  barracks  that  had  been  occupied  by  the 
British  troops  were  still  standing.  Mr.  Dunn  was  a 
graduate  of  St.  Andrew’s  College,  and  he  went  into  a 
store  as  a clerk.  He  removed  from  the  city  to  Coxey, 
and  engaged  in  store-keeping.  Here  he  became  ac- 
quainted with  Maria  Van  Syke,  a Dutch  girl,  whom 
he  married.  He  bought  cord-wood,  which  was  then 
used  for  fuel  in  the  city,  and  it  fell  in  price  and  ruined 
his  business.  He  moved  to  Delaware  County,  and 
from  there  to  what  is  now  Ararat,  in  1820.  He  lo- 
cated in  the  wilderness,  by  Dunn  Pond.  Here,  remote 
from  neighbors,  without  friends  or  money,  he  and  his 
family  of  eight  stalwart  sons  and  three  daughters  ap- 
plied to  the  forest  for  support,  sometimes  being  for 
thirty  days  without  bread.  They  bore  upon  their 
shoulders  to  the  nearest  settlements  venison,  fish, 
furs,  window-sash  made  from  rived  pine  bolts,  and 
exchanged  them  for  family  necessaries.  Mr.  Dunn 
was  an  intelligent  man  and  a Mason  of  high  degree. 
He  could  wear  the  green  mantle.  His  eight  sons 
averaged  one  hundred  and  eighty -five  and  a half 
pounds  apiece,  and  Peter  Dunn  thinks  that  they 
could  lift  as  big  a rock  as  any  family  in  the  State. 
They  worked  together  for  many  years,  and  have  been 
seen  in  the  field,  all  mowing,  while  their  father  was 
spreading  the  grass.  Peter  and  William  made  the 
first  purchase  of  three  hundred  and  twenty  acres,  and 


ARARAT. 


831 


they  added  by  subsequent  purchases  one  hundred  and 
fifteen  acres  more.  They  split  slabs  to  cover  their 
first  log  cabin,  which  was  at  the  head  of  the  pond 
where  A.  N.  Tucker  now  lives.  They  were  mighty 
hunters,  and  James  and  Andrew  averaged  fifty  deer 
each  per  year  for  a number  of  years.  Marthers,  or 
Matthews,  the  murderer  of  Colonel  Brooks,  fled  from 
Wayne  County,  the  scene  of  the  murder,  in  June,  1828, 
and  in  his  flight  he  reached  a dense  forest.  Aided  by 
the  tinkling  of  a cow-bell,  he  found  his  way  to  the 
cabin  of  Mr.  Dunn.  He  came  there  with  his  hat  off, 
and  the  cannie  old  Scotchman  suspected  him.  About 


had  a family,  and  died  in  the  township  ; Hannah 
lived  in  New  York  ; James  Dunn,  Jr.,  died  in  Kan- 
sas; Andrew  moved  to  Minnesota;  Joseph  resides  on 
a farm  in  Ararat;  Peter  and  Jane  were  twins;  Peter 
is  living  in  the  township,  near  the  lake  which  bears 
the  family  name;  William  is  dead;  and  Polly  is  the 
wife  of  James  Tinker,  of  Clifford.  Peter  is  about 
seventy,  and  relates  many  personal  adventures  as  a 
hunter.  He  was  attacked  by  a wounded  buck  that  he 
seized  by  the  butt  of  his  antlers  and  bore  his  head  to 
the  ground,  whence  it  never  rose.  He  pursued  a 
panther  around  a clump  of  laurel  and  rods  into  the 


midnight  Mr.  Dunn  heard  his  dog  barking  furiously, 
and  raising  the  window,  he  saw  two  horsemen,  John 
Lyon  and  Alexander  Burns,  who  inquired  if  a man 
had  been  seen  or  was  there.  “ Hist ! ” said  Dunn  ; 
“don’t  talk  so  loud ; he  is  here.”  And  he  was  there, 
in  a trap ; for  those  strong  Dunn  boys  were  only  too 
ready  to  seize  the  unlucky  Matthews  and  help  to  bind 
him  ; and  John,  one  of  the  sons,  helped  to  escort  him 
into  Wayne  County,  where  he  confessed  his  crime,  was 
tried  and  executed  at  Bethany.  Mr.  Dunn  and  his 
wife  died  at  the  advanced  age  of  eighty-seven.  Their 
children  were  Robert,  who  moved  to  Wisconsin;  Bal- 
tus,  who  raised  a family  and  died  here;  John  also 


thicket,  with  nothing  but  a beech  club,  but  the  pan- 
ther would  not  stand  his  ground. 

Edward  Bloxham  came  from  Bloxham,  Oxford- 
shire, England,  about  1830,  and  first  located  in  Scott 
township,  Wayne  County,  Pa.  He  soon  after  came  to 
Ararat  township,  and  took  up  one  hundred  acres  of 
land  in  the  wilderness,  where  Titus  Shafer  now  lives 
His  brother  Joseph  came  shortly  afterwards  and  took 
one-half  of  the  lot.  They  rolled  up  log  cabins,  and 
cleared  up  farms.  Edward  eventually  sold  his  part  to 
his  brother  Joseph,  and  purchased  a small  improve- 
ment where  Alanson  Hobbs  resides,  and  cleared  up 
that  place.  He  began  to  raise  potatoes  for  the  Car- 


832 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


bondale  market,  and  found  a ready  sale  for  all  that  he 
could  produce,  as  the  potato  rot  which  was  destroying 
the  crop  elsewhere  did  not  reach  him  until  five  years 
after  it  had  destroyed  the  crop  in  other  localities. 
Being  thus  favored  by  a kind  Providence,  he  succeed- 
ed in  paying  for  his  land.  He  also  made  from  one 
thousand  to  sixteen  hundred  pounds  of  maple  sugar, 
which  he  could  readily  exchange  with  merchants  for 
such  things  as  he  needed.  This  was  the  beginning  of 
financial  prosperity  for  Mr.  Bloxham  and  his  family. 
Soon  after  the  war  he  sold  out  to  Alanson  Hobbs  and 
removed  to  Jackson,  where  he  now  resides,  aged 
eighty-one.  He  was  horn  in  1806,  and  his  first  wife, 
Elizabeth  Gillett,  was  also  a native  of  England,  born 
in  1807,  and  was  the  mother  of  his  eight  children. 
His  second  wife,  now  living,  was  Margaret  Foster. 
The  children  are  Edwin  C.,  a blacksmith,  resident  of 
Boonton,  N.  J. ; Joseph  B.,  1831 ; William  G.,  who 
lived  on  a farm  adjoining  the  homestead,  until  he  died, 
in  1882,  aged  forty-nine;  James  H.,  a farmer,  who 
lives  about  one-half  mile  from  the  Presbyterian 
Church,  of  which  he  is  an  elder  (he  is  an 
exemplary  and  influential  man  in  the  community, 
and  has  reared  his  family  under  the  influences  of  a 
Christian  home ; he  has  the  characteristics  of  the 
Bloxham  family,  and  is  an  industrious  and  highly 
respected  man)  ; Elizabeth  Ann  (1838-87)  was  the 
wife  of  J.  Nelson  Sartell ; Althea,  wife  of  Omer 
Olin,  a farmer  in  Jackson  ; Arthur  E.  was  killed  at 
the  first  battle  of  Bull  Run  ; Elix  H.  resides  on  a farm 
near  J.  C.  Bushnell’s.  The  family  are  Presbyterians. 

Joseph  B.  Bloxham  obtained  his  education  in 
the  common  schools  of  Ararat,  which  he  attended 
whenever  he  could  be  spared  from  work,  having  to 
travel  two  miles  over  the  snow-drifts  of  Ararat  to 
reach  the  school-house  ofttimes.  He  worked  for  his 
father  until  past  twenty,  when  he  went  to  the  Del- 
aware River,  in  Wayne  County,  and  worked  at  raft- 
ing for  Deacon  Courtrlght  about  one  year,  when  he 
returned  to  Ararat  and  worked  for  Hull,  Guernsey  & 
Co.,  at  Mud  Pond  saw-mill,  one  year.  He  then  went 
rafting,  and  returned  to  Jackson,  and  hired  to  L. 
Bryant,  from  whence  he  was  drawn  home  sick  with 
rheumatism,  from  which  he  did  not  recover  in  six 
months.  He  next  bought  one  hundred  and  thirty 
acres  of  wild  land  of  Henry  Drinker,  and  proceeded 
to  clear  up  a farm.  When  twenty-seven  years  of  age 
he  married  Mercy  Beers  (1834-78).  Their  children 
are  Ellis  O.,  Earnest  A.,  Jennie  M.  (wife  of  V.  O. 
Stearns),  Melvina  (wife  of  Luliel  Carpenter),  Grant 
W.,  Burtrarn  J.,  French  L.,  Byron  W.,  Ida,  Irena. 
After  the  death  of  his  first  wife  he  married  Deatte, 
daughter  of  Henry  Pope,  and  they  have  one  child — 
Delia.  By  subsequent  additions  and  exchanges  Mr. 
Bloxham  now  has  a farm  of  something  over  two  hun- 
dred acres.  He  is  a stock-raiser  and  dealer,  keeping 
generally  about  forty  head  of  cattle.  Rolla  Carpen- 
ter and  he  started  a store  when  the  railroad  was  being 
built,  and  run  it  for  two  years,  occupying  part  of 


Carpenter’s  house,  when  he  purchased  Carpenter’s 
interest  and  moved  the  goods  into  a store  which  J.  A. 
Payne  had  built.  After  two  years’  partnership  with 
Mr.  Payne  he  sold  out  to  him.  Mr.  Bloxham  is  a 
hard-working  and  prudent  man — qualities  which  have 
secured  him  a competency.  He  has  contributed  com- 
mensurate with  his  means  to  church  interests  and 
charities,  and,  with  his  family,  worships  with  the 
Presbyterian  Church  of  Ararat. 

The  following  is  a list  of  the  taxables  in  Ararat 
township  in  1855 : 

David  Avery,  Abner  V.  Avery,  Cliauncy  Avery,  Samuel  Avery^ 
Daniel  Avery.  Henry  Abel,  William  Archer,  John  Beaumont,  Benjamin 
Boothroyd,  Erastus  Ball,  James  C.  Bushnell,  Joseph  Bloxham,  Edward 
Bloxham,  Jos.  B.  Bloxham,  Thomas  Burman,  Charles  Belcher,  William 
Belcher,  Ziba  Bowell,  Thomas  Bovvell,  Abel  P.  Borden,  M.  L.  Bennett, 
Maria  Baker,  Philip  T.  Baldwin,  Silas  S.  Baldwin,  Shubael  A.  Baldwin,. 
Edwin  L.  Baldwin,  Silas  N.  Brooks,  Leonard  A.  Bushnell,  Benajah 
Bushnell,  Albert  Bushnell,  Ebenezer  Bushnell,  Horace  Barnes,  Thomas 
Bosket,  Obadiah  L.  Carpenter,  Wm.  Carpenter,  Rolla  Carpenter,  Thos. 
L.  Doyle,  Wm.  0.  Doyle,  Justin  L.  Doyle,  Jos.  Dunn,  James  Dunn, 
Andrew  Dunn,  Peter  Dunn,  William  Dunn,  Guernsey,  Hall  & Co.  (saw- 
mill), Amasa  Herrick,  Walter  T.  Hathaway,  Horace  Hathaway,  William 
Hathaway,  Robert  Kay,  Lewis  Low,  Charles  W.  Latham,  Taber  Lewis,. 
Timothy  New'ton,  Truman  Ogden,  Elisha  Ogden,  Edward  Pool,  Otis 
Slocum,  Edson  Stone,  Norman  Stone,  AVilliam  Sabin,  N.  P.  Sartell, 
Lemuel  L.  Snow,  Chester  Scarborough,  Franklin  B.  Slocum,  Apollo 
Slocum,  Wilson  Stone,  Sabin  Tucker,  Wm.  Tooly,  John  Tooly,  Geo.  N. 
Todd  (grist  and  shingle-mill),  Jabez  Tyler,  W^illiston  K.  Tyler,  E.  D. 
Tyler,  Julius  Tyler,  Lucy  Thayer,  Erastus  Washburn,  Edward  Warner, 
Francis  Warner,  Lyman  Washburn,  Norman  W’ashburn,  Joseph  Wash- 
bum  (2d),  Frederick  A.  W'ashburn,  Sherman  Williams,  Gilbert  Williams, 
Shubael  Williams,  Oliver  Williams,  Samuel  Williams,  Sherman  Wil- 
liams, Palmer  Walker,  Edmond  L.  Worth,  Cyrel  Worth,  Wareham  B. 
Walker,  Jonas  \\''alker,  D.  S.  Walker,  Parley  Walker,  Alonzo  Walker, 
Edmund  Worth,  Nathaniel  West,  Ebenezer  Witter,  Nathaniel  J.  West, 
Benjamin  Wheeler,  P.  Spencer. 

Peter  Carlin  moved  from  New  Jersey  to  the  Lake 
country.  In  his  travels,  about  1810,  he  stopped  at 
Jonas  Avery’s  and  worked  on  the  Newburg  turnpike. 
Here  he  formed  the  acquaintance  of  Ruth  Fuller, 
daughter  of  Consider  Fuller,  who  settled  in  Brooklyn 
in  1804.  He  went  into  Jackson  with  James  Cargill. 
Sr.,  about  1814,  and  was  one  of  the  first  settlers  there. 
He  made  no  less  than  seven  commencements  in  dif- 
ferent townships,  and  rolled  up  as  many  log  cabins, 
until  he  finally  built  a cabin  over  the  hill  from 
Latham’s,  in  Ararat,  and  Drinker  said  he  should 
never  be  disturbed  on  that  land,  as  he  had  done  more 
than  any  other  man  to  bring  settlers  into  the  place. 
He  was  nearly  eighty-eight  and  his  wife  was  nearly 
ninety-seven  when  they  died.  He  was  a good  speci- 
men of  the  old-time  squatter.  Of  their  children, 
Susan  was  the  wife  of  E.  L.  Baldwin  ; Sally,  wife  of 
C.  W.  Latham,  who  settled  where  he  now  resides  in 
1849,  and  made  most  of  the  imjjrovements  on  that 
farm ; Cornelius  lives  near  Binghamton ; Lucinda 
married  Parley  Walker,  and  raised  a family  (after 
his  death  she  married  William  Witter) ; Minerva, 
wife  of  Rolla  Carpenter ; Roxanna,  wife  of  Daniel 
Avery. 

Shubael  A.  Baldwin  came  from  Windham  County, 
Conn.,  in  June,  1816,  and  finally  settled  southwest  of 
Bushnell’s,  and  cleared  up  a good  farm.  They  both 
died  in  1871,  aged  seventy-nine.  Their  children 


ARAKAT. 


833 


were  Miranda,  wife  of  Enos  Dow ; Shubael  R.  and 
Alfred,  residents  of  Homer,  N.  Y. ; Charles  W.,  dead; 
Harriet,  wife  of  Apollos  Turner;  Leonard  O.,  who 
resides  on  the  homestead  ; and  Lyman  E.,  who  died 
in  Binghamton.  Philip  T.,  Silas  S.  and  Edwin  L. 
were  brothers  of  Shubael  A.,  and  came  about  1816. 
They  were  unmarried,  and  resided  together  a humher 
of  years,  their  sister,  Clara,  keeping  house  for  them, 
where  the  Widow  E.  L.  Baldwin  lives.  Their  farm 
was  the  last  clearing  on  that  road  for  several  years. 
Clara  became  the  wife  of  Thomas  Doyle.  Philip  T. 
was  a pensioner  of  1812.  He  was  an  industrious 
man,  made  several  beginnings,  and  died  at  an  ad- 
vanced age  unmarried. 

Oliver  Harper. — Mrs.  Mary  Tyler  says : “ The 
spring  after  I came  to  Ararat  to  live  I was  at  Harford 
on  a visit.  Oliver  Harper  called  at  our  house  and 
asked  Mother  Tyler  if  she  would  get  him  a dinner. 
He  asked  for  boiled  eggs,  and  while  she  was  getting 
them  ready  he  leaned  against  her  bed  and  fell  into  a 
sound  sleep,  so  she  could  hardly  wake  him  to  eat  his 
dinner.  He  told  Mrs.  Tyler  that  on  going  down  the 
river  he  left  his  wife  at  Windsor  with  a young  hahe, 
and  that  he  was  anxious  about  her,  that  he  had 
already  traveled  forty  miles  that  day,  and  was  going 
home  that  night,  twenty  miles  farther.  He  stopped 
next  at  Hezekiah  Bushnell’s,  and  got  some  tallow  to 
rub  on  his  chafed  limhs.  He  was  pursuing  his  jour- 
ney towards  home,  and  was  waylaid  and  shot  hy 
Jason  Treadwell  on  the  Harmony  road,  not  far  from 
where  the  Catholic  burying-g round  is  in  Susque- 
hanna. Mr.  Bacon,  in  the  jiresence  of  Hezekiah 
Bushnell  and  others,  dipped  his  finger  in  the  victim’s 
blood  and  wrote  ‘ 0.  H.’  on  a stone,  and  set  it  up  on 
the  bank,  just  outside  of  the  road,  at  the  same  time 
remarking  to  his  companions  that  human  blood  will 
remain  a long  time  on  stone.  J.  C.  Bushnell  remem- 
bers that  stone,  and  the  inscription  was  plainly  to  be 
seen  for  twenty-five  years.” 

Industries. — Hunting,  trapping,  sugar-making 
and  clearing  land  were  the  first  industries  of  the  peo- 
ple. • Where  land  was  cleared  and  all  the  timber 
burned  upon  it,  the  ashes  enriched  the  soil,  when 
not  made  an  article  of  merchandise.  Sometimes  the 
settler  burned  up  too  much;  in  this  connection  the 
experience  of  Burnham,  a hrother-in-lavv  of  John 
Snow,  will  illustrate  an  extra  burn.  He  chopped  a 
fallow  of  eight  or  ten  acres  in  the  midst  of  a dense 
forest.  After  it  was  dried  sufficiently,  he  applied  the 
torch  one  day,  but  there  was  no  breeze  stirring,  and 
the  fire  would  not  burn,  and  he  left  it.  During  the 
night  a whirlwind  arose  in  that  little  circular  chop- 
ping and  fanned  the  latent  spark  to  life,  and  contin- 
ued in  intensity  until  the  flames  shot  high  above  the 
tree-tops,  killing  the  standing  timber  for  rods  around, 
and  crackling  and  roaring  more  terribly  than  thunder, 
so  as  to  arouse  the  distant  neighbors.  Next  day  the 
scene  of  the  fire  was  visited  by  many.  The  land  was 
nearly  cleared,  the  brush  and  much  of  the  larger 
54 


timber  was  burned  up.  The  fire  had  licked  up  the 
rich  loam  of  decayed  vegetable  matter,  and  left  but  a 
thin  subsoil,  in  which  the  owner  could  cast  his  seed 
in  fruitless  hope.  The  ashes  were  driven  into  circu- 
lar drifts,  so  that  they  could  be  shoveled  up  by  the 
cart-load  and  carried  to  the  ashery,  but  all  this 
ruined  the  land.  Burnham  left  in  disgust  after  wait- 
ing in  vain  for  the  first  crop. 

Asheries  and  Charcoal. — Making  potash  or  pearl- 
ash  and  burning  charcoal  was  a common  business 
with  the  early  settlers.  From  his  highland  home 
Mr.  Bushnell  has  seen  many  coal-pits  burning  at  the 
same  time.  The  coal-pit  was  formed  in  some  natural 
depression,  or  by  excavation,  into  which  a large  num- 
ber of  hard-wood  logs  were  closely  packed,  the  inter- 
vening spaces  being  filled  with  smaller  timber.  This 
was  covered  with  straw  and  earth,  so  that  there  could 
be  no  draft  excepting  at  the  flues  prepared  at  the 
sides  of  the  pit.  These  pits  were  watched  night  and 
day  for  ten  or  twenty  days  to  prevent  any  outbreak 
of  the  flames.  When  it  became  evident  that  the 
wood  was  charred,  the  fire  was  extinguished  by  clos- 
ing the  flues.  These  pits  would  hold  from  three 
hundred  to  eight  hundred  bushels  of  charcoal,  worth 
from  three  to  six  cents  per  bushel,  and  was  used  by 
blacksmiths  and  tinsmiths.  There  is  a relic  of  the 
ashery  business  in  the  pasture  of  George  Knight, 
near  Joseph  Dunn’s.  Here  John  Doyle  and  sons 
made  potash  from  1820  to  1825.  They  felled  large 
maples  and  burned  them  for  the  ashes,  which  were 
worth  from  three  to  six  cents  per  bushel.  The  pro- 
cess of  manufacturing  was  to  leech  the  ashes  and 
evaporate  the  alkali  in  large,  shallow  iron  kettles  to 
dryness,  producing  a grayish  mass  containing  about 
forty  per  cent,  of  carbonaceous  matter.  A process  of 
refining  was  added  to  some  of  the  larger  asheries, 
whereby  the  product  was  converted  into  pearlash, 
containing  about  fifty  per  cent,  of  pure  potassa. 

Grist  and  Saw-AIills. — Albert  Bushnell,  having 
bought  Ihe  David  Hine  farm  in  1851,  in  company 
with  Norman  Todd,  built  a grist-mill  below  the 
bridge,  near  where  the  East  and  West  road  crossed 
the  Wilkes-Barre  turnpike.  The  mill  did  a good 
business  in  grinding  buckwheat,  flour,  feed  and  meal. 
Connected  with  it  was  a shingle-machine  for  making 
sawed  shingle.  After  the  death  of  Mr.  Todd,  W.  W. 
Stearns  bought  the  property,  and,  after  running  the 
mill  a number  of  years,  sold  the  building,  and  it  was 
converted  into  a dwelling,  now  occupied  by  the  San- 
ders sisters.  About  1844  David  Avery  built  a saw- 
mill where  the  stone-quarry  of  P and  H 

now  is,  which  was  very  convenient  for  the  settlement 
for  a period  of  about  twenty-five  years,  until  the 
neighboring  forests  were  nearly  exhausted.  The 
first  saw-mill  was  built  on  the  same  stream,  below 
the  residence  of  Mr.  Avery,  as  early  as  1812-13,  but  it 
proved  a failure.  Hall  and  Guernsey  secured  a large 
tract  of  land  and  built  a saw-mill  and  erected  other 
machinery  at  the  outlet  of  Mud  Pond,  but  the  dis- 


834 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


tance  from  market  was  too  great  to  make  it  a paying 
business.  Levi  and  Gardner  Ballard  also  were  there. 
Finally  the  properly  fell  into  the  hands  of  E.  M. 
Atwater,  of  Mount  Pleasant,  who  started  a bedstead 
factory.  It  is  now  owned  by  M.  B.  Wright  & Co., 
who  have  an  acid  factory  there,  which  is  consuming 
the  forest  at  a rapid  rate.  There  are  two  of  these 
acid  factories  in  the  township.  There  has  been  four 
steam  saw-mills  in  the  township — two  only  remain. 
Fifteen  years  ago  there  was  one  thousand  acres  of 
beautiful  timber  in  the  township — now  there  is  prob- 
ably not  more  than  fifty  acres  in  a compact  body 
within  the  same  limits.  First  the  tanneries  took 
• the  bark,  then  the  steam  mills  took  the  hemlock 
lumber.  The  Jefferson  Railroad  made  a market  for 
mine-rails,  ties  and  props,  and  the  Lackawanna  and 
Jefferson  Chemical  Works  are  consuming  all  that 
remains  of  the  ma-jestic  forest  that  once  crowned  the 
mountains. 

Maple-Sugar  making  was  prominent  among  the 
industries  of  the  first  settlers  of  Ararat,  sugar  being 
a large  part  of  the  woodsman’s  circulating  medium  ; 
with  it  he  bought  grain,  groceries  and  dry-goods.  It 
was  no  uncommon  thing  for  one  man  to  make  a ton 
of  sugar  in  one  season.  Eight  cents  per  pound  was 
an  average  price,  or  ten  pounds  of  sugar  for  a bushel 
of  wheat,  from  five  to  six  pounds  for  a bushel  of  corn; 
but  little  cash  could  be  obtained,  however.  They 
formerly  cut  a great  gash  in  the  tree,  and  drove  in  a 
wooden  spout,  but  great  improvements  have  been 
added  of  late  years.  An  amusing  story  is  told  of  an 
Irishman  who  came  into  the  neighboring  town  of 
Herrick,  and  tapped  all  the  trees  in  the  forest  indis- 
criminately, hemlock,  beech  and  birch,  as  well  as 
maple.  He  evidently  intended  to  make  sugar  in 
large  quantities. 

Taverns. — About  1821-22  David  Spoor  kept  tavern 
in  Deacon  John  Tyler’s  old  house.  After  the  Jeffer- 
son Railroad  was  built  John  Beaumont  built  the 
shanty  known  as  the  “ Dew-drop,”  and  obtained  a 
license  and  kept  an  eating-house  for  a few  years. 
Jonas  Walker  held  a license  one  year  at  the  Railroad 
Summit.  The  Josiah  Barton  house  has  been  licensed 
three  years,  with  three  different  proprietors. 

Stores. — G.  O.  Baldwin  and  wife,  from  Delaware 
County,  N.  Y.,  opened  a store  and  millinery-shop,  in 
connection  with  the  post-office,  in  the  house  built  by 
Albert  Bushnell,  near  the  Presbyterian  Church,  in 
1856.  After  he  removed,  C.  C.  Worth  and  Rolla  Car- 
penter started  a general  merchandise  store,  where  the 
Sanders  sisters  now  reside,  in  1865,  when  R.  Carpen- 
ter was  postmaster.  The  goods  were  subsequently 
removed  from  Carpenter’s  to  Worth’s,  where  C.  E. 
Stone  now  resides.  He  conducted  the  business  alone 
until  the  steam-mill  of  Worth  & Foster  was  burned 
and  he  made  an  assignment.  James  E.  Payne  moved 
with  his  parents  into  Ararat  in  1849,  and  in  1870  he 
commenced  storekeeping  where  he  now  is.  C.  C. 
Walker  started  a store  at  Burnwood  in  1881 ; about 


1885  he  sold  to  Chas.  Ross,  and  N.  A.  Walker  and 
Manly  Wallace  commenced  at  the  Summit  in  1885. 

Burial-Places. — That  no  public  cemetery  existed  in 
Ararat  until  1856  may  seem  discreditable  to  the  early 
settler  ; but  several  substantial  reasons  exist  for  this 
apparent  neglect.  The  first  ground  selected  by  John 
Tyler  w'as  the  hill  south  of  his  house  and  east  of  the 
road ; here  he  purposed  having  a church  lot,  school 
and  cemetery.  Here  Hezekiah  Bushnell’s  young 
daughter  was  buried  only  ten  days  after  the  arrival  of 
the  family  in  the  settlement.  Here  were  also  buried 
the  first  pair  that  were  domesticated  in  Ararat,  Tru- 
man Clinton  and  wife;  also  Benj.  West,  Samuel 
Barnes  and  others.  These  graves  are  in  the  angle 
formed  by  the  Summit  and  Harmony  roads,  close  in 
the  corner  and  under  the  wall  of  John  Graham’s  lot. 
The  land  has  been  plowed  over  and  the  hand  of  strangers 
has  disturbed  the  sacred  mounds.  For  sanitary  reasons 
the  Tyler  family  caused  the  ground  to  be  abandoned. 
Very  few  of  the  settlers  had  a deed  for  their  land,  and 
could  not  give  title  for  a burial-ground.  But  death 
would  not  wait  for  a public  cemetery,  and  where 
death  came  there  must  be  a grave;  hence  several 
established  family  grounds,  and  nearly  every  old 
farm  has  its  graves.  The  Tylers  had  their  interest 
at  Harford.  W.  K.  Tyler  was  the  first  and  only  one 
of  the  name  buried  at  Ararat.  The  present  cemetery 
was  secured  by  deed  from  C.  C.  Worth  about  1850,  al- 
though it  had  been  occupied  by  individual  permission 
long  before  that  time. 

The  East  Ararat  Cemetery  was  taken  from  Warren 
and  Wm.  Hathaway’s  farm,  and  consists  of  about  one- 
third  of  an  acre,  walled  in.  Wm.  Hathaway’s  two 
children  were  the  first  buried  there.  Among  those 
buried  there  are  John  Dunn,  died  1878,  aged  seventy- 
six  ; Lyman  Tyler,  1867,  aged  seventy-nine;  Walter 
F.  Hathaway,  1866,  aged  forty-seven ; Lorenzo  Dow, 
1878,  aged  sixty-two;  Timothy  Newton,  1864,  aged 
seventy-five;  Eloise  Borden,  1883,  aged  eighty-eight; 
James  Dunn,  born  in  Edinburgh,  Scotland,  1770,  died 
1857,  aged  eighty-seven  ; Maria,  his  wife,  1865,  aged 
nearly  eighty-seven  ; Archibald  Lament,  1869,  aged 
seventy-one ; George  Foster,  1869,  aged  seventy- 
seven  ; Horace  Hathaway,  1858,  aged  seventy ; 
Thankful,  his  wife,  1869,  aged  seventy-five. 

Ararat  Congregational  Presbyterian 
Church. — The  Ararat  Congregational  Church  was 
organized  April  22,  1813,  by  Rev.  Ebenezer  Kings- 
bury and  Rev.  Samuel  Sergeant,  of  the  “ Connecticut 
Home  Mission  Society,”  and  was  composed  of  twelve 
members : Deacon  John  Tyler  and  Mercy  his  wife, 

Hezekiah  Bushnell  and  wife  Lucy,  Truman  Clinton 
and  wife  Rhoda,  Shubael  Williams  and  wife  Ruth, 
Jabez  Tyler  and  wife  Harriet,  William  West  and 
Lucinda  Carpenter.  John  Tyler  was  deacon  and  clerk 
until  his  death,  in  1822.  Ebenezer  Witter  was  then 
elected  deacon,  and  Hezekiah  Bushnell  clerk.  Rev. 
Ebenezer  Kingsbury  was  chosen  Moderator  and  served 
until  1839,  when  on  account  of  the  infirmities  of  age 


ARAKAT. 


835 


he  asked  to  be  excused.  There  was  missionary  preach- 
ing at  long  intervals.  Reading  services  were  held 
morning  and  evening  when  not  otherwise  provided 
for.  The  clerk  acted  as  leader  in  the  absence  of  the 
deacon,  and  in  the  absence  of  both  the  oldest  member 
present.  The  first  resident  pastor  was  Rev.  Moses 
Thacher  in  1843.  He  moved  his  family  to  Ararat, 
and  remained  a year  or  more.  In  1839,  Jabez  Tyler 
was  elected  deacon.  From  1839  until  1843  the  church 
had  uo  stated  supply.  In  1843,  Rev.  Eli  Hyde  resided 
at  Gibson,  supplying  Ararat  half  of  the  time  for  two 
years.  The  first  settled  pastor  was  Rev.  George  N. 
Todd,  who  was  installed  November  2,  1847.  During 
his  pastorate  of  seven  years  a number  were  added  to 
the  church.  A parsonage  costing  eight  hundred  dollars 
was  erected  upon  five  acres  of  land  donated  by  Deacon 
Jabez  Tyler.  The  present  church  edifice  was  built  at 
a cost  of  about  twelve  hundred  dollars,  including 
fixtures,  and  dedicated  February  6, 1850.  The  Society 
was  chartered  “ Ararat  Congregational  Society.” 
April  20, 1849.  After  three  years  of  quiet  prosperity, 
another  personage  appeared.  His  first  work  was  to 
disturb  the  pastor,  who  resigned  March  4,  1853.  Dea- 
cons Witter  and  Tyler  both  resigned  their  offices  and 
Albert  Bushnell,  who  had  been  clerk  since  1843,  re- 
signed the  clerkship,  leaving  the  distracted  little 
church  without  pastor  or  officers.  Deacons  Witter 
and  Tyler  being  reassured  of  the  confidence  of  the 
church,  returned  to  their  posts,  where  they  remained 
as  long  as  they  lived.  Norman  Todd  was  elected 
clerk  but  died  before  making  any  record.  Amasa 
Herrick  then  served  the  church  about  four  years. 
From  February  1835,  until  April,  1858,  Rev.  O.  W. 
Norton  resided  at  the  parsonage,  supplying  Gibson 
and  Ararat  alternately.  April  15,  1858,  Rev.  Lyman 
Richardson  was  employed  and  supplied  the  pulpit 
during  the  summer  months.  From  August  26,  1860, 
Rev.  J.  B.  Wilson  occupied  the  parsonage,  supplying 
the  pulpit  each  Sabbath  for  about  two  years.  Rev. 
Edward  Allen  served  most  of  the  time  from  1867  to 
1871.  In  1871  Rev.  John  E.  Beecher  spent  four 
months  with  the  church,  during  which  time  Rev.  C. 
M.  Howard  commenced  protracted  meetings,  resulting 
in  the  addition  of  sixteen  to  the  membership.  Rev. 
P.  B.  Van  Sykle  served  Gibson  and  Ararat  about 
two  years  from  March  1,  1872.  March  15,  1874,  Rev. 
J.  W.  Raynor  was  employed  to  preach  one  sermon 
each  Sabbath.  May  3,  1874,  the  members  agreed  to 
meet  the  first  day  of  June  following  to  consider  the 
subject  of  changing  from  the  Congregational  to  the 
Presbyterian  form  of  church  government,  which 
change  was  made  on  the  day  appointed.  April  15, 
1878,  the  charter  was  amended  by  the  Court  in  answer 
to  the  petition  of  several  members,  changing  the  name 
of  the  society  to  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  of 
Ararat.  The  Congregational  Society  existed  over 
sixty-one  years,  having  a total  membership  of  one 
hundred  and  fifty-four  persons  during  that  time. 
There  were  four  deacons,  viz  : John  Tyler,  Ebenezer 


Witter,  Jabez  Tyler,  John  Sumner  ; and  six  clerks, 
viz ; John  Tyler,  Hezekiah  Bushnell,  Albert  Bushnell, 
Norman  Todd,  Amasa  Herrick  and  James  C.  Bush- 
nell. When  the  church  changed  its  form  of  govern- 
ment the  rotary  .system  of  eldership  was  adopted,  and 
June  29,  1874,  J.  H.  Bloxham  and  N.  J.  West  were 
chosen  ruling  elders  for  three  years,  and  E.  D.  Tyler 
was  elected  deacon.  In  1877,  Eli  Bloxham  and  John 
Sumner  were  chosen  elders.  J.  H.  Bloxham  and  John 
Sumner  were  the  last  elected.  N.  J.  West  and  John 
Sumner  have  been  clerks  of  the  session.  The  church 
has  a membership  of  about  thirty-five.  This  church 
and  Union  Hill  Church  in  Gibson,  unite  in  support- 
ing a pastor,  who  resides  at  the  latter  place.  Rev. 
James  Raynor,  H.  J.  Crane,  Charles  Marvin,  D.  W. 
Marvin  and  William  H.  Ne.ss  have  supplied  the  pul- 
pit since  the  change.  In  1822  a Sunday  School  was 
organized  and  summer  sessions  have  been  continued 
ever  since.  Hezekiah  Bushnell  and  Jabez  Tyler  were 
among  the  first  Superintendents.  Jacob  Clark, 
Leonard  Bushnell,  Gilbert  Williams,  L.  O.  Baldwin, 
Albert  Bushnell,  and  James  C.  Bushnell,  W.  W. 
Stearns  and  V.  0.  Stearns,  have  been  Superintendents. 
John  Sumner  also  since  the  change.  The  Sunday- 
school  is  one  of  the  most  hopeful  fields  of  the  work. 
Mrs.  Mary  Tyler  joined  the  church  by  letter  August 
6,  1826,  and  is  the  oldest  member  now  living. 

Methodist  Church  in  Ararat. — The  East  Ararat 
class  was  formed  about  1830,  by  John  Doming. 
Timothy  Simonds  had  a double  log  house  made  of 
hewn  logs,  and  the  first  meetings  were  held  in  his 
house.  The  first  class  was  composed  of  Daniel  Og- 
den and  wife,  Timothy  Simonds  and  wife,  Simeon 
Tyler  and  wife,  Lyman  Tyler  and  wife  and  Lemuel 
Ogden.  Daniel  Ogden  was  the  first  class-leader. 
The  charter  was  granted  in  1871,  and  the  church  edi- 
fice was  erected  about  the  same  time.  East  Ararat 
was  formerly  with  Lanesboro’,  but  it  is  now  associated 
with  the  Herrick  Church. 

There  had  been  a Methodist  class  at  Ararat,  of 
which  Augustus  West  and  others  were  leaders,  but  it 
was  disbanded.  In  the  fall  of  1842  Susan  Baldwin 
invited  Rev.  William  Reddy  to  come  to  Ararat  and 
preach  to  them.  He  came,  and  preached  in  the 
school-house,  and  promised  to  send  a man  from  an- 
other circuit,  who  would  form  a class,  if  there  were 
six  persons  to  be  found  that  would  join  it.  Accord- 
ingly, Rev.  Mr.  Blackman  came,  and  formed  a class, 
consisting  of  Asher  Chamberlain  and  wife,  Peter  Car- 
lin, and  Ruth,  his  wife,  Susan  Baldwin  and  Roxanna 
Avery.  Thomas  Doyle  came  into  the  class  shortly 
afterwards.  Asher  Chamberlain  was  the  first  class- 
leader  for  a short  time,  followed  by  Thomas  Doyle. 
The  church  was  then  included  in  Lanesboro’  charge. 
Rev.  Peter  Bridgman  next  preached,  for  two  years. 
The  church  progressed  slowly  but  steadily  for  some 
time.  About  1850  a Sunday-school  was  started. 
The  church  edifice  was  dedicated  in  1873,  and  the  so- 
ciety is  now  connected  with  Thomson  charge.  Susan 


836 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


Baldwin  is  the  only  remaining  member  of  the  old 
class. 

Rev.  Nathaniel  Parker  Sartell,  local  preach- 
er in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  was  born  at 
Cornish,  N.  H.,  October  22,  1810,  and  died  at  Ara- 
rat, Penna.,  December  10, 1884.  He  was  left  mother- 
less when  an  infant,  and  was  adopted  by  Frederick 
Bingham,  whose  family  was  noted  for  their  earnest 
piety  and  kindness  of  heart. 

He  came  with  his  foster  parents  to  Thomson,  and 
settled  on  the  Belmont  turnpike,  in  1825,  where  the 


of  the  first  members  of  the  Methodist  Church  in 
Thomson.  He  married,  in  1836,  Margaret  Ball,  born 
in  1819,  a woman  well  fitted  for  his  bride  and  help- 
meet in  life’s  ■ work,  whose  many  virtues  and  Chris- 
tian excellence  are  indelibly  impressed  upon  the 
minds  of  her  children,  all  of  whom  are  members  of 
the  church.  Not  long  after  his  marriage  he  felt  that 
he  was  called  to  proclaim  the  glad  tidings  of  salva- 
tion to  his  fellow-men.  He  was  licensed  to  exhort, 
and  in  due  time  to  preach. 

Soon  after  receiving  his  license  to  preach,  he  trav- 


family  remained  until  1848,  when  they  traded  prop- 
erty and  removed  to  Ararat,  settling  near  the  north 
line  of  the  township.  Here  the  parents  died,  and 
Mr.  Sartell  improved  the  property  and  made  it  his 
homestead,  until  1881,  when,  leaving  the  property  in 
the  hands  of  his  son,  he  settled  near  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church,  where  he  spent  the  remainder  of 
his  life.  In  boyhood,  he  improved  every  opportunity 
offered  him  for  obtaining  an  education  ; afterward  at- 
tended the  Harford  Academy  two  terms,  then  con- 
ducted by  the  noted  educator.  Rev.  Lyman  Richard- 
son, and  for  many  terms  was  a teacher  in  the  vicinity 
of  his  home.  At  the  age  of  seventeen  he  had  been 
converted  while  attending  a camp-meeting  near 
Mount  Pleasant,  Wayne  County,  and  he  became  one 


eled  the  Lanesboro’  circuit,  then  an  extensive  one, 
as  an  assistant  to  Rev.  N.  S.  De  Witt.  He  was  or- 
dained deacon  at  the  second  session  of  the  Wyoming 
Conference,  in  1853.  For  nearly  fifty  years  he  was 
an  earnest  and  faithful  dispenser  of  the  word  of  life, 
stood  by  Methodism  and  labored  for  the  advance- 
ment of  the  church.  Until  about  1872  he  retained 
his  connection  with  the  church  at  Thomson,  when  he 
united  with  the  church  at  Ararat.  The  respect  for 
Mr.  Sartell,  and  the  confidence  in  him  as  a man  of 
God,  w^as  such  that  he  preached  more  funeral  ser- 
mons, and  married  more  couples,  than  any  other  min- 
ister in  this  section  of  the  State.  He  was  a man  of 
decided  views,  of  inflexible  integrity,  and  his  hon- 
esty was  proverbial.  He  was  pre-eminently  a man  of 


THOMSON. 


837 


prayer,  and  his  influence  in  religious  devotion,  in 
educational  work,  and  in  all  that  pertains  to  a moral 
and  Christian  life,  will  long  he  felt  by  those  who 
knew  him.  His  death  was  sudden,  and  only  one 
week  before  he  had  preached  the  funeral  sermon  of 
Mrs.  Calvin,  a woman  ninety-seven  years  old.  Their 
children  are, — John  Nelson,  born  in  1838,  married  in 
1867  ; Elizabeth  Bloxham  (1839-87),  and  is  a farmer 
in  the  northwestern  part  of  Ararat  (formerly  the  Lee 
Carpenter  farm);  Mary  Clarissa,  1843,  married  in 
1864;  James  E.  Payne,  Esqr.,  a merchant  and  justice 
of  the  peace  at  the  Summit,  in  Ararat.  She  was  a 
teacher  for  many  terms  before  her  marriage,  and 
both  are  earnest  church  and  Sunday-school  workers  ; 
Evelina  Harriet,  1845,  married,  in  1866,  Eli  L.  Avery, 
a farmer  in  the  western  part  of  .Ararat,  on  the  form- 
er hon;estead  of  his  father,  David,  settled  in  1818, 
Eev.  Charles  Wesley  (1847-75),  educated  at  the 
Wyoming  Seminary,  from  which  he  was  graduated  ; 
was  a minister  of  the  Methodist  Church  for  four 
years  prior  to  his  death ; Rosetta  R.,  1849,  married,  in 
1874,  Charles  E.  Stone,  a farmer,  on  what  was  for- 
merly the  Worth  farm,  near  the  Congregational 
Church  in  Ararat ; Silas  Nathaniel,  1851,  succeeded  to 
the  homestead  in  Ararat,  married  Della  Dix,  in  1879; 
and  Irving  Sartell  died  at  the  age  of  ten  years.  Mar- 
garet Ball  (Mrs.  Sartell  surviving  in  1887),  is  the 
daughter  of  Benjamin  and  Anna  (Mclntire)  Ball, 
both  natives  of  Cherry  Valley,  Penna.  The  former 
died  in  1848,  the  latter  in  1870,  and  were  residents  of 
Thomson. 

Their  children  are, — Ellen,  married  Hiram  Doty, 
and  settled  in  the  West;  Amanda,  wife  of  Debar 
Ridgeway,  of  Wysox,  Penna. ; Ezra  settled  in  Wis- 
consin; Mary  Asenath,  wife  of  Asa  Cook,  died  in 
Iowa;  Margaret  (Mrs.  N.  P.  Sartell),  and  Benjamin 
Ball,  of  Table  Rock,  Nebraska.  Rev.  N.  P.  Sartell’s 
brothers  and  sisters  were, — Calvin,  resided  in  New 
Hampshire;  Henry,  was  a merchant  in  Boston ; Har- 
riet and  Sally  ; Mary  resided  in  Cornish,  N.  H. ; and 
Clarissa,  adopted  by  Frederick  Bingham,  died  at  the 
age  of  eighteen. 


CHAPTER  LIV. 

THOMSON  TOWNSHIP. 

Thomson  was  a part  of  Jackson  township  at  the 
time  of  its  first  settlement.  Elections  were  held  at 
the  house  of  James  Cargill  at  that  time,  but  in  the 
spring  of  1833  the  township  was  divided  and  the 
eastern  half  was  erected  into  a new  township,  called 
Thomson,  in  honor  of  Associate  Judge  William 
Thomson.  The  area  of  the  township  has  been  di- 
minished by  the  erection  of  Ararat  from  parts  of 
Thomson  and  Herrick.  The  surface  of  Thomson  is 
hilly.  It  was  formerly  covered  with  a dense  forest  of 
pine,  hemlock,  beech,  birch  and  maple.  There  was 


an  almost  solid  forest  of  pine  from  Starrucca  Creek  to 
Lanesboro’.  It  was  large  and  very  fine  timber,  and 
was  largely  converted  into  lumber  at  the  mills  in 
Starrucca,  Wayne  County,  at  an  early  day.  There 
were  as  many  as  fifty  teams  to  be  seen  along  the  road 
hauling  these  pine  logs,  but  like  most  of  the  pioneer 
lumbermen,  they  succeeded  in  cutting  and  hauling 
away  all  the  valuable  pine  before  the  township  was 
half  settled,  with  very  little  profit  to  themselves. 
The  Canawacta  and  Starrucca  are  the  principal 
streams.  The  former  rises  in  Jackson  and  the  latter 
in  Ararat  township.  The  Starrucca  enters  the  south- 
ern part  of  Thomson,  thence  across  the  southeastern 
part  of  the  township  into  Wayne  County,  thence 
through  Harmony  to  the  Susquehanna.  The  Jefferson 
Railroad  follows  the  windings  of  the  Starrucca  in  the 
main  through  the  township.  Wrighter  Lake,  in  the 
southeast,  lies  partly  in  Wayne  County,  and  Comfort 
Pond,  in  the  north,  lies  partly  in  Harmony  township. 
Church  Pond,  near  the  latter,  and  Messenger  Pond, 
near  Thomson  borough,  lie  wholly  in  the  township. 
Thomson  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  Harmony,  on 
the  east  by  Wayne  County,  on  the  south  by  Ararat 
and  on  the  west  by  Jackson.  It  has  been  settled 
either  directly  or  indirectly  from  the  surrounding 
townships,  and  is  the  newest  township  in  settlement 
in  the  county.  Robert  Gelatt  says  when  they  first 
came  here  deer  were  very  plentiful  and  would  come 
into  the  pasture  with  the  cattle,  seeming  to  feel  safe 
where  the  cattle  were.  Seeing  that  the  cattle  were  not 
frightened,  they  pastured  with  them  and  suffered  the 
hunter  to  approach  and  take  advantage  of  their  con- 
fidence ; then  the  wolves  would  commence  at  night, 
first  one  in  one  direction  then  another  in  another  di- 
rection— they  would  take  up  the  bark  until  the  .cir- 
cling forest  was  one  prolonged  howl;  and  the  owls 
would  get  up  a concert  and  laugh  and  hoot  and  make 
all  kinds  of  noises — but  the  pioneers  persevered  under 
difficulties,  although  they  did  not  realize  much  for 
their  lumber,  but  obtained  most  of  their  money  from 
dairying.  The  township  is  better  adapted  to  grazing 
than  grain. 

John  Wrighter  came  to  what  is  now  Thomson  in 
1819,  and  took  up  one  hundred  acres  of  land  in  the 
wilderness,  three  miles  from  any  settler.  He  located 
near  Wrighter’s  Pond,  and  was  the  pioneer  of  Thom- 
son. He  came  here  from  Mt.  Pleasant  township,  but 
was  originally  from  Dutchess  County,  N.  Y.  His 
father  was  a native  of  Bavaria,  and  his  wife  was  born 
and  brought  up  in  London.  Having  lost  his  property, 
he  was  very  poor  when  he  came,  and  endured  many 
privations.  They  made  their  first  home  by  the  side 
of  a log  on  which  they  laid  boards  from  their  wagon, 
the  boards  having  been  left  by  some  lumberman. 
The  first  night  he  hung  up  his  knapsack,  and  a rat 
jumped  out  of  it  in  the  morning,  doubtless  glad  to 
find  a human  being  to  prey  upon  in  this  solitude. 
For  three  weeks  they  were  near  starvation,  having  to 
subsist  on  frozen  potatoes  and  what  meat  Mr. 


838 


HISTOKY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


Wrighter  could  procure  with  his  rifle.  He  was  a 
blacksmith,  and  sometimes  worked  through  the  week 
at  Harmony,  eleven  miles  distant.  He  was  a cool 
and  fearless  hunter  and  killed  many  wild  animals. 
The  woods  at  that  time  abounded  in  elk,  deer,  bears, 
wolves,  wild  cats  and  panthers.  He  has  seen  thirty 
or  forty  elk  at  a time  near  his  home,  with  horns  so 
large  that  they  appeared  like  immense  chairs  on  their 
heads.  He  killed  one  that  weighed  three  hundred 
and  fifty  pounds,  dressed.  If  it  had  not  been  for  his 
trusty  rifle  he  would  have  starved.  He  built  a log 
cabin  and  made  a clearing,  and  when  the  Belmont 
and  Onaquaga  Eoad  passed  through  Thomson  he  was 
enabled  to  pay  for  his  land  by  work  on  the  road.  He 
afterwards  built  out  on  the  road.  He  was  a Metho- 
dist class-leader  many  years,  and  was  a good  speci- 
men of  the  old  hunter  pioneers  who  hunted  and 
cleared  land,  preparing  the  way  for  a more  cultivated 
society  and  more  luxurious  homes.  He  died  on  the 
farm  where  he  first  began,  in  1857,  aged  seventy- 
seven.  His  children  were  Cornelius  E.,  a farmer  in 
Thomson,  who  died  aged  eighty-four ; Julia,  wife  of 
Wm.  B.  Bigelow ; Stephen,  who  occupied  the  farm 
where  Chas.  King  resides;  Catharine  W.,  wife  of 
Abner  Hulce ; Charles,  who  cleared  a good  farm  in 
Thomson;  Betsey,  wife  of  Alva  Mudge;  Daniel,  the 
hunter  and  story-teller,  who  has  resided  in  Thomson 
forty-nine  years ; George  W.,  also  resides  in  the  bor- 
ough. He  cleared  the  farm  where  his  son  Frank  re- 
sides. John  Mumford,  born  in  1821,  was  the  first 
child  born  in  Thomson.  He  resides  on  the  home- 
stead. Porter,  Bingham,  Blandin  and  Messenger, 
elsewhere  noticed,  were  among  the  next  settlers.  The 
building  of  the  Belmont  turnpike  helped  the  pioneers 
and  led  to  further  settlement.  Major  Lamb  worked 
on  the  turnpike,  and  paid  for  a section  of  land  which 
his  son  Joel  settled  upon  shortly  after  the  road  was 
built,  which  was  in  1824.  Most  of  the  settlers  for  the 
following  ten  years  settled  upon  this  road.  The 
Gelatts  came  about  1828.  Jairus  Lamb  lived  across 
the  road  from  Eobert  Gelatt’s.  James  Comfort  built 
a saw-mill  near  Comfort’s  pond,  in  1827.  He  also 
cleared  up  a farm;  his  son.  Nelson  E.,  resides  in 
Harmony.  Collins  Gelatt  lived  one  and  a half  miles 
from  his  brother  Eobert.  There  were  no  more  neigh- 
bors until  you  reached  Joseph  Porter’s.  Briggs  Bige- 
low resided  near  his  father-in-law,  John  Wrighter, 
Sr.  These  settlers  were  all  on  the  turnpike.  Sylves- 
ter King  cleared  up  the  place  where  his  son  Charles 
lives.  Abner  Crosier  cleared  up  a farm  joining  the 
Clark  Davis  place.  Alfred  Stoddard  cleared  the 
place  occupied  by  his  widow.  Orvis  Lewis’  farm 
joined  Crosier’s.  He  was  a hard-working  man. 
Aaron  Aldrich  cleared  the  farm  occupied  by  his 
son  Luther.  Barnard  Whitney  cleared  up  the  farm 
and  made  the  improvements  where  he  resides.  Watts 
Brown  cleared  the  farm  where  Urbane  and  James 
Brown  reside.  Parley  Cargill  owns  the  place  where 
William  Witter  began.  John  Clapper  commenced 


in  the  woods,  and  has  a good  farm.  John  Wrighter, 
grandson  of  John  Wrighter,  first,  has  cleared  up  a 
farm. 

Sedate  Griswold  was  the  first  settler  near  the  Har- 
mony line.  Eobert  Jacobs  resides  on  the  next  farm. 
Christopher  Toby  cleared  up  a large  farm  opposite 
Eobert  Gelatt’s.  Thomas  Mumford  cleared  the  next 
place;  Charles  Jacobs  resides  there  now.  Joseph 
Little  cleared  the  small  place  where  Percy  Jaquish 
resides.  William  Jenkins  and  John  Van  Horn 
cleared  up  places.  Next  comes  the  Irish  settlement. 
A number  of  Irish  settlers  came  into  that  neighbor- 
hood about  the  time  the  Jefferson  railroad  was  built, 
in  1869,  and  some  of  them  have  made  improvements 
and  cleared  up  good  farms.  John  O’Brien  was  one  of 
the  first  who  came,  and  he  has  a good  farm.  E.  Davi- 
son, John  Gillan,  Thomas  and  Patrick  Eogers,  Mich- 
ael Burns,  David  Condon,  James  Dougherty,  Patrick 
Farrell  and  John  Dalton  have  made  improvements 
there.  John  Jenkins  built  a tannery  and  currier 
shop  on  the  turnpike  on  Spruce  Swamp  Creek. 
Henry  Chandler  had  a large  farm,  now  owned  by  his 
sons,  William  and  Jackson.  He  also  had  a hotel  and 
stage-house  for  some  fifteen  years,  which  was  burned 
down.  James  Wier  has  a good  farm  adjoining. 
Collins  Gelatt  cleared  the  farm  next  to  Chandlers’. 
Giles  Lewis  cleared  up  a place  partly  within  the  bor- 
ough. Daniel  Wrighter  resides  on  the  place  cleared 
by  Enoch  Tarbox.  Stephen  Gelatt,  John  Sumner, 
Silas  Sartell,  John  Glover,  John  Lamb,  William 
Graham  and  Elder  Washburn  are  enterprising 
farmers. 

George  Gelatt’s  father,  John,  ran  away  from  Paris 
when  sixteen,  and  came  to  America.  He  lived  and  died 
near  North  Adams,  Massachusetts.  His  son  George 
married  Hannah  Collins  and  raised  a family  and 
moved  to  Pennsylvania  about  1809  and  died  in  Gelatt 
Hollow,  aged  one  hundred  and  five.  Eobert  and 
Collins  moved  into  Jackson  about  1827,  and  Jonathan 
came  later.  Eobert  Gelatt  bought  one  hundred 
acres  of  wild  land  and  cleared  up  a farm,  and  was 
succeeded  in  its  ownership  by  his  son,  Eobert  Gelatt, 
Jr.,  who  cared  for  his  father  in  his  old  age  until  he 
died,  aged  ninety-six.  He  is  now  a resident  of 
Thomson  Borough,  aged  seventy-five,  and  has  a vivid 
recollection  of  the  pioneers  of  Thomson.  He  married 
Lura  A.  Hall,  daughter  of  Martin  Hall,  of  Jackson. 
E.  E.  Gelatt,  his  son,  retains  the  homestead.  Eobert 
Gelatt’s,  Sr.,  other  children  were  Matilda,  wife  of 
Cyrus  Hall  ; Nancy,  wife  of  Charles  Toby  ; Stephen, 
married  Angeline  Hall ; Lucretia,  wife  of  Dr.  Edward 
Corsney.  Collins  Gelatt  located  in  Thomson,  where 
Samuel  Van  Horn  lives,  and  cleared  up  that  farm. 
His  large  family  of  seven  girls  and  one  son  are  all 
dead.  Jonathan  settled  where  Clark  Davis  resides. 
Of  his  children.  Wealthy  is  the  wife  of  Daniel 
Wrighter,  and  Harriet  is  the  widow  of  Chester  Stod- 
dard, of  Thomson  Borough ; Collins  is  a farmer  in 
Jackson. 


THOMSON. 


839 


Robert  Gelatt,  Collius  Gelatt,  John  Jenkins  and 
Amaziali  Toby  went  into  the  woods  on  a lot  that  was 
not  occupied  and  cleared  off  a spot  and  built  the  first 
school-house  in  Thomson,  about  1832,  near  Samuel 
Van  Horn’s.  Henry  Chandler  afterwards  purchased 
the  land  and  claimed  the  school-house.  The  directors 
moved  it  away  and  they  had  a law -suit  about  it.  Mr. 
Chandler  finally  withdrew  his  suit  and  that  ended  the 
matter.  There  are  now  six  school  districts,  including 
the  graded  school  in  the  borough.  “ At  the  first  town- 
ship election,  in  the  spring  of  1834,  there  were  only 
thirty-five  votes  polled,  but  in  the  fall  of  the  same 
year,  at  the  general  election,  fifty-one  voters  appeared, 
being  within  five  of  every  voter  in  the  township. 
Thomson  included  the  north  part  of  Ararat  at  that 
time.  Charles  Wrighter  and  Jacob  Clark  were  the 
first  constables,  Nathaniel  West  and  Joel  Lamb  first 
supervisors,  Benjamin  Ball  and  Hezekiah  Bushnell 
overseers  of  the  poor,  Charles  Wrighter  and  Joel 
Lamb  justices  of  the  peace.  M.  J.  Mumford,  John 
Wrighter,  M.  T.  Whitney,  Mallery  Spencer,  Sylvester 
King,  George  P.  Blandin,  C.  B.  Jenkins,  Franklin 
Washburn  and  L.  0.  Tiffany  have  been  succeeding 
justices. 

John  Jenkins  came  to  New  York  from  England, 
thence  to  Manchester,  Wayne  County,  and  from  there 
to  Thomson,  in  1830.  He  started  a small  upper- 
leather  tannery  and  currier-shop,  and  run  it  all  by 
hand-power.  This  tannery  burned  down  and  he 
built  another.  The  upper  story  of  the  currier-shop, 
or  dredging-room,  was  used  for  concerts,  meetings 
and  public  gatherings.  Mr.  Jenkins  and  his  wife 
were  good  singers  and  intelligent  people,  and  took  a 
prominent  part  in  the  social  and  religious  affairs  of 
the  township.  He  was  class-leader  and  a Sunday- 
school  worker  in  the  Methodist  Church.  He  pur- 
chased two  hundred  acres  of  land  and  carried  on 
tanning  and  farming  as  long  as  he  lived.  He  died  in 
1838,  aged  seventy-six.  His  widow  removed  to  Cin- 
cinnati, where  two  of  her  sons,  William  and  John, 
had  gone,  and  died  there  at  an  advanced  age.  Henry, 
another  son,  rebuilt  the  tannery  after  it  had  been 
burned  down  the  second  time,  and  continued  the 
business  as  long  as  he  lived.  Stephen  has  a small 
tannery  in  the  township,  near  Daniel  R.  Pope’s  saw- 
mill. Mary,  wife  of  John  Mulvey,  is  the  only  one  of 
the  daughters  remaining  here.  Michael  J.  Mulvey 
was  born  in  Brattleboro’,  Vt.,  of  Irish  parentage. 
His  father  died  when  he  was  a child,  and  his  mother 
married  William  Whalen.  She  died  when  he  was 
eleven  years  old,  and  Michael  J.  removed  with  his 
stepfather  to  Honesdale,  in  1840,  when  he  was  four- 
teen. He  learned  the  shoemaker’s  trade  of  Gabriel 
Tuttle  and  moved  to  Thomson  in  1845,  and  com- 
menced work  for  John  Jenkins,  whom  he  regarded 
as  one  of  the  best  men  he  ever  knew  ; and  what  was 
more  natural  than  for  him  to  marry  his  employer’s 
daughter  ? He  remained  in  Thomson  ten  years  and 
removed  to  North  Jackson,  where  he  resided  thirty 


years,  and  has  recently  traded  his  farm  for  a house 
in  Thomson  .Borough.  He  is  a jolly  Irishman,  born 
in  America,  and  is  well  known  throughout  the  eastern 
part  of  the  county. 

Henry  Chandler  came  with  his  father.  Dr.  Chandler) 
to  Gibson,  and  lived  near  the  Jackson  line.  He 
married  Sarah  Parmenter  and  removed  to  Thomson  in 
1846,  and  purchased  four  hundred  and  twenty-four 
acres  of  land  of  Judge  Jessup.  A small  improvement 
had  been  made  on  the  property,  including  an  oak-stud 
and  brace-house  and  a barn.  He  hired  Alva  Mudge 
to  clear  forty  acres  for  five  hundred  dollars  prior  to 
his  removal  there.  He  cleared  the  land  in  two  twenty 
acre  fallows,  and  burned  all  of  the  timber  and  bark 
on  the  land ; but  this  was  not  without  its  advantages, 
for  the  ashes  made  the  land  very  fertile.  He  raised 
immense  crops  of  oats  at  first,  and  cut  two  tons  of  hay 
per  acre  for  ten  years.  He  built  a large  hotel  and 
stage-house,  and  run  the  stage  from  Windsor  to  Mt. 
Pleasant.  Honesdale  was  building  up  then,  and 
Carbondale  was  growing  in  importance,  affording  a 
market  for  cattle  and  produce,  which  was  shipped  by 
way  of  the  Belmont  and  Onaquaga  turnpike.  Mr. 
Chandler  died  in  1871,  aged  seventy-six,  and  his  wife 
died  in  1885,  aged  eighty-nine.  Their  children  were 
Uriah,  who  kept  the  Blandin  House  a few  years.  He 
died  young,  leaving  a son,  David,  one  of  the  proprie- 
tors of  the  Jefferson  House;  William  resides  in  Jack- 
son;  Ezra  R.,  died  in  Thomson;  Charles  B.  was 
murdered  by  a boatman  at  Fort  Wayne,  Ind. ; 
Jackson  resides  on  the  homestead.  Orren  Babcock 
commenced  where  Francis  0.  Potter  afterwards  re- 
sided. He  owned  several  farms  that  have  been 
divided  among  his  children.  L.  O.  Tiffany  resides  on 
the  Rogers  place,  Truman  Perry  resides  near  him. 
James  H.  Foster  is  a farmer  in  the  township.  Wil- 
liam Van  Horn  moved  to  Montrose  from  New  Jersey 
about  1840,  thence  to  Thomson  about  1860.  He 
bought  an  improvement  near  Henry  Chandler,  and 
cleared  up  a farm.  His  children,  Jacob  W.,  Sally 
Ann,  Nathaniel,  Catharine,  Samuel,  Hannah  and 
Lavinda,  all  married  and  settled  in  the  vicinity  of 
the  homestead. 

Merrick  T.  Whitney. — His  father,  Torrey  Whit- 
ney (1794-1872),  a native  of  Marlboro,  Vt.,  with  his 
brother  William,  came  to  Harford  in  1815,  where 
they  carried  on  cloth-dressing  for  two  or  three  years, 
when  the  latter  returned  to  Massachusetts.  The 
same  year  of  his  arrival  in  Harford,  Torrey  was  mar- 
ried by  Hosea  Tiffany,  Esq.,  to  Elizabeth  Lamb 
(1796-1865),  also  a native  of  Marlboro,  whose  father. 
Major  Joel  Lamb,  settled  in  Jackson  that  year,  where 
F.  M.  Whitney  now  resides.  After  the  birth  of  their 
eldest  son,  Allis,  1816,  a resident  of  Honesdale,  Tor- 
rey Whitney  removed  to  Jackson,  where  he  run  a 
saw-mill  for  a time  on  the  place  now  owned  by  Ur- 
bane Hall,  just  below  Jackson  Corners.  He  was  sub- 
sequently a farmer  in  Gibson  until  1836,  when  he  pur- 
chased a partly  improved  farm  of  Urbane  Burrows, 


840 


HISTOKY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


which  had  been  previously  occupied  by  Daniel  Low, 
on  the  western  line  of  Thomson  towpship,  which 
was  his  homestead  the  remainder  of  his  life.  He  was 
a man  much  beloved  by  all  who  knew  him,  a kind 
and  obliging  neighbor,  a good  citizen,  and  both  him- 
self and  wife  were  members  of  the  Methodist  Church. 
Their  other  children  are  Merrick  T.,  born  in  Jackson 
November  10,  1818,  died  in  Thomson  March  24, 
1887 ; Joel  Barwood,  1823,  a farmer  in  Thomson ; 
and  Eussel  Velosco,  born  in  1832,  married  Catharine 


August  25,  1818.  She  had  been  a teacher  for  thirteen 
terms,  beginning  at  the  age  of  fourteen,  and  survives 
her  husband — residing  on  the  homestead  where  they 
settled  at  the  time  of  their  marriage.  She  was  also  a 
daughter  of  Moses  B.  Wheaton,  who  was  one  of  the 
earliest  teachers  of  Harford,  and  the  first  teacher  of 
Jackson,  who  settled  at  the  latter  place  at  the  close 
of  the  war  of  1812,  where  he  raised  a large  family  of 
children,  and  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life.  (For 
history  of  Wheaton  family,  see  Jackson  township.) 


M.  Wharton,  a daughter  of  Moses  B.  Wharton,  of 
.Jackson,  and  succeeded  his  father  in  the  ownership 
of  the  homestead. 

Merrick  T.  Whitney,  the  second  son,  spent  his  mi- 
nority at  home,  and  learned  to  be  a farmer.  He  had 
little  opportunity  to  obtain  an  education  from  books, 
but  had  indelibly  impressed  upon  his  mind  practical 
ideas  of  life  and  its  duties  by  his  parental  training. 
For  some  two  years  after  reaching  his  majority  he  en- 
gaged in  buying  and  shipping  produce  to  New  York. 
About  this  time  he  purchased  fifty  acres  of  woodland, 
a part  of  the  homestead,  upon  which  he  erected  the 
main  part  of  the  present  residence,  in  the  spring  of 
1842,  and  in  the  fall  of  the  same  year,  he  married 
Fostina  L.  Wheaton,  who  was  born  in  Jackson, 


By  persevering  industry  and  judicious  management 
Mr.  Whitney  added  adjoining  real  estate,  cleared  up 
his  farm,  remodeled  and  made  additions  to  his  house, 
erected  spacious  out-buildings  and  in  due  time  made 
all  the  appointments  of  his  home  show  the  handi- 
work of  a thrifty  and  enterprising  farmer. 

In  1862  he  enlisted  forty-six  of  his  neighbors  and 
friends,  and  with  them  entered  the  army  in  Company 
B,  Seventeenth  Eegt.  Pennsylvania  Cavalry.  Upon 
its  organization  he  was  chosen  first  lieutenant ; but 
loss  of  health,  caused  by  exposure,  obliged  him  to 
resign  his  commission  and  return  to  his  home,  where 
for  more  than  a year  he  was  unable  to  perform  even 
the  lightest  labor.  His  influence  for  the  army  upon 
his  friends,  neighbors  and  relatives  was  further  shown 


THOMSON. 


841 


he  had  two  brothers,  three  brothers-in-law,  a 
son,  son-in-law  and  ten  nephews  who  enlisted.  All 
returned  alive,  though  a number  were  wounded,  and 
all,  save  his  son  N.  D.  Whitney,  survive  him.  In 
politics  Mr.  Whitney  was  identified  with  the  Repub- 
lican party,  and  was  an  earnest  advocate  of  its  princi- 
ples. His  fellow-townsmen,  fully  appreciating  his 
integrity  and  business  ability,  often  called  him  to 
assist  in  the  administration  of  their  local  affairs,  and 
he  has  served  his  township  as  justice  of  the  peace, 
school  director,  supervisor  and  every  other  official  po- 
sition save  one.  In  1878  he  was  elected  county  com- 
missioner, and  in  1881  was  re-elected — an  honor  due 
to  the  marked  ability  with  which  he  had  performed 
the  duties  of  that  important  office.  The  esteem  in 
which  he  was  held  by  his  neighbors  and  friends,  and 
the  trust  they  imposed  in  his  fidelity  and  judicial 
ability  was  attested  by  the  continual  naming  of  him 
as  executor  of  wills  and  administrator  of  estates.  He 
was  a man  whose  judgment  was  never  swayed  by  pas- 
sion, but  whose  well-balanced  mind  calmly  weighed 
all  questions  presented,  and  when  his  opinion  was 
formed,  he  was  firm  in  maintaining  it.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  Free  Will  Baptist  Church  of  Jackson 
for  forty-six  years,  of  which  his  wife  is  also  a member. 
Their  children  are  Lovell  M.,  died  at  the  age  of  two 
years;  Newell  De  Lancey  (1847-74),  at  the  age  of 
seventeen,  March  25,  1864,  enlisted  in  Battery  A, 
First  Pennsylvania  Light  Artillery,  and  served  in  the 
army  until  July  25,  1865,  when  he  was  mustered  out 
and  honorably  discharged.  In  1866  he  entered  Hills- 
dale College,  Mich.,  where  he  remained  a student  for 
some  two  years.  In  1869  he  began  reading  law  with 
Judge  Griswold,  of  Binghamton,  completed  his  law 
studies  with  Johnson  and  Becker,  of  that  city,  was 
admitted  to  the  bar  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  New 
York  State  in  1870,  and  subsequently  to  the  District 
Court  of  the  Lnited  States.  He  at  once  entered  upon 
the  practice  of  his  profession  in  Binghamton,  where 
his  ability  as  a lawyer  gained  him  a high  position  at 
the  Broome  County  bar.  He  was  one  of  the  counsel 
for  the  noted  criminal,  Ruloffi  He  was  a lieutenant 
of  Battery  A,  Sixth  Division  National  Guard  State  of 
New  York,  and  held  the  rank  of  lieutenant-colonel 
on  the  staff  of  Governor  Hoffman ; Orville  C.,  born 
in  1849,  married,  in  1875,  Mate  S.,  a daughter  of  J.  J 
Savory,  of  Jackson ; he  was  graduated  at  Hillsdale 
College,  in  the  class  of  1875,  and  is  a general  insur- 
ance agent  at  New  Milford;  Anna  Maria  (1851-75), 
was  the  wife  of  Edwin  A.  French,  of  Jackson,  a sol- 
dier in  the  late  war ; and  Charles  Fremont,  born  in 
1858,  was  for  two  years  a student  at  Hillsdale  Col- 
lege, married  Rena  A.  daughter  of  Charles  Fletcher, 
of  Thomsonboro’,  and  farms  the  homestead. 

Thomson  Taxables,  1844. — Aaron  Aldrich,  John  Avery,  Jr,,  Daniel 
Avery,,  Bussell  Austin,  Jno,  W,  Brown,  Jas.  Brown,  Ira  Babcock,  Geo. 
Babcock,  Geo.  Blanchard,  Jos.  Blanchard,  Edw.  Blathaus,  Silas  S.  Bald- 
win, Edwin  L.  Baldwin,  Philip  T.  Baldwin,  Shubael  A.  Baldwin, 
Leonard  A.  Bushnell,  Hezekiah  Bushnell,  James  C.  Bushnell,  Ebenezer 
Bushnell,  Ezra  Ball,  Benj.  Boothroyd,  Jonas  Blandin,  Henry  Chandler, 


Uriah  Chandler,  William  Chandler,  Asa  B.  Cook,  Sylvenus  Campbell, 
Abner  Crosier,  Amasa  Crosier,  William  Cleveland,  Lorenzo  D.  Cleve- 
land, Albert  Collar,  Arnold  Cargill,  James  Cargill,  Obadiah  L,  Carpen- 
ter, Peter  Carlin,  Thomas  Carr,  Hiram  Doty,  Joseph  Dow,  Thos.  Doyle, 
Robert  Gelatt,  Robert  Gelatt,  Jr.,  Jonathan  Gelatt,  Collins  Golatt, 

John  Gelatt,  Stephen  Gelatt,  Alfred  W.  Griswold, Griswold,  Cyrus 

Hall,  William  Hare,  Charles  A.  Harrison,  Albert  Hanford,  Isaiah  Hall, 
Chas.  Hart,  Elias  Jenkins,  Alfred  Jones,  John  Jenkins,  Henry  Jenkins, 
Amos  Kennedy,  Henry  Knapp,  Joel  Lamb,  David  Lamb,  Jairus  Lamb, 
Giles  Lewis,  Joseph  Little,  Veranous  Larrabee,  Everitt  Messenger, 
Ebenezer  Messenger,  Cyrus  Messenger,  John  N.  Messenger,  Martin 
Mumford,  James  Mumford,  Elisha  Mott,  Daniel  Miner,  Wiley  Mudge, 
Wm.  Parmenter,  Jesse  Payne,  Jesse  Stoddard,  Wilbur  Stoddard,  William 
Stoddard,  Edson  Stone,  William  Salsbury,  Joel  B.  Strickland,  N.  P. 
Sartell,  Jacob  B.  Steel,  Ransom  Sampson,  George  Sampson,  Hezekiah 
Sampson,  Benjamin  Sampson,  Henry  H.  Sampson,  Charles  Stoddard, 
Charles  Toby,  Amaziah  Toby,  Christopher  P.  Tallman,  Sabin  Tucker, 
William  Van  Horn,  Shubael  Williams,  Gilbert  Williams,  Samuel  Wil- 
liams, Sherman  Williams,  Joseph  Washburn,  Edward  Worrell,  Na- 
thaniel West,  Augustus  West,  N.  J.  West,  John  Washburn,  Erastus 
Washburn,  William  Witter,  Edward  Whiteford. 

Thomson  Borough — Notice  was  given  by  G.  L. 
Lewis  and  others,  March  2, 1876,  that  an  application 
would  be  made  to  the  Court  of  Quarter  Sessions  for 
the  incorporation  of  the  village  of  Thomson  Centre, 
in  Thomson  township,  into  a borough.  At  the  next 
Court  of  Quarter  Sessions  the  petition  was  presented 
asking  for  the  incorporation  of  the  borough  of  Thom- 
son according  to  the  following  boundaries  : Beginning 
at  the  east  side  of  the  turnpike  road  at  a post  and 
stones,  near  the  house  of  J.  H.  Foster;  thence  north 
forty-seven  degrees  west,  two  hundred  and  twenty-five 
rods  to  a post  and  stones  corner ; thence  north  twen- 
ty-nine and  one-half  degrees  east,  two  hundred  and 
twenty  rods  to  a post  and  stones  corner  on  the  east  side 
of  the  turnpike  road  near  the  house  of  E.  A.  Crosier; 
thence  south  forty-seven  degrees  east,  two  hundred  and 
twenty-five  rods  to  a post  and  stones  corner  near  the 
“ Starrucca  road  ; ” thence  south  twenty-nine  and  one- 
half  degrees  west,  to  the  place  of  beginning,  contain- 
ing about  three  hundred  and  two  acres.  This  petition 
was  signed  by  G.  L.  Lewis,  E.  W.  Messenger,  Albert 
Collier,  W.  H.  Jenkins,  G.  K.  Lament,  A.  Slager,  M. 
Searles,  Joseph  Dow,  W.  W.  Messenger,  M.  D.  Mat- 
toon,  G.  P.  Blandin,  George  A.  Stoddard,  E.  E.  Dow, 
L.  F.  Searles,  M.  Garvey,  George  Bogart,  Griffin  Cook, 
N.  B.  Chase,  O.  W.  Caswell,  Victor  A.  Potter.  E.  K. 
Messenger,  David  Stanton,  C.  M.  Lewis,  Joel  Sals- 
bury, B.  R.  Salsbury,  A.  O.  Salsbury,  F.  Wilmarth, 
George  F.  Spencer,  C.  F.  Pickering,  E.  A.  Crosier, 
George  Sampson,  D.  A.  Chandler,  Thomas  Walker, 
William  Tucker,  F.  A.  Crosier,  J.  W.  Van  Horn,  W. 

D.  Plue,  C.  L.  Wrighter,  S.  H.  Lewis,  S.  G.  Salsbury, 

E.  A.  Foster,  Peter  Dougherty,  C.  Burrhus,  J.  L.  Ge- 
latt, J.  B.  Fuller,  A.  O.  Meade,  Ira  Hine,  Frank  Hall, 
W.  G.  Hall,  H.  Knapp,  S.  W.  Pickering,  J.  M.  La- 
ment, E.  E.  Hine,  Patrick  Coleman,  James  H.  Fos- 
ter, William  Witter,  A.  V.  Stimpson,  M.D.,  H.  B.  Or- 
chard, M.D.,  Josiah  Barton,  Chester  Stoddard,  David 
Shannon,  James  Barton.  April  10,  1876,  the  grand 
jury  reported  favorably  and  the  same  day  the  court 
granted  the  petition.  G.  P.  Blandin  gave  notice  of  the 
first  election,  which  was  held  in  the  house  occupied 


842 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


by  William  J.  Olver,  Giles  L.  Lewis  acting  as  judge 
and  Daniel  Wrigliter  and  James  H.  Foster  as  inspec- 
tors of  said  election,  which  was  held  the  third  Tues- 
day in  February,  1877,  and  has  been  held  annually 
since  that  time.  At  this  election  G.  L.  Lewis  was 
elected  burgess;  D.  A.  Chandler,  constable;  Frank 
Hall,  judge  of  election ; L.  F.  Searles  and  N.  B.  Chase, 
inspectors  ; G.  K.  Lamont,  G.  P.  Blandin,  M.  Searles, 
Chester  Stoddard,  S.  W.  Pickering  and  Griffin  Cook, 
town  council  ; W.  W.  Messenger,  A.  Z.  Huggins,  N. 
Van  Horn,  G.  F.  Spencer,  J.  M.  Lamont,  F.  A.  Cro- 
sier, school  directors;  Ira  Hine  and  N.  Van  Horn, 
overseers  of  the  poor;  C.  R.  Casterline  and  E.  E.  Dow, 
auditors. 

M.  D.  Mattoon  and  E.  E.  Dow  were  elected  justices 
in  the  township  and  held  over  in  the  borough.  Giles 

L.  Lewis,  George  P.  Blandin  and  G.  K.  Lamont  have 
been  justices  since.  One  of  the  first  schools  was 
taught  hy  Maria  Sands  in  the  Porter  log  house.  Leafy 
Blandin  taught  the  first  school  in  the  Blandin  Hotel. 
The  graded  school  building  was  built  in  1883.  M.  W. 
Cargill,  M.  W.  Squire,  Herman  Harmes  and  E.  C. 
Kellam  have  been  principals. 

Lodges. — The  first  temperance  society  was  formed 
in  1834,  Martin  J.  Mumford,  President.  A lodge  of 
Good  Templars  was  organized  September  30,  1867. 
The  charter  members  of  Lodge  No. — , I.  O.  ofO.  F., 
instituted  January  24,  1874,  are  E.  E.  Dow,  A.  Z. 
Huggins,  A.  W.  Larrabee,  V.  A.  Potter,  H.  B.  Chase, 
C.  R.  Castelein,  G.  W.  Ely,  F.  M.  Gelatt,  H.  B.  Blan- 
din, 0.  G.  Mumford,  William  H.  Jenkins,  G.  W.  Rob- 
inson, D.  A.  Chandler,  L.  S.  Aldrich,  A.  D.  Ely  and 
N.  F.  Hine. 

PosT-orncE. — Jackson  post-office  was  established 
down  at  John  Wrighter’s,  December  19,  1825,  with 
John  Wrighter  as  postmaster.  Jonas  Blandin  was 
appointed  March  20,  1830,  and  the  office  was  at  his 
house,  of  course.  May  9,  1836,  the  name  was  changed 
to  Thomson.  Jonathan  Gelatt  held  the  office  from 
1842  to  1844,  when  Captain  Blandin  was  reappointed 
and  held  it  until  1856,  when  Heman  P.  Hathaway 
held  the  position  until  1861,  when  he  was  succeeded 
by  John  W.  Blandin.  His  successors  have  been  Wil- 
liam Salsbury,  1866 ; Giles  L.  Lewis,  1869 ; Augusta 

M.  Lewis,  1878;  James  D.  Miller,  1885. 

Joseph  Porter  took  up  about  one  hundred  and  fifty 
acres  of  land  and  built  the  first  log  house  within  the 
borough  limits  of  Thomson,  in  1824,  where  Burns’ 
house  stands.  Jonas  Blandin,  who  had  married  Sarah 
Porter,  sister  of  Joseph  Porter,  came  in  1825  and 
erected  a frame  house  and  moved  his  family  from 
Windham  County,  Vt.,  in  1826.  He  took  up  two 
hundred  and  fifty-six  acres  of  land  and  cleared  up  a 
farm  where  Thomson  village  stands ; his  brother-in- 
law,  Porter,  removed  to  Alleghany  County,  N.  Y. 
Frederick  Bingham  built  a house  within  the  borough 
limits  in  1825.  Giles  Lewis  and  Enoch  Tarbox,  farm- 
ers, came  next.  Townsend  Wyant  bought  the  Porter 
place  and  got  out  lumber  to  build  a store,  but  finally 


sold  it  to  Blandin,  who  made  an  addition  to  his  hotel. 
William  Lazelle  kept  a stage-house  at  the  Porter 
place  a short  time.  C.  P.  Tallman  bought  of  Wyant 
and  erected  the  first  store  in  1842.  It  stood  opposite 
the  first  log  house  Tallman  sold  to  Joel  Salisbury. 
Wyant  built  the  first  saw-mill  and  both  the  store  and 
mill  fell  into  Salisbury’s  hands,  and  he  discontinued 
the  store  and  run  the  mill.  G.  P.  Blandin,  Chester 
Stoddard  and  John  M.  Lamont  have  been  owners  of 
the  mill.  The  latter  has  introduced  steam-power. 
Martin  Mumford  had  the  next  store  in  the  bar  room 
of  the  Blandin  Hotel.  H.  P.  Hathaway  had  a grocery 
store  for  a short  time,  but  the  first  permanent  store 
building  for  general  merchandise  was  erected  by  W. 
W.  Messenger,  in  1867.  He  first  rented  to  Ira  Hinds 
& Son,  and  finally  commenced  storekeeping  himself 
in  partnership  with  G.  L.  Lewis,  in  1871,  who  had 
erected  a store  in  1869.  Mr.  Messenger  and  Lewis 
have  each  had  a store  in  operation  since  that  time. 
Mr.  Lewis  is  not  doing  much  business  at  present,  and 
in  1886  Messenger  rented  to  Crosier  & Gelatt.  Wil- 
liam Witter  erected  a store  building  and  rented  it  to 
Frank  Gelatt,  who  soon  failed,  and  Adolph  Shyer 
rented  the  building  and  started  a clothing  store.  He 
soon  after  built  the  store  he  now  occupies.  M.  D. 
Mattoon,  a Methodist  preacher,  put  in  a stock  of 
drugs  on  one  side  of  Messenger’s  store,  and  after  a 
year  he  built  where  W.  W.  Keech  now  has  a store. 
S.  D.  Barnes  had  the  drug  business  in  the  Messenger 
Building.  George  P.  Blandin  bought  the  W.  G. 
Hull  tinshop  and  fitted  it  up  for  a store  which  is  now 
occupied  by  J.  G.  Miller  & Co.  Crosier  & Eymer 
started  a furniture  store,  in  1882.  Crosier  purchased 
Eymer’s  interest  and  added  groceries  and  general  mer- 
chandise. C.  H.  Bliss  has  a hardware  store.  T.  T. 
Walker,  a boot  and  shoe  store.  P.  R.  St.  John  is 
jeweler  and  Mrs.  Larrabee  and  Mrs.  Foster  are  milli- 
ners. Dr.  O.  E.  Stimpson  is  the  first  and  only  regular 
physician  that  ever  practiced  in  the  place. 

Thomson  Borough  owes  its  growth  to  the  Jefferson 
Railroad,  which  passed  through  there  in  1871  and  es- 
tablished a station,  making  it  a central  place  for  a 
large  farming  community.  Business  men  were  not 
slow  to  perceive  the  advantages  of  the  location,  and 
the  town  has  been  built  up  until  it  contains  five  stores 
of  general  merchandise,  one  hardware-store,  a boot 
and  shoe-store,  one  drug-store,  two  millinery  stores, 
three  blacksmith-shops,  a wagon-shop  by  Tallman 
Brothers  ; a saw  and  planing-mill,  grist-mill  by  G.  F. 
Spencer;  the  Keystone  Creamery  by  a stock  company. 
The  borough  also  contains  two  churches  and  a graded 
school.  The  Jefferson  House  was  commenced  by 
Frederick  Wilmarth  in  1871,  who  erected  the  frame 
and  partly  finished  the  building.  In  1872-73  Van 
Horn  & Chandler  completed  the  building  and  have 
the  only  hotel  in  the  place.  J.  W.  Coon  is  station 
agent,  and  Edward  A.  Saxton  has  general  charge  of 
the  repairs  on  the  Jefferson  Branch  from  Carbondale 
to  Susquehanna.  The  blacksmiths  have  been  Jonas 


THOMSON. 


843 


Blandin,  Amos  Kennedy,  David  Gelatt,  E.  E.  Dow, 
H.  B.  Blandin,  A.  O.  Salisbury,  Jas.  Burns,  W.  P.  and 
Geo.  D.  Tallman. 

Jonas  Blandin  came  here  from  Windham  County, 
Vermont,  in  1825,  and  built  the  first  framed  house  in 
the  borough  limits  and  moved  his  family  here  in  1826. 
He  took  up  two  hundred  and  fifty-six  acres  of  wood- 
land and  cleared  up  a farm.  He  was  the  first  hotel- 
keeper,  and  he  and  John  Wrighter  were  the  first 
blacksmiths.  He  married  Sarah  Porter,  sister  of  Jo- 
seph Porter,  the  pioneer  of  the  borough,  and  they  to- 
gether owned  nearly  all  the  land  where  the  borough 


tor  and  justice  of  the  peace.  He  married  Catharine 
R.,  daughter  of  Giles  Lewis,  and  has  one  daughter, 
Jennie  M.,  wife  of  J.  D.  Miller,  a merchant  in  the 
village. 

Giles  Lewis  came  to  Harford  from  Connecticut 
when  a single  man  as  early  as  1820,  and  married  Rox- 
ana, a sister  of  Asa  Hammond,  of  New Milford.  About 
1827  he  removed  to  Thomson  and  cleai’ed  up  a farm, 
within  the  borough,  where  Samuel  Lewis’  widow  re- 
sides. He  died  at  the  age  of  forty-nine.  His  widow 
married  Job  Benson  and  died  in  1883,  aged  seventy- 
eight.  Mr.  Lewis  was  a Baptist  and  his  wife  was  a 


stands.  Porter,  after  building  a log  cabin  and  mak- 
ing a small  clearing,  sold  out  and  moved  to  Alleghany 
County,  New  York.  Blandin  remained  and  died 
here.  His  children  were  George  P.  Blandin,  Esq., 
merchant  at  Thomson  ; Loved  O.,  a farmer  and  black- 
smith, was  killed  near  Nashville  ; John  W.  is  a far- 
mer in  the  township.  George  P.  was  born  in  Ver- 
mont in  1824,  and  was  brought  here  by  his  parents 
when  about  two  years  old.  He  learned  the  carpen- 
ter’s and  joiner’s  trade  and  was  outside  boss  at  Star- 
rucca  Tannery  two  years,  but  most  of  his  time  has 
heen  employed  in  farming  part  of  the  homestead 
farm.  He  has  held  a number  of  township  offices, 
having  served  as  constable,  town  clerk,  school  direc- 


Methodist.  Their  children  were  Maria  Ann,  wife  of 
Jeremiah  Bailey  ; Samuel  H.,  a farmer  in  Thomson, 
died  1884,  aged  sixty-one,  leaving  a wife  and  four 
children  ; Giles  L. ; Catharine  R.,  wife  of  G.  P.  Blan- 
din ; Elgiva  0.,wife  of  Orlando  Darrow  ; Ephraim  W., 
a shoemaker  and  merchant,  in  Thomson,  died  1865, aged 
twenty-seven  ; Sally  E.,  wife  of  Martin  A.  Pickering, 
of  Jackson.  Giles  L.  Lewis  married  Augusta  M., 
daughter  of  Joel  Salesbury,  who  was  the  owner  of  the 
land  where  Susquehanna  Borough  stands  and  of  whom 
the  Erie  Company  made  their  purchase  when  they 
decided  to  locate  their  shops  at  that  point.  They 
have  two  sons.  Mr.  Lewis  is  a carpenter,  wagon- 
maker  and  farmer,  and  has  been  engaged  in  the  mer- 


844 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


cantile  business  sixteen  years.  He  is  a surveyor  and 
conveyancer  and  has  been  justice  of  the  peace  most  of 
the  time  since  1865. 

Ebenezer  K.  Messenger. — His  father,  Cyrus 
Messenger,  was  a native  of  Massachusetts,  and  a 
tanner  and  currier  by  trade.  In  1798  he  married 
Rhoda  Keys  (1780-1821),  also  a native  of  that  State. 
He  continued  the  business  of  tanning  and  currying 
in  Massachusetts  until  about  1806,  when  he  removed 
to  Bridgewater,  this  county,  where  his  wife  died.  He 
married  for  his  second  wife  Abigail  Welsh,  and  for 
several  years  remained  in  that  section,  working  part 
of  the  time  at  his  trade,  and  for  a while  was  employed 
in  Foster’s  tannery  in  Montrose.  In  1841  himself 
and  wife  came  to  reside  with  his  son  Ebenezer,  and 
here  they  both  died,  the  former  at  the  age  of  eighty- 
five,  the  latter  aged  seventy-five  years.  They  had 
children,— Keziah  (1799-1826);  Everett  (1801-70); 
Ebenezer,  1803;  Ruby  (1804-22);  Chloe  Key  (1807- 
85) ; Olive  (1809-86)  was  the  wife  of  Colonel  Greeley, 
who  resided  in  Wayne  County,  Pa. ; Cyrus  P.  (1810- 
67) ; Horace  P.  (1813-79) ; Rhody  Ann,  1814,  the 
widow  of  Griffin  Cook,  now  residing  in  Thomson  ; 
Lucy  M.  (1816-44)  was  the  wife  of  Sylvenus  Osborne, 
of  Wayne  County,  Pa.,  and  the  mother  of  General  E. 
S.  Osborne,  of  Wilkes-Barre;  John  N.,  1818,  a farmer 
of  Sullivan  County,  Pa. 

Ebenezer  K.  Messenger  was  born  February,  14, 
1803,  in  Litchfield,  Mass.,  and  when  three  years  old 
his  parents  removed  to  Bridgewater.  His  school  ad- 
vantages were  most  limited,  the  nearest  school  being 
at  Montrose,  a distance  of  three  or  four  miles  from 
his  home.  Less  than  half  a dozen  houses  stood  at 
that  time  within  the  present  limits  of  Montrose 
borough.  But  in  the  absence  of  book  knowledge,  he 
learned  the  practical  lessons  of  life ; among  them,  in- 
dustry, economy  and  self-reliance.  When  seventeen 
years  old  he  left  home  and  worked  out  on  a farm. 
In  1824,  while  working  on  a farm  in  Gibson,  he  mar- 
ried Hannah  (1804^66),  daughter  of  John  Belcher,  one 
of  the  first  settlers  of  Gibson,  at  which  place  she  was 
born.  In  May  following  he  came  with  his  wife  to 
Thomson,  and  settled  on  an  unimproved  farm  pre- 
viously purchased  of  Isaac  Post,  on  which  was  a log 
cabin  that  had  been  erected  by  the  men  engaged  in 
building  the  Belmont  turnpike,  and  just  vacated  by 
Joel  Lamb.  Here  he  remained  for  nine  years,  clear- 
ing and  improving  his  purchase,  at  the  end  of  which 
time  he  sold  it,  and  bought  one-fourth  of  the  Hodg- 
son tract  of  four  hundred  acres  and  allowances,  which 
was  situated  about  two  miles  from  the  present 
borough  of  Thomson. 

The  only  clearing  on  his  new  purchase  was  that 
made  in  constructing  the  Belmont  turnpike,  which 
passed  through  it.  He  at  once  set  to  work,  made  an 
opening  in  the  wilderness,  erected  a barn  and  a small 
house,  and  moved  into  it.  His  only  neighbors,  from 
Belmont  to  Lanesboro’,  were  Joseph  Porter,  who  had 
a little  clearing  within  the  present  borough  limits ; 


Joseph  Austin,  who  had  a cabin  near  Comfort’s  Pond ; 
John  Wrighter,  who  had  a little  clearing  on  the  turn- 
pike, a mile  west  of  him  ; and  Christopher  Toby,  who 
lived  in  a little  log  house;  five  miles  this  side  of  Bel- 
mont. The  tract  he  had  purchased  was  heavily  tim- 
bered, largely  with  hemlock,  and  these  natives  of  the 
forest  were  hard  to  get  rid  of. 

He  had  to  depend  on  the  soil  for  his  bread  and  his 
gun  for  meat ; but  the  latter  was  by  far  the  easiest  to 
obtain,  for  Mr.  Messenger  relates  the  incident  of 
shooting  from  the  door  of  his  dwelling  a fine  buck 
from  out  of  a herd  of  six.  But  the  perils,  the  priva- 
tions and  discomforts  of  these  early  days  only  spurred 
him  to  renewed  exertions,  and  the  evidence  of  his 
perseverance  and  industry  is  found  on  the  farm 
which  he  wrested  from  the  wilderness.  In  1855  he 
erected  a new  dwelling,  and  added  from  time  to  time 
to  the  appointments  of  his  farm  convenient  out- 
buildings. 

Their  children  are  Francis  0.,  1825,  married  and 
residing  in  Wisconsin  (he  was  a soldier  in  the  late 
war,  serving  in  a Wisconsin  regiment) ; Ruby  A., 
1827,  wife  of  Windsor  Aylesworth,  of  Norwich, 
N.  Y. ; Maryette,  1829,  residing  in  Honesdale ; Sally 
E.,  1832,  wife  of  Charles  T.  Waterman,  a farmer  in 
Kansas;  William  E.,  1835,  residing  in  Thomson 
borough  ; Washington  W.,  1839,  married,  and  a mer- 
chant and  farmer  residing  in  Thomson  borough  ; 
Amanda  E.,  1841,  wife  of  Josiah  Mills,  an  engineer 
on  Jefferson  Railroad,  residing  at  Susquehanna.  In 
1868  he  sold  the  home-farm  to  B.  F.  Starbird,  and  re- 
moved to  the  borough,  and  same  year  married 
Silona  Pickering,  of  Gibson,  who  died  in  1881.  The 
year  he  came  to  the  borough  he  purchased  a lot  on 
which  was  a small  house,  which  he  tore  down,  and 
shortly  afterwards  erected  the  residence  where  he  now 
lives.  In  1883  he  married  Rebecca  J.  Baily,  a native 
of  Tompkins  County.  N.  Y.  In  politics  he  has  fol- 
lowed the  teachings  of  Jefferson  and  Jackson,  and 
has  been  loyal  to  the  principles  of  the  Democratic 
party.  He  has  served  his  town  as  school  director,  su- 
pervisor and  in  other  official  positions.  Mr.  Messen- 
ger retired  several  years  ago  from  active  business 
pursuits,  and  now,  in  the  evening  of  his  life,  is  en- 
joying some  of  the  fruits  of  his  early  sacrifices  and 
toil.  He  is  the  oldest  person  now  living  in  the  town- 
ship or  borough  of  Thomson. 

Chester  Stoddard. — His  father,  Enos  Stoddard 
(1777-1850),  was  the  son  of  Moses  and  Abigail  Stod- 
dard, who  had  other  children.  Enos  married,  in 
1798,  Aurelia  Bacon  (1780-1830)  and  settled  in  Litch- 
field, Conn.,  vvhere  he  lived  until  his  death.  They 
had  children, — Cynthia,  1799,  wife  of  Garrett  Mun- 
son and  resided  at  Meredith,  N.  Y.,  where  she  died  ; 
Asa  Barnes,  1800,  removed  to  New  Orleans  and  there 
died  ; Albert,  1801,  settled  in  Mexico  ; Orange,  1804, 
removed  to  Ohio ; Anna,  1805  (now  deceased),  was 
the  wife  of  Starr  Thomas,  of  Great  Bend  ; Anthea, 
1808,  wife  of  Leavitt  Munson,  of  Great  Bend ; Ches- 


THOMSON. 


845 


ter  (1810-84) ; Enos,  Jr.,  1812,  settled  at  Great  Bend, 
where  he  died  ; Alanson,  1813,  resides  in  Connecti- 
cut; Moses,  1815,  resides  in  Minnesota;  Charles, 
1818,  settled  in  Connecticut,  where  he  died.  Chester 
Stoddard  was  born  in  Litchfield,  Conn.,  November 
23,  1810.  His  early  life  was  passed  with  few  educa- 
tional advantages,  and  he  went  to  learn  the  trade  of 
a stone-mason  while  still  a youth.  He  early  devel- 
oped a love  for  hunting,  and,  at  the  age  of  eighteen, 
he  came  to  Great  Bend,  where,  in  the  wilderness 
thereabout,  were  found  game  in  such  abundance  as 
to  delight  a hunter’s  heart.  It  was  on  a hunting  ex- 


setts  and  removed  to  Gibson  in  1812,  where  they  set- 
tled, in  Gelatt  Hollow,  and  for  whom  the  place  was 
named.  Here  he  lived  until  his  death,  at  the 
advanced  age  of  one  hundred  and  five  years.  Their 
children  were  Wealthy,  1816,  wife  of  Daniel 
Wi'ighter  (now  of  Thomson)  ; Harriet,  1817  ; and 
Collins,  1820,  residing  in  Jackson.  Immediately 
upon  his  marriage  he  went  to  housekeeping  in  the 
shanty  he  had  built  in  the  wilderness.  His  worldly 
possessions  at  this  time  consisted  of  a yoke  of  oxen 
and  fifty  dollars  in  money,  which  he  had  borrowed  of 
John  Smiley  with  which  to  purchase  a housekeeping 


cursion,  in  1828,  that  he  probably  visited  Thomson 
for  the  first  time.  He  spent  several  seasons  in  this 
section  of  the  county,  returning  occasionally  to  Con- 
necticut, and  in  1836  he  decided  to  locate  here,  and 
took  up  ja  tract  of  sixty  acres  of  woodland  on  the 
Starrucca  road,  on  which  he  made  a clearing,  erected 
a barn  and  built  a shanty.  In  1837  he  married  Har- 
riet, 1817,  daughter  of  Jonathan  (1793-1877)  and  Ke- 
becca  Parmenter  (1791-1856)  Gelatt,  of  Gibson,  the 
former  a native  of  Ballston  Spa,  N.  Y.,  the  latter  of 
Westminster,  Vt.  They  were  married  at  Mount 
Pleasant,  Pa.,  in  1815,  by  Thomas  Meredith,  Esq. 
This  Jonathan  Gelatt  was  a son  of  George  and  Han- 
nah (Collins)  Gelatt,  who  were  natives  of  Massacliu- 


outfit.  But  although  his  store  of  this  world’s  goods 
was  meagre,  his  stock  of  energy,  perseverance  and 
pluck  was  large  and  complete,  to  which  his  young 
wife  added  her  full  share. 

In  1839  he  erected  a frame  house — the  present  res- 
idence of  his  daughter,  Mrs.  V.  L.  Stoddard.  With 
persevering  industry  he  continued  to  improve  his 
farm,  and  in  a few  years  had  added  forty-five  acres 
to  his  original  purchase.  In  1861  he  bought  of 
George  Blandin,  agent  for  John  Blandin,  of  Vermont, 
the  “ Blandin  ” Hotel  and  twenty-five  acres  of  land 
in  (now)  Thomson  Borough,  to  which  he  removed 
from  the  farm,  still  continuing  to  oversee  it  in  con- 
nection with  the  hotel  business.  In  1862  he  bought 


846 


HISTORY  OF  SUSQUEHANNA  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


a saw-mill  on  the  Starrucca  Creek,  and  added  lumber- 
ing to  his  other  business  enterprises.  The  mill  was  de- 
stroyed by  fire,  but,  with  his  characteristic  energy,  he 
soon  rebuilt  it.  Previous  to  this,  about  1858,  he  pur- 
chased the  Wallace  Lyons  farm,  on  the  Starrucca 
road,  near  the  homestead,  which  the  family  still  re- 
tains. Upon  leaving  the  hotel  in  1874,  he  purchased 
the  following  year  a property  near  the  depot,  im- 
proved it,  and  fitted  it  up  for  his  home,  and  here  he 
lived,  supervising  his  farms  and  other  business,  until 
his  death,  in  1884,  and  his  widow  still  resides  there. 
He  was  a member  of  the  M.  E.  Church,  and  to  it  and 
all  public  enterprises  of  his  town  he  was  a liberal 
contributor.  Fair  and  upright  in  his  business  rela- 
tions, he  was  pleasant  and  genial  socially,  and  his 
early  taste  for  hunting  clung  to  him  through  life.  In 
politics  he  was  a Democrat,  and  an  earnest  and  active 
advocate  of  the  principles  of  his  party.  He  served 
his  town  in  several  ofiicial  positions,  and  had  the  re- 
spect and  esteem  of  his  fellow-citizens.  Their  chil- 
dren are  Jane,  1840,  wife  of  Frank  Crosier,  residing 
in  Thomson  Borough  ; Emeretta,  1844,  wife  of  V. 
L.  Stoddard,  residing  on  the  old  homestead  ; William 
J.,  1850,  connected  with  the  manufacturing  and  mer- 
cantile business  of  B.  T.  Babbitt,  of  Boston,  Massa- 
chusetts. 

Thomson  Methodist  Church. — Elder  Nathaniel  Lewis 
was  the  first  preacher  who  preached  in  Thomson,  and 
who  also  formed  the  first  Methodist  class  here.  It 
consisted  of  five  members  : Frederick  and  Rachel 
Bingham,  John  and  Ann  Wrighterand  Betsey  Gelatt. 
They  held  meetings  at  John  Wrighter’s,  Rosencrantz’, 
where  Jenkins  afterwards  resided,  Collins ; Gelatt’s 
and  Frederick  Bingham’s.  The  funerals  were  held 
at  Wrighter’s  until  the  school-house  was  built.  John 
Wrighter  was  the  first  class-leader  ; Charles  Wrighter 
and  John  Jenkins  also  served  in  that  capacity.  Mr. 
Bingham  was  a Presbyterian,  but  identified  himself 
with  this  class,  as  there  was  no  church  of  his  choice 
here.  Miss  Blackman  says  of  Elder  Lewis:  “ At 
one  time,  while  he  was  preaching,  some  unruly 
boys  disturbed  the  meeting  to  such  an  extent  that  the 
elder’s  patience  gave  way,  and  he  upbraided  them  as 
the  most  hogmatical  set  of  scoundrels  he  ever  saw. 
On  being  told  there  was  no  such  word  in  common 
usage,  the  elder  said,  I don’t  care;  it  was  applicable." 
The  first  traveling  preachers  were  Elders  Warner, 
Barnes  and  Herrick.  Willard  Calhoun  was  the  most 
noted  local  man  that  ever  preached  here.  He  was  a 
rough,  fighting  man  before  conversion,  and  a noisy, 
shouting  preacher  afterwards.  He  frequently  stepped 
out  of  his  way  in  order  to  kick  Jonathan  Gelatt’s  dog,  be- 
cause he  said  it  was  a Calviuistic  dog.  The  Gelatts 
favored  the  Baptists  and  were  somewhat  Calvinistic 
in  their  views.  The  have  been  heard  one  and  one- 
half  miles  distant  by  men  now  living.  Falling  or 
losing  their  strength  was  common  among  them.  At 
such  times  they  would  be  apparently  dead.  John 
Doming  preached  here  frequently,  and  is  said  to  have 


organized  the  first  Sunday-school  in  a school-house 
about  a mile  north  of  the  centre.  Others  think 
that  the  first  Sunday-school  was  at  John  Jenkins’ 
house.  At  first  they  were  taught  to  read  from  the 
spelling-bookj  the  same  as  in  week-day  school.  Rev. 
Jonas  Underwood  was  one  of  the  most  successful 
revivalists  that  has  ever  preached  here.  A handsome 
church  was  erected  in  1851  and  dedicated  in  1852. 
The  Methodist  Church  records  are  very  meagre  up  to 
a certain  date.  Of  late  years  their  records  are  well 
kept.  Rev.  J.  F.  Warner,  in  1873,  writes  as  follows  : 
“ Thomson  circuit  used  to  be  an  unusually  large  one. 
How  much  territory  is  embraced,  or  what  appoint- 
ments, I have  never  been  able  to  learn.  When  I was 
appointed  thereto,  in  April,  1873,  it  consisted  of  five 
appointments,  viz.:  Thomson,  Ararat,  Aldrich  school- 
house,  Hines’  Corners  and  Wall  school-house;  but  at 
the  next  Conference  in  1874,  the  two  appointments  last 
named  were  annexed  to  Herrick  Centre  charge,  leav- 
ing it  as  it  now  is.”  The  church  at  Ararat  was  built 
at  a cost  of  two  thousand  five  hundred  dollars,  and 
dedicated  by  Dr.  Y.  C.  Smith,  August  16,  1873.  The 
church  at  Thomson  was  modernized  and  repaired  at 
a cost  of  five  hundred  dollars,  and  rededicated  in 
1875  by  Rev.  Austin  Grifiin.  In  1876  Rev.  Joseph 
Stephens  was  appointed.  He  has  been  followed  by 
Y.  C.  Smith,  Richard  Hiorns,  Richard  Varcoe,  P-  C. 
Roskelly,  T.  Burgess,  C.  W.  Todd.  M.  D.  Mattoon, 
a local  preacher,  supplied  the  pulpit  in  1870-71. 
Nathaniel  P.  Sartell  was  also  a local  preacher.  There 
has  been  about  fifty  added  to  the  church  this  year. 
The  present  membership  is  one  hundred  and  seven. 
The  Sunday-school  is  in  a flourishing  condition,  with 
a membership  of  about  one  hundred ; G.  F.  Spencer, 
superintendent.  Ararat  is  connected  with  Thomson 
charge  and  has  a membership  of  about  fifty. 

The  Thomson  Free-  Will  Baptist  Church  was  organ- 
ized Nov.  16,  1867,  by  Elder  Fish,  Deacon  Martin 
Hall  and  M.  T.  Whitney  acting  as  council.  It  was 
organized  in  the  Aldrich  school-house,  and  the  con- 
stituent members  were  R.  0.  Lewis  and  wife,  Alpheus 
Case  and  wife,  Robert  Gelatt  and  wife,-  Mrs.  Lyman 
Baldwin,  Mrs.  James  Cleveland,  Mrs.  Aaron  Gallo- 
way, William  Carpenter,  Lavinia  Carpenter,  Herschel 
Padgeit,  Betsey  Padgett  and  George  Stark.  The 
present  neat  church  was  dedicated  June  4,  1876.  It 
was  built  at  a cost  of  three  thousand  dollars.  There 
is  a membership  of  fifty-two  persons.  It  has  been 
connected  with  the  Jackson  Church,  in  the  support  of 
a pastor  until  recently.  Elder  Fish,  the  first  pastor, 
was  succeeded  by  Elders  Asa  Dodge,  Asa  Lord,  Nel- 
son Youngs,  Prescott,  Nash,  Brown,  Nathan  Callen- 
dar  and  Hiram  L.  Maltman.  The  Sunday-school  was 
originally  a union  school  with  the  Methodist.  Jan. 
2,  1887,  the  school  was  reorganized  with  Elder  Malt- 
man as  superintendent.  This  church  was  incorpo- 
rated Jan.  11,  1875,  on  petition  of  L.  E.  Baldwin,  F. 
M.  Gelatt,  M.  D.  Mattoon,  R.  0.  Lewis,  G.  L.  Lewis, 
W.  W.  Messenger,  S.  R.  Gelatt,  William  Carpenter, 


THOMSON. 


847 


William  Witter,  A.  H.  Crosier,  Eobert  Gelatt,  L.  N. 
Hubbard,  W.  H.  Hull. 

The  only  burial-ground  in  the  township  lies  within 
the  borough,  and  was  originally  taken  from  Joseph 
Porter’s  land.  One  of  his  children  was  the  first 
person  buried  there.  There  is  about  one-half  acre 
of  land  in  the  burial-ground.  Among  others  buried 
there  are  Chester  Stoddard,  died  1884,  aged  nearly 
seventy-four;  Henry  Chandler,  died  1871,  aged 
seventy-six  ; Henry  Jenkins,  died  1877,  aged  sixty- 
three;  John  Harris,  died  1871,  aged  sixty-five; 


Cornelius  R.  Wrighter,  died  1876,  aged  eighty-four; 
William  G.  Bloxham,  died  1882,  aged  forty-eight ; 
John  Jenkins  was  born  1783,  died  1858;  John 
Wrighter,  died  1857,  aged  seventy-seven  ; Jonathan 
Gelatt,  died  1877,  aged  eighty-four  ; William  W.  Van 
Horn,  died  1879,  aged  eighty-four;  John  Glover, 
died  1881,  aged  seventy-seven;  John  J.  Van  Horn, 
died  1882,  aged  fifty-one ; Rev.  Charles  W.,  son  of 
Nathaniel  P.  and  Margaret  Sartell,  died  1875,  aged 
twenty-seven ; Samuel  H.  Lewis,  died  1863,  aged 
fifty-nine  years. 


■s 


GENERAL  INDEX 


A. 

Abel,  William,  748. 

AborigiDes : Lenni  Lenape,  1 j Six  Nations, 
2 ; Mouseys,  2 ; Painted  Eocks,  2 ; Indian 
claim,  15  ; Indian  .trails,  43  ; Indian  ‘depre- 
dations, 11. 

Academy,  Harford,  739. 

Adams,  J.  W.,  669. 

Adams,  A.  J.,  735. 

Agricultural  societies,  196. 

Ainey,  Dr.  A.  J.,  161. 

Ainey,  Dr.  D.  C.,  160. 

Ainey,  Wm.  D.,  101. 

Allen,  M.  S.,  99. 

American  Kevolution,  210';  soldiers  of,  the 
pioneer  settlers  of  Susquehanna  County, 
210 ; War  of  1812,  muster  roll,  211 ; militia, 
212  ; Colonel  Bailey,  211,  655  ; early  militia, 
212. 

Animals,  42. 

Apulacon,  township,  463 ; settlers  of,  464 ; 

Little  Meadows,  467  ; churches,  469. 
Associate  judges,  74. 

Attorneys,  74. 

Ararat  township,  823  ; taverns  of,  and  stores, 
834  ; churches  and  burial-places,  834. 
Auditors,  70. 

Authors,  116. 

Auburn  township,  417;  pioneers  of,  419;  as- 
sessment, 1816,  422  ; Four  Corners,  430  ; west, 
431  ; south,  431 ; churches,  432. 

Austin,  J.,  578. 

Avery,  Samuel  C.,  825. 

B. 

Bailey,  Dr.  D.  L.,  163. 

Bailey,  Col.  Fred.,  655. 

Bailey,  Capt.  Amos,  653. 

Bailey,  Obadiah,  654. 

Bailey,  E.  M.,  655. 

Bailey,  Lodowick,  655. 

Bailey,  Henry  L.,  655. 

Baker,  Judge  I.  P.,  386. 

Baldwin  family,  337. 

Baldwin,  B.  L.,  99. 

Baldwin,  Dr.  H.  D.,  169. 

Ball,  E.  G.,482. 

Banker,  David,  520. 

Banks  of  Montrose,  298. 

Barnes,  Hon.  W.  T.,  99. 

Barnes,  W.  N.,  100. 

Barnes,  Amos,  680. 

Barnes,  S.  H.,  581. 

Bartlett  Hinds  mobbed,  25.  ! 

Barton,  Mrs.  L.  H.,  564. 

Baughner,  Dr.  A.  L.,  173. 

Beach,  Dr.  J.  C.,  165. 

Beardsley,  Capt.  H.  F.,  129,  264  g. 

Beardsley,  Albert,  403. 

848 


Beebe,  Bradley,  559. 

Beebe,  Charles,  561. 

Bell,  James,  590. 

Bell,  Truman,  690. 

Bell,  Elisha,  689. 

Bench  and  bar,  70. 

Bennett,  C.  S.,  590. 

Bently,  Hon.  B.  S.,  80. 

Benton,  Eev.  A.  L.,  308. 

Bingham,  Dr.  L.  W.,  141. 

Birchard,  Jesse,  480. 

Birchardville,  491. 

Birdsall,  Dr.  S.,  151. 

Bissell,  Dr.  S.,  141. 

Bissell,  Dr.  W.,  142. 

Bissell,  Sergt.  A.  W.,  264i. 

Blackman,  Miss  E.  C.,  121. 

Blackman,  Dr.  J.,  143. 

Blackburn,  Y.,  598. 

Blakeslee,  E.  L.,  97, 125. 

Blakeslee,  Dr.  W.  E.,  165. 

Blakeslee,  B.  F.,  393. 

Blakeslee,  L.,  394. 

Blakeslee,  Dr.  A.  C.,  168. 

Blair,  Dr.  A.  S.,  170. 

Bloxham,  Edward,  831. 

Bloxham,  J.  B.,  831. 

Bonner,  H.,  767. 

Boroughs  incorporated,  63. 

Booth,  Wm.,  490. 

Boyd,  Wm.  H.,  288. 

Boyle,  Judge  John,  634. 

Boyle,  Dr.  J.  J.,  162. 

Bradshaw,  John,  486. 

Brandt,  583. 

Brandt,  H.W.,  683. 

Brandt,  J.  S.,  596. 

Brandt,  J.,  178. 

Breed,  E.  F.,  661. 

Brewster,  Dr.  P.  D.,  174. 

Brewster,  Horace,  332. 

Brewster,  D.  T.,  99. 

Broderick,  Rev.  P.  F.,  606. 

Brookdale,  512. 

Brooklyn  township,  648  ; description,  649 
topography,  649  ; settlers,  649  ; old  mills 
670  ; authors  and  writers,  672  ; schools,  672 
churches,  673  ; roads,  674  ; cemeteries,  674 
post-office,  674 ; depot,  674 ; census,  675 
village,  676. 

Bridgewater,  East,  338. 

Bridgewater  township,  321. 

Brooks,  Dr.  S.  A.,  166. 

! Brown,  D.  W.,  100. 

I Brown,  Thomas,  486. 

Bruiidage,  Dr.  A.  T.,  153. 

Brundage,  Dr.  N.,  170. 

Brundage,  Dr.  J.  W.,  170. 

Brundage,  Dr.  D.  F.,  170. 

Brundage,  Dr.  E.  L.,  170. 


Brush,  B.  L.,  385. 

Brush,  Dr.  P.  E.,  164. 

Brush,  Samuel,  558. 

Brush,  Calvin,  564. 

Buckley,  John,  594. 

Bunnell,  Kirby,  351, 

Bunnell,  Wm.,  387. 

Bunnell,  F.  H.,  388. 

Bunnell,  J.  A.,  388. 

Burrows,  Urbane,  755. 

Burdick,  Philip,  791. 

Bush,  M.  K.,  347. 

Bushnell,  Hezekiah,  828. 

Bushnell,  Albert,  91. 

Bushnell,  James  C.,  829. 

Butler,  Col.  Zebulon,  12. 

Butler,  Col.  Johu,  12. 

Butterfield,  Dr.  E,  A.,  174. 

Butterfield,  Dr.  E.  S.,  174. 

C. 

Callender,  J.  M.,  798. 

Camp,  B.  0.,  96. 

Capron,  Laban,  720, 

Cannalt,  Dr.  W.  H.,  168. 

Carmalt,  J.  E.,  95. 

Cargill,  Hon.  J.  W.,  126. 

Cargill,  James,  774. 

Case,  Benjamin  T.,  82. 

Case,  Frederick  A.,  91. 

Catlin,  Charles,  82. 

Catlin,  Luther,  335. 

Catlin,  George,  120. 

Census  1810-63,  65. 

Chandler,  F.  B.,  296. 

Chandler,  Dr.  W.  J.,  167. 

Chamberlain,  Dr.  A.,  164. 

Chamberlain,  A.,  90. 

Chapman,  Hon.  J.  W,,  103. 

Charter  to  William  Penn,  6. 

Chase,  Hon.  S.  B.,  188. 

Choconut  township,  470;  settlers  of,  471  ; 
clnu'ches,  476. 

Church,  Eev.  L.  W.,  552. 

Churches  : Montrose,  304;  East  Bridgewater, 
338  ; Jessup,  364 ; Dimock,  380  ; Springville, 
413;  Auburn,  432,;  Eush,  451 ; Middletown, 
462 ; Apolacon,  468 ; Forest  Lake,  491 ; 
Silver  Lake,  506;  Choconut,  476  ; Liberty, 
513  ; Franklin,  525  ; Great  Bend,  542 ; Sus- 
quehanna, 604;  Hallstead,  649;  Harmony, 
586  ; Gibson,  751 ; Jackson,  785 ; Clifford, 
801 ; Dundatf,  811  ; Herrick,  819 ; Ararat, 
835  ; New  Milford,  643 ; Brooklyn,  673 ; Hop- 
bottom,  694  ; Lenox,  710  ; Harford,  736  ; 
Thomson,  846. 

Civil  List;  66;  ^members  of  Congi-ess,  66; 
State  Senators,  67  ; State  Eepresentatives, 
67 ; sheriffs  and  coroners,  68 ; prothono- 
taries,  68  ; registers  and  recorders,  68  ; treas- 


GENEKAL  INDEX. 


849 


urors,  60 ; commissiouers,  69  ; comiiiission- 
ei-s’  clerli.3,  60  ; jury  commissioners,  69 ; 
auditore,  TO  ; surveyors,  70. 

Clifford  township,  7S7  ; Round  Hill,  788  ; pio- 
neers of,  789;  taxahles  1815,  791;  Welsh 
settlement,  792;  1842  taxahles,  793  ; Elk- 
dale,  795  ; Clifford  village,  797  ; Lonsdale, 
797  ; lodges,  798  ; Crystal  Lake,  799  ; For- 
est City,  799  ; churches  of,  801 ; cemeteries 
of  805. 

Clinton,  General,  13. 

Cobb,  Dr.  J.  W.,  152. 

Colored  Volunteers,  264w. 

Comfort,  John,  573. 

Commissioners,  69. 

Commissioners’  clerks,  G9. 

Congress,  members  of,  66. 

Connecticut  xVssembly,  11. 

Connecticut  charter,  5. 

Connecticut  claimants,  20. 

Connecticut  claims,  10. 

County  organization,  61. 

Connecticut,  Susquehanna  Company,  6. 

Cook,  J.  H , 592. 

Cook,  J.  a,  593. 

County  Centennial,  264^). 

Corse,  Lieutenant  A.  D.,  781, 

Cornwell,  Dr.  N.  P.,  142. 

County  map,  63. 

Court-house,  65. 

Courtright,  J.  S.,  99. 

Cruser,  Wm.  C. , 110. 

Curtis,  C.  J.,  339. 

Curtis,  Gaylord,  595. 

O. 

Davis,  T.  J.,  100. 

Day,  Robert,  322, 

Dayton,  Dr.  S.  W.,  153. 

Dayton,  Frederick,  365. 

Decker,  Dr.  C.,  172. 

Deed  from  Six  Nations,  5. 

Delaware  Company,  7. 

Denison,  Dr.  B.,  137. 

Denison,  Dr.  J.  W.,  148. 

Dennison,  Dr.  M.,  169. 

Dentistry,  177. 

Dickerman,  Dr.  C.,  172. 

Dimock,  Hon.  D.,  Jr.,  83. 

Dimock,  John  H.,  83. 

Dimock,  Dr.  G.  Z.,  150. 

Dimock  township,  366  ; settlers  of,  367  ; village 
of,  378. 

District  attorneys,  75. 

Dixon,  C.  B.,  534. 

Doctor  ye  Olden  Time,  130. 

Doyle,  Justin  L.,  829. 

Draft  for  War  of  1812,  211. 

Drinker,  Dr.  C.  J.,  170. 

Drinker,  Henry,  28. 

Drinker’s  letters,  24. 

Drinker’s  Meshoppen  tract,  31. 

Du  Bois  family,  547. 

Du  Bois,  James  T.,  115. 

Dundaflf  Borough,  806  ; incorporation  of,  808  ; 

churches,  811. 

Dunham,  Dr  A.,  153. 

Dunning,  Dr.,  178. 

Durga,  Dr.  G.  W.,  170. 

Dusenbury,  J.  H.,  645. 

Early  settlements,  5. 

Easterbrook,  W.  W.,  783. 

Education  (general),  189. 

Edwards,  Dr.  C.  C.,  150. 

Eisnian,  M.  H.,  593. 


Eldred,  Gabriel,  300. 

Elk  Lake,  379. 

Ellis,  Hon.  C.  H.,  820. 

Engle,  Dr.  S.  J.,  172. 

Estabrook,  S.  H.,  566. 

Estabrook,  Dr.  C.  G.,  171. 

Ewing’s  Lands,  31. 

F. 

Fairdale,  364. 

Falkenbury,  Hon.  S.,  594. 

Fargo,  Frederick,  372. 

Farmers’  Institute,  202. 

Filewood,  Dr.  F.,  159. 

First  settlement,  Wyoming,  7. 

First  court,  64. 

First  court  Susquehanna  County,  71. 

First  Catholic  priest,  503. 

First  Grand  Jury,  72. 

First  lawyers,  75. 

Fitch,  Hon.  L.  F.,  89. 

Fietcher,  Dr.  W.  W.,  169. 

Follet,  Elkanah  T.,  732. 

Follet,  Robert,  717. 

Fordham,  D.  C.,  292. 

Forests,  40. 

Forest  Lake,  479  ; settlers,  481 ; education,  492  ; 
library  of,  492  ; churches,  491  ; cemeteries, 
496. 

France,  J.  M.,  428. 

Fianklin  Township,  514  ; churches,  schools  of, 
525. 

Franklin  Forks,  524. 

Frazer,  Hon.  F.,  86. 

Frazer  Hon.  Philip,  86. 

Frazer,  Miss  A.  L.,  118. 

Frazer,  Dr.  C.,  138. 

Frazier,  H.  H.,  104. 

Frazier,  Hon.  George  T.,  593. 

French,  Sergeant  Myron,  2647t;. 

Frieudsville  Borough,  496. 

G. 

G.  A.  R.  Posts,  264a  ; Woman’s  Relief  Corps, 

2647. 

Gamble,  Dr.  G.  M.,  150. 

Gardner,  Dr.  P.  H.,  143. 

Gardner,  Dr.  E.  L.,  166. 

Gardner,  L.,  342. 

Gardner,  J,  F.,  344. 

Gelatt,  George,  757. 

Geology,  38. 

Gere,  Col.  C.  M.,  301. 

Gerritson,  A.  J.,  108. 

Gibson  township,  745  ; Burrows’  Hollow,  752  ; 
Kennedy  Hill,  746  ; Kentuck,  747  ; Union 
Hill,  749  ; churches,  751-756  ; South  Gibson, 
700 ; Smiley  Hollow,  758  ; physicians,  755  ; 
schools,  755  ; lodge,  757  ; burial-places,  765- 
Gilbert,  L.  S.,178. 

Gillet,  Jacob  L.,  750. 

Granges,  199. 

Grattan,  Dr.  F.  E.,  165. 

Gray,  A.  W.,  446. 

Great  Bend  township,  528  ; settlement  of,  529  ; 
assessment  1813,  532  ; Dutch  of,  634  ; phy- 
sicians of,  536  ; cemetery,  536 ; Agricultural 
Society,  537  ; schools  of,  538. 

Great  Bend  Borough,  538  ; hotels  of,  540  ; post- 
office,  541 ; churches  of,  542 ; societies  of, 
545  ; school  ot,  545  ; Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  (cut),  544. 

Green,  Dr.  W.  N.,  157. 

Gregg,  J.  B.,  508. 

Griffin,  Dr.  James,  16)4. 

Griffin,  Dr.  P.  F.,  173. 

Griffis,  Leamler,  778. 


Griffis,  Byron,  355. 

Grimes,  J.  K.,  562. 

Griswold,  Sedate,  589. 

Grow,  Hon.  G.  A.,  702. 

Guile,  S.  B.,  724. 

H. 

Hall,  Dr.  G.  N.,  173. 

Hall,  Frank,  264i 
Hall,  Deacon  Martin,  771. 

Hallstead,  G.  W.,  170. 

Hallstead,  John,  179. 

Hallstead  Borough,  546. 

Halsey,  Dr.  C.  C.,  148. 

Halsted,  John,  794. 

Hamilton,  Hon.  ,T.  proclamation,  8. 

Handrick,  Dr.  E.  L.,  158. 

Handrick,  H.  F.,  484. 

Harding,  William,  625. 

Harford  Academy,  739. 

Harford  Township,  712 ; Nine  Partners  of, 
712  ; village  of,  721 ; manufacturing  of,  723  ; 
postmasters,  725  ; churches,  737 ; schools,  742  ; 
military  organization,  729  ; Congregational 
Church  cut,  737  ; academy,  739  ; Agricultural 
Society,  742  ; burial-places,  744. 

Harmony,  I.  S.  D.,  582. 

Harmony  township,  578  : schools  of,  587  ; lum- 
bermen of,  578  ; churches  of,  586. 

Harrison,  Dr.  G.  M.,  100. 

Harroun,  Dr.  A.  K.,  178. 

Hartley,  M.  J.,  697. 

Harvey,  W.  S.,  488. 

Hawdey,  Hon.  E.  B.,  110 

Herrick  township,  813  ; early  settlers,  814  ; 
Herrick  Centre.  818  ; churches,  819;  Union- 
dale  Borough,  820 ; Susquehanna  County 
Messenger,  821  ; borough  churches,  822. 
Hickory  Grove,  533. 

Hilborn,  John,  17,  671. 

Hillis,  J.  S.,445. 

Hinds,  L.  P.,  91. 

Hinds,  Major,  D.  D.,  323. 

Hines,  Dr.  E.  P.,  157. 

Hopbottom  Borough,  687  ; first  settlers  of,  688  ; 
schools  of,  694  ; churches  of,  694  ; societies 
of,  694 ; incorporation  of,  694  ; Lathrop 
Cemetery,  696. 

I. 

Indian  depradations,  11. 

Indian  claim,  15. 

Indian  trails,  43. 

Independent  Republican,  104. 

Intrusion  law,  21. 

Ives,  Rev.  R.  N.,  552. 

J. 

Jackson  township  : First  settlement,  769 ; Ben- 
son district,  772;  Benson,  Hosea,  772  ; Ben- 
son, L.  D.,  773  ; Jackson  Centre,  777  ; post- 
office,  778  ; Savory  District,  780 ; log  school- 
house,  784;  churches,  785. 

James,  B.  F.,194. 

Jeffers,  Watson,  728. 

Jennings,  Jasper  T.,  129. 

Jessup,  Hon.  Wm.,  70. 

Jessup,  Hon.  Wm.  H.,  80. 

Jessup,  Huntting  C.,  97. 

Jessup,  W.  H.,  Jr.,  100. 

Jessup  township,  352;  clmrches  of,  364. 

Jewett,  Rodney,  660. 

Jewett,  Nathan,  659. 

Jones,  Wm.  H.,  208. 

Jouee,  Miss  Sarah,  127. 

Johnstone,  Dr.  (J.  A.,  167. 

Jolinson,  John,  684. 


850  ^ . 

[ 

Jury  commissioners,  G9. 

Justices  of  the  peace,  1812,  G4. 

K.. 

Kane,  J.  C.,  593. 

Kelly,  John  M.,  100. 

Kent,  Dr.  E.  A.,  1G6. 

Kent,  H.  J.,  346. 

Kent,  Justice,  657. 

Kent,  David,  658. 

Kent,  A.  W.,  671. 

Kessler,  Rev.  R,,  585. 

Kimball,  Dr.  G.  D.,  174. 

Kingsbury,  Rev.  E.,  738. 

Kingsley’s  station,  734. 

Kistler,  Stephen,  542. 

Lady’s  head-dress,  1776, 181. 

Lake,  J.  L.,  383. 

Lamb,  C.  W.,  565- 
Laud  titles,  26. 

Lane,  Martin,  574. 

Lanesboro’,  579 ; lyceum  of,  582 ; lodge  of> 
583  ; manufacturing  of-,  5S'K 
Lannon,  J.,  591. 

Larrabee,  M.  J.,  95. 

Lathrop,  Dr.  D.  A,,  147. 

Lathrop,  Dr.  I,  B.,  154. 

Lathrop,  Walter,  329. 

Liithrop,  Judge  Benj.,  329.  ' 

Lathrop,  D.  D.,  30<). 

Lathrop,  Azur,  283. 

Lathrop  township,  676. 

Lawsville  Centre,  511. 

Leet,  Dr.  C.,  138. 

Lenox  township,  695  ; pioneere  of,  697  ; 1813 
taxables,  699  ; hamlets  of,  707  ; Centreville, 
709  ; churches,  710. 

Leslie,  Dr,  J.  D.,  IGl. 

Leslie,  John,  734. 

Lewis,  Dr.  A.  H.,  166. 

Lewis,  Dr.  J.  A.,  171. 

Lewis,  Dr.  U.,  173, 

Liberty  township,  5o7 ; pioneers  of,  507  ; 

churches  of,  513. 

Lindabury,  Dr.  A.  A.,  172. 

Little,  Ralph  B.,  84. 

Little,  George  P.,  94. 

Locke,  N.  R.,  472. 

Log  school-house,  784. 

Loomis,  Dr.  E.  N.,  176. 

Loomis,  S.,  532. 

Loomis,  G.  0.,  704. 

Lott,  F.  I.,  98. 

Lowry,  James  W.,  795. 

Lowry,  Dr.  W.  J.,  172. 

Lusk,  Hon.  Franklin,  82. 

Lusk,  Wm.  D.,94. 

Lyman,  Capt.  C.  E.,  98.  | 

Lyman,  Dr.  E.,  138. 

Lynn,  409. 

Lyons,  Dr.  Ray,  172. 

Lyons,  B.  R.,  280. 

Lyons,  F.  D.,  593. 

Lyons,  S.  A.,  579. 

Lyons,  David,  577. 

Lyons,  D.  A.,  593. 

Lyons,  J.  R.,  2645. 

Lyons  Brothers,  264^. 

M. 

McCausland,  Dr.  W.  J.,  173. 

McCollum,  Hon.  J.  B.,  81. 

McCollum,  A.  II.,  98. 

McCoy,  C.  E.,  582. 

McCreary,  Rev.  J.  B.,  5">1. 


GENERAL  INDEX. 


McDonald,  D.,  590. 

McKinney,  H,,  128. 

McKune,  J.  H.,  574. 

McKune,  Joseph,  574. 

McPherson,  Matthew,  264^. 

Mackey,  Dr.  C.  D.,  171. 

Mackey,  Dr.  K.  0.,  161. 

Mail  and  stage-routes,  50. 

Mann,  John,  477. 

Manners  and  customs,  179. 

Manning,  R,  J,,  101, 

Mannington  Academy,  477. 

Map  of  Northeast  Pennsylvania,  5. 

Map  of  Susquehanna  County,  63. 

Marsh,  Kirby,  510. 

Massacre  of  Wyoming,  11. 

Maxon,  Dr.,  178. 

Medical  History,  130. 

Medical  Society,  original  members,  132. 

Merriman,  J L.,  519. 

Messenger,  E.  K.,  843. 

Middletown  township,  453 : settlers  of,  454  ; first 
Irish,  459  ; Prattsville,  462 ; centre  of,  462 ; 
churches,  462;  Jackson  Valley,  462. 

Miller,  C.  A.,  590. 

Miller,  Dr.  M.  L.,  174. 

Miller,  Rev.  Adam,  739. 

Militia  (Early),  212. 

Miner,  Charles,  254. 

Mitchell,  Dr.  Ellen  E,  IGl. 

Mitchell,  Dr.  W S.,  170. 

Montrose  Borough,  265;  fire  companies,  273; 
merchants,  274;  manufactures,  284;  hotels, 
293  ; liverymen,  296  ; insurance,  296  ; pho- 
tography, 296;  telegraph,  296  ; artists,  etc., 
298;  banks,  298;  schools,  301;  churches, 
304-320  ; lodges,  318  ; cemetery,  319  ; colored 
people,  319. 

Montrose  Democrat,  107. 

Montrose  (South),  331. 

Morgan,  Captain  David,  657. 

Morrow,  Hon.  P.  D.,  80, 

Mud  Lake,  505. 

Mulford,  S.  B.,  89. 

Mulford,  Rev.  E.,  122. 

Mulford,  Dr.  S.  S.,  164. 

N. 

Newman,  James,  574. 

Newman,  Dr.  J.  M.,  168. 

New  Milford  township,  612;  geological  features, 
612;  settlement,  614;  Indians,  614;  1816 
assessment,  621 ; manufacturing,  627. 

New  Milford  borough,  630  ; early  settlement, 
631 ; merchants  of,  637  ; notable  events, 
642  ; schools,  643  ; churches,  643  ; cemeterv, 
648. 

Newspapers:  Independent  Republican,  ir4; 
Montrose  Democrat,  107  ; New  Milford  Ad- 
vertiser, 113 ; Sentinel,  113 ; Transciipt, 
115;  Great  Bend  Plaindealer,  115  ; Susque- 
hanna Journal,  114. 

Newton,  J.  M.,  666. 

Nichols,  Amos,  301. 

Nicholson  Guards,  582. 

Nicholson  lands,  29. 

Nicholson  court,  30. 

Nine  Partners’  survey,  31. 

Niven,  409. 

Northrop,  S.  J.,  113, 

O. 

O’Neill,  Eugene,  98. 

O’Reilly,  Rwv.  .J.  V.,  605. 

Oakland  borough,  568. 

Oakland  township,  554  ; schools  of,  564  ; 
clmrches  of,  568. 


Oakley,  Millbourn,  726. 

Oakley,  D.  K.,  727. 

Olmstead,  Dr.  J.  C.,  147. 

Overfield,  Mary  H.,  128. 

Overfield,  Paul  J.,  264h. 

P. 

Page,  L.  S.,  590. 

Parke,  Colonel  Thomas,  36.9. 

Parker,  Dr.  E.,  137. 

Parks,  Dr.  E.S.,  146. 

Patrick,  Dr.  E.,  Jr.,  145. 

Patrons  of  Husbandry,  198. 

Peck,  Freeman,  729. 

Peck,  Levi  R.,  730. 

Peck,  Dr.  D.  J.,  171. 

Pennamite  War,  8. 

Pennamite  War  (2d),  20. 

Penn’s  tea  service,  180. 

Pennsylvania  Assembly,  11. 

Pennypacker,  Dr.  H.,  156. 

Pickering,  J.  D.,  768. 

Pickering,  Colonel  T. , 570. 

Pioneer  roads,  44. 

Pioneer  settlements,  264o. 

Post,  Rev,  A.  L.,  308. 

Post,  William  M.,  92. 

Post,  Isaac,  269. 

Post,  David,  270. 

Post,  Hon.  George  A.,  110. 

Potter,  L.  S.,  178. 

Potter,  Capt.  Joseph,  746. 

Potter,  J.  M.,  746. 

Pratt,  Ezra  A.,  638. 

Press  of  Montrose,  101 ; Susquehanna,  114  ; 

New  Milford,  113  ; Great  Bend,  115. 

Phillips,  Owen,  264i. 

Pride,  Dr.  W.  W.,  138. 

Prichard,  Orrin,  207. 

Property  valuation  1821,  66. 

Pi'othonotaries,  68. 

R. 

Railways  : Erie,  54  ; Delawai’e,  Lackawanna 
and  Western,  56  ; Montrose,  59. 

Raynsford,  J.  W.,  322. 

Read,  Hon.  C.  F.,  284. 

Read,  Hon.  A.  H.,  83. 

Recorders,  68. 

Red  Rock,  533. 

Registers,  68. 

Representatives,  67. 

Resseguie,  Samuel,  760. 

Revolution  : Soldiers  of,  210. 

Richards,  J.  T.,  87. 

Richardson,  Dr.  W.  L.,  140. 

Richardsoii,  Dr.  B.,  142. 

Richardson,  Rev.  Lyman,  741. 

Richardson,  Caleb,  717. 

Richmond  Hill,  505. 

Riley,  M.  M.,  99, 

Riley,  Rev.  H.  A.,  310. 

Riley,  Minot,.  407., 

Rogers,  Dr.  Wm.,  158. 

Roper,  Sergt.  A.  J.,  264/. 

Rose,  Dr.  R.  H.,  500. 

Rowley,  Dr.  A.  P.,  168. 

Rowley,  A.  W.,  690. 

Rush  township,  436 ; settlers  of,  437  ; Rush- 
ville,  4»9;  village,  449;  mineral  spring, 
451  ; churches,  451. 

S. 

Safford,  E.  W.,  100. 

Sartell,  Rev.  N.  P.,  836. 

Saunders  Lyman,  685. 

Schlager,  Jacob,  585, 


GBNEllAL  INDEX 


851 


Sweet,  Lorenzo,  G82. 

Sweet,  Captain  A.  T.,  264t?. 


ScliUiger,  Charles,  595. 

Sclioonmaker,  Ur.  P.,  168. 

Seaiie,  Daniel,  51. 

Searle,  Leonanl,  54. 

Searle,  D.  W.,  93. 

Searle,  E.  R.  W.,  100. 

Searle,  R.  S.,  201. 

Searle,  Mrs.  L.  C.,  lls. 

Secor,  Dr.  J.  S.,  1G8. 

Senators  (State),  G7, 

Sentinel,  113. 

Sheiiffs  and  coroners,  08. 

Sherer,  Samuel,  373. 

Sherman,  Dr.  A.  B.,  171. 

Sherman,  II.  K.,  395. 

Sherwood,  Dr.,  178 
Sherwood,  IVin.  H.,  443. 

Simrell,  Capt.  W.  F.,  264e. 

Silver  Lake  township,  499  ; roads  of,  504  ; 

churches,  5u6  ; post-office,  505. 

Slattery,  Rev.  John,  606. 

Smith,  A.  B , Jr.,  luO. 

Smith,  Theo , 105. 

Smith,  Dr.  E.  N.,  139. 

Smith,  Dr.  L.  A.,  140. 

Smith,  Horace,  177. 

Smith,  F.  I.,  179. 

Smith,  \Vm.,  589. 

Smith,  R.  W.,  5l7. 

Smith,  Joe,  554. 

Smiley,  John,  758. 

Snyder,  Dr.  E.  E.,  166. 

Soldiers’  Monument,  2G4Z. 

Sous  of  Veterans,  2G4a. 

Southworth,  T.  J.,  264e. 

Springville  township  388  ; pioneers  of,  389  ; 

village  of,  405  ; churches  413. 

Springsteen,  T.,  598. 

Squier,  Albert,  412. 

Stage  coaches,  5o. 

State  Senators,  67. 

Stanfordville,  612. 

Strange,  Dr.  W.  W.,  169. 

Starrucca  viaduct,  583. 

Streeter,  Hon.  F.  B.,  79. 

Streeter,  Dr.  J.  B.,  135. 

Stephens,  J.  B.,  801. 

Stephens,  Benj.,  410. 

Stimpson,  Dr.  A.  0.,  157. 

Stiles,  Dr.  C.  L , 172. 

Stock  breeding,  203. 

Stoddard,  C.,  815. 

Stone,  0.  W.,  360. 

Stone,  James  E.,  483. 

Stone  family,  483. 

Strickland,  Ezra,  399. 

Strickland,  P.,  399. 

Strickland,  I.  A.,  400. 

Sturdevant,  Dr.  D.  W , 173. 

Sullivan,  General,  13. 

Suell,  Dr,  E.,  173. 

Surveyors,  70. 

Susquehanna  Borough,  588  ; burges.ses  of,  589  ; 
postmasters,  589  ; banks  of,  594  ; Bridge  Co. 
of,  596  ; Water  Co.  of,  596  ; railroad  shops, 
597  ; officers  of,  599  ; Library  Association, 
599  ; telegraph,  599  ; Mutual  Benefit  Asso- 
ciation, COO  ; strike  of  1874,  600  ; Telford 
Guards,  6uo  ; schools  of,  G'^l  ; school  build- 
ing, 601  ; churches  of,  604  ; Catholic  Church 
building,  605  ; societies  of,  609, 


ERRATA. — Page  4,  *‘Capoiire”  should  he 
1787,  “ Kate”  should  read  “John.” 


T. 

Tarbell,  D.,  574. 

Tarbell,  J.  S.,  294. 

Taylor,  J.  P.,  105. 

Taylor  family,  574. 

Taylor,  Dyer,  486. 

Taylor,  Da\id,  576. 

Taylor,  Jacob,  575, 

Temperance,  184. 

Tewksburj'-,  Dr.  A.  D.,  167. 

Tewksbury,  S.,  424. 

Tewksbury,  John,  425. 

Tewksbury,  F.,  652. 

Thacher  family,  719. 

Thaoher,  Wallace  L.,  128. 

Thomas,  S.  S , 179. 

Thomas,  Hon.  David,  541. 

Thomson  township,  837. 

Thompson  Boro’,  841  ; lodges,  post-office, 
merchants,  842  ; churches,  846. 

Thorpe,  C.  T.,  602. 

Tiffany,  E.  T.,  715. 

Tiffany,  Alson,  700. 

Tiffany,  E.  M.,  691. 

Tiffany,  M.  L.,  692. 

Tiffany,  Dr.  C.  W.,  167. 

Tilden,  Elder  W.  C.,  494. 

Tingley,  Dr.  H.  A.,  155. 

Tiugley,  Norman,  626. 

Titman,  Lieutenant  H.  C.,  2646. 

Titus,  Ezekiel,  717. 

Titus,  Leonard,  718. 

Topography  of  county,  38. 

Treaty  at  Philadelphia,  4. 

Trenton  decree,  20. 

Tremain,  Major  F.  W.,  264e. 

Tyler,  Dr.  C.,  142. 

Tyler,  M.  C.,  272. 

Tyler,  Wm.  S.,  716. 

Tyler,  Deacon  John,  827. 

Turnpikes  and  State  roads,  46. 

Turrell,  Hon.  W.  J.,  87. 

Turrell,  Abel,  281. 

Turrell,  H.  F.,  292. 

Turrell,  E.  A.,  282. 

V. 

Van  Cott,  James,  642. 

Vail,  Dr.  J.  D.,  162. 

Valuation  of  property,  1821,  66. 

Vanness,  Dr.  C.  N.,  165. 

Very,  Zerah,  722. 

Virgil,  Dr.,  178. 

W. 

Walker,  George,  375. 

AValker,  Sarah  M.,  264. 

Walking  Purchase,  3. 

Wallace,  R.,  598. 

Ward,  C.  L.,103. 

Warrantee  map,  33. 

Warrantees,  33. 

War  of  1812  ; Colonel  Bailey’s  company,  211  ; 
early  militia,  212. 

War  of  the  Rebellion,  213  ; Foxirth  Pennsylva- 
nia Reserves,  214  (Thirty -third  Regiment) ; 
Company  H,  216  ; roster  of,  217 ; Sixth 


Capoiise.  Page  614,  “ Corbin  ” (Robert)  should  be 


Pennsylvania  Reserves,  21S  (Thirty-fifth 
Regiment) ; Company  K,  220 ; roster  of, 
220  ; Fourteenth  Reserves.  First  Artillery 
(Forty-third  Regiment),  221 ; Batteries  A, 
F and  H,  221-222;  rosters  of,  223  ; Fiftieth 
Regimeni  Pennsylv.aiiia  Volunteers,  224; 
Companies  D,  G and  K,  224  ; rosters  of,  227  ; 
Fifty-sixth  Regiment,  228 ; Company  K, 
roster  of,  230  ; Fifty-seventh  Regiment, 
231 ; Company  A,  roster  of,  232  ; One  Hun- 
dred and  Forty  first  Regiment,  233  ; Compa- 
nies F and  H,  236-237  ; rosters  of,  238-239  ; 
One  Hundred  and  Forty-third  Regiment, 
240 ; Companies  H and  B,  241  ; rosters  of, 
242  ; Seventeenth  Cavalry,  243  ; Company  B, 
244 ; roster  of,  245 ; One  Hundred  and 
Fifty-first  Regiment,  246  ; Companies  A and 
C,  rosters  of,  247  ; miscellaneous  lists  Penn- 
sylvania soldiers,  249  ; Eighty-ninth  Regi- 
ment New  York  Volunteers,  253  ; Sixteenth 
New  York  Independent  Battery,  254  ; United 
States  Signal  Corps,  roster  of,  255  ; Drafted 
Militia,  255  ; identified  miscellaneous  list, 
257  ; unidentified  list,  261. 

Warner,  General  D.  D.,  336. 

Warner,  Dr.  0.  H.,  169. 

Warner,  C.  N.,  98. 

Warren,  A.  0.,  94. 

Warren,  C.  A,,  94. 

Warriner,  Rev.  E.  A.,  124. 

Washburn,  Oscar,  747. 

Watson,  W.  W.,  96. 

Watrous,  G.  G.,  100. 

Watrous,  Spencer,  349. 

Watrous,  D.  S.,  667. 

Wells,  E.  a,  327. 

Wells,  Dr.  E.  H.,  162. 

Westfall,  Levi,  556. 

Westmoreland,  10, 

Weston,  Wm.  L.,  179. 

Weston,  E.  A.,  650. 

Wheaton,  N.  P.,  522. 

Wheaton,  Dr.  W.  W.,  176. 

White,  Wm.,  427. 

Whitney,  Enos,  775. 

Whitney,  F.  M.,  776. 

Whitney,  M.  T.,  840. 

Williams,  Hon.  W.  W.,  748. 

Williams,  W.  E.,  100. 

Williams,  Dyer,  679. 

Williams,  Hon.  H.  W.,  721. 

Williams,  John,  766. 

Willingborough,  63. 

Wilmot,  Dr.  E.  F.,  176. 

Wilmot,  Hon.  David,  78. 

Wilson,  Mason  S.,  279. 

Wilson,  Stephen,  322. 

Wing,  Dr.  T.  T.,  166. 

Woman’s  Work,  U.  S.  S.  C.,  societies  of, 
263-264. 

Woman’s  Relief  Corps,  264?i. 

Women’s  C.  T.  U.,  185. 

Woodhouse,  Dr.  J.  G.,  173. 

Woodward,  Dr.  A.  B„  176. 

Woodward,  George,  764. 

Wright,  J.  J.,  94. 

Wright,  Dr.  Sami.,  174. 

Wright,  M.  B.,  594. 

Wrighter,  John,  837. 

Wyahising  settlers,  23. 

Wylie,  Sergeant  Simeon,  211. 


Corbett.  Page  050,  in  item  of  Wm.  Conrad, 


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